The Dove

 

INTRODUCTION - The Sunday of Forgiveness is the last Sunday prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During the pre-Lenten period, the services of the Church 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 the Sunday of Forgiveness focus is placed on the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, an event that shows us how far we have fallen in sin and separated ourselves from God. At the onset of Great Lent and a period of intense fasting, this Sunday reminds us of our need for God’s forgiveness and guides our hearts, minds, and spiritual efforts on returning to Him in repentance.

  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, Peter Koshivos; Greeter: Nikolaos Kontis; Ushers: Nicolas Kanaris, Elaine Racheotes, Parthena Savvides, Carol Travayiakis.  TRISAGION: Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of James George Boujoukos (40 days), George Boujoukos, Esther Boujoukos, Charles Dukas, and Gregory Tamis (Tamiolakis). May their memory be Eternal.  FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please note, the fellowship hour will not be of...

    The Hieromartyr Theodotus, a native of Galatia in Asia Minor, was Bishop of Cyrenia in Cyprus. During a time of persecution against Christians under the impious emperor Licinius (311-324), Saint Theodotus openly preached Christ, calling on the pagans to abandon idolatry and turn to the true God. Sabinus, the governor of Cyprus, ordered that Bishop Theodotus be arrested and brought to trial. When he heard about this order, the saint did not wait for the soldiers to be sent after him, but immediately went to the governor saying, “I, whom you seek, am here. I have shown myself in order to preach Christ my God.” The governor ordered that the saint be beaten without mercy, suspended from a tree, raked with sharp implements, and then be taken to prison. Five days later Saint Theodotus was brought to the governor, who presumed that after his tortures the bishop would prefer to renounce Christ, rather than endure new sufferings. However, Saint Theodotus did not cease to preach abo...

 

  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 souls ...

  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.  ...