Sunday Bulletin June 21, 2020 Greek Orthodox Church of the

4121 O'Hara Drive Vestal, NY 13850 Phone: (607) 797-0824 Fax: (607) 797-0824 http://www.annunciationvestal.ny.goarch.org

Rev. Dr. Michael Bahlatzis, Presiding Priest- Proistamenos

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Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 2:10-16

Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my , God judges the secrets of men by Christ .

Gospel Reading

Matthew 4:18-23

At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of , he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

Message from Fr. Michael………………………………………

Dearly Beloved Faithful:

Today, the second Sunday of Matthew, we heard in the gospel reading that the Lord called Andrew, Peter called Simon, and the sons of Zebedee, John and James to "follow" Him. They were approached by the Lord to walk away from their every day lives, their work as fishermen, their families and their friends, in order to follow Jesus. Can we simply imagine what a profound charismatic demeanor the Lord had and the effect that he had with these fishermen who were now called to be fishers of men. It is rare for anyone to take a leap forward without a great degree of discernment. So these men left their nets behind to follow the Lord for all eternity. Recall a recent gospel reading when the Lord said 'he who loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ' We are called to be like the disciples and toss our worldliness aside and to take up our cross and follow Him.

Today, is the 12 year anniversary of my ordination to the holy priesthood. I served as a deacon for a total of 21 years prior to becoming a priest. Therefore, as a clergyman for 33 years, I was charged to take up my cross and follow the Lord. It has been and continues to be my honor to serve the Lord and to serve you, the members of the blessed flock of Jesus. Let us put aside our concern for material and worldly care and follow the King of all.

Today is Father's Day! Blessings and greetings go out to all fathers, grandfathers, uncles, godfathers, and all paternal figures as we honor them today. Happy Father's Day to all!

Prayerfully yours, I remain Yours in His service,

+Fr. Michael

Terentios, Bishop of Iconium

Apolytikion of Hieromartyr Terentios of Iconius - Fourth Tone

As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Terentios. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved

Julian the Martyr of Tarsus

This Martyr, who was born to a pagan father and a Christian mother, was from Cilicia, confessed the Christian Faith before the Proconsul Marcian, and was perfected in martyrdom at the age of eighteen, when he was put into a sack with sand and venomous serpents and cast into the sea. Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in his honour.

Apolytikion of Martyr Julian - Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Nikitas the New Martyr of Nisyros

Wisdom of the Fathers

But mark both their faith, and their obedience. For though they were in the midst of their work (and you know how greedy a thing fishing is), when they heard His command, they delayed not, ... but "they forsook all and followed," ... Because such is the obedience which Christ seeks of us, as that we delay not even a moment of time.

St. John Chrysostom Homily 14 on , 4th Century

Prayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian practices, however good they may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life, although they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit: Chapter 3, The Little Russian Philokalia Vol. 1; Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood pg. 79, 19th century

FATHER MICHAEL REQUESTS…that we, as a faithful community keep the following individuals in our prayers: Ted Simon, John Gianakos, Maria Lambrinos, Steve Anastos, Angelo Romas, and Suzanne Vaishnani, daughter of Ted Simon. Please notify Fr. Michael if you have anyone else who should be included for special prayers. May they be under the grace and tender watch of our Lord.

Results of Live-streaming services on YouTube for Annunciation Church in Vestal:

4th Sunday of Lent, March 29 - 147 views 5th Sunday of Lent - unable to broadcast due to Wi-Fi issues Sat. of Lazarus, April 11 - 97 views Palm Sunday, April 12 - 152 views Palm Sunday evening, April 12 - 68 views Holy Monday evening, April 13 - 63 views Holy Tuesday evening, April 14 - 76 views Holy Wednesday evening, April 15 - 85 views Holy Thurs morning, April 16 - 41 views Holy Thurs evening, April 16 - 100 views Holy Friday morning, April 17 - 112 views Holy Friday afternoon, April 17 - 42 views Holy Friday evening, April 17 - 118 views Holy Sat morning, April 18 - 45 views Holy Sat afternoon/eve, April 18 - 126 views Easter Sunday/Pascha, April 19 - 41 views Sunday of Thomas, April 26 - 63 views Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, May 3 - 42 views Sunday of the Paralytic/Mother's Day, May 10 - 66 views Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, May 17 - 59 views

Total views to date: 1,543 as of May 23, 2020

I want to take this time to thank everyone for their ‘virtual’ attendance through viewing these services through YouTube. It is truly a blessing to see the diligence of the faithful in viewing these services and not allowing the discourse of the pandemic from inhibiting our thirst for hearing the word of God. May the Lord bless you for your continued love and faith!

Whether you are an Orthodox Christian, or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion is reserved for baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians, all are invited to receive the "ANTIDORON" (blessed bread) which is not a sacrament, but is a reminder of the "agape feast" that followed worship in the early Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning, please join us in the Church Hall for fellowship and refreshments. We hope that you will return often to worship with us, to grow in Christ and in our Orthodox Faith. For any spiritual, religious, or sacramental matters, please contact Fr. Michael at (607) 795-1474. For all other matters, please notify Fr. Michael or a member of the parish council. Deadline for suggestions for the bulletin is 12:00 noon on Thursday.