FROM THE MARCH REFLECTIONS OF ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS

ur Orthodox Christian faith is imbued with a spirit of joy and reassuring hope, for we rest secure in the knowledge that our victory over sin, evil, and death has been secured by Christ. Yet, how is it that people who are genuinely committed to living their lives in the Christian faith, a faith which has the "power to move mountains" (Matthew 21:21), can experience considerable levels of anxiety, even to the point of being emotionally overwhelmed?

   Several answers to this question may be offered.

   As members of a highly advanced technological society, it is not surprising that the hyper-saturation of stimuli available to us results not in feelings of satisfaction, but rather in feelings of uneasiness. These stimuli place heavy pressures upon us. For example, popular magazines place strong pressures upon women and men to meet what society has deemed as “appropriate standards for success.” For newly married couples, the balancing of work and family life is a stressful adjustment indeed; and for all married couples, the financial pressures associated with family expenses, child education, or elderly care indeed

carry enormous stress.  

  The invaluable remedies offered by our Orthodox Christian Church may provide us with inner strength and wisdom that we need in order to overcome pressures, and to ultimately arrive, in the midst of painful feelings, at a level of tranquility that St. Paul describes as "the peace of God which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). One of these remedies is our participation in the Sacraments of the Church, especially our regular receiving of Holy Communion, where we partake of the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Other means for the healing grace of God are our encountering of His Word in reading the Holy Scriptures, our prayer, our spiritual exercise of fasting, especially during this period of Holy Lent, our fellowship with our neighbors, and our expressions of

love and philanthropy to others in need.

    Ultimately, it is our faith in the God of peace and love that constitutes the absolute remedy to any anxiety, stress, uneasiness, or depression. It is in this spirit that I fervently pray that we may remain confident in the love of our Lord for us always, encouraged by the eternal joy and unlimited hope of our Christian beliefs, as we grow as human beings

fully alive and forever protected by His infinite mercy and care.
                                                                      + DEMETRIOS, Archbishop of America
                                                                                             

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

1st LENT - SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY 

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. BASIL AND PROCESSION OF ICONS

Dismissal Hymn of the Sunday of Orthodoxy

   Sung in Greek before the Entrance by the Leaders  “Ten achranton eikona Sou”

   (Sing the Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection Plagal 1^st Tone in English after the Entrance )“ Eternal  with the Father. . . ”). (Hymnal, 85).

   Read the Dismissal Hymn of the Sunday of Orthodoxy: Your pure icon do we venerate, / O good One, / asking forgiveness for our sins, / O Christ our God; / for by Your own will, You did ascend the Cross in Your body, /to save your people from the bondage of the enemy. / You have truly filled all with joy, / since You came, / O our Savior, / to save the world. 

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

Kontakion of Lent: Sing in Greek “Tee Ypermacho. . .”  Hymnal, 98

   Sung in Greek by the Leaders: “Tes sophias odege . . .”

  O Lord, / all those who followed wisely the ways of God, / the Light of the Universe, were filled with joy, / for they have preached and practiced piety / and prevented evil deeds. / Through their intercession, / reserve in perfect peace / those who praise You and glorify Your name, / that they may sing to You “Alleluia!”

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

EPISTLE – Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

rethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

GOSPEL – John 1:44-52 (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

t that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."

THERE WILL BE TWO TRAYS TODAY- 1) FOR STEWARDSHIP OR FOR VISITORS’ OFFERING; 2) THE BUILDING FUND

  FOR THE RECORD: March 5 – Attendance 45; Stewardship $1,709.00; Candles $78; Collected so far for Easter - Holy Week Flowers $320.

  VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN THE GROUNDS – THIS SATURDAY: Bring gloves, pruning shears, rakes, shovels and other garden tools, Saturday, March 18 at 9:00 a.m. and help beautify our property in preparation for Holy Week and Pascha. Its fun! Come!

  telephone Directory: You can help this project by soliciting advertising for the Directory. Call Cathy at 684-4082 to help! Can you solicit two business ads? Can you solicit one business ad? If you can’t solicit – can you be a Booster?

  NEEDED: EASTER FOOD BASKET DONATIONS: Our Food Pantry needs to be stocked. All non-perishable food items will be deeply appreciated so that we may be able to help those in need. Suggested non-perishable food items for our Easter Food Baskets: Apple Sauce, Pineapple (sliced or bits), French-style Green Beans, Peas, Corn and Carrots. The Ladies Society will buy other foods from the Adamis Fund.   

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Connie Mourgides 3/5; Fran Mather 3:12;. Argiris & Carol Gymnaos 3/19; Fran Triantafilon 3/25 (Annunciation). Helen Nicolelis 3/26; Gloria Vardakis 4/2; Bette Ferriero 4/9, Venice Cosmadelis 4/14 (Pre-Sanctified Liturgy); Presbytera Emily Harakas 4/15 (Saturday of Lazarus); George Nikas 4/16; To become a Prosforon Baker, speak to George Nikas, Prosforon Chairman -597-1375.

   SERVICES OF THE SALUTATION TO THE THEOTOKOS will be held on the Fridays of Great Lent in the Chapel. The flowers for the Icon of the Theotokos have all been subscribed for. The flowers for second Friday Salutations, March 17, are being offered by George & Dee Nikas for blessings for good health and healing for their niece  Barbara.You are asked to bring a Lenten dish for the Lenten Covered Dish Supper  following the Service of the Salutations to the Theotokos.

   THE PARISH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM (P.E.P.) Friday, March 17 we will discuss several of the Lenten hymns. For Great Lent, we start at 2:30 pm.

   HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill: Kosti Yoanides, Emanoil Kalfa, Costas Panou, Ioannis Andrikos, Evangelos Dapsis. Brooksville Regional: John Demetriades. Rapid recovery!

   PAN-ORTHODOX VESPERS: The Tampa Bay Pan-Orthodox Vespers will be held tonight at St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church at 3600 76^th St. N., in Saint Petersburg, FL at 6:00 p.m. We will car pool by meeting here at the Church at 4:15 p.m. and leave promptly at 4:30 p.m. Come to this very special event! A reception follows the Vespers.

    SYMPATHY to Patricia and Stephen Heuer on the recent death of Patricia’s uncle, Thomas Brady. The funeral was this past Sunday in Tampa. We pray that God grant Patricia and Stephen comfort and strength in their loss. “Eternal Memory!”

CHRIST THE SAVIOR

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

P.O. BOX 5566

SPRING HILL, FL 34611

Today, Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers

 - Car-Pool to St. Petersburg: Meet at

   our parking lot at 4:15. We leave at

   4:30 p.m. Reception Follows!

March 17, Friday

   - P.E.P. at 2:30 p.m.-Lenten Hymns

   - 4 p.m. 2nd Salutations to the Theotokos

   - Lenten Covered Dish Supper

March 18, Saturday

- Holy Confession 2-3 p.m. Chapel

March 18, 2nd Sunday of Lent

   - St. Gregory Palamas

   - Orthros, 9:30 a.m. Liturgy 10 a.m.

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