Saint Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church - ACROD
Publish Date: 2025-03-16
Bulletin Contents
Announcements
Bulletin Inserts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts

Organization Icon
Saint Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church - ACROD

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (732) 254-7155
  • Street Address:

  • 24 Burke Road

  • Freehold, NJ 07728

Contact Information

Parish Administration His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa
Diocesan Bishop


Rev. Father Thomas K. Kovalak
Parish Priest - Administrator


Very. Rev. Father Andrew Fetchina
Dean - Emergency Contact


Services Schedule

Sunday 

Hours:              9:00 AM

Divine Liturgy:  9:30 AM

 

Confessions Prior to all Divine Liturgies

Past Bulletins


Announcements

Welcome to St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church - Freehold, NJ

A Mission Parish of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

  

Glory to Jesus Christ!  Glory Forever!
   

March 16, 2025

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

 

 

Upcoming Church Schedule:

Sunday March 16, 2025 Divine Liturgy 9:30AM   





 

It’s never too late to participate in the Great Fast!

 

Rise and Walk! Your sins are forgiven!

Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you. Change places, so that what was the proof of your sickness may now give testimony to your soundness. Your bed of pain becomes the sign of healing, its very weight the measure of the strength that has been restored to you.

(St. Peter Chrysologus)

 

 Lenten Food Drive Please remember to donate a non perishable food to the People's Pantry. Our St Paul food drive is going on now and will last for the next three weeks 

 

 Lenten Devotional Book- 

The Diocesan Lenten Devotional Book, "48 Days to the Great Day", is available for each parish family. This book is an invaluable resource for us!  We all need tangible tools to encourage us, strengthen us, and bring us nearer to Christ.  Read the daily entry and journey together as a Church family for this special, holy season.  

 

Please Register Today - 2025 Lenten Retreat
 
Where: Saints Peter & Paul Church - 66 Beach Street, Rockaway, NJ 07866

When: Saturday March 29, 2025 

What Time: (9:00am - 4:00pm) 

•Adult Keynote - Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa

•Teen & Youth Keynote - Father Nathaniel Choma

Cost: Includes Continental Breakfast & Lenten Lunch
Adults: $25.00  
Students (Thru College): $20.00  
Children 6-12: $10.00

•Payment by credit card or a check 

Questions - Rev. Fr. Matthew Stagon Phone: (973) 627-1462
 

 

SPECIAL INTENTIONS:

Please keep in your minds and hearts our parishioners, family, and friends in need of our prayers.  May God grant them peace, health and happiness for many blessed years! 

Please pray for Catechumens and inquirers, for those preparing for Marriage, for Expecting Mothers, for those serving in the Armed Forces and Civil Authorities. 

 

FOR FURTHER THOUGHT: 

St. Gregory Palamas said the following: “Let no one think that it is the duty only of clergy and monastics to pray with ceasing and not of laypeople. No, absolutely not; it is the duty of all Christians to remain always in prayer.” Using the Jesus prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner) “… this we can always do if we wish. For when we sit down to work with our hands, when we walk, when we eat, etc. we can always pray mentally as this is pleasing to God. Let us work with the body and pray with the soul.” 

 

PRAYER OF SAINT EPHREM

To be said daily during the Great Fast

This famous Lenten prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian summarizes our entire struggle during the forty day fast – that of turning from vice to virtue, sin to holiness, and self-love to love of God and neighbor.  This powerful prayer is said every day of the Great Fast, except on Saturdays and Sundays. It should be part of our morning and evening prayers but may also be said at any other time throughout the day – especially in time of temptation.

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust for power, and vein talking. (Prostration)

But give to me your servant, the spirit of purity, humility, patience, and love. (Prostration)

Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own sins and not to judge my brother; for you are blessed forever and ever, Amen. (Prostration)

 

Bake Sale!  - March 14, March 15  

 

Holy Mystery of Confession :

Father will hear Confessions at 9:00 AM in front of the Icon of Christ on Sunday.  

 

- March 23rd  at 3:00PM, St Paul's will be hosting our annual Lenten Retreat.  We will host a luncheon following the Moleben to the Cross.  Please sign up during coffee hour to donate dishes and supplies for this parish event.  Please see the Bulletin Insert regarding the details of all NJ Deanery Lenten retreats.

- March Parish Monthly Meeting and church cleaning will be held after Divine Liturgy on March 16th.

 

BACK TO TOP

Bulletin Inserts

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fifth Tone

We the faithful proclaim and worship the Word,* eternal with the Father and the Spirit.* He was born of the Virgin for our salvation.* He willingly ascended the Cross in the flesh and suffered death.* He raised the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: American Carpatho-Russian Diocese


Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Gregory Palamas in the Eighth Tone

Light of Orthodoxy, teacher of the Church, * its confirmation, O ideal of Monks * and invincible champion of Theologians, * O wonder-working Gregory, * glory of Thessalonica and preacher of Grace, * always intercede before the Lord that our souls may be saved.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: American Carpatho-Russian Diocese


Seasonal Kontakion in the Eighth Tone

To you, O Birthgiver of God, * victorious leader of triumphant hosts, * we your servants offer hymns of thanksgiving, * for you have delivered us from misfortune. * In your invincible power, * keep us from every peril *that we may cry to you: * rejoice, O Unwedded Bride.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: American Carpatho-Russian Diocese


BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fifth Tone. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you. Change places, so that what was the proof of your sickness may now give testimony to your soundness. Your bed of pain becomes the sign of healing, its very weight the measure of the strength that has been restored to you.
St. Peter Chrysologus
Homily 50.6. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol. 2: Mark. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2005, p. 27.

Now Matthew indeed saith, that "they brought him," but the others, that they also broke up the roof, and let him down. And they put the sick man before Christ, saying nothing, but committing the whole to Him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

March 16

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.

March 16

Sabine the Martyr of Egypt

The holy Martyr Sabine was from Hermopolis in Egypt, and was known for his zeal and piety. During the persecution of Diocletian, he concealed himself with other Christians in a small dwelling outside the city. But when he was discovered, and professed his faith in Christ, he was taken before Arian the Governor, and after he had been tortured he was drowned in the river. Concerning Arian the Governor, See also December 14.

March 16

Christodulus the Wonderworker of Patmos

Saint Christodulus, who was from the region of Nicaea of Bithynia, was the son of Theodore and Anna, and was given the name John. He assumed the monastic habit in his youth and was renamed Christodulus ("slave of Christ" in Greek). At first, he lived the ascetical life in various places, then he received permission and monetary aid from the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus (reigned 1081-1118), and built on the island of Patmos a church and monastery named in honour of Saint John the Evangelist. These buildings stand to this day. However, when the Arabs attacked that place, he fled with his disciples and went to Euboia (Euripus), where also he completed the course of his life about the end of the eleventh century on the 16th of March. The disciples of this righteous man took his sacred incorrupt remains and transferred them to his own monastery, where they repose to this day for the sanctification of those who have recourse to them with faith.

BACK TO TOP