Services at St. Andrew

Friday 3/31 @6:30pm Salutations AKATHIST

Sunday 4/2 Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt +Orthros @8:15am & DL @9:30am

A 40 Day Memorial Service will be prayed for the repose of the soul of +Demetri Δημητρίου (James) Pittas, beloved father of: Despina Pittas-Szelag (Adam J Szelag), Vicki Pittas Garces (Cesar A. Garces) grandfather of; Luka Garces, Mateo Garces, Elli Szelag, Eva Szelag, ex-husband and dear friend of Elli Pittas, nephew of (the late Takis) and Soultana Seretis.

A Six-Month Memorial Service will be prayed for the repose of the soul of +Evangelia Ευαγγελίας (Lynn) Axiotes, beloved wifeof Daniel Beauchamp, devoted mother of: Gabrielle and Alexa, cherished daughter of: Maria (Jeffrey) Yoanides, sister of: Nicholas (Vanessa) Axiotes and Irene Axiotes, niece of Sofia Caruso…

A ONE YEAR Memorial Service will be prayed for the repose of the soul of +Christos Χρίστου Neroutsos, beloved husband of Theodora, father of: Afrodite (Dimos) Paxos, Rose (George)Tzouvaras, grandfather of: Ioannis, Dimitra, Kristina, Jimmy, Theodora, Krissoula, great grandfather of: Angeliki, Yianni, and Despina and brother of: Athena Sousoni, Eleni Pappas. *Please join the family downstairs in our Social Hall for refreshments in honor of Christo’s blessed memory.

A ONE YEAR Memorial Service will be prayed for the repose of the soul of + Vasiliki Βασιλικής Grapsas, and an annual Memorial service for +Demetrios Δημητρίου Grapsas beloved parents of: Soultana Seretis, Giorgos Grapsas, Aphrodite Kasolas, Katina Sakellaropoulos, & Elli Pittas, grandmother of: Nikos Seretis, Demetrios Seretis, Jacqui and Demetrios Sakellaropoulos, Bobby Kasolas, Despina Pittas-Szelag, Vasiliki Garces, Vasiliki, Demetrios, and Andrew Grapsas, and great grandmother of twenty.

A TWO-YEAR Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of + Elias Ηλία Kalavrezos, beloved husband of Evangelia, devoted father to Sofia (Brett) Kadrmas, Anna (Michael) Kambouris, Maria Kalavrezos (Andreas Diakos), grandfather of Elias and Antonios, brother of Anna (George) Paralis, and George (Theodora) Kalavrezos.

A Trisagion Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Sofia Σοφίας & +Philip Φίλιππα Aspras, beloved parents of Evangelia (late Elias) Kalavrezos, Emmanuel, and Ioannis(Linda) Aspras.

A THREE-YEAR Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +George Γεωργίου Kavalos. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle, and friend. George is survived by his wife Anna, his two daughters Irene and Fotini, and his son Emmanuel.

A FIVE-YEAR Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Maria Μαρίας Giokas Aivaliotis, beloved wife of John and mother of Elena Tsataros and Stacey Aivaliots. *Please join the family downstairs in our Social Hall for refreshments in honor of Maria’s blessed memory.

An Annual Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the souls of +Speros Σπυρίδωνα Zezas, +Ioanna Ιωάννας Sklavenitis and +Margarita ΜαργαρίταςSklavenitis beloved family of Andrew Zezas .

A Trisagion Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Theofanis Θεοφάνη Dardaganis, father of Faye Paska and Peter Dardaganis grandfather of Kia Paskas, Kayla Hunsicker, Erica Potosky and Amanda Young.

May their memory be eternal. Αιωνία η μνήμη αυτών

Baptism: On Sunday April 2^nd, 2023, at 1:00pm Paul and Anna (Kitsos) Papamarkos will baptize their son.

Divine Services

Monday 4/3 @6pm Office of the Great Compline

Tuesday 4/4 @3-5pm Sacrament of Confession (Walk in)

Wednesday 4/5 @ 6:30pm Pre-Sanctified Gifts Liturgy

Saturday 4/8 Saturday of Lazarus +Orthros @8am Divine Liturgy @9:15am

Sunday 4/9 Palm Sunday +Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am

Participation in services is also available via livestream - go to: Home | St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church (orthodoxws.com) and choose LIVESTREAM on the Menu bar

Prayers/Liturgy can always be found at: https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/dcs.html

Online Giving System: Website: https://www.standrewgonj.org/ and choose PayPal / online WeShare | Consider making your donations using our New Abundant App

Announcements

PRESENTATION on Human Trafficking Friday March 31^st @ 7:30pm Learn about the dangers of human trafficking| Speaker Linda Blackiston Saint Andrew Social Hall |RSVP & information contact Maro Schuster

SUNDAY COFFEE Hour ON 4/2/23 is hosted by PHILOPTOCHOS

Bagels are donated by Jimmy Psaras of ALFA BAGELS on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ
Coffee is donated by Aristotle Leontopoulos of Coffee Associates in Edgewater, NJ
Coffee Hour is hosted by: 4/9* Palm Sunday ALL,*LENT , 4/16 PASCHA, 4/23 DOP, 4/30 GOYA, 5/7 Philoptochos, 5/14 Parish Council, 5/21 DOP

COLLECTING FOR

Saturday of Lazarus : Pascha Egg Hunt (bring in by Thursday)

Easter Basket Drive for Homeless Children : Stuffed animals, loose candy, chocolate bunnies, movie seized candy, bubbles, chalk, crayons, toys – Your donations will provide Easter Baskets to homeless women, children, & Seniors of NJ | you can volunteer by signing up at: www.iAMhopeNJ.org

Homeless Women – collecting up until March 26^thj:please bring personal essential items such as hygiene products, undergarments…etc.. which will be distributed to women who are homeless by Daughters of Penelope.

CAMP GOOD SHEPHERD
July 16-22nd Ages 8-18 at Camp Linwood MacDonald in Sandyston, NJ
To Register go to http://app.campdoc.com/register/cgsn
Also on our Metropolis Website here: https://www.nj.goarch.org/camp-good-shepherd

Greek Indenpendence Day Parade - April 30th in NYC : n NYC will be on Sunday April 30^th | look for upcoming details our national holiday of the “Greek Independence Day”.

BAKE SALE SEE ATTACHED FLYER: Koulourakia, Kourambiethes, Melomakarona (Finikia), $8 |Baklava $15| Gift Tray$35, RED Paschal Eggs $20 | pre-order w Maria 973-691-8168

Tsoureki $20 From the Holy Protection Monastery in PA

TRICKY TRAY Friday May 12^th :

Philoptochos’ main fundraiser | A portion of the proceeds will go to charities: Saint Peter’s Orphanage, Saint Michael’s Home and Parkinson’s Foundation.
To donate please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4BADA82BAAF49-saint2 or email [email protected] or contact a committee member: Marina Venizelos, Melissa Dobias, Antonia Clapsis, Irene Laoudis, Yiota Louca, Julie Ioannou and Maro Schuster, to let us know your contribution. All donations should be mailed or delivered by April 23rd.

Fr. John's Message

Lord’s Voice 4-2-2023

THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST AND THE HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS

The closer we get to Holy Week, the more the Church helps us with her divine worship and word, to approach the Lord’s immaculate Passion, the Crucifictory Sacrifice and Resurrection. This approach is inspired by faith, hope and love towards the person of Christ; and it takes place with the ardent desire to experience the mystery of Christ, through prayer, repentance, and brother-loving.

In this context, the image of Saint Mary of Egypt is presented as a bright example of deep repentance and sanctification. She fell into the abyss and darkness of debauchery; however, she was granted by God, with the power of the life-giving Cross, and the intercession of the Virgin, to experience the incomparable mystery of the love of Christ, and the cleansing of her conscience from her works of sin.

Her life, as an upward path of Christian ascesis, is very edifying, and deserves to be studied by every person. Furthermore, in the Epistle reading, it is pointed out that the sacrifice of Christ, His holy Blood, "cleanses your conscience from the dead works in worshiping the living God", (Hebrews 9:14). The Blood of Christ cleanses the human conscience from the dead works of sin. However, what is the conscience, and what is its criterion? In very simple words, the conscience is the viewpoint that a person can form about the moral character of his actions and the ability to distinguish good from evil. It is the perception about whatever manifests itself within in his soul, the marking of the inner workings of the mind, such as knowing, willing intending, doubting, etc. It is, in a word, the natural law which God poses for man’s natural progress.

The Holy Gospel is the criterion, now, for the formation of a healthy conscience, for those who believe in Christ. That is, the manifestation of God's truth and love in the world. Very aptly, the sacred Chrysostom emphasizes that "then the conscience, the criterion of our soul is ill,... which, when it does not have the balance of its reasonings, fixed and oriented with precision on the law of God, it cannot judge the facts correctly, but wanders and is swayed".

The cleansing of the conscience from dead works

No created power can penetrate the depths of man's conscience and cleanse it of sin. This is performed only by the uncreated energy of Christ, when a person with faith and repentance asks for forgiveness. Christ, with His infinite love, can fit in the heart of every believer who willingly opens the door of his soul. With the conscious and the prepared participation in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and the cultivation of the spiritual life, the power of sin is abolished, the soul is cleansed and man is reborn. That is why Paul exclaims that "we have redemption through his blood" (Eph. 1:7), while the sacred Chrysostom says that the Blood of Christ "having been poured out, washed the whole world".

The burden of sin

If, in the Old Testament, sin is understood mainly as a transgression of the moral law and religious regulations, in the New Testament, Christ revealed that the burden of sin, lies in man's interior, from where all its hideous forms emanate (Matthew 15:18-19). For example, if a person avoids murder, but keeps in his heart hatred, disgust, and anger towards his brother, it does not mean that he has avoided sin; rather, he transforms the love owed to his neighbor, into selfishness, malice and hostility.

However, the Blood of Christ redeems us from this burden of sin, it enlightens us and deifies us. May our whole life be a perpetual praise to Him, who, nourishes us, as nursing infants, with His precious Blood, "the antidote so as to not die" (St. Ignatius the Godbear)

Archim. N.K

Daily Calendar

Friday 3/31
10am Lenten Study
@6:30 pm Salutations - AKATHIST HYMN
7:30pm Talk on Human Trafficking /Social hall

Saturday 4/1 KALO MINA

Sunday 4/2
Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt +Orthros @8:15am & DL @9:30am

Monday 4/3
@6pm Office of the Great Compline
@7:45pm Parrish Council Meeting

Tuesday 4/4
@7pm Philoptochos Meeting

Wednesday 4/5
@11am Pillow Ministry & Knitting
@6:30pm Pre-Sanctified Gifts Liturgy

Friday 4/7
@10am Little ANGELS’ Playgroup: drop by any time between 10-12 for pray & play

Thursday 4/8
@4:30pm Hellenic Afternoon School Classes
Greek Dance ●Group 1 @6:30pm ●Group 2 @7:15pm ● GROUP 3 /GOYA @8:00pm

Saturday 4/8
Saturday of Lazarus +Orthros @8am Divine Liturgy @9:15am
Following Services, you are invited in our gym for: Potluck Lenten Luncheon, Pascha Egg Hunt, HOPE -JOY Special Craft, Preparation of Palm Crosses by all

Sunday 4/9

Palm Sunday +Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am
All the Organizations and Ministries come together to sponsor and host a Traditional Lunch on Palm Sunday. Join us for fellowship and the continuation of our heritage and traditions of our Orthodox Faith. (Good will donation is welcomed.)

@ 7pm Bridegroom Nymphios Service

Holy Week Services

News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

Presentation on Human Trafficking

Friday March 31st @ 7:30pm Learn about the dangers of human trafficking| Speaker Linda Blackiston Saint Andrew Social Hall | for information & RSVP contact Maro Schuster

EFFECTIVE PARISH ASSESSMENT

All parishioners of Saint Andrew Church are invited to take the EPS survey. Please help us asses your needs and wants for our Parish to be more effective for you.

Great Compline

Tuesday 4-4-2023: Led by His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia

Greek Film Festival

A Global Greek Film Initiative . .. inaugural Faith and Tradition Programming | a week of free, online screenings of films celebrating our faith and Greek heritage from March 24th-April 2nd, 2023.

AFTER THE PASCHAL SERVICES ON

SATURDAY OF LAZARUS APRIL 8TH| PALM SUNDAY APRIL 9TH | THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST APRIL 16 12 AM

LAMBATHES

Paschal Lambathes $20 | outside church office

Philoptochos Tsoureki - Bakaliko Bake Sale

Philoptochos Tsoureki @ $20 each | Bakaliko Bake Sale

LORD'S VOICE

FONI KYRIOY in Greek 4-2-2023

Tricky Tray

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023 | DOORS OPEN AT 6:30PM | CALLING BEGINS AT 8:00PM | to purchase tickets go to: https://standrewphiloptochostrick.rsvpify.com

SERVICES

April & May 2023

Prayer List

Prayer for a Sick Person:

Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Please keep these names in your prayers

Georgia, George, Michael, Helen, Anastasios, Evangelia, Christine, Rebecca, Argiros, Paul, Gavin, Christos, John, Michelle, Katie, Nicole, Ioanna, Angela, Stefanos, Eugenia, Sarah, Vasilios, Alexandros, Nikolaos, Kyriaki, James, Florence, Konstantinos, Ekaterini, Antonia, Georgia, Olga, Angeliki, Vasilis, Hariklia, Alex, Peter, Alexandra, Dimitra, Kenneth, Andy, Dutch, Danny, Irene, Pamela, Anita, Maria, Sophia, Ioannis, Maurice, Pat, Bonita, Maria, Deryl, Mary, Elena, Konstantinos, Zenovia, Joanne, Anna, Panayiota, Thomas, Robert, Eleni, Leslie, Martin, Paula, …..

If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388 or send us an email to [email protected]

Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed. Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the Proskomide “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.

Ninth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ· ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν, καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κᾀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον. Ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφιένται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωμᾶς δέ, εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς· ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾶ· φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ᾧδε, καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου. καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Θωμᾶς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με πεπίστευκας, μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες, καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες, ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:11-14.

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ διʼ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων, καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους, ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι;

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 10:32-45

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητάς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ συμβαίνειν, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ ᾿Ιάκωβος καὶ ᾿Ιωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες· διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί με ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δὸς ἡμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δυνάμεθα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τὸ μὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε· τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ᾿ οἷς ἡτοίμασται. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ ᾿Ιωάννου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς· οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν· οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ᾿ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι μέγας ἐν ὑμῖν, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος· καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.

Saints and Feasts

April 02

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

April 02

Titus the Wonderworker

Little is known of this Saint except that he took up the monastic life from his youth, became the abbot of a monastery, and reposed in peace.

April 02

Amphianos & Aedesios the Martyrs of Lycia

April 04

Righteous Zosimas

Saint Zosimas was a monk from Palestine who lived in a monastery since his infancy. He became famous for his spiritual qualities, but searching for further illumination he went to a new monastery in the desert. The monks of this particular monastery left every year for the desert from the first week of Great Lent until Palm Sunday so as to live in complete isolation.

One year, Zosimas saw a shadowy figure in the distance and, chasing after it, discovered a female ascetic by the name of Mary (see April 1^st and the 5^th Sunday of Great Lent). Mary instructed Zosimas to meet her at the Jordan River on Holy Thursday of the following year to giver her Holy Communion. He did this and was again instructed by her to meet her yet again the next year during Great Lent. Zosimas entered the desert at the appointed time the following year and found the body of the blessed Mary lying dead near the place he first encountered her. A lion approached to dig a grave for Mary, and Zosimas recited the usual burial prayers. He returned to his monastery and spread the news about this blessed woman. Zosimas remained in that monastery until his death the age of 100.

April 08

Lazarus Saturday

Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, the friends of the Lord Jesus, had given Him hospitality and served Him many times (Luke 10:38-4z; John 12:2-3). They were from Bethany, a village of Judea. This village is situated in the eastern parts by the foothills of the Mount of Olives, about two Roman miles from Jerusalem. When Lazarus - whose name is a Hellenized form of "Eleazar," which means "God has helped," became ill some days before the saving Passion, his sisters had this report taken to our Saviour, Who was then in Galilee. Nonetheless, He tarried yet two more days until Lazarus died; then He said to His disciples, "Let us go into Judea that I might awake My friend who sleepeth." By this, of course, He meant the deep sleep of death. On arriving at Bethany, He consoled the sisters of Lazarus, who was already four days dead. Jesus groaned in spirit and was troubled at the death of His beloved friend. He asked, "Where have ye laid his body?" and He wept over him. When He drew nigh to the tomb, He commanded that they remove the stone, and He lifted up His eyes, and giving thanks to God the Father, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And he that had been dead four days came forth immediately, bound hand and foot with the grave clothes, and Jesus said to those standing there, "Loose him, and let him go." This is the supernatural wonder wrought by the Saviour that we celebrate on this day.

According to an ancient tradition, it is said that Lazarus was thirty years old when the Lord raised him; then he lived another thirty years on Cyprus and there reposed in the Lord. It is furthermore related that after he was raised from the dead, he never laughed till the end of his life, but that once only, when he saw someone stealing a clay vessel, he smiled and said, "Clay stealing clay." His grave is situated in the city of Kition, having the inscription: "Lazarus the four days dead and friend of Christ." In 890 his sacred relics were transferred to Constantinople by Emperor Leo the Wise, at which time undoubtedly the Emperor composed his stichera for Vespers, "Wishing to behold the tomb of Lazarus . . ."

April 09

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind!

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal Fourth Mode

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

Ἐν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα, λαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν Σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν μὲν σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, πράγματος ἀθανάτου· διὸ καὶ μετὰ Ἀγγέλων συναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦμά σου.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

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.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Before He humbled Himself, only the angels knew him. After He humbled Himself, all human nature knew Him. You see how His humbling of Himself did not make Him have less but produced countless benefits, countless deeds of virtue, and made His glory shine forth with greater brightness? God wants for nothing and has need of nothing. Yet, when He humbled Himself, He produced such great good, increased His household, and extended His kingdom. Why, then, are you afraid that you will become less if you humble yourself?

St. John Chrysostom

On the Incomprehensible Nature of God. 8.46-47. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: Mark. Intervarsity Press, 2005, p. 143.

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

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Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

Titus the Wonderworker

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Lazarus Saturday

Palm Sunday

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

Wisdom of the Fathers