Parish News

2021 Stewardship Status: we have 144 Pledges totaling $190,765 and $137,474 received to date. We also have 5 families who have contributed $2,950 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. The current Stewardship List and other stewardship information are posted on the bulletin board by the water cooler.

2021 Stewardship List
* Contributed but have not submitted stewardship card				Report Date: Jul 1, 2021
1	Agrapides, Peter & Stella	65	Kousoulas, Constantine	129	Tsokas, Lorraine
2	Andreou, Anthony	66	Kousoulas, Fr. Anastasios & Presv. Nektaria	130	Tsokas, Spyros
3	Angelus, James&Elizabeth	67	Kousoulas, Panayiotis	131	Tzovolos, Demetri and Arete
4	Archimedes, Alexander & Debbie	68	Kubu, James & Evangeline	132	Tzovolos, Olympia
5	Argiropoulos, Anthony & Amy	69	Kypridakes, Michael & Asimina	133	Vaporakis, Efharis Karise
6	Balios, Efthimia	70	Logothetis, Nikita & Sophia	134	Vaporakis, John & Kim
7	Bongiovanni, Robert & Michele	71	Loukedis, Alexander & Jennifer	135	Vaporakis, Kaliope
8	Bozzo, Daniel&Maria	72	Lutkus, Anthony & Vasiliki	136	Vaporakis, Mihail
9	Bulzacchelli, Thomas & Valerie	73	Manoussakis, Stamati & Sofia	137	Varas, Alexander Pericles
10	Bunce, Daniel & Marianne	74	Manteo, Michael & Gramatiki	138	Varas, Loukas Michael
11	Collett, Martin & Adriane	75	Mardakis, Arge	139	Varas, Michael & Elaine
12	Connell, William & Nikki	76	Mariani, Anthony & Kristen	140	Veneman, Ryan & Polyxeni-Tolis
13	Costalas, Paul & Josephine	77	Markos, Peter & Elaine	141	Vespa, Paul & Fay
14	Coutros, George & Lana	78	Martin, Stephen & Despina	142	Vlahakes, Louis & Anastasia
15	Coutsouridis, Alexia	79	Mavrode, Michael & Demetra	143	Vlahakis, Dan
16	Coutsouridis, John & Denise	80	Mazza, Emily Connelly & Costa & Poulis, Renee	144	Wolfe, Richard & Penelope
17	Demetriou, Dorothy&James	81	McElroy, Stephanie	145	Wygera, Walter & Constance
18	Diagelakis, Gerasimos & Kristen	82	Millett, Matthew & Maria	146	Ypsilantis, Peter & Antonia
19	Diamantis, Ioannis & Gerasimoula	83	Mulcahy, Dr. Wayne and Mary	147	Zajac, Pegi
20	Disla, Mark & Anastasia Pappas	84	Nelson, Stephanie	148	Zanidakis, Theodore & Charlotte
21	Diver, Sean & Joanne	85	Nikolakopoulos, Peter & Melissa	149	Zannikos, Peter & Amy
22	Douvris, John & Aimee	86	Paitakes, John&Linda	150
23	Douvris, Katerina & Jorge Higueros	87	Paliatsos, Mary	151
24	Fallon, Ellie	88	Panageas, Bill & Margaret	152
25	Fallon, Tom & Anna	89	Panayote, William & Deborah	153
26	Fearon, TJ & Colette	90	Pelios, Georgia	154
27	Ferreira, Jorge & Angela	91	Peppe, George & Demetra	155
28	Gacos, Chris & Frances	92	Petromelis, Christopher & Georgette	156
29	Gatanis, Michael & Angela *	93	Petromelis, Phyllis	157
30	Georgeles, George & Maria	94	Procyk, Eugenia	158
31	Giambrone, Charles J	95	Rentoulis, Nikolaos	159
32	Gianakos, Michael & Dianne	96	Roupas, Daniel & Mary	160
33	Giannouris, John & Tracey	97	Rudy, George & Sofia	161
34	Gianos, Irene	98	Sacalis, John	162
35	Gilman, Cliff & Karen *	99	Sakellos, Alexandra	163
36	Giotis, John & Karen	100	Sakellos, Evan & Catherine	164
37	Glynos, Peter & Cindy	101	Sakellos, George	165
38	Grina, Peter & Diana	102	Sfondouris, John & Maria	166
39	Halkiadakis, John & Vassie	103	Shepardson, Lilyan	167
40	Hawes, Ashlynn	104	Sideris, Leonidas & Elizabeth	168
41	Hawes, Brian & Allison Faches	105	Soteropoulos, Dean & Elizabeth	169
42	Hawes, Carrick	106	Soteropoulos, Marisa	170
43	Heinke, Michael & Simone	107	Staikos, George & Christi	171
44	Heinke, Zoe & Andy Riley	108	Staikos, Nicholas, Eirini Daskalakis	172
45	Ibrahim, Robert&Doniki	109	Stathopulos, Peter&Julan, Adriana	173
46	Iliakostas, Vasilis & Konstantina	110	Stavrakas, Spyros & Bia	174
47	Iliopoulos, Christos & Anna	111	Stavrakis, Michael & Sophia	175
48	Jaghab, Danny & Delmy	112	Stellakis, John & Eileen	176
49	Johnson, Bill	113	Stellakis, Stanley & Kathleen	177
50	Johnson, Gloria	114	Steubing, Michael & Maria Katsamani	178
51	Kalamaras, Stella *	115	Stieglitz, Alexander	179
52	Kaldes, John & Zoi	116	Stieglitz, Robert & Katerina	180
53	Kamnitsis, Christopher	117	Stier, Benjamin & Eleftheria Tsatsos	181
54	Kamnitsis, Constantine & Nancy	118	Sutton, David & Maria	182
55	Kasimatis, Kosmas & Dimitra Bairaktaris	119	Tattoli, Larry & Maria	183
56	Katogiritis, George & Kalliopi *	120	Tattoli, Mark	184
57	Katsiaficas, John&Soula	121	Tattoli, Steven	185
58	Kazantzis, Sava & Nancy	122	Theodoropoulos, Pete & Brittany Daniels	186
59	Kefalas, Carrie	123	Ticas, Alexia	187
60	Kehayes, Peter & Helen	124	Ticas, Cesar&Areti	188
61	Kehayes, Stephen & Beth	125	Toulatos, Polixenia	189
62	Kika, John & Tina	126	Trumpy, Fred & Larisa	190
63	Kizoulis, Menas & Antonia	127	Tsatsos, Costa & Maria	191
64	Kosoglou, Teddy and Roula	128	Tsentas, Constantine & Eugenia *	192

Today's Memorial Prayers are for:

Parakevoula Niamonitakis 10 years
Alexander Athanasiou 3 years
Αλέξανδρος Ρούσσος 40days . May their memory be eternal!

Please continue to follow safety guidelines while in church. However, we no longer have any seating reservations. Please sit where you like.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! GOYA Camp Good Shepherd - Aug. 15-21. Camp Tecumseh, NJ. Fr. A would like to invite all youth (grades 7 to 12) to join him and the entire region for overnight summer camp. The cost is $500 per camper. Official registration is now open! Please text or email Fr. A for the official link.

Young Adult Picnic/ BBQ: Saturday, July 24 from 12 to 5 pm. We are hosting the entire Northern NJ region for a kick-off picnic as we plan more events throughout the year. See Fr. A if interested.

OPA! Festival Survey: Thanks to the many that committed time to make our annual Festival a big success (Friday, Sept 10 - Sunday, Sept 12, 2021). If you have not done so yet, please fill out the quick survey now:

Here is the survey link again: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mee1PT0CQKs0ta2YgsJxBcnBJ_BXqGOpe9BO7kdN1_8/edit

LAST CALL!!! There is still time to join us! Parish Fishing Trip this Summer! We are booking a charter for Sunday afternoon/ evening, August 1. We have about 30 people already interested. Still some room for others, but contact Fr. A as soon as possible if interested.

Metropolis Holy Cross Celebration: The Annual Celebration this year will be presided by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in Asbury Park.

Saints and Feasts

July 11

3rd Sunday of Matthew

July 11

Euphemia the Great Martyr

In 451, during the reign of the Sovereigns Marcian and Pulcheria, the Fourth Ecumenical Council was convoked in Chalcedon against Eutyches and those of like mind with him. After much debate, the Fathers who were the defenders of Orthodoxy, being 630 in number, agreed among themselves and with those who were of contrary mind, to write their respective definitions of faith in separate books, and to ask God to confirm the truth in this matter. When they had prepared these texts, they placed the two tomes in the case that held Saint Euphemia's relics, sealed it, and departed. After three days of night-long supplications, they opened the reliquary in the presence of the Emperor, and found the tome of the heretics under the feet of the Martyr, and that of the Orthodox in her right hand. (For her life, see Sept. 16.)

July 11

The All-Praised Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Princess of Kiev

Saint Olga, renowned for her wisdom and sobriety, in her youth became the wife of Igor, Great Prince of Kiev, who ruled during the tenth century. After her husband's death, she herself ruled capably, and was finally moved to accept the Faith of Christ. She traveled to Constantinople to receive Holy Baptism. The Emperor, seeing her outward beauty and inward greatness, asked her to marry him. She said she could not do this before she was baptized; she furthermore asked him to be her Godfather at the font, which he agreed to do. After she was baptized (receiving the name of Helen), the Emperor repeated his proposal of marriage. She answered that now he was her father, through holy Baptism, and that not even among the heathen was it heard of a man marrying his daughter. Gracefully accepting to be outwitted by her, he sent her back to her land with priests and sacred texts and holy icons. Although her son Svyatoslav remained a pagan, she planted the seed of faith in her grandson Vladimir (see July 15). She reposed in peace in 969.

July 17

The Holy Great Martyr Marina (Margaret)

This Martyr lived during the reign of Claudius II (268-270). She was from Pisidia of Cilicia and was the only daughter of a certain priest of the idols. On being orphaned by her mother, she was handed over to a certain woman who instructed her in the Faith of Christ. When she was fifteen years old, she was apprehended by the ruler of Olmbrius, and when asked her name, homeland, and faith, she answered: "My name is Marina; I am the offspring of the Pisidia; I call upon the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ." Because of this she endured bonds, imprisonment, and many whippings, and was finally beheaded in the year 270. Saint Marina is especially invoked for deliverance from demonic possession.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10.

Brethren, working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Gospel Reading

3rd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 6:22-33

The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You.

Apolytikion for Great Martyr Euphemia in the Third Mode

O Euphemia, Christ's comely virgin, thou didst fill the Orthodox with gladness and didst cover with shame all the heretics; for at the holy Fourth Council in Chalcedon, thou didst confirm what the Fathers decreed aright. O all-glorious Great Martyr, do thou entreat Christ God that His great mercy may be granted unto us.

Apolytikion for St. Anna (Dec. 9) in the Fourth Mode

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed; for God hearkened to Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee."

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.

Wisdom of the Fathers

There is an old saying: 'Excesses meet.' Too much fasting and too much eating come to the same end. Keeping too long a vigil brings the same disastrous cost as ... sluggishness... Too much self-denial brings weakness and induces the same condition as carelessness. Often I have seen men who would not be snared by gluttony fall, nevertheless, through immoderate fasting and tumble in weakness into the very urge which they had overcome. Unmeasured vigils and foolish denial of rest overcame those whom sleep could not overcome. Therefore, 'fortified to right and to left in the armor of justice,' as the apostle says (2 Cor. 6:7), life must be lived with due measure and, with discernment for a guide, the road must be traveled between the two kinds of excess so that in the end we may not allow ourselves to be diverted from the pathway of restraint which has been laid down for us nor fall through dangerous carelessness into the urgings of gluttony and self-indulgence.

St. John Cassian

Conferences, Conference Two: On Discernment no. 16; Paulist Press pg. 76, 5th century

For God, He said, gave us understanding, that we might chase away all ignorance, and have the right judgment of things, and that using this as a kind of weapon and light against all that is grievous or hurtful, we might remain in safety. But we betray the gift for the sake of things superfluous and useless.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 20 and 21 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Parish News

Saints and Feasts

3rd Sunday of Matthew

Euphemia the Great Martyr

The All-Praised Olga, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Princess of Kiev

The Holy Great Martyr Marina (Margaret)

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

Apolytikion for Great Martyr Euphemia in the Third Mode

Apolytikion for St. Anna (Dec. 9) in the Fourth Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

Wisdom of the Fathers