Annunciation Church
Publish Date: 2025-01-05
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Parish News and Events
Liturgical Ministry
Parish Calendar
Archdiocese News
Flyers

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Annunciation Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (978) 465-5757
  • Street Address:

  • 7 Harris St.

  • Newburyport, MA 01950

Contact Information

Proistamenos (Pastor) Rev. Dr. Costin Popescu


[email protected]
Jim Georgopoulos
Parish Council President

[email protected]

Services Schedule

Orthros 9am Divine Liturgy 10am

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the mighty power of His arm. He trampled down death by death and became the firstborn of the dead. From the depths of Hades, He delivered us and granted to the world great mercy.
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Eve of Epiphany in the Fourth Mode

River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.
Ἀπεστρέφετο ποτέ, ὁ Ἰορδάνης ποταμός, τὴ μηλωτὴ Ἐλισαιέ, ἀναληφθέντος Ἡλιοῦ, καὶ διηρεῖτο τὰ ὕδατα ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, καὶ γέγονεν αὐτῷ, ξηρὰ ὁδὸς ἡ ὑγρά, εἰς τύπον ἀληθῶς τοῦ Βαπτίσματος, δι' οὗ ἡμεῖς τὴν ῥέουσαν, τοῦ βίου διαπερῶμεν διάβασιν, Χριστὸς ἐφάνη, ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ, ἁγιᾶσαι τὰ ὕδατα.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
Ἐν τοῖς ῥείθροις σήμερον τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, γεγονῶς ὁ Κύριος, τῶ Ἰωάννη ἐκβοᾷ. Μὴ δειλιάσης βαπτίσαι με, σῶσαι γὰρ ἥκω, Ἀδὰμ τὸν πρωτόπλαστον.
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Saints and Feasts

January 05

Theopemptos, Bishop of Nicomedea Theonas, the Martyrs

When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.

January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα· λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Sunday before Epiphany
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8

᾿Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ῾Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου· φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο ᾿Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ ῾Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων· ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ.

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Parish News and Events

Please pray for our brothers and sisters: Christina, Malina, Athena, Ivana, Deborah, Nicholas,  Christine, Yakov, Anna, Joanne, Eva, John. We will keep the names for about six months unless the situation. is resolved. 

Christmas Card donations Many thanks to all parishioners who donated to the parish Christmas card. As a result of your generosity, more than $2,000 was raised from this effort.  The money was split between the Scholarship and Music Ministries acounts.  Efcharisto!  We thank John and Arthur Housianitis for the very substantial amount of work put into soliciting donations, printing and mailing the cards!

Swear in Ceremony for Parish Council Members - Sunday, January 5th - Swear in ceremony and election of officers on January 5.  Congratulations to the newly elected PC Council members: Juliette Giotas, Arthur Housianitis, Marius Micu, Christos Patrinos, Marianna Toumbourou, and Diana Uttley.

GLAS Warm Winter Item Donation Drive - The Greek Ladies Aid Asssociation will be collecting socks, hats, mittens, and scarves for the greater Newburyport Community, adults and children, through the winter season.  Please drop off items in the designated basket and donations will be dropped off to various charities throughout the area all season long.  Thank you for helping us keep our community warm this winter season.

Bible study continues on Monday, January 6th at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to join!  The Bible study meets every other Monday.  We have begun a new cycle - a scriptural study of the Divine Liturgy!   Those who cannot attend in person can connect by zoom using the church link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2563414551 

GLAS Meeting - Wednesday, January 8th at 6:30pm - Please join us for the first GLAS meeting of the year.  We will discuss details for the upcoming Vasilopita Luncheon as well as scheduling future meetings and events. We look foward to a blessed and full year.

GLAS Vasilopita Sunday - Sunday, January 12th immediately following Divine Liturgy.  Please join us to ring in the New Year with our traditional Vasilopita Lucheon.  

Orthodoxy Discussion Group - continues on January 13. This group meets every other week, tentatively on Mondays at 7pm.  It is intended both for those who want to join the church through Baptism or Chrismation, those who want to have their wedding blessed, as well as for anyone who wants to learn more about their Orthodox faith.  Please let Fr. Costin know if you commit to participate.  If no one expresses an interest, we will have to postpone the series.

Please Sign up for a coffee hour or for providing deserts to St. Basil Soup Kitchen.  The sign up boards are in the Narthex.  For details, inquire with parish council members.

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Liturgical Ministry

The new Theophany icon has arrived!  We thank the Kouklamanis family for their generous donation (see picture above).  We will bless the icon at the conclusion of the service.

Prosforo Schedule for January/February- January:  Jan 5 - Suzy Brown,  Jan 12 - Melinda Patrick, Jan 19 - Freezer (Joanna Tsiantas), Jan 26 - Elaine Kefgas, Jan 29 - Anna Chetsas. February: Feb 2 - Andrea Jones, Feb 9 - Evie Taylor, Feb 16 - Lisa Housiantitis, Feb 23 - Juliette Giotis.  Thank you to our exisitng and NEW dedicated Prosforo bakers. 

Epiphany Liturgy - Monday, January 6th at 9:30am - Epiphany Liturgy followed by the Blessing of the Waters will be celebrated Monday, January 6th at 9:30am.

Father will be on vacation starting Tuesday, January 7th.  Please call any member of the Parish Council with emergencies.

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Parish Calendar

  • Parish calendar

    January 5 to January 19, 2025

    Sunday, January 5

    9:00AM Matins (Orthros)

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, January 6

    9:30AM Epiphany Liturgy followed by Blessing of Waters

    7:00PM Bible study

    Tuesday, January 7

    Fr. Costin on vacation

    Sunday, January 12

    9:00AM Matins (Orthros)

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, January 13

    7:00PM Orthodoxy Discussion Group

    Tuesday, January 14

    8:45AM Morning service

    Wednesday, January 15

    6:30PM NCS Reception

    Thursday, January 16

    8:45AM Morning service

    9:15AM Chant practice

    12:00PM Lectionary Byweekly Bible Study

    Friday, January 17

    9:30AM St. Anthony Liturgy

    Sunday, January 19

    9:00AM Matins (Orthros)

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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