23rd Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Precious and Life Giving Cross

March 19, 2017

ST. GEORGE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 44 Bowers Street, Lowell, MA 01854

Phone: (978) 452-4816 Fax: (978) 452-6041

Email: fatherfaris@comcast.net Web: www.saintgeorgelowell.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/saintgeorgelowell

Rt. Rev. Fr. Leonard Faris, Pastor

WORSHIP SERVICE Sunday: Matins (Orthros) Service 9:00 a.m. Sunday School, Every other Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Church Office Hours; Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Divine Liturgy begins at 10:00 a.m. and we should not arrive late. When we do arrive late and the Epistle

or Gospel is being read or the priest is preaching the sermon or the Great Entrance is taking place, please REMAIN in the Vestibule until it is finished before entering the Church. At the end of the Divine Liturgy please keep your

conversation until the “Coffee Hour”. We should leave the Church in silence. Important Notice: The reception of Holy Communion is limited to Orthodox Christians who have prepared them-selves by prayer, fasting and recent Confession. Confessions are heard on Sunday mornings during the Matins Ser-

vice or by special appointment. The Eucharistic Fast begins at midnight on Saturday and ends up with the receiv-

ing of Holy Communion. If you are on medication or a young child, you can have a light breakfast before coming to church. If you have any questions, please call Fr. Leonard.

Thank you, + Father Leonard

Prayer Requests and Bulletin News: All prayer requests and articles for the weekly bulletin must be submitted each week by Noon, Tuesday: emailed to Fr. Leonard at

fatherfaris@comcast.net or call 978-452-4816, otherwise, the requests and articles will

be published the following week.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

If anyone is in the hospital it is the duty of the family to inform the priest so that he

can visit the patient. Also, if anyone is homebound and would like to receive Holy

Communion, he/she or a family member should contact Fr. Leonard to make ar-

rangements to bring the Sacrament to the shut-in. Fr. Leonard is always happy to

bring the Sacraments to those in Hospitals, Nursing Homes or at home. Thank you

and God bless!

Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 6

When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred Body, angelic powers shone above thy

revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades

captive and wast not tempted thereby; Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the

world; O thou Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Entrance Hymn

Ha-lum-mu li-nas-jud, wa-nar-ka’ lil-ma-sih, khal-lis-na ya bna l-lah, ya man qa-ma min bal-

nil-am-wat, li-nu-rat-til la-ka, Hal-li-lu-ia

Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 6 (repeated)

Troparion for the Holy Cross, Tone 1 O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all

their enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thy commonwealth.

Troparion of St. George, Tone 4

As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirmed, champion of kings,

victorious great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls’ salvation.

Kontakion for the Annunciation, Tone 8

To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered

me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me

free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride

without Bridegroom.

DID YOU KNOW

On April 22, 1934, a group of twenty-seven ladies, of the parish, of St. George Syrian Or-thodox Church, met together for the first time. Their purpose was to form an organization that was to be known as the Syrian Ladies Orthodox Society. At that time, the Church

was under the direction of the Men’s Society and the ladies felt that if they could help

their husbands at home individually, why shouldn’t they help their husbands at Church collectively. The first officers were Bella Skaff, President; Anisi Assaly, Vice President

Freda Forsley, Secretary; and Freda Cassis, Treasurer.

Epistle: Paul 4:14-5:6

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. To Thee, O Lord, have I cried, O my God The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews

Brethren, since we have a High Priest, Who has passed through the

heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a

high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in

every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is

appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well

as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him Who said to Him, “Thou art My Son, today I

have begotten Thee”; as He says also in another place, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark

The Lord said, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and

take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give

in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And Jesus said to them,

“Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.”

Prayers are being offered for the Health and Safety of:

Nora Abdelahad Connie Abodeely Lorice Ansara

Yvette Ansara

Ed & Lillian Betor David and Cindy Boragine Ida Boragine George Ellis

Connie Gholias Mr. & Mrs. Elias Grivas Nicholas, Veronique, Annabelle & Chloe Groff

Duayne Habib Rosalind Hajjar & Family Elaine Hamwey Mary Howie Lloyd Jennings

Joe Kadir Fr. Stephen, and Family Rose Lowe Marcotte Family Thomas Marcotte

Edna Panagiotakos Paul & Lillian Panagopoulos Spero Saati Freda Sadak & Family

Fred Simon Amad Tayebi Gladys Tracanna Jack Trottier Dr. Vartan & Lisa

Yeghiazarians & Family Genia Yeghiazarians

Christian Yianopoulos Hilda Zananiri Nahil Zananiri

Prayers are being offered in Memory of:

Charles Abdelahad George Abodeely

Miriam Abodeely Mazen Alwarad Toula Anasoulis Andrew Ansara

Elias Ansara John Ansara Maurice Ansara Gladys Assaly Linda Assaly

Yaacoub Awad Juliette Bahou Laurice Bahou

Widad Batten James “Jimmy” Beaudry

Mary Bogosian Dorothy Boragine Sal Boragine Cleopatra Bouras

Sofie & Paul Brown Toma Calache Dr. Christos Daoulas Fred Ead Frances Ellis

Frank Ellis George & Elsie Faris Mary T. Faris Connie Fumia Elizabeth & Joseph

Ghareeb John & Irene Gkolias

MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE ETERNAL!!

George P. Habib Philip Hajjar

Sadie Halim Eleanor Husson N. Mary Husson Terry Husson Kadir

Emtisal & Musalam Kazmeh Siham Khadij George Lowe Efthymios & Paraskevi Manolis Nafie Moses

Frederick & Matilda Noonan Anisse Saad Hanna Saad

Mary Saati George W. & Mary Saba

Badwi Sabbouh Veto & Vasiliki Selvagio Eleanor Shalhoup Judy Skaff

Mildred & Arthur Skaff Minnie Skaff Nellie Husson Skaff Ricky Skaff Stephen Skaff

T. Michael Skaff Robert Sweet Elaine Viera Leon Yeghiazarians Charles Zaharias

Mary Ann Zaharias

THIS WEEK

This evening 3/19 6:00 pm Lenten Vespers here at St. George Church with the participation of the

local Orthodox Clergy Mon 3/20 7:00 pm Lenten Compline Service with their

Graces, Bishop Thomas and Bishop John Wed. 3/22 6:00 pm Presanctified Liturgy 7:00 pm Guest Speaker

Fri. 3/24 6:00 pm Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 7:00 pm 4th Madayeh Service

Sun 3/26 6:00 pm Lenten Vespers at St. George Greek Church

The flowers adorning the Icon of the Blessed Virgin, for the fourth Madayeh, have been given by Bob and Elaine Maria for the health and safety of their family. May

God bless them all with good health and happiness.

ALTAR BREAD

Today’s Altar Bread is being given for the health and safety of Lindsay and

Patrick Kett, for their birthdays. May God bless Lindsay and Patrick with peace, good

health and happiness!

Today’s Altar Bread is being given in loving memory of Robert Sweet. May his memory be eternal.

MEMORIALS - Today, March 19th

A 10 Year Memorial Service is being offered for the repose of the soul of the Servant of God, Dr. Christos Daoulas, requested by his sister, Dorothea Husson

and family. May his memory be eternal.

Please see any of the St. George Ladies

to purchase your tickets.

Available until March 26th.

March is Antiochian Women’s Month

We would like to welcome the Ladies of St. George who will be reading the Epis-tles, ushering and collecting during this month. We would also like to thank the

Ladies for volunteering. May God Bless all our Ladies with health and happiness for all the work they do for the “Glory of God” and St. George Church.

March 19th Epistle-Arabic Dalia Tayebi

Epistle-English Denise Oujaime

Trays/Ushers Stephanie Swistek / Martha Stewart

COFFEE HOUR

Today’s Coffee Hour is being sponsored by Dorothea Husson and family, in memory of her beloved brother, Dr. Christos

Daoulas, and for the health and safety of her family.. May Christos’ memory be eternal and may God bless Dorothea and her family with

peace, good health and happiness!

Save the Date - Friday, May 19, 2017

This year we will be celebrating our 34th annual Cocktail Raffle fundraiser on May 19th at the Andover Country Club. Please help us ae this a joyous and successful evening as we continue our year-

long celebration in commemoration of our 100th year anniversary. Thank you,

Hilda Zananiri, Chairwoman