BULLETIN

St. Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus – February 7 SaintAfterfeast Parthenius, of the Bishop Meeting of Lampsacus, was a native of the city of Melitoupolis (in northwestern Asia Minor), where his father Christopher served as deacon. The youth did not receive adequate schooling, but he learned the Holy Scripture by attending church services. He had a good heart, and distributed to the poor the money he earned working as a fisherman. Filled with the grace of God, Saint Parthenius from age eighteen healed the sick in the name of Christ, cast out demons and worked other miracles. Learning of the young man’s virtuous life, Bishop Philetus of Melitoupolis educated him and ordained him presbyter. In 325, during the reign of Constantine the Great, Archbishop Achilles of Cyzicus made him bishop of the city of Lampsacus (Asia Minor). In the city were many pagans, and the saint fervently began to spread the faith in Christ, confirming it through many miracles and by healing the sick. The people began to turn from their pagan beliefs, and the saint went to the emperor Constantine the Great seeking permission to tear down the pagan temple and build a Christian church in its place. The emperor received the saint with honor, gave him a decree authorizing the destruction of the pagan temple, and provided him with the means to build a church. Returning WEEKLY to Lampsacus, Saint Parthenius had the pagan temple torn down, and built a beautiful church of

God in the city. In one of the razed temples, he found a large marble slab which he thought would be very Today is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery. The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin as suitable as an altar. The saint ordered work to begin on the stone, and to move it to the church. announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the : Rejoice O Full of Grace, the Lord is with Through the malice of the devil, who became enraged at the removal of the stone from the pagan you! temple, the cart overturned and killed the driver Eutychian. Saint Parthenius restored him to life of the to the Theotokos by his prayer and shamed the devil, who wanted to frustrate the work of God. The saint was so kind that he refused healing to no one who came to him, or who chanced to meet him by the wayside, whether he suffered from bodily illnesses or was tormented by unclean ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH spirits. People even stopped going to physicians, since Saint Parthenius healed all the sick for free. With the great power of the name of Christ, the saint banished a host of demons from people, OF THE ANNUNCIATION A Parish of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey of the Orthodox Church in America from their homes, and from the waters of the sea. Once, the saint prepared to cast out a devil from a certain man, who had been possessed by it 360 Van Zile Road, Brick, New Jersey 08724 since childhood. The demon began to implore the saint not to do so. Saint Parthenius promised to give the evil spirit another man in whom he could dwell. The demon asked, “Who is that man?” Phone: (732) 458-9032 Email: [email protected] The saint replied, “You may dwell in me, if you wish.” Fax: (732) 295-0007 Website: www.orthodoxbrick.org The demon fled as if stung by fire, crying out, “If the mere sight of you is a torment to me, Very Rev. Fr. Gary Joseph Breton, Rector how can I dare to enter into you?” An unclean spirit, cast out of the house where the imperial purple dye was prepared, said that Very Rev. Fr. Sergius Kuharsky, Retired Attached Priest a divine fire was pursuing him with the fire of Gehenna. Very Rev. Fr. Paul Kucynda, Retired Attached Priest Having shown people the great power of faith in Christ, the saint converted a multitude of Rev. Fr. Alexander Smida, Attached Priest idol-worshippers to the true God. Rev. Fr. Michael Pejovic, Attached Priest Saint Parthenius died peacefully and was solemnly buried beside the cathedral church of Lampsacus, which he built. Tara Paxton, Senior Warden Reader Matthew Hascha, Choir Director

February 7, 2021 THIRTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TODAY – We are continuing a modified and controlled Coffee Hour ministry. The yp Afterfeast of the Meeting Parish Hall is set up to accommodate social distancing. Masks are required when traveling around the hall, but not when sitting and partaking of the refreshments. Tone 2. St. Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus on the Hellespont (4th c.). Ven. Luke of Hellas The hall will be sanitized after the Coffee Hour. (ca. 946). The 1,003 Martyrs of Nicomedia (303). TODAY – The younger group meets for Church School today. The teens meet Today’s Readings: next Sunday for their session. Epistle: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 WEDNESDAY – The Inquirer group will meet to discuss the essentials of the Gospel : Matthew 15:21-28 Orthodox Faith at 7pm in the Parish Hall. Those who cannot participate in person

Upcoming Service Schedule: are welcome to join the discussion via Zoom. A link will be sent out to all

Today @ 9am parishioners Saturday @ 6pm Great Vespers Sunday @ 9am Divine Liturgy NEXT SUNDAY – Group 3 is invited to attend Divine Liturgy.

Memory Eternal – Protopresbyter +Daniel Hubiak fell asleep in the Lord Next Sunday’sNEXT SUNDAY Readings: – Please set your clocks BACK one hour on Saturday evening Meeting of Our Lord yesterday. Father Daniel served the Church faithfully for many years, including Epistle: 1 Timothy 4:9-15 in the Temple fifteen years as Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. May his soul dwell Gospel: Luke 19:1-10 with the blessed!

Many thanks to all who participated in person and by Zoom in last Sunday’s Keep up on OCA news by visiting www.oca.org, diocesan news and directives by Parish Annual Meeting. Congratulations to those elected to the Parish Council: visiting www.nynjoca.org, and parish news by visiting www.orthodoxbrick.org. Matthew Petrides (Senior Warden), Jason Price (Junior Warden), Tara Paxton (Treasurer), Sarah Bair (Secretary), Lia Eickhorn (Member), and Martha Christos (Member). Many thanks to them and to elected auditors Paul Berger and Steven May for stepping forward to help in the administering of the parish. Many Years! Special Prayers Grocery Gift Cards are available for purchase. Please contact Matushka Mary We pray for all our parish family members, but we pray especially for by email ([email protected]) or by phone at (848) 333-7075 to make those who are ill and afflicted. Among them are: Betty James, Manya arrangements. Shark, Deryl Tczap, June Farkouh, Rdr. John Economou, Margaret Stewardship Donations may be brought to the church or mailed to the church Makara, Tom Collins, Tom Kopec, Ann Marie Gahr, Dennis Gahr, address: 360 Van Zile Road, Brick, NJ 08724. On-line donations are possible by Dorothy Studier, the child Olivia Harper, and Pauline Barnowsky. visiting our website for a link. Many thanks for continuing to support your parish in these challenging times.

The Distinguished Diocesan Benefactors program is an essential vehicle for funding Many Years Please pray for the activities and programs of our diocese. Please consider participating in the program. Brochures are located by the bulletin board in the parish hall or at the Wedding Anniversaries this week: vocations to the Holy diocesan website at www.nynjoca.org. Saturday – Tom & Theodora Noordzy (#16) Priesthood!