The Dove

Our Sunday School students created a ladder out of popsicle sticks as they learned about Saint John Climacus, the Ladder of Divine Ascent, and our journey to God.

 

The Holy Apostles Sosthenes was head of the Corinthian synagogue before his conversion. The Apostle Paul converted him to Christianity and made him his helper in his work. In addressing the Corinthian church, St. Paul sent greetings from both of them: “Paul, by the will of God called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and brother Sosthenes...” (1 Cor.1:1). Afterwards, St. Sosthenes was made bishop at Colophon (Asia Minor). In the book of Acts we read the following: “A certain Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, eloquent and well-versed in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. He was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Hearing him, Aquila and Priscilla took him and more precisely explained to him the way of the Lord. And when he resolved to go to Achaia, the brethren wrote and asked the disciples to receive him. When he got ther...

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, Charlie Eliopoulos; Greeter: Nicholas Bouritsas; Ushers: Stephen Dragotakes, Constantine T. Kechris, Lula Kiflit, Nick Kanaris. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Acrive (Georgia) Haramis (40 days), Mary Guerriero (1 year), Evelyn Papadopoulos (1 year) and Christy Guerriero (8 years). May their memory be Eternal.  FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately follo...

Introduction On March 30 and on the Fourth Sunday of Holy Lent the Orthodox Church commemorates our Righteous Father John Climacus. He is called Climacus due to his authorship of the great spiritual work The Ladder of Divine Ascent. His commemoration is designated by the Church on one of the Sundays of Lent as his life and writings affirm him as a supreme bearer and proponent of Christian asceticism. The ascetic example of this great Saint of the Church inspires us in our Lenten journey.

  We invite our Sunday School students to the lower hall after Divine Liturgy for the feast of Sunday of Lazarus on April 12 where our children will be served tastey waffles and have the opportunity to weave palm crosses that will be distributed to the faithful on Palm Sunday! 

  Join us after Divine Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall for our annual Palm Sunday Luncheon on April 13. Adult tickets will be $40, students are $40, and children under 12 eat for free. Please RSVP using one of the numbers above to secure your spot. 

 

  St. Nikon was born in Naples. His father was a pagan, and his mother a Christian. He was not baptized, but his mother secretly instructed him in the tenets of Christianity. Nikon was still a pagan when he reached adulthood. He served as a soldier, and showed unusual courage and strength. Once, Nikon and his military company were surrounded by enemies. In deadly peril, he remembered the Christian precepts of his mother and, signing himself with the Sign of the Cross, he prayed to God, vowing to be baptized if he were saved. Filled with unusual strength, he killed many of the enemy, and put the rest to flight. Once returning home, he gave thanks to God for preserving his life. With the blessing of his mother, he set off in search of a priest. He went up to a high mountain on the island of Chios and spent 8 days in fasting and prayer, entreating the Lord to help him. An angel appeared to St. Nikon in a dream and led him to a monastic community on Mount Ganos led by Bishop Theodosius...

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, Nicole Arsenis; Greeter: Stephen Dragotakes; Ushers: Dimitri Zaferacopoulos, Nicholas Bouritsas, Charlie Eliopoulos, Constantine T. Kechris.   MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the soul of Maria Papagianopoulos (1 year). May her memory be Eternal.  FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall. The fe...

  INTRODUCTION - On the Third Sunday of Great and Holy Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Services include a special veneration of the Cross, which prepares the faithful for the commemoration of the Crucifixion during Holy Week. Not only does the Sunday of the Holy Cross prepare us for commemoration of the Crucifixion, but it also reminds us that the whole of Lent is a period when we are crucified with Christ. As we have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24), and will have mortified ourselves during these forty days of the Fast, the precious and life-giving Cross is now placed before us to refresh our souls and encourage us who may be filled with a sense of bitterness, resentment, and depression. The Cross reminds us of the Passion of our Lord, and by presenting to us His example, it encourages us to follow Him in struggle and sacrifice, being refreshed, assured, and comforted...

 

INTRODUCTION On the Second Sunday of Lent the Orthodox Church commemorates our Holy Father Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, the Wonderworker. The feast day of Saint Gregory Palamas is November 14, however, he is commemorated on this Sunday as the condemnation of his enemies and the vindication of his teachings by the Church in the 14th century was acclaimed as a second triumph of Orthodoxy.

  Martyr Sabinus of Egypt The Holy Martyr Sabinus was administrator of the Egyptian city of Hermopolis. During a persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), Saint Sabinus and some like-minded companions hid in a remote village. His hiding place was revealed by a certainungrateful beggar who had brought him food. The saint used to feed him and help him with money, but the man betrayed him for two pieces of gold. Sabinus was seized with six other Christians, and after torture they were all drowned in the Nile in 287.

  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, Nick Kanaris; Greeter: Peter Koshivos; Ushers: Nikolaos Kontis, Lula Kiflit, Parthena Savvidis, Carol Travayiakis. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the soul of John Papadakis (20 years). May his memory be Eternal.  FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us for fellowship immediately following the Divine Liturgy in the Anastasia and Spiro Davis Hall. The fellowship hour is offered in memory o...

  On Sunday, March 9th, our Annunciation Community celebrated the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the triumph of the faith at the 7th Ecumenical Council and the preservation of the tradition of Holy Iconography. After the service, our youth participated in a procession around the church with their favorite icon.

 

INTRODUCTION - The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. In that year the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and icons and their veneration were restored on the first Sunday in Lent. Ever since, this Sunday has been commemorated as the "Triumph of Orthodoxy."

Saint Caesarius was the son of Saint Gregory (January 1) and Saint Nonna (August 5), and the brother of Saint Gregory the Theologian (January 25). After studying oratory, philosophy, medicine and other subjects in Alexandria, he went to Constantinople, where he became one of the city's leading doctors. Such was his reputation that Emperor Constantius wanted to make him his personal physician. Saint Caesarius thanked him, but declined. When his brother Saint Gregory completed his studies in Athens, he visited Constantinople (between 358 and 360), and there he met Caesarius. So the two brothers returned to Nazianzus together. In 361, when Julian the Apostate became Emperor, Saint Caesarius was summoned to Constantinople to become his physician. Although the evil Emperor was a fierce persecutor of the Church and issued many edicts against Cheistians, he exempted Saint Caesarius from any punishment. Julian repeatedly tried to turn Saint Caesarius away from Christ, but he was unable to ...

  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, Dimitri Zaferacopoulos; Greeter: Nicole Arsenis; Ushers: Nicholas Bouritsas, Charlie Eliopoulos, Constantine T. Kechris, Lula Kiflit. MEMORIAL: The memorial service is offered today for the repose of the souls of Panagiotis Giannopoulos (1 year), Konstantinos Roumis (2 years) and Vasilios Theodorou (52 years). Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of George Kalambokis, Dimitra Kalambokis, Merop...