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Showing posts from January, 2025

Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple

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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...

Sunday, February 2, 2025 Announcements

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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...

"Around the Metropolis Table" Philoptochos Cookbook available for purchase at the Cathedral Book Store

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  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!

What is OCF?

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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...

Sunday School Resuming 1/26 and Upcoming Schedule

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  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

“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today”

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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 Spotlight: Xenophone & his Companions (Jan. 26)

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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 ...

Weekly Bulletin for January 26, 2025 - 15th Sunday of Luke

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Sun. Jan. 26th Announcements

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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...

Weekly Bulletin for January 19, 2025 - 12th Sunday of Luke

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Saint Spotlight: Macarius the Great of Egypt (Jan. 19)

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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 ...

He said unto them, "Go and show yourselves unto the priests."

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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 ...

Sun. Jan. 19 Announcements

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  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...

Philoptochos Vasilopita Sunday Recap

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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.

Weekly Bulletin for January 12, 2025 - Sunday after Epiphany

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Sun. Jan. 12th Announcements

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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...

Martyr Tatiana of Rome, and those who suffered with her (Jan. 12)

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  The Martyr Tatiana was born into a respected Roman family. Her father, an elected consul, was secretly a Christian and raised his daughter in the Church. St.Tatiana disdained earthly riches and committed herself to being a virgin for Christ and serving those in need. During the reign of 16-year-old Alexander Severus, Christians were heavily persecuted. St. Tatiana, being arrested, was brought to the Temple of Apollo to offer sacrifice. Through her prayers, an earthquake smashed the idols, and the temple collapsed. The daemon inhabiting the temple fled. Then they tore her eyes out with hooks, but she bravely endured everything, praying for her tormentors that the Lord would open their spiritual eyes. And the Lord heard the prayer of His servant. The executioners saw four angels encircle the saint and beat her tormentors. A voice was heard from the heavens speaking to the holy virgin. 8 men believed in Christ and fell on their knees before St. Tatiana, begging for forgiveness. For ...

On The Blessing of the Waters

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  What is the meaning behind the Blessing of the Waters service? This was the question that little Israelite children were taught to ask at the Passover seder ritual (Ex. 12:26). This same question we too should ask in the month of January as we celebrate the Baptism of Christ. Through the liturgies of Epiphany and the blessings of homes, we also re- celebrate our own Baptisms, which are simply reenactments of His Baptism. The feast of Epiphany (also called Theophany) has always been a major feast day in the church right behind Pascha with each of the four Gospels retelling the story of that day. These stories from the Gospel paint a fairly simple picture. Christ enters the Jordan River with St. John the Baptist. After he comes out of the water, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove and the voice of God says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” To comprehend the deeper meaning, you must look back at the book of Genesis. There we read...

Weekly Bulletin for January 5, 2025 - Sunday before Epiphany

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