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SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH April 17, 2016

5th sunday of , our venerable mother, st. mary of he memory of St. Mary of Egypt is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy TForty Days is drawing near, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demon- strated in very deed. The Hieromartyr Simeon, of Persia, suffered during a persecution against Christians under the Per- sian emperor Sapor II (310-381). They accused the saint of collaborating with the Roman Empire and of sub- versive activities against the Persian emperor. In the year 344, the emperor issued an edict which imposed a heavy tax upon Christians. When some of them refused to pay it, this was regarded as an act of rebellion, so the emperor began a fierce persecution against Christians. St Simeon was brought to trial in iron fetters as a supposed enemy of the Persian realm, together with the two hieromartyrs Habdelai and Ananias. The holy bishop would not even bow to the emperor, who asked why he would not show him the proper respect. The saint answered, “Formerly, I bowed because of your rank, but now, when you ask me to renounce my God and abandon my faith, it is not proper for me to bow to you.” The emperor urged him to worship the sun, and he threatened to eradicate Christianity in his land if he re- fused. But neither urgings nor threats could shake the steadfast saint, and they led him off to prison. Along the way the eunuch Usphazanes, a counsellor of the emperor, saw the saint. He stood up and bowed to the bishop, but the saint turned away from him because he, a former Christian, out of fear of the emperor, now worshipped the sun. The eunuch repented with all his heart, he exchanged his fine attire for coarse garb, and sitting at the doors of the court, he cried out bitterly, “Woe to me, when I stand before my God, from Whom I am cut off. Here was Simeon, and he has turned his back on me!” The emperor Sapor learned about the grief of his beloved tutor and asked him what had happened. He told the emperor that he bitterly regretted his apostasy and would no more worship the sun, but only the one true God. The emperor was surprised at the old man’s sudden decision, and he urged him not to abjure the gods whom their fathers had reverenced. But Usphazanes was unyielding, and they condemned him to death. St Usphazanes asked that the city heralds report that he died not for crimes against the emperor, but for being a Christian. The emperor granted his request. 1510 audubon drive • columbia, missouri, 65201 • tel. 573.817.0050 / fax 573.449.8452 email: [email protected] • web: www.saintlukecolumbia.org at the small we chant

αναστ. Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος πλ. a. resurr. . Mode pl. 1. ὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύμα- et us worship the Word who is unoriginate * Ττι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν Lwith the Father and the Spirit, and from a Vir- ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, gin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ, καὶ let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection. Ἀπολυτίκιον του αγιου. Ἦχος πλ. δ. Apolytikion of the saint. Mode 8. ν σοὶ Μῆτερ ἀκριβῶς διεσώθη τὸ κατ’ εἰκόνα, n you, O Mother is preserved * undistorted what Ἐλαβοῦσα γὰρ τὸν Σταυρόν, ἠκολούθησας τῷ Iwas made in the image of God; * for taking up the Χριστῷ, καὶ πράττουσα ἐδίδασκες ὑπερορᾶν μὲν cross you followed Christ and taught by your exam‐ σαρκὸς παρέρχεται γάρ, ἐπιμελεῖσθαι δὲ ψυχῆς, ple, * that we should overlook the flesh, since it πράγματος ἀθανάτου, διὸ καὶ μετὰ Ἀγγέλων συ- passes away, * and instead look after the soul, since ναγάλλεται Ὁσία Μαρία τὸ πνεῦμα σου. it is immortal. * And therefore, O devout Mary, * your spirit rejoices with the . Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α´. Apolyt. for the Church. Mode PL. 1. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπόστολον, he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * who Λτὸν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν συνθέτην τῶν Tis acknowledged by the Church of Christ * as Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν τοῦ the recorder of the , * and the Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, ἀξίως splendid author of the of Christ. * Let us τιμήσωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, ὡς νοσημάτων ἀνθρω- praise with sacred hymns as a physician, * who πίνων καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν θεραπευτήν, τὸν heals the infirmities of man, * and the ailments of καθαίροντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύματος, καὶ ἀδιαλεί- nature, * who cleanses spiritual wounds, and prays πτως πρεσβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. unceasingly for our souls. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος πλ. Δ´. . Mode 8. ῇ ὑπερμάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυ- Champion General, I your City now inscribe to Ττρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν, εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγρά- Oyou * triumphant anthems as the tokens of my φω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου, Θεοτόκε, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ gratitude, * being rescued from the terrors, O The- κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύ- otokos. * Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, νων ἐλευθέρωσον ἵνα κράζω σοι, Χαῖρε, Νύμφη * from all kinds of perils free me so that unto you * I ἀνύμφευτε. may cry aloud: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride. THE READINGS OF THE DAY

reading us whatever we will ask!” He replied, “What do the Letter of saint paul you want me to do for you?” They answered, to the Hebrews 9:11-14 “Grant to us that we may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory.” RETHREN, when Christ appeared as a But said to them, “You do not know what high of the good things to come, you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup Bhe entered through the greater and more that I drink, and to be baptized with the bap- perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that tism that I am baptized with?” They replied, is to say, not of this creation. It was not through “We are able!” Jesus said to them, “You shall the blood of goats and calves but through his indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall own blood that he entered into the Holy Place be baptized with the that I am bap- once for all, having obtained eternal redemp- tized with! However, to sit at my right hand tion. Indeed, if the blood of bulls and goats, and at my left hand is not mine to give, but it is and the ashes of a heifer (sprinkling those who for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten have been defiled) could sanctify to restore the heard this, they became upset with James and purity of the flesh, how much more will the John. Jesus called them, and told them, “You , who through the eternal Spirit know that those who are recognized as rulers offered himself without blemish to God, purify over the nations lord it over them, and their your con- science from dead works to offer di- great ones exercise authority over them. But it vine service to the living God? shall not be so among you! Whoever wants to gospel reading become great among you shall be your servant. mark 10:32-45 Whoever of you wants to become first shall be t that time, Jesus took the Twelve [aside] slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to and began to tell them about the things be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a Athat were going to happen to him. “Be- ransom for many.” hold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be delivered to the chief and Just as a healthy eye desires the the scribes. They will condemn him to death light, so, if ’s undertaken and deliver him to the Gentiles. They will with discretion, it’s followed by scourge him, mock him, spit on him, and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.” James “a desire for prayer. —St. isaak the syrian and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Je- sus and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for ” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great , 5pm

upcoming church services: Monday, April 18, Great , 6pm; Tuesday, April 19, Holy Confession (no appointment necessary), 4pm – 6pm Wednesday, April 20, Presanctified Liturgy, 5pm; Thursday, April 21, Holy Confession (no appointment necessary), 5pm –7pm Saturday, April 23, The Raising of Lazaros, / , 8:30am, Great Vespers, 5pm

flower donations needed pascha bread A list of needs for and Pascha can be There are only 13 loaves left. Please see Georgia if found on the back page of this Sunday Bulletin. you would like to reserve one for $11 before they Your generosity is greatly appreciated! sell out. bookstore pascha potluck / dinner New books are in stock about and Holy Please plan to join us for a lamb dinner and potluck Week. Visit the Bookstore for your Lenten reading after the Agape Vespers (3pm) on Sunday, May 1. needs. Compline books are also available for pur- Please bring a favorite dish to share. There will also chase. be an egg hunt for children up to age 12. Church cleanup OCMC MIssions coin box Thank you to all who came and helped clean the Remember to bring your coin boxes back next church! Sunday, April 24. Thank you! LAZAROS Saturday give a month towards our future Join us next Saturday to help fold palm crosses after As we did last year, we would like to offer families Divine Services. Please consider bringing a lenten and individuals the opportunity to help offset our snack to share. additional mortgage payment with a donation of community pascha card $640. If you would like to sponsor one month for 2016, please contact Fr. Michael. Thank you for This is the last week to participate. Please see Mat- your generosity! thew Monos or Eleni Papadakis. Thank you for your support! luncheon - April 24 Tickets are available from Georgia Pardalos. Please purchase your tickets today so we know how much food to prepare. There will only be a very limited number of tickets available next week. St Simeon also learned about the death of Usp- The holy hierarch raised Akakios with love, made hazanes, and he gave thanks to the Lord. When they him a , and then ordained him a and brought him before the emperor a second time, St then to the holy priesthood. St Akakios devoutly Simeon again refused to worship the pagan gods and served the Church. He instructed both adults and confessed his faith in Christ. The enraged emperor children in the Holy Scripture, and in the Orthodox gave orders to behead all the Christians in the prison Confession of faith. before the saint’s eyes. Among his disciples was St Euthymius the Great Without fear the Christians went to execution, (January 20). blessed by the holy hierarch, and they bent their After the death of St Ostrychius, St Akakios was heads beneath the sword. St Simeon’s companion, the elevated to the bishop’s throne of Melitene by general Priest Habdelai, was also beheaded. When they came acclamation. He wisely governed his diocese. By his to the Priest Ananias, he suddenly trembled. Then firm faith, humility and deeds, the saint acquired the one of the dignitaries, St Physikos, a Christian, gift of wonderworking. Once, during a dry summer, was afraid that Ananias would renounce Christ, and the saint celebrated Liturgy in an open field, suddenly he cried out, “Do not fear the sword, Elder, and you the wine in the Holy was mixed by the falling will see the divine light of our Lord Jesus Christ.” rain, which fell throughout the land. St Physikos betrayed himself by this outburst. He prayed during a flood, and the advancing river The emperor gave orders to pluck out his tongue and turned away and did not rise higher than the stone to flay the skin off him. Along with St Physikos, his which he had placed at the riverbank. On one of the daughter Askitrea was also martyred. St Simeon was islands of the River Azar, despite the opposition of the last to go before the executioner, and he placed his the pagans, the saint built a temple in honor of the head on the chopping-block (April 13, 344). Execu- Most Holy Theotokos. The builders of the church tions continued all during Bright Week until April 23. either through carelessness or through malice, were St Azates the Eunuch, a close official to the em- not careful in building the dome. During the Liturgy peror, also received the crown of martyrdom. The the dome was ready to collapse. The people rushed sources indicate that 1,150 Martyrs perished because out of the church in terror. But the saint halted their they refused to accept the Persian religion. flight saying, “The Lord is the defender of my life, of Saint Akakios, Bishop of Melitene, was born into whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 26/27:1). The dome re- a pious family in the Armenian city of Melitene. His mained suspended in the air. Only when the services parents were childless for a long time. They prayed for were ended, and the saint was the last one to emerge a son, and vowed to dedicate him to God. Therefore, from the church, did the dome collapse, causing harm Akakios was given to Bishop Ostrychius of Melitene to no one. After this, the church was rebuilt. (November 7) to serve the Church. St Ostrychius St Akakios participated in the Third Ecumenical was a firm supporter of Orthodoxy. When the heresy Council (431) and he defended the Orthodox teach- of Macedonius arose, it was St Ostrychius who set ing of the Two Natures (Divine and Human) of the forth the Orthodox teaching about the as Savior, and of His seedless Birth from the Most Holy the Third Person of the Holy One in Essence Virgin Mother of God. and Undivided at the Second Ecumenical Council St Akakios peacefully fell asleep in the Lord (381). around the year 435. He should not be confused with St Akakios the Confessor (March 31), who was also a Solovki could not stand life in such harsh conditions, bishop of Melitene. and so the brethren chose St Zosimas as igumen. Saint Zosimas, Igumen of Solovki a great lumi- St Zosimas occupied himself with building up the nary of the Russian North, was the founder of ceno- inner life of the , and he introduced a strict bitic monasticism on Solovki Island. He was born in cenobitic life. In 1465 he transferred the of St Novgorod diocese, in the village of Tolvui near Lake Sabbatius to Solovki from the River Vyg. The monas- Onega. From his early years he was raised in piety, tery suffered from the Novgorod nobles, who confis- and after the death of his parents Gabriel and Barbara, cated catches of fish from the monks. The saint was he gave away his possessions and received monastic obliged to go to Novgorod and seek the protection of tonsure. the archbishop. In search of a solitary place, he journeyed to the On the advice of the archbishop, he visited the shores of the White Sea, and at the mouth of the homes of the nobles and asked them not to permit Suma he met St Herman (July 30), who told him of a the ruin of the monastery. The influential and rich desolate sea island, where he had spent six years with Martha Boretskaya impiously gave orders to throw St St Sabbatius (September 27). Zosimas out, but then repented and invited him to a Around the year 1436, the hermits crossed the sea meal. At this meal he suddenly saw that six of the illus- and landed at the Solovki islands. There St Zosimas trious nobles sat without their heads. St Zosimas told had a vision of a beautiful church in the sky. With about this vision to his Daniel and predicted their own hands the monks built cells and an enclo- an immanent death for the nobles. The prediction sure, and they began to cultivate and sow the land. was fulfilled in the year 1478, when the boyars were Once, in late autumn, St Herman went to the main- executed during the capture of Novgorod by Ivan III land for provisions. Because of the autumn weather (1462-1505). he was not able to return. St Zosimas remained alone Shortly before death, the saint prepared his own on the island all winter. He suffered many tempta- grave, in which he was buried beyond the of the tions in struggles with the demons. Death by starva- Transfiguration church (+ April 17, 1478). Later on, tion threatened him, but miraculously two strangers a chapel was built over his relics. His relics and the appeared and left him a supply of bread, flour and relics of St Sabbatius were transferred to the chapel oil. In spring St Herman returned to Solovki with the dedicated to them at the Transfiguration on fisherman Mark, and he brought supplies of food and August 8, 1566. rigging for fishing nets. Many miracles took place when St Zosimas and St When several hermits had gathered on the island, Sabbatius appeared to fishermen who were perishing St Zosimas constructed a small wooden church in in the depths of the sea. St Zosimas is also a patron of honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and a trape- bee-keeping and preserver of beehives, and he is even za. At the request of St Zosimas, an igumen was sent called “Bee-keeper.” from Novgorod to the newly-formed monastery with Those who are sick hasten to St Zosimas, asking to an antimension for the church. Thus the renowned be healed. The many hospital churches dedicated to Solovki monastery had its start. In the severe condi- him attest to the curative tions of the remote island the monks knew how to economize. But the igumens sent from Novgorod to 8

SCHEDULE: Holy and Great Week Holy Sunday, April 24 7:00pm Orthros of Great Monday in commemoration of the Beautiful Joseph and the Withered Fig Tree

Holy Monday, April 25 7:00pm Orthros of Great Tuesday, in commemoration of the Parable of the Ten Virgins

Holy Tuesday, April 26 7:00pm Orthros of Great Wednesday, in commemoration of the Sinful Woman who anointed the feet of the Lord with her tears

Holy Wednesday, April 27 9:00am Divine Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts

3:45pm Mystery of Holy Oil

7:00pm Orthros of Great Thursday, in commemoration of the Washing of the Feet and the Mystical Supper

Holy Thursday, April 28 7:00am Vesperal Divine the Great

7:00pm The Holy, Saving and Dread Passion of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ

Holy Friday, April 29 9:00am

3:00pm The Unnailing

7:00pm Orthros of Great Saturday (Lamentations)

Holy Saturday, April 30 9:00am Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great

11:15pm of the Great and Holy Pascha of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ Anastasi meal of soup and bread following services.

PASCHA, May 1 3:00pm Vespers of Love Paschal Picnic following services. Flowers and Decorations for Holy Week and Pascha

It is a tradition to decorate the interior of Orthodox Churches with fresh flowers for the commemoration of our Lord’s dread and fearful passion and the celebration of His Glorious Resurrection. Any offering that will help us defray the cost of flowers this year will be greatly appreciated.

PALM SUNDAY HOLY FRIDAY Palm Leaves ...... $150 Flowers for Kouvouklion ...... 6 @ $100 Decorated for Palm Sunday...... $300 Rose Petals ...... $100 White Orchids ...... 6 @ $15 / ea. HOLY SUNDAY EVENING Decorated icon for Bridegroom Service ...... $300 Bay Leaves ...... $150 HOLY WEDNESDAY Olive Oil...... $50 PASCHA Decorated icon of the Mystical Supper ...... $300 Garland for Icon Screen ...... 4 @ $75, 1 @ $250 Icon for Resurrection (stationary) ...... $300 HOLY THURSDAY Paschal Candle for Holy Altar ...... $175 Wreath for Crucified Lord, “Stavromenos” .....$200 Decorated icon of the Crucifixion ...... $300 Additional Floral Expenses ...... $200

If you would like to donate any of these items (or a part of any item), please see Fr. Michael or send a check to the Church with the item being donated noted in the memo area of your check.