Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church

alm Sunday summons us to behold our king: the Word of God made flesh. We are called to behold Him not simply as the One who came to us once riding on a colt, but as the One who is always present in His Church, coming ceaselessly to us in power and glory at every Eucharist, in every prayer and sacrament, and in every act of love, kindness and mercy. He comes to free us from all our fears and insecurities, "to take solemn possession of our soul, and to be enthroned in our heart," as someone has said. He comes not only to deliver us from our deaths by His death and resurrection, but also to make us capable of attaining the most perfect fellowship or union with Him. He is the king, who liberates us from the darkness of sin and the bondage of death. Palm Sunday summons us to behold our king: the vanquisher of death and the giver of life.

We draw our identity from Christ and His kingdom. The kingdom is Christ - His indescribable power, boundless mercy and incom-prehensible abundance given freely to man. The kingdom does not lie at some point or place in the distant future. In the words of the Scripture, the kingdom of God is not only at hand (Mt 3.2; 4.17), it is within us (Lk 17.21). The kingdom is a present reality as well as a future realization (Mt 6.10). Theophan the Recluse wrote the following words about the inward rule of Christ the King:

The Kingdom of God is within us when God reigns in us, when the soul in its depths confesses God as its Master, and is obedient to Him in all its powers. Then God acts within it as master "both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil 2.13). This reign begins as soon as we resolve to serve God in our Lord Jesus Christ, by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Then the Christian hands over to God his consciousness and freedom, which comprises the essential substance of our human life, and God accepts the sacrifice; and in this way the alliance of man with God and God with man is achieved.

The Son and Word of the Father, like Him without beginning and eternal, has come today to the city of Jerusalem, seated on a dumb beast, on a foal. From fear the cherubim dare not gaze upon Him; yet the children honor Him with palms and branches, and mystically they sing a hymn of praise: "Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna to the Son of David, who has come to save from error all mankind.”

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

Evening Services as Announced

SAINTS: Righteous Elizabeth, Wonderworker (+540); Savvas the Commander, Martyr (+272); Felix, Fortunatos & Achilles, Clergy Martyrs; Loukas (+1546), Akiline, & Nicholas (+1776) and George, Neomartyrs; Doukas of Mytilene (+1564).

Dismissal Hymn Following Doxology – Sung by the Leaders in Greek “Syntafendes sou”

(Translation): 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.”

Sing “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.”

EPISTLE - Philippians 4:4-9 (Palm Sunday) Brethren, 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) Six 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.

SPECIAL THANKS to Fr. Gerasimos Murphy for leading us in serving the Divine Liturgy since the end of January to last Sunday, and for conducting in such an instructive way, the Parish Education programs during that period. Fr. Jerry, “God grant you many years!”

BULLETIN SPONSOR: NICHOLAS MARTY

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY YIAYIA ALICE MARTY

FOLLOWING THE EASTER LITURGY

The Traditional “Mageritsa” soup will be prepared by Bill Hazivasilis for our enjoyment. We are very appreciative of this expression of Christian love. Many thanks!

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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 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!”

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

Sponsored by Yanni’s Restaurant

BULLETIN SPONSOR: NICHOLAS MARTY

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY YIAYIA ALICE MARTY