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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2025-06-29
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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








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 Fourth Mode. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:21-33; 12:1-9.

Brethren, whatever anyone dares to boast of -- I am speaking as a fool -- I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one -- I am talking like a madman -- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


Gospel Reading

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
The Reading is from Matthew 16:13-19

At that time, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."


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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

6/29

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy

Mission Trip planning meeting

MONDAY

6/30

6:00 p.m.

Movie Monday: Sacred Alaska

TUESDAY

7/1

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

Sts. Cosmas & Damian Orthros; Liturgy

Golf Outing planning meeting

WEDNESDAY

7/2

 

 

THURSDAY

7/3

10: 30 a.m.

Prayer Group

FRIDAY

7/4

Office closed

Independence Day

SATURDAY

7/5

5:00 p.m.

FOCUS Friends @ St Herman’s

 


SUMMER COVERAGE

Welcome to Fr. John Zdinak who will be with us while Fr. Andrew is away on Sabbatical until Sept. 15.  Fr. John is available for all pastoral matters, sacraments, meetings, etc. upon contacting Eleni in the Church office.


MEMORIALS

 3 years for Vasiliki Papouras and 21 years for Styliani Korogiannos,

mother & yiayia of Eleni and Pascalis.  

The family is co-hosting coffee hour.

 

July 13:  Richards/ Lemanowicz


BABY BLESSING

Sloane, daughter of Jake & Jacqueline Schiffman.

The family is co-hosting coffee


MISSION TRIP 'TOY DRIVE

Sun., June 29 in the GOYA Room after coffee hour, there will be an informational meeting on the mission trip, which will include building a playground for the children of the Blackfeet Nation. As we are unable to bring toys with us, due to travel limitations, we are collecting monetary donations to purchase toys once we arrive in Montana. Those who wish to contribute, can Venmo Koula Kadras (216-570-99001) until July 10 to allow for transfer of funds to the mission team, or drop off a check today during the meeting.


MOVIE MONDAY

June 30, 6:00 p.m.  Sacred Alaska  (2023, 1 hour & 27 min.) All welcome to the screening of this award-winning documentary exploring Native Alaskan spirituality, and the profound influence of Orthodoxy. Don't miss the amazing cinematography of Alska's natural beauty on our big screen in the hall.  Interviews include the daughter of Matrushka Olga, the first female, native North American Orthodox saint, who is being canonized on June 19.  

 

This year, our film series explores the Beatitudes, the blessings Jesus proclaimed on His Sermon on the  Mount. 

·         July 7, 6:00 p.m.  A Tale of Two Cities (1935, 2 hours) “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”  Charles Dickens’ iconic story of a peasant woman who crosses the line between righteousness and revenge amidst the turmoil of the French Revolution. A Londoner and a Parisian must then unite to save an innocent family.

 

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God"

July 21, 3:00 p.m. Matinee  The Little Colonel (1935, 81 minutes)


HOLY DAYS OF SUMMER

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

·         Sts. Cosmas & Damian, the Holy Unmerceneries:  Tuesday, July 1   in St. Philothei Chapel

·         St. Marina;  Thursday, July 17   in St. Philothei Chapel

·         St. Christina; Thursday, July 24   in St. Philothei Chapel

·         Paraclesis for the Dormition Lent:  August 1, 6, 8, 13,  6:00 p.m. in St. Philothei Chapel

·         Transfiguration of our Savior: Tue., August 5:  6:00 p.m. Vespers; Wed., Aug. 6 :  Orthros 8:20 a.m.; Divine Liturgy  9:30 a.m. in St. Demetrios church. Those offering grapes and other fruits, please bring plates to the solea no later than 9:30 a.m.

·         Dormition of the Theotokos: Thu., Aug. 14 : 6:00 p.m. Vespers; Fri, Aug 15: Orthros 8:20 a.m.; Divine Liturgy  9:30 a.m. in St. Demetrios church. Those celebrating their nameday are invited to bring a plate of treats to the coffee hour on Sunday, Aug. 17.

 


FAMILY MOVIE DAYS

Free and rated G.

·         Fri., July 11, at 7 p.m. JOY & parents invited to watch Disney’s Up.  Meet in the gym.

·         Mon., July 21, 3:00 p.m. matinee. “Kids of all ages” invited to the hall to watch the colorized version of The Little Colonel. After the Civil War, a little girl (Shirley Temple) tries to restore the peace between her mother and her plantation-owner grandfather (Lionel Barrymore) who disowned his daughter when she eloped with a Yankee officer. This is the movie with Shirley’s famous tap dance on the stairs with Bo Jangles. 


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.,  July 5 Contact Christina Trillis (440) 665-1494

~Philoptochos next service date:  Tue., July 8   Contact Joanne Harootunian (440) 353-0910


GOLF OUTING

Sat., Aug. 30 at Grey Hawk Golf Course, 665 U.S. Grant St., LaGrange. 8:30 a.m. Registration; 10 a.m. Shot-gun 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 sponsorship opportunities. All proceeds benefit St. Demetrios Legacy Fund. $160/golfer or $640/foursome. $30 dinner only. Register at https://birdease.com/saintdemetriosgolf

Tue., July 1 at 7 p.m. there will be a planning meeting for those interested in supporting the committee

 


FELLOWSHIP CUP

Any family or group who can host a simple coffee hour on one of the following Sundays: July 20, Aug. 10 or 31, See Sign-up Genius on church’s Facebook group or call the office for available dates. 


CALENDAR MEETING

Tue., Aug. 5, 5:00 p.m. in the board room. All ministries should send a representative to put their regular meeting times and special events on the 2025-26 church year calendar. The meeting will conclude in time for the Transfiguration Vespers.

 


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.

 


DOP SUMMER READING

The Daughters of Penelope invite you to include "Ariadne" by Jennifer Saint (pub. 2021) on your summer beach reading.  [Available for check out at the Cuyahoga Co. Pubic LIbraries, Westlake Porter, and ROcky  River Library]

We will then meet on Wed., Sept. 10 at Melted Wings Winery to discuss. 


PARISH PICKLEBALL

Wednesdays 9-11 a.m.

Meeting in Morton Park in Fairview Park on sunny days; Zapis Activity Center in case of rain. 


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

OTHER GREEK FESTIVALS 

·         July 16-19:  Holy Trinity Church, 1101 Market Ave., North Canton.

·         July 17-20: St Paul Church, 4548 Wallings Rd., N. Royalton.               

·         July 24-27:  Sts. Constantine and Helen, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights.

·         August 23:  Olmsted Falls Greek Fest, 7890 Brookside Dr., Olmsted Falls. Noon-8 p.m.

·         Labor Day Weekend: Varouh Cretan Club, Kamm’s Corners

 

TRIPODIS FAMILY GOLF OUTING Sun., July 13  at Bunker Hill Golf Course. 1 p.m Registration and Lunch; 2 p.m. 18 Holes & Cart; 7 p.m. Dinner; $135/golfer or $40 for dinner only if paid by July 6 ($150 / $45 after July 6) Register at https://birdease.com/tripodis2025 

FOCUS GOLF OUTING & AUCTION Mon., July 14 at Elyria Country Club. https://sainthermans.org/golf/  Registration and payment due by June 27th.  Proceeds to benefit St Herman’s. Non-golfers can bid on the Virtual Auction items posted at sainthermans.org  on July 6th.

MEFGOX CHOIR CONVENTION July 17-20  at Camp Hill, Pa. Contact our choir director for more details. 

MONASTERY PILGRIMAGE Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Saxonburg, PA. The Sisterhood invite the faithful to Prophet Elias Feastday, Fri., July 18, 5 p.m. Vespers; Sat., July 19, 9 a.m. Hours, Divine Liturgy; lunch to follow. RSVP 724-352-3999  so they ensure hospitality.  

CHIOS SOCIETY GATHERING Sun., July 20, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights, The Chios Society Cleveland Ch. #7 is celebrating the Feast of Agia Markella, patron Saint of Chios. A memorial service will take place for all deceased members of the club, along with Artoclasia.  The chapter will host the coffee hour after Liturgy.  General Assembly for the chapter will take place after the coffee hour.

GOMOPALOOZA Sat., Aug. 23, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at St. Demetrios Community Center, 3323 Atlantic St. NE, Warren, Ohio. The Metropolis of Pittsburgh welcomes musicians, performers and artists to take part in this annual event by contacting Fr. Joe Distefano ([email protected])


SERVICE HOURS

High School students who require volunteer time to graduate can contact Eleni ([email protected]) to enquire about office/archival projects toward their hours.

 


SCHOLARSHIPS

Sterea Hellas Foundation of Cleveland and Sterea Hellas Federation Scholarships  Available to graduating high school seniors who plan on continuing their education at the university level and current undergrad students.  

•Application to the Federation of Sterea Hellas’ Scholarship at https://federationofstereahellas.org/#scholarships

Due date: July 1, 2025

•Application for the Sterea Hellas Foundation of Cleveland https://nafpaktian.org/scholarships/ REVISED for 2025.

Due Date: July 15, 2025

CHIOS SOCIETY OF CLEVELAND For graduating high school seniors of Chian decent thru at least one parent or grandparent. Application at  chioscleveland.com    Due: July 21


NEW DIRECTORY

It’s time for a new parish directory (our last one was printed in 2018!) Please make sure that we have your updated contact information via your 2025 pledge card (or let the office know if you prefer to be unlisted.) Universal Church Directories will schedule photography sessions at St Demetrios on Thu., Oct. 16, 2:00-8:30 pm.; Fri., Oct. 17, 2:00-8:30 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 18,  10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.  Each household photographed for the directory will receive a free 8x10 portrait, a hard copy of the directory, as well as an electronic version of the directory. Look for photography scheduling information by the end of summer.


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Saints and Feasts

June 29

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles

The divinely-blessed Peter was from Bethsaida of Galilee. He was the son of Jonas and the brother of Andrew the First-called. He was a fisherman by trade, unlearned and poor, and was called Simon; later he was renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who looked at him and said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)" (John 1:42). On being raised by the Lord to the dignity of an Apostle and becoming inseparable from Him as His zealous disciple, he followed Him from the beginning of His preaching of salvation up until the very Passion, when, in the court of Caiaphas the high priest, he denied Him thrice because of his fear of the Jews and of the danger at hand. But again, after many bitter tears, he received complete forgiveness of his transgression. After the Resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Judea, Antioch, and certain parts of Asia, and finally came to Rome, where he was crucified upside down by Nero, and thus he ascended to the eternal habitations about the year 66 or 68, leaving two Catholic (General) Epistles to the Church of Christ.

Paul, the chosen vessel of Christ, the glory of the Church, the Apostle of the Nations and teacher of the whole world, was a Jew by race, of the tribe of Benjamin, having Tarsus as his homeland. He was a Roman citizen, fluent in the Greek language, an expert in knowledge of the Law, a Pharisee, born of a Pharisee, and a disciple of Gamaliel, a Pharisee and notable teacher of the Law in Jerusalem. For this cause, from the beginning, Paul was a most fervent zealot for the traditions of the Jews and a great persecutor of the Church of Christ; at that time, his name was Saul (Acts 22:3-4). In his great passion of rage and fury against the disciples of the Lord, he went to Damascus bearing letters of introduction from the high priest. His intention was to bring the disciples of Christ back to Jerusalem in bonds. As he was approaching Damascus, about midday there suddenly shone upon him a light from Heaven. Falling on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" And he asked, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." And that heavenly voice and brilliance made him tremble, and he was blinded for a time. He was led by the hand into the city, and on account of a divine revelation to the Apostle Ananias (see Oct. 1), he was baptized by him, and both his bodily and spiritual eyes were opened to the knowledge of the Sun of Righteousness. And straightway- O wondrous transformation! - beyond all expectation, he spoke with boldness in the synagogues, proclaiming that "Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 9:1-21). As for his zeal in preaching the Gospel after these things had come to pass, as for his unabating labors and afflictions of diverse kinds, the wounds, the prisons, the bonds, the beatings, the stonings, the shipwrecks, the journeys, the perils on land, on sea, in cities, in wildernesses, the continual vigils, the daily fasting, the hunger, the thirst, the nakedness, and all those other things that he endured for the Name of Christ, and which he underwent before nations and kings and the Israelites, and above all, his care for all the churches, his fiery longing for the salvation of all, whereby he became all things to all men, that he might save them all if possible, and because of which, with his heart aflame, he continuously traveled throughout all parts, visiting them all, and like a bird of heaven flying from Asia and Europe, the West and East, neither staying nor abiding in any one place - all these things are related incident by incident in the Book of the Acts, and as he himself tells them in his Epistles. His Epistles, being fourteen in number, are explained in 250 homilies by the divine Chrysostom and make manifest the loftiness of his thoughts, the abundance of the revelations made to him, the wisdom given to him from God, wherewith he brings together in a wondrous manner the Old with the New Testaments, and expounds the mysteries thereof which had been concealed under types; he confirms the doctrines of the Faith, expounds the ethical teaching of the Gospel, and demonstrates with exactness the duties incumbent upon every rank, age, and order of man. In all these things his teaching proved to be a spiritual trumpet, and his speech was seen to be more radiant than the sun, and by these means he clearly sounded forth the word of truth and illumined the ends of the world. Having completed the work of his ministry, he likewise ended his life in martyrdom when he was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero, at the same time, some say, when Peter was crucified.


June 30

Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles

The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, the First-called; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who was also the Evangelist and Theologian; Philip, and Bartholomew (see also June 11); Thomas, and Matthew the publican, who was also called Levi and was an Evangelist; James the son of Alphaeus, and Jude (also called Lebbaeus, and surnamed Thaddaeus), the brother of James, the Brother of God; Simon the Cananite ("the Zealot"), and Matthias, who was elected to fill the place of Judas the traitor (see Aug. 9).


July 01

Cosmas & Damian the Holy Unmercenaries

These Saints, who are different from those that are celebrated on the 1st of November, were from Rome. They were physicians, freely bestowing healing upon beasts and men, asking nothing from the healed other than that they confess and believe in Christ. They ended their life in martyrdom in the year 284, under the Emperors Carinus and Numerian.


July 02

Juvenal the Protomartyr of America & Alaska

Saint Juvenal was (together with Saint Herman; see Dec. 12) a member of the first mission sent from Russia to proclaim the Gospel in the New World. He was a priest-monk, and a zealous follower of the Apostles, and baptized hundreds of the natives of Alaska. He was martyred by enraged pagans in 1796.


July 03

Hyacinth the Martyr of Caesarea & Theodotos and Theodota the Martyrs

The Martyr Hyacinth, who was from Caesarea of Cappadocia, was the chamberlain of the Emperor Trajan. On being constrained by the Emperor to partake of the sacrifices offered to idols and not wishing to do so, he was shut up in prison without food, where he gave up his spirit to God in the year 108.


July 04

Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon

Saint Andrew was from Damascus; his parents' names were George and Gregoria. He became a cleric and secretary of Theodore and Patriarch of Jerusalem; from this, he is called "the Jerusalemite." He was present at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, which was convoked in 680 during the reign of Emperor Constantine IV (668-685). He became deacon of the Great church in Constantinople, that is, the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, then Archbishop of Crete. He reposed in 720 or 723. Beside his other sacred writings, he also composed various hymns, among which is the famous Great Canon, which is chanted during Great Lent (see the Thursday of the Fifth Week of the Fast).


July 05

Athanasios of Mount Athos

Saint Athanasius had Trebizond for his homeland. He first entered the monastic life on the mountain called Kymaeos or Kyminas, which is in Mysia of Bithynia, then he went to Mount Athos and founded a large monastery, which is known as the Great Lavra. He became so renowned for his virtue that from Rome, Calabria, Georgia, and elsewhere, rulers, men of wealth and nobility, abbots, and even bishops came to him and were subject to him. When the time for his departure was at hand, God revealed to him how it would take place, so that he was able to instruct his spiritual children not to be troubled when it should come to pass. A new church was being built for the sake of the many who came to him, and only the dome had not been finished. Together with six of the brethren, the Saint went to the top of the church to help the workmen. The dome collapsed, and they fell. Five were killed at once, and the Saint died three hours later. His holy body remained incorrupt and he worked many miracles after his death. He reposed about the end of the tenth century.


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