SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH

195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca 95035 www.sjorthodox.org

The Very Reverend Fr. Jiris Hanna (408) 509-8802

Matins 8:00 a.m. Liturgy 10:30 a.m.

Fr. Dcn. Joseph Kawar (408) 398-6357

Sunday April 19 (4/6), 2015 Thomas Sunday St. Eutychius, patriarch of Constantinople

‫األحد الجديد او احد توما‬ ‫تذكار أبينا الجليل في القديسين افتيشيوس بطريرك القسطنطينية‬ Matins (Eothina I): Matthew 28:16-20 Epistle: Acts 5:12 – 20 Gospel: John 20:19 – 31

Christ is Risen … Truly He is Risen Wishing you a Happy Easter, Raising our prayers to our Risen Lord to grant you the real joy of resurrection, and many years of good health & peace.

‫المسيـــح قام … حقا قــــام‬ ‫ضارعين إلى المسيح اإلله القائم من بين األموات أن يشرق نور‬ ‫ ويُعيد عليكم هذه األيام المباركة‬... ‫قيامته في قلوبنا أجمعين‬ ‫ ولسنين عديدة‬... ‫والمقدسة وأنتم بصحة وعافية وطمأنينة وسالم‬

Christos Anesti … Alethos Anesti Χριστός Ανέστη … Αληθώς Ανέστη! Σας ευχόμαστε χαρούμενο και ευλογημένο Πάσχα, δεόμενοι προς τον Αναστάντα εκ νεκρών Κύριο ώστε να σας γεμίζει με τη αληθινή χαρά της Αναστάσεώς Του, και να γιορτάσετε τις ευλογημένες αυτές ημέρες με υγεία, ευτυχία, ειρήνη και έτη πολλά. FAST FREE PERIOD – No Fasting April 13 – April 18 (including Wednesday and Friday) Wednesday and Friday fasting resumes on Wednesday April 22 Fish, Wine & Oil allowed Through Pentecost – May 31

‫كل عام وانتم بخير‬

The Pascha Homily of St. John Chrysostom If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any has labored from the first hour, let him receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious. He both honors the work, and praises the intention. Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of your Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward, O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy! O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day! You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today! The table is rich-laden; feast royally, all of you! The calf is fatted; let no one go forth hungry! Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness. Let no one lament his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn his transgressios, for pardon has dawned from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free. He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into hades and took hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticiptaing this Isaiah exclaimed, (hades was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions.) It was embittered, for it was abolished! It was embittered, for it was mocked! It was embittered, for it was purged! It was embittered, for it was despoiled! It was embittered, for it was bound in chains! It took a body, and face to face, met God! It took earth and encountered Heaven! It took that it saw but crumbled before what it had not seen! “O death, where is thy sting? O hell, where is thy victory?” Christ is risen, and you are overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb! For Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the First-fruits of those them that slept. To Him be glory and might unto ages of ages. Amen.

‫خطبة عيد الفصح للقديس يوحنا الذهبي الفم‬ ‫سن العبادة ومحبا ً هلل فليتمتع بحسن هذا المحفل البهج‪.‬‬ ‫من كان َح َ‬ ‫من كان عبدا ً شكورا ً فليدخل فرح ربه مسروراً‪.‬‬ ‫من تعب صائما ً فليأخذ اآلن الدينار‪.‬‬ ‫من عمل من الساعة األولى فليقبل حقه العادل‪.‬‬ ‫من قدم بعد الساعة الثالثة فليعيّد شاكراً‪.‬‬ ‫من وافى بعد الساعة السادسة‪ ,‬فال يشك مرتابا ً فإنه ال يخسر شيئاً‪.‬‬ ‫من تخلّف إلى الساعة التاسعة‪ ,‬ليتقدم غير مرتاب‪.‬‬ ‫جواد‪ ,‬فهو يقبل األخير كما يقبل األول‪ ,‬يريح‬ ‫من وصل الساعة الحادية عشرة‪ ,‬فال يخشين اإلبطاء إلن السيد كريم ّ‬ ‫العامل من الساعة الحادية عشرة كما يريح من عمل من الساعة األولى‪ .‬يرحم من جاء أخيراً‪ ,‬و يرضي من جاء‬ ‫أوالً‪ .‬يعطي هذا و يهب ذاك يقبل األعمال‪ ,‬و يسر بالنية‪ .‬يكرم الفعل‪ ,‬و يمدح العزم‪ .‬فادخلوا كلكم إذا ً إلى فرح‬ ‫ربكم‪.‬‬ ‫أيها األولون و يا أيها األخيرون‪ ،‬خذوا أجر تكم‪.‬‬ ‫أيها األغنياء و يا أيها الفقراء‪ ,‬افرحوا معاً‪.‬‬ ‫سلكتم بإمساك أو توانيتم‪ ,‬أكرموا هذا النهار‪.‬‬ ‫صمتم أم لم تصوموا‪ ,‬افرحوا اليوم‪.‬‬ ‫المائدة مملؤة فتنعموا كلكم! العجل سمين فال ينصرف أحد جائعاً‪.‬‬ ‫تناولوا كلكم مشروب اإليمان‪.‬‬ ‫تنعموا كلكم بغنى الصالح‪.‬‬ ‫سر أحد ٌ شاكيا ً الفقر‪ .‬إلن الملكوت العام قد ظهر‪.‬‬ ‫ال يتح ّ‬ ‫وال يندب معدّدا ّ آثاما ً إلن الفصح قد بزغ من القبر مشرقاً‪.‬‬ ‫ال يخش أ مرؤٌ الموت‪ ,‬إلن موت المخلص قد حررنا‪.‬‬ ‫هو أخمد الموت لما مات‪ ,‬و سبى الجحيم لما انحدر إليها‪ ,‬فتمرمرت حينما ذاقت جسده‪.‬‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫صادفتك داخلها‪ .‬تمرمرت ألنها أل ِغيت‪.‬‬ ‫وهذا عينه قد سبق إشعيا فعاينه فنادى قائالً‪ :‬تمرمرت الجحيم لما‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ص ِفدت‪ ,‬تناولت جسدا ً فألفته الهاً‪ ,‬تناولت أرضا ً‬ ‫تمرمرت إذ هزىء بها‪ .‬تمرمرت ألنها قد أبيدت‪ .‬تمرمرت ألنها ُ‬ ‫فألفتها سماء‪ .‬تناولت ما كانت تنظر‪ ,‬فسقطت من حيث لم تنظر‪.‬‬ ‫فأين شوكتك يا موت؟ أين انتصارك يا جحيم؟ قام المسيح و أنت صرعت‪ .‬قام المسيح و الجن سقطت‪ .‬قام المسيح‬ ‫و المالئكة فرحت‪ .‬قام المسيح فأنبثت الحياة في الجميع‪ .‬قام المسيح وال ميّت في القبر‪ .‬قام المسيح من بين‬ ‫األموات فكان باكورة للراقدين‪.‬‬

‫فله المجد و العزة إلى دهر الداهرين‪ .‬آمين‬

Special Message from Fr. Giris!

Christ Is Risen … Truly He Is Risen Dear Parishioners and friends of St. James Orthodox Church: May the Blessings of our Risen Lord be with you all, What a joyful time! As we celebrate the Resurrection of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Happy Easter, praying to our Risen Lord and to The Most Holy Lady the Theotokos to protect you all and grant you, your families, and your children a peaceful and healthy life filled with the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord. I also pray for our church, St. James Orthodox Church, which has been blessed by our Lord and by all your hard work over the years. I pray that your love and support to your church will continue and I count on your support for years to come. Pascha, or Holy resurrection of our Lord, comes this year with increasing difficulties around us. Many are suffering from the economic difficulties. Many lost their jobs. Many are sick and suffering. As difficult as these temporary worldly circumstances could be to our daily lives, please don’t let them distract you from your one and only one goal: Your Eternal Salvation. Let’s use this joyful time of the Resurrection to pave the road for our salvation with increasing prayers, fasting, and living a holy life at its best. May our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you all… Christ Is Risen! The Very Rev. Fr. Giris Hanna

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2

Sunday of Pascha - St. Thomas Sunday – April 19

Some icons depicting this event are inscribed "The Doubting Thomas." This is incorrect. In Greek, the inscription reads, "The Touching of Thomas." The Slavonic inscription is, "The Belief of Thomas." When St Thomas touched the Life-giving side of the Lord, he no longer had any doubts. This day is also known as "Antipascha." This does not mean "opposed to Pascha," but "in place of Pascha." Beginning with this first Sunday after Pascha, the Church dedicates every Sunday of the year to the Lord's Resurrection. Sunday is called "Resurrection" in Russian, and "the Lord's Day" in Greek.

‫األسبوع الثاني للفصح‬ ‫ نيسان‬١٩ - ‫االحد الجديد او احد توما‬ ‫ ألن الخليقة ّكلها تجدّدت‬."‫يُدعى هذا األحد الثاني للفصح "األحد الجديد‬ ‫ وألن الموعوظين الذين نالوا‬.‫بقيامة ربنا وإلهنا ومخلصنا يسوع المسيح‬ ‫ كانوا يظلّون البسين الثوب األبيض إلى‬.‫سر العماد المقدّس ليلة الفصح‬ ّ .‫هذا اليوم‬ ،‫ ألننا نقرأ فيه الفصل اإلنجيلي الذي يخبرنا ظهور الربّ لتالميذه بعد قيامته‬."‫ضا "أحد القديس توما الرسول‬ ً ‫كما يُدعى هذا األحد أي‬ ."‫ "أنت ربي وإلهي‬:‫ي المحيي هتف صار ًخا‬ ّ ‫ الذي لدى مالمسته الجنب اإلله‬،‫ ُمثبّتًا إيمان رسوله توما المرتاب‬،‫واألبواب مغلقة‬

Thank You! Many thanks to everyone at St. James parish family for all your hard work during Great Lent and especially during the busy Holy Week. Many thanks to every one for the delicious food at the Pascha potluck. Many thanks to the Choir Group for the beautiful chanting throughout the many services. Many thanks to the Ladies Group for all the hard work with the Bake Sale and many other food arrangements and decorations. Many thanks to the Board of Trustees and all the Ushers for their hard work keeping order during busy services. Many thanks to the Altar Boys for their hard work during the extra busy Holy Week. Many thanks to everyone who helped with Sunday School during the busy times. Many thanks to all who worked behind the scenes cleaning or organizing the church, or making Palms or Easter Eggs, or donated for the flowers of the Bier of Christ or for praying for St. James Church. Last but not the least, many thanks to our beloved The Very Rev. Fr. Giris Hanna for all his care and blessings and hard work to his brothers and sisters and children in Christ at St. James Orthodox Church parish family. For many years!

Most of all, MANY THANKS to our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Most Holy Mother the Theotokos for all the blessings He showered upon us. Without Him, we could do nothing !

Chris Is Risen! Truly He Is Risen! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ GOOD WORKS

Not every “good” deed is actually good, but only that good deed which is done for the sake of God. The externals of a particular action are not its essence; God alone sees a person’s heart. We need to humble ourselves, realizing that every good deed is mixed with some passion. - St. Nikon

Dunlap / Hume Lake Trip

August 5 – 8, 2015 We plan to have a short trip, 3-nights/4-days, to visit the Life Giving Spring monastery and also head to the summit to Hume Lake and enjoy a day at the lake and beautiful nature. We need a minimum of 15 people to book St. Nicholas Ranch Retreat Center. Please talk to Dcn. Joseph for details or to sign-up if interested.

We would like to have a headcount as early as possible!

This Was From Me…

I allowed this frustration to touch you so that you would learn that your best friend is the Lord. I want you to bring everything to Me and to trust in Me. Did someone slander you? Leave this to Me; cleave more closely to Me, your refuge, with all your heart so that you might hide from the “contradiction of tongues.” I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life as the noonday. Have your plans been ruined, are you downtrodden in soul and exhausted? This was from Me.

Mark Your Calendar

***Youth Potluck Picnic***

Mark Your Calendar Icon Painting On Glass New Date – Monday April 20 5:00pm – 7:00pm

New Date – This Sunday April 19th At 2:30pm Sports Games and Youth Fun Cordoza Park located on Kennedy Drive Milpitas, California 95035 Please txt or call Fouad Dahdah (510) 512-0384 for any questions or information

Lunch This Sunday April 19

Please RSVP with AnaCamelia Toma by phone (510) 432-3763 or by e-mail [email protected]. Please arrive 30 minutes early to allow enough time to setup. $7 per person to cover cost of material.

will be provided by

Bassam & Ghada Khoury and Family Thank you and God bless you.

E-mail [email protected] or call (408) 398-6357 for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback.

Happy Birthdays Lina Kawar – 4/13 Christina Raie – 4/13 Nadine Khadder – 4/13 Rita Saoud – 4/13 Farah Khoury – 4/16 Sami Hanna – 4/16 Mariam Saba – 4/10 Monther Wahhab – 4/18 Anas Sarsam – 4/18 Sophia Daoud – 4/18 Zoe Maria Toma – 4/18 Samar Khoury – 4/19 Jasmen Asfour – 4/19 Khalil Ganim – 4/19

!!!‫عقبال المئة سنة‬

Attention Parents and Friends of 2015 Graduates!

You can post a FREE personal congratulation message to your graduates in the bulletin. Just e-mail your greetings to [email protected]

Graduates: Please e-mail your graduation picture or regular pictures to [email protected] to be posted in the bulletin. Graduates pictures and greetings will be posted during the week of June 22.

Elder Porphyrios and the Joy of the Resurrection The following story was told by the cardiologist of Elder Porphyrios, Dr. George Papazahos, when he visited the Elder in his cell one Bright Tuesday following Pascha. I went to see him as a doctor. After the cardiological examination and the usual cardiogram, he asked that I not leave. I sat on the stool near his bed. His face was shining with joy. He asked me: "Do you know the hymn which says, 'Let us celebrate the death of death...?'" "Yes Elder, I know it." "Say it." I began to say it quickly. "Let us celebrate the death of death, the destruction of hades, the beginning of eternal life. And leaping for joy, we celebrate the Cause, the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers." "Did you understand it?" "Of course I understood." I thought he was asking me about its interpretation. He made a sudden movement with his hand and told me: "You understood nothing, George my man! You said it like a hurried chanter. Listen to what fearful things this hymn says: Christ by His Resurrection did not cross us over a lake, over a crack in the earth, over a canal, over a river like the Red Sea. He brought us over an abyss, of which it was impossible for man to cross alone. For centuries we awaited this Pascha, for this passage. Christ brought us from death to life. This is why today we 'celebrate the death of death, the destruction of hades'. Death is lost. Do you understand? Today we celebrate 'the beginning of eternal life', a life near Him." He spoke with enthusiasm and conviction. He was moved. He paused for a moment then continued more loudly: "Now chaos, death, and hades do not exist. Now there is all joy, thanks to the Resurrection of our Christ. Together with Him human nature was resurrected. Now we can be resurrected and live eternally near Him. What happiness is in the Resurrection! 'And leaping for joy, we celebrate the Cause.' Have you ever seen the little goats now in the Spring who jump on the grass? They eat a little from their mother and begin to jump again? This is what it means to leap - to jump. This is how we should also jump for unspeakable joy at the Resurrection of our Lord and our own." He stopped speaking again. I breathed in a joyous atmosphere. He continued: "Can I give you some advice? In your every sorrow, in your every failure, concentrate for a moment within yourself and say this hymn slowly-slowly. You will see that the greatest thing in your life - and in the life of the whole world - happened. The Resurrection of Christ, our salvation. And you will realize that everything that is upside down which is occurring will seem to you very small to spoil your mood." He squeezed my hand saying: "I pray that you leap for joy, looking at the chaos behind you from which the Risen Christ crossed you over, 'the only blessed of our fathers'. Chant now 'Christ is Risen!'" My postscript: Truly, He is Risen! + George Papazahos, Professor of Cardiology

Orthodox Church Dress Code With the warm spring and summer days already here, we naturally tend to wear less and lighter clothes to chruch. Please keep in mind the following Orthodox Church Dress Code and guidelines: The exact dress code that any Orthodox Church has will vary from church to church. However, there are a few things to remember when going to any Orthodox Church. There are several standards of dress that should be met in order to show respect to the church and to its members. Men’s Clothing: When attending a service in an Orthodox Church, shorts or flip-flops are never appropriate. Shorts are not considered to be respectful in these churches, and they should be left at home. For men, any dressy pair of pants with a button-up shirt is respectful enough. Many people wear a full suit, including a jacket and tie. Make sure the shirt has long sleeve. Wear appropriate shoes. Tennis shoes are almost never appropriate for a church service. Women’s Clothing For women, there are many options that are appropriate for an Orthodox Church service. The main idea for women’s dress is to keep it modest. Many Orthodox Churches have dress codes that call for modest clothing. To achieve this, remember not to show too much skin. The shoulders cannot be shown in the church, so avoid anything strapless or with thin straps. Keep your tops and dresses high cut and with long sleeves. Wearing a simple dress is a nice way to show respect to the church. The dress should not be too tight and it should not have a shirt hemline. Keep the dress long, coming to the ankle or to the lower calf. Many Orthodox Churches have a dress code that specifies that skirts and dresses must come below the knee. Others ask that no leg be shown. If you aren’t sure which is appropriate, it may be best to wear an ankle-length dress or skirt. Make sure the dress or the tops have long sleeve. Tennis shoes, flip-flops and stiletto heels are all inappropriate footwear for an Orthodox Church. Keep your jewelry and makeup simple when going to a service. Some Orthodox Churches frown upon lipstick being worn if communion is to be taken. Keep makeup simple and neutral and wear only small, understated jewelry. Long, dangly jewelry may bring unneeded attention to yourself. Keep necklaces and earrings small and tasteful in order to keep your look respectful.

St. James Orthodox Church 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, CA. 95035

Sunday 4/19 (4/6) St. Thomas Sunday