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Sundays 8:30 a.m. Orthros and 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Special weekday feastday services to be announced in the bulletin.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 15:1-7.
Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
7th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:27-35
At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
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SUNDAY |
7/23 |
8:20; 9:30 a.m. |
Orthros; Divine Liturgy |
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MONDAY |
7/24 |
6:30 p.m. |
Movie Monday |
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TUESDAY |
7/25 |
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WEDNESDAY |
7/26 |
10:30 a.m. |
Book Study Group |
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THURSDAY |
7/27 |
10:30 a.m. |
Prayer Group |
Scheduling Note: July 31 thru Aug. 18, the church office will only be open in the mornings.
If you need building access in the afternoons, please enter thru Zapis Activity Center.
Sun., July 23 after Liturgy, Fr. Andy will swear-in the new Philoptochos board: Cathy Bitounis, Maribeth Famiano, Marina Ermidis, Ann Frangos, Irene Georgantas, Joanne Harootunian, Litta Klidas, Elpida Kosmidis, Diakonissa Amy Pantelis, Jeanne Paras, Barbara Pasalis, Pela Telidis, Crystal Thomas, and Stephanie Zavatchen.
Coffee hosted today by the Parish Council in their honor.
In July, we mark the nameday of, and 20 years since the passing of, iconic Greek-American director Elia Kazan (1909-2003) with one of his award winning films:
July 24, 6:30 p.m. Panic in the Streets (1950; PG; 1 hour & 36 minutes) Now that the covid pandemic is officially declared over, we can calmly watch this film noir about a doctor and a cop in New Orleans who have just 48 hours to locate a killer infected with pneumonic plague.
COMING SOON...
Aug. 28, 6:30 p.m. One Night with the King (2006; rated PG; 2 hours) We return to our 2023 series “Saints in the Dome.” When the Persian King Xerxes looks for a bride among his subjects, a young woman named Esther disguises her Jewish origins for the chance to be queen. Featuring the talented Peter O’Toole as the elderly Prophet Samuel (feastday Aug. 20) son of Hannah, who is depicted in our dome. Read a ‘preview’ in the Old Testament book of Esther 2:1-10.
July 30: Artemis York; Aug. 13: Tom Voulgaris
Note: No memorials permitted on the Transfiguration (Sun., Aug. 6)
PARACLESIS FOR THE PANAGIA Wednesdays and Fridays, Aug. 2, 4, 9, 11 at 6:00 p.m. in St. Philothei Chapel (enter thru the Zapis Activity Center doors.)
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR SAVIOR Sun., Aug. 6, 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. DivineLiturgy. Those bringing grapes or other fruit to be blessed, bring trays by 9:30 a.m. We invite those who celebrate this nameday, or have fruit to share to bring to the coffee hour after.
The Dormition of the Theotokos
We invite those who celebrate this nameday to bring a plate to the coffee hour on Sun., Aug. 13
Mon., Aug. 14, Vespers 6:00 p.m.
Tue, Aug. 15, 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
St Phanourios the Great Martyr
Sun, Aug. 27 , 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Those offering a Phanouropita*, please bring by 9:30 a.m. for the blessing.
Phanouropites will then be distributed after church, during the coffee hour.
The Beheading of St. John the Baptist
Tue., Aug 29, 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Despite being a Tuesday, this is a strict fast day due to the somber nature of the commemoration.
SERVING DINNER AT ST. HERMAN’S Volunteer to feed the homeless with your parish family:
~FOCUS Friends’ next service date: Sat., Aug. 5 Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663)
~Philoptochos next service date: Tue., Aug. 8 Contact Crystal Thomas (440-823-5169)
open now thru Sept. 1st. Registration forms available in the church lobby and online at https://saintdemetriosrr.org/greek-school
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Board room. We are reading Engaged: The call to be Disciples, by Fr Stavros N. Akrotirianakis. Books available to purchase from our Catacomb Bookstore for $25; also available on Amazon. All are welcome to learn and reflect on our beautiful faith.
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.
Aug. 20. Families or clubs available, please Contact [email protected]
Wed., Aug. 23, 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room. Every ministry and group that meets at St. Demetrios should prepare their calendar of events for the 2023-24 ecclesiastic year and send a representative to the meeting. Events that are put on the community calendar at this time will take priority over any events or fundraisers scheduled later.
The Daughters of Penelope invite you to add Ithaca by Claire North to your summer reading. This 2022 novel tells the ancient Greek story of the original Penelope-from her point of view. We will then enjoy an evening of Wine, Book Discussion & a Slide show of modern Ithaca on a date to be announced in the fall. The book is available in public libraries and local book stores.
Friday, Sept. 1, at Grey Hawk Golf Course, 665 U.S. Grant St., LaGrange
8:30 a.m. Registration; 10 a.m. Shotgun Start, Scramble format
Your great time will include gifts, drinks, lunch, driving range, golf, on course beverages, side game prizes, a great dinner, drawings and many sponsorship opportunities.
$150/golfer of $600 / foursome. 30 for dinner only.
Register at https://birdease.come/saintdemetriosgolf
All proceeds benefit St Demetrios Legacy Fund.
Fr. Andy would like to visit every active household in our parish database this year. You will soon receive a letter with your assigned date and time. If you cannot be home at your assigned time, please call the church office to reschedule. When you call, please confirm with the office that we have your correct contact information, especially cell phones and email addresses for all of your household.
MORE GREEK FESTIVALS !
Warren: July 19-23: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 3223 Atlantic St., NE
North Royalton: July 20-23: St Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 4548 Wallings Road
Cleveland Hts: July 27-30: Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Road
Youngstown: Aug. 18-20: St. John the Forerunner Church, 4955 Glenwood Avenue.
Olmsted Falls: Aug. 26: Nafpaktian Cultural Foundation, 7890 Brookside Dr., 1:00-10:00 p.m.
Cleveland: Sept. 1-4: Varouh Cretan Club, 3853 W. 168th St. (Kamm’s Corners)
Campbell: Sept. 1-4: Archangel Michael Church, 401 12th Street
Columbus: Sept. 1-4: Annunciation Cathedral, 555 N. High Street. Columbusgreekfestival.com
Akron: Sept. 21-23: Annunciation Church, 129 South Union Street
SERB FEST July 22 & 23 , at St. Sava Cathedral, 6306 Broadview Rd., Parma.
Metropolis of Pittsburgh “Spirit Day” To benefit YAL Conference in October. Thursday, July 27, 3-9 p.m. at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, 103 E. Royalton Rd, Broadview Heights. Go to our Facebook Group and show the post or print it out and bring as a flyer. Every post or flyer submitted with an ice cream order will be totaled and YAL will get 20% of the total sales.
AVENUE OF THE ARTS Sat., July 29, 10 am -5 pm, at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, 5107 Darrow Rd., Hudson, Ohio. Shop from more than 80 arts & crafts vendors for jewelry, woodworking, pottery, glass art and more! Food trucks on site. www.sainthermanchurch.org
GREEK CULTURAL GARDEN EDUCATIONAL SERIES Held in the Greek Cultural Garden (located between Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., and East Blvd.) Street parking on East Blvd. Sat., Aug. 19, 2:00 p.m., Athanasios Sarantopoulos will speak on the Golden Ratio, a mathematical concept found in nature, art, and architecture. Through learning the Golden Ratio, there is a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of art and science. Mr. Sarantopoulos is a Mathematics teacher in the Cleveland Schools and Adjunct Professor for Cleveland State University.
SUMMER RETREAT Aug. 18-19, at St. Matthew the Evangelist Orthodox Church, 10383 Albion Rd, North Royalton. Led by Fr. Sergius Bowyer, Abbot of St. Tikhon and author of “Acquiring the Mind of Christ" Free will offerings accepted. Fri. 6:00-8:30 p.m. and Sat: 9:30 a.m.-4:30p.m. Vespers at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, with opportunity to venerate the miraculous icon of St. Anna. To register or get more info, call or text 440-220-2623.
ONE WORLD DAY Sun., Aug. 27 at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Starting at 11 a.m. enjoy a Parade of flags, Naturalization ceremony, Children’s Village, ethnic food & beer garden, cultural performances. Free parking and admission.
PONTIAN PANIGIRI Sat., Sept. 9, 4 p.m.-midnight at St. Sava Picnic Grove, 2300 W. Ridgewood Dr., Parma. Live music, dancing, games and food.
This saint was known for the many miracles he worked and for his apostolic zeal in shepherding the flock of Sinope. He contested for the Faith during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, in the year 102, when he was burned to death in a bath-house. A homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom. The translation of his holy relics is celebrated on July 23.
Saint Christina was from Tyre in Syria, the daughter of a pagan named Urban. Enlightened in her heart to believe in Christ, she broke her father's idols, made of gold and silver, and distributed the pieces to the poor. When her father learned this, he punished her ruthlessly, then cast her into prison. The rulers subjected her to imprisonments, hunger, torments, the cutting off of her breasts and tongue, and finally impalement, in the year 200, during the reign of the Emperor Septimius Severus.
According to tradition, Anna, the ancestor of God, lived for sixty-nine years, and her spouse Joachim, for eighty; according to one account, Saint Joachim died two years before Saint Anna. The Theotokos had been orphaned of both her parents already when she was eleven years of age, when she was living in the Temple (see Sept. 8 and Nov. 21). Saint Anna is invoked for conceiving children, and for help in difficult childbirth.
Saint Paraskeve, who was from a certain village near Rome, was born to pious parents, Agatho and Politia. Since she was born on a Friday (in Greek, Paraskeve), she was given this name, which means "preparation" or "preparedness" (compare Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31, where 'Friday' is called "the day of the preparation"). From childhood she was instructed in the sacred letters and devoted herself to the study of the divine Scriptures, while leading a monastic life and guiding many to the Faith of Christ. During the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, she was apprehended because she was a Christian and was urged to worship the idols, but she answered with the words of Jeremias: "Let the gods that have not made heaven and the earth perish from off the earth" (Jer. 10:11). Because of this she endured exceedingly painful torments, and was beheaded in the year 140. The faithful pray to her for the healing of eye ailments.
This Saint, who had Nicomedia as his homeland, was the son of Eustorgius and Eubula. His father was an idolater, but his mother was a Christian from her ancestors. It was through her that he was instructed in piety, and still later, he was catechized in the Faith of Christ by Saint Hermolaus (see July 26) and baptized by him. Being proficient in the physician's vocation, he practiced it in a philanthropic manner, healing every illness more by the grace of Christ than by medicines. Thus, although his parents had named him Pantoleon ("in all things a lion"), because of the compassion he showed for the souls and bodies of all, he was worthily renamed Panteleimon, meaning "all-merciful." On one occasion, when he restored the sight of a certain blind man by calling on the Divine Name, he enlightened also the eyes of this man's soul to the knowledge of the truth. This also became the cause for the martyrdom of him who had been blind, since when he was asked by whom and in what manner his eyes had been opened, in imitation of that blind man of the Gospel he confessed with boldness both who the physician was and the manner of his healing. For this he was put to death immediately. Panteleimon was arrested also, and having endured many wounds, he was finally beheaded in the year 305, during the reign of Maximian. Saint Panteleimon is one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and is held in special honor among them, even as Saint George is among the Martyrs.
Saint Irene, who was from Cappadocia, flourished in the ninth century. Because of her great beauty and virtue, she was brought to Constantinople as a prospective bride for the young Emperor Michael (842-867); however, as Saint Joannicius the Great foretold, it was God's will that she assume the monastic habit instead. She shone forth in great ascetical labours, and suffered many attacks from the demons; while yet a novice, she attained to the practice of Saint Arsenius the Great, of praying the whole night long with arms stretched out towards Heaven (see May 8). God showed forth great signs and wonders in her, and she became the Abbess of the Convent of Chrysovalantou. She was granted the gift of clairvoyance and knew the thoughts of all that came to her. She appeared in a vision to the king and rebuked him for unjustly imprisoning a nobleman who had been falsely accused. Through a sailor from Patmos to whom he had appeared, Saint John the Evangelist sent her fragrant and wondrous apples from Paradise. She reposed at the age of 103, still retaining the youthful beauty of her countenance. After her repose, marvelous healings beyond number have been wrought by her to the present day.
Concerning Saint Theodota, little is known except that she was a virgin who was horribly tormented and slain for her confession of Christ.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery