Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42.

In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Paralytic
The Reading is from John 5:1-15

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.

Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Saints and Feasts

May 11

Sunday of the Paralytic

Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had round about it five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies, awaiting the moving of the water. The first to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.

It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel way lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.

May 11

Hieromartyr Mocius

The holy Hieromartyr Mocius, who was of Roman parents, lived during the reign of Diocletian, and was a priest in Amphipolis of Thrace. One day as the idolaters were assembled, and the Proconsul Laodicius was offering sacrifice to Dionysus, Mocius entered the temple and overturned the altar. After many torments, through which he was preserved whole by grace divine, he was sent to Byzantium, where he was beheaded about the year 288. Saint Constantine the Great built a magnificent church in honour of Saint Mocius in Constantinople, where his holy relics were enshrined. He is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.

May 11

Methodius & Cyril, Equal-to-the Apostles Illuminators of the Slavs

Born in Thessalonica, Saint Methodius was a military man before becoming a monk on Mount Olympus. His brother Constantine, known as the Philosopher because of his erudition, was Librarian at the Church of the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople; he later became a monk with the name of Cyril. The Emperor Michael sent him with his brother Methodius to the Khazars in response to their petition for teachers to expound to them the Christian Faith. On their way, they stayed in Cherson, where they recovered from the Black Sea the relics of Saint Clement of Rome. Later, they were called by Prince Rostislav of Moravia to instruct his people in the Orthodox Faith (Saint Rostislav died a martyr's death and is celebrated Oct. 15). The Saints devised an alphabet for the Slavs, and used it to translate the Greek books into the language of the people. In their apostolic labours throughout the Balkans, the holy brothers were slandered by certain Germanic bishops who opposed the use of the vernacular in the church services. Summoned to court at Rome in 867, they presented their Slavonic translations to Pope Adrian II, who received them with love and full approval. Two years later, Saint Cyril reposed in Rome on February 14 and was buried in the Church of Saint Clement. Saint Methodius was made Bishop of Moravia, but at the intrigues of certain Latin clergy, was cast into prison by the "Holy Roman Emperor" (the Germanic Emperor of the West), where he was cruelly tormented for some three years. In 874, through the defence of Pope John VIII, he was freed and made Archbishop of Moravia. Because he reproved the lax morals of the German priests in Moravia, he was soon accused of heresy by them, and was forbidden to celebrate the Liturgy in Slavonic. Summoned to Rome again in 879, he was completely exonerated and allowed once again to use the Slavonic tongue for the divine services. He reposed on April 6, 885.

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 tis 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 Third Mode

Ευραινέσθω τά ουράνια, αγαλλιάσθω τά επίγεια, ότι εποίησε κράτος εν βραχίονι αυτού ο Κύριος· επάτησε τώ θανάτω τόν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τών νεκρών εγένετο, εκ κοιλίας Άδου ερρύσατο ημάς, καί παρέσχε τώ κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος.

Εfrenestho ta ourania, agaliasto ta epigia, oti epiise kratos, en vrahioni aftou o Kirios, epatise to thanato ton thanaton, prototokos ton nekron egeneto, ek kilias adou erisato imas, ke paresche to kosmo to mega eleos.

Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the mighty power of His arm. He trampled down death by death and became the firstborn of the dead. From the depths of Hades, He delivered us and granted to the world 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 1 | Altar Boys ~ Team 2 | Greeters ~ Team 1

Today ~ MNYMOSINO: 40 days for Bruce Wm. Trakas | 1 year for Sam Arfaras

Today ~ Coffee Social sponsored by the Arfaras family and past St. Photios awardees.

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

Monday ~ 9:00 AM Festival baking continues as we make finikia. We invite you to join us!

Tuesday ~ 6:30 PM Philoptochos meeting.

Wednesday ~ 7:00 PM Parish Council monthly meeting.

Thursday ~ Senior OPA event has been postponed.

Thursday ~ 7:00 PM Last Bible Study until the Fall with Father Costas via Teams: https://tinyurl.com/BibleStudySTP.

Saturday ~ 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.

Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, send email to: [email protected].

Stewardship ~ By now you should have received the first quarterly statement. If you are behind on your payment to fulfill your commitment, kindly submit it to the parish office. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our parish.

Upcoming Events Next Week and Beyond

Next Sunday ~Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 2 | Altar Boys ~ Team 3 | Greeters ~ Team 2

Next Sunday ~ Orthros John 20:1-10 | Epistle Reading Acts 11:19-30 | Gospel John 4:5-42

Next Sunday ~ Coffee Social is hosted by the Kalucis family.

Next Sunday ~ Maids of Athena Bake Sale with proceeds to benefit their charities.

Next Sunday ~ 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 in 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 ~ 3:30 PM Stewardship Outreach opportunity to prepare and serve a meal for St Herman House. Sign up to volunteer or make a donation to offset the cost of purchased food items on our website..

May 23 – 26 ~ Tremont Festival at Annunciation Cleveland.

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

May 26 ~ Memorial Day | Office closed.

May 31 ~ 9:00 AM Metropolis Regional GOYA Volleyball Tournament at The Sandbox in Broadview Heights. Come cheer our GOYAns on!

June 3 ~ 6:00 PM Philoptochos Appreciation Dinner at J Bella Restaurant in Strongsville. $35/person. Make your reservation today: https://www.stpaulgoc.org/ministries/adult-ministries/philoptochos/ or during coffee social.

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 13 ~ 1:00 PM Tripodis Family Fundraiser Golf Outing at Bunker Hill Golf Course. Sponsorships and dinner only tickets also available. To learn more, visit: https://birdease.com/tripodis2025.

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!