A N N U N C I AT I O N GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020 ORTHROS 8:45 a.m. & DIVINE LITURGY 10:00 a.m. Synaxis of the Archangel Michael
R E V E R E N D FAT H E R S A MP SON KASAPAKIS, PROISTAM ENOS 1720 West Garden Street, Pensacola, Florida (850)433-2662 - www.annunciationgoc.org
Dear Annunciation Family, Today we learn a lot about Faith and Transformations. Today we hear of the story of Jairus and his sick daughter and the woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years. Today they came close to Christ and that encounter with Christ transformed her life. In the case of the woman who was bleeding, why did she want to do this? Why was it so important to her to touch Jesus’ robe? Christ listens to the trembling woman’s story and says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” He treats her with respect and with compassion. He addresses her as a daughter of Israel, a daughter of God – for so long, people had treated her as afflicted by God someone seen as unclean but now Jesus affirms her as a daughter loved by God. There’s no condemnation, just affirmation. And Jesus tells her in front of everyone, “Your faith has healed you” – and that is how He knew her touch was different: it was a touch of faith. In that moment, Jesus has turned Jewish teaching on ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ completely on its head. According to that teaching, something that is unclean will pass its uncleanness onto something, or someone, who is clean, when it is touched. But it doesn’t work the other way: something clean cannot transfer its cleanness to something unclean … until today. This too was transformed. Today we learn about Faith and that it originates in need, it desires a response, Faith is born out of need as Jairus in his need for his daughter be healed, came to Christ. He begged him to come to his house. The woman dealing with her bleeding exhausted every possible solution, she went to doctors, she spent all her money on trying to get well, and then she came to Christ. We see that our faith desires a response. She heard Jesus was coming and she made a decision. It is at this low point in her life that this woman hears about Jesus and has enough faith to decide that he is different from all of those who have succeed only in robbing her of her money and more importantly of her hope. True faith demands a response. It’s not enough to hear the word, we must also believe it and do it. What good is Faith, without works? She not only heard about Jesus, she believed what she heard. She had decided in her mind that if she could but touch Jesus she would be healed. In Matthews account we hear “For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch the hem of His garment, I shall be well,’ literally she “said and kept on saying” and she acted upon it. She overcame her hopelessness and despair and fought the large crowd just to get close enough. That’s the beauty of our faith and its interesting why people try hiding it. We need to stop making our faith anonymous. In today’s Gospel when she touched Christ’s hem of the garment and was healed. In the middle of a chaotic crowd. She knew it was his garment. He knew it was her faith. This faith should not be kept a secret especially when there were so many people around. Faith needs to be public. The people surrounding her could learn from this moment that our Faith is not intended to be a “private” matter as some seem to think. People who see other faithful get encouraged to continue on their spiritual journeys. Our Faith transforms us. In my research I came across this great quote from one of our Church father’s sermons on today’s Gospel “We cannot brush against God without being changed. In the case of the woman who was healed when she touched Jesus surreptitiously in the crowd, the encounter with God changed her life. So it is with us. Every meeting with God, no matter how casual or seemingly insignificant, involves both judgment and transformation.”
We greet you and welcome you with the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We hope your visit is memorable and spiritually uplifting. Holy Communion is reserved for Orthodox Christians in good moral standing with the beliefs and practices of the Orthodox Church. We invite you to share in the Antidoron (the Blessed Bread) that is distributed at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. Our doors and hearts are always open to you. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead. Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. Apolytikion for Synaxis of the Archangels in the Fourth Mode Supreme Commanders of the Hosts of Heavens, we, the unworthy, importune and beseech thee that by thy supplications thou encircle us in the shelter of the wings of thine immaterial glory, guarding us who now fall down and cry to thee with fervour: Deliver us from dangers of all kinds, as the great marshal of the heavenly hosts on high. Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιὼν Ἀρχιστράτηγε, δυσωπούμέν σε ἀεὶ ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταὶς σαὶς δεήσεσι τειχίσης ἡμᾶς, σκέπη τῶν πτερύγων τῆς ἀϋλου σου δόξης, φρουρῶν ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας, ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λύτρωσαι ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχης τῶν ἄνω δυνάμεων. Apolytikion of Annunciation in the Fourth Mode Today is the beginning of our salvation, and the revelation of the mystery which was hidden from eternity. The Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son, and Gabriel announces the grace of this good news. Let us also join with him, crying to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O woman full of grace; the Lord is with you. Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ Κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ’ αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις, ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ τὴ Θεοτόκω βοήσωμεν· Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle Ο καθαρώτατος ναός τού Σωτήρος, η πολυτίμητος παστάς καί Παρθένος, τό Ιερόν θησαύρισμα τής δόξης τού Θεού, σήμερον εισάγεται, εν τώ οίκω Κυρίου, τήν χάριν συνεισάγουσα, τήν εν Πνευματι θείω, ήν ανυμνούσιν Άγγελοι Θεού, Αύτη υπάρχει σκηνή επουράνιος.
EPISTLE READING: St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews 2:2-10.
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.4,1. Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God you are very great.
Brethren, if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him? Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.4,1. Ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα. Στίχ. Εὐλόγει, ἡ ψυχή μου, τὸν Κύριον. Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, ἐμεγαλύνθης σφόδρα. τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 2:2-10. Ἀδελφοί, εἰ ὁ δι΄ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη, συνεπιμαρτυροῦντος τοῦ θεοῦ σημείοις τε καὶ τέρασιν, καὶ ποικίλαις δυνάμεσιν, καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου μερισμοῖς, κατὰ τὴν αὐτοῦ θέλησιν. Οὐ γὰρ ἀγγέλοις ὑπέταξεν τὴν οἰκουμένην τὴν μέλλουσαν, περὶ ἧς λαλοῦμεν. Διεμαρτύρατο δέ πού τις λέγων, Τί ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, ὅτι μιμνήσκῃ αὐτοῦ; Ἢ υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου, ὅτι ἐπισκέπτῃ αὐτόν; Ἠλάττωσας αὐτὸν βραχύ τι παρʼ ἀγγέλους· δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ ἐστεφάνωσας αὐτόν· πάντα ὑπέταξας ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ. Ἐν γὰρ τῷ ὑποτάξαι αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα, οὐδὲν ἀφῆκεν αὐτῷ ἀνυπότακτον. Νῦν δὲ οὔπω ὁρῶμεν αὐτῷ τὰ πάντα ὑποτεταγμένα. Τὸν δὲ βραχύ τι παρʼ ἀγγέλους ἠλαττωμένον βλέπομεν Ἰησοῦν, διὰ τὸ πάθημα τοῦ θανάτου δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ ἐστεφανωμένον, ὅπως χάριτι θεοῦ ὑπὲρ παντὸς γεύσηται θανάτου. Ἔπρεπεν γὰρ αὐτῷ, διʼ ὃν τὰ πάντα, καὶ διʼ οὗ τὰ πάντα, πολλοὺς υἱοὺς εἰς δόξαν ἀγαγόντα, τὸν ἀρχηγὸν τῆς σωτηρίας αὐτῶν διὰ παθημάτων τελειῶσαι.
GOSPEL READING: The Reading is from Luke 8:41-56
At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” But Jesus said, “Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:41-56 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄνθρωπός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ ᾧ ὄνομα ᾿Ιάειρος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς ὑπῆρχε· καὶ πεσὼν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, ὅτι θυγάτηρ μονογενὴς ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς ἐτῶν δώδεκα, καὶ αὕτη ἀπέθνησκεν. ᾿Εν δὲ τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτὸν οἱ ὄχλοι συνέπνιγον αὐτόν. καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ῥύσει αἵματος ἀπὸ ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἥτις ἰατροῖς προσαναλώσασα ὅλον τὸν βίον οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ὑπ᾿ οὐδενὸς θεραπευθῆναι, προσελθοῦσα ὄπισθεν ἥψατο τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ, καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔστη ἡ ῥύσις τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· τίς ὁ ἁψάμενός μου; ἀρνουμένων δὲ πάντων εἶπεν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ· ἐπιστάτα, οἱ ὄχλοι συνέχουσί σε καὶ ἀποθλίβουσι, καὶ λέγεις τίς ὁ ἁψάμενός μου; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· ἥψατό μού τις· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔγνων δύναμιν ἐξελθοῦσαν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ. ἰδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ ὅτι οὐκ ἔλαθε, τρέμουσα ἦλθε καὶ προσπεσοῦσα αὐτῷ δι᾿ ἣν αἰτίαν ἥψατο αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ὡς ἰάθη παραχρῆμα. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· θάρσει, θύγατερ, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε· πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην.῎Ετι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἔρχεταί τις παρὰ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου λέγων αὐτῷ ὅτι τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ σου· μὴ σκύλλε τὸν διδάσκαλον. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀκούσας ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ λέγων· μὴ φοβοῦ· μόνον πίστευε, καὶ σωθήσεται. ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν οὐκ ἀφῆκεν εἰσελθεῖν οὐδένα εἰ μὴ Πέτρον καὶ ᾿Ιωάννην καὶ ᾿Ιάκωβον καὶ τὸν πατέρα τῆς παιδὸς καὶ τὴν μητέρα. ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν. ὁ δὲ εἶπε· μὴ κλαίετε· οὐκ ἀπέθανεν, ἀλλὰ καθεύδει. καὶ κατεγέλων αὐτοῦ, εἰδότες ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. αὐτὸς δὲ ἐκβαλὼν ἔξω πάντας καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἐφώνησε λέγων· ἡ παῖς, ἐγείρου. καὶ ἐπέστρεψε τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀνέστη παραχρῆμα, καὶ διέταξεν αὐτῇ δοθῆναι φαγεῖν. καὶ ἐξέστησαν οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῖς. ὁ δὲ παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς μηδενὶ εἰπεῖν τὸ γεγονός.
PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR PERSONAL PRAYERS THE SERVANTS OF GOD:
Gloria Betcher, Christ Bithos, Harry Booros, Elias Gregory Booros, Sia Booros, Sindy
Busby, Georgia Chestnut, Nina Dickson, John Ericsson, Mahi Fotopoulos, Betty Farsolas, Gregory Gill, Theodora Ioannidis, Sophia Kataros, Ruth Magoulas, George Nikolopoulos,
Stanley Pagonis, Magdaline Pappas, Lynette Paulchek, Pete Peters,Dean Peterson, Natalie Pieratos, Ross Pieratos,
Adam Sanders, Georgia Scapin, Maria Stamatelos, Giannoula
Stamoulis, Anastasia Ta, Maria Thagouras, Sava Varazo, Samantha Wilson and Jean.
If you know someone who is homebound, in assisted living or in need of a prayerful visit please let Fr. Sampson know directly by calling 941-266-3229.
SAINTS & FEASTS
November 08 - Synaxis of the Archangel Michael & the other Bodiless Powers: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel, & Barachiel
All the Angels, according to the Apostle Paul, are ministering spirits, - sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation - (Heb. 1:14). God set them as overseers of every nation and people, and guides to that which is profitable (Deut. 32:8); and while one Angel is appointed to oversee each nation as a whole, one is also appointed to protect each Christian individually. He commands them to guard them that hope on Him, that nothing should harm them, neither should any evil draw nigh to their dwelling (Ps. 90:10-12). In the Heavens they always behold the face of God, sending up to Him the thrice-holy hymn and interceding with Him in our behalf, seeing they rejoice over one sinner that repents (Esaias 6:2-3; Matt. 18:10; Luke 15:7). In a word, they have served God in so many ways for our benefit, that the pages of Holy Scripture are filled with the histories thereof. It is for these reasons that the Orthodox Catholic Church, wisely honouring these divine ministers, our protectors and guardians, celebrates today the present Synaxis that is, our coming together in assembly for their common feast to chant their praises, especially for the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, who are mentioned in the Scriptures by name. The name Michael means “Who is like God?” and Gabriel means “God is mighty.” The number of Angels is not defined in the divine Scriptures, where Daniel says that thousands of thousands ministered before Him, and ten thousands of ten thousands attended upon Him -(Dan. 7:10). But all of them are divided into nine orders which are called Thrones, Cherubim, Seraphim, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.
November 09 - Nektarius the Wonderworker, Metropolitan of Pentapolis Saint Nektarius was born in Selyvria of Thrace on October 1, 1846. After putting himself through school in Constantinople with much hard labour, he became a monk on Chios in 1876, receiving the monastic name of Lazarus; because of his virtue, a year later he was ordained deacon, receiving the new name of Nektarius. Archimandrite Nektarius showed much zeal both for preaching the word of God, and for the beauty of God’s house. He greatly beautified the Church of Saint Nicholas in Cairo, and years later, when Nektarius was in Athens, Saint Nicholas appeared to him in a dream, embracing him and telling him he was going to exalt him very high.
At the request of certain pious women, in 1904 he began the building of his convent of the Holy Trinity on the island of Aegina while yet dean of the Rizarios School; finding later that his presence there was needed, he took up his residence on Aegina in 1908, where he spent the last years of his life, devoting himself to the direction of his convent and to very intense prayer; he was sometimes seen lifted above the ground while rapt in prayer. He became the protector of all Aegina, through his prayers delivering the island from drought, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Here also he endured wicked slanders with singular patience, forgiving his false accusers and not seeking to avenge himself. Although he had already worked wonders in life, an innumerable multitude of miracles have been wrought after his repose in 1920 through his holy relics, which for many years remained incorrupt. There is hardly a malady that has not been cured through his prayers; but Saint Nektarius is especially renowned for his healings of cancer for sufferers in all parts of the world.
W EEKLY C A L E N D A R
S u n d a y, N o v e m ber 8 7 t h S u n d a y o f L u ke 8 : 4 5 a . m . O rthros 1 0 : 0 0 a . m . D ivine L iturgy S UN D AY S CH O O L TO FO L L O W Mon d a y, N o v e m ber 9 Nek t ar i o s t h e Wo nderw orker 9 : 0 0 a . m . O rthros 1 0 : 0 0 a . m . D ivine L iturgy Tu es d a y, N o v e m b er 10 Wed n e sd a y, N o v ember 11 Th u rsd a y, N o v e m ber 12 Fri d ay, N o v e m b e r 13 S t . J oh n Ch r y so s tom 9 : 0 0 a . m . O rthros 1 0 : 0 0 a . m . D ivine L iturgy S a tu rda y, N o v e mb er 14 P h i l i p t h e A p o st le 9 : 0 0 a . m . O rthros 1 0 : 0 0 a . m . D ivine L iturgy
Additional Services:
1 Year Memorial Sophia Kontaxis Please call the church office at 850-433-2662 to schedule memorials, baby blessings and other speical services.
Calling All Bakers! We are looking for a volunteer to join the Prosfora baking team. Please contact Anna Maria Gallaher at 850-736-5357
Father Sampson Kasapakis, Proistamenos (941) 266-3229 - Frsampson@annunciationgoc.org Peter Roumbos, Parish Council President (850) 516 - 1555
Subdeacon Philoptochos Community Outreach Stewardship Chanter (Protopsaltis) Choir Director Asst. Choir Director Organist
Emmanuel Zangas Athena Staviski Sissy Watson Kyle Gatzmeyer Stelios Vatsolakis Vangie Anastopoulo Eli Pagonis Tina Varvouris
Altar Boy Director Philip Brown Prosforo Coordinator Phyllis Pagonis HOPE Presvytera Mallory JOY Liz Gilmore GOYA Kyle & Angela Gatzmeyer HARA Dancers Liz Gilmore Glentzethes Daphne Pagonis AHEPA Giles “Skip� Brown