The Trophy-Bearer A monthly publication of Saint George Greek Orthodox New Castle, Pennsylvania May 2021 Volume V, Issue 5

Holy New Martyr John of Serres May 12th ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ SAINT GEORGE GREEK 315 W. Englewood Avenue - New Castle, PA 16105 Church: (724) 654–8521 - www.stgeorgenewcastle.org Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos - Parish Priest [email protected] Parish Council Members President—Helen Ritchie Vice-President—Sotirios Kolovos Treasurer—Angelo Mitsos Secretary—Josh Ballew Artie Christou Spero Kardambikis Eric Karmecy Beth Tsiris Service Times Please Check the Monthly Calendar for Services Services Times—Unless Otherwise Noted Sunday Orthros 8:15 a.m. Sunday 9:30 a.m. Mon-Sat Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m. Evening Services 6:00 p.m. Confession: By Appointment The Trophy-Bearer If you would like an article, or photos in The Trophy-Bearer, submit them electronically to Fr. Michael ([email protected]) no later than the 15th of the month.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” -James 5:14 If you or your loved one is sick, in the hospital, or need a priest, please contact Fr. Michael so that he will be able to visit them. Fr. Michael’s Message Christ is in our Midst! This year on March 15th, we started our journey through the period known as Great and Holy Lent. After seven weeks of prayer, fasting, and struggling, we have arrived at the doorstep of the Feast of Feasts, the Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ. Even before this journey began, most of the world has had its struggles. We are roughly fifteen months into this worldwide pandemic, and during this time period, we have lost loved ones, some people have lost their jobs, we have restrictions on social gatherings, and restrictions in our Churches. Even though we are still in the midst of this pandemic, we have to look at the blessings that we have in our lives. Yes, this past year has been difficult, but we have overcome obstacles that have been put in our path, we endured a lot to try and keep ourselves, our families, and those around us safe. We are beginning to have a sense of returning to “normal”. Last year we were all unable to gather in Church and proclaim the Resurrection as a Church family. This year we have the blessing to be back together to proclaim the Resurrection with each other. On Saturday evening, the Church becomes dark and quiet. The Light of Christ proceeds throughout the Church and everyone has a lit candle. We hear the gospel of the Resurrection of Christ, and after chanting “Christ is Risen” we hear the Resurrection homily of St. . The main theme of this homily is: all are welcome! It doesn’t matter what you did this . It doesn’t matter whether or not you came to the Church. It doesn’t even matter whether or not you fasted…all are welcome! We know what we are supposed to do and how we are supposed to prepare for Lent & Pascha. We all celebrate the resurrection of Christ. This is our salvation, and we know where we are supposed to celebrate. It is my hope and prayer that we come together to shout in unison, “Death, where is your sting? Hell, where is your victory? Christ is Risen! Death is Abolished! The joy of the Resurrection is universal and spreads throughout the world! Join us with your family, your friends, and even your non-Orthodox friends and family to celebrate together. Let us come and see the empty tomb of Christ to proclaim that Christ is Risen!

In Anticipation of our Risen Lord, I remain,

Rev. Fr. Michael A. Gavrilos

May 2021 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

8:30 a.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy

11:00 p.m. Paschal Vigil

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Great & Holy St. George of the St. George Gyro Pascha 9:00 a.m. Life-Giving Font Fest Hierarchical Orthros & 11:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Orthros & Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m. Agape Vespers Divine Liturgy with Vespers of w/ Metropolitan St. George SAVAS

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Thomas Sunday Orthros & Divine Liturgy

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Sunday of the Meal & Food Sts. Constantine Myrrh-Bearing Distribution & Helen Women 11:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Orthros & St. Nicholas Orthros & Divine Liturgy Church Divine Liturgy 205 East Reynolds Street

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Sunday of the Paralytic Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Parish Council Meeting

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Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Orthros & Divine Liturgy June 2021 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5

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Sunday of the Blind Man Orthros & Divine Liturgy

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Father of the 1st Meal & Food Saturday of Ecumenical Distribution Souls Council 11:30 a.m. Orthros, Orthros & St. Nicholas Divine Liturgy, Divine Liturgy Church Memorials 205 East Reynolds St. George Gyro Street Fest 11:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Holy Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Parish Council Meeting

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Sunday of All Synaxis of the Saints Holy Apostles Orthros & 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy Orthros & Divine Liturgy

COVER —Holy New Martyr John of Serres May 12th The Holy New Martyr John came from a wealthy family of Serres and was born and raised in Serres in the latter half of the fifteenth century. In the prime of his youth, his courage to appear in public as equal to the Turkish occupiers with a splendid appearance, caused the envy of the Turks, who went to the authorities. His accusers claimed that John publicly insulted the faith of Muhammad, refusing to follow him despite his initial promise. The authorities ordered, after this serious complaint, that John be arrested and brought to court, which forthwith happened. The judge, after considering the matter, at first tried with promises of positions to lure him to change his faith, and they would have gained much if by his example others imitated him, but all their attempts failed, since John, in response to the proposal, publicly confessed his faith in Christ. When all methods failed, they tried in vain to force John to confess their faith by resorting to torture. They took the Saint from prison, dragged him on the ground without clothing, then uprooted his hair while beating him with a rod. Despite this harsh torture, John continued to sing praises to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to his right a magnificent man on a horse whose face shined like the sun appeared. He realized that this was Saint Theodore, sent to strengthen him and give him courage. The Turks, when they saw that by this means John still refused to renounce his faith, returned him to prison, where they continued to put physical and moral pressure on him. The steadfast dedication of John to his ancestral faith caused them to despair of their efforts, and so a written request was made to the Sublime Porte to be given instructions. Written instructions came, and the judge of Serres ordered the death of John, if he did not renounce his faith in Christ. Thus the tyrants, after a final effort to get John to renounce his faith failed, took him from prison and led him to a public place where his executioners, in order to make his execution more painful, raised him above a pile of brushwood and dry wood, and after they tied his hands and feet, they lit the fire. John remained calm throughout this horrible martyrdom, and he even asked his tormentors if they indeed lit the fire, and with a low voice he sang hymns to God. One of the executioners, in order to silence him, plunged a pole in his mouth, and this brought an end to the earthly life of the New Martyr. The Service to the Holy New Martr John of Serres was written by the Great Orator of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, Manuel the Peloponnesian, sometime between 1491-1497. Saint John of Serres was martyred for his faith in Christ around the year 1480 and he is annually commemorated on May 12th.

Source: https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2015/05/holy-new-martyr-john-of-serres-c-1480.html

Saint George 315 W. Englewood Avenue New Castle, PA 16105