St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-09-07
Bulletin Contents

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St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (978) 685-4052
  • Street Address:

  • 8 Lowell Street

  • Lawrence, MA 01840-1416
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 10

  • Methuen, MA 01844


Contact Information




Services Schedule

5 PM Saturdays - Vespers

9 AM Sundays - Orthros

10 AM Sundays - Divine Liturgy

Sunday School (Sept-May) following Holy Communion


Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.

ان تلميذات الرب تعلمن من الملاك كرز القيامة البهج وطرحن القضية الجدّية وخاطبن الرسل مفتخرات وقائلات : قد سبي الموت وقام المسيح الاله مانحاً العالم الرحمة العظمى.

Apolytikion for Theotokos' Nativity Forefeast in the Fourth Tone

From the root of Jesse and the loins of David the King, Mariam, the child of God, is born for our sake this day. Hence, all creation exulteth on its renewal. Both Heaven and the earth rejoice together now. Praise her, O ye tribes of nations here below. The righteous Joachim rejoiceth, and Anna keepeth feast, crying out: The barren beareth the Theotokos, the nourisher of our life.

اليوم من أصل يسّى ومن صلب داود تولد لنا مريم الفتاة الإلهية لذلك كل البرية تبتهج وتتجدد وتفرح السماء والأرض معاً. فيا قبائل الأمم سبحيها فإن يواكيم يبتهج وحنة تعيد صارخة: العاقر تلد والدة المغذية حياتنا.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

On this day the Virgin and Theotokos Mary, the bridal chamber of the Heavenly Bridegroom, by the will of God is born of a barren woman. Being prepared as the chariot of God the Word, she was pre-ordained for this, since she is the divine gate and the true Mother of Life.

إن المسكونة بمولدك الموقر تتزين عقلياً بزينة الروح غير الهيولي فتهتف نحوك بسرور قائلة: افرحي أيتها العذراء يا فخر المسيحيين.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

البروكيمنون. Sixth Tone. مزمور 27: 9، 1.
خلص يالله شعبك وبارك ميراثك
Verse: إليك يا رب صرخت، إلهي

فصل من رسالة بولس الاولى الى غلاطية 6: 11-18.

يَُّا إِخْوَة، اُنْظُرُوا، مَا أَكْبَرَ الأَحْرُفَ الَّتِي كَتَبْتُهَا إِلَيْكُمْ بِيَدِي! جَمِيعُ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا مَنْظَراً حَسَناً فِي الْجَسَدِ، هَؤُلاَءِ يُلْزِمُونَكُمْ أَنْ تَخْتَتِنُوا، لِئَلاَّ يُضْطَهَدُوا لأَجْلِ صَلِيبِ الْمَسِيحِ فَقَطْ. لأَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَتِنُونَ هُمْ لاَ يَحْفَظُونَ النَّامُوسَ، بَلْ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَخْتَتِنُوا أَنْتُمْ لِكَيْ يَفْتَخِرُوا فِي جَسَدِكُمْ. وَأَمَّا مِنْ جِهَتِي، فَحَاشَا لِي أَنْ أَفْتَخِرَ إِلاَّ بِصَلِيبِ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، الَّذِي بِهِ قَدْ صُلِبَ الْعَالَمُ لِي وَأَنَا لِلْعَالَمِ. لأَنَّهُ فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ لَيْسَ الْخِتَانُ يَنْفَعُ شَيْئاً وَلاَ الْغُرْلَةُ، بَلِ الْخَلِيقَةُ الْجَدِيدَةُ. فَكُلُّ الَّذِينَ يَسْلُكُونَ بِحَسَبِ هَذَا الْقَانُونِ عَلَيْهِمْ سَلاَمٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ، وَعَلَى إِسْرَائِيلِ اللهِ. فِي مَا بَعْدُ لاَ يَجْلِبُ أَحَدٌ عَلَيَّ أَتْعَاباً، لأَنِّي حَامِلٌ فِي جَسَدِي سِمَاتِ الرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ.نِعْمَةُ رَبِّنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ مَعَ رُوحِكُمْ أَيُّهَا الإِخْوَةُ. آمِينَ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Sunday before Holy Cross
يوحنا 3: 13-17

13 في ذلك الزمان قال يسوع َلَيْسَ أَحَدٌ صَعِدَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ إِلاَّ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ، ابْنُ الإِنْسَانِ الَّذِي هُوَ فِي السَّمَاءِ.14((وَكَمَا رَفَعَ مُوسَى الْحَيَّةَ فِي الْبَرِّيَّةِ هَكَذَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُرْفَعَ ابْنُ الإِنْسَان، 15لِكَيْ لاَ يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ. 16 لأَنَّهُ هَكَذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ الْعَالَمَ حَتَّى بَذَلَ ابْنَهُ الْوَحِيدَ، لِكَيْ لاَ يَهْلِكَ كُلُّ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ، بَلْ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ. 17 لأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُرْسِلِ اللَّهُ ابْنَهُ إِلَى الْعَالَمِ لِيَدِينَ الْعَالَمَ، بَلْ لِيَخْلُصَ بِهِ الْعَالَمُ.

 

 


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Our Redeemer and Maker, Who was Son of God before the ages, became Son of Man at the end of ages. Thus the One Who, through the power of His divinity, had created us to enjoy the happiness of everlasting life, might Himself restore us, through the weakness of our humanity, to recover the life we had lost.
St. Bede the Venerable
Homilies on the Gospels, 2.18. 7th Century. Taken from: Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 126.

For since Nicodemus had said, "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God," on this very point He sets him right, all but saying, "Think Me not a teacher in such manner as were the many of the prophets who were of earth, for I have come from heaven (but) now. None of the prophets hath ascended up thither, but I dwell there."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 27 on John 3, 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

September 08

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren and aged parents, Joachim and Anna, about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of Christ. Joachim was descended from the royal line of David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was of the priestly tribe of Levi, a daughter of the priest Matthan and Mary, his wife.


September 09

The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna

Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.


September 11

Theodora the Martyr of Alexandria

This saint lived in the fifth century. Out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man, she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.


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Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, September 13

No Vespers at St. George - Vespers at Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline at 4PM

Sunday, September 14 - Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

9AM Orthros

10AM Divine Liturgy with Procession of the Cross

12:00PM Baptism

1:00PM Parish Family Picnic in the Lawrence Commons

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Pastor's Ponderings

Saint of of Crete says about today's Feast, The Nativity of the Theotokos, "This day is the beginning of joy for all the world, for the Virgin is born who will bear the joy of all-Christ the Lord." St. John of Damascene says, "Today the universe rejoices because from the root of Jesse, from the seed of David, the pure Virgin is born, from whom shall rise the Sun of Justice, Christ, the Light of the world." 

The Nativity of the Theotokos is cosmic joy, for through her Christ enters the world. She is the dawn before the Sun of Justice, the New Eve through whom the curse of Adam is annulled, and the vessel through whom death will be destroyed by Christ’s Resurrection. Her birth signals the beginning of our salvation and the restoration of life everlasting. Glory to God! Fr. Ephraim

 

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Memorials & Celebrations

The memorial today is for +Jack (John) Erban and +Edmound Samra. Memory eternal!

Looking Ahead...

Exaltation of the Cross Sunday September 14 - procession in church at end of Divine Liturgy

Sunday School begins September 21!

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