Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7.

In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
The Reading is from Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8

At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 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; for 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.

Saints and Feasts

May 04

Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to annoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils, that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).

Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counsellors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).

May 04

Pelagia the Nun-martyr of Tarsus

This Saint was from Tarsus of Cilicia and contested in martyrdom under Diocletian, in 284: she was cast into a bull fashioned of bronze, which had been heated with fire.

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Χριστός Ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, καί τοίς εν τοίς μνήμασι, ζωήν, χαρισάμενος.

Christos anesti ek nekron, thanato thanaton patisas, ke tis en ti mnimasi zoi, harisamenos.

Christ is Risen from the dead | by death trampling down upon death | and to those in the tombs He has | granted life.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

Ότε κατήλθες πρός τόν θάνατον, η ζωή η αθάνατος, τότε τόν Άδην ενέκρωσας, τή αστραπή τής Θεότητος· ότε δέ καί τούς τεθνεώτας, εκ τών καταχθονίων ανέστησας, πάσαι αι Δυνάμεις τών επουρανίων εκραύγαζον· Ζωοδότα Χριστέ ο Θεός ημών δόξα Σοι.

Όte katilthes pros ton thanaton, I zoe athanatos, tote ton Adin enekrosas, ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous tethneotas ek ton katakthonion anestisas, pase e Dinamis ton epuranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Christe o Theos imon doxa Si.

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.

Apolytikion for Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday in the Second Mode

The Angel who had come to the sepulcher said to the Myrrh-bearing women, “ointments are appropriate for mortal men; but Christ is indeed a stranger to decay. No go proclaim that the Lord has risen and granted to the world the great mercy.”

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Welcome

This week’s Announcements

Welcome to all our guests. We are glad you are here worshiping with us today!

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Mission Statement | St. Paul Greek Orthodox Church is a community that worships the Holy Trinity and lives out the gospel of Christ as Orthodox Christians. We seek to do God’s will, while sharing the Faith and serving others as we pursue salvation in Christ.
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Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church is only offered to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further detail.

Today ~ Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 4 | Altar Boys ~ Team 1 | Greeters ~ Team 4

Today ~ MNYMOSINA: 40 days for John Krokos | 40 days for Gus Page | 40 days for Theodoros Paragios | 1 year for Katherine Kapottos [for George Kapottos | for Nicholas Kapottos | for Eric Kapottos | for Photini Anastasakis]

Today ~ Coffee Social sponsored by the Krokos and Paragios families and will be held in the Teen Room.

Today ~ GOYA meeting with election of officers following Sunday School in Church.

Today ~ 12:00 PM Greek Corner meets in back classroom.

Monday ~ 10:00 AM Festival baking continues as we make dolmathes. As we have begun this year, we will have another late baking day ending at 7:00 PM. We invite you to join us after work or while your children are at Greek School or Dance Practice.

Monday ~ 4:00 PM Little Angels playdate for those 40 days to 4 years old.

Tuesday ~ 9:00 AM Festival baking resumes as we roll our way to 8,000 dolmathes!

Tuesday ~ 6:30 PM Home Committee meeting.

Wednesday ~ 6:30 PM Stewardship meeting.

Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, send email to: prayerchain@stpaulgoc.org.

Upcoming Events Next Week and Beyond

Next Sunday ~Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 1 | Altar Boys ~ Team 2 | Greeters ~ Team 1

Next Sunday ~ Orthros Luke 24:12-35 | Epistle Reading Acts 9:32-42 | Gospel John 5:1-15

Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO: 1 year for Sam Arfaras

Next Sunday ~ 40-day churching for the daughter of Joseph and Maria Francescangeli.

May 13 ~ 6:30 PM Philoptochos meeting.

May 14 ~ 7:00 PM Parish Council monthly meeting.

May 15 ~ 1:00 PM Senior OPA welcomes the St Demetrios Yassou Club for a Mother’s Day luncheon in the Hellenic Center.

May 17 ~ 12:00 PM Eastern Orthodox Women’s Guild Pan-Orthodox Luncheon at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Hall in Parma. See Evangeline Bozikis for tickets as they will not be sold at the door; Adults $15, children 6-12 $7.50, children under 6 free.

May 18 ~ 11:30 AM Spring Parish Assembly meeting.

May 20 ~ 6:00 PM Membership meeting.

May 20 ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers at Sts Constantine & Helen Cleveland Hts.

May 21 ~ feast of Sts Constantine & Helen | 10:00 AM Liturgy at Sts Constantine & Helen.

May 22 ~ 11:30 AM Agape Ovens meal pick up for those with special circumstances. Please see Tessie Lekas or Mary Bozikis Olenik.

May 23 – 26 ~ Tremont Festival at Annunciation Cleveland.

May 24 and 26 ~ 9:00 AM graveside Trisagion service at St Theodosius Cemetery.

June 3 ~ 6:00 PM Philoptochos Appreciation Dinner at J Bella Restaurant in Strongsville. $35/person.

June 7 ~ Saturday of Souls | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.

June 8 ~ 1:00 PM St Paul annual Golf Outing at Pine Hills Golf Course in Hinckley. All proceeds to benefit the St Paul Capital Improvement Fund. For details visit: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZWPX/home.

June 11 – 13 ~ 12:00 PM Greek Cultural Camp. $50 per student. Register at https://secure.myvanco.com/L-Z01D/campaign/C-15EEE.

July 17 - 20 ~ St Paul Grecian Festival! Become one of our many sponsors or make a donation to offset rising costs by visiting: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZWRD/home. We look forward to another successful year!