SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH august 23, 2015

leavetaking of the falling asleep of the theotokos

The Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, was born in the year 130 in the city of Smyrna (Asia Mi- nor). He received there the finest education, studying poetics, philosophy, rhetoric, and the rest of the clas- sical sciences considered necessary for a young man of the world. His guide in the truths of the Christian Faith was a disciple of the Apostle John the Theologian, St Poly- carp of Smyrna (February 23). St Polycarp baptized the youth, and afterwards ordained him presbyter and sent him to a city in Gaul then named Lugdunum [the present day Lyons in France] to the dying bishop Pothinus. A commission was soon entrusted to St Irenaeus. He was to deliver a letter from the confessors of Lug- dunum to the holy Bishop Eleutherius of Rome (177-190). While he was away, all the known Christians were thrown into prison. After the martyric death of Bishop Pothinus, St Irenaeus was chosen a year later (in 178) as Bishop of Lugdunum. “During this time,” St Gregory of Tours (November 17) writes concern- ing him, “by his preaching he transformed all Lugdunum into a Christian city!” When the persecution against Christians quieted down, the saint expounded upon the Orthodox teach- ings of faith in one of his fundamental works under the title: Detection and Refutation of the Pretended but False Gnosis. It is usually called Five Books against Heresy (Adversus Haereses). At that time there appeared a series of religious-philosophical gnostic teachings. The Gnostics [from the Greek word “gnosis” meaning “knowledge”] taught that God cannot be incarnate [i.e. born in human flesh], since matter is imperfect and manifests itself as the bearer of evil. They taught also that the Son of God is only an outflowing (“emanation”) of Divinity. Together with Him from the Divinity issues forth a hierarchical series of powers (“aeons”), the unity of which comprise the “Pleroma”, i.e. “Fullness.” The world is not made by God Himself, but by the aeons or the “Demiourgos,” which is below the “Pleroma.” In refuting the heresy of Valentinus, St Irenaeus presents the Orthodox teaching of salvation. “The Word of God, Jesus Christ, through His inexplicable blessedness caused it to be, that we also, should be made that which He is ... ,” taught St Irenaeus. “Jesus Christ the Son of God, through exceedingly great love for His creation, condescended to be born of a Virgin, having united mankind with God in His own Self.” Through the Incarnation of God, creation becomes co-imaged and co-bodied to the Son of God. Salvation consists in the “Sonship” and “Theosis” (“Divinization”) of mankind.

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 τησ εορτησ. Ἦχος α. apolytikion of the feast. Mode 1. ν τῇ Γεννήσει τὴν παρθενίαν ἐφύλαξας, ἐν τῇ n giving birth you retained your virginity, and in ἘΚοιμήσει τὸν κόσμον οὐ κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε. Idormition you did not forsake the world, O The- Μετέστης πρὸς τὴν ζωήν, μήτηρ ὑπάρχουσα τῆς otokos. You were translated unto life, being the Moth- ζωῆς, καὶ ταῖς πρεσβείαις ταῖς σαῖς λυτρουμένη, ἐκ er of Life. And thus by virtue of your intercessions θανάτου τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. you deliver our souls from death. Ἀπολυτ. Ἀναστάσιμον Ἦχος γ. resurrectional apolytikion. Ἦχος 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 τησ εορτησ. Ἦχος α. apolytikion of the feast. Mode 1. ν τῇ Γεννήσει τὴν παρθενίαν ἐφύλαξας… n giving birth you retained your virginity… Ἐ Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α. I Apolyt. 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 πλ. β. Kontakion. Mode pl. 2. ὴν ἐν πρεσβείαις ἀκοίμητον Θεοτόκον, καὶ προ- he Theotokos, unsleeping in intercession * and Τστασίαις ἀμετάθετον ἐλπίδα, τάφος καὶ νέκρω- Tthe immovable hope of protection, * could not σις οὐκ ἐκράτησεν· ὡς γὰρ ζωῆς Μητέρα, πρὸς τὴν be retained by any tomb or death. * For being Life’s ζωὴν μετέστησεν, ὁ μήτραν οἰκήσας ἀειπάρθενον. own Mother, she was transferred to life by Him * who dwelt in the ever-virgin womb. THE READINGS OF THE DAY

epistle reading gospel reading The first letter of paul Matthew 19: 16–26 to the corinthians 15: 1–11

rethren, I declare to you the Good News t t that time, a man came to Jesus, and kneel- which I preached to you, which also you ac- ing before him asked, “Good teacher, what Bcepted, in which you also stand. And you are Agood thing shall I do in order to have eternal saved by it, that is if you hold firmly to the word life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? which I preached to you. Otherwise, you believed No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you in vain. For I delivered to you, first of all, what I also want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” received: that Christ died for our sins according to The man asked him, “Which ones?” Jesus replied, the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adul- raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, tery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not bear false and that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve. witness.’ ‘Honor your father and mother;’ and, ‘You After that, he appeared to over five hundred breth- shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young ren at once, most of whom remain [alive] until now, man then said to him, “All these things I have ob- but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared served from my youth! What do I still lack?” Jesus to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as replied, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared have, give it to the poor, and you will have [a] trea- to me also. Indeed, I am the least of the apostles, sure in heaven. Then come, and follow me!” But unworthy to be called an apostle, because I perse- when the young man heard these words, he went cuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God, away sad because he was a person with great pos- I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on sessions. Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen I say to me was not in vain, but I worked more than all of you: it will be hard for someone who is rich to enter them—yet not I, but the grace of God which was into the Kingdom of Heaven! Indeed, I tell you that with me. It does not matter whether is it I or they: it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a this is what we preach, and so you believed. needle than for a rich man to enter into the King- dom of God.” When his disciples heard this, they were extremely astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Gazing at them, Jesus answered, “By human resources, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible!” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

upcoming church services: Saturday, August 29, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, Orthros / Div. Liturgy, 8:30am Great Vespers, 5pm

bookstore ple, the cost will be $22 / person. There are only Please see Matthew Monos if you would like to 40 seats on the bus. The bus will leave at 6am - you special order a book or icon. Visit today! must be at the Church by 5:45am. Services will be- community pot-luck gin at Assumption at 7:45am. The sign-up sheet is in the narthex. Save the date! On Sunday, August 30 we will be having a community pot luck. Please plan to bring a dish to share. n Elder was asked: ‘What is hope and joy Ahumility?’ He replied: ‘Hu- Information about future events will be forthcom- mility is a great and Divine work; ing. “the path that leads to humility school supply drive consists in bodily labors and in Today is the last day for donations. Items will be considering yourself a sinner be- delivered tomorrow, Aug 24 to the Voluntary Ac- neath everyone else.’ The brother tion Center. Thank you to all who participated in who had posed the question asked this supply drive. again: ‘What does it mean to be give a month towards our future beneath everyone else?’ The Elder We would like to offer families and individuals the replied: ‘It means to not be con- opportunity to help offset our mortgage payment cerned about the sins of others, but with a donation of $640. If you would like to spon- only about your own, and to pay to sor one month for 2015, please contact Fr. Michael. God unceasingly.’ consecration assumption —from the evergetinos Assumption Greek Orthodox Church will be con- secrated on Sunday, October 4 by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos. If you are interested in at- ” tending and would like to travel by bus to event, please sign up in the Narthex - cost will be deter- mined by how many people sign-up - with 40 peo- synaxarion

In the refutation of another heretic, Marcian, In his old age, St Irenaeus wrote to his old friend who denied the divine origin of the Old Testa- the priest Florinus: “When I was still a boy, I knew ment, the saint affirms the same divine inspiration you... in Polycarp’s house.... I remember what hap- of the Old and the New Testaments: “It is one and pened in those days more clearly than what hap- the same Spirit of God Who proclaimed through pens now.... I can describe for you the place where the prophets the precise manner of the Lord’s com- blessed Polycarp usually sat and conversed, the ing,” wrote the saint. “Through the apostles, He character of his life, the appearance of his body, and preached that the fulness of time of the filiation the discourses which he spoke to the people, how had arrived, and that the Kingdom of Heaven was he spoke of the conversations which he had with at hand.” John and others who had seen the Lord, how he The successors of the Apostles have received remembered their words, and what he heard from from God the certain gift of truth, which St Irenae- them about the Lord ... I listened eagerly to these us links to the succession of the episcopate (Adv. things, by the mercy of God, and wrote them, not Haer. 4, 26, 2). “Anyone who desires to know the on paper, but in my heart” (Eusebius, Hist. Eccles.). truth ought to turn to the Church, since through Saints Eutychius and Florentius were monks Her alone did the apostles expound the Divine pursuing asceticism in the region of Nursa in Italy Truth. She is the door to life.” during the sixth century. St Eutychius converted St Irenaeus also exerted a beneficial influence many to God by his teaching. When the igumen of in a dispute about the celebration of Pascha. In the a nearby monastery died, they appealed to him to Church of Asia Minor, there was an old tradition of become its head. He consented, but continued to celebrating Holy Pascha on the fourteenth day of be concerned with the former place of his ascetic the month of Nisan, regardless of what day of the activity, where his companion Florentius remained. week it happened to be. The Roman bishop Vic- St Florentius worked many miracles during tor (190-202) forcefully demanded uniformity, his lifetime. For example, he tamed a bear, which and his harsh demands fomented a schism. In the served him. It shepherded sheep, carried water name of the Christians of Gaul, St Irenaeus wrote and obeyed other commands of the Elder. Jealous to Bishop Victor and others, urging them to make of the fame of St Florentius, four monks killed the peace. bear. The saint predicted that the wrath of God After this incident, St Irenaeus drops out of would fall upon the murderers. So it happened as sight, and we do not even know the exact year of he said. The monks were stricken with illness, and his death. St Gregory of Tours, in his Historia Fran- died shortly afterwards. On learning of the death of corum, suggests that St Irenaeus was beheaded by the monks, St Florentius was grievously saddened the sword for his confession of faith in the year 202, and distressed, considering himself the murderer of during the reign of Severus. those monks. He wept for them the rest of his life. The Apostle and Evangelist John the Theo- St Eutychius did not work miracles during his logian, St Polycarp of Smyrna, and St Irenaeus of lifetime, but after death his clothing began to pro- Lyons are three links in an unbroken chain of the duce healings. During a time of drought the people grace of succession, which goes back to the Origi- of Nursia went to the fields with his clothing, and nal Pastor, our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. God sent rain (this was in the year 1492). St Eu- tychius died on May 23, 540, and St Florentius, on ORTHODOX SPIRITUALITY June 1, 547. Saint Callinicus, Patriarch of Constantinople A Living Tradition by By Bishop Photii of Triaditza (693-705), was at first a presbyter in the temple of (This is an excerpt from a longer article) the Most Holy Theotokos at Blachernae, but in 693 with the death of Patriarch Paul (686-693), he was Just how is it…that we can find the path that elevated to the episcopal throne of Constantinople. leads to Orthodox spirituality as a living tradition, The cruel Justinian II (685-695) reigned at this that path which will enable us to realize this tradi- time. He undertook the construction of a palace tion and feel its unearthly spiritual beauty? very near the church of the Most Holy Theotokos • First, this path is not to be found beyond the and decided to demolish it. The emperor ordered pale of the Patriarch Callinicus to give his blessing for tearing Church, the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic it down. The patriarch replied that he had prayers Orthodox Church of Christ—provided, of course, only for the building of churches, not their destruc- that we do not understand the Church to be a mere tion. When the church was demolished, he cried system of abstract theological or philosophical out with tears, “Glory to Thee, O Lord, in enduring concepts or, conversely, understand it simply in all things.” terms of its tangible administrative functions or Soon the wrath of God befell Justinian. He was empirical social functions, but regard it as the es- toppled from the throne and sent for imprison- sential realm of Orthodox spirituality itself and the ment to Cherson, where they cut off his nose (from theology which reflects that spirituality. which he received the nickname “Short-nose”). Le- • Second, living contact with Orthodox spiritual- ontius (695-698) succeeded him on the throne. ity demands personal effort, a struggle to “put off The Martyr Lupus lived at the end of the third concerning the former conversation the old man” century and beginning of the fourth century, and (Ephesians 4:22), spiritual agony, a mind prayer- was a faithful servant of the holy Great Martyr fully directed towards “the mystery of God, and Demetrius of Thessalonica (October 26). Being of the Father, and of Christ” (Colossians 2:2), and present at the death of his master, he soaked his not towards the “traditions of men,” not after the own clothing with his blood and took a ring from “rudiments” of this world, but towards Christ (cf. his hand. With this clothing, and with the ring Colossians 2:8). In the context in which it is here and the name of the Great Martyr Demetrius, St presented, Holy Tradition in the Orthodox Church Lupus worked many miracles at Thessalonica. He is not simply what is preserved in human memory destroyed pagan idols, for which he was subjected or a continuity of rites and customs, but is, above to persecution by the pagans, but he was preserved all, the perpetual action of the Holy Spirit in the unharmed by the power of God. Church. Holy Tradition is the living presence of St Lupus voluntarily delivered himself into the the Church, a presence that enables every member hands of the torturers, and by order of the emperor of Christ’s Body to hear, to perceive, and to know Maximian Galerius, he was beheaded by the sword. the Truth in its inherent light and not by way of the natural light of the human mind: “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:3). This tradition depends on no “philosophy,” on nothing that lives “after the tradi- tion of men, after the rudiments of the world, and order to attain to the Grace of the Holy Spirit and, not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8). In the words of through this Grace, to come to live the genuine life Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow: “True and Holy in Christ.” According to St. Macarios the Great, the Tradition is not only an actual and verbal handing- Grace of the Holy Spirit, “continually abides, be- down of doctrines, rules, ordinance, and rites, but comes rooted, and acts like leaven in man.... And is also an invisible, real passing-on of Grace and this Dweller in man becomes a natural thing, some- sanctification.” Thus, in Holy Tradition there ex- thing indispensable, as though of one essence with ist two intersecting and mutually inseparable lines, him.” one horizontal and one vertical: the horizontal One can come into living contact with this line of the “doctrines, rules, ordinances, and rites” Orthodox spirituality through the ascetic reifica- handed down by Christ the Savior through the tion of one’s faith, through that Faith of the Gos- Apostles and the Holy Fathers; and the vertical pel which holds firmly both to the witness of the line, the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit, of Apostles and the theological testimony of the Holy “Grace and sanctification,” in each and every word Fathers. of the Truth revealed by God. In its vertical dimen- Patristic theology is a spiritual and intellectual sion, Holy Tradition does not posit mere formal, exposition of the Symbol of the Faith (the Creed), extraneous guarantees of the truths of our Faith, promulgated by the witness of the Apostles. It is, but makes manifest their intrinsic authenticity. It is at the same time, the crystallized experience of not the Word Itself, as contained in revelation, but Gracefilled Orthodox spirituality. The dogmatic the celestial light that permeates the Word, the life- postulates of the Fathers are essentially the same giving breath of the Sanctifier, Who enables us to common witness that was delivered by Christ’s hear both the Word Itself and the “silence whereof Apostles once and for all. This Apostolic witness the Word comes,” in the words of St. Ignatios the is preserved not only in the Church, but it resides God-Bearer. there as an “ever-increasing depository,” in the The existential core of Orthodox spirituality words of St. Irenæus of Lyons. Being a fruit of the as living tradition is precisely the Holy Spirit, the ever-increasing depository of the Apostolic wit- Third Hypostasis of the Triune God, and the Grace ness, Patristic teaching is, similarly, a constant stan- which He pours out—that uncreated Divine en- dard of the Orthodox Faith, the highest measure of ergy that is manifested in wondrous and multiple correct belief. It is for this reason that it is by far ways in those Baptized into Orthodoxy, commen- more essential to make reference to the Fathers surate with their voluntary, individual efforts to than to seek historical evidence from the past. In grow in the spiritual life by arduously transforming Orthodox theology, references to the Fathers are their Orthodox faith into deeds. As St. Symeon the no less important than references to Holy Writ. New Theologian has written: “God the Word took Moreover, these two things can never be separated. flesh and became Man, that those who believe in The Fathers themselves have always been servants Him as God-Man might receive in their souls the of the Hypostatic Word and their theology is, thus, Holy Spirit as a soul..., and thus be regenerated and intrinsically exegetical. renovated, purifying their mind, conscience, and One of the basic hallmarks of Patristic theology feelings through the Grace of the Holy Spirit.... Ev- is also its existential nature. The Fathers theolo- ery Christian is obliged to labor in the feats of re- gized, in the expression of St. Gregory the Theo- pentance, almsgiving, and the rest of the virtues, in logian, “in an Apostolic way” (literally, “like fish-