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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-06-04
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Allsaint
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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (201) 652-4774 for emergencies: 201 870 2676
  • Fax:
  • (201) 652-0789
  • Street Address:

  • 467 Grandview Avenue

  • Wyckoff, NJ 07481


Contact Information






Services Schedule

 

Sundays in the fall, winter & spring:

Matins: 9 a.m. &  Divine Liturgy 10a.m. except during the summer

 

Summer hours for Sundays in July and August:

Matins: 8:30a.m.  & Divine Liturgy 9:30a.m.


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Pentecost in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast shown forth the fishermen as supremely wise by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them didst draw the world into Thy net. O Befriender of man, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Once, when He descended and confounded the tongues, the Most High divided the nations; and when He divided the tongues of fire, He called all men into unity; and with one accord we glorify the All-holy Spirit.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Holy Pentecost
The Reading is from John 20:19-23

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11.

WHEN THE DAY of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."


Gospel Reading

Holy Pentecost
The Reading is from John 7:37-52; 8:12

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed." Nikodemos, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee." Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Goings up, and advances and progress from glory to glory, the Light of the Trinity might shine upon the more illuminated. For this reason it was, I think, that He gradually came to dwell in the Disciples, measuring Himself out to them according to their capacity to receive Him, at the beginning of the Gospel, after the Passion, after the Ascension, making perfect their powers, being breathed upon them, and appearing in fiery tongues...You see lights breaking upon us, gradually; and the order of Theology, which it is better for us to keep, neither proclaiming things too suddenly, nor yet keeping them hidden to the end...He said that all things should be taught us by the Spirit when He should come to dwell amongst us. Of these things one, I take it, was the Deity of the Spirit Himself, made clear later on when such knowledge should be seasonable and capable of being received after our Saviour's restoration, when it would no longer be received with incredulity because of its marvellous character. For what greater thing than this did either He promise, or the Spirit teach. If indeed anything is to be considered great and worthy of the Majesty of God, which was either promised or taught...Look at these facts:--Christ is born; the Spirit is His Forerunner. He is baptized; the Spirit bears witness. He is tempted; the Spirit leads Him up. He works miracles; the Spirit accompanies them. He ascends; the Spirit takes His place.
St. Gregory the Theologian
5th Theological Oration

For as thirsty men, when they have taken a bowl, eagerly drain it and then desist, so too they who hear the divine oracles if they receive them thirsting, will never be weary until they have drunk them up. For to show that men ought ever to thirst and hunger, "Blessed," It said, "are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matt.5:6)
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 51 on John 7, 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
June 04

Our Father Metrophanes, Archbishop of Constantinople

Saint Metrophanes was born of pagan parents, but believed in Christ at a young age, and came to Byzantium. He lived at the end of the persecution of the Roman Emperors, and became the Bishop of Byzantium from about 315 to 325, during which time Saint Constantine the Great made it the capital of the Roman Empire, calling it New Rome. Saint Metrophanes sent his delegate, the priest Alexander, to the First Ecumenical Council in 325, since he could not attend because of old age. He reposed the same year and was buried by Saint James of Nisibis (celebrated Jan. 13), one of the Fathers present at the First Ecumenical Council. The Canons to the Trinity of the Octoechos are not the work of this Metrophanes but another, who was Bishop of Smyrna about the middle of the ninth century, during the life of Saint Photius the Great.


Martha
June 04

Mary & Martha, the sisters of Lazarus

The Holy Myrrh-bearers Mary and Martha, together with their brother Lazarus, were especially devoted to our Savior, as we see from the accounts given in the tenth chapter of Saint Luke, and in the eleventh and twelfth chapters of Saint John. They reposed in Cyprus, where their brother became the first Bishop of Kition after his resurrection from the dead. See also the accounts on Lazarus Saturday and the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women.


Allsaint
June 04

Sophia of Thrace, The Mother of Orphans


Allsaint
June 04

Petroc, Abbot of Padstow


Pentecost
June 04

Holy Pentecost

After the Saviour's Ascension into the Heavens, the eleven Apostles and the rest of His disciples, the God-loving women who followed after Him from the beginning, His Mother, the most holy Virgin Mary, and His brethren-all together about 120 souls returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. Entering into the house where they gathered, they went into the upper room, and there they persevered in prayer and supplication, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, as their Divine Teacher had promised them. In the meanwhile, they chose Matthias, who was elected to take the place of Judas among the Apostles.

Thus, on this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha, the tenth day after the Ascension and the fiftieth day after Pascha, at the third hour of the day from the rising of the sun, there suddenly came a sound from Heaven, as when a mighty wind blows, and it filled the whole house where the Apostles and the rest with them were gathered. Immediately after the sound, there appeared tongues of fire that divided and rested upon the head of each one. Filled with the Spirit, all those present began speaking not in their native tongue, but in other tongues and dialects, as the Holy Spirit instructed them.

The multitudes that had come together from various places for the feast, most of whom were Jews by race and religion, were called Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and so forth, according to the places where they dwelt. Though they spoke many different tongues, they were present in Jerusalem by divine dispensation. When they heard that sound that came down from Heaven to the place where the disciples of Christ were gathered, all ran together to learn what had taken place. But they were confounded when they came and heard the Apostles speaking in their own tongues. Marvelling at this, they said one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" But others, because of their foolishness and excess of evil, mocked the wonder and said that the Apostles were drunken.

Then Peter stood up with the eleven, and raising his voice, spoke to all the people, proving that that which had taken place was not drunkenness, but the fulfilment of God's promise that had been spoken by the Prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that I shall pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy" (Joel 2:28), and he preached Jesus of Nazareth unto them, proving in many ways that He is Christ the Lord, Whom the Jews crucified but God raised from the dead. On hearing Peter's teaching, many were smitten with compunction and received the word. Thus, they were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added to the Faith of Christ.

Such, therefore, are the reasons for today's feast: the coming of the All-holy Spirit into the world, the completion of the Lord Jesus Christ's promise, and the fulfilment of the hope of the sacred disciples, which we celebrate today. This is the final feast of the great mystery and dispensation of God's incarnation. On this last, and great, and saving day of Pentecost, the Apostles of the Saviour, who were unlearned fishermen, made wise now of a sudden by the Holy Spirit, clearly and with divine authority spoke the heavenly doctrines. They became heralds of the truth and teachers of the whole world. On this day they were ordained and began their apostleship, of which the salvation of those three thousand souls in one day was the comely and marvellous first fruit.

Some erroneously hold that Pentecost is the "birthday of the Church." But this is not true, for the teaching of the holy Fathers is that the Church existed before all other things. In the second vision of The Shepherd of Hermas we read: "Now brethren, a revelation was made unto me in my sleep by a youth of exceeding fair form, who said to me, 'Whom thinkest thou the aged woman, from whom thou receivedst the book, to be?' I say, 'The Sibyl.' 'Thou art wrong,' saith he, 'she is not.' 'Who then is she?' I say. 'The Church,' saith he. I said unto him, 'Wherefore then is she aged?' 'Because,' saith he, 'she was created before all things; therefore is she aged, and for her sake the world was framed."' Saint Gregory the Theologian also speaks of "the Church of Christ ... both before Christ and after Christ" (PG 35:1108-9). Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus writes, "The Catholic Church, which exists from the ages, is revealed most clearly in the incarnate advent of Christ" (PG 42:640). Saint John Damascene observes, "The Holy Catholic Church of God, therefore, is the assembly of the holy Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, and Martyrs who have been from the very beginning, to whom were added all the nations who believed with one accord" (PG 96, 1357c). According to Saint Gregory the Theologian, "The Prophets established the Church, the Apostles conjoined it, and the Evangelists set it in order" (PG 35, 589 A). The Church existed from the creation of the Angels, for the Angels came into existence before the creation of the world, and they have always been members of the Church. Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome, says in his second epistle to the Corinthians, the Church "was created before the sun and moon"; and a little further on, "The Church existeth not now for the first time, but hath been from the beginning" (II Cor. 14).

That which came to pass at Pentecost, then, was the ordination of the Apostles, the commencement of the apostolic preaching to the nations, and the inauguration of the priesthood of the new Israel. Saint Cyril of Alexandria says that "Our Lord Jesus Christ herein ordained the instructors and teachers of the world and the stewards of His divine Mysteries ... showing together with the dignity of Apostleship, the incomparable glory of the authority given them ... Revealing them to be splendid with the great dignity of the Apostleship and showing them forth as both stewards and priests of the divine altars . . . they became fit to initiate others through the enlightening guidance of the Holy Spirit" (PG 74, 708-712). Saint Gregory Palamas says, "Now, therefore ... the Holy Spirit descended ... showing the Disciples to be supernal luminaries ... and the distributed grace of the Divine Spirit came through the ordination of the Apostles upon their successors" (Homily 24, 10). And Saint Sophronius, Bishop of Jerusalem, writes, "After the visitation of the Comforter, the Apostles became high priests" (PG 87, 3981B). Therefore, together with the baptism of the Holy Spirit which came upon them who were present in the upper chamber, which the Lord had foretold as recorded in the Acts, "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), the Apostles were also appointed and raised to the high priestly rank, according to Saint John Chrysostom (PG 60, 21). On this day commenced the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by which we become "partakers of the Divine Nature" (II Peter 1:4). For before Pentecost, it is said of the Apostles and disciples only that they abode in "prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:14); it is only after the coming of the Holy Spirit that they persevered in the "breaking of bread,"that is, the communion of the Holy Mysteries-"and in prayer" (Acts 2:42).

The feast of holy Pentecost, therefore, determined the beginning of the priesthood of grace, not the beginning of the Church. Henceforth, the Apostles proclaimed the good tidings "in country and town," preaching and baptizing and appointing shepherds, imparting the priesthood to them whom they judged were worthy to minister, as Saint Clement writes in his first Epistle to the Corinthians (I Cor. 42).

All foods allowed during the week following Pentecost.


Allsaint
June 05

Holy Martyrs Nicandrus, Gorgus and Apollonus and those with them


Holytrin
June 05

Monday of the Holy Spirit

As it is the custom of the Church, on the day after every great Feast, to honour those through whom it came to pass our Lady on the day after the Lord's Nativity, Joachim and Anna after our Lady's Nativity, the holy Baptist the day after Theophany, and so forth, on this day we honour our God the All-holy Spirit, the Comforter promised by our Saviour to His disciples (John 14:16), Who descended upon them at holy Pentecost and guided them "into all truth" (ibid. 16:13), and through them, us.

Rest from labour.


Allsaint
June 05

Christophoros & Konon the Martyrs of Rome


Allsaint
June 05

The Holy Hieromartyr Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre

Saint Dorotheus became Bishop of Tyre in Phoenicia about the end of the third century. During the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian, about the year 303, he fled to Odyssopolis in Thrace to preserve his life, and after the death of the tyrants he returned to Tyre. He lived until the reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363), from whose persecution he again fled to Odyssopolis (or, according to Theophylact of Bulgaria, Edessa), but was found by Julian's men and slain in great torments, at the age of 107, in 361. He was very learned, and has left behind writings in both Latin and Greek relating the lives of the holy Prophets, Apostles, and other Saints.


Allsaint
June 06

1st Tuesday after Pentecost


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Events

 

June 4, 2017     Trinity Sunday Holy Pentecost   

Today is Pentecost: Fifty days after Pascha, the Apostles were assembled together (Acts 2) and the Holy Spirit descended upon them and filled them with new life and hope. At Vespers immediately following Liturgy today, we resume kneeling.  We offer prayers that the Holy Spirit descends upon us and fills us again with his joyous power that we too may become sons and daughters of the most High.  Open your hearts to the words of our God and let His love be yours.  Pentecost marks the birth of our Church!

 

Religious Education: Today we celebrate another year of Religious Education classes and graduation! Following the Divine Liturgy, the students will be receiving their certificates in the church. Parents, get ready with your cameras! Afterwards, we will be celebrating this graduation with ice cream! All graduates will be able to build their own ice cream sundaes in the fellowship hall. A sincere thank you to Van Dykes Ice Cream of Ridgewood, owners Demetrios and Corinna Kotrokois, who sponsored this ice cream social! The Directors and teachers enjoyed having your children in their classrooms this past year. We hope you all have a blessed and safe summer and we look forward to seeing you in the fall. All new incoming students should contact Mrs. Demi Thomas, Sunday School Director, at st.nicholasssdirector@gmail.com, with any questions or for registration. Otherwise, we will see you in the fall for the beginning of the new school year. Have a nice summer!! KALO KALOKAIRI!!

 

Church Service:  The Monday of the Holy Spirit will be celebrated tomorrow with Orthros at 9am and Divine Liturgy at 10am.

 

Saint Nicholas Vacation Church School (VCS) (on our site): July 31- August 4, 9am-12:30pm for children 5-11 years of age. VCS 2017 Registration forms are available in Narthex and on our web site! www.stnicholasnj.org  Contact frbill@stnicholasnj.org for information.

 

Kali Parea:  Our end-of-yearmeeting will be this Tuesday, June 6th at 12 noon in the Fellowship Hall.  Our lunch will be catered by the Maywood Marketplace. The cost will be $15pp. Coffee and homemade desserts will be served.  Please send your check to Bill Milcos.  If you have any questions please contact May Grammatikos at 201-236-2817.

 

Sessions on Scripture:  SOS is meeting this Wednesday, June 7th at 2:00pm in the conference room. Bring your Orthodox Study Bible and read chapter 2 of St Paul’s letter to Titus.  Contact frbill@stnicholasnj.org  for more info.

 

Parish General Assembly:   sunday, JUNE 11 AFTER worship services

 

Saint Nicholas Ladies Philoptochos Society is having its End of the Year Gathering at Varka Estiatorio on June 13th. The price of $50 includes appetizers, salad, entree, coffee and dessert.  Members should RSVP by June 9th to Aggie Tsadilas at aggietsad@gmail.com  or 201 995-9158.

 

Saint Nicholas Charity Golf Classic: On Monday, June 19th, Saint Nicholas will sponsor its 21st Charity Golf Classic at Haworth Country Club in Haworth, NJ. The proceeds from this event will support the Church sponsored charities, ministries and activities. Please remember you do not have to be a golfer to show your support. You can help by making a monetary donation or purchasing a sponsorship. As part of our prize selections we will be preparing Gift Baskets. We are in need of donations of wine, dry goods (i.e. crackers, fruits), restaurant gift certificates, sporting event and concert tickets to include in these baskets. Drop off donations to the office or our table set up in the Parish Center during Fellowship Hour on Sundays.  Your generosity will be appreciated! Thank you to all of our parishioners who have already  contributed. For additional information contact Roseanne Psomas at 201-704-5866 roseannepsomas@aol.com or Chrissie Toskos at 201-788-2246 taurus03@aol.com .

 

 

Saint Nicholas is on Social Media! Like us on Facebook @stnicholasnj and follow us on Instagram @stnicholasgoc. To share your ministry’s events and activities email socialmedia@stnicholasnj.org.

 

Camp Good Shepherd (CGS): Registration is Now Open!
JOY Session (ages 8-11) July 9th-15th, 2017 GOYA Session #1 (ages 12-18) July 16th-22nd, 2017: GOYA Session #2 (ages 12-18) July 23rd -29th, 2017  Register: app.campdoc.com/register/gomnj Location: Linwood Macdonald YMCA in Branchville, NJ
For more information:
 Alexia Lekkas gomnjcgs@gmail.comAssistant Camp Director

Greek Dance: 
The Greek Dance Directors, Mrs. Christina Carmichael and Mrs. Diana Manoussakis, thank all of the parents who brought their children to dance practices, each week, this past year. A thank you also to the GOYA dancers who worked extra hard with the additional dance practices in preparation for the March 2017 Sights and Sounds competition. Saint Nicholas came in 3rd place, to boot!! Many of our junior and GOYAns dancers also performed various Greek traditional dances, and in costumes, at Wyckoff’s YMCA for Wyckoff Day on June 3rd and they did an amazing job! We look forward to your return in the fall! Greek Dance practices will again start in September 2017, as we prepare for our Greek Festival dance performances. For questions, please contact Christina at christinatcarmichael@gmail.com or Diana at demn2003@msn.com. Keep dancing! OPA!!


The Orthodox Ladies Prayer Group:
 All ladies are welcome to join our prayer meetings held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evening of each month at 7:30pm in our Theotokos chapel.  We spend a dedicated time of informal prayer for our nation, church community, families and friends.  All prayer requests are kept confidential.  Please call the church office or Irene Ayvas 201-803-2307, with any prayer requests you want added to our list or submitted to the “Email Prayer Chain”.

“Email Prayer Chain”: Prayer is a simple, effective way to serve the people of our community. Since the majority of people read emails on a daily basis, we invite members of our congregation to join our “Email Prayer Chain”.  You will receive occasional urgent prayer requests for those in immediate crisis, and we ask only that you take a moment and pray.  It’s simple and powerful.  If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, email Irene Ayvas at iayvas@yahoo.com with your email contact info or call 201-803-2307.   

Festival
: Please join us in helping Saint Nicholas once again proudly showcase its faith and heritage via our wonderful Festival, in which we were recognized as one of the top three in its category by 201 Magazine in 2016. Please respond by sending your name, e-mail address, and which station you would like to volunteer for in 2017 to office@stnicholasnj.org. OPA!

Please note we are still looking for Chairperson(s) for the following: Inside Food Line, Cleaning Tables, & Busses/Parking. Contact Nick Pirsos for further information at Pirsos@verizon.net

Candle Money: Earn a convenient tax deduction record for your candle donations. Booklets are available for purchase at the Office or Narthex (Sundays). Candle money comes in a $2 booklet of 25 for $50; a $5 booklet of 10 for $50; a $10 booklet of 5 for $50 and a $20 booklet of 5 for $100. Candle money can only be used for candle donations. It is non-refundable, must be used for its full value and cannot be exchanged for cash.

SAINT NICHOLAS Benevolent Fund: In his Epistle, Saint James teaches that “faith without works is dead.” Giving alms (charity) is an act of faith through good works. Anyone can donate anonymously to this Fund benefitting a family or a person in need. Mail your donation check or drop it in the collection plate in our Narthex. “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). God bless you always for your open heart! You have made a difference! Contact Fr Bill for info frbill@stnicholasnj.org

Mortgage Burning: Participate in making Saint Nicholas debt free by pledging specific donations to this program. Further information can be found at the Narthex or contacting any Parish Council member.

Other Ways to Give:
Please consider Saint Nicholas throughout the year in the following ways: Gift in Stock; Gifting from an Estate; Corporate Matching Programs; recurring gift payments via credit card or PayPal. Call the Office for details.

Grandview LLC:
If interested in assisting “friends of St. Nicholas” acquire additional property for church benefit; please contact Nick Pirsos at Pirsos@verizon.net  for additional details.


Parish Stewardship Status:  Stewardship is composed of our personal offering of time, talent and treasure. Stewardship is not dues but is based on Holy Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments. Since time and talent offerings are more difficult to measure, one measurement of our response to God is our average “treasure” pledge per steward household. In 2016, we had 430 steward households that donated a total of $347,301 or 51% of our budgetary needs. To date in 2017, we have 234 steward households that have pledged a total of $223,260.

 

 

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