SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH January 22, 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH january 22, 2017 the fifteenth sunday of luke The Holy Apostle Timothy was from the Lycaonian city of Lystra in Asia Minor. Saint Timothy was con- verted to Christ in the year 52 by the holy Apostle Paul (June 29). When the Apostles Paul and Barnabas first visited the cities of Lycaonia, Saint Paul healed one crippled from birth. Many of the inhabitants of Lystra then believed in Christ, and among them was the future Saint Timothy, his mother Eunice and grandmother Loida (Lois) (Acts 14:6-12; 2 Tim. 1:5). The seed of faith, planted in Saint Timothy’s soul by the Apostle Paul, brought forth abundant fruit. He became Saint Paul’s disciple, and later his constant companion and co-worker in the preaching of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul loved Saint Timothy and in his Epistles called him his beloved son, remembering his devo- tion and fidelity with gratitude. He wrote to Timothy: “You have followed my teaching, way of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, and patience” (2 Tim. 3:10-11). The Apostle Paul appointed Saint Timothy as Bishop of Ephesus, where the saint remained for fifteen years. Finally, when Saint Paul was in prison and awaiting martyrdom, he summoned his faithful friend, Saint Timothy, for a last farewell (2 Tim. 4:9). Saint Timothy ended his life as a martyr. The pagans of Ephesus celebrated a festival in honor of their idols, and used to carry them through the city, accompanied by impious ceremonies and songs. Saint Timothy, zeal- ous for the glory of God, attempted to halt the procession and reason with the spiritually blind idol-worship- ping people, by preaching the true faith in Christ. The pagans angrily fell upon the holy apostle, they beat him, dragged him along the ground, and finally, they stoned him. Saint Timothy’s martyrdom occurred in the year 93. In the fourth century the holy relics of Saint Timothy were transferred to Constantinople and placed in the church of the Holy Apostles near the tombs of Saint Andrew (November 30) and Saint Luke (October 18). The Church honors Saint Timothy as one of the Apostles of the Seventy. In Russian practice, the back of a priest’s cross is often inscribed with Saint Paul’s words to Saint Timothy: “Be an example to the believers in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). The Monk Martyr Anastasios the Persian was the son of a Persian sorcerer named Bavi. As a pagan, he had the name Magundates and served in the armies of the Persian emperor Chozroes II, who in 614 ravaged the 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 chant Ἀπολυτ. Ἀναστάσιμον. Ἦχος πλ. β. resurrectional apolyt mode pl. 2. γγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυ- hen the angelic powers appeared at Your grave, the Ἀλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν Wsoldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευ- And standing by the sepulcher was Mary who was seek- σας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας ing Your immaculate body. You devastated Hades, not τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ afflicted by it. You went to meet the virgin, and granted των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. eternal life. You resurrected from the dead. O Lord, glo- ry to You. Ἀπολυτ. του αποστολου. Ἦχος δ. apolyt. of the apostle. mode 4. ρηστότητα ἐκδιδαχθείς, καὶ νήφων ἐν πᾶσιν, ἀγα- aving learned kindness, and being always steady Χθὴν συνείδησιν ἱεροπρεπῶς ἐνδυσάμενος, ἤντλη- Hand sober, vested with a good conscience as befits a σας ἐκ τοῦ Σκεύους τῆς ἐκλογῆς τὰ ἀπόῤῥητα· καὶ priest, you drew out from the Chosen Vessel the secrets τὴν πίστιν τηρήσας, τὸν ἴσον δρόμον τετέλεκας, Ἀπό- of God. And having kept the faith, you have finished the στολε Τιμόθεε. Πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῶ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι fair race, O Hieromartyr Timothy. Intercede with Christ τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. our God, entreating Him to save our souls. Ἀπολυτ. του μαρτυροσ. Ἦχος δ. apolyt. of the martyr. mode 4. Μάρτυς σου Κύριε, ἐν τῇ ἀθλήσει αὐτοῦ, τὸ στέ- our Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by You Ὁφος ἐκομίσατο τῆς ἀφθαρσίας, ἐκ σοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ Υ* the crown of incorruption, in that he contested ἡμῶν· ἔχων γὰρ τὴν ἰσχύν σου, τοὺς τυράννους κα- for You our immortal God. * Since he possessed Your θεῖλεν· ἔθραυσε καὶ δαιμόνων, τὰ ἀνίσχυρα θράση, power, he defeated the tyrants, * dashing the demons’ αὐτοῦ ταῖς ἱκεσίαις Χριστέ, σῶσον τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. powerless displays of defiance. * O Christ God, at his fervent entreaties, save our souls. Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α. Apolyt. for the martyr. Mode 5. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπόστολον, τὸν he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * who is ac- Λτῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν συνθέτην τῶν Πράξε- Tknowledged by the Church of Christ * as the recorder ων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου of the Acts of the Apostles, * and the splendid author of Χριστοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, ἀξίως τιμήσωμεν ὕμνοις the Gospel of Christ. * Let us praise with sacred hymns ὁσίοις, ὡς νοσημάτων ἀνθρωπίνων καὶ φυσικῶν as a physician, * who heals the infirmities of man, * and ἀσθενειῶν θεραπευτήν, τὸν καθαίροντα πληγὰς τοῦ the ailments of nature, * who cleanses spiritual wounds, πνεύματος, καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως πρεσβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν and prays unceasingly for our souls. ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος α. Kontakion. Mode 1. μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῷ τόκῳ σου, καὶ ou sanctified the virginal womb by Your birth, O Ὁχεῖρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προ- YLord, and blessed the hands of Symeon fittingly, O φθάσας καὶ νῦν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ’ Christ God; and even now You came and saved us. Now, εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίω- give peace to our Nation in time of war, and empower σον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος our Leaders, so loved by You, the only one who loves humanity. THE READINGS OF THE DAY epistle reading gospel reading the first Letter of st. paul to Luke 19:1-10 Timothy 4:9-15 rethren, this saying is faithful and worthy t that time, Jesus entered Jericho and of all acceptance. For this purpose, we was passing through town. There was a Bboth work hard and experience rejection, Aman named Zacchaeus who was a chief because we have placed our trust in the liv- tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to ing God who is the Savior of all, especially of see who Jesus was, and could not because of those who believe. Command and teach these the crowd, for he was short. He ran on ahead things. Let no one despise your youth, but be and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Je- an example for those who believe: in speech, in sus, who was [about] to pass that way. When your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in Jesus came to the place, he looked up, saw Zac- purity. Until I come, devote yourself to public chaeus, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry reading, encouragement, and teaching. Do not and come down, for today I must stay at your neglect the gift that is in you, which was given house!” He hurried, came down, and received to you by prophecy with the laying on of the Jesus with joy. But when the people saw it, they hands of the council of presbyters. Be attentive all grumbled, saying, “He has gone in to stay in these things. Give yourself to them com- with a man who is a sinner!” Zacchaeus stood pletely, so that your progress may be manifest up and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half to all. of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have wrongfully obtained money from anyone, I re- store four times as much!” Then Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Stress is caused by the eradication of the religious sense. Unless you have love for Christ, unless you concern yourself with holy matters, you’re bound to be full of melancholy and badness. “ —st porphyrios Kavsokalyvia ” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm upcoming church services: Wednesday, January 25, St. Gregory the Theologian, Orthros / Divine Liturgy, 8:30am Saturday, January 28, Great Vespers, 5pm house blessings community potluck House blessing sign up sheets in Narthex. DO Join us for a community Pot luck next Sunday after NOT add your own time, see Fr Michael if you services. Bring your favorite covered dish to share. need to make special arrangements. save the dates philoptochos Hope and Joy: Saturday, January 28. See registra- Souper Bowl of Caring: Philoptochos will col- tion flyer for more details lect a second tray on Souper Bowl Sunday, Febru- Family Night: Sunday, January 29. ary 5. Every dollar donated will go to IOCC (Inter- college students national Orthodox Christian Charities) to support their ministries. Please bring non-perishable food Philoptochos will be passing out Goody bags for college students on Sunday, January 29. We also items and place them in the purple food barrel for invite you to join us for our community pot luck our local food bank. Please join us in transforming that day. The first Mizzou OCF meeting of this se- Super Bowl Sunday into the nation’s largest cel- mester will be held this Tuesday, January 24.