Holy Ascension

May 28th, 2020

The Lord Jesus passed forty days on earth after His

Resurrection from the dead, appearing continually in various

places to His disciples, with whom He also spoke, ate, and

drank, thereby further demonstrating His Resurrection. On

this Thursday, the fortieth day after Pascha, He appeared

again in Jerusalem. After He had first spoken to the disciples

about many things, He gave them His last commandment,

that is, that they go forth and proclaim His Name to all

nations, beginning from Jerusalem. But He also commanded

them that for the present, they were not to depart from

Jerusalem, but to wait there together until they receive power from on high, when the Holy

Spirit would come upon them. Saying these things, He led them to the Mount of Olives, and

raising His hands, He blessed them; and saying again the words of the Father's blessing, He

was parted from them and taken up. Immediately a cloud of light, a proof of His majesty,

received Him. Sitting thereon as though on a royal chariot, He was taken up into Heaven and

after a short time was concealed from the sight of the disciples, who remained where they

were with their eyes fixed on Him. At this point, two Angels in the form of men in white

raiment appeared to them and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven?

This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye

have seen Him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11). These words, in a complete and concise manner,

declare what is taught in the Symbol of Faith concerning the Son and Word of God.

Therefore, having so fulfilled all His dispensation for us, our Lord Jesus Christ ascended in

glory into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God the Father. As for His sacred disciples,

they returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, rejoicing because Christ had promised

to send them the Holy Spirit. It should be noted that the Mount of Olives is a Sabbath's day

journey from Jerusalem, that is, the distance a Jew was permitted to walk on the day of the

Sabbath. Ecumenius writes, "A Sabbath day's journey is one mile in length, as Clement says

in his fifth Stromatis; it is two thousand cubits, as the Interpretation of the Acts states." They

draw this conclusion from the fact that, while they were in the wilderness, the Israelites of old

kept within this distance from the Holy Tabernacle, whither they walked on the Sabbath day

to worship God.

Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church

1001 East Wyomissing Blvd.

Reading, PA 19611

Phone: (610) 374- 7511 Fax: (610) 374- 5890

Email: office@stsconstantinehelen.org

Rev. Fr. Theodore Petrides dino alexandrides Dn. James Elliker

(570) 713- 7095 (610) 944- 4894

Sunday of the Blind Man- May 24, 2020

FROM THE HOLY FATHERS:

“And now that he was delivered from his blindness, did he neglect the duty of loving Christ?

Certainly not: “For he followed Him, it says, offering Him glory as to God.” He was set free therefore

from double blindness: for not only did he escape from the blindness of the body, but also as well

from that of the mind and heart: for he would not have glorified Him as God, had he not possessed

spiritual vision.” – St. Cyril of Alexandria

Please remember in prayer the families of :

Sandra Odagis, who reposed in the Lord on May 17, 2020.

George Kakalelis who reposed in the Lord on May 18, 2020.

Joanne Marmarou who reposed in the Lord on May 20, 2020.

Anna Koumaras who reposed in the Lord on May 21, 2020.

May their memories be eternal!

Sunday of the Blind Man Weekly Calendar: Sunday of the Blind Man, May 24th Symoen the Stylite; Vincent of Lerins 8:30 AM: Orthros 9:45 AM: Divine Liturgy Epistle: Acts 16:16- 34 Gospel: John 9:1- 38 Monday, May 25th 3rd Finding of the Head of St. John the Baptist; Therapon, Bishop of Cyprus Tuesday, May 26th Carpos & Alphaeus of the 70; Alexandros of Thessaloniki 11 AM: George Kakalelis Funeral 4 PM: Great Vespers 6 PM: Website Committee Meeting Apodosis of Pascha, Wednesday, May 27th Hieromartyr Helladios; John the Russian of Evia 9 AM: Anna Koumaras Funeral 5 PM: Great Vespers 7 PM: “Our Life in Christ” Holy Ascension, Thursday, May 28th Eutyches, Bishop of Melitene; Nikitas, Bishop of Chalcedon 8:30 AM: Orthros 9:45 AM: Divine Liturgy Friday, May 29th Theodosia of Tyre; Theodosia of Constantinople 9 AM: Orthros Saturday, May 30th

Isaakios, Founder of the Monastery of Dalmatos 6 PM: Great Vespers Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council, Sunday May 31st Hermias the Martyr at Comana; Eusebius and Haralambos 8:30 AM: Orthros 9:45 AM: Divine Liturgy Epistle: Acts 20:16- 18, 28- 36

Gospel: John 17:1- 13

Grocery Cards:

If anyone would like to order gift cards to

Giant, Redner’s or Weis supermarkets you

may send a check with a stamped, self-

addressed envelope to the home of Tony

Phyrillas and he will mail the gift cards

back to you.

Tony Phyrillas

2609 Cumberland Ave.

Reading, PA 19606

Κυριακή τού Τυφλού

Resurrectional Dismissal Hymn

Let us worship the Word who is

unoriginate with the Father and the Spirit,

and from a Virgin was born for our

salvation, O believers, and let us sing His

praise. For in His goodness He was pleased

to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to

undergo death, and to raise up those who

had died, by His glorious Resurrection.

Άναστάσιμον Άπολυτίκιον

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.

Dismissal Hymn of St. Constantine

The form of Your Cross was seen in the

sky by Your Apostle among the kings, O

Lord. He received his calling, like Paul, not

from man, and placed his imperial city in

your hands. Ever guard it in peace, O

Loving God, through the intercessions of

the Theotokos.

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἁγίου Κωνσταντίνου

Τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου τὸν τύπον ἐν οὐρανῷ

θεασάμενος, καὶ ὡς ὁ Παῦλος τὴν κλῆσιν

οὐκ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων δεξάμενος, ὁ ἐν

βασιλεῦσιν, Ἀπόστολός σου Κύριε,

Βασιλεύουσαν πόλιν τῇ χειρί σου παρέθετο

ἣν περίσῳζε διὰ παντὸς ἐν εἰρήνῃ,

πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, μόνε

Φιλάνθρωπε.

Kontakion of Pascha

Though You went down into the tomb, O

Immortal One, yet You brought down the

dominion of Hades; and You rose as the

victor, O Christ our God; and You called

out ‘Rejoice’ to the Myrrh-bearing women,

and gave peace to Your apostles, O Lord

who to the fallen grant resurrection.

Κοντάκιον τού Πάσχα

Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ

τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν· καὶ

ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός,

γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος,

Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην

δωρούμενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων

ἀνάστασιν.

Announcements:

Click here to listen to a podcast

interviewing Metropolitan Joseph

of the Antiochian Archdiocese of

North America. Along with Fr.

Nicholas Belcher, Fr. Thomas Zain

and Fr. Andrew Damick, His

Eminence talks about what it

means to minister through a

pandemic and be able to relate to

our state and government.

Join us for livestream services by following our Facebook page,

Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Reading.

“Only struggle a little more. Carry your cross without complaining.

Don’t think you are anything special. Don’t justify your sins and weaknesses, but see yourself as you really are. And, especially, love one

another.” – Fr. Seraphim Rose