St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-09
Bulletin Contents
Message from Fr. Gianulis
Upcoming Divine Services and Holy Days
ARCHEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICALS
Announcements
FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL
FLYERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers

Organization Icon
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

A Lenten Prayer

Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church invites you to join us in prayers accompanied by metanies (prostrations) as part of our personal prayer at home on the morning or in the evening each day of Great Lent. Recite the following:

  • O my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who fasted for my sake, we pray for peace in the whole world, and that you keep the peace of the one holy catholic and apostolic church.  
  • O my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who fasted for my sake, keep the life of our father the Patriarch His Holiness Bartholomew, his partner in the apostolic liturgy His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, our Metropolitan His Eminence Apostolos, and all the Bishops, the Priests, the Monks, and our brethren the Deacons. Support them all in their service.  
  • O my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who fasted for my sake, remember and heal the sick of Your people, save those who are troubled and those who are in hardships, those who are persecuted and those who are refugees. Those who are saddened and in suffering, grant them peace and fill their hearts with joy and gladness, and help and support the widows and orphans.  
  • O my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who fasted for my sake, remember those who have gone astray and the unbelievers; bring them back, and reveal Your love to all people.
  • O my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who fasted for my sake, give me to forgive those who trespass against me. Grant me a holy and acceptable fast before you. Support me in my struggle for salvation, and have mercy on me, your sinful servant.

Amen.


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Upcoming Divine Services and Holy Days

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.


PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY DURING GREAT LENT

Please note, there will be no Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday, March 12th. Father will be traveling back from the Metropolis Clergy Retreat.

Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will resume on the following Wednesday, March 19th, at 6 p.m. followed by a pot-luck Lenten Supper.


Salutations to the Theotokos

The Salutations to the Theotokos will be sung on the first five Fridays during Great Lent at 7:00 p.m. It is a service of praise to the Blessed Mother of God. The first of the Salutations is this Friday evening.

If you are working in the Fish Fry, you may "come as you are."


ANNUNCIATION

The Feast of the Annunciation is on Tuesday, March 25th.

Orthros, 8:45 a.m.  Divine Liturgy, 9:30 a.m.

We are also invited to the Great Vespers at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on 7220 Granby St, Norfolk, to celebrate their Patronal Feast Day. The service begins at 6:30 p.m. Reception to follow.

Icon of the Annunciation - 20th c ...


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ARCHEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICALS

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Announcements

SUNDAY GREETERS WANTED

Our parish is growing, and Great Lent is just around the corner.  We could use some help n the Narthex to greet and usher worshippers.  Please consider this important ministry to make all who attend feel welcome and to support orderly church services.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Tom Coghill, Walid Haikal, or Tom Jouvanis after services to include you on the team.  

ORTHODOXY 101

Fr. Gianulis will lead a 6-week catechism class which began last night, 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. It is not too late to join in now. A sign up form will be available in the anteroom for all interested parties.


FRIDAY FISH FRY

Our first Fish Fry will be Friday March 7th from 4:00pm to 6:30 pm and every  Friday throughout Great Lent. The last one will be April 11th. Drive thru or eat in. The cost is $16.00 per dinner, an 8 oz filet of fried flounder, french fries, coleslaw, and dessert. There is no better deal and the proceeds will go to the roof repair fund. Volunteers to help cook and serve are always welcome!


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.


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:Physician of Souls and Bodies – Royal Doors


Beverly Daikos - Riverside Hospital

Peter Daikos

Demetria Emmanouil

Sonny Halioris

Athanasia Jouvanis

Jim Kokolis

Nancy Marakos

Chris Marker

John and Connie Pavlides


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FROM YOUR PARISH COUNCIL

 
 
Dear Fellow Parishioners,

1.  Parking Update--Discussions with Incarnation Church. 

Your parish council is taking steps to alleviate the parking congestion.  These include both short term and long term measures.  As part of our annual meeting with Incarnation Church, we requested that they encourage their congregation to carpool more.  Second, we have requested that they start their services an hour earlier.  Third, we also asked that their congregation avoid parking on the side of the parking lot facing our church.  We will monitor these improvements as they are implemented.  

2.  Longer Term Parking Solution.  Adding capacity to our parking lot is expensive (over $100,000) and takes a long time because of the stormwater and permitting considerations.  Our understanding of long term is 6 months to 1 year.  Members of the parish council met with the surveyors who were involved with the site plan for our complex.  We are considering options that can increase parking from 30 to 50%.  At no cost to the parish, the surveyors will contact York County to help determine what's possible to help us determine our best options forward.

3.  What Can Parishioners Do. Come to church earlier.  Try to carpool to help alleviate the congestion.  

4.  Parking Safely.  We have placed a number of red cones around the parking lot and fire lanes.  These are specifically placed to preserve access to the fire lanes in the event of an emergency.  

We have 85 marked parking spaces around the church complex.  On each Sunday, there are over 200 Christian brothers and sisters in worship.  This is a wonderful thing and a blessing.  Both our congregation and Incarnation Church are growing.  We ask for your patience and understanding as we work through this challenge.  

Thank you and God bless the parish of St, Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Williamsburg, VA.   

 
Athanasios (Tom) Jouvanis 
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FLYERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:1-10

BRETHREN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father.

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia
Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 12:1-10

Ἀδελφοί, τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, διʼ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν, ὃς, ἀντὶ τῆς προκειμένης αὐτῷ χαρᾶς, ὑπέμεινεν σταυρόν, αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας, ἐν δεξιᾷ τε τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ θεοῦ κεκάθικεν. Ἀναλογίσασθε γὰρ τὸν τοιαύτην ὑπομεμενηκότα ὑπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν εἰς ἀυτὸν ἀντιλογίαν, ἵνα μὴ κάμητε ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν ἐκλυόμενοι. Οὔπω μέχρι αἵματος ἀντικατέστητε πρὸς τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἀνταγωνιζόμενοι· καὶ ἐκλέλησθε τῆς παρακλήσεως, ἥτις ὑμῖν ὡς υἱοῖς διαλέγεται, Υἱέ μου, μὴ ὀλιγώρει παιδείας κυρίου, μηδὲ ἐκλύου ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐλεγχόμενος· ὃν γὰρ ἀγαπᾷ κύριος παιδεύει· μαστιγοῖ δὲ πάντα υἱὸν ὃν παραδέχεται. Εἰς παιδείαν ὑπομένετε, ὡς υἱοῖς ὑμῖν προσφέρεται ὁ θεός· τίς γὰρ ἐστιν υἱὸς ὃν οὐ παιδεύει πατήρ; Εἰ δὲ χωρίς ἐστε παιδείας, ἧς μέτοχοι γεγόνασιν πάντες, ἄρα νόθοι ἐστε καὶ οὐχ υἱοί. Εἶτα τοὺς μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς ἡμῶν πατέρας εἴχομεν παιδευτὰς, καὶ ἐνετρεπόμεθα· οὐ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑποταγησόμεθα τῷ πατρὶ τῶν πνευμάτων, καὶ ζήσομεν; Οἱ μὲν γὰρ πρὸς ὀλίγας ἡμέρας κατὰ τὸ δοκοῦν αὐτοῖς ἐπαίδευον· ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ συμφέρον, εἰς τὸ μεταλαβεῖν τῆς ἁγιότητος αὐτοῦ.

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."

Sunday of Orthodoxy
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:44-52

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ᾿Ανδρέου καὶ Πέτρου. εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, ᾿Ιησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ᾿Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος· ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. εἶδεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς ᾿Ισραηλίτης, ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε. ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψει. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ᾽ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.

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Saints and Feasts

March 09

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 09

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia

These holy Martyrs, who came from various lands, were all soldiers under the same general. Taken into custody for their faith in Christ, and at first interrogated by cruel means, they were then stripped of their clothing and cast onto the frozen lake which is at Sebastia of Pontus, at a time when the harsh and freezing weather was at its worst. They endured the whole night naked in such circumstances, encouraging one another to be patient until the end. He that guarded them, named Aglaius, who was commanded to receive any of them that might deny Christ, had a vision in which he saw heavenly powers distributing crowns to all of the Martyrs, except one, who soon after abandoned the contest. Seeing this, Aglaius professed himself a Christian and joined the Martyrs on the lake, and the number of forty remained complete. In the morning, when they were almost dead from the cold, they were cast into fire, after which their remains were thrown into the river. Thus they finished the good course of martyrdom in 320, during the reign of Licinius. These are their names: Acacius, Aetius, Aglaius, Alexander, Angus, Athanasius, Candidus, Chudion, Claudius, Cyril, Cyrion, Dometian, Domnus, Ecdicius, Elias, Eunoicus, Eutyches, Eutychius, Flavius, Gaius, Gorgonius, Helianus, Heraclius, Hesychius, John, Lysimachus, Meliton, Nicholas, Philoctemon, Priscus, Sacerdon, Severian, Sisinius, Smaragdus, Theodulus, Theophilus, Valens, Valerius, Vivianus, and Xanthias.

March 09

Caesarios the Righteous

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

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.
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for 40 Martyrs of Sebastia in the First Tone

The holy martyrs suffered painful tortures for Your sake, O Lord; be constrained by what they endured, and heal our every pain, we entreat You, as the only One who loves humanity.
Τὰς ἀλγηδόνας τῶν Ἁγίων, ἃς ὑπὲρ σοῦ ἔπαθον, δυσωπήθητι, Κύριε, καὶ πάσας ἡμῶν τὰς ὀδύνας, ἴασαι φιλάνθρωπε, δεόμεθα.

Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Tone

O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate Your Pure Image, O Good One. Of your own will you condescended to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh and deliver those You created from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, thankfully, we cry out, "When You came to save the world, Your filled all things with joy, O Our Savior."
Τὴν ἄχραντον Εἰκόνα σου προσκυνοῦμεν Ἀγαθέ, αἰτούμενοι συγχώρησιν τῶν πταισμάτων ἡμῶν, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός· βουλήσει γὰρ ηὐδόκησας σαρκὶ ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, ἵνα ῥύσῃ οὓς ἔπλασας ἐκ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ ἐχθροῦ· ὅθεν εὐχαρίστως βοῶμέν σοι· Χαρᾶς ἐπλήρωσας τὰ πάντα, ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν, παραγενόμενος εἰς τὸ σῶσαι τὸν Κόσμον.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Tone

To you, defender and commander in a time of war, I, your City, offer gratitude for victory, for you rescued me from suff'rings, O Theotokos. Since the power you possess is unassailable, from all dangers I entreat you to deliver me, that I may cry to you: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride.
Τὴ ὑπερμάχω στρατηγῶ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοὶ ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε, Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων μὲ κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοί, Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:

  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in Fourth Tone © Fr. Seraphim Dedes
  • Resurrectional Apolytikion in Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Apolytikion for 40 Martyrs of Sebastia in the First Tone © Fr. Seraphim Dedes
  • Apolytikion for 40 Martyrs of Sebastia in the First Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Tone © Narthex Press
  • Apolytikion for Sun. of Orthodoxy in the Second Tone © Greek Standard Text
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Department of Religious Education
  • Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone © Greek Standard Text
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    Wisdom of the Fathers

    For in a contest there is much labor needed--and after the contest victory falls to some, to others disgrace. Is the palm ever given or the crown granted before the course is finished? ... Therefore no one can receive a reward, unless he has striven lawfully; nor is the victory a glorious one, unless the contest also has been toilsome.
    St. Ambrose of Milan
    Chapter 15, Three Books on the Duties of the Clergy, 4th century

    Moses... was himself saved by means of wood and water before the Law was given, when he was exposed to the Nile's currents, hidden away in an Ark (Exod. 2:3-10). And by means of wood and water he saved the people of Israel, revealing the Cross by the wood, Holy Baptism by water (Exod. 14:15-31). Paul, who had looked upon the mysteries, says openly, 'They were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud' (I Cor. 10:2). He also bears witness that, even before the events concerning the sea and his staff, Moses willingly endured Christ's Cross, 'Esteeming', he says, 'the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt' (Heb. 11:26). For the Cross is the reproach of Christ from the standpoint of foolish men. As Paul himself says of Christ, 'He endured the cross, despising the shame' (Heb. 12:2).
    St. Gregory Palamas
    Homilies Vol. 1, Homily Eleven para. 14; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 123, 14th century

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