Dormition of The Virgin Mary
Publish Date: 2025-07-06
Bulletin Contents

Organization Icon
Dormition of The Virgin Mary

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 15406671416
  • Fax:
  • Dormition of The Virgin Mary
  • Street Address:

  • 1700 Amherst St

  • Winchester, VA 22601


Contact Information








Services Schedule

Sunday Services

Orthros -              9:00 am 

Divine Liturgy -    10:00 am

 


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
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 the Dormition of the Theotokos in the First Tone

In giving birth you remained a virgin, and in your dormition you did not forsake this world, O Theotokos. For as the Mother of Life, you have yourself passed into life. And by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Kevin Lawrence Red Hymnal, pages 222-223

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.
BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

4th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 6:18-23

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

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

4th Sunday of Matthew
Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 6:18-23

Ἀδελφοί, ἐλευθερωθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἐδουλώθητε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. Ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν, οὕτως νῦν παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν. Ὅτε γὰρ δοῦλοι ἦτε τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. Τίνα οὖν καρπὸν εἴχετε τότε ἐφʼ οἷς νῦν ἐπαισχύνεσθε; Τὸ γὰρ τέλος ἐκείνων θάνατος. Νυνὶ δὲ ἐλευθερωθέντες ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας, δουλωθέντες δὲ τῷ θεῷ, ἔχετε τὸν καρπὸν ὑμῶν εἰς ἁγιασμόν, τὸ δὲ τέλος ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Τὰ γὰρ ὀψώνια τῆς ἁμαρτίας θάνατος, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα τοῦ θεοῦ ζωὴ αἰώνιος ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν.


Gospel Reading

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

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

4th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 8:5-13

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ εἰς Καπερναοὺμ προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἑκατόνταρχος παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, ὁ παῖς μου βέβληται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ παραλυτικός, δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἐγὼ ἐλθὼν θεραπεύσω αὐτόν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος ἔφη· Κύριε, οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς ἵνα μου ὑπὸ τὴν στέγην εἰσέλθῃς· ἀλλὰ μόνον εἰπὲ λόγῳ, καὶ ἰαθήσεται ὁ παῖς μου. καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν, ἔχων ὑπ᾿ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας, καὶ λέγω τούτῳ, πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἄλλῳ, ἔρχου, καὶ ἔρχεται, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ μου, ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐθαύμασε καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἀκολουθοῦσιν· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον. λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσμῶν ἥξουσι καὶ ἀνακλιθήσονται μετὰ ᾿Αβραὰμ καὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐκβληθήσονται εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῳ· ὕπαγε, καὶ ὡς ἐπίστευσας γενηθήτω σοι. καὶ ἰάθη ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

July 06

4th Sunday of Matthew


July 06

Sisoes the Great

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


July 06

Holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon and Onesimus


BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP

FOURTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW

Jesus was traveling through Galilee and encountered a man of faith who is an ex
ample for all of us. He was a centurion, which means he was a Roman officer who had one 
hundred soldiers under his command. Centurions had power and prestige. As a Roman, 
he was not part of the Jewish community; he was a foreigner, also called a Gentile (a 
non-Israelite) at that time. As such, the Jewish people considered him to be an outsider.
 The centurion in this passage hears about the Lord Jesus healing people, performing ex
traordinary miracles, doing good, preaching repentance, and the coming of the Kingdom 
of God. Therefore, when Jesus came to the town where the centurion lived, in Caper
naum, not far from where Jesus grew up, he went to Him with faith to ask for help.
 The centurion tells Jesus about his paralyzed servant. His concern shows us that he 
is a merciful commander and has a great love for his servant. As Saint John the Theolo
gian tells us, we ought to love one another because love is from God, and whoever does 
not love does not know God, for God is love. Jesus immediately responds with readiness 
to bless him, offering to come to the centurion’s home to heal the servant. 
The Lord always answers the cries of those who seek Him; His ears are always open 
to our prayers. It did not matter that the centurion was not part of the people of Israel and 
that he could not worship in the Holy Temple. The Lord responds with love and compas
sion to all who call upon His name with love and faith.
 The centurion not only has love but also shows a depth of faith that amazes even 
the Lord. He tells the Lord that he is not worthy to receive Him in his own home. He also 
expresses great faith by telling Jesus only to say the word, and the servant would be 
healed. The centurion’s faith is also informed by discernment. He realized that his own 
authority as a commander was great over men, and so the Messiah’s authority over all 
things was much greater. Jesus is astonished at his response. 
The centurion possesses love, humility, and faith. In humility, he tells the Lord that 
he is not worthy for the Lord to enter his home. He knew that, at that time, the Jewish 
people did not enter the homes of Gentiles. He also recognized that he was standing 
before a man of God and unworthy of hosting Him in his house.
 The centurion’s humility opens the door of his faith and invites the grace of God. 
Saint Paisios, the Athonite, says, “God wants and desires only one thing from us: our hu
mility. He does not need anything else; just to humble ourselves, so He can actually make 
us partakers of His divine grace, which was granted to us through the mystery of Holy 
Baptism . . . He is only asking us to humble ourselves and respond out of gratefulness 
and appreciation for His love. Thus, divine grace . . . will do everything for us, if we only 
humble ourselves and allow for it to act.”
 The centurion also had wisdom. He understood that, as an army officer with one 
hundred men under his authority, his commands were quickly obeyed and his instructions 
immediately put into practice. As a wise man, he realized that if this were true of himself, 
it would be even truer for Jesus Christ. 
The centurion commanded men, but the Son of God commands the universe. The 
centurion oversaw his own region, but the Lord rules over everything. The centurion had 
authority over worldly matters, but the Messiah has power over health and disease, life 
and death. The centurion understood all this through his humility and faith.
 The Lord replies to his Jewish disciples that not even in Israel He had found such 
faith. The Lord teaches us that even if the centurion was not part of the Old Testament 
covenant people of God, as a Gentile, his faith was still greater than what the Lord had 
found in all of Israel. The Judeans considered him a foreigner, but Jesus embraced him as 
a member of His Kingdom.
 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the Holy Forefathers who became friends of God 
by faith. However, the Lord tells us that many who were not from the ancient people of 
God would nevertheless enter the Kingdom of God by faith in Christ. This is relevant to us 
because we all come to the Lord from all corners of the world. We have different cultures, 
different ethnic backgrounds, different languages. Yet, the Lord receives all of us equally. 
The only distinction is our faith and how much we desire fellowship with Him. 
Like the centurion, we enter the Kingdom by opening our hearts to the Lord in hu
mility, faith, and love. As Saint Augustine of Hippo says, “By declaring himself unworthy, 
he showed himself worthy; not indeed into whose house, but into whose heart, Christ the 
Word of God should enter. . . it would have been no great blessedness that Jesus should 
enter within his walls if He had not already entered into his heart.”
 Jesus then tells the centurion that it was done as he had believed. The servant is 
healed at that very moment. Later, we see that even while the nation of Israel was reject
ing the Messiah, delivering Him to be crucified, it was also a centurion who provided a 
fundamental confession of faith at the foot of the Cross, “truly this Man was the Son of 
God!” Jesus is the Savior of all people, regardless of ethnicity. Sometimes, we find faith 
where we do not expect it. All of us can come to Him through faith. It does not matter 
what our background is, but our faith. The Lord can do all things, yet our faith connects us 
to Him and His authority. He loves all people, and those who trust in Him, like the centu
rion, truly open themselves up to receiving the love and grace of God. There is no lack of 
love and grace with the Lord, no shortcomings, and no one He will not receive and bless. 
With faith, all things are possible. Like the centurion’s servant, without Christ, we are spiritually paralyzed. God unconditionally loves us and wants us to be in communion with Him. This communion occurs when we put our trust in Him, remembering His unwavering love for us. He calls us to be humble, realizing our unworthiness; at the same time, He calls us never to lose hope because God is great, forgiving, and merciful. He hears our prayers, answers them, delivers 
us from our paralysis, and restores our life. Let us always live out our baptism by putting 
our faith and trust in the Lover of our souls.

 

 

BACK TO TOP

Church Services

Upcoming Services

 

July Services
07/06/25 Orthros/Divine Liturgy   9:00am - 11:30am
07/12/25 Orthros/Divine Liturgy   9:00am - 11:30am
07/13/25 Orthros/Divine Liturgy   9:00am - 11:30am
07/20/25 Orthros/Divine Liturgy   9:00am - 11:30am
07/22/25 Orthros/Divine Liturgy   9:00am - 11:30am St. Mary Magelden
07/27/25 Orthros/Divine Liturgy   9:00am - 11:30am

Please check the parish Calendar for additional services as well as any updates.

Parish Calendar | Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church (goarch.org)

 

 

 


BACK TO TOP

Parish News

Parish News

Announcements 

Coffee Hour

We want to thank Marie Hughes and Kristina Pletschke for hosting this week's coffee hour. If you would like to host a coffee hour, please sign up on the signup sheet in the hall. For questions, please see Juliette Michael or Marie Hughes.

Church Hall Cleaning

Please help us keep our church hall cleanby cleaning up your eating area following coffee hour. We appericate your assitance in keeping our hall neat. 

2025 Winchester Greek Festival

We are excited to announce that our Greek Festival will take place on August 16th and 17th. Please mark your calendars! This is our parish's largest fundraiser and it cannot happen without everyone's help. Please sign-up to volunteer online or on the sign-up sheets in the hall. We need help all week.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44AEA928A0FCC16-55639891-2025#/

Festival Baking

We will be baking Koularika on July 12th and Kourambides on August 2nd at 9 am. Please see Athena or Juliette Michael for questions. 

Sunday School Area

In preparation for the festival, the Sunday School has been blocked off until after the festival. Coloring sheets and crayons will be available for children in the main hall. We appreciate your help in keeping this area clear.

 

 


Ladies Philoptochos News

Scholarship

Congratulations to Tori Tarrant for having been awarded the Philoptochos Scholarship for 2025! Tori is an exceptional student and person! She has the amazing G.P.A. of 4.18 and has been involved in multiple community activities, received multiple awards as well as being a vital member of Philoptochos! We are so happy to give this scholarship to such a deserving student and person! 

The award will be given on Sunday, July 13th after Divine Liturgy followed by a reception during coffee hour.  Please sign up for the coffee hour reception on Sunday, July 13th. Please right click on the link and then open in new tab to sign up.

ETC Consignment Fundraiser 
It's time to donate your unwanted clothing and shoes for men, women, and children to ETC Consignments on behalf of Philoptochos, account #200. They are currently accepting Summer clothing - Sleeveless, Shorts & Sandals / Flip Flops and summer decor. Jeans and sweatshirts accepted year-round. All clothing/shoes must be in good condition- no holes or stains, missing buttons, excessive wear, etc.  You can call to schedule an appt. at the shop. See ETC’s website for further details relating to donations or see Kathy Lutz.

Koliva

Philoptochos can prepare koliva for memorials. A donation of $75 is appreciated, but it is a free service to anyone upon request.  Please contact Chris Georgarakis ([email protected]; (540)664-8466) to schedule.

Join Philoptochos 

Help Philoptochos serve our community through agape, philanthropy, and fellowship. We invite all parishioners to join our chapter and make a difference. Copies are available in the church hall and at http://dormition.va.goarch.org/ministries/philoptochos. Please see membership chairperson, Christina Vazquez (703)728-2657) or email at [email protected] for more information.

Contact Us 

For more information, please contact us through email at [email protected] or speak with a Philoptochos board member. Contact information provided on the bulletin board in the hall.

 

 

 


BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP

Directions to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church

We welcome you to worship with us on Sunday and whenever the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Matins begins at 9:00 am and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

Click here for Google Map & Specific Driving Directions »

DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE NORTH:

1. Proceed south on Interstate 81 South heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 317 for VA-37/ US-11 toward US-522 N/ US-50 W/ Winchester/ Stephenson (0.3 mi)
3. Turn right at US-11 S/ VA-37 S/ Martinsburg Pike, Continue to follow VA-37 S (3.8 mi)
4. Take the ramp to US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike (0.2 mi)
5. Turn left at US-50 E/ Northwestern Pike, Continue to follow US-50 E (0.6 mi )
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

DIRECTIONS TO THE DORMITION CHURCH FROM THE SOUTH:

1. Proceed north on Interstate 81North heading toward Winchester
2. Take exit 310 for VA-37 toward US-11/VA-642/ Winchester/ Kernstown/ US-50/ US-522/ Berkely Spgs/ Romney (0.2 mi)
3. Turn left at VA-37 N (5.2 mi)
4. Take the US-50 ramp to Winchester/ Romney (0.3 mi)
5. Turn right at US-50 E/ Amherst St (0.5 mi)
6. Turn left at Omps Dr, Continue to entrance of the Church`s parking lot (100 ft)
7. Turn left into the Church`s parking lot.

BACK TO TOP