The Dove

  This past Monday another group of parishioners served meals to veterans at the New England Center and Home for Veterans.

  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said “Let there be light”; and there was light. (Genesis 1:1–3) Unlike our American culture, which celebrates from now until Christmas, with celebrations ending promptly on December 26, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity throughout the year. Our joyful part of the celebration in this season is supposed to be from December 25 through January 7. November 15 through December 24 is a period of fasting and reflective preparation. The focus is neither shopping nor decorating, but meditating on the awesome miracle of the Son of God taking on flesh and becoming one of us. This is why we call the holiday either the Nativity (to commemorate an historical event) or the Incarnation (to recognize the spiritual significance of the Nativity). Each day of the forty days, we examine the

The Holy martyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria, was born and raised in Alexandria. He was a highly educated man, and was head of the school of Alexandria and later became a priest of the Alexandrian Church. Forced into exile from the city during the anti-Christian persecutions under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, St. Peter traveled through many lands, encouraging his flock by letter. Again returned to his city, in order to guide the Alexandrian Church personally during this dangerous period. The saint secretly visited Christians locked up in prison, encouraging them to be steadfast in faith, assisting the widows and orphans, preaching the Word of God, constantly praying and officiating at the divine services. And the Lord kept him safe from the hands of the persecutors. St. Peter, being responsible for the right teachings of his flock, was led to excommunicate Arius, a priest who taught that Jesus Christ did not have a divine nature. Arius begged for the excommunication to be l

Join us on Sunday, December 15th following Divine Liturgy in Davis Hall for a General Assembly Meeting  

 

  This is the key to understanding the saving up of material goods. St. Basil the Great taught that the bread in our cupboard belongs to the hungry man ; the coat hanging unused belongs to the one who needs it ; the shoes rotting in our closet belong to the one who has no shoes ; and the money we hoard belongs to the poor . St. Ambrose teaches, " The things which we cannot take with us are not ours. Only virtue will be our companion when we die. " Even when Joseph stored up grain in Egypt (Gn 41), it was for the benefit of the whole nation. These teachings apply to parishes as well as to each person. “For when his harvest was abundant, he said to himself, ” What shall I do? I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones.” There is nothing more wretched than such an attitude. In truth he took down his barns; for the safe barns are not walls but the stomachs of the poor . He who had neglected these did not need to concern himself about walls. What does God say to him? “ Foo

  St. Gregory the Wonderworker was born in the city of Neocaesarea (northern Asia Minor) into a prominent pagan family (between 210 - 215), and his original name was Theodore. While studying law with his brother in Beirut, the great thinkers of antiquity were not able to quench his thirst for knowledge, however. Truth was revealed to him only in the Holy Gospel, and the young man became a Christian. To continue his studies, Saint Gregory went to Alexandria, known at that time as a center for pagan and Christian learning, to study for eight years under the priest Origen at the Alexandrian Catechetical School. St. Gregory's ascetical life and purity aroused the envy of his conceited and sin-loving peers, who decided to slander Saint Gregory. Once, when he was conversing with philosophers and teachers in the city square, a harlot came up to him and demanded payment for a sin he had supposedly committed with her. At first St. Gregory gently remonstrated with her, saying that perhaps sh

  Upcoming News & Events Pangary : Nicholas Bouritsas, Tina Savvidis; Greeter : Elaine Racheotes; Ushers : Carol Travayiakis, Dimitri Zaferacopoulos, Eleni Asimacopoulos, Charlie Eliopoulos. MEMORIAL : The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the soul of Vassiliki Celia Lascarides Manley (40 days). May her memory be Eternal! FELLOWSHIP HOUR : Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall. The fellowship hour will be sponsored in memory of Vassiliki Celia Lascarides Manley by her friends and the Parish Council. DONATIONS : Mrs. Fotene Andreadis, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Badavas, Mr. and Mrs. Constintine Calliontzis, Ms. Asemena Dodge, Ms. Kathy Ploumis Evans, Miss Marie Hatzis, Ms. Daphne Hatsopoulos, Mr. Phillip Kallan, Ms. Anna Katsas, Ms. Lula Kiflit, Ms. Anastasia Moragianni, The Ladies Philoptochos Chapter 3014, Mr. and Mrs Kostandinos Travayiakis, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Triant. GENERAL ASSEMBLY : On Sunday, De

  Happy Veterans Day to all of those who have served our great country!

 

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has announced this year's discussion topics for the Annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. All of our youth are highly encouraged to participate in this program and grow in understanding of their faith.  If you would like to participate please reach out to our Youth Director Rita Khoury at youthministry@bostoncathedral.org About the Oratorical Festival: The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is a nationwide ministry of the Department of Religious Education (DRE) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Oratorical Festival provides a platform and experience where Greek Orthodox youth from grades 7-12 present speeches discussing the Faith and the Church. Participants can explore and deepen their faith while honing their speech writing and public speaking skills. National finalists earn significant monetary awards, a blessed spiritual gift, a plaque, and a certificate. All finalists at each competition level are eligible

  Join us for our next bread baking! In December, while the bread is rising, we will continue exploring opportunities to serve our neighbor by learning about the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and the work they are doing in the US and around the world. Please note that we will NOT be meeting on the first Sunday of December. Rather we will meet on the second Sunday to allow more time for our college students to return from their Thanksgiving travels.

  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: Nick Bouritsas, Charlie Eliopoulos; Greeter: Michael Kalambokis; Ushers: Jim Karimbakas, Lula Kiflit, Peter Koshivos, Chuck Papaslis. MEMORIAL:  The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of  Antonios Elias (1 year), and Irene Elias (25 years). Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the soul of Helen Dukas. May their memory be Eternal!   HONORING OUR VETERANS: Today, we will honor all those who

Martyr Orestes the Physician lived in the city of Tyana in Cappadocia during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (284-311). He was also an illustrious and capable soldier. From childhood he had been a devoted servant of Christ and refused to worship the pagans “gods.” A military officer, Maximinus, was sent to Tyana to stamp out Christianity, which by then had spread throughout Cappadocia. Orestes was among the first brought to trial before the officer. Courageously, he confessed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The prosecutor offered the Saint riches, honors and fame if he would become an idolater, but St. Orestes would not agree to this. Maximinus tried in many ways, to force him to deny Christ. Even with the pressures they exerted upon him, they were unable to convince him to worship the idols. Then they stripped him naked, beat him up, and flogged him as a punishment. Afterward, he was put in jail for seven days. At the end of the seventh day he was taken to a pagan temple to offer

Finding Symbolism: Jerusalem is a place of peace, symbolic of communion with God. Jericho, on the other hand, was renowned as a place of sin. Falling among thieves speaks to the natural consequence of journeying away from God toward a life of sin. The Samaritan, while a despised foreigner, is an image of Christ. The bandages, oil, and wine are sacramental images for (1) the garment of baptism, which delivers us from the wounds of sin; (2) the oil of chrismation, which gives us new life in the Holy Spirit; and (3) the communion of the divine Blood, which leads to eternal life. His own animal indicates Christ bearing our sins in His own body, and the inn reveals the Church in which Christ's care is received. St. Cyril of Alexandria Commentary on Luke Sermon 68: "Very skilfully therefore does the Saviour of all weave the parable of him who fell into the hands of thieves, saying, that when he was lying half dead, and in the last extremity of evil, a priest passed by, and in like

  Join us on Sunday, November 10th after Divine Liturgy, as we honor all of those who have served our country. 

  November 3rd was Philoptochos Sunday, celebrated on the Sunday closest to the feast of Sts. Cosmas and Damian (November 1), the patron saints of the National Philoptochos. We thank all the Philoptochos members for their dedication to serving our community.