SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH July 6, 2014
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SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH july 6, 2014 fourth sunday of matthew aint Sisoes the Great (+ 429) was a solitary monk, pursuing asceticism in the Egyptian desert in a cave Ssanctified by the prayerful labors of his predecessor, St Anthony the Great (January 17). For his sixty years of labor in the desert, St Sisoes attained to sublime spiritual purity and he was granted the gift of won- derworking, so that by his prayers he once restored a dead child back to life. Extremely strict with himself, Abba Sisoes was very merciful and compassionate to others, and he re- ceived everyone with love. To those who visited him, the saint first of all always taught humility. When one of the monks asked how he might attain to a constant remembrance of God, St Sisoes remarked, “That is no great thing, my son, but it is a great thing to regard yourself as inferior to everyone else. This leads to the acquisition of humility.” Asked by the monks whether one year is sufficient for repentance if a brother sins, Abba Sisoes said, “I trust in the mercy of God that if such a man repents with all his heart, then God will accept his repentance in three days.” When St Sisoes lay upon his deathbed, the disciples surrounding the Elder saw that his face shone like the sun. They asked the dying man what he saw. Abba Sisoes replied that he saw St Anthony, the prophets, and the apostles. His face increased in brightness, and he spoke with someone. The monks asked, “With whom are you speaking, Father?” He said that angels had come for his soul, and he was entreating them to give him a little more time for repentance. The monks said, “You have no need for repentance, Father” St Sisoes said with great humility, “I do not think that I have even begun to repent.” After these words the face of the holy abba shone so brightly that the brethren were not able to look upon him. St Sisoes told them that he saw the Lord Himself. Then there was a flash like lightning, and a fragrant odor, and Abba Sisoes departed to the Heavenly Kingdom. The Holy Martyrs Lucy (Lucia) the Virgin, Rexius, Antoninus, Lucian, Isidore, Dion, Diodorus, Cuto- nius, Arnosus, Capicus and Satyrus: St Lucy, a native of the Italian district of Campania, from the time of her youth dedicated herself to God and lived in an austere and chaste manner. While still quite young, she was taken captive and carried off into a foreign land by Rexius, who had the title of Vicarius (a substitute for a dead or absent provincial governor). Rexius at first tried to compel St Lucy to sacrifice to idols but, she remained firm in her faith and was ready to accept torture for the sake of Christ. Rexius was inspired with profound respect for her and even permitted her and her servants the use of a separate house, where they lived in solitude, spending their 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 γ. apolytikion. Mode 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 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. What anyone loves he surely holds on to, and looks down on everything that hinders his way to it so as not to be deprived of it. And the one who loves God cultivates pure prayer and throws off from himself every passion which hinders him. “ —St. maximos the confessor ” THE READINGS OF THE DAY epistle reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 8:5-13 romans 6:18-23 rethren, having been set free from sin, you t that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a have become slaves of righteousness. I am centurion came forward to him, beseeching Bspeaking in human terms, because of your nat- Ahim and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying ural limitations. For just as you once yielded your paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And he said members to impurity and to greater and greater in- to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centu- iquity, so now yield your members to righteousness rion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you you come under my roof; but only say the word, were free in regard to righteousness. But then what and my servant will be healed. For I am a man un- return did you get from the things of which you are der authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to now ashamed? The end of those things is death. one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and But now that you have been set free from sin and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does have become slaves of God, the return you get is it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell in Christ Jesus our Lord. you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the king- dom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will Do not compare yourself to be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion weaker men, but rather reach Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have be- out to the commandment of lieved.” And the servant was healed at that very mo- “ ment. love. For by comparing your- self to these you fall into the pit of conceit; in reaching out for the latter you advance to the heights of humility. —st. maximos the confessor” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm received into the catechumenate: Ebby (Augustine) & Elizabeth Varghese upcoming church services: Saturday, July 12, Great Vespers, 5pm fr. michael away this week church attire Fr. Michael will be at Clergy-Laity in Philadelphia There is no allowance for Church “summer- from 7/7 - 7/11. wear.” An Orthodox Christian should always dress pilgrimage to the holy land for Church in modest attire (in every season), so as not to draw attention to him/herself, becoming Brochures and registration forms are available a distraction to others. Traditionally women wear in the Narthex. $350 deadline has been extended. dresses or skirts of at least knee length; dresses, See Fr. Michael if you are interested. blouses / tops should, at minimum, include short remember the church this summer sleeves and cover the shoulder. Women should If you will be traveling this summer, please consid- not wear lipstick or lip gloss to Church - it leaves ering making your stewardship offering in advance. a residue on the icons and on the Communion This helps the Church keep current with its finan- spoon. Men should dress in pants and polo or but- cial obligations. ton-down shirts. Shorts should never be worn in Church. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing is not holy chalice (αγ. ποτηριο) donations appropriate for women or men. Donations of $1000 have been received towards church ETiquette the acquisition of a new Chalice. Another $2000 is needed. Please see Fr. Michael is you are able to The Church temple and her services demand make a donation of any amount. Thank you. our respect – it is a meeting place of heaven and earth, and the Lord is always before us on the Holy ronald mcdonald house Altar Table.