Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-05-11
Bulletin Contents

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Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 408.605.0621
  • Street Address:

  • 9th and Lincoln

  • Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 5808

  • Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921


Contact Information




Services Schedule

 

Weekend services: the weekend schedule is fixed for most of the year. The services take place in Carmel-by-the-Sea, at All Saints Church, lower level, 9th and Lincoln.

Saturdays: 5:00pm Vespers

Sundays:   8:30am Matins

                   9:45am Liturgy

Week-day services: during the week we may celebrate the major feast days of the Church either in Carmel or in Salinas. Please check the calendar! The schedule pattern is:

Wednesdays:  6:00pm Paraklesis

Eve of feasts: 6:00pm Vespers

Feast days:    8:30am Matins

                       9:45am Liturgy


Past Bulletins


Schedule of Services

Christ is Risen!

Note: Our services are posted on Zoom unless specified otherwise.   

Friday, May 9
    6 pm Akathist to Saint Nektarios
Saturday, May 10 
    5 pm Vespers
Sunday, May 11 Sunday of the Paralytic
    8:30 am Matins
    9:45 am Liturgy
    12:30 pm Catechism Class
Tuesday, May 13
    9 am Food Bank Distribution - Community Service
    5:30 pm Quarterly Missions and Evangelism Meeting (Bay Area Vicariate)
    7 pm Parish Council (PC) Meeting

Wednesday, May 14 Mid-Pentecost
    8:30 am Matins

    9:30 am Book Forum: Holy Fools
    6 pm Paraklesis
Friday, May 16
    6 pm Akathist to the Holy Cross
Saturday, May 17
    11am Paschal PICNIC
    5 pm Vespers
Sunday, May 18 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
    8:30 am Matins
    9:45 am Liturgy
    12:30 pm Basics of Orthodoxy Class + Catechism Class
    12:30 pm Sunday School

Zoom with video here.  For more information, go to  //www.stjohn-monterey.org/parish-calendar

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Special Services

The Memorial Service this Sunday is for the Servant of God John Koukis, Rania's brother. He passed away two years ago in Greece.

+   +   +

We are headed towards the Ascension and we are preparing to receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. This coming Wednesday is Mid-Pentecost.

This Sunday: the fourth Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Paralytic. The day commemorates the miracle of Christ healing a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. The biblical story of the event is found in the Gospel of John 5:1-15. Learn more here.

 

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You are invited

- Annual Pascha Picnic -
+ Saturday, May 17 +
Veteran's Park, 1200 Veteran's Dr, Monterey

You are cordially invited to join us for our 
Annual Spring celebration for Pascha
:
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Lamb, chicken, rice, dolmades, salad, dessert,

egg hunt, camaraderie
$30 for adults / $10 for children 5-12
New Location: This year we will celebrate at a BBQ area in Veteran's Park, 1200 Veteran's Dr, Monterey. Near the childrens play area.  Bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, hats!
 
Invite your friends, extended family!
 
 
+  +  +
 
Gerontissa Markella and Her Sisterhood
Invite us all to a
Benefit Dinner
For the Life-giving Spring Monastery
 
Sunday, May 25
@Saint Lawrence Church in Felton
4pm Appetizers,     5pm Dinner
 
Suggested donation:
Adults, $75 - Children under 12, $35
RSVP to Bethany Young:
831.706.6306 or [email protected]
 
+  +  +
 
- Pilgrimage to The Monastery -
Join Father Ion and others to celebrate the 
Leave-take (Apodosis) of Pascha
at the Monastery.
 
Drive up: Tuesday, May 27 - Return: Wednesday, May 28
 
Reserve your room at Saint Nicholas Ranch:
  1. Call the Monastery for the Promo code at 559-338-3110.
  2. Make reservation online at https://stnicholasranch.org ($63 per room)
 
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News & Events

BOOK FORUM

A Ministry led by Kathy Shaw

Wednesday we continue reading and discussing: 

"Holy Fools"

by Oswin Craton

It can be purchased on Amazon or AncientFaith.com. This book will be more of "light reading" than has been discussed in the past. You may also check it out online here

Wednesdays, from 9:30am.

 Education, Community

 


ADULT SUNDAY EDUCATION/ CATECHISM

A Ministry led by Father Ion

All are invited to meet on this Sunday after lunch in the chapel of Saint Nektarios. 

Living the Gospel

 


BASICS of ORTHODOXY

A Ministry led by Edward Mar

The class offers to those who explore the Orthodox faith the space to learn and find answers to their many questions. All our members are invited to join and connect with those who explore our faith. The class will meet on Sunday, May 18, after the Agape Meal.

Basics of Orthodoxy

4. Holy Tradition

Education, Living the Gospel


WELCOMING AND HOSPITALITY: SERVING THIS SUNDAY

A Ministry led by Miriam Aguilar

Thank you for your effort and participation in bringing a dish to share for our Agape Meal. If you cannot participate when it is your turn, kindly make other arrangements for someone to cover for you and let your team leader know.

Sunday, May 11
   Parish Council Representative: George Georgalis
   Greeter: Mary Kanalakis
   Agape Meal: PINK TEAM - Thank you to Nadia, Maria, Rania, and Christine D

Sunday, May 18
   Parish Council Representative: Ali Castaneda
   Greeter: Marissa Castaneda
   Agape Meal: GOLD TEAM – Thank you to Christine T, Presbytera Ana, Mary, and Eleni

Community


OUTREACH MINISTRIES

Ministries led by Despina Hatton

LADIES I-HELP: 

  • Tuesday, June 3. Cooking: 4pm. Dinner with the ladies: 5:30pm.

FOOD BANK:

  • Tuesday, May 13 9:00 -10:30am @St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Seaside.

Community


AUDIO SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR ONLINE ATTENDANCE OF SERVICES

We have just upgraded some of the microphones and improved the Zoom configuration for better sound quality for services from both chapel and church. We hope to have fixed all issues and to offer a perfect audio experience. Those attending online are kindly asked to provide feedback to Father Ion if problems occur. We will be adjusting the systems over the course of a few services these coming days.

Those who would like to contribute towards this unbudgeted expense ($300) may do so online HERE or in person. Thank you.


NEW! CONTRIBUTE ONLINE TO THE BUILDING FUND

You can now donate directly to our building fund online using your credit card. Click on the link below and you will be taken to Community Foundation for Monterey County, where our fund is invested.

https://www.cfmco.org/give-now/

Select our fund: Saint John the Baptist Building Stewardship Fund

Thank you for supporting the mission of our church!


ONLINE RESOURCES

Most of our services and some ministry meetings are available online. Zoom with video here. Liturgical texts at Ages Initiatives here.

GETTING IT?

Have you been receiving communication from the church via text? If not, it is because you have not signed up yet. It is brief, fast and simple. Simply text #yes# to 22300.

Note: You must be already enrolled for phone calls from the church in order to extend to text messaging. Let Father Ion know if you would like to sign up for both services.


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Saints and Feasts

May 11

Sunday of the Paralytic

Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had round about it five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies, awaiting the moving of the water. The first to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.

It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel way lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.


May 11

Methodios & Cyril, Equal-to-the Apostles Illuminators of the Slavs

Born in Thessalonica, Saint Methodius was a military man before becoming a monk on Mount Olympus. His brother Constantine, known as the Philosopher because of his erudition, was Librarian at the Church of the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople; he later became a monk with the name of Cyril. The Emperor Michael sent him with his brother Methodius to the Khazars in response to their petition for teachers to expound to them the Christian Faith. On their way, they stayed in Cherson, where they recovered from the Black Sea the relics of Saint Clement of Rome. Later, they were called by Prince Rostislav of Moravia to instruct his people in the Orthodox Faith (Saint Rostislav died a martyr's death and is celebrated Oct. 15). The Saints devised an alphabet for the Slavs, and used it to translate the Greek books into the language of the people. In their apostolic labours throughout the Balkans, the holy brothers were slandered by certain Germanic bishops who opposed the use of the vernacular in the church services. Summoned to court at Rome in 867, they presented their Slavonic translations to Pope Adrian II, who received them with love and full approval. Two years later, Saint Cyril reposed in Rome on February 14 and was buried in the Church of Saint Clement. Saint Methodius was made Bishop of Moravia, but at the intrigues of certain Latin clergy, was cast into prison by the "Holy Roman Emperor" (the Germanic Emperor of the West), where he was cruelly tormented for some three years. In 874, through the defence of Pope John VIII, he was freed and made Archbishop of Moravia. Because he reproved the lax morals of the German priests in Moravia, he was soon accused of heresy by them, and was forbidden to celebrate the Liturgy in Slavonic. Summoned to Rome again in 879, he was completely exonerated and allowed once again to use the Slavonic tongue for the divine services. He reposed on April 6, 885.


May 12

Germanos, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Germanos, who was from Constantinople, was born to an illustrious family, the son of Justinian the Patrician. First he became Metropolitan of Cyzicus; in 715 he was elevated to the throne of Constantinople; but because of his courageous resistance to Leo the Isaurian's impious decree which inaugurated the war upon the holy icons, he was exiled from his throne in 715. He lived the rest of his life in privacy, and reposed about 740, full of days. The fore-most of his writings is that which deals with the Six Ecumenical Councils. He wrote many hymns also, as is apparent from the titles of many stichera and idiomela, among which are those for the Feast of the Meeting in the Temple.


May 15

Pachomios the Great

Saint Pachomius was born of pagan parents in the Upper Thebaid of Egypt. He was conscripted into the Roman army at an early age. While quartered with the other soldiers in the prison in Thebes, Pachomius was astonished at the kindness shown them by the local Christians, who relieved their distress by bringing them food and drink. Upon inquiring who they were, he believed in Christ and vowed that once delivered from the army, he would serve Him all the days of his life. Released from military service, about the year 313, he was baptized, and became a disciple of the hermit Palamon, under whose exacting guidance he increased in virtue and grace, and reached such a height of holiness that "because of the purity of his heart," says his biographer, "he was, as it were, seeing the invisible God as in a mirror." His renown spread far, and so many came to him to be his disciples that he founded nine monasteries in all, filled with many thousands of monks, to whom he gave a rule of life, which became the pattern for all communal monasticism after him. While Saint Anthony the Great is the father of hermits, Saint Pachomius is the founder of the cenobitic life in Egypt; because Pachomius had founded a way of monasticism accessible to so many, Anthony said that he "walks the way of the Apostles." Saint Pachomius fell asleep in the Lord before his contemporaries Anthony and Athanasius the Great, in the year 346. His name in Coptic, Pachom, means "eagle."


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:12-35

At that time, [Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. That very day] two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And He said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" and they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was not it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into this glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 3rd Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42.

In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Paralytic
The Reading is from John 5:1-15

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.

Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.


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