Saturday Vespers, 6pm
Sunday Morning Orthros, 8:45am
Sunday Divine Liturgy, 10am
Wednesday Evening Prayer & Healing (Paraklesis), 6pm
Office Hours are M - F from 10a - 3p
Whether you are visiting the Orthodox Church for the first time or are visiting from another Orthodox parish, we’d like to welcome you to Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church. For more information about the Orthodox Church go to THIS LINK
We hope that your worship experience with us brings you closer to our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. If this is your first time with us, please take the time to sign a guest card at the entrance and accept our invitation to join us for coffee and fellowship in the Large Hall after the Service.
Please keep in mind that only those who have been Baptized or Chrismated into our Orthodox Faith and who’ve properly prepared themselves through fasting and Holy Confession (as needed) may participate in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. If you are in need of spiritual direction or would like to know how to become an Orthodox Christian, please talk to Fr. Stephen after the Service.
Do you know Someone Who is Sick, Hospitalized, or In Need of Prayer? Please contact the church office.
The Holy Great Martyr Niketas (Nikḗtas) was a Goth (a Germanic tribe). He was born and lived on the banks of the Danube River, suffering for Christ in the year 372. The Christian Faith was already spreading throughout the territory of the Goths at that time. Saint Niketas believed in Christ and was baptized by the Gothic bishop Theophilos, who participated in the First Ecumenical Council. Pagan Goths started to oppose the spread of Christianity, which resulted in a civil war.
After Fritigern, at the head of a Christian army, defeated the pagan Athanaric, the Christian Faith continued to spread among the Goths. The Arian bishop Ulfilas, the successor to Bishop Theophilos, created a Gothic alphabet and translated many spiritual books into the Gothic language, including the Holy Scriptures. Saint Niketas worked tirelessly among his fellow Goths to teach them about Christ. Through his personal example and inspired words, he brought many of them to the Christian Faith.
After his defeat, however, Athanaric managed to regroup his forces. He returned to his own country and regained his former power. Since he remained a pagan, he continued to hate the Christians and persecuted them, seeking revenge for the humiliation he had endured at their hands.
Saint Niketas had to contend against both visible and invisible enemies. In opposing these invisible enemies, he converted many pagans to Christ, and strengthened the faithful for the contest of martyrdom. Filled with zeal for God, the Saint denounced the persecutor Athanaric for his cruelty and impiety, because he subjected the Christians to severe torments.
Saint Niketas prevailed against both of these enemies. He trampled the devil underfoot, and defeated Athanaric in battle. The cruel tormentor was troubled because he was unable to convert Saint Niketas to his own impiety, and so he resolved to capture the Saint and put him to death.
Saint Niketas endured many tortures, and then he was thrown into a fire. Although his body was not burnt by the fire, he surrendered his soul to God, and his relics were illumined by a radiant light. By night, a Christian named Marianus, took the body of Saint Niketas, and buried it in Cilicia. Afterward, it was transferred to Constantinople. Part of the relics of the Great Martyr Niketas were later given to the monastery of Vysokie Dechani in Serbia. Thus Saint Niketas received an unfading crown of glory from Christ on September 15, 372.
We pray to Saint Niketas for the preservation of children from birth defects.
The Holy Presbyter and Wonderworker Philotheus lived in the tenth century in the village of Mravin (or Myrmix) located in Bythnia in Asia Minor. He was a married priest, and had children. He devoted himself to deeds of prayer and fasting, and works of charity. Because of his holy life, Saint Philotheus received from God the gift of working miracles. The ascetic continually fed the hungry and helped the needy. Saint Philotheus died in peace. Myrrh flowed from his relics.
Saint Bessarion, Archbishop of Larissa, lived during the sixteenth century and founded the Dusika monastery in Thessaly.
The New Martyr John was from Crete, and worked as a farmer at New Ephesus (Kusantasi) in Asia Minor. He was a young man, and was engaged to be married.
On August 29, John and two friends from Crete went to a festival to celebrate the Feast of Saint John the Baptist. They were stopped by the Turks, and the two visitors were ordered to pay the head tax. The Cretans refused to pay, and got into a scuffle with the aga’s men. The Turks took a gun belonging to one of the Cretans, but then he grabbed it back from the Moslem. In the confusion, one of the aga’s men was killed and some of the others were stabbed.
Since John was not involved in the incident, he went back to his farm. The brother of the dead Moslem, however, wanted revenge. He knew that John was present when his brother was killed, so he had him arrested. John was thrown into prison, beaten, and was not allowed to have any visitors.
Saint John remained in prison for sixteen days. Then he was given the choice of saving his life by converting to Islam, or to remain a Christian and die. John stated, “I was born as an Orthodox Christian, and I shall die as an Orthodox Christian.”
Since John was an attractive young man, the kadi’s daughter became interested in him. If he were willing to convert, he could marry the girl and enjoy both wealth and position as a member of the kadi’s family. Even this was not enough to make him deny Christ.
Finally the Hagarenes grew tired of trying to convert John, and he was sentenced to death by hanging. As he was led to the place of execution, he kept saying, “Most Holy Theotokos, help me.” He also asked forgiveness of the Christians he met along the way.
Saint John suffered for Christ on September 15, 1811, and received the incorruptible crown of martyrdom. That night the martyr’s body shone with a bright light. After three days, permission was granted to bury his holy relics in the courtyard of the church of Saint George.
First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."
First Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 28:16-20
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, οἱ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, εἰς τὸ Ὄρος, οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτόν, προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν. Καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς, λέγων· Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Πορευθέντες οὖν, μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος· διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἰδού, ἐγὼ μεθ' ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν.
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
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. Third Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.
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.
Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Sunday after Holy Cross
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.
Parish News & Updates
🌟 **Greek Festival Gratitude** 🌟A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you! Your incredible time and talents made this festival a resounding success. We couldn't have done it without YOU! 🎉
Talks on Orthodoxy BEGINNING THIS THURSDAY evening meet-ups begin Sept. 19. To RSVP and see more details go to this link HERE
Join our Live Stream Ministry We are looking to build up our Live Stream Ministry. This is a wonderful way to help provide service to the parish and provide a vital connection to those who are not able to join us in person on Sundays. No experience necessary, we will provide training. High school age and above are welcome. The commitment is just 1-2 Sundays a month.
Reading the Epistle at Divine Liturgy is a very important way to participate in our Sunday service. Won't you consider being an Epistle Reader? We are currently putting together a schedule, so if you would like to participate please talk to Larry Fitterer and tell him your interested in reading. There will be some brief training involved to get you oriented. Need help contacting Larry? Call the church office & we'll help.
For Our Visitors We are are happy to welcome you to join us for worship and experience the beauty of the Orthodox Holy Tradition. For more info on the Church go to THIS LINK
GOA Center for Family Care is a wonderful ministry of our Archdiocese. We encourage you to sign up HERE for updates & receive resources from GOA Center for Family Care in your inbox.
Live Streaming Most services are being live-streamed on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/saintanthonychurchreno/. It is a blessing to be able to connect with those at home in this way.
Online Giving Portal for Stewardship & Donation Offerings The Online Giving Portal can be accessed through our Church Website by clicking the new “Donations & Stewardship” tab. This functionality is secured for your protection and gives you the opportunity to make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring offering.
Prayer Ministry “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 If you need prayer for yourself, a family member, or anyone else in your circle of friends and acquaintances, you can have your prayer requests included in a weekly prayer request list. Also, this new Prayer Ministry is looking for “prayer warriors” who are willing to pray for others in need. Praying for one another is a critical part of living an Orthodox Christian life, and the Prayer Ministry can help you systematically pray for others who need prayer. If you have a prayer request, or would like to become part of this new, important, and exciting ministry, please contact Barbara Cummings via email at [email protected] or contact the church office and we'll help you get in touch.
Vigil Lights offered for Health & Well Being: Basil, by Tina. Joseph by Denise. Effie, by AHEPA. Effie, by Olga. Dina Kombotheklas & Panagiota & Maria by Olga Makris. Dean by Lagios&Phillips Family's.
Vigil Lights offered in Loving Memory: Katerini, by Chris & Rene Rores. Sam by Lagios Family. Harry Pappas, Maria Vourakis, Steve Vourakis by Stella Pappas. Samuel Haslem by Jeannine Clark. Rose Joannou, by Woods faimly.
Online Resources:
The Fountain of Light A collection of works by Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
Trisagion Films Videos on Orthodox Worship and Praxis Here you can discover they cover aspects of Orthodox worship and practice, pilgrimages, the lives of the saints, iconography and the sacred arts, and recordings of homilies, interviews, and special events.
+ Participate in Worship + Join a Ministry + Volunteer for a specific activity + Lend your talent
Saturday, Sep 14th Holy Cross Orthros 8a, Divine Liturgy 9a, Baptisms 1p & 3p,Vespers 6p
Sunday, Sep 15th Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a, Memorial service; Sunday School Starts Today
Wednesday, Sep 18th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Sep 19th Bible Study 11a, Orthodoxy class 7p
Saturday, Sep 21st Vespers 6p
Sunday, Sep 22nd 1st Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a, Memorial service
Wednesday, Sep 25th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Sep 26th Bible Study 11a, Orthodoxy class 7p
Saturday, Sep 28th Vespers 6p
Sunday, Sep 29th 2st Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a
Wednesday, Oct 2nd Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Oct 3rd Bible Study 11a, Orthodoxy class 7p
Saturday, Oct 5th Vespers 6p
Sunday, Oct 6th 3rd Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a
Wednesday, Oct 9th No Paraklesis
Thursday, Oct 10th No Bible Study, No Orthodoxy class
Saturday, Oct 12th Vespers 6p
Sunday, Oct 13th Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a
Wednesday, Oct 16th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Oct 17th Bible Study 11a, Orthodoxy class 7p
Saturday, Oct 19th Vespers 6p
Sunday, Oct 20th 6th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a
Wednesday, Oct 23rd Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Oct 24th Bible Study 11a, Orthodoxy class 7p
Saturday, Oct 26th Vespers 6p
Sunday, Oct 27th 7th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a
Wednesday, Oct 30th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Oct 31st Bible Study 11a, No Orthodoxy class
Saturday, Nov 2nd Vespers 6p
Sunday, Nov 3rd 5th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a, Parish wide Memorial
Wednesday, Nov 6th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Nov 7th Bible Study 11a, Orthodoxy class 7p
Friday, Nov 8th Holy Archangels Orthros 8a, Divine Liturgy 10a
Saturday, Nov 9th St. Nektarios, Vespers 6p
Sunday, Nov 10th 8th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a
Wednesday, Nov 13th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Nov 14th Bible Study 11a, Orthodoxy class 7p
Friday, Nov 15th Nativity Fast Begins
Saturday, Nov 16th Vespers 6p
Sunday, Nov 17th 9th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a, Parish Assembly following Divine Liturgy!
Wednesday, Nov 20th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Nov 21st Entrance of the Theotokos Orthros 8a, Divine Liturgy 9a, NO BIBLE STUDY, Orthodoxy class 7p
Saturday, Nov 23rd Vespers 6p
Sunday, Nov 24th 13th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a, Divine Liturgy 10a, Stewardship Sunday
Wednesday, Nov 27th Paraklesis 6p
Thursday, Nov 28th Happy Thanksgiving, No Bible Study, No Orthodoxy class
Saturday, Nov 30th Vespers 6p
Reminders:
Narthex Greeters: Nancy Surina, John Lagios
Acolytes: Athanasios Karcher, Joseph Karcher, Isaac Zimmerman, Marco Cloninger
Prosphora: Nancy Surina
Streaming: Elijah Harris
Epistle Reader: Larry Fitterer
Please contact the church office if you would like to provide fresh flowers, or be added to our prosphora baking schedule.
Prayer Ministry “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16
Fall 2024 Schedule
Fr Thomas Hopko
A short booklet that helps gives some basic answers to the questions: Curious about Orthodoxy? Seriously interested in inquiring into the Orthodox Faith? Desire to join our parish? Wish to commune? What does it take to become a member?
What is stewardship at Saint Anthony?
This order was given to St. Pachomius of Egypt by an Angel and was the rule he used at each hour of the day and night (ARCHIMANDRITE LAZARUS (MOORE), ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV: A SPIRITUAL BIOGRAPHY, P. 77). It is a prayer rule that lends itself to memorization, and as such is one that can be done in situations in which it is impractical for one to pray using a prayer book.
A short guide to Fasting