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SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH May 7, 2017

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SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH May 7, 2017 SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH may 7, 2017 sunday of the paralytic n this day the Church remembers the man who lay by the Sheep’s Pool in Jerusalem for thirty-eight years, waiting Ofor someone to put him into the pool. The first one to enter the pool after an angel troubled the water would be healed of his infirmities, but someone always entered the pool before him. Seeing the man, the Lord felt compas- sion for him and healed him. The Precious Cross appeared in the sky over Jerusalem on the morning of May 7, 351 during the reign of the emperor Constantius, the son of Saint Constantine (May 21). At that time the heresy of Arianism, which taught that Christ was merely a creature and not God, was causing great turmoil and division throughout the Empire. Even after the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325, many people were drawn to this false teaching, and the Orthodox found themselves in the minority in many places. Constantius, the ruler of the eastern part of the Empire, was a fervent supporter of Arianism. His brothers Constantine II and Constans, who were pious Orthodox Christians, ruled in the west. They were both killed in separate battles around 350, leaving Constantius as sole ruler. Also in 350, Saint Cyril (March 18) became Patriarch of Jerusalem and began his zealous struggle against Arianism. In May of 351 a luminous Cross appeared over Jerusalem, stretching from Golgotha to the Mount of Olives, a distance of about five and a half miles. The Cross was wide as it was long, and shone more brightly than the sun. Many people left their homes and workplaces to gather in the church and glorify Christ. The historian Sozomen says that this wondrous sign led to the conversion of multitudes of pagans and Jews to Christianity. A letter from Saint Cyril to the emperor describing this phenomenon, and admonishing him to become Ortho- dox, has been preserved. The apparition of the Cross remained over the city for a whole week. The vision of the Cross over Jerusalem strengthened the Orthodox faithful and contributed to the return of many Arians to the Church. It is also a reminder of the awesome Second Coming of Christ, when “the sign of the Son of man shall appear in heaven (Matthew 24:30). Saint Akakios lived in the third century, and was an officer in the Roman army during the time of Maximian. At his interrogation he declared that he had received a devout faith from his parents, and that he would remain stead- fast in it, for he had seen many miracles of healing which took place at the relics of the saints. After enduring many tortures in the city of Pyrrinthus, Thrace, he was taken to Byzantium. There he suffered further torments and was beheaded with a sword in the year 303. Saint Nilus of Sora, a great ascetic of the Russian Church, was descended from the Maikov nobility. He accepted monasticism at the monastery of Saint Cyril of White Lake (June 9). Here he made use of the counsels of the pious Elder Paisius Yaroslavov, who was afterwards igumen of the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra. 1510 audubon drive • columbia, missouri, 65201 • tel. 573.817.0050 / fax 573.449.8452 email: [email protected] • web: www.saintlukecolumbia.org at the small entrance we chant απολυτίκιον της εορτης. ηχος πλ. α. apolytikion of the feast. mode 5. ριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, hrist is risen from the dead. By death He has trampled Χκαὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι, ζωὴν χαρισάμενος. Cupon death and on those in the tombs He is bestowing life. απολυτίκιον. ηχος γ. apolytikion. mode 3. ὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι et everything in heaven rejoice, * and let everything on Εἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος· ἐπά- Learth be glad. * For the Lord has shown strength with τησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν His arm. * He trampled on death by death; * and He be- ἐγένετο· ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ came the firstborn among the dead. * From the bowels of κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Hades did He deliver us; * and He granted great mercy unto the world. απολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α´. apolytikion for the church. mode 5. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπόστολον, τὸν he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * who is ac- Λτῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν συνθέτην τῶν Πράξεων Tknowledged by the Church of Christ * as the recorder τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου Χρι- of the Acts of the Apostles, * and the splendid author of στοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, ἀξίως τιμήσωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, the Gospel of Christ. * Let us praise with sacred hymns as ὡς νοσημάτων ἀνθρωπίνων καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν θε- a physician, * who heals the infirmities of man, * and the ραπευτήν, τὸν καθαίροντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύματος, καὶ ailments of nature, * who cleanses spiritual wounds, and ἀδιαλείπτως πρεσβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. prays unceasingly for our souls. κοντάκιον. ηχος πλ. δ´. kontakion. mode 8. ἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου hough You went down into the tomb O Immortal One Εκαθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Tyet You brought down the dominion of Hades and You Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος, rose as the victor O Christ our God and You called out ‘Re- Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος joice,’ to the Myrrh-bearing women and gave peace to Your ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν. Apostles O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. instead of αχιον εστιν… Communion Hymn. Mode. 1. The angel cried to her who is full of grace: O pure eceive the Body of Christ, taste the immortal Virgin rejoice, and again, I say: Rejoice; for your Son fount. has risen from the dead on the third day. R Instead of: ith one voice, O Virgin, we the believers ‘We have seen the true light…’ Wcall you blest.* O rejoice, You the Lord’s ‘blessed be the name of the lord,’ gate; city animate, rejoice.* Lady, rejoice, for to- hrist is risen from the dead… day the light* of the resurrection from the dead C of the Son* whom You have borne, has shone on us. THE READINGS OF THE DAY epistle reading gospel reading Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42 john (5: 1-15) ow in those days, as Peter was traveling t that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. through all those regions, he also came down Now in Jerusalem, by the sheep gate, there Nto [visit] the saints who lived in Lydda. Ais a pool with five porches called in Hebrew There, he found a certain man named Aeneas, who “Bethesda.” Under these lay a great multitude of was paralyzed and who had been bedridden for people who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ waiting for the moving of the water. For an an- heals you! Get up and make your bed!” And im- gel went down at certain times into the pool, and medi- ately, he arose. All who lived in Lydda and stirred up the water. Then whoever stepped in first Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. Now there after the stirring of the water was made whole of lived in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, whatever disease he had. A certain man was there, (which, when translated means Gazelle). This who had his illness for thirty-eight years. When Je- woman was full of good works and acts of mercy. sus saw him lying there and perceived that the man But it happened that at this time, she became ill had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do and died. She was washed and placed in an upper you want to be made well?” The sick man replied, room. As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hear- “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the ing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, im- water is stirred up, but while I am coming, some- ploring him not to delay in coming to help them. So one else steps down before me!” Jesus said to him, Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk!” Immediately, the disciples led him into the upper room. All the the man was made well; he took up his mat and be- widows stood by him weeping, showing [Peter] gan to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. the coats and garments which Dorcas had made And so, the Jews said to the man who had been while she was with them. But having put everyone cured, “It is the Sabbath! It is not lawful for you to out [of the room], Peter knelt down and began to carry the mat!” The man answered them, “He who pray. Turning toward the body, he said, “Tabitha, made me well, that one said to me, ‘Take up your get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw mat, and walk.’” Then they asked him, “Who is Peter, she sat up. Then Peter gave her his hand and the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he walk?’” But the man who had been healed did not presented her alive. This became known all over know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn in the Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
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