Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17.

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Saints and Feasts

August 10

Laurence the Holy Martyr & Archdeacon of Rome

This Saint, who was born in Spain, was the Archdeacon of the Church of Rome, caring for the sacred vessels of the Church and distributing money to the needy. About the year 257, a harsh persecution was raised up against the Christians by Valerian. Pope Sixtus, who was from Athens, was commanded to worship the idols, and refused; before his martyrdom by beheading, he committed to Laurence all the sacred vessels of the Church. When Laurence was arrested and brought before the Prefect, he was questioned concerning the treasures of the Church; he asked for three days' time to prepare them. He then proceeded to gather all the poor and needy, and presented them to the Prefect and said, "Behold the treasures of the Church." The Prefect became enraged at this and gave command that Laurence be racked, then scourged with scorpions (a whip furnished with sharp iron points - compare II Chron. 10:11), then stretched out on a red-hot iron grill. But the courageous athlete of Christ endured without groaning. After he had been burned on one side, he said, "My body is done on one side; turn me over on the other." And when this had taken place, the Martyr said to the tyrants, "My flesh is now well done, you may taste of it." And when he had said this, and had prayed for his slayers in imitation of Christ, he gave up his spirit on August 10, 258.

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 Afterfeast of the Transfiguration in the Grave Mode

Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to Thy disciples Thy glory as each one could endure. Shine forth Thou on us, who are sinners all, Thy light ever-unending, through the prayers of the Theotokos. Light-bestower, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Mode

You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

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 2 | Altar Boys ~ All Teams | Greeters ~ Team 2
Today ~ MNYMOSINA: for Stergios, Stella, Michael, Eleni and Demetri Makiaris | for Kereakoula and Kostindinos Kostantaras | for Kay, Carl, Karen, and Tony Valente
Today ~ Open Table Coffee Social – in invite you to bring a dish to share!
Fesitval Favorites ~ Trays of frozen, never cooked, food items available for sale (i.e., baklava, galactobouriko, tsoureki, spanakopita, kourambiethe, dolmathes, and pastitsio). Contact the church office for details.
Monday ~ 7:00 PM Small Paraklesis.
Tuesday ~ 7:00 PM Small Paraklesis.
Wednesday ~ 7:00 PM monthly Parish Council meeting.
Thursday ~ 7:00 PM Vespers for the Dormition of the Theotokos.
Friday ~ Dormition of the Theotokos | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy followed by luncheon sponsored by Philoptochos. Make your reservations during coffee social or online.
Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, send email to: [email protected].
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

Next Sunday ~ Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 3|Altar Boys ~ All Teams| Greeters ~ Team 3
Next Sunday ~ Orthros John 21:1-14 | Epistle Reading I Corinthians 4:9-16 | Gospel Matthew 17:14-23
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINA: 40 days for Diana Choukalas | 1 year for Helen Vitakis
Next Sunday ~ Coffee Social hosted by the Choukalas family.
Next Sunday ~ Backpack Blessing Bring your backpack to church to receive a blessing for the start of the school year.
August 19 ~ 11:30 AM Agape Ovens meal pick-up for those with special circumstances. Contact Tessie Lekas or Mary Bozikis Olenik for more information.
August 21 ~ 1:00 PM Senior OPA Hot Diggidy Dog luncheon. RSVP to Barbara Pateras or Maria Regan. Main course provided; side dish or dessert appreciated.
August 21 ~ 6:30 PM Philoptochos Board meeting.
August 23 ~ 8:30 AM Stewardship Outreach at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. First time volunteers will need to register. Carpool can be arranged by contacting [email protected]. Join us by singing up at https://tinyurl.com/STPVolunteerGCFB.
August 24 ~ 2:30 PM Senior OPA Live Theater trip to Cassidy Theatre in Parma Heights to see Freaky Friday the Musical. Limited number of seats available at $23.00 each. Contact Renie Steffas if interested.
August 26 ~ 6:00 PM in person Stewardship meeting.
August 26 ~ 7:00 PM Special Five Church Meeting in St Paul teen room with guest speakers from the creators of the Archons Sprouts Program and representatives of the Metropolis Administrative Committee. RSVP to [email protected] by August 22, 2025. Open to all Archons, Parish Council members, and Sunday School teachers.
August 27 ~ feast of St Phanurius | 8:30 AM. Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
August 28 ~ 6:30 PM Family Ministry calendar planning meeting in Teen Room.
August 29 ~ Beheading of St John the Baptist | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
September 1 ~ Labor Day | New Ecclesiastical Year begins | Office closed.
September 2 ~ 6:30 PM Home Committee meeting.
September 6 ~ 9:00 AM Cleveland 5K to benefit IOCC at Lakewood Park. Lear more at: https://give.iocc.org/event/cleveland-5k-to-benefit-iocc/e698515.
September 7 ~ Parish Fair following Liturgy. See all the exciting things our ministries our offering in the new Ecclesiastical year.
September 7 ~ 9:00 AM help Philoptochos Stuff the Bus with school supplies to support students, teachers, and staff at John Muir Elementary School in Parma. Take advantage of tax-free week August 1 – 14, 2025.
September 8 ~ Nativity of the Theotokos | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.