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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2025-01-26
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. 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 First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15.

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Gospel Reading

15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

1/26

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

Greek School Open House

Greek Letters Day Luncheon   

MONDAY

1/27

9:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

Festival utensil wrapping

GOYA boys basketball

TUESDAY

1/28

9:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

Festival utensil wrapping

Greek School

WEDNESDAY

1/29

10:30 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Bible Study

Greek Independence Parade meeting

GOYA boys basketball

THURSDAY

1/30

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Three Hierarchs Orthros; Divine Liturgy

Prayer Group

Greek School

Choir practice

FRIDAY

1/31

 

GOYA departs for tournament


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, celebrate the patron saints of Greek Orthodox scholarship with a memorial for deceased educators, a luncheon honoring our Greek School teachers, and celebrating our future scholars!

  • After Liturgy, you are all invited to stroll through the Greek School classrooms.
  • Join us at the Greek Letters Day Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the Cultural Hall with Keynote Speaker Pascalis Papouras speaking on “KOINE: Greek Letters of the Bible.”   Presentations of the  PTO & Anna Poulos Scholarships. $15/adult (chicken piccata); $8/child 10 & under (chicken tenders.) Some tickets are still available at the door.

due to Greek School Open House, Sunday School children in Grades Pre K-5 should proceed to the GOYA room instead of the classrooms. Students in Grades 6-12 will remain in church.

~Thu., Jan. 30  Three Hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom.   Orthros 8:20 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m..




MEMORIALS

Januray 26

Parish Educators: Fr. Peter Metallinos (2 Years), Michael & Mary Balourdas, Tom & Theresa Andrews, Jeanne Burpulis, Catherine Fotiades, Angelo & Connie Georgeson, Tom Giatron, Harriet Janashak (6 months), Tina Kasidonis, Theresa Katzan, Christy Kolas, Joan Lambros, Argyro Markakis, Kathy Nikokirakis, Vaso Newman, Vicky Papouras, Evelyn Phillips, Anna Poulos, Dave & Evangeline Richards,  (9 months),  Maria Tripoulas, Dora Varouhakis, Katherine Vassos, and Stacey Vlastaris (3 months).

2 years for George Zaimes, husband of Dena, mother of Tom Zaimes and Lia Augoustidis.

 

Coming up:Feb. 9: Aggelou, Carpenter, Papantoniou, Spooner;    Feb. 16: Carpadis, Pasalis

 


SACRAMENTS

CHRISMATION   Jan. 26 after Orthros, Dane Waggoner on will be Chrismated into Orthodoxy.

 

40 DAY BLESSING  Jan. 26, Nicholas, son of Tony & Maria Guevara, will be Churched


PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER

As temperatures continue to plummet, our Philoptochos is collecting adult gloves, hats and travel size bottles of hand lotion to be distributed to the homeless helped at St. Herman's. 

The collection bin is in the lower Narthex. 

 


GOYA NEWS

Keep our basketball teams in your prayers as they travel to the upcoming tournaments:

 Jan. 31-Feb. 2 in Canton,  Feb 21-23 in Pittsburgh.

Weekly practices: Boys: Mon/Wed 6:30 p.m.    Girls: Sundays after Sunday School.


FESTIVAL PREPARATIONS

The first project will be napkin folding on Jan. 27-28, starting at 9 a.m.


GREEK PARADE PLANNING

Wed., Jan. 29, 6 p.m. in the Library, all Hellenic organizations are invited to send a representative to help plan the annual Greek Independence Parade.


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 one of these open dates (Feb. 2, March 2, 9, 30)   please call the Church Office at 440-331-2246 ext. 2


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 Christina Trillis (440) 665-1494

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


ST. THEODORE FEASTDAY

Sat., Feb. 8, Orthros 8:20 a.m.; Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.


JOURNEY TO MARRIAGE

Sat, Feb. 8,  Noon-5:00 p.m., in the Board Room. Couples planning a 2025 wedding must attend this mandatory pre-Cana seminar. contact Eleni at [email protected] or 440-331-2246 ext. 2


SOUPER-BOWL OF CARING

Sun., Feb. 9, Join our parish team on Superbowl Sunday to help defeat hunger!  We will collect non-perishable food items in the lower Narthex.


HOPE/JOY BOWLING

Sun., Feb. 9, 12;45-2:45 p.m. at Fairview Lanes, 21847 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park. Children in grades K-6 and their parents welcome! Food for purchase available there. RSVP by Feb. 1 to [email protected]  Space is limited. 


YASSOU APOKREAS

Tue., Feb. 11 in the Cultural Hall, parish seniors invited to potluck lunch at noon. Yassou  Club will provide the entrée, please bring a side dish or dessert to share. RSVP by Feb. 6 to Maggie (440-821-6054) or Jackie (216-389-0970) let us know what you are bringing. 


MOVIE MONDAY

Feb. 17,  6:00 p.m.   Το Γαμιλιο Party (The Wedding Party)  (2008; 1 hour & 29 minutes) A comedy about a couple that’s planned a lovely destination wedding in Crete, but a typo on the invitation sends their confused guests running around Greece’s largest island. In Greek with English subtitles. The 2025 Film Series will explore the Beatitudes, the blessings which Jesus proclaimed in His Sermon on the Mount (Gospel of Matthew) and some of the Sacraments. Free and open to all.

 


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.


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

 PRAYERS FOR THE UNBORN Sun., Jan. 26, at St. Matthew the Evangelist Church, 10383 Albion Rd., North Royalton. ZOE for Life! invites the faithful for a prayer service at 6 p.m. and presentation with guest Speaker Fr. Andrew Harmon at 6:45 p.m.

 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)

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.

IONIAN VILLAGE  The Archdiocese of America’s summer camp program in Greece. Young Adult session:  June 2-13.  High School students Sessions: June 22 - July 11 or July 20 - August 8.   Registration opens February 4th at 11 am ET at www.ionianvillage.org

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.

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


BOOK & BIBLE STUDY

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


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.


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].


SCHOLARSHIPS

Pan-Hellenic 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.

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.


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.


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Saints and Feasts

January 26

Xenophon & his Companions

This Saint, a wealthy nobleman of Constantinople, was filled with piety toward God. He had two sons, Arcadius and John, whom he sent to Beirut to study law. But they were shipwrecked during their voyage; barely saved, they forsook all things and departed for Palestine. Saint Xenophon and his wife Mary, ignorant of what had happened, went in search of their sons. On finding them in Jerusalem, dressed in the habit of monks, they also took up the monastic life. And thus, having completed their lives in holiness, they departed for the Lord about the beginning of the sixth century. Saint Xenophon and his sons reposed at Saint Sabbas Monastery, and Mary at the Monastery of Saint Theodosius.

January 27

Removal of the Relics of John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

This event took place on this day in the year 438, when Saint Theodosius the Younger had been Emperor for thirty years; he was the son of Arcadius, and Eudoxia, who had exiled Saint John. The Archbishop of Constantinople at that time was Proclus, who had been the Saint's disciple (see Nov. 13 and Nov. 20).

January 28

Ephraim the Syrian

Saint Ephraim was born in Nisibis of Mesopotamia some time about the year 306, and in his youth was the disciple of Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis, one of the 318 Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council. Ephraim lived in Nisibis, practicing a severe ascetical life and increasing in holiness, until 363, the year in which Julian the Apostate was slain in his war against the Persians, and his successor Jovian surrendered Nisibis to them. Ephraim then made his dwelling in Edessa, where he found many heresies to do battle with. He waged an especial war against Bardaisan; this gnostic had written many hymns propagating his errors, which by their sweet melodies became popular and enticed souls away from the truth. Saint Ephraim, having received from God a singular gift of eloquence, turned Bardaisan's own weapon against him, and wrote a multitude of hymns to be chanted by choirs of women, which set forth the true doctrines, refuted heretical error, and praised the contests of the Martyrs.

Of the multitude of sermons, commentaries, and hymns that Saint Ephraim wrote, many were translated into Greek in his own lifetime. Sozomen says that Ephraim "Surpassed the most approved writers of Greece," observing that the Greek writings, when translated into other tongues, lose most of their original beauty, but Ephraim's works "are no less admired when read in Greek than when read in Syriac" (Eccl. Hist., Book 111, 16). Saint Ephraim was ordained deacon, some say by Saint Basil the Great, whom Sozomen said "was a great admirer of Ephraim, and was astonished at his erudition." Saint Ephraim was the first to make the poetic expression of hymnody and song a vehicle of Orthodox theological teachings, constituting it an integral part of the Church's worship; he may rightly be called the first and greatest hymnographer of the Church, who set the pattern for these who followed him, especially Saint Romanos the Melodist. Because of this he is called the "Harp of the Holy Spirit." Jerome says that his writings were read in some churches after the reading of the Scriptures, and adds that once he read a Greek translation of one of Ephraim's works, "and recognized, even in translation, the incisive power of his lofty genius" (De vir. ill., ch. CXV).

Shortly before the end of his life, a famine broke out in Edessa, and Saint Ephraim left his cell to rebuke the rich for not sharing their goods with the poor. The rich answered that they knew no one to whom they could entrust their goods. Ephraim asked them, "What do you think of me?" When they confessed their reverence for him, he offered to distribute their alms, to which they agreed. He himself cared with his own hands for many of the sick from the famine, and so crowned his life with mercy and love for neighbor. Saint Ephraim reposed in peace, according to some in the year 373, according to others, 379.

January 29

Removal of the Relics of Ignatios the God-bearer

Saint Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, and a successor of the Apostles, and he became the second Bishop of Antioch, after Evodus. He wrote many epistles to the faithful, strengthening them in their confession, and preserving for us the teachings of the holy Apostles. Brought to Rome under Trajan, he was surrendered to lions to be eaten, and so finished the course of martyrdom about the year 107. The remnants of his bones were carefully gathered by the faithful and brought to Antioch. He is called God-bearer, as one who bare God within himself and was aflame in heart with love for Him. Therefore, in his Epistle to the Romans (ch. 4), imploring their love not to attempt to deliver him from his longed-for martyrdom, he said, "I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of God."

Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in honour of the translation of the Saint's relics (PG 50:587).

January 30

Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom

This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor Alexis Comnenus (1081-1118).

January 31

Cyrus & John the Unmercenaries

These Saints lived during the years of Diocletian. Saint Cyrus was from Alexandria, and Saint John was from Edessa of Mesopotamia. Because of the persecution of that time, Cyrus fled to the Gulf of Arabia, where there was a small community of monks. John, who was a soldier, heard of Cyrus' fame and came to join him. Henceforth, they passed their life working every virtue, and healing every illness and disease freely by the grace of Christ; hence their title of "Unmercenaries." They heard that a certain woman, named Athanasia, had been apprehended together with her three daughters, Theodora, Theoctiste, and Eudoxia, and taken to the tribunal for their confession of the Faith. Fearing lest the tender young maidens be terrified by the torments and renounce Christ, they went to strengthen them in their contest in martyrdom; therefore they too were seized. After Cyrus and John and those sacred women had been greatly tormented, all were beheaded in the year 292. Their tomb became a renowned shrine in Egypt, and a place of universal pilgrimage. It was found in the area of the modern day resort near Alexandria named Abu Kyr.

February 01

Bridget of Ireland

When Ireland was newly converted to the Christian Faith, the Holy Abbess Bridget devoted herself to the establishment of the monastic life among the women of her country, and founded the renowned convent of Kildare-Kil "Cell (or Church)" Dara "of the Oak." She was especially renowned for her great mercifulness, manifested in her lavish almsgiving and in miracles wrought for those in need. The Book of Armaugh, an ancient Irish chronicle, calls Saint Patrick and Saint Bridget "the pillars of the Irish" and says that through them both, "Christ performed many miracles." She reposed in peace about the year 525.

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