“And they were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26)

Tel: (915)584-9100 / Fax: (915)760-5547 Email:office@stgeorge-elpaso.org

Address: 120 N. Festival Dr., El Paso, TX 79912 Website: www.stgeorge-elpaso.org

His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America

His Grace Bishop Basil, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America

REV. FATHER JOSEPH ABOUID, PASTOR “And the Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”. Acts 11:26

Tel.: 915-584-9100 www.stgeorge-elpaso.org office@stgeorge-elpaso.org Fax. 915-760-5547

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February 25, 2018 First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy)

Tarasios the confessor, archbishop of Constantinople; Hieromartyr Reginos, bishop of Skopelos; Hieromartyr Markellos, bishop of Apamea in Syria; Martyr Alexander of Markianopolis

Tone 5 Eothinon 5 Saturday Service: Vespers 5:00P.M. Sunday Service: Orthros (Matins) 9:15 AM, Followed by the Divine Liturgy Epistle: Dr. Raed Aldouri Ushers: Any available faithful Altar Boys: All are welcome to serve.

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation. And proudly broke the news to the Disciples, saying: Death hath been spoiled; Christ God is risen, granting the world Great Mercy.

APOLYTIKION OF FIRST SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT IN TONE TWO Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world.

APOLYTIKION FOR ST. GEORGE THE GREAT-MARTYR TONE TWO Since thou art a liberator and deliverer of captives, a help and support of the poor and needy, a healing physician of the sick, a contender and fighter for kings, O great among Martyrs, the victory-clad George; intercede for our Souls.

KONTAKION FOR THE ANNUNCIATION (AND GREAT LENT) TONE 8

To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.

THE EPISTLE Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers. For Thou art just in all that Thou hast done for us.

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (11:24-26, 32-40)

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

THE GOSPEL The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (1:43-51)

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael said to Jesus, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

THE SYNAXARION On February 25 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate Tarasios the confessor, archbishop of Constantinople; Hieromartyr Reginos, bishop of Skopelos; Hieromartyr Markellos, bishop of Apamea in Syria; Martyr Alexander of Markianopolis.

On this same day, the First Sunday of the Fast, we make remembrance of the restoration of the holy and venerable Icons, which took place through the ever-memorable Sovereigns of Constantinople, Michael and his mother, Theodora, during the patriarchate of Saint Methodios the Confessor. This restoration was accomplished in the year 842. Theodora’s husband was an iconoclast. After his death, Theodora venerated an icon of the Theotokos in front of Patriarch Methodios. The other faithful in the church did the same, venerating all the icons, considering them to be representations of their original elements, not idols. Theodora prayed to God to forgive her husband during the first week of Great Lent; and on the First Sunday of the Fast, she led the way in hanging up the icons to adorn the churches.

O invariant Icon of the Father, through the intercessions of Thy holy Confessors, have mercy on us. Amen.

Thought of the Day

"The Lord came to send fire upon the earth (cf. Lk. 12:49), and through participation in this fire He makes divine not just the human substance which He

assumed for our sake, but every person who is found worthy of communion with Him." -– St. Gregory Palamas

Holy Bread will be offered by: Dr. Raed & Sylvana Aldouri: For our health and the health of Mityas, Meena and Sarah. For the health of the Aldouri & Mary

Families. For the health of the Odeh family. Anonymous for the health of my family and in memory of the departed ones with the Lord.

DONATIONS Ned & Wilda Abraham for the health of Layla Salloum. Dora Vasilakis for the health of Dean Papas, Drs. Hassan & Maha Salloum for the health of Malik Thomas, Ward Esper & Layla Salloum. Allen & Patricia Borschow for the good health of Malik Thomas. Joseph & Melissa Isaac for the health of Malik Thomas & James Isaac III Ibrahim & Layla Salloum for the health of Malik Thomas. Salma Isaac for the health of Virginia Aziz & family, Layla Salloum & family, Eva Mowad & family, James Isaac III & family, Malik Thomas & family.

In Memory of Eli Ferris Ned & Wilda Abraham

In Memory of Ralph Assi Eddie & Chanel Assi

In Memory of William Gottfried Ibrahim & Layla Salloum

In Memory of Eddie Aziz

Ward & Nancy Esper Nada Aziz George Al-Hanna & Family Diana Valtr Babette Bailey Sanders Susan Elias Assi Norman & Joanne Bryan Salma Isaac Mr. & Mrs. Georges Azar Hanna Marjorie Halbrook Drs. Hassan & Maha Salloum Allen & Patricia Borschow Virginia Aziz Adriana & Alfonso Castellucci & Family Nabil & Doris Shaheen Ned & Wilda Abraham Leila Safi Hobson David & Dalal Young Eddie & Chanel Assi Adriana Aguilera Thomas & Irene Taylor George & Mary Ester Salom Ibrahim & Layla Salloum Ned & Wilda Abraham

In Memory of Yousif Naaman Khoury Drs. Hassan & Maha Salloum Bryan & Annette Haddad Tony Dayoub Nabil & Doris Shaheen Milad & Laurice Farah David & Dalal Young Yousef & Hend Odeh Ibrahim & Layla Salloum

Archdiocese Dues Virginia Aziz Aida Farah Jehan Al-Hanna

Friendly Reminder: The ARCHDIOCESE DUES are $35 per baptized soul and are a requirement to all parishioners who attend St. George!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR YOUTH!

Rylee Isaac, 9th grade at Glynn Academy, St. Simons, GA made the Varsity Tennis Team! God Speed Rylee!!!

Amira Thomas made the choir at her school in Mississippi!

THANK YOU!

To all of St. George from my family for their donations and prayers for my Malik, Omar & Anne Thomas

Sunday School Canned Food Drive Competition Each Sunday School Class will be competing against each other throughout Great Lent to see which class can bring the most cans. At the end of Great Lent, the Sunday School Class that has brought the most canned foods will win a pizza party. All of the canned foods donated will be donated to a local food bank in order to help our community. Starts: 2/19/2018 Ends: 4/8/2018

If you have any questions contact: Alexie Baine: (783)944-4683 Johnny Odeh: (915)873-4613

St. George Festival Committee St. George Festival Committee is looking for volunteers! Anyone wishing to help and willing to put in the time and effort to “Make the Festival Great Again”, contact Fr. Joseph or Dr. Raed Aldouri expressing your interest in wanting to help! Anyone and everyone is welcomed! Help will be needed to set up, to prepare food, to be at the booths, to sell food, at the bake table, etc. _________________________________________________

Fr. Joseph will continue blessing the homes of those who have not have their house blessed! If you would like him to come and bless your home on a specific time/day of the week, please don’t hesitate to call or email him!

Donations for Palms and Easter Flowers Donations accepted through the Lent season to cover

the cost of Palms and flowers. Your donations given for the health of your family and/or in memory of your

beloved departed family members

Marriage Enrichment Retreat

All couples are invited to this unique opportunity

to revive the fire –of Christ– of their marital bond

in this one-day retreat with the V. Rev. Fr. Malek

Rihani on Saturday 10th of March, 2018. Fr.

Malek is Archdeacon Saed Rihani’s older brother.

He is the Founding Pastor of St. Mary Palos

Heights, IL, and is a certified Marriage and

Family Counselor. It is the perfect opportunity

time to re-energize your marriage!

When: Saturday March 10, 2018

Where: St. George Mini-Hall

Who: Everyone is welcome

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

(With Great Vespers in-Between)

(Coffee Break/Dinner will be provided. BABYSITTING PROVIDED AS WELL)

About Fr. Malek:

Fr. Malek Yousef Rihani was born in Amman, Jordan in 1955. He attended De La Salle

Catholic High School on the south side of Chicago.

In 1976, he married Dina Saad Ayoub, and he also completed his undergraduate studies

from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing.

In 1981 he received his Master's Degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate

School of Management.

In 2002 he completed his theological education and earned a Master's Degree in Applied

Theology from Lebanon’s Balamand University and the Antiochian Archdiocese. He

was ordained in the Antiochian Orthodox Church as a Deacon in 1997 and a Priest in

2002; he is also a Certified Marriage and Family Counselor.

He currently serves as an Assistant Pastor at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Palos Heights,

Illinois. He also serves on several local Orthodox Boards and Committees,

including Orthodox Christians for Life, International Orthodox Christian Charities; and

the Martha and Mary Maternity Home.

Fr. Malek and Dina live in Elmhurst, IL. They are blessed with two children and five

grandchildren.

ST. GEORGE CHURCH SCHOOL

Pre- School Kinder – 1st 2nd – 3rd 4th – 5th 6th – 7th 8th – 12th

Kingston Joudi Majd Al Dayoub Wik Brooke Kendall Olivas Sami Odeh Boris Salinas Anastasia Salinas Larissa Alyoussef Nigel Rangel Judah Denny Emma Isaac Jonathan El Ojeil Nicolas Mijares Giselle Gerena Elias Al Dayoub Anthony Jarjour Jace Gerena Abram Isaac Atticus Denny Joseph Odeh

Nia Isaac Abel Eyasu Johnny Odeh Joseph Salloum Binyam Eyasu James Shaheen Teresa Salloum

We thank all the parents for bringing their children to Sunday School! We encourage the rest to keep bringing their children this coming Sunday!

CONTACT INFORMATION

For Pastoral needs and/or Emergencies contact Fr. Joseph Abouid at:

Office: 915-584-9100 Cell phone: 708-415-7050 Email: pastor@stgeorge-

elpaso.org

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hospital & Pastoral Visits (During the morning or evenings – Please contact Fr.

Joseph to schedule the visits or in case of any emergency at any time).

Confessions: Saturdays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. (or during the week by

appointment).

Deadline for Holy Bread Offering and any Bulletin Announcement is Thursday.