News, Events and Announcements

WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS Whether you are new to Bangor or if you're just passing through -welcome! If you've come because you are curious about the Orthodox Church, its beliefs and worship, you are very welcome, too! Please don't hesitate to introduce yourself to someone you've never met and consider staying for some refreshments and fellowship after the morning service. If you would like to receive mailings or otherwise stay in touch, please leave your contact information (name, address, phone, email) with the person in the church office.

HOLY WEEK / PASCHA "NEEDS" LIST is in the narthex. Please sign up for what you would like to contribute. Thank you!

SUNDAY SCHOOL meets in the fellowship hall right after Holy Communion is offered. All ages 6+ are welcome. Lesson will focus on Holy Week, soon to come. Thank you to Mrs. Bucklin for her creativity and dedication to our students!

FELLOWSHIP HOUR Thanks to everyone for bringing fast friendly vegan dishes for fellowship hour this season!

COMMEMORATIONS THIS WEEK Today, April 6, we commemorate the life of St. Mary of Egypt. Wednesday, April 9, is the commemoration of Ss. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene. This Saturday, April 12, is the Saturday of Lazarus, the day preceding Palm Sunday.

THIS WEDNESDAY EVENING A Pre-Sanctified Divine Liturgy will be prayed beginning at 6PM. Please fast from food and drink in preparation for receiving the Holy Eucharist. Taking an early lunch that day is suggested. Thank you.

SATURDAY OF LAZARUS BAPTISM Dhesorae will be baptized this Saturday, April 12. Gabriya is her sponsor. Dhesorae will take the name Gabrielle, honoring the Holy Archangel Gabriel, at Baptism. Orthros 9AM, Divine Liturgy 10AM, Baptism immediately following. A pot-luck lunch will follow. Please bring an item for the table to rejoice with God's newly Illumined servant!

DECORATORS WANTED Lazarus Saturday (4/12) afternoon for Palm Sunday services. Holy Friday (4/18) 9:30AM to decorate Christ's Tomb. Holy Saturday (4/19) afternoon to decorate for Holy Pascha and Bright Week. The Church will be adorned for these sacred days according to its volunteer decorators. Please contact Presbytera this week to express your interest: doxa141@gmail dot com or 2079492913 (text). Thank you.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 Great Vespers for Palm Sunday will be prayed at 6PM.

FESTAL MENU ITEM - FISH IS ALLOWED ON PALM SUNDAY. Feel free to bring a fish entree for fellowship hour next Sunday, April 13.

NEXT SUNDAY is Palm Sunday. Holy Week services start next Sunday evening at 7PM. We have bi-lingual books available for Holy Week services. Please see the Holy Week service schedule at the end of this bulletin.

TSOUREKI (GREEK PASCHAL BREAD) FUNDRAISER Blessings on Cathy S who makes our annual Tsoureki Fundraiser possible! Donation is set at $15 per loaf, with all proceeds going to St. George. Cathy donates both ingredients and time to make this possible. She will be baking the bread to order. Each beautiful loaf will be braided with one natural red-dyed egg on top. You can order by giving her a call at 207-570-4423 or signing up on the sheet in the narthex. If you do not want the red egg on top please specify. Loaves can be picked up at church from Thursday, April 17th through Saturday, April 19th. Thank you for your purchase to support St. George.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DYE PASCHAL EGGS RED FOR DISTRIBUTION ON HOLY PASCHA Parish volunteers who will dye 18-24 hard cooked eggs red for distribution will be given a free package of egg dye to make it possible. Please let Presbytera know if you are willing to do this. She can give you the dye today or on Palm Sunday morning. These eggs will be distributed to parishioners and guests at the Anastasi service at midnight on Holy Pascha, April 20, and again at Agape Vespers a few hours later. If those who can dye red eggs brings a couple dozen to share after the services, there will be enough for all. There is nothing quite as beautiful as a deep red Paschal egg that has been dried and shined with olive oil. Thank you!

PRAYER REQUESTS Prayer changes things--let us support one another. Fr. Leo thanks everyone who's been praying for better mobility of his right arm. Things are improving, but it might take a little time to come right. Please keep him on your list. Anthony has come down with a respiratory ailment that needs extra care. Prayer will help him overcome it that much more quickly. Kathy's brother, Fred, had a successful surgery recently related to spinal stenosis. He is hoping to regain use of one arm where the nerves have been affected. Sharon's sister, Lori, is to have surgery this Friday, April 11. Please keep her in prayer. Supportive prayers for Dhesorae who is preparing for Holy Baptism this Saturday and for Conlan and Katya who are engaged, planning to marry on May 11. God grant wisdom to all! Summarized requests from past weeks: Prayer requested for Cathy (decisions regarding health), Matthew (attending seminary this fall), Victoria (upcoming surgery 4/25), Paula (management of on-going health concern), Fr. Anthony (Mona's dad in Pakistan--fragile health); Panagiota & Seraphima (stroke recovery) and Pat (managing eyesight health). Again, your prayers for these these brothers and sisters in Christ are of great assistance to each person being upheld.

ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY Here is a recommended resource for Bible Study for Orthodox Christians. Learn from Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, a well respected and engaging Orthodox Christian expositor. Visit her site and go deep into the Scriptures: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/ Read her bio here: https://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/about-your-professor/. Many of us have read books written by Dr. Constintinou already and been greatly edified. She has a second web site, as well: https://www.drjeannie.com/. Her book about the Crucifixion of our Lord is in our bookstore now.

A NICE WAY TO HELP ST. GEORGE For an unspecified time, a family has offered to buy our bookshop stock as a donation so the church does not need to fund the stock purchases. That means whenever you buy from our bookshop St. George benefits a good bit. So please shop here and if there is a book or something else (icon, prayer rope, neck cross, bread seal, or the like) you're looking for, please let Pres. know so it can be ordered. RECENTLY RECEIVED NEW ITEMS: Red egg dye from Greece to make possible the traditional solid deep red eggs for Holy Pascha--$3.50 per package. Also egg wraps in many designs and colors! Egg wraps are "shrink wraps" for Paschal eggs. Use them on hard cooked eggs, dyed or undyed, for a festive look. One wrap will cover 7 medium sized eggs. Each wrap is $3.50. Other items: Small portable icons of Christ & Panagia including small dyptichs. Auto visor clips featuring the Holy Cross and various Saints, 4.95 ea. Tiny knot prayer ropes in maroon color ($5 ea). Plastic bread stamps for prosforo baking. Keychains and tapestry pouches. Check the icon display area and you'll find the new nook with additional books! You'll also find we have censers, self-light charcoal briquettes and aromatic Orthodox incense. Beautiful prayer ropes (30 knot and 100 knot in varied colors) from Ukraine--30 knot bracelet is $14; 100 knot rope is $45. Thanks for shopping here--and let Pres. know if you are looking for specific items or want to order a particular book.

PLAN AHEAD FOR HOLY WEEK Keep in mind that Lazarus Saturday, April 12, is the lead-in for Palm Sunday on the 13th. Plan to attend the Lazarus Saturday service if you can. Palm Sunday services will be held as usual on Sunday morning and then there begins the solemnity of Holy Week with the Bridegroom servies beginning on Palm Sunday night, there will be evening / night services all week long. We will have an unction service on Wednesday evening, a Divine Liturgy on Thursday morning and the Passion readings on Thursday night when we will behold Christ on the Cross. On Holy Friday morning, there will be the reading of the Royal Hours, the floral decorating of our Lord's Tomb, His removal from the Cross in the afternoon and evening service of Lamentations. On Holy Saturday morning the Divine Liturgy is celebrated with a somewhat triumphal theme as we await the proclamation of Christ's Holy Resurrection at midnight. Yes, we celebrate into the wee hours of morning of Holy Pascha, Sunday, April 20, and enjoy an afterglow meal together. Suffice to say, there is plenty to do. We'll need readers and decorators and more during the week. Most of all, we'll need prayerful hearts that make the celebration of Holy Pascha so powerful and meaningful. Please take some time off that week, if you can, to participate more fully this year.

2025

HOLY WEEK / PASCHA SCHEDULE

April 13th PALM SUNDAY

9:00 AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy

7:00 PM Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios)

April 14th GREAT AND HOLY MONDAY

7:00 PM Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios)

April 15th GREAT AND HOLY TUESDAY

7:00 PM Service of the Bridegroom (Nymphios), Hymn of Kassiane

April 16th GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY

5:00 PM Sacrament of Holy Unction immediately followed by Orthros of Holy Thursday (anointing also at the end)

April 17th GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY

9:00 AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil,

6:00 PM Service of the 12 Gospels, The Passion & Crucifixion of our Lord

April 18th GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY

9:00 AM Royal Hours (readers requested)

3:30 PM Descent from the Cross (Apokathelosis)

7:00 PM Orthros of Holy Saturday (Lamentations)

April 19th GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY

9:00 AM Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil

11:30 PM Orthros & Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection

April 20th GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA

11:00 AM Agape Vespers (Gospel passages read in multiple languages)

April 22nd ST. GEORGE FEAST DAY CELEBRATION

6:00 PM Vesperal Liturgy

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE - Donations can be made online.

Saints and Feasts

April 06

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

April 06

Eutychios, Patriarch of Constantinople

Born in Theia Kome of Phrygia, Eutychius was the son of illustrious parents, from whom he received a pious upbringing. He studied in Constantinople, and became a monk in a certain monastery of Amasia. In 552 he was chosen Patriarch of New Rome, but was exiled in 565 as a result of the machinations of the Origenists. In 577 he was restored to his throne and reposed on April 6, 582.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Eighth Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 9:11-14.

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόμενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, διὰ τῆς μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ διʼ αἵματος τράγων καὶ μόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράμενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων, καὶ σποδὸς δαμάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωμένους, ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄμωμον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑμῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι;

Prokeimenon. Eighth Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 10:32-45

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα μαθητάς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα αὐτῷ συμβαίνειν, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνομεν εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραμματεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐμπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ μαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐμπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ ᾿Ιάκωβος καὶ ᾿Ιωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες· διδάσκαλε, θέλομεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωμεν ποιήσῃς ἡμῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί με ὑμῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δὸς ἡμῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύμων σου καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δυνάμεθα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τὸ μὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε· τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν μου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ᾿ οἷς ἡτοίμασται. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ ᾿Ιωάννου. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς· οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν· οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑμῖν, ἀλλ᾿ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι μέγας ἐν ὑμῖν, ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑμῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος· καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."