SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH July 5, 2015
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SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH july 5, 2015 fifth sunday of matthew aint Athanasius of Athos, in holy Baptism named Abraham, was born in the city of Trebezond. He was orphaned Sat an early age, and being raised by a certain good and pious nun, he imitated his adoptive mother in the habits of monastic life, in fasting and in prayer. Doing his lessons came easily and he soon outpaced his peers in study. After the death of his adoptive mother, Abraham was taken to Constantinople, to the court of the Byzantine em- peror Romanus the Elder, and was enrolled as a student under the renowned rhetorician Athanasius. In a short while the student attained the mastery of skill of his teacher and he himself became an instructor of youths. Reckoning as the true life that of fasting and vigilance, Abraham led a strict and abstinent life, he slept little and then only sitting upon a stool, and barley bread and water were his nourishment. When his teacher Athanasius through human weakness became jealous of his student, blessed Abraham gave up his teaching position and went away. During these days there had arrived at Constantinople St Michael Maleinos (July 12), igumen of the Kyminas monastery. Abraham told the igumen about his life, and revealed to him his secret desire to become a monk. The holy Elder, discerning in Abraham a chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, became fond of him and taught him much in ques- tions of salvation. One time during their spiritual talks St Michael was visited by his nephew, Nicephorus Phocas, a military officer and future emperor. Abraham’s lofty spirit and profound mind impressed Nicephorus, and all his life he regarded the saint with reverent respect and with love. Abraham was consumed by his zeal for the monastic life. Having forsaken everything, he went to the Kyminas monastery and, falling down at the feet of the holy igumen, he begged to be received into the monastic life. The igumen fulfilled his request with joy and tonsured him with the name Athanasius. With long fasts, vigils, bending of the knees, with works night and day Athanasius soon attained such perfection, that the holy igumen blessed him for the exploit of silence in a solitary place not far from the monastery. Later on, having left Kyminas, he made the rounds of many desolate and solitary places, and guided by God, he came to a place called Melanos, at the very extremity of Athos, settling far off from the other monastic dwellings. Here the monk made himself a cell and began to live an ascetical life in works and in prayer, proceeding from exploit to exploit towards higher monastic attainment. The enemy of mankind tried to arouse in St Athanasius hatred for the place chosen by him, and assaulted him with constant suggestions in thought. The ascetic decided to suffer it out for a year, and then wherever the Lord should direct him, he would go. On the last day of this year’s length of time, when St Athanasius set about to prayer, a heavenly light suddenly shone upon him, filling him with an indescribable joy, all the thoughts dissipated, and from his eyes welled up graced tears. From that moment St Athanasius received the gift of tenderness , and he became as strongly fond of the place of his solitude as he had formerly loathed it. During this time Nicephorus Phocas, having had enough of military exploits, remembered his vow to become a monk and from his means he besought St Athanasius to build a monastery, i.e., to build cells for him and the brethren, 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 sing Ἀπολυτίκιον. Ἦχος δ. apolytikion. Mode 4. ὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ hen the women Disciples of the Lord had TἈγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, Wlearned from the Angel the joyful message of καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral deci- Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ sion, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. granting His great mercy to the world. Ἀπολυτίκιον του οσιου. Ἦχος γ. apolytikion of the ascetic. Ἦχος 3. ὴν ἐν σαρκὶ ζωήν, σοῦ κατεπλάγησαν, Ἀγγέλων ngelic hosts on high were filled with wonder- Tτάγματα, πῶς μετὰ σώματος, πρὸς ἀοράτους Ament, seeing your life in the flesh: how with your συμπλοκάς, ἐχώρησας πανεύφημε, καὶ κατετραυ- body you courageously went out to wrestle with in- μάτισας, τῶν δαιμόνων, τὰς φάλαγγας· ὅθεν Ἀθα- visible foes; and to the demonic hordes you inflicted νάσιε, ὁ Χριστὸς σε ἠμείψατο, πλουσίαις δωρεαῖς· serious wounds. Therefore, Athanasios, you received Διὸ Πάτερ, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς from the Master Christ, a wealth of gifts. Holy Father, ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. intercede on our behalf with Christ our God, to save our souls.. 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 β´. Kontakion. Mode 2. ροστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, rotection of Christians unshamable, mediation Πμεσιτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε, μὴ Pwith the Creator immovable, we sinners beg you, παρίδῃς, ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ do not despise the voices of our prayers, but antici- πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, pate, since you are good, and swiftly come unto our τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς aid as we cry out to you with faith: Hurry to interces- πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστα- sion, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who τεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε. defend now and ever those who honor you. THE READINGS OF THE DAY epistle reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1 galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2 rethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, t that time, when Jesus arrived on the other peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, side, into the country of the Gergesenes, Bgentleness, and self-control. Against such Atwo men possessed by demons met him things there is no law! Those who belong to Christ there, coming out of the tombs. They were ex- have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. tremely violent, so much that nobody could pass If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit! that way. Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do Let us not become arrogant, challenging and en- we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have vying one another. Brethren, even if someone is you come here to torment us before the time?” caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at some restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. But distance from them. The demons begged him, say- watch out for yourself in order not to be tempted. ing, “If you cast us out, allow us to go away into the Bear each others’ burdens, and thus fulfill the law herd of pigs.” He said to them, “Go!” The demons of Christ. came out and went into the herd of pigs: and be- hold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea and died in the water. Those who fed them fled and went into the city where they told everything, including what had happened to those who were possessed with demons. Behold, the en- tire city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders. Jesus entered into a boat, crossed over [the lake] and came into his own town. If Peter’s weeping wiped out such a great sin, how can you not cancel your sin through tears? For it was not a small accusation to deny his Master; it was great and severe, and yet the tears utterly destroyed die sin. Therefore, “cry for your sin; do not cry simply or pretentiously, but weep bitterly like Peter. Let your tears gush forth from the depths of your soul so that, in this way, the Master may have pity on you and forgive your trespass. —st john chrysostom” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm upcoming church services: NO GREAT VESPERS THIS WEEK welcome fr. doug church attire Please warmly welcome Fr. Doug, Proistamenos of There is no allowance for Church “summer- St. Nicholas Church in St. Louis, who is substitut- wear.” An Orthodox Christian should always come ing for Fr. Michael today. to Church dressed in modest attire (in every sea- fr. michael away son), so as not to draw attention to him/herself, be- coming a distraction to others. Traditionally wom- Fr. Michael will be away until July 11. If you have en wear dresses or skirts of at least knee length; an emergency, please call Fr.