81st Street and Ridge Boulevard Website: www.smaoc.org
Brooklyn, NY 11209 Church Office: (718) 238-8008
Email: churchsecretary@smaoc.org Rectory: (718) 745-8481
His Eminence Metropolitan SABA
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Great and Holy Pascha
We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us today. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and a recent confession may approach to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to receive the blessing and partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor during the coffee hour and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Entrance Hymn – In the gathering places bless ye God the Lord from the springs of Israel. O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, save us, who sing unto Thee. Alleluia!
Troparion of Holy Pascha – Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
Hypakoe of Holy Pascha – Tone 4
They who were with Mary came before the dawn, found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, and heard the angels say unto them, Why seek ye him as man with the dead, who dwells in light eternal? Behold the grave wrappings; make haste and declare to the world that the Lord is risen, and hath caused death to die; for he is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind.
Kontakion of Holy Pascha – Tone 8
Though thou, O deathless One, didst descend into the grave, thou didst destroy the power of hell and, as Victor, thou didst rise again, O Christ our God. Thou didst greet the ointment bearing women, saying, rejoice! Thou didst bestow peace upon thy Disciples, and resurrection upon those that are fallen.
Epistle – Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8 (Holy Pascha)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 117.24, 29. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Verse. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endures forever.
IN THE FIRST BOOK, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “You heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
Gospel – John 1:1-17 (Holy Pascha)
IN THE BEGINNING was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to bear witness to the light.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. John bore witness to him, and cried, “This is he of whom I said, ‘he who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’” And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Next week’s homework: Acts 12:1-11 (Second Sunday of Holy Pascha)
John 20:19-31 (Thomas Sunday)
APRIL 16, 2022 – GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA
Mission Statement - The mission of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of Brooklyn, NY, is to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry out this mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy with love for each other, our neighbors, and our diverse world.
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!
TODAY, APRIL 16 - On Holy Pascha we pray for all “the quick and the dead” of the parish. Memory eternal!
NO FASTING – The church prohibits fasting all week due to the joy of the Resurrection. Within the Patriarchate of Antioch some suspend fasting until the Feast of the Ascension, May 25. There is also no kneeling until Holy Pentecost on June 4.
NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 23 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Ayoub, Jean and George Fadool, Marie Farkouh, Raymond Farkouh, Albert Hanna, George Kaiatt, Edward S. Mackoul, Violet Mamary, Vivian S. Massab, Linda and William Nafash, Stanley Najjar, Maria Pallas, Olga and Abraham Saba, Marie B. Savarese, Felipe Trabulsi, John Wizeman, and Albert G. Zarr. Memory eternal!
Rose Abdallah will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Olga and Abraham Saba and Jean and George Fadool. Memory eternal!
George Elkas will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God George Kaiatt. Memory eternal!
Louise Sahadi will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Patricia Sweeney. Memory eternal!
The Ladies of St. Mary’s will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of our dearly departed sister, the handmaiden of God Marie Zarr. Memory eternal!
The Family of Mary Ganim will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
The Family of Marie Zarr will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
The Family of Mary Pallas will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of her soul as well as prayers for the servants of God Chris Pallas, James Pallas, and Amelia Tenentes. Memory eternal!
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Wade Saadi (Cornell), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD) and Rose Zrake, (at home).
AGAPE BREAKFAST - Audrey and Charles Sahadi and Robert Sahadi have once again underwritten the Breakfast for Holy Pascha in loving memory of Najla and Wade Sahadi, Richie Sahadi, and Ameenie Freije. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – Donors are welcome for April and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
AGAPE VESPERS – At Agape Vespers at noon on Holy Pascha, April 16, we will read the Gospel in many languages. Please see Fr. Michael if you would like to read in a foreign language.
AXIOS! Third year seminarian Rev. Deacon Joseph Thornburg will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood during the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy Thursday morning at St. Anthony Church in Bergenfield, NJ. Grant grant him, Marina and the children many happy, healthy and fruitful years of service in the Lord’s Vineyard!
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Please remember to submit your FFHP donations as soon as possible. If writing a check, please make it payable to St. Mary’s Church with FFHP in the memo line.
PATRIARCH – Our pledge envelopes for the month of April included a pink envelope marked “Patriarch.” Please use this envelope to support the Metropolitan’s annual appeal on behalf of the Patriarch of Antioch, especially in the wake of the recent earthquake. Our minimum contribution as a parish is $500. If anyone is currently not receiving pledge envelopes, please see Fr. Michael or Parish Council Chair Anthony Zrake.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – Please remember to submit your FFHP donations as soon as possible. If writing a check, please make it payable to St. Mary’s Church with FFHP in the memo line.
SPECIAL COLLECTION – Last week we prayed for the repose of the soul of a 39-year-old man who now leaves behind a wife and three young daughters. Donors who would like to make a contribution for this family may make checks payable to St. Mary Church with “GK” in the memo line, and the church will accumulate a gift of love.
PALM SUNDAY MA-AMOUL SALE – We thank the faithful ladies who labored so lovingly this Great Lent to provide ma-amoul for our holiday celebrations. The proceeds from this project, estimated at $10,000, will go to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) for their projects in support of the suffering people of Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.
“OUR TIME” – Our adult fellowship, “Our Time,” will resume its gathering on Wednesday, April 19, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Due to the Holy Week postponement of their regular schedule, there will be an additional gathering this month on Wednesday, April 26. Please see Marilyn Tulaney for more information.
SHAGOURY SCHOLARSHIP – The Edith Shagoury Scholarship Fund offers an award for the coming academic year to an undergraduate student from St. Mary’s Church. The qualifications for this award are parish participation, scholarship, and financial need. The amount of the scholarship varies depending on the return on the fund’s investment. Please contact Fr. Michael for more information.
MAIONE SCHOLARSHIP – The Georgette Maione Memorial Scholarship will make its second award this year from the fund left to the church from Georgette’s estate. Please contact Fr. Michael for more information.
FR. PAUL SCHNEIRLA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Teen SOYO will once again offer this scholarship in loving memory of our beloved former pastor. This scholarship is presented at the Parish Life Conference on the basis of academic excellence. Please contact Fr. Michael for more information.
FRANCIS MARIA SCHOLARSHIP – The Antiochian Archdiocese awards several scholarships of $5,000 each to students attending an accredited 4-year college. Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2023. For more information and other scholarships offered by the Archdiocese, go to www.antiochian.org/scholarships.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, April 16 Agape Vespers, 12:00 PM
Wednesday, April 19 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1:00-3:00 PM
Saturday, April 22 Robert Alexander Rich Baptism, 11:00 AM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, April 23 Thomas Sunday
Saturday, April 29 No Great Vespers
Saturday, May 13 Enthronement of Metropolitan SABA
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
Al Maseeh qam min bain il amwat, wa wati al mawt bil bawt, wa wahabal hiyat lil la dhina fil qoobur.
Christos anesti ek nekron thanato thanaton patisas, kai tis en tis mnimaszi zoin, charisamenos.
“Christ is risen” “Truly/Indeed He is risen!
“Christos Anesti” “Alithos Anesti”
“Christos Voskrese” “Vo Istinu Voskrese”
“Al Maseeh Qam” “Ha’an Qam”
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America