St. George
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church
2587 W. 14th Street, Cleveland OH 44113
Serving the Orthodox Christian Communityof Greater Cleveland
Sunday before Theophany of Christ
St. George
Antiochian
Orthodox Church
t �½�Êà �
The mission of St. George
Antiochian Orthodox Church
Is to serve God and the community
by commitment to the Gospel’s
command to grow in the knowledge
of Jesus Christ through faith,
hope, and love. It is a parish of the
Self –Ruled Antiochian Orthodox
Christian Archdiocese of North
America.
The Orthodox Church follows the
faith and practice of the apostles
and disciples of Christ handed
down by the ancient Christian
fathers and twenty centuries of
Church tradition. Genuine Christian
life nurtures and stimulates our
spiritual and moral development.
The liturgical life of the Orthodox
Church has been developing over
the last 2000 years. By taking part
in the mysteries of Christ’s life,
death and resurrection at the
liturgical services, the community
members are drawn to repentance
and the gradual change of their
inner selves.
To join the community of St.
George or to find out more
information, please fill out the
Guest Book in the Narthex. We
hope this day will be spiritually
rewarding for you. Fr John will be
happy to answer any questions.
Join us in the hall after Liturgy for
our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.
V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, Pastor
Office: (216) 781-9020 Fax: (216) 781-9545
Cellular: (440) 665-6724
Archdeacon Yarid Sahley
Subdeacon Sam Elias
www.stgeorgecleveland.com
Pastor’s E-Mail: [email protected]
Parish E-Mail: [email protected]
Sunday December 31, 2017
Tone 5/ Eothinon 8Sunday before Theophany of Christ,Which Falls on the (Leave-taking) of
the Nativity of Christ
Venerable Melania the Younger of Rome;Hieromartyr Zotikos of Rome, the friend
of orphans; Blessed Theophylact,Archbishop of Ochrid
WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS
We are glad you are worshiping with us
today. There are Service Books in the pews.
Orthodox Christians must be prepared for
Holy Communion through Confession,
Fasting, Prayer and by being at peace with
others. Please seek and give forgiveness
before receiving Holy Communion. At the
conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, please join
us for coffee hour in the Parish Hall.
Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of:Kh. May, Nuha Karsheh, Sahar Akel and Evelyna Abdelnour & their FamiliesBob Mourad by the Hayek FamilyFamily & Friends by George & Joie Haddad
Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of:Eilia Marary by Joseph & Deana MarariMichel Hayek by the Hayek FamilyMy Beloved, Mother Mary, Father Abraham, Brothers Emile and James, SittehZaineh & Uncle Kaiser by Emilie L. EasaWadia Ameen by his wife Mary & FamilyEdward Haddad by his wifeEdward Fadel by his wife & family
UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES
Friday January 05, 2018 Theophany Evening Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of the WaterSevice @ 5:00 pm
Sunday January 01, 2018 Matins Service @ 9:30 am, Divine Liturgy @ 10.30 amConfessions will be heard on Sundays Morning before Liturgy starts or by appointment.
“Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying,How can this man give us His flesh to eat? So Jesus saidto them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat theflesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have nolife in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks Myblood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the lastday”. John 6:52-54
“With fear of God, faith And love draw near”.Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you
we are waiting for you.
Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour.
Pick a birthday, memorial, anniversary etc..
or just a day that no one has sponsored.
for the sick, sufferings,shut-ins , needy, homeless, victims of disasters,
war and violence in the whole universe.
Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday December 31, 2017Tone 5/ Eothinon 8; Sunday before Theophany of Christ, Which Falls on the (Leave-taking) of
the Nativity of ChristVenerable Melania the Younger of Rome; Hieromartyr Zotikos of Rome, the friend of orphans; Blessed
Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid
APOLYTIKION OF SUNDAY AFTER THE NATIVITY IN TONE TWOProclaim, O Joseph, to David, the grandparentof God, the amazing wonders; for thou hastseen a Virgin great with child; for with theshepherds thou didst give glory, with the Magithou didst worship, and by the angel it wasrevealed to thee. Wherefore, plead thou withChrist God to save our souls.
��Ë©ÉʛËƍŕhƅ§�Ëʖ Ëœŕr ÉŸƅŕǼ�
Ëƌƅƙ§�ČʙÉŠ�É̄Ãç̄� ÍʛËÌ̫ÉǼ��ÊȆ ÊŬʨƔ�ŕǽ
�ÉŶÉƈÃ��ɪ ÍʙČrÉƈ�Ë©ŕŷčʛƅ§�ÉŶÉ̋ž��ÆƜ
Ëƈŕţ�Æƛʨ Éɦŗ� Éʗ ÍƔ£±�ÉʥČƊƗ
�ÍȈËƎÉɦÍŗŕž��Éʥ Í̔ƅ¥� ÉƓ Ëţã� ˾Ɯ É̋ƅŕȃÃ��ɪ ÍʙÉrÉŬ�
˳ ʨʳÉ̋ƅ§
�ŕ̒ ÉŬʨſÊƊ� ÉʟËÌƆÉɻÊǽ�ÍÁ£�
Ëƌƅƙ§�ËŢʽʁ É̋ƅ§�Ƒƅ¥
RESERVE THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDER Friday January 05, 2018 The Theophany Liturgy @ 5:00 pm Sunday January 14, 2018 General Assembly in Metropolitan Hall after Liturgy ^ƵŶĚĂLJ�&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ�Ϭϰ͕ �ϮϬϭϴ�zŽƵŐ��ĚƵůƚ�WƌĞ�s ĂůĞŶƟŶĞ͛Ɛ��ĂLJ��ŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞ��Žǀ ĞƌĞĚ�̂ ĂůĞ Sunday Feb. 11, 2018 Meat Fare Sunday Celebration Buffet —Home made food by our Ladies .
Preparation opens the road
In order to begin his work, Christ prepares the ground with the preaching of St. John the Baptist.Without preparation, nothing that ought to happen is able to happen, in anything. The same occurseven with the work of Christ. St. John the Forerunner comes and urges men to prepare themselves,because the kingdom of God is approaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. He callsthem to repentance, and in this way prepares them to receive Christ the Saviour, to listen to his word,and to believe it.
If even for the work of Christ certain preparation is needed, how much more is needed for thespiritual work in our own souls? Many Christians seek to spiritually build up their souls, but do thiswithout preparation. They prefer things a bit casual and superficial. And because of this they becometired and are not benefitted.
The hour in which you stand in the presence of God – either to pray or to confess or whateverelse – you need to prepare yourself a little: you can read or listen to something, so as to warm, tosweeten, your soul and for you to be humbled a bit, to see yourself, to see your sin, and to repent.Then, you will talk to God differently, will communicate with him differently. God will hear you,differently. So why do we flee this preparation? Because it grieves the old man that we carry aroundwithin us. However, if we seriously consider this theme, the road of authentic life in Christ will open.
Transcribed talks by Archimandrite Symeon KragiopoulosFrom: Holy Hesychasterion “The Nativity of Theotokos” Publications.
THE SYNAXARIONOn December 31 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we take leave of the Nativity of Christ, and wecommemorate our Venerable Mother Melania the Younger of Rome; Hieromartyr Zotikos of Rome,the friend of orphans; and Blessed Theophylact, Archbishop of Ochrid.
On the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, we commemorate the holy and just Ancestors ofGod: Joseph the Betrothed of the Holy Virgin, our Lady the Theotokos; James the Brother of the Lordand the First Bishop of Jerusalem; and David the Prophet and King.
VersesI honor Joseph, the Betrothed of the Virgin, who to be her protector was alone chosen.
Thou art a carpenter’s son, but also the brother of the Lord that built all with a word, O blest James.What shall I say, seeing that the Lord testifieth, as a man after Mine own heart, I have found David.
David committed adultery and murder, yet God forgave him and glorified him above all the kings ofIsrael. He gave him the great grace to compose the most beautiful penitential prayers (the Psalms) andto prophesy the coming of Christ. Thus, God was not ashamed to take upon Himself flesh fromDavid’s seed. God designated Joseph to protect the Most-holy Virgin, and imparted to him great honorin the plan of the salvation of mankind. Although Joseph was of the royal lineage of David, he was ahumble carpenter in Nazareth. At the age of 80, Joseph took the Most-holy Virgin from the Temple inJerusalem and into his home. He entered into rest at the age of 110. The Apostle James is called the“Brother of the Lord” because he was the son of the righteous Joseph the Betrothed. James greatlyloved Jesus and, according to tradition, he traveled to Egypt with the Most-holy Virgin and Joseph,when Herod sought to slay the newborn King.
By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy upon us and save us. Amen.
Church Level
Church’s HallLevelStreet Level
Total Cost: $154000Donnated: $130634Balance: $23366
The Teens GroupMeets everySunday after
ChurchIn The Teens Room
If you’re a TeenJoin us
For fun andEducation
ANTIOCHIAN WOMENOF ST. GEORGE
We will be having our nextMeeting and Bible Study on
Monday, Jan.08, 201712:00 p.m.
In Yarid Hall at theChurch.
God willing, see youthere !
St. George Orthodox
Young Adult MinistyThursday January 11, 2018
7- 8:30 pm
St. George Antiochian Orthodox
Church 2587 W.14th St. Cleveland.
St. George’sMen’s Club
Meets every
First Sunday of theMonth
In The Yarid Hall@ 7:00 pm
Join us forFellowship & Fun
What is Orthodoxy?
First of all, Orthodoxy is right faith in God; it is that mighty power which makeseach truly believing Orthodox Christian unwavering on the righteous and piouspath of his life. To be Orthodox means to know correctly with the mind, to believecorrectly with the heart, and to confess correctly with the lips all that God Himselfhas revealed to us about Himself, about the world and man, and about the tasksand aims of our life in the teaching on the attaining of our spiritual union with Himand our eternal salvation. Without such right faith, according to the word of theApostle Paul, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).
Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a right confession of the fundamental truthsand dogmas of the Church of Christ, but also a right and virtuous life, founded onan unshakable law: the fulfilling of God’s commandments, the permeating of theheart with humility, meekness and love for one’s neighbor, the rendering of help tothe needy and unfortunate, and the serving of one’s church. The Apostle Jamesteaches: “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The Lord Jesus ChristHimself, the future Judge of the whole world, promises to “reward every manaccording to his works” (Matt. 16:27). The Apostle Paul testifies that “every manshall receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1Cor. 3:8). Here is theOrthodox point of view. Right faith must be expressed in deeds, and deeds mustserve as a manifestation of faith. One must be closely united with the otherindissolubly, like soul and body. This only, then, is the Orthodox, the correct wayleading us to God.
Orthodoxy is not only right faith and a life according to faith, but also correctservice to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed the essence of the right worshipof God in these brief but profound words: “God is Spirit, and those who worshipHim must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Only the inspired divineservice of the Holy Orthodox Church, which is permeated by prayer, has realizedthis sacred worship of God in truth. Moreover, Orthodoxy is strict proportionalityand correctness in the manifestations of all the powers of soul and body. InOrthodoxy, a proper place is allotted to everything: to the intellect, to the wantsand needs of the heart, to the manifestations of man’s free will, to labor andprayer, to abstinence and watchfulness, in a word, to everything of which man’slife consists.