October 21, 2018

SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

MIAMI, FLORIDA

Saint Hilarion

Sunday, October 21st, 2018

This Saint was born at Tabatha, near Gaza in Palestine, of pagan parents. Sent as
a young man to Alexandria to be educated, he learned the Christian Faith and was
baptized. While in Egypt he heard the fame of Saint Anthony the Great, and upon
meeting that truly great man, the Father of monks, Saint Hilarion determined to
devote himself also to the ascetical life. He returned to Gaza, when, he gave himself

over to extreme fasting and unceasing prayer. Because
of the miracles which he soon began to work, he found
himself compelled by his growing renown to leave Gaza,
to escape from the throngs of people coming to ask his
prayers. In his journeys he visited Egypt, and came
again with longing to the place where Saint Anthony
had lived; but he was not able to remain in any one place
for long, since despite all his attempts to conceal himself,
the light of the grace that was in him could not be hid.
After passing through Egypt and Libya, and sailing to
Sicily, he came at last to Cyprus, where he ended the
course of his life at the age of eighty, in the year 372.

Rev. Fr. Spiro D. Bobotas

Telephone 305- 854-2922 * Fax: 305-858-1854
Website: stsophiamiami.org
2401 S.W. 3rd Avenue, 33129

Mailing Address: 244 SW 24th Road Miami, Fl. 33129

Liturgical Guide

Resurrectional Apolytikion –Tone 4

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα,

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of
the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles
triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to

the world.

Apolytikion for Hilarion the Great in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Ταίς τών δακρύων σου ροαίς
With the streams of thy tears, thou didst cultivate the barrenness of the desert; and by thy
sighings from the depths,thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a
luminary, shining with miracles upon the world, O Hilarion our righteous Father. Intercede

with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Apolytikion for St. Sophia Tone 3

Χαίρει ἔχουσα ἡ Ἐκκλησία,

Having you and your three daughters, as a sacred boast the Church rejoices, and
with gladness she praises you, You are to me my pride and joy, as are the most pre-
cious relics of your children; Oh Glorious Martyrs: Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love,

intercede to Christ our God to save our souls.

Kontakion in Tone 4

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε,

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator
most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O
good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to int, them that

honor thee.

Epistle Reading:

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works
of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justi-
fied in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not!
But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I
through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no
longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Gospel Reading:

The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city
who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the
tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What
have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me."
For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him;
he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven
by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion";
for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the
abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them
enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine,
and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw
what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see
what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone,
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had
seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of
the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with
great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged
that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much
God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus
had done for him.

Blessing of the Animals

On Saturday, October 13th, we enjoyed a wonderful morning with friends and neighbors
at our 3rd Annual Blessing of the Animals . Coffee and donuts were served along with
numerous bowls of water as pet owners from as far as North Miami and Homestead came
for this unique service. 19 dogs, 1 Cat, 1 Turtle and 2 hermit crabs participated along with
their best friends.

Celebrating October Birthdays

Join us in the
Karnegis Fellowship Hall
immediately following the

Divine Liturgy
For coffee and cake to celebrate all

those whose birthdays fall in
October .

Wisdom of the Fathers

Some say, 'Why do they [demons] possess people?' I answer
those who wish to have this explained that the reason of these
things is very deep. Somewhere one of His saints addressed
God by saying, 'Your judgments are a vast abyss.' As long as

we bear this in mind, we will perhaps not miss the mark.

St. Cyril of Alexandria

For if we, going about on the earth which is familiar and well

known to us, being encompassed with a body, when we are

journeying in a strange road, know not which way to go unless

we have some one to lead us; how should the soul, being rent

away from the body, and having gone out from all her

accustomed region, know where to walk without one to show her

the way?

St. John Chrysosotom

Save the date Dec. 1st

For Christmas Under the Stars

STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 2019 KICKOFF

We thank the 167 Families who have become Stewards of the
Cathedral. With your help we have increased our stewardship
income to $160,000. This accounts for approximately 1/4 of our
operating budget. Your Gift to the Church is needed. If you have yet
to fill out a form for 2018 Please consider doing it asap as we will be
starting next years stewardship kick-off on November 18th.

Christian Stewardship is about becoming good caretakers of all that
God has given us. God has given each of us special and unique gifts
and through Holy Scripture He teaches us all that we have is a loan.
He lends everything to us, and reminds us that one day He will ask
us to give a detailed accounting of what we have done with the gifts
He has given us. Archbishop Anastasios of Albania has noted that
“we find ourselves by offering ourselves.” Have we learned the
blessedness of generously giving to others of all we have?

Transforming the Heart of a Community
Moving towards stewardship

Holy Trinity Church Pittsburgh,PA

Embracing stewardship at Holy Trinity began by recognizing that everything its parishioners and
clergy have emanates from God – their very lives, their health and all worldly possessions. In
recognition of this, the parish gives its time, talents and treasure (the three Ts) as thanks to God
and does not view stewardship as an obligation, dues or a tax. “Our stewards are energized and
committed to the mission of the church,” .

That commitment stems from the personal nature of the stewardship program, which is most
effective according to Stewardship team members. When people are approached and asked in a
one-to-one manner about giving their time and talent to Holy Trinity they almost always respond
in the affirmative. “We have spent years building trust within our parish – they trust our council,

our ministry leaders and our clergy,” . “And people respond to trust and to the personal nature

of our stewardship program.”

In return, parish and ministry leaders are open about their annual goals (not just financial) and

they report on progress against those goals to the entire parish. Further, Holy Trinity surveys

its parishioners (anonymously) and is open to suggested changes and responsive to criticism.

This, too, is part of the personal approach Holy Trinity takes to stewardship and another way it

engages parishioners of all ages and backgrounds. “Stewardship is personal,” . “It’s about

connecting and engaging people. The face of our parish is many faces and many stories.

Successful stewardship shows people a familiar story they can connect with, whether they are a

millennial, a young family or senior citizens whose children and grandchildren are part of the

parish. Stewardship is not just about numbers or need, it’s about our relationship with God.”

Stewardship Lessons Learned from Holy Trinity Pittsburgh:

1. Build on, and recognize, the successes of the past;
2. Learn from successful models;
3. Harvest the talents of individuals who believe in – and can develop and promote –

stewardship;
4. Uses existing resources and adopt them to fit your parish needs;
5. Engage all constituencies of your parish – leave noone out so you get buy-in from the

community;
6. Use outside resources and professional talent whenever possible;
7. Promote and build enthusiasm while also being open to feedback and answering questions;
8. Stewardship is stewardship, not dues in disguise;
9. Stewardship always works when done properly and wil lincrease parish income over dues;
10. In your church, everything is stewardship;
11. Change the language to stewardship;
12. Adopt new technologies and workflows that integrate a stewardship mindset;
13. Stewardship is a synergistic process of clergy and laity;
14. Stewardship is an act of faith, not a gamble or just a way to balance the books;
15. Keep stewardship fresh and continuously build momentum – or it will die;
16. Celebrate stewardship on a community level; and
17. Build a stewardship team. There are laborers The Lord has sent to the vineyard and they

are ready to plant along with you. We plant. He will make it grow.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 21th, Sunday -6th Sunday of Luke - Matins: 9:00 AM
- Liturgy: 10:00 AM

Christmas Pageant
If you are interested in having your child participate in this year’s
Christmas pageant please contact Nancy Poulos

October 25th, Thursday -Vespers of St. Demetrios - Matins: 9:00 AM

@ Saint Demetrios in Fort Lauderdale - Liturgy: 10:00 AM

October 26th, Friday -Divine Liturgy for St. Demetrios - Matins: 8:30 AM
- Liturgy: 9:00 AM

THEOLOGY CHEESE & CHAT
October 23, 30th, Nov. 6th 2018

Save the date dec. 1st

Christmas Under the Stars
Dec. 1st, 2018