St. George Antiochian Orthodox ChristianChurch

Serving the Orthodox Christian Communityof Greater Cleveland

Fourth Sunday of Great Lent Commemoration of John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder”

St. George AntiochianOrthodox Church

2587 West 14th StreetCleveland, Ohio 44113-4408

WELCOME

The mission of St. GeorgeAntiochian Orthodox Church

is to serve God and the communityby commitment to the Gospel’scommand to grow in theknowledge of Jesus Christ throughfaith, hope, and love. It is a parishof the Self –Ruled AntiochianOrthodox Christian Archdiocese ofNorth America.The Orthodox Church follows thefaith and practice of the apostlesand disciples of Christ handeddown by the ancient Christianfathers and twenty centuries ofChurch tradi t ion. GenuineChristian life nurtures andstimulates our spiritual and moraldevelopment. The liturgical life ofthe Orthodox Church has beendeveloping over the last 2000years. By taking part in themysteries of Christ’s life, death andresurrection at the liturgicalservices, the community membersare drawn to repentance and thegradual change of their innerselves.To join the community of St.George or to find out moreinformation, please fill out theGuest Book in the Narthex. Wehope this day will be spirituallyrewarding for you. Fr John will behappy to answer any questions.Join us in the hall after Liturgy forour Coffee Hour and Fellowship.

V. Rev Father John Ojaimi, PastorOffice: (216) 781-9020 Fax: (216) 781-9545

Cellular: (440) 665-6724Archdeacon Yarid Sahley

Subdeacon Sam EliasSubdeacon Khalil Samara

Teen Advisor: Priscilla Calloswww.stgeorgecleveland.com

Pastor’s E-Mail: frjojaimi@msn.comParish E-Mail: office@stgeorgecleveland.com

Sunday, March 142010

Tone 7 Eothinon 7

Fourth Sunday of LentCommemoration of John Climacus,

Author of “The Ladder”

On this day, we commemorate:

Venerable Benedict of Nursia; Eusche-menos, bishop of Lampsakos

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Bread of Oblation , Trisagion Wheat and Coffee Hour are offered inbeloved memory of Nour Karsheh (9 days) by her son Yacoub Karshehand family.

Bread of Oblation is offered in beloved memory of Yousef Salloum by theSalloum family.Bread of Oblation is offered in beloved memory of John Simon by his children andgrandchildren.Bread of Oblation is offered in memory of Melvyn J. Nader by Nouhad Nader and chil-dren Elias, Evelyn, and Marie, and their families.Bread of Oblation is offered in memory of Emile & Zakia Zarrouf and MoussaSaliba (6 months) by Bassam & Camilia Saliba and Family.

Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of: Houda Abdelkarim, Melissa Aboid,Tommy Amato, Mary Assad, Naissef & Rita Courey, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa, JamesEassey, Helena Elias, Sarah Elias, Vera Elias, Norman Fadil, Peter Farage, Anne-Marie, Dave & Altair Gann, Minerva Gantose, Leo George, Peter George, EliasGhazal, Eddie Haddad, Pauline Hanna, Ava Harb, Samia Harb, Jean Kash, CorrineKhouri, Hanadi Khouri, Wadad Khoury, Julia Kushner, Helen Lambert, Eleanor McKib-ben, Fadua Mina, Joyce & Marie Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia Nader, Mary Namy,Hassib Sabbagh, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher Fadel-Samuel, George Sarkes, FrankSayre, John Shdeed, Alice Shiekh, Alvera Shiekh, Linda Simon, Georgine Trombetto,Asma Zaboura

Candles are offered for the health, safety, and spiritual welfare of:Elie and Tamara by Tamara Saliba

Candles are offered in beloved memory of:Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary + familyChristine George by Leo GeorgeEdward Fadel by his wife Rita + familyNour Karsheh by Yacoub and Nuha; by Lavern + Bill AmeenNaim, Asma, Anitta, and Andrea by Nuha

Coffee HourSign up and take your turn in offering a Coffee Hour. Lots of dates for 2010 are

open. Pick a birthday, memorial, anniversary, or just a day that no one has sponsored.

Liturgical Guide for Sunday, March, 14, 2010**Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great**

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE SEVENThou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turnthe sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim awarning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.

THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF ORDINARY SUNDAYSCome, let us worship, and fall down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen fromthe dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia.

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE SEVENThou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turnthe sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim awarning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.

APOLYTIKION OF ST. JOHN CLIMACUS IN TONE EIGHTThe barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deepsighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundred-fold. Accordingly, thou hast be-come a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John Cli-macus, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.

Troparion of St. George: Tone 4As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, vic-

torious Great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls’ salvation..

KONTAKION FOR THE ANNUNCIATION (AND GREAT LENT) IN TONE EIGHTTo thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast de-livered me from terror; but as thou that hast that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alonecan 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 TrisagionHoly God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on usHoly God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on usHoly God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages ofages. Amen.

Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us.Dynamis! (With Strength)

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us

THE EPISTLE(For the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent)

The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace.The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (6:13-20)

Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater bywhom to swear, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by onegreater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So whenGod desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable charac-ter of His purpose, He interposed with an oath. So that through two unchangeable things, inwhich it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might havestrong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast an-chor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus hasgone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order ofMelchizedek.

THE GOSPEL(For the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent)

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. (9:16-30)At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I

brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it dashes himdown; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to castit out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how longam I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they broughtthe boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fellon the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How longhas he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire andinto the water, to destroy him; but if Thou canst do anything, have pity on us and help us.”And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Im-mediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbe-lief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit,saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enterhim again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy waslike a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand andlifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Himprivately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot bedriven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed throughGalilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, sayingto them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; andafter He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”

ST. BASIL LITURGY MEGALYNARIONIn thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hal-lowed Temple and super-sensual paradise, glory of Virgins, of whom God was incarnate andbecame a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb athrone, and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full ofgrace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee.

The KoinonikonPraise ye the Lord from the Heavens; praise ye Him in the highest. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Post-CommunionWe have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit. We have found the true

Faith. Worshipping the undivided Trinity; for he hath saved us.

الرسالةإني ألباركنك بركة «:قائال14فإنھ لما وعد اهللا إبراھیم، إذ لم یكن لھ أعظم یقسم بھ، أقسم بنفسھ، 13

فإن الناس یقسمون باألعظم، ونھایة كل مشاجرة عندھم 16.وھكذا إذ تأنى نال الموعد 15.»وأكثرنك تكثیرا فلذلك إذ أراد اهللا أن یظھر أكثر كثیرا لورثة الموعد عدم تغیر قضائھ، توسط 17.ألجل التثبیت ھي القسم

ن الذین التجأنا حتى بأمرین عدیمي التغیر، ال یمكن أن اهللا یكذب فیھما، تكون لنا تعزیة قویة، نح 18بقسم، الذي ھو لنا كمرساة للنفس مؤتمنة وثابتة، تدخل إلى ما داخل الحجاب، 19لنمسك بالرجاء الموضوع أمامنا،

.حیث دخل یسوع كسابق ألجلنا، صائرا على رتبة ملكي صادق، رئیس كھنة إلى األبد20

االنجیل________

وحیثما أدركھ یمزقھ 18یا معلم، قد قدمت إلیك ابني بھ روح أخرس، «:فأجاب واحد من الجمع وقال 17أیھا الجیل غیر «:فأجاب وقال لھم 19.»فقلت لتالمیذك أن یخرجوه فلم یقدروا .فیزبد ویصر بأسنانھ وییبس

فلما رآه للوقت صرعھ .فقدموه إلیھ 20.»!المؤمن، إلى متى أكون معكم؟ إلى متى أحتملكم؟ قدموه إلي .منذ صباه «: فقال »كم من الزمان منذ أصابھ ھذا؟ «:فسأل أباه 21.الروح، فوقع على األرض یتمرغ ویزبد

فقال لھ 23.»لكن إن كنت تستطیع شیئا فتحنن علینا وأعنا .وكثیرا ما ألقاه في النار وفي الماء لیھلكھ 22فللوقت صرخ أبو الولد بدموع 24.»كل شيء مستطاع للمؤمن .إن كنت تستطیع أن تؤمن «:یسوعفلما رأى یسوع أن الجمع یتراكضون، انتھر الروح النجس قائال 25.»أومن یا سید، فأعن عدم إیماني «:وقال

.فصرخ وصرعھ شدیدا وخرج 26»!اخرج منھ وال تدخلھ أیضا :أیھا الروح األخرس األصم، أنا آمرك «:لھولما دخل بیتا سألھ 28.فأمسكھ یسوع بیده وأقامھ، فقام 27.»!إنھ مات «:فصار كمیت، حتى قال كثیرون

ھذا الجنس ال یمكن أن یخرج بشيء إال «:فقال لھم 29»لماذا لم نقدر نحن أن نخرجھ؟ «:تالمیذه على انفراد وخرجوا من ھناك واجتازوا الجلیل، ولم یرد أن یعلم أحد، 30.»بالصالة والصوم

PROPER CHURCH ETIQUETTEThere are certain times during the Divine Liturgy when one should refrain from entering

the Church out of respect for God and the worship of His people. They are:During the Trisagion Hymn

During the Epistle and Gospel readingsDuring the Cherubic Hymn and Great Entrance

During the CreedDuring The Anaphora—(“Let us stand aright” through “Especially our all-holy Lady.”)

During Holy Communion one should remain standing throughout the distribution of thegifts. If you have already received Holy Communion, please avail yourself of the

“Prayers of Thanksgiving” which begin on Page 128 of the red prayer book while youwait for everyone else to receive.

UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICE

Monday, March 15 2010 English Great Compline@ 7:00 pmTuesday, March 16, 2010 Arabic Great Compline @ 7:00 pmWednesday, March 17, 2010 Presanctified Liturgy@ 7:00 pm

Friday, March 19, 2010 Akathist Service (Madayeh) @ 7:00 pmFollowed by our Lenten Supper

SUNDAY, March 21, 2010 Matin @ 9:30 am, Divine Liturgy @ 10:30 am

Wednesday March 24th Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Annunciation@ 7:00pm

During Lent confessions will be heard before evening services though Holy Fridayevening, or Sunday Morning before Liturgy starts and by appointment.

Come for Confession,Start fresh.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Commemoration of St. John Climacus,

Author of “The Ladder

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St John of the Ladder (Climacus), the author of thework, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. The abbot of St Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai (6thcentury) stands as a witness to the violent effort needed for entrance into God's Kingdom (Mt.10:12). The spiritual struggle of the Christian life is a real one, "not against flesh and blood, butagainst ... the rulers of the present darkness ... the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places ..." (Eph6:12). Saint John encourages the faithful in their efforts for, according to the Lord, only "he whoendures to the end will be saved" (Mt.24:13).Quotes:"Nothing equals or excels God's mercies. Therefore, he who despairs is committing suicide. Asign of true repentance is the acknowledgment that we deserve all the afflictions, visible and in-visible, that come upon us, and ever greater ones. Moses, after seeing God in the bush, returnedagain to Egypt, that is, to darkness and to the brick-making of Pharaoh, who was symbolical ofthe spiritual Pharaoh. But he went back again to the bush, and not only to the bush, but also upthe mountain. Whoever has known divine vision will never despair of himself. Job became a beg-gar, but he became twice as rich again."

"Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. Apenitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort. Repentance isself-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care. Repentance is the daughter of hope and therenunciation of despair. A penitent is an undisgraced convict. Repentance is reconciliation withthe Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins. Repentance is purification of con-science. Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions. A penitent is the inflicter of hisown punishments. Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soulinto vigorous awareness."

"Let us charge into the good fight with joy and love without being afraid of our enemies. Thoughunseen themselves, they can look at the face of our soul, and if they see it altered by fear, theytake up arms against us all the more fiercely. For the cunning creatures have observed that we arescared. So let us take up arms against them courageously. No one will fight with a resolutefighter."

"Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously.not have any longer a life free from exhausting labors and sweat..."

And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honour your patience."

"He who really keeps account of his actions considers as lost every day in which he doesnot mourn, whatever good he may have done in it."

"I consider those fallen mourners more blessed than those who have not fallen and are notmourning over themselves; because as a result of their fall, they have risen by a sure resur-rection."

"But Adam did not wish to say, "I sinned," but said rather the contrary of this and placed theblame for the transgression upon God Who created everything "very good," saying to Him,"The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate." And afterhim she also placed the blame upon the serpent, and they did not wish at all to repent and,falling down before the Lord God, beg forgiveness of Him. For this, God banished themfrom Paradise, as from a royal palace, to live in this world as exiles. At that time also Hedecreed that a flaming sword should be turned and should guard the entrance into Paradise.And God did not curse Paradise, since it was the image of the future unending life of theeternal Kingdom of Heaven. If it were not for this reason, it would have been fitting to curseit most of all, since within it was performed the transgression of Adam. But God did not dothis, but cursed only the whole rest of the earth, which also was corrupt and brought fortheverything by itself; and this was in order that Adam might

OFFERINGS FOR LENT AND HOLY PASCHA

Dear Father John,

It would be a great joy for me (for us) to offer a donation of $___________towards the

following:

________Flowers _________Bread _________Easter Lillies

________Wine _________Oil _________Palms

________Eggs _________Votive Candles

For the health of: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

in memory of: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Given by: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good………..

An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grewup. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in hislife (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king andhis friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and preparethe guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in pre-paring one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired itand his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked asusual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" andproceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in

an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him andtook him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stakeand bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they no-

ticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate any-one that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he

returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and feltremorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak

with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blownoff." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I amvery sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this." "No,"his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean, ‘This is good'? How could

it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had NOT been in jail, Iwould have been with you." "And we know that all things work together for good

to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His pur-pose." (Rom. 8:28) Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in

them, but the promise of God is clear. If we love Him and live our lives accordingto His precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will be turned byGod for His glory and our benefit. Hold on, God is faithful! May God bless youall the days of your life, as you seek His will in every situation. Bible tells us in

Genesis 50:20 (NIV) "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good toaccomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

The Diocese of Toledo & the Midwest

63rd Annual Parish Life Conference

June 30-July 4, 2010

Hilton Garden Inn

Perrysburg, Ohio

Hosted by the Cathedral of Saint George

Please visit our official Conference site at www.midwestplc2010.org

Teens News

S O Y O F i l m + F o o d d a t e :M a r c h 2 0 a t 6 p m i n W e s t l a k e ! !

G e t y o u r R S V P s t o J a c k i e , L o r i M . , o r P r i s c i l l aA S A P ! !

C l e v e l a n d ‘ B u r b C r a w l – I’ll be hitting up a different neighborhoodevery week so I can finally get to know you guys, especially those of you who can’tget to church as often as you’d like. J So: my contact info is on the bottom. Let meknow when you’re free and ready to hang!Week of March 15: ParmaWeek of March 22: WestlakeWeek of March 29: Tremont (It’s Holy Week!)

mobile: 614 570 2037blog: http://awesomesoyo.wordpress.com

Passion Week/Pascha Concert

Saturday, March 20, 2010, following the 6pm Vespers service.St. Matthew Orthodox Church

10383 Albion Rd; North Royalton

Join us for a spiritually edifying evening, as we prepare for our Savior's Resurrectionwith a concert featuring liturgical selections from Holy Week and Pascha.

The concert will begin with selections sung bythe youth of St. Matthew's and will continue with thePan-Orthodox Young Adult Fellowship (POYAF) Choir,

under the direction of Gerald Largent.

Light refreshments to follow.For more information contact

St. Matthew's at 440-582-5673 or Gerald Largent at 440-376-7799.

ATTENTION

GRADUATING HIGHSCHOOL SENIORS

AND COLLEGE

STUDENTS

The Lebanese SyrianAmerican Junior Leaguewill again be awardingscholarships to young

men and women of Leba-nese and Syrian Descentresiding in the GreaterCleveland area. High

school seniors should re-quest applications from

their guidance counselors.College students can re-

quest applications by con-tacting Scholarship Chair

Antoinette Wendzickiat LSAJLscholarship@g

mail.com or 330-225-1575. All applicationsMUST be received by

March 31st.

SCHOLARSHIPS