Saint Gregory the Theologian
Publish Date: 2025-05-18
Bulletin Contents

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Saint Gregory the Theologian

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (508)337-9986
  • Fax:
  • (508)337-9987
  • Street Address:

  • 1007 West Street

  • Mansfield, MA 02048
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 293

  • Mansfield, MA 02048


Services Schedule

Sunday & Weekday Services
Orthros/Matins: 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 am

Youth Religious Education Ministry is currently offered Sundays in person and remotely following Holy Communion. Please see weekly updates from our ministry leaders for updates on each class. All are welcome to join us for Fellowship Hour after Divine Liturgy. 


Past Bulletins


A Word from Father Alex

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! 

As I mentioned in church on May 4, I will be away from our parish home--and out of the country--until May 21. I will keep you all in my prayers and will be excited to reunite with you on Sunday, May 25. 

Fr. Manny will lead services on May 11 (happy early Mother's Day!), and we are working with the Metropolis to find a substitute for May 18.

If a pastoral emergency should arise (such as a family member being in the hospital), please contact the Church Office, and I will arrange pastoral care for your loved one. 

Please read on in your eBulletin for details on everything happening at Saint Gregory in the weekes to come, please note that the High School Graduation/Scholarship event has been moved to Sunday, June 1st.

See you later this month,

Fr. Alex

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Sunday Notes

TODAY'S ALTAR SERVERS: Team Archangel Gabriel.
Parish Altar Team Members
Altar Team Archangel Michael: Matthew Cromack, AJ Georgilas (Asst. Cap.) and Matthew Georgilas
Altar Team Archangel Gabriel: Eliot Hess, Leland Hess, Linus LaFond (Asst. Cap.) and Mark Saad
Cap., Mario Salzillo

TODAY'S MYRRHBEARER: Nomiki Steeves.
Cap., Eleni LaFond. 

TODAY'S EPISTLE: Parish Chanters. 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Join us for friendship and refreshments, immediately following Divine Liturgy in the church hall. This month and beyond, Fellowship Hour sponsors are welcome and needed. Please sign up in the hall this weekend or use our SignUpGenius link

ALTAR FLOWERS: Please consider sponsoring altar flowers for a coming Sunday. The donation for flower sponsorships is $75. Please contact Gina in the church office to learn more or sponsor. 

KOLIVA PREPARATION: Parishioners often ask for help in preparing Koliva and may contact Gina Drugas to order a plate for a memorial ($100 per Koliva).

WORSHIPPING FROM HOME: STREAMING AND INTERNET MINISTRY:

ACCESS SERVICES VIA FACEBOOK:
St. Gregory the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church | Facebook

ACCESS SERVICES VIA YOU TUBE:
St. Gregory The Theologian Live - YouTube

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.


Epistle Reading

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30

In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The Reading is from John 4:5-42

At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.

Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."


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Saints and Feasts

May 18

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22). This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.

When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat, and He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today's Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.

Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. These nations had been idolaters from before. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. Nonetheless, they thought themselves to be descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Therefore, the pious Jews named these Judaizing and idolatrous peoples Samaritans, since they lived in Samaria, the former leading city of the Israelites, as well as in the other towns thereabout. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26.


May 18

Holy Martyrs: Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul, Christina, Heraclius, Paulinus and Benedimus

These Saints all contested in martyrdom during the reign of Decius (249-251)- Peter was from Lampsacus in the Hellespont. For refusing to offer sacrifice to the idol of Aphrodite, his whole body was crushed and broken with chains and pieces of wood on a torture-wheel; having endured this torment courageously, he gave up his soul.

Paul and Andrew were soldiers from Mesopotamia brought to Athens with their governor, there they were put in charge of two captive Christians, Dionysios and Christina. The soldiers, seeing the beauty of the virgin Christina, attempted to move her to commit sin with them, but she refused and, by her admonitions, brought them to faith in Christ. They and Dionysios were stoned to death, and Christina was beheaded.

Heraclius, Paulinus, and Benedimus were Athenians, and preachers of the Gospel who turned many of the heathen from their error to the light of Christ. Brought before the governor, they confessed their Faith, and after many torments were beheaded.


May 18

Stephen I, Patriarch of Constantinople


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Here is love! Here is teaching! Here is acquiescence! Here is a model! ... Those who love they also serve. If you want to find out how great your love is towards God, then measure your obedience to the will of God, and you will immediately learn.
Bishop Nicolai Velimirovic
Prolog, 7 Sept., B #80, 706.

The example of the good Samaritan shows that we must not abandon those in whom even the faintest amount of faith is still alive.
St. Ambrose of Milan
Two Books of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Concerning Repentance, Chapter 11

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Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates

SERVICES FOR SUNDAY MAY 18TH, SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory: 
Orthros, 8:30 AM
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 AM
No Sunday School this Sunday. All are warmly invited to join us for refreshments and fellowhip after Divine Liturgy. 

STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA FOR THIS SUNDAY, MAY 18TH
Access Services via You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg

Access services and join our community on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian

Join our community on Instagram:
@saintgregorythetheologian

 

FATHER AWAY NEXT TWO SUNDAYS
Fr. Alex will be traveling to Rome for a class from May 10th – May 23rd. Fr. Manny will lead services on the 11th, and the Metropolis will provide a substitute priest for the 18th. If a pastoral emergency should arise during Fr. Alex’s absence, please contact the church office.  

GOYA RELAY FOR LIFE, MAY 31ST
Relay for Life is a community-based cancer awareness and fundraising walk, and our GOYAns will once again participate (Norton High School, 1 – 10 pm on the 31st). GOYAns may join our team and sign up for a two hour time slot. Our goal is to have a minimum of two youth walkers and one adult walker for each time slot. GOYAns, please sign up for a slot at your earliest convenience. A donation table will soon be set up at Fellowship Hour, so our parishioners may offer their support.

GRADUATION & SCHOLARSHIP SUNDAY, JUNE 1st
We look forward to honoring our high school graduates on the 1st during a special program—and celebrating our scholarship winners. This will be a day to reflect upon our precious youth: they are a true blessing and treasure here at Saint Gregory. Congratulations to them all!

METROPOLIS AWARDS EVENT, JUNE 8TH
This year’s Metropolis Awards will once again be held at Gillette Stadium. The event is designed to highlight the faithful service of the laity of the Metropolis of Boston. This year’s Saint Gregory honorees are Brian and Anastasia Kaufman! We are grateful to Brian and Anastasia for their tireless, dedicated and loving service to our parish and look forward to celebrating with them on the 8th. Reservation details will soon be announced. Please save the date and plan to join us.  

FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS
Our second annual Parish Festival will be held on Saturday, August 23rd! We’re currently looking for volunteers to help with setup and preparations in the days before the festival, as well as volunteers for various roles on the day of the event. Please see Joe CaraDonna, Steve Drugas, or Dennis Savas for more information

PASCHAL JOY—FROM THE HOMILY OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
“Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward. O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is
rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry!

“Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.”

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY 2025 
As we move into the new year, we hope and pray God will help us embrace parish giving with renewed enthusiasm and commitment. With this year’s theme in mind (“Your Own of Your Own”), may we all discover the love and dedication to offer our heartfelt gifts to the Lord’s church. Visit the Stewardship pages of our parish website to learn more about Stewardship and to access our 2025 materials:
Stewardship Program 2025 | Saint Gregory the Theologian

FELLOWSHIP HOUR SIGN-UP RESOURCES
All parishioners are invited to host Fellowship Hour on a coming Sunday. In addition to the sign-up poster in the hall, we can now easily learn more and sign up online. Fellowship Hour is a beloved, significant tradition at our parish that speaks to Christian fellowship and hospitality. Thanks in advance for your support, and contact Fellowship Hour Chair Brian Kaufman with any questions: [email protected]

RIDES TO CHURCH
George Dimitriou, our Driving Ministry chair, would be happy to help you or a loved one make it to Saint Gregory for worship and events. Contact George directly: [email protected]; 781.769.2085.

LOST & FOUND
When parishioners find items about the church, they leave them with the church office. You will find a mail tray labled for lost and found. If you have misplaced a small item, or found one, please stop by the office.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue., 9 am - 1 pm; Wed., 1 - 4 pm; Thur., 9 am - 1 pm.; or by appointment when convenient for our parishioners. Please note that on occasion, Fr. Alex may be seeing to a pastoral situation, visiting with another parishioner, attending a Metropolis event, or otherwise engaged in Church life during office hours.

Church Secretary Gina Drugas: Monday, Wed., Thursday, & Friday: 1 - 3 pm; Tue.: 12:30 - 2 pm. Contact Gina: [email protected]; 508.337.9986.

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Calendar: Next Two Weeks

  • Saint Gregory Parish Calendar

    May 18 to June 1, 2025

    Sunday, May 18

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    Sunday, May 25

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    11:15AM Philoptochos Sunday/Officer Pledge

    Thursday, May 29

    Ascension of the Lord

    8:45AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    Saturday, May 31

    1:00PM GOYA Relay for Life

    Sunday, June 1

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Last Day of Sunday School classes

    11:15AM High School Graduation

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Archdiocese News

Archbishop Elpidophoros on the Repose of Pope Francis

04/21/2025

Today, April 21, 2025, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America offered the following message via social media: "The joy of Pascha is tinged with a note of sadness today, as we learn of the repose in the Lord of Pope Francis. In a world of increasing animosity, conflict and hate, Pope Francis was a towering figure of compassion, empathy and love. Memory Eternal, Requiescat in Pace."


Archbishop Arrives in California for Clergy-Laity Assembly

05/04/2025

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America arrived at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA on Saturday, May 3, 2025 in preparation for the Clergy-Laity Assembly of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco.


Fr. Nicolas Kazarian: "Bridges of Reconciliation: Pope Francis and the Orthodox"

05/13/2025

The casket is closed. Pope Francis reposes at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in accordance with his will. The Pope wanted his funeral to be a reflection of his tenure: simple and close to the most vulnerable.


Celebrate the Liturgical New Year with Archbishop Elpidophoros: Pilgrimage to Constantinople and Armenia

05/13/2025

The Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are delighted to announce their first joint pilgrimage to Constantinople-Nicaea and Armenia in 2025.


Archbishop Elpidophoros Hosts Farewell Dinner for Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkon

05/13/2025

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America hosted a Farewell Dinner for His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkon on Monday, May 12, 2025.


Archdiocese Welcomes Mr. Dimitrios Katsiklis as New Director of Orthodox Marketplace

05/13/2025

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Dimitrios Katsiklis as the new Director of Orthodox Marketplace.


Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkon Officiates the Divine Liturgy at St. Paraskevi Shrine Church in Greenlawn, NY

05/12/2025

With the invitation and blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkon officiated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Greenlawn, New York yesterday, May 11th, 2025.


FREEDOM Ministry Director Fr. Peter Spiro Participates in Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Symposium

05/12/2025

Fr. Peter Spiro, Director of FREEDOM Ministry joined a distinguished panel of experts at the Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery in Today’s World symposium, hosted by the Orion Chapter of the Daughters of Penelope. The event took place at the Malliotis Cultural Center on the campus of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.


You're Invited: Juneteenth Ecumenical Prayer at St. Nicholas National Shrine

05/12/2025

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States of America. It is celebrated on June 19th, which is the day in 1865 when enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom.


“The Council of Nicaea (325 CE): An Academic Symposium of the Ecumenical Patriarchate” Sponsored by the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross

05/12/2025

From April 24–26, 2025, a distinguished gathering of global theologians, scholars, and church leaders convened in Istanbul and Nicaea for a historic academic symposium titled  The Council of Nicaea (325 CE): An Academic Symposium of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.


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