Dean's Message

Thanksgiving 2023

In a few days we will gather as families around our table to give thanks to God for our blessings. Even though things don’t always go as we planned, we know God has never abandoned us. His grace and abundant love will always help us stay close to Him. We may stray a bit from Him, but He never strays away from us. Thank God!

I have much to be thankful for this year, as Dean of our Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Our ministries are flourishing while we try some new ideas, and rethink old ones. As the years go by, what may have worked before may not work now. Our commitment at the Cathedral isn’t about always doing the same thing. It is about always doing the right thing for God’s glory, and God has blessed our efforts. Ministries like GOYA and Sunday Sunday have rebounded strongly since the end of the pandemic, while others are not faring so well. We have more work to do, but thankfully we continue to make progress and improve.

As we prepare to wrap up this year, I am thrilled to share with you that once again we will finish the Stewardship year with all-time record collections. Things haven’t been ‘easy’ for anyone, but by God’s grace and the hard work of the Parish Council, your generous support has helped to finish the year without having to cut ministries or the work of the Church. Thank you for your continued trust and generous support!

Now, allow me to glance ahead to next year, since the work of Christ never ends. I invite you to pray as a family and consider how God has blessed you this year. Think of how you want to thank Him. As Orthodox Christians we thank God with our generous stewardship of His Church. It is God’s Church and God’s work that we are all called to accomplish. With your continued generous stewardship we can continue to grow and accomplish many great things for God’s glory.

In a few days the office will send you the “Established Stewardship Renewal Form” for your family to prayerfully consider for 2024. Together we can continue to make progress and improve our ministries for God’s glory. There are also cards available in the Narthex. Please complete the card and return it to the office at your convenience, or drop it off in the Narthex. I look forward to another amazing year at St Nicholas.

Fr. Theofanis

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, In this Sunday’s Epistle reading from Ephesians 2:14-22 , Apostle Paul beautifully outlines the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice, which brings together all believers, breaking down the walls of division and establishing a new spiritual temple. Let us delve into the depths of this message and discover its relevance for our lives today. St. Paul reminds us that before we found salvation in Christ, we were alienated and separated from God. The walls of sin and rebellion had created a chasm between us and our Creator. However, in His infinite love and mercy, God sent His Son as the ultimate peacemaker. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus tore down the walls that divided humanity – the walls of sin, ethnicity, culture, and social status. It is through Christ's atoning work that we find true reconciliation with God and with one another.

As Orthodox Christians, we acknowledge that the Church is the visible manifestation of this reconciliation. We are called to be ambassadors of peace, carrying the message of reconciliation to a broken and divided world. Let us remember that our unity is not based on human efforts or ideologies, but on the redeeming work of Christ Himself. It is only through embracing this reconciliation, we become partakers of God's divine nature and agents of His peace. St. Paul also emphasizes the foundation upon which the Church is built. The Church as a new spiritual temple, with Christ as the cornerstone. In ancient architecture, the cornerstone was crucial, providing stability, alignment, and unity to the entire structure. In a similar way, Jesus, who is our cornerstone unites believers from every nation, forming a holy dwelling place for God. It is through our baptism and faith in Christ, we become a part of this spiritual temple. We are bound together by the Holy Spirit, forming a holy priesthood and a royal nation. This image reminds us of the importance of unity within the Church, as we must live in harmony, respecting one another's unique gifts, and working together for the glory of God. Furthermore, St. Paul reveals the purpose and significance of this spiritual temple. He proclaims that in Christ, we are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. The Church, as the body of Christ, is the place where God's presence resides, where His glory is revealed, and where His love is made known to the world. As Orthodox Christians, we experience the presence of God in a unique way through our liturgical worship, sacraments, and traditions.

Our churches are sacred spaces where we encounter the living God and receive His grace with His Body and Blood. Therefore, let us cherish and preserve the unity of the Church, for it is in our unity that the world can witness the transformative power of Christ's reconciling love.

I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving. Amen

Saints and Feasts

November 19

Martyr Barlaam of Caesarea

Saint Barlaam, who was from a certain village near Antioch in Syria, was advanced in years and a husbandman by occupation. Because of his confession of Christ, he was brought before the judge, who had him scourged with whips and then scraped with iron claws. Since this could not break his constancy, he was forcibly haled to the idols' temple, and live coals with incense were placed in his right hand. The judge thought that he would cast them down because of the pain, thus seeming to have offered a sacrifice of incense to the idols. But Saint Barlaam stood unmoving until his hand was thoroughly burned by the coals; he fell to the ground, and so gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord. He contested in martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saint Basil the Great and Saint John Chrysostom both gave homilies in his honour.

November 19

9th Sunday of Luke

November 19

Martyr Heliodorus

November 19

Obadiah the Prophet

The Divine Scriptures do not tell us with any certainty when the Prophet Obadiah lived nor what was his homeland. Thus, some say that he is that Obadiah who was Ahab's steward, who, because of Jezebel's wrath, hid one hundred prophets in a cave and fed them with bread and water (III Kings 18:4), and that he later became a disciple of Elias the Prophet about 903 B.C. But others surmise from the words of the same prophetical book that he is somewhat later than Joel (celebrated on Oct. 19). He is also called Obdiu, or Abdiu, or Obadiah; his name means "servant of God." His book of prophecy, which consists of only one chapter, is ranked fourth among the minor Prophets.

November 19

Anthimos, Thallalaeos, Christopher, Euphemia & her children, the Martyrs

Cathedral Listings

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

Memorials

Pantelis Karatathaki - 9 day

Ourania Savadakis - 6 months

John Himonetos - 2 years

Mary Himonetos - 5 years

Ipapanti Koulianos - 17 years

Petros Koulianos - 21 years

Stella Sulunias - 51 years

Maria Karatathaki - 4 years

Angeliki Gourgiotis - 7 years

Andreas Gourgiotis - 4 years

Antonios Kaklamanos - 9 years

SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR

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.

40 Day Prayer List

Secrates, Kyriakos, Irene, George, Chrisovalantou, Kaliopi, Alexandra, Niki, Angelis, Victoria, Sofia, Nichola,Andrea, Kiria, Christopher

*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.

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.

2023 St. Nicholas Parish Council Pangari Rotation Sunday Schedule

August 6, 2023 – January 14, 2024

PC Teams for rotation begins Sunday, 8/6/2023 with Team 2 on Duty
**President and 1st Vice President are listed on a team, although they are there to respond to
parishioner questions/concerns

**Both PC Teams on duty on Panagia’s Vespers and Feast day, St. Nicholas Vespers and
Feast Day and on Epiphany

August 13, 27; Sept. 10, 24; Oct. 8, 22; Nov. 5, 19; Dec. 3, 17, 31; January 14

Team 1:
Anna Billiris **
Themis Fountotos Tezza
Efthimios Klimis
John Lulias
Rosanne Pappas
Dean Prodromitis
Tony Zaronias

August 6, 20; Sept. 3, 17; Oct. 1, 15, 29; Nov. 12, 26; Dec. 10, 24; January 7

Team 2:
Nikitas Manias **
John Stamas
Harry Andropoulos
Rena Faklis
Karen Koulias
Emmanuel Gombos
Costas Sisois

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By Your cross, O Lord, You shattered death; to the thief You opened paradise. You transformed the Myrrhbearers' lamentation, and commanded Your Apostles to proclaim that You arose, Christ our God, granting to the world Your great mercy.

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.

Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back - it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Second Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:1-8

Διαγενομένου τοῦ Σαββάτου, Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ἰακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα, ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν τὸν Ἰησοῦν. Καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. Καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· Τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. Καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολήν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν· ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· Μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε, Ἰησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον, ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ᾧδε· ἴδε, ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν, ἀλλ' ὑπάγετε, εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ, ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ταχὺ ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.

Epistle Reading

24th Sunday after Pentecost
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22

Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

24th Sunday after Pentecost
Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:14-22

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστός ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ἀμφότερα ἕν, καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας, τήν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκί αὐτοῦ, τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, καταργήσας· ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν ἑαὐτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, ποιῶν εἰρήνην, καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐλθὼν εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ τοῖς ἐγγύς· ὅτι διʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν οἱ ἀμφότεροι ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. Ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 12:16-21

The Lord said this parable: "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." As he said these things, he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

9th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 12:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἀνθρώπου τινὸς πλουσίου εὐφόρησεν ἡ χώρα· καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω, ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου; καὶ εἶπε· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω, καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὰ γενήματά μου καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου, καὶ ἐρῶ τῇ ψυχῇ μου· ψυχή, ἔχεις πολλὰ ἀγαθὰ κείμενα εἰς ἔτη πολλά· ἀναπαύου, φάγε, πίε, εὐφραίνου. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ἄφρον, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τὴν ψυχήν σου ἀπαιτοῦσιν ἀπὸ σοῦ· ἃ δὲ ἡτοίμασας τίνι ἔσται; οὕτως ὁ θησαυρίζων ἑαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ εἰς Θεὸν πλουτῶν.

Wisdom of the Fathers

I cannot be silent about the story of Hesychius the Horebite. He passed his life in complete negligence, without paying the least attention to his soul. Then he became extremely ill, and for an hour he left his body.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

And when he came to himself, he begged us all to leave him immediately. And he built up the door of his cell, and he stayed in it for twelve years without ever uttering a word to anyone, and without eating anything but bread and water.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century

Important Updates From Our Ministries

Philoptochos (A Friend of the Poor) Ministry

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.

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.