Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Church

September 2, 2018

Martyr Mamas of Caesarea in Cappadocia

14th Sunday After Pentecost Tone 5

Today we commemorate the Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev Caves (10th-11th c.). Martyr Mamas of Cæsarea in Cappadocia, and his parents Martyrs Theodotus and Rufina (3rd c.), St. John the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople (595), the 3618 Martyrs who suffered at Nicomedia (3rd- 4th c.), and the “KALUGA” Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos (1748). Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Church 1802 33 Ave SW Calgary, AB T2T 1Y9 Archpriest Phillip Eriksson, Rector – (403) 686-4270 [email protected] Priest Sebastian Scratch – (587) 974-7312 [email protected] Church Office – (403) 242-6754 Church Office Hours: Tuesday afternoon and all day on Friday www.saintpeter.ca • www.archdiocese.ca • www.oca.org

This Week at a Glance:

Sunday, September 2, 2018 – Tone 5 • 9:10 am – Hours • 9:30 am – Divine Liturgy Greeter – Fabiana Cloth Holders – Ksenia, Marina, Deron Readers – Jonathan, Madeleine Counters – Susan Z., Mitzlal

Saturday, September 8, 2018 – Nativity of the Theotokos • 9:00 am – Lord’s Lunch • 9:10 am – Hours • 9:30 am – Divine Liturgy • 6:30 pm – Great Vespers

Reader – Steven Bishop

Sunday, September 9, 2018 – Tone 5 • 9:10 am – Hours • 9:30 am – Divine Liturgy • 12:00 pm – Coffee Hour (Lunch Team 1) Greeter – Mina Cloth Holders – Pavle, Judith, Alex Reader – Steven Bishop Counters – Albert, Daniel

A Word to Our Guests:

Welcome to our community! We have been blessed to have you join us for worship this morning. Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and regular confession may receive the Eucharist. We invite our other friends in Christ to approach the chalice and receive a blessing and the bread of fellowship. During worship, we generally stand in reverence and love before the face of God, but there are no prescriptions concerning sitting or standing. Please sit whenever you need to. The Psalmist says, “Let my prayer arise in Your sight like incense”. Our worship takes this statement literally! If the incense is causing you discomfort, please feel free to step outside for a moment at any time.

Announcements:

Final Summer Picnic at Sandy Beach Park – This Sunday after the Liturgy is the final summer picnic at Sandy Beach Park. Please join if you are able and bring potluck items to share.

Sunday School Volunteers Needed - Like many other initiatives, the Sunday School is run on a volunteer basis. They need your fresh ideas, enthusiasm and love for God and kids. If you are interested, in helping with teaching this year, please contact Kira Melnicenco or Andrea Barkman.

Church Cleaning Bee Thank You – Thank you to all who came out to help with the church cleaning bee last Saturday. Much was accomplished to the glory of God. Thank you also to the families who donated money toward flooring for the Sunday School classroom. Flooring was purchased and installed by the cleaning bee volunteers and the classroom looks so much better!

Women’s Retreat – This weekend is your final opportunity to sign up for the Women’s Retreat. Please see the posters around the church and the pamphlets on the back table for more details.

Coffee Hour Returns! – Weekly Coffee Hours will be resuming on Sunday, September 9 following the Liturgy with Lunch Team 1. If you are not a member of a Lunch Team, but would be interested in joining, please contact Marzena Kastyak-Ibrahim at [email protected].

Deadline for bulletin submissions: Thursdays 2:00 PM Contact Cindy Goossen: [email protected] (403) 242-6754

Parking in the West Parking Lot is Reserved for those with mobility issues. Martyr Mamas of Caesarea in Cappadocia

The Holy Great Martyr Mamas was born in Paphlagonia, Asia Minor in the third century of pious and illustrious parents, the Christians Theodotus and Rufina who both suffered and died for their faith. After their death, he was adopted by a pious Christian woman and given a good education The boy learned easily and willingly. He was not of an age of mature judgment but distinguished himself by maturity of mind and of heart. By means of prudent conversations and personal example young Mamas converted many of his own peers to Christianity. The governor, Democritus, was informed of this, and the fifteen-year-old Mamas was arrested and brought to trial. The emperor tried at first kindly, but then with threats to turn Saint Mamas back to the pagan faith, but all in vain. The saint bravely confessed himself a Christian. Infuriated, the emperor subjected the youth to cruel tortures. They tried to drown the saint, but an angel of the Lord saved Saint Mamas and bade him live on a high mountain in the wilderness, not far from Caesarea where he built a small church and began to lead a life of strict temperance, in exploits of fasting and prayer. Soon he received a remarkable power over the forces of nature: wild beasts inhabiting the surrounding wilderness gathered at his abode and listened to the reading of the Holy Gospel. Saint Mamas nourished himself on the milk of wild goats and deer. The governor sent a detachment of soldiers to arrest him. When they encountered Saint Mamas on the mountain, the soldiers did not recognize him, and mistook him for a simple shepherd. He invited them to his dwelling, gave them a drink of milk and then told them his name, knowing that death for Christ awaited him. Surrendering himself into the hands of the torturers, Saint Mamas was brought to trial under a deputy governor named Alexander, who subjected him to intense and prolonged tortures. When they threw Saint Mamas to the wild beasts, these creatures would not touch him. Finally, one of the pagan priests struck him with a trident. Mortally wounded, Saint Mamas went out beyond the city limits. There, in a small stone cave, he gave up his spirit to God, Who in the hearing of all summoned the holy Martyr Mamas into His heavenly habitation. He was buried by believers at the place of his death. Christians soon began to receive help from him in their afflictions and sorrows. Saint Basil the Great speaks thus about the holy Martyr Mamas in a sermon to the people: “Remember the holy martyr, you who live here and have him as a helper. You who call on his name have been helped by him. Those in error he has guided into life. Those whom he has healed of infirmity, those whose children were dead he has restored to life, those whose life he has prolonged: let us all come together as one, and praise the martyr!”