During the first five Fridays of Great Lent, we sing the Akathist Hymn. This Friday is the final singing of the Akathist this year. If you have not yet attended, it behooves you to make every effort to attend this Friday.

The Akathist Hymn is a profound, devotional poem, which sings the praises of the Holy Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary. It is one of the most beloved services in the Orthodox Church. It was composed in the imperial city of Constantinople, "the city of the Virgin," by St. Romanos the Melodist, who reposed in the year 556.

The word "akathistos" means "not sitting," i.e., standing; normally all participants stand while it is being prayed. The hymn is comprised of 24 stanzas, arranged in an acrostic following the Greek alphabet. The stanzas alternate between long and short. Each short stanza is written in prose and ends with the singing of "Alleluia." Each longer stanza ends with the refrain: "Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded."

The Akathistos is a truly inspired composition of immense importance because of its sense of salvation history, embracing the entire plan of God for creation and for creatures, from the origins to the very end, towards the fullness which will be theirs in Christ. And because of its pure sources: the word of God in the Old and New Testaments, always present either explicitly or implicitly; the doctrine defined by the Councils of Nicaea (325), Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451), from which it draws directly; and the doctrinal treatises of the greatest of the Eastern Fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries, from whom it takes concepts and sculptured formulations.

The Akathist hymn consists of praises directed to the Theotokos (Mother of God). The first part of the hymn is about the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary by the Angel. It describes Mary’s surprise at the news, her visit to her mother and Joseph’s doubts to her innocence. The second part is about the birth of Christ, the worship of the Shepherds and Magi, the flight to Egypt and the visit to Saint Simeon in the Temple. In the third part the hymn directs our attention to the renewal of the world by Christ’s coming, and the amazement of the Angels and the wise men at the sight of the Incarnation of God’s Son. The fourth and the last part is once more a lyric and rhetorical appraisal of Virgin Mary, whom the poet adorns with the most beautiful of adjectives asking her to accept his poetical offering and to intercede for the salvation of human race from the earthly sin.

Friday -- 7:00 p.m. 

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

Wednesday, April 9th at 6:00 p.m.  

A Lenten Pot Luck dinner and fellowship will follow in the parish hall. Please come to the service and, if you are able, and bring a lenten plate to share. Everyone will be welcome to the supper even if you were unable to bring a plate to share. Come, fellowship first with the Lord's gift of His Body and Blood, and then with His community of believers.

Confessions will be heard during Holy Week Monday through Wednesday only. No confessions will be heard after Holy Wednesday. 

Monday and Tuesday, following the Bridegroom services.

Wednesday from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

Lazarus Saturday — April 12. Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.

                              Palm folding to follow

Palm Sunday — April 13     Orthros, 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.

                       NO Sunday evening Bridegroom service. 

April 14, Holy Monday -- Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.

April 15, Holy Tuesday -- Orthros of the Bridegroom, 6 p.m.

April 16, Holy Wednesday -- The Sacrament of Holy Unction, 6 p.m.

April 17, Holy Thursday

     Divine Liturgy of St. Basil - Institution of the Last Supper, 9 a.m.

     Orthros of the Passion (12 Gospels), 6 p.m.

April 18, Good Friday  

     Great Vespers (Descent from the Cross) 3 p.m.

     Lamentation Service, 6 p.m.

April 19, Great Saturday

     Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9 a.m.

     "Midnight" Resurrection Service, 10:30 p.m.

      Paschal Proclamation, 11 p.m. followed by

     Orthros and the Divine Liturgy.  

April 20,  Pascha (Easter Sunday) -- Agape Vespers, 11 a.m.

12 Απριλίου, Σάββατο του Λαζάρου. Ο Όρθρος, 9 πμ. Θεία Λειτουργία, 10 πμ.

13 Απριλίου, Κυριακὴ τῶν Βαΐων.

     Ο Όρθρος, 9 πμ.     Θεία Λειτουργία, 10 πμ.

14 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Δευτέρα -- Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 6 μμ.

15 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τρίτη --  Ο Όρθρος του Νυμφίου, 6 μμ.

16 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Τετάρτη -- Μέγα Ευχέλαιον, 6 μμ.

17 Απριλίου, Μεγάλη Πέμπτη

     Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου (Ο Μυστικός Δείπνος), 9 πμ      

     Ο Όρθρος του Πάθος Χριστού (τα 12 Ευαγγέλια), 6 μμ.

18 Απριλίου, Μεγαλη Παρασκευή

      Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός (Αποκαθήλωσης), 3 μμ.

      Ο Επιτάφιος Θρήνος, 6 μμ.

19 Απριλίου, Μέγα Σάββατο

      Η Θεία Λειτουργία του Αγ. Βασιλείου (Πρώτη Ανάσταση), 9 πμ.

      Ο Όρθρος, 10:30 μμ.

Η Ανάστασis,  11 μμ.  Θεία Λειτουργία, 12:00 πμ.

20 Απριλίου, Κυριακή του Πάσχα -- Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός της Αγάπης, 11 πμ.   

Plan to attend following the Divine Liturgy for a complete salmon meal and beverage. Deadline for ticket purchase is April 6th. Sponsored by the Philoptochos. Please see the flyer and reservation form below.

If you are able and willing to read one of the pericopes of the Gospel on the Sunday of Pascha in the AGAPE Vespers service, please let Fr. Milton, Daniel Monahan, Tim Sofis, or Mike Thompson know. Thank you.

As we approach Holy Week and Pascha, please consider making a contribution to our flower fund. Monies will be used for epitaphio (sebulchre) and Easter Lillies and whatever other floral decorations might be needed. Thanking you in advance, Fr. Milton

If you are able and willing to read the Gospel passage in a foreign language on Easter Sunday at the AGAPE Vespers, please let Fr. Milton know. Thank you.

This year, following the early morning Divine Liturgy on Holy and Great Pascha, we will break the fast with a potluck meal and our Easter Eggs. Please bring a dish to share and leave it in the Church Hall prior to entering the sanctuary.

As we approach Holy Week, attendance will be more than usual for St. Demetrios as well as for Incarnation. Therefore, it would be extremely helpful for families to ride together in one vehicle. Arriving early will also be helpful. We regret this inconvenience, however, it is the only way both congregations will be able to fit in the parking lot.

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!

As we begin our Lenten journey, the bookstore has a good selection of publications to help feed our hearts and minds in our journey to Pascha. Please stop by to see what is available and we can also custom order books.

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.

If you left an icon to be blessed in the altar, please note that it is now ready for pickup. All the icons in the altar have been there well over the 40 days.

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.

Beverly Daikos

Peter Daikos

Demetria Emmanouil

Sonny Halioris -- Sentera Williamsburg Rehab

Athanasia Jouvanis

Jim Kokolis

Maria Kokolis -- Sentera Williamsburg

Nancy Marakos

Chris Marker

John and Connie Pavlides