HOLY WEEK

oly Week draws Orthodox Christians spiritually into the events of Christ’s last week on earth, as if we ourselves were actually present. All Holy Week, beginning tonight, is a liturgical reenactment of these events in Christ’s work of salvation upon the earth.

   Palm Sunday evening, Holy Monday and Tuesday, we are prepared for the events to come. The themes of spiritual preparedness, doing good works, and sincere repentance dominate the services. Holy Wednesday, the Sacrament of Holy Unction is conducted for the “forgiveness of sins” and the “healing of body and soul.” Thus prepared we enter into the final events of Christ’s redeeming life on earth.

   Holy Thursday morning, we participate liturgically in the Mystical Supper, when Jesus established the Sacrament of Holy Communion. It was from there that Judas left to betray Jesus. We sing, “Receive me today, O Son of God, as a partaker of your Mystical Feast for I will not speak of the Mystery to your enemies, nor will I kiss You as did Judas . . .” Holy Thursday night we relive, through the reading of twelve Gospel passages, the betrayal of Christ, His arrest, the unjust trials, His scourging, His humiliating mistreatment, His stumbling under the weight of the Cross, His crucifixion with two thieves, and His painful death for the salvation of all humanity. We sing “Today is hung upon the Cross, He Who suspended the Earth amid the waters. . . . We worship your Passion O Christ.”   

   Great Friday morning, at the service of the Royal Hours, we remember all the Old Testament prophesies that foretold the coming, teaching, suffering, and death of Christ. In the afternoon, the wooden icon representing Christ’s dead body is taken down from the Cross, and wrapped in a white sheet for burial. A cloth icon of the deceased body of Christ, called the Epitaphion, is carried in a procession around the Church and placed on the flower decorated canopied Bier called the Kouvouklion. We have prepared Christ’s body for the wake or the viewing.

   So, Great Friday evening we gather to mourn the Service of the Lamentations. We sing three lamentation hymns with many verses. The great paradox is that Christ, who is the Son of God and the source of all life, is now seen dead before us. We sing “E Zoe en tafo“, that is, “O Christ, the Life, You were laid in the tomb, and ranks of angels were amazed, glorifying your condescension.” Then the funeral procession takes place. The Bier/Kouvouklion is carried in sacred procession and, upon its return, the icon of the dead Christ is placed on the Altar Table.

.    Service Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am

PALM SUNDAY

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

  Dismissal Hymn Following Doxology – Sung by the Leaders in Greek “Syntafendes sou” (See translation below).

   1st Antiphon:  “Save us O Son of God who was seated on the foal of a donkey, we sing to you. Alleluia.”

   Dismissal Hymn of the Feast (Sung in Greek before the Entrance by the Leaders) "Ten Koinen Anastasin "

   The Priest sings the Entrance Hymn: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Save us O Son of God who was seated on the foal of a donkey, we sing to you Alleluia!”

    (Read) To confirm the general resurrection / before Your Passion, / You resurrected Lazarus from the dead, / O Christ our God. / therefore imitating the children, / carrying the symbols of victory, / we cry out to You the Victor over death: / Hosanna in the highest! / Blessed are You, / the One, who comes in the name of the Lord.

   Additional Festal Dismissal Hymn – Sung by the Leaders in Greek “Syntafendes sou”

(Read) We were buried with You through Baptism, O Christ our God, / and thus by Your Resurrection / we have been granted immortal life, / and extolling You we cry alound, / Hosanna in the highest! / Blessed are You, the One who comes in the name of the Lord.”

  Kontakion – Sung in Greek by the Leaders: “To throno en ourano” 

   (Read) In heaven  upon the throne, / on earth upon the foal, / You were carried, O Christ our God; / and the praise of the Angels, / and the hymns of the children, / You received as they cried to You, / “Blessed are You, the One, / who is coming to call Adam back again.”

Turn to pp. 26-27 of the Hymnal, for “Holy God . . . .”

EPISTLE - Philippians 4:4-9  (Palm Sunday)

rethren, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

GOSPEL - John 12:1-18 (Palm Sunday)

ix days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."  When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

   In the place of “Axion Estin” the leaders sing “Theos Kyrios . . . systisate eorten”

(Read) The Lord is God and He has appeared to us. / Therefore let us celebrate and sing with joy. / Come let us glorify Christ, / and with palms and branches, / sing to Him songs of praise; / “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, / our Savior.

   In the place of  the Communion Hymn “Praise the Lord” the Leaders sing “Evlogemenos o erchomenos” (Read) “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, Save us O Son of God, the King of Israel.”

   In the place of “Blessed be the name of the Lord ” the Leaders sing “"Ten Koinen Anastasin. " 

   (Read) To confirm the general resurrection / before Your Passion, / You resurrected Lazarus from the dead, / O Christ our God. / therefore imitating the children, / carrying the symbols of victory, / we cry out to You the Victor over death: / Hosanna in the highest! / Blessed are You, / the One, who comes in the name of the Lord.

   ANNOINTING FOR HEALING: Today, the third Sunday of the month, together with the passing out of the Palms, all in attendance will have the opportunity to be anointed for healing. May you have a blessed Holy Week!

   FOR THE RECORD: April 9 – Attendance 61; Stewardship $1050; Candles $73; Visitors’ Offering $43; Building Fund $243, Fr. Harakas’ 50th Anniversary Building Fund Donations, $60 for a total of 3050. Thank you for your support!

  telephone Directory is now in the layout process by co-chair Feenie Ferriero, but it is not too late for regular ads or for Boosters (just $25).for our 2006-2007 Telephone Directory. Call Cathy at 684-4082 to include your Ad or Booster contribution.

  THANKS to Stacy Underwood, Chairperson of the Easter Food Distribution to our Pine Grove Elementary School families and to all those who brought food items or donated money for their purchase. Thanks also to those who assisted in this St. Katherine’s Ladies Society project. This year, the families were invited to come to the church and pick up the boxes. However, Stacy arranged for the food to be delivered to those who were not able to come. We wish them all a blessed and glorious Easter.

  THE HOLY WEEK PROGRAM, distributed in last week’s bulletin, is your guide for our Church’s observance of the whole week. Attend as many services as your schedule allows. Special Request: If you know how to read a foreign language, please help out at the Easter / Pascha Sunday Vespers at 12 noon for the reading of the Gospel in foreign languages. Please call Fr. Stanley to volunteer – 796-2377.

   PASCHAL GREETING & YOUR EASTER GIFT: By now you should have received your Paschal Greeting Card from the parish. Included was an envelope for your Easter Gift to Christ the Savior Church. Also included was a Prayer Sheet for the names of your beloved deceased family members for GOOD FRIDAY AFTERNOON. Please bring the prayer sheets to Church or mail the sheet in your Easter Gift Envelope ASAP.

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Venice Cosmadelis 4/14 (Pre-Sanctified Liturgy); Presbytera Emily Harakas 4/15 (Saturday of Lazarus); George Nikas 4/16; Connie Mourgides 4/20 (Holy Thursday); Fran Mather 4/22 (Holy Saturday); Argiris & Carol Gymnaos 4/23 (PASCHA); Fran Triantafilon 4/30; Helen Nicolelis  5/7. Gloria Vardakis 5/14; Bette Ferriero 7/21, George Nikas is Prosforon Chairman -597-1375.

 

SPECIAL PARISH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2006

STEWARDS OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR CHURCH have received a letter announcing that Connie Mourgides has tendered her resignation as President of the Parish Council and as a Parish Council Member. Connie has requested a parish-wide meeting so that Christ the Savior Stewards can address perceived grievances regarding the life of our community. The Parish Council agreed to call the General Assembly so that those who have concerns, are dissatisfied with certain aspects of our parish life, as well as those who find it acceptable, have an opportunity to speak. The goal is to restore unity in our Parish. In the interim, Vice-President Gloria Vardakis has accepted to assume the duties of the President.

The meeting is being called for SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2006 following the Divine Liturgy.

The Agenda is as follows:

Parish Unity Assembly

        Opening Prayer

              a.   Evaluating Our Parish Condition

               Positive Assessments & Constructive Criticisms

b.      Proposals for Furthering Parish Unity

c.       Parishioner Commitments to Work for Parish Unity

d.      Mutual Forgiveness in the Spirit of the Resurrection of our Lord.

        Closing Prayer

Stewards have voice and vote – Friends of the Parish have no voice or vote

PARISH COUNCIL: Among other items discussed by the Parish Council under the chairmanship of Gloria Vardakis were the following: Stewardship: Bill Pasisis reported that as of 4/9 there were 62 Steward households, with 96 voting Stewards. Thirteen 2005 Stewards did not renew their stewardship support and 6 new Steward households were added to the roll. Facilities: Connie Pappas reported that a repairman has estimated the repair of the Church and the washrooms roofs to cost $3,200; thanks were expressed to Amen Air for the servicing of our air conditioners; the decision was made to repair the cottage and to look into renting it through the use of a rental agent; one of the “high rent” cabins is to be leveled. Grounds: Spiro Lemonedes reported that Demetri, Bill & Ruby Hazivasilis removed several trees around the new lights; “Cleanup Saturday” was a good success; the property will be bushwacked before Easter. Demetri Hazivasilis will be asked to look into Road leveling and adding new stone to the driveway, the sprinkler system has been repaired and we are looking into adding more zones. Activities/FundRaising: Bill Pasisis reported on the Palm Sunday Fish Dinner, the Walmart Bake Sale, the May 6 Picnic and the Mothers’ Day breakfast; Planning & Development: Bickel Real Estate informed us that the offer for the Special Olympics buyer is still alive. It was voted to table the idea of rezoning our property. The committee will proceed in marketing the property ourselves.       

 

ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2006 – 10:00 AM to 2 PM

DELTA WOODS PARK PAVILION (DELTONA AVE. SPRING HILL)

FUN, FOOD, GAMES, SUN & SHADE FOR ADULTS & KIDS

AND . . . . SO WE CAN PLAN. . .

PLEASE CALL AND LET US KNOW THAT YOU ARE COMING

Spero Lemonedes (684-4082), or

George Nikas (597-1375), or

Bill Pasisis (688-7465)

Come and enjoy a pleasant day of fellowship and relaxation!

COME TO CHURCH DURING HOLY WEEK

 

 

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

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