Today’s Saints: Justin the Philosopher; the Martyrs Justin, Chariton, Charita, Hierax,

6th SUNDAY AFTER PASCHA – THE MIRACLE OF THE MAN BORN BLIND

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn for Pascha Sung in Greek before the Entrance ("Christos Aneste…").

Priest’s Entrance Hymn: In the congregations bless God, the Lord who springs out of Israel.

Priest & People: Save us O Son of God who did rise from the dead, we sing to You, Alleluia.

Dismissal Hymn – Plagal 1st Tone

  (Sing in English before the Entrance) "The Eternal Word" Hymnal, 85-86.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (Sing) From the sheet in the pew.

Kontakion for Pascha sung in Greek by the leaders “Ei ke en tafo.”

   (Read) Even though You descended into the grave, / O immortal One, / You destroyed the power of Hades; / and You arose as victor, / O Christ our God, / saying to the myrrh-bearing women, / “Hail!” / and to Your Apostles granting peace; / You also grant resurrection to the fallen.

EPISTLE – Acts 16:16-34 (Man Born Blind

n those days, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, “These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

GOSPEL – John 9:1-38 (Man Born Blind)

t that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he”; others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.” So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe”: and he worshiped him.

   In the Place of “Truly it is proper ” leaders sing in Greek “O Angelos eboa, Fotizou”

   (Read) The Angel cried out to the one full of Grace: / Hail! Holy Virgin, and again I say, Hail! / Your Son has risen from the tomb on the third day. / Shine, shine, / the New Jerusalem! / For the glory of the Lord has dawned upon You. / Rejoice now and be glad, O Zion; / and You, O all-pure Theotokos, / delight in the Resurrection of Him, / to Whom you gave birth.

   In the place of the Communion Hymn (Praise Him) (Sing) “Soma Christou” – “Body of Christ” Hymnal, p. 104.

   In the place of “We have seen the light” (Sing) “Christos Anesti,”  Christ is Risen . . .

  FOR THE RECORD: Sunday, May 25, 2008. Candles $93; Visitors’ Donations $61; Candles $68; Visitors’ Donations $31; Coffee Hour $17 (5/11) and $26 (5/25); Stewardship $690; Bulletin $25.

   The Luau on Saturday, May 24 brought in $338.00. Everyone attending had a great time. We are most grateful to Emily Thomas and Helene Arvanites, co-chairs and their committee for making this event a great church family experience!

    SPECIAL THANKS: Elaine Underwood gave $600 towards the Coffee Hour as a special “Thank You!” to Harriet Pasisis for all the years she and Bill ran the Coffee Hour. We are all grateful to Elaine, for this expression of appreciation to Harriet and Bill for their faithful service at the Coffee Hour.

   PARISH COUNCIL CANDLE STAND ASSIGNMENTS: June 1 - George Maniates, Bill Pasisis; June 8 - Achilles Thomas & Venice Cosmadelis; June 15 -  George Angeliadis & Bill Pasisis; June 22 - Argiris & Carol Gymnaos; June 29- Helene Arvanitis & Venice Cosmadelis.

   PROSFORON BAKING RESUMES: Argiri & Carol Gymnaos 6/1; George Nikas 6/8; Diane Covington 6/15; Stacy Underwood Humbert 6/22; Presbytera Emily Harakas 6/9; Bette Ferriero 7/6; Venice Cosmadelis 7/13. Thanks!

   HOSPITAL VISITS: Starting in June for the Summer, Fr. Stanley will visit hospitals once weekly. If a family member is hospitalized, please call.

   ASCENSION DAY,  Thursday, June 5 – Orthros 9:30am / D. Liturgy 10am.

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

Postmaster: Address Correction Requested