Sunday, November 10th, 2013

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Eighth Sunday of Luke

SPECIAL DAYS OF INTEREST

GOYA: TODAY Sun. Nov. 10th Following Divine Liturgy

Gyro Sale

Ladies Philoptochos Society:

Mon. Nov. 11th 10:30AM Board Meeting

Hellenic American Social Club:

Tues. Nov. 12th 7PM Club Meeting

Parish Council: Wed. Nov. 13th 6PM MEETING

Circle of Friends: Thurs. Nov. 14th 6PM MOVIE NIGHT: Letters to Juliet

Greek Dance: Sat. Nov. 16th (ALL DAY) Tarpon Springs Wine & Food Fest

General Assembly: Sun. Nov. 17th following Liturgy

Sunday School: Sun. Nov. 17th OPEN HOUSE

Circle of Friends: Mon. Nov. 18th 12PM GENERAL MEETING

Entrance of the Theotokos: Thurs. Nov. 21st Orthos 9AM, Liturgy 10AM

EPISTLE READING

St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians

1:11-19

BRETHREN, I would have you know

that the gospel which was preached

by me is not man's gospel. For I did

not receive it from man, nor was I

taught it, but it came through a

revelation of Jesus Christ. For you

have heard of my former life in

Judaism, how I persecuted the

church of God violently and tried to

destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism

beyond many of my own age among

my people, so extremely zealous was

I for the traditions of my fathers.

But when he who had set me apart

before I was born, and had called me

through his grace, was pleased to

reveal his Son to me, in order that I

might preach him among the

Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh

and blood, nor did I go up to

Jerusalem to those who were

apostles before me, but I went away

into Arabia; and again I returned to

Damascus. Then after three years I

went up to Jerusalem to visit

Cephas, and remained with him

fifteen days. But I saw none of the

other apostles except James the

Lord's brother.

GOSPEL READING

The Gospel of Luke 10:25-37

At that time, a lawyer stood up to

put Jesus to the test, saying,

"Teacher, what shall I do to inherit

eternal life?" He said to him,

"What is written in the law? How

do you read?" And he answered,

"You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, and with all

your soul, and with all your

strength, and with all your mind;

and your neighbor as yourself."

And he said to him, "You have

answered right; do this, and you

will live." But he, desiring to justify

himself, said to Jesus, "And who is

my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A

man was going down from

Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell

among robbers, who stripped him

and beat him, and departed,

leaving him half dead. Now by

chance a priest was going down

that road; and when he saw him

he passed by on the other side. So

likewise a Levite, when he came to

the place and saw him, passed by

on the other side. But a Samaritan,

as he journeyed, came to where

he was; and when he saw him, he

had compassion, and went to him

and bound up his wounds, pouring

on oil and wine; then he set him

on his own beast and brought him

to an inn, and took care of him.

And the next day he took out two

denarii and gave them to the

innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of

him; and whatever more you

spend, I will repay you when I

come back.' Which of these three,

do you think, proved neighbor to

the man who fell among the

robbers?" He said, "The one who

showed mercy on him." And Jesus

said to him, "Go and do likewise."

HOLY COMMUNION REMINDER We welcome those visiting with us today and ask that only Baptized/Chrismated Orthodox Christians who are properly prepared through prayer, fasting and Holy Confession to come forward to receive Holy Communion. Women are kindly asked to remove their lipstick prior to receiving Holy Communion. Non-Orthodox visitors are welcome to receive the blessed bread from the Priest at the end of the Divine Liturgy and to join us for fellowship in our hall.

A N N U N C I A T I O N G R E E K O R T H O D O X

C H U R C H 8210 Cypress Lake Drive Fort Myers, FL 33919

Office Phone: 239-481-2099 Office Email: officeagoc@gmail.com Fr. Dean’s Cell: 239-322-7553

Fr. Dean’s Email: revfrdean@gmail.com

REV. FR. DEAN NASTOS, PROISTAMENOS Fr. Deacon John Howard

O f f i c e H o u r s Monday-Friday 9:30am-3:pm

T O D A Y ’ S L I T U R G I C A L H Y M N S

Entrance Hymn

Come let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God who arose from the dead, we sing to You, Alleluia. Δεῦτε, προσκυνήσωμεν, καί προσπέσωμεν Χριστῶ. Σῶσον ημᾶς, Υιέ Θεοῦ, ο αναστάς εκ νεκρῶν, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Αλληλούια Resurrectional Apolytikion

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. He trampled death under foot by means of death; and He became the firstborn from the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος· ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο· ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Kontakion

The very purest abode of the Savior, the most price-less Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the most sacred treasury of the glory of God, today is led inside of the house of the Lord, bringing in the grace with her, of the Holy Spirit. She is the one God’s Angels sing in praise: She is in truth, a tabernacle heavenly. Ο καθαρώτατος Ναός του Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς και Παρθένος, το ιερόν θησαύρισμα της δόξης του Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τω οίκω Κυρίου, την χάριν συνεισάγουσα, την εν Πνεύματι Θείω˙ ην ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού˙ Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος. Hymn to the Theotokos

Truly it is Right (In book) Ἄξιόν εστιν ως αληθῶς Communion Hymn

Praise the Lord (In Book) Αινεῖτε τόν Κύριον

NEXT SUNDAY

November 17th:

The Gospel of Luke

12:16-21 Orthros

9am, Liturgy 10am

TODAY’S LITURGICAL HYMNS

Sunday, November 10th, 2013

JOB OR MINISTRY?

Some people have a job in the church.

Others involve themselves in ministry.

What's the difference?

If you do it just because no one else

will…it's a job!

If you do it to serve God…it's a ministry!

If you quit because someone criticized

you…it's a job!

If you kept on serving in spite of

challenges…it's a ministry!

If you'll do it only so long as it doesn't

interfere with other things…it's a job!

If you're committed to staying with it, even

when it means letting other things go…it's a

ministry!

If you quit because no one ever praised or

thanked you…it's a job!

If you stay even though no one notices your

efforts…it's a ministry!

If you do it because someone else said it

needs to be done…it's a job!

If you do it because you sensed God saying

it needs to be done…it's a ministry!

It's hard to get excited about a job.

It's almost impossible not to get excited

about a ministry!

Some churches are filled with people doing

jobs! A growing church is filled with

people involved in ministry!

Fr. Nick Louh, ST. JOHN, Jacksonville, FL

TODAY, NOV 10TH Erastus, Olympas, Rodion, Sosipater, Quartus, Apostles of the 70 - Of these Saints, Olympas and Rodion became disciples of Peter, the chief Apostle, and came to Rome, where they were beheaded by Nero. The others reposed in peace, having become bishops: Sosipater of Iconium, Quartus of Beirut, and Erastus of Paneas, or Paneias (which was also called Caesarea of Philippi); Saint Erastus had been chamberlain of the city of Corinth (Rom.16:23).

Holy Father Arsenius of Cappadocia

Our Holy Father Gregory, Bishop of Assa

NOV 11TH Menas of Egypt Saint Menas, who had Egypt as his fatherland, contested in Cotyaeion of Phrygia in 296 during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. A soldier distinguished for his valour in war, he renounced his rank and withdrew to devote himself to ascetical struggles and prayer in the mountains. Filled with zeal and more than human courage, he presented himself in the midst of a pagan festival in Cotyaeion and declared himself to be a Christian. After terrible torments which he endured with astonishing courage, he was

beheaded. His martyrium in Egypt became a place of universal pilgrimage; evidence of ancient journeys to his shrine have been found as far away as Ireland. The glory and refuge of the Christians of Egypt, he has been revealed to be a worker of great miracles and a swift defender for all who call on him with faith; besides all else, he is also invoked for help in finding lost objects. Theodore the Studite Saint Theodore the Studite was born in Constantinople in 759; his pious parents were named Photinus and Theoctiste. He assumed the monastic habit in his youth, at the monastery called Sakkoudion, and became abbot there in 794. About the year 784 he was ordained deacon, and later presbyter by the most holy Patriarch Tarasius. On joining the brotherhood of the Monastery of Studium (which was named after its founder Studius, a Roman consul), the Saint received the surname "Studite." He proved to be a fervent zealot for the traditions of the Fathers and contested even unto death for the sake of his reverence for the holy icons. He endured three exiles because of his pious zeal. During the third one, to which he was condemned by the Iconoclast autocrat, Leo the Armenian, he endured courageously - being beaten and bound and led from one dark dungeon to another - for seven whole years. Finally he was recalled from exile by Michael the Stutterer. Receiving thus a small respite from his labours of long endurance, he reposed in the Lord on November 11, 826, a Sunday, while his disciples, who stood round about him, chanted the 118th Psalm. Some say that after receiving the immaculate Mysteries, he himself began chanting this psalm. And on reaching the verse, “I will never forget Thy statutes, for in them hast Thou quickened me" (Ps. 118:93), he gave up his spirit, having lived for sixty-seven years. In addition to his other sacred writings, he composed, with the collaboration of his brother Joseph, almost the whole of the compunctionate book of the Triodion.

SAINTS COMMEMORATED

NOV 12TH John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria Saint John was born in 555 on the island of Cyprus in the city of Amathus; his father, Epiphanius, was a ruler of Cyprus. The Saint was consecrated Archbishop of Alexandria in 608. A man of exemplary uprightness, in his zeal for Orthodoxy he strove mightily to fight the many heresies among the Christians in Egypt; but above all, he was famous for his singular generosity, humility, and sympathy towards all, especially the poor. His mercy was so great that the report of it reached the Persian invaders of Jerusalem, who desired to see him because of it. Saint John reposed in 619, at the age of sixty-four.

Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours Saint Martin, the great luminary of Gaul, was the son of pagan parents. When he was still quite young he became a catechumen; at the age of twenty-two he received Holy Baptism. Then he undertook the labours of a monk, and was afterwards consecrated Bishop of Tours, renowned as an ascetic and wonderworker, a faithful shepherd of Christ's flock. He converted many both from paganism and heresy, cast out demons and raised the dead, and while undertaking all the apostolic burdens of a bishop, he never ceased to be a simple monk and man of prayer. His monastery became a center of monasticism not only for Gaul, but for all of Western Europe. A widely celebrated incident of his life took place when he was still a catechumen, fulfilling his military service. Seeing an ill-clad beggar asking alms at the gate of the city of Amiens and being overlooked by passersby, Saint Martin, having nothing else to give, rent his military cloak in two with his sword and gave half to the beggar, so that he might cover himself in the cold. That night, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him, clothed with the half of the cloak he had given to the beggar. Saint Martin's cloak -capella in Latin - was kept in a sanctuary which came to be called capella,

from which the word "chapel" is derived; and they under whose care it was kept were called cappellani, from which "chaplain" is derived. Saint Martin reposed in peace in the year 397.

NOV 13TH John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople This greatest and most beloved of all Christian orators was born in Antioch the Great in the year 344 or 347; his pious parents were called Secundus and Anthusa. After his mother was widowed at the age of twenty, she devoted herself to bringing up John and his elder sister in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. John received his literary training under Anthragathius the philosopher, and Libanius the sophist, who was the greatest Greek scholar and rhetorician of his day. Libanius was a pagan, and when asked before his death whom he wished to have for his successor, he said, "John, had not the Christians stolen him from us." With such a training, and with such gifts as he had by nature, John had before him a brilliant career as a rhetorician. But through the good example of his godly mother Anthusa and of the holy Bishop Meletius of Antioch (see Feb. 12), by whom he was ordained reader about the year 370, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. From the years 374 to 381 he lived the monastic life in the hermitages that were near Antioch. His extreme asceticism undermined his health, compelling him to return to Antioch, where Saint Meletius ordained him deacon about the year 381. Saint Meletius was called to Constantinople later that year to preside over the Second Ecumenical Council, during which he fell asleep in the Lord. In 386 Bishop Flavian ordained John presbyter of the Church of Antioch. Upon his elevation to the priesthood his career as a public preacher began, and his exceptional oratorical gifts were made manifest through his many sermons and commentaries. CONT. NEXT PAGE

SAINTS COMMEMORATED

CONT NEXT PAGE

They are distinguished by their eloquence and the remarkable ease with which rich imagery and scriptural allusions are multiplied; by their depth of insight into the meaning of Scripture and the workings of God's providence; and, not least of all, by their earnestness and moral force, which issue from the heart of a blameless and guileless man who lived first what he preached to others. Because of his fame, he was chosen to succeed Saint Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken away by stealth, to avoid the opposition of the people, and consecrated Patriarch of Constantinople on February 28, 398, by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who was to prove his mortal enemy. At that time the Emperor of the East was Arcadius, who had had Saint Arsenius the Great as his tutor (see May 8); Arcadius was a man of weak character, and much under the influence of his wife Eudoxia. The zealous and upright Chrysostom's unsparing censures of the lax morals in the imperial city stung the vain Eudoxia; through Theophilus' plottings and her collaboration, Saint John was banished to Pontus in 403. The people were in an uproar, and the following night an earthquake shook the city; this so frightened the Empress Eudoxia that she begged Arcadius to call Chrysostom back. While his return was triumphant, his reconciliation with the Empress did not last long. When she had a silver statue of herself erected in the forum before the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Saint Sophia) in September of 403, and had it dedicated with much unseemly revelry, Saint John thundered against her, and she could not forgive him. In June of 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia. From here he exchanged letters with Pope Innocent of Rome, who sent bishops and priests to Constantinople requesting that a council be held. Saint John's enemies, dreading his return, prevailed upon the Emperor to see an insult in this, and had John taken to a more remote place of banishment called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was filled with bitter sufferings for the aged bishop,

both because of the harshness of the elements and the cruelty of one of his 310 guards. He did not reach Pityus, but gave up his soul to the Lord near Comana in Pontus, at the chapel of the Martyr Basiliscus (see May 22), who had appeared to him shortly before, foretelling the day of his death, which came to pass on September 14, 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things." His holy relics were brought from Comana to Constantinople thirty-one years later by the Emperor Theodosius the Younger and Saint Pulcheria his sister, the children of Arcadius and Eudoxia, with fervent supplications that the sin of their parents against him be forgiven; this return of his holy relics is celebrated on January 27. Saint John was surnamed Chrysostom ("Golden-mouth") because of his eloquence. He made exhaustive commentaries on the divine Scriptures and was the author of more works than any other Church Father, leaving us complete commentaries on the Book of Genesis, the Gospels of Saints Matthew and John, the Acts, and all the Epistles of Saint Paul. His extant works are 1,447 sermons and 240 epistles. Twenty-two teachers of the Church have written homilies of praise in his honour. Besides his feasts today and on January 27, he is celebrated as one of the Three Hierarchs on January 30, together with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian. It should be noted that, because September 14 is the Exaltation of the Cross, the Saint's memory has been transferred to this day.

NOV 14TH Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in

SAINTS COMMEMORATED

Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica.

Philip the Apostle This Apostle, one of the Twelve, was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was a compatriot of Andrew and Peter. He was instructed in the teachings of the Law, and devoted himself to the study of the prophetic books. Therefore, when the Lord Jesus called him to the dignity of apostleship, he immediately sought out and found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1.45). Having preached Jesus the God-man throughout many parts of Asia Minor, and having suffered many things for

His Name's sake, he was finally crucified upside down in Hierapolis of Phrygia.

NOV 16TH Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist

This Apostle, who was also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and had Galilee as his homeland. A publican before being called by Christ, he became one of the Twelve Apostles, and an Evangelist. While still in Palestine, he wrote his Gospel first in

Hebrew, being also the first of all to write the Gospel. When he is depicted in icons, there is portrayed next to him the likeness of a man, one of the symbolic living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1.10), which, as Saint Irenaeus writes, is a symbol of our Saviour's Incarnation.

SAINTS COMMEMORATED

ADDITIONAL LITURGIES IN

NOVEMBER

Thursday, Nov 21st– Entrance of the

Theotokos: Orthos 9AM, Liturgy 10AM

Monday, Nov. 25th—St. Catherine:

Orthos 9AM, Liturgy 10AM

Saturday, Nov 30th– St. Andrew:

Orthos 9AM, Liturgy 10AM

Praying for You We offer prayers for health and the needs for the servants of God for John Kontinos, Tom Haley, Stella Demosthenis, Efrosine (Froso) Mullady, Theodor Bonstedt, Cyndi Kyriakou, Olympia Stilian & Mary Kendrick. Please notify the office if there is someone that needs to be added to the prayer list. 239-481-2099

LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS SOCIETY

MONTH OF NOVEMBER Nov. 11th: Board Meeting: 10:30am Fr. Arthur K. Kontinos Community Center Nov. 17th: Deadline for the Turkey Drive Nov. 24th: Monthly Bake Sale Nov. 25th: General Meeting: 10:30am Fr. Arthur K. Kontinos Community Center SILVER TEA

NEW gift items for our special "Holiday Baskets" Raffle are being accepted through November 15th. Please bring your donation(s) to the Fr. Arthur K. Kontinos Community Center at the attention of Lanette Howard or Marianthi Kazakos. Monetary contributions towards the purchase of raffle items are also gladly accepted. If there are any questions, Lanette may be reached at (239) 470-4100. CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

November 14th MOVIE NIGHT: 6PM at the Fr. Arthur K. Kontinos Community Center. The movie is: Letters to Juliet. An American girl on vacation in Italy finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" -- one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by a the "secretaries of Juliet" -- and she goes on a quest to find the lovers referenced in the letter. GOYA

TODAY, November 10th, following Divine Liturgy the GOYANS will be having a Gyro Sale. For advanced sales please see a GOYAN or Heidi Kubiak. Gyros are $5 each and can be made for eat-in or to-go. We look forward to seeing you all in the Fr. Arthur K. Kontinos Community Center supporting our GOYA. HELLENIC-AMERICAN SOCIAL CLUB

The next scheduled monthly meeting of the Hellenic Club will be held on Tuesday, November 12th, 7:00 p.m. in the Kontinos Community Center. A guest speaker is planned, and nominations for December elections will be held. Tuesday, December 10th is the date of our Annual Christmas Party which will be held this year at The Three Fishermen’s Restaurant in the Best Western in North Fort Myers. Dinner choices include chicken, fish or prime rib. Please contact chairpersons John and Amelia Pappas (590-6115) to make your reservations. Payment for all reservations is expected by the meeting on Nov. 12th. It would be appreciated if each attendee would bring a toy (new) to the party for distribution to a proper charity. Also, please don’t forget to

bring your canned goods and other non-perishables to the meeting to supplement our church’s Food Pantry for the needy. TIS THE SEASON

Christmas is not too far away! Please start bringing in gifts for the Toys for Tots toy drive. This is a great charity and no toy is too small for a child in need. GREEK DANCE

Greek Fest 2014 t-shirts have been designed and we are in the process of ordering. To ensure your dancer gets the size you want, please fill out a registration form and hand it in ASAP! Forms are available in the church office, on Facebook, and the church website; one form per dancer & Omegas are to fill them out themselves. Turn form in to the office, or give it to Bridget. Questions or to RSVP for workshop Contact 239-565-2559. THE LITTLE BOOKSTORE

Icons make meaningful gifts for CHRISTMAS, EASTER, birthday, baptism, wedding, graduation, name day, house warming, and going away gifts. An Icon is a wonderful keepsake for you and your family members, the perfect way to say, God Loves You.

SUNDAY SCHOOL Annunciation Sunday School OPEN HOUSE Sunday, November 17th after Liturgy The Sunday School Teachers invite you (the parents) to an OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, November 17th after Liturgy. We ask that you come straight to your child's classroom to meet the teachers as well as see and hear what your child is learning about in Sunday School. CAR RAFFLE 9th ANNUAL CAR RAFFLE TICKETS on sale now...ONLY a $50 donation you can win $25,000.00 or a brand new IS350 LEXUS. Get your tickets today by calling Stella Karras at 239-470-4294 or church office at 239-481-2099. They make great gift ideas, especially with the holidays, great stocking stuffers!

tel:239-470-4294tel:239-470-4294tel:239-481-2099