Publish-header☰
St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2025-01-05
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Organization Icon
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. 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 Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

BACK TO TOP

Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

1/5

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Waters Blessed

Sunday School ;  GOYA girls basketball

MONDAY

1/6

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

Theophany: Orthros; Liturgy; Waters Blessed

GOYA boys basketball

TUESDAY

1/7

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

Synaxis of St. John: Orthros; Divine Liturgy

Greek School

WEDNESDAY

1/8

10:30 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

Bible Study

GOYA boys basketball

THURSDAY

1/9

10:30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Prayer Group

Greek School

Choir practice

FRIDAY

1/10

 

 

SATURDAY

1/11

 

Philoptochos prepare Vasilopita

GOYA tobaganning

THEOPHANY- CELEBRATION OF THE LIGHTS

Fri., Jan. 3  - Royal Hours 9:00 a.m.

Sun., Jan. 5 – Eve of Epiphany 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy & Blessing the Waters

Mon., Jan. 6 – Theophany 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy & Blessing the Waters

Tue., Jan. 7 – Synaxis of St. John the Baptist. 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy


PARISH COUNCIL INSTALL

Fr. Andy will swear-in the 2025 board:

Abdu Elias, Irene Georgantas, Kostas Mathiellis, Marianna Karakatsani, Nico Papafil, John Patterson, Kelly Steffas, Jonida Steuwe, Kurt Thomas, Jake Trotter, Thad Vasko, and Alex Veras. The new board will then meet to elect the officers.


VASILOPITA CUTTING

Sun., Jan. 12 -Cutting the community Vasilopita. Each ministry, auxiliary organization, and Hellenic regional club is invited to send a representative to receive a piece. RSVP to Eleni ([email protected]) Philoptochos will accept donations to benefit St Basil Academy.


STEWARDSHIP

Thanks to the 2024 Stewards of our Church! Nearly 300 families pledged and an additional 77 families made financial contributions!  let us continue to be good and faithful servants, support St. Demetrios, and imagine our Church as it could be for 2025. We are happy to report that not only can 2025 pledges be submitted on our website, but additional electronic payment options are available, including Venmo and Paypal! All pledges will be blessed on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Thank you for your stewardship!


MEMORIALS

Jan 12: Hatzidakis; Papouras

Jan. 19: Telidis


MOVIE MONDAY

Jan. 13,  6:00 p.m. Cabrini  (2024; 2 hours & 22 min.; PG-13)  An Italian immigrant faces a hostile mayor as she tries to secure housing and healthcare for residents of New York City’s slums. Based on the inspiring true story of Francesca Cabrini, who has been canonized by the Catholic Church. “Blessed are the merciful,  for they shall obtain mercy.” The 2025 Film Series will explore the Beatitudes, the blessings which Jesus proclaimed in His Sermon on the Mount (Gospel of Matthew) and the Sacraments. Free and open to all, in the Cultural Hall.


FRIENDS OF THE POOR

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

~FOCUS Friends next service date: Sat.,  fEB 1.  Contact Linda Glynias (216-469-2663)

~Philoptochos next service date:  Tue., Jan. 14.    Contact Joanne Harootunian (440-353-0910)


GOYA NEWS

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 Schoo
  • Jan 17-19, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, Feb 21-23.

 


CROSS DIVE & POOL PARTY

Fri., Jan. 24,   4:15-7:30 p.m. at the Rocky River Recreational Pool, 21016  Hilliard Blvd. Parish kids & teens invited to celebrate Jesus’ baptism with the Blessing of the Waters and a Dive for the Cross,  for those who can swim. (Children who cannot swim should be accompanied by a parent in the splash pad area.) $10 / swimmer includes snacks during rest times in the party room adjacent to the pool. RSVP to Eleni ([email protected])  Sponsored by the Balourdas Hellenic Cultural School PTO


THREE HIERARCHS & GREEK LETTERS DAY

Sunday, January 26, as we celebrate the patron saints of Greek Orthodox scholarship, we will remember our deceased educators after Liturgy. All invited to stroll through our Greek School’s Open House. Luncheon to follow in the Cultural Hall.  Keynote Speaker Pascalis Papouras on “KOINE: Greek Letters of the Bible.”


Graduates of the Balourdas Hellenic Cultural School can apply for the 2025 PTO & Anna Poulos Scholarships by Jan. 15th. Applications in the church office.


BY LAWS REVIEW

The Bylaws Committee has reviewed the 1998 Bylaws and recommended numerous updates which are now available for review via: 1) at www.saintdemetriosrr.org  2) email, or 3) hard copy on request from the office. Submit comments and questions by the end of January to our legal counsel and chairperson of the Bylaws Committee, Sophia Tjotjos at [email protected]. The Bylaws Committee will review and respond to all parishioner comments. The updated Bylaws will be submitted to the General Assembly for final approval.


PARISH PICKLEBALL

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


BOOK & BIBLE STUDY

Meeting on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Library, but no meetings on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. 

We will resume on Jan. 8


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.

 


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].


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

ST. KYRANNA COOKING CLASS Sat., Jan. 11, Sts.Constantine & Helen, 3352 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland Heights. Great Vespers at 5 p.m, immediately followed by class on making Gnocchi.  Young adults (ages 21-35ish) are asked to bring  a bottle of wine & a fun board game to share. RSVP to [email protected] by Mon., Jan. 6th.

STORYTELLING SOIREE Sat., Jan. 18, 6:30-10:30 p.m. in St Demetrios Cultural Hall. Fund-raiser for the Steve G Cancer Foundation providing resources for young adults facing cancer. To be a sponsor or donate a raffle / silent auction items, contact Nick Giallourakis (440-773-9931)

COYNE BRIDAL FAIR Sun., Jan. 19 in St Demetrios Hall. Seating for food tastings: 12-1:30 p.m. or 2-3:30 p.m.  Free admission by emailing RSVP to [email protected]

FROM ANCIENT GREECE TO CMA Thu., Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m. at St. Paul Hellenic Center, 4548 Wallings Rd., North Royalton. HPS presents a lecture by Dr. Seth Pevnik, CMA Curator of Greek and Roman Art, on recent acquisitions and upcoming exhibition. $25/person includes dinner and presentation of Odyssey & Iliad Awards. All are welcome! https://hpsneo.org/hps-general-meeting/

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!

CROSS ROADHigh School Juniors & Seniors invited to a 10-day immersive summer program to prepare you to make big life decisions by connecting with the Orthodox Christian tradition. Four 2025 sessions available:  June 7-17 or June 21-July 1 in Boston;  July 5-15 in New York; July 20-30 in Southern California. Apply at CrossRoadInstitute.org by Jan. 21 (Priority) or Feb. 18 (Regular)

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


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.


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

January 05

Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

January 07

Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner

Today we celebrate the Synaxis in honour of the most sacred Forerunner, since he ministered at the Mystery of the Divine Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rest from labour. Fish allowed.

January 08

Domnica the Righteous of Constantinople

Saint Domnica was from Carthage. During the reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Great, she came with four other virgins to Constantinople, where she was baptized by Nectarius, the Patriarch of Constantinople. She remained in Constantinople and became known for her extreme asceticism, the miracles that she worked, and the grace of prophecy that adorned her. She lived until the days of the Emperors Leo and Zeno, reposing in peace about the year 474.

January 09

Polyeuctos the Martyr of Meletine in Armenia

Saint Polyeuctus, a soldier in rank, contested during the reign of Valerian, in the year 255. He was from Melitene, a city in Armenia.

January 10

Gregory of Nyssa

Saint Gregory, the younger brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox Faith, was born in 331. His brother Basil was encouraged by their elder sister Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career (see July 19); Saint Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honor of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. Saint Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this he repented and became very diligent in the service of God.

Gregory became bishop in 372, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 by Valens, who was of one mind with the Arians. After the death of Valens in 378, Gregory was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Council of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381. Having lived some sixty years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council call him 'Father of Fathers."

January 11

Theodosios the Great, the Cenobite

This Saint had Cappadocia as his homeland. He lived during the years of Leo of Thrace, who reigned from 457 to 474. The Saint established in the Holy Land a great communal monastery, wherein he was the shepherd of many monks. While Saint Sabbas was the head of the hermits of Palestine, Saint Theodosius was governor of those living the cenobitic life, for which reason he is called the Cenobiarch. Together with Saint Sabbas, towards whom he cherished a deep brotherly love in Christ, he defended the whole land of Palestine from the heresy of the Monophysites, which was championed by the Emperor Anastasius and might very well have triumphed in the Holy Land without the opposition of these two great monastic fathers and their zealous defense of the Holy Council of Chalcedon. Having lived for 103 years, he reposed in peace.

BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP