10748 E. 116th Street • Fishers, Indiana 46037 (317) 845-7755 • www.stgindy.org

V. Rev. Father Nabil L. Hanna, Pastor (317) 919-0841 • pastor@stgindy.org

Rev. James A. Childs, Deacon (317) 626-3943 • jachilds555@gmail.com

Rev. Joseph S. Olas, Deacon (317) 201-8151 • jsolas@stgindy.org

A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America • Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America

His Grace Bishop ANTHONY, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo

TONE 3 MARCH 31, 2019 EOTHINON 11

THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

THE HOLY HIEROMARTYR HYPATIUS, BISHOP OF GANGRA

INNOCENT, ENLIGHTENER OF SIBERIA & ALASKA

AKAKIOS THE CONFESSOR

THEOPHILOS THE MARTYR AND THOSE WITH HIM

Much of the real cross has been given away, piece by piece, over the years. One of the larger remaining pieces of the Holy Cross is embedded in this icon, which depicts Ss. Constantine and Helen together raising it up. It is displayed for veneration in the Reliquary of the Holy Cross, in the Church of the Resurrection, in Jerusalem.

L I T U RGY VA R I AT I O N S

FIRST ANTIPHON

The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us. Thou hast given a sign unto them that fear Thee, that they may flee from before the face of the bow.

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

Thou hast ascended on high; Thou ledest captivity captive. Thou hast given an inheritance to them that fear thy Name. Refrain

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Refrain

Schedule of Regular Weekly Services

Sundays: Matins, 8:50 AM

Divine Liturgy, 10 AM

Wednesdays: Vespers, 6:30 PM

Saturdays: Great Vespers, 5 PM

Confession: After Saturday Vespers

During Sunday Matins

Or by Appointment Remember to turn cell phones off!

See Calendar for Feast Days and Other Weekday Services Scheduled

Order for Holy Communion Members of the Orthodox Church age seven and above must prepare for Holy Communion with a recent confession, prayer, fasting from all food and drink from midnight (unless medical condition preclude it), being in church before the Epistle and Gospel readings, and being at peace with everyone.

CHILDREN going to church school and their teachers should come down the center aisle first. (Small chil-dren may need to be assisted by their parents.)

ALL OTHERS should wait until an usher dismisses your row from the center aisle. Then return to your place by a side aisle for the prayers of thanksgiving and the final blessing and dismissal. Please let choir members pass when they come down for Communion.

A Warm Welcome to Our Guests We are glad you are worshipping with us. Please note that participation in Holy Communion is limited to members of the Orthodox Church in good standing, who have prepared through prayer, fasting and confession.

For all others: though we cannot share Communion with you—since it is an expression of membership and full unity in faith—you are welcome to come forward after the dismissal, receive a blessing and partake of the blessed bread (from the large bowls). Please also sign our guest book, and introduce yourself to Fr. Nabil during the coffee hour. You may inquire with him how you can become a member.

SECOND ANTIPHON

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

Refrain: O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, save us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia.

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

High above all the nations is the Lord. Thou art Lord Most High over all the earth. Refrain

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O only-begotten Son and immortal Word of God….

THIRD ANTIPHON: TROPARION OF THE CROSS AS REFRAIN (TONE 1)

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at the footstool of His feet.

Refrain: 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.

Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Refrain

Shepherd them, and bear them up unto eternity. Refrain

ENTRANCE HYMN (TONE 2)

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ. O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, save us who sing unto Thee: Alleluia.

APOLYTIKIA AFTER THE ENTRANCE

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 3)

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 become the first-born

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

Troparion of the Holy Cross (Tone 1)

O Lord, save Thy people….

Troparion of St. George (Tone 4, Russian)

As Deliverer 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 of the Annunciation (Tone 8)

O victorious Leader of triumphant hosts, we, your servants who have been delivered from danger, sing our grateful thanks to you, O Theotokos. As you have power which is

invincible, set us free from every danger, that we may cry out to you: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!

PROCESSION OF THE HOLY CROSS AND ANTI-TRISAGION

The Cross, upon a tray with branches of basil (or flowers), is placed on the Holy Table.

People: All kneel and sing “Holy God...” to a slow and solemn melody.

The priest goes around the Holy Table censing the Cross from four sides. Taking the tray upon his head, preceded by the processional torches and fans and the deacon with the incense, the priest goes around the Holy Table and out the north door

of the sanctuary, going around the temple. He stops before the Royal Doors, where the tetrapod has been positioned, after circling it thrice.

Priest: Wisdom! Let us attend.

The priest places the tray with the Cross upon the tetrapod, and circles it while incensing it three times. Meanwhile is sung:

Priest: The troparion of the feast, “O Lord, save thy peo-ple...”

Chanters: The troparion of the feast, “O Lord, save thy peo-ple...”

Choir: The troparion of the feast, “O Lord, save thy peo-ple...”

Then is sung the following anti-Trisagion thrice, with all making a prostration each time.

Priest: Before thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and thy holy Resurrec-tion we glorify.

Chanters: Before thy Cross...

Choir: Before thy Cross...

When you venerate the Cross, after the dismissal, you will receive a flower from it as a blessing.

THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS

Prokeimenon (Tone 6; Psalm 27.9, 1)

O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To You, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.

Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews (4.14-5.6; 3rd Sunday of Lent)

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 of-fer 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, to-day I have begotten Thee;” as He says also in another place, “Thou art a priest forever, af-ter the order of Melchizedek.”

Holy Gospel according to St. Mark (8.34-9.1; 3rd Sunday of Lent)

THE LORD SAID, “If anyone 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.”

HOLY OBLATIONS AND PRAYER REQUESTS

• By Salim and Paula Najjar, and Sophia, Roma and Anastasia Koroneos, in memory of Constance Shurts (15 years), Theodore Koroneos (10 years), Irene Kuzmiak (13 years), Carl Snider, Sr. (9 years), Nick Allemenos (25 years), Lisa Allemenos (25 years), Chris James (25 years) and Jean Hefflemier (16 years).

A sign-up sheet for baking and offering the prosphora (altar bread) is posted on the bulletin board, next to the elevator. You can also contact Thelma Hoover at (317) 782-1633.

WE SERVE THE LITURGY OF ST. BASIL TODAY

In the service books, follow the right column, labeled “St. Basil,” where there are two col-umns to participate in the Prayer of the Anaphora.

REFRAIN OF THE COMMUNION HYMN (TONE 8)

The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us. Alleluia.

POST-COMMUNION HYMN: TROPARION OF THE CROSS (TONE 1)

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.

TODAY’S STUDY TOPIC: LESSON III.20

All church school classes from age 5 up will be studying about The Apostles’ Es-cape, Stephen the First Martyr and the Conversion of Saul (from Acts 5-7, 9, found on pages 466-68 of The Golden Children’s Bible).

Seven and eight-year-olds are also preparing for their first confessions, the im-portant milestone we celebrate, when they begin to take ownership for the Faith. As babies, they could not speak; now they can say for themselves, “I believe….”

RECOGNIZING OUR LADIES

March is Women’s Month in the Archdiocese. During this month we ask our ladies to serve as ushers, readers, etc., in order to highlight the indispensable role our women have served throughout Christian history up to and including the present.

Summary of LENTEN SERVICES In Addition to the regular, weekly services: Saturday Vespers and Confession, 5 p.m. Sunday Matins: 8:50 a.m. • Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10 a.m.

Mondays — On Mondays in Lent we will serve Great Compline at 7 p.m.

Wednesdays — Join us at 6:30 p.m. for the Presanctified Liturgy. Bring one Lenten item to share for a pitch-in after Liturgy, so we can break bread together after fasting from all food and drink at least from noon. A short spiritual discussion will follow, and we’ll have you out by 8:45.

Fridays — Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos at 7 p.m. This will be preceded by a Lenten Supper at 6 p.m. prepared by one of our organizations or families.

• The fifth Friday, Holy Trinity clergy and faithful will join us for dinner and the service on April 12, and the homily will be given by our retreat speaker, Paul Karos.

Sunday Evenings — Vespers will be held at 5 p.m. at a different church each week (see the calendar for location). A dinner reception will follow. Tonight, we are at St. John the Forerunner Church, 1427 S. Blaine Ave. • Indianapolis, Fr. Stevan Bauman, homilist.

The Fifth Saturday, April 13 — Lenten Retreat co-hosted by the Ladies of St. George and the Holy Trinity Philoptochos. For both men and women, the retreat will be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm, with Paul Karos as guest speaker.

Lazarus Saturday, April 20 — Matins/Liturgy, Falafel Lunch and annual cleaning and polishing God’s house.

Palm Sunday, April 21 — His Grace, Bishop Anthony, will preside. Liturgy will include the traditional procession, and a fish dinner will follow.

LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON, WE RETURN TO OUR FATHER IN HUMILITY

Everyone should make a confession at least once during Lent. Fr. Nabil will be available after Saturday Vespers or you can make an apointment.

FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE

As we fast, we always need to remember the poor. Please take a Food for Hungry People offering box from the narthex, and make it a practice to put something

into it as you sit down for every meal.

RSVP with Vicki Mesalam or Liza Nahas during coffee hour today.

WHY DO ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS FAST?

Fasting is a regular part of the lives of all Orthodox Christians—we fast on all Wednesdays and Fridays, and during four major seasons: The Nativity Fast, the Great Fast of Lent, the Apostles Fast, and the Dormition Fast. With so much time devoted to this spiritual discipline, we might ask “why do we fast?” The answer is that fasting is letting go of one thing, so that we may receive something even better.

We unburden our:

Schedules: we do not spend time in entertainments, parties and celebrations; we eat simple meals and spend less time in food preparation.

Bodies: we abstain from certain kinds of food; we also reduce the quantity of the food we eat.

Budgets: we save money by not spending it on entertainments and social engagements, and by purchasing simple, low-cost foods.

We receive in our:

Schedules: time for increased prayer & spiritual study—this focus during the Fast builds our relationship with God, allowing for undistracted focus on Him.

Bodies: self-control and a redirection of our desires—this focus during the Fast builds our relationship with our own selves; fasting foods are less likely to make us prone to anger and laziness, and the smaller quantities we eat give us a lightness of spirit and a reminder of our reliance on God.

Budgets: what we save by focusing on our spiritual life, and by eating simply, allows additional money for almsgiving—this focus during the Fast builds our relationship with others. The Great Fast is preceded by Judgment Sunday when Christ tells us that we will be judged by how we care for others in need as for Christ Himself.

There is a saying in baseball: practice never won a game, but nobody ever won a game without practice. We could correctly say that fasting never saved anyone, but nobody was ever saved without fasting—precisely because we need the blessings that come only through Fasting. We see the Fast is not simply about ‘giving something up;’ rather it is about emptying ourselves in order to be filled with the Grace of God Himself!

Please Join Us for Fellowship after the Liturgy Following the dismissal and verbal announcements, come forward for a blessing, then exit via the north (left side) doors, and join us in the fellowship hall for refreshments. The ushers will hand you the announcements bulletin as you exit.

HOLY WEEK & PASCHA 2019 St. George Orthodox Church • Indianapolis/Fishers

LAZARUS SATURDAY • APRIL 20 Matins 9 AM • Divine Liturgy, 10 AM Great Vespers, 5 PM • Confessions Follow Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead shows He can raise all mankind. Please also

join us after Liturgy for a Falafel and spaghetti brunch, and help us prepare for the Feast by preparing and decorating the Lord’s house.

PALM SUNDAY • APRIL 21 Matins and Confession, 9 AM • Divine Liturgy, 10 AM Bishop Anthony will preside over our celebration of the triumphant entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, to face his voluntary death. “We like the children carry the palms of victory,” in Procession. Adults and children may also bring decorated candles. A Fish Dinner follows Liturgy.

PALM SUNDAY EVENING • APRIL 21 Bridegroom Matins, 7 PM • Confessions Follow The Procession with the icon of Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, takes place, and we remember the righteousness of Joseph who, like Christ, suf-fered unjustly with patience and was exalted.

GREAT MONDAY • APRIL 22 Presanctified Liturgy, 10 AM Bridegroom Matins, 7 PM • Confessions Follow We remember the example of the ten virgins waiting for the Bridegroom.

GREAT TUESDAY • APRIL 23 Presanctified Liturgy, 10 AM Bridegroom Matins, 7 PM • Confessions Follow We remember the woman who anointed the head and feet of our Lord, wiping them with her hair, in contrast with Judas and his betrayal of Christ. The Hymn of Kassiane expresses these con-trasts with profound poetry and majesty.

GREAT WEDNESDAY • APRIL 24 Presanctified Liturgy, 10 AM Sacrament of Holy Unction, 7 PM We are anointed for healing of soul and body as Christ was anointed in anticipation of his burial. All should have made their confession before this point.

GREAT THURSDAY MORNING • APRIL 25 Liturgy of St. Basil, 10 AM On this day, when Jesus first said to his disciples, “Take, eat; this is my Body,” Orthodox Chris-tians make it a point to participate in Holy Communion. Children may be excused from school. Breakfast will follow.

GREAT THURSDAY EVENING • APRIL 25 Matins with the Twelve Passion Gospels, 7 PM We walk with our Lord through the Passion. A procession with the Cross commemorates Christ’s voluntary Crucifixion.

GREAT FRIDAY • APRIL 26 Royal Hours, 10 AM Church School Retreat, 12 PM Un-nailing Vespers, 3 PM We try to spend this day in Church, heeding our Lord’s words to “watch and pray.” At Vespers, Christ is taken down from the Cross and placed in the deco-rated tomb. Children may be excused from school for the day for services and for a chat with Fa-ther before the afternoon service.

GREAT FRIDAY EVENING • APRIL 26 Resurrectional Matins of Christ’s Funeral, 7 PM We join Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and the Myrrh-bearing Women to sing in Praise of the buried Christ, and we process with the Bier and passing under it as if joining Christ in the tomb.

GREAT SATURDAY MORNING • APRIL 27 Liturgy of St. Basil, 10 AM As we keep vigil, the Victory of Christ over death and his Resurrection ‘explode’ with throwing of the leaves of victory. Please bring your children to this service. Breakfast will follow.

THE RESURRECTION • SATURDAY, APRIL 27 / SUNDAY, APRIL 28 RUSH/MATINS/LITURGY, 11 PM We receive the new Light and the Good News that “Christ is Risen.” Please bring dyed-red eggs. You may also bring Easter Baskets to be blessed for enjoyment and sharing after Liturgy. Our parish council will also serve additional food to break the Fast.

AGAPE VESPERS • SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Love Vespers, 3 PM • Egg Hunt • Pitch-in Feast The Good News (Gospel) of the Resurrection will be proclaimed in as many languages as possi-ble. A sign-up list will be posted during Holy Week for you to read any language you know (we might have the text available, if you don’t). Bring your family and something to share, and let’s all enjoy food, music and dancing together! We will also have the Egg Hunt for the children.

PARISH PRAYER LIST

Please include in your daily prayers the following—those struggling with acute illness and those newly departed this life—from our parishioners and those for whom they have requested our prayers. (Names are kept for 40 days, the date indicated after the name, and may be renewed upon request.)

LIVING Metropolitan Paul and Archbishop John

Jeanette Farah, St. Vincent Hospital, 5/10

Christa and newborn son Jacob Dooley, St. Vincent Women’s Hosp., 5/4

Domnikya Butenko, 5/3

Hana Musleh, Copper Trace Rehab., 4/15

Fouad Fred Musleh, Copper Trace Rehab., 4/14

Elias AlTawil, Carmel Care Rehab., 4/14

Ruth Nasser, 4/1

Theodore Habib and Roger Mokhiber, cousins of Doug Fadel, 4/23

Chris Russell, cousin of Jeff Beck, 4/23

Vasily Chilat, Ludmila Woodward’s father, 4/22

Karen Christoff, friend of Kathleen Everhart, 4/10

John Meyer, Fr. Nabil and Elaine Hanna’s brother-in-law, 4/9

Alice Capshaw, Chris’ mother, 4/1

All those suffering from illness, violence or want throughout the world

DEPARTED Catherine Sahulzik, aunt of Janet Wahl 4/24

Joel Bandy, nephew of David Sumner, 4/19

Pierce Hitchins, friend of Issa and Sharon Mustaklem, 4/19

Thomas Ward, John’s brother, 4/10

Sandra, former student of Elise Sumner 4/9

James Callahan, uncle of David Livingston, 4/5

Aristea Pappas, Aristotle Nicolaides’ sister, 4/1

The victims of the airplane accident in Ethiopia and of violence in New Zealand and throughout the world

ST. GEORGE PARISH CALENDAR

March 2019

Sun. 31

Veneration of the Holy Cross

Matins, 8:50 am

Choir practice, 9 am

Divine Liturgy, 10 am

• Church School

• “Souper Sunday,” by Ladies of St. George

Pan-Orthodox Vespers, 5 pm at St. John the Forerunner (1427 S. Blaine Ave., Indianapolis)

April 2019

Mon. 1 Great Compline, 7 pm

Church School staff meeting, 8 pm

Wed. 3

Presanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm

• Pitch-in Dinner

• Spiritual Discussion

Fri. 5 Lenten Supper, 6 pm

Little Compline with Akathist, 7 pm

Sat. 6 Great Vespers, 5 pm

• Confessions heard

Sun. 7

Matins, 8:50 am

Choir practice, 9 am

Divine Liturgy, 10 am

• Church School

• Ladies of St. George meeting

Teen SOYO meeting, 3 pm

Pan-Orthodox Vespers, 5 pm HERE

Mon. 8 Great Compline, 7 pm

Wed. 10

Presanctified Liturgy, 6:30 pm

• Pitch-in Dinner

• Spiritual Discussion

• Teen SOYO discussion

See the full calendar and the latest additions and updates at www.stgindy.org/calendar