Assumption Church
Publish Date: 2025-08-31
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Assumption Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (203) 748-2992
  • Fax:
  • (203) 748-7747
  • Street Address:

  • 30 Clapboard Ridge Road

  • Danbury, CT 06811


Contact Information








Services Schedule

 
Orthros at 8:45 am - Sundays
Divine Liturgy at 10am - Sundays
 
Weekday Liturgies & Evening Divine Services as scheduled in Google Calendar
 
 


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Luke 1: 46-48.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:1-7.

BRETHREN, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.


Gospel Reading

12th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 19:16-26

At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


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Saints and Feasts

September 01

Ecclesiastical New Year

For the maintenance of their armed forces, the Roman emperors decreed that their subjects in every district should be taxed every year. This same decree was reissued every fifteen years, since the Roman soldiers were obliged to serve for fifteen years. At the end of each fifteen-year period, an assessment was made of what economic changes had taken place, and a new tax was decreed, which was to be paid over the span of the fifteen years. This imperial decree, which was issued before the season of winter, was named Indictio, that is, Definiton, or Order. This name was adopted by the emperors in Constantinople also. At other times, the latter also used the term Epinemisis, that is, Distribution (Dianome). It is commonly held that Saint Constantine the Great introduced the Indiction decrees in A.D. 312, after he beheld the sign of the Cross in heaven and vanquished Maxentius and was proclaimed Emperor in the West. Some, however (and this seems more likely), ascribe the institution of the Indiction to Augustus Caesar, three years before the birth of Christ. Those who hold this view offer as proof the papal bull issued in A.D. 781 which is dated thus: Anno IV, Indictionis LIII -that is, the fourth year of the fifty-third Indiction. From this, we can deduce the aforementioned year (3 B.C.) by multiplying the fifty-two complete Indictions by the number of years in each (15), and adding the three years of the fifty-third Indiction. There are three types of Indictions: 1) That which was introduced in the West, and which is called Imperial, or Caesarean, or Constantinian, and which begins on the 24th of September; 2) The so-called Papal Indiction, which begins on the 1st of January; and 3) The Constantinopolitan, which was adopted by the Patriarchs of that city after the fall of the Eastern Empire in 1453. This Indiction is indicated in their own hand on the decrees they issue, without the numeration of the fifteen years. This Indiction begins on the 1st of September and is observed with special ceremony in the Church. Since the completion of each year takes place, as it were, with the harvest and gathering of the crops into storehouses, and we begin anew from henceforth the sowing of seed in the earth for the production of future crops, September is considered the beginning of the New Year. The Church also keeps festival this day, beseeching God for fair weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. The Holy Scriptures (Lev. 23:24-5 and Num. 29:1-2) also testify that the people of Israel celebrated the feast of the Blowing of the Trumpets on this day, offering hymns of thanksgiving. In addition to all the aforesaid, on this feast we also commemorate our Saviour's entry into the synagogue in Nazareth, where He was given the book of the Prophet Esaias to read, and He opened it and found the place where it is written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for which cause He hath anointed Me..." (Luke 4:16-30).

It should be noted that to the present day, the Church has always celebrated the beginning of the New Year on September 1. This was the custom in Constantinople until its fall in 1453 and in Russia until the reign of Peter I. September 1 is still festively celebrated as the New Year at the Patriarchate of Constantinople; among the Jews also the New Year, although reckoned according to a moveable calendar, usually falls in September. The service of the Menaion for January 1 is for our Lord's Circumcision and for the memorial of Saint Basil the Great, without any mention of its being the beginning of a new year.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Rise from love of the world and love of pleasure. Put care aside, strip your mind, refuse your body. Prayer, after all, is a turning away from the world, visible and invisible. What have I in heaven? Nothing except simply to cling always to You in undistracted prayer. Wealth pleases some, glory others, possessions others, but what I want is to cling to God and to put the hopes of my dispassion in Him (cf. Ps. 72:25, 28).
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28: On Prayer; Paulist Press pg. 277, 6th century

Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.
St. Isaac of Syria
Unknown, 7th century

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Parish News

Coffee will be available after Divine Liturgy

Please gather outside at the Parish Office entrance. 

Young Adult Meeting

Inviting all young adults (High School graduates to 30 years of age) to a meeting following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Sept. 7th in the Conference Room. Join us as we gather to grow in our Orthodox Christian faith, working together in supporting the Ministries of our Parish. All are welcome.

Ministry Fair

Sunday September 14th following Divine Liturgy in the Community Hall. Come and sign up for all the beautiful ministries our parish has to offer!

Catechism School

The first day of catechism school is September 21st, followed by our Parish-wide Picnic on our lawn!

We are in need of catechism school teachers. You will be co-teaching in a supportive and flexible environment. Please contact Tasha Kardaris at [email protected] or (203) 554-1712.

Sunday Collection Basket

We are very thankful for the support of so many families and individuals who financially support the Ministries of our Assumption Church. Your Stewardship Commitment and donations for candles, Feast Days and special offerings help our Church meet the Yearly Budget. Our Parish Council has decided to continue placing the traditional Collection Basket on a table in the Narthex. Parishioners and visitors may offer a donation if they wish following Divine Liturgy and other Services as they exit the Church. Thank you for your gifts that support the many Ministries and programs of our Church. God Bless you.

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GOYA Campout Flyer

    GOYA Campout – Sept. 20–21!

    GOYA Campout – Sept. 20–21!

    All GOYA members (7th grade & up) are invited to our overnight campout on the church grounds! Join us for games, campfire fun, worship, and fellowship. Please take a look at the flyer and Signup Genius for details, including the packing list and instructions on how to sign up to attend.


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Campout Signup

GOYA Campout – Sept. 20–21!
All GOYA members (7th grade & up) are invited to our overnight campout on the church grounds! Join us for games, campfire fun, worship, and fellowship. Please take a look at the flyer and Signup Genius for details, including the packing list and instructions on how to sign up to attend.

Campout link
 
Parish-Wide Project: College Care Packages
During the campout, our GOYANs will assemble care packages for our college students—and we need the whole parish’s help! Even if you don’t have children attending, you can support this effort by donating items listed in the flyer and Signup Genius. Together, we can remind our students that their parish family loves and supports them while they are away.
 
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Ladies Philoptochos

Our Philoptochos meetings will take place on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 except there is a holiday conflict. The September meeting is on Monday, September 8 at 6:30.

Agape fellowship Hosting Sign Up for 2025-2025 is ready. Please look at your calendars and volunteer for a Sunday https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084DA4AF22A7F94-57762908-fellowship

FOT 2025 will be held on Saturday, November 8. If you are interested in hosting a table or offering a raffle item kindly sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084DA4AF22A7F94-57612503-fotladies Paid reservations will open in late September.

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Voice of the Lord Reading

ORTHODOX WORSHIP

Today's Apostolic narrative concerns the Christians of Hebrew origin. The Apostle's aim is to clarify the differences between the worship of God in the Old Testament and the worship of the Incarnate Word within His Church. To this end, he proceeds with a detailed account of the handmade Tabernacle of Witness, which always constituted the holiest point of the Jewish religion. He refers to the liturgical regulations and the earthly altar, the first part of the Tabernacle, called the "Holy Place." He then describes the "Holy of Holies" and mentions the priestly ministry, which was limited to the
"Holy Place," as well as the ministry of the High Priest of the year, who, once a year, entered the "Holy of Holies" to offer a blood sacrifice for himself and for the sins of the people.

Christ, the One offered and sacrificed
Next, the Apostle refers to the tent of God's worship not made by hands, where the Great High Priest, Christ, enters forever, offering a continual sacrifice, not the blood of goats and bulls, but His own Blood, which secures eternal redemption for people. This image of the eternally offered and sacrificed Christ for the love of people is the foundation of Orthodox Christian worship, the center of the liturgical life of our Church, where the Divine Liturgy and the mystery of the Holy Eucharist hold a dominant place.

In His conversation with the Samaritan woman in the well-known Gospel passage, Christ describes God as "Spirit," who is worshiped everywhere and always. That is, every Christian can express feelings of worship toward God through prayer, anywhere and at any time. At the same time, however, all Christians together form the Body of the Church and participate in the communal liturgical life, which unfolds daily in the sacred space of the church, where we collectively offer our worship to God. Though this worship is carried out with material elements, nevertheless, it transcends earthly boundaries and elevates the faithful to experience the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven. For this is precisely what Orthodox worship is: the icon and foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven. This explains the brilliance of sacred churches and the vestments of the clergy. What might otherwise be considered unnecessary or even provocative luxury, or a remnant of glorious Byzantinism, reveals nothing other than the eschatological image of the glory and Kingdom of God.

Temples radiate the brilliance of heaven
This is how we should perceive the radiant and dazzling image of divine worship, where our churches are transformed into palaces of heaven, and our clergy – often dressed in black in their daily lives – become angels of light, glorifying the majesty of the heavenly God.

However, because voices unfamiliar with spiritual life and ecclesiastical experience often attempt to provoke scandal and to shake our faith, invoking the supposed luxury of divine worship, let us keep in mind the attitude of a contemporary Saint: “It is inconceivable to you why the Orthodox Church permits such inner brilliance: precious icons, silver oil lamps, golden chalices, expensive vestments, and other costly items. It is because all this dazzling radiance is meant to remind people of the eternal brilliance of heaven. To draw them, even if only for a moment, out of their earthly misery and to alert them to that other world, their heavenly homeland, the kingdom of eternal happiness and eternal joy. To present to them, as much as is possible on earth, in a material and symbolic way, that luxury and richness which fills the spiritual world and with which the soul of the Christian must be filled, the soul that is enclosed in the body, just as all that brilliance is enclosed within the stone walls of the church.”

Let us participate in the worship life of our Church with this understanding, with consistency and fervent inner disposition, tasting through this life the blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen!

Archimandrite E. Oik.

The VOICE OF THE LORD - www.apostoliki-diakonia.gr

A weekly pamphlet of Orthodox faith and life of the "Apostolic Ministry of the Church of Greece"

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Church App

    Stay Connected With Our Church!

    Stay Connected With Our Church!

    As we take the next steps in growing our church, improving communication and engagement is key. We’re excited to introduce our new Church App! Please take a moment to download the app and update your contact info. This will help us stay connected and keep you informed about important updates, events, and opportunities to engage in our ministries. Thank you for being a vital part of our community! Please click on the flyer to download the App.


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Links for Livestreaming Services

Pray with us by subscribing to the Assumption YouTube channel 

https://www.youtube.com/@assumptionchurchdanbury

Or by visiting our Assumption page on Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/assumptiongreekorthodoxchurch/videos

Live events will be streamed on both these services on programmed service hours.

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Calendar

  • Calendar

    August 31 to September 28, 2025

    Sunday, August 31

    12th Sunday of Matthew

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, September 1

    Labor Day

    Ecclesiastical New Year

    Saturday, September 6

    11:00AM Baptism

    Sunday, September 7

    Sunday before Holy Cross

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, September 8

    6:30PM Ladies Philoptochos Meeting

    Saturday, September 13

    12:00PM Baptism

    Sunday, September 14

    🍇 The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Thursday, September 18

    7:00PM Parish Council Meeting

    Sunday, September 21

    Sunday after Holy Cross

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    2:00PM Wedding

    Wednesday, September 24

    12:00PM Dorothy Day Sandwiches - parish hall

    Saturday, September 27

    Hall rented

    Sunday, September 28

    1st Sunday of Luke

    8:45AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

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