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Sunday of St John Climacus Week of March 29th 2020 Sunday, March 29th 2020 Hymns of the Day Weekday Services Live Stream Resurrection Hymn Monday Evening, March 30 Plagal 4th, p. 89-90 Green Hymnal Great Compline,______6pm “From on high did You descend, O merciful Lord, Wednesday, April 1 for us did You endure, three days in the tomb that we may be, Blessing of the Waters______9am released from passions in this , Wednesday Evening, April 1 You who are our resurrection and our life Paraclesis to the Glory unto You O Lord.” Mother of God______6pm Friday Evening, April 3 Hymn for St John Climacus Akathistos / Salutations_____6pm “With the rivers of your tears you made the barren desert bloom; Saturday Evening, April 4 and with your sighs from deep within, you made your labors bear Great Vespers______5pm their fruits a hundredfold; and you became a star, illuminating the world by your miracles, O John, our devout father. Intercede with Live Stream Christ our , for the salvation of our souls.” Go to our web site, stspeterandpaulboulder.org Hymn for Sts Peter and Paul for information about upcoming “O leaders of the Apostles and teachers of the world, and past live streams of services. intercede with the Master of all that He may grant peace unto the world, and to our souls His great mercy.”

Kontakion “O Champion General, I your City now inscribe to you * triumphant anthems as the tokens of my gratitude, * being rescued from the terrors, O . * Inasmuch as you have power unassailable, * from all kinds of perils free me so that unto you * I may cry aloud: Rejoice, o unwedded Bride.”

Special Megalynarion Hymn to Theotokos “All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace: the assembly of angels and the human race. You are a sanctified temple and a spiritual paradise, the glory from whom God was incarnate and became a child - our God, existing before all ages. He made your womb a throne, and your body more spacious than the . All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace. Glory to you.”

1 Sts. Peter & Paul, Greek Orthodox Sunday of St. John Climacus Eighth Orthros Gospel According to John 20:11-18 At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren know where they have laid Him.” Saying this, she turned and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know Father, to my God and your God.” that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing Him to be and she told them that He had said these things to her. Epistle: St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20 BRETHREN, when God made a promise to , so that through two unchangeable things, in which it since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore is impossible that God should prove false, we who have to himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, ob- seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and tained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as confirmation. So when God desired to show more con- a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest vincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable for ever after the order of Melchizedek. character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, The Gospel According to Mark 9:17-31 At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling of the child cried out and said, “I believe; and saying: “Teacher, I brought my son to help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever a crowd came running together, he rebuked it seizes him it dashes him down; and he the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb foams and grinds his teeth and becomes and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it him, and never enter him again.” And after out, and they were not able.” And he an- crying out and convulsing him terribly, it swered them, “O faithless generation, how came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so long am I to be with you? How long am I to that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Je- bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they sus took him by the hand and lifted him up, brought the boy to him; and when the spirit and he arose. And when he had entered the saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” They And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast went on from there and passed through Galilee. And him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father and when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” Petra News, Week of March 29th, 2020 2 Word of Consolation for the Pandemic By Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou Many people are in confusion and others panic because of from the moment it will assail us until our end. Therefore, we the threat of the Corona-virus epidemic that spread in the can dedicate this time to prepare ourselves for our meeting whole world. I think, however, that this should not happen, with God, so that our departure may not occur unexpectedly for whatever God does with us, He does it out of love. The and without preparation, but after we have run through our God of Christians is a good God, a God of mercy and loving whole life each time we stand in prayer before God, at times kindness, ‘Who loveth mankind’. God created us out of His with thanksgiving unto the end for all the things God has goodness in order to share His life and even His glory with done for us and at other times with repentance, seeking the us. When we fell into sin, He allowed death to enter our life forgiveness of our transgressions. Nothing can harm us with again out of goodness, so that we may not become immortal such a God, Who allows all things out of His goodness. We in our wickedness, but to seek for a way of salvation. Al- must simply keep thanksgiving unto the end and the humble though we have fallen, God has never stopped to provide for prayer of repentance for the forgiveness of our sins. us, not only material goods in order to sustain our race, but As for myself, this plague is helping me. I longed to find He also sent prophets and righteous, preparing His way so again the prayer I had before, with which I can run through that He might come and solve our tragedy, and bring eternal my whole life from my birth until now, thanking God for all salvation through the Cross and Resurrection of His incon- His benefits ‘whereof I know and whereof I know not’; and ceivable love. He came and took upon Himself the curse of also, with which I can run through my whole life repenting sin, and He showed His love to the end: ‘Having loved His for all my sins and transgressions. It is wonderful to be able own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end’ to run through your life praying, bringing all things before (John 13:1). All the things that God did when He created us, God with persistence in prayer. Then you feel that your life when He provided goods in order to sustain the world, when is redeemed. This is why this situation is truly helping me. I He prepared His way for Him to come on earth, when He am not panicking but ‘I will be sorry for my sin’ (Ps. 38:18). came Himself in person and wrought our salvation in such an awesome way, all these things He did out of goodness. His We must see the goodness of God in all the things that are goodness is boundless. He saves us and is so long-suffering happening now. The Holy Fathers did see His loving-kind- towards us, waiting until we ‘come to the knowledge of the ness. A similar epidemic occurred in the 4th century in the truth’ (1 Tim. 2:4) and bring true repentance, so that we may Egyptian desert, which harvested more than a third of the be with Him for all eternity. Thus, at every stage of His rela- , and the Fathers were saying with great inspiration tionship with man, our God shows only His goodness and that, ‘God is harvesting souls of for His Kingdom,’ and mercy, ‘which is better than life’ (Ps. 63:3); goodness is His they did not waver. The Lord Himself speaks in the Gospel Nature and He does all things for the benefit and salvation about the last days, about the trials and afflictions which the of man. world will go through before His Second Coming. Consequently, when He shall come again to judge the world, However, we discern neither morbid sadness nor despair will a different God judge it? Will it not be the same good in His words. The Lord Who prayed in the garden of God, the God of mercy and lovingkindness, Who loves man- Gethsemane with a sweat of blood for the salvation of the kind? Let us be certain that we shall not appear before any whole world, says that when we see the terrible things that other God than Him Who created us and saved us. And so, it precede His Second Coming, we should lift up our heads is again with the same mercy and love that He will judge us. with inspiration, for our redemption draws nigh (cf. Luke For this reason, we should neither panic nor waver, for it will 21:28). Some tell me, ‘May God extend His helping hand.’ be the same God that will receive us in the other life and will But this is precisely the hand of God. He desires and works judge us with the same kindness and compassion. Some fear our salvation ‘at sundry times and in divers manners’ (Heb. that the hour of their end has come. This plague of Corona- 1:1): ‘My Father worketh hitherto, and I work’ (John 5:17). virus has also a positive aspect, because we have a few weeks continued on page 5

3 Sts. Peter & Paul, What is a Christian? One who is united to Jesus Christ. In the Sunday flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, civil strife, and gospel lesson we read, “But Jesus, having seized accidental death. That our good and loving God his hand, raised him and he stood up.” What is a may be merciful, gracious, and kindly-disposed, Christian? One who is in the presence of the Lord. and may divert and disperse all anger and disease On this 4th Sunday of the Great and Holy Lent, coming against us…” we commemorate the life of St John Climacus the I encourage all of you to pray fervently in regard Ladder. This great monastic, taught by example to the Coronavirus and its effects. Each morning that the reason Christians pray and fast is to have take a sip of holy water after your morning humility and trust in God. What is a Christian? A prayers. If you don’t have any holy water, come Christian is one who places his / her whole being by the church this Wednesday. If your bottle runs in the hands of God. low, fill it with regular water, which will become As Christians, we must turn to fervent daily sanctified by the holy water left in the bottle). Pray prayer - for our family, for our , parish the prayers against the Corona virus (website) and family, for those who are suffering, for the medical the small paraclesis (goarch website daily readings professionals and for those who govern. In the / services). Pray to St Nikiforos the Leper and Artoclasia service we pray: “For the protection Wonderworker, who is the patron to those of this holy church, this city, and every city and suffering from disease or the threat of disease. land from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, Please pray to him on behalf of all. Take courage from the following story: In the 3rd Century, a pandemic swept across our people lack aid from us.” Italy, Africa, and the Western Roman Empire. In During the pandemic, instead of leaving the city, retrospective examination, some scholars believe the Christians stayed at great risk to themselves. it was the Ebola virus. At its height, this pandemic They cared for the poor, the sick, and the elderly. killed more than 5000 people every day in Rome. Some historians said that you can trace the rise of Some cities had their population wiped out by to the three major plagues in the 2nd, more than 60 percent. During the pandemic, 3rd and 6th century. Christianity grew because people panicked. Many people abandoned the sick people looked at the incredible witness of Christians in ditches and left the dead unburied. People fled during times of crisis who, instead of panicking, areas where there was sickness and abandoned the demonstrated tremendous faith and compassion. elderly, the sick, and the disabled. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us take But there was one class of people who refused this time to bear witness and to be people of faith to panic. The emperor Julian wrote, “the recent and compassion. Let us witness a Christian love Christian growth was caused by their ‘moral that is sacrificial and a hope that no disease can character … and by their benevolence toward destroy because our foundation is in Jesus Christ. strangers and care for the graves of the dead.” In another letter, “the Christians support not only With love and hope in our Lord their poor, but ours as well; everyone can see that and Savior Jesus Christ, Father Jordan

Petra News, Week of March 29th, 2020 4 continued from page 3 surrender and bless the Providence of God. Besides, this This virus may be a means that God uses in order to bring reminds us of an old tradition that the Fathers had in Pal- many to themselves and to repentance, and to harvest many estine: in , on the Sunday of Cheese fare, after the ready souls for His eternal Kingdom. Therefore, for those mutual forgiveness, they would go out in the desert for forty who surrender and entrust themselves to the Providence days without Liturgy; they would only continue in fasting of God all will contribute for their good: ‘All things work and prayer so as to prepare and return on Palm Sunday to together for good to them that love God’ (Rom. 8:28). celebrate in a godly way the Passion and the Resurrection of the Lord. And so, our present circumstances force us to live Thus, there is no room for morbid dismay. Neither should we again that which existed of old in the bosom of the Church. resist the measures that the government is taking in order to That is to say, they force us to live a more hesychastic life, with diminish the spreading of the afflictions we see in the lives of more prayer, which will however make up for the lack of the so many people. It is wrong to go against the authorities. We and will prepare us to celebrate with greater should do whatever the Government says, because they are desire and inspiration the Passion and Resurrection of the not asking for us to deny our faith, they are only asking us to Lord Jesus. Thus, we will turn this plague into a triumph of take a few measures for the common welfare of all people, so . In any case, whatever God allows in our life is that this trial may pass, and this is not at all unreasonable. out of His goodness for the well-being of man, for He never Some people take it too confessionally, they raise flags and wants His creature to be harmed in any way. play the martyrs and the confessors. For us there is no doubt: we shall show pure submission to the orders of the Govern- Certainly, if we will be deprived of the Divine Liturgy for a ment. It is unfair to disobey the Government since, when we longer period of time, we can endure it. What do we receive fall ill, it is to their hospitals that we run and they are the in the Liturgy? We partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, ones who undertake all the expenses and our care. Why not which are filled with His grace. This is a great honour and listen to them? benefit for us, but we also receive the grace of God in many other ways. When we practice hesychastic prayer, we abide This is the ethos of Christ that God showed in His life on in the Presence of God with the mind in the heart calling earth and this is the apostolic commandment that we have upon the holy Name of Christ. The Divine Name brings us received: ‘…be subject to principalities and powers, obey the grace of Christ because it is inseparable from His Person magistrates, be ready to every good work, speak evil of no and leads us into His Presence. This Presence of Christ which man, be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto is purifying, cleanses us from our transgressions and sins, it all men’ (cf. Tit. 3: 1-2); and ‘Submit yourselves to every renews and illumines our heart so that the image of God our ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the Saviour, Christ, may be formed therein. king, as supreme…’ (see 1 Pet. 2:13-17). If we do not obey our governors who are not asking much, how will we obey If we shall not have in the Church, let us remember God, Who gives us a divine law, which is far more sublime that every contact with Christ is Easter. We receive grace in than any human law? If we keep the law of God we are above the Divine Liturgy because the Lord Jesus is present in it, He human laws, as the apologists of the 2nd century said during performs the and He is the One imparted to the the Roman Empire which was persecuting the Christians. faithful. However, when we invoke His Name, we enter the It is surprising to see in the country where we live, in the same Presence of Christ and receive the same grace. There- United Kingdom, that the footballers show such under- fore, if we are deprived of the Liturgy, we always have His standing and discernment so as to be the first to withdraw Name, we are not deprived of the Lord. Moreover, we also from their activities with docility towards the indications of have His word, especially His Gospel. If His word dwells con- the Government to take prophylactic measures. It would be tinually in our heart, if we study it and pray it, if it becomes sad for us, people of faith, to fail reaching the measure of our language with which we speak to God as He spoke to us, the footballers and showing the same docility towards the then we shall have again the grace of the Lord. For His words authorities for which our Church prays. are words of eternal life (John 6:68), and the same mystery is performed, we receive His grace and are sanctified. If they ask us to stop our Church services, let us simply continued on page 6

5 Sts. Peter & Paul, Greek Orthodox Church Corona Virus Directives from His Eminence, Metropolitan The Sunday Divine Liturgy will be celebrated “BE- Father Jordan will continue to visit our elderly, and shut HIND CLOSED DOORS”, by only the priest, chanters ins. If you would like a pastoral visit, please contact and altar servers. The faithful should remain prayer- Father Jordan. fully at home. Boulder is under a ‘stay at home’ order. Our civil leaders The Sunday Divine Liturgy have asked us to stay at home as much as possible, al- will be available ‘live stream.’ lowing only for essential errands. The church is allowed Father Jordan will administer Holy Communion to celebrate the Divine Services via live stream. The from 11:15 am - 12 pm, to those who have prepared church doors will remain closed. and will come on Sunday, March 29. Please remain The following Lenten Services during the week will be in your cars, and come one family / one person at a available ‘live stream:’ All services will be celebrated time to receive Holy Communion. Father Jordan will “BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.” The faithful should be standing outside the of the church (exo- remain prayerfully at home. narthex). Please return to your car immediately after Monday Evening, March 30 receiving the Holy Eucharist. The church is allowed to Great Compline,______6pm have only a few people at a time in order to follow the Wednesday, April 1 ‘stay at home’ order. There will be a table set outside Blessing of the Waters______9am with the blessed bread (andidoro), vigil candles, and prayer books for the faithful to take home. Wednesday Evening, April 1 Paraclesis to the Mother of God______6pm If you are sick, or any member in your family sick, Friday Evening, April 3 and experiencing any cold flu like symptoms, please Akathistos / Salutations______6pm stay home. Parishioners who are 60 and older, and families with small children are asked to stay home. Saturday Evening, April 4 Great Vespers______5pm

continued from page 5 Furthermore, each time we show kindness to our brethren depends on the preparation we perform before, through all the Lord is well-pleased, He considers that we did it in His the things we have mentioned, through prayer, good deeds, Name and He rewards us. We show kindness to our brethren fasting, love for neighbor, repentance. and the Lord rewards us with His grace. This is another way Therefore, my dear brethren, it is not necessary to make he- in which we can live in the Presence of the Lord. We can have roic confessions against the Government for the prophylactic the grace of the Lord through fasting, alms giving and every measures that it takes for the good of all people. Neither good deed. So, if we are forced to avoid gathering in Church, should we despair, but only wisely machinate ways so as not we can also be united in spirit in these holy virtues which to lose our living communication with the Person of Christ. are known within the Body of Christ, the holy Church, and Nothing can harm us, we must simply be patient for a certain which preserve the unity of the faithful with Christ and with period of time and God will see our patience, take away every the other members of His Body. All the things we do for God obstacle, every temptation and we shall again see the dawn is a Liturgy, for they minister unto our salvation. The Litur- of joyful days, and we shall celebrate our common hope and gy is the great event of the life of the Church, wherein the love that we have in Christ Jesus. faithful have the possibility to exchange their little life with the boundless life of God. However, the power of this event

Petra News, Week of March 29th, 2020 6 Dear Sts Peter and Paul Church Family... As many of you know, His Eminence has issued a directive instructing our faithful to remain prayerfully at home. However, with our parishioners at home it is an especially challenging time for our Church financially and it is essential that we all remember our stewardship gifts to provide for the needs of Sts. Peter & Paul. Please provide your stewardship gifts to the church in this time of need. One of the easiest methods to give is via the Internet. Go to 1. Go to, stspeterandpaulboulder.org 2. Select the “Donate” menu item 3. Click on the easyTithe 4. Select “Stewardship 2020” and enter your monthly donation. You may also mail your Stewardship checks C/O St. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, 5640 Jay Road, Boulder, CO 80301 and write “Stewardship” on your check. Please pray for all the sick and for God to deliver us from the pain and sorrow of the corona-virus. Please reach out if you have any questions. Stewardship Chairs, George and Nicole Tsiouvaras

Philoptochos Can Help! During this difficult time, please know that Philoptochos will provide assistance to parishioners as we are able. Whether it’s financial assistance, grocery or medication delivery, or something else, we can help! If you or someone you know has a need, please call Father Jordan, Dana Gall (720- 841-8040), or Sharon Dzilvelis (303-495-8827).

Sts. Peter & Paul, Greek Orthodox Church