Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-04-06
Bulletin Contents

Organization Icon
Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 707-642-6916
  • Street Address:

  • 1224 Alabama Street

  • Vallejo, CA 94590


Contact Information



Services Schedule

A full listing of all our services and events is provided in this bulletin.  

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ 


“Where two or three are gathered in my name, 
I am in the midst of them.” -Matthew 18:20

 

Since the time of the Apostles, the Divine Liturgy has offered us communion with our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ through hymns, prayers, the hearing of the Scriptures and the great miracle of the Holy Eucharist for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Upon entering this holy church, you are entering into worship with the angels and saints who continually worship God in heaven and are sanctified by His presence. Through your prayerful and heartfelt participation, through your sincere repentance and desire for union with Christ, the Divine Liturgy we celebrate today can be for you a powerful experience of "the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit" (2 Corinthians 13:14). Join in this holy and grace-filled work by following the service in the Divine Liturgy book in your pew or by simply being present, praying in your heart, “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

 


Past Bulletins


Worship Guidelines

We enter the temple of God with reverence, humbly and quietly so as not to disturb those who are in prayer and as an expression of faith and awareness of the presence of the Lord, his saints and angels. No loud talking, irrelevant conversations, joking, etc. should take place in the Narthex or in the Sanctuary at anytime. To stand during worship is to affirm that we are in the presence of the Almighty God. The elderly, the sick and children may be seated as needed. There are specific parts of the service during which no one should be moving about. These parts of the service are: 

The Small Entrance, the Epistle and Gospel; the Cherubic Hymn, Great Entrance, Nicene Creed, the hymn Se Ymnoumen, the prayers: "Take, eat, this is my Body..." and, "we offer to you these gifts...", the prayer of institution: "And make this bread the precious Body of your Christ...", the Lord's Prayer,  Holy Communion, the sermon, dismissal prayer, any special services, e.g, memorial services. Whenever the Priest is facing the people or outside of the altar, everyone should stand wherever they are.

Dressing for God: The church is not just any ordinary place. We dress as modestly and respectfully as we can, because we are in the presence of God Himself. If invited by any earthly king or queen, we would dress in our finest clothes. Therefore, we should dress similarly when accepting an invitation from the Lord of Heaven. The way Orthodox Christians dress, both in and outside the temple, reflects their way of life and dedication to and fear of God. We dress modestly at all times, not in a flashy or provocative way that brings attention to ourselves.  

GENTLEMEN: Collared, button-up shirts, clean dress pants, sweaters or vests, ties and coats. Avoid jeans and shorts.

LADIES: Modest dresses and blouses, knee-length skirts or longer, clean dress pants. Avoid jeans or shorts, short skirts, skin-tight clothing, and strapless or sleeveless tops, high-heels shoes as they make noise on our floors. Head coverings may be worn, according to the biblical tradition and are available in the narthex.

Only Orthodox Christians may participate in Holy Communion. Please be in church at the beginning, say the pre-communion prayers the previous evening or in the morning, fasting from food this morning (unless there is a medical reason) and had a recent confession. Allow the altar boys to place the red cloth under your chin. Do not wipe your mouth with it but consume everything that may be on your lips. Ladies please avoid wearing lipstick or lip-gloss when receiving Holy Communion.

 

 

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 8th Tone

From on high you descended, O merciful Lord. You accepted the cross and three days in the tomb to free us from the bondage of sin, O our life and resurrection. Glory to you, O Lord.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the 8th Tone

In you, holy mother Mary, the image of God shone forth, for you took up your cross and followed the Lord. By word and example you taught us to live in the spirit while still in the flesh. Therefore your spirit rejoices with the angels forever.

Apolytikion for the Church in the 1st Tone

Tou stavrou sou ton typon en ourano theasamenos, ke os o Pavlos tin klisin, ouk exanthropon dexamenos, o en vasilefsin Apostolos sou, Kyrie, Vasilefousan polin, ti kheeree sou paretheto, een perisoze dia pantos en irini, presvies tis Theotokou, moni Philanthrope. 

Your Apostle among the Rulers, St. Constantine, who once beheld in the sky the image of Your Cross, and who like Paul received his calling not from man, once entrusted the Ruling City into Your hand. We entreat You to restore it in peace forever, at the intercession of the Theotokos, O only benevolent Lord.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

O unfailing protection of Christians, and our faithful advocate before the Creator: though we are sinners, do not ignore our entreaty; but in your goodness, grant your timely help to us who appeal to you in faith. Quickly make intercession; on our behalf make speedy supplication, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you.
BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 8th Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

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.


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."


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

April 06

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.


April 06

Eutychios, Patriarch of Constantinople

Born in Theia Kome of Phrygia, Eutychius was the son of illustrious parents, from whom he received a pious upbringing. He studied in Constantinople, and became a monk in a certain monastery of Amasia. In 552 he was chosen Patriarch of New Rome, but was exiled in 565 as a result of the machinations of the Origenists. In 577 he was restored to his throne and reposed on April 6, 582.


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Before He humbled Himself, only the angels knew him. After He humbled Himself, all human nature knew Him. You see how His humbling of Himself did not make Him have less but produced countless benefits, countless deeds of virtue, and made His glory shine forth with greater brightness? God wants for nothing and has need of nothing. Yet, when He humbled Himself, He produced such great good, increased His household, and extended His kingdom. Why, then, are you afraid that you will become less if you humble yourself?
St. John Chrysostom
On the Incomprehensible Nature of God. 8.46-47. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: Mark. Intervarsity Press, 2005, p. 143.

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

News and Announcements

Prayer List - Email [email protected] to add

Keep in your prayers the servants of God: Maro, Roger, Joshua, Andreas, Michael, Dorothy, Amy, Evangelos, Mary, Alberto and Rosa, Stephanie Val, Michael, Gregory, Nick, Julie, Nitsa, Sayge, Stamatoula, Emilio, Sitheri, Ghassan, Maria, Daniel, Porphyrios, Paul, Irvin, Katrina, Lygeri, Iris, Georgia, Jana, Serafim, Iris, Suzanna, Despina, Gregory, Eleni, Eleni, Charlotte, Kathryn, Nikolaos, Zeenah, Nektarios, Ron, Mac, Marie, Ron, Deme, Mary Thomas

Catechumens: Jhanel, Nikan, Jeffrey, Itzayana, Mason, Rohelio, Garrett, Zoe, Alyvia, Warren, Bruno, Nhi, Savannah, Jesse, Jacqueline, Jackson, Emelyanna, Ruth, Mike, Melvin, Lynne


Pascha Picnic

Sunday, April 20th, after the Agape Vespers at 11:00am, in celebration of the Resurrection of Christ, we will be meeting in the Palteia for our annual Parish Pascha Picnic! The Ramirez family will generously be contributing a lamb on the souvla. Please plan to bring something to share with the parish as we celebrate Pascha, the Feast of Feasts! There are sign up sheets in the church hall on the tables.


BACK TO TOP

This Week's Events

  • Upcoming Events

    April 6 to April 21, 2025

    SUN
    MON
    TUE
    WED
    THU
    FRI
    SAT
    6
    🍇 Mary of Egypt
    8:30AM Matins
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    12:30PM Life of Mary of Egypt
    7
    ☦️ Calliopus and Akylina the Martyrs
    7:00AM Matins
    6:00PM Vespers
    8
    ☦️ Apostles Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus
    7:00AM Matins
    4:00PM Matthew 25
    6:00PM Vespers
    9
    ☦️ Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea
    7:00AM Matins
    5:00PM Presanctified
    6:30PM Faith Discussion
    10
    ☦️ Terence and his Companions beheaded at Carthage
    7:00AM Matins
    5:00PM Vespers
    11
    ☦️ Hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum
    8:00AM Presanctified Liturgy
    12
    🍇 Lazarus Saturday
    8:00AM Matins
    9:00AM Liturgy
    11:00AM Palm Crosses
    3:30PM Catechism
    5:00PM Great Vespers
    13
    🐟 Palm Sunday
    8:30AM Matins
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    12:30PM Holy Week Talk
    6:00PM Bridegroom Service
    14
    ☦️ Holy Monday
    8:00AM Presanctified
    6:00PM Bridegroom Matins
    15
    ☦️ Holy Tuesday
    8:00AM Presanctified
    4:00PM Matthew 25
    6:00PM Bridegroom Matins
    16
    ☦️ Holy Wednesday
    8:00AM Presanctified
    5:00PM Holy Unction
    6:30PM Faith Discussion
    7:00PM Bridegroom Matins
    17
    Holy Thursday
    8:00AM Hours
    9:00AM Mystical Supper Liturgy
    4:00PM Lenten Retreat
    6:00PM 12 Passion Gospels
    18
    ☦️ Holy Friday
    9:00AM Royal Hours
    3:00PM Removal from Cross
    4:00PM Catechumens
    6:00PM Lamentations
    19
    ☦️ Holy Saturday
    10:00AM Baptismal Liturgy
    11:00PM Matins
BACK TO TOP