St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Publish Date: 2025-06-15
Bulletin Contents

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St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (727) 937-3540
  • Fax:
  • (727) 937-1739
  • Street Address:

  • 36 North Pinellas Avenue

  • Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
  • Mailing Address:

  • 17 East Tarpon Avenue

  • Tarpon Springs, FL 34689


Contact Information




Services Schedule

Sundays / Κυριακή
7:45am - Matins / Όρθρος
9:00am - Divine Liturgy (Greek) / Θεία Λειτουργία / (English) / Θεία Λειτουργία

Monday through Saturday

 


Past Bulletins


Dean's Message

In the World but not Of the World

Today is the Sunday of All Saints, the day which the Church commemorates all the holy men and women, known and unknown, that have lived lives dedicated to God. The saints and the Saints all have one thing in common. They all lived in the world but did not live according to the ways of the world. That is the definition of the word, “holy.”

To be holy, based on the Greek word άγιος (agios) means to be “not of the earth.” How can this be when each of us as human beings were born in the world and we live our entire lives in the world? Are we expected by God to forget that we are quite literally made from the earth as we learn in Genesis, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2.7) We even emphasize this at every funeral before burial. “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” (from the funeral service)

If being holy doesn’t mean physically not being of the earth, then it must be our soul and way of life the Church is speaking of. In today's Gospel we hear Christ give us His expectation of the Christian way of life. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me….and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 10.37 & 19.29)

We are faced with choices at every step of our lives, whether at work or school, with friends or just sitting quietly at home surfing the internet. In every interaction we must choose the way of God or the way of the world. The way of the world is filled with pain and suffering. It is filled with hatred and bigotry. It is filled with greed and isolation. The way of God is love and compassion, sharing and fellowship, comfort and inclusion. We see the results of the way of the world playing out in front of our eyes in the recent civil unrest our society is experiencing.

Our role as Orthodox Christians in this crucial time in our society is to be in the world but not OF the world. We are called by God to be a witness to His holiness and way of life in our interactions with others. Some will recognize God, while others will not. We are called by God to treat even those who refuse the way of God, with love and compassion. Many of the saints we celebrate today were known for having compassion even on those who beat and tortured them. We are called to the same love as our Christian ancestors. Today is our day to let the Light of Christ shine in the world, so those living in darkness can find their way home to God and His Church.

+Fr. Athanasios C. Haros 

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Fr. Theofanis

As we read in this Sunday’s epistle from Hebrews, we are reminded of the great cloud of witnesses, those saints who lived by faith and endured many hardships. Their stories inspire us to stay strong in our faith, even when life becomes difficult. The epistle encourages us to run our race with endurance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for our salvation.

Recently, during our clergy-laity assembly in Charleston SC , we reflected deeply on the themes of Faith, Family, and Love. These are the essential virtues that guide us in our daily lives. Faith keeps us trusting in God's promises, even when we face trials. Love motivates us to care for one another and to support our families and community. And family is where we live out our faith and love, practicing patience, forgiveness, and kindness every day.

The saints in Hebrews show us that faith is not always easy. Some faced lions, others were persecuted, yet they remained faithful because they believed in God's promises. Their lives teach us that perseverance is needed in our own journeys. Like a mother who prays daily for her children, or a brother who patiently helps a sibling in need, our faith and love grow stronger through our daily efforts.

The Bible also tells us to run with endurance, keeping our focus on Jesus, the ultimate example of perseverance and love. He endured suffering because of His love for us. His sacrifice teaches us that love often requires patience and sacrifice, especially within our families.

Let us take these lessons from the saints and from our recent conference to heart. As we continue our spiritual race, may faith, family, and love be our guiding lights. With God's help, we can face any challenge and look forward to eternal life with Christ. May He strengthen us all. Amen.
 
Happy Father’s Day!
 

+Papa Fanis

 

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This week's message from our Cantor!

The Sacrament of Baptism

The remainder of our liturgical music articles for the month of June will be an exploration of the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church, beginning this week with that of Holy Baptism. The service of the sacrament itself is preceded by the Order Before Holy Baptism, which takes place in the narthex of the church. The celebrant priest prays for the one to be baptized and exorcises him or her of all demonic influence. The one being received (or their sponsor) also renounces Satan and expresses the desire to be joined to Christ, reciting the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. After this, the candidate for baptism and their sponsors follow the priest into the nave of the church, where the Service of Holy Baptism itself is to be celebrated.

Historically, the Sacrament of Baptism was celebrated as part of the Divine Liturgy, and that is why the service itself begins with the words, “Blessed is the Kingdom,” which are proper to the Liturgy. After the litany–that is, the list of supplications to God–the priest exclaims three times, “Great are you, O Lord, and wondrous are your works, and no word will suffice to praise your wonders,” to which the chanter responds by chanting, “Glory to You, O Lord. Glory to You.”  The priest prayerfully remembers how the Lord brought all things into being out of nothingness, and three times he prays for the descent of the Holy Spirit into the water of baptism. He then makes the sign of the Cross over the waters three times, praying that all hostile and demonic spirits be driven from the water. When all of the prayers and blessings have been said, the priest then anoints the child and baptizes him or her in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Immediately after the child emerges from the water we chant the words, “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” This hymn expresses our belief that the Lord Jesus Christ has given us the holy mystery of baptism for the remission of sins, just as we say in the Creed, the Symbol of our Faith. The child is then anointed with Holy Chrism, which is the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Upon being taken to be clothed, the chanter begins to sing the Katavasies of the Cross (unless it is during the Paschal season, in which case we chant the Katavasies of Pascha).

After this, the child having been dressed, we chant, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia,” three times as the Priest and the newly illumined with his or her sponsors circumambulate the baptismal font. We hear readings from the Epistle and the Gospel, and finally, when the convert is given Holy Communion, we chant “I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. Alleluia.”

The Mystery of Holy Baptism is always a joyful occasion and a reason to celebrate. Whenever someone is baptized, the angels in heaven are elated and the demons tremble. It is truly an amazing miracle that the Lord has given us to be united to His Body by means of baptism and chrismation, for just as St. John Chrysostom said, “To be baptized is not only to be washed, but to be sanctified, to be justified, to be united to Christ, to become His member.”

Philip Carallo

St Nicholas Cathedral Protopsaltis  

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Saints and Feasts

June 15

The Sunday of All Saints

Honouring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, "But to me, exceedingly honourable are Thy friends, O Lord" (Ps. 138:16). And the divine Apostle, recounting the achievements of the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).

This commemoration began as the Sunday (Synaxis) of All Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness (the meaning of "Martyr" in Greek) to Christ in manifold ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of their blood.

Therefore, guided by the teaching of the Divine Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, we the pious honour all the Saints, the friends of God, for they are keepers of God's commandments, shining examples of virtue, and benefactors of mankind. Of course, we honour the known Saints especially on their own day of the year, as is evident in the Menologion. But since many Saints are unknown, and their number has increased with time, and will continue to increase until the end of time, the Church has appointed that once a year a common commemoration be made of all the Saints. This is the feast that we celebrate today. It is the harvest of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world; it is the "much fruit" brought forth by that "Grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died" (John 12:24); it is the glorification of the Saints as "the foundation of the Church, the perfection of the Gospel, they who fulfilled in deed the sayings of the Saviour" (Sunday of All Saints, Doxasticon of Vespers).

In this celebration, then, we reverently honour and call blessed all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives. All these, as well as the orders of the Angels, and especially our most holy Lady and Queen, the Ever-virgin Theotokos Mary, do we honour today, setting their life before us as an example of virtue, and entreating them to intercede in our behalf with God, Whose grace and boundless mercy be with us all. Amen.


June 15

Amos the Prophet

The Prophet Amos was from the city of Thekoue of the land of Zabulon. He was an unlearned man, a shepherd of goats and sheep, as he testifies concerning himself (Amos 7:14-15). He began to prophesy two years before the earthquake, which some say took place in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of Ozias, King of Judah, about the year 785 B.C. (Amos 1:1). Later, however, Amasias, the false priest of Bethel, brought about his death. His book of prophecy, divided into nine chapters, is ranked third among the minor Prophets. This Amos is different from the Prophet Esaias' father, who also was called Amos. His name means "bearer of burdens.


June 15

Our Righteous Father Hieronymus


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Cathedral Listings

SATURDAY MEMORIALS 

No Memorials

   SUNDAY MEMORIALS  

Ekaterena Maria Kartsonis - 40 days

Panagiotis Michailos - 40 days

Vakina Boulafentis - 6 months

                                                                                                                                                                                 THIS SUNDAY'S COFFEE HOUR IS SPONSORED BY:

St. Nicholas Soup Kitchen

        All ministries wishing to sign up and host the Sunday Coffee Hour please contact Chris Palaidis at 727-808-3895.

         Memorial & Artoklasia Service Planning                  

If you are in need of a Memorial, or are contemplating having an Artoklasia Service, call our Parish Office at (727) 937-3540 to have the names put in the bulletin.

Kollyva (μνημόσυνα) for memorials can be ordered through:

Antonia Korfias (727) 937-8785

Evangelia Stavropoulos (727) 937-5649

Afrodity Tassopoulos (727) 674-3304

*Contact info for these preparers is provided as a service to parishioners and does not imply endorsement.

  *THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY 5PM FOR ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION*

40 Day Prayer List

Fotis, Chrisovalantou, Valantis, Irene, Kaliopi, Niki, Maria, Stella, Evangelia, Fotis, Claudine, Andrew, Louisa, Kosta, Adonis

*To add a loved one to this list, please contact Marie at the church office on Mondays by 5:00 pm: [email protected]  (727) 937-3540. 

A Prayer for Healing

"Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal me, Your servant, from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ.  Grant me patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health.  Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed.  I pray that You heal me as Your servant and grant me the gift of complete health.  For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen."

 

Our Priests are Here for You

If you, or a loved one, would like to request a priestly visit due to illness or extenuating circumstances, please call Father Athanasios (727) 741-0139 or Father Theofanis Katsiklis Makris at 727-277-6910.

If you are in spiritual need, Father Athanasios wants to make himself available to you, and asks you to please call/text or email him directly, rather than through social media.
 
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 Click the link if you attend St. Nicholas and need a Letter of Good Standing Application

Remember, if your sponsor for a wedding or baptism is a parishioner of St. Nicholas Church, this must be completed.

 __________________________________________________________________

2025 St. Nicholas Parish Council Pangari Rotation Sunday Schedule

 February 2, 2025 – July 27, 2025

 

PC Teams for rotation begins Sunday, 02/02/2025 with Team 2 on Duty

**Both PC Teams on duty on Palm Sunday - Sunday, April 13, 2025

 PC Holy Week Schedule to be sent March, 2025; will include Pascha, April 20, 2025

 

February 9, 23; March 9, 23; April 6, **13; May 4, 18; June 1, 15, 29; July13, 27

Team 1:

Michael A. Samarkos

Anna Billiris

Nomikos Christoforos

Dr. John Forcella, Jr.

Themis Fountotos Tezza

Efthimios Klimis

John Lulias

 

February 2, 16; March 2, 16, 30; **April 13, 27; May 11, 25; June 8, 22; July 6, 20

Team 2:

Harry Andropoulos

Stratis Christakis

Rena Faklis

Emmanuel Gombos

Karen Koulias

Rosanne Pappas

Tony Zaronias

 

Looking For More Information on St. Nicholas?

Parish Financial Reports for St. Nicholas are available here!

Parish Council and Assembly Minutes for St. Nicholas are available here!

 

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 4th Mode

From on high You descended, Most Merciful; for us You condescended to a threeday burial to set us free from the passions. O Lord, our Resurrection and our Life, glory to You!
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for All Saints in the 4th Mode

Adorned in the blood of Thy Martyrs throughout all the world as in purple and fine linen, Thy Church, though them, doth cry unto Thee, O Christ God: Send down Thy compassions upon Thy people; grant peace to Thy commonwealth, and great mercy to our souls.
Τῶν ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ Μαρτύρων σου, ὡς πορφύραν καὶ βύσσον τὰ αἵματα, ἡ Ἐκκλησία σου στολισαμένη, δι' αὐτῶν βοᾷ σοι· Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, τῷ λαῷ σου τοὺς οἰκτιρμούς σου κατάπεμψον, εἰρήνην τῇ πολιτείᾳ σου δώρησαι, καὶ ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Mode

O Planter of creation, Lord, to You does the entire world bring as an offering the God-bearing martyr Saints, as being nature's first fruits. At their earnest entreaties, keep Your Church in a state of profoundest peace, through the Theotokos, O Lord abundantly merciful.
Ὡς ἀπαρχὰς τῆς φύσεως, τῷ φυτουργῷ τῆς κτίσεως, ἡ οἰκουμένη προσφέρει σοι Κύριε, τοὺς θεοφόρους Μάρτυρας, ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσίαις, ἐν εἰρήνῃ βαθείᾳ, τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν σου, διὰ τῆς Θεοτόκου συντήρησον, πολυέλεε.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

First Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 28:16-20

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, οἱ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, εἰς τὸ Ὄρος, οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτόν, προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ· οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν. Καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς, λέγων· Ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Πορευθέντες οὖν, μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος· διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἰδού, ἐγὼ μεθ' ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. Ἀμήν.


Epistle Reading

The Sunday of All Saints
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

The Sunday of All Saints
Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:33-40, 12:1-2

Ἀδελφοί, οἱ Ἅγιοι πάντες διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν· ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς· ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον· περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν. Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς, τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, διʼ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν.


Gospel Reading

The Sunday of All Saints
The Reading is from Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30

The Lord said to his disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first."

The Sunday of All Saints
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30

Εἶπεν ὁ Κὐριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὁμολογήσω κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. ὅστις δ᾿ ἂν ἀρνήσηταί με ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἀρνήσομαι αὐτὸν κἀγὼ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. ῾Ο φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος· καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος· καὶ ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ ὀπίσω μου, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος. Τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν πάντα καὶ ἠκολουθήσαμέν σοι· τί ἄρα ἔσται ἡμῖν; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὑμεῖς οἱ ἀκολουθήσαντές μοι, ἐν τῇ παλιγγενεσίᾳ, ὅταν καθίσῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καθίσεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπὶ δώδεκα θρόνους κρίνοντες τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἀφῆκεν οἰκίας ἢ ἀδελφοὺς ἢ ἀδελφὰς ἢ πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ἢ γυναῖκα ἢ τέκνα ἢ ἀγροὺς ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, ἑκατονταπλασίονα λήψεται καὶ ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσει. Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

For in a contest there is much labor needed--and after the contest victory falls to some, to others disgrace. Is the palm ever given or the crown granted before the course is finished? ... Therefore no one can receive a reward, unless he has striven lawfully; nor is the victory a glorious one, unless the contest also has been toilsome.
St. Ambrose of Milan
Chapter 15, Three Books on the Duties of the Clergy, 4th century

Moses... was himself saved by means of wood and water before the Law was given, when he was exposed to the Nile's currents, hidden away in an Ark (Exod. 2:3-10). And by means of wood and water he saved the people of Israel, revealing the Cross by the wood, Holy Baptism by water (Exod. 14:15-31). Paul, who had looked upon the mysteries, says openly, 'They were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud' (I Cor. 10:2). He also bears witness that, even before the events concerning the sea and his staff, Moses willingly endured Christ's Cross, 'Esteeming', he says, 'the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt' (Heb. 11:26). For the Cross is the reproach of Christ from the standpoint of foolish men. As Paul himself says of Christ, 'He endured the cross, despising the shame' (Heb. 12:2).
St. Gregory Palamas
Homilies Vol. 1, Homily Eleven para. 14; Saint Tikhon's Seminary Press pg. 123, 14th century

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Important Updates From Our Ministries

Philoptochos (A Friend of the Poor) Ministry

Philoptochos Circle Logo

 ST NICHOLAS PHILOPTOCHOS

 Hours of Operation
Mon: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Wed-Fri: 10:00 AM -12:00 Noon
18 Hibiscus Street (located directly behind St Nicholas Cathedral) 

National Philoptochos Mission Statement
To aid the poor, the destitute, the hungry, the aged, the sick, the unemployed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, the widowed, the handicapped, the victims of disasters, to undertake the burial of impoverished persons and to offer assistance to anyone who may need the help of the Church through fund-raising efforts. 

If you would like to make a difference, learn from others and create relationships that will last a lifetime please send your name, e-mail. phone number and address to:

St Nicholas Philoptochos
PO Box 2043
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Annual Membership Fee of $35.00 assists Philoptochos to continue serving the poor.

Full Membership: 

Women of the Greek Orthodox Faith, of at least 18 years of age, shall be eligible for full membership in the Society.

Associate Membership:

An Associate Member shall enjoy all privileges of membership, except the right to vote or hold office.

The following persons shall be eligible for associate membership:

  1. A non-Greek Orthodox woman married to a Greek Orthodox man.
  2.  Greek Orthodox men. 
  3.  A non-Greek Orthodox man married to a Greek Orthodox woman.

St Nicholas Kitchen

Saint Nicholas Kitchen is an outreach ministry of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral that provides hot meals, helping hands and meaningful relationships to the impoverished in our community. The heart for this ministry is illustrated in the book of Matthew 25:35-36:

 “….For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me….”

St. Nicholas Kitchen will continue preparing the Monday meals from 7:30 – 11:00 am. The meals will be delivered Monday's to the new Hope Center at the Sheppard center where the meals will be given to those in need by their, and our volunteers. We still need volunteers, food and monetary donations. Meals will be served from 11:00 – 12:00 pm. For further information, please call Chris Palaidis at (727) 808-3895.

 


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Important Information

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Master Calendar

  • Master Calendar

    June 11 to June 29, 2025

    Wednesday, June 11

    Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Laity Congress and Philoptochos Convention

    Sunday, June 15

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, June 16

    Fast of the Holy Apostles

    8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

    4:30PM Dance ministry

    6:00PM Holy Unction

    Tuesday, June 17

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    Wednesday, June 18

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    6:00PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos

    7:00PM Philoptochos Board Meeting

    7:00PM Byzantine Choir

    Thursday, June 19

    9:00AM Paraklesis to St Nicholas

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    Friday, June 20

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    6:30PM Boy Scouts - Court of honor

    Saturday, June 21

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, June 22

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Monday, June 23

    4:30PM Dance ministry

    Tuesday, June 24

    9:00AM Orthros/Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    Wednesday, June 25

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    6:00PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos

    7:00PM Byzantine Choir

    Thursday, June 26

    9:00AM Paraklesis to St Nicholas

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    Friday, June 27

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    Saturday, June 28

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    4:00PM Cleaning Kitchen Fr Tryfon

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, June 29

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

  • Tampa Bay Regional Greek Orthodox Calendar

    June 22 to June 29, 2025

    Sunday, June 22

    Saint Stephen Summer Camp Session 1

    Sunday, June 29

    Saint Stephen Summer Camp Session 2

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