Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36.

IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Gospel Reading

Fathers of the 1st Council
The Reading is from John 17:1-13

At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

"I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."

Saints and Feasts

June 01

Fathers of the 1st Council

The heresiarch Arius was a Libyan by race and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria. In 315, he began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God, saying that He is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time when He was not. This frightful blasphemy shook the faithful of Alexandria. Alexander, his Archbishop, after trying in vain to correct him through admonitions, cut him off from communion and finally in a local council deposed him in the year 321. Yet neither did the blasphemer wish to be corrected, nor did he cease sowing the deadly tares of his heretical teachings; but writing to the bishops of other cities, Arius and his followers requested that his doctrine be examined, and if it were unsound, that the correct teaching be declared to him. By this means, his heresy became universally known and won many supporters, so that the whole Church was soon in an uproar.

Therefore, moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, Saint Constantine the Great, the equal to the Apostles, summoned the renowned First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a city of Bithynia. It was there that the shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the holy Symbol of Faith up to the seventh article (since the remainder, beginning with "And in the Holy Spirit," was completed by the Second Ecumenical Council). Thus they anathematized the impious Arius of evil belief and those of like mind with him, and cut them off as rotten members from the whole body of the faithful.

Therefore, recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honour, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith.

June 01

Justin the Philosopher and Martyr and his Companions

This Saint, who was from Neapolis of Palestine, was a follower of Plato the philosopher. Born in 103, he came to the Faith of Christ when he was already a mature man, seeking to find God through philosophy and human reasoning. A venerable elder appeared to him and spoke to him about the Prophets who had taught of God not through their own wisdom, but by revelation; and he led him to knowledge of Christ, Who is the fulfillment of what the Prophets taught. Saint Justin soon became a fervent follower of Christ, and an illustrious apologist of the Evangelical teachings. To the end of his life, while preaching Christ in all parts, he never put off his philosopher's garb. In Rome, he gave the Emperor Antoninus Pius (reigned 138-161) an apology wherein he proved the innocence and holiness of the Christian Faith, persuading him to relieve the persecution of Christians. Through the machinations of Crescens, a Cynic philosopher who envied him, Saint Justin was beheaded in Rome in 167 under Antoninus' successor, Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180). Besides his defense of Christianity (First and Second Apologies), Saint Justin wrote against paganism (Discourse to the Greeks, Hortatory Address to the Greeks), and refuted Jewish objections against Christ (Dialogue with Trypho).

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Αγγελικαί Δυνάμεις επί τό μνήμα σου, καί οι φυλάσσοντες, απενεκρώθησαν· καί ίστατο Μαρία εν τώ τάφω ζητούσα, τό άχραντόν σου σώμα· εσκύλευσας τόν Άδην, μή πειρασθείς υπ’αυτού· υπήντησας τή Παρθένω, δωρούμενος τήν ζωήν. Ο αναστάς εκ νεκρών, Κύριε δόξα Σοι.

Αgelike Dinamis epi to mnimasou, ke I filasontes apenekrothisan, ke istato Maria en to tafo zitousa, to ahranton sou soma, eskilefsas ton Adin, mi pirasthis ipaftou, ipindisas ti Partheno, doroumenos tin zoin, O anastas ek ton nekron, Kirie doxa Si.

Angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead, and at Your grave Mary was standing, seeking Your most pure body. You plundered Hades, not being tempted by it; You encountered the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You!

Apolytikion for Holy Ascension in the Fourth Mode

You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, after You filled the Disciples with joy, by promising to send them the Holy Spirit, and You blessed them and established their faith, that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world.

Apolytikion for Fathers of the 1st Council in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Supremely blessed are You, O Christ our God. You established the holy Fathers upon the earth as beacons, and through them You have guided us all to the true Faith, O greatly merciful Once, glory be to You.

Hymn of Church in the First Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second 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.

1. Today ~ Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 4 | Altar Boys ~ Team 2 | Greeters ~ Team 4

2. Today ~ MNYMOSINO: 40 days for Steve Boukis [for Jimmy Boukis | for Fr. Peter & Presbytera Mary Costarakis | for Rev. Demetrios & Presbytera Ioanna Costarakis | for John and Georgia Boukis | for Christ Boukis.

3. Today ~ 40-day Churching for the daughter of Justin and Joanna Brown.

4. Today ~ 12:00 PM Greek Corner meets in the Teen Room.

5. Tuesday ~ 6:00 PM Philoptochos Appreciation Dinner at J Bella Restaurant Strongsville. $35/person. Reservations at https://tinyurl.com/PhiloptochosSTP or during coffee social.

6. Tuesday ~ 6:30 PM Home Committee meeting.

7. Thursday ~ 11:30 AM Agape Ovens meal pick up for those with special circumstances. Contact Tessie Lekas or Mary Bozikis Olenik for more information.

8. Saturday ~ Saturday of Souls | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy and commemoration of our deceased loved ones.

9. Prosforo Ministry ~ this new ministry seeks individuals who can bake 4-5 prosfora on a rotating weekly schedule. Please email [email protected] or contact the church office.

10. Catechism Class ~ Father Costas will begin a catechism class June 5^th at 7:00 PM for five consecutive weeks for anyone interested in learning more about our faith or becoming Orthodox. Please RSVP to the church office.

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

12. St Paul Part-Time Office Assistant ~ View job description. If interested, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Upcoming Events Next Week and Beyond

13. Next Sunday ~Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 1 | Altar Boys ~ Team 3 | Greeters ~ Team 1

14. Next Sunday ~ Orthros John 20:19-23 | Epistle Reading Acts 2:1-11 | Gospel John 7:37-52; 8:12

15. Next Sunday ~ 1:00 PM St Paul Annual Golf Outing at Pine Hills Golf Course Hinckley. Proceeds to benefit St. Paul Capital Improvement Fund. Details: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZWPX/home.

16. June 9 ~ 4:00 PM Little Angels playdate for children 40 days to 4 years old at the NEW Strongsville Town Center Playground 18300 Zverina Lane in Strongsville.

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

18. June 14 ~ 8:30 AM Stewardship Outreach at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/STPVolunteerGCFB. First time volunteers will need to register. If you would like to carpool, contact Jason Ganim.

19. June 14 ~ 10:00 AM Eastern Orthodox Women’s Guild meeting at Sts. Constantine & Helen in Cleveland Heights with election of officers, review of the year, and social.

20. June 18 ~ 6:00 PM Stewardship meeting.

21. June 26 ~ 1:00 PM Senior OPA luncheon in the Hellenic Center with the Yassou guests of St. Demetrios Rocky River. RSVP to Maria Regan or Tessie Lekas.

22. June 28 ~ 7:00 PM Great Vespers for St. Paul.

23. June 29 ~ feast of Sts. Peter and Paul; (Feastday of our Parish) luncheon offered by Philoptochos. Make your reservation online or at the Philoptochos table during coffee social.

24. June 30 ~ feast of the 12 Holy Apostles | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.

25. July 13 ~ 1:00 PM Tripodis Family Fundraiser Golf Outing at Bunker Hill Golf Course. Sponsorships and dinner only tickets available. Visit: https://birdease.com/tripodis2025 for info.

26. July 17 - 20 ~ St Paul Grecian Festival! Become a sponsor or donate to offset rising costs: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZWRD/home. We look forward to another successful year!