Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-10-01
Bulletin Contents
Ananias
Organization Icon
Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 7076426916
  • 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 Ananias of the 70 in the 3rd Tone

O holy Apostle Ananias, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses.

Apolytikion for Romanos the Melodist in the 8th Tone

In you, O Father, is preserved undistorted what was made in the image of God; for taking up the cross, you followed Christ and by example taught, that we should overlook the flesh, since it passes away, and instead look after the soul, since it is immortal. And therefore, O devout Romanos, your spirit rejoices with the angels.

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. 

Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and, like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man.

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 Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1.

Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.


Gospel Reading

2nd Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 6:31-36

The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

Ananias
October 01

Ananias, Apostle of the 70

Saint Ananias, whose name means "God is gracious," was from Damascus, where by divine revelation he was commanded to baptize the Apostle Paul (Acts 9: 10-17). He completed the course of martyrdom when he was stoned to death during the proconsulate of Lucian.


Romanosmelodist
October 01

Romanos the Melodist

Saint Romanos flourished during the reign of Anastasius (491-518). He was from Emesa of Syria, and apparently was born of Jewish parents, for a hymn written in his honour in Greek says he was "of Hebrew stock," and it has furthermore been noted that he uses many Semitic idioms in his writings. He was baptized an Orthodox Christian, and at some time became a deacon in the Church of Beirut. He was the first composer of the kontakia, the foremost of which is that of the feast of Christ's Nativity, On this day the Virgin .... In composing many of his kontakia. Saint Romanos was inspired by the hymns of Saint Ephraim of Syria.


Pokrov
October 01

The Feast of the Holy Skepi of the Theotokos

The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the tenth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ's sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this we keep a yearly feast of gratitude, imploring our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.

The Feast is celebrated on October 1. In the 1950s, the Church of Greece began to observe the Feast on October 28.


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

There are three things that impel us towards what is holy: natural instincts, angelic powers and probity of intention. Natural instincts impel us when, for example, we do to others what we would wish them to do to us (cf. Luke 6:31), or when we see someone suffering deprivation or in need and naturally feel compassion. Angelic powers impel us when, being ourselves impelled to something worthwhile, we find we are providentially helped and guided. We are impelled by probity of intention when, discriminating between good and evil, we choose the good.
St. Maximos the Confessor
Second Century on Love no. 32, Philokalia Vol. 2 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 71, 7th century

Every work which does not have love as its beginning and root is nothing.
St. John Chrysostom
Unknown, 4th century

BACK TO TOP

News and Announcements

Prayer List - Email StsCaH@gmail.com to add

Please keep in your prayers the servants of God: Zander, Maro, Roger, Rommel, Stephanie, Samir, Demetria, Katerina, Irvin, Roula, Joshua, Andreas, George, Nitsa, Georgia Nickolatos, Brandon, George, Michael, Dorothy, Amy, Evangelos, Mary, Alberto and Rosa, Irena, Mary, Maria, Maria, Sarah, Michael, Gregory, Nick, Julie, Nitsa, Sayge, Stamatoula, Emilio, Sitheri, Ghassan, Maria, Daniel, Porphyrios, Jack, Ray Elias, Paul, Justin, Alex and baby Marina.


Greek Street Food Fest

Thank you to all our volunteers yesterday for your help at the Greek Street Food Fest!


Matthew 25 Food Ministry

Every Tuesday at 4:00pm, we come together in the kitchen to prepare bagged lunches for those less fortunate. If you would like to volunteer, please join us, or reach out if you would like to prepare a different meal.

If you would like to donate for the meal program, you may do so by putting your donation in one of the envelopes in the Narthex and marking the envelope "Matthew 25." Or you may donate online selecting "Matthew 25" under the donation options


75th Year Anniversary Gala

Save the date! Please join us for our 75th Anniversary Gala on November 11th at 6:00pm. If you would like to attend, you may leave an envelope with the names of attendees along with a check in the Narthex to reserve your seat. The ticket pricing is: $65 for preorder tickets purchased in September, $75 per ticket after October 1st, and $60 per person for a table of 10. You may also purchasre your tickets online at: StsCaH.com/gala

This is a formal attire event and we will be serving Lamb, Salmon, and have a Champagne Toast. We will continue the Luncheon celebration Sunday afternoon after Liturgy.


BACK TO TOP

This Week's Events

  • Upcoming Events

    October 1 to October 16, 2023

    SUN
    MON
    TUE
    WED
    THU
    FRI
    SAT
    1
    OCT
    2nd Sunday of Luke
    8:30AM Matins
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    2
    The Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Virgin Martyr Justina
    3
    Dionysios the Areopagite
    9:00AM Liturgy
    4:00PM Matthew 25 Food Program
    5:00PM Blessing of the Waters
    4
    ☦️ Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens
    5
    Charitina the Martyr
    6
    🍇 The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas
    7
    5:00PM Great Vespers
    8
    3rd Sunday of Luke
    8:30AM Matins
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    9
    St. Tikhon, Apostle to America
    9:00AM Liturgy
    10
    Eulampius & Eulampia the Martyrs
    4:00PM Matthew 25 Food Program
    11
    ☦️ Philip the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons
    12
    Probus, Andronicus, & Tarachus, Martyrs of Tarsus
    13
    ☦️ Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus, & Agathonica, the Martyrs of Pergamus
    14
    Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius, & Celsus
    5:00PM Great Vespers
BACK TO TOP