St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-02-09
Bulletin Contents
Message from Fr. Gianulis
Upcoming Divine Services and Holy Days
Announcements
FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL
FLYERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers

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St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 757-220-0994
  • Street Address:

  • 4900 Mooretown Road

  • Williamsburg, VA 23188

Contact Information

Presiding Priest Fr. Milton Gianulis
Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne

[email protected] | 757-220-0994

PARISH COUNCIL Athanasios "Tom" Jouvanis
Parish Council President

"Jouvanis" <[email protected]> | 703-283-4216

Church Office Michael Thompson
Parish Council Treasurer

[email protected] | 757-220-0994

Services Schedule

Sunday Services -- Kuriakh:

Orthros, 9:00 a.m.

Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m.

OrqroV, 0900 pm.

Q. Leitourgia, 1000 pm.

 

Weekday Holy Days (as scheduled):

Orthros, 8:45 a.m.

Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.

KaqhmerineV EorteV:

OrqroV, 0845 pm.

Q. Leitourgia, 0930 pm.

 

Past Bulletins


Message from Fr. Gianulis

The Publican and the Pharisee

This Sunday begins the Triodion, which is the liturgical guidebook that takes us though the four pre-Lenten Sundays; Great Lent; and Holy Week. That is right: we are in the season of the Triodion and that means that Great Lent is just around the corner, a mere four weeks away.

This Sunday, we will read about the Publican and the Pharisee, which is the Gospel lesson that opens this penitential season. It is a great lesson contrasting the self-righteousness of the Pharisee with the humility of the tax-collector.

Let me share with you a little anectdote I once heard:

There once was a Sunday school teacher who was instructing her class about this lesson. She spoke about the bad Pharisee who bragged about the good things he did and thanked God in the front of the Temple that he was not like the tax-collector, a sinner. She concluded her day’s lesson by saying to the children, “Now, let’s all bow our heads together and thank God that we are not like the Pharisee.”

Think about it. Perhaps she was more like the Pharisee than she realized. Let us rather pray like the tax-collector: “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.”

 


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Upcoming Divine Services and Holy Days

10-YEAR MEMORIAL SERVICE

This Sunday, a Memorial Service (trisaghion) will be sung for Niki Kokolis on the 10-year anniversary of her passing. May her memory be eternal.

The coffee fellowship will be hosted by the James Kokolis family.


SATURDAY OF THE SOULS

 

Saturday of the Souls, February 22nd.

Orthros, 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10:00 a.m. followed by the Memorial Service. Please submit names to Fr. Gianulis for commemoration.

The third Saturday of the Souls will be on March 8th. There will not be a memorial on March 1st.


Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Vespers

You are invited to St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church, 1520 Todds Lane in Hampton, for the annual Sunday of Orthodoxy Great Vespers on March 9th. The guest homilist will be Fr. Andrew Damick. The service begins at 5:00 p.m. See the enclosed flyer for more information.


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Announcements

ORTHODOXY 101

Fr. Gianulis will lead a 6-week catechism class beginning on Thursday, March 6th. The class will meet every Thursday during Great Lent in the Vlahakis Educational Center from 7 - 8 p.m. This class is required for all inquirers who wish to be baptized or chrismated in the Orthodox Christian Faith. A sign up form will be available in the anteroom for all interested parties.


The Ladies of St. Demetrios

The Ladies of St. Demetrios will meet on Tuesday, February 11, at 12:30 pm at the Colonial Pancake House (Prassas') to plan an Easter Bake and Tsoureki Sale. All proceeds will be given to the Church for the roof repair. To order please call Athena Canavos at 757-220-1073 or Elpida Papariis at 757-784-6027.


LOOKING AHEAD: OCF RETREAT

The College of William and Mary Orthodox Christian Fellowship, with the support of the Hampton Roads Orthodox Clergy, will host their annual pre-Lenten regional retreat. The venue will be a mix of St. Demetrios and W&M Wren Building. All students from throughout Virginia and beyond are welcome to attend this event. The retreat leader will be Fr. Christian Siskos (Holy Trinity Cathedral, Charlotte, NC. The dates are Friday, Feb. 21 through Sunday, Feb. 23. 

REGISTER BY FEB. 14TH https://tinyurl.com/3hrptkpv


GREEK CLASSES WINTER TERM

We are preparing for the winter term of Greek Classes for children and adults.  These classes will be provided virtually for one hour per week.  Twelve lessons in all will be offered starting in late February.  If you have an interest, please contact our teacher, Demetra Demetriou, or Tom Jouvanis after liturgy. 


STEWARDSHIP - Our Christian Responsibility.

The 2025 Stewardship Pledge Cards are now available in the anteroom at church. Filling out the card helps us update our records and will be crucial in securing financing when needed from lenders. It is also and most importantly, our Christian responsibility to be stewards of God's House. Thank you.


Help Needed. You Could Save a Life.

A former member of our Greek American community of Hampton Roads is still in need of a stem cell transplant. I have extra registration kits available for anyone who would like to join. To join the registry, all that is required is a short health survey and a cheek swab. Join the Registry | NMDP (Formerly Be The Match) Only persons between 18- 40 years old are eligible. Please contact me, Elaine Jansen at 757 810-5206 or [email protected] with any questions and to sign up. Thank you! 


Visit us on Facebook

Updates on Orthodox Church news items can be found on our Facebook page. We thank Presbytera for monitoring and administering the page.

Also, check out our St. Demetrios website.


Remember in Prayer for Health

Lift up in prayer:

Christ the Healer (ICON) 10.25" x 6.25"
Peter and Beverly Daikos

Demetria Emmanouil

Stavroula Gailey

Sonny Halioris

Athanasia Jouvanis

Jim Kokolis

Nancy Marakos

Chris Marker

John and Connie Pavlides

Nick & Kimi Vlahakis


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FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL

Dear Fellow Parishioners,
 
I am pleased to report that we have commenced with the roof repairs. Below is a brief status.  
 
1.  Dome Re-caulking.  The re-caulking of the dome windows was completed this week.  While there were some surprises, our contractor quickly repaired these additional issues. 
 
2.  Bell Tower.  The field investigation of the bell tower was also completed this past week.  We now better understand the leak pathways and are able to update the design solution to prevent these leaks. 
 
3.  Roof Replacement.  We awarded contracts for repair of the lower roof sections.  These sections represent about one third of the overall roof area.  A coordination meeting is scheduled between the contractors, our consultant, and ourselves on February 21st.  Samples of the architectural shingle have been ordered for our approval.  We hope to be in the field replacing roof sections in early March.
 
It is our hope that all the repairs will be complete by the first half of the year.  We ask for your continued prayers for the safe, speedy, and expert completion of the work.  We will be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming weeks.  Any additional financial support that can be provided by parishioners is greatly appreciated.  
 
Thank you and God bless the parish of St. Demetrios of Williamsburg, Virginia.  
 
Athanasios (Tom) Jouvanis
Parish Council President
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FLYERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 3:10-15

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, παρηκολούθηκάς μου τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, τῇ ἀγωγῇ, τῇ προθέσει, τῇ πίστει, τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ, τοῖς διωγμοῖς, τοῖς παθήμασιν, οἷά μοι ἐγένετο ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ, ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, ἐν Λύστροις, οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπήνεγκα· καὶ ἐκ πάντων με ἐρρύσατο ὁ κύριος. Καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ θέλοντες εὐσεβῶς ζῇν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διωχθήσονται. Πονηροὶ δὲ ἄνθρωποι καὶ γόητες προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον, πλανῶντες καὶ πλανώμενοι. Σὺ δὲ μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης, εἰδὼς παρὰ τίνος ἔμαθες, καὶ ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα οἶδας, τὰ δυνάμενά σε σοφίσαι εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ πίστεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 18:10-14

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωποι δύο ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσεύξασθαι, ὁ εἷς Φαρισαῖος καὶ ὁ ἕτερος τελώνης. ὁ Φαρισαῖος σταθεὶς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα προσηύχετο· ὁ Θεός, εὐχαριστῶ σοι ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἅρπαγες, ἄδικοι, μοιχοί, ἢ καὶ ὡς οὗτος ὁ τελώνης· νηστεύω δὶς τοῦ σαββάτου, ἀποδεκατῶ πάντα ὅσα κτῶμαι. καὶ ὁ τελώνης μακρόθεν ἑστὼς οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐπᾶραι, ἀλλ᾿ ἔτυπτεν εἰς τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ λέγων· ὁ Θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ. λέγω ὑμῖν, κατέβη οὗτος δεδικαιωμένος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἢ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος· ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.

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Saints and Feasts

February 09

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

February 09

Leavetaking of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

February 09

Nicephoros the Martyr of Antioch

This Martyr, who was from Antioch in Syria, contested during the reign of Gallienus, about the year 260. Through the working of the evil one, his friendship with a certain Christian priest named Sapricius was turned to bitter hatred. Nicephoros, repenting of his enmity, tried both through intermediaries and in person to be reconciled with Sapricius, but to no avail. Later, when the persecution broke out under Valerian and Gallienus, Sapricius was seized as a Christian. When Saint Nicephoros learned that Sapricius had been arrested by the pagans and was enduring torments for Christ, he sent intermediaries to Sapricius, begging his forgiveness; but Sapricius would not forgive him. Later, as Sapricius was being taken to beheading, Nicephoros, hoping that Sapricius, at his end, in such a holy hour, would at last forgive him, met him on the way, fell before him, and fervently asked his forgiveness; but Sapricius forgave him not. Wherefore, though Sapricius had passed through many sufferings, and the crown of martyrdom was now awaiting him, because he disdained the chief commandments of love and forgiveness, the grace of God, which had been strengthening him in his torments, departed from him, and he told his executioners he would sacrifice. Nicephoros immediately confessed Christ before them, and being himself beheaded, took the crown that Sapricius had cast away.

Should the Apodosis of the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple fall on this day the service to Saint Nicephoros is chanted on the 8th.

February 09

Markellos, Philagrios, & Pankratios the Hieromartyrs

February 09

Teilo, Bishop of Llandaff

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

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.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Fr. Seraphim Dedes


Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text


Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Presentation in the First Tone

Lady full of grace, rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, for Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness has risen from you and He illumined those in darkness. And you, righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in your embraces the One who liberates our souls and bestows on us the Resurrection.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Fr. Seraphim Dedes


Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη Θεοτόκε Παρθένε, ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἀνέτειλεν ὁ Ἥλιος τῆς δικαιοσύνης, Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, φωτίζων τοὺς ἐν σκότει. Εὐφραίνου καὶ σὺ Πρεσβύτα δίκαιε, δεξάμενος ἐν ἀγκάλαις τὸν ἐλευθερωτὴν τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν, χαριζόμενος ἡμῖν καὶ τὴν Ἀνάστασιν.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text


Seasonal Kontakion in the First Tone

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press


Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῶ τόκω σου, καὶ χείρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νὺν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text


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Wisdom of the Fathers

If there is a moral quality almost completely disregarded and even denied today, it is indeed humility. The culture in which we live constantly instills in us the sense of pride, of self-glorification, and of self-righteousness ... Even our churches - are they not imbued with that same spirit of the Pharisee? Do we not want our every contribution, every 'good deed,' all the we do 'for the Church' to be acknowledged, praised, publicized? ... How does one become humble? The answer, for a Christian, is simple: by contemplating Christ..."
Fr. Alexander Schmemann
Great Lent, pp. 19-20., 20th Century

It is possible for those who have come back again after repentance to shine with much lustre, and oftentimes more than those who have never fallen at all, I have demonstrated from the divine writings. Thus at least both the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven, thus many of the last are placed before the first.
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

Let us set up a door and a lock on the mouth (Sirach.28: 25). Endless wickedness springs up from gossiping. Because of gossip, families are shattered, friendships are broken up, and catastrophies occur. You man, do not be concerned about what pertains to your neighbor, and do not judge him.
St. John Chrysostom

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