SAINT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH july 6, 2014

fourth sunday of matthew

aint Sisoes the Great (+ 429) was a solitary , pursuing in the Egyptian desert in a cave Ssanctified by the prayerful labors of his predecessor, St (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 first of all always taught humility. When one of the 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 , 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 , , and 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. 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 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. We should always arrive to the Church If you would like to help by preparing a meal for on time. While everyone is encouraged to prepare Ronald McDonald House, please see the sign up for and to receive Holy Communion, if we come to sheet in the Narthex. If you have any questions, Church after the sacred readings of the Epistle and please see Karen Sade. Holy Gospel then we should not approach the Di- prosphoron vine Chalice, lest we partake in “an unworthy man- ner.” Regularly arriving late for the Divine Services Please see the sign up sheet in the Narthex to sign demonstrates a casual attitude towards sacred wor- up to bake prosforon. If you are unable to bake, ship, and is unbecoming of an Orthodox Christian. please consider donating $20 for the wine used for Holy Communion. Thank you. time in unceasing prayer. Whenever he left to go on to the prison where St Cyrenus was incarcerated, military campaigns, Rexius reverently asked for St but did not find him. He had been executed the Lucy’s prayers, and he returned victorious. day before and his body was thrown into the Tiber After 20 years St Lucy, having learned that River. Doing their holy duty, Sts Marinus and Mar- the emperor Diocletian had begun a persecution tha and their sons took the body of the holy martyr against Christians, entreated Rexius to send her from the river and committed it to the earth. The back to Italy. She wanted to glorify the Lord togeth- holy workers were among Christians, who contin- er with her fellow countrymen. Rexius, under the ued secretly to perform the divine services under influence of St Lucy, had already accepted Christi- the leadership of the holy Callistus, and hid anity by this time, and even longed for martyrdom. them from their pursuers. Leaving behind his retinue and family, he went to In consummation of their great charitable deeds Rome with St Lucy. The Roman prefect Aelius the holy family was deemed worthy to glorify the sentenced them to be beheaded with a sword. After Lord by martyrdom. The pagans beheaded the them the holy martyrs Antoninus, Lucian, Isidore, courageous confessor Valentinus the Presbyter, Dion, Diodorus, Cutonis, Arnosus, Capicus and and the imperial gardener Asterius who had been Satyrus (+ 301) were also beheaded. In all, twenty- converted by him, and the holy ascetics from Persia four martyrs suffered with Sts Lucy and Rexius. were arrested and given over to torture. By order of The Holy Martyrs Asterius, Martha, Marinus, the emperor, Sts Marinus, Audifax and Audifax, Habakkuk, Cyrenus, Valentinus the Pres- were beheaded in the year 269, and St Martha was byter, and many others with them at Rome. drowned in a river. During the reign of the emperor Claudius II The relics of the holy are in Rome at the (268-270), St Marinus together with his wife Mar- Church of St John the Hut-Dweller, and the relics tha and their sons Audifax and Habakkuk jour- of St Valentinus are in the Church of the holy Mar- neyed from Persia to Rome, to pray at the graves tyr Paraskeva. of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. During this Saint Sisoes, Schemamonk of the Kiev Caves time fierce persecutions and executions befell the (XIII), is commemorated in the general service Roman Church. St Marinus and his wife and sons of the Monastic Fathers of Kiev Caves whose rel- helped Christians locked up in the prisons, and also ics rest in the Far Caves. He is mentioned together to request the bodies of executed martyrs. At one with St Gregory the Faster: “Sisoes the wondrous of these jails they met a prisoner named Cyrenus and Gregory, a name courageous, having by fasting and they helped him, since he had endured many both restrained their passions, humble the fierce torments for faith in Christ. lust of our flesh: for unto you is given the grace to The persecution spread, and even more Chris- help us in our passions” (5th Ode of the Canon). tians were arrested. During this time 260 Chris- tians, among whom was the tribune Vlastus, had been sent under the court sentence to dig ground along the Salerian Way, and were executed by ar- chers. When they learned about this vicious mur- der, Marinus, his family, and the presbyter John went by night and took the bodies of the martyrs to be buried in the catacombs. They returned later On Humility and the Humble Outlook by Elder of Vatopaidi (†2009)

lessed and favoured people who are humble are was with the wild animals and served by angels; He Bmeek, calm, serene, attached to virtue, opposed to Who walked on the water and rebuked the winds and evil, untroubled by any circumstance or threat. They the storm; He Who cast out evil demons, Who cured live in the bosom of the faith, like infants in the mater- the disease that affects all humankind by vanquish- nal embrace of grace. They never live for themselves, ing death; He Who gave life, Who became and is ‘the because they’ve forgotten what that is. They’ve be- Resurrection of all’ and Who praised the humble, come one with the others; they become all things to saying ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for of such is the everyone, in order to bring solace to them. They cry kingdom of heaven’. with those who are weeping and rejoice with those *** who are glad. Since, by grace, they’ve been absorbed into Christ the Saviour, they bear all burdens, with- According to the Fathers, humility is a gift of the out ever distressing or embittering other people. In Holy Spirit, not merely a human accomplishment. It’s the fullness of their love towards others, even towards given to those who desire it, seek it and work painstak- irrational creation, by their submission to every other ingly on the things which contribute to the success- person, they provide whatever it is that circumstances ful acquisition of this blessing. Humility begins with demand while, at the same time, disappearing into the the humble outlook and ends with behaving hum- cover of their humility so as to pass unnoticed. They bly. People who don’t attribute to themselves abili- avoid the limelight, turn down honours and don’t ties greater than those possessed by others and who seek gratitude. They’re beloved by all and never have think humbly about themselves, begin to value their any enemies. If ever there’s cause for them to be taunt- fellow human beings, accept blame when they’re ad- ed and judged, the charges against them won’t stand monished and listen to advice. They become gentler up to a personal confrontation. The mystical protec- in character, restrain their anger and are easily moved tion of grace which accompanies them inspires fear to sympathy. If they make this position dependent on and veneration in other people and their decisions God and do so as a conscious effort of Christian mo- and feelings are changed in a trice. Those who were at rality, they pray to God and beg Him to strengthen first accusers are transformed into servants. But even them. Then they make progress, by God’s grace, to- irrational creation, animate and inanimate, changes wards the feeling of more perfect humility, which is a its roughness in the presence of humble people. The gift of God. There are also people who are naturally divine grace which enfolds them is perceptible imme- gifted with meekness and humility, and though this is diately by the harsh elements and the wild animals, praiseworthy, it’s not worthy of reward, because these which cease their natural activity and are transformed qualities have been acquired without labour, struggle into servants, because, around humble people, they and effort. scent their first lord, sinless Adam, who approached There’s also the unnatural state of humiliation in them and gave them names, as their master and god- which people found themselves after the Fall, when father. they simultaneously lost their nobility, eternity and `In the presence of humble people, we can all discern immortality and subjected themselves as slaves to the character of Christ the Saviour, of the New Cre- death and corruption. Humiliation, as fall, devasta- ation, the new Adam. He Who fasted in the desert, tion and failure exists, unfortunately in all of us, but more so in those who believe they’re extra special. in him, he gave the right to become children of God’ Here this is not humility, the spiritual value given (Jn. 1, 12). Again, in his first epistle, Saint John says, by God to those who are perfect in virtue, but rather ‘but we know that when Christ appears in his sec- the personality that has fallen away from its natural ond coming, we shall become like him’ (I Jn. 3, 2), bounds into an unnatural life and way of behaving, so that, according to Paul, we shall be ‘heirs of God both in outlook and action. and co-heirs with his Son’ (Rom. 8, 17). The gift of We mention this because those who desire to be God through Christ our Saviour has raised us to this worthy of the gift of humility should know that the grace of adoption, of theanthropism and of glorifica- greatest contributory factor in this is recognition of tion. Through the sacraments of the Church and the the passionate state into which all the passions have observance of the commandments, all the faithful re- brought us after the Fall, as well as the noxious con- ceive and ‘potentially’ have all this grace within them, sequences of a sinful life. People ask: ‘How can we so that they can become children of God and siblings become humble? We answer: ‘Discover your humili- of Christ. Proof of this are the saints of our Church, ation; where you are; where the devil, sin and vari- who – as Christ said – did as He did and performed ous other causes have made you blunder. After you’ve even greater works by His grace. become aware of that, repent, and, if you weep over it, If each of us examines where we are in our inner you’ll acquire spiritual humility, which God will grant and outer world, on the basis of the sanctity and dei- you’. There are two ways, equally effective, whereby fication that belong to us, we’ll find our humiliation we can measure the depth of our fall. We’ve just men- and our wretchedness, into which we’ve been dragged tioned one way- the ascending, superior form. by the devil and sin. If these two ways which we’ve The descending, inferior form begins from the first explained are understood in relation to our individual position of the personality at our creation. What were knowledge, they are of the greatest assistance in find- we like as God’s first creation? God word’s enough to ing the principle of the humble outlook and after a tell us, since He says we were made ‘in His image and fitting struggle and repentance, we will attain genuine likeness’. We were simple, good, gentle, whole, sober, humility, if we so wish. just and, generally unimpeachable, entirely lambent and devoted to God. We know nothing of any need, People as Liturgical Beings pain, fear, danger, corruption or death, our terrible by Abbot George Kapsanis of Gregoriou enemy. That’s a brief picture of our personality be- PART 1 fore the Fall, our real personality. And we abandoned e usually characterize people as rational and in- the eternal benefits of unfailing bliss, which we had Wdependent beings. These attributes are correct inherited by being enfolded in God’s paternal em- enough, but don’t convey human nature in its complete- brace. If we now turn back here to where we are, each ness. of us separately and all together, we’ll see that we’re Through the liturgical experience, we feel that, more wretched and humiliated, in the most shameful and than anything, people are liturgical beings. They were miserable of lives, which differ not at all from death. made to serve, to offer themselves and the whole world I ask those who want to become humble and don’t to God with gratitude, praise and worship, to unite with know how, isn’t that in itself enough for them to real- God, to be sanctified, to live, through this continual of- ize where they are? fering/sacrifice/service. Rationality, independence and the other attributes We know the grace of God, which has been giv- were given to us for this reason, so that we can put our- en to us through the Cross and the Resurrection of selves into this liturgical relationship with the Triune Christ. ‘But to those who received him and believed God. In this liturgical ascent, people act as being ‘in the image’ and are elevated to being ‘in the likeness’. Life in Paradise was a Divine Liturgy. Together with concelebrate and together praise the All-Holy Trinity the angels, Adam and Eve served the Holy Trinity. With ‘with ceaseless mouths and unflagging praises’. the fall into egocentrism they lost the possibility of of- Every baptized Orthodox Christian who dies in or- fering themselves and the world to God in a Eucharistic der to live takes part in this joint ministry. In this shared manner and thus of taking part in the joint ministry in Liturgy people find their true nature and their true re- Paradise. pose, their real ‘in the image of God’ self. Outside this Self-exiled from the Liturgy in Paradise, they found shared Liturgy, people may be Homo Sapiens or Homo themselves on earth without the function of the Liturgy. Economicus of the Socialist or Capitalist society, but ‘The ‘in the image’ was no longer active. Some remnants not the rulers of creation, not the tipping point between and sparks from the prelapsarian function of service re- the created and uncreated world and ‘in the image of mained within them. These moved them to build altars God’. and to carry out sacrifices to God. The Divine Liturgy of the New Testament began At best, this worship was fragmentary, a shadow, with the incarnation of the Word and is continued into a type. It didn’t bring people into perfect communion the far future by the Great High Priest. Every Divine and union with God. It didn’t give us the Holy Spirit. It Liturgy celebrated at the altars on earth is a participa- didn’t save us from death. It did, however, encourage in tion in time in this timeless, everlasting Liturgy. ‘We sin- us the desire for the true Messianic Liturgy. This desire ners also cry aloud with the Blessed Powers, Master and and vision gave hope to the people who were sitting in Lover of Humankind, and say: ‘Holy You are and Most darkness and the shadow of death. Ho l y…’. The Heavenly Father’s love could not leave us with- Every Priest and Bishop who celebrates at the earthly out liturgical service. By His providence, the Word was altars ‘performs the priestly function of Christ in the made flesh. Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, began Church’ (canon of Carthage). He doesn’t have his own the joint ministry of the New Testament. priesthood. He takes part in the unique Priesthood of The Liturgy of the New Testament could only have Christ. been instituted by Christ, because Christ alone was able Our greatest sin today is that we don’t have a Liturgi- to offer Himself and the whole world completely to the cal function. We don’t offer and aren’t offered to God Triune God. There were people who sacrificed in the and to our fellow human beings. Old Testament, too. There were no sacrificial victims. It was once considered an insult to say that some- Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice and at the same body was ‘un-liturgized’. Today, however, because of our time the perfect person to perform the sacrifice. The un- unbelief and hardness of heart, it’s considered natural, blemished sacrifice. The Lamb of God Who takes away whereas it’s unnatural and weird for people to exercise a the sin of the world… Liturgical function. People- and the world- without Liturgical function, Even when people today ‘go to church’, it’s hard to know being un-liturgized fell into the power of the devil and whether they really do exercise a Liturgical function, of death. With His death on the Cross and His Resur- that is whether they take part in the Universal Mystery rection, Christ redeemed us from this enslavement, of the Eucharist and of the Church, whether they under- liberated us and gave us the chance to take part in the stand the Divine Liturgy not simply as a religious and joint ministry of the New Testament. That is, to offer social duty but as an offering and sacrifice to God, in ourselves to God, to thank God and to praise Him. In Christ. It’s possible even for someone to celebrate the being offered and offering all things with Christ to God, Divine Liturgy as a priest and yet in essence to be out- we serve as people. That is ‘in the image of God’. We be- side the Liturgy, because he doesn’t offer himself and all come real people. things to God. The Liturgy of the New Testament is greatly superior These Christians outside the Liturgy, clergy and la- to the Liturgy in Paradise. Now the High Priest is the ity, basically don’t live. According to the Revelation, Son of God Himself. The Mother of God and the Saints ‘You have a name for being alive, but you are dead’ (3, 1). To be continued…