SAINT GREEK ORTHODOX June 28, 2015

fourth sunday of matthew he Transfer of the of the Holy , Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers, Tfrom the city of Konopa, near (where they suffered in the year 311) to the nearby village of Manuphin, took place in the year 412. This village prompted fear in everyone, since in a former time there was a pagan temple inhabited by evil spirits. (385-412) wanted to cleanse this place of demons, but he died. His wish was fulfilled by his successor in the See of Alexandria, the holy Patriarch Cyril (412-444). He prayed fervently in carrying out this project. An of the Lord appeared in a vision to the hierarch and commanded relics of Sts Cyrus and John be transferred to Manuphin. His Holiness Patriarch Cyril did the angel’s bidding and built a church at Manuphin in the name of the holy martyrs. From that time this place was purified of the Enemy’s influence, and by the prayers of the holy Martyrs Cyrus and John there began to occur many miracles, healings of the sick and infirm. The of the Mother of God, “Of the Three Hands”: In the ninth century during the time of the Icono- clasts, St. (December 4) was zealous in his veneration of holy . Because of this, he was slandered by the emperor and iconoclast Leo III the Isaurian (717-740), who informed the Damascus caliph that St. John was committing treasonous acts against him. The caliph gave orders to cut off the hand of the and take it to the marketplace. Towards evening St. John, having asked the caliph for the cut-off hand, put it to its joint and fell to the ground before the icon of the Mother of God. The monk begged Our Lady to heal the hand, which had written in defense of Orthodoxy. After long prayer he fell asleep and saw in a dream that the All-Pure Mother of God had turned to him promising him quick healing. Before this the Mother of God bid him toil without fail with this hand. Having awakened from sleep, St. John saw that his hand was unharmed. In thankfulness for this healing St. John placed on the icon a hand fashioned of silver, from which the icon received its name “Of Three Hands.” (Some iconographers, in their ignorance, have mistakenly depicted the Most Holy with three arms and three hands.) Accord- ing to Tradition, St. John wrote a hymn of thanksgiving to the Mother of God: “All of creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace,” which appears in place of the hymn “It is Truly Meet” in the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. St. John Damascene accepted monasticism at the monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified and there be- stowed his wonderworking icon. The Lavra presented the icon “Of Three Hands” in blessing to St. Sava, Archbishop of Serbia (+ 1237, January 12). During the time of an invasion of Serbia by the Turks, some 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 sing

Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος γ. apolytikion. Mode 3. ὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπί- et the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on Eγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Learth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτό- worked power. He trampled death under foot by τοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύ- means of death; and He became the firstborn from σατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α´. Apolytikion for the Church. Mode 5. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπόστο- he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * who is Λλον, τὸν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν συνθέτην Tacknowledged by the Church of * as the re- τῶν Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν τοῦ corder of the , * and the splendid Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, ἀξίως τιμή- author of the of Christ. * Let us praise with sa- σωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, ὡς νοσημάτων ἀνθρωπίνων cred hymns as a physician, * who heals the infirmities καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν θεραπευτήν, τὸν καθαίρο- of man, * and the ailments of nature, * who cleanses ντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύματος, καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως πρε- spiritual wounds, and prays unceasingly for our souls. σβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος β´. Kontakion. Mode 2. ροστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, rotection of unshamable, mediation Πμεσιτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε, μὴ Pwith the Creator immovable, we sinners beg you, παρίδῃς, ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ do not despise the voices of our prayers, but antici- πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, pate, since you are good, and swiftly come unto our τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς aid as we cry out to you with faith: Hurry to interces- πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστα- sion, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who τεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε. defend now and ever those who honor you.

Just as in the cure of the body the medical art has but one aim, to restore the patient to health, although the form of treat- ment will vary—for since there is a variety of infirmities the method of cure is adapted to each dis- “ease—so also, since there is a great variety of passions in the disease of the soul, the cure undertaken will necessarily take many forms, the healing be- ing accomplished in a way that corresponds to the passion. Whatever the skilled method necessary for the present problem is the approach we shall employ. —st gregory the theologian” THE READINGS OF THE DAY

reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 8:5-13 romans 6:18-23

rethren, having been released from sin, you t that time, when came into Caper- became slaves of righteousness. I speak in hu- naum, a centurion came to him, imploring Bman terms because of the weakness of your Ahim and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying flesh. Indeed, as you used to offer your members as in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.” Je- slaves of impurity and ever-increasing wickedness, sus answered, “I will come and heal him.” But the now offer your members as slaves of righteousness centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy that you for sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, should come under my roof! Only say the word you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit and my servant shall be healed. As it is, I am also did you obtain at that time by those things which a man under authority, having soldiers under my now shame you? The end result of those things is own authority. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and death! But now, being made free from sin and hav- if I tell another, ‘Come,’ he comes. Or if I tell my ing become enslaved to God, you have your fruit servant, ‘Do this,’ he does it!” When Jesus heard of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. The this, he marveled and said to those who followed, wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eter- “Amen, I tell you that I have never found so great nal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. a faith, not even in Israel! I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with , , and in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.” And his servant was healed in that hour.

The word of sound faith (Tit 1.13, 2.2) conveys its strength in simplicity to those who welcome the God-inspired utterances (cf. 2 Tim 3.16) with a good disposition. It has no need of subtle interpretation to assist its truth, “since it is able to be grasped and understood in itself from the primary tradi- tion. —st gregory Nyssa” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

upcoming church services: NO GREAT VESPERS THIS WEEK welcome fr. doug church attire Please warmly welcome Fr. Doug, Proistamenos of There is no allowance for Church “summer- St. Nicholas Church in St. Louis, who is substitut- wear.” An Orthodox Christian should always come ing for Fr. today. to Church dressed in modest attire (in every sea- fr. michael away son), so as not to draw attention to him/herself, be- coming a distraction to others. Traditionally wom- Fr. Michael will be away until July 11. If you have en wear dresses or skirts of at least knee length; an emergency, please call Fr. at (314) 966- dresses, blouses / tops should, at minimum, in- 2255. clude short sleeves and cover the shoulder. Women donations needed should not wear lipstick or lip gloss to Church - it Donations of / extra virgin olive oil are need- leaves a residue on the icons and on the Commu- ed for the Church. Monetary donations for Com- nion spoon. Men should dress in pants and polo or munion wine are always accepted @ $20 / bottle. button-down shirts. Shorts should never be worn in Church. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing is summertime - remember the church not appropriate for women or men. If you plan to travel during the summer, please keep current with your financial pledge to the Church! purple barrel Don’t forget the purple barrel for the Food Bank. We are always collecting non-perishable food The one who offers one glass of re- items for the Food bank. We are also always col- freshing water to one of the least of lecting butter and margarine for St Francis House. these for my sake will not lose his Thank you for your generosity! reward. (Mt. 10:42) Heaven is a “business and an enterprise, and we give a month towards our future are negligent. Give bread and seize We would like to offer families and individuals the paradise. Give small things and grasp opportunity to help offset our mortgage payment great ones. Give mortal things and with a donation of $640. If you would like to spon- take firm hold of immortal ones- sor one month for 2015, please contact Fr. Michael. Give corruptible things and capture” Thus far 3 commitments have been made for 2015. incorruptible ones. —St. synaxarion Sts. peter and paul by Prof. Ioannis Fountoulis Christians who wanted to protect the icon, entrust- trans. by Fr. Michael Monos ed it to the safekeeping of the Mother of God Her- n June 30 our Church celebrates the memory self. They placed it upon a donkey, which without Oof Peter and Paul, the two great chief apostles. a driver proceeded to Athos and stopped in front of She will pay a debt of gratitude to these two great the Hilandar monastery. The put the icon men for their incalculable contribution in the work in the monastery’s cathedral church (katholikon). of the transmission of the Christian faith and the During a time of discord over the choice of igumen, establishment of our Church. Iconographically, the the Mother of God deigned to head the monastery two Apostles are depicted holding a small byzantine Herself, and from that time Her holy icon has oc- temple which represents the Church, because they cupied the igumen’s place in the temple. At the Hi- really were pillars and cornerstones upon whom landar monastery there is chosen only a vicar, and was founded the sacred institution of the Church from the holy icon the monks take a blessing for of Christ. Thus, the two are joined together in a every obedience. single feast, represented in one icon, symbolizing Paul the Physician, from the city of the unity of the faith of the Church, which is con- , in his youth took monastic at one stituted from heterogeneous elements: the circum- of the monasteries. Here the saint toiled much and cision, that is the Hebrews, to whom the mission- became an experienced ascetic. Once Paul, through ary work of Peter turned, and the Nations, that is demonic malice, was slandered by a woman. She the pagans, the Christianization of whom Paul, the came to the monastery with a newborn infant and Apostle to the Nations, himself labored. This was said, that St. Paul was the father. The Elder with hu- the very reason that provoked the establishment mility and joy endured the slander, he did not deny of a common feast of the two chief Apostles when it and he took the infant, as though it were his own Sixtus the 2nd translated their bones to the son. When they began to reproach the saint for catacomb of St. Sebastian of on the 29th of breaking his monastic vows, St. Paul said, “Breth- June in 258AD. This union was so successful that in ren, let us ask the infant who his father is!” The a short time it became universally celebrated “in all newborn, pointing his hand at the blacksmith, said, the holy places of the Churches of God.” The other “Here is my father and not the monk Paul.” Seeing feasts of the Apostles, namely the memory of their this miracle, people bowed down to the Elder, ask- respective deaths, were overshadowed by the new ing forgiveness. From this time St. Paul received feast. For this reason one will rarely find a Church from God the gift of healing the sick, whereby he dedicated to only one of the two chief Apostles, or received the name physician. St. Paul died at age 70. an icon which represents only one of them. On the Saint Xenophon of Robeika was a student of St. contrary there is not a city or village [in Greece] Barlaam of Khutyn (+ 1192, November 6). He was which does not have a Church or chapel named af- the head of the Khutyn monastery after the igumen ter these two Apostles; there are also innumerable Isidore (+1243). Resigning as igumen, St. Xeno- icons of them. A shared honor, veneration, and cel- phon founded the Trinity Monastery on the banks ebration, just as theirs was a shared work, mission of the Robeika River (not far from Novgorod). and glory. Here he reposed blessedly on June 28, 1262. Everyone is acquainted with the saga of the Chief eopagus in , and the port where he landed Apostles, written in moving simplicity by St. Luke in Kalos, and in Lindos. Elsewhere they con- the Evangelist, an ear/eye witness to the many nected his journeys with stories and wonder-work- things that they said and did. The Acts of the Apos- ing, like in Myteline, where they have marked the tles is read in our Churches during the period of the place where he slew a fearful serpent with prayer. Pentecostarion. In those Sunday apostolic readings Whether such a story is mythical or not makes no from Pascha to we follow their great ef- difference – it demonstrates, symbolically, how the forts to win over the entire world. We hear how people realized the dynamic travels of the Apostle, they took the sign of Christ, the Cross, and traveled and the extermination of brutal idol-worshipers by with it to the ends of the earth until they planted it the power of Christ. in Rome, the heart of the empire. The Acts of the Apostles chronicles their struggles and sufferings as Notably, in , they exhibit the place well as their resplendent triumphs. Their footsteps where the Apostle to the Nations preached in the were inextinguishably marked in the hearts of the ancient chapel of the Monastery of Vlatadon and faithful. Every city and land has piously displayed the small cave - holy water spring to which he es- the marks which their feet left behind, the beautiful caped, near an area in the city which bears his feet “of one preaching glad tidings of peace, as one name. During the 15th century, Symeon, the last preaching good news” of salvation. (Is. 52:7, Acts Archbishop of Thessaloniki before the fall of the 10:15) The Hypakoe from Orthros of their feast- city to the Turks in 1430, makes note of the fact day speaks characteristically of St. Paul, that in the Church of Acheiropoietos (Παναγία Ἀχειροποίητος) they guarded, and on the feast of What guard did not hold you in fetters? the Apostles, venerated a stone upon which he What Church has not had you as an orator? prayed and was beaten with rods. The Typikon of Damascus esteems you, Paul, Symeon gives us the order for the panegyric cel- for it beheld you blinded. ebration of the Apostles from Thessaloniki of that Rome received your blood, and through it acclaim, time. Great Vespers was celebrated by the presid- And Tarsus is full of joy ing Metropolitan in the Church of St. Sophia. Af- in the precious relics of your grave clothes. ter the completion of Vespers, there was a proces- Even so establish us, Apostle Paul, sion and the chanting of the idiomela of the Liti the boast of the whole universe! as they made their way to the Church “of St. Paul which is connected with the Church of the Theoto- On this day, in celebration, cities and lands me- Acheiropoietos, wherein is a stone, on which morialize [in hymn] the passage of the Apostles he was beaten.” Today this is probably the chapel [through their lands], as they did not have the hon- that is dedicated to St. Paraskevi, in which there is or to possess their sacred relics, as in Rome. Simi- apparently the base of the stone, on which was in- larly, Greece displays many such memorial markers scribed the following epigram which has been pre- of the great Apostle Paul’s travels through its lands. served in a manuscript in Vienna: Thus we find the prison in marked and honored, as well as the place where he preached in Paul, having first been stretched out on this stone, Verroia, the judgment seat of Gallio in Corinth, the suffered unbearable injuries with rods, rock where he stood and preached the word on Ar- and having been scraped with the notch of a certain arrow, With what beauties of hymnody should we sing the receives the veneration and honors. praise of Peter and Paul? The wings of the knowl- edge of God, who flew through the ends of the earth In the morning, Symeon’s typikon says that Orthros and were lifted up high to heaven; the hands of the was sung in the Cathedral Church of St. Sophia and Gospel of grace, the feet of the truth of the procla- afterwards another procession proceeded to the mation, the rivers of wisdom, the arms of the Cross, Church of the Holy Apostles, where the Divine through which he has cast down the arrogance of Liturgy was celebrated. demons, Christ our God, who has great mercy. (St. Andrew of Crete, trans. Ephrem Lash) During the 19th Century, a French consul in Thes- saloniki mentions a four sided stone mass which We hear two other idiomela in Mode 1 in the Apos- was found within the Church of St. Gregory Ro- ticha of Vespers by Andrew of Crete. These hymns tontas, upon which St. Paul stood to preach the are dedicated to the Apostle Paul, and paint picture Gospel to the Thessalonians. Today the stone of of his sufferings in an especially poetic manner: Acheiropoietos and the stone mass of Rotonas has been lost and together with them the pious tradi- Who will recount your chains city by city and your tions with which they were connected. However, afflictions, glorious Apostle Paul? Or who will set the city of Thessaloniki continues to honor the down the struggles and the toils, by which you great Apostle. toiled in the Gospel of Christ, that you might gain all people and bring the Church to Christ? But ask “What greater encomium could anyone compose that she may keep safe your fair confession until for Peter and Paul,” notes the synaxarion of the her last breath, O Paul, Apostle and teacher of the feast, “than the Lord’s own testimony and proc- Churches. (Trans. Arch. Ephrem Lash) lamation about them? One he called rock, upon which he said that he would establish His Church. Who will recount your chains city by city and your He told the other that he would be His vessel of afflictions, glorious Apostle Paul? The toils, the election and that he would bear his name before pains, the watchings, the sufferings from hunger tyrants and kings.” This same query is posed in a and thirst, from cold and nakedness, the basket, wondrous way by two hymnographers, Andrew of the beatings, the stonings, the journeying, the deep, Pyros and Andrew of Crete in Mode 2, heard in the the shipwrecks? You became a spectacle to Stichera of Vespers at Lord I have cried. and to humans. You endured all things in Christ you gave you power, that you might gain the world With what garlands of praise should we bind the for Christ Jesus, your Lord. And so we beseech brows of Peter and Paul? Separated in body, united you, as we faithfully celebrate your memory, inter- in the Spirit, the leaders of God’s heralds; the one cede without ceasing that our souls may be saved. as chief of the Apostles, the other as having toiled (Trans. Arch. Ephrem Lash) more than the rest; for with diadems of immortal glory he has indeed fittingly crowned them, Christ Let us close our program1 with two wondrous our God, who has great mercy. (Andrew of Pyros, hymns from the Praises in Mode 4, according trans. Ephrem Lash) 1 This text was originally delivered by Prof. Fountoulis as a radio address. to the melody, Ὁ ἐξ ὑψίστου κληθείς. These two hymns describe the crucial points in the lives of the two Apostles. The confession of Peter “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” in the first, and Christ’s blessing in response. The second speaks of the supernatural calling of St. Paul in the vision on the road to Damascus. et us handle our anger as if it Lwere a ferocious beast and our When the beginningless Father’s Son and Logos * came to earth and chose His Twelve Apostles, and tongue as a sharp sword, and let us He asked, * “Who do the people say that I am?” it “extinguish our love of pleasure like was , * being preeminent of the Savior a flame. Let us place shutters over Christ’s * Disciples, who then received from heaven our ears that can be duly opened grace divine, * and in a loud voice proclaimed and and closed; and let us curb our said, theologizing, * “You are the Son of the living God, O Christ.” * Hence he is worthily beatified * roving eye; let us control our wan- for receiving revelation from on high * and the pow- ton touch and ravenous taste lest er of binding and of loosing the sins of all. (Trans. death come up into our windows Fr. Seraphim Dedes) (this means, I believe, our senses); and let us scorn inordinate laugh- When you were called not by men but by the Most ter. Let us not bow a knee to Baal High, * when the earthly darkness caused blind- ness to come upon * your body’s eyes, manifesting out of want, nor worship the gold- thus to all the people * the gloomy sullenness of im- en image out of fear. Our one and piety, * then it was that all around heavenly light only fear should be fearing any- shone forth, * dazzling the eyes of your reasoning, thing more than God and in our and thus revealing * to all the beauty of Orthodox wickedness defiling his image. Let belief. * Hence you acquired a full knowledge of Christ our God who from darkness brings out the us in all things take the shield of light. * Therefore earnestly pray Him to illumine us faith and let us deflect all the darts and save our souls. (Trans. Fr. Seraphim Dedes) • of the evil one. —st. gregory the theologian Peter and Paul Intercede for us! ”