Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

09/07/2026

🌹7 Σεπτεμβρίου - Προεόρτια της Γέννησης της Δεσποίνης ημών Θεοτόκου και Αειπαρθένου Μαρίας🌹

◾️Ἀπολυτίκιον
Ἐκ τῆς ῥίζης Ἰεσσαί, καὶ ἐξ ὀσφύος τοῦ Δαυῒδ, ἡ θεόπαις Μαριάμ, τίκτεται σήμερον ἡμῖν, διὸ καὶ χαίρει ἡ σύμπασα καὶ καινουργεῖται, συγχαίρει τε ὁμοῦ, ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ. Αἰνέσατε αὐτὴν αἱ πατριαὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν, Ἰωακεὶμ εὐφραίνεται, καὶ Ἄννα πανηγυρίζει κραυγάζουσα· Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει, τὴν Θεοτόκον, καὶ τροφὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν.

09/06/2026

Goya kickoff meeting for our young people. Thank you Vicky Stavrinoudis for hosting such a nice event and thank you to everyone for coming out today! Let’s make this the best year for Goya yet!

09/05/2026

Ready to taste the spirit of Greece without leaving town? Join us at the Easton Greek Food Festival and share your favorite dish in the comments!

09/01/2026

It is with a sorrowful heart, yet with hope in the resurrection that we inform you of the falling asleep of Ekaterini Papoutsidakis. Please pray for her family and friends that the Lord our God will give them strength and comfort and love during this time.
May her memory be eternal +

Visitation:
Thursday, September 3, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

Devine Liturgy will follow in the church at 11:30 AM.

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
319 S. 20th St., Easton PA 18042
Intimate will be held at Gethsemane Cemetery Palmer Township.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in
Ekaterini’s memory to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church 319 South 20th Street
Easton, Pa 18042

View Ekaterini Papoutsidakis's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/01/2026

Wishing everyone a blessed 1st of the month!

Ecclesiastical New Year

Happy Nameday to all that are celebrating.

Χρόνια πολλά και Καλό μήνα σε όσους γιορτάζουνε 1 Σεπτεμβρίου την ονομαστική τους γιορτή !

Ἀρχή τῆς Ἰνδίκτου

These holy women lived at Adrianople in Thrace during the reign of Emperor Licinius, who was coruler with Saint Constantine the Great (May 21). Babdos, the ruler of the region (circa 305) arrested them as Christians and tried to force them to worship idols. A certain woman named Kelsίna, was a prominent citizen. After her courageous confession of the Faith she gathered them all in her home, along with their teacher, Deacon Ammoun (Ammoún), in order to strengthen them for martyrdom. Ammoun took a paper with their names on it and read them aloud one by one. Then he said: "Strive for Christ through martyrdom, for in this way the Master Christ at the gate of the heavenly Kingdom will call you by name, one by one, in order to bestow upon you a crown of eternal life."

When the ruler interrogated them again, all of the Martyrs steadfastly confessed their faith. They prayed to God, and shattered the idols, then suddenly the pagan priest was lifted up into the air by an invisible force, and after being tormented for a long time, he fell to the ground dead. Then Babdos ordered Saint Ammoun to be suspended in order to rake his sides, and burn his wounds with lit candles, and then a red-hot bronze helmet was placed on his head, but miraculously the Holy Martyr was delivered from them.

Since the Saint was unharmed by his ordeal, he was led along with his disciples from Veroe [modern Stara Zagora (Stára Zagorá) in Bulgaria] to Heraclea, and brought to the ruler Licinius. On the way the Lord appeared and encouraged them. Arriving in the city they went to the place where the holy relics of the Virgin Martyr Glykerίa (May 13) were buried. While they spent the night there praying, the Saint appeared and said: "Welcome, holy servants of God! I have long awaited your glorious companions in Christ, so that we might dance crowned with the Holy Angels in Christ's Kingdom, Whom we have confessed unto blood."

Saint Ammoun and the Holy Virgins were taken to Heraclea (Ηράκλεια) to face further torments. There they were thrown to the wild beasts. The holy women and their teacher prayed standing with upraised hands, but the animals fell asleep and did not touch them. While the soldiers were lighting a fire in which to throw the Martyrs, they predicted to the impious Licinius the victory of Saint Constantine the Great, the triumph of Christianity, and the eradication of idolatry. Then they were sealed with the Sign of the Cross. Ten of them leaped into the flames rejoicing and praising God, Who bedewed the fire. Another eight were beheaded with a sword along with their teacher Ammoun. Another ten were executed after being stabbed in the heart with a sword, or after red-hot irons had been put into their mouths. Six more were also slaughtered, and the remaining six departed to the Lord in peace.

Their names have been preserved in their ancient Martyrion (Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca 2280-2281): Laurencia (Λαυρεντία) the Deaconess, Kelsίna, (Κελσίνα), Theoktisti (Theoktistē/Theókleia), Dorothy (Δωροθέα), Eutykhiani (Eutykhianē/Ευτυχιανή), Thekla (Θέκλα), Aristainete (Αρισταινέτη), Philadelphi (Philadḗlphē/Φιλαδέλφη), Maria, Veronica (Βερονίκη), Eulalia, or Euthymia (Eulalίa/Ευλαλία η Euthymίa/Ευθυμία), Lamprotati (Lamprotátē/Λαμπροτάτη), Euphymίa (Ευφημία), Theodora, Theodótē (Θεοδότη), Tetesia (Τετεσία), Aquilina, Theodoule (Θεοδούλη), Aplodora (Aplodóra/Απλοδώρα), Lampadί]ia (Lampadίa/Λαμπαδία), Prokopia (Prokopίa/Προκοπία), Maura (Maúra/Μαύρα), Paula (Παύλα), Juliana (Ιουλιάνα), Ampliani (Amplianḗ/Αμπλιανή), Persis (Persίs/Περσίς), Gregoria (Gregorίa/Γρηγορία), Κuriα, or Kyriaivi (Κυρία/Κυρία η Kyriaίvē/Κυριαίνη), Vassa (Βάσσα), Kalliniki (Kallinίkē/Καλλινίκη), Barbara (Βαρβάρα), Kyriaki (Kyriakḗ/Κυριακή), Agathoniki (Agathonίkē/Αγαθονίκη), Timothea (Timothḗa/Τιμοθέα), Justa (Ιούστα), Irene (Ειρήνη), Matrona (Matróna/Ματρώνα) or Agathonike, Agathonίkē/Αγαθονίκη), Tatiana (Τατιανή), Anna, or Anthousa (Άννα η Anthoúsa/Ανθούσα).

Here is another list: Adamantini (Adamantίnē/Ἀδαμαντίνη), Kalliroe (Καλλιρόη), Kharikleia, (Χαρίκλεια), Penelope (Πηνελόπη), Kleio (Kleió/Κλειὼ), Thaleia (Tháleia/Θάλεια), Marianthe (Μαριάνθη), Eutirpe (Eutḗrpe/Εὐτέρπη), Terpsichore (Terpsichóre/Τερψιχόρη), Ourania (Ouranίa/Οὐρανία), Kleoniki (Κλεονίκη), Sappho (Σαπφώ), Erató (Erato/Ἐρατώ), Polymnia (Πολύμνια), Dodoni (Dodónē /Δωδώνη), Athena (Athená/Αθηνά), Troada (Troáda/Τρωάδα), Cleopatra (Κλεοπάτρα), Korallia (Korallίa/Κοραλία), Kallisti (Kallίstē/Καλλίστη), Theonoi (Theonóē/Θεονόη), Theono (Theonó/Θεανώ), Aspasia (Aspasίa/Ἀσπασία), Polyniki (Polynίkē/Πολυνίκη), Dioni (Diónē/Διόνη), Theophani (Theophánē/Θεοφάνη), Erasmia (Erasmίa/'Ἐρασμία), Ermineia (Ermēneίa/Ἑρμηνεία), Aphroditi (Aphrodίtē/Ἀφροδίτη), Margarita (Μαργαρίτα), Antigone (Antigóne/Ἀντιγόνη), Pandora (Pandóra/Πανδώρα), Khaido (Kháϊdo/Χάϊδω), Lambro (Lámbro/Λάμπρω), Mosoho (Mósoho/Μόσχω), Ariboia (Arēboϊa/Ἀρηβοΐα), Theonymphi (Theonymphē /Θεονύμφη), Akrivi (Akrivē/Ακριβή), Melpomeni (Melpoménē/Μελπομένη), Elpiniki (Elpinίkē/Ἐλπινίκη), and Ammoun (Ammoún/Ammoún) their teacher.

As far as the names of the 40 Holy Virgins are concerned, we must use caution, because some of their names, e.g. Khaido (Khaϊdo/Χάϊδω), Lambro (Λάμπρω) etc., belong to the later centuries (XVI– XVIII), and not to those of the IV century, when the Saints were martyred.

Many will be surprised to notice the names of pagan and mythological figures listed here. However, The Holy Passion-Bearers, Saints Boris and Gleb, were the sons of Saint Vladimir (July 15). Saint Boris was named Romanos and Saint Gleb was named David at their Baptism. After their martyrdom, their former names were sanctified. It is reasonable to assume that the same thing occurred with the Holy Virgin Martyrs of the IV century.

09/01/2026

Renovation update: windows were installed a generous donation of a new oven from Αριστιδεις Ασημακοπουλος.
A new six burner stove another generous donation from Nick Giacoumopoulos we are truly blessed thank you to everyone that has donated towards the renovation and windows.

If you would like to make a donation you can send it into the church via mail or contact one of our Council Members or Father.

We are now looking forward to all of your help with our Festival that will be September 25-27.

08/30/2026

Χρόνια Πολλά στους εορτάζοντες!

Happy Nameday today to all who celebrate!

Saint Alexander was sent to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the delegate of Saint Metrophanes, Bishop of Constantinople (see June 4), to whose throne he succeeded in the year 325. When Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea, Saint Alexander, knowing his guile, refused to receive him into communion; Arius' powerful partisans threatened that they would use force to bring Arius into the communion of the Church the following day. Saint Alexander prayed fervently that God might spare the Church; and as Arius was in a privy place relieving nature, his bowels gushed forth with an effusion of blood, and the arch-heresiarch died the death of Judas. Saint Alexander was Bishop from 325 until 337, when he was succeeded by Saint Paul the Confessor, who died a martyr's death at the hands of the Arians (see Nov. 6). The Saint John commemorated here appears to be the one who was Patriarch during the years 562-577, surnamed Scholasticus, who is also commemorated on February 21. He was from Antioch, where he had been a lawyer (scholasticus); he was made presbyter, then was sent to Constantinople as representative (apocrisiarius) of the Patriarch of Antioch, and was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Saint Paul was Bishop of Constantinople during the years 687 - 693, in the reign of Emperor Justinian II, and presided over the Quinisext Council in 692.

08/29/2026

Service Saturday August 29
Orthros 8:30am
Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The Divine Baptist, the Prophet born of a Prophet, the seal of all the Prophets and beginning of the Apostles, the mediator between the Old and New Covenants, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the God-sent Messenger of the incarnate Messiah, the forerunner of Christ's coming into the world (Esaias 40: 3; Mal. 3: 1); who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb; who came forth like another Elias the Zealot, whose life in the wilderness and divine zeal for God's Law he imitated: this divine Prophet, after he had preached the baptism of repentance according to God's command; had taught men of low rank and high how they must order their lives; had admonished those whom he baptized and had filled them with the fear of God, teaching them that no one is able to escape the wrath to come if he do not works worthy of repentance; had, through such preaching, prepared their hearts to receive the evangelical teachings of the Savior; and finally, after he had pointed out to the people the very Savior, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (Luke 3:2-18; John 1: 29-36), after all this, John sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor.

This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia (that is, Arabia Petraea, which had the famous Nabatean stone city of Petra as its capital. This is the Aretas mentioned by Saint Paul in II Cor. 11:32). Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21 - 29). Concerning the finding of his holy head, see February 24 and May 25.

Apolytikion
Second Mode
The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.

Kontakion
Plagal First Mode
The glorious beheading of the Forerunner was a certain divine dispensation, that the coming of the Saviour might also be preached to those in Hades. Let Herodias lament, then, that she demanded a wicked murder; for she loved not the Law of God, nor eternal life, but one false and fleeting.

08/26/2026

Thursday August 27 Service for
Phanourios the Great Martyr
Φανούριος Μεγαλομάρτυς
Όρθρος 8:30μμ
Orthros 8:30 am

Little is known of the holy Martyr Phanurius, except that which is depicted concerning his martyrdom on his holy icon, which was discovered in the year 1500 among the ruins of an ancient church on Rhodes, when the Moslems ruled there. Thus he is called "the Newly Revealed." The faithful pray to Saint Phanurius especially to help them recover things that have been lost, and because he has answered their prayers so often, the custom has arisen of baking a Phaneropita ("Phanurius-Cake") as a thanks-offering.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church