Saint Gregory the Theologian
Publish Date: 2025-05-04
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: 

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! 

I hope you enjoy this week's eBulletin for May 4th, the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women. 
 
Please join us at Saint Gregory this weekend for worship, Sunday School and friendship. The Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women is one I look forward to each year. Come join us and be alongside those courageous women of faith from so long ago, as they discover the empty tomb—the Lord indeed is risen.

As this is the first Sunday of the month, I encourage all our children and Sunday School teachers to sit up front for Divine Liturgy. I’ll have a special homily waiting just for them: “Stooping and Looking In.”

For our college and graduate students who are completing their semester next few weeks, we wish them good strength—and health. We love them all and look forward to seeing them at Saint Gregory in the weeks and months to come. 

Finally, many thanks to those parishioners who have become Stewards for 2025. I encourage all our beloved parishioners who have not yet had an opportunity to visit our Stewardship pages today. There you'll find the program description, 2025 Commitment Card and easy online giving options. Many thanks for your generosity and caring toward our parish home. 

Hope to see you Sunday,

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: Carla Saad.
Cap., Eleni LaFond. 

TODAY'S EPISTLE: Eleni LaFond. 

HOMILY: "Stooping and Lookng In."

MEMORIAL: Leonidas Chetsas (8 yrs.); Solon Chris (9 yrs.); and Victoria Ann Douvris (40 days). May their memory be eternal!

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Offered by the Vinton, Guinan, and Douvris Families in loving memory of Victoria Ann Douvris. 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: Sponsored by the Guinan and Vinton Families, in loving memory of Victoria Ann Douvris. 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

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices, which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered His words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Epistle Reading

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7

In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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Saints and Feasts

May 04

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).

May 04

Pelagia the Nun-martyr of Tarsus

This Saint was from Tarsus of Cilicia and contested in martyrdom under Diocletian, in 284: she was cast into a bull fashioned of bronze, which had been heated with fire.

May 04

Hilary the Wonderworker

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Wisdom of the Fathers

They [the women] had followed Him ministering to Him, and were present even unto the time of the dangers. Wherefore also they saw all; how He cried, how He gave up the ghost, how the rocks were rent, and all the rest.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century

And these [the women] first see Jesus; and the sex that was most condemned, this first enjoys the sight of the blessings, this most shows its courage. And when the disciples had fled, these were present.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 88 on Matthew 27, 4th Century

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Ministries, Programs & Parish Updates

SERVICES FOR SUNDAY MAY 4TH, SUNDAY OF THE MYRRHBEARING WOMEN
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 4TH
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

PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING, THIS SUNDAY, MAY 4TH
Please join your Philoptochos sisters for planning, reflection and friendship in the library following Sunday School classes. All Philoptochos members are warmly invited to join.

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.  

METROPOLIS ORATORICAL FESTIVAL, MAY 10TH
Saint Gregory has been asked to host the Metropolis festival on the 10th. We are excited to see our own Mario Salzillo (Junior Division) and Georgia Stavros (Senior Division) speak and, of course, to welcome and support speakers and parishioners from throughout the Metropolis of Boston. Please contact Fr. Alex if you can help with hospitality and other support. Needs include greeting/ushering; hall set up; lunch service; and clean up.

GRADUATION & SCHOLARSHIP SUNDAY, MAY 18TH
We look forward to honoring our high school graduates on the 18th 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!

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.

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.  

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 4 to May 18, 2025

    Sunday, May 4

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    11:30AM Philoptochos Mtg

    Saturday, May 10

    9:00AM Metropolis Oratorical Festival

    Sunday, May 11

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    Tuesday, May 13

    6:30PM Parish Council

    Sunday, May 18

    8:30AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School

    11:15AM High School Graduation

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Archdiocese News

Archbishop Elpidophoros on the Repose of Pope Francis

04/21/2025

https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-on-the-repose-of-pope-francis?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

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."


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