Zaccheus Sunday 2021
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St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church of the San Fernando Valley a Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America 16643 Vanowen Street; Van Nuys, California; 91406 stmichaelvannuys.org His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America www.antiochian.org Archpriest Timothy Baclig, Pastor [email protected] Rev. Fr. Minas Sarchizian, Assisting Priest [email protected] Rev. Deacon Andrew Monsue [email protected] Subdeacon Richard Tamoush [email protected] Subdeacon Magued Wassef [email protected] Subdeacon Richard Ajalat, Pastoral Assistant [email protected] Parish Council Chair - Kris Thabit [email protected] Council Vice-Chair - Connie Abdun-Nur Barilla [email protected] Council Secretary - John Khouri [email protected] Council Treasurer - Julie Bitar [email protected] Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of No. America (AOCWNA) Chapter President - Charmaine Darmour [email protected] Choir Director - Art Danks [email protected] Church School Director - Lila Coudsy [email protected] Youth Director - Cooper Rowe [email protected] Young Adult Director - Richard Ajalat [email protected] Young Parents’ Ministry - Brittney Ajalat [email protected] Faithtree Resources Exec. Director - Michelle Moujaes [email protected] Project Manager - Michael J. Malouf [email protected] Stewardship Chair - Richard Tamoush [email protected] Capital Funds Campaign Chair - Ron Zraick [email protected] Property Management Chair - Eric Nelson [email protected] Bookstore Manager - Bobbi Monsue [email protected] Golf Classic Chair - Fred Milkie [email protected] Webmaster - Dan Raju [email protected] Coffee Hour Coordinator - Cindy Tamoush [email protected] Head Usher - Ramez Hage [email protected] The Thirty-second Sunday of Pentecost and The Fifteenth Sunday of Luke (“Sunday of Zacchaeus”) The Holy and Wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John Martyrs Athanasia and her daughters Theodota, Theoktiste and Eudoxia of Egypt; New-martyr Elias in the Peloponnesus; Nikita of the Kiev Caves, Bishop of Novgorod Sunday, January 31, 2021 Tone 1; Eothinon 1 Apolytikion of the Resurrection (Tone 1) While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind. Apolytikion of our Patron the Archangel Michael (Tone 4) O ye foremost of the heavenly hosts we beseech thee, though we are unworthy, pray that we may be encompassed with a shadow of Thy unearthly glory, preserving us who kneel and cry endlessly: deliver us from oppression since ye are the prince of the Highest Power. Apolytikion of Ss. Cyrus and John (Tone 5) Since Thou hast given us the miracles of Thy holy Martyrs, Cyrus and John, as an invincible battlement, by their entreaties scatter the counsels of the heathen, O Christ our God, and strengthen the faith of Orthodox Christians, since Thou alone art good and the Lover of mankind. Kontakion of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Tone 1) [In anticipation of the Feast of the Presentation on February 2nd] Thou, O Christ God, Who by Thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve Thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom Thou didst love, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind. Daily Readings THE EPISTLE (for the Thirty-second Sunday after Pentecost) The Lord will give strength to His people. Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of God; ascribe to the Lord honor and glory. The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy (4:9-15) Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. THE GOSPEL (for the Fifteenth Sunday of Luke, “Zacchaeus”) The Reading of the Holy Gospel is according to St. Luke (19:1-10) At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see Who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for He was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” The Synaxarion On January 31 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate the holy and wonderworking Unmercenaries Cyrus and John, and the holy Martyr Athanasia and her three daughters, the virgins Theodota, Theoktiste, and Eudoxia of Egypt. Verses John who with Cyrus against the sword contended Worketh wonders with him after the sword also. A most noble mother and three goodly daughters, Longing for the Father of all, are beheaded. On the thirty-first they beheaded Cyrus and John. As a physician, Cyrus healed people by the power of Christ and by his knowledge of medicine. Learning that sickness mostly befalls man because of sin, Cyrus always directed the sick to purify their souls through repentance and prayer, and thereby restore health to the body. Cyrus withdrew to Arabia where he received the monastic tonsure. Hearing about Cyrus, John—then a Roman officer in Edessa—came to Arabia to live a life of asceticism with him. At that time, a Christian woman named Athanasia and her three daughters were tortured in the town of Canopus. Hearing of this, Cyrus and John came to Canopus to encourage the family not to abandon the Faith. Thanks to the counsel of these saints, Anastasia endured with her daughters Theoktiste (age 15), Theodota (age 13) and Eudoxia (age 11) and were martyred for Christ. The tormentors then captured Cyrus and John, who, after imprisonment and torture, were beheaded in 311. These saints are invoked for assistance during the Blessing of Water, in the Sacrament of Holy Unction and especially by those suffering from insomnia. On this day, we also commemorate the New-martyr Elias in the Peloponnesus; and Nikita of the Kiev Caves, bishop of Novgorod. By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy upon us and save us. Amen. GLOSSARY: Apolytikion (ah-poh-lee-tee-key-on); plural, Apolytikia: A brief poem in accentual metre, expressing the theme of a feast. Kontakion (kon-tah-kee-on); plural, Kontakia: A special kind of Troparion that expresses the teaching of a Feast. It summarizes and applies the meaning of a feast of day. Orthros (Or-thros): The word literally means early morning. It is the name of the service, which by some has been called Matins, and still by others, Lauds, though it does not correspond exactly to either of the Western Services. Eothinon (ee-oh-thee-non): meaning – pertaining to the dawn. They are the eleven assigned readings of the Gospel during the Orthros Service, pertaining to the eleven appearances of our Lord to His Disciples after the Resurrection. Synaxis (see-nax-sees) “the gathering or coming together” as it pertains to a celebration of a commemoration or feast. Following a major Feast a “Synaxis” commemorates the “co-stars” of the Feast, i.e., following the Feast of the Presentation of Christ (Ss. Simeon and Anna), following the Feast of the Birth of Christ (the Holy Virgin Mary), following the Feast of Holy Theophany (St. John the Baptist), etc. Synaxarion (see-nax-sah-ree-on) the summary of a Feast, describing a historical significance and meaning of a commemoration. A Note Regarding Holy Communion Since we understand Communion to mean that we have all things in common, sharing an identical Faith, only those who are members of the Orthodox Church and who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and recent Confession may participate in Holy Communion. (We invite all, however, to partake of the blessed bread which is distributed at the dismissal.) Please see the Pastor Pastor for inquiries on how to become a member. OFFERINGS Holy Bread is being offered this morning in loving memory of Dr. John Abdun-Nur (+31 January 2008), by his beloved wife Margaret, their children and grandchildren. Memory eternal. Holy Bread is being offered by Praneet & Christine Panga and family for the five-year memorial of Praneet’s mother, Arti Devadas (+25 January, 2016).