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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2024-11-17
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

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St. Demetrios Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (440) 331-2246
  • Fax:
  • (440) 331-8407
  • Street Address:

  • 22909 Center Ridge Road

  • Rocky River, OH 44116
  • Mailing Address:

  • 22909 Center Ridge Road

  • Rocky River, OH 44116

Contact Information

Priest Fr. Andy Lentz


[email protected] | 440-331-2246 x1

Office Manager Eleni Papouras-Jenks


[email protected] | 440-331-2246 x2

Operations Manager Byron T. Spooner


[email protected] | 440-331-2246 x3

Services Schedule

Sundays 8:30 a.m. Orthros and 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Special weekday feastday services to be announced in the bulletin.

Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

11/17

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

after church

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

GOYA meeting  /  DOP meeting

MONDAY

11/18

6:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Movie Monday: Millions  

Boys Basketball

TUESDAY

11/19

5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Greek School

Parish Council meeting

WEDNESDAY

11/20

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

Pickleball

Bible Study

Boys Basketball

THURSDAY

11/21

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

After Liturgy

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple

Prayer Group

Greek School

Choir practice

MEMORIALS

40 days for George Voutsiotis, husband of Vivi and father of Alexia

 40 days for Anna Petridou, grandmother of Anna Tzinis

 Alexandra Apostolides, founder of the Daughters of Penelope

Coming up…12/8: Apotsos, Carpadis; 12/15: Revmatas;  12/29: Fotinos, Stavrulakis


STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY

Nov. 17, we welcome guest homilist Stacy Stathulis who will speak on how to "see our church as it could be" in 2025. Coffee hour will be hosted by the Stewardship and Welcome Committees, and the 2025 pledge commitment cards will be available. You will also be able to pick up your 2025 wall calendars with all the church feastdays noted. 

 


PURSE PROJECT

Now thru Nov. 17,  Daughters of Penelope will be collecting Clean /gently-used, empty purse(s) OR  purse(s) filled with the below items OR any items listed below:  

Waterproof bag with hat, gloves, scarf and warm socks,  Full size shampoo & conditioner, Body wash, Hand sanitizer, Deodorant, Lotion, Lip balm, Tissues, Small (make-up) bag of pads/tampons, Full pack of razors & shaving cream, Toothpaste & tooth brush, Mints/gum, a Nail care item, a hair item (scrunchies, etc.), 5-6 pieces of beauty items (makeup etc.)

Leave donations in the collection bin located in the lower Narthex. Purses will be given to  women in a NE Ohio shelter prior to  Thanksgiving.

 

Folloiwng the memorial of the founder of Daughters of Penelope,  women who are interested in learning more about the Daughters of Penelope, they  will meet in the Fellowship Room during coffee hour to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the founding of D.O.P.  Come raise a toast to the memory of our founder. 


GOYA NEWS

Sun., NOv 17, teens invited to the monthly meeting in the GOYA room after Sunday School

Basketball practices are now underway to prepare for the 2025 basketball tournaments:

  • Boys – Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
  • Girls – Sundays after Sunday School

MOVIE MONDAY

We conclude the year-long film series exploring the intent, wording, and  application of the  Ten Commandments,  based on the book  The Ten Commandments: Still the Best Moral Code by Dennis Prager, with a discussion on repentance and redemption.

Shown on the big screen in the Cultural Hall.  Free & open to all.

 VIII Commandment:  You shall not steal. 

November 18, 6:00 p.m.

 Millions (2004;  98 minutes;  Rated PG)  In this family-friendly comedy, bank robbers accidentally drop a bag of stolen money on the playhouse of a 7-year-old British boy. Since his mum’s death, he’s been talking to saints, and sees the windfall as a miracle. But he is soon grappling with the morals of using ill-gotten gains while evading the gang that’s looking for their loot, and worse – his greedy big brother! Can one ‘do good’ with stolen goods?

Note:  As the days get shorter, movies will be matinees in December.

IX Commandment: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

December 2,  3:00 p.m.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962;  2 hours & 9 minutes)

A white lawyer (Gregory Peck) defends a black man who is wrongfully accused of a crime in 1932 Alabama, in  this courtroom drama based on Harper Lee’s iconic novel.

 

 X Commandment:  You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife, or property. 

December 16, 3:00 p.m.

 David & Bathsheba (1951; 1 hour & 56 minutes)

In this Oscar-nominated, Biblical epic, King David (Gregory Peck) very much covets his neighbor’s beautiful wife Bathsheba (Susan Hayward) – with tragic consequences for his family and for Israel. And yet, our Church commemorates King David each December, and our parish included his icon in our dome.

 

 


CHRISTMAS GIFT DRIVE

Join Sunday School and Philoptochos in donating items to a Cleveland public school for immigrant children. The school is hosting a holiday "shopping event" where children can purchase items with tickets earned for good behavior, for their families and themselves. 

You can drop off donations in the Zapis Activity Center now thru Nov. 24 :

Light household items:  blankets, bedding, towels, cleaning supplies, toiletry kits, kitchen items (mxing bowls, dinner wear, food baskets.)

Closing for children ages pre-K thru High school (new socks, new or gently used coats, jackets, shoes, boots, winter gear)

School supplies (bookbags, crayons, markers, pens, pencils, art kits, etc.) 

Toys (books, Lego sets, dress up costumes, puzzles, sports equipment) 


WINTER HOLY DAYS

Thu., Nov. 21,  Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple, 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy

Sat., Nov. 30, St. Andrew, 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Thu., Dec. 12, St. Spyridon, 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Mon., Dec. 16, St Modestos Pet Blessing, 6:00 p.m. in the Zapis Activity Center

Tue., Dec. 24, Christmas Eve: Royal Hours 9:00 a.m.;   Vesperal Divine Liturgy 6:00 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 25, Christmas Day, 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Tue., Dec. 31,  St. Basil,  Divine Liturgy 5:00 p.m.


COFFEE HOST

Sun., Dec. 1st -We invite families who celebrate the namedays of St. Andrew and St. Nicholas to bring something to the coffee hour on and celebrate with the community.

Dec. 15.  The Coffee Committee welcomes those who want to keep  up this fellowship tradition of our parish to host a coffee hour. In addition to memorials, we also encourage families & groups to consider hosting a coffee hour for a happy occasion (milestone birthday, 40-day baby blessing, etc.)  Contact [email protected]

 


FRIENDS OF THE POOR

SERVING DINNER AT ST. HERMAN’S Volunteer to feed the homeless with your parish family:

~Philoptochos next service date:  Tue., Dec. 10.    Contact Joanne Harootunian (440-353-0910)

~FOCUS Friends next service date: Sat.,  Dec. 7.  Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663)


CHRISTMAS CARD

Support Philoptochos by donating and being listed in the Christmas Card! Free will donations accepted by check payable to: “St Demetrios Philoptochos” OR thru online giving at www.saintdemetriosrr.org .  Submit by Dec. 8th.  For details, Contact Joanne  ([email protected])


PAN ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CONCERT

Sun., Dec. 8, at 4:00 p.m.  our parish is hosting the annual choir concert of NE Ohio Orthodox parishes singing Christmas praises in their traditions and languages. Every year, the concert concludes with everyone in attendance singing well-known carols together. Free admission; free-will donations accepted by Greater Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy to support local Orthodox ministries.  Refreshments to follow.


YASSOU CHRISTMAS PARTY

Tue., Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m. in the Cultural Hall, all Parish seniors are invited for a festive dinner with live musical holiday entertainment by singer/songwriter Debbie Darling. $25/person.  RSVP to Maggie Steffas (440-821-6054 / [email protected]) by Dec. 5 

Tickets also on sale during November coffee hours. 


BOOK & BIBLE STUDY

Meeting on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Library. All welcome! 


PRAYER GROUP

Thursdays at 10:30  a.m. in St Philothei Chapel. Contact Diakonissa Amy ([email protected] or 330-519-3100) to join, or to submit names for whom we can pray.

 


PARISH PICKLEBALL

As the weather has cooled off, we return to playing in the Zapis Activity Center, Wednesdays 9-11 a.m.


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

TAVERNA NIGHT  Sat., Nov. 16, 6:30-11 p.m. at Sts. Constantine & Helen, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights. Live music by Stigma, Greek street food, cash bar.  $35 /person.  Children under 12 are free. https://form.jotform.com/242804761711151

ORTHODOX DOUBLE FEATURE  Sun., Nov. 17 at the Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. North, Canton, Ohio.  5:30 p.m. (doors at 5 p.m.) See two beautiful documentaries: Sacred Alaska, a feature length exploration of the lives of the first Russian monks who crossed the Bering Sea to bring Orthodoxy to Alaska,  and the short film Amphilochios: Saint of Patmos (30 min.;  Greek with subtitles.) $7.00 https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/55132119/filmsamphilochiossaint-of-patmos-and-sacred-alaska-canton-canton-palace-theatre

 GOYA FALL RETREAT Nov. 22-24 at Camp Nazareth. Y2am.pittsburgh.goarch/org/retreats

 ST. KYRANNA COOKING CLASS Sat., Nov. 23rd at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights. Great Vespers at 5:00 p.m. followed by Class hosted by Fr. Tom & Presvytera Molly Drenen. Learn to make "Fasting-Friendly Fish Tacos"  with the intention of helping us through the upcoming Nativity Fast (Nov 15th - Dec 24th). Participants ages 21-35(ish) are asked to bring a bottle of wine and/or a fun board game to share.  RSVP at [email protected] by Monday, November 18th.

MONASTERY ONLINE AUCTION Bidding starts on Nov. 28 at noon and ends on  Dec. 1 at 8 p.m.  Please regiser on Nov. 28 and bid for Byzantine icons made by the SIsters of the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery. Winning bids will help complete the new church in Saxonburg, PA. New.biddingowl.com/NativityTheotokos.   You can also send donations thru www.NativityoftheTheotokosMonastery.org 

ST. NICHOLAS FEASTDAY Our sister parish of St. Nicholas, 2000 Tower Blvd, Lorain invites us to their feastday celebrations: Thu., Dec. 5, Vespers 6:00 p.m.  and  Fri., Dec. 6,  Divine Liturgy 9:00 a.m.

GREEK HERITAGE BASKETBALL Fri., Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. Cavs vs. Bucks. The first 250 to register will receive an exclusive two-sided Cavs/Greek Heritage winter beanie.

https://www.rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com/group/detail/greek-heritage-night

OCF COLLEGE CONFERENCE Dec. 27-30, weekend of fellowship for Orthodox college students at Antiochian Village,  140 Church Camp Trail, Bolivar, PA. Theme:  “The King of All: Who will Reign Over Me?”  Registration open through December 1st  at https://www.ocf.net/cc24/  

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY  Tue., Dec. 31 at Annunciation Ballroom, 2187 W. 14th St., Tremont. 8:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Continuous appetizers, entrees, desserts. Cash bar. Live music by Stigma. Champagne toast, buffet, and Vasilopita at midnight. $75/adult; $50/youth (11-18); $10/child. RSVP by Dec. 27. For info call Linda Karadimas 440-665-4550.

 BENEFIT CDs “A Song of Victory” concert CDs now on sale in the Catacomb Bookstore. $20 to benefit the St. Theodosius Cathedral Restoration Fund. A stocking stuffer with a good cause!


PAN HELLENIC SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship awards to students who are U.S. citizens of Hellenic descent and full-time undergrads at an accredited 4-year university as of Fall 2024, with minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA. 20 Awards of $2,500 based on academic achievement and 20 Awards of $10,000 based on academic achievement and financial need. Applications at https://www.panhellenicsf.org/apply   Submit electronically by Jan 31, 2025.


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Saints and Feasts

November 17

Gregory the Wonderworker & Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

Saint Gregory was born in Neocaesarea of Pontus to parents who were not Christians. He studied in Athens, in Alexandria, in Beirut, and finally for five years in Caesarea of Palestine under Origen, by whom he was also instructed in the Faith of Christ. Then, in the year 240, he became bishop of his own city, wherein he found only seventeen Christians. By the time the Saint reposed about the year 265, there were only seventeen unbelievers left there. Virtually the whole duration of his episcopacy was a time of continual, marvellous wonders worked by him. Because of this, he received the surname "Wonderworker"; even the enemies of the truth called him a second Moses (see Saint Basil the Great's On the Holy Spirit, ch. 29).

November 18

Plato the Great Martyr of Ancyra

Saint Plato contested in martyrdom in 266, when Agrippinus was proconsul. He was from the city of Ancyra in the province of Galatia.

November 19

Varlaam of Caesarea

Saint Varlaam, who was from a certain village near Antioch in Syria, was advanced in years and a husbandman by occupation. Because of his confession of Christ, he was brought before the judge, who had him scourged with whips and then scraped with iron claws. Since this could not break his constancy, he was forcibly haled to the idols' temple, and live coals with incense were placed in his right hand. The judge thought that he would cast them down because of the pain, thus seeming to have offered a sacrifice of incense to the idols. But Saint Barlaam stood unmoving until his hand was thoroughly burned by the coals; he fell to the ground, and so gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord. He contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saint Basil the Great and Saint John Chrysostom both gave homilies in his honour.

November 20

Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople

Saint Proclus lived during the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger. A disciple and scribe of Saint John Chrysostom, he was ordained Bishop of Cyzicus about the year 426, but because the people there unlawfully elected another bishop before his arrival, he remained in Constantinople. In 429, Nestorius, who had been Archbishop of Constantinople for about a year, and had already begun his blasphemous teaching that it is wrong to call the holy Virgin "Theotokos," invited Bishop Proclus to give a sermon on one of the feasts of our Lady, which he did, openly defending in Nestorius' presence the name "Theotokos," that is, "Mother of God." Saint Proclus was elevated to the throne of Archbishop of Constantinople in 434. It was he who persuaded Emperor Theodosius the Younger and his holy sister Pulcheria to have the most sacred relics of his godly teacher Saint John Chrysostom brought back from Comana, and triumphantly received them upon their return to the imperial city (see Jan. 27 and Nov. 13). He reposed in peace in 447.

November 21

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph.

November 22

Holy Martyr Cecilia and those with her

Saint Cecilia was of an illustrious Roman family. On being betrothed to Valerian, she drew him to the Faith of Christ, and he in turn drew his own brother Tiburtius to the same. They contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 288.

November 23

Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum

Saint Gregory, the son of pious parents named Chariton and Theodora, was born in Agrigentum, a city of Sicily, and was great in virtue from his childhood. He was baptized, brought up, and tonsured reader by Bishop Potamion during the reign of Justinian II, in the seventh century. At the age of eighteen he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was ordained deacon by Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem. He traveled to Constantinople, and then to Rome where he was consecrated Bishop of his native Agrigentum. As Bishop of Agrigentum he worked many miracles and shone brilliantly in virtue, but also suffered many great temptation; from the priests Sabine and Crescentius, who so envied him that they slandered him to the Pope as a fornicator and had him cast into prison for two and a half years. In the end, however, he vindicated himself by casting the demon out of the woman who had falsely accused him of committing sin with her. Saint Gregory reposed in peace in deep old age.

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