Welcome

We welcome you to Sts. Peter & Paul! It's truly a blessing to have you join us in prayer. If you care to prayerfully follow along with today's services please scan the QR code then select today's date and the service in progress.

We look forward to gathering in fellowship after the Divine Liturgy during Coffee Hour! Please visit us at the social hall in the lower level following the Divine Liturgy.

Saints and Feasts

April 21

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal Fourth Mode

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

Ἐν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα, λαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν Σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν μὲν σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, πράγματος ἀθανάτου· διὸ καὶ μετὰ Ἀγγέλων συναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦμά σου.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Fourth Mode

As the first in rank of the Apostles and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all that He grant peace unto all the world and great mercy unto our souls.

Οι τών Αποστόλων πρωτόθρονοι, καί τής Οικουμένης διδάσκαλοι, τώ Δεσπότη τών όλων πρεσβεύσατε, ειρήνην τή οικουμένη δωρήσασθαι, καί ταίς ψυχαίς ημών τό μέγα έλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:11-14

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ διʼ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων, καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους, ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι;

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 10:32-45

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητάς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ συμβαίνειν, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ ᾿Ιάκωβος καὶ ᾿Ιωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες· διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί με ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δὸς ἡμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δυνάμεθα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τὸ μὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε· τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ᾿ οἷς ἡτοίμασται. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ ᾿Ιωάννου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς· οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν· οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ᾿ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι μέγας ἐν ὑμῖν, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος· καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.

Parish Calendar

Parish Calendar

April 21 to April 29, 2024

Sunday, April 21

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy

11:00AM 20-year Memorial for Georgios Passas

12:00PM Coffee Hour is hosted by Trivizas family in memory of Georgios Passas

Monday, April 22

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

6:00PM Great Compline

7:00PM Byzantine Choir Practice

Tuesday, April 23

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

Wednesday, April 24

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

6:00PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

7:00PM Adult Greek School

Thursday, April 25

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

Friday, April 26

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

9:00AM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

6:00PM Greek School

Saturday, April 27

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

9:00AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy Lazarus Saturday

11:30AM Philoptochos Easter Decorating

11:30AM Lazarus Saturday Palm Folding hosted by the Parish Youth Ministries

Sunday, April 28

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy (Palm Sunday)

11:00AM Philoptochos Easter Bread sale

12:00PM Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon

Monday, April 29

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/18-5/5)

Parish Ministries

Parish Council: George Lountos (President), Elizabeth A. Kostas-Polston (Vice President), Bruce Flanders (Treasurer), Christos Cambetes (Secretary), Dimitri Rotov, Gregory Nerantzis, Nicholas Carras, Thomas Tsianakas.

Greek School: Dr. George Lountos (Principal). Email: gtlountos@gmail.com or cell: 404-375-3180.

HOPE & JOY Ministry: Brandi Lahanas. Email: brandilahanas@gmail.com

GOYA: Christina Summers. Email: mrs.summers@aol.com

Religious Education: Mrs. Despina Horst (Interim Principal). Email: horst7213@aol.com. Lessons begin after Holy Communion. We encourage our youth to participate in Sunday School, to learn and live the life of our Holy Orthodox Faith.

Kali Parea: This ministry is for adults 50 years and older. Come and join us! Contact the Church office.

St. Eugenia Ladies Philoptochos: – Georgette Calomeris, President. All in the Parish are encouraged to be members of the Philoptochos Society. Contact Georgetter if interested in joining. Email ladies@sainteugeniaphiloptochos.net

Hospitality Ministry: Tyler Shuck (coordinator) This ministry welcomes visitors and also coordinates fellowship activities after Sunday Liturgy to provide a warm and welcoming environment for both parishioners and visitors alike. Please contact the Church Office if you're interested in hosting a Coffee Hour.

The Three Hierarchs Book Club: The book club meets in the fall and in the spring to discuss the book of the season.

Visitation Ministry: Should you or a loved one need hospital or long-term care, please call the Church office to schedule a visit from the Church Priest. Please be advised that Frederick Memorial Hospital (and most facilities) will not automatically notify the Church upon admission, but only when requested by the patient or caregiver.

Three Hierarchs Bookstore: Eleni Trivizas, Manager. The bookstore is located in the Social Hall and offers books, icons, censers, votives, and other spiritually edifying material. Anyone interested in volunteering to staff the bookstore on Sundays should reach out to Eleni or the Church office.

Greek Folk Dance Ministry: Open to all ages and levels of experience. Contact Georgette Calomeris if interested in participating. email: georgette@calomeris.com

Byzantine Choir: In keeping with the rich Orthodox Tradition of using Byzantine chant to convey the beauty of the liturgical hymns in our worship services, our Byzantine Choir seeks to strengthen this ministry by welcoming new members and offering a place to grow and flourish. Please contact the Church office if you're interested in participating in this ministry.

Announcements

Please join us for coffee hour. The Trivizas family is hosting today's coffee hour in loving memory of Georgios Passas.

Please consider sponsoring coffee hour in memory of a loved one or celebrating an occasion. Click here to sign up.

Upcoming Hosts:

Apr. 28th St. Eugenia sponsored Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon
May 5th Great and Holy Pascha, no coffee hour
May 12th Host needed.

Philotochos: Easter Bread and Palm Sunday Luncheon Updates:

Pre-sales for Easter Bread and the Palm Sunday Luncheon are encouraged. Assistance with pre-sales and orders will be available during coffee hour today.

Save the Date: Philoptochos is hosting, and all are welcome to attend the annual Palm Sunday Fish Luncheon (April 28th); pre-sale tickets are now available.

Church Decorating: The Ladies Philoptochos will decorate the Church for Easter on Saturday, April 27th, at 11:30 a.m. All are invited and welcome to help.

Ministry Updates:

Parents interested in having their daughter(s) participate as Myrrhbearers (all girls from age 6 to 12) for Holy Friday Lamentations, please contact Christina Summers at mrs.summers@aol.com by or before Palm Sunday. We also have girls' dresses available to borrow from the Church; if you want to know more, please contact April at the Church office.

Sunday, April 27th- The Raising of Lazarus- The Church School staff and all of the Youth Ministries invite everyone to join the children in the Social Hall after Liturgy to make Palm Crosses. A light breakfast will follow. We encourage everyone to attend!

Altar Keepers: Your donation as an Altar Keeper allows us to purchase necessary altar supplies and upgrade altar liturgical vessels. To date, we have purchased Gospel ribbons (multiple colors) and a hanging votive candle for the altar. We are currently reviewing options to purchase hanging votive candles for the icon screen, candle holders for the Holy Altar, a second ceremonial table, and a table for the Narthex that is befitting for the space. This can only come to fruition with donations from the faithful. Please consider donating to the Altar Keeper fund. Click here.

2024 Stewardship: Your Stewardship Pledge supports the Church's many Ministries. If you would like to pick up a 2024 Stewardship card, they are available in the Narthex. You can also go online to www.stspeterpaul.net and link to Stewardship, or Click here to fill it out online.

Greek Folk Dance: If you are interested in participating as we prepare for the May festival, don't hesitate to get in touch with Georgette Calomeris at 301-471-7303 or Nick Caviris at 301-537-8273 or via email at georgette@calomeris.com or tapeman1@verizon.net. NEXT PRACTICE IS SUNDAY, MAY 12. Registration is available by clicking this link.

We're very excited to announce that our parish has approved plans to proceed with the Accessibility Project. This project intends to provide handicapped accessibility to the Church and its facilities. A ramp will provide street-level access to the Church, and an ADA lift will provide access to the Narthex and Social Hall. This will afford all our parishioners safe access to Church facilities during services and events. A Leadership 100 grant provides funds for this project, but we still need to raise $47,230 to complete this project. We're calling on our parish family and friends to contribute towards this project and allow the Church to realize its mission to make the Church accessible to all. Help us reach our goal. Pledge and donate today! Pledge/Donate today.

St. Eugenia Philoptochos: Please consider becoming a Philoptochos Steward or an Associate Steward and be part of this most important Philanthropic Mission. To become a steward, complete the form (click here). If you have any questions, email ladies@sainteugeniaphiloptochos.net or contact Georgette Calomeris at 301-471-7303.