The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. V, No. 3 – Sunday, January 15, 2006

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

WHY?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CHRIST THE SAVIOR CHURCH

   WHY is the Church named “Christ the Savior”? Is this right? Yes! A short time ago archeologists uncovered “the earliest church in Israel” from the late 200s that had been dedicated to “The God Jesus Christ.” In Greek, our name is “Tou` Swth`ro~ Cristou`” (“too Soteros Christou”). Our feast is February 2, the Presentation of Christ at the Temple.”

  WHY do you sing during the services? Shouldn’t choirs and cantors do that? We do what the first Christians did in worship. The service books of the first centuries of Christianity do not say that Choirs should sing the hymns and responses, but that they should be sung by the “Laov~,” that is, “by the People.” We have revived that ancient tradition.

  WHY do you use mostly English in the services? Again, in the early Church, the worship was in the language of the people. We do the same so that we worship “with understanding” as St. Paul says. But we also include a little bit of Greek, Slavonic, Romanian, Arabic and Albanian, to remind us of our various backgrounds in our “Pan-Orthodox” mission parish.

  WHY does the Priest read some of the “secret” prayers aloud? Because they were originally written for the people to hear and say “Amen” to them. Only many centuries later were they said silently in order to conserve time. We move the service a bit faster so that all can hear many of these beautiful prayers.

  WHY do the people declare a Stewardship of Time and Talents? In the Liturgy we say, “Let us commit ourselves and one another, and our whole life to Christ our God.” We do that by serving the Lord with the talents and gifts God has given each of us. That way we serve the Lord and His Church with our whole life.

  WHY do you declare a Stewardship of Treasure to support the church? St. Paul teaches us that we should give freely, and without constraint to support the Lord’s work Each household gives to the church as much as they are able to do the Lord’s work.

  WHY does the parish have a Dino Adamis Philanthropic Fund? When we first started in January of 2002, a homeless Greek man from New York was killed riding his bicycle on Rt. 19. Our mission arranged for his burial with donated funds. The money that was left over became a fund to help the poor, homeless and hungry. It is now managed by the St. Katherine’s Ladies Society of our parish. We call it the Dino Adamis Philanthropic Fund.

  HERE’S A QUESTION FOR YOU!

  WHY not  bless you life by regularly attending Christ the Savior Orthodox Church?

        Service Hours: Sundays and Feast Days: Orthros at 9:30 am; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am

12th SUNDAY OF LUKE – THE 10 LEPERS

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 1st Plagal 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 St. John Kalyvites

   (Read) From infancy fervently you loved / and longed for the Lord; / you therefore renounced the world / and every worldly delight, / and excelled in ascetic feats. / You set the hut you dwelt in / before the gates of your parents. / Therein, all-blessed spiritual athlete, / you crushed the snares of demons. / Therefore, / Christ has glorified you, / O John.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the pews)

Kontakion of the Feast of the Presentation of Christ

   Sung in Greek by the Leaders: “O metran partheniken . . .”

  (Read) O Christ our God / who through your birth / have sanctified the virginal womb / and have blessed the arms of Simeon. Today You have come to save us. / O Lord keep Your people in peace / when wars are raging / and strengthen our public authorities / in every good deed, / for You alone loves all people.

Turn to pp. 26-27 of the Hymnal, for “Holy God . . . .”

EPISTLE – Colossians 3:4-11 (29th Sunday, Forefathers)

rethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

GOSPEL – Luke 17:12-19 (12th Sunday- The 10 Lepers)

t that time, as Jesus entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus: “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him: “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

THERE WILL BE ONE TRAY TODAY- FOR STEWARDSHIP OR VISITOR OFFERINGS

  A ONE YEAR MEMORIAL Service with Kolyva was offered last Sunday, January 8 by Dee Nikas for the rest of the soul of her late sister Helen Alexiades. Eternal Memory!

  FOR THE RECORD: December 25, 2005 - Attendance 46; Stewardship $32; Visitor Offering $270; Candles $152. January 1, 2006 - Attendance 22; Stewardship $615; Visitor Offering $8; Candles $39. January 8 – Attendance 58; Stewardship $737; Visitor Offering $47; Candles $97; Building Fund Tray $103.

  MANY THANKS! to Athena Bendo for her donation of $100 to the Building Fund for prayers in memory of her late husband Dr. George J. Bendo. Memory Eternal! And to Mary Palivides for her donation of $100 to the Building Fund. We are grateful!

  DID YOU NOTICE the two new beautiful Stainless Steel Coffee Urns for use during our Coffee Hour and other affairs? They were donated by Bill and Harriet Pasisis. We are very grateful. Thank you!

  MISSION PARISH COUNCIL: The following ten members of the Council took the “Affirmation of Office” on Sunday, January 8, 2006: Seraphim Ferriero; Demetri Hazivasilis; Spero Lemonedes; Connie Mourgides; George Nikas; Constantine Pappas; William Pasisis; Dorothy Triantafilon; John Tsausis and Gloria Vardakis. Absent were Stephen Heuer and Peter Nicolelis. At the meeting immediately following, these officers were elected by the Council: President – Connie Mourgides; Vice President - Gloria Vardakis; Recording Secretary – Seraphim Ferriero; Corresponding Secretary - Dorothy Triantafilon. Congratulations! We are still in anticipation of the election of a Treasurer, the person having been elected, subsequently declined the office. The first meeting of the 2006 Parish Council will be this Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Connie Mourgides 1/15. Presbytera Emily Harakas 1/22; Argiris & Carol Gymnaos 1/29; Fran Triantafilon 2/2 (Presentation of Christ). Helen Nicolelis 2/5; Gloria Vardakis 2/12; Bette Ferriero 2/19; George Nikas 1/8. Prosforon baking is spiritually rewarding. To find out how, call George Nikas, Prosforon Chairman, at 597-1375. We thank all these committed Prosforon Bakers for their service.

   THE ANNUAL “VASILOPITA” for the benefit of the St. Basil’s Children’s home of our Archdiocese in Garrison, NY will be held today Sunday, January 15, 2006, after Church services, with a Pot-Luck Luncheon. Come and enjoy a meal and make a contribution when you receive your piece of Vasilopita – Will you win the coin and a special blessing for the New Year? All contributions will be donated to the children of St. Basil’s Academy in Garrison NY, our Archdiocese childcare facility..

   ST. KATHERINE LADIES SOCIETY MEETING: President Emily Thomas is calling the first meeting of the St. Katherine Ladies Society for Sunday, January 29 following the Divine Liturgy and Coffee Hour. All women Stewards and Friends of Christ the Savior Church are invited to attend.

   THE PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (P.E.P.) for Friday, January 20 will be about “The Orthodox Church: How Our Church Began.” We start at 2:00 p.m.

   REALLY NEEDED! We have need of Bulletin Sponsors! No one yet for next week! Or for most of February. Bulletin Sponsors contribute $25 with a short message for health, birthday, anniversary, memory or other, to help make our Orthodox Messenger possible. To become a Bulletin Sponsor call President Connie Mourgides – 686-0589.

   HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill: Arthur Vozeolas and Kosti Yoanidis. We pray for a rapid recovery! Please inform Fr. Stanley when you or a family member is hospitalized.

   PLEASE SEND IN YOUR STEWARDSHIP DECLARATIONS IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO AS YET. YOUR SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR MISSION. DON’T DELAY! SEND THEM IN TODAY!

  DID YOU KNOW that almost 80,000 people participated in the events of the Patriarch’s visit to Tarpon Springs and the Tampa Bay area? The events were covered by television all over the world, in North and South America, Europe, the Mid-East, Asia and Africa. We are grateful for this wonderful blessing for our Cathedral and our area!

FIND STRENGTH, INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE FOR YOUR LIFE IN CHURCH ON SUNDAYS!

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

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