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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2025-07-06
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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. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 6:18-23.

Brethren, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Gospel Reading

4th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 8:5-13

At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.


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Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

7/6

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy

MONDAY

7/7

6:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Movie Monday: Tale of Two Cities

Philoptochos meeting

TUESDAY

7/8

4:30 p.m.

Philoptochos serving @ St Herman’s

WEDNESDAY

7/9

 

 

THURSDAY

7/10

10: 30 a.m.

Prayer Group

FRIDAY

7/11

7:00 p.m.

JOY Family movie night : Up

 


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

 10 years for Andreas Kopasakis and 15 years for Sophia Kopasakis, parents of George, Katerina, and John.

 

July 13:  Richards/ Lemanowicz


FELLOWSHIP CUP

Thanks to the family that is hosting this week's coffee hour. Any family or ministry that can host a simple coffee hour on Aug. 10 or 31, please use the Sign-up Genius on our church’s Facebook group or call the church office.


MISSION TRIP 'TOY DRIVE

 As the Mission Team is 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.


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


MOVIE MONDAY

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)


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. 


HOLY DAYS OF SUMMER

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

·       St. Marina;  Thursday, July 17   

·         St. Christina; Thursday, July 24   

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

·         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.

 


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.

 


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 

 


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. 


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 9-11 a.m.

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


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.

 


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])

VENDORS & ARTISANS Sat., Oct. 11, St. Paul Philoptochos is seeking vendors for their annual craft fair in North Royalton. For information, email [email protected]


SCHOLARSHIPS

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 at:  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, 2025


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

July 06

Sisoes the Great

This Saint, great and renowned among the ascetics of Egypt, lived in the fourth century in Scete of Nitria. After the death of Saint Anthony the Great, he left Scete to live in Saint Anthony's cave; he said of this, "Thus in the cave of a lion, a fox makes his dwelling." When Sisoës was at the end of his long life of labours, as the Fathers were gathered about him, his face began to shine, and he said, "Behold, Abba Anthony is come"; then, "Behold, the choir of the Prophets is come"; his face shone yet more bright, and he said, "Behold, the choir of the Apostles is come." The light of his countenance increased, and he seemed to be talking with someone. The Fathers asked him of this; in his humility, he said he was asking the Angels for time to repent. Finally his face became as bright as the sun, so that the Fathers were filled with fear. He said, "Behold, the Lord is come, and He says, 'Bring Me the vessel of the desert,'" and as he gave up his soul into the hands of God, there was as it were a flash of lightning, and the whole dwelling was filled with a sweet fragrance.


July 07

Kyriaki the Great Martyr

Saint Kyriake was the daughter of Christian parents, Dorotheus and Eusebia. She was given her name because she was born on Sunday, the day of the Lord (in Greek, Kyriake). She contested in Nicomedia during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 300. After many bitter torments she was condemned to suffer beheading, but being granted time to pray first, she made her prayer and gave up her holy soul in peace.


July 08

Prokopios the Great Martyr & his mother Theodosia the Martyr

The holy Martyr Procopius was born of a pious father named Christopher, but his mother Theodosia was an idolater. After Christopher's death, she presented Neanias - for this was the Saint's name before - to Diocletian, who was at Antioch in Syria. Diocletian made him Duke of Alexandria, and sent him there to punish the Christians. On the way to Alexandria, our Lord spoke to Neanias as once He had to Saul, and turned this new persecutor to faith in Him. Neanias turned back to Scythopolis, and preached Christ. He was betrayed by his own mother, and was arrested and tormented in Caesarea of Palestine. While he was in prison, the Lord appeared to him again and gave him the new name of Procopius (which is derived from the Greek word meaning "progress, advancement"). He was brought out of prison and taken to worship the idols, but at his prayer, the idols fell; many then believed in Christ and suffered martyrdom, among them certain soldiers, twelve women of senatorial rank, and the Saint's own mother, Theodosia. Saint Procopius, after further torments and imprisonment, was beheaded about the year 290.


July 09

Dionysios the Orator


July 10

45 Holy Martyrs of Nikopolis, Armenia

The Forty-five Martyrs of Nikopolis contested during the reign of Licinius, in the year 315. After many torments, they were burnt alive.


July 11

the All-Praised Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Princess of Kiev

Saint Olga, renowned for her wisdom and sobriety, in her youth became the wife of Igor, Great Prince of Kiev, who ruled during the tenth century. After her husband's death, she herself ruled capably, and was finally moved to accept the Faith of Christ. She traveled to Constantinople to receive Holy Baptism. The Emperor, seeing her outward beauty and inward greatness, asked her to marry him. She said she could not do this before she was baptized; she furthermore asked him to be her Godfather at the font, which he agreed to do. After she was baptized (receiving the name of Helen), the Emperor repeated his proposal of marriage. She answered that now he was her father, through holy Baptism, and that not even among the heathen was it heard of a man marrying his daughter. Gracefully accepting to be outwitted by her, he sent her back to her land with priests and sacred texts and holy icons. Although her son Svyatoslav remained a pagan, she planted the seed of faith in her grandson Vladimir (see July 15). She reposed in peace in 969.


July 12

Paisios the Athonite

Arsenios Eznepidis was born on July 25, 1924, to pious parents in the town of Farasa, Cappadocia of Asia Minor, shortly before the population exchange between Greece and Turkey following the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922. Arsenios' name was given to him by St. Arsenios the Cappadocian, who baptized him, named the child for himself and foretold Arsenios' monastic future. Very shortly after his baptism the young Arsenios and his family were forced to leave Asia Minor in accordance the peace Treaty of Lausanne. St. Arsenios guided his flock along a 400-mile trek to Greece. The Eznepidis family finally settled in the town of Konitsa in Epirus in northwestern Greece. As he had prophesied, St. Arsenios reposed forty days after the group settled in Greece, leaving, as his spiritual heir, the infant Arsenios. Arsenios grew up in Konitsa and learned carpentry after completing intermediate public school.

During the civil war in Greece following World War II, Arsenios served as a radio operator. While concerned about his compatriots who had family, he didn't worry for himself because he was single and had no children. He was noted for his bravery, self-sacrifice and moral righteousness. After the civil war ended, he wanted to enter a monastic life, but had to consider his sisters, who were as yet unmarried. By 1950, he had provided for his sisters' future and was free to begin his monastic vocation.

He arrived on Mount Athos in 1950, first to Fr. Kyril, the future abbot of Koutloumousiou Monastery, and then to Esphigmenou Monastery. In 1954, Arsenios, having been a novice for four years, was tonsured a monk and was given the name Averkios. He was a conscientious monk, finding ways to both complete his obediences (which required contact with others) and to preserve his silence, so as to progress in the art of prayer. He was always selfless in helping his brethren. He was unwilling to rest while others worked (though he may have already completed his own obediences) as he loved his brothers greatly and without distinction. In addition to his ascetic struggles and the common life in the monastery, he was spiritually enriched through the reading of soul-profiting books. In particular, he read the lives of the Saints, the Gerontikon, and especially the Ascetical Homilies of St. Isaac the Syrian.[2]s.

Soon after his tonsure, monk Averkios left Esphigmenou and joined the then idiorhythmic brotherhood of Philotheou Monastery, where his uncle was a monk. He placed himself under obedience to the Elder Symeon, who gave him the Small Schema in 1956, with the new name Paisios. Fr. Paisios dwelt deeply on the thought that his own spiritual failures and lack of love were the cause of his neighbor's shortcomings, as well as of the world's ills. He harshly accused himself and pushed himself to greater self-denial and more fervent prayer for his soul and for the whole world. He also cultivated the habit of seeking the "good reason" for a potentially scandalous event and for people's actions. In this way he preserved himself from judging others. For example, pilgrims to Mt. Athos who had been scandalized by the strange behavior and stories told by a certain monk would when they met Elder Paisios, asked him what was wrong with the monk. He warned them not to judge others, and that this monk was actually virtuous and was simply pretending to be a fool when visitors would come, so as to preserve his silence.

In 1958, Elder Paisios was asked to spend some time in and around his home village so as to support the faithful against the proselytism of Protestant groups. He greatly encouraged the faithful there, helping many people. Later, in 1962, he visited Sinai where he stayed for two years. During this time he became beloved of the Bedouins who benefited both spiritually as well as materially from his presence. The Elder used the money he received from the sale of his carved wooden handicraft to buy them food.

In 1964, on his return to Mt. Athos, Elder Paisios took up residence at the Skete of Iviron before moving to Katounakia at the southernmost tip of Mt. Athos for a short stay in the desert there. The Elder's failing health may have been part of the reason for his departure from the desert. In 1966, a part of his lungs was removed during an operation. It was during this time of hospitalization that his long friendship began with the young sisterhood of St. John the Theologian in Souroti, just outside of Thessaloniki. During his operation he greatly needed blood and it was then that a group of novices from the monastery donated blood to save him. Elder Paisios was most grateful, and after his recovery, he did whatever he could, materially and spiritually, to help them build their monastery.

In 1968, he resided at the Monastery of Stavronikita helping with its spiritual as well as material renovation. While there he had the blessing of being in contact with the ascetic Elder Tikhon who lived in the Hermitage of the Holy Cross, near Stavronikita. Elder Paisios stayed by his side until his repose, serving him selflessly as his disciple. It was during this period that Elder Tikhon clothed Fr. Paisios in the Great Schema. According to the wishes of the Elder, Fr. Paisios remained in Elder Tikhon's hermitage after his repose. Fr. Paisios stayed there until 1979, when he moved to his final home on the Holy Mountain, the hermitage Panagouda, which belongs to the Monastery of Koutloumousiou. [3]

It was at Panagouda that Elder Paisios' fame as a God bearing elder grew, drawing to him the sick and suffering people of God. He received them all day long, dedicating the night to God in prayer, vigil, and spiritual struggle. His regime of prayer and asceticism left him with only two or three hours each night for rest. The self-abandon with which he served God and his fellow man, his strictness with himself, the austerity of his regime, and his sensitive nature made him increasingly prone to sickness. In addition to respiratory problems, in his later days he suffered from a serious hernia that made life very painful. When he was forced to leave the Holy Mountain for various reasons (often due to his illnesses) he would receive pilgrims for hours on end at the women's monastery at Souroti. The physical effort which this entailed in his weakened state caused him such pain that he would turn pale. He bore his suffering with much grace, confident that, as God knows what is best for us, it could not be otherwise. He would say that God is greatly touched when someone who is in great suffering does not complain, but rather uses his energy to pray for others.

In addition to his other illnesses he suffered from hemorrhaging which left him very weak. In his final weeks before leaving the Holy Mountain, he would often fall unconscious. On October 5, 1993, the Elder left his beloved Holy Mountain for the last time. Though he had planned on being off the mountain for just a few days, while in Thessaloniki he was diagnosed with cancer that needed immediate treatment. After the operation he spent some time recovering in the hospital and was then transferred to the monastery at Souroti. Despite his critical state he received people, listening to their sorrows and counseling them.

After his operation, Elder Paisios had his heart set on returning to Mt. Athos. His attempts to do so, however, were hindered by his failing health. His last days were full of suffering, but also of the joy of the martyrs. On July 11, 1994, he received Holy Communion for the last time. The next day, Elder Paisios gave his soul into God's keeping. He was buried, according to his wishes, at the Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti. Elder Paisios, perhaps more than any other contemporary elder, captured the minds and hearts of the Greek people. Many books of his counsels have been published, and the monastery at Souroti has undertaken a great work, organizing the Elder's writings and counsels into impressive volumes befitting his memory. Thousands of pilgrims visit his tomb each year. Elder Paisios was glorified on January 13, 2015, by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. He is commemorated each year on July 12.


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