SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH January 29, 2017

SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH january 29, 2017

the sunday of the canaanite woman

The Transfer of the Relics of the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer: (See December 20). After the holy hieromartyr Ignatius was thrown to the lions in the year 107 on the orders of the emperor Trajan, Chris- tians gathered up his bones and preserved them at Rome. Later, in the year 108, the saint’s relics were collected and buried outside the gate of Daphne at Antioch. A second transfer, to the city of Antioch itself, took place in the year 438. After the capture of Antioch by the Persians, the relics of the Hieromartyr Ignatius were returned to Rome and placed into the church of the holy Hieromartyr Clement in the year 540 ( in 637, according to other sources). Saint Ignatius introduced antiphonal singing into Church services. He has left us seven archpastoral epistles in which he provided instructions on faith, love and good works. He also urged his flock to preserve the unity of the faith and to beware of heretics. He encouraged people to honor and obey their bishops, “we should regard the bishop as we would the Lord Himself” (To the Ephesians 6) In his Letter to Polycarp, Saint Ignatius writes: “Listen to the bishop, if you want God to listen to you... let your baptism be your shield, your faith a helmet, your charity a spear, your patience, like full armor.” (Compare Eph. 6:14-17 and the Wisdom of Solomon 5:17-20. Also THE LADDER 4:2) Saint Laurence, Hermit of the Caves and Bishop of Turov, in the Near Caves at first lived as a hermit at the monastery of the Great Martyr Demetrius, built by Great Prince Izyaslav at Kiev near the Monastery of the Caves. Later, he transferred to the Kiev Caves monastery, and was glorified by a gift of healing. He was elevated to the See of Turov in 1182 (Turov is a city in the Minsk region), and was a successor of Saint Cyril of Turov (April 28). He died in 1194, and was buried in the Near Caves. His memory is cel- ebrated also on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent. In the year 786, Ashot, the son of Adarnerse, ascended the throne of Kartli. From the very beginning of his reign he fought fiercely for the reunification of Georgia. His first step was to take advantage of the Arab Muslims’ weariness and banish them from Tbilisi.

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 βαρυς. resurrectional apolyt mode grave. ατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, y means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished Kἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Bdeath. To the robber You opened Paradise. Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς The lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας· ὅτι ἀνέ- You transformed, and You gave Your Apostles στης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ the order to proclaim to all that You had risen, μέγα ἔλεος. O Christ our God, and granted the world Your great mercy. Ἀπολυτ. του αποστολου. Ἦχος δ. apolyt. of the saint. mode 4. αὶ τρόπων μέτοχος, καὶ θρόνων διάδοχος, ecoming a partner with the Apostles in way Kτῶν Ἀποστόλων γενόμενος, τὴν πρᾶξιν Bof life and successor to their thrones, O God- εὗρες Θεόπνευστε, εἰς θεωρίας ἐπίβασιν· διὰ inspired Saint, in the active life you found an en- τοῦτο τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας ὀρθοτομῶν, καὶ trance to contemplation. Hence you rightly ex- τῇ πίστει ἐνήθλησας μέχρις αἵματος, Ἱερομάρ- pounded the word of truth, and you shed your τυς Ἰγνάτιε. πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆ- blood in struggling for the faith, O Hieromartyr ναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Ignatius. Intercede with Christ our God, be- seeching Him to save our souls. Ἀπολυτίκιον του ναου. πλ. α. Apolyt. for the martyr. Mode 5. ουκάν τον πανύμνητον καὶ ἅγιον ἀπόστο- he holy Apostle, the All-hymned Luke, * who Λλον, τὸν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας γνωστὸν συνθέτην Tis acknowledged by the Church of Christ * as τῶν Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν the recorder of the Acts of the Apostles, * and the τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, splendid author of the Gospel of Christ. * Let us ἀξίως τιμήσωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, ὡς νοσημάτων praise with sacred hymns as a physician, * who ἀνθρωπίνων καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν θεραπευ- heals the infirmities of man, * and the ailments τήν, τὸν καθαίροντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύματος, of nature, * who cleanses spiritual wounds, and καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως πρεσβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν prays unceasingly for our souls. ἡμῶν. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος α. Kontakion. Mode 1. μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῷ τόκῳ σου, ou sanctified the virginal womb by Your birth, Ὁκαὶ χεῖρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρε- YO Lord, and blessed the hands of Symeon fit- πε, προφθάσας καὶ νῦν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ tingly, O Christ God; and even now You came Θεός. Ἀλλ’ εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευ- and saved us. Now, give peace to our Nation in μα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ time of war, and empower our Leaders, so loved μόνος φιλάνθρωπος. by You, the only one who loves humanity. THE READINGS OF THE DAY

epistle reading gospel reading the second Letter of st. paul to matthew 15:21-28 corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1 rethren, what agreement can there be be- t that time, Jesus left that area and with- tween God’s sanctuary and idols? For you drew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. Bare a sanctuary of the living God. Even ABehold, a Canaanite woman came out as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk from those borders and cried out, “Have mer- in them; and I will be their God, and they will cy on me, Lord, son of David! My daughter is be my people.” Therefore: ‘Come out from severely demonized!” But Jesus did not answer among them and be separate,’ says the Lord. her a word. His disciples came and begged ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. I him, saying, “Send her away! She is shouting will be a Father to you. You will be to me sons after us!” However, Jesus answered, “I was not and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” Since sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house we have these promises, beloved, let us pu- of Israel.” Still, the woman came forward and rify ourselves from all defilement of flesh and expressed adoration to him, saying, “Lord, spirit, so that we may bring [our] holiness to help me.” But he answered, “It is not right to completion in the fear of God. take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” But she replied, “Yes, Lord, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

If a humanist claims to be doing good works, independently of Christ, we can be sure that the works are rotten to the core, either from vainglory or concealed egotism. “ —st nikolai Velimirovich ” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

upcoming church services: Monday, January 30, The Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs, Orthros / Divine Liturgy, 8:30am Thursday, February 2, The Presentation of our Lord, Orthros / Div. Liturgy, 8:30am Saturday, February 4, Great Vespers, 5pm

community potluck Peachtree Banquet Center. This is an important Join us today for our Community Potluck after ser- fund raiser for our parish and we need everyone’s vices. If you were not able to bring a dish to share, participation. Please see the insert in today’s bul- please join us anyway. A donation basket will be letin for additional ways that you can help. available benefiting Philoptochos Programs. Ev- If you would like to sponsor a student or are eryone is welcome to join us for Family Night after willing to donate an extra ticket for the Dinner the meal. Dance, please let Fr. Michael know. Items for the Silent Auction are still needed. Please see John Par- philoptochos dalos or Rebecca Windle if you have any questions. Souper Bowl of Caring: Philoptochos will col- Sponsorships are also available. Please see enclosed lect a second tray on Souper Bowl Sunday, Febru- flyer for ways that you can support this important ary 5. Every dollar donated will go to IOCC (Inter- fund raiser for our parish. national Orthodox Christian Charities) to support college students their ministries. Please bring non-perishable food Philoptochos will be passing out Goody bags for items and place them in the purple food barrel for college students today. We also invite all students our local food bank. Please join us in transforming to join us for our community pot luck today. Super Bowl Sunday into the nation’s largest cel- ebration of giving and serving by participating in save the dates the Souper Bowl of Caring! Dinner Dance: February 19, 2017. Meeting: There will be a general philoptochos Family Night: Sunday, January 29. meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 6pm. It will be pre- volunteers needed ceded by a board meeting at 5:30pm Dessert pastries for the Dinner Dance are needed. Go RED: Join Philoptochos in observing Heart If you are able to bake a dessert, please sign your Healthy Month on February 12 by wearing red to name on the sign up sheet in the Narthex. All Church. We encourage everyone in the commu- pastries need to be in single serving portions and nity to wear red to show your support. brought to the church by Sunday morning on Feb dinner dance - tickets available 19 or delivered to the PeachTree. Thank you! Tickets for the annual Dinner Dance are on sale. Please plan to join us on February 19 at the Three years passed and, under the leadership soon began traveling to Klarjeti to forge their na- of a new ruler, the reinvigorated Muslims began to tion’s future with King Ashot and the other God- hunt for Ashot. The king was forced to flee after he fearing leaders. delayed taking action against them. The enemy had Ashot Kuropalates was not only a leader who again conquered Tbilisi. campaigned vigorously for the unification of Geor- Ashot was compelled to leave Kartli, and he gia—he was truly a godly-minded man. With great departed for Byzantium with his family and small honor and joy he was the host of Fr. Grigol of army. The refugees journeyed as far as Javakheti in Khandzta, a “heavenly man and an earthly angel.” southern Georgia and stopped near Lake Paravani Fr. Grigol blessed Ashot’s kingdom and his inheri- for a rest. But while they were sleeping, a Saracen tance. army assailed their camp. The king’s army was Upon those who labored at Khandzta Monas- doomed, but “God helped Ashot Kuropalates and tery, Ashot Kuropalates bestowed the best lands, his scant army. He bestowed power upon them, and including Shatberdi, to serve as rural estates, which they defeated an enemy that greatly outnumbered would supply food for the monastery. His chil- them.” The king was deeply moved by God’s mi- dren, Adarnerse, Bagrat, and Guaram, would later raculous intervention and decided that, rather than contribute much of their own fortune to the re- journeying on to Byzantium as he had intended, he vival of the monasteries in the KlarjetiWilderness. would remain in the region of Shavshet-Klarjeti. (Udabno in Georgian. Translated as “wilderness,” At that time southern Georgia was suffering these deserted places where hermits made their great calamities. A cholera epidemic intensified abodes often attracted monks and pious laymen as the struggles of a people devastated by a ruthless the fame of these holy men spread. Over the centu- enemy. Very few had survived, but that powerless ries, with the foundation of numerous monasteries, and wearied remnant gladly received Ashot Kuro- these deserts became veritable cities and only re- palates as their new leader, and the king began to tained the name “wilderness” in a figurative sense.) restore the region at once. But after some time the usually virtuous King Ashot Kuropalates restored Artanuji Castle, Ashot fell in love with a certain woman. He forgot which had originally been built by King Vakhtang his honor, his achievements, and his loyalty to God Gorgasali and later ravaged by the Arab general and the nation and took her to Artanuji Castle, Marwan “the Deaf.” Ashot founded a city nearby an estate that had been built for the queen. Saint and proclaimed it the residence of the Bagrationi Grigol, however, heard about the king’s adulterous royal family of Klarjeti. He also constructed a relationship and became exceedingly sorrowful. church in honor of Saints Peter and Paul. As it is He confronted the king about his behavior, and written, “God granted Ashot Kuropalates great the desperate Ashot promised to leave the woman, strength and many victories.” but he could not bring himself to fulfill his prom- The region of Klarjeti took on a new life, and ise. So Fr. Grigol took her to Mere Monastery and through the efforts of Saint Grigol of Khandzta turned her over to the abbess, Mother Pebronia, and his companions, the former wasteland was without telling Ashot. Upon hearing what had hap- transformed into a borough bustling with church- pened, King Ashot pleaded with Mother Pebronia es, monasteries, and schools. Georgian noblemen to return the woman, but the abbess refused. At long last Ashot bowed his head to the nun and re- Ignatius was the first bishop of Smolensk. He was pented, saying, “Blessed is the man who is no lon- a friend of Saint Abraham (August 21), whom he ger alive to this world.” ordained to the priesthood. Bishop Ignatius was a The king rediscovered his love for God and his kindly and pious Elder, heading the trial instigated country, and he prepared to return to Kartli. But by Saint Abraham’s enemies, at which the monk his plans were foiled when a certain Muslim war- was acquitted. rior named Khalil invaded, conquering the lands of Saint Ignatius founded a monastery in honor of Kartli, Hereti, and Kvemo Kartli. the Placing of the Robe of the Mother of God. To Ashot sent his men to assemble an army, but him is ascribed the construction of the most an- before the troops had been gathered, the Saracens cient Avraamiev monastery in which he spent the attacked and forced them to flee. The king then remainder of his days, after resigning as bishop. At traveled to Nigali Gorge with the intent of enlarg- the death of Saint Ignatius a miracle occurred: “A ing his army. Some of the draftees turned out to be great light came down from heaven upon him, and traitors, and when the king discovered the betrayal, all were filled with fear.” The relics of the saint rest it was already too late. He hid in a church, but the in the Smolensk cathedral church. godless men found him and stabbed him to death MY TONGUE—FRIEND OR FOE in the sanctuary. “They murdered him on the altar, as though slaughtering a sacrificial lamb, and his by Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov blood remains there to this day,” writes Sumbat, the son of Davit, in his book Lives of the Bagrationis. The identity of every one of us is unique and, more- Thus the first Bagrationi king, “a believer, upon over, can never be reproduced. It would seem that whom the inheritance of the Georgian people was all have a soul and body, with much in common established,” was also a martyr. The Georgians took with one another to be found, but all the same, revenge on the murderers of their beloved king. appearance, poise, and manner of dress are always When the people of Doliskana heard that Ashot individual, and especially our language, speech, had been killed, they pursued his murderers and words. Tell me a few words and I will tell you much killed them near the Chorokhi River. Venerable about your soul. Grigol and the Georgian people wept bitterly over Truly, our words, like it or not, reveal what is the loss of their king and hope. Saint Ashot’s holy hidden deep within our hearts; or, as says the Gos- relics were buried in the Church of Saints Peter and pel, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth Paul that he himself had built. speaketh (Mt. 12:34). In what here is the enigma? Saint Aphraates, a Persian who came to believe To say briefly, the word reveals the mysteries of the in Christ, disavowed his illustrious lineage and left mind and heart. The word reveals a man’s way of his pagan countrymen by going to Edessa, and then thinking. The word bears witness to which force— to Antioch He attracted many by his holy life, and good or evil—lives in the human soul. preached the Word of God to them. He died in the If your word be ingratiating and deceiving, year 370. brimming with the spirit of pride, vexation, or Saint Ignatius, Bishop of Smolensk and Won- petulance, if your word be filled with the venom of derworker (+ ca. 1210): By some accounts, Saint condemnation, then how much more full of this is the heart, from the abundance of which you speak, mind, and heart words true, holy, and incorrupt- opening but a smidgeon of that which you conceal ible: God, the Lord, mercy, chastity, innocence, within your miserable soul. And conversely, when faith, true, peace, joy and all the rest—then our you hear a word true and clear, a word good and manner of thought will change and our hearts will sprightly, comforting and conciliating, it remains become open to the influence of another power— for us only to guess at the spiritual treasure, which the grace of God, which strengthens a Christian is the soul of the one speaking. However, Christ the in his striving to fulfill the evangelical command- Savior instructs us to discern a man not by word ments. But how, you ask, can we introduce these alone, but also by deed. From their fruits ye shall wondrous words into our consciousness, how can know them. we cleanse the mind by them, that the Holy Spirit Our mindset—or worldview—just like our lan- would consecrate our hearts, thoughts, yearnings guage, depends greatly upon our manner of life. and deeds? The answer is simple: pray. All the Conducting a life that is reprehensible and dis- prayers of the Orthodox Church, beginning with graceful, acting dishonestly and unconscionably, a the Lord’s Prayer, are holy links that unite this man will choose a philosophy in accordance with word-bearing reasonable creation—man—with his own spoiled disposition. And no matter how God the Word. he tries to disguise himself by unctuous and gran- Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev, a great author of this diloquent words, the cat is out of the bag. A cruel great earth, deemed our Russian language mighty and impure heart will always express itself and be- and beautiful, as within itself it unites, as in a single grudgingly unfold, smiting and biting suddenly its stream, two living currents—the element of the sa- simplehearted listener with some caustic, cynical cred Church Slavonic language and the element of or indecent wordlet, as if having fallen off unex- the precise, expressive, succinct, and wise folk, con- pectedly from some sycophantic and high-falutin’ versational language, from the words of which was tongue. formed, not without Pushkinian genius, the Rus- And do you know that by means of a word you sian literary language. And then Mikhail Vasiliev- can heal, and, moreover, cultivate and nourish ich Lomonosov wrote on the benefits of reading a soul pure and beautiful? From the outset, from Church books to young people, and in Rus’ of old your language (or, as they say, lexicon) must be the Book of Hours and the Psalter were the text- deleted all words offensive and wounding to our books for those beginning to explore grammar, and moral sense. May no such putrescent words escape those acquiring practical reading competency. from your mouth. The holy apostle of Christ gives I am convinced, that if at least one of our readers us this precept. As long as we permit such words to has a personal prayer book (as we call a collection profane and pollute ours and other’s hearing, there of morning, evening, and other prayers),[1] he al- can be no question of any moral, God-pleasing life. ready does not allow himself to use any vituperative I tell you that for every idle word thatpeople say, on word, or to pronounce the name of God in vain or the Day of Judgment they will give answer; for you carelessly, as you hear all too often, unfortunately, will be justified by your words or condemned by in the mouths of modern men. them, warns the Gospel. We all recall from childhood those adult ad- When we have worked well upon ourselves monitions on the so-called magical words: hello, and our lives, introducing into our consciousness, please, thank you. But perhaps not all have delved into their inner meaning. In the past, uttering a First rule: “Think about what you say.” In other greeting was to heartily wish your interlocutor words, weigh in your mind that word which finds long life in health and prosperity;[2] using the itself on the tip of your tongue. Reflect as you word “please,” was to express a reverential attitude should, and then simply speak. And never regret it. to a man older in age and wise in life experience. Second rule: “Never say that which you don’t Namely with the words “Welcome, elder” a trav- think.” Don’t be disingenuous, and don’t prevari- eler, exhausted from the road, was welcomed into cate. Better to remain silent than to speak untruth. your domicile in antiquity, or the invited was asked to sit in a place more honorable, nearer to the head Third rule: “Do not say all that you are think- of the family.[3] “Christ save you, Lord save you, ing.” This rule does not call us, as, perhaps, it seems God save you” is what infuses our modern “thank to some, to hypocrisy and opportunism, but it ad- you”—not a simple verbal gratitude, nor a formula vises to properly value our collocutor and the posi- of courtesy, but a prayer for salvation, for the at- tion of his soul. Is he ready today to hear from you tainment of mercy from the Lord on the Day of those words, which three days later would peace- Judgment.[4] I hope it is becoming clear that using fully lay upon his heart? Will they bring to him the these words “with meaning,” we warm our speech benefit you intended to speak? Does he need to with the breath of Divine grace, make our converse hear your opinion on this question? And won’t you with others truly warm and cordial, and draw upon disappoint anyone, won’t you release another’s se- our own souls the mercy of God. crets with your careless word? And dozens of other questions could justify this rule. In a word, do not How great the gift of words; how lamentable say all that you are thinking. the consequences of this gift’s misuse. The tongue, gifted us by the Creator for the glorification of His Some rhetoricians reduced these three cited name and the increase of good in dialogue with one rules into one golden formula for wise speech: another, can be the cause of condemnation unto “Think about what you say, to whom you say it, death eternal for the impenitent sinner! And just why you are saying it, where you are saying it, and think—the truth of God, as the Gospel promises, what will be the consequences of it.” will from each of us demand a reckoning for our ev- We close our reflections upon language and ery idle word! For any word, empty, meaningless, word with a simple wish: read more kind, wise, spoken without meaning and without avail, can be good, and above all, holy books! chronicled in the category of “idle.” What to say about the rest—the sharp, caustic, obscene, vul- gar, and wicked?! This is why there developed the saying: “My tongue—my enemy.” Thankfully, our readers know that the Merciful Lord in the Mys- Beneficiaries should remember the good tery of Confession forgives all, if you repent with deeds done to them, but benefactors the fervent intent to reform. should forget them. In conclusion, I would like to offer to you three —St. gregory small, golden rules for the tongue. Who fulfills “ the thologian them ceases to sin by the tongue, which, you will agree, is no small thing. ”