Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

Το φαιδρόν της αναστάσεως κήρυγμα εκ του αγγέλου μαθούσαι αι του Κυρίου μαθήτριαι και την προγονικήν απόφασιν απορρίψασαι, τοις αποστόλοις καυχώμεναι έλεγον. Εσκύλευται ο θάνατος, ηγέρθη Χριστός ο Θεός, δωρούμενος το κοσμω το μεγα ελεος.

Apolytikion for Gregory the Wonderworker in the Plagal Fourth Mode

By your accomplishments, you earned the name that you bore, for you were vigilant in prayer and diligent in working miracles. Therefore, holy father Gregory, intercede with Christ our God, that He illumine our souls, lest we fall asleep in sin unto death.

Ἐν προσευχαῖς γρηγορῶν, ταῖς τῶν θαυμάτων ἐργασίαις ἐγκαρτερῶν, ἐπωνυμίαν ἐκτήσω τὰ κατορθώματα· ἀλλὰ πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, Πάτερ Γρηγόριε, φωτίσαι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν, μὴ ποτε ὑπνώσωμεν, ἐν ἁμαρτίαις εἰς θάνατον.

Apolytikion of Hieromartyr Haralambos in the Fourth Tone

A pillar unshakable are you in Christ’s holy Church, * and, as your own name denotes, an ever radiant lamp, * all-blessed Haralambos, * shining throughout the whole world * by your feats as a martyr, * driving away the darkness of the worship of idols. * With confidence, therefore, pray to Christ, * entreating Him to save our souls.

Ως στύλος ακλόνητος, της Εκκλησίας Χριστού, και λύχνος αείφωτος, της οικουμένης σοφέ, εδείχθης Χαράλαμπες, έλαμψας εν τω κόσμω, δια του μαρτυρίου, έλυσας των ειδώλων την σκοτόμαιναν μάκαρ, διο εν παρρησία Χριστώ πρέσβευε σωθήναι ημάς. (o stylos aklonitos tis ekklisia Christou* ke lihnos aifotos tis eikoumeni sofe, edihthis Charalambes* elampses en to kosmo, dia tou martiriou* elisas ton idolon, tin skotomenon makar* dio en parisia Christo, presvev sothine imas)

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Behold the temple of the Savior, his precious bridal chamber. Behold the virginal and sacred vessel of God's glory. Today she enters into the house of the Lord, bearing within her the grace of the Holy Spirit. For this, the angels exclaim: She is indeed the heavenly tabernacle.

Ο καθαρώτατος ναός του Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς και Παρθένος, το ιερόν θησαύρισμα της δόξης του Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τω Οικώ Κυρίου, την χάριν συνεισάγουσα, την εν Πνεύματι Θείω. Ην ανυμνούσιν ‘Αγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει, σκηνή επουράνιος.

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

Righteous Mother Hilda of Whitby

Our righteous Mother Hilda was of noble birth, being a kinswoman of Saint Edwin, King of Northumbria (celebrated Oct. 12). At the age of thirty-three she renounced the world, and lived another thirty-three years as a nun and abbess. The last six years of her life she suffered a burning fever with patience and nobility, and reposed in peace in the year 680.

Announcements

Festival 50/50 Raffle Tickets Reminder

The raffle drawing will take place on December 1, 2024.

To date we have sold over $16,000 so please return your raffle ticket stubs and payment to the church as soon as possible.

If you are not purchasing the raffle tickets, we kindly ask that you return the unused books to allow us the time and opportunity to sell them.

Conversely, if you would like to buy more raffle tickets, please contact the Church Office.

Thank you as always for your support of Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church.

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Christmas Services

Dec 24: Orthros and Great Hours 8am

Dec 24: Great Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great Wednesday 7pm

Dec 25: Orthros and Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom 8am

Epiphany Services

Jan 3: Orthros and Great Hours 8am

Jan 5: Orthros, Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and Great Agiasmos 8am

Jan 6: Orthros, Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and Great Agiasmos 8am

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Father Paul wishes to invite any interested young man, from the age of 8 through high school to contact him directly if he desires to serve in the Altar for this coming year. Parents should let Fr. Paul or the church office know about signing up their interested son for this special ministry. Serving at the Altar is indeed a great blessing and it belongs to those who are serious in their commitment.

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Our Metropolis of New Jersey has an organized Young Adult League. Please consider joining this group. They can be found both on Facebook and Instagram at NNJYAL.

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VANCO Payments

Hardly anyone carries cash today, but we ALL have credit cards!
Conveniently located in the Narthex is a Kiosk that is programmed and
user friendly for you to contribute to Trays, Candles, Stewardship,
Sunday School, Greek School & Dance as well as simply donating using your
credit card!

Apps make life so much easier! With GivePlus Church, you can use your smartphone to give anytime, anywhere right from the palm of your hand!!!!
You can also make recurring payments as well!! It is as easy as 1-2-3
1. Simply download the app for FREE
2. Find Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church
3. Give!

Ask any Parish Council Member for assistance or if you have any questions!

Gospel and Epistle Readings

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.

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."

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