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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2025-02-23
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 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

2/23

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

Spaghetti luncheon

MONDAY

2/24

9:00 a.m.

Making festival dolmades

TUESDAY

2/25

9:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Making festival dolmades

Greek School  

Parish Council meeting

WEDNESDAY

2/26

10:30 a.m.

Bible Study

THURSDAY

2/27

10:30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Prayer Group

Greek School

Choir practice

FRIDAY

2/28

 

 

SATURDAY

3/1

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

Saturday of Souls Orthros; Divine Liturgy

FOCUS Friends @ St Herman’s

OFFICE SCHEDULE

Fr. Andy will be away on vacation from Feb. 17-23. In case of pastoral emergencies, please contact the office manager at ext. 2

We welcome Fr. Tom Drenen celebrating the Divine Liturgies on Saturday of SOuls, Feb. 22 and Sun., Feb. 23


KOLLYVA WORKSHOP

Note rescheduled date:

Thu., Feb. 20 5:30 p.m. St. Demetrios Hall kitchen. To ensure enough ingredients, RSVP by Sun., Feb. 16 by texting Christina Carpadis Schraff at 216-215-4232. Learn the technique for making the memorial wheat in time for the Saturdays of Souls (2/22, 3/1, 3/8)


SATURDAY OF SOULS

Feb. 22, March 1 & 8, 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy. Please bring plates of Kollyva to the solea no later than 9:30 a.m.


SPAGHETTI LUNCHEON

Sun., Feb. 23, after Liturgy, join the choir for Meatfare Sunday.

$17/ adult ~ $12 /Child.  Tickets on sale at coffee hours or see any choir member. Spaghetti with Meat Sauce  (meatless sauce option will be available) Salad and dessert. Carryout available.


GOYA NEWS

Keep our basketball teams in your prayers when they travel to the final tournament:

Feb 21-23 in Pittsburgh.

 

TEEN CUPID SHUFFLE Sat., March 1 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2587 W. 14th St., Cleveland. 5 pm Vespers; 6-10 p.m. dinner dance. $25/person. rsvP to 216-781-9020.


FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS

starting at 9 a.m.  No previous experience necessary. Coffee & lunch to be provided. 

Feb. 24-25: Dolmades 

March 10-11: Pastitsio

 March 18-19 : Moussaka.


FRIENDS OF THE POOR

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

~Philoptochos next service date:  Tue., March 11.    Contact Joanne Harootunian (440-353-0910)

~FOCUS Friends next service date: Sat.,  March 1.  Contact Christina Trillis (440) 665-1494 


LENTEN SERVICES

All of the following evening services begin at 6:00 p.m.

  • Forgiveness Vespers:  Sunday, March 2.
  • Canon of St. Andrew: Clean Monday March 3,  Tue., March 4,   Thu., March 6.
  • Lenten Lecture Series: Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, followed by Potluck and Guest Speaker: Wednesdays, March 5, 19, 26, April 2 and 9.
  • Salutations to the Theotokos: Fridays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 and April 4. Those who are able to read before the icons of the Theotokos and Christ, or decorate the icons, please contact Eleni at 440-331-2246 ext. 2.

PRAY THE PSALMS

Once again this year a group of parishioners will be reading the Psalms daily during Lent. This is something that you do on your own, but we have a schedule that we follow and we pray for everyone in our group who is reading with us. You can use your own Bible or buy a Psalter. It's about a 15-minute daily commitment during the 40 days of Lent. Please email Maggie ([email protected]) if you'd like to participate this year.


HELLENIC DANCE

Sun., March 2 ,  Registration for the dance groups will open,   during coffee hour

Aeraki Dancers (ages 6-8)~ Kymata Dancers (ages 9-12)~Kyklonas Dancers (ages 13 & up)


PARISH YOUTH RETREAT

Sat., March 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for grades 3-5. Join Sunday School to learn about the sacrament of Confession, with the opportunity to take confession at the end with area clergy. RSVP by 3/1 to Beth ([email protected])


PUT ON THE COFFEE

Coffee hour is greatly enjoyed by many parishioners, and we often need a family or group of friends or organization to host so that no Sunday goes without a coffee hour. Hosts only need to bring food items, set-up, serve, and oversee clean-up. Paper products and coffee will be provided.

To host on March 9 please call the Church Office at 440-331-2246 ext. 2.


MOVIE MONDAY

March 10, 6:00 p.m. I Confess (1953; 1 hour & 35 min.) Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful film about a priest who faces suspicion for murder, but cannot break the seal of the confessional - even to prove his own innocence! Free & open to all.


ORATORICAL FESTIVAL

Sun., March 16, students (Grades 4-12) invited to participate. In addition to spoken presentations, there are also poetry, iconography, and essay competitions. Topics at https://www.pittsburgh.goarch.org/oratorical. If you are interested in participating, please email Beth Patterson, [email protected].


GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE

Sat., March 22, 1 p.m. Kick-off and return at Annunciation Church, 2187 W. 14th St., Cleveland. Hellenic organizations who plan to march and/or send a dance group should register by contacting Emmanuel Ermidis or Eleni Papouras-Jenks (440-331-2246 ext.2)


STEWARDSHIP

Thanks to all who pledged for 2025 and provided the foundation of our ministries.  Together we are growing in our faith, seeing the Church as it could be! 

If you would like to serve on the Stewardship Committee or have any ideas you would like to share, please call or email John Patterson at 216-630-6901, [email protected].


BOOK & BIBLE STUDY

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

We have just begun reading From the Corner of East and Now  by Frederica Mathewes-Green. All welcome to join.


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

Wednesdays in the Zapis Activity Center, 9-11 a.m.


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

APOKREATIKO GLENDI  Sat., Feb. 22, St. Nicholas Church, 2000 Tower Blvd., Lorain, hosted by AHEPA #144. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dancing to live music by Stigma, food, prizes for best costumes, raffle baskets. Cash bar. $35/adult; $20/ child under 12; free for children 5 & under. Pre-sale tickets only; rsvp by Feb. 19 by calling the church at 440-960-2992.

BOUZOUKIA BENEFIT Fri., Feb. 28, 8p.m.-2 a.m. at Mars Bar, 15314 Madison Ave., Lakewood, featuring live music by The Meraklides. $25 at the door, Mezze included; cash bar.100% of proceeds to support the Metropolis of Pittsburgh Summer Camp at Camp Nazareth.  

HOPE & JOY RETREAT Sat., March 1, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Annunciation Church, 129 S. Union St., Akron. Children in grades K-6 will learn about key figures we encounter in the Resurrection thru crafts, service projects, and more. Lunch will be provided. Register at https://tinyurl.com/AkronHJ25

 SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY March 9, 5:00 p.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 6306 Broadview Rd., Parma, marking the first Sunday of Great Lent and the triumph of the icons. Homily by Bishop Irinej. To support local Orthodox ministries and be listed as a patron in the program book, donation checks payable to "Greater Cleveland COUncil of Orthodox Clergy" can be mailed to St. Innocent Church, PO Box 38208, Olmsted FAlls, OH 440138 by March 2, 2025.

YOUNG ADULT SPRING RETREAT   March 14-16, at Camp Nazareth in Mercer, Penn. “Living the Liturgy” with Fr. Timothy Paproski. For ages 18-35. Httpw://tinyurl.com/2z7kjpyh

JOURNEY TO GREECE This AHEPA program is a cultural immersion initiative that enables high school seniors and college undergraduates to earn up to six college course credits, in collaboration with Webster University. Application at Ahepa.org/education   Register before April 30, 2025.

 IOCC REBUILD TEAM  June 15-21, help rebuild homes in eastern Tennessee damaged by Hurricane Helene. Volunteers must be 16 or older; no previous building experience is required. $100 will cover room & board, local transportation. Register at iocc.org/volunteer25

  ST. DEMETRIOS MISSION TRIP July 12-18, 2025 to the Blackfeet Nation in Browning, Montana. For more information, contact Jake Trotter ([email protected])


SCHOLARSHIPS

AHEPA District #11 BUCKEYE SCHOLARSHIP Open to graduating high school seniors and undergrad students whose parent/guardian is a member of AHEPA or Daughter of Penelope Buckeye District #11 for at least the last two years and a paid member for 2025; or if student is a member of Sons of Pericles or Maids of Athena. (Those who received a scholarship in the past are still eligible if still an undergraduate.) Applications at https://bsf.buckeyedistrict11.org/?page_id=327 Deadline is March 31, 2025.

John George Tsitsos Scholarship Fund  To cover all or part of annual tuition expenses for students  of Greek ethnicity or descent who are pursuing postgraduate degrees, including but not limited  to STEM, Medical Research, and Seminarians at Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary. Applications at www.ahepa.org/education

 Daughters of Penelope, Icarus Chapter  Available to high school seniors who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree, whose parents are members of Daughters of Penelope #321, AHEPA #389, or members in good standing of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Rocky River. Request the application at [email protected]  Submission due April 25, 2025.

  Joan Lambros Memorial Scholarship Available to women of St Demetrios who are studying any of the Sciences at the undergrad or graduate level. Request the application at  [email protected]    Submission due April 17, 2025.

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE Various scholarships for undergrad and post-grad studies available at https://www.goarch.org/-/scholarships.  Deadline: May 16, 2025.


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Saints and Feasts

February 23

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

February 24

Cumine the White, Abbot of Iona

February 25

Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople

This Saint was the son of one of the foremost princes in Constantinople, and was originally a consul and first among the Emperor's private counselors. Then, in 784, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople by the Sovereigns Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitus. He convoked the Seventh Ecumenical Council that upheld the holy icons, and became the boast of the Church and a light to the clergy. He reposed in 806.

February 26

Photini the Samaritan Woman & her martyred sisters: Anatole, Phota, Photis, Praskevi, & Kyriaki

Saint Photini lived in 1st century Palestine and was the woman that Christ met at Jacob's Well in Samaria as recorded in the Gospel according to John (4:4-26). After her encounter with Christ, she and her whole family were baptized by the Apostles and became evangelists of the early Church. Photini and her children eventually were summoned before the emperor Nero and instructed to renounce their faith in Christ. They refused to do so, accepting rather to suffer various tortures. After many efforts to force her to surrender to idolatry, the emperor ordered that she be thrown down a well. Photini gave up her life in the year 66.

St. Photini is commemorated on three occasions during the year: February 26 (Greek tradition), March 20 (Slavic tradition), and the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman on the 5th Sunday of Pascha.

February 27

Raphael of Brooklyn

Saint Raphael Hawaweeny was born on November 8, 1860 A.D., in Damascus, Syria, to pious Christian parents. He studied Arabic grammar and mathematics at the Antiochian Patriarchate parochial school where he was tonsured a reader in 1874. His strong academics served him well throughout his life, providing for him numerous opportunities to succeed and grow. He accepted a position in 1877 as an assistant teacher of Arabic and Turkish, which became full time in 1879. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk while working with Patriarch Hierotheos at the patriarchate, traveling with him on pastoral visits and serving as his personal assistant.

Longing to continue his theological studies, Raphael petitioned the Patriarch for permission to study at Halki Theological School, which was the only option for students of the Antiochian Patriarchate as the Balamand Seminary in Lebanon had been closed since 1840. After much persistence, Raphael received the blessing of the Patriarch and enrolled in Halki Seminary where he was ordained a deacon in 1885. After completing his degree at Halki, the young Deacon Raphael studied at the Kiev Theological Academy, working as a liaison between the Moscow and Antiochian patriarchates. Deacon Raphael was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1889 while in Kiev, continuing to serve that community for many years.

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to the subsequent collapse of the silk industry in the Middle East, causing many Syrians and others to immigrate to the United States. These new citizens desired to have their religion present in their new homeland and sent letters to their mother churches for pastoral help. A few priests were sent, but none lasted, and so the people asked for Father Raphael Hawaweeny to come to America and serve. Both the Antiochian and Moscow Patriarchs agreed to this idea, and Father Raphael left for America where the people greeted him with great love. Father Raphael then spent many years serving the Syrians in Brooklyn, New York, but he desired to scan the continent for Syrians and other Orthodox Christians who were without spiritual leadership. He traveled by train and carriage across the nation, finding Orthodox Christians, recording their location, and performing liturgies, baptisms, and weddings. Upon his return to Brooklyn, Father Raphael worked to find clergy to send to these dispersed communities, giving them a full time pastor to minister to their needs.

In 1909, by the hands of Bishops Tikhon and Innocent of the Moscow Patriarchate, he was the first bishop consecrated in the New World. The now Bishop Raphael continued his ministry to the Christians throughout America. Bishop Raphael worked tirelessly in Brooklyn to mediate disputes between the Orthodox Christians from Syria and Maronite Catholic Christians who often fought violently with one another. Despite numerous outbursts and setbacks, Bishop Raphael continued his ministry serving the Orthodox throughout his vast diocese. One such incident was when an influential leader of the Maronite group was killed and many people accused Bishop Raphael of ordering his murder. This led to many people attempting to harm the bishop, but he endured it all willingly. He was arrested under attempted murder charges, but was eventually cleared and let go after much time and money was spent in his defense.

Throughout his time in North America, Bishop Raphael founded 36 parishes to bring the Church to the faithful who were without a priest to guide them. Bishop Raphael truly lived out the Gospel in all aspects of his life, striving tirelessly for the people in his care, even to the point of sacrificing his own physical health in order to maintain the spiritual health of his people. Bishop Raphael died on February 27, 1915, at his home in Brooklyn. His funeral was attended by hundreds of people, including clergy from all ethnic backgrounds, illustrating his love for all of the people of God regardless of where they came from. The sacred relics of Saint Raphael, “the good shepherd of the lost sheep in North America,” were first interred in a crypt beneath the holy table at his Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn on March 7, 1915, before being moved to the Syrian section of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Brooklyn on April 2, 1922. They were finally translated to the Holy Resurrection Cemetery at the Antiochian Village near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, on August 15, 1988. His sanctity was officially proclaimed by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America on March 29, 2000, and his glorification was celebrated on May 29 of that year at the Monastery of Saint Tikhon in Pennsylvania.

February 28

Kyranna the New Martyr of Thessaloniki

March 01

Eudokia the Martyr of Heliopolis

This Saint, who was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia (Baalbek in present-day Lebanon), was an idolater and led a licentious life. Being beautiful beyond telling, she had many lovers, and had acquired great riches. Yet brought to repentance by a monk named Germanus, and baptized by Bishop Theodotus, she distributed to the poor all her ill-gotten gains, and entered a convent, giving herself up completely to the life of asceticism. Her former lovers, enraged at her conversion, her refusal to return to her old ways, and the withering away of her beauty through the severe mortifications she practiced, betrayed her as a Christian to Vincent the Governor, and she was beheaded, according to some, under Trajan, who reigned from 98 to 117, according to others, under Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138.

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