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

March 10

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.

Ὅταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ δόξης, καὶ τρέμωσι τὰ σύμπαντα, ποταμὸς δὲ τοῦ πυρὸς πρὸ τοῦ Βήματος ἕλκῃ, καὶ βίβλοι ἀνοίγωνται, καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ δημοσιεύωνται, τότε ῥῦσαί με, ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ἀσβέστου, καὶ ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μὲ στῆναι, Κριτὰ δικαιότατε.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2

Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν τῷ θεῷ· οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα. Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις ἴδῃ σε τὸν ἔχοντα γνῶσιν ἐν εἰδωλείῳ κατακείμενον, οὐχὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτοῦ ἀσθενοῦς ὄντος οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς τὸ τὰ εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν; Καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ ἀσθενῶν ἀδελφὸς ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ γνώσει, διʼ ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν; Οὕτως δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, καὶ τύπτοντες αὐτῶν τὴν συνείδησιν ἀσθενοῦσαν, εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνετε. Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; Οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; Οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾿ ἀλλήλων ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων, καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ· δεῦτε οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ἤλθετε πρός με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ οἱ δίκαιοι λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν, ἢ διψῶντα καὶ ἐποτίσαμεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ξένον καὶ συνηγάγομεν, ἢ γυμνὸν καὶ περιεβάλομεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν πρός σε; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων· πορεύεσθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ περιεβάλετέ με, ἀσθενὴς καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

Parish Calendar

Parish Calendar

March 10 to March 18, 2024

Sunday, March 10

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy (Judgement Sunday, Meatfare Sunday)

11:00AM Memorial for Alex Kontos and Konstantine Kontos

11:00AM 6-year Memorial for Dimitrios Orfanidis, 23-year Memorial for Evangelos Orfanidis

12:00PM Greek Folk Dance

Wednesday, March 13

7:00PM Adult Greek School

Friday, March 15

6:00PM Greek School

Saturday, March 16

9:00AM 2nd Saturday of Souls-Memory of the Holy AsceticsOrthros/Divine Liturgy

11:00AM Walking With Christ Seminarian Benefit Luncheon @ St Luke Greek Orthodox Church, PA

6:00PM Great Vespers (canceled)

Sunday, March 17

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/17-5/5)

8:30AM Orthros/Divine Liturgy (Forgiveness Sunday, Cheesefare)

8:30AM Godparent/Godchild Sunday

10:45AM Church School - No classes today

11:00AM Greek Folk Dance

12:00PM Forgiveness Vespers

Monday, March 18

Great Lent Begins (Clean Monday)(Office Closed)

Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive (3/17-5/5)

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

Today we welcome Rev. Fr. John Bullock, presiding priest, and his family Presvytera Irene, Panayiotis, and Phanourios.

Today we will chant the memorial service for Alex Kontos and Konstantine Kontos, may their memory be eternal. We will also chant the 6-year Memorial for Dimitrios Orfanidis and the 23-year Memorial for Evangelos Orfanidis, may their memory be eternal.

This Sunday's coffee hour will be hosted in loving memory of Dimitrios, and Evangelos Orfanidis, may their memory be eternal.

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

Upcoming Hosts:

Mar. 17th Hosted by the Parish Council for Godparent/Godchild Sunday.
Mar. 24th In loving Memory of Marietta Nektaria Evans.
Mar. 31st Coffee hour host needed

The Greek Students' Greek Independence Day Program will take place on Friday, March 22nd beginning at 6 pm. All are invited who are available to come and show your support for the Greek School by celebrating with us.

The parish-level St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be held on March 30th. All three levels are participating (Elementary, Junior, and Senior). All youth are encouraged to participate! Please reach out to Presv. Evelyn if you're interested in participating epahis@aol.com.

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 is providing 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.

Altar Keepers: Your donation as an Altar Keeper allows us to purchase necessary altar supplies and upgrade altar liturgical vessels as needed. 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.

The 2nd Saturday of Souls is on March 16th. We honor and remember our loved ones by offering koliva during the memorial service. Please bring koliva and a list with the baptismal names of your loved ones at one or all three of the memorial services. If you want the church to prepare koliva, please contact April at the Church office to make arrangements. May the memory of our loved ones be eternal.

If you would like to decorate the Icon of the Theotokos for the Salutations, the Bridegroom icon, the Mystical Supper icon, and the Resurrection icon, and/or contribute to the cost of the flowers for the icons please contact the church office.

Dates Available
March 22nd (Salutations) - Reserved
March 29th (Salutations) - Reserved
April 5th (Salutations) - Reserved
April 12th (Salutations) - Reserved
April 19th (Akathist Hymn)
April 28th (Bridegroom)
May 1st (Mystical Supper)
May 5th (Holy Resurrection)

Great Lent Services:

Great Compline every Monday at 6:00 pm. This is a prayer service in which many psalms are chanted together with evening prayers. It includes the well-known hymns “God is with Us” and “O Lord of Hosts”.

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts: Wednesdays at 6:00 pm and every Friday at 9:00 am. This special liturgy is allowed only during the Great Fast. The Divine Liturgy may not be celebrated on weekdays during Great Lent. However, the need still exists, especially during this time of year when we are struggling against evil and our weaknesses, to receive the Body and Blood of Christ more often. Therefore, the priest consecrates an extra host on the previous Sunday which is then used during this liturgy, thus the name Pre-Sanctified Liturgy. This is one of the most beautiful services of the Church. Fasting is required from at least the noon meal in order to receive Holy Communion.

The Akathist Service to the Theotokos every Friday at 7:00 pm: This service is a Small Compline service and the Canon and salutations to the Theotokos. It is celebrated on the first five Fridays of the Great Fast.

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 or go online to www.stspeterpaul.net and link to Stewardship, or Click here to fill out online.

Godparents/Godchildren Sunday will be held on Sunday, March 17th.

Greek Folk Dance: Practice will be held today and then again on March 17th. The children's group will meet when dismissed from church school and the adults will meet after that. 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. Registration is available by clicking this link.

This year's Greek Independence Day Parade in Baltimore will be held on Sunday, March 24th (2 pm) at the Greektown Section. (Ponca Street/Eastern Avenue). Orthros will begin at 8:00 am to allow time for travel.

Please contribute towards the Philoptochos Lenten Food Drive which supports the Frederick Food Bank. There is a great need in our community. Encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to donate the needed food items. The Ladies Philoptochos will have a drop-off location in the Narthex throughout the Lenten season, beginning on Sunday, March 17th.

St. Eugenia Philoptochos General Meeting will be held virtually on April 3rd at 7 pm via Google Meets.

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 of Philoptochos, complete the form (click here). If you have any questions, email ladies@sainteugeniaphiloptochos.net or contact Georgette Calomeris at 301-471-7303.

The Aero Energy House of Worship Program is a donation program established by Aero Energy to provide Aero Energy customers an opportunity to give to their churches. If you're an Aero Energy customer, it will not cost you anything to have a percentage of your bill donated to the Church. Click here for details.