St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Publish Date: 2025-09-14
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

A Second Holy Week

Each Holy Week we gather in the Cathedral gazing at the Cross of Christ, singing hymns, lighting candles, and praying through the night. It is one of the holiest nights in our community. It is so holy, that some faithful remain in the Cathedral all night long. There we are in a dark Church hoping that Christ will save us.

Did you know the Church offers us a second chance to focus on the Cross of Christ? Today is the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. In history, today commemorates when the True Cross of Christ was elevated in the newly consecrated Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. It is a day the Church turns our attention back toward the Crucifixion of Christ for our salvation.

The Gospel passage read today is the same as what we hear on Holy Thursday night and Holy Friday morning. Like faint whispers in our memory from Holy Week we hear, “Crucify Him! We have no king but Caesar!” as the crowd turned their backs on Christ.

Now today, we think about our betrayal of Christ. In the emotion of Holy Week we prefer sitting in the Cathedral rather than ‘being in the world’. Today, many of us have forgotten the pledge we made at the Cross of Christ to live a better life. We have forgotten the tears that ran down our cheeks. 

There would be no need to remind us of the Cross of Christ if we had not turned our backs on Him. This is the wisdom of the Church for our salvation. Guided by the Holy Spirit the Church understands how difficult life is. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, lives through the experience of countless saints, holy men and women, who suffered to remind us of the love of God. Yes, we have turned our backs, but because of the Cross of Christ there is a way back.

Just because it is September instead of Holy Week doesn’t mean we can’t express our love for God and shed tears of repentance at the thought of His Cross. The Church may not be dark. We may not sit here all night, but we can still be renewed in our faith. We can still promise to live better lives for Christ. We can still thank God for pulling us back from despair and giving us hope. 

There is always hope in the Cross of Christ. During Holy Week or on September 14th, we can turn our attention back toward God and His Cross. We can always turn back.

+Rev Protopresbyter Athanasios C Haros

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A Hymn for Every Feast: The Katavasias of the Year

This Sunday is the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, celebrated every year on September 14th. This is the day toward which our chanting of the Katavasias of the Cross for the last several Sundays has been leading. Next week will be the final Sunday on which we will chant these Katavasias as part of this festal period, when we celebrate the Leave-Taking (or “Apodosis”) of the Feast—that is, the final day of the afterfeast period, which is marked by a repetition of the liturgical hymns of the services from the feast day itself. Today’s subject is Ode Eight of the Katavasias of the Cross, which concerns an Old Testament theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified, and a prefigurement of His Incarnation.

“The impious tyrant’s preposterous decree… hateful to God.”
The “impious tyrant” is King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who ruled over the Jewish exiles after the destruction of Jerusalem. His decree commanded all peoples to bow down before the golden image of himself that had been erected, whenever they heard the King’s musicians playing all kinds of music. Whoever refused was to be cast alive into a “burning fiery furnace.” This decree was “impious” and “hateful to God” because it established a created, lifeless image of a worldly emperor in the place of the Creator, demanding worship that belongs to God alone, in violation of the Second Commandment against idolatry. It was not only an idolatrous act but also a blasphemous attempt to erase the witness of the true God from among His people.

“His brutal anger did not intimidate the three Servants, nor did the consuming fire.”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (aka Ananias, Mishael, and Azarias) stood firm in their faith. They were threatened with death, yet they calmly declared to the king that they would not bow down and worship his image. They were prepared to die rather than betray the Lord who had delivered Israel, and their bravery shows us the true meaning of faith. It is not merely about words, but steadfast trust even when facing the threat of torture and certain death.
“But when the dew-laden breeze whistled against the fire, they joined it and together sang, ‘Blessed are You, O Lord. You are highly praised, O God, the God of our fathers.’”
God did not leave His faithful servants alone. Instead of the fire consuming them, He sent a cooling wind and dew into the furnace, so that the flames became like a gentle breeze, and the Three Holy Youths rejoiced in the furnace. This harkens to the burning bush that Moses beheld, which burned and yet was not consumed. You may recall, also, that a fourth person appeared in the fiery furnace. The Fathers of the Church teach that this was none other than Christ Himself who appeared with the three Youths—one “like the Son of God,” as Daniel records (Dan. 3:25). This imagery is essentially a revelation of the Holy Trinity in the Old Testament—a ‘theophany’— as well as a foreshadowing of the Virgin Mary, whose womb contained the fire of the divine Word without being consumed. Thus, the hymn of the Three Holy Youths becomes our hymn as well: “Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our fathers.” On this Feast of the Cross, we see how God is faithful from age to age, delivering His servants in Babylon, revealing His presence in the fire, and ultimately conquering death itself through the Cross. The same Lord who was crucified for our salvation was there in the burning fiery furnace with the pious youths. Truly, our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Philip Carallo

St Nicholas Cathedral Protopsaltis  

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Saints and Feasts

September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.


September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.


September 14

Commemoration of the 6th Ecumenical Council


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Cathedral Listings

SATURDAY MEMORIALS 

Gerasimoula Tsagaratos - 6 months

   SUNDAY MEMORIALS  

No Memorials Allowed

                                                                                                                                                                                THIS SUNDAY'S COFFEE HOUR IS SPONSORED BY:

St. Nicholas Dance Ministry

        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

Sally, Lena, Irene, Stella, Evangelia, Nancy, Niki, Stavros, Evagelos, Bowen, Logan, Tucker, Richard, Eleni, Sophia, Annabella

 *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

  August 3, 2025 – January 25, 2026 

PC Teams for rotation begins Sunday, 08/03/2025 with Team 2 on Duty

**Both PC Teams on duty on St. Nicholas Feast Day – Saturday, December 6, 2025 and Holy Theophany, Epiphany -  Tuesday, January 6, 2026

August 10, 24; Sept. 7, 21; Oct. 5, 19; Nov. 2, 16, 30; Dec. 14, 28; Jan. 11, *25 (*if needed)

Team 1:

Michael A. Samarkos

Anna Billiris

Nomikos Christoforos

Dr. John Forcella, Jr.

Themis Fountotos Tezza

Efthimios Klimis

John Lulias

August 3, 17, 31; Sept. 14, 28; Oct. 12, 26; Nov. 9, 23; Dec. 7, 21; Jan. 4, 18

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

Apolytikion for Elevation of the Holy Cross in the 1st Mode

Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victory to the faithful over the enemy, and by Your Cross protecting Your commonwealth.
Σώσον Κύριε τόν λαόν σου καί ευλόγησον τήν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοίς Βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καί τό σόν φυλάττων διά τού Σταυρού σου πολίτευμα.

Apolytikion of the Church in the 4th Mode

An example of the Faith and a life of humility. As a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock and through the truthfulness of your deeds were exalted by greatness through your humility; uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and Hierarch St. Nicholas, intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

Κανόνα πίστεως και εικόνα πραότητος, εγκρατείας διδάσκαλον, ανέδειξέ σε τη ποίμνη σου, η των πραγμάτων αλήθεια δια τούτο εκτήσω τη ταπεινώσει τα υψηλά, τη πτωχεία τα πλούσια, Πάτερ Ιεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τω Θεώ, σωθήναι τας ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.
Ο υψωθείς εν τώ Σταυρώ εκουσίως, τή επωνύμω σου καινή πολιτεία, τούς οικτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστέ ο Θεός, Εύφρανον εν τή δυνάμει σου, τούς πιστούς Βασιλείς ημών, νίκας χορηγών αυτοίς, κατά τών πολεμίων, τήν συμμαχίαν έχοιεν τήν σήν, όπλον ειρήνης, αήττητον τρόπαιον.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
The Reading is from John 12:28-36

The Lord said, "Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out: and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show by what death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light."

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 12:28-36

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Πάτερ, δόξασόν σου τὸ ὄνομα. ἦλθεν οὖν φωνὴ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ· καὶ ἐδόξασα καὶ πάλιν δοξάσω. ὁ οὖν ὄχλος ὁ ἑστὼς καὶ ἀκούσας ἔλεγε βροντὴν γεγονέναι· ἄλλοι ἔλεγον· ἄγγελος αὐτῷ λελάληκεν. ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν· οὐ δι᾽ ἐμὲ αὕτη ἡ φωνὴ γέγονεν, ἀλλὰ δι᾽ ὑμᾶς. νῦν κρίσις ἐστὶ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, νῦν ὁ ἄρχων τοῦ κόσμου τούτου ἐκβληθήσεται ἔξω· κἀγὼ ἐὰν ὑψωθῶ ἐκ τῆς γῆς, πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν. τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγε σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ ἤμελλεν ἀποθνήσκειν. ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος· ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν ἐκ τοῦ νόμου ὅτι ὁ Χριστὸς μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καὶ πῶς σὺ λέγεις, δεῖ ὑψωθῆναι τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου; εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἔτι μικρὸν χρόνον τὸ φῶς μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ἐστι· περιπατεῖτε ἕως τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, ἵνα μὴ σκοτία ὑμᾶς καταλάβῃ· καὶ ὁ περιπατῶν ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ οὐκ οἶδε ποῦ ὑπάγει. ἕως τὸ φῶς ἔχετε, πιστεύετε εἰς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα υἱοὶ φωτὸς γένησθε.


Epistle Reading

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 1:18-24

Brethren, the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 1:18-24

Ἀδελφοί, ό λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν, τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις θεοῦ ἐστιν. Γέγραπται γάρ, Ἀπολῶ τὴν σοφίαν τῶν σοφῶν, καὶ τὴν σύνεσιν τῶν συνετῶν ἀθετήσω. Ποῦ σοφός; Ποῦ γραμματεύς; Ποῦ συζητητὴς τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου; Οὐχὶ ἐμὼρανεν ὁ θεὸς τὴν σοφίαν τοῦ κόσμου τούτου; Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ κόσμος διὰ τῆς σοφίας τὸν θεόν, εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ τῆς μωρίας τοῦ κηρύγματος σῶσαι τοὺς πιστεύοντας. Ἐπειδὴ καὶ Ἰουδαῖοι σημεῖον αἰτοῦσιν, καὶ Ἕλληνες σοφίαν ζητοῦσιν· ἡμεῖς δὲ κηρύσσομεν Χριστὸν ἐσταυρωμένον, Ἰουδαίοις μὲν σκάνδαλον, Ἕλλησιν δὲ μωρίαν· αὐτοῖς δὲ τοῖς κλητοῖς, Ἰουδαίοις τε καὶ Ἕλλησιν, Χριστὸν θεοῦ δύναμιν καὶ θεοῦ σοφίαν.


Gospel Reading

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
The Reading is from John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30

At that time, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God."

When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.

But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. Then when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28, 30

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, συμβούιον ἐποίησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ ὑπηρέται, ἐκραύγασαν λέγοντες· σταύρωσον σταύρωσον αὐτόν. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος· λάβετε αὐτὸν ὑμεῖς καὶ σταυρώσατε· ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐχ εὑρίσκω ἐν αὐτῷ αἰτίαν. ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι· ἡμεῖς νόμον ἔχομεν, καὶ κατὰ τὸν νόμον ἡμῶν ὀφείλει ἀποθανεῖν, ὅτι ἑαυτὸν Θεοῦ υἱὸν ἐποίησεν. 

῞Οτε οὖν ἤκουσεν ὁ Πιλᾶτος τοῦτον τὸν λόγον, μᾶλλον ἐφοβήθη, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ πραιτώριον πάλιν καὶ λέγει τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ· πόθεν εἶ σύ; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀπόκρισιν οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ. λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Πιλᾶτος· ἐμοὶ οὐ λαλεῖς; οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχω σταυρῶσαί σε καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔχω ἀπολῦσαί σε; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς· οὐκ εἶχες ἐξουσίαν οὐδεμίαν κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ, εἰ μὴ ἦν σοι δεδομένον ἄνωθεν· διὰ τοῦτο ὁ παραδιδούς μέ σοι μείζονα ἁμαρτίαν ἔχει. ὁ οὖν Πιλᾶτος ἀκούσας τοῦτον τὸν λόγον ἤγαγεν ἔξω τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος εἰς τόπον λεγόμενον Λιθόστρωτον, ἑβραϊστὶ δὲ Γαββαθᾶ· 

ἦν δὲ παρασκευὴ τοῦ πάσχα, ὥρα δὲ ὡσεὶ ἕκτη· καὶ λέγει τοῖς ᾿Ιουδαίοις· ἴδε ὁ βασιλεὺς ὑμῶν. οἱ δὲ ἐκραύγασαν· ἆρον ἆρον, σταύρωσον αὐτόν. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος· τὸν βασιλέα ὑμῶν σταυρώσω; ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς· οὐκ ἔχομεν βασιλέα εἰ μὴ Καίσαρα. τότε οὖν παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν αὐτοῖς ἵνα σταυρωθῇ. Παρέλαβον δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ ἤγαγον· καὶ βαστάζων τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸν λεγόμενον κρανίου τόπον, ὃς λέγεται ἑβραϊστὶ Γολγοθᾶ, ὅπου αὐτὸν ἐσταύρωσαν, καὶ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἄλλους δύο ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν, μέσον δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν. ἔγραψε δὲ καὶ τίτλον ὁ Πιλᾶτος καὶ ἔθηκεν ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ· ἦν δὲ γεγραμμένον· ᾿Ιησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων. τοῦτον οὖν τὸν τίτλον πολλοὶ ἀνέγνωσαν τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων, ὅτι ἐγγὺς ἦν τῆς πόλεως ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἐσταυρώθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· καὶ ἦν γεγραμμένον ῾Εβραϊστί, ῾Ελληνιστί, ῾Ρωμαϊστί. 

Οἱ μὲν οὖν στρατιῶται ταῦτα ἐποίησαν. εἱστήκεισαν δὲ παρὰ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἡ ἀδελφὴ τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Κλωπᾶ καὶ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή. ᾿Ιησοῦς οὖν ἰδὼν τὴν μητέρα καὶ τὸν μαθητὴν παρεστῶτα ὃν ἠγάπα, λέγει τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ· γύναι, ἴδε ὁ υἱός σου. εἶτα λέγει τῷ μαθητῇ· ἰδοὺ ἡ μήτηρ σου. καὶ ἀπ᾽ ἐκείνης τῆς ὥρας ἔλαβεν ὁ μαθητὴς αὐτὴν εἰς τὰ ἴδια. Μετὰ τοῦτο εἰδὼς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι πάντα ἤδη τετέλεσται, ἵνα τελειωθῇ ἡ γραφή, λέγει· διψῶ. ὅτε οὖν ἔλαβε τὸ ὄξος ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπε, τετέλεσται, καὶ κλίνας τὴν κεφαλὴν παρέδωκε τὸ πνεῦμα.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

A MARVELOUS thing is longsuffering; it places the soul as in a quiet harbor, fleeing it from tossings and evil spirits. And this everywhere Christ hath taught us, but especially now, when He is judged, and dragged, and led about ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th Century

But why was it that Pilate made the enquiry not in their presence, but apart, having gone into the judgment hall? He suspected something great respecting Him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 84 on John 18 and Homily 85 on John 19, 4th 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

    September 14 to September 28, 2025

    Sunday, September 14

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Coffee Hour - Dance Ministry

    5:00PM HDF Dance Practice

    7:00PM Women's Book Club

    Monday, September 15

    8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

    9:00AM Orthros/Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    4:00PM Dance Ministry

    Tuesday, September 16

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Little Lambs

    4:45PM Moustokouloura Making! Greek School

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    7:00PM Greek School

    Wednesday, September 17

    9:00AM Orthros/Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos

    7:00PM Byzantine Choir

    Thursday, September 18

    9:00AM Orthros

    11:00AM Women's Book Club

    4:45PM Greek School

    6:00PM Paraklesis to St Nicholas

    6:30PM Choir Practice

    Friday, September 19

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Tirikos Visitation

    11:00AM Tirikos Funeral

    6:00PM Paraklesis to Saint Anastasia

    Saturday, September 20

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    7:00PM Young Adult Fellowship

    Sunday, September 21

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School Resumes

    12:00PM Catechumen Lunch

    5:00PM HDF Dance Practice

    7:00PM Women's Book Club

    Monday, September 22

    8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

    4:00PM Dance Ministry

    Tuesday, September 23

    9:00AM First Responders Blessing & Breakfast

    4:45PM Greek School

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    7:00PM Back to Bible Basics

    Wednesday, September 24

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM SPC Student Fellowship with Fr A

    6:00PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos

    7:00PM GOYA

    7:00PM Byzantine Choir

    7:00PM Epiphany General Meeting

    Thursday, September 25

    9:00AM Orthros

    11:00AM Women's Book Club

    11:00AM Spiritual Court

    4:45PM Greek School

    6:30PM Choir Practice

    Friday, September 26

    9:00AM Orthros/Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    Saturday, September 27

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    5:00PM Smalios/Kontodiakos Wedding Reception

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, September 28

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School following Holy Communion

    5:00PM HDF Dance Practice

  • Tampa Bay Regional Greek Orthodox Calendar

    September 25 to September 25, 2025

    Thursday, September 25

    11:00AM Spiritual Court

    6:00PM District Council Meeting

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