A Word from Father Alex

Saint Gregory Parishioners & Friends:

I pray this week finds you healthy and well. A blessed feast day to us all—it was very moving for me to celebrate our first Feast of Saint Gregory with you, despite our unique circumstances. At all the services, I felt your presence and your prayers, whether you were able to join us in person or remotely. Many thanks to our chanters, youth and adult readers, staff and volunteers for the loving, faithful effort throughout our festal period. I also greatly appreciate the beautiful Artoklasia breads baked and offered by Peter and Joan Maimonas. Thanks to all!

Looking to this Sunday, Jan. 31, the 15^th Sunday of Luke, I hope you can join us for worship and friendship at our parish home. Please make sure to sign up if you’ll be with us in person. Following Holy Communion, Youth Religious Education classes for middle and high school will meet in-person and via Zoom after Holy Communion; our younger grades will meet via Zoom only at 1 pm.

Following in-person classes, our Altar Servers are invited to meet me in the Church for a brief training session. All servers are invited, and I look forward to reflecting on our Altar ministry with our devoted youth.

Looking to Feb. 7, please make every effort to support the “Souper” Bowl of Caring. The effort is all about raising awareness of food insecurity and taking action on behalf of those who need our help. Please see the helpful giving links related to this event within your bulletin, which include donating to IOCC (via the IOCC link or GivePlus) and supporting "Our Daily Bread" (via food donations to Saint Gregory or the Amazon Wish List). Thank you in advance for your support.

For those interested, we are still seeking sponsors for the purchase of new liturgical and hymnal books. Further details are within your bulletin. Please contact me directly if you would like to learn more.

I’ll soon be sharing news with you about Orthodox Life, which will resume on February 10 (save the date). The learning and enrichment, for all ages, will always be a priority at our parish! I know we have the faith, creativity and energy to make ministry happen at Saint Gregory even during these challenging times.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alex

Sunday Notes

EPISTLE READER: T.J. Dimitriou. Our youth are especially encouraged to contact Fr. Alex to read on a coming Sunday, in person or remotely. Parents, please let Father know if your daughter or son might like to read.

HOMILY: "Small of Stature"

MEMORIALS: Dianne (Mercina) DiSanto, 1 year. May her memory be eternal!

ALTAR SERVERS: TJ Dimitriou and Mario Salzillo. Contact Fr. Alex if your son is interested in Altar service--we'd love to grow this ministry.

PRE-REGISTRATION: Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience with the pre-registration process. We will continue with this practice, for the well-being of our parish family, this month. Please register as space is limited.
Pre-register each week right here:
https://signup.com/group/52966497203

ACCESS SERVICES VIA FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian

ACCES SERVICES VIA YOU TUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg

Ministries, Programs & Events

ORTHROS & DIVINE LITURGY, Jan 31
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory, whether in person or remotely. Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am. Youth Religious Education classes continue this week following Holy Communion (in person and via Zoom for middle/high school) or at 1 pm (via Zoom only younger grades); parents, please see this week's emails from your child's teacher for details. If you plan to worship with us in person, make sure to pre-register early in the week
Please note that in accordinace with Gov. Baker's latest COVID-19 restrictions, Saint Gregory's maximum capacity limit is now 50 individuals. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Pre-register each week right here:
https://signup.com/group/52966497203

Access Services via Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian

Access Services via You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg

ALTAR SERVER TRAINING MTG, JAN 31
All servers are invited to join Fr. Alex in the church following Youth Religious Education class on Sunday, the 31st. Our training should take 30 mins. Please make every effort to join us.

"SOUPER BOWL" OF CARING, FEB 7
The effort is all about raising awareness of food insecurity and taking action on behalf of those who need our help. Please see the helpful giving links related to this event within your bulletin, which include donating to IOCC (via the IOCC link or GivePlus) and supporting "Our Daily Bread" (via food donations to Saint Gregory or the Amazon Wish List). Thank you in advance for your support.

ORTHODOX LIFE: "ELEVEN STORIES" RESUMES, FEB 10
We look forward to study, growth in the faith and friendship in 2021. Details on our February meetings is forthcoming--please save the date of the 10th, 7 pm via Zoom.

PHILOPTOCHOS UPDATES
***Coat Drive. Thank you to the parish for the wonderful response to the One Warm Coat Drive. Together we collected 55 coats plus some pajamas and assorted children's books to benefit Penelope Place/Health Imperatives in Brockton. This collection will go to good use during these difficult times.
***Membership Drive. Philoptochos has begun our 2021 membership drive. Please let us know if you are interested in joining our group. We meet monthly and members contribute their time and talents as they can.

NEW WEBSITE TEMPLATE
Our new website is up and running! If you visit this week, you may note that our parish calendar is updated and active, as well as a host of creative updates and new features. There is still a great deal of content to examine and update; this process will take months, so please be patient with us. Ideas or suggestions? Contact Fr. Alex or Webmaster John Tomarakos

NEW DIVINE LITURGY TEXTS DONATION OPPORTUNITY
As we look forward to a time when we will once again be able to sing together and utilize service books at Saint Gregory, the time has come to consider updated texts, reflecting the latest and official English translation of the Divine Liturgy. The Archdiocesan Dept. of Religious Education has updated hymnals and Divine Liturgy books our parish is interested in utilizing. Fr. Alex is still studying the options before us, but any parishioners interested in learning more about this undertaking and perhaps becoming financial sponsors of the news books are invited to contact Father.

STEWARDSHIP IN 2021
We are all grateful for the moving, inspiring testimonials of both Chris Botches and Kathy Kalogeras (videos soon to be available to our parishioners), as well as the leadership of Stewardship Chair Phil LaFond on Stewardship Sunday in December. Many thanks to all of our Saint Gregory parishioners who have already committed for 2021--we're off to a great start! 2021 Commitment Cards have been mailed to all our Stewards and are available via the Church Office. You can also fill out yours, and give online, via our website Stewardship Page: www.saintgregorythetheologian.org/stewardship/

SUNSHINE COMMITTEE MINISTRY: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
In coordination and support of the pastoral efforts of Fr. Alex, this ministry has been formed to communicate with parishioners who may be homebound, hospitalized, nursing facilities or otherwise unable to regularly make it to Saint Gregory. If you are aware of a parishioner who would welcome such communication and support, or if you would like to connect yourself, please contact the Church Office.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex
Tue (9 am - 1 pm), Wed (11 am - 3 pm) & Thur (9 am - 1 pm); or by appointment anytime.
In person or via Zoom. With the COVID situation please contact Father ahead of time to help keep our campus safe.
Cathy Cooper
By appointment: stgregorytheologian@earthlink.net

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

Epistle Reading

15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Gospel Reading

15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind!

Apolytikion for Unmercenaries Cyrus & John in the Plagal First Mode

Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strenghten the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou alone art good and the Friend of man.

Saint Gregory the Theologian in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.

Saints and Feasts

January 31

15th Sunday of Luke

January 31

Aed from Ferns

January 31

Cyrus & John the Unmercenaries

These Saints lived during the years of Diocletian. Saint Cyrus was from Alexandria, and Saint John was from Edessa of Mesopotamia. Because of the persecution of that time, Cyrus fled to the Gulf of Arabia, where there was a small community of monks. John, who was a soldier, heard of Cyrus' fame and came to join him. Henceforth, they passed their life working every virtue, and healing every illness and disease freely by the grace of Christ; hence their title of "Unmercenaries." They heard that a certain woman, named Athanasia, had been apprehended together with her three daughters, Theodora, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, and taken to the tribunal for their confession of the Faith. Fearing lest the tender young maidens be terrified by the torments and renounce Christ, they went to strengthen them in their contest in martyrdom; therefore they too were seized. After Cyrus and John and those sacred women had been greatly tormented, all were beheaded in the year 292. Their tomb became a renowned shrine in Egypt, and a place of universal pilgrimage. It was found in the area of the modern day resort near Alexandria named Abu Kyr.

Wisdom of the Fathers

For Christ's presence is like that of some life-giving, scented balsam which restores health, enriches life and gives savor to the soul, the thoughts, the words of a man. In brief, distance from Christ means corruption and death, and closeness to Him means salvation and life.

Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic

Prolog, 4 February

Christ is the salvation that comes, and Zacchaeus is the house to which He comes.

Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic

Prolog, 4 February

Metropolis of Boston News

Fr. Odisseys Drossos Installed at St. Nectarios in Roslindale, MA

01/26/2021

http://boston.goarch.org/news/metropolis_news/2020/2526.html

It is with deep sorrow that our Metropolitan informs you of the untimely falling asleep in the Lord of a long-term member of our Metropolis Council, Mark Adam, who passed away suddenly yesterday, Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Pastoral Visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios in Somerville, MA

01/19/2021

http://boston.goarch.org/news/metropolis_news/2020/2523.html

On Sunday, January 17th, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios visited the Dormition parish of Somerville, MA.

Archepiscopal Message

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros MLK Day Message 2021

01/18/2021

The wounds of centuries of slavery have not been fully overcome simply because there was a Civil War, or because there was Reconstruction, or when the Voting Rights Act was signed. Justice takes hard work over generations, and as Christians, we are called to that work. #MLKDay

https://www.goarch.org/-/mlk-message-2021

General Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

A Word from Father Alex

Sunday Notes

Ministries, Programs & Events

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Apolytikion for Unmercenaries Cyrus & John in the Plagal First Mode

Saint Gregory the Theologian in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Saints and Feasts

15th Sunday of Luke

Aed from Ferns

Cyrus & John the Unmercenaries

Wisdom of the Fathers

Metropolis of Boston News

Fr. Odisseys Drossos Installed at St. Nectarios in Roslindale, MA

01/26/2021

Pastoral Visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios in Somerville, MA

01/19/2021

Archepiscopal Message

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros MLK Day Message 2021

01/18/2021