St. George

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church

Serving the Orthodox Christian Community

of Greater Cleveland

Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

St. George

Antiochian

Orthodox Church

WELCOME

The mission of St. George

Antiochian Orthodox Church

is to serve God and the community

by commitment to the Gospel’s

command to grow in the knowledge

of Jesus Christ through faith,

hope, and love. It is a parish of the

Self –Ruled Antiochian Orthodox

Christian Archdiocese of North

America.

The Orthodox Church follows the

faith and practice of the apostles

and disciples of Christ handed

down by the ancient Christian

fathers and twenty centuries of

Church tradition. Genuine Christian

life nurtures and stimulates our

spiritual and moral development.

The liturgical life of the Orthodox

Church has been developing over

the last 2000 years. By taking part

in the mysteries of Christ’s life,

death and resurrection at the

liturgical services, the community

members are drawn to repentance

and the gradual change of their

inner selves.

To join the community of St.

George or to find out more

information, please fill out the

Guest Book in the Narthex. We

hope this day will be spiritually

rewarding for you. Fr John will be

happy to answer any questions.

Join us in the hall after Liturgy for

our Coffee Hour and Fellowship.

V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, PastorOffice: (216) 781-9020 Fax: (216) 781-9545

Cellular: (440) 665-6724

Archdeacon Yarid Sahley

Subdeacons Sam Elias & George Simon

www.stgeorgecleveland.com

Pastor’s E-Mail: frjojaimi@msn.com

Parish E-Mail: office@stgeorgecleveland.com

Sunday April 07, 2013Tone 3 / Eothinon 11

Veneration of the Precious and

Life-Giving CrossMartyr Kalliopios of Cilicia; Venerable

George, bishop of Mitylene; repose of Tikhon,

patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of

North America

“Faith is obedience to God’s

word regardless of whether

the consequences are

good or bad”

Trisagion, Wheat, Bread of Oblation and the Coffee Hour are in Memory of

Antoinette Nassif (40 days) given by Family

Bread of Oblation is offered in Memory of Harb & Christopher Harb and Khalil Rizkallah

by Delores Harb and Family

Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of:

Bonni Elias by George & Christine Simon

Family & Friends by George & Joie Haddad

Family & Friends by Hal & Louise Bouhasin

Candles are offered in Beloved Memory of:

Laila Nader by Archdeacon Yarid & her Goddaughter Diane

Diane Caraboolad Nagy by Greg & Lauren Caraboolad & Family

Linda Simon by Her Family

Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & Family

All My Beloved by Emilie Easa

Edward Fadel by his wife & family

Edward Haddad by his wife

Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of: Olivia Abdallah, Houda Abdelkarim, Melissa

Aboid, Evelyn Baldassari, Rita Courey, Shirly Courey, Olga Courey, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa,

James Eassey, Helena Elias, Sarah Elias, Vera Elias, Dani Fadel, Minerva Gantose, Peter

George, Odeh Hanna, Pauline Hanna, Samia Harb, Corrine Khouri, Hanadi Khouri, Helen Lam-

bert, Becky Magas, Joyce Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia Nader, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher

Fadel-Samuel, Selma Sharpe, Alvera Shiekh, Christine Simon, Asma Zaboura. Rudy Zaboura.

“With fear of God, faith And love draw near”.

Come to Church, Jesus loves you, we love you

we are waiting for you.

Sign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Lots

of dates for 2013 are open. Pick a birthday, memorial,

anniversary, or just a day that no one has sponsored.

UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICES

Sunday, April 14, 2013 Matins @ 9:30 am, Liturgy @ 10:30 am and

During Lent : Mondays (English) & Tuesdays (Arabic) Great Compline @ 6:00 pm

Wednesdays Presanctfied Liturgy—Fridays Akathist (Madyh) Service @ 6:00 pm

Confessions will be heard on Sunday Mornings before Liturgy starts or by appointment.

Divine Liturgy Variables Sunday April 07, 2013Tone 3 / Eothinon 11; Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

Martyr Kalliopios of Cilicia; Venerable George, bishop of Mitylene; repose of Tikhon, patriarch of

Moscow and Enlightener of North America

**Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great**

REFRAINS OF THE FIRST ANTIPHON

The light of Thy countenance is marked upon us. Thou hast given a sign to them that fear Thee,

so that they may flee from the bow.

Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us.

Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast given an inheritance to

those that fear Thy Name, O Lord. (Refrain)

Glory… Both now… (Refrain)

REFRAINS OF THE SECOND ANTIPHON

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Let us worship at the place where

His feet stood.

Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.

God is our King before the ages; He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Refrain)

I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth. (Refrain)

Glory… Both now… O, only begotten Son and Word of God…

REFRAINS OF THE THIRD ANTIPHON

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool. O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine

inheritance. Feed them, and lift them up forever.

APOLYTIKION FOR THE HOLY CROSS IN TONE ONE

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all their

enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thy commonwealth.

THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF ORDINARY SUNDAYS

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the

dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE THREE

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done a mighty act with His own

arm. He hath trampled down death by death, and became the first-born from the dead. He hath

delivered us from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

APOLYTIKION FOR THE HOLY CROSS IN TONE ONE

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all their

enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thy commonwealth.

TROPARION OF ST. GEORGE TONE 4

As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings,

victorious Great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls’ salvation.

KONTAKION FOR THE ANNUNCIATION (AND GREAT LENT) IN TONE EIGHT

To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast

delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast 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.”

THE ANTI-TRISAGION HYMN

Before Thy Cross we bow down in worship, Master, and we glorify Thy Holy Resurrection. (3)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto ages of

ages. Amen.

And we glorify Thy Holy Resurrection.

Dynamis!

Before Thy Cross we bow down in worship, Master, and we glorify Thy Holy Resurrection.

THE EPISTLE

(For the Third Sunday of Great Lent)

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

To Thee, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (4:14-5:6)

Brethren, since we have a High Priest, Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the

Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to

sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are,

yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may

receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among

men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for

sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.

Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the

people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron

was. So also Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him

Who said to Him, “Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee”; as He says also in another

place, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

THE GOSPEL

(For the Third Sunday of Great Lent)

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (8:34-9:1)

The Lord said, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and

follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake

and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit

his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My

words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when

He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” And Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say

to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of

God come with power.”

ST. BASIL LITURGY 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.

KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT IN TONE EIGHT

The light of Thy countenance is marked upon us, O Lord. Alleluia.

Post-Communion Hymn: Instead of “We have seen the true light”, sing the Apolytikion of the

Holy Cross.

The Service for the Procession of the Cross may be done following the Great Doxology at

Orthros, or following “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” at Divine Liturgy.

الرسالةماوات، یسوع ابن هللا، فلنتمسك باإلقرار 14 ألن لیس لنا رئیس كھنة 15.فإذ لنا رئیس كھنة عظیم قد اجتاز الس

ب في كل شيء مثلنا، بال خطیة م بثقة إلى عرش النعمة لكي 16.غیر قادر أن یرثي لضعفاتنا، بل مجر فلنتقد

.ننال رحمة ونجد نعمة عونا في حینھ

1�˴Ϋ˴ϭ�˴Ϧϴ˶Α˴ήϗ˴�˴ϡΪϘ˵˴ϳ�˸ϲ Ϝ˴˶ϟ�ˬ˶Ϳ˶Ύ˴ϣ�ϲϓ˶�˶α ΎϨϟ�˶ϞΟ˸˴Ϸ�˵ϡΎ˴Ϙ˵ϳ�˶α ΎϨϟ�˴Ϧϣ˶�˳ΫϮΧ˵˸ϣ˴�˳Δ˴Ϩ˴Ϭ˴ϛ�˶β ϴ˶˴έ�Ϟϛ˵�ϥϷ˴قادرا 2ئح عن الخطایا، باعف الین، إذ ھو أیضا محاط بالض م عن الخطایا ألجل 3.أن یترفق بالجھال والض عف یلتزم أنھ كما یقد ولھذا الض

كذلك 5.وال یأخذ أحد ھذه الوظیفة بنفسھ، بل المدعو من هللا، كما ھارون أیضا4.الشعب ھكذا أیضا ألجل نفسھ د نفسھ لیصیر رئیس كھنة، بل الذي قال لھ كما یقول أیضا 6.»أنت ابني أنا الیوم ولدتك «:المسیح أیضا لم یمج

.»أنت كاھن إلى األبد على رتبة ملكي صادق «:في موضع آخر

إالنجیلفإن 35.من أراد أن یأتي ورائي فلینكر نفسھ ویحمل صلیبھ ویتبعني«:ودعا الجمع مع تالمیذه وقال لھم 34

ألنھ ماذا ینتفع 36.ھاص منأراد أن یخلص نفسھ یھلكھا، ومن یھلك نفسھ من أجلي ومن أجل اإلنجیل فھو یخل

ألن من استحى بي وبكالمي 38أو ماذا یعطي اإلنسان فداء عن نفسھ؟ 37اإلنسان لو ربح العالم كلھ وخسر نفسھ؟

یسین ك في ھذا الجیل الفاسق الخاطئ، فإن ابن اإلنسان یستحي بھ متى جاء بمجد أبیھ مع المالئ .»ة القد

ة :الحق أقول لكم «:وقال لھم 1 .»إن من القیام ھھنا قوما ال یذوقون الموت حتى یروا ملكوت هللا قد أتى بقو

THE LENTEN SEASONOnce again, we prepare ourselves for the journey through Lent, on the Road to the heavenly gates of

the Kingdom, in the Feast of Feasts: PASCHA! It is a journey that only you can take for yourself, for thereward you receive is based solely on the effort you put into it. Therefore, weencourage you to make the following a part of your daily and weekly experience as we continue throughthis Lenten season:

DAILY PRAYER: Please remember your morning and evening prayers, including prayers for ourbishops, our clergy and their families, your Parish Council and all parishioners, the sick and suffering,those who hate us and those who love, us, those who are kind to us and minister to us, and all those inneed of God's mercy; and especially St. Ephraim's Prayer.

THE WORD OF GOD: When you come to pray, take 10 more minutes and read the Word of theLord. You can start with a few chapters each day from the Psalms, the Proverbs, the Book of Job, or theGospel according to St. Luke. But whatever it is, READ IT, and ask questions on those areas you finddifficult.

THE WEEKDAY SERVICES: GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE TO YOU!1) Great Compline, Monday evenings, 6:00pm; Arabic Great Compline, Tuesday evnings,

6:00PM, a uniquely peaceful time of prayers.2) Pre-sanctified Liturgy, Wednesday evening, 6:00pm for strength at mid-week (Fasting begins

after the noon meal).3) Akathist (Madayeh), Friday evening, 6:00pm supplication to the Virgin Mary,

followed by our Organizations’ Lenten Suppers and Spiritual Talks.On Friday evening, April 26th at 6:00PM we celebrate Great Vespers for St. Lazarus.4)On Lazarus Saturday, April 27th we celebrate Liturgy at 10:30 am .5) Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, Sundays morning, 10:30AM. During Lent.6) Palm Sunday Liturgy April 28 Matins @ 9:30, Liturgy @ 10:307) Bridgroom Service Sunday , Monday & Tuesday @ 6:30 pm8) Holy Unction Service Wednesday @ 6:30 pm9) Holy Thursday Divine Liturgy @ 10:30am — Reading of the 12 Gospels @ 6:30 pm10) Holy and Great Fiday , Royal Hours @ 10:00am — Lamentation @ 7:00 pm11) Holy Saturday Liturgy @ 10 am —Rush Service & Holy Resurrection Liturgy @ 10;30 pm

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION: Repentance is the door to salvation. Without it, weremain a lost sheep, and lose all hope of tasting the Fountain of Life; but with it we find the Door ofParadise, and the angels and the saints at the eternal Banquet Feast of the Lord. During Holy Weekconfessions will be heard after evening services though Holy Friday evening and by appointment. Therewill be no confession after Holy Friday evening.

CHARITY AND GOOD WORKS: Basically, this is LOVING one another, with the same kind ofLove Jesus showed us. (Read 1 Corinthians 13, James and 1John.)

FASTING: A necessary ingredient to this season. Please try to abstain this season from any meatand if possible dairy products, and gain control over your earthly passions. Then, share what you didn'teat with those who have nothing. Remember to "feed" your Food For Hungry Box each day with yourchildren, and teach them how to care for the poor.

The Third Sunday Of Great Lent: Sunday Of The Veneration Of The Holy Cross

The commemoration and ceremonies of the Third Sunday of Lent are

closely parallel to the feasts of the Veneration of the Cross (September

14). Not only does the Sunday of the Holy Cross prepare us for

commemoration of the Crucifixion, but it also reminds us that the whole

of Lent is a period when we are crucified with Christ.

As we have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians

5:24), and will have mortified ourselves during these forty days of the

Fast, the precious and life-giving Cross is now placed before us to

refresh our souls and encourage us who may be filled with a sense of

bitterness, resentment, and depression. The Cross reminds us of the

Passion of our Lord, and by presenting to us His example, it encourages

us to follow Him in struggle and sacrifice, being refreshed, assured, and comforted. In other

words, we must experience what the Lord experienced during His Passion - being humiliated in a

shameful manner. The Cross teaches us that through pain and suffering we shall see the

fulfillment of our hopes: the heavenly inheritance and eternal glory.

As they who walk on a long and hard way and are bowed down by fatigue find great relief and

strengthening under the cool shade of a leafy tree, so do we find comfort, refreshment, and

rejuvenation under the Life-giving Cross, which our Fathers “planted” on this Sunday. Thus, we

are fortified and enabled to continue our Lenten journey with a light step, rested and encouraged.

Or, as before the arrival of the king, his royal standards, trophies, and emblems of victory come

in procession and then the king himself appears in a triumphant parade, jubilant and rejoicing in

his victory and filling those under him with joy, so does the Feast of the Cross precede the

coming of our King, Jesus Christ. It warns us that He is about to proclaim His victory over death

and appear to us in the glory of the Resurrection. His Life-Giving Cross is His royal scepter, and

by venerating it we are filled with joy, rendering Him glory. Therefore, we become ready to

welcome our King, who shall manifestly triumph over the powers of darkness.

The present feast has been placed in the middle of Great Lent for another reason. The Fast can

be likened to the spring of Marah whose waters the children of Israel encountered in the

wilderness. This water was undrinkable due to its bitterness but became sweet when the Holy

Prophet Moses dipped the wood into its depth. Likewise, the wood of the Cross sweetens the days

of the Fast, which are bitter and often grievous because of our tears. Yet Christ comforts us

during our course through the desert of the Fast, guiding and leading us by His hand to the

spiritual Jerusalem on high by the power of His Resurrection.

Moreover, as the Holy Cross is called the Tree of Life, it is placed in the middle of the Fast, as

the ancient tree of life was placed in the middle of the garden of Eden. By this, our Holy Fathers

wished to remind us of Adam’s gluttony as well as the fact that through this Tree has

condemnation been abolished. Therefore, if we bind ourselves to the Holy Cross, we shall never

encounter death but shall inherit life eternal.

Bible StudyJoin us at Church Monday April 08, 2013 @ 6:00 pm to pray and @

7;00 to study together the words of God.

Lenten Suppers Schedule & SponsorsApril 12Teens

April 19Clergy & Parish Council

Awesome!! We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize itis preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we

cannot..Whatever your cross,whatever your pain,

there will always be sunshine, after the rain....

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;But God's always ready, to answer your call....

He knows everyheartache, sees every tear, a word from His lips, can

calm every fear...

Your sorrows may linger,throughout the night,

But suddenly vanish, bydawn's early light...

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,to give you His grace, and send you His love.

May God fill your day

with blessings!!

Why I have to Fast?

It would be helpful if we begin by taking a look at what happens when we do not keep the fast. In

Genesis 3 we learn of the fall of Adam and Eve, and how their failure to keep the fast when they ate

the forbidden fruit was a sin (love of their own will more than the will of God) that caused mankind to

be expelled from paradise and perfect union with the Creator. Why would we want to mimic original

sin?

Our bodies and our souls are connected in such a way that the actions of our bodies articulate the

attitudes of our souls. Prayer is not just a function of the soul alone. We see this often in the

Scriptures. In Luke, when the Samaritan leper gave thanks for his healing, he did more than just say

words, he “fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet” (9:16). Later, in chapter 18, the Publican praying in the

temple was so full of sorrow, he would not even look in the direction of the heavens, but cast his eyes

down and smote his breast while praying for mercy. And it is more than mere coincidence that we

prostrate when we say the prayer of St. Ephraim during Great Lent, “O Lord and Master of my life,

take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. . . .”

All of the Holy Fathers of the Church, as well as many of the saints from both the Old and New

Testament, practiced fasting, including Christ Himself. In fact, Jesus also taught that certain forms

of evil could not be conquered without it (Matt 17:21).

Father Thomas Hopko reminds us that man does not fast because it pleases God if His servants do not

eat, for, as the Lenten hymns of the Church tell us, “the devil also never eats.” Neither do we fast in

order to afflict ourselves with suffering and pain, for God takes no pleasure in the discomfort of His

people. But we fast only to gain mastery over ourselves and to conquer the passions of the flesh.

Fasting helps me on several levels. First, when I cannot have any amount of meat or dairy, my body

reminds me. My lack of contentment with what I eat is something of which I am continually aware. But

this helps me become more focused in prayer because my sensitivities have not been dulled by foods

that satisfy. Also, it gives my spirituality a realistic barometer that lets me know where I am with my

faith. It’s easy to use the verbiage of an addict (“I can begin the fast anytime I want to”) because we

are all addicted to food to various degrees. But it is a very practical dilemma with which we have to

come to grips meal after meal. For example, do I love the Big Mac more than I love the Lord and doing

His will? (Mk 2:20) Is there any real harm to that cup of cappuccino? After all, God is going to have to

forgive me of much bigger sins than eating a cheese sandwich. Excuses are never very far away.

It can be easy to justify not participating in the fast to our greatest ability if that is our desire. If

we’ve never done it, it’s hard to describe what we’re missing. But it’s a great first step to growing as a

Christian. Fasting can be a lot easier when it is viewed not as an end in itself, but as something that

aids in our repentance. So, ask your Spiritual Father to give guidance if you’ve never fasted before.

Avoiding the foods from which the Church asks us to abstain is easier if we replace them by increasing

worthy activities like self-examination, works of love, giving to the poor, prayer, reading the Scrip-

tures and the Fathers, and refraining from gossip. If we are only avoiding certain foods and aren’t do-

ing those things which edify, then we are not really fasting; we’re just on some kind of weird diet. The

bottom line is Christ fasted (Matt 4) and taught His disciples to fast (Matt 6, Mk 2). Are we partici-

pating as best as you can ...? Are we one of His disciples?

MEMO TO ALL PARISHIONERS

The lenten season is now upon us, and soon Holy Week and Pascha will be here as well. Thereare many things that the church needs for all of our special services, and we ask for your partici-pation and support.

If you would like to offer a donation to St. George Orthodox Church for the health of or in memoryof, any of your family members or friends, please fill out the form below, tear it off and mail it backto the church office as soon as possible.

We thank you and pray that you experience a rewarding and fruitful lenten season and celebra-tion of our Lord's Holy Pascha.

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OFFERINGS FOR LENT AND HOLY PASCHA

Dear Father John,

It would be a great joy for me (for us) to offer a donation of $____________towards the following:

________Flowers ________Bread _________Easter Lillies

________Wine ________Oil _________Palms

________Eggs ________Votive Candles

for the health of:_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

in memory of:_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

given by:______________________________________________________________________________