BULLETIN, APRIL 3, 2022

Welcome to
DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY
GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
Ι. Ν. ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ
Somerville, MA
REV. FR. ANTHONY TANDILYAN
PRESIDING PRIEST
SUNDAY OF ST. JOHN CLIMACUS
ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΙΣΙΟΥ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ
ΣΥΓΓΡΑΦΕΩΣ
04/03/2022
Orthros: 8:30 a.m. - Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.
Όρθρος 8:30 π.μ.—Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ.

TROPARIA SUNG AFTER THE
ENTRANCE OF THE HOLY GOSPEL
Apolytikion
You descended from on high, O compassionate
One, and condescended to be buried
for three days, so that from the passions
You might set us free. Our life and resurrection,
O Lord, glory be to You.
For the Fiest
With the rivers of your tears you made the
barren desert bloom; and with your sighs
from deep within, you made your labors
bear their fruits a hundredfold; and you became
a star, illuminating the world by your
miracles, O John, our devout father. Intercede
with Christ our God, for the salvation
of our souls.
Apolytikion of the Church
Ιn giving birth, you did preserve your virginity;
in your dormition you did not forsake
the world O Theotokos. You were
translated onto life, since you were the
Mother of life; And by your intercessions do
you redeem our souls from death.
Kontakion
O Champion General, I your City now inscribe
to you
Triumphant anthems as the tokens of my
gratitude,
Being rescued from the terrors, O Theotokos.
Inasmuch as you have power unassailable,
From all kinds of perils free me, so that unto
you
I may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded
Bride.
ΤΡΟΠΑΡΙΑ ΨΑΛΛΟΜΕΝΑ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ
ΕΙΣΟΔΟ ΤΟΥ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΥ
Απολυτίκιον
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος,
ταφὴν κατεδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς
ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ
Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.
Της Εορτής
Ταῖς τῶν δακρύων σου ῥοαῖς, τῆς
ἐρήμου τὸ ἄγονον ἐγεώργησας, καὶ τοῖς
ἐκ βάθους στεναγμοῖς, εἰς ἑκατὸν τοὺς
πόνους ἐκαρποφόρησας, καὶ γέγονας
φωστὴρ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ, λάμπων τοῖς
θαύμασιν, Ἰωάννη Πατὴρ ἡμῶν
ὅσιε, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι
τὰς ψυχὰς ἠμῶν.
Απολυτίκιον του Ναού
Εν τη γεννήσει την παρθενίαν εφύλαξας,
εν τη κοιμήσει τον κόσμον ου κατέλιπες,
Θεοτόκε. μετέστης προς την ζωήν,
Μήτηρ υπάρχουσα της ψυχής και ταις
πρεσβείαις ταις σαις λυτρουμένη εκ
θανάτου τας ψυχάς ημών.
Κοντάκιον
Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια,
Ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν
εὐχαριστήρια,
Ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου Θεοτόκε.
Ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος
ἀπροσμάχητον,
Ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον,
Ἵνα κράζω σοι· Χαῖρε νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.

ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΙΚΗ ΠΕΡΙΚΟΠΗ
ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ (6:13-20)
Ἀδελφοί, τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ
θεός, ἐπεὶ κατʼ οὐδενὸς εἶχεν μείζονος
ὀμόσαι, ὤμοσεν καθʼ ἑαυτοῦ, λέγων, Ἦ
μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε, καὶ πληθύνων
πληθυνῶ σε. Καὶ οὕτως μακροθυμήσας
ἐπέτυχεν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας. Ἄνθρωποι μὲν
γὰρ κατὰ τοῦ μείζονος ὀμνύουσιν, καὶ
πάσης αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογίας πέρας εἰς
βεβαίωσιν ὁ ὅρκος. Ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον
βουλόμενος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς
κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον
τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ, ἵνα
διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων, ἐν οἷς
ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι θεόν, ἰσχυρὰν
παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες
κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος· ἣν ὡς
ἄγκυραν ἔχομεν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀσφαλῆ τε καὶ
βεβαίαν, καὶ εἰσερχομένην εἰς τὸ ἐσώτερον
τοῦ καταπετάσματος· ὅπου πρόδρομος
ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εἰσῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς, κατὰ τὴν
τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ ἀρχιερεὺς γενόμενος εἰς
τὸν αἰῶνα.
EPISTLE READING
HEBREWS (6:13-20)
BRETHREN, when God made a promise to
Abraham, since he had no one greater by
whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying,
"Surely I will bless you and multiply
you." And thus Abraham, having patiently
endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed
swear by a greater than themselves, and in
all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
So when God desired to show more
convincingly to the heirs of the promise the
unchangeable character of his purpose, he
interposed with an oath, so that through two
unchangeable things, in which it is impossible
that God should prove false, we who
have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement
to seize the hope set before us.
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor
of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner
shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has
gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having
become a high priest for ever after the order
of Melchizedek.
Today we commemorate:
Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium
Joseph the Hymnographer
Theodosia and Irene the Martyrs

GOSPEL READING
MARK (9:17-31)
At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and
saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he
has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it
dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his
teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples
to cast it out, and they were not able." And
he answered them, "O faithless generation, how
long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear
with you? Bring him to me." And they brought
the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy,
and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus
asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood.
And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if
you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you
can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the
child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that
a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You
dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him
again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the
boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took
him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the
house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he
said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting."
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not
have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The
Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and
when he is killed, after three days he will rise."

ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΚΗ ΠΕΡΙΚΟΠΗ
ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΡΚΟΝ (9:17-31)
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄνθρωπός τις προσῆλθε τῷ
Ἰησοῦ λέγων, διδάσκαλε, ἤνεγκα τὸν υἱόν μου
πρός σε, ἔχοντα πνεῦμα ἄλαλον. καὶ ὅπου ἂν
αὐτὸν καταλάβῃ, ῥήσσει αὐτόν, καὶ ἀφρίζει καὶ
τρίζει τοὺς ὀδόντας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ξηραίνεται· καὶ
εἶπον τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου ἵνα αὐτὸ ἐκβάλωσι, καὶ
οὐκ ἴσχυσαν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ λέγει· ὦ
γενεὰ ἄπιστος, ἕως πότε πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔσομαι; ἕως
πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετε αὐτὸν πρός με. καὶ
ἤνεγκαν αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν εὐθέως τὸ πνεῦμα ἐσπάραξεν αὐτόν,
καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐκυλίετο ἀφρίζων. καὶ ἐπηρώτησε τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ·
πόσος χρόνος ἐστὶν ὡς τοῦτο γέγονεν αὐτῷ; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· παιδιόθεν. καὶ πολλάκις
αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς πῦρ ἔβαλε καὶ εἰς ὕδατα, ἵνα ἀπολέσῃ αὐτόν· ἀλλ᾿ εἴ τι δύνασαι,
βοήθησον ἡμῖν σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ εἰ δύνασαι
πιστεῦσαι, πάντα δυνατὰ τῷ πιστεύοντι. καὶ εὐθέως κράξας ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου
μετὰ δακρύων ἔλεγε· πιστεύω, κύριε· βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς
ὅτι ἐπισυντρέχει ὄχλος, ἐπετίμησε τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ λέγων αὐτῷ· τὸ
πνεῦμα τὸ ἄλαλον καὶ κωφόν, ἐγώ σοι ἐπιτάσσω, ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ μηκέτι
εἰσέλθῃς εἰς αὐτόν. καὶ κράξαν καὶ πολλὰ σπαράξαν αὐτὸν ἐξῆλθε, καὶ ἐγένετο
ὡσεὶ νεκρός, ὥστε πολλοὺς λέγειν ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς κρατήσας αὐτὸν
τῆς χειρὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἰσελθόντα αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον οἱ μαθηταὶ
αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν κατ᾿ ἰδίαν, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό. καὶ
εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τοῦτο τὸ γένος ἐν οὐδενὶ δύναται ἐξελθεῖν εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ
νηστείᾳ. Καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξελθόντες παρεπορεύοντο διὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οὐκ
ἤθελεν ἵνα τις γνῷ· ἐδίδασκε γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ὁ
υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοται εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν,
καὶ ἀποκτανθεὶς τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται.

This week’s Sermon
Fasting - traps, and temptations
St. Mark 9 (17-31)
Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today's Gospel teaches us about the strength of our
faith. As Christians, our faith is constantly tested.
These difficult times are an opportunity to prove
to ourselves and to God that we are faithful. The
world around us offers many temptations for both us
and our children. Every step in our life is full of temptations
and traps. The devil never sleeps and if we put down our guard for one minute,
he is there to test us and try to pull us in his direction. In this Gospel, Our Lord is talking
about the faith of the father of the young boy. Many of us can relate to this because we
all know how hard it is to raise a child in this postmodern world. Our children are not
literally possessed by demons but sometimes they do not belong to God either. Christ
says that we cannot serve two masters. Those who serve two masters either hate one or
the other. So, the first question we must ask ourselves is:
1. Whom do we want to serve?
The second question is even harder:
2. Do we serve God?
This is the only time in the Gospels that Christ says to the demon come out and
never return. The reason for this is the weakness of the faith of the father. Most of the
time we are surprised that our children do not have strong faith and they do not serve
God. The spiritual fathers of our faith teach us those children learn to go to church from
their fathers and they learn how to pray from their mothers. Unfortunately, both bringing
to church and teaching them how to pray often falls on our mothers when our fathers are
busy with other seemingly more important things.
Dear brothers and sisters this is not a problem without a solution. They say every
problem has at least two solutions. The difficulty is not in finding the solution because
as I said there are at least two of them at any given time. The difficulty is
with applying the solution. In today’s Gospel, we have two solutions also for the problem
that we face. The first is prayer and the second is fasting. This is what Christ says to
his disciples: “By prayer and fasting”. The beauty of today’s gospel is also in the fact
that Christ shows that if we pray, He responds. He also shows that even if we have a
weak faith we can still pray, and he will respond. So, let us all pray together today first
for ourselves saying: “I believe Lord, help my unbelief”. Then also let us ask for
peace in the world through prayer coupled with fasting.
Amen.

Κύρηγμα της εβδομάδας
Νηστεία - παγίδες, και πειρασμοί
Αγίου Μάρκου 9 (17-31)
Αγαπητοί εν Χριστώ αδελφοί,
Το σημερινό Ευαγγέλιο μας διδάσκει για τη δύναμη της πίστης μας. Ως
Χριστιανοί, η πίστη μας δοκιμάζεται πάντα. Πάντα βιώνουμε δύσκολες στιγμές για να
αποδείξουμε στους εαυτούς μας και στο Θεό ότι είμαστε πιστοί. Ο κόσμος γύρω μας
προσφέρει πολλούς πειρασμούς τόσο για εμάς όσο και για τα παιδιά μας. Κάθε βήμα της
ζωής μας είναι γεμάτο πειρασμούς και παγίδες. Ο διάβολος ποτέ δεν κοιμάται και αν
ελατώσουμε την άμυνά μας για ένα λεπτό, είναι εκεί για να μας δοκιμάσει και να
προσπαθήσει να μας τραβήξει προς την κατεύθυνσή του. Σε αυτό το ευαγγέλιο ο Κύριος
μας μιλάει για την πίστη του πατέρα του νεαρού αγοριού. Πολλοί από εμάς μπορούν να
αναφέρονται σε αυτό, διότι όλοι γνωρίζουμε πόσο δύσκολο είναι να μεγαλώσουμε ένα
παιδί σε αυτόν τον μεταμοντέρνο κόσμο. Τα παιδιά μας δεν διακατέχονται κυριολεκτικά
από δαίμονες, αλλά μερικές φορές δεν ανήκουν στον Θεό. Ο Χριστός λέει ότι δεν
μπορούμε να υπηρετήσουμε συγχρόνως δύο κυρίους. Εκείνοι που υπηρετούν δύο
κυρίους μισούν τον έναν ή τον άλλον. Επομένως, το πρώτο ερώτημα που πρέπει να
θέσουμε στον εαυτό μας είναι:
1. Ποιον συνηθίζουμε να υπηρετούμε;
Η δεύτερη ερώτηση είναι ακόμη πιο δύσκολη:
2. Υπηρετούμε τον Θεό;
Αυτή είναι η μόνη φορά στα Ευαγγέλια που ο Χριστός λέει στον δαίμονα να βγει
έξω και να μην επιστρέψει ποτέ. Ο λόγος γι 'αυτό είναι η αδυναμία της πίστης του
πατέρα. Τις περισσότερες φορές μας εκπλήσσει ότι τα παιδιά μας δεν έχουν ισχυρή πίστη
και δεν υπηρετούν τον Θεό. Οι πνευματικοί πατέρες της πίστης μας μας διδάσκουν ότι τα
παιδιά μαθαίνουν να πηγαίνουν στην εκκλησία από τους πατέρες τους και μαθαίνουν να
προσεύχονται από τις μητέρες τους. Δυστυχώς τόσο η προσφορά στην εκκλησία όσο και
η διδασκαλία του πώς να προσεύχονται, συχνά πέφτει στις μητέρες μας όταν οι πατέρες
μας είναι απασχολημένοι εκεί με άλλα πιο σημαντικά πράγματα.
Αυτό αγαπητοί αδελφοί δεν είναι πρόβλημα χωρίς λύση. Λένε ότι κάθε πρόβλημα
έχει τουλάχιστον δύο λύσεις. Η δυσκολία δεν είναι η εξεύρεση λύσης, διότι, όπως είπα,
υπάρχουν τουλάχιστον δύο από αυτές ανά πάσα στιγμή. Η δυσκολία είναι η εφαρμογή της
λύσης στην πράξη. Στο σημερινό ευαγγέλιο έχουμε δύο λύσεις και για το πρόβλημα που
αντιμετωπίζουμε. Πρώτη είναι η προσευχή, δεύτερη είναι η νηστεία. Αυτός είναι ο λόγος
που ο Χριστός λέει στους μαθητές του: "Με προσευχή και νηστεία". Η ομορφιά του
σημερινού ευαγγελίου είναι επίσης το γεγονός ότι ο Χριστός δείχνει ότι αν
προσευχόμαστε , Αυτός ανταποκρίνεται. Δείχνει επίσης ότι ακόμα κι αν έχουμε αδύναμη
πίστη , μπορούμε ακόμα να προσευχόμαστε και θα απαντήσει ούτως ή άλλως. Ας
προσευχηθούμε λοιπόν μαζί σήμερα . Πρώτα για μας λέγοντας: "Πιστεύω Κύριε,
βοηθήσέ με στην απιστία μου". Στη συνέχεια, ας ζητήσουμε ειρήνη στον κόσμο με την
προσευχή και με τη νηστεία μας
Αμήν.

Joseph the Hymnographer
Saint Joseph was from Sicily, the son of Plotinus and Agatha.
Because Sicily had been subjugated by the Moslems, he
departed thence and, passing from place to place, came with
Saint Gregory of Decapolis (see NOV. 20) to Constantinople,
where he endured bitter afflictions because of his pious
zeal. Travelling to Rome, he was captured by Arab pirates
and taken to Crete, whence he later returned to Constantinople.
He became an excellent hymnographer and reposed in
holiness shortly after 886 (according to some, it was in 883).
The melismatic canons of the Menaion are primarily the
work of this Joseph; they bear his name in the acrostic of the
Ninth Ode. He also composed most of the sacred book
known as the Paracletike, which complements the Octoechos For this reason, Joseph
is called par excellence the Hymnographer.
PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING TODAY
James Pagounes, Peter Tsourianis & Maria Binieris
ΜΕΛΟI ΤΟΥ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΙΚΟΥ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟΥ
ΥΠΕΥΘΥΝΟI ΣΗΜΕΡΑ
Δημήτριος Παγούνης. Πέτρος Τσουριάνης & Μαρία Μπινιέρης
CONFESSION— Fr. Anthony is available for confessions. You can call or
text his cell phone at 978-223-8224, email him at franthony@dormitionchurch.org
or call the church office at 617-625-2222 for an appointment.
ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΣΗ— Ο π. Αντώνιος είναι διαθέσιμος για εξομολόγηση. Μπορείτε να τον
καλέσετε ή να στείλετε μήνυμα στο κινητό του στο 978-238-8224, να του στείλετε
email στο franthony@dormitionchurch.org ή να καλέσετε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας
στο 617-625-2222 για ραντεβού.

MEMORIALS
Today memorial service will be offered for
Maria Nassiopoulos (6 Months)
Athena Eleftherakis (1 Year)
Panagiota Toufas (1 Year)
Ioannis Neofotistos (4 Years)
Ioannis Milas (6 Years)
Christina Toufa (25 Years)
Theodoros Toufas (42 Years)
ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝA
Σήμερα θα τελεσθεί μνημόσυνο για τους
Μαρία Νασσιόπουλος (6 Μήνες)
Αθηνά Ελευθεράκης (1 Χρόνο)
Παναγιώτα Τούφα (1 Χρόνο)
Ιωάννης Νεοφώτιστος (4 Χρόνια)
Ιώάννης Μίλας (6 Χρόνια)
Χριστίνα Τούφα (25 Χρόνια)
Θεόδωρος Τούφας (42 Χρόνια)
Coffee hour will be hosted by the
Nassiopoulos, Eleftherakis & Toufas Families.
Ο καφές θα προσφερθεί απο τις
οικογένειες Νασσιόπουλος, Ελευθεράκης & Τούφας.

2) Palm Sunday - April 17th

Dormition Church offers full campership
to all children of the stewards of our community tο attend
Metropolis of Boston Camp.
Η Εκκλησία της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου προσφέρει πλήρη υποτροφία
σε όλα τα παιδιά των ενοριτών της κοινότητάς μας εάν παρευρεθούν στην
κατασκήνωση της Μητροπόλεος της Βοστώνης .

EASTER DONATIONS
CANDLES - Two Axion Estin Iconostasion Candles for each Holy Week
Service —
$20 each (12 Services)
One Anastasi Pascal Candle for Fr. Anthony – $100 –Donated by Frances Cicalis
Palms for Palm Sunday— $200—Donated by Effie Mellos
8 Palm Trees to Decorate for Palm Sunday – $75 each
Wreath for Crucifix—$225—Donated by Ann Nemphos
Crucifix basket – $175—Donated by Frances Cicalis
Nymphios Icon Flowers—$250
Crucifixion Icon Flowers— $250—Donated by Mark & Sandra Miminos
Resurrection Icon— $250—Donated by Bill & Evelyn Bozaglu
Resurrection Lavaron Banner – $275
5 Floral Vases—$150 each
Altar Table Floral Vases - $150 each
Bay Leaves—$200—Donated by Kostas & Joy Tomadakis
20 Lily Plants - $35 each
Sultana Volaitis – 1 Lily Plant
Epitaphio Flowers—$1000
Incense from Holy Mountain—Two boxes - $70 each
Donated by James & Christine Gogos
Olive Oil for Oil lamps
Our Church Needs You! Please support it!
On behalf of Fr. Anthony Tandilyan
Parish Council President, Diane Karavitis
Parish Council Members & Parish Ministries
HAPPY EASTER! KALO PASCHA!

Sunday School
Greek School
Stewardship
Renovation Project
Special Gifts
Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church
29 Central St., Somerville, MA 02143
Tel: 617-625-2222—email: office@dormitionchurch.org