The Dove

  SATURDAY OF SOULS: On Saturday, March 8, we will commemorate the 2st Saturday of Souls at the Cathedral on Parker Street. Orthros begins at 8:30 am followed by the Divine Liturgy & Memorial Service at 10:00 am. ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ: Το Σάββατο, 1 Μαρτίου, θα έχουμε το 2ο Ψυχοσάββατο  στον  Καθεδρικό Ναό. Ο Όρθρος θα  αρχίσει στις 8.30 πμ. και θα ακολουθήσει η Θεία Λειτουργία και το Μνημόσυνο στις 10:00 πμ.

  Upcoming News & Events WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. George after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Jim Karimbakas, Stephen Dragotakes; Greeter: Constantine T. Kechris; Ushers: Dimitri Zaferacopoulos, Nicholas Bouritsas, Charlie Eliopoulos, Lula Kiflit. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of George and Kalliroe Georgountzos, Theone and Vasilios Orphanos, Aglaia and Sotirios Chrysikos, Eugenia Georgountzos and Menelaos Kariofyllis. Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the soul o...

  INTRODUCTION - The Sunday of the Last Judgment is the third Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During this time, the services of the Church have begun to include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. On this day, focus is placed on the future judgment of all persons who will stand before the throne of God when Christ returns in His glory.

St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was “fruitful in every good work” (Col. 1:10), was born in the 1st c., and lived in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was orphaned at an early age, but at the direction of an angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and the infirm. He was very fond of and close to St. Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna (Feb. 6). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting to him to preach the Word of God in church. He also ordained him to the holy priesthood. The holy Apostle John the Theologian was still alive at this time. St. Polycarp was especially close to St. John, and sometimes accompanied him on his apostolic journeys. Shortly before his death, St. Bucolus expressed his wish that Polycarp be made Bishop of Smyrna. When St. Polycarp was consecrated as a bishop, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him. St. Polycarp guided his flock with apostolic ...

 

In all scripture you will not find a more striking account of God’s understanding and love than in this morning’s reading, recorded for us by St. Luke, of the story of the forgiving father. It is unfortunate that over the centuries this parable has come to be known as that of the Prodigal Son, because it is that father who is the true centerpiece of the story, flanked as he is on either side by his two very different sons. Turning to the younger of the two sons, we see that his behavior is offensive in a variety of ways. He asks to receive his inheritance ahead of his older brother to whom deference and respect should have been shown. And after having received his inheritance he proceeds to squander it in disreputable ways. Abandoned by his new-found friends when he could no longer afford to spend freely on them, he ends up suffering the ultimate humiliation --- forced to live the life of a Gentile, caring for pigs. Hungry at times, he is even reduced to sharing the food of the pigs to...

St. Pamphίlios, an educated priest, devoted much labor to collating manuscripts and correcting the copyists' errors in the manuscripts of the New Testament and distributed them to anyone who wanted them, converting the pagans to Christ in the process. His works were gathered into the extensive library of spiritual books available for the enlightenment of Christians. Actively assisting St. Pamphίlios were Elias, Paul, and his deacon, Valens. All three were imprisoned for 2 years by Urban, the governor of Palestinian Caesarea, before going with the 130 other Christians sentenced in Egypt who were sent to work in the Asia Minor gold mines. On the way back, they would all be imprisoned again, this time joined by Egyptian youths, Elias, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel, and Daniel. When the Egyptian youths were asked where they were from, they replied that they were citizens of Jerusalem, meaning the heavenly Jerusalem. Firmilian knew nothing of such a city, since Jerusalem had been razed to th...

  Upcoming News & Events WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. George after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Jim Karimbakas, Lula Kiflit; Greeter: Nikolaos Kontis; Ushers: Peter Koshivos, Elaine Racheotes, Tina Savvidis, Carol Travayiakis. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Evangelia  (Evelyn) Diranian (10 years), John Strategakis (10 years) and Andrew Diranian (30 years). May their memory be Eternal.  The altar flowers are donated in memory of Evangelia (Evelyn), and Andrew Diranian, and...

 

Jesus Christ shared the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee with us to warn us of the great spiritual danger of arrogant self-confidence in our own righteousness, coupled with contempt for those whom we consider to be beneath us. In this way Jesus sought to protect us from the terrible spiritual sickness of Pharissee-ism. This disease of the soul first manifests itself as absolute confidence and trust in the rightness of our own point of view and judgement; it presupposes our personal superiority over others. And this twisted expression of self confidence quickly degenerates into uncritical self-satisfaction and self righteousness, into a kind of mindless self-admiration. It takes endless endless pleasure in the self, and in all that it does. Let us look at the Pharisee in today’s parable. He goes into the Temple of God to offer incense to his own self-idol. He proclaims his saintliness and enumerates his good works. He admires and praises himself. He, after all, is not like other...

The Holy Martyr Nikephoros (Nikēphóros) lived in the city of Syrian Antioch. In this city lived also the presbyter Sapricius, with whom Nikephoros was very friendly, so that they were considered as brothers. They quarreled because of some disagreement, and their former love changed into enmity and hate. After a certain time Nikephoros came to his senses, repented of his sin and more than once asked Sapricius, through mutual friends, to forgive him. Sapricius, however, did not wish to forgive him. Nikephoros then went to his former friend and fervently asked forgiveness, but Sapricius was adamant. At this time the emperors Valerian (253-259) and Gallius (260-268) began to persecute Christians, and one of the first brought before the court was the priest Sapricius. He firmly confessed himself a Christian, underwent tortures for his faith and was condemned to death by beheading with a sword. As they led Sapricius to execution, Nikephoros tearfully implored his forgiveness saying, “O marty...

  Upcoming News & Events WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. George after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Jim Karimbakas, Carol Travayiakis; Greeter: Dimitri Zaferacopoulos; Ushers: Nicholas Bouritsas, Stephen Dragotakes, Charlie Eliopoulos, Constantine T. Kechris. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of George Glaropoulos (1 year). Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of Helen Dukas, Panagiotis, Efstathia, Christos and Eleftheria Palyvos. May their memory be Eternal.  ...

 

When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . ." And he confessed that he would close hi...

Upcoming News & Events WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. George after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Jim Karimbakas, Constantine Kechris; Greeter: Lula Kiflit; Ushers: Nikolaos Kontis, Peter Koshivos, Elaine Racheotes, Tina Savvidis. FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall. The fellowship hour is sponsored by the Parish Council. CONGRATULATIONS: We congratulate the newly elected Parish Officers. We pray that the Lord strengthens them and helps them in the...

  Our Boston Metropolis Philoptochos recently published a cookbook, "Around the Metropolis Table", Family Recipes from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston. The cookbook is available for purchase at our Cathedral Bookstore for $40.00. Please see Maria Theodore to purchase. Καλή σας όρεξη!

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is a student-led group of young Orthodox Christian college students who gather to embody the four pillars of OCF: fellowship, education, worship, and service. We gather every week in fellowship to strengthen our community as Orthodox college students, we hold discussions on our faith and the practice of Orthodoxy to learn more about Christian living, we engage with our local church communities, and we aim to serve both our church and school communities. We are supported by Annunciation Cathedral in our efforts, but the day-to-day running of OCF is done entirely by local college students who are passionate about their faith, and want to connect with other Orthodox people. We lead a group called OCF at the Fenway Colleges, which includes schools like Northeastern, Wentworth, MCPHS, and MassArt, as well as many others. Students from all schools, and in all grades are welcome to attend OCF! OCF meets every Thursday at 6:00 PM at Annunciation Cathedral, w...

  January 26 : Mr. John will be meeting with the GOYA students to discuss Oratorical Festival participation February 2 : All classes - Valentine cards for the Hellenic February 9 : Lent begins; All classes - Valentine cards for the Hellenic February 16 : No class - February break - Metropolis of Boston Camp Session

This was an act of divine foreknowledge; for He well knew what would happen. He saw the man's soul prepared most readily to choose a holy life, and converted him therefore to piety. [The Syriac recommences] The man therefore received Jesus joyfully: and this was the commencement of his turning himself to good, of his departure from his former faults, and of his manfully betaking himself to a better course. But perchance some one possibly may say to our common Saviour Christ, 'What do You, O Lord? Go You to lodge with Zacchaeus? and deign You to abide with the chief of the publicans? He has not yet washed away the stain of his greedy love of lucre: he is still sick with covetousness, the mother of all crimes: still full of the blame of rapine and extortion.' But yes, He says, I indeed know this, in that I am God by nature, and see the ways of every individual upon earth. And more than this, I know also things to come. I have called him to repentance, because he is ready ther...

Saint Xenophon, his wife Maria, and their sons Arcadius and John were noted citizens of Constantinople and lived in the fifth century. Despite their riches and position, they distinguished themselves by their simplicity of soul and goodness of heart. Wishing to give their sons John and Arcadius a more complete education, they sent them off to the Phoenician city of Beirut. By divine Providence, the ship on which both brothers sailed was wrecked. The waves tossed the brothers ashore at different places. Grieved at being separated, the brothers dedicated themselves to God and became monks. For a long time, the parents had no news of their children and presumed them to be dead. Xenophon, however, already quite old, maintained a firm hope in the Lord and consoled his wife Maria, telling her not to be sad but to believe that the Lord watched over their children. After several years, the couple made a pilgrimage to the holy places, and at Jerusalem, they met their sons, living in asceticism ...

 

Upcoming News & Events WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. George after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Nikos Bouritsas, Peter Koshivos; Greeter: Carol Travayiakis; Ushers: Dimitri Zaferacopoulos, Eleni Asimacopoulos, Charlie Eliopoulos, Michael Kalambokis. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Gerasimos Galatis, and Efrosini Bilili. May their memory be Eternal!  FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall. The fellow...

 

St. Macarius the Great of Egypt was born in the early 4th century in Ptinapor, Egypt. At the wish of his parents he entered into marriage, but was soon widowed. After he buried his wife, Macarius told himself, “Take heed, Macarius, and have care for your soul. It is fitting that you forsake worldly life.” Until his parents died, St. Macarius helped his parents and prayed that the Lord would guide him to salvation. The Lord sent him an elder who excepted St. Macarius with love and guided him through the faith. Evil people slandered the saint, accusing him of seducing a woman from a nearby village. They dragged him out of his cell and jeered at him. Saint Macarius endured the temptation with great humility. Without a murmur, he sent the money that he got for his baskets for the support of the pregnant woman. The innocence of St. Macarius was manifested when a woman was not able to give birth. She confessed that she had slandered the hermit, and revealed the name of the real father. When ...

And why did He not rather say, "I will, be you cleansed;" as he did in the case of another leper: but commanded them rather to show themselves unto the priests? It was because the law gave directions to this effect to those who were delivered from leprosy: for it commanded them to show themselves to the priests, and to offer a sacrifice for their cleansing. He commanded them therefore to go, as being already healed, and, that they might, so to speak, bear witness to the priests, as the rulers of the Jews, and ever envious of His glory, that wonderfully, and beyond their hope, they had been delivered from their misfortune by Christ's willing that they should be healed. He did not heal them first, but sent them to the priests, because the priests knew the marks of leprosy, and of its being healed. He sent them to the priests, and with them He sent also the healing. What however was the law of leprosy, and what the rules for its purification, and what the meaning of each of ...

  Upcoming News & Events WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. George after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary: Nikos Bouritsas, Eleni Asimacopoulos; Greeter: Charlie Eliopoulos; Ushers: Michael Kalambokis, Jim Karimbakas, Lula Kiflit, Chuck Papaslis. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Eleni (Roumeliotis) Tzanos (40 days) and Kostadinos Tzanos (40 days). May their memory be Eternal!  FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro...

The Cathedral Philoptochos is pleased to announce that Sunday School student Jacob Madjarov and Stephanie (Badavas) Tobin were the lucky winners of the Vasilopita coins. We wish them much happiness in 2025 and thank the community for the donations they made during the special collection tray. All proceeds from last Sunday's collection will support St. Basil Academy and youth and young adult programs throughout the Archdiocese.

 

Upcoming News & Events WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS: For those visiting an Orthodox Church for the first time, please be aware that Holy Communion is a sign of unity of faith which is only offered to Baptized or Chrismated Orthodox Christians. All present are welcome, however, to partake of the antidoro (blessed bread) which is distributed at the end of the service. Those interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please feel free to see Fr. George after the service. This week, to assist you in the Narthex we have at the Pangary:  Pangary : Nikos Bouritsas, Lula Kiflit; Greeter : Peter Koshivos; Ushers : Chuck Papaslis, Tina Savvidis, Carol Travayiakis, Dimitri Zaferacopoulos. MEMORIAL : The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Susan Galatis (1 year), Nicholas Galatis (2 years), Maria Ploumis (4 years), Nick Ploumis (7 years) . Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of Anthony Andreadis, Demetra Halulakos, Pan...