St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Publish Date: 2025-08-17
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

Do I Want What God Wants? 

When a man brought his ailing son to Jesus for healing because the Disciples couldn’t heal him, Jesus said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” (Matthew 17.17) After Jesus healed the son, He then turned His attention to His Disciples who asked why they couldn’t heal the son. Jesus said, “Because of your unbelief.” (Matthew 17.20) 

Many of us would hear these words as scolding because we are not accustomed to hearing Jesus call His Disciples unbelievers. They were following Him from town to town through deserts and wilderness. One would seriously doubt Jesus thought they were faithless. So what really is Jesus trying to tell us today in this Gospel passage? 

Most of us like to think we are believers and followers of Jesus Christ, but when we are challenged by something not going as we would prefer, instead of accepting that God doesn’t want us to ‘have something’ we question why we didn’t get what we wanted in the first place. This reflects our selfish desires rather than our faith in God. For many of us, so long as God wants what we want, we are willing to believe Him. But when He wants something different than what we want, instead of changing our desires, we challenge Him and demand answers to, “Why?” 

Any parent has heard this question a thousand times so we can appreciate what God must be going through when He says, “How long am I to be with you?” But unlike us, God remains patient and calm, and sometimes stern, as He continues to teach us to desire what He desires. 

Something to think about this week…. “Do I want what God wants?” If not, instead of demanding answers from God as to ‘why’ He doesn’t agree with us, maybe we should challenge ourselves to want what God wants. If we want what God wants, we will ALWAYS get what we want and there will be no reason to complain to God.  

Learning to want what God wants requires deep faith and patience, something we learn from prayer and fasting. “This kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting.” It isn’t about food and words. It is about faith and patience and wanting what God wants.

+Rev Protopresbyter Athanasios C Haros

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Fr. Theofanis

In this Sunday’s epistle, the Apostle Paul invites us into a paradox that shapes our life as a church: what looks like weakness and loss to the world is the very strength and wisdom of God, and what appears to be failure becomes the means of real life for the Body of Christ. As we hear his words to the Corinthians, we can see how our own “losing”,not losing our faith, but losing the pull of worldly prestige and self-importance, becomes the space where God’s grace can work most powerfully.

First, the text reminds us that we have been made spectacles to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ, weak, disdained, and yet alive in him. This is not a license for despair but a summons to reorient our values: to measure success not by applause or position but by fidelity to the Cross. Our weakness becomes a conduit for the strength of Christ to be shown through acts of humble service, quiet patience, and steadfast mercy.

Second, Paul models a life marked by labor, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, and peril for the sake of the Gospel. He does not boast in his suffering as a badge of merit, but he does insist that the Gospel demands a cost. For us, this means reordering our daily rhythms, work, family, neighbors, and parish life, so that they become ministries. We are called to “lose” some of our own comfort and control in order to gain the gift of deeper charity, patience, and prayer.

Third, the passage speaks of spiritual fatherhood: though many instructors exist, there are few fathers who give life through the Gospel. In our day, this calls us to participate in and sustain a shared, intergenerational ministry: catechesis, mentoring, care for the sick, hospitality, and outreach. Let us not merely be recipients of grace but participants in the ways grace is renewed in the community.

Let us join and sustain our community ministries that are already set up. If there are needs, visiting the homebound, feeding the hungry, teaching children, welcoming newcomers, step forward. For anyone who wants to show God in practice, our Sunday liturgy must spill into Monday through concrete mercy and shared responsibility. Let us bring our children to the Hope and Joy ministry, where they learn to see God’s mercy in daily life; or to GOYA, where faith deepens through friendship, service, and a shared life in Christ; or to Philoptochos, where generosity and hospitality are lived out in practical care for the neighbor. Join all ministries, and bring your gifts, time, talent, and treasure, so that our Sunday worship spills into Monday through acts of mercy, outreach, education, and welcome. 

By joining, you become part of a living circuit of witness: you teach with your presence, you serve with your hands, you love with your heart, and you show that God’s life is truly active in our St. Nicholas community.

+Papa Fanis

 

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A Hymn for Every Feast: The Katavasias of the Year

Reflections on the Katavasias of Dormition

Last week, we commemorated the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. That makes today the Sunday after the Feast, and as such, we will be chanting the Katavasias of the Dormition during today’s Orthros (Matins). This year, we only chant this set of katavasias on one Sunday, so let's broadly review these hymns and their themes.

In the First Ode of the Katavasias of the Dormition, we chant, “Adorned with glory divine, O Virgin, is your most sacred and illustrious memorial… For He [Christ] has been greatly glorified.” As Orthodox Christians, it does not in any way offend our religious sensibilities to affirm that the memorial of the Theotokos is adorned with divine glory. We believe and understand that, in the Incarnation of Christ, the Theotokos became a temple of God’s bodily presence and a palace of the Master of the universe. Thus, the divine glory which shines from the Panagia and all the Saints is their share in the glory of God in which they participated in their lives, having undergone a spiritual transformation of sanctification leading to theosis, becoming like God by grace.

In the Third Ode we see the Orthodox belief clarified somewhat, as we chant, “O Wisdom of our God and His Power that has created and is sustaining the universe… O Christ… You alone are holy, O Lord.” This hymn affirms that God alone is holy, and that Christ is the Lord and the wisdom and power of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Panagia, the Saints, and indeed all believers are called to be – and do become holy – by participation in the life of God; that is, by His grace and not of our own selves. This is all made possible because of the salvific work Christ has done in His Incarnation, which is expounded in the Fourth Ode.

In the Fourth Ode, we chant about how the Incarnation of Christ is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah – the Savior. As part of this Ode, we say “The abyss calls out to You with a voice of gladness: To Your strength be glory, benevolent Lord!” What is this abyss, and why is it calling out to God? This is a reference to the poetic language in Psalm 42: “Deep calls to deep….” The abyss here is the heart of the suffering servant calling out to God in affliction. This imagery in the Psalms now finds its ultimate prophetic fulfillment in the union of the divine Christ with our human nature. 

Throughout the Katavasias of Dormition, we see that the one Who is born of the Virgin Mary is not a mere man but, just as we say in the Creed, He is “Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father.” We affirm and proclaim that Christ is coeternal with the Father and that, in His incarnation from the Theotokos, the fullness of divinity still dwells in His person (Col. 2:9). Everything we believe and chant about the Theotokos is in light of her role in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of her and who sanctified and glorified her, receiving her to Himself in the heavens. 

 Philip Carallo

St Nicholas Cathedral Protopsaltis  

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Saints and Feasts

August 17

10th Sunday of Matthew


August 17

Myron the Martyr of Cyzicus

Saint Myron was a priest during the reign of Decius, when Antipater was ruler of Achaia. On the day of our Lord's Nativity, Antipater entered the church to seize the Christians and punish them. Saint Myron, kindled with holy zeal, roundly insulted Antipater, for which he was hung up and scraped, then cast into a raging furnace, but was preserved unharmed. When Myron refused to worship the idols, Antipater commanded that strips be cut in the Saint's flesh from his shoulders to his feet; the Saint took one of the strips of his flesh and flung it in the tyrant's face. He was beaten, and scraped again upon his beaten flesh; then he was thrown to wild beasts, but when Antipater saw them leaving off their fierce nature and protecting the Saint from harm, he was overcome with unbearable shame and slew himself. The Saint was then sent to Cyzicus, where the proconsul had him beheaded, about the year 250.


August 17

Straton, Philip, Eutychian, & Cyprian the Martyrs of Nicomedea


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Cathedral Listings

SATURDAY MEMORIALS 

George Galanos - 40 days

Katerina Alahouzos - 16 years

Stavros Pantelis - 16 years

   SUNDAY MEMORIALS  

Mother Superior Thekla Makris - 33 years

Helen Parharidis - 12 years

Maria Gabriles - 26 years

Angeliki Kofinas - 1 year

Yianni Mougros - 5 years

Michael John Billiris - 15 years

                                                                                                                                                                                THIS SUNDAY'S COFFEE HOUR IS SPONSORED BY:

The Makris Family

        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

Irene, George, Sally, Lena, Irene, Annabella, Stella, Evangelia, Nancy 

*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

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 1st Mode

Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind!
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the 1st Mode

In giving birth you retained your virginity, and in dormition you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. You were translated unto life, being the Mother of Life. And thus by virtue of your intercessions you deliver our souls from death.
Εν τή Γεννήσει τήν παρθενίαν εφύλαξας, έν τή Κοιμήσει τόν κόσμον ού κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε, Μετέστης πρός τήν ζωήν, μήτηρ υπάρχουσα τής ζωής, καί ταίς πρεσβείαις ταίς σαίς λυτρουμένη, εκ θανάτου τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Mode

Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life.
Τήν εν πρεσβείαις ακοίμητον Θεοτόκον, καί προστασίαις αμετάθετον ελπίδα, τάφος καί νέκρωσις ουκ εκράτησεν, ως γάρ ζωής Μητέρα, πρός τήν ζωήν μετέστησεν, ο μήτραν οικήσας αειπάρθενον.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and He revealed Himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas, called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. .

Tenth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 21:1-14

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐφανέρωσεν ἑαυτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης τῆς Τιβεριάδος, ἐφανέρωσε δὲ οὕτως· Ἦσαν ὁμοῦ Σίμων Πέτρος, καὶ Θωμᾶς ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, καὶ Ναθαναὴλ ὁ ἀπὸ Κανᾶ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οἱ τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου, καὶ ἄλλοι ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ δύο. Λέγει αὐτοῖς Σίμων Πέτρος· Ὑπάγω ἁλιεύειν. Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Ἐρχόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν σοί. Ἐξῆλθον καὶ ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον εὐθύς, καὶ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ νυκτὶ ἐπίασαν οὐδέν. Πρωΐας δὲ ἤδη γενομένης ἔστη ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὸν αἰγιαλόν· οὐ μέντοι ᾔδεισαν οἱ μαθηταὶ ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστι. Λέγει οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Παιδία, μή τι προσφάγιον ἔχετε; ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτῷ· Οὔ· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Βάλετε εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ πλοίου τὸ δίκτυον, καὶ εὑρήσετε. Ἔβαλον οὖν, καὶ οὐκέτι αὐτὸ ἑλκύσαι ἴσχυσαν ἀπὸ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν ἰχθύων. Λέγει οὖν ὁ μαθητὴς ἐκεῖνος ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ· Ὁ Κύριός ἐστι. Σίμων οὖν Πέτρος, ἀκούσας ὅτι ὁ Κύριός ἐστι, τὸν ἐπενδύτην διεζώσατο - ἦν γὰρ γυμνὸς -, καὶ ἔβαλεν ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, οἱ δὲ ἄλλοι μαθηταὶ τῷ πλοιαρίῳ ἦλθον - οὐ γὰρ ἦσαν μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, ἀλλ' ὡς ἀπὸ πηχῶν διακοσίων -, σύροντες τὸ δίκτυον τῶν ἰχθύων. Ὡς οὖν ἀπέβησαν εἰς τὴν γῆν, βλέπουσιν ἀνθρακιὰν κειμένην καὶ ὀψάριον ἐπικείμενον, καὶ ἄρτον. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἐνέγκατε ἀπὸ τῶν ὀψαρίων ὧν ἐπιάσατε νῦν. Ἀνέβη οὖν Σίμων Πέτρος, καὶ εἵλκυσε τὸ δίκτυον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μεστὸν ἰχθύων μεγάλων ἑκατὸν πεντηκοντατριῶν, καὶ τοσούτων ὄντων, οὐκ ἐσχίσθη τὸ δίκτυον. Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Δεῦτε ἀριστήσατε. Οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐτόλμα τῶν μαθητῶν ἐξετάσαι αὐτόν. Σὺ τίς εἶ; εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ Κύριός ἐστιν. Ἔρχεται οὖν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ λαμβάνει τὸν ἄρτον, καὶ δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τὸ ὀψάριον ὁμοίως. Τοῦτο ἤδη τρίτον ἐφανερώθη ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, ἐγερθεὶς ἐκ νεκρῶν.


Epistle Reading

10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

10th Sunday of Matthew
Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 4:9-16

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους· ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ ἀγγέλοις, καὶ ἀνθρώποις. Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ· ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι. Ἄχρι τῆς ἄρτι ὥρας καὶ πεινῶμεν, καὶ διψῶμεν, καὶ γυμνητεύομεν, καὶ κολαφιζόμεθα, καὶ ἀστατοῦμεν, καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν· λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν· διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα· βλασφημούμενοι παρακαλοῦμεν· ὡς περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐγενήθημεν, πάντων περίψημα ἕως ἄρτι. Οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς γράφω ταῦτα, ἀλλʼ ὡς τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶ. Ἐὰν γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν Χριστῷ, ἀλλʼ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας· ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα. Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε.


Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23

At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."

10th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 17:14-23

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντων αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν ὄχλον προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπος γονυπετῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, ἐλέησόν μου τὸν υἱόν, ὅτι σεληνιάζεται καὶ κακῶς πάσχει· πολλάκις γὰρ πίπτει εἰς τὸ πῦρ καὶ πολλάκις εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ. καὶ προσήνεγκα αὐτὸν τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν αὐτὸν θεραπεῦσαι. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος καὶ διεστραμμένη! ἕως πότε ἔσομαι μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν; ἕως πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετέ μοι αὐτὸν ὧδε. καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὸ δαιμόνιον καὶ ἐθεραπεύθη ὁ παῖς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης. Τότε προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ κατ᾿ ἰδίαν εἶπον· διατί ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν ὑμῶν. ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, μετάβηθι ἐντεῦθεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεταβήσεται, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν. τοῦτο δὲ τὸ γένος οὐκ ἐκπορεύεται εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ. ᾿Αναστρεφομένων δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μέλλει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοσθαι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐγερθήσεται. καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Here Christ is not speaking of that faith which believes in Him undoubtingly and knows Him to be true God, but of the faith (needed) to work miracles. If ye have faith, He said, so exceedingly warm and burning as a grain of mustard seed (for these are its qualities), and if it is believed without a doubt that ye will perform signs, then ye will receive such power, that if ye desire to move the very mountains, ye will move them.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary, edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002, 4th Century

For a man to have such faith appears simple, but it is, on the contrary, something very lofty, not easily attained by many. Such faith is born of boldness before God; but such boldness comes (only) from pleasing God. Beloved, great labour is needed to acquire, through pleasing God, such boldness before Him that one firmly believes that he will grant all that one asks; as it is written, Ask, and it shall be given to you.
St. John Chrysostom
The Gospel Commentary: edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002., 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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Important Information

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Master Calendar

  • Master Calendar

    August 17 to September 1, 2025

    Sunday, August 17

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    7:00PM Women's Book Club

    Monday, August 18

    8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

    5:00PM Dance Ministry Agiasmo

    Tuesday, August 19

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Little Lambs

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    6:00PM Daily Vespers

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    Wednesday, August 20

    9:00AM Orthros

    11:00AM SPC Student Fellowship with Fr A

    6:00PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos

    7:00PM GOYA

    Thursday, August 21

    9:00AM Orthros

    11:00AM Women's Book Club

    12:00PM Funeral

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    6:00PM Paraklesis to Saint Nicholas

    6:30PM Choir Practice

    7:00PM PC Meeting

    Friday, August 22

    9:00AM Orthros

    6:00PM Paraklesis to Saint Anastasia

    Saturday, August 23

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Coffee Hour for St Dionysios

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    7:00PM Panagias Evening

    Sunday, August 24

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Special Parish Assembly

    12:00PM Catechumen Lunch

    7:00PM Women's Book Club

    Monday, August 25

    8:00AM Soup Kitchen Meal

    4:00PM Dance Ministry Resumes

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    Tuesday, August 26

    9:00AM Orthros

    11:00AM Funeral

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    7:00PM Boy Scouts

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    Wednesday, August 27

    9:00AM Orthros/Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM SPC Student Fellowship with Fr A

    6:00PM Paraklesis to the Theotokos

    7:00PM GOYA

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    Thursday, August 28

    9:00AM Orthros

    11:00AM Women's Book Club

    4:45PM Greek School Resumes & Agiasmo

    5:00PM Greek School Parents Meeting

    6:00PM YAL Basketball

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    6:30PM Choir Practice

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    Friday, August 29

    9:00AM Orthros/Matins

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Paraklesis to Saint Anastasia

    7:00PM Orthodoxy 101 Crash Course

    Saturday, August 30

    9:00AM Orthros

    10:00AM Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, August 31

    7:45AM Orthros/Matins

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    7:00PM Women's Book Club

    Monday, September 1

    Office Closed - Labor Day

  • Tampa Bay Regional Greek Orthodox Calendar

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