Sunday, April 25, 2021 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 250 Gallows Hill Road, Westfield, New Jersey 07090 908.233.8533 www.holytrinitywestfield.org Live streaming services http://holytrinitywestfield.org/parish-news/ Rev. Fr. Peter Delvizis, Parish Priest The Bright and Glorious Entry of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ into Jerusalem On this the Twenty-fifth Day of the Month, the commemoration, of the glorious Apostle and Evangelist Mark is transferred to the Tuesday of Bright Week, May 4. Click links for Scripture Readings Palm Sunday Morning Gospel Matthew 21:1-11; 15-17 Ελληνικά Epistle Reading: Philippians 4:4-9 Ελληνικά Gospel Reading: St. John 12:1-18 Ελληνικά Apolytikion: “Before Your Passion, You raised Lazarus from the dead to confirm the common Resurrection for all, O Christ God. Therefore, we carry symbols of victory as did the youths, and we cry out to You, the Victor over death, “Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Apolytikion: “As by baptism we were buried with Thee, O Christ our God, so by Thy Resurrction we were deemed worthy of immortal life; and prasing Thee, we cry: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord.” Kontakion: “Being borne upon a throne in Heaven, and upon a colt on the earth, O Christ God, Thou didst accept the praise of the Angels and the laudation of the children as they cried to Thee: Blessed art Thou Who comest to recall Adam.” Altar Donations Altar Candles for the Gregory Ganifas family Vigil Light in loving memory of Gus Vlangos Lenten and Holy Week Liturgical Schedule Sunday, April 25, Bridegroom Service, 6:00 PM Holy Monday, April 26, Bridegroom Service, 6:00 PM Holy Tuesday, April 27, Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, 9:00 AM Holy Tuesday, April 27, Bridegroom Service, 6:00 PM Holy Wednesday, April 28, Sacrament of Holy Unction, 3:00 PM Holy Wednesday, April 28, Bridegroom Service, 6:00 PM Holy Thursday, April 29, Divine Liturgy of the Mystical Supper, 9:00 AM Holy Thursday, April 29, Divine Passion and Crucifixion of our Saviour, 6:00 PM Holy Friday, April 30, Imperial Hours, 9:00 AM Holy Friday, April 30, Apokathelosis, Unnailing with Bishop Apostolos, 3:00 PM Holy Friday, April 30, Lamentations at the Epitaphios, 6:00 PM Holy Saturday, May 1, Divine Liturgy, 9:00 AM Holy Saturday, May 1, Resurrection Vigil, 11:15 PM with Paschal Divine Liturgy The Great and Holy Pascha, May 2, Agape Vespers, 11:00 AM Bright Monday, May 3, St. George the Great Martyr, Orthros, 9:00 AM; Divine Liturgy, 10:00 AM Bright Friday, May 7, The Lifegiving Spring, Orthros 8:30 AM; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 Palm Sunday On the Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha, and at the beginning of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of its most joyous feasts of the year. Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people went out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with displays of honor and shouts of praise. On this day, we receive and worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and our Lord. Palm Sunday summons us to behold our King; the Word of God made flesh! We are called to behold Him not simply as the One who came to us once riding on a colt, but as the One who is always present in His Church, coming ceaselessly to us in power and glory at every Eucharist, in every prayer and sacrament, and in every act of love, kindness and mercy. He comes to free us from all our fears and insecurities, to take solemn possession of our soul, and to be enthroned in our heart. He comes not only to deliver us from our death by His death and Resurrection, but also to make us capable of attaining the most perfect fellowship or union with Him. He is the King, who liberates us from the darkness of sin and the bondage of death. Palm Sunday summons us to behold our King, the vanquisher of death and the giver of life. Palm Sunday summons us to accept both the rule and the kingdom of God as the goal and content of our Christian life. We draw our identity from Christ and His kingdom. The kingdom is Christ—His indescribable power, boundless mercy and incomprehensible abundance given freely to man. The kingdom does not lie at some point or place in the distant future. In the words of the Scripture, the kingdom of God is not only at hand [Matthew 3:2; 4:17], it is within us [Luke17:21]. The kingdom is a present reality as well as a future realization [Matthew 6:10]. Palm Sunday summons us to behold our King; the Suffering Servant! We cannot understand Jesus’ kingship apart from the Passion. Filled with infinite love for the Father, the Holy Spirit, and creation, in His inexpressible humility, Jesus accepted the infinite abasement of the Cross. He bore our grief and carried our sorrows; He was wounded for our transgressions and made Himself an offering for sin [Isaiah 53]. His glorification, which was accomplished by the Resurrection and the Ascension, was achieved through the Cross. In the fleeting moments of exuberance that marked Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the world received its King; the King who was on His way to death. His Passion, however, was no morbid desire for martyrdom. Jesus’ purpose was to accomplish the mission for which the Father sent Him. This is all accomplished during the forthcoming Holy Week. Please attend these inspiring and moving services. The icon of the Saturday of Lazarus shows Christ calling His friend to come out of the tomb. Lazarus is coming forth from the tomb, still bound in the strips of burial cloth. His sisters, Mary and Martha are bowing before Christ, expressing both their sorrow in the death of their brother, but also their faith in Christ as the Messiah and Son of God. Next to them is someone who has followed the request of our Lord and removed the stone from the door of the tomb. Standing with Christ are His disciples who are witnesses of this miracle, a true manifestation of the power of God that would bring them assurance during the Passion of our Lord. In the center of the icon is a person who represents the crowd who also witnessed the miracle. Some believed, but others went and told the Pharisees and chief priests who continued their machinations to bring about the arrest of Christ and His death. The walled city of Jerusalem, where Christ will arrive in triumph the following day, is depicted in the background. The Raising of Lazarus event is placed at the beginning of Holy Week to symbolize and prefigure Christ’s own Resurrection from the dead. We begin the week with life and will end it with life – Christ’s Resurrection. Jesus Christ brings the miracle of Ressurection to one man. Knowing that He will die on the Cross, Jesus shows all the power He poosesses to give life. Thus, the Raising of Lazarus and combined with His own Resurrection makes this eternal gift possible for every one of us. Lazarus’ family and friends felt extreme joy, and their most desperate hopes were fulfilled through Jesus. This extreme miracle was a shock that they never could have expected. This event, like no other before, fuels momentum to both the people believing in Christ as the Messiah and to those whose power is threatened by Him. To the one, their faith is being restored as freedom becomes visible through this mighty prophet of God. To the opposers of God, their hatred grows toward Jesus and thus decide it is time to rid themselves of Him once and for all. Prayer List Cleopatra, James, Rosa, George, Kathy, Stephanie, Theresa, Dorothy, Shannon, Jeff, Jeffrey, Rowena, Craig, Paul, John, Marien, John, Vasilia, Hellen, Natalia, Angela, Katherine, Patricia, Lily, Thomas, Brennan, Elvira, Bill, Alicia, Diane, Dianna, Michael, Nicholas, Pete, Ann, Amanda, Stephanie, Emma, Marco, Lisa, Margaret, Daniel, George, Ann, Dacia, Tonya, Susan, Chris, George, Eleni, Jim, Jean, Elliott, Priscilla, Maria, Vincent, Patricia, Harry, Andrea, Peter, Edward, Aristotelis, Anna, Elizabeth, Anna, Angela, John, Stephanie, Michael, Victor, Floarea, Andy, Ramon, Augusta, Donald, Gloria, Charles, Anastasia, Christine, Deborah, Fotini, Bill, Joan, Rose, Ashleigh, Tom, Andrea, Marc, Barbara, Brendon, Ryan, George, Vasili, Dorka, Stavroula, Maroulla. Agape Vespers Readers During the Agape Vespers held on Easter Sunday at 11:00 AM, the Gospel passage is read in various languages to indicate the universality of Christ’s Gospel of salvation. If you are able to read in a foreign language, please call Diana at the church office to volunteer. COVID-19 Guidelines Lenten Mission Project 2021- Coin Box Collection Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Pascha OCMC Coin Boxes distributed Because of COVID-19, we find ourselves in parish-wide are now being untested waters for this year’s Holy Week and collected. Please bring them to the Easter services. Parishioners are invited to church office as soon as possible. attend every service and we ask for your The entire amount collected will be cooperation to sent to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC). Our The process to register is the same: just call or prayer is for all missionaries and email the church office with the services you those who support the spreading of would like to attend.