This week:

Monday, March 17, 2025, Greek School Lessons 5:30 pm –7:30 pm       Great Compline Service begins at 6:00 p.m.                  

Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Festival Prep 9 am-1: 30p.m    Presanctified Liturgy 6:00 p.m.

Friday, March 21, 2025, 3rd Salutations to the Theotokos 7:00pm Fish Fry 5:00 - 8PM                                                           

Saturday, March 22, 2025 Greek Independence Day Parade   Doxology 12 (Noon) followed by the 1pm Parade and Festivities

Sunday, March 23, 2025, Sunday of the Holy Cross, all School Students will remain in church.   GOYA Recognition Day      

Monday, March 24, 2025, Great Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation 7:00 p.m.   Followed by Coffee Social in the Banquet Hall.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025,  Feast Day of the Annunciation Orthros 8:30 a.m.  Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. Luncheon immediately following in the downstairs social hall. We ask that you purchase your tickets prior.  Contact Stella Siakantaris 440-554-7432   or Stefani Ganotis 440-212-1244.         

Flower Donation:

If you would like to donate the flowers that adorn the icon of the Feast Day of the Annunciation in Loving Memory of your loved one or for the Good Health of your family.  Please call the church office 216-861-0116.  

 Όσοι θέλουν να στολίσουν την εικόνα του  Ευαγγελισμού της Παναγίας για την  25 Μαρτίου για υπέρ υγείας της οικογένειας τους η προς συγχώρεση των  αγαπημένων τους που έφυγαν, να ενημερώσουν το γραφείο της  Εκκλησίας στο τηλέφωνο 216.861.0116 και να στείλουν την δωρεά τους για τα  λουλούδια.   

Artoklasia: The Blessing of the Five Loaves is a short  service of thanksgiving held during the Great Vespers of the Annunciation or after the Divine Liturgy on the Feast Day of the Annunciation. This service commemorates Christ's feeding of the five thousand in the wilderness with five loaves of bread.  

During the service, the faithful offer five loaves of bread, a bottle of communion wine, and a bottle of olive oil for the altar lamp as a way to pray for the health and salvation of their family and friends. The priest commemorates these individuals by name during the service. Afterward, the bread is cut and distributed to the entire congregation.

If you would like to schedule an Artoklasia, please contact the Church Office. You may choose to bake your own loaves or, if you prefer, you can order them from Vivi Kyrazis 440-915-2070  All proceeds will benefit the church.

Festival Preparations: 

Your help is greatly needed to ensure the success of this Festival. We would love for as many of you as possible to assist with the preparations, even if you have no prior experience. The "Gracious Women of Wisdom," as we affectionately call them, will be happy to teach the younger generation how to prepare these traditional foods. Men and women are both welcome to participate. This is a wonderful opportunity for our parishioners, young and old, to connect and share these fading culinary skills.

Here are the preparations every Wednesday, & Friday:

We hope to see you there!

Fish Fry Every Friday: March 7th - April 11th, 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The community of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church invites you to join us for our homestyle Lenten fish fries every Friday from March 7th through April 11th. All proceeds will support the ministries of the church and its community.

Menu: 
Fried Fish Dinner   $15: Beer-battered whitefish, French fries, coleslaw, and hush puppies.
Baked Fish Dinner $13: Baked Atlantic cod, rice, green beans, and a dinner roll.

In addition, you can also purchase:
- Homemade mac & cheese
- Homemade clam chowder
- Fried shrimp
- Pierogies
- Fish tacos
- Drinks
- Desserts

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Prayer of   St. Ephraim  the Syrian

Lord and Master of my life, Take from me the spirit of laziness, idle curiosity, vain talk and lust for power. Give me instead a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.  Yes, Lord and King, help me to see my own faults, and keep me from judging what others do. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Watch your thoughts, they become words; Watch your words, they become actions; Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

   If you see a poor man, take pity on him.  If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him.  Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye, and the ear, and the feet, and the hands, and all the members of our bodies.  Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice.  Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin.  Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful… Let the ear fast...by not listening to evil talk and gossip… Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism. For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers? 

Salutations to the Theotokos March 7, 14th, 21st 28th April 4th Akathist Hymn at 7:00 PM  ΧΑΙΡΕΤΙΣΜΟΙ  Παρασκευή,  7, 14, 21, 28 Μαρτίου, και Ακάθιστος Ύμνος 4 Απριλίου στις 7 μ.μ. Όσοι  επιθυμητέ να  προσφέρετε τις δωρεές σας για τα λουλούδια  για την εικόνα της Παναγίας παρακαλούμε καλέστε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας 216.861.0116 The floral decorations that adorned the Panagia’s icon during the Salutations to The Theotokos are generously donated. Please contact the church office if you would like to donate.

First Sunday of Great Lent Sunday of Orthodoxy March 9, 2025

The First Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to the final triumph of the Church over the iconoclasts and the restoration of the Holy Icons to the churches, which took place on the First Sunday of Lent, March 11, 843. Thus, it is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy. As the Orthodox triumphed during the iconoclastic controversy because of the dedication of the Martyrs and Confessors who suffered for the Faith, so too, we strive to imitate these Martyrs by our ascetical self-denial. A special feature of this day is the Office of Orthodoxy, at which a procession with the Holy Icons is made, and sixty anathemas pronounced against various heretics and heresies of the 4th-14th Centuries.

Second Sunday of Great Lent St. Gregory Palamas March 16, 2025

The Second Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica. St. Gregory's triumph over the heretics of his time is seen as a renewal of the Triumph of Orthodoxy of the previous Sunday. Another theme of this Sunday is that of the Prodigal Son as a model of repentance, for which a special Canon is devoted at this Sunday's Matins.

Third Sunday of Great Lent Veneration of the Cross March 23, 2025

The Third Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to the Cross and the bringing-out of the Precious Cross, which closely parallels the ceremonies of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on Sept. 14. At this time, we are reminded of the upcoming crucifixion of the Lord and strengthened to persevere in our Lenten struggles.

The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent St. John Climacus March 30, 2025

The Fourth Sunday is dedicated to St. John Climacus (of The Ladder), Abbot of Sinai, who, because of his ascetical writing (The Ladder) serves as a model of a true Christian ascetic. The Ladder is appointed by the Church to be read during Great Lent. In this week (the Fifth Week of Great Lent) the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is read on Thursday in its entirety, as well as a Canon to St. Mary of Egypt. In addition, St. Mary's Life is read. On Saturday of this week, the Akathist Hymn to the Most-Holy Theotokos is sung with everyone standing (Akathistos means not sitting). It reminds us that we are dependent on the protecting intercession of the Holy Theotokos at all moments of crisis and danger.

The Fifth Sunday of Great Lent St. Mary of Egypt April 6, 2025

The Fifth Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to St. Mary of Egypt. St. Mary was a harlot living in the Egyptian city of Alexandria who later repented and lived the rest of her life in solitude in the Egyptian desert, serving as a model of repentance to all Christians. The end of this week, the Sixth marks the end of Great Lent and the beginning of Passion We

The Great Lent and Easter Season are approaching quickly, and we are once again requesting your contributions and donations for the adornment of our Mother Church of the Annunciation during this special time. Please remember that Great Lent begins on Monday, March 3rd. If you are interested in donating any items, please call the Church Office or see a Parish Council Member for more information.

• Flowers for the 5 Icons
• 1^stSalutations
• 2^ndSalutations
• 3^rdSalutations
• 4^thSalutations                                                               
• Akathyst Hymn
• Daffodils for the Veneration of  the Holy Cross
• Palms and Vaia for Palm Sunday
• Purple Flowers and Palm Trees
• Flowers for the Icon of the Nymphios (Bridegroom)
• Holy Wednesday, Holy Unction Items
• Flowers for the Icon of the Last Supper
• 12 Candles for the 12 Gospels
• Purple Candles for Cross, Holy Thursday
• Wreath of flowers for the Cross, Holy Thursday
• 1 White Single Flat Sheet for Good Friday
• Flowers for the Epitaphio
• Rosewater for the Epitaphio
• Fr. Dean’s Lambatha
• Flowers for Resurrection Icon
• Wreath for the Resurrection Cross
• Easter Lily & Easter plants

Annunciation Feast Day Celebration Monday, March 24, 2025, Great Vespers - 7:00 p.m. Followed by coffee & fellowship in our church banquet hall                                                                Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Orthros 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. and Artoklasia   

The Blessing of the Five Loaves is a short service of thanksgiving held during the Great Vespers of the Annunciation or after the Divine Liturgy on the Feast Day of the Annunciation. This service commemorates Christ's feeding of the five thousand in the wilderness with five loaves of bread.

During the service, the faithful offer five loaves of bread, a bottle of communion wine, and a bottle of olive oil for the altar lamp as a way to pray for the health and salvation of their family and friends. The priest commemorates these individuals by name during the service. Afterward, the bread is cut and distributed to the entire congregation.

If you would like to schedule an Artoklasia, please contact the Church Office. You may choose to bake your own loaves or, if you prefer, you can order them from Vivi Kyrazis 440-915-2070 proceeds will benefit the church.

Ο Αγιασμός των Πέντε Άρτων είναι μια σύντομη λειτουργία που τελείται κατά τον Μέγα Εσπερινό του Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου ή στο τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας την ημέρα του Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου. Αυτή η λειτουργία τιμά τον Χριστό που τάισε τους πέντε χιλιάδες στην έρημο με πέντε καρβέλια ψωμί. Κατά τη διάρκεια της λειτουργίας, οι πιστοί προσφέρουν πέντε καρβέλια ψωμί, ένα μπουκάλι κρασί για την θεία κοινωνία και ένα μπουκάλι ελαιόλαδο για το καντήλι ως τρόπο προσευχής για την υγεία και τη σωτηρία της οικογένειας και των φίλων τους. Ο ιερέας τιμά τη μνήμη αυτών των  ατόμων ονομαστικά κατά τη διάρκεια της  λειτουργίας. Στη συνέχεια, το ψωμί κόβεται και μοιράζεται σε ολόκληρη την εκκλησία.  Εάν θέλετε να προγραμματίσετε μια Αρτοκλασία, επικοινωνήστε με το Γραφείο της Εκκλησίας. Μπορείτε να επιλέξετε να ψήσετε τα δικά σας ψωμιά ή, αν προτιμάτε, μπορείτε να τα παραγγείλετε στη Βιβή Κυριάζη στο 440-915-2070 Όλα τα έσοδα θα πάνε στην εκκλησία

Flower Donation If you would like to donate the flowers that adorn the icon of the Feast Day of the Annunciation in Loving Memory of your loved one or for the Good Health of your family.  Please call the church office.

 Όσοι θέλουν να στολίσουν την εικόνα του  Ευαγγελισμού της Παναγίας για την  25 Μαρτίου για υπέρ υγείας της οικογένειας τους η προς συγχώρεση των  αγαπημένων τους που έφυγαν, να ενημερώσουν το γραφείο της  Εκκλησίας στο τηλέφωνο 216.861.0116 και να στείλουν την δωρεά τους για τα  λουλούδια.