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
Saint Eutyches was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian and a fellow laborer of the holy Apostle Paul. He preached the Gospel in many places, pulled down the idols' temples, and suffered imprisonments and many torments at the hands of the idolaters. He finally reposed in peace in deep old age in his native city of Sebastia, near Tarsus.
Our holy Father Cosmas was from the town of Mega Dendron (Great Tree) of Aetolia. At the age of twenty, he went to study at the school of the Monastery of Vatopedi on the Holy Mountain. Later, he came to the Athonite Monastery of Philotheou where he was tonsured. With the blessing of his abbot, he departed for Constantinople where he learned the art of rhetoric, and thereafter, he began to preach throughout all the regions of northern Greece, the Ionian Islands, but especially in Albania, for the Christian people there were in great ignorance because of the oppression and cruelty of the Moslems. Finally, in 1776, after having greatly strengthened and enlightened the faithful, working many signs and wonders all the while, he was falsely accused by the leaders of the Jewish people and was executed by strangulation by the Moslem Turks in Albania.
The divine Baptist, the Prophet born of a Prophet, the seal of all the Prophets and beginning of the Apostles, the mediator between the Old and New Covenants, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the God-sent Messenger of the incarnate Messiah, the forerunner of Christ's coming into the world (Esaias 40: 3; Mal. 3: 1); who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb; who came forth like another Elias the Zealot, whose life in the wilderness and divine zeal for God's Law he imitated: this divine Prophet, after he had preached the baptism of repentance according to God's command; had taught men of low rank and high how they must order their lives; had admonished those whom he baptized and had filled them with the fear of God, teaching them that no one is able to escape the wrath to come if he do not works worthy of repentance; had, through such preaching, prepared their hearts to receive the evangelical teachings of the Savior; and finally, after he had pointed out to the people the very Savior, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (Luke 3:2-18; John 1: 29-36), after all this, John sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor.
This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia (that is, Arabia Petraea, which had the famous Nabatean stone city of Petra as its capital. This is the Aretas mentioned by Saint Paul in II Cor. 11:32). Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21 - 29). Concerning the finding of his holy head, see February 24 and May 25.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25
At that time, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. And he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12.
Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
11th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35
The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
Special Events: none
2025 STEWARDSHIP as of 8/24/2025 Scan Here to Donate:
Goal: $550,000
Pledged: $519,065
Received: $347,117
Pledges Submitted: 178
Needed to be Pledged: $30,935
2025 SUMMER STOREHOUSES as of 8/24/2025
$ Received: $ 10,640
DOME ICONOGRAPHY financials as of 8/24/2025
Total Project value: $411,000
Balance in the account at the beginning of the campaign: $110,898
Pledged (including grant): $272,172
Number of pledges: 87
Needed: $27,930
TODAY, AFTER SERVICE:
· 2nd tray collection for OCF (Orthodox College Fellowship)
· Philoptochos Meeting - 12:30 pm in the Conference room
· Coffee Hour – Potluck (Fast Free)
· Living Word Bookstore: Car License plates & Night Lights
· Dance Practice. Costume Fittings catch-up
UPCOMING EVENTS:
· Wednesday, August 27, 7 pm: Gladsome Light Dialogues. We are reading “Wounded by Love” book – chapter: “On the Mystery of Repentance”
· Saturday, August 30, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm: – Youth Workers Retreat (for any volunteer working with kids under age18).
· Sunday, August 31: Summer Harvest Celebration. There is only on week left until our joyful Celebration! We invite everyone to take part in our Summer Campaign by making a special $500 gift—whether as an additional summer offering, a catch-up toward your stewardship, or the start of a new pledge. As a thank you, participants will be entered into a prize drawing at the celebration.
· Saturday. Sept. 6, 10 am – 2 pm: 1313 SJTB Trail Life Troop TX-1313 "Join the Adventure" meeting, on the deck.
· Sunday, Sept. 7: Sunday School Starts
· Saturday, Sept. 20, 10:30 am: Parish Town Hall Meeting.
ST. JOHN GREEK FOODFEST - October 3-4-5
· KOULOURAKIA Baking Day: August 30, starting at 9 am
· Volunteers Needed for the Festival: All parishioners needed for our church’s annual fundraiser! See volunteer coordinator Michael Strong ([email protected]) to sign up!
· Thursday, Oct. 2: TAVERNA NIGHT: Outdoor Dinner with Live Greek Music and Dance for parishioners. $55/person or $440 for a table of 8. Partial proceeds benefit the NICU at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital HEB. RSVP by Sunday, September 21 to Liz Strong 512-569-0903 or [email protected]. Reservation required. Payment due at the time of reservation. We will also sale tickets in the hall!
TAVERNA NIGHT – SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED! Please consider donating an item (or two) that can be auctioned off. It can be anything from jewelry, gift cards, themed gift baskets, dish ware, cookware, tools, sports items, Christmas items or religious items, etc. The items need to be new or unused. Due Date to bring them: Sunday, Sept 28
Prayer Request – August 24, 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 ill / in recovery:
Name: Baptismal name:
· Susanik, the nun Susanik, the nun
· Leo Alexander Panteleimon
· Gabriel, Rita, Marina, Rafael Abanoub Gabriel, Rita, Marina & Rafael
· Norma Aguinaga *Norma
· Wes Albaugh *Wes
· Chrysanthi Andromalos Chrysanthi
· Adrian Antonescu Adrian
· Cassandra Ashford Zenaida
· Elias Bahou Elias
· 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
· 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 Awni & Moufida
· Betsy Hayes Isidora
· Susan Heaton *Susan
· Armando Herrera Sr. *Armando
· Jennifer Hock Zenobia
· Joyce Hofland *Joyce
· 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
· Velva Johnson Heleni
· Cristina Popa Cristina
· Gail & Nancy Poriotis Evangelia & *Nancy
· Maria Lungu Post Maria
· Ashley Potter *Ashley
· Candice, Ricardo & Annette Reyes *Candice, *Ricardo, *Annette
· Donna, Michael Saada *Donna, *Michael
· Linda Saliba *Linda
· Ted Sarros John
· Marika Shackelford Maria
· Georgia Souris Georgia
· Robert Steffaro Rodion
· Elizabeth Strong Mary-Elizabeth
· Ann, Jason, Anastasia, Ariana Sullivan Ana, Jason, Anastasia, Ariana
· Madalina, Tanase, Marghioala Tache Madalina, Tanase Stefan, *Marghioala
· Rada, Valentin, Olimpiu Teodoreanu Rada, Valentin, Olimpiu-Adrian
· Dave & Shanna Trosko *Dave & *Shanna
· Sarah Varvaris Sara
· George Vittas George, Reader
· Georgia Vratinina Georgia
· Kristy, Ron, Martha, James Warkentin Paraskeva, *Ronald, *Martha, *James
· Jeremy William John
· Gary Winfrey *Gary
· Hellen Yu *Hellen
· Eleni; Tudora; Raphael Eleni, *Tudora, Raphael
Family who fell asleep in the Lord in the last 40 days:
Vladimir; Anastasia; Maria
OCF Sunday
8:15AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck
12:30PM Philoptochos Meeting
7:00PM OCF meeting
5:00PM Confessions
6:00PM Paraklesis
7:00PM Gladsome Light Dialogues
6:00PM Vigil
5:45AM Hours and Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Wedding Rehearsal
8:30AM Youth Workers Retreat
9:00AM Koulourakia Preparation
3:30PM Wedding Dejana Neskovic
5:00PM Great Vespers
8:15AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
11:00AM 1 year memorial service for Yordan Ivanov and Elena Brandon
11:30AM Harvest Celebration
7:00PM OCF meeting
5:00PM Confessions
5:00PM Feed the Hungry - packing lunch bags for UGM
6:00PM Paraklesis
7:00PM Gladsome Light Dialogues
10:30AM Homeschool Co-op
10:00AM SJTB Trail Life Troop TX-1313 "Join the Adventure"
4:00PM Confessions
5:00PM Great Vespers
8:15AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
11:00AM Sunday School starts
11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck
12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class starts