The Dove

INTRODUCTION The Feast of the Holy Theophany (Epiphany) of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on January 6. The Feast commemorates the Baptism of Christ and the divine revelation of the Holy Trinity. At the Baptism of Christ, all three Persons of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—were made manifest. Thus, the name of the Feast is Epiphany, meaning manifestation, or Theophany, meaning manifestation of God. Icon of the Feast The Icon of the Feast of Theophany tells the story from the Gospels in images and color. On the left side of the icon we see John the Baptist who is dressed in camel’s hair and has the appearance of one who lives in the wilderness. His arms are outstretched, showing an attitude of prayer and reverence, but also directing others to Christ. With his right hand he is conducting the baptism. In the center of the icon is Christ being baptized in the Jordan. He is standing in the water wearing a waistcloth, and with His right hand He i...

  The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas suffered in Nicomedia in the year 303. Saint Theopemptus was bishop in Nicomedia in the time of Diocletian. Speaking out against idolatry, he defended the faith in Christ. Because of this, he became one of the first victims of the Diocletian persecution. The saint refused to obey the emperor’s order to worship an idol of Apollo. Saint Theopemptus was thrown into a red-hot furnace, but by the power of God he remained alive. The emperor came to the furnace by night with a detachment of soldiers, and there he saw the saint alive and praying to God. Ascribing the miracle to magic, Diocletian thought to exhaust Saint Theopemptus by depriving him of food and drink for twenty-two days, but the martyr was preserved by the will of God. The emperor brought the famous sorcerer Theonas to overcome Bishop Theopemptus’ supposed magical power. Theonas prepared a poison for Saint Theopemptus, put it into a little cake, and offered it to him to eat. The po...

 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, Chuck Papaslis; Greeter: Carol Travayiakis; Ushers: Eleni Asimacopoulos, Charlie Eliopoulos, Michael Kalambokis, Jim Karimbakas.  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. SPECIAL REQUEST: We are looking for donors to cover the cost of the Christmas cards, the offering envelo...

  The Ladies Philoptochos invites the Cathedral community to join together as we host Vasilopita Sunday and fellowship hour on Sunday, January 12. Pieces of vasilopita will be offered to the community in honor of St. Basil the Great. A coin is tucked in one of the pieces. If you are the lucky parishioner who receives the piece with the coin, please notify Aglaia Georgountzos or any Philoptochos board member. Additionally, the Ladies Philoptochos will pass a special collection tray in support of St. Basil Academy and youth/young adult programs. Wishing the entire Cathedral community many blessings in the new year.

 

You observe how sedulously he affirms that he was taught of Christ, who Himself, without human intervention, condescended to reveal to him all knowledge. And if he were asked for his proof that God Himself thus immediately revealed to him these ineffable mysteries, he would instance his former manner of life, arguing that his conversion would not have been so sudden, had it not been by Divine revelation. For when men have been vehement and eager on the contrary side, their conviction, if it is effected by human means, requires much time and ingenuity. It is clear therefore that he, whose conversion is sudden, and who has been sobered in the very height of his madness, must have been vouchsafed a Divine revelation and teaching, and so have at once arrived at complete sanity. On this account he is obliged to relate his former life, and to call the Galatians as witnesses of past events. That the Only-Begotten Son of God had Himself from heaven vouchsafed to call me, says he, you who were ...

  14,000 Holy Infants were killed by King Herod in Bethlehem. When the time came for the Incarnation of the Son of God and His Birth of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Magi in the East beheld a new star in the heavens, foretelling the Nativity of the King of the Jews. They journeyed immediately to Jerusalem to worship the Child, and the star showed them the way. Having worshipped the divine Infant, they did not return to Jerusalem to Herod, as he had ordered them, but being warned by God in a dream, they went back to their country by another way. Herod finally realized that his scheme to find the Child would not be successful, and he ordered that all the male children two years old and younger at Bethlehem and its surroundings be killed. He thought that the divine Infant, Whom he considered a rival, would be among the dead children. The murdered infants thus became the first martyrs for Christ. The rage of Herod fell also on Simeon the God-Receiver (February 3), who declared before ever...

  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, Charlie Eliopoulos; Greeter: Eleni Asimakopoulos; Ushers: Michael Kalambokis, Jim Karimbakas, Lula Kiflit, Peter Koshivos. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Triantafillos Blathras (40 days). May his memory be Eternal!  The candles and the flowers are offered in memory of Triantafillos Blathras by his family. FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately fo...

 

  The Ladies Philoptochos Board thanks the community for generously donating children's coats and toys for The Dimock Center. The donations were dropped off and will be distributed to the children who are served by The Dimock Center's early intervention, Head Start, and preschool programs, which serve more than 100 children from infants up to 5 years of age. The Dimock Center, located in Roxbury less than 2 miles from the Cathedral, provides health and support services to children, adults, and families. In addition to the donated coats and toys, the Philoptochos Board voted to donate $1,000 in gift cards using proceeds from the successful St. Nicholas luncheon so The Dimock Center could ensure that each child had a gift to open on Christmas morning. The staff at The Dimock Center was grateful for our Cathedral community's support.

  Introduction On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also commemorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.

  This past Monday, another group of parishioners from our Annunciation Cathedral gathered at the New England Center and Home for Veterans in Boston to serve meals to our nation's veterans!

  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, 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 Panayiotis Giannopoulos (3 years) and Georgia Giannopoulos (5 years). May their memory be Eternal!  FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Anastasia an...

  The Great Martyr Anastasia was a Roman who suffered for Christ during Diocletian’s persecution of Christians in 304. Her father was a pagan, and her mother was secretly a Christian. As a child, Anastasia was educated by a Christian. After her mother’s death, Anastasia's father gave her in marriage to a pagan named Publius, but by feigning illness, she preserved her virginity. Dressed in the clothing of a beggar, she and her assistants would visit, feed, and heal the Christians suffering in prison. St. Anastasia would later become known as the Deliverer from Potions, since by her intercessions, she has healed many from the effects of potions, poisons, and other harmful substances. When Publius heard of this, he beat his wife and confined Anastasia to her room. Publius would later die by drowning after setting out for Persia. Anastasia would distribute his wealth to the poor and continue her ministry. Diocletian received word that the Christian captives refused to denounce their fa...

This parable operates on two levels, illustrating both the first and second coming of Christ, who is the servant sent to gather many. Supper indicates evening, the end of the age. The people invited are first the Jews, then all mankind. Those in the streets and lanes indicate (1) the Gentiles who accepted Christ after the faithless Jews rejected Him, and (2) those outside the Church replacing those within who have rejected their own baptism. The Fathers see the three excuses as having both a literal meaning, that many are too attached to worldly cares to accept the Kingdom of God (v. 26; 18:29), and spiritual meanings. St. Ambrose sees the three excuses of I cannot come representing the Gentile, the Jew, and the heretic. The Gentile's devotion to earthly wealth is represented by the piece of ground, the Jew's enslavement to the five books of the Law by the five yoke of oxen, and the heretic's espousal of error by the man refusing on account of his wife. Theophylact more gen...

  Introduction The Sunday that falls between December 11-17 is known as the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. These are the ancestors of Christ according to the flesh, who lived before the Law and under the Law, especially the Patriarch Abraham, to whom God said, “In thy seed shall all of the nations of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3, 22:18). Righteous Benjamin ~ The youngest son of Jacob, he was called Benoni and then Benjamin (Gen. 35:16-18). Before his death Jacob blessed him in a seemingly backhanded way, saying that “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, devouring his prey in the morning, and dividing the spoil in the evening” (Gen. 49:27). Commentators say this is not a reference to Benjamin himself, but to the warlike nature of the tribe of Benjamin. Righteous Deborah ~ Information about the holy Prophetess and Judge Deborah may be found in the Book of Jud. 4:5-14, and also chapter 5. Righteous Hezron ~ The Righteous Hezron is mentioned in the Old Testament genealogies: Gen. 46:12...

  This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus, the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned 117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126. As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also beheaded. The Eparch Caribus, who had tortured Saint Eleutherius, also came to believe in Christ and was executed. Apolytikion of Hieromartyr Eleutherios and Anthia - ...

 

 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 : Eleni Asimacopoulos, Charlie Eliopoulos, Michael Kalambokis, Jim Karimbakas. MEMORIAL : The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the soul of Mary Gardikas (1 year). Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of Catherine Kokinos (9 years), Constance Kokinos-Theoharis (21 years), and George Kokinos (30 years). May...

  Join us after Liturgy on December 22 for our Sunday School's Christmas Pageant!

  The St. Nicholas luncheon is an annual tradition that the Cathedral Philoptochos hosts. Our community looks forward to celebrating together during this festive season. Proceeds from this event are used to help organizations that support disadvantaged children and youth. For example, the Philoptochos used proceeds from the 2023 event to make a donation to the St. Basil Academy Experience Fund, which supports enrichment activities for the children and youth at the academy so they can take dance lessons, therapeutic art classes, and special excursions to places like the museum, aquarium, or zoo. We were also able to make a donation for a scholarship to the Metropolis of Boston summer camp.  Thank you to the Toubekis and Akrivlellis families for generously donating the meal in memory of Nick Toubekis, who passed away in 2023. He was a kind man, who volunteered at the Cathedral, and enjoyed attending the St. Nicholas luncheon every year. We miss him dearly.  Thank you to Fra...

 

Introduction According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God's promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord (see also Sept. 8). - GOARCH The Story The New Testament does not mention anything about St. Anna, the mother of the Theotokos. According to Tradition, the priest Matthan (Matthew 1:15), a resident of Bethlehem, had three daughters: Mary (Mother of St. Anna, grandmother of the Theotokos), Sobe, and Anna. Mary was married in Bethlehem, where she gave birth to Elizabe...

  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, Jim Karimbakas; Greeter: Lula Kiflit; Ushers: Peter Koshivos, Chuck Papaslis, Elaine Racheotes, Tina Savvidis. TRISAGION: Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of Presbytera Theodora Stamatos Economos (4 years), Priest George Nicholas Economos (8 years), Katina Pateri Stamatos (26 years), and Nicholas Apostolos Stamatos (42 years). May their memory be Eternal!  PHILOPTOCHOS ST. NICHOLAS LU...