SAINT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

August 25, 2013 νιντη sunday of matthew Titus, Apostle of the Seventy was a native of the island of , the son of an illustrious pagan. In his youth he studied Hellenistic philosophy and the ancient poets. Preoccupied by the sciences, Titus led a virtuous life, not devoting himself to the vices and passions characteristic of the majority of pagans. He preserved his virginity, as the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer (December 20) testifies of him. For such a manner of life the Lord did not leave him without His help. At age twenty St Titus heard a voice in a dream, suggesting that he abandon Hellenistic wisdom, which could not pro- vide salvation for his soul, but rather to seek that which would save him. After this dream, St Titus waited yet another year, since it was not actually a command, but it did guide him to familiarize himself with the teachings of the prophets of God. The first that he happened to read was the Book of the Prophet . Having opened it to the 47th Chapter, he was struck by the words, speaking as it were about his own spiritual condition. When news reached Crete about the appearance of a Great Prophet in Palestine, and about the great miracles He worked, the governor of the island of Crete (an uncle of Titus) sent him there. This Prophet was the Lord Himself, incarnate of the Most Holy Mary Who came into the world for the redemption of the race of mankind from the oppression of ancestral sin. At Jerusalem, St Titus saw the Lord. He heard His preaching and believed in Him. He witnessed the sufferingand death of the Savior on the Cross, His glorious Resurrection and Ascension to Heaven. On the day of the future apostlle heard how the Twelve Apostles, after the de- scentof the Holy Spirit, spoke in various languages, among which was the Cretan language (: 11). St Titus accepted Baptism from the Apostle Paul and became his closest . He accompa- nied St Paul on his missionary journeys, fulfilling the tasks entrusted to him. He was involved in establishing new churches, and was with Paul in Jerusalem.

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 Ἀπολυτικιον. Ἦχος πλ. δ. apolytikion. Mode pl. 4. ξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν ou descended from on high, O compassion- Ἐκατεδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώ- Yate One, and condescended to be buried for σῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, three days, so that from the passions You might Κύριε δόξα σοι. set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. Ἀπολυτ. των αγιων. Ἦχος γ. apolyτ. of the . Mode 3. πόστολοι ἅγιοι, πρσβεύσατε τῷ ἐλεήμονι holy Apostles, make intercession to our ἈΘεῷ, ἵνα πταισμάτων ἄφεσιν, παράσχῃ Omerciful God, that He grant our souls for- ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν. giveness of offenses. Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α´. apolyt. of the church. Mode pl. 1. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπό- he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * Λστολον, τὸν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν Twho is acknowledged by the Church of συνθέτην τῶν Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν Christ * as the recorder of the Acts of the Apos- τε σεμνὸν τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνημα- tles, * and the splendid author of the of τιστήν, ἀξίως τιμήσωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, ὡς νο- Christ. * Let us praise with sacred hymns as a σημάτων ἀνθρωπίνων καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν physician, * who heals the infirmities of man, * θεραπευτήν, τὸν καθαίροντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύ- and the ailments of nature, * who cleanses spiri- ματος, καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως πρεσβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν tual wounds, and prays unceasingly for our souls. ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος Ἦχος δ. Kontakion. Mode 4. ωακεὶμ καὶ Ἄννα ὀνειδισμοῦ άτεκνίας, καὶ oth Joachim and Anna from their sterility’s ἸἈδὰμ καὶ Εὔα, ἐκ τῆς φθορᾶς τοῦ θανάτου, Βstigma, and and Eve from their mor- ἠλευθερώθησαν, ἄχραντε, ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ γεννήσει tality’s ruin have been set free, O immaculate σου, αὐτὴν ἑορτάζει καὶ ὁ λαός σου, ἐνοχῆς Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your peo- τῶν πταισμάτων, λυτρωθεὶς ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι, ple hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of ἡ στείρα τίκτει τὴν Θεοτόκον καὶ τροφὸν τῆς transgression as they cry to you, “The barren one ζωῆς ἡμῶν. bears the , the nourisher of our Life.” THE READINGS OF THE DAY reading gospel reading The first letter of paul Matthew 14:22-34 to the Corinthians 3:9-17

RETHREN, we are God’s fellow work- t that time, Jesus made the disciples ers; you are God’s field, God’s building. get into the boat and go before him According to the grace of God given to to the other side, while he dismissed Bme, like a skilled master builder. I laid a founda- Athe crowds. And after he had dismissed the tion, and another man is building upon it. Let crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to each man take care how he builds upon it. For pray. When evening came, he was there alone, no other foundation can any one lay than that but the boat by this time was many furlongs which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, the wind was against them. And in the fourth precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man’s watch of the night he came to them, walking work will become manifest; for the Day will on the sea. But when the disciples saw him disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, and the fire will test what sort of work each one “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But has done. If the work which any man has built immediately he spoke to them, saying “Take on the foundation survives, he will receive a re- heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered ward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of only as through fire. Do you not know that you the boat and walked on the water and came to are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, in you? If any one destroys God’s temple, God and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand that temple you are. and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they en- tered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in Abba Isaiah said, “To humble your the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are soul before God will render you capa- the Son of God.” And when they had crossed ble of enduring insult without becom- over, they came to land at Gennesaret. ing upset; and the tears she thereby “deliver one from all human things. Failure to accuse oneself leads one to fail at enduring the wrath of others.” —evergetinos, 2nd book” announcements upcoming church services: Thursday, August 29, The Beheading of , Orthros / Div. Liturgy, 8:30am Saturday, August 31, Great Vespers, 5pm

philoptochos dinner dance The next Philoptochos meeting will be Tuesday, This year we will be having a Fall Dinner Dance Sept. 10 at 6pm. All women are welcome to attend. with silent auction on Sunday, October 20. Please gift cards - philoptochos save the date for this upcoming fundraiser. If you would like to help in the organization of this Philoptochos is selling gift cards to various restau- event, please see Fr. . rants, stores, gas stations, etc. Please see the list in the Narthex. Philoptochos receives a percentage of the sales. Please place all orders for gift cards by September 8 for our next order. If you have any questions, please see Ronni Harwood. heritage festival There will be a organizational meeting to pre- pare for the Heritage Festival today following ser- Abba Isaiah said, “He who is vices. All those who are able to help are encouraged humble is unmoved by the deri- to attend. sion of others, since his own sins, Save the date for the upcoming Heritage Festi- “when he recalls them, become val, September 21-22. We will need your help for for him an arsenal of weapons staffing and baking. More details to follow. that protect him from anger and give a month towards our future the desire to retaliate; and so, he A little over one year ago we purchased land for our withstands patiently all that be- future growth. As we did last year, we would like falls him. For what accusation to offer families and individuals the opportunity to help offset our additional mortgage payment with can be made by anyone that is a donation of $640. If you would like to sponsor worse than that which he feels one month for 2013, please contact Fr. Michael. before God at the remembrance Thus far we have received committments for 4 of of his sins?” 12 months. As always, your geneorsity is a blessing to our community! —evergetinos, 2nd book” synaxarion St Titus was numbered among the Seventy remembered by the Church on June 11. The Apostles and was made of Crete by the Apostle Bartholomew suffered for Christ in Apostle Paul. Around the year 65, not long Armenian Albanus (now Baku) in the year 71, before his second imprisonment, the Apostle where his holy relics were. Numerous miracles Paul sent a pastoral epistle to his son in the occurred from the relics of the holy Apostle, Faith (Tit. 1: 4). and many of the unbelieving were converted When the Apostle Paul was taken like a to Christ. Under the emperor Anastasius (491- criminal to Rome to stand trial before Caesar, 518) the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew St Titus left his flock in Cretefor a time and were transferred into the newly constructed went to Rome to be of service to his spiritual city of Anastasiopolis (or Dura) and remained Father. After St Paul’s death by martyrdom, Ti- there until the end of the sixth century. tus returned to Gortyna, the chief city of Crete. When the city of Anastasiopolis was cap- St Titus peacefully guided his flock and tured by the Persian emperor Chozroes, Chris- toiled at enlightening the pagans with the light tians took up the chest with the relics of the of faith in Christ. He was granted the gift of Apostle Bartholomew and fled with it to the wonderworking by the Lord. During one of shores of the Black Sea. Having overtaken the pagan feasts in honor of the goddess Diana, them, pagan priests threw the chest with the Titus preached to a crowd of pagans. relics of the Apostle Bartholomew into the When he saw that they would not listen to sea. Four other chests containing the relics of him, he prayed to the Lord, so that the Lord the holy Martyrs Papian, Lucian, Gregory and Himself would show to the mistaken people Acacius were also thrown into the sea. the falseness of idols. By the prayer of St Titus, By the power of God the chests did not sink the idol of Diana fell down and shattered before into the depths of the sea, but miraculously the eyes of all. Another time St Titus prayed floated upon the waves and reached Italy. that the Lord would not permit the comple- The chest with the relics of the Apostle Bar- tion of a temple of Zeus, and it collapsed. tholomew came to land at the island of Lipari, By such miracles St Titus brought many and the remaining chests continued their jour- to faith in Christ. After bringing the light of ney and came to land at various places in Italy. faith to the surrounding regions, St Titus died The chest with the relics of the Martyr Papian peacefully at the age of 97. At the time of his halted at Sicily, the Martyr Lucian at Messina, death, his face shone like the sun. the Martyr Gregory at Calabria, and the Mar- The Transfer of the Relics of the Apostle Bar- tyr Acacius at Askalon. tholomew took place at the end of the sixth cen- The arrival of the relics of the holy Apostle tury. His apostolic activity and martyr’s end are Bartholomew was revealed to Bishop Agathon of the island of Lipari, who went with clergy to the shores of the sea, took the chest from the tion of Edessa, both clergy and laity, ceased to waters and solemnly transferred it to church. attend their church, which had been seized by Myrrh flowed from the relics of the Apostle the Arians. They gathered outside the city and Bartholomew, healing people of various ill- celebrated the divine services in an open area. nesses. The holy relics remained in the church After he learned of this, the emperor ordered of the island of Lipari until the middle of the the eparch Modestus to kill all the Orthodox ninth century when the island was captured by who met for divine services outside the city. pagans. Christian merchants took up the holy The eparch pitied the city, and he informed relics of the Apostle Bartholomew and trans- the Orthodox that they should not attend di- ferred them to the city of Beneventum, near vine services. The Orthodox, fervent with the Naples, where they were received with great desire to receive a martyr’s crown for Christ, veneration and placed in the main church of went as one to the place where they usually the city. gathered for prayer. Saint Barses and Eulogius, of Edes- Eparch Modestus, obeying his orders, went sa, and Protogenes the Confessor, Bishop of there with his armed soldiers. Along the way Carrhae, suffered from the Arians in the sec- he saw a woman who hastened to the services ond half of the fourth century. The emperor with her small child, so as not to deprive him of Valentius (364-378), wishing to propagate the the martyr’s crown. Shaken, Modestus turned Arian heresy, fiercely persecuted the Ortho- back with his soldiers. Appearing before the dox. emperor Valentius, he urged him to cancel the In the city of Edessa he removed St Barses, decree to kill all the Orthodox and to apply it a champion for Orthodoxy, from the bishop’s only to the clergy. throne. He sent him for confinement on the is- They led persons of spiritual rank to the em- land of Arad. The Orthodox population there peror, and in the lead the oldest Eu- received the exiled saint with great honor. logius. The emperor urged them to enter into They banished him farther, to the communion with the pseudo-bishop Lupus, city of Oxyrhynchos, but there also the warm but none of them agreed. After this they sent welcome was repeated. Then St Barses was eighty men of clerical rank in chains to prison banished to the very frontier of the imperial in Thrace. The Orthodox met them along the realm, to the faraway city of Thenon where, ex- way, revering them as confessors, and furnished hausted by his exiles, he died. them all the necessities. Learning of this, the At Edessa the emperor Valentius placed emperor ordered the martyrs to be taken two an Arian pseudo-bishop upon the episcopal by two, and to disperse them to remote areas. cathedra. Lupus, both by name and by deed The holy Eulogius and Proto- showed himself to be like a wolf, scattering the genes were sent to the Thebaid city of Antinoe sheep of Christ’s flock. The Orthodox popula- in Egypt. There by their preaching they con- verted many idol-worshippers to Christ and and threw him into a red-hot oven (the father baptized them. When the emperor Valentius was a glass-blower). He said nothing to his wife. perished and was succeeded on the throne by For three days, the mother tearfully searched the holy emperor Theodosius (379-395). The for her son, calling loudly for him. On the third Orthodox confessors remaining alive after the day, he emerged from the red-hot oven. When persecution were returned from exile. The holy she pulled the child out, she found that he was presbyters Eulogius and Protogenes returned unharmed. to Edessa. In place of the dead and banished The boy said that a most radiant Lady had St Barses, presbyter Eulogius was elevated to come to him, cooling the fire and bringing him Bishop of Edessa, and the holy presbyter Pro- water and food. This incident became known togenes was made bishop in the Mesopota- to St Menas and the emperor Justinian I. The mian city of Carrhae. Both saints guided their boy and his mother received Baptism, but the flocks until their death, which occurred at the father of the child was obdurate and did not end of the fourth century. wish to repent, in spite of the great miracle that Saint Menas, of Constantinople he had seen. Then the emperor ordered that (536-552), was at first a presbyter at the father be tried as a child-killer, and sen- Constantinople and supervisor there of the tenced him to death. Home of St Sampson the Hospitable for the The holy Patriarch Menas ruled the Church poor and needy during the reign of St Justin- of Constantinople for sixteen years. During ian I (527-565). After the removal of the her- his patriarchate at Constantinople, the famous etic Anthimus (535-536), the holy presbyter church of Hagia Sophia, the Wisdom of God, Menas was raised to the patriarchal throne of was consecrated. The saint died peacefully in Constantinople as one worthy to be bishop, the year 552. because of his profound virtue and firm con- Saint John the Cappadocian, Patriarch fession of Orthodoxy. of Constantinople, occupied the patriarchal Agapitus, the Bishop of Rome (535-536), throne from 518-520. The holy Patriarch Pho- participated in the consecration of St Me- tius (857-867) termed him “a habitation of vir- nas. He had come to Constantinople in order tues.” to depose the heretic Anthimus. During the Saint Epiphanius, Patriarch of Constanti- patriarchate of St Menas a miracle occurred nople, occupied the cathedra from 520 to 535. at Constantinople, which was known to the He died peacefully in the year 535. whole city. A certain Jewish child went with other chil- dren to church and he partook of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. At home, he told his father about this. In a terrible rage, he seized the child letter to anna the nun from St. Theodore the Studite (c. 759–826) thought that my blessed mother had died; but, it taker in the knowledge of himself, free from pagan, free I seems, she is still on earth. For what more could she from heretical error. Next that he prepared you for the have done than you in showing me a mother’s care? But monastic life, which equals that of the , after the though I am a sinner, I trust in the Lord that he will enjoyment of life in the world. The thought of all this is repay you with no ordinary grace for what you have enough to soften the soul to compunction and the out- done for my unworthiness and grant you the attainment pouring of tears. From all this comes enlightenment of of what you long and ask for. But enough of what has heart, sweetness of spirit, desire for God. When this is been done. For I dealt with all that in my previous present in the heart, there comes the rejection of every letter. But you, on the other hand, have increased rather evil. When you have thus given thanks to God, confess than exhausted your generosity. And so how could we to him like this, ‘You know, Master, how many sins I have not now remember your piety. With clothes, a sacred committed against you, and how many I commit each offering, food and drink you have astounded us from hour’, as you reckon up this sin and this offence and the every side. So now put an stop to your gifts, and be ones committed in knowledge and in ignorance. But do confident of your reward from God. For he was no liar not recall in any detail the ones that by being clearly re- who said that he rewards even a cup of cold water. [Cf. membered harm the soul. [Cf. The Ladder 28,58] And Matthew 10,42] from this the grace of humility will dawn for you, with You say you are grieved by your concern for your a broken heart [Cf. Psalm 50,18] and fear of God’s rec- child, which leaves you no leisure for the necessary care ompense. After this, ask, groan, implore your Lord for for the soul. But God is perfectly well able to look after forgiveness of these sins and strengthening for the future the affairs of the good child and to let you have leisure to please him, saying, ‘My Lord, Lord, may I no longer in all things to occupy yourself with what is profitable anger you, may I no longer love anything but you, alone for the soul, so as to dispose you with a ready heart for truly to be loved. And should I anger you again, falling your departure from the body. You are not able, because down I implore your compassion, that I may be given of the sickly condition of your body, to fast and afflict strength from now on to please you.’ And if anything else yourself harshly. Bear this without grieving, bringing comes to your mind that is good to be accomplished, ask what you can to the Lord and filling up what you lack in for it fervently. And after this call upon the holy Mother ascetic practices by an abundance of humility. of God to have mercy on you, the holy Angels, and the You ask to be taught how you ought to pray. The you have as the guardian of your life, that he may Lord himself taught us this through the invocation ‘Our watch over you and protect you, the Forerunner and Father’, and that we should not ask for anything tempo- the holy Apostles, all the Saints and those whom you rary, but for his kingdom and eternal justice. Moreover it usually call on especially, and the one whose memory has been ordained by the Fathers that first should come is kept that day. These then are the things, it seems to thanksgiving to God; next confession of our sins to him; me, which hold the power of prayer, even if each person and so a request for their forgiveness, and intercession doubtless prays with other words and not the same as for the other things that bring salvation. these, because people who pray do not always say the So, when you are about to pray, give thanks to the same things themselves, but the power, as I reckon, is Lord and Master that he brought you out of nothing always the same. So may you be kept safe as you pray into existence; that he redeemed you from every error, for what is necessary, and become better each day, and calling you and counting you worthy to become a par- through a strict way of life present your entire self well- pleasing to the Lord.