Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church

ext week, beginning with Palm Sunday, April 24, we Orthodox Christians will observe Holy Week. It is the most sacred week of our Church Year. And it is a remarkable opportunity to enter into a spiritual adventure, if we participate in the services with the right attitude. We are drawn into the events of Christ's last week on earth, as if we ourselves were actually present, liturgically reenacting these events in Christ's work of salvation.

Palm Sunday we join the crowds with palms in our hands to welcome Christ as our King as He enters the holy city of Jerusalem. We acknowledge Him saying “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Palm Sunday evening, Holy Monday and Tuesday, we are prepared for the events to come through the “Services of the Bridegroom” when, like the wise young women of the parable we are spiritually prepared to receive Him. Holy Wednesday, the Sacrament of Holy Unction is conducted for the "the "healing of

body and soul."

Holy Thursday morning, we participate liturgically in the Mystical Supper, when Jesus established the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Holy Thursday night we relive, through the reading of twelve Gospel passages the betrayal of Christ, His arrest, the unjust trials, His humiliating mistreatment, His stumbling under the weight of the Cross, His crucifixion between two thieves, and His death for our salvation. We sing “We worship your Passion O Christ . . . ."

Great Friday morning, at the Royal Hours, we remember all the Old Testament prophesies that foretold the suffering, and death of Christ. In the afternoon, the icon o of 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 is carried in procession around the Church and put in the flower decorated canopied Bier. Great Friday evening we gather to mourn the dead Christ, at 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. The Bier is carried in sacred procession and then the icon of the dead Christ is placed on the Altar Table.

Holy Saturday is a day of anticipation. We are awaiting Christ's victory over death. At the morning service, the Priest casts flower petals throughout the Church and calls "Arise O God, and judge the earth . . ." We are prepared to meet the Resurrected Christ!

Service hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am

Evening Services as Announced

SAINTS: St. Mary of Egypt; Symeon, Bishop of Persia (+341); Hadrian, Martyr (+251); Agapetos I, Bishop of Rome (+536); Makarios, Archbishop of Corinth (+1805); Teocharos & Apostle, Martyrs of Artis; Zosimas, Abbot of Solovki; Donnan of the Hebrides, Martyr.

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - Plagal 1st Tone

(Sing in Greek before the Entrance) "Ton synanarchon logon " Hymnal, 85-86.

(Sing in English after the Entrance) "The Eternal Word" (Same).

Dismissal Hymn of the Feast - Sung in Greek by the Leaders "En soi miter akrivos".

(Read) In you, O Mother, is preserved / undistorted that which in the image of God; / for having taken up the cross / and following after Christ, / you taught by your example, / that we should overlook the flesh, / since it passes away, / and rather look after the soul, / since it is immortal. / And therefore your spirit with the angels together, / O devout Mary, rejoices.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ - (Sing) From sheet in the pew.

(Read) O never-failing protectress of Christians / and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator: / do not be heedless to the prayerful voices of us sinners, / but in your goodness extend your help to us / who call upon you with confidence. / Hasten, O Mother of God, / to intercede for us. / You have always protected those who honor you!

EPISTLE - Hebrews 9:11-14 (5th Sunday of Lent) Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

GOSPEL - Mark 10:32-45 (5th Sunday of Lent) At that time, Jesus taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

TODAY– NO TRAY WILL BE PASSED. NEXT SUNDAY A TRAY FOR THE DINO ADAMIS PHILANTHROPIC FUND WILL BE PASSED BY THE LADIES SOCIETY

ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS PASSES AWAY AT AGE 93

Archbishop Iakovos, 93, spiritual leader of Greek Orthodox Christians in the Western Hemisphere from 1959 to 1996, died last Sunday, April 10, 2005 at Stamford Hospital, Stamford, CT, from a pulmonary ailment. Archbishop Demetrios said that Archbishop Iakovos “has been a superb Archbishop who offered to the Church an intense, continuous, multifaceted and creative pastoral activity. He has been a true and whole shepherd to his people trying day and night to teach them, to guide them, to comfort them, to encourage them, to edify them in Christ and to lead them as a loving shepherd to the 'springs of the living waters' (Rev. 7:17) of faith and life with God.” Funeral services were conducted this past Wednesday in New York and burial took place on Thursday on the grounds of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. He will be remembered today at Christ the Savior Church with Trisagion prayers. Eternal Memory!

TRISAGION: A Trisagion will be offered today by Fr. Stanley & Presbytera Emily on behalf of the rest of the soul of their daughter Katherine Mary DeFilippo and Presbytera’s sister, Katherine Gregerson. May their memories be eternal!

FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, April 10: Attendance 59; Stewardship $1,001; Visitor's Offering $50; Candles (including Friday 4/6) $104; Building Fund $180.

PROSFORON BAKERS: Presbytera Emily Harakas 4/17; George Nikas 4/22 (Presanctified Liturgy); Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 4/23 (Lazarus Saturday); Bette Ferriero 4/24; Gloria Vardakis 4/28 (Holy Thursday); Fran Mather 4/30 (Holy Saturday) Connie Mourgides 5/1 (Pascha Liturgy); Fran Triantafilon 5/8. George Nikas is the Coordinator. (597-1375).

FRIDAY FLOWERS: Flowers used to decorate the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the April 15th Friday Salutations were given this week by Fr. Stanley & Presbytera Emily Harakas in memory of their daughter Katherine Mary DeFilippo. May her memory be eternal!

PRESANCTIFIED DIVINE LITURGY: The PreSanctified Divine Liturgy is a unique Lenten Service combining a Vesper Service with the Divine Liturgy. The Body and Blood of Christ will be consecrated today and reserved until the PreSanctified Liturgy is conducted. This coming Friday, April 22 at 4:00 p.m. this special Liturgy will be conducted in our Chapel. To receive Holy Communion, eat only a light lunch and rest for a time until you come to Church for P.E.P. Eat nothing until after the PreSanctified Divine Liturgy. It will be followed by a very tasty Lenten Covered Dish Supper. Plan on attending!

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM Nancy Hurst, the Title I Parent Educator at Pine Grove Elementary School. “I mange the Family Resource Center at our school. On behalf of our school, I would truly like to say THANK YOU for all your help at the holidays for our needy families. I know, in my job, the importance of building trust through the creation of a relation-ship with the families is so important. I know that this must take place at your church because of the wonderful people who have continued to help build these relationships too. I send this heart filled message to thank all of you! We truly appreciate all of you!” Thank you Nancy!

LADIES SOCIETY MEETING: At the final meeting for the season last Sunday, April 10, it was decided that members of St. Katherine’s Ladies Society will contribute $10 dues from April, 2005 to April, 2006 for membership. Other decisions: the Board can spend up to $200 without approval from the whole membership; 20-25 IOCC “Gifts of the Heart” (Health Kits for Tsunami Victims) will be prepared by the members before sending them; a six page report on the Easter Adamis Food distribution was prepared by Helen Nicolelis. 14 families were assisted. In addition to food donations, $720.06 was spent from the Dino Adamis Philanthropic Fund; Kathy Lemonedes, Treasurer, made the financial report; the Agape Luncheon to support the Atlanta Metropolis charities will be held on Oct. 8 at St. George church in New Port Richey; Dawn Center welcome kits will be finished after church and delivered by Mothers’ Day. Everyone is reminded to look at the Bulletin Board in the Dining Hall each Sunday for announcements. A microwave donated by Dora Halvatzes and a TV were given to one of the families we support through Pine Grove Elementary School. The meeting was chaired by Emily Thomas, President. Mark your calendar for the first meeting in the Fall – September 11, 2004.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OUR PARISH: The Parish Council announces a General Assembly of the Parish for Sunday, May 15. All Stewards are urged to attend. The rules for voting at General Assemblies include that Stewards should be up to date with their contributions and that each adult Orthodox Christian in good standing may vote. A list of qualified voters will be available at the meeting. For any questions contact Secretary Dorothy Triantafilon or Membership Chair Bill Pasisis or Treasurer, Connie Mourgides.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE: You will soon be receiving your Holy Week Schedule of Services beginning with Palm Sunday on April 24. Pascha is celebrated by the Orthodox Church this year on Sunday, May 1. Please put the program in a prominent place and refer to it frequently. Come to Church during Holy Week as frequently as possible.

YOUR PASCHAL GIFT TO OUR CHURCH: Enclosed with the Holy Week Schedule will be an envelope for your Easter gift to Christ the Savior Church. At the present time we are not meeting our expenses. We need to give generously to cover our costs of operation. Please be generous with you Easter gift this year. Thank You!

FROM ST. JOHN’S LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT: “Let us who are weak with sins have the courage to offer our infirmity and natural weakness to Christ with unhesitating faith, and confess it to Him. And we shall be certain to obtain His help, even beyond our merit, if only we unceasingly go right down to the depths of humility.”

TODAY FOLLOWING

THE

DIVINE LITURGY

ANOINTING FOR HEALTH

Home
Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Diocese of Atlanta

Service hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am

Evening Services as Announced

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - Plagal 1st Tone

(Sing in English after the Entrance) "The Eternal Word" (Same).

Dismissal Hymn of the Feast - Sung in Greek by the Leaders "En soi miter akrivos".

BULLETIN SPONSOR: ANNA PRESTAGE

IN MEMORY OF MY PARENTS MARIA & JOHN KALOGEROS, SISTER LIBERTY AND BROTHER JOHN. ETERNAL MEMORY!