3511 Yoakum Boulevard Houston 77006 + 713.526.5377
agoc.org + find us on facebook: Annunciation Greek Orthodox
Cathedral
Rev. Economos Michael J. Lambakis, Dean
Rev. Economos Demetrios Tagaropulos, Associate Priest
Rev. Presbyter Gabriel Gadah, Associate Priest
Rev. Presbyter Jeremy Troy, Associate Priest
Rev. Deacon Iakovos Varcados
Sunday Bulletin April 7, 2019
Sunday of Saint John Climacus Martyrs Calliopius and Akylina
Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow
Fourth Mode + First Eothinon
Sunday Church School following Divine Liturgy until 12:15 pm
Welcome to all our visitors worshipping with us today! We’re glad
you’re here! Please join us at our Fellowship Coffee immediately
following the Divine Liturgy. Visit the Welcoming Committee table
to meet
fellow parishioners and learn more about our community.
Please silence all mobile devices while in the Holy Sanctuary.
Thank you.
Special Hymns at Liturgy:
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode Having learned the
joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having
cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the
Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and
Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Τ φαιδρν τς ναστσεως κρυγμα, κ το γγλου μαθοσαι α το Κυρου
Μαθτριαι, κα τν
προγονικν πφασιν πορρψασαι, τος ποστλοις καυχμεναι λεγον σκλευται
θνατος,
γρθη Χριστς Θες, δωρομενος τ κσμ τ μγα λεος.
Apolytikion of Sunday of St. John Climacus in the Plagal of the
Fourth Tone 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 John our
righteous Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be
saved.
Τας τν δακρων σου ροας, τς ερμου τ γονον εγεργησας, κα τος εκ βθους
στεναγμος, εις εκατν τος πνους εκαρποφρησας, κα γγονας φωστρ, τ
οικουμνη λμπων τος θαμασι, Ιωννη Πατρ ημν, σιε, Πρσβευε Χριστ τ Θε,
σωθναι τς ψυχς ημν.
Apolytikion of the Church On this day when our salvation is crowned
for eternity and the revelation of the mystery of the ages. The Son
of God becomes on this day the Virgin’s Son, with Gabriel
proclaiming the tidings of God’s Grace. And we also join in the cry
unto the Theotokos singing: Hail to You who are filled with grace;
the Lord is with You.
Σμερον τς σωτηρας μν τ Κεφλαιον, κα το π' ανος Μυστηρου φανρωσις,
Υς το
Θεο, Υς τς Παρθνου γνεται, κα Γαβριλ τν χριν εαγγελζεται. Δι κα μες
σν ατ τ
Θεοτκω βοσωμεν, Χαρε Κεχαριτωμνη, Κριος μετ σο.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode To you, Theotokos,
invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your
city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your
irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call
out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
Τ περμχω στρατηγ τ νικητρια, ς λυτρωθεσα τν δεινν εχαριστρια,
ναγρφω σο
Πλις σου Θεοτκε, λλ' ς χουσα τ κρτος προσμχητον, κ παντοων μ
κινδνων
λευθρωσον, να κρζω σο, Χαρε νμφη νμφευτε.
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Matins (Orthros) Gospel Matthew 28:16-20
t that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain
to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they
worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the
age. Amen."
Epistle Reading St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20.
RETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one
greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I
will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having
patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a
greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final
for confirmation. So when God
desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the
unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath,
so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible
that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have
strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this
as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into
the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a
forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever
after the order of Melchizedek.
τ νγνωσμα Πρς βραους 6:13-20.
δελφο, τ βραμ παγγειλμενος θες, πε κατ οδενς εχεν μεζονος μσαι,
μοσεν
καθ αυτο, λγων, μν ελογν ελογσω σε, κα πληθνων πληθυν σε. Κα
οτως
μακροθυμσας πτυχεν τς παγγελας. νθρωποι μν γρ κατ το μεζονος
μνουσιν, κα
πσης ατος ντιλογας πρας ες βεβαωσιν ρκος. ν περισστερον βουλμενος
θες
πιδεξαι τος κληρονμοις τς παγγελας τ μετθετον τς βουλς ατο,
μεστευσεν ρκ, να
δι δο πραγμτων μεταθτων, ν ος δνατον ψεσασθαι θεν, σχυρν παρκλησιν
χωμεν ο
καταφυγντες κρατσαι τς προκειμνης λπδος· ν ς γκυραν χομεν τς ψυχς
σφαλ τε κα
βεβααν, κα εσερχομνην ες τ στερον το καταπετσματος· που πρδρομος πρ
μν
εσλθεν ησος, κατ τν τξιν Μελχισεδκ ρχιερες γενμενος ες τν
ανα.
A
B
A
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Gospel Reading Sunday of St. John Climacus
Mark 9:17-31 t that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying:
"Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and
wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds
his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it
out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless
generation, how long am I to be with you? How long
am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy
to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the
boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the
mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And
he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire
and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything,
have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can!
All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the
father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my
unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together,
he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf
spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again."
And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and
the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead."
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And
when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately,
"Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind
cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went
on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any
one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them,
"The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they
will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will
rise."
Κατ Μρκον 9:17-31
καιρ κεν, νθρωπς τις προσλθε τ ησο λγων, διδσκαλε, νεγκα τν υν μου
πρς σε,
χοντα πνεμα λαλον. κα που ν ατν καταλβ, σσει ατν, κα φρζει κα τρζει
τος
δντας ατο, κα ξηρανεται κα επον τος μαθητας σου να ατ κβλωσι, κα οκ
σχυσαν.
δ ποκριθες ατ λγει γενε πιστος, ως πτε πρς μς σομαι; ως πτε νξομαι
μν;
φρετε ατν πρς με. κα νεγκαν ατν πρς ατν. κα δν ατν εθως τ πνεμα
σπραξεν ατν,
κα πεσν π τς γς κυλετο φρζων. κα πηρτησε τν πατρα ατο πσος χρνος
στν ς τοτο
γγονεν ατ; δ επε παιδιθεν. κα πολλκις ατν κα ες πρ βαλε κα ες δατα,
να πολσ
ατν λλ ε τι δνασαι, βοθησον μν σπλαγχνισθες φ μς. δ Ιησος επεν ατ τ
ε δνασαι
πιστεσαι, πντα δυνατ τ πιστεοντι. κα εθως κρξας πατρ το παιδου μετ
δακρων λεγε
πιστεω, κριε βοθει μου τ πιστ. δν δ Ιησος τι πισυντρχει χλος,
πετμησε τ πνεματι
τ καθρτ λγων ατ τ πνεμα τ λαλον κα κωφν, γ σοι πιτσσω, ξελθε ξ ατο
κα μηκτι
εσλθς ες ατν. κα κρξαν κα πολλ σπαρξαν ατν ξλθε, κα γνετο σε νεκρς,
στε πολλος
λγειν τι πθανεν. δ Ιησος κρατσας ατν τς χειρς γειρεν ατν, κα νστη.
Κα εσελθντα
ατν ες οκον ο μαθητα ατο πηρτων ατν κατ δαν, τι μες οκ δυνθημεν
κβαλεν
ατ. κα επεν ατος τοτο τ γνος ν οδεν δναται ξελθεν ε μ ν προσευχ κα
νηστε. Κα
A
T
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κεθεν ξελθντες παρεπορεοντο δι τς Γαλιλαας, κα οκ θελεν να τις γν
δδασκε γρ τος
μαθητς ατο κα λεγεν ατος τι υς το νθρπου παραδδοται ες χερας
νθρπων, κα
ποκτενοσιν ατν, κα ποκτανθες τ τρτ μρ ναστσεται.
+ Sunday of St. John Climacus (April 7) The memory of this Saint is
celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is
celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is
a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer
experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the
seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his
struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how
to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the
rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It
is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its
entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast.
Holy Communion is reserved for those who have been Baptized and/or
Chrismated in the Eastern Orthodox Faith. The Communion Prayers are
our final preparation to receive the Sacrament, along with fasting
on Wednesdays and Fridays each week, and in the morning prior to
the Divine Liturgy. (We, of course, continue to take prescribed
medications.) We also prepare ourselves through regular confession.
Please follow the directions
of an usher to invite you to join the Communion line. When you
approach the chalice, please give your Baptismal name to the
priest. The order of Communion is the newly baptized (with lit
candles) and the congregation, pew by pew, beginning from the front
of the nave.
Altar Group for April 7 – Saint Savas Nicholas Bogott, Nicholas
Kyriakides-Crowe, Andrew Lambakis, Nicholas Lambakis, Thomas
Lorentzatos, Matthew Mickelis, Gregory Rubio, Luke Sullo, Jonathan
Varcados
Altar Group for April 14 – Saint Gerasimos Jacob Bass, Luke Bass,
Charles Butta, Stavros Cotsoradis, Stephano Cotsoradis, Chrysanthos
Fetokakis, Vasilis Germanides, Chris Hoekel, Nicholas Krasnosky,
Aidan Paek, Nicholas Strickler, Nicholas Sullo
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Parish News And Events
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS! This Sunday, Fr.
Michael will be with the High School group in Room 243 to discuss
the Sacrament of Confession. All 9th through 12th grade students
are invited.
What’s Being Taught in the Adult Sunday Church School
Classes?
Adult Bible Study. Facilitator: Fr. Gabriel Gadah,
[email protected], Room 226. Please join us for our Sunday Adult
Bible Study Class as we continue our study of the Old Testament
Book of Ezekiel. This week’s study will focus on Chapter 37. The
resuscitation of the nation is compared to dry bones coming to
life. At this point the Israelites were like dry bones, nationally
dead, and with no hope of restoration. Yet God promises that just
as the bones came to life in Ezekiel’s vision, so God says: I will
“bring you into the land of Israel … and shall put my spirit in
you, and ye shall live”. Ezekiel was commanded to write the names
of Judah and Israel on separate sticks, and then to join them
together as one stick (verses 16-17). This action represented the
fact that the two nations would be rejoined as one nation at the
same time as the national revival just prophesied in the preceding
chapter. The kingdom had split (in 931 B.C.), after the death of
Solomon, with 10 tribes in the north being known as Israel (or
Ephraim), and two tribes in the south, Benjamin and Judah, being
known as Judah.
Inquirer’s Class, Orthodoxy 101, Facilitator: Greg Halvatzis,
[email protected], Room 224. Topic: Monasticism in the Orthodox
Church; As we continue on our Lenten Journey, we are reminded that
we are called by Christ to life in the world without being of the
world (John 17: 13-16). The monastic vocation exemplifies this
calling. In class today we will discuss monasticism and the
important role it plays in our Orthodox Christian Tradition. The
ascetic life as practiced by monastics is of great value to those
of us in the world. Even though we are in the world, we can
practice “urban monasticism”. “This is how you pray continually —
not by offering prayer in words, but by joining yourself to God
through your whole way of life, so that your life becomes one
continuous and uninterrupted prayer.” – St Basil the Great
Living the Liturgy, Facilitator: Fr. Demetrios Tagaropulos,
[email protected], Room 228. Starting Sunday, March 24, 2019,
and every subsequent Sunday before Pascha that there are classes,
the Inquirers Class topics all relate to Great Lent and Holy Week.
Please attend these classes as I am sure you will find them
fruitful and beneficial to your spiritual growth and to help
prepare yourselves for Pascha.
Youth Choir Schedule
It’s not too late to join the Youth Choir! Please join us in the
choir loft to sing the beautiful hymns of the Divine Liturgy. All
singers welcome!
• April 14th
• May 12th Questions? Contact Pam Gaspar –
[email protected]
___________________________________________________________________
AGOC Adult Bible Studies
We will meet TUESDAY, April 9, 2019 at BOTH the 1:00pm and 6:30pm
Sessions in the Council Room (219) to continue our study of the
Apocalypse to St. John. It is hard to imagine that we are already
in the fourth week of Great Lent. As the Light of Pascha is
approaching, we have a renewed hope and expectation of a foretaste
of Eternal Life in the Kingdom. To that end, we will focus on
Revelation 21:1-22:5, which gives a beautiful glimpse of the New
Creation and The Holy City, the Restored and Exalted
Jerusalem.
“I will give of the fountain of water freely to him who thirsts”
(Rev.21:6) “When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall
see Him as He is” (1Jn 3:2)
Readings: Rev. 21:1-22:5; Isaiah 7:14; Psalm 45:5-8; John 1:14;
17:22; Isaiah 2:1-4; 54:11-15; 60:1-22; 62:1,12; Averky, Chapter
21-22; Williamson, 341-361
Spread the word and come join us for fruitful and interesting
discussions. +Fr. Demetri
AHEPA 29 Lenten Meal - Wednesday, April 10 All AGOC parishioners
who attend the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evening, April
10, are invited to join the Ahepa Family for a Lenten meal in the
Martel Hall, immediately following the Liturgy.
Special Basket for Holy Friday Epitaphio Flowers There will be
special baskets in the Narthex for donations for the Holy Friday
Epitaphio flowers at the Wednesday, Friday and Sunday services
during Lent.
Trinity Foster Services Easter Basket Drive The Lenten period is
upon us. Please consider sharing Christ's love with the children at
Trinity Children’s Services by choosing a child by age and gender
to receive your Easter basket gift. We will be available to assist
you in the Martel Hall after the Divine Liturgy in making your
decision. Deadline to deliver baskets is April 14, 2019. For
further information, please contact Sophie Stenis at 713-686-2084.
Thank you and God bless us all.
Friday Night Lenten Potluck Dinners – April 12 Join us for a Lenten
potluck dinner immediately following the Friday Salutation services
in the Small Martel Hall on April 12. All parishioners are invited
to bring a Lenten dish. Please drop off your dish in the Martel
Hall Kitchen prior to entering the Cathedral. For information,
contact Natasha Pappas
[email protected] or
832-207-1659
Kali Parea Fellowship Luncheon - Saturday, April 20, Noon
AGOC Widows Outreach
For Reservations:
before Friday, April 19
Mission Coin Box…
During the Lenten season the Church emphasizes PRAYER, FASTING
& ALMSGIVING. If your child did not bring home the cardboard
MISSION COIN BOX from Sunday Church School, please ask your child’s
Sunday Church School teacher for one.
Place the MISSION COIN BOX on the center of your eating table. For
each meal your family sits down to eat, family members contribute a
PENNY, NICKEL OR QUARTER in the cardboard MISSION COIN BOX and
together repeat the following prayer:
Lord, we thank you for daily food, health and our family, and we
pray for all the hungry people in the world.
Parents, please “seed” the boxes by placing 2 $1 bills crossways in
boxes. This will keep coins from falling out.
This money will be sent to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center in
St. Augustine, Florida to help them accomplish their task of taking
the love of Christ to all nations.
Shoes for Orphan Souls
“I was hungry and you gave me something…, I was thirsty and you
gave me
something, I was a stranger…” (Matthew 25:35) “I was
barefoot…”
Every child deserves to have a new pair of shoes!
When you are buying a new pair of shoes for your children for
Pascha, please buy an extra pair for a child in need. Drop them off
in the colorful bins here at the Church. You’ll be providing new
shoes to orphans and vulnerable children in the US and throughout
the world.
http://springhillfresh.com/blog/2012/08/16/autowash-express-hosts-local-shoes-for-orphan-souls-drive/sos-logo/
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Did You Know?…
Many thanks to all of you who are contributing to support the daily
operations and ministries of Annunciation Greek Orthodox
Cathedral.
Did you know:
That according to a monthly Bill Estimator report issued by Reliant
Energy an average 3000 square foot house with a gas heating system
costs $260.00 per month to maintain. A water bill in Houston
averages $100.00 per month. Cable bill runs about the same.
Property taxes on the same home valued at $330,000 costs $600.00
per month. Finally, and the most important category is according to
the Washington Post, the disposable income averages around $3,258
per month. Did you know:
THAT 69% OF OUR REGISTERED PARISHIONERS GIVES LESS THAN $1800 PER
YEAR
38% of our families donate from $1 - $500 annually (that is less
than $50 a month) 18% of our families donate from $501 - $1000
annually (that is less than $65 a month) 13% of our families donate
from$1001- $1799 annually (that is less than $120 a month)
Did you know:
that because of your generous donations we are able to staff the
cathedral with an incredible team of priests and support
staff
our ability to keep our beloved cathedral in pristine condition is
because of your support your stewardship also supports our young
people that participate in GOYA that with your stewardship we are
able to help support our senior’s activities with your stewardship
we are able to maintain an active Greek School program your
generosity also helps to support our successful Original Greek
Festival that because of your stewardship we are able to add
additional HPD security during
church Liturgies and other functions
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Did you know that when stewardship is down that many of these
ministries falter?
For all of these reasons we ask for your help. With your
stewardship the cathedral is able to function at a high level and
to provide support to our community as well as the Houston area
community. By the same token, when stewardship is down the
ministries and events suffer. Please consider raising your
pledge/stewardship so that we can continue our ministry that is
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Together we are able to
fulfill our charge of spreading the good news and ministering to
the greater Houston community.
As of April 4, 2019 the 2019 Stewardship Campaign has collected
$429,039 from 476 families toward our goal of $1,600,000.
If you have not yet made your commitment, here are several
convenient ways to do so:
• By text: Simply send a text to 713-766-6357 with the amount you
would like to contribute. Make sure to include the dollar sign
before the amount (example: $25). Within a few minutes, you will be
sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter
your cardholder name and credit or debit card information. Once
your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification
and a receipt via email. For future giving, simply send a text with
the amount you wish to give, and it will process
automatically.
• Pledge online at www.agoc.org/stewardship. • By mail: Complete a
pledge card and mail your pledge to our administration office. • By
phone: Call Betti Self at 832-242-9272. • Through the AGOC mobile
app: Download GivePlusChurch for free from the App Store or
Google Play. Search for “GivePlusChurch” to download the app and
make a donation from your smartphone using your debit/credit card
or checking/savings account. You can also choose to donate as a
guest or set up an account that allows you to securely and
conveniently schedule recurring donations and manage and review
your giving history.
Thank you for your support. Gratefully, Dean Pappas
$ 20.00 each
All proceeds benefit the Annunciation Greek School. You are invited
to come and help us.
We will bake the Tsourekia on April 18 and 19 (Thursday and
Friday), at the Boozalis Festival Center starting at 8.30am.
Come and buy your Tsourekia on the following days:
No pre-orders
Thursday April 18, 3:00- 7:00pm at the Festival Center
Friday April 19, 3:00 – 7:00pm at the Festival Center
Palm Sunday April 21, at the Church after the Divine Liturgy
For information and to volunteer, please contact
Elise Dale: 713-253-8435 (call or text)
[email protected],
or
Katerina Kontogeorgaki: 832-242-9257,
[email protected]
Following Divine Liturgy
To Go Orders Available in the Courtyard & in the Martel
Hall
S.P. Martel Hall 3511 Yoakum Boulevard, Houston, Texas
Our Menu
FISH Dinner with Salad, side items, dessert, & drink
$20.00
PASTA Dinner with Salad, side items, dessert, & drink $10.00
Sponsored by the Ladies Philoptochos Society
of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
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ATHENS - Paul’s Dangerous Journey to Share the Truth
Join us (ages 4-12) in ancient Athens and become part of
Apostle Paul’s dangerous journey to share the truth! You’ll
travel
back into Bible times – without setting foot outside our
church
campus. Experience this hands-on Vacation Bible School at the
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Registration per person: $35 by May 30, 2013; Checks made
payable
to: “AGOC -VBS”; Late Registration after May 31st: $40
WE’RE LOOKING to fill VBS jobs as center leaders,
Shopkeepers,
Oikos Leaders, a drama team, a photographer, and registration
staff.
In addition to all those jobs we also need decoration and
kitchen
staff.
So, first, check your calendar and if you are available, give
Christopher Al-dehneh,
[email protected], 915-539-6901
interested in becoming an ADULT or TEEN LEADER. Irene Cassis
Today at the Cathedral:
Memorial Service is offered at the Divine Liturgy for Anastasia
Yamalidou (7 years).
Join us in the Martel Hall for the Fellowship Coffee immediately
following the Divine Liturgy.
Maids of Athena and Sons of Pericles Car Wash, immediately
following Divine Liturgy (enter parking lot on Mt. Vernon).
12:30 pm – HOPE & JOY Blessing Bag Assembly, Boozalis Festival
Center.
This week at the Cathedral:
Monday,
Tuesday,
6:30 pm – Adult Greek School
Wednesday, April 10
Senior GOYAN Girls and Boys – Small Group
and Fellowship, immediately following Presanctified Liturgy, Trophy
Room
7:30 pm AHEPA Lenten Meal, following Presanctified Liturgy, Martel
Hall
Friday,
Lenten Potluck Supper, following
