On December 20th, 2002, the Holy Synod of the Holy Patriarchate of Constantinople elevated our Holy Diocese to become the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta and His Grace, Bishop Alexios of Atlanta to His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.  He was enthroned as Metropolitan on May 31, 2003.

     He was born Anthimos Panagiotopoulos, on Christmas day, Dec. 25, 1943, in Patras, Greece, to Spyridon and Angeliki Panagiotopoulos. He is the oldest of five brothers and two sisters. He was tonsured a monk at Vatopedion Monastery in 1963 and graduated from the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy in 1964. In November 1965, he was ordained to the diaconate and served as archdeacon of the Metropolis of Patras until he entered the National Kapodistrian University School of Theology in Athens. While in Athens, he served as deacon at the churches of St. Panteleimon and St. Spyridon.     

      He was ordained to the priesthood on Aug. 27, 1972 and assigned to St. Sophia Church in Patras, while living as a brother of the Gerokomion Monastery of the Virgin Mary. Following his graduation from the University of Athens School of Theology in 1973, he enrolled in the Boston University School of Theology and received a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1977. While at BU, he served as pastor of Dormition Church in Burlington, VT. He returned to Patras upon completion of his studies and served as Abbott of the Gerokomion Monastery. A year later, he was summoned back to the United States to serve as dean of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Brooklyn, N.Y., then was transferred to the Hellenic Orthodox Community in 1979.

       The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elevated the Very Rev. Anthimos to the episcopacy as Bishop of Troas on April 7, 1987. He assumed the name Alexios upon his consecration by Archbishop Iakovos on May 17, 1987. He was enthroned a month later at St. Demetrios Cathedral as the first Choroepiscopos for the Hellenic Community of Astoria. He was assigned the parishes in Queens, Long Island, southern Connecticut and Upstate New York on Jan. 1, 1989, and also was named director of the Hellenic Cultural Center in Astoria.

      Bishop Alexios served the Atlanta Diocese as Archiepiscopal Vicar of the Atlanta Diocese from Jan. 1, 1997 until his election and enthronement as Bishop of Atlanta on May 22, 1999, and subsequent election and enthronement as Metropolitan on May 31, 2003.  He celebrates his name day on March 17th. We welcome our spiritual father to our community today.  God grant him many years.

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

Evening Services as Announced.

SUNDAY OF THE PHARISEE & PUBLICAN

Gospel Entrance Hymns

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection- 5th Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) (“Ton Sinnarnarkhon Logon”) Hymnal, 85-86

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ - (Text): “Hail, O Mother of God, Virgin full of Grace. Through you did arise the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those in darkness. And you made glad righteous Elder Simeon, receiving and embracing the liberation of our souls; also giving to us the resurrection.”

Dismissal Hymns and Kontakion are chanted by the Metropolitan & clergy following the Entrance  with the Gospel.

Kontakion of Publican & Pharisee: (translation) “Let us flee the boastful words of the Pharisee and learn humility from the sighs of the Publican; let us cry out to the Savior: Spare us for You alone are rich in forgiveness.”

Return to page 26 for “Holy God” and for the Epistle and Gospel Readings, see bulletin insert

EPISTLE: II Timothy 3: 10-15

imothy, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

GOSPEL: St. Luke 18: 9-14

he Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

   TODAY, we welcome His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, our spiritual father and bishop, for his first pastoral visit to our community.  His Eminence will conduct a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and preach.  May God grant him many years!

   FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, February 13th: Attendance: 56; Stewardship: $737; Candles: $88; Visitors: $17; Building Fund: $119.

   PARISH LUNCHEON: There will be a parish luncheon in honor of the Metropolitan’s visit following Liturgy this morning.

   FAST-FREE WEEK: This coming week is a fast-free week on our liturgical calendar.  Meat and dairy products are allowed on both Wednesday and Friday.

   BENEFIT DINNER: The Outback Steak House is sponsoring a dinner to benefit our parish on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at 6:00 pm at The Senior Citizen Club of Hernando County on Cave Hill Road across from Target on US 19 in Spring Hill.  Tickets are $10 per person. Call Dee Nikas at 597-1375 for tickets.

   MEMORIAL SERVICE:  There will be a one-year Memorial Service following the Liturgy today for the repose of George Roussos at the request of his wife and children. Memory Eternal.

   SATURDAY OF SOULS: The annual Saturday of Souls, when we commemorate the memories of our departed relatives and friends, occurs on Saturday, March 5^th. There will be Orthros at 9:30 am followed by a Divine Liturgy & Memorial Service at 10:00 am. Kindly print plainly the names of the departed for inclusion in our Memorial prayers. Helpful forms are available at the rear of the church.

   PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM: P.E.P.: Friday February 25th at 2:00 pm. A video series on the Creed will be shown. John Hatzi will lead the discussion.

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Argyris & Carol Gymnaos 2/27/05; Chrysokaty Georgacopulos 3/5; Fran Triantafilon 3/13; Fran Mather 3/20; Chrysokaty Georgacopulos 3/25; To join the Prosforon bakers, please call George Nikas, Chairman (597-1375).

   BULLETIN SPONSORS NEEDED for April 2005. To reserve your Sunday sponsorship, call Connie Mourgides at 686-0589. Each weekly issue costs $25. Your donation would be most helpful and appreciated.

   FOOD DRIVE 2005 Once again we are planning to prepare food baskets to be distributed to needy families of Hernando County at Easter.  Please plan to bring food items before March 20th to be included in the baskets that will be distributed on or before Western Easter, March 27th. Contact Helen Nicolelis, chairperson at (352) 684-1219.

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566
SPRING HILL, FL 34611
“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

PLAN TO ATTEND

OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE

DINNER-March 8^th.

Hernando County Senior Citizen Center

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