Saint Gregory the Theologian
Publish Date: 2025-04-13
Bulletin Contents
A Word from Father Alex
Sunday Notes
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates
Calendar: Next Two Weeks
Coming Events & News
Metropolis of Boston News
Archdiocese News

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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

Fellow Parishioners and Friends: 

A Blessed Resurrection and "Kali Anastasi" (“Good Resurrection”) to you and yours.

This Sunday, April 13th, is Palm Sunday--a day of triumph, rejoicing and hope in the Orthodox Christian Church. I hope and pray you will join us for both the Saturday of Lazarus (Divine Liturgy, Communion breakfast and palm folding on April 12th) and the Orthros and Divine Liturgy of Palm Sunday. Following services on Sunday, we’ll look forward to the parish luncheon and Philoptochos Easter bread sale.

View our Holy Week schedule for details on everything from our divine services to the Holy Friday Youth Retreat and Holy Saturday Evening parish potluck. As we move toward our Holy Pascha on April 20th, each day of Holy Week provide an opportunity for worship, reflection and friendship in Christ. Be with us for this journey. 

Again, a Blessed Resurrection to us all!

Fr. Alex

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Sunday Notes

TODAY'S ALTAR SERVERS: All Servers Welcome.
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: Audrey Sweten.
Cap., Eleni LaFond. 

TODAY'S EPISTLE: Parish Chanters. 

HOMILY: “Lazarus, Come Forth!"

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Join us for the Palm Sunday luncheon in the hall, immediately following Divine Liturgy. 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

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 21:1-11; 15-17

At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If any one says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their garments on them, and he sat thereon. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" And when he entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?" And the crowds said, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee." But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant; and they said to him, "Do you hear what they are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read,

'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings,
you have brought perfect praise'?"

And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

Epistle Reading

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Reading

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

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Saints and Feasts

April 13

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.

April 13

Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome

Saint Martin was born in Tuscany. He had been the papal delegate at Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his successor. At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine Pogonatus (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God. But the newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximus the Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the Monothelite heresy. Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming against the most holy Mother of God. Though innocent of these accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous confession in the year 655.

April 13

Theodosios the Martyr

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Wisdom of the Fathers

But observe the wisdom of the Evangelist, how he is not ashamed to parade their former ignorance. That it was written they knew, that it was written of Him they knew not. For it would have offended them if He being a King were about to suffer such things, and be so betrayed.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 66 on John 12, 2. B#58, p.245., 4th Century

Besides, they could not at once have taken in the knowledge of the Kingdom of which He spake; for another Evangelist saith, that they thought the words were spoken of a kingdom of this world. (Matt. xx. 21.)
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 66 on John 12, 2. B#58, p.245., 4th Century

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Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates

SERVICES FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH, PALM SUNDAY
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory: 
Orthros, 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am
Each week, Sunday School classes begin immediately after Holy Communion. All are warmly invited to join us for refreshments and fellowhip after Divine Liturgy. 

STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA FOR THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH
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" 

SATURDAY OF LAZARUS EVENT, THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH
All Sunday School children, families and parishioners are warmly invited to join us for this much-anticipated day. We will celebate the Orthros and Divine Liturgy of Lazarus Saturday, enjoy a Communion breakfast and then fold palms. Thank you to Steve Christo and our GOYAns for sponsoring the breakfast. 

PHILOPTOCHOS EASTER BREAD & DIGNITY MATTERS, APRIL 13TH
***This Sunday during Fellowship Hour, pick up your Easter bread during Fellowship Hour. Many thanks to those who have pre-ordered bread, and each loaf is $15.
***The Dignity Matters Drive continues until Easter. Menstrual products, bras and underwear can be dropped in the Narthex bin, or ship your donations directly to church usng our Amazon list (emailed to our parishioners).

PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON, THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 13TH
Following Divine Liturgy, please join us for our Palm Sunday Luncheon, as we celebrate the Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem and break bread before Holy Week. 

HOLY FRIDAY YOUTH RETREAT, APRIL 18TH
Please join us for the Holy Friday retreat, 12 - 2:45 pm. Children in grades K - 8 are encouraged to sign up and participate in activities related to our theme, “The Empty Tomb: 'He Has Risen! He Is Not Here'" (Mark 16:6). Children will be engaged in hands-on activities and lessons throughout the afternoon and participate in a service activity. Please register your child by April 15th (Holy Friday Retreat Registration 2025), and contact Paula Hartigan-Patey with questions or to help out: [email protected]

AGAPE SUNDAY READERS AND EGG HUNT, APRIL 20TH
Readers for Agape (Easter) Sunday are needed to proclaim the Gospel in as many languages as possible. This is a wonderful way to offer your talent to Saint Gregory and participate in our liturgical life on this great feast of the Lord. Following the Agape Vespers (begins at 11 am), we will hold our annual Easter egg hunt for our younger children. Parents, please bring your child’s Easter basket and get ready for some friendship and fun!

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL REFLECTIONS
Our Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival was a vibrant, inspiring event for our children and entire parish family. Congratulations to Mario Salzillo (Junior Division) and Georgia Stavros (Senior Division) who will continue on to the Metropolis of Boston festival on May 10th. Many thanks to Festival Chair Brian Hess, our judges, teachers and supportive volunteers for their efforts.
***Next Steps in the Oratorical Festival: St. Gregory has been asked to host the Metropolis festival on May 10th. Please contact Fr. Alex if you can help with hospitality and other support. 

PARASCO ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP
High school seniors attending a college or university next fall are encouraged to apply for the Parasco Academic Scholarship (applications due April 28th). Application materials have been emailed to our parishioners.

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

    April 13 to April 27, 2025

    Sunday, April 13

    Palm Sunday

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    11:30AM Philoptochos Easter bread sale

    11:30AM Palm Sunday Luncheon

    6:00PM Bridegroom Service

    Monday, April 14

    6:00PM Bridegroom Service

    Tuesday, April 15

    6:00PM Bridegroom Service

    Wednesday, April 16

    5:30PM Holy Unction

    Thursday, April 17

    9:30AM Vesperal Liturgy

    6:00PM Passion of the Lord

    Friday, April 18

    9:00AM Royal Hours

    10:30AM Kouvouklion decoration

    12:00PM Holy Friday Youth Retreat

    3:00PM Descent from the Cross

    6:00PM Lamentations

    Saturday, April 19

    9:00AM Vesperal Liturgy

    11:15PM Resurrection Service

    Sunday, April 20

    Holy Pascha

    1:15AM Parish pot luck meal

    11:00AM Agape Vespers

    12:00PM Easter Egg Hunt

    Sunday, April 27

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    11:15AM Knitting Ministry

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Coming Events & News

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Archdiocese News

Gathered as One Body: Disability, Accessibility, and Inclusion in the Orthodox Church

03/18/2025

https://www.goarch.org/-/gathered-as-one-body-disability-accessibility-and-inclusion-in-the-orthodox-church?redirect=%2Fnews%2Frecent-news%2F-%2Fasset_publisher%2Fgt9jYZFyZyFT%2Frss%3F_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_currentURL%3D%252Fnews%252Frecent-news%26_com_liferay_asset_publisher_web_portlet_AssetPublisherPortlet_INSTANCE_gt9jYZFyZyFT_portletAjaxable%3Dtrue

The Huffington Ecumenical Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross invites you to GATHERED AS ONE BODY, a groundbreaking conference dedicated to fostering accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities within the Orthodox Church.


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