Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 115.5,3 (116.15,12).
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Verse: What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has given me?

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18.

TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.

Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

Saints and Feasts

December 15

11th Sunday of Luke

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

December 15

Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother Anthia

This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned 117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also beheaded.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Εξ ύψους κατήλθες ο Εύσπλαχνος, ταφήν κατεδέξω τριήμερον, ίνα ημάς ελευθερώσης τών παθών, η ζωή καί η ανάστασις ημών, Κύριε, δόξα Σοι.

Εx ipsous katilthes o Evsplahnos, tafin katedexo triimeron, ina imas, eleftherosis ton pathon, I zoi ke I anastasis imon, Kyrie, doxa si.

From on high You descended, Most Merciful; for us You condescended to a three-day burial to set us free from the passions. O Lord, our Resurrection and our Life, glory to You!

Apolytikion for 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Mode

By faith You justified the forefathers, having through them betrothed to yourself the Church that came out of the nations. The saints are boasting in glory; for the glorious fruit, the Virgin who without seed gave birth to You, is from their progeny. At their entreaties, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Apolytikion for Hieromartyr Eleutherios and Anthia in the Fourth Mode

You were fully adorned with he sacred priestly robes. | You were dripping with streams of your own martyric blook. | In this state, you rant to Christ your Master, O blessed Saint | Eleftherius, destroyer of Satan; you are wise. | Therefore cease not interceding | for us who loyally honor | your blessed contest of martyrdom.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third 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 1 | Altar Boys ~ Team 3 | Greeters ~ Team 4
Today ~ MNYMOSINA: 3 years for Maria Kantzios | for Evangelos (Lee) Daniels [for Efthimios Kantzios | Eleni Papatsiaras | Anastasisos Papatsiaras | Evangelos Daniels | Margarita Kozanas Nikos Papatsiaras | Giorgio and Maria Papatsiaras] | 1 year for Katherine Harris | 3 years for Helen Maropis | 6 years for George Maropis
Today ~ Please note: due to a large catered event, coffee social will not be held today. Poinsettia pickup will be in the Teen Room.
Sunday School – parents are asked to return to their pews following the distribution of andithiron to wait for their children who will be rehearsing for the Nativity program.
Today ~ 11:45 AM Youth Christmas caroling following the Nativity program rehearsal at Vista Springs Greenbriar on Day Drive in Parma. Meet in the Teen Room and we will leave as a group. Pizza will be provided.
Christmas Decorations ~ donations are being accepted in honor of or in memory of your loved ones to decorate the church for Christmas at https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZNRM/home.
Monday ~ 5:30 PM Greek School.
Tuesday ~ 6:30 PM Membership meeting at Panera Parma Shoppes.
Tuesday ~ 7:30 PM GOYA basketball practice at the North Royalton High School Auxiliary Gym.
Wednesday ~ Women’s Study resumes in January 2025.
Wednesday ~ 5:30 PM Adult Greek School for beginners | 6:30 PM for intermediate students.
Wednesday ~ 6:00 PM Dance practice Junior & Senior dancers participating in CAVS game.
Wednesday ~ 6:30 PM Girls Group guiding young ladies in 9 – 12^th grade navigate High School as Orthodox Christian Young Women. RSVP to Dia. Angelique Phyrillas at [email protected].
Thursday ~ 7:00 PM Bible Study with Father Costas via Teams https://tinyurl.com/BibleStudySTP.
Friday ~ 7:30 PM Junior & Senior dancers perform at CAVS game. Tickets available.
St. Paul Philoptochos ~ is so appreciative of your support throughout this year. They are happy to share their end-of-year disbursements: Wig for Kids $4000; Smile Train $1000; Cleveland Angels $1000; and IOCC for Hurricane Helene and Milton $5000! (These are disbursements beyond what was in the 2024 budget) God bless you for always supporting our Philoptochos!
Missions Committee is being formed for the Cleveland area, anyone wishing to participate, call Fr. Costas.
Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, send email to: [email protected].
Stewardship ~ By now, all should have received 2025 Stewardship Commitment Card. Please prayerfully complete and return to the church.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish and Beyond

Next Sunday ~Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 2 | Altar Boys ~ Team 1 | Greeters ~ Team 1
Next Sunday ~ Orthros Luke 24: 1-12 | | Epistle Reading Hebrews 11:9-10, 32-40 | Gospel Matthew 1:1-25
Next Sunday ~ Sunday School and Greek School Christmas programs.
December 24 ~ 9:00 AM Royal Hours of Christmas | 5:00 PM Vesperal Liturgy.
December 25 ~ Nativity of our Lord | 8:15 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
December 27~ feast of St Stephen | 8:30 AM; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
December 27 ~ 1:00 PM College Student Christmas Party at the Johnson home. RSVP to Deacon Anastasios at [email protected] or text 610.401.1030.
December 27 ~ 6:00 PM Young Adult Christmas Party at the Johnson home. RSVP to Deacon Anastasios at [email protected] or text 610.401.1030.
December 29 ~ Ordination of Deacon Anastasios Phyrillas to the priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan SAVAS. Luncheon to follow. Complementary lunch. RSVP required by calling the church office or https://tinyurl.com/OrdinationLuncheon.
January 1 ~ feast of St Basil | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
January 3 ~ 9:00 AM Royal Hours of Epiphany.
January 5 ~ Eve of Epiphany | Strict fast | Vasilopita Sunday | Swearing in of Parish Council members with election of officers following Liturgy.
January 5 ~ 12:00 PM Greek Corner meets in back classroom
January 5 ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers of Epiphany and blessing of water.