Saint Luke the Evangelist Greek Orthodox Church
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SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH april 5, 2015 our lord’s triumphant entry into jerusalem alm Sunday is the celebration of the triumphant entrance of Christ into the royal city of Jerusalem. He Prode on a colt for which He Himself had sent, and He permitted the people to hail Him publicly as a king. A large crowd met Him in a manner befitting royalty, waving palm branches and placing their gar- ments in His path. They greeted Him with these words: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel! (John 12:13). This day together with the raising of Lazarus are signs pointing beyond themselves to the mighty deeds and events which consummate Christ’s earthly ministry. The time of fulfillment was at hand. Christ’s rais- ing of Lazarus points to the destruction of death and the joy of resurrection which will be accessible to all through His own death and resurrection. His entrance into Jerusalem is a fulfillment of the messianic prophecies about the king who will enter his holy city to establish a final kingdom. “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of an ass” (Zech 9:9). Finally, the events of these triumphant two days are but the passage to Holy Week: the “hour” of suf- fering and death for which Christ came. Thus the triumph in a earthly sense is extremely short-lived. Jesus enters openly into the midst of His enemies, publicly saying and doing those things which mostly enrage them. The people themselves will soon reject Him. They misread His brief earthly triumph as a sign of something else: His emergence as a political messiah who will lead them to the glories of an earthly king- dom. The Holy Martyrs Agathopodes the Deacon and Theodulus the Reader lived in Thessalonica during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (284-305) and were among the church clergy. The holy Deacon Agathopodes was very old, and Saint Theodulus very young. Both distinguished themselves by righteous life and piety. Once, St Theodulus had a vision in his sleep, in which an unknown person in radiant garb placed some object in his hand. When he awoke, he saw in his hand a beautiful ring with the image of the Cross and he realized that this was a sign of his future mar- tyrdom. By the power of the Cross depicted on the ring, the saint healed many of the sick and converted pagans to faith in Christ the Savior. When the emperor Diocletian issued an edict of a persecution against Christians (303), many attempt- ed to hide themselves from pursuit, but Sts Agathopodes and Theodulus fearlessly continued to proclaim the Gospel. Governor Faustinus of Thessalonica heard of this, and gave orders to bring them to him for trial. Seeing the youth and excellence of St Theodulus, Faustinus attempted flattery to persuade him to renounce Chris- 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 της εορτης. Ἦχος α. resurrectional of the feast. Mode 1. ὴν κοινὴν Ἀνάστασιν, πρὸ τοῦ σοῦ Πάθους o confirm the general resurrection before Your Tπιστούμενος, ἐκ νεκρῶν ἤγειρας τὸν Λάζα‐ ΤPassion, You resurrected Lazarus from the dead, ρον Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός· ὅθεν καὶ ἡμεῖς ὡς οἱ Παῖδες, O Christ our God. Therefore imitating the children, τὰ τῆς νίκης σύμβολα φέροντες, σοὶ τῷ Νικητῇ carrying the symbols of victory, we cry out to You the τοῦ θανάτου βοῶμεν· Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, Victor over death: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου. are You, the One, who comes in the name of the Lord.” Ἀπολυτίκιον της εορτης. Ἦχος δ. Apolytikion of the saint. Mode 4. υνταφέντες σοι διὰ τοῦ βαπτίσματος, Χριστὲ e were buried with You through Baptism, O Σὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, τῆς ἀθανάτου ζωῆς ἠξιώθημεν WChrist our God, and thus by Your Resurrection τῇ Ἀναστάσει σου, καὶ ἀνυμνοῦντες κράζομεν∙ we have been granted immortal life, and extolling You Ὡσαννὰ ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις, εὐλογημένος ὁ we cry aloud, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are ἐρχόμενος, ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου. You, the One who comes in the name of the Lord.” Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος πλ. β´. Kontakion. Mode 6. ῷ θρόνῳ ἐν οὐρανῷ, τῷ πώλῳ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, n heaven upon the throne, on earth upon the colt,* Τἐποχούμενος Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, τῶν Ἀγγέλων τὴν ΙYou were carried, O Christ our God;* and the αἴνεσιν, καὶ τῶν Παίδων ἀνύμνησιν προσεδέ‐ ξω praise of the Angels, and the hymns of the children, βοώντων σοι· Εὐλογημένος εἶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, τὸν You received as they cried to You,* ‘Blessed are You, Ἀδὰμ ἀνακαλέσασθαι. the One, who is coming to call Adam back again.’ Be mindful to God, so that in every moment he may be mindful of you. If he is mindful of you, he wil give you salvation. Do not forget him, letting yourselves be seduced by vain distractions. Do you want him to forget you in your times of “temptations? Stay near him and obey him in the days of your prosperity. You will be able to rely on his word in difficult days, because prayer will keep you safe in his continual presence. Remain constantly before his face, think of him, remember him in your heart. Otherwise, if you only meet him from time to time, you risk losing your close friendship with him. —st. isaac the syrian” THE READINGS OF THE DAY epistle reading three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” Now the Letter of saint paul Judas said this, not because he cared for the poor, to the Philippians 4:4-9 but because he was a thief, and having the money box, he used to steal what was put into it. But Je- RETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always! sus said, “Leave her alone! She has kept this for the Again I will say, rejoice! Let your kindness day of my burial. For you always have the poor with Bbe known to all. The Lord is at hand! Do not you, but you do not always have me.” Meanwhile, be anxious about anything, but in everything, by a large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your re- there. They came, not only for Jesus’ sake, but also quests be known to God. And the peace of God, in order to see Lazarus whom he had raised from which surpasses all understanding, will guard your the dead. The chief priests even conspired to put hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, Lazarus to death as well, because on his account brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and be- are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever lieved in him. On the next day, a great multitude things are pure, whatever things are lovely, what- had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus ever things are commendable, if there is any virtue was coming to Jerusalem, they took branches from or any praise, think about these things. What you palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, learned, received, heard, and saw in me—practice “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of these things, and the God of peace will be with you. the Lord, the King of Israel!” Having found a young gospel reading donkey, Jesus sat on it. As it is written: “Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion! Behold, your King is com- John 12:1-18 ing, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” His disciples did not ix days before the Passover, Jesus came to understand these things at first, but after Jesus was Bethany where Lazarus (who had been dead glorified, then they remembered that these things Sand whom Jesus had raised from the dead) were written about him, and that they had done lived. Therefore, they gave a supper for him there. these things to him. Now the multitude that had Martha served while Lazarus was one of those been with Jesus when he had called Lazarus out of who sat at the table with him. Then Mary took a the tomb and raised him from the dead continued pound of fragrance of pure nard, very precious; she to testify about it. For this reason also, the crowd anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with had come out to meet him, because they had heard her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance that he had done this sign. of the ointment. Then Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for announcements upcoming church services: See page 7 of this bulletin for a schedule of Holy Week Services HOLY WEEK begins this evening at 7pm with the Service of Orthros for Holy Monday (Bridegroom). holy week / pascha flowers lenten journey A list of needs for Holy Week and Pascha can be Pascha Passport Book: Today is Palm Sunday of found on the back page of this Sunday Bulletin. Your Lent, Our Mother, St. Mary of Egypt - don’t forget to generosity is greatly appreciated! pick up today’s stamp. Next Sunday is Pascha! holy confession Pick up a postcard (one per family, please) and learn more about each Sunday during Lent. Fr. Michael will be available for Confession dur- ing Holy Week by appointment.