SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL MIAMI, FLORIDA Sunday June 25h, 2023 Rev. Fr. Spiro D. Bobotas Telephone 305- 854-2922 Fax: 305-858-1854 Website: saintsophiamiami.org 2401 S.W. 3rd Avenue, 33129 Mailing Address: 244 SW 24th Road Miami, Fl. 33129 SAINT FEBRONIA Virgin Martyr Febronia suffered during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in the third century. She was raised at a monastery in Sivapolis (Assyria). The head of the women’s monastery was the abbess Bryaena, who was St. Febronia’s aunt. Being concerned about her niece’s salvation, she assigned her a stricter form of life than the other nuns. According to their monastic rule, the sisters put aside their other duties on Fridays and spent the whole day in prayer and the reading of Holy Scripture. The abbess usually assigned the reading to St. Febronia. News of St. Febronia’s pious life spread throughout the city. The illustrious young widow Hieria, a pagan, began to visit her, and under her guidance and prayers, Hieria accepted Holy Baptism, as well as bringing her parents and other relatives to Christianity. Emperor Diocletian sent a detachment of soldiers to Assyria under the command of Lysimachus, Selenos and Primus with orders to destroy the Christian community. Selenos, the uncle of Lysimachus, was noted for his fierce attitude against Christians, but Lysimachus was of a different frame of mind, as his mother had sought to inspire love for the Christian faith in her son, and she had died a Christian. Lysimachus had discussed with Primus how it would be possible to deliver Christians from the hands of their torturers. When the detachment of soldiers approached the convent, the inhabitants hid. Only Abbess Bryaena, her helper Thomais and St. Febronia remained. We Welcome and thank Fr. Mark Leondis Fr. Mark is the Proistamenos of Saint Mark Church in Boca Raton and filling in for Fr. Spiro who is away this week.
Liturgical Guide Apolytikion for the Resurrection Tone 2 Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee. 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 precious relics of your children; Oh Glorious Martyrs: Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love, intercede to Christ our God to save our souls. Kontakion 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 intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee Epistle Reading The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 5:1-10 BRETHREN, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Gospel Reading: The Reading is from Matthew 6:22-33 The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
Parish Council-2023 Executive Board PC. President –Lynn Christ Vice-President-William Petros Treasurer-Aleco Haralambides Secretary-Marina Angleton Jose Godur Evangeline Gouletas Steve Hadjiogiou George Karavetsos Angelo Marsellos Deme Mekras Tony Pitsoulakis John Priovolos J.T. Sanders Abbess Bryaena was terribly afraid that her niece, St. Febronia, might fall into the hands of the torturers, who would defile her. She prayed fervently that the Lord would preserve her and strengthen her in the confession of Christ the Savior. Selenos gave orders that all the nuns of the convent be brought before him. Primus, along with the detachment of soldiers, found no one, except the two old women and St. Febronia. He regretted that they had not hidden themselves, and he suggested to the nuns that they flee. But the nuns decided not to leave the convent and entrusted themselves to the will of the Lord. Primus told Lysimachus of the particular beauty of St. Febronia and told Lysimachus to take her for himself. Lysimachus said that he would not seduce a virgin dedicated to God, and he asked Primus to hide the other nuns so that they would not fall into the hands of Selenos. One of the other soldiers related this conversation to Selenos. Thereafter, St. Febronia was led before the military commander with her hands bound and a chain around her neck. Selenos ordered her to deny Christ, promising her honors, rewards, and marriage to Lysimachus. The holy virgin firmly and fearlessly answered that she had an Febronia-Continued
Immortal Bridegroom, and she would not exchange Him for any mortal man. Selenos subjected her to fierce tortures. Throughout her agony, the saint prayed, “My Savior, do not abandon me in this terrible hour!” St. Febronia was beaten repeatedly, and blood flowed from her wounds. In order to intensify her suffering, she was tied to a tree and a fire was set under it. The tortures were so inhuman that the people began to demand an end to her sufferings, since St. Febronia refused to confess her guilt. Selenos continued to mock and jeer at her, but St. Febronia was silent. Because of the weakness brought on by the beatings, she was unable to utter a word. In a rage, Selenos gave orders to tear out her tongue, smash her teeth, and finally, to cut off both hands and feet. The people were unable to bear witness to such a horrid spectacle and left the scene of the torture, cursing Diocletian and his gods. Among the crowd was the nun Thomais and her student, Hieria, who afterwards recorded St. Febronia’s martyrdom in detail. Hieria came out of the crowd and reproached Selenos for his cruelty. He gave orders to arrest her, but learning that Hieria was of illustrious standing whom he could not readily subject to torture, he said, “By your speech you have brought on Febronia even greater torment.” Finally, St. Febronia was beheaded. Leaving the place of execution, Lysimachus wept and shut himself up in his quarters. Selenos attempted to eat, but was unable to take food, and went off to the quiet of his own chambers. Suddenly, he became deranged. Looking up to the heavens, he raved and bellowed like a bull, then fell down and struck his head on a marble column and died. When Lysimachus learned of this, he said, “ Great is the God of the Christians, Who has avenged Febronia’s blood, so unrighteous shed!” He prepared a coffin, placed St. Febronia’s body in it, and took it to the convent. Upon seeing the mutilated remains of St. Febronia, Abbess Bryaena fell senseless. Later, she recovered and gave orders to open the convent gates so that all would be able to come and venerate the holy martyr and glorify God Who had given her such endurance in suffering for Christ. Lysimachus and Primus renounced their worship of idols and accepted both Baptism and monasticism. Hieria gave her wealth to the convent and petitioned Abbess Bryaena to accept her in place of St. Febronia. Soon after her death, St. James, the Bishop of Nisibis, built a church and transferred into it a portion of St. Febronia’s relics. Every year, on the anniversary of the death of St. Febronia, a solemn feast was celebrated at the convent . During the all-night Vigils, the nuns always saw St. Febronia, at her usual place in the church. Numerous miracles and healings occurred from her relics. The life of St. Febronia was recorded by the nun Thomais, an eyewitness to her deeds. In 363, St. Febronia’s relics were transferred to Constantinople.
STEWARDSHIP We thank the following individuals who have pledged their Stewardship thus far for 2023 1. Karin Ajmani 2. Ms. Dimitra Alatzas 3. Dr. & Mrs. Plato Alexander 4. Mrs. Nikki Alexiou 5. Mr. & Mrs. David Alvarez 6. Ekaterini Alysandratos 7. Ms. Cleo Andros 8. Mrs. Mary Andersen 9. Mr. & Mrs. Gus Andy 10. Mrs. Marina Angleton & Mr. Jim Petkas 11. Anton, Dindio 12. Mrs. Paraskevi Arvaniti 13. Ms. Sarah E Arvanites 14. Mr. Panagiotis Arvanitis 15. Ms. Ceren Ballanco 16. Ms. Jane Baloras 17. Mr. Vasilios Birlidis 18. Fr. Spiro & Presv. Lisa Bobotas 19. Mr. & Mrs. Clinton Bouchillon -Kanelides 20. Ms. Angela Bousalis 21. Ms. Christina Callesis 22. Mrs. Sheila Callesis 23. Mr. & Mrs. Nick Callesis 24. Mr. & Mrs. Albert Castro 25. Mr. & Mrs. Mario Capece 26. Dr. Panagiota Caralis 27. Mr. Louis Cardenas 28. Ms. Dione Carlos 29. Mr. Thomas Carlos 30. Mr. & Mrs. George Cavalaris 31. Mrs. Jean Cavalaris 32. Ms. Georgia Cavalaris 33. Ms. Mary Cavalaris 34. Mr. & Mrs. George Charnota 35. Ms. Alice Christy 36. Ms. Lynn Christ 37. Ms. Catherine Christofis 38. Ms. Mary Cocores 39. Mr. George Cozonis 40. Mr. Ken Cook 41. Drs. Georgia & Thomas Copulos 42. Ms. Sarah Costello 43. Mr. Philip De Paola 44. Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Demos 45. Mr. & Mrs. Angelo Demos 46. Mr. Michael Demos 47. Mr. Peter T. Demos 48. Mr. & Mrs. Spiros Dimitropoulos 49. Mr. Alkibad Dodge 50. Mr. & Mrs. Allen Donelan 51. Dr. Christopher Economides 52. Mr. Gus Efthimiou 53. Mr. Nicholas Efthimiou 54. Mr. & Mrs. Christian Emmanuel 55. Mr. George Farazoulis 56. Barbara Georgiadis
57. Mr. & Mrs. Jose Godur 58. Dame Dr. Evangeline Gouletas 59. Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Guillen-Lantz 60. Mrs. Fran Hadjilogiou 61. Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Hados 62. Mr. Nick Hados 63. Ms. Penelope Halkos 64. Mr. & Mrs. John Hampilos 65. Mrs. Adis Haralambides 66. Mr. & Mrs. Alexandros Haralambides 67. Ms. Fani Hatzichristofis 68. Mr. Justin Martin & Stephanie Koutsodendris 69. Ms. Lisa Jeffery 70. Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Kakouris 71. Mr. & Mrs. George Kakouris 72. Mrs. Maria Samoza Kakouris 73. Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Kalaveshi- Peletier 74. Mr. & Mrs. Vassiliq Kalaveshi 75. Mr. & Mrs. Nick Kallergis 76. Ms. Maria Kalogeropoulos 77. Ms. Olga Kalogeropoulos 78. Mr. John Kandara 79. Mr. & Mrs. John Karakadas 80. Mr. & Mrs. Alex Karakhanian 81. Ms. Esther Karamanlakis 82. Mr. & Mrs. Theo Karantsalis 83. Mr. & Mrs. George Karavetsos 84. Mr. & Mrs. James Karnegis 85. Mr. & Mrs. Charalambos Kasselakis 86. Mr. & Mrs. Stamatios Kasselakis 87. Mr. & Mrs. John Katsoulis 88. Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Kays 89. Mr. John Kiskinis 90. Mr. Andreas Konnafias 91. M. & Mrs. Achiles Kontoyiannis 92. Mr. & Mrs. Pierre Koussafis 93. Mr. & Mrs. Christos Lagos 94. Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Lailas 95. Ms. Betty Lantz 96. Ms. Irene Lirakis 97. Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Macricostas 98. Mr. Dimitrios Maltezos 99. Mr. Sotirios Markuly 100.Mr. & Mrs. Manuel Melo- Cocores 101.Ms. Bia Marsellos 102.Ms. Dimitra Marsellos 103.Ms. Maroula Marsellos 104.Ms. Nancy Martini 105.Mr. & Mrs. Cameron McDnough 106.Mr. & Mrs. Demeosthenes J. Mekras 107.Mr. & Mrs. John Mekras 108.Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Mekras 109.Mrs. Satira Mekras 110.Ms. Diane Mello 111.Mrs. Stavroula Mihalakea 112.Mr. & Mrs. James Mitchell 113.Ms. Eleni Monas 114.Mr. & Mrs. Sotirios Moulinos 115.Mr. Dimitrios Nares 116.Mrs. Kyriaki Nares 117.Mrs. Maria Nelersa 118.Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Nieves 119.Ms. Sandy Paarros 120.Ms. Marianna Page 121.Mrs. Barbara Panagakos 122.Mr. Savvas Pantelidies 123.Mr. Aris Papadopoulos
UPCOMING EVENTS June 25th -3rd Sunday of Matthew Matins 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM July 2nd, 4th Sunday of Matthew Matins 8:30 AM Summer Hours begin Divine Liturgy 9:00 AM STEWARDSHIP CONTINUED 124.Mr. & Mrs. Nick Pappas 125.Mr. & Mrs. Harry Pasquier 126.Mr. & Mrs. William Petros 127.Mr. & Mrs. Nikolas Pitsilis 128.Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Pitsoulakis 129.Mr. Chris Poulos 130.Mr. & Mrs. Nick Poulos 131.Mrs. Anastasia Prevolis 132.Ms. Emmanuela Prevolis 133.Mrs. Evangelia Prevolis 134.Mr. & Mrs. John Priovolos 135.Mr. & Mrs. George Potter 136.Ms. Sophia Porras 137.Mr. Gregory Rigano 138. Mr. Dimitrios Roumeliotis & Stephanie Karangelen 139.Mr. & Mrs. James Sanders 140. Mr. & Mrs. Christos Sarantopoulos- Tsavos 141.Mrs. Stephany Stathopoulos 142.Dr. & Mrs. Theodore Sarafoglu 143.Ms. Vanessa Savas 144.Ms. Mina Savvides 145.Mr. & Mrs. John Scurtis 146. Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Iordanoglou-Sears 147.Drs. Eleni & George Sfakianakis 148.Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sima 149.Mr. Alan Sima 150.Mr. Aristidies Simpoulos 151. Mr. Ioannis Simopoulos & Jessica Rosario 152.Mr. Michael Sirven 153.Mr. & Mrs. Herschel Sparks 154.Mr. Symeon Stavrakas 155.Mr. & Mrs. Nick Stavros 156.Mr. Isos Stamelos-Monroe 157.Ms. Daisy Tepper 158.Ms. Olga Tsaganis 159.Mr. & Mrs. Andreas Tsavos 160.Mrs. Anastasia Tsipilis 161.Mr. Christian Tsoubanos 162.Drs. Andreas & Pat Tzakis 163.Mr. Anthony Tzamtzis 164.Mr. & Mrs. Ioannis Vartholomaios 165.Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Vavoulis 166.Mr. Jovan Vilotijevic 167.Mr. & Mrs. George Vogiatzis 168.Mr. Dimitris Volakis 169.Mr. & Mrs. James Vosotas 170.Mrs. Alexandra Wensley 171.Mr. & Mrs. Tian Ying 172.Mrs. Rea Zervas