St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2024-11-17
Bulletin Contents

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St. Andrew Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (973) 584-0388
  • Fax:
  • (973) 584-3573
  • Street Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830
  • Mailing Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830


Contact Information








Services Schedule

On Sunday we celebrate

Orthros at 8:15 am & Divine Liturgy at 9:30am

Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am 

 

 


Past Bulletins


Services at St. Andrew

Saturday  11/16 
+St Matthew the Apostle +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:00am 

SACRAMENT of Baptism :  

On Saturday, November 16th at 11:30am the son of Stephen and Samantha (Rose)  Moshenwill be Baptized & Chrismated according to the rights of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Godfather will be Tyler Mornhineway.

On Saturday, November 16th at 1:00pm the son of Christopher and Lindsay (Hefferon) Gornallwill be Baptized & Chrismated according to the rights of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Godfather will be Michael Hefferon.

Sunday 11/17
9TH Sunday of Luke |+Orthros @8:15am  & Divine Liturgy  @9:30am
 

Memorial Service: 

A One Year Memorial Service will be prayed for the repose of the soul of +Nicholas A Staikos, beloved husband of Georgia (Nikopoulos), devoted father of: Linda (Brian), Alex (Angela) and Demetrios Staikos; grandfather of: Demitri, Nicholas, Antony and Georgina; brother of Vasilios (Marina), Konstantinos (Stavroula), sisters, Yianoula (Vasilios) and Panagiota (Nickolas). Please join family for refreshments downstairs in honor of +Nicholas’s blessed memory. 

An Annual  Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Demetrios  Dikeos, beloved husband of Zoe, father of: Peter and Asimina (Chris) Koutouzakis, and grandfather of: Sofia and Evan. 

An Annual Memorial Service will be held today for the repose of the soul of +Acimo Taxiarchou, beloved wife of John and devoted mother of Lou and Gus Taxiarchou. Please join family for refreshments downstairs in honor of +Acimo’s  blessed memory. 

A Trisagion Service will be held for the repose of the souls of +John A. and +Helen Paitakes, beloved parents of John (Linda) Paitakes 

May their  memory be eternal. Αιωνία η μνήμη αυτών

Thursday 11/21
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple  +Orthros & Divine Liturgy  @8:00am 

Thursday 11/21
Great Hierarchical Vespers | Holy Trinity 250 Gallows Hills Road Westfield NJ @6pm
 

Friday  11/22
St. Iakovos | Hierarchical DL Metropolis of NJ  215 E. Grove St Westfield‎, @9am

Sunday 11/24
13TH Sunday of Luke |+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

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Announcements

@11:30am Choir Rehearsals in Church

SUNDAY'S COFFEE HOUR is hosted by DOP  in the Social Hall  and sponsered by the families of: +Nikolaos Staikos and +Acimo Taxiarchou in honor of their blessed memory. 

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 Hosts : 11/24  GOYA, 12/1 Philoptochos , 12/8 PTA, 12/15, DOP (lenten choices please) 

NEW ! Bible Q & A on Fridays @10:30am on Nov 15,  Dec 6, 13 & 20
Drop off your anonymous questions in Fr John's mailbox or email your questions to [email protected]

DROP OFF LOCATION HERE TOYS FOR TOTS
ACCEPT ONLY NEW UNWRAPPED TOYS
You may DROP OFF ON Sunday or during the week
Will be collecting up until December 13th

I A.M. Hope NJ : CHRISTMAS GIFT DRIVE Nov 24 to Dec 21
Collecting New Toys  for Newborn to Teens
[email protected]  973-865-4852  www.iamhopenj.org

I A.M. Hope NJ : CHILDREN'S WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE OCT 15-DEC 6
USED or NEW: Coats, Scarfs, Hats, Gloves, Sweatshirt, Sweaters
Contact [email protected]  973-865-4852  www.iamhopenj.org for pick up or drop off arrangements  

NEW! THE FAITH WORKS MINISTRY 
is a new ministry at Saint Andrew — starting December 1st
If you are interested in volunteering for Faith Works / Career Counseling or to take advantage of its valuable services, reach out to [email protected] or the Saint Andrew church office to get in touch.

Sunday School Registration Link: https://forms.gle/qwhhXQoF2e8wqxji7
All questions should be directed to [email protected]

GOYA Registration Link: St. Andrew GOYA Registration 2024-2025
You must be 12 years old by October 1st and in 7th Grade

GREEK DANCE  
1st day Thursday September 19
1st Session:  Group 1 @ 6:30pm | Group 2 @7:15 pm | GOYA  @8:00pm 
Registration Forms contact the Church office [email protected]  

HOPE & JOY is a Youth Group
for children in K-6th grades. 
We have great news!  Stala Jelis will be joining with Jenny Manis to organize this beautiful program.  Stala will plan the HOPE events (grades k-2) and Jenny will plan the JOY events (grades 3-6), but we will have plenty of events together where it makes sense.  We also look to the JOY children to help with some HOPE events as an opportunity to be of service to others. If your child is in 3rd grade, they can be in either group, but again, many events will be combined when appropriate.  Questions? please email us. [email protected] 

Stewardship 2024  
As we move toward becoming a percentage giving community, we are adopting a rounding up approach to giving.
We ask you to join the Parish Council and Stewardship Ministry who have pledged to give a percentage of their income.
Please join us in this commitment to achieve our parish vision.
To learn more about what this means, click on -  https://standrewgonj.org/stewardship/#round-u p  or speak to a member of the Parish Council or the Stewardship Ministry.
If you are not already a member of Saint Andrew, please consider a pledge starting out at 1% of your income.
In gratitude for God’s Blessings, please click on and fill in the 2024 Stewardship Pledge.  please send to the church office 

phishing / CON ARTISTS TEXTS/EMAILS :  Someone is sending out texts and emails asking for assistance and signing Fr John’s name. This is not Fr John’s  cell number or email address. His  cell number is 973-219-2941, his email is [email protected] .  Please report the text/email as junk and delete and block the sender. We contacted the FBI about this problem and was informed that they do not take a case like this. We hope no one is fooled by these criminals. Please tell your friends. Fr will never reach out to anyone asking for “assistance” in this way. Thank you for your patience and understanding. God Bless!

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Fr. John's Message

THE LORD'S VOICE

November 17, 2024: 9th Sunday of Luke

ON GREED

The occasion for the parable about greed on the 9th Sunday of Luke was the dispute between two brothers over inheritance issues. The Lord knew that both of them were enslaved by greed. Therefore, He also refused to act as their judge or divider of material goods.
Man’s greedy attraction to material goods is (a) tempting for everyone, especially in today's world, and (b) repulsive, because nobody wants to hear about the dangers that come with material goods and wealth.

In the parable, Christ does not speak against wealth itself, but against greed, which ultimately made the rich man foolish.
Greed is the source of sin, turning man into an idolater and making him unfree. Man was created to be the master and steward of material goods.


Dependence on material goods

If a person removes God from his being, then he relies on material goods for his life. Man’s sin is the illness of his will, which ultimately ruins both himself and the creation's goods.

Greed does not give a person a sense of sufficiency or completeness but of poverty and lack. The rich man in the parable had many goods but was restless and troubled. The greedy person thinks he is happy with his possessions, but in reality, he is worried, filled with fear, agony, and anxiety.

Greed methodically, that is demonically, tries to convince us that acquiring material goods guarantees exclusive prosperity and enjoyment for oneself. Here, man’s life is equated with the biological recycling found in the survival of animals. “Eat, drink, be merry.” Saint Basil the Great emphasizes: “If you were a pig, what better thing could you say to your soul?”

Overcoming death

The Lord safeguards us from this illusion in the continuation of the parable. Man does not transcend death with money and material goods, because all of these inherently carry the thought of death.

The accumulation of material goods signifies dependence on their natural state. In other words, on the poison of decay and death. This is why, when a person dies, he does not even take his own body with him, entrusting it to the earth until the Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead.

The Lord reveals to us our true treasure, which is not our individual selves or material goods, but wealth in God. In other words, love and charity. Let these be our pursuits!

THE SPIRIT OF GOD RESTS ON THE HUMBLE PERSON

– “Elder, what virtues must a person have for the Grace of God to overshadow him?”

– Humility alone is enough. Often, I am asked, “How much time does it take for one to acquire divine Grace?” Some may live their entire life in a seemingly spiritual life, practicing asceticism, etc., but because they believe they are something special, for this reason, they do not receive God's Grace. Others, however, are graced in a short time, because they humble themselves. If a person humbles himself, divine Grace can shower him in a minute, turning him into an angel and placing him in Paradise. Whereas, if he becomes proud, he can become a little demon and end up in hell within a minute. In other words, if a person wants to, he can become a lamb; if he wants, he can become a goat. The poor goats, even if they want to, they cannot become lambs. However, to man, God gave the ability to transform from goat to lamb so long as he wants to.

God's grace comes only to the humble and meek person. There, the spirit of God rests. Did you see what the Prophet Isaiah says, "To whom will I look but to the humble and the quiet one?" God wants us to have just a little humility to be akin to Him, and then all His gifts come in abundance, one after the other. Because God, in a way, owes the humble person much Grace, and gives it as a gift, without the person asking for it. This is a spiritual law. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble," says the Gospel. This is how God has arranged it. "I am humble" means "I have divine Grace." The more humble, the more Grace one receives from God, because the humble person, like a sponge, absorbs divine Grace.

Whoever bends humbly and accepts blows from others, drives away his own bumps, beautifies spiritually like an angel, and thus fits through the narrow gate of Paradise. No one ascends to Heaven through worldly ascent, but through spiritual descent. Humility opens the gates of Heaven, and God's Grace comes to man, whereas pride closes them. Father Tychon used to say, "One humble person has more grace than many people together. Each morning, God blesses the world with one hand, but when He sees a humble person, He blesses him with both His hands. The one with the greatest humility is the greatest of all!" Everything depends on a humble mindset.

When a person has a humble mindset, then Earth naturally meets Heaven. People with humility have found the key; they press it and ascend to the "Third Heaven" with the spiritual elevator of love. And you hear some people say, “and why does God want us to humble ourselves?" Have you heard such talk? But if a person does not humble himself, he cannot fit into Paradise, and even in this life, he has no rest. What did Christ say? "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

(From the book of the Apostolic Ministry, Anthology of Counsels of Saint Paisios the Haghiorite)

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Daily Calendar

MondY 11/18

Tuesday 11/19

@6:30 pm GOYA Volleyball

Wednesday11/20

@11amKnitting Crocheting & Pillow Ministry Meet

@6:00pm GOYA Basketball 

Thursday 11/21

Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple  +Orthros & Divine Liturgy  @8:00am

@11:30am Agape Luncheon

@4:30 PM  Hellenic Afternoon School
Greek Dance:@6:30 Group 1| @7:15pm Group 2 | @8pm GOYA

Great Hierarchical Vespers | Holy Trinity 250 Gallows Hills Road Westfield NJ @6pm

Friday  11/22

St. Iakovos | Hierarchical DL Metropolis of NJ  215 E. Grove St Westfield‎, @9am

Saturday  11/23

Faith Kitchen – GOYA hosting

Sunday 11/24

13TH Sunday of Luke |+Orthros @8:15am  & Divine Liturgy  @9:30am

Memorial Service: + Chritina and + George Kalavriziotis; +Vincent Pellegrino; +Fr Demetri Tsigas

@11:30am General Assembly in the Social Hall

@ 2:30pm GOYA Games in our GYM | Randolph  vs Toms River

Monday 11/25

St. Katherine the Great Martyr +Orthros & Divine Liturgy  @8:00am

Tuesday 11/26

 St Stylianos +Orthros & Divine Liturgy  @8:00am

@6:30 pm GOYA Volleyball 

@7pm Philoptochos Meeting

Wednesday 11/27 

Thanksgiving Day Service +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @5:00pm

Thursday  11/28

Thanksgiving Day

 NO Hellenic Afternoon School  or Dance Classes

Friday 11/29 

@6:00pm Saint Andrew |Hierarchal Great Vespers Service, Artoclasia and Reception  

Saturday 11/30 

@9:00 am Saint Andrew The First Called Apostle +Orthros & Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, Artoclasia and Reception 

 @3pm Baptism

Sunday 12/1

14TH Sunday of Luke |+Orthros @8:15am  & Divine Liturgy  @9:30am

Memorial Service: +Sultana Petrakis, +Petroula Mitrakos

No Rel Ed – Family Worship

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News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

    St Iakovos

    St Iakovos

    Feastday Celebrations of St. Iakovos of Evia, the New Patron Saint of our sacred Metropolis, which will be taking place with Great Vespers on Nov. 21st at Holy Trinity in Westfield, NJ and Divine Liturgy on Nov. 22nd at the Metropolis Headquarters:


    Saint Andrew Celebrations

    Saint Andrew Celebrations

    November 29 & 30: Feast Day celebrations of our Patron Saint, Andrew the First Called Apostle, and the ARCHPASTORAL VISIT OF HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN APOSTLOS OF NEW JERSEY.


    Faith Works

    Faith Works

    THE FAITH WORKS MINISTRY! starting December 1st If you are interested in volunteering for Faith Works / Career Counseling or to take advantage of its valuable services ..


    MOVIE NIGHT

    MOVIE NIGHT

    Friday Dec 6th at 6pm https://tinyurl.com/y3ahw5ce


    Philoptochos

    Philoptochos

    Saint Andrew Christmas Card! Names for the List and Entries for Christmas Card are due December 8


    St Nic

    St Nic

    Zoom call with St Nick


    Winter Clothing drive

    Winter Clothing drive

    drop off Oct 15-Dec 6


    BAKE SALE

    BAKE SALE

    THANKSGIVING 2024 BAKE SALE


    Vasilopita 2025

    Vasilopita 2025

    place order with Philoptochos member by Dec 1st & pick on Dec 11th


    Lord's Voice

    Lord's Voice

    FONI KYRIOU in Greek 11-17-2024 on GREED


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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

Juliana, Demetrios, Kathy, Christos, Michael, Maroulia, Areti, Niko, Romeo, Sophia, Zoe, Jean, Anna, Demetrios, Vasilios, Cynthia, Irene, Jackellyn, Joan, Maria, Panagoula, Sophia, Michael, Leonidas, Eleni, Barbara, Andrew, Effie,  Hariklia, Alexandra, Angeliki, Mary, Demetrios, Stanley, Gianna, Konstantinos, Fr. George, Eftihia, Meropi, Thomas, Fotios, Alexandros, George, Johnathan, Christopher, Irene, Ioannis, Maria,  Samuel, Peter, Vasilios, Demetrios, Despina, Natalia,  Eleni,  Demetrios, Roye,  Elias, Eleana, Ellen, Andrew, Eleni, Denise, Eleni, Robert, Maria, Michael, Pamela, Angeliki, Theodoros, Constantinos, Andrew, Chari, Penelope…

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 three months. Please resubmit Names if needed.   Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the PROSKOMIDI “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.

 

 

 

 

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and He revealed Himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas, called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. .

Tenth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 21:1-14

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς Τιβεριάδος, ἐφανέρωσε δὲ οὕτως· Ἦσαν ὁμοῦ Σίμων Πέτρος, καὶ Θωμᾶς ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, καὶ Ναθαναὴλ ὁ ἀπὸ Κανᾶ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οἱ τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου, καὶ ἄλλοι ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ δύο. Λέγει αὐτοῖς Σίμων Πέτρος· Ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν. Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Ἐρχόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν σοί. Ἐξῆλθον καὶ ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον εὐθύς, καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτὶ ἐπίασαν οὐδέν. Πρωΐας δὲ ἤδη γενομένης ἔστη ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν· οὐ μέντοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ μαθηταὶ ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστι. Λέγει οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Παιδία, μή τι προσφάγιον ἔχετε; ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ· Οὔ· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Βάλετε εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ πλοίου τὸ δίκτυον, καὶ εὑρήσετε. Ἔβαλον οὖν, καὶ οὐκέτι αὐτὸ ἑλκύσαι ἴσχυσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν ἰχθύων. Λέγει οὖν ὁ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ· Ὁ Κύριός ἐστι. Σίμων οὖν Πέτρος, ἀκούσας ὅτι ὁ Κύριός ἐστι, τὸν ἐπενδύτην διεζώσατο - ἦν γὰρ γυμνὸς -, καὶ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι μαθηταὶ τῷ πλοιαρίῳ ἦλθον - οὐ γὰρ ἦσαν μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, ἀλλ' ὡς ἀπὸ πηχῶν διακοσίων -, σύροντες τὸ δίκτυον τῶν ἰχθύων. Ὡς οὖν ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν, βλέπουσιν ἀνθρακιὰν κειμένην καὶ ὀψάριον ἐπικείμενον, καὶ ἄρτον. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἐνέγκατε ἀπὸ τῶν ὀψαρίων ὧν ἐπιάσατε νῦν. Ἀνέβη οὖν Σίμων Πέτρος, καὶ εἵλκυσε τὸ δίκτυον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μεστὸν ἰχθύων μεγάλων ἑκατὸν πεντηκοντατριῶν, καὶ τοσούτων ὄντων, οὐκ ἐσχίσθη τὸ δίκτυον. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Δεῦτε ἀριστήσατε. Οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐτόλμα τῶν μαθητῶν ἐξετάσαι αὐτόν. Σὺ τίς εἶ; εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ Κύριός ἐστιν. Ἔρχεται οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ λαμβάνει τὸν ἄρτον, καὶ δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὸ ὀψάριον ὁμοίως. Τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.24,1.
Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας.
Στίχ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 2:16-20.

Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἐὰν μὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶμεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου· διότι οὐ δικαιωθήσεται ἐξ ἔργων νόμου πᾶσα σάρξ. Εἰ δέ, ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ, εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁμαρτίας διάκονος; Μὴ γένοιτο. Εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ, παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνίστημι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον, ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι· ζῶ δέ, οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός· ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ.


Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα· καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν.


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Saints and Feasts

November 17

9th Sunday of Luke


November 17

Gregory the Wonderworker & Bishop of Neo-Caesarea

Saint Gregory was born in Neocaesarea of Pontus to parents who were not Christians. He studied in Athens, in Alexandria, in Beirut, and finally for five years in Caesarea of Palestine under Origen, by whom he was also instructed in the Faith of Christ. Then, in the year 240, he became bishop of his own city, wherein he found only seventeen Christians. By the time the Saint reposed about the year 265, there were only seventeen unbelievers left there. Virtually the whole duration of his episcopacy was a time of continual, marvellous wonders worked by him. Because of this, he received the surname "Wonderworker"; even the enemies of the truth called him a second Moses (see Saint Basil the Great's On the Holy Spirit, ch. 29).


November 17

Gennadios I and Maximus, Patriarchs of Constantinople


November 21

The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

According to the tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days until she was fourteen or fifteen years old; and then, as a mature maiden, by the common counsel of the priests (since her parents had reposed some three years before), she was betrothed to Joseph.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Gregory the Wonderworker in the Plagal Fourth Mode

By vigilance in prayer, and continuance in the working of wonders, thou didst acquire thine achievements as a surname; wherefore, intercede with Christ our God, O Father Gregory, to enlighten our souls, lest we sleep in sin unto death.
Εν προσευχαίς γρηγορών, ταίς τών θαυμάτων εργασίαις εγκαρτερών, επωνυμίαν εκτήσω τά κατορθώματα, αλλά πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, Πάτερ Γρηγόριε, φωτίσαι τάς ψυχάς ημών, μή ποτε υπνώσωμεν, εν αμαρτίαις εις θάνατον.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

I cannot be silent about the story of Hesychius the Horebite. He passed his life in complete negligence, without paying the least attention to his soul. Then he became extremely ill, and for an hour he left his body.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.
St. John Climacus
Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

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