☰
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 First Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
13th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27
At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
|
SUNDAY |
11/24 |
8:20; 9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. |
Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School GOYA Loukoumades sale/ girls basketball |
|
MONDAY |
11/25 |
6:30 p.m. |
Boys Basketball |
|
TUESDAY |
11/26 |
5:00 p.m. |
Greek School |
|
WEDNESDAY |
11/27 |
9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m. |
Pickleball Bible Study Boys Basketball |
|
THURSDAY |
11/28 |
Office |
Happy |
|
FRIDAY |
11/29 |
Closed |
Thanksgiving! |
|
SATURDAY |
11/30 |
8:20; 9:30 a.m. |
Orthros; Divine Liturgy for St Andrew |
Sun., Nov 24, passed after Divine Liturgy benefitting the International Orthodox Christian Charities humanitarian aid worldwide on IOCC Sunday.
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 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)
Sun., Nov 24, after Liturgy in the hall, support our GOYA in a delicious way!
Sign up during coffee hour for Christmas Eve luminaries and/or to invite carolers on Dec. 13.
Basketball practices are now underway to prepare for the 2025 basketball tournaments:
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.
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.
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. 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.
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)
12/8: Apotsos/Halepis, Carpadis, Georgakopoulos, Pasalis;
12/15: Callas, Revmatas;
12/29: Coccas/Fotinos, Stavrulakis
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])
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.
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.
Meeting on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Library. All welcome!
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.
As the weather has cooled off, we return to playing in the Zapis Activity Center, Wednesdays 9-11 a.m.
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]
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
CRETAN DINNER DANCE Sat., Nov. 30, at the Varouh Cretan Club, 3853 W. 168th St., Cleveland. Cocktails at 5:30 p.m., Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dance performance by Cleveland PYA. Live music begins at 8 p.m. by Manoli Tsikoudakis on Lyra and Dimitris Spatharakis on Laouto. $45/adult, $15/ child 12 & under, $25 dance only. Call John Kopasakis (440-465-5822)
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.
BRUSHSTROKES AND BALANCE Sat., Dec 7, at St. Innocent Orthodox Church, 8526 Usher Rd, Olmsted Township. Free event for young adults (age 20 to 30) to explore "the intersection of art, faith, and mental wellness" through painting. doors open at 1:30 p.m., painting 2-4:30 p.m. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLKMZYA45JbX0HM38KZYEpWBJOosmdCyoAT-lvDG1dedrngA/viewform RSVP by 12/1.
FESTIVE FELLOWSHIP Wed, Dec. 11, Daughters of Penelope & AHEPA annual holiday gathering at Sangria’s, 27200 Detroit Road, Westlake. A gift basket will be auctioned to benefit upcoming DOP scholarships and service projects. RSVP to Maria Fotinos
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!
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.
Saint Clement was instructed in the Faith of Christ by the Apostle Peter. He became Bishop of Rome in the year 91, the third after the death of the Apostles. He died as a martyr about the year 100 during the reign of Trajan.
Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.
St. Stylianos was from Paphlagonia living in the latter 6th century and early 7th century. He loved the Lord Jesus Christ with his whole heart and lived in strict asceticism. When he fell asleep in the Lord, his face shone like the sun and an angel appeared to take his soul to Glory. His prayers have worked many miracles, both during his earthly life and since. He is of special help to children who are ill and to childless couples. He is known as a protector of orphans.
This Saint was from the city of Bythlaba and was of noble birth; he was the closest and most honoured friend of Isdiger (or Yazdegerd) I, King of Persia (reigned 399-420). Though a Christian from his youth, James renounced Christ because he was allured by the King's friendship and flatteries. When his mother and his wife learned of this, they declared to him by letter that they would have nothing more to do with him, since he had preferred a glory that is temporal to the love of Christ. Wounded in soul by these words and coming to himself, the Saint wept over his error, and repudiated the worship of the idols. Therefore, becoming exceedingly wroth, the King - this was Bahram (or Varahran) V (reigned 421-438), Isdiger's son and successor - condemned him to a most bitter death, the likes of which not even a brute beast was ever condemned to: that is, his body was dismembered at every joint of his arms and legs. And so, when he had been cut asunder limb by limb to his very hips and shoulders, the courageous Martyr was finally beheaded, in the year 421.
The righteous Stephen was born in Constantinople in 715 to pious parents named John and Anna. His mother had prayed often to the most holy Theotokos in her church at Blachernae to be granted a son, and one day received a revelation from our Lady that she would conceive the son she desired. When Anna had conceived, she asked the newly-elected Patriarch Germanus (see May 12) to bless the babe in her womb. He said, "May God bless him through the prayers of the holy First Martyr Stephen." At that moment Anna saw a flame of fire issue from the mouth of the holy Patriarch. When the child was born, she named him Stephen, according to the prophecy of Saint Germanus.
Stephen struggled in asceticism from his youth in Bithynia at the Monastery of Saint Auxentius, which was located at a lofty place called Mount Auxentius (see Feb. 14). Because of his extreme labours and great goodness, he was chosen by the hermits of Mount Auxentius to be their leader. The fame of his spiritual struggles reached the ears of all, and the fragrance of his virtue drew many to himself.
During the reign of Constantine V (741-775), Stephen showed his love of Orthodoxy in contending for the Faith. This Constantine was called Copronymus, that is, "namesake of dung," because while being baptized he had soiled the waters of regeneration, giving a fitting token of what manner of impiety he would later embrace. Besides being a fierce Iconoclast, Constantine raised up a ruthless persecution of monasticism. He held a council in 754 that anathematized the holy icons. Because Saint Stephen rejected this council, the Emperor framed false accusations against him and exiled him. But while in exile Saint Stephen performed healings with holy icons and turned many away from Iconoclasm. When he was brought before the Emperor again, he showed him a coin and asked whose image the coin bore. "Mine," said the tyrant. "If any man trample upon thine image, is he liable to punishment?" asked the Saint. When they that stood by answered yes, the Saint groaned because of their blindness, and said if they thought dishonouring the image of a corruptible king worthy of punishment, what torment would they receive who trampled upon the image of the Master Christ and of the Mother of God? Then he threw the coin to the ground and trampled on it. He was condemned to eleven months in bonds and imprisonment. Later, he was dragged over the earth and was stoned, like Stephen the First Martyr; wherefore he is called Stephen the New. Finally, he was struck with a wooden club on the temple and his head was shattered, and thus he gave up his spirit in the year 767.
Saint Paramonus contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in the year 250. A ruler named Aquilinus, seeking relief from a bodily malady, visited a certain therapeutic hot spring. He brought with him captive Christians from Nicomedia, and commanded them to offer sacrifice in the temple of Isis. When they refused, he had them all slaughtered, to the number of 370. Saint Paramonus, beholding their murder, boldly cried out against such an act of ungodliness. When Aquilinus heard this, he sent men to take the Saint. Some smote him with spears, others pierced his tongue and body with sharp reeds, until he died.
Saint Philumenus' contest in martyrdom took place during the reign of Aurelian, in the year 270. Coming from Lycaonia, he was conveying a load of wheat into Galatia when he was denounced as a Christian to Felix, Governor of Ancyra. Nails were driven into his hands, feet, and head, and he was commanded to run. While running in the road, he fell and gave up his holy soul into the hands of God.
This Saint was from Bethsaida of Galilee; he was the son of Jonas and the brother of Peter, the chief of the Apostles. He had first been a disciple of John the Baptist; afterwards, on hearing the Baptist's witness concerning Jesus, when he pointed Him out with his finger and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1.29,36), he straightway followed Christ, and became His first disciple; wherefore he is called the First-called of the Apostles. After the Ascension of the Saviour, he preached in various lands; and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he died in Patras of Achaia, where he was crucified on a cross in the shape of an "X," the first letter of "Christ" in Greek; this cross is also the symbol of Saint Andrew.