St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Sunday, January 31, 2021 Saints Athanasius & Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria 8:30 am - Matins / 10:00 am - Divine Liturgy / . ... Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. We will continue live-streaming our parish's Church services on Facebook during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Our little church still has financial needs that continue. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected]

January 31 / 18 Saint Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria In the half-century after the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in 325, if there was one man whom the Arians feared and hated more intensely than any other, as being able to lay bare the whole error of their teachings, and to marshal, even from exile or hiding, the beleaguered forces of the Orthodox, it was Saint Athanasius the Great.... Dismissal Hymn. Third Tone Shining forth with works of Orthodoxy, ye quenched every false belief and teaching and became trophy-bearers and conquerors. And since ye made all things rich with true piety, greatly adorning the Church with magnificence, Athenasius and wise Cyril, ye both have worthily found Christ God, Who doth grant great mercy unto all. Excerpted from the Great Horologion. @ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Sunday, January 24, 2021 Sunday after Holy Theophany 8:30 am - Matins / 10:00 am - Divine Liturgy / . ... Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. We will continue live-streaming our parish's Church services on Facebook during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Our little church still has financial needs that continue. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected]

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Holy Theophany 8:30 am - Matins / 10:00 am - Divine Liturgy / . ... Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. We will continue live-streaming our parish's Church services on Facebook during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Our little church still has financial needs that continue. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected]

Sunday, January 17, 2021 Sunday before Holy Theophany 8:30 am - Matins / 10:00 am - Divine Liturgy / . ... Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. We will continue live-streaming our parish's Church services on Facebook during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Our little church still has financial needs that continue. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected]

Sunday, October 25, 2020 Sunday of the 350 Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in the year 787. Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all.... Due to the current Los Angeles County COVID-19 policies, for the rest of October, we will continue to be limited to broadcasting our parish's Church services online. Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

Sunday, October 18, 2020 Second Sunday of St. Luke Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all.... Due to the current Los Angeles County COVID-19 policies, for the rest of October, we will continue to be limited to broadcasting our parish's Church services online. Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

October 15/2 The Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Virgin Martyr Justina Saint Justina, who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian who was from Antioch, began as an initiate of magic and worship of the demons. A certain foolish young man who had been smitten with Justine’s beauty hired Cyprian to draw her to love him; when Cyprian had used every demonic device he knew, and had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ whom Justina invo...ked, he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth. Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded about the year 304. Kontakion. First Tone. When thou, O godly-minded one, hadst been converted from magic art to knowledge of God, thou becamest a most skilful healer for the whole world, O wise Cyprian, granting cures to them that honour thee with Justina; with her, pray the man-befriending Master to save us, thy servants who sing thy praise. Excerpted from the Great Horologion @ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Sunday, October 11, 2020 First Sunday of St. Luke Due to the current Los Angeles County COVID-19 policies, for the rest of October, we will continue to be limited to broadcasting our parish's Church services online.... Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

Sunday, October 4, 2020 Sunday after & Apodosis of the Exaltation of the Precious & Life-Giving Cross Due to the current Los Angeles County COVID-19 policies, for the rest of September and October, we will continue to be limited to broadcasting our parish's Church services online.... Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

Sunday, September 27, 2020 Exaltation of the Precious & Life-Giving Cross Due to the current Los Angeles County COVID-19 policies, for the rest of September and October, we will continue to be limited to broadcasting our parish's Church services online.... Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

Sunday, September 20, 2020 Sunday before the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross / Eve of the Birth of Our Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary __________________________________________________ Dear Fellow Parishioners,... I hope and pray that you are all well and patiently enduring everything we are going through - including the COVID-19 virus, power outages, fires and the subsequent unhealthy air, and other daily struggles. Due to the current Los Angeles County COVID-19 policies, for the rest of September and October, we will continue to be limited to broadcasting our parish's Church services online (Facebook: St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Pomona). This Sunday, Sept. 20th (Sept. 8th Church Calendar), is the Eve of The Birth of The Theotokos, and will include the Liti (Artoklasia) in honor of the Feast, since we will not be returning on Monday. Thank you for your continued love and support of our Parish. May God have mercy, protect and bless us all. In Our Lord's Service, Fr. Nicholas _____________________________________________________ Service will be live-streamed so that you and your families can attend online as we are not permitted at this time to be open for in-person services. Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you . Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

Saint Cosmas of Aetolia Our holy Father Cosmas was from the town of Mega Dendron (Great Tree) of Aetolia. At the age of twenty, he went to study on the Holy Mountain. Later, he came to the Athonite Monastery of Philotheou where he was tonsured. With the blessing of his abbot, he departed for Constantinople where he learned the art of rhetoric, and thereafter, he began to preach throughout all the regions of northern Greece, the Ionian Islands, but specially in Albania. ... Finally, in 1776, after having greatly strengthened and enlightened the faithful, working many signs and wonders all the while, he was falsely accused by the leaders of the Jewish people and was executed by strangulation by the Moslem Turks in Albania. + Dismissal Hymn of Saint Cosmas With odes let is acclaim the renowned Cosmas, who gloriously excelled among the choirs of the martyrs, priests, and ascetics, and let us gather; for he dispenseth healing to them that have recourse to him with faith, since, as an equal of the Apostles, he hath boldness before Christ. Excerpted from the Great Horologion @ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Sunday, August 30, 2020 Twelfth Sunday of St. Matthew. Hieromartyr Myron the Presbyter who was beheaded in Cyzicus Service will be live-streamed so that you and your families can attend online as we are not permitted at this time to be open for in-person services.... Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you . Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

The Dormition of Our Most Holy and Glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was... necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the end of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in the reflection as well as meat, and then raised her hands to heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the apostles, and reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all Holy Spirit into the hands of her Son and God. With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning of bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens. +Kontakion, Second Tone The grave and death could not hold the Theotokos, who is unsleeping in her intercessions and an unfailing hope in her mediations. For as the Mother of Life she was translated to life by Him Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb. Excerpted from the Great Horologion @ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Friday, August 28, 2020 The Dormition of Our Most Holy and Glorious Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary Service will be live-streamed so that you and your families can attend online as we are not permitted at this time to be open for in-person services.... Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

Holy Martyr Laurence, Archdeacon of Rome This Saint, who was born in Spain, was the Archdeacon of the Church of Rome. About the year 257, a harsh persecution was raised up against the Christians by Valerian. Pope Sixtus, who was from Athens, was commanded to worship the idols, and refused; before his martyrdom by beheading, he committed to Laurence all the sacred vessels of the Church. When Laurence was arrested and brought before the Prefect, he was questioned con...cerning the treasures of the Church. Laurence asked for three days’ time to prepare them. He then proceeded to gather all the poor and needy, and presented them to the Prefect and said, Behold the treasures of the Church. The Prefect became enraged at this and gave commands that Laurence be racked, then scourged with scorpions, then stretched out on a red-hot iron grill. But the greatest athlete of Christ endured without groaning. After he had been burned on one side, he said, My body is done on one side; turn me over on the other. And when this had taken place, the martyr said the tyrant, My flesh is now well done, you may taste of it. And when he had said this, and had prayed for his slayers in imitation of Christ, he gave up his spirit on August 10, 258. +Kontakion Aflame in thy heart, of Laurence, with the fire divine, thou burntest away the fire of passions utterly, O firm staff of athletes, O thou God-bearing Martyr; and thou in truth while contesting didst cry with faith: Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ. Excerpted from the Great Horologion @ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Sunday, August 23, 2020 Eleventh Sunday of St. Matthew. Martyrs Laurence, Archdeacon of Rome & those with him Service will be live-streamed so that you and your families can attend online as we are not permitted at this time to be open for in-person services.... Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you . Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].

The Transfiguration of Our Lord, and God, and Savior Jesus Christ He took his three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Afte...r a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying : This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him (Matthew 17:5). According to tradition, the Lord’s Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross +Kontakion. Grave tone On the mount Thou wast transfigured, and Thy disciples, as much as they could bear, beheld Thy glory, O Christ our God; that when they should see Thee crucified, they would know Thy Passion to be willing, and would preach to the he world that Thou, in truth, art the Effulgence of the Father. Excerpted from the Great Horologion Transfiguration of Our Lord, and God, and Savior Jesus Christ Liturgy held today: https://www.facebook.com/StDemetriosGOCPomona/videos/3236273493104951/?vh=e&extid=IFAbSF0qMMW3qsAh&d=n #stdemetriospomona #transfiguration #holytransfiguration @ St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 The Transfiguration of Our Lord, and God, and Savior Jesus Christ Service will be live-streamed so that you and your families can attend online as we are not permitted at this time to be open for in-person services.... Our little church still has financial needs that continue even during this time of closure. If you have made your donation, thank you . Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1984, Pomona, Ca 91769-1984 or through Zelle at [email protected].