Contents
The Orthodox Messenger
- The Weekly Newsletter of the Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County
- Vol. I, No. 15– Sunday, April 28, 2002
- Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County
- “A Pan-Orthodox Community”
- Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Diocese of Atlanta
- Meeting at St. Nicholas Chapel, 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL - (352) 796-8482
- The Hellenic Orthodox Mission Website: http://worship.nu/hellenicorthodoxmission/index.htm
- FR. STANLEY S. HARAKAS, PROTOPRESBYTER - (352) 688-2382 (Afternoons and Evenings)
- HOLY WEEK
-
- Service Hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. - Evening Services as announced.
- PALM SUNDAY – Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
- Saints: The Nine Martyrs of Kyzicos: Theognidos, Rufos, Antipater, Theostoichos,
- Artemas, Magnos, Theodotos, Thavmasilas and Philemon (+3rd c.); Righteous Memnon, Wonderworker (2nd c.)
Holy Week draws Orthodox Christians 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 evening, Holy Monday and Tuesday, we are prepared for the events to come. Holy Wednesday, the Sacrament of Holy Unction is conducted for the "forgiveness of sins" and 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 painful 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!
EPISTLE
– Philippians 4:4-9
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
Six days
before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom
Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha
served, and Lazarus 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 Lazarus, whom he had raised
from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus 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 ass and sat upon it; as it is
written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming,
sitting on an ass'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 Lazarus 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.
- Dismissal Hymn – For Lazarus
- (Sing in Greek By the Leaders) (“Ten Koinen Anastasin”) before the Gospel Entrance.
- (Read in English after the Gospel Entrance) O Christ God, when You raised Lazarus from the dead before Your Passion, You confirmed the universal resurrection. Wherefore we, like babes, carry the insignia of triumph and victory, and cry to You, O Vanquisher of death, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.
- Dismissal Hymn - Palm Sunday
- (Read) O Christ God, when we were buried with You in Baptism, we received the blessing of Your Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise You, crying, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.
- Kontakion for Palm Sunday
- (Read) Borne upwards upon the heavenly throne, and seated upon the earthly foal, O Christ our God, receive the praises of angels and the hymns of men, exclaiming before You, Blessed is He that comes to restore Adam.
- In Place of “Axion Esti” the hymn “Theos Kyrios . . . systesate eorten” will be sung in Greek By the Leaders). (Translation: The Lord is God and has appeared to us; let us keep the feast together. Come, and with great rejoicing let us magnify Christ with palms and branches, and let us cry aloud: Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord our Savior.)
- In Place of the Communion Hymn (“Aineite”) the Leaders will sing in Greek, the hymn “Evlogemenos o erhomenos” (Translation: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.)
- ANNOUNCEMENTS
- STEWARDS OF PROSFORON BAKING: Connie Mourgides Apr. 28 (Palm Sunday); Helen Nicolelis – May 2 (Holy Thursday); George Nikas – May 4 (Holy Saturday); Fran Triantafilon – May 5 (Pascha). Gloria Vardakis – May 12; Venice Cosmadelis – May 19; Bette Ferriero – May 26; Fran Mather – June 2. Our Prosforon Coordinator is George Nikas (597-1375). If you would like to bake the Prosforon, please call him.
- CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE: http://worship.nu/hellenicorthodoxmission/index.htm .
- PALM SUNDAY FISH DINNER: Today, our annual FISH DINNER will be held immediately following Divine Liturgy. The cost is $6. See Venice Cosmadelis for tickets.
- FUNERAL SERVICES were conducted for the rest of the soul of the late Paul Robert McGraw on Wednesday, April 24 from the Chapel. May his memory be eternal!
- HOLY WEEK SERVICES PROGRAM: A few copies of our Holy Week Services Program for 2002 are available at the Candle Counter. Please take one if you have not received your copy in the mail.
- PARISH LIBRARY AND BOOKSTORE COMMITTEE members are Venice Cosmadelis, Theona Hatzi, Helen Nicolelis and Harriet Pasisis. The organizational meeting will be held after Pascha. Donations for the work of the Committee are welcome!
- BIRTHDAYS FOR MAY: Armando Cologna-5/3; Vera Fondules-5/7; Maria Grande-5/8; Mary Mavrogian-5/11; Michael Noyes Jr.-5/12; Delcie Kelo-5/16; Connie Mourgides-5/25; Fran Mather-5/1. Many happy returns!
- WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES FOR MAY: Louis and Mary Mavrogian-5/11; Spiros and Cathy Lemonedes-5/19; Bill and Ruby Hazivasilis-5/19; Henry and Anna Prestage-5/23. Blessings! Birthday and Anniversary Prayers will be offered on May 12.
- THIS WEEK’S SPONSOR:
- “The heart is the happiest when it beats for others” (John 15:13)
- John, Theona & Peter Hatzi
- HELLENIC ORTHODOX MISSION
- OF HERNANDO COUNTY
- P.O. BOX 5566
- SPRING HILL, FL 34611
- “A Pan-Orthodox Community”