St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-06-29
Bulletin Contents

Organization Icon
St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (817) 283-2291
  • Fax:
  • (817) 545-0302
  • Street Address:

  • 303 Cullum Drive

  • Euless, TX 76040


Contact Information





Services Schedule

Small Paraklesis - Wednesday 6:00PM

Great Vespers - Saturday 5:00PM

Matins - Sunday 8:30AM

Divine Liturgy - Sunday 9:30 AM

Confessions - Saturday after Vespers or upon request


Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

June 29

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles

The divinely-blessed Peter was from Bethsaida of Galilee. He was the son of Jonas and the brother of Andrew the First-called. He was a fisherman by trade, unlearned and poor, and was called Simon; later he was renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who looked at him and said, "Thou art Simon the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)" (John 1:42). On being raised by the Lord to the dignity of an Apostle and becoming inseparable from Him as His zealous disciple, he followed Him from the beginning of His preaching of salvation up until the very Passion, when, in the court of Caiaphas the high priest, he denied Him thrice because of his fear of the Jews and of the danger at hand. But again, after many bitter tears, he received complete forgiveness of his transgression. After the Resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Judea, Antioch, and certain parts of Asia, and finally came to Rome, where he was crucified upside down by Nero, and thus he ascended to the eternal habitations about the year 66 or 68, leaving two Catholic (General) Epistles to the Church of Christ.

Paul, the chosen vessel of Christ, the glory of the Church, the Apostle of the Nations and teacher of the whole world, was a Jew by race, of the tribe of Benjamin, having Tarsus as his homeland. He was a Roman citizen, fluent in the Greek language, an expert in knowledge of the Law, a Pharisee, born of a Pharisee, and a disciple of Gamaliel, a Pharisee and notable teacher of the Law in Jerusalem. For this cause, from the beginning, Paul was a most fervent zealot for the traditions of the Jews and a great persecutor of the Church of Christ; at that time, his name was Saul (Acts 22:3-4). In his great passion of rage and fury against the disciples of the Lord, he went to Damascus bearing letters of introduction from the high priest. His intention was to bring the disciples of Christ back to Jerusalem in bonds. As he was approaching Damascus, about midday there suddenly shone upon him a light from Heaven. Falling on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" And he asked, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." And that heavenly voice and brilliance made him tremble, and he was blinded for a time. He was led by the hand into the city, and on account of a divine revelation to the Apostle Ananias (see Oct. 1), he was baptized by him, and both his bodily and spiritual eyes were opened to the knowledge of the Sun of Righteousness. And straightway- O wondrous transformation! - beyond all expectation, he spoke with boldness in the synagogues, proclaiming that "Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 9:1-21). As for his zeal in preaching the Gospel after these things had come to pass, as for his unabating labors and afflictions of diverse kinds, the wounds, the prisons, the bonds, the beatings, the stonings, the shipwrecks, the journeys, the perils on land, on sea, in cities, in wildernesses, the continual vigils, the daily fasting, the hunger, the thirst, the nakedness, and all those other things that he endured for the Name of Christ, and which he underwent before nations and kings and the Israelites, and above all, his care for all the churches, his fiery longing for the salvation of all, whereby he became all things to all men, that he might save them all if possible, and because of which, with his heart aflame, he continuously traveled throughout all parts, visiting them all, and like a bird of heaven flying from Asia and Europe, the West and East, neither staying nor abiding in any one place - all these things are related incident by incident in the Book of the Acts, and as he himself tells them in his Epistles. His Epistles, being fourteen in number, are explained in 250 homilies by the divine Chrysostom and make manifest the loftiness of his thoughts, the abundance of the revelations made to him, the wisdom given to him from God, wherewith he brings together in a wondrous manner the Old with the New Testaments, and expounds the mysteries thereof which had been concealed under types; he confirms the doctrines of the Faith, expounds the ethical teaching of the Gospel, and demonstrates with exactness the duties incumbent upon every rank, age, and order of man. In all these things his teaching proved to be a spiritual trumpet, and his speech was seen to be more radiant than the sun, and by these means he clearly sounded forth the word of truth and illumined the ends of the world. Having completed the work of his ministry, he likewise ended his life in martyrdom when he was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero, at the same time, some say, when Peter was crucified.


June 30

Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles

The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, the First-called; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who was also the Evangelist and Theologian; Philip, and Bartholomew (see also June 11); Thomas, and Matthew the publican, who was also called Levi and was an Evangelist; James the son of Alphaeus, and Jude (also called Lebbaeus, and surnamed Thaddaeus), the brother of James, the Brother of God; Simon the Cananite ("the Zealot"), and Matthias, who was elected to fill the place of Judas the traitor (see Aug. 9).


July 02

Deposition of the Precious Robe of the Theotokos in Vlachernae

During the reign of Leo the Great (457-474) two patricians and brethren on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land lodged with an old widow, a Christian of Jewish descent. Seeing the many miracles wrought at a small shrine in her house, they pressed her until she revealed to them that she had raiment of the most holy Theotokos kept in a small coffer. Our Lady had had two virgins in her lifetime who attended upon her; before her holy dormition, she gave each of them one of her divine garments as a blessing. This old widow was of the family of one of those two virgins, and it had come through the generations into her hands. With the permission of God, that this holy relic might be had for the profit of many, the two men took the garment by stealth and brought it to Blachernae near Constantinople, and building a church in honor of the Apostles Peter and Mark, they secretly enshrined the garment therein. But here again, because of the multitude of miracles that were worked, it became known to the Emperor Leo, and a magnificent church was built, as some say, by that same Leo, but according to others, by his predecessors Marcian and Pulcheria, and enlarged by Leo when the holy raiment was found. The Emperor Justin the Younger completed the church, which the Emperor Romanus IV Diogenes raised up immediately again after it had burned in 1070. It burned again in 1434, and from that time it remained a small house of prayer together with the renowned holy spring. After the seventh century, the name Blachernae was given to other churches and monasteries by their pious founders out of reverence for this famous church in Constantinople. In this church John Catacuzene was crowned in 1345; also, the Council against Acindynus, the follower of Barlaam, was convoked here (see the Second Sunday of the Great Fast).


July 04

Andrew of Crete Author of the Great Canon

Saint Andrew was from Damascus; his parents' names were George and Gregoria. He became a cleric and secretary of Theodore and Patriarch of Jerusalem; from this, he is called "the Jerusalemite." He was present at the Sixth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople, which was convoked in 680 during the reign of Emperor Constantine IV (668-685). He became deacon of the Great church in Constantinople, that is, the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, then Archbishop of Crete. He reposed in 720 or 723. Beside his other sacred writings, he also composed various hymns, among which is the famous Great Canon, which is chanted during Great Lent (see the Thursday of the Fifth Week of the Fast).


BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Apostles Peter and Paul in the Fourth Mode

O Foremost of the Apostles and teachers of the world, intercede ye with the Master of all that He grant peace to the world and great mercy to our souls.

Apolytikion of the Synaxis of John the Forerunner in the Second Mode

The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise * but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner, * for thou wast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets * since thou wast granted to baptize in the running waters * Him Whom they proclaim. * Wherefore having contested for the Truth, * thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades * that God has appeared in the flesh * taking away the sin of the world * and granting us great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. After this He appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:21-33; 12:1-9.

Brethren, whatever anyone dares to boast of -- I am speaking as a fool -- I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one -- I am talking like a madman -- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise -- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


Gospel Reading

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
The Reading is from Matthew 16:13-19

At that time, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."


BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

We must admire not only the inner meaning of all the things that are celebrated in the Church of the Orthodox Christians, but also the sacramental actions through which this meaning is expressed: how through divine baptism we become sons of God by grace, though we have done nothing before this, and do nothing after except keep the commandments; and how these awesome mysteries - I refer to holy baptism and holy communion - cannot take place without the priesthood, as Saint John Chrysostom says. Here, too, we see the significance of the power given to Saint Peter, chief of the apostles; for if the gates of the kingdom of heaven are not opened by priestly action, no one can enter (cf. Matt. 16:19). As the Lord says: 'Unless a man is born of water and Spirit...' (John 3:5); and again: 'Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you' (John 6:53).
St. Peter of Damaskos
Book 1: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pgs. 208-209, 8th century

What then saith the mouth of the apostles, Peter, the ever fervent, the leader of the apostolic choir? When all are asked, he answers ... "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 54 on Matthew 16, 4th Century

Why then is this man blessed? Because he acknowledged Him very Son .... He also signifies who had revealed it. That is, lest his words might seem to the many (because he was an earnest lover of Christ) to be words of friendship and flattery, and of a disposition to show favor to Him, he brings forward the person who had made them ring in his soul; ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 54 on Matthew 16, 4th Century

What then saith Christ? ... "Thus since thou hast proclaimed my Father, I too name him that begat thee; ... upon this rock will I build my Church;" that is, on the faith of his confession. Hereby He signifies that many were now on the point of believing, and raises his spirit, and makes him a shepherd ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 54 on Matthew 16, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Parish Activities

Special Events: none

2025 STEWARDSHIP as of 6/29/2025

Goal:                                       $550,000

Pledged:                                   $516,259

Pledges Submitted:                  170

Needed to be Pledged:           $33,741

 

DOME ICONOGRAPHY financials as of 6/29/2025

Total Project value: $411,000

Balance in the account at the beginning of the campaign: $110,898

Pledged (including grant): $254,962

Number of pledges: 85

Needed: $45,140

TODAY, AFTER SERVICE:

·         Start “Replenish The Summer Storehouses” campaign

·         Living Word Bookstore: “Wounded by Love”: The Life and the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios

·         Coffee Hour: Potluck.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

·         June 30 - July 4, 10 am – 1 pm: Vacation Bible School

·         Wednesday, July 2, 5:00 pm: Feed the Hungry – Packing sack lunch for the UGM

·         Wednesday, July 2, 7 pm: Gladsome Light Dialogues. We are currently reading the book “Wounded by Love”, revolved around the life and teachings of St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (Holy Mountain) – read chapter 1.

·         Tuesday, July 8: St. Tabitha’s Second Tuesday Meeting.  We are starting at 10:00 am. We have lunch together and stay until 3 pm or until we can. Bring your own project & have fun!

·         Saturday July 12, starting with 9:00 am: Dolmathes preparation. Everybody is needed to come help! The more shows up, the faster we finish and we all get to go home!

·         Monday, July 14, 7:00 pm: Parish Council Meeting

·         July 25-26-27: Philoptochos Rummage Sale. We are currently accepting donations: Clean, gently used clothing (boys, girls, infant, men and ladies), Shoes, Appliances (all types), Toys, Rugs, Jewelry, Coats (boys, girls, infant, men and ladies), Athletic Equipment, Lamps, tables, chairs, aso. Please store them in the Sunday School classrooms, except the rooms with "Do Not Use" signs.

·         St. John the Baptist Trail Life USA Troop TX- 1313 will start the full operation in September. Stay tune! 

 

ST. JOHN GREEK FOODFEST - October 3-4-5

·     Volunteers Needed for the Festival: All parishioners needed for our church’s annual fundraiser! See volunteer coordinator Michael Strong ([email protected]) to sign up for a 4-hour shift (or shifts). Friday and Saturday, 11am-10 pm, Sunday, 11am-4 pm. OPA!

·         Festival Baking Dates:

Saturday July 12, starting with 9:00 am: Dolmathes

Saturday July 19, starting with 9:00 am: Galaktoboureko

Saturday Aug 30, starting with 9:00 am: Koulourakia.  

Saturday, Sept. 27, starting with 9:00 am: Baklava

Sunday, Sept. 28, after Divine Liturgy: Packaging     

BACK TO TOP

Prayers Request

Prayer Request – June 29, 2025 

 

Members of our parish who are in hospital or rehab:

Name:                                                            Baptismal name:

·         Fr. Vasilios Christ                                       Vasilios, Presbyter

·         Dylan Paddison                                           *Dylan

Members of our parish who are in assisted living or nursing home:

Name:                                                            Baptismal name:

·         Leo Alexander                                             Panteleimon

·         Joyce Hofland                                             *Joyce

·         Rada,Valentin, Olimpiu Teodoreanu      Rada,Valentin, Olimpiu-Adrian

·         Velva Johnson                                             Heleni

Members of our parish who are ill / in recovery:

Name:                                                            Baptismal name:

·         Gabriel, Rita & Marina Abanoub            Gabriel, Rita & Marina

·         Norma Aguinaga                                         *Norma

·         Wes Albaugh                                                *Wes

·         Chrysanthi Andromalos                             Chrysanthi

·         Adrian Antonescu                                       Adrian

·         Elias Bahou                                                  Elias

·         Sorana Bitea                                                 Sorana

·         Michael Bogdos                                           Michael

·         Kassandra Bogordos                                   Kassandra

·         Robin Boomstra                                          *Robin

·         Tami, Olivia & Nathaniel Brugman        Dymphna, Theodora & Nathaniel

·         John & Darrel Brugman                            *John & *Darrel

·         Andrew Lucas Burlacu                               *Andrew Lucas

·         Jason Caros                                                  Jason

·         Ashley Choate                                             Maria Magdalena

·         Margaret Chokas                                         Maria

·         Tim Cline                                                      Timothy

·         Edward Tex Collins                                     Taxiarchon

·         Elizabeth Cronin                                          Elizabeth

·         Mariana Cuceu                                            Maria

·         Raquel & Rebecca De Souza                    *Raquel & *Rebecca

·         Vladimir Dempsey                                      Vladimir

·         Helen Dieb                                                    Helen

·         David Dube                                                  *David

·         Orest & Refije Duka                                   Anesti & Katherine

·         Tamara Eftimie                                           Tamara

·         Timothy Elder                                              Timothy

·         Michael & Kathy Fox                                 Michael & Katherine

·         Awni & Maryan Haddad                           Rafael & Maryan

·         Betsy Hayes                                                 Isidora

·         Armando Herrera Sr.                                   *Armando

·         Jennifer Hock                                               Zenobia

·         Steve Howton                                              *Steve

·         Samiha Gayed                                             Samiha

·         Michael, George, Kelvin Genovezos       Michael, *Kelvin, *George, *Mary

·         Heather Olivia Gregoire                              Mary

·         Mavra Grimm                                              Mavra

·         Dr. Lucille Howton                                     Lucille

·         Domnica Iliescu                                           Mihaela

·         Filiratos & Alina Ionita                             Filiratos & Alina

·         Petar & Slavica Ivovic                               Petar & Slavica

·         Harry & Virginia Karegeannes                 Haralambos & Catherine

·         Constantinos Katsikas                                Constantinos

·         Gregory Kerbow                                          Gregory

·         John Koutsoufis                                           Ioannis

·         Emilia Lueth                                                Emilia

·         Abraham Maayeh                                       Abraham

·         George & Victoria Manos                         George & Victoria

·         Themis & Zoe Mavrelli                              Euthymia & Zoe

·         Catherine Macdonald                                 Catherine

·         Emily, Tempest & Maire MacLeod        Emily, Michael & Maire Barachiel

·         Jude, Erzsi & Brigid MacLeod                 Jude, Erzsi Rafael & Brigid Seraphim

·         Michaela Miller                                            Michaela

·         George Neville                                             *George

·         Laurentiu, Laura & Liliana Nicolescu     Laurentiu, Laura & Liliana Gabriela

·         Ruby Phillips                                                 *Ruby

·         Constantinos & Marlen Pachou                               Constantinos & Marlen

·         Cristina Popa                                               Cristina

·         Gail & Nancy Poriotis                                 Evangelia & *Nancy

·         Maria Lungu Post                                        Maria

·         Ashley Potter                                                *Ashley

·         Candice, Ricardo & Annette Reyes         *Candice, *Ricardo, *Annette

·         Donna Saada                                                *Donna

·         Linda Saliba                                                 *Linda

·         Ted Sarros                                                     John

·         Marika Shackelford                                    Maria

·         Georgia Souris                                              Georgia

·         Robert Steffaro                                            Rodion

·         Elizabeth Strong                                          Elizabeth

·         Ann, Jason, Anastasia Sullivan                 Ana, Jason, Anastasia

·         Madalina, Tanase, Marghioala Tache     Madalina, Tanase Stefan, Marghioala

·         Dave & Shanna Trosko                              *Dave & *Shanna

·         Sarah Varvaris                                             Sara

·         George Vittas                                               George, Reader

·         Georgia Vratinina                                        Georgia

·         Kristy, Ronald, Martha Warkentin          Paraskeva, Ronald & Martha

·         Gary Winfrey;                                              *Gary

·         Hellen Yu                                                      *Hellen

Family members who fell asleep in the Lord in the last 40 days:  

Carolyne – Claire – Yordan – Tasha – Charlie – Constantine - Vasile

BACK TO TOP

Church Calendar

  • STJB Calendar

    June 29 to July 13, 2025

    Sunday, June 29

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

    Monday, June 30

    10:00AM Vacation Bible School

    Tuesday, July 1

    10:00AM Vacation Bible School

    Wednesday, July 2

    8:00AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy

    10:00AM Vacation Bible School

    5:00PM Feed the Hungry - packing lunch bags for UGM

    6:00PM Paraklesis

    Thursday, July 3

    10:00AM Vacation Bible School

    Friday, July 4

    10:00AM Vacation Bible School

    Saturday, July 5

    4:00PM Confessions

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, July 6

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

    Tuesday, July 8

    10:00AM St. Tabitha's Tuesday Meeting

    Wednesday, July 9

    6:00PM Paraklesis

    Saturday, July 12

    9:00AM Dolmathes Preparation

    2:00PM Wedding Gabriel Calderon & Victoria Solorzano

    4:00PM Confessions

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, July 13

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

BACK TO TOP