Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24.

Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Gospel Reading

13th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 21:33-42

The Lord said this parable, "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"

Saints and Feasts

August 30

Alexander, John, and Paul the New, Patriarchs of Constantinople

Saint Alexander was sent to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the delegate of Saint Metrophanes, Bishop of Constantinople (see June 4), to whose throne he succeeded in the year 325. When Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea, Saint Alexander, knowing his guile, refused to receive him into communion; Arius' powerful partisans threatened that they would use force to bring Arius into the communion of the Church the following day. Saint Alexander prayed fervently that God might spare the Church; and as Arius was in a privy place relieving nature, his bowels gushed forth with an effusion of blood, and the arch-heresiarch died the death of Judas. Saint Alexander was Bishop from 325 until 337, when he was succeeded by Saint Paul the Confessor, who died a martyr's death at the hands of the Arians (see Nov. 6). The Saint John commemorated here appears to be the one who was Patriarch during the years 562-577, surnamed Scholasticus, who is also commemorated on February 21. He was from Antioch, where he had been a lawyer (scholasticus); he was made presbyter, then was sent to Constantinople as representative (apocrisiarius) of the Patriarch of Antioch, and was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Saint Paul was Bishop of Constantinople during the years 687 - 693, in the reign of Emperor Justinian II, and presided over the Quinisext Council in 692.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Τό φαιδρόν τής Αναστάσεως κήρυγμα, εκ τού Αγγέλου μαθούσαι αι τού Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καί τήν προγονικήν απόφασιν απορρίψασαι, τοίς Αποστόλοις καυχώμεναι έλεγον· Εσκύλευται ο θάνατος, ηγέρθη Χριστός ο Θεός, δωρούμενος τώ κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος.

Το fethron tis Anastaseos kirigma, ek tou Agelou mathouse e tou Kyriou Mathitrie, ke tin progonikin apofasin aporipsase, tis Apostolis kafhomene elegon. Eskilefte o thanatos, igerthi Christos o Theos, doroumenos to kosmo to mega eleos.

The women disciples of the Lord, having learned from the Angel the joyous news of the Resurrection and having rejected the ancestral decision, then told the Apostles elatedly: Death has been stripped of its power; Christ God has risen, granting to the world His great mercy.

Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Forerunner in the Second Mode

The memory of the just is observed with hymns of praise; for you suffices the testimony of the Lord, O Forerunner. You have proved to be truly more venerable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the river the One whom they proclaimed. Therefore, when for the truth you had contested, rejoicing, to those in Hades you preached the Gospel, that God was manifested in the flesh, and takes away the sin of the world, and grants to us the great mercy

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility’s stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality’s ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, “The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life.

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 ~ All | Greeters ~ Team 1
Today ~ MNYMOSINO ~ 6 years for Nicolaie Tudora
Today ~ Coffee Social offered by our Choir in honor of Nicholas Bodle. Thanks for your years of service to our parish.
Today ~ Final Vacation Church School class for grades K-6^th following Holy Communion.
Tuesday ~ 6:30 PM Home Committee meeting.
Wednesday ~ 6:00 PM Stewardship committee meeting.
Thursday ~ 6:00 PM Endowment committee meeting.
Friday – Next Monday ~ Kamm's Corners Greek Festival.
Saturday ~ 10:00 AM Pet Blessing. Bring your furry, feathered, or scaly friends! Meet in Church parking lot.
Saturday ~ Pilgrimage to Holy Nativity Monastery in Saxonburg, PA organized by Annunciation Cleveland. Call their office or Vivi to RSVP.
Prayer Chain ~ If you have a prayer request, send an email to: [email protected].
New position open in our parish ~ We are looking to fill the position of choir director starting in September. All recommendations are to be forwarded to Fr. Costas.

Upcoming Events Next Week and Beyond

Next Sunday ~ Parish Council & Ushers ~ Team 1 | Altar Boys ~ All | Greeters ~ Team 2
Next Sunday ~ Orthros: Mark 16:9-20 | Epistle: II Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:1-4| Gospel: Matthew 22:2-14
Next Sunday ~ 40 Day Churching for the son of Matthew and Lauren Bills.
Next Sunday ~ MNYMOSINO 40 days for Mary Pagonakis
Next Sunday ~ Coffee Social in memory of Mary Pagonakis sponsored by Philoptochos.
Next Sunday ~ 12:00 PM Greek Corner meets in the Teen Room.
September 7 ~ Church office will be closed in observation of Labor Day.
September 8 ~ Nativity of the Theotokos | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
September 8 ~ 4:00 PM St Anastasia Paraklesis service at St Herman House.
September 9 ~ 7:00 PM Parish Council meeting.
September 10 ~ 11:30 AM Agape Ovens meal pick up for those with special circumstances. Contact Tessie Lekas or Mary Bozikis Olenik for more details.
September 10 ~ 7:00 PM Bible Study with Fr. Costas via Join us via Teams at https://tinyurl.com/BibleStudySTP.
September 12 ~ IOCC 5K Walk/Run. • 9:00 AM Check-In • 9:45 AM Opening Prayer/Photo • 10:00 AM 5K Walk/Run Begins! Cleveland Metroparks - Rockcliff Springs Parking Lot - 18833 Rockcliff Dr. Rocky River, OH 44116. Join Fr. Costas by clicking here to register: https://give.iocc.org/event/cleveland-5k-walk-run-for-iocc/e818817.
September 12 ~ 10:00 AM Altar Boy Seminar. Altar training at Church will be followed by mini-golf at Fore Corners Mini Golf. Learn more at tinyurl.com/AltarBoySeminar26.
September 13 ~ Parish Fair following Liturgy. Come see what our ministries have to offer during this new Ecclesiastical year! Get involved in the life of our parish.
September 13 ~ Stack the Stage presented by St Paul Ladies Philoptochos. Drop off school supplies at the stage in the Hellenic Center. Donate at tinyurl.com/SchoolSupplyDonate or learn more at tinyurl.com/StackTheStage2026.
September 13 ~ 4:00 PM GOYA Kickoff at the home of Maria and Anthony Asmis in Seven Hills. RSVP to Maria at 216.399.9471.
September 14 - 18^th ~ House Blessings Complete the online form at tinyurl.com/StPaulHouseBlessing or call the church office. One of the priests will contact you to confirm a time.
September 14 ~ Exaltation of Holy Cross | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy. Bring basil. Blessing of Holy Water followed by blessing of homes.
September 14 ~ 5:30 PM Greek School Father will offer an Agiasmo (blessing of water for students and teachers to have a blessed year). Classes will follow. Register at tinyurl.com/GreekSchool2627.
September 14 ~ 6:00 PM Catechism classes begin. Register at tinyurl.com/StPaulCatechism.
September 16 ~ GriefShare Ministry. Call the office to register. Time will be set based on consensus from the group.
September 17 ~ St. Sophia and her 3 daughters, Faith, Hope, & Love | St. Anastasios of Cyprus | 8:30 AM Orthros; 9:30 AM Liturgy.
September 17 ~ 1:00 PM Senior OPA Ice Cream Social & Flu Shots. Everyone is invited to join our annual ice cream social and get your flu shot. Learn more at tinyurl.com/SeniorOPAIceCream. Remember to bring your insurance card!
September 18 ~ 12:00 PM St. Mary of Egypt Help is needed to unload the food truck for food distribution at 4345 State Rd., Cleveland, OH 44019.
September 20 ~ 12:00 PM HOPE | JOY Kickoff Saints & Sundaes. Enjoy an ice cream party following Sunday School and learn about your individual saint or feastday. RSVP to https://tinyurl.com/saintsandsundaes.
September 18 – 20 ~ Metropolis of Pittsburgh Family Camp. Register at gometropolisofpittsburgh.regfox.com/2026-family-camp.
September 19 ~ CHIOS Society of Cleveland 2026 Annual Picnic. Learn more at tinyurl.com/CHIOSPicnic.
September 21 ~ 5:30 PM Greek School | 6:00 PM Catechism
September 26 ~ 10:00 AM EOWG of Greater Cleveland Meeting at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma. Learn more at tinyurl.com/EOWGMeeting.
September 27 ~ 2:00 PM Dr. John & Helen Collis Lecture in Greek & Byzantine Art: Are Pictures Worth More Than Words? Ancient Greek Painters as Storytellers. For more information and to reserve free tickets, visit https://hpsneo.org.
October 3 ~ 9:00 AM Philoptochos Craft Fair. Interested volunteers can contact [email protected]. We currently have room for 2 more vendors in the classroom area.
November 14 ~ Mark your calendars. 60^th Anniversary of our St Paul Parish. It is also the 40^th anniversary of the consecration of our church. More to follow.