RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FOUR
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 ST. JOHN CLIMACUS IN TONE EIGHT
The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundredfold. Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John Climacus, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.

KONTAKION FOR SUNDAYS IN GREAT LENT
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 Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews (6:13-20): Brethren, when God made a promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For people indeed swear by what is greater, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. So when God, being minded to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, He interposed it with an oath, that by two immutable things—in which it is impossible for God to lie—we might have a strong consolation, we, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope that is set before us; a hope, which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and entering into “that which is within the veil,” where Jesus entered as a Forerunner on our behalf, having become a High Priest “forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark (9:17-31): 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 him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked Thy Disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to Me.” And they brought the boy to Him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into 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.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 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 enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, His Disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for He was teaching His Disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and after He is killed, He will rise on the third day.”

Holy Bread: The holy bread is offered by Chris and Shannon Antypas in honor of their daughter, Isidora’s 9th birthday and for the health and salvation of the Antypas, Bryan and McLauglin families. Please keep Shannon’s father, Mike, in your prayers as he is recovering from open heart surgery.

Coffee Hour: Please join us for coffee hour sponsored by Chris and Shannon Antypas celebrating Isidora’s birthday!

***If you would like to host coffee hour and/or offer the holy bread, please contact Lauren Jabara (licata18@gmail.com/412-334-6302). Thank You!

Tray Collectors: Mike Bohley & Michael Siyufy

This Week
Wednesday, April 17th
Presanctified Liturgy- 6:30pm

Friday, April 19th
Little Compline with Salutations 6:30pm

Announcements:
The Fellowship of St. Catherine will meet Wednesday, April 24th at 5:45.

His Grace Bishop Thomas will be visiting us Palm Sunday weekend.

Saturday, April 27th - Lazarus Saturday Liturgy, Breakfast, and Children's Activities. Following Liturgy, we will have breakfast, Pascha crafts, candle decorating, a class project prepping chocolate crosses for sale on Palm Sunday, and fun with your friends! The Church School families will be sponsoring breakfast, so please use this link to sign up with what you are able to contribute! Lazarus Saturday Breakfast Sign up

Sunday, April 28th - Palm Sunday Fish Fry Dinner.

Friday, May 3rd -  Vigil at the Tomb of Christ -Please sign up for reading slots HERE.

*Great and Holy Pascha - Sunday, May 5th*

*Upcoming cooking day: Saturday, May 11th - Nut Rolls

*Save the Date – The 30th Annual St. George Golf Outing – August 18th, 2024! Join us at Fort Cherry Golf Club for golf, dinner, prizes, awards and more! Click here for more information.

*The Saint Constantine School of Pittsburgh is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year!  https://pittsburgh.saintconstantine.org/