Special Services

SUNDAY MEMORIAL SERVICES

Please join in prayer for the souls of those who have fallen asleep in the Lord:

V. REV. MARKO PANTIC, (1 YR) husband of Protinica Katarina, father of Bogdan (Ivana) and Rev. Nebojša (Presv. Stephanie), grandfather of Maksim, Simeon, Paraskevi and Elias

ANGELICA FOTOPULOS (1 YR), wife of Thomas Fotopulos, mother of Dea Fotopulos, Maria Nicolacoudis, and Peter Fotopulos, grandmother of Angelica and Mia

MARIA STEIBER (1 YR), wife of Ralph, mother of Daniel (Hariclia) and Thomas, grandchildren of Nicholas, Alexander, Adam, and Jake

IRENE FINDIKAKI (3 YRS), wife of Angelos Findikakis, mother of Helena Findikaki

ALEXANDER SARROS (ANNUAL), husband of Kanella Sarros, father of Andrea Patzakis and Ariadne Tcharos, grandfather of Alexandra, Michaela, Theoharis, Alexander, and Michael

May their memory be eternal.

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR

We welcome all to Sunday coffee hour hosted by the Sunday School and GOYA ministries in the Small Hall with support from families with memorial services. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all our hosts.

Upcoming coffee hour hosts for March 2, 2025: The Missions Ministry

**Please note: Printed Sunday scripture readings are available in the Narthex**

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back - it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Second Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:1-8

Διαγενομένου τοῦ Σαββάτου, Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα, ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν τὸν Ἰησοῦν. Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. Καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· Τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. Καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολήν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν· ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· Μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε, Ἰησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον, ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ᾧδε· ἴδε, ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν, ἀλλ' ὑπάγετε, εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ, ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ταχὺ ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Προκείμενον. 4th Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 146.5;134.3.
Μέγας ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν, καὶ μεγάλη ἡ ἰσχὺς ἀὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Αἰνεῖτε τὸν Κύριον, ὅτι ἀγαθός.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2.

Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν τῷ θεῷ· οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα. Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις ἴδῃ σε τὸν ἔχοντα γνῶσιν ἐν εἰδωλείῳ κατακείμενον, οὐχὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτοῦ ἀσθενοῦς ὄντος οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς τὸ τὰ εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν; Καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ ἀσθενῶν ἀδελφὸς ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ γνώσει, διʼ ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν; Οὕτως δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, καὶ τύπτοντες αὐτῶν τὴν συνείδησιν ἀσθενοῦσαν, εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνετε. Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; Οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; Οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾿ ἀλλήλων ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων, καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ· δεῦτε οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ἤλθετε πρός με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ οἱ δίκαιοι λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν, ἢ διψῶντα καὶ ἐποτίσαμεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ξένον καὶ συνηγάγομεν, ἢ γυμνὸν καὶ περιεβάλομεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν πρός σε; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων· πορεύεσθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ περιεβάλετέ με, ἀσθενὴς καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 2nd Mode

When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You.

Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion of Saint Nicholas in the 1st Mode

An example of the faith and a life of humility, as a teacher of self-control you did inspire and lead your flock, and through the truthfulness of your deeds, were exalted by greatness through your humility, uplifting all, and by poverty gaining strength. Father and hierarch Saint Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

Κανόνα πίστεως καί εικόνα πραότητος, εγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ανέδειξέ σε τή ποίμνη σου, η τών πραγμάτων αλήθεια, διά τούτο εκτήσω τή ταπεινώσει τά υψηλά, τή πτωχεία τά πλούσια, Πάτερ Ιεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 1st Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.

Ὅταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ δόξης, καὶ τρέμωσι τὰ σύμπαντα, ποταμὸς δὲ τοῦ πυρὸς πρὸ τοῦ Βήματος ἕλκῃ, καὶ βίβλοι ἀνοίγωνται, καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ δημοσιεύωνται, τότε ῥῦσαί με, ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ἀσβέστου, καὶ ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μὲ στῆναι, Κριτὰ δικαιότατε.

Stewardship and Donations

2025 STEWARDSHIP - YOUR OWN OF YOUR OWN

“Your Own Of Your Own”

Dear Beloved Parishioners,

We are reminded of the exclamation addressed to our Lord Jesus Christ in the Divine Liturgy, “Your own of Your own, we offer to You…!” which reminds us that our contributions to the Church are a gesture of gratitude for the blessings we have received. By giving to His Church, we do more than meet obligations--we help realize the potential of our church community through our collective support.

In 2024, you, devoted parishioners, contributed your talents, time, and donations. As a result, we have made numerous improvements within our campus and church. We had successful events and fundraisers throughout the year, and we enjoyed the fellowship and collaboration of each other. We give thanks to God for the spiritual growth experienced by our families and children in the Divine Liturgy and Youth Ministries. In 2025, we will celebrate our Saint Nicholas Church’s 80^th anniversary--an exciting year: “Reflecting on Our Journey, Rejoicing in Our Future – United in Faith for 80 years”.

The Stewardship Ministry invites us to reflect on our priorities and values, express gratitude, give of ourselves, and grow in grace. It is an opportunity to share in God’s work. Giving is not a replacement for commitment but rather an expression of it, demonstrating our appreciation for the blessings in our lives. This year, we have set an ambitious goal of raising $605,000 to further our mission, and we are excited to see the positive change we can create together in 2025.

Please complete your Stewardship Commitment for 2025 to ensure the success of the programs addressing the spiritual needs of the families entrusted to our care. Stewardship Sunday will take place on Sunday, February 9^th – bring your stewardship cards with you or feel free to send them in the mail or complete online.

Your financial stewardship supports the foundation of our Parish Ministries and our mission to spread Christ’s Word and our Orthodox Faith. We thank you for your dedication to our parish and your participation in the salvific work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Father James Kumarelas, Proistamenos
Rev. Father Nebojsa Pantic, Assistant Priest
Nektarios Matheou, Parish Council President

DOES YOUR EMPLOYER OFFER MATCHING DONATIONS?

Your employer could be offering Matching Gifts Programs as an easy and structured way for them to support good work in the community. Please ASK your employer if they offer some type of philanthropic program in which a company may financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations. When an employee makes a donation, they will request the matching gift from their employer to the specific nonprofit organization. In order to assist our Saint Nicholas Community, we are kindly asking that you learn more about Company Matching Donations at work by inquiring with your Company's Human Resources Department if it offers a similar program. Please note that Saint Nicholas Church would be identified in a Company Matching Program as "Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County".

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a 501©3 Corporation and our tax ID is 94-1578745.

ST. NICHOLAS STEWARDSHIP 2025

Stewardship 2025 as of February 20, 2025

Goal: $605,000 (Approved 2025 Budget)
Pledged: $248,096
Pledges Paid: $118,421
Average Pledge: $1,273
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $129,675
Number of Stewards Pledging: 195

Stewardship 2024 on February 21, 2024 for comparison purposes:

Goal: $491,000 (Approved 2024 Budget with tentative stretch goal of $500,000)
Pledged: $119,865
Pledges Paid: $53,100
Average Pledge: $951
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $66,765
Number of Stewards Pledging: 126

Please continue to keep our Saint Nicholas Church in your thoughts and prayers throughout 2025.

Dedicate yourself to Christ and His mission here at Saint Nicholas. Look for opportunities to volunteer your time and talents, and pay toward your 2025 commitment pledge.

Not a Steward of Saint Nicholas? Please prayerfully consider becoming a Steward by completing the 2025 Stewardship Commitment Card. You may also submit your commitment either online or by mailing it to the Church Office.

To give by mail: Stewardship

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
986 Chapman Street
San Jose, CA 95126

To make a committment electronically, please visit our online stewardship: https://www.saintnicholas.org/donate#stewardship

Donation link: https://saintnicholas.org/donate

Company Matching Donations: many companies offer some type of philanthropic program in which a company may financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations. When an employee makes a donation, they will request the matching gift from their employer to the specific nonprofit organization. If you are interested to learn more about Company Matching Donations at work, please inquire with your Company's Human Resources Department if it offers a similar program. Please note that Saint Nicholas Church would be identified in a Company Matching Program as "Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County".

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a 501©3 Corporation and our tax ID is 94-1578745.

LIGHT A CANDLE

In our Light A Candle program, vigil candle(s) are lit along with an opportunity to submit names to be prayed for at the Prothesis (Preparation) for forty days. Only Orthodox Christian first names (baptismal names) should be submitted. It is important to separate the names of the living and the reposed. When lit, the vigil candles last for one week. Please see the online form on our website or use the link below.

Donate online here: https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-chapel/light-a-candle

If you would prefer to mail in your request, please write the name(s) for whom the candle(s) will be lit and send to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Attention: Light a Candle, 986 Chapman Street, San Jose, CA 9126. For more information, please call the church office.

DONATIONS VIA FACEBOOK

We are a registered non-profit on Facebook and you can donate any time (without any fees for the church) by pressing the donate button in this link: https://www.facebook.com/SaintNicholasOrg/

Special Announcements

SATURDAY OF THE SOULS

A Saturday of the Souls (Psychosavato) service will be on Saturday, February 22nd with Orthros beginning at 8:30am followed by the Liturgy at 9:30am and Memorial. You can drop the names of deceased Orthodox Christian family members, relatives and friends in a special, marked box in the Narthex and you can bring a small dish of kollyva to the service.

GODPARENTS AND GOYA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD

Join us on Sunday, February 23, immediately following the Divine Liturgy, to celebrate Godparents Day. This special occasion is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your Godchildren and honor the unique bond you share.

Coffee hour will be sponsored by the Sunday School and lunch will be graciously provided by our very own GOYA in the Small Hall. Good will donations are welcomed.

PARISH COUNCIL

Congratulations to Larry Mattheakis, Stacy Panayotopoulos, and Nicholas Taptelis who have joined the 2025 Parish Council.

FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL (FDF) 2025

The 48^th Metropolis of San Francisco Greek Orthodox Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF) took place in Anaheim, California. Hearty congratulations are to be made to our stellar dance groups for their outstanding performances. A big thank you goes out to the parents, grandparents, extended family members and friends who gave their time and support to our dance groups. A very special round of thanks and appreciation goes to the Dance Council, directors, musicians, group parent representatives, costume closet assistants, costume makers, and the clergy for making our dance groups' participation possible.

The FDF Board of Directors recognized and thanked the FDF judges for their service and dedication to travel and work at FDF which included our own Sofia Efstratiou Nicolaou. In addition, thank you to Laurie Sahines, FDF's Northern California Parent Representative, who travels to FDF every year to support the ministry.

Special awards received by our parishioners at FDF:

Demetrios Pantazis College Scholarship Recipient: Nicholas Tavernakis

Elios Outstanding Achievement Award - Patrick Mockler

We would like to recognize our FDF dancers and directors for all their hard work and splendid performances:

Division I - Advanced Intermediate Category - Metaxi Mas - directed by George and Meredith Panayotopoulos

Divsion I - Choral Directors Award - Vivian Tavernakis

Divsion I - Choral Category - 2nd Place Award - Sirines directed by Vivian Tavernakis and Amanda Fields

Division II – Advanced Primary Category - Costume Award - Ethnos - for their Arvanites of Andros women’s costume, handmade by the grandmothers of the dancers.

Division II - Advanced Primary Category - 3rd Place - Ethnos - directed by Angeliki Pries, Eleni Zafiris, Anthipe Pries, and Yoryia Pappas

Division II - Sweepstakes Award - Enosi - directed by Anna-Maria Tsellas, Niko Tsellas, Maria Halatsis, and Vivian Tavernakis

Division III - Exhibition Category - En Horo - directed by Paulette Taptelis and Panayiota Good

ORTHODOXY 101: PRELUDE TO PASCHA - CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Our spring semester of Orthodoxy 101 will be a journey looking at Old Testament prophesies, alliterations, precursors, and foreshadowing of the passion and resurrection of Christ.

Join Fr. Nebojsa Pantic via Zoom on Mondays in February, and HYBRID on Mondays during Great Lent, and following Pascha.

Class will be 6:15pm until 7pm. During February class will solely be online, via Zoom. During Lent the class will be followed by Great Compline at 7pm. After Pascha, the class will continue as a Hybrid class. We will go until the end of the Sunday School year.

The next class will be Monday, February 24th at 6:15pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7084362224

For more information please contact [email protected]

CLERGY-LAITY ASSEMBLY - BE A DELEGATE!

This year’s Assembly will be held on Monday, May 5 beginning at 12:00 p.m., and will conclude on Tuesday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA.

Each parish is expected to have two members of the parish attend - elected at the Parish Assembly Meeting scheduled at our church on Sunday, April 27th. Any parishioner in good standing, that is interested in being one our delegates, can self-nominate at our Parish Assembly meeting.

Upcoming Events

LENT WITH INTENT - WEDNESDAY PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY AND POTLUCK

Come join us for an inspirational kickoff to Great Lent! After the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, March 5th, we'll be gathering for a lenten potluck and spiritual talk in the Small Hall. Fr. James Kumarelas will speak on the topic of St. John Climacus’ The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 1 – On the Renunciation of the World. This event is open to everyone—don't miss out on this opportunity for an evening of delicious food, engaging fellowship, and learning about our faith. We'd love to see you there! Special note: we will be celebrating Presanctified Liturgy and Potluck on alternating Wednesdays with St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church.

COLLEGE STUDENT MINISTRY

Please mark your calendars for the 2025 Saint Nicholas San Jose College Ministry event dates!

Compline at 6:00pm, followed by food and fellowship in Room 2 of the Educational Building.

Wed. Feb.26, 2025

Wed. March 12, 2025

Wed. April 9, 2025

Wed. May 14, 2025

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Fr. Nebojsa or [email protected]

LENTEN ALMS PROJECT

This year’s Lenten Alms Project will support the St. Innocent Orphanage and the Boy’s School located adjacent to the Orphanage as well as several surrounding schools. Our goal is to provide School Supply Kits to 200 Children.

An Amazon Wish List has been created so that purchases can be made directly: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/27ZCCAOHQ4S7I/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2 Another option is to donate to St. Nicholas, clearly marking the check for Lenten Alms, and we will buy the supplies.

Our hope is to provide each child with:

5 Pencils
Pencil Sharpener
Safety Scissors
Ruler
3 Ruled paper Notebooks
2 pocket folders
1 glue stick
1 box of crayons
1 pink eraser

In addition, they have requested some children’s books in Spanish, with multiple copies so that elementary school children can be split into small reading groups. These appear on the Amazon List as well.

Kits will be assembled after Church on Sunday, March 2^nd. Please join us on March 2^nd and help our Parish fulfill this need!

GREEK FLAG RAISING

The annual Greek Flag Raising, in recognition of Greek Independence Day, will be held on Friday, March 21st 5:00pm at the San Jose City Hall Plaza, 200 E Santa Clara Street. Facilitated by AHEPA Silicon Valley Chapter 251and Daughters of Penelope Daphne #29, the ceremony will be hosted by Councilmember Pam Foley.

There will also be a reception on the City Hall Tower 17th floor immediately following the ceremony compliments of the Order of AHEPA & Daughters of Penelope San Jose Chapters.

Please note that in order to get validated parking, you need to be in the City Hall Garage before 5 pm. After 5pm, it’s locked and you can only exit the parking structure. The garage is located off of 6th Street at 45 S Sixth St., San Jose, 95113.

JOIN THE 2025 ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL!

Attention students in 5-12^TH Grades:

We're thrilled to share that the 2025 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is just around the corner! Hosted by the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, this festival is a fantastic opportunity for our youth to express their faith, share their thoughts, and shine on stage.

Who Can Participate?

Senior Division: Students in grades 10-12

Junior Division: Students in grades 7-9

But that's not all! We're also encouraging our talented students in grades 5-6 to join us locally at Saint Nicholas. It's an excellent chance for them to get involved, gain confidence, and build their oratorical skills.

Awards and Scholarships Await! Participants in the senior and junior divisions can earn awards and scholarships at the archdiocese level. Plus, all participants—regardless of age or division—will receive a special award from Saint Nicholas as appreciation and pride in their efforts.

Save the Date: March 23, 2025, at Saint Nicholas Church: on this special day, all our participating children will present their speeches here at Saint Nicholas. Let's fill the room with support and encouragement for our outstanding youth. Y our presence means the world to them; together, we can make it a day to remember!

Why Encourage Your Child to Participate?

Personal Growth: Public speaking enhances confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Faith: Topics of faith deepen their understanding and personal connection.

Community Building: It's a chance to connect with peers and our church community.

We're here to support and mentor all participants. We'll provide guidance and assistance with delivering their speeches, aiming to ensure they feel confident and ready for the challenge. Let’s champion Our Saint Nicholas Youth and unite to inspire, support, and encourage our young voices. After all, they are not just the future of our church—they are its vibrant present.

Please feel free to contact Maria Daltayanni at email: [email protected] or stop by the Sunday School office for all of the information.

GOLDEN YEARS MEETING

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11th at 11:30am in the Small Hall. Please contact Christina Kouvaris at 408-306-8007 or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

YOUTH BASKETBALL SPRING SEASON - PRACTICES HAVE BEGUN

Practices for the Youth Basketball spring season have started. If you are interested and not already registered for the 2024-2025 season, it is imperative that you register soon so we can organize the teams and register our rosters with the league. We need to have the minimum number of players registered by the end of January to register a team. Registrants after January are welcome, but only if we’ve determined there are enough for that age group by end of January. Teams are Girls 3^rd-5^th grades (Elementary) and 6^th-9^th grades (Middle School+) and Boys 3^rd-5^th grades (Elementary), 6^th-8^th grades (MS), and 9^th-12^thgrades (HS).

It is confirmed there will be opponents for Girls Elem and MS this year. We need a couple more to fill out a roster for each team otherwise we’ll only have one. Also looking to add more on the Boys Elem and Boys HS teams.

Weekly practice days are:

Boys elementary: Mondays 6-7:15pm

Boys Middle School: Tuesdays 6:45-8:15pm

Girls elementary and Middle School+ Wednesdays 6-7:30pm

Boys HS will begin practice on Friday, February 21st at 7:30pm. Register NOW so we can roster a team.

The OYAA is a recreational league of Bay Area Orthodox Churches. Games are typically Sunday afternoons running from the beginning of March to mid-May. We welcome all skill levels, but for the Spring Season we encourage consistent practice participation. There is a nominal fee to participate and the liability/waiver form common with all ministries is required.

Register your player here ASAP so we can organize teams, coaches, and provide updated communication, https://www.saintnicholas.org/basketball. If you have any questions, please contact the Program Director John Cocoles at [email protected] or [email protected].

Special Events

Godparents and Goya Sunday - St. Nicholas - Feb 23rd

Join us on Sunday, February 23, immediately following the Divine Liturgy, to celebrate Godparents Day. This special occasion is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your Godchildren and honor the unique bond you share. Coffee hour will be sponsored by Sunday School and lunch will be graciously provided by our very own GOYA in the Small Hall. Good will donations are welcomed.

Presanticified Liturgies and Speaker Series - St. Nicholas - Wed., March 5th

St. Nicholas and St. Basil will share in hosting Great Lent 2025 Presanctified Liturgies followed by Lenten potluck suppers with spiritual talks on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm. See the attached flyer.

St. Tarasios Feast Day - San Jose - Mon-Tues Feb 24-25th

All are welcome to St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 6430 Bose Lane, San Jose, to attend Great Vespers on Monday, February 24th at 6pm including a procession of the holy relic and Blessing of the five loaves (Artoklasia) followed by a reception in the church hall. Then a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be on Tuesday, February 25th at 8:30am with Matins, 9:30am Divine Liturgy, followed by lunch and fellowship in the hall.

College Ministry Night - St. Nicholas - Wednesday, February 26th

Compline at 6:00pm, followed by food and fellowship in Room 2 of the Educational Building. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Fr. Nebojsa or [email protected]. See you there!

Bay Area Goya Lenten Retreat - Marin Headlands -Mar. 14th-16th

The Bay Area GOYA Lenten Retreat takes place this year on March 14-16th. Register electronically at www.tinyurl.com/LentenRetreat2025 or by scanning the QR code.

Women's Wellness Event - Belmont - Sat., Mar. 1st

The Holy Cross Belmont Philoptochos invites all ladies to join us on Sat., Mar. 1, 10:30 AM, for a light brunch and wellness presentation by renowned wellness coach Vas Priebe, who will teach us how to make wellness a fun and sustainable part of our lives! RSVP for this free event at Holy Cross Church: [email protected] or 650-787-5081. Please see the attached flyer.

Blini / Maslenitsa Fundraiser Lunch - Saratoga - March 2nd

An invitation to the annual Blini / Maslenitsa fundraiser lunch, on March 2nd (Forgiveness Sunday) between Noon and 2PM at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Saratoga

Lenten Retreat - Stockton - March 8th

See the attached flyer.

Short Course on Theology - Virtual - Begins April 30th

Adult theology course: A Very Short Basic Course in Orthodox Theology with Dr. Paraskeve (Eve) Tibbs beginning Wednesday, April 30, 2025 and continuing for 5 weeks (• April 30 • May 7 • May 14 • May 21 • May 28) @ 5:00-6:50 pm | Zoom only. Registration is Required: https://orthodoxyou.com/register

Clergy - Laity Assembly - Dunlap - May 5th-6th

Preparations are underway for the 2025 Clergy-Laity Assembly for our Metropolis. This is an opportunity for our clergy and lay leaders of our parishes to come together, to learn and grow in our faith, gain new insights into the ministries and programs offered by our Metropolis, and take an active role in the governance of our Church. This year’s Assembly will be held on Monday, May 5 beginning at 12:00 p.m., and will conclude on Tuesday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. We will meet at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. Clergy will remain at the Ranch for a Clergy Retreat which will commence immediately following the Clergy-Laity Assembly, and conclude on Wednesday, May 7 at 3:00 p.m. We look forward to welcoming you to the Ranch, a beautiful gathering space and cornerstone ministry of our Metropolis. A detailed agenda and registration materials will be provided no later than 60 days prior to the convening of the Assembly. As specified in the 2019 Uniform Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, each parish is expected to have four delegates in attendance at the Clergy-Laity Assembly, comprised of the following: 1. The Parish Priest. 2. The President of the Parish Council, and in his or her absence the Vice President, or in his or her absence any member of the Parish Council designated by it. 3. Two members of the Parish elected by the Parish Assembly. Please make sure this important item is placed on the agenda of your upcoming Parish Assembly Meeting so that you may elect these delegates to ensure full participation from your parish.

Education and Scholarships

GAPWS SCHOLARSHIP

The Greek American Professional Women’s Society is proud to support and mentor young women who work towards advancing their education and becoming successful members of their communities.The Society announces a scholarship award to be offered to a female college student of Hellenic heritage in 2025. Eligible applicants must be residents of California, full-time, degree-seeking college students (undergraduate) at an accredited college or university in the United States. A minimum GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required. The 2025 GAPWS scholarship recipient will receive $2,000. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2025. To apply go to www.gapws.org.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CALENDAR UPDATES

You can register your children here: Sunday School—Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. We look forward to a beautiful year of growth, learning, and community. Please see our calendar of events for the first half below.

February 2025
23 - Sunday School / God Parents Day Celebration

March
2 - Sunday School
9 - Sunday School / Sunday of Orthodoxy
16 - Sunday School
23 - Sunday School
30 - Family Divine Liturgy

April
6 - Sunday School
13 - Sunday School
20 - No Sunday School Holy Pascha
27 - Family Divine Liturgy

May
4 - Sunday School
11 - Sunday School
18 - Last day Sunday School / High School Graduation Celebration

CROSSROAD 2025 APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way. There are four CrossRoad sessions to choose from. Apply early to secure your preferred location – Boston, New York, or Southern California. Session details: today at www.CrossRoadInstitute.org.

VIRTUAL ADULT GREEK LANGUAGE EDUCATION

We are pleased to announce that Greek School registration for adults is now active!

The registration link is located at:
https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/98/responses/new

Initial meetings for each Adult Education course have been scheduled on the following dates:
** Modern Greek Beginner Level 1: Wednesday, September 4-2024, 7:00 pm.
** Modern Greek Beginner Level 2: Tuesday, September 3-2024, 7:00 pm.
** Modern Greek Level 3, Intermediate/Advanced: Saturday, September 7-2024, 9:00 am.
** New Testament Greek Beginner Level 1: Monday, September 2-2024, 7:00 pm.
** Ancient Greek Beginner Level 1: Friday, September 6-2024, 7:00 pm.

For further information, please contact Dr. Peter Nanopoulos by email ([email protected]) or by phone (408-646-7308).

CENTER OF HELLENIC EDUCATION

Programs Offered:

We offer a wide range of programs to suit various interests and educational needs, including:

School Age Greek Language Classes (3-18 years old)

1. In-person classes: Offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:00 pm - 6:45 pm & Saturdays 10:00 am - 11:45 am.

2. On-Line classes: These classes are time flex and are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and/or Fridays.

Adult Greek Language Classes (18 years and older)

New Testament Greek: Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Intermediate Conversational Greek: Thursdays 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Beginner Conversational Greek: Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

For more up-to-date information in regards to the adult Greek classes kindly contact: Dr. Peter Nanopoulos at [email protected]

Community Activities (All students & families):

In addition to the classes, several assemblies occur annually to celebrate the following national holidays: October 28th (OXI Day), March 25th (Greek Independence Day), Christmas, and the Graduation/End-of-the-school-year party. Parents and other family members attend or participate in the gathering, while the students recite poems, skits, songs, and dances.

How to Register:

Complete the Online Registration Form: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/98/responses/new

Important Dates:

Classes Begin: Monday, August 26, 2024

We look forward to welcoming you to a vibrant and engaging academic year!

DID YOU KNOW?

New from the Department of Religious Education of our Archdiocese! Take a look: https://www.goarch.org/departments/religioused/didyouknow

Ministries and Organizations

METROPOLIS SUMMER CAMP 2025

**St. Nicholas is trying to get a group together to attend Session 3**

This July, the Metropolis invites youth ages 8-18 to join us for the Metropolis Summer Camp at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. This exciting experience offers a chance to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and deepen your faith. Online camper registration opens on February 1, and spots will fill up quickly!

METROPOLIS SUMMER CAMP WEBSITE: https://gosfyouth.org/summer-camp

2025 SUMMER CAMP DATES

Session 1: July 6 - 12

Session 2: July 13 - 19

Session 3: July 20 - 26

CAMPER REGISTRATION

$725 Early Registration (February 1 – February 8)

$750 Regular Registration (February 9 – March 31)

$775 Late Registration (April 1 or later)

*A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to register. Payment plans are available.

CAMPER AGES

The youngest campers will be 8 years old (or entering 3rd grade in Fall 2025) and the oldest will be 18 years old (or will be graduating High School in Spring 2025).

SUMMER CAMP STAFF

The Metropolis is seeking passionate, faithful, and dedicated young adults (19+) to join the camp staff. Additionally, they are looking for medical and lifeguard personnel. If you know someone who would be a great fit for the Metropolis Staff, please encourage them to apply! Applications are open until March 1 on our website. CLICK HERE

MEDICAL STAFF

The Metropolis is in need of summer camp medical staff. If you are a licensed medical professional or know someone who is, please encourage them to apply on the camp website CLICK HERE. We especially love having MD's, NP's, and RN's!

AMAZON WISH LIST

Help us keep the cost of camp down and make a donation from our Amazon Wish List HERE.

CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE IN NEED

With the generous support of both the Archbishop Elpidophoros Summer Camp Scholarship Fund and Leadership 100, the Metropolis will be able to offer camp scholarships to assist families experiencing financial challenges. Before you apply for a scholarship, we ask that you first ask your parish if they have any summer camp scholarships available. As you wait to hear about parish camp scholarships or hear back from the Archdiocese, we highly suggest registering now by paying the $100 deposit to secure a spot as we will quickly fill up! CLICK HERE

CANON OF FAITH - FEBRUARY 2025

Please read the Canon of Faith for February 2025 using the online link viewing:

https://indd.adobe.com/view/c410b394-8826-417d-ba21-58b089b23392

ADULT OPEN GYM BASKETBALL

Adult Open Gym Basketball is every Wednesday at 7:30pm and some Saturday mornings from 10am to 12 noon in the Community Center. All parishioners (including guests) must sign up first before participating; online sign up form is at the link below. All communications will be handled through WhatsApp where there will be live updates on the day of the event; link down below to join.

Adult Open Gym sign up form: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/95/responses/new

Adult Open Gym guidelines:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1Pqh-9ytke7trggbRvI-t0IW4sHL22Re4/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

Adult Open Gym WhatsApp group chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ExKTcpbEo7oBPOR3Ssfi1P

CHOIR

The Choir is actively recruiting new members! If you are interested please contact Anthony Pappas at (408) 832-4271 for practice times. On Sundays, the Choir performs at the Divine Liturgy. Join the fun!

GILROY FAMILY FELLOWSHIP

We are embarking on a new ministry opportunity for families living along the 101 corridor, south of San Jose!

Any families or individuals who would like to join us for a once a month ministry opportunity for fellowship and faith based lessons for the whole family, can contact Fr. Nebojsa for more information at [email protected].

To RSVP and receive a location address please contact Fr. Nebojsa due to limited space for this first gathering. We hope to provide new locations and ministry activities every month.

LOST AND FOUND

If you have lost an item and suspect you have left it on church grounds, please check the spot you may have left it the next time you are at church. You can also call the Church Office at 408-246-2770 to see if it was turned in. Lost items will be released to the person claiming to be the owner that has provided details to identify the item. Items brought to the Church Office will be kept for 60 calendar days and then discarded or donated if not claimed. Thank you!

YOUTH MINISTRIES REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Sunday School

Greek Folk Dance

Information and registration for our Dance program here: https://www.saintnicholas.org/greek-dance

Greek School

Our Greek School is up and running again this year with both in-person and online classes for all ages and levels.

Registration link: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/98/responses/new (updated!)

Basketball

Information and registration here: https://www.saintnicholas.org/basketball (updated!)

Altar Servers:

Any young men over the age of 7 and interested in serving the altar are invited to join one of our Altar Groups for the next ecclesiastical year.

Please register here: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/112/responses/new (updated!)

GOYA

GOYA is a ministry for children from 6th - 12th grades. We meet every 2nd Sunday of the month and have social events throughout the year, as well as sessions and retreats. For more information please visit our site: https://www.saintnicholas.org/goya

JOY/HOPE

JOY/HOPE is a ministry for children from Kindergarten to 5th Grade and open to all. We meet every 3rd Tuesday of the Month in the evening at 7:00pm. For more information visit our site: https://www.saintnicholas.org/joyhope

A HOME FOR ICONS

We are collecting unwanted paper icons, wooden icons, and palms that require disposing, please drop off in the baby room in the Church. There is a plastic bin located underneath the pew. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Julie via email: [email protected].

Please contact the church office at 408-246-2770 if you plan to leave items outside the office or Community Center.

GREEK PASTRIES, KOLLYVA, ARTOKLASIA & PROSPHORA

If you wish to order kollyva, artoklasia, prosphora, paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, or other Greek pastries, please see the bakers listed below with their phone numbers to call. Payment is arranged with the bakers and not the church.

For kollyva: Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124

For paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, and other Greek pastries: Maria Tsaboukos 408-723-5175 Antonia Komianos 408-472-3888 Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124.

For artoklasia: Antonia Komianos 408-472-3888 Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124

For prosphora: Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124

Schedule of Services

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE BY LIVESTREAM ON YOUTUBE UNDER THE NAME: SAINT NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SAN JOSE.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1x-nHP063YTTMrevkzL21w/

Saturday, February 22 - Saturday of Souls
8:30am - Orthros
9:30am - Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Sunday, February 23 - Judgment (Meatfare) Sunday
8:15am - Orthros
9:30am - Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Wednesday, February 26th
6:00pm - Compline

Saturday, March 1 - 2nd Saturday of Souls (Cheesefare Saturday)
8:30am - Orthros
9:30am - Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Sunday, March 2 - Forgiveness (Cheesefare) Sunday
8:15am - Orthros
9:30am - Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

LIGHT A CANDLE: https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-chapel/light-a-candle

Online Links to the Text of Church Services:

At our parish we use an online tool for all of our Liturgical services called Ages Initiatives. Please know that we always encourage participation through the praying of the services, and this online resource is the primary resource we use at the chant stand and the Altar. To access services, please check out the daily calendar available on Ages:

https://dcs.goarch.org/goa/dcs/dcs.html

Also, there is an Application that you can use and download on the Apple platform:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/digital-chant-stand/id891132857

Please also note that you can use this resource for the services we have in our church, and that we will be using this resource as well.

Saints and Feasts

February 23

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

February 23

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).

Kontakion of the Fallen Asleep

Remember, O Lord, as good, your servants, and forgive whatever sins in life they committed, for no one is without sin, except you the Mighty One; and grant rest to them who have been removed from among us.

Wisdom of the Fathers

"Christian love is the 'possible impossibility' to see Christ in another man, whoever he is..."

Alexander Schmemann

Great Lent, 20th Century

So great was the honour and providential care which God bestowed upon man that He brought the entire sensible world into being before him and for his sake. The kingdom of heaven was prepared for him from the foundation of the world (cf. Matt. 25:34); God first took counsel concerning him, and then he was fashioned by God's hand and according to the image of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). God did not form the whole man from matter and from the elements of this sensible world, as He did the other animals. He formed only man's body from these materials; but man's soul He took from things supercelestial or, rather, it came from God Himself when mysteriously He breathed life into man (cf. Gen. 2:7).

St. Gregory Palamas

Topics of Natural and Theological Science no. 24, The Philokalia Vol. 4 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 356, 14th century

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Special Services

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 2nd Mode

Apolytikion of Saint Nicholas in the 1st Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the 1st Mode

Stewardship and Donations

2025 STEWARDSHIP - YOUR OWN OF YOUR OWN

DOES YOUR EMPLOYER OFFER MATCHING DONATIONS?

ST. NICHOLAS STEWARDSHIP 2025

LIGHT A CANDLE

DONATIONS VIA FACEBOOK

Special Announcements

SATURDAY OF THE SOULS

GODPARENTS AND GOYA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD

PARISH COUNCIL

FOLK DANCE FESTIVAL (FDF) 2025

ORTHODOXY 101: PRELUDE TO PASCHA - CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

CLERGY-LAITY ASSEMBLY - BE A DELEGATE!

Upcoming Events

LENT WITH INTENT - WEDNESDAY PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY AND POTLUCK

COLLEGE STUDENT MINISTRY

LENTEN ALMS PROJECT

GREEK FLAG RAISING

JOIN THE 2025 ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL!

GOLDEN YEARS MEETING

YOUTH BASKETBALL SPRING SEASON - PRACTICES HAVE BEGUN

Special Events

Education and Scholarships

GAPWS SCHOLARSHIP

SUNDAY SCHOOL CALENDAR UPDATES

CROSSROAD 2025 APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN!

VIRTUAL ADULT GREEK LANGUAGE EDUCATION

CENTER OF HELLENIC EDUCATION

DID YOU KNOW?

Ministries and Organizations

METROPOLIS SUMMER CAMP 2025

CANON OF FAITH - FEBRUARY 2025

ADULT OPEN GYM BASKETBALL

CHOIR

GILROY FAMILY FELLOWSHIP

LOST AND FOUND

YOUTH MINISTRIES REGISTRATION INFORMATION

A HOME FOR ICONS

GREEK PASTRIES, KOLLYVA, ARTOKLASIA & PROSPHORA

Schedule of Services

Saints and Feasts

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

Kontakion of the Fallen Asleep

Wisdom of the Fathers