March 21
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-03-21
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Archepiscopal Message
Wisdom of the Fathers
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (908) 968-4004
- Fax:
- (908) 968-4002
- Email:
- stannagoc@gmail.com
- Street Address:
- 85 Voorhees Corner Road,
- Flemington, NJ 08822
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Weekly Services (Due to COVID protocols, all services are by invitation only. Contact Fr. A with any questions.)
(Please note schedule subject to change. Please call church office to confirm times.)
Sunday Services: Orthros 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy 9:30 am. (by invitation only)
Weekly Feastday / Major Saint Day Liturgies: 9 am Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy.
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2021-04-04
- Publish Date:
- 2021-03-14
- Publish Date:
- 2021-03-07
- Publish Date:
- 2021-02-28
- Publish Date:
- 2021-02-21
- Publish Date:
- 2021-02-14
Parish News
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STEWARDSHIP: Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards. |
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We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $190,000. If the remaining 85, 2020 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards. |
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If you have not done so already, we ask that you prayerfully consider your stewardship commitment and submit a 2021 pledge card as soon as you can. |
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GREEK SCHOOL INDEPENDENCE DAY PROGRAM - VIRTUAL FOR ALL TO ENJOY AS WE CELEBRATE 200 YEARS!!!
Please join us on Monday, March 22 at 6 pm for hymns, songs, readings and poems. All are invited to join the virtual celebration:
Topic: St. Anna Greek School Independence Day Program
Time: Mar 22, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9085281077
Meeting ID: 908 528 1077
From Your Parish Council President
COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments
If you are a NJ resident 65+ and in need of help scheduling yourselves for a Covid-19 vaccine, please register at www.wgirls.org/requestforhelp and someone will be in touch ASAP to pair you with a vetted volunteer. These are dedicated volunteers who have been able to help secure hundreds of appointments for seniors who are struggling with the tech-heavy process. As a reminder, NO volunteer will ever ask you for your Social Security Number or insurance details. Good luck!
- John S. Douvris, Parish Council President
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NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL VIRTUAL LENTEN RETREAT - HCHC - SAT., MARCH 13 FROM 1 TO 3:30 PM. REGISTER NOW!
https://enrollment.hchc.edu/ambassadors_lenten_retreat
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ORATORICAL FESTIVAL
In accordance with our safety protocols, the Oratorical Festival will not be in person on March 27. More info to follow.
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Students of St. Anna's Youth Greek School are continuing to learn remotely during the pandemic and are currently preparing for the March 25th Celebration.
We are also happy to announce that our Adult Greek School for beginners will started on Monday, February 15th. Classes will be held each Monday evening from 7:00-8:00.
Please contact Maria Sfondouris at msfondouris@gmail.com if you are interested in St. Anna's Youth or Adult Greek School programs.
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Saints and Feasts
March 21
Sunday of Orthodoxy
For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.
March 21
James the Confessor
This Saint took up the monastic life from his youth in the Monastery of Studium, where he became a disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite. Later he became bishop and suffered many afflictions and torments at the hands of the Iconoclasts. Saint Theodore composed a homily in honour of this Saint James (PG 99, 1353-1356).
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40.
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Reading is from John 1:43-51
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode
You descended from on high, O compassionate One, and condescended to be buried for three days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You.
Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Mode
We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode
To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
Archepiscopal Message
03/16/2021
Wisdom of the Fathers
Peter, when after so many miracles and such high doctrine he confessed that, "Thou art the Son of God" (Matt. xvi. 16), is called "blessed," as having received the revelation from the Father;
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century
... while Nathanael, though he said the very same thing before seeing or hearing either miracles or doctrine, had no such word addressed to him, but as though he had not said so much as he ought to have said, is brought to things greater still.
Homily 21 on John 1, 1. B#58, pp. 72, 73, 4th Century