St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Publish Date: 2025-02-23
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

Judgment is Coming; Do You Know the Criteria?

On the Third Sunday of the Triodion, the Church commemorates “Judgment Sunday” during which we hear the Last Judgment as found in Matthew 25.31-46. We all know the story, “I was hungry and you fed me….” But do we know WHY the Church offers us THIS story on THIS particular Sunday?

Many people believe that God is going to judge using a scale with “sins” on one side, and “good deeds” on the other. So long as the “good deeds” outweigh the “sins”, many believe, we will be saved. THIS IS FALSE, and based upon an incorrect interpretation of the story. First, we must realize that Jesus Christ is not just telling us a story. He begins with the words, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory…”indicating that these are events THAT WILL take place, and we should be fully aware of them.

Second, and the main point of Judgment Sunday, is that God will judge every person based upon how much they love the Lord. If we love the Lord enough to “see Him” in the poor and destitute, we will be saved. Christ identifies Himself with the poor and destitute. In the Gospel, we understand that “the sheep” (those who were saved) expressed their love for God in how they treated the lowest of society. It would be easy to love God, but because they could love others who were outcasts, they inherited the Kingdom of God.

As we draw closer to the Great Fast, the Church is urging us to search deep within our hearts. Do we love God enough to love the homeless strangers in prison? Great Lent isn’t “just about” fasting. It is about purifying our hearts, using the spiritual tools of the Church, so that we “see Him” in all people. THEN, and ONLY THEN will we inherit the Kingdom of God.

How can we purify our hearts? Christ established His Church for us. The Church is not a charity. The Church is us, you and me, together doing the work of Christ, to feed the poor, visit the sick, comfort the lonely and lead others to Christ. If we want to purify our hearts, then we must turn to the Church as our mother. We must follow the Church’s guidance to learn to ‘see Christ’ in everyone we meet, rich or poor, friend or enemy, healthy or sick. 

+Fr. Athanasios C. Haros 

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Hymns of the Resurrection: Exploring the Apolytikia

 Mode 2: The Giver of Life Descended unto Death

This Sunday, we will begin the week of the Second Mode in the Octoechos cycle. The Second Mode is in the chromatic genus, which you may recall is the genus that sounds the most “Eastern” to our American ears. Thus, it will be helpful to briefly touch on the distinction between what are called “hard chromatic” and “soft chromatic” scales. Both the Second and Plagal Second Modes belong to the chromatic genus, featuring hard or soft variations depending on liturgical context. For this reason, there may be times when you notice a similarity between the two modes, or hear an unexpected change in the sonority of the mode. The important thing to remember is that each of these chromatic modes will be chanted in soft chromatic or hard chromatic depending on whether the given hymn is of the heirmologic or sticheraric genre. 

The resurrectional apolytikion of the Second Mode features a prominent theme in resurrectional hymnography, that of the seemingly paradoxical nature of Christ’s death and resurrection. How did Christ defeat death by dying? How could the very Source of Life itself die? Thus, we are led to contemplate the richness of theology present in the hymns of the Orthodox Church. Let us consider this Sunday’s apolytikion:

‘When You descended unto Death, O Lord, You who are immortal Life put Hades to death, by the lightning of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the hosts of heaven sang aloud to You, “O Christ God, Giver of life, glory to You!”’

This hymn hovers around the ison - the root tone - of Δι (G), and has a relatively limited range. That is, the melody doesn’t go all that far away from the root tone in either direction, high or low. However, even with a limited range there are still subtle examples of text painting present in this apolytikion. For example, the melody descends on the phrase, “When you descended,” and ascends to a high point on the phrase, “... when you raised the dead.” Though the melody has a limited range, the text it conveys is incredibly profound. 

Consider the phrase, “You who are immortal Life put Hades to death, by the lightning of Your divinity.” One might wonder how exactly Christ was able to rise from the dead and defeat the power of Hades. Did He have some unique ability? Did He follow a series of steps? The answer is here in the words of this apolytikion! It was by His divinity–that is, by His very nature of being Who He is–that Christ defeated death. For how could death contain the wellspring of life itself? How could any amount of darkness extinguish even the smallest light, let alone He who dwells in uncreated divine Light? 

Furthermore, the resurrectional apolytikion of the Second Tone emphasizes the cosmic implications of Christ’s victory over death. So awesome is His victory, that “all the hosts of heaven” cried out, glorifying Christ in song. Let us consider the greatness of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us, glorifying Him along with all of creation.

  

Philip Carallo

St Nicholas Cathedral Protopsaltis 

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Saints and Feasts

February 23

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.


February 23

Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna

This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).


February 23

Proterios, Archbishop of Alexandria


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Cathedral Listings

SATURDAY MEMORIALS 

No Memorials

   SUNDAY MEMORIALS  

Aglaia Polemis - 40 days

Nickoletta Saros - 40 days

Billio (Billie) Eliadis - 3 years

George V. Faklis - 3 years

Pericles Chrisovalantis Tiliakos - 4 years       

Nikolaos Sapountsis - 7 years

Nomikos ‘Mike’ Tsongranis - 40 years 

                                                                                                                                                                                 THIS SUNDAY'S COFFEE HOUR IS SPONSORED BY:

 

 St. Nicholas HOPE & JOY

 

       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

Valantis, Irene, Giorgios, Chrisovalantou, Niki, Frank, Carter, Richard, George, Seraphim, Juliana, Peter, Peter, Symeon, Nicholas, Abraham, Michael, Mary, Carloman, Solon, Stella, Christopher, Sotirios, Helen, Peter

 

*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.*

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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:

Anna Billiris

Nomikos Christoforos Dr. John Forcella, Jr.

Themis Fountotos Tezza Efthimios Klimis

John Lulias

Rosanne Pappas

 

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

Michael A. Samarkos

Tony Zaronias

 

 

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 2nd Mode

When You descended unto death, O Life Immortal, You rendered to Hades a mortal blow by the lightning of Your divinity, and when from the depths of darkness You also raised the dead, all the heavenly powers cried out: O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory to You.
Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 1st Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.
Ὅταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ δόξης, καὶ τρέμωσι τὰ σύμπαντα, ποταμὸς δὲ τοῦ πυρὸς πρὸ τοῦ Βήματος ἕλκῃ, καὶ βίβλοι ἀνοίγωνται, καὶ τὰ κρυπτὰ δημοσιεύωνται, τότε ῥῦσαί με, ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ἀσβέστου, καὶ ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μὲ στῆναι, Κριτὰ δικαιότατε.
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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

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2

Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν τῷ θεῷ· οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν ὑστερούμεθα. Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις ἴδῃ σε τὸν ἔχοντα γνῶσιν ἐν εἰδωλείῳ κατακείμενον, οὐχὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτοῦ ἀσθενοῦς ὄντος οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς τὸ τὰ εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν; Καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ ἀσθενῶν ἀδελφὸς ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ γνώσει, διʼ ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν; Οὕτως δὲ ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, καὶ τύπτοντες αὐτῶν τὴν συνείδησιν ἀσθενοῦσαν, εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνετε. Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου σκανδαλίσω. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; Οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; Οὐ τὸ ἔργον μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ.


Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 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.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾿ ἀλλήλων ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐρίφων, καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ· δεῦτε οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, καὶ ἤλθετε πρός με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ οἱ δίκαιοι λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν, ἢ διψῶντα καὶ ἐποτίσαμεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ξένον καὶ συνηγάγομεν, ἢ γυμνὸν καὶ περιεβάλομεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν πρός σε; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων· πορεύεσθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ περιεβάλετέ με, ἀσθενὴς καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐκ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ καὶ αὐτοὶ λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; τότε ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

"Christian love is the 'possible impossibility' to see Christ in another man, whoever he is..."
Alexander Schmemann
Great Lent, 20th Century

So great was the honour and providential care which God bestowed upon man that He brought the entire sensible world into being before him and for his sake. The kingdom of heaven was prepared for him from the foundation of the world (cf. Matt. 25:34); God first took counsel concerning him, and then he was fashioned by God's hand and according to the image of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). God did not form the whole man from matter and from the elements of this sensible world, as He did the other animals. He formed only man's body from these materials; but man's soul He took from things supercelestial or, rather, it came from God Himself when mysteriously He breathed life into man (cf. Gen. 2:7).
St. Gregory Palamas
Topics of Natural and Theological Science no. 24, The Philokalia Vol. 4 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 356, 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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Important Flyers

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Master Calendar

  • Master Calendar

    February 23 to March 9, 2025

    Sunday, February 23

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Kalymnian Society Fundraiser

    11:00AM Coffee Hour - HOPE & JOY

    Monday, February 24

    8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    Tuesday, February 25

    4:30PM Greek School

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    7:00PM YAL Basketball

    Wednesday, February 26

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    7:00PM GOYA

    7:00PM Byzantine Choir

    Thursday, February 27

    10:30AM Women's Book Club

    4:30PM Greek School

    6:30PM Choir Practice

    7:00PM Learning Conversational Greek

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    7:00PM YAL Basketball

    Friday, February 28

    11:00AM Markos Visitation with Trisagion

    3:00PM Confessions - NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    Saturday, March 1

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Memorial Service

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, March 2

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday School following Holy Communion

    12:00PM Brunch with the Dean

    6:00PM Forgiveness Vespers

    7:00PM Lenten Reception

    Monday, March 3

    Clean Monday

    8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

    11:00AM Solon Tsaousis Visitation and Trisagion

    1:00PM St. Nicholas Philoptochos Lentil Cook Off

    6:00PM Holy Unction

    Tuesday, March 4

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    10:00AM Little Lambs - Fr Tryfon

    4:30PM Greek School

    6:00PM Great Compline

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    7:00PM YAL Basketball

    Wednesday, March 5

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    12:00PM Provatas Visitation

    1:00PM Provatas Funeral

    5:30PM Presanctified Liturgy

    7:00PM Byzantine Choir

    7:00PM GOYA

    Thursday, March 6

    9:00AM Daily Orthros

    10:00AM Peperis Visitation

    11:00AM Peperis Funeral

    4:30PM Greek School

    6:00PM Great Compline

    6:30PM Choir Practice

    7:00PM YAL Basketball

    7:00PM Learning Conversational Greek

    7:00PM PC Meeting

    Friday, March 7

    9:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    3:00PM Confessions - NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

    7:00PM Salutations to the Theotokos

    8:00PM Coffee Hour - Halki Society

    Saturday, March 8

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Memorial Service

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    7:00PM Young Adult Fellowship

    Sunday, March 9

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:30AM Sunday of Orthodoxy Procession

    10:30AM Sunday School following Holy Communion

    12:00PM Catechumen Lunch

    5:00PM Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan Orthodox Vespers

    6:00PM Lenten Reception

  • Tampa Bay Regional Greek Orthodox Calendar

    March 1 to March 9, 2025

    Saturday, March 1

    10:00AM Philoptochos Women's Retreat-St. John Tampa

    Sunday, March 9

    5:00PM Sunday of Orthodoxy Pan Orthodox Vespers

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