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.

TODAY is Palm Sunday. Holy Week services start THIS 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.

HOLY WEEK / PASCHA "NEEDS" LIST is in the narthex. Please sign up for what you would like to contribute. Some items on the list need more than one donor--if you're curious which ones, please check the list. Thank you!

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

FELLOWSHIP HOUR - FISH IS ALLOWED ON PALM SUNDAY Fish is welcome on the fellowship hour buffet table today.

OUR NEWEST MEMBER The servant of God, Gabrielle, (formerly Dhesorae), was received into the Church yesterday as a new Orthodox Christian via Holy Baptism. We rejoice with the newly Illlumined Gabrielle and her sponsor, Gabriya.

OVERHEARD IN THE PARISH KITCHEN Michael, introducing his newly Illumined fiance, Gabrielle, to someone new: "This is my wife, Gabrielle." Now, we know! They were civilly married a few months ago but decided not to speak about it right away. But now they are joyfully sharing! And we are very happy for them. God grant you many years, lovebirds!! Orthodox crowning service set for June 1.

THANK YOU TO OUR DECORATORS Thanks to the energetic creativity of our young adults, Michael S, Gabrielle, Vincent and Gabriya, the nave is decorated for Holy Week. Much appreciatrion to each of you for the extra effort put forth!

OTHER DECORATING OPPORTUNITIES Holy Friday (4/18) 9:30AM to decorate Christ's Tomb with flowers. Holy Saturday (4/19) afternoon to decorate the narthex and nave 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.

HOLY WEEK STARTS TONIGHT Palm Sunday evening begins the solemnity of Holy Week with the Bridegroom services Sunday-Tuesday nights. We will have an unction service on Wednesday evening followed by the Orthros focused on Christ's betrayal by Judas, 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 this week, if you can, to participate more fully this year.

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. 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 UPDATE Prayer changes things--let us support one another. Our brother in Christ, George Z, received sorrowful news of his mother's departure last Tuesday evening. She lived in Germany. Please remember the soul of Margitta in your prayers and also George and Svetlana as they process this grief. Thank you. Grigori (Gary) has been diagnosed with DVT or deep vein thrombosis. He has requested your prayer support. He needs to rest his afflicted leg at this time. Fr. Leo thanks everyone who's been praying for better mobility of his right arm. Things are improving, but it still might take a little time to come right. Please keep him on your list. Sharon's sister, Lori, came through her recent surgery well. She was relieved by the surgeon's after-report. She, too, is grateful for the prayer support she received. Anthony is recovering from a respiratory ailment and thanks you for your prayer support. 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. He is grateful for the prayers offered from the St. George community. Supportive prayers for Conlan and Katya who are engaged, planning to marry on May 11 and also for Michael S and Gabrielle for their Orthodox marriage crowning on June 1. 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.

GRATEFUL YOU STEPPED UP With Grigori needing to rest his leg for a time, God's servant Michael H stepped up to serve in the altar, joining his son, Innocent. God bless this duo as they learn and serve together. Mark S, a UMaine student, has also offered to serve in the altar as needed. Thank you, all!

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.

VEGAN BREAKFAST COOKIES Here's a link to the recipe for vegan breakfast cookies that were on the fellowship hour table last week. Thanks to Pres.' good friend, Maria in NH, who shared so generously: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/breakfast-cookies/

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.

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 13

Palm Sunday

On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today.

The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.

April 13

Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome

Saint Martin was born in Tuscany. He had been the papal delegate at Constantinople; upon the death of Pope Theodore, Saint Martin was elected his successor. At this time the Emperor Constans II, also known as Constantine Pogonatus (reigned 641-668), was seeking support of his confession of faith called the Typos, which espoused the Monothelite heresy, that is, that there is only one will and energy in the Incarnate Son of God. But the newly-consecrated Pope not only did not accept the Typos, but convened the Lateran Council of 649 (attended by 105 of his bishops, and Saint Maximus the Confessor, who was then in Rome), which anathematized the Typos and the Monothelite heresy. Because of this Saint Martin was seized by an imperial force in 653 and brought to Constantinople, where he was charged with sending money to the Saracens and conspiring with them, and blaspheming against the most holy Mother of God. Though innocent of these accusations, he was exiled to Cherson on the Black Sea, where, after many sufferings and privations, he received the crown of his courageous confession in the year 655.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Fourth Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.26,1.
Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου.
Στίχ. Στίχ. Ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ ὅτι ἀγαθὸς, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Φιλιππησίους 4:4-9.

Ἀδελφοί, χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε. Τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. Ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. Μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν. Καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν, φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε. Ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε· καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθʼ ὑμῶν.

Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9.

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel Reading

Palm Sunday
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 12:1-18

Πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν Ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς Βηθανίαν, ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὁ τεθνηκώς, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει· ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν τῶν ἀνακειμένων σὺν αὐτῷ. ἡ οὖν Μαρία, λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου, ἤλειψε τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξε ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ· ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου. λέγει οὖν εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ᾿Ιούδας Σίμωνος ᾿Ισκαριώτης, ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι· διατί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχε καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἄφες αὐτήν, εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ μου τετήρηκεν αὐτό. τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε μεθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε.

῎Εγνω οὖν ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι, καὶ ἦλθον οὐ διὰ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν μόνον, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἴδωσιν ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐβουλεύσαντο δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ δι᾽ αὐτὸν ὑπῆγον τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων καὶ ἐπίστευον εἰς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν.

Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα, ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔκραζον· ὡσαννά, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτό, καθώς ἐστι γεγραμμένον· μὴ φοβοῦ, θύγατερ Σιών· ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου.

Ταῦτα δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα, καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ. ᾿Εμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, ὅτι ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον.

Palm Sunday
The Reading is from John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.