SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH june 11, 2017 THE SUNDAY OF all saints he Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints, both those who are known to us, and those who are Tknown only to God. There have been saints at all times, and they have come from every corner of the earth. They were Apostles, Martyrs, Prophets, Hierarchs, Monastics, and Righteous, yet all were perfected by the same Holy Spirit. The Descent of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to rise above our fallen state and to attain sainthood, thereby fulfilling God’s directive to “be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44, 1 Peter 1:16, etc.). Therefore, it is fitting to commemorate All Saints on the first Sunday after Pentecost. This feast may have originated at an early date, perhaps as a celebration of all martyrs, then it was broadened to include all men and women who had borne witness to Christ by their virtuous lives, even if they did not shed their blood for Him. St Peter of Damascus, in his “Fourth Stage of Contemplation,” mentions five categories of saints: Apostles, Mar- tyrs, Prophets, Hierarchs, and Monastic Saints (PHILOKALIA [in English] Vol. 3, p.131). He is actually quoting from the OCTOECHOS, Tone 2 for Saturday Matins, kathisma after the first stichology. St Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain (July 14) adds the Righteous to St Peter’s five categories. The list of St Nicodemus is found in his book THE FOURTEEN EPISTLES OF ST PAUL (Venice, 1819, p. 384) in his discus- sion of I Corinthians 12:28. The hymnology for the feast of All Saints also lists six categories: “Rejoice, assembly of the Apostles, Prophets of the Lord, loyal choirs of the Martyrs, divine Hierarchs, Monastic Fathers, and the Righteous....” Some of the saints are described as Confessors, a category which does not appear in the above lists. Since they are similar in spirit to the martyrs, they are regarded as belonging to the category of Martyrs. They were not put to death as the Martyrs were, but they boldly confessed Christ and came close to being executed for their faith. St Maximus the Confessor (January 21) is such a saint. The order of these six types of saints seems to be based on their importance to the Church. The Apostles are listed first, because they were the first to spread the Gospel throughout the world. The Martyrs come next because of their example of courage in professing their faith before the enemies and persecutors of the Church, which en- couraged other Christians to remain faithful to Christ even unto death. Although they come first chronologically, the Prophets are listed after the Apostles and Martyrs. This is because the Old Testament Prophets saw only the shadows of things to come, whereas the Apostles and Martyrs experienced them firsthand. The New Testament also takes precedence over the Old Testament. The holy Hierarchs comprise the fourth category. They are the leaders of their flocks, teaching them by their word and their example. 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 Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος πλ. δ. apolytikion. Mode 8. ξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν κατα- ou descended from on high, O compassionate Ἐδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν πα- YOne, and condescended to be buried for three θῶν· ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. days, so that from the passions You might set us free. Our life and resurrection, O Lord, glory be to You. Ἀπολυτίκιον των αγιων. ηχος δ´. Apolytikion for the saints. Mode 4. ῶν ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ κόσμῳ Μαρτύρων σου, ὡς πορ- our Church is arrayed in the holy blood of Your Τφύραν καὶ βύσσον τὰ αἵματα, ἡ Ἐκκλησία σου YMartyrs who witnessed throughout the world, as στολισαμένη, δι’ αὐτῶν βοᾷ σοι, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, τῷ though in purple and fine linen. Through them she λαῷ σου τοὺς οἰκτιρμούς σου κατάπεμψον, εἰρήνην cries to You, Christ our God, Send down to Your peo- τῇ πολιτείᾳ σου δώρησαι, καὶ ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν τὸ ple Your tender love, grant peace from above to Your μέγα ἔλεος. commonwealth, and to our souls Your 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 ΠΛ δ´. Kontakion. Mode 8. ς ἀπαρχὰς τῆς φύσεως, τῷ φυτουργῷ τῆς Planter of creation, Lord, to You does the entire Ὡκτίσεως, ἡ οἰκουμένη προσφέρει σοι Κύριε, Oworld bring as an offering the God‐bearing martyr τοὺς θεοφόρους Μάρτυρας, ταῖς αὐτῶν ἱκεσί- Saints, as being nature’s first fruits. At their earnest αις, ἐν εἰρήνῃ βαθείᾳ, τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν σου, διὰ entreaty, keep Your Church in a state of pro‐ foundest τῆς Θεοτόκου συντήρησον, πολυέλεε. peace, through the Theotokos, O Lord abundantly merciful. THE READINGS OF THE DAY epistle reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30 Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2 rethren, all the saints through faith over- he Lord said to his disciples: “Whoever con- powered kingdoms, administered justice, fesses me before men I will also confess before Bobtained promises, stopped the mouths of Tmy Father who is in heaven. But whoever de- lions,quenched the power of fire,escaped the edge nies me in front of others I will also deny before of the sword,became strong in weakness, grew my Father who is in heaven. Whoever loves father mighty in war and caused foreign armies to flee. or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and Women received their dead by resurrection. Oth- whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not ers were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, worthy of me. Whoever does not take his cross and that they might obtain a better resurrection. Oth- follow after me is not worthy of me.” Then Peter ers were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, by said, “Behold, we have left everything and followed chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, were sawn apart, they were tempted and they were “Amen, I tell you that you who have followed me, at slain with the sword. They went around in sheep the regeneration, when the Son of Man will sit on and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, and ill- the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve treated. And yet the world was not worthy of them! thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Every- They wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and one who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, the holes of the earth. All of them received a testi- mother, wife, children, or lands for my Name’s sake mony through their faith but they did not receive will receive a hundred times [more] and will inher- the promise because God had made provision for it eternal life. But many who are first will be last, us to have something better, and they were not to and many who are last will be first!” reach perfection apart from us. And so, seeing that we are surrounded by such a great a cloud of wit- In its nature, repentance has two sides nesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin to it, both of which are beneficial dur- which so easily entangles us. Let us run with endur- ing the course of our life. The first is ance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on contrition over the mistakes we’ve Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. “made, and the second is correction of the misguided acts through which we’ve transgressed. —Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm upcoming church services: Wednesday, June 14, Great Vespers, 5pm Thursday, June 15, St. Augustine, Divine Liturgy, 9am Saturday, June 17, Great Vespers, 5pm apostle’s fast as not to draw attention to him/herself, becoming The Apostle’s Fast begins tomorrow. a distraction to others. Traditionally women wear dresses or skirts of at least knee length; dresses, golF tournament blouses / tops should, at minimum, include short Thank you to all who helped with the Golf Tourna- sleeves and cover the shoulder. Women should ment fund raiser. not wear lipstick or lip gloss to Church - it leaves garage sale a residue on the icons and on the Communion Thank you to all who donated and volunteered to spoon. Men should dress in pants and polo or but- help with the Garage Sale.! ton-down shirts. Shorts should never be worn in Church. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing is not bookstore appropriate for women or men. Visit the Bookstore for your summer reading! give a month towards our future coffee hour Help offset our additional mortgage payment with Are you celebrating a birthday, name day or an- a donation of $640.