A Word from Father Alex

Fellow Parishioners and Friends:

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

This Sunday, May 21, is the Sunday of the Blind Man. The Gospel reading focuses on a remarkable healing story: a man who could not see from birth now sees. One of the most striking aspects of the Gospel narrative is that after the healing, the Pharisees do not even think he is the same person. They even query his parents, hoping to discover some sort of deception. In the end, you and I understand that God's work in our lives is so powerful that we are changed, almost seeming like a new person--we are transfigured and transformed by our compassionate Lord.

Following Holy Communion this Sunday, we will enjoy the High School Graduate Recognition/Scholarship Event. We look forward to recognizing the spiritual growth and academic achievements of our beloved youth. In addition, our Spring Parish General Assembly will take place after the program. Please remain with us for this important meeting of our parish family.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday,

Fr. Alex

Sunday Notes

EPISTLE: Christopher Botchis. Parishioners of all ages are invited to read the Epistle. Please contact Fr. Alex to choose a date.

TODAY'S MYRHHBEARER SERVICE: Nomiki Steeves. Servers are welcome to participate in this ministry throughout the spring and summer. To get involved, contact Eleni LaFond or Fr. Alex.

TODAY'S ALTAR TEAM: Team Archangel Michael: Matt Cromack, AJ and Matthew Georgilas and Mario Salzillo. Altar Captain: Chris Botchis; Assistant Captain: Spencer Riley.

HOMILY: “Healing of the Blind Man: Making Us New."

ALTAR FLOWERS: Please consider sponsoring Altar flowers on a coming Sunday or feast day. The donation for flower sponsorships is $50. Please contact the Church Office to learn more or sponsor.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Sponsored by our GOYA Ministry. All are welcome to join us in the hall for friendship and refreshments following Divine Liturgy. Fellowship Hour sponsorships are welcome and needed. Please sign up in the hall this weekend or use our new SignUpGenius link.

WORSHIPPING FROM HOME: STREAMING AND INTERNET MINISTRY:

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus has lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Epistle Reading

Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles
The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 26:1, 12-20

IN THOSE DAYS, King Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: "I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles-to whom I send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' "Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance."

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from John 9:1-38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.

Saints and Feasts

May 21

Sunday of the Blind Man

The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."

Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.

May 21

Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles

This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).

As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.

May 21

Pachomios the Righteous New Martyr

Wisdom of the Fathers

The work of God is, after all, the forming of man. He did this by an outward action, as Scripture says, 'And the Lord took clay from earth, and formed man.' Notice here too how the Lord spit on the earth, and made clay and smeared it on his eyes, showing how the ancient creation was made. He was making clear to those who can understand, that this was the [same] hand of God through which man was formed from clay.

St. Irenaeus

Against Heresies. 5.15.2. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 324.

But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness: since he recovered the sight of the eyes within.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 56 on John 9, 4th Century

Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates

SERVICES FOR TODAY, MAY 21, SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory: Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am. Sunday School classes will be in session this weekend, immediately following Holy Communion.

STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA CONNECTIONS FOR TODAY, MAY 21
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

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RECOGNITION, MAY 21
Today following Holy Communion, we will recognize the accomplishments of our high school
graduates and reflect upon their spiritual journey here at Saint Gregory. We are proud of them all.
In addition, the Parasco Scholarships will be presented, and the Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival certificates will be given to this year’s participants. We thank Dr. Stavros for leading today’s program; we also offer our appreciation to our Sunday School leaders and teachers for their years of dedication to our graduates, their families and all of our Saint Gregory Sunday School students. Congratulations to all our graduates! Your Saint Gregory family will be right behind you as you pursue your aspirations and dreams in the years to come.

PARISH GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MAY 21
Please make plans to join us for this important meeting of our parish family, immediately following Divine Liturgy. The agenda is in the Narthex and available here.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LAST DAY OF CLASSES & CELEBRATION, JUNE 4
Believe it or not, we are quickly moving toward the end of our Sunday School year. On the 4th following Holy Communion, our Sunday School leaders and teachers will present our children with end-of-the-year gifts during class time. Then all our children are invited to an ice cream social during Fellowship Hour. Many thanks to all of our teachers and students for a great year!

METROPOLIS AWARDS BANQUET, JUNE 11
This year’s Metropolis Awards Banquet will be held June 11, once again at Gillette Stadium.
Congratulations to this year’s honoree, Karen Guinan! We are all invited to join Karen, Jack and the Guinan Family for this wonderful event. Tickets are $100 each, and please contact Fr. Alex by May 26 to reserve your space at our Saint Gregory tables.

FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND “GETAWAY” AT THE RETREAT CENTER, JUNE 16 - 18
Plans are being made for our annual weekend at the Saint Methodios Faith and Heritage Center, this year on June 16 - 18. Come all three days or for as long as you like. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with our fellow parishioners and enjoy some “down time” at the beautiful retreat center. Swimming, hiking, outdoor games and much more are on the agenda, including several sessions with Fr. Alex on “Saintly Families: Parent and Child Saints in the Orthodox Church.” Check in on the 16th begins at 5 pm. See our flyer (w/ reg. link) in the Narthex. To learn more, contacT Stephanie LaFond: steph@lafonds.net; 508.641.1362.

NEW FELLOWSHIP HOUR SIGN-UP RESOURCES
All parishioners are invited to host Fellowship Hour on a coming Sunday this winter and spring. 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: bvkaufman@gmail.com

STEWARDSHIP 2023 & TESTIMONIAL VIDEO
As we move into the new year, we now kindly ask our Stewards to read over our 2023 materials package and prayerfully complete and return 2023 Commitment Cards at their earliest convenience. This not only helps us plan for and support our parish ministries but is a visible symbol of our Eucharistic community: united in worship and dedication to the Gospel. The Stewardship pages of our parish website have been updated with our 2023 materials, and please contact Phil LaFond with any questions (phil@lafonds.net). View the Stewardship Sunday testimonial video here.

NEW ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM
Parishioners who would like to try out our new Assistive Listening System are welcome to use the receivers on our Narthex Welcome Table. The receivers are easy to use: just place the ear device on your ear, and turn on the “on/volume” on top of the receiver.

USHERING AND "RIDES TO CHURCH" MINISTRIES
This winter and spring, those interested in our Ushering Ministry are invited to contact George Dimitriou: 781-769-2085; Gdimitriou@yahoo.com. Offering yourself as an usher is a wonderful way to meet new people and helps create a welcoming environment at Saint Gregory. We have also been re-initiating our efforts to provide rides to church for anyone who needs one. Once again, contact George Dimitriou if you could use a “lift” or would like to help drive.

LITURGICAL SINGING
This ministry engages musical leadership not only for Sunday liturgy but all the liturgical needs of the year, from Vespers services to Great Lent and Holy Week. Your time and talent is most welcome within our Liturgical Singing Ministry. Please contact Kathy Kalogeras to learn more: kalogeras1@earthlink.net.

MYRHHBEARERS MINISTRY
Within the context of our fledling Myrrhbearers Ministry, our girls and young women are invited to hold Antidoro during Divine Liturgy, read the Epislte and otherwise participate in the entire life of the Church. Please contact Eleni LaFond to pick a date for Antidoro service and Fr. Alex to plan a date for an Epistle reading.

WHAT'S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE?
Within our Youth Ministry pages, you'll soon see two new June resources under "Youth and Family Resources": "Saintly Lives" and "For Your Home." Both can be a resources for parents as they strive to bring the life of the Church into their homes.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue. (1 pm – 5 pm), Wed. (9 am – 1 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, visitingn with another parishioner, attending a Metropolis event or otherwise engaged in Church life during office hours. General Church Office Needs: as we are currently short staffed, please call the Church Office (508.337.9986) and leave a message. Father or another ministry leader will get back with you shortly. Thanks for your patience.

Calendar: Next Two Weeks

Saint Gregory Parish Calendar

May 21 to June 4, 2023

Sunday, May 21

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

10:30AM Sunday School classes

10:45AM High School Grad/Scholarship Sunday

11:15AM Parish General Assembly

Thursday, May 25

The Ascension

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

Sunday, May 28

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

10:30AM Sunday School classes

Sunday, June 4

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

10:30AM Last Day of Sunday School classes

11:30AM Sunday School Ice Cream Social

11:30AM Brief General Assembly

Coming Events & News

Parish General Assembly Agenda: May 21, 2023

Join us for this important meeting of our parish family, immediately following services. All 2023 Stewards are warmly invited to participate.

Metropolis Ministry Awards: June 11, 2023

Join fellow parishioners from across the Metropolis of Boston as we come together at Gillette Stadium to celebrate the dedicated service of clergy and laity. Reservation information will soon be available.

Secretarial Bookkeeper Position

Saint Gregory is seeking a part-time secretarial bookkeeper position to help serve the many needs of our parish family. The job description and contact information are within this flyer.

Archdiocese News

Remarks by Archbishop Elpidophoros at the OCMC Banquet

05/17/2023

https://www.goarch.org/-/5-13-2023-remarks-archbishop-elpidophoros-ocmc-banquet?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

What a wonderful event for our Orthodox Christian Mission Center, here at Saint Katherine in Falls Church! All of you are to be commended for your presence, but especially the organizers for OCMC and the Parish, who have made this evening possible. I would have liked to have been here for the Vespers, but I was delayed by today’s enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, the new leader of the Antiochian Church in America.

Sunday Sermon Series: Sunday of the Blind Man (May 21, 2023)

05/17/2023

https://www.goarch.org/-/5-21-2023-dre-sunday-sermon-series-sunday-of-the-blind-man?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss

This week, find insights about the upcoming Gospel reading, where we learn about a blind man who encountered Christ. Why did He anoint the man’s eyes with clay? And why did the Lord send him to wash in the Pool of Siloam? Also, how does that mean a new creation for us?

General Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

A Word from Father Alex

Sunday Notes

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Saints and Feasts

Sunday of the Blind Man

Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles

Pachomios the Righteous New Martyr

Wisdom of the Fathers

Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates

Calendar: Next Two Weeks

Saint Gregory Parish Calendar

May 21 to June 4, 2023

Coming Events & News

Parish General Assembly Agenda: May 21, 2023

Metropolis Ministry Awards: June 11, 2023

Secretarial Bookkeeper Position

Archdiocese News

Remarks by Archbishop Elpidophoros at the OCMC Banquet

05/17/2023

Sunday Sermon Series: Sunday of the Blind Man (May 21, 2023)

05/17/2023