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 Most Reverend 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, March 9, 2025
First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy)
Tone 4 and Eothinon 4
Holy and Great Forty Martyrs of Sebastia
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
Apolytikion of the First Sunday of Lent - Tone 2
Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by thine own will thou didst ascend the Cross in thy body, to save thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since thou didst come, O our Saviour, to save the world.
Apolytikion of the Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebastia – Tone 1
By the reason of the sufferings the saints endure out of love for you, we implore you, O Lord and Lover of Mankind, to deliver us from all our pains.
Apolytikion of the Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe. For from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Kontakion for the Sundays in Lent – Tone 8
To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that has that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.
Epistle – Hebrews 12:1-10 (Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebastia)
BRETHREN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? – “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
Gospel – John 1:43-51 (First Sunday in Lent)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
Megalynarion – In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed temple and noetic paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee.
During Great Lent we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 1:10-2:3 (Second Sunday of Great Lent)
Mark 2:1-12 (Second Sunday of Great Lent)
MARCH 9, 2025 – FIRST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT (SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY)
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.
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.
MARCH IS WOMEN’S MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
TODAY, MARCH 9 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. Robert Haddad, Laila Nassr, Laurice Merhige Schuh, Gloria Sparsidis, and Robert William Thabit. Memory eternal!
The Family of Dr. Robert Haddad and his brother William Haddad offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of Robert’s soul and a 20-Year Memorial for the repose of William’s soul. A Coffee Hour in their memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 16 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eleanor Couri, Dr. George B. Cury, Salwa Fauty, Gloria and Edward Jabara Sr., Maurice Khzam, Violette Shamas Mahab, Nadima and Alfred G. Makhoul, Thomas Russo, Frederick P. Schroeder, and Elias Shawah. Memory eternal!
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please reverently hear these prayers before beginning to “chat.”
HOLY BREAD – The Zarr Family offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of March in loving memory of their beloved parents, the servants of God George Zarr and Marie Zarr. Memory eternal! Rafik Mahab offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of March in loving memory of his mother, the handmaiden of God Violette Chammas. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for March and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
MARCH IS LADIES MONTH! Our ushers today are Terize Khouri, Razan Maalouf, Leen Zgheib, and Dr. Yvonne Zrake. The Epistle will be read by Amanda Regnier in English and Nahla Bittar in Arabic.
MEMORY ETERNAL! We are saddened to announce that the handmaiden of God Claudette Teen departed this life on Monday in the hope of the Resurrection. Her funeral was from St. Mary’s Church yesterday. We extend our sympathies to her daughters Joanna Guadagno and Janet Paik and to their families.
FASTING DISICIPLINE – The Great Fast has begun and continues until our celebration of the Feast of Feasts, Pascha: Our Lord’s Resurrection (April 20). The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) is observed on all weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays, wine and olive oil are allowed. On the Great Feast of the Annunciation (Tuesday, March 25) fish, wine and olive oil are permitted.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, John Petrick (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Isla Albishara, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Alice Farkouh, Diana Finger, George Khoury, Joseph Khouri, Terry Mackoul, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, William Robinson, Joyce Samaha, and Victoria Sleyman (at home).
PARISH COUNCIL – The new Parish Council will hold its first meeting tomorrow, March10, at 7 PM.
LENTEN RESOURCES – Great Lent is here. Our parish Bookstore, dedicated to the memory of Elena Paris, has copies of the service books for Great Lent, including Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and Holy Week. There are also a few Lenten cookbooks available. Please contact Lorraine Deeb at ldeebsped@verizon.net or (718) 491-4996 to reserve your books.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – This year marks the 51st anniversary of this charitable project. The traditional FFHP collection boxes are no longer available, and the committee recommends that children and families prepare their own “alms box” for home use. Remember the least of Christ’s brethren by depositing your extra change at the end of each day, and return the box on or before Palm Sunday.
LENTEN LITURGICAL SCHEDULE – There will be Great Compline each Monday night at 7:00 PM, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts each Wednesday at 6:30 PM and the Akathist/Madayeh Service each Friday at 6:30 PM. A Pot Luck Supper will follow each Wednesday service, and each parish organization will host a dinner after the Friday service. Great Vespers will continue each Saturday at 5:00 PM. This week’s Great Compline will be at St. Nicholas Cathedral.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s invite all our parishioners (men too!) to participate in our humanitarian project this year. We once again request the preparation of hygiene kits to be distributed to the homeless during the Midnight Run each month. In a one-gallon ZipLock bag please include: 1 washcloth, bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clipper, comb, 3 band-aids, disposable razor (optional). Feel free to prepare more than one kit! The kits can be given to Sandra Arida or any one of the Ladies. Thank you all for your support.
SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE (CONFESSION) – The Great Fast is THE TIME for all believers to receive the Sacrament of Repentance (Confession). The pastor hears confessions by appointment and before and after all the divine services. Please do not wait until the last minute! If you would like to go to one of the other Orthodox priests in Brooklyn, feel free to do so, but inform the pastor.
SEMINARIANS – Our pledge envelopes for the month of March included a blue envelope marked “Seminarians.” Please use this envelope to support the Metropolitan’s annual appeal on behalf of our theological students. 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.
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS – Each year the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch offers scholarships for campers at the Antiochian Village Summer Camp. Please let Fr. Michael know if your children are planning to attend camp this summer before March 31.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – At the Annual Parish Meeting the assembly elected Gary Gangone, Dianna Russo Kitchen, and Matthew Spolar to full three-year terms. Fr. Michael appointed Diana Kaiami, Robert Sabbagh, and George Trisciuzzi to one-year terms. The newly constituted council will elect its officers at tomorrow’s monthly meeting.
CHURCH SCHOOL EMAIL – As suggested at the Annual Parish Meeting, I am publishing the email address for St. Mary's Church School Notes stmarysbrooklyn@substack.com. Each week Michael Regnier sends out a summary of his high school Church School class in order to keep everyone up to date and to reinforce the previous week’s lesson. It is recommended reading for everyone!
ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION – Registration is now open for the 57th Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Convention hosted by St. George Church of Cicero, IL, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago Hotel. For more information call (708) 656-2927, or email Info@AC2025Chicago.org. The convention website is www.AC2025Chicago.org. The room rate is $189/night. Early Bird registration is available at $330 until April 30.
ESTATE PLANNING – Today we will watch our children in procession with the holy icons. Lord, what can I include in my will or estate plan which will strengthen the ministry of my parish for these precious children, and, by your help, assure that the church will always be here for them until you come again?
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, March 9 Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers @ St. Nicholas, 5 PM
Monday, March10 Great Compline @ St. Nicholas Cathedral, 7 PM
Parish Council, 7 PM
Wednesday, March 12 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 PM
Followed by Pot Luck Supper
Friday, March 14 2nd Little Compline with Akathist/Madayeh, 6:30 PM
Followed by Teens-sponsored dinner
Saturday, March 15 Great Vespers, 5 PM
Tuesday, March 25 Feast of the Annunciation
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “There are people who desire the destruction, the torment of hell-fire of their enemies, or the enemies of the Church. They think like this because they have not learned divine love from the Holy Spirit, for he who has learned the love of God will shed tears for the whole world.”
- St. Silouan the Athonite
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America