KOINONIA Volume XVI, Issue II Spring 2021
Holy Trinity GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Fr. Luke Melackrinos, Parish Priest 900 6th Street Sioux City, Iowa 51101 Telephone: 712-255-5559
Www.holytrinity.ia.goarch.org
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 900 6th Street Sioux City, Iowa 51101 Www.holytrinity.ia.goarch.org
Church Office
Rev. Fr. Luke Melackrinos, Proistamenos
Telephone: 712-255-5559
frlukem@gmail.com
Office Fax: 712-255-1836
Parish Council President: Maria Schultz
Worship Hours: (All Services being streamed live, please check the calendar) Sundays:
Orthros 8:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:15 a.m.
Weekdays:
Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m.
Thursdays:
Paraklesis Service 6:30 p.m.
Table of Contents
Church Staff
Parish Priest/ Editor: Parish Council President: Office Director : Philoptochos President: Book Store:
Father’s Message
Page 4
President’s Message
Page 5
Stewardship
Page 6
Philoptochos
Page 9
Calendar
Pages 14-16
Sunday School Director: Greek Dance Director: Youth Director: Stewardship:
Fr. Luke Melackrinos Maria Schultz Mary Sharp Mary Baryo Kiki Karras & Dr. Fotene Karantinos Andrea Kjos Leah Brockway Michelle Bostinelos & Pres. Marusia Stella Daskalakis
Metropolitan Nathanael Of Chicago To Visit Holy Trinity Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, April 11, 2021 (Luncheon immediately after services) SPRING 2021
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Mission of the Parish: To build our Church Family through bountiful religious services, educational classes, fellowship opportunities and outreach. The pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will feature prominently in the ministries of the Parish. Vision for the Parish: A Dynamic Church, equally strong at home as at the Parish, fortified by Ministries that bring the faithful closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Holy Mother, and all the Saints.
HELPERS NEEDED For the following dates: April 2nd, Friday, 10 a.m., prepare sack lunches for ‘feeding the needy’. Begin Spring cleaning church. April 3rd, Saturday, 11- 2 p.m. distribute lunches from church parking lot. April 3rd, Saturday, 2 p.m., - finish Spring cleaning church. April 22nd, Thursday, making of Tsourekis and Koulouria, 9 a.m.
Open House Please join us in celebrating The High School Graduation of
Niko Karras When: Sunday, May 23 Time: 5 pm – 8 pm Where: 913 Coffie Farm Road, Sergeant Bluff SPRING 2021
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The Return Home Fr. Luke Melackrinos Beloved in Christ, As we slowly start to return from the long, dark days of the Pandemic that have been so hard on all of us, I see a beauty that can only be found in the life of Christ’s Holy Church. If you attended our General Assembly meeting on March 28, I am certain that you would agree there is a surging optimism beginning to grow under the surface. We are slowly returning to a new normal after a year of tragedy, isolation and complete abnormality. My thoughts go to the empty church of Holy Week and Pascha last year and contrast that with Paschas past and now future that will restore the plentitude of the church.
I am also so excited that, thanks to efforts of many, especially George Katsaras and Dr. Kosta Antonopoulos and the icon committee, we are getting new icons for our Iconostasis. The first shipment of icons is due to arrive any day and we will install them as quickly as possible. My hope is that they will be installed before April 11. Why did I mention April 11? Because on that date we will have a historic pastoral visit from Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago! I cannot contain my joy at the thought of welcoming our good and humble spiritual father to our small, but dynamic community of Holy Trinity. This will be his second visit to our parish after making one of his very first pastoral visitations to our modest community at the celebration of our Centennial. I pray that you make every effort to attend church services in person that day to greet His Eminence personally. I am also excited that our new Accessibility Ramp Chair, Julie Konidas has already lined up, with Presbytera Marusia, three fundraisers to help us raise money for this worthy endeavor. You can see the dates below, and we look forward to these wonderful events. We are also continuing our Lenten journey back to Christ at the same time as journey back to physical attendance in the church. On Fridays, I would like to highlight that I am leading a book study on “The Road Back to Christ” by Fr. Stavros Akrotirinakis. I should say that I am not leading every Friday’s study, as Friday, April 2, the discussion will be led by the author, Fr. Stavros, via Zoom! How exciting is that? I pray that you all realize how much it means to me personally as a priest to see you and share the Precious Body and Blood of Christ with of you in person. I hope we can return to the time where we can gather without fear to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. I believe that soon God will lead us back to His loving embrace and this horrible scourge will be lifted from our world. We are so close to that moment. I pray that God blesses you all and keeps you safe from the pandemic and that we will all rejoice once again, in person, at the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. God bless you all!
Upcoming Fundraisers for our Accessibility Ramp Project Saturday, May 15 10 AM - 3 pm Yia Yia’s Attic Community Rummage Sale Thursday, May 20th at Table 32 4 PM– 9 PM (10% of total profits) Sunday, June 13th at Buffalo Alice 4:30 PM– 7 PM (50% of total profits) SPRING 2021
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President’s Message Holy Trinity Faithful, We appreciate everyone who has continued to support our Parish during these unprecedented times. We thank Fr. Luke, our chanter/choir, altar servers, parish council members, Covid-19 Team members and others, to ensure our services are conducted and attended in accordance with the provided health guidelines and with the utmost safety precautions. This has enabled us to have our in-person and streamed services, and to help us stay connected to our Orthodox faith and each other. As we embark on a new year, we thank Kosta Antonopoulos for his past two years as a faithful and dynamic parish council president and we thank Dimitri Bostinelos and Costa Tsiobanos for their dedicated service on the council. We welcome our 2021 parish council members, which include Mary Baryo, Greg Boucher, Leah Brockway, Casey Glanzer, Vasili Holevas, Fotene Karantinos, Dean Karras, Andrea Konidas, Athena Ladeas, Mary Sharp and myself. They each bring their love for our church and their talents to serve Holy Trinity. Our church committees for this year include Building, Education, Events, Finance, Hospitality, Office, Social and Stewardship. As was initiated by Past-President Kosta, each committee will have a chairperson and will be assigned an apprentice, to allow for a smooth transition each year thereafter. Please approach a parish council member and volunteer to serve on one or more of these committees. In addition, we can’t wait to slowly begin our in-person ministries again, including our youth activities program, to be co-chaired by Michelle Bostinelos and Presbytera Marusia. Even though we haven’t all seen each other in person, you can see that our Holy Trinity has continued to thrive throughout this pandemic. We’ve had countless Zoom meetings; services throughout the holidays, Sundays and weekdays; the waters of the Missouri River were blessed on Theophany; we supplied a beautiful ornament for the Metropolis Christmas tree; we have a new floor in our kitchen and fellowship hall; the fellowship hall walls have been painted and a lot of freshening up has been done. Our hall is now ready to host the Siouxland Humane Society, as they prepare for their limited fundraiser this year. Ministries during this time have not stopped. They’ve simply taken on new and different forms. As we prepare for Blessed and Holy Lent, we look forward to our many services leading up to Pascha. We also look forward to our visit from Metropolitan Nathanael on Sunday, April 11 th. Through God’s amazing grace and under the guidance of our Metropolis and Fr. Luke, we will get through these difficult times and emerge as an even stronger, loving and inclusive parish. Maria Schultz Parish Council President SPRING 2021
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Stewardship Corner Save $1 Every Day For God Just think about it. If you set aside $1 every day of 2021, you would have $365 to put toward stewardship for your church. If you increased that savings to $5 per day, your pot of gold would be $1,825 for God’s house. It’s an entirely doable and worthwhile effort, and I am going to try it. From today until the end of this year, I am going to put at least $1 per day in a jar for Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Sioux City, Iowa. I will check in with you at the end of the year and let you know how I did. I have simplified the act of stewardship to remind everyone, even during these difficult times brought on by the COVD-19 pandemic, we can do it. All we need is a simple plan to keep our Orthodox Church and its community thriving. Our church is something we have grown to love and cherish throughout our lives. However, it can’t be maintained and it can’t grow without our love, faith, volunteerism and financial help. We need our church and faith more than ever before. I am asking you to join me. Find an empty jar in the house and start putting in at least $1 every day for your church. Make that simple commitment to help the church make improvements, pay the bills and keep giving back to the community. Donating that jar full of dollar bills will warm your heart just like that first overflowing piggy bank you emptied on the counter at the bank. The satisfaction of saving your money and investing it in something that gives back much more than the dollar amount seems like a wise transaction. Stella Daskalakis Thurkill Stewardship Chair
Sunday Coffee Hour is Back!! Coffee hour sponsors are needed, please contact Dr. Valerie Antonopoulos (515-240-3260) if you’re interested in hosting coffee hour. Due to Covid restrictions we are requesting prepackaged food items SPRING 2021
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Holy Trinity 2021 Stewards
Fr. Luke & Presbytera Marusia Mrs. Bessie Klimiades Melackrinos Mr. & Mrs. George Klimiades Brother Amphilochios Ms. Anna Kounas (Yianopoulos) Mrs. Cheryl Kounas Dr. Kosta & Dr. Valerie Mr. & Mrs. Lyle Listamann Antonopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Perry Antonopoulos Mrs. Virginia Margeas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Antonovich Mr. & Mrs. Tim Margellos Mr. Michael Barazia Mrs. Sophie Milbrodt Mr. & Mrs. Athanasious Mr. & Mrs. Craig Morfas Bariatakis Mr. & Mrs. George Paradise Mr. & Mrs. John Baryo Ms. Secia Porreco Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Bikakis Ms. Annette Prewitt Mrs. Chris Bikakis-Miller Mrs. Georgia Reusch Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Bostinelos Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz Mrs. Martha Bostinelos Mrs. Mary Sharp Mr. & Mrs. Greg Boucher Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Stevens Ms. Stella Daskalakis Mr. & Mrs. James Vlahakis Mr. & Mrs. George Demetroulis Mrs. Joan Vlahoulis Mr. & Mrs. Isidoros Garifalakis Mr. Vaios Gennatos 50 Stewardship Families as of Mr. & Mrs. James Giasafakis March 14, 2021 Mr. & Mrs. Craig Golden Mr. Christos Iordanou Dr. Fotene Karantinos Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kazos Mr. & Mrs. Dave Kjos
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Holy Trinity 2020 Stewards
Fr. Luke & Presbytera Marusia Melackrinos
Mr. & Mrs.Peter Konidas
Brother Amphilochios (Yianopoulos)
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Konidas
Dr. Kosta & Dr. Valerie Antonopoulos
Ms. Anna Kounas
Mr. & Mrs. Perry Antonopoulos
Mrs. Cheryl Kounas
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Antonovich
Mr. John Kounas
Mr. Michael Barazia
Mrs. Connie Kouris
Mr. & Mrs. Athanasious Bariatakis
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ladeas-Conyers
Mr. & Mrs. John Baryo
Mr. George Litras
Mr. & Mrs. Emmanuel Bikakis
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Madsen
Mrs. Chris Bikakis-Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Margeas
Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Bostinelos
Mrs. Daisy Margeas
Mrs. Martha Bostinelos
Mrs. Virginia Margeas
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Boucher
Mr. Chris Margellos
Mr. & Mrs. Pete Bovis
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Margellos
Mr. & Mrs. Beau Brockway
Mr. & Mrs. Ray McAvoy
Ms. Stella Daskalakis
Mr. & Mrs. Mike McCarthy
Mr. & Mrs. George Demetroulis
Ms. Maria Michaels
Mrs. Georgia Diavastes
Mr. Emmanuel Michelakakis
Dr. Stylianos Efstratiadis
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Michelakakis
Mr. & Mrs. Vasilaki Emanuel
Mr. & Mrs. Ted Michelakakis
Mrs. Cula Fondoulakis
Mrs. Sophie Milbrodt
Mr. Nick Fondoulakis
Mr. & Mrs. George Paradise
Ms. Diane Fountoulakis
Ms. Secia Porreco
Ms. Irini Fountoulakis
Mr. & Mrs. George Poulos
Mr. & Mrs. Isidoros Garifalakis
Ms. Annette Prewitt
Mr. Vaios Gennatos
Mr. & Mrs. Constantine Raphtis
Mr. & Mrs. James Giasafakis
Mrs. Maria Rigas
Mr. & Mrs. Casey Glanzer
Mr. & Mrs. Jordan Schultz
Mr. & Mrs. Craig Golden
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Schultz
Ms. Diane Haindfield
Mrs. Afrodity Segos
Mr. & Mrs. Vasili Holevas
Mrs. Mary Sharp
Mr. Christos Iordanou
Mrs. Helen Siganos
Mr. Chris Jones
Mr. & Mrs. John Sutherland
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jones
Mrs. Catherine Sutherland
Dr. Fotene Karantinos
Mrs. Anna Theros
Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karras
Mr. Dorwin Tompkins
Mr. Dean Karras
Mr. & Mrs. Costa Tsiobanos
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kasotakis
Mr. & Mrs. George Tsiobanos
Mr. & Mrs. Alex Kazos
Mr. & Mrs. James Vlahakis
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Ketchelos
Mrs. Joan Vlahoulis
Ms. Julie Kinnaman
Mr. & Mrs. Dave Kjos
Mrs. Bessie Klimiades
Mr. & Mrs. George Klimiades
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84 Stewardship Families in 2020
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Holy Trinity Philoptochos Hello to all from the Philoptochos! May the Lenten Season bring us renewed and strengthened faith in all we do in God’s Name! Philoptochos, while not being able to meet during all these months has remained relevant and striving to meet the needs and goals of our organization the best we can. I am happy to announce we will meet for our first inperson meeting in over a year in the church hall on March 7th, following services. All Covid pre-cautions will remain in place. Please join us! In December, we organized and carried out a Pre-order Holiday Pastry and Bake Sale. I am happy to announce that thru the efforts and assistance of many, this event was a great success! I thank you all! "Many hands make light the work"! We rolled over 1000 little dough balls into lovely Christmas tree breads and twisted countless Koulourakia for baking! Bravo to you all! And to those who donated products to off-set the expenses, we thank you as well! These are funds will help offset expenses and distributions towards all our annual commitments to the multiple philanthropic organizations we commit to thru our National and Metropolis Philoptochos as well as local charities we help during the year. As you know, we were unable to do any fundraising due to the pandemic, but rather, we gave out funds to the extent we were able. Locally, we donated to the Siouxland Food Bank and the Soup Kitchen again at Christmas time as well as assisted with rent payments for a local family who had fallen behind on several months rent. Nationally and in our Metropolis, we have kept up with the requests sent annually for several Non-profits that we have pledged to assist. We are thankful to be able to help those less fortunate by the assistance you’ve provided during these trying months!
Koulouria were given to our Orthodox Shut-ins and those in care facilities for the holidays. If you know of someone who has been isolating all these months, I hope you have reached out to them and checked on them. If there is a need that Philoptochos can help with, please contact me. We decorated the church for Christmas, and it added a special beauty to services each week! Thank you ladies and gentlemen who helped! Sunday, the 3rd of January, we cut the annual Vasilopita with Father Luke upstairs and distribute in prepacked baggies, a piece to all present. Cheryl Kounas found the coin this year! We placed a donation basket in the back of the church for those exiting to leave a donation which will be sent St. Basil’s Academy, our Greek Orthodox home for children in need. Resident children are nurtured and educated here in a Christian environment through adulthood. On 2/13/21, I participated in a ZOOM Presidents meeting in which 40 chapters and over 100 persons participated. Updates on all our commitments and endeavors were given. Many Philoptochos chapters just like ourselves found themselves thinking of ways to maintain their charitable work over the past year. All members have received updates from this meeting. A new website for our Metropolis Philoptochos is up and running… check it out at chicagophilo.org This site has links to the National Philoptochos website as well. Thank you, With Sister love, President Mary Baryo With sisterly love, Mary Baryo, Philoptochos President
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SUNDAY SCHOOL Greetings: My prayer is that this finds you all in good health! +++ We missed you all in the Winter Kononia so here is a snapshot of the year. Virtual Sunday school has been a challenge and has been met with enthusiasm by our teachers! Thanks be to God! Sunday school commenced on time last Fall - 2020 in the form of Virtual - online - teaching via computer rather than in person due to the Covid restrictions set out by our Metropolis This year we welcome Ms. Helena Melackrinos - ‘Eleni’ whom volunteered to teach both Virtually and (In Person whenever that is afforded to us) grades Preschool - Kindergarten. Welcome Eleni! Returning teachers are Mrs. Andrea Kjos, Virtual teaching grades 1st-4th and Mrs. Mary Bariatakis, Virtual teaching grades 5th - 12th.
Our lessons are all-grade inclusive. +Eleni provides lessons on the Saints via email to parents as to grades Pre-school - Kindergarten. +Andrea provides catechism lessons via Google Slides-email to parents as to grades 1st - 4th (which overlaps with families of younger siblings.) +Mary provides catechism lessons via email to parents and students as to both Middle and High school - grades 6th-12th.
We are a very blessed church in society as a whole that can both supply the need as well as to have children in our church of every grade level. Sustained future!
It is our hope that the families and students are taking the time to read and view as a family the lessons that have been lovingly prepared that include a lot of research as well as personal time and care by our volunteer teachers. Our Sunday school families include both Holy Trinity and St. Thomas for a combined total of 40 Students which equates to 22 families! Bravo!! Thank you to all parents for being diligent in their child’s/children’s religious education. +++ We extend our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Cassie Ketchelos who is taking a hiatus from teaching at this time. Her sincere efforts for the betterment of all of the children is very much appreciated. Cassie is well aware that she is welcome back anytime - all hands on deck even Virtually as Holy Trinity’s children are our number one criteria.
Thank you Fr. Luke, Eleni and Mary and Cassie for your Godly inspired dedication this challenging year. God bless you all! To be prudent and fair, our parents have been working hard to abide by the plethora of safety guidelines set out by school, church, and their children’s extra-curricular activities to keep themselves and their children safe. We deem that for the benefit of all, we will remain consistent via Virtual teaching through and including May 23, 2021 which will be the last day of Sunday school for the 2020-2021 school year. We will take up Virtual or In Person for review in the Fall of 2021.
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HYVEE RECEIPTS - for the support of Sunday School Yes, we are and continue to collect them. If you have any, please mail them to Andrea Kjos, my address is in the church directory. If you don’t have a church directory, please call me at 712.204.8978 and I am happy to provide. Please do not leave any or mail any to the church.
*Note: Receipts cannot be from another city or state, only Sioux City Hy-Vees. SAVE THE DATE: The final date of Hy-Vee Receipt collection from you to Andrea Kjos is April 25, 2021.
Note: For the 2019-2020 school year we earned $591.00! Wow!!
Holy Trinity Sunday school thanks each of you and your friends who have taken the time and effort to assist us financially. It is very much appreciated. God bless you all. +++
SAVE THE DATE: The Easter Egg Hunt is ON!! All Sunday School Students are included!! WHEN? Easter Sunday - Pascha - May 2nd following services. WHERE? On the church grounds - incase of rain, inside the church. Masks required.
So don’t delay - hop to it and join us! Sunday school Student Accomplishments last Fall: We celebrated the major accomplishment of our two high school graduates both of whom decided to remain active within the church as they both begin college this Fall. They are as follows. +++Mr. Breydon Golden will continue serving Divine Liturgy with Fr. Luke in the Altar and was also awarded and blessed by Fr. Luke with the honor of being bestowed with the ‘Black Robe.’ AXIOS!! +++We are blessed to add to our staff Ms. Eleni Malackrinos of whom will now become a Sunday School Teacher! We are now preparing for our Lenten Journey. Our prayer is that each of us slow down and seek to place our hearts and minds back into the hands of Christ, that there is quieting of spirit that includes much needed solitude of prayers, the strength to endure and overcome weaknesses and to look forward to sharing His light - His Resurrection. Kali Tessarokosti - a fine and blessed Lent to you
all. In Christ, Andrea Kjos, Sunday School Director +++
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Holy Week & Pascha Donations Incense for Services $30 Two Boxes of Charcoal $30 Paraffin Oil $30 4 Bottles of Rose Water $15 each Palms for Palm Sunday $250 total Flowers for Kouvouklion $800 total Flowers for Bridegroom Icon $50 Flowers for Mystical Supper Icon $50 Flowers for Crucifixion Icon $50 Flowers for Resurrection Icon $50 12 Lily or Season Plants $25 each 3 Candles for Crucified Christ $30 each Flour, candles and Cottonballs $30 Wreath for Holy Thursday $50 Please Contact Dr. Fotene Karantinos 406-451-6174 to donate any of the above. SPRING 2021
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Yia Yia’s Attic Holy Trinity Community Wide Rummage Sale SATURDAY MAY 15, 10 AM - 3 PM Time to Spring clean our homes! This is a great opportunity to help Holy Trinity raise money for a very important accessibility ramp. 100% of the proceeds go towards the ramp. Please tell your friends, family and coworkers to look for the following items: · Tools · Furniture · Dishes, glassware, and casseroles · Garden tools · Shoes and handbags · Jewelry · Games, toys, and bicycles · Baby Clothes · Adult clothes ONLY if new and still tagged ·
You name it, we’ll claim It!!!
If you are unable to donate or attend, please consider a monetary donation. Please bring your items to church any Sunday, until 12pm, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Any questions, please contact Julie Konidas at 712-251-4183 or Pres. Marusia at 516-643-1956
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Holy Week Liturgical Schedule (All services at Holy Trinity unless noted otherwise) Saturday, April 24 Lazarus Saturday at St. Thomas Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 25 Palm Sunday Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
Holy Monday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m.
Monday, April 26 Holy Tuesday Orthros at St. Thomas Orthros 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 27 Holy Wednesday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 28 Unction Ευχέλαιον Service Unction 2:30 p.m.
Holy Thursday Orthros Orthros 6:00 p.m.
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Thursday, April 29 Vesperal Divine Liturgy Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 a.m.
The Passion Service Orthros 6:00 p.m.
Friday, April 30 The Hours at St. Thomas Hours 9:00 a.m.
The Apokatheilosis Vespers 3:00 p.m. (The Removal from the Cross)
The Lamentations Lamentations 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 1 The Protianastasi (First Resurrection) Vesperal Liturgy 9:00 a.m.
The Orthros of the Resurrection Orthros 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 2 The Resurrection Come Receive the Light 12:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy 12:30 a.m.
The Agape Vespers Vespers 12:00 p.m.
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