Saint George Greek Orthodox Church

I will die on the hill that "liturgy" does *not* mean "work of the people." Every. Single. Time. But why? It's not pedantry, or the desire to be right--I may su...ffer from both, but not here. If that were the case, it would suffice to link to an article about the historical meaning of "liturgy" (a public beneficence performed by an individual for the common good) and call it a day. But that's not the real issue. The priority in worship is always God's action. We respond, we even carry that into our communities and throughout the world, but the *Divine* Liturgy will always be *God's* work. God's work, for the sake of His people. When I do not 'feel' it in worship, He still acts. When I am distracted in worship, He still works. When I, unworthy, dare to raise bread and wine at His sacred altar, He still sanctifies. And because He acts, and works, and sanctifies in His liturgy, He meets me where I am, bending low to raise up even this unworthy servant, so that I might become like Him. If it were my work, if it were the people's work, then it would be worthless. It would be better to sleep in on a Sunday morning. Glory be to God that it is His work, and not ours. This brings such joy that we cannot but respond in praise, and thanksgiving.

Morning Prayers during Divine Liturgy service with Deacon Kontaxis & Father Ted.

7th Sunday of Luke The Gospel According to Luke 8:41-56 At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind hi...m, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. See more

His Eminence Maximos, former Metropolitan of Pittsburgh, Falls Asleep in the Lord November 2, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... New York, NY Archbishop Elpidophoros of America conveys with great sadness the passing of Metropolitan Maximos, formerly of Pittsburgh, who fell asleep in the Lord today. The late Metropolitan retired due to failing health in August 2011, but continued to be a beloved and much respected figure in the Metropolis, which he served for over thirty years. Born to Father and Presvytera Evangelos Aghiorgoussis in Chios on March 5 1935, the future Metropolitan attended the Patriarchal Theological School of Halki, where he received his degree in Orthodox Theology in 1957. He was ordained a deacon at Halki on April 28, 1957, and ordained a priest on his native island on July 26, 1959. He pursued graduate studies at the University of Louvain, Belgium, where he received a Doctorate in Theology and Baccalaureate in Philosophy in 1964. From 1966 to 1979 (his election as a Bishop) he taught at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology as Professor of Systematic Theology. During his tenure at the school, he also served as Vice President of Hellenic College and Academic Dean of the Holy Cross School of Theology. On April 11, 1978, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected him Bishop of Diokleia. Archbishop Iakovos consecrated him to the Episcopacy on Pentecost Sunday, June 18, 1978, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City. He was as elected in March 1979, and enthroned as the first bishop of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis (then Diocese) of Pittsburgh on April 27, 1979. In 1997, He was elected a Metropolitan of the Throne of Constantinople to preside in Pittsburgh, and later in 2003 became Metropolitan of Pittsburgh. Archbishop Elpidophoros, commenting on the passing of the beloved Metropolitan, said: I was deeply grieved to learn of the passing of Metropolitan Maximos, a beloved spiritual father of so many clergymen of our Archdiocese, who studied with him at our Seminary, and indeed a beloved spiritual son of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. I know that I express the condolences of the Holy Eparchial Synod to his surviving family members and indeed to all of the Faithful of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, which he shepherded for thirty-two years. As Chairman of the Board, I also wish to express the sympathies of Hellenic College and Holy Cross, which knew his daily presence and wisdom in his time there as a Professor. He was among the best and brightest who emerged from Halki in the 1950’s and became leaders in the Ecumenical Movement. His ministry in Rome as young clergyman and theologian was instrumental in renewing the relationship of the Sister Churches, and his pastoral perspectives were always considered the world over for their sagacity. As we grieve the loss of this great Hierarch and scholar, we also acknowledge that he is worthy of the rest in God, into which he has now passed after a lifetime of service to Christ and His Holy Orthodox Church. May his memory be eternal. Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh also stated: "Metropolitan Maximos served the Church of Christ with all his heart, all his mind, all his strength, and all his being. He was a theologian’s theologian, a pastor’s pastor, a liturgist’s liturgist, and man of God for the people of God. Though not the first hierarch of what was to become the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, he was the longest serving by decades, and he will long be remembered as its spiritual father. May God grant him a place at His heavenly altar, and may his memory be eternal!" The funeral for the late Metropolitan Maximos will be held at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Pittsburgh on Saturday November 7th, followed by the internment at Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery in Perrysville, Ohio. #

Sunday, November 1st Gospel & Sermon with Deacon Euthym Kontaxis & Father Theodore Pantels.

The 5th Sunday of Luke - Parable of the Rich Man The Gospel According to Luke 16:19-31 The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried...; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'" See more

Prayers for a full recovery. https://news.yahoo.com//orthodox-priest-seriously-hurt-fra

Prayers for Orange County residents affected by fires. https://sanfran.goarch.org//fires-ravaging-through-souther

Sunday, October 25th video of today’s Gospel Reading by Deacon Euthym Kontaxis and Sermon by Father Theodore Pantels.

The 6th Sunday of Luke The Gospel According to Luke 8:26-39 At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded t...he unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. See more

October 18th Gospel and Sermon by Deacon Euthym Kontaxis.

Luke the Evangelist The Gospel According to Luke 10:16-21 The Lord said to his disciples, "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and not...hing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will." See more