Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church

Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church - Presentation of Christ at the Temple
The Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County, Florida - “A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”
Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Metropolis of Atlanta
13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL - (352) 796-8482
Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org
Fr. Stanley S. Harakas, Th.D, D.D., (352) 688-2382; Cell (352) 263-3005; Fax (352) 688-9846;
Email: Rharakas@aol.com.

alm Sunday celebrates the glorious and brilliant feast of the Entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. The Old Testament Prophet Zechariah had prophesied the entrance of the Messiah into Jerusalem, saying: "Rejoice greatly . . . O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King comes unto Thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
The contemporary Jews associated this prophecy with the expected Messiah. This action of Christ testifies to His nature as Savior, but with the definite declaration that His Kingdom: was not of this world. The news that Christ was in Bethany after He had raised Lazarus on the fourth day after his death, provoked a general enthusiasm of acceptance, but also of indignation among the High Priests, who had decided to kill Christ. The main road leading to Jerusalem was covered with palm trees. The multitudes, with palm branches in their hands, spread their cloaks on the road as a show of respect, crying out-. "Hosanna to the Son of David ,- blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.” All the actions and words of the people and, of Christ had a Messianic meaning readily recognized by the Jews of that time. As usual, Christ went immediately to the Temple, where He prayed and taught. That evening He departed for Bethany. A custom of distributing branches of palms to the people in the Church prevails to this day, commemorating the victory of Christ against the evil powers.

Saints:
Righteous George of Maleon; Theodoulos and Agathopodos, Martyrs (+303); Priest-Martyr Niketas the Younger of Serra (+1808); Plato of Studion and Righeous Zosimos (6th c.); Thomas, Bishop of Thessalonica; Joseph of Kiev; Isadore, Bishop of Seville.

PALM SUNDAY

Gospel Entrance and Other Hymn Changes

Dismissal Hymn in English After Doxology: Sung by Leaders "Syntafendes."
   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 aloud, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are You, the One who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Second Antiphon – Save us, O Son of God, who was seated upon the foal of a donkey, we sing to You: Alleluia.
Dismissal Hymn of Palm Sunday
   (Sung by the Leaders Greek before the Entrance) “Ten keenen anastasin”
Priest’s Entrance Hymn: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
(Priest and People Sing) Save us, O Son of God, who was seated upon the foal of a donkey, we sing to You: Alleluia.
Dismissal Hymns of Palm Sunday
   (Read after the Entrance) 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.”
   (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 aloud, / “Hosanna in the highest! / Blessed are You, the One who comes in the name of the Lord.”
   Kontakion of Palm Sunday
   (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 the One, / who is coming to call Adam back again.
Return to page 26 (“Holy God”) and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

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.

ix days before 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 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 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.

In the Place of “Axion Esti” Hymnal, p. 54, the Leaders sing in Greek “Theos Kyrios . . . systesate eorten”

(Read) God is the Lord, / and has appeared to us. / Let us celebrate the Feast, and let us rejoice and magnify Christ; and with palms and branches, / let us raise our voices to Him with praise, / saying, “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

In the Place of the Communion Hymn “Praise the Lord,” Hymnal, p. 66, the leaders sing, “Evlogemenos o erchomenos.”

In the Place of the Post-Communion Hymn, Hymnal, p. 70 the Leaders sing “Ten Keenen 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.”

FOR THE RECORD: March 25 - Annunciation, Attendance - 38; Candles - $42. March 26 - Akathist, Attendance - 34; Candles - $25. Sunday, March 28 – Attendance - 58; Candles -$75; Offering - $99; Hospitality - $33; Adamis Philanthropic Fund - $147. Many thanks!

THANKS! To Bill & Harriet Pasisis for the donation of a set of china dishes to our Church.

TODAY! PALM SUNDAY FISH LUNCHEON!

Immediately After Divine Liturgy in the Newly Renovated Dining Hall
Adults $9; Ages 6-12 $4; 5 & Under Free!

2004 PARISH DIRECTORY: April 15 is the deadline for advertisement solicitations. Please contact as many businesses as you can for an advertisement. Call Helen Nicolelis with last minute ads at 684-1219. Your help is essential! Make this effort a big success!

PROSFORON BAKERS: Presbytera Emily 4/3 (Saturday of Lazarus). George Nikas 4/4 (Palm Sunday); Eleni Nicolelis 4/9 (Holy Saturday); Connie Mourgides 4/11 (Pascha); Betty Roussos 4/18 (Thomas Sunday). George Nikas - Prosforon Coordinator.

HOLY WEEK MAILING: The Holy Week Program, with an Envelope for your Easter Offering to Christ the Savior Church and an envelope for the names of your deceased family members for commemoration on Great Friday, have been mailed. In case you have not received yours, you can get an envelope with the Holy Week Program from the back table.