SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH June 22, 2014

SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH June 22, 2014

second sunday of matthew

he Hieromartyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata, stood firmly for the Orthodox Confession of Faith pro- Tclaimed at the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in the year 325. For this he underwent persecution by the Arians, being repeatedly deprived of his see and banished. The emperor Constantius (337-361), patron of the Arians, learned that St Eusebius kept a conciliar decree regarding the election of the Orthodox Arch- bishop Meletius to the See of Antioch. He commanded him to give up the decree. The saint boldly refused to do as ordered. The enraged emperor sent a message that if he did not give up the decree, then his right hand would be cut off. St Eusebius stretched out both hands to the emissary saying, “Cut them off, but I will not give up the Decree of the Council, which denounces the wickedness and iniquity of the Arians.” The emperor Constantius marveled at the audacity of the bishop, but did not harm him. During the reign of Justin the Apostate (361-363), even more difficult times ensued, and an open persecution against Christians began. St Eusebius, having concealed his identity, went about in the garb of a soldier across the whole of Syria, Phoenicia and Palestine, urging Christians to the Orthodox Faith. He established priests and deacons in desolated churches, and he consecrated bishops who renounced the Arian heresy. After Julian the Apostate’s death, he was succeeded by the pious emperor Jovian (363-364), during whose reign the persecutions stopped. Returning from exile, St Meletius (February 12) convened a local Council at Antioch in the year 379 on the advice of St Eusebius. Twenty-seven bishops participated, and it reaffirmed the Orthodox teaching of the First Ecumenical Council. The Arians signed the conciliar defini- tion, fearing the steadfast defenders of Orthodoxy, the holy hierarchs Meletius, Eusebius and Pelagios, who had great influence with the emperor. After the death of Jovian the Arian Vanlentus (364-378) came to power. The Orthodox were again subjected to persecution. St Meletius was banished to Armenia, St Pelagius to Arabia, and St Eusebius was condemned to exile in Thrace. Having received the imperial decree, St Eu- sebius left Samosata by night so as to prevent tumult among the people that esteemed him. Having learned of of the bishop’s departure, believers followed after him and with tears entreated him to return. The saint refused the entreaty of those who had come, saying that he had to obey the authorities. The saint urged his flock to hold firm to Orthodoxy, blessed them and set off to the place of exile. The Arian Eunomios

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 α. apolytikion. Mode 1. οῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ he stone had been secured with a seal by the Ju- Τστρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Tdeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your Σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος immaculate body; * You rose on the third day, O Lord τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν· διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ Ἀναστάσει reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, σου Χριστέ, δό´ξα τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκο- O Life-giver: * Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ; νομίᾳ σου, μόνε φιλάνθρωπε. * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensa- tion, only One who love mankind.

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 Christ * as the re- τῶν Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν τοῦ corder of the Acts of the Apostles, * and the splendid Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, ἀξίως τιμή- author of the Gospel 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 καταίσχυντε, μεσι- Protection of Christians that cannot be put to Πτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν μετάθετε, μὴ παρίδῃς Oshame, mediation unto the creator most constant: ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, λλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; γαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγα- but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who ζόντων σοι. Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς in faith cry unto you: Hasten to intercession and ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα εί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώ- speed to make supplication, O you who ever protects, ντων σε. O Theotokos, those that honor you.

If we have God kindly disposed to us, everything will be light and easy for us, and nothing will succeed in causing us distress in this present life, even if it seems to be distressing. Such, after all, is the extraordinary degree of his power that he turns even distressing things themselves into their opposite when he wishes. “ —St. john chrysostom ” THE READINGS OF THE DAY

epistle reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 4:18-23 Romans 10-16 rethren, glory and honor and peace for t that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea every one who does good, the Jew first of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon Band also the Greek. For God shows no Awho is called Peter and Andrew his partiality. All who have sinned without the law brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were will also perish without the law, and all who fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, have sinned under the law will be judged by the and I will make you fishers of men.” Immedi- law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are ately they left their nets and followed him. And righteous before God, but the doers of the law going on from there he saw two other broth- who will be justified. When Gentiles who have ers, James the son of Zebedee and John his not the law do by nature what the law requires, brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, they are a law to themselves, even though they mending their nets, and he called them. Imme- do not have the law. They show that what the diately they left their boat and their father, and law requires is written on their hearts, while followed him. And he went about all Galilee, their conscience also bears witness and their teaching in their synagogues and preaching the conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse gospel of the kingdom and healing every dis- them on that day when, according to my gos- ease and every infirmity among the people. pel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

You see, just as bodily ailments that do not respond to mild rem- edies are often overcome by fire and knife, in the same manner and for the same reason, in my view, the passions ingrained in human souls that do not yield to positive advice “and are not over-come by sensible thinking give way to hardship, scourging, and unbearable calamities…people without awareness have little appreciation of their prosperity when good things are within their grasp, but we come to these things with a keener desire if we have been deprived of the objects of our deepest longings, and gain a powerful and irresistible sense of loss.. —st. cyril of alexandria” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

upcoming church services: Tuesday, June 24, The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Orthros / Div. Liturgy, 8:30am Saturday, June 28, Great Vespers, 5pm

pilgrimage to the holy land church attire Brochures and registration forms are available There is no allowance for Church “summer- in the Narthex. $350 deadline has been extended. wear.” An Orthodox Christian should always dress See Fr. Michael is you are interested. for Church in modest attire (in every season), so Craft club as not to draw attention to him/herself, becoming a distraction to others. Traditionally women wear Craft Club will meet this tuesday, June 24 at 6pm. dresses or skirts of at least knee length; dresses, All are welcome. Bring a craft project to work on blouses / tops should, at minimum, include short and join our fellowship. sleeves and cover the shoulder. Women should give a month towards our future not wear lipstick or lip gloss to Church - it leaves Help offset our additional mortgage payment with a residue on the icons and on the Communion a donation of $640. If you would like to sponsor spoon. Men should dress in pants and polo or but- one month for 2014, please contact Fr. Michael. ton-down shirts. Shorts should never be worn in Thus far 6 commitments have been made for 2014. Church. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing is not appropriate for women or men. church ETiquette The Church temple and her services demand our respect – it is a meeting place of heaven and earth, and the Lord is always before us on the Holy You see, nothing is more potent than Altar Table. We should always arrive to the Church meekness: just as throwing water on on time. While everyone is encouraged to prepare a fiercely blazing fire usually puts it for and to receive Holy Communion, if we come to “out, so too a word spoken with meek- Church after the sacred readings of the Epistle and ness quenches a rage flaring more Holy Gospel then we should not approach the Di- fiercely than a furnace. It also brings vine Chalice, lest we partake in “an unworthy man- us double advantage - f o r showing ner.” Regularly arriving late for the Divine Services meekness on our part, and for putting demonstrates a casual attitude towards sacred wor- an end to our brother’s anger and thus ship, and is unbecoming of an Orthodox Christian. freeing his mind from disturbance. —st. john chrysostom” became Bishop of Samosata, but the people did in nearly all of the six major categories of saints: not accept the heretic. The Orthodox would not go Apostles (and Equals of the Apostles); Martyrs to the church and avoided meeting with him. The (and Confessors); Prophets; Hierarchs; Monas- heretical Arian perceived that it was impossible to tic Saints; and the Righteous. Prophets, of course, attract the independent flock to him. lived in Old Testament times and predicted the The emperor Gracian (375-383) came upon the coming of Christ. throne, and all the Orthodox hierarchs banished The first Divine Liturgy in what is now Ameri- under the Arians were brought back from exile. St can territory (northern latitude 58 degrees, 14 Eusebius also returned to Samosata and continued minutes, western longitude 141 degrees) was cel- with the task of building up the Church. Together ebrated on July 20, 1741, the Feast of the Prophet with St Meletius he supplied Orthodox hierarchs Elias, aboard the ship Peter under the command of and clergy to Arian places. In the year 380 he ar- Vitus Bering. Hieromonk Hilarion Trusov and the rived in the Arian city of Dolikhina to establish the priest Ignatius Kozirevsky served together on that Orthodox bishop Marinus there. An Arian woman occasion. Several years later, the Russian merchant threw a roof tile at the holy bishop’s head. As he lay Gregory I. Shelikov visited Valaam monastery, sug- dying, he asked her for wine and requested those gesting to the abbot that it would be desirable to around not to do her any harm. The body of St Eu- send missionaries to Russian America. sebius was taken to Samosata and was buried by his On September 24, 1794, after a journey of 7,327 flock. The saint’s nephew, Antiochus, succeeded miles (the longest missionary journey in Ortho- him and the Samosata Church continued to con- dox history) and 293 days, a group of monks from fess the Orthodox Faith, firmly spread through the Valaam arrived on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The efforts of the holy Hieromartyr Eusebius. mission was headed by Archimandrite Joasaph, The Holy Martyrs Zeno and Zenas lived in the and included Hieromonks Juvenal, Macarius, and Arabian city of Philadelphia, and led a pious life. St Athanasius, the Hierodeacons Nectarius and Ste- Zeno possessed a large fortune, but he distributed phen, and the monks Herman and Joasaph. St Her- his substance to the poor and manumitted slaves. man of Alaska (December 13, August 9), the last Together with his devoted servant Zenas, he went surviving member of the mission, fell asleep in the to the governor and urged him to give up idolatry Lord in 1837. and accept Christ. They were tied to pillars, struck Throughout the Church’s history, the seeds with iron hooks, and their wounds were rubbed of faith have always been watered by the blood of with vinegar and salt. the martyrs. The Protomartyr Juvenal was killed Their sides and chests were scorched with near Lake Iliamna by natives in 1799, thus becom- fire, they were thrown in a pit, and boiling oil was ing the first Orthodox Christian to shed his blood poured over the sufferers. The saints endured all for Christ in the New World. In 1816, St Peter the the tortures with forbearance and by the power of Aleut was put to death by Spanish missionaries in God they remained alive. Finally, the martyrs were California when he refused to convert to Roman beheaded with a sword (+ 304). Catholicism. Although it is a relatively young church, the Or- Missionary efforts continued in the nineteenth thodox Church in America has produced saints century, with outreach to the native peoples of Alaska. Two of the most prominent laborers in The first All American Council took place Christ’s Vineyard were St Innocent Veniaminov March 5-7, 1907 at Mayfield, PA, and the main (March 31 and October 6) and St Jacob Netsvetov topic was “How to expand the mission.” Guidelines (July 26), who translated Orthodox services and and directions for missionary activity, and statutes books into the native languages. Father Jacob Nets- for the administrative structure of parishes were vetev died in Sitka in 1864 after a life of devoted also set forth. service to the Church. Father John Veniaminov, af- In the twentieth century, in the aftermath of the ter his wife’s death, received monastic tonsure with Russian Revolution, countless men, women, and the name Innocent. He died in 1879 as the Metro- children received the crown of martyrdom rather politan of Moscow. than renounce Christ. Sts John Kochurov (Octo- As the nineteenth century was drawing to a ber 31) and Alexander Hotovitzky (December 4 close, an event of enormous significance for the and August 7) both served the Church in North North American Church took place. On March America before going back to Russia. St John be- 25, 1891, Bishop Vladimir went to Minneapolis to came the first clergyman to be martyred in Russia receive St Alexis Toth (May 7) and 361 of his pa- on October 31, 1917 in St Petersburg. St Alexander rishioners into the Orthodox Church. This was the Hotovitzky, who served in America until 1914, was beginning of the return of many Uniates to Ortho- killed in 1937. doxy. In addition to the saints listed above, we also St Tikhon (Belavin), the future Patriarch of honor those saints who are known only to God, and Moscow (April 7, October 9), came to America as have not been recognized officially by the Church. bishop of the diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska As we contemplate the lives of these saints, let us in September 1898. As the only Orthodox bishop remember that we are also called by God to a life of on the continent, St Tikhon traveled extensively holiness. throughout North America in order to minister to The Holy Martyrs Galacteon, Juliana and his widely scattered and diverse flock. He realized Saturninus. St Juliana was burned together with that the local church here could not be a permanent her son Saturninus because she was a Christian. extension of the Russian Church. Therefore, he fo- Saint Gregory (Dascalu) was Metropolitan of cused his efforts on giving the American Church a Wallachia. St Gregory was glorified by the Roma- diocesan and parish structure which would help it nian Orthodox Church in 2005, and is commemo- mature and grow. rated on June 22. St Tikhon returned to Russia in 1907, and was elected as Patriarch of Moscow ten years later. He died in 1925, and for many years his exact burial place remained unknown. St Tikhon’s grave was discovered on February 22, 1992 in the smaller ca- thedral of Our Lady of the Don in the Don Mon- astery when a fire made renovation of the church necessary. The House of the Father, final part by Fr. George Florovsky he mystery of the Ascension of the Lord can be docetism, a derogation of the reality of time, a der- Tcompletely revealed only in the Second Coming ogation of the mystery of the Church, derogation — “by his image you will see him in the heavens.” of the future Coming in glory — one might say, a For only then and through the general resurrection bad remnant of time, in which the real “deification” will appear the fullness of the restoration of created of creation and development in grace is replaced by corruption into noncorruption. And related to this the logical unfolding of timeless and abstract logical is the secret of the Transfiguration of the Lord, eas- concepts. Not everything visible and proclaimed ily revealed in the catholic testimony about the light in the Church is professed dogmatically, although of Tabor. And there is dogmatically revealed about everything is given in the growing experience of the Theotokos only that which has been fortified the Church which is being realized, immutably and by the name of the “Mother of God” and “Virgin” inseparably dwelling with its Head, Christ. Our and the liturgical celebration of her Dormition re- hope leads us beyond the limits of history, as the veals more. Many things are irrefutably given only oppressive change and sequence of natural births in anticipation. And Christological knowledge of and deaths — to Resurrection. The Scripture has fullness and finality is achieved only when the deed not yet been realized and fulfilled, and not what has of Christ will be fulfilled, “when he will hand over been but what is hoped for, according to promise, the Kingdom to God and the Father.” The mystery will be revealed in the “last days.” of Godmanhood is being fulfilled, acts in the world, In historical wandering and in the Church there and, therefore, is still unknown to developing hu- will be realized the bitter word of the Gospel — “He manity. This mysterious dogmatic inexpressibility came to his own, and his own knew him not.” And uniquely testifies about the mystical reality of time the world hated the Church as it did Christ — for — of that historical time in which the sanctifying it is not of the world, just as the Lord is not of the grace of God operates, in which mysteriously the world. In this was revealed the terrible mystery of Church of Christ lives and develops unchanged, apostasy and opposition, frightening and unknowl- but growing, to the extent that “everyone will come able even for the believing spirit. And the heart is to unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, troubled with the thought that in Church history to perfect man, in measure of the complete growth the chasuble of the Lord has again been torn apart. of Christ,” when, according to the apostle, “every- The divine precept “unity of spirit in the union of one from small to great will know the Lord,” and the world” remains scorned and unfulfilled. This “every knee of the heavenly, earthly and the under- seduction will only be overcome and this tempta- world will bend before the name of Jesus,” and “the tion in the fullness and strength of the teaching of kingdom of the world will become the Kingdom of the Chalcedonian Creed, also in the Church, as the Our Lord and his Christ.” On the contrary, in the Body of Christ, to distinguish the inseparable es- need to fetter all the fullness of Church experience sences — Divine and human, so that the weakness and hope into an infallible system of final dogmatic and opposition of creation will not weaken grace. definitions, there is expressed a certain historical But the weary and declining consciousness of cow- ardly and wavering Christians seeks another and the believers, as St. Cyprian of Carthage said, “do easier way out of their confusion — this will not not have any other home than the one Church.” take on the tragic mystery of freedom, expressed The entire creation is headed and united in equally in obedience. The thirst for agreement and Christ, and through his Incarnation and humanity reconciliation burns, an inclination to underesti- the Son of God, according to the remarkable ex- mate the discord and division has been expressed, pression of St. Irenaeus “again began the long series so that by means of connivance and concession of human existences.” The Church is the spiritual “union” will be achieved on a certain “minimum” posterity of the Second Adam, and in its history is level. Relativity is introduced into the realm of fulfilled his redemptive act, his love blossoms and faith, and even “adogmatism.” The “creeds’ seem burns. And through the course of the ages of the to have been equalized, interpreted as historically Church, the ideal aim of creation shone through equal and even to be providentially agreed forms in prophecy. The Church is the “fulfillment” of of the human knowledge of Divine truth. A flexible Christ; and in the words of St. John Chrysostom, tolerance toward difference in thought is preached “only then will the head be fulfilled when a perfect — in the hope that at some time in a limited syn- body will be established.” There is a certain myste- thesis there will be elicited a healthy kernal of all rious movement from the terrible day of Pentecost, opinions, but the human husk will be rejected in when all of creation seemed to take on the fiery each one. Behind such a representation is hidden baptism by the Spirit, and in it was confirmed the a unique church-historic docetism, an insensitiv- inviolable treasure house of grace — to that final ity toward reality and the fullness of Divine revela- limit, when there will appear the holy city of the tion in the world, an insensitivity to the mystery of New Jerusalem, descending from heaven, where the Church, a misunderstanding of its profoundly there will no longer be a temple, for the Lord God natural nature. Indeed, not only mystically, but the Pantokrator will be the temple and the Lamb. also historically, division in faith always appeared The maximum fulfillment will be reached by the through schism and falling away, through separa- Church in the Resurrection of the dead and in the tion from the Church. The single path of their life of the future age. The Revelation of the Apostle redefinition is the path of reunification or return, John mysteriously testified about this — “the tab- and not union. One might say that the discordant ernacle of God with man, and he will dwell with “creeds” in general are not unified, for each is a them; they will be his people, and God himself self-enclosed whole. In the Church a mosaic of with them will be their God.” In the experience of different parts is impossible. There stand opposite the Church the glorification of creation has been each other not “creeds” with equal rights, but the foretold and anticipated. And that is why, among Church and the schism, united in spirit of oppo- the languor and vanity of the world, our heart is not sition. It can be whole only through elimination, disturbed and not frightened. For we have a prom- through a return to the Church. There is no and ise: “I am with you in everything until the end of can be no “partial” Christianity — “can it be Christ time.” was divided?” There is only One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church — a single Father’s House; and The End.