SAINT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH july 3, 2016

THE second sunday of matthew Saint Hyacinth, a native of Caesarea in Cappadocia, was raised in a Christian family. The emperor Trajan made the boy his “cubicularius” (chamberlain), unaware that he was a secret Christian. One day, while the emperor and his entourage were offering sacrifice to idols, the young Hyacinth re- mained at the palace, shut himself up in a small room, and prayed fervently to the Lord . One of the servants overheard him praying and denounced him to the emperor. He said that although Hyacinth was entrusted with an imperial position, he did not honor the Roman gods, and was secretly praying to Christ. Hyacinth was brought to trial before Trajan, who tried to persuade him to deny Christ and sacrifice to the deaf and dumb idols, but the holy martyr remained steadfast and declared that he was a Christian. He was whipped and thrown into prison, where the only food given to him was what had already been offered to the idols. They hoped that he would be overcome with hunger and thirst and eat it. St Hyacinth did not eat the food, and he died after thirty-eight days. When they came to torture him again, they found his dead body. The jailer saw two in the cell. One covered the saint’s body with his own garment, and the other placed a crown of glory on his head. The twelve-year-old Hyacinth suffered for Christ in the year 108 in the city of . Later, the saint’s relics were transferred to Caesarea. Saint , Founder of the Monastery of the “Unsleeping Ones,” was born in Asia and received his education at Constantinople. He spent some time in military service but, sensing a call to other service, he left the world and accepted monastic tonsure in one of the Syrian wilderness monasteries near Antioch, under the guidance of igumen Elias. He spent four years in strict obedience and monastic effort, after which he received from the igumen blessing to dwell in the desert. Going into the wilderness, the monk took with him nothing from the monastery, except the . The monk then struggled in the desert for seven years. Afterwards, the Lord summoned him to preach to pagans. The saint converted to Christ the local city ruler named Rabul, who afterwards was consecrated a bish- op and for 30 years occupied the bishop’s cathedra of the city of Edessa. Together with Rabul all the lo- cal inhabitants accepted Baptism, and before receiving the sacrament they burned their idols in the city

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 A. apolytikion. Mode 1. οῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ he stone had been secured with a seal by the Ju- Tστρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Tdeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your Σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν· διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * And there- οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι ζωοδότα. Δόξα τῇ Ἀναστάσει fore the powers of heaven cried to You, O Life-giver: * σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονο- Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your μίᾳ σου, μόνε φιλάνθρωπε. kingdom; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind. 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 , * 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 b. Kontakion. Mode 2. ροστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, Protection of Christians unshamable, mediation Πμεσιτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε, μὴ O with 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 characteristic feature of true repentance is profound emotion, devasta- tion and sorrow of the heart, which is sad not because it’s going to be pun- ished, but because, with its sin, it saddened and angered God Who is such “a loving and tender Father. It’s the sighs, the compunction, the prayers, the fasts, and the tears. That repentance is genuine and real.. —Elder Filotheos Zervakos” THE READINGS OF THE DAY

reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 4: 18–23 romans 2:10-16

rethren, glory, honor, and peace [are] for ev- t that time, walking by the sea of Galilee, Je- eryone who does good; to the Jew first, and sus saw two brothers: Simon who is called Balso to the Greek, because there is no partial- APeter, and Andrew his brother. They were ity14 with God. Hence, all those who have sinned casting a net into the sea since they were fisher- apart from the law will also perish without the law, men. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will [and] as many as have sinned under the law will be make you fish for people!” Immediately, they left judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the their nets and followed him. Going on from there, law who are righteous before God, but the doers of he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebe- the law will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when dee, and John his brother. They were in a boat with who do not have the law do by nature the their father , mending their nets. Jesus things of the law, they are a law to themselves, even called them. At once, they left the boat and their though they do not have the law, by showing that father, and followed him. Jesus traveled throughout the practical expression of the law is written in their Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the hearts. Their conscience bears witness, and their Good News of the Kingdom, and healing all kinds thoughts alternately accuse or defend17 them). of diseases and sickness among the people. This is for the day when, according to my [procla- mation of the] gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.

Guard your mouth against superfluous, acrimonious and gra- tuitous words. Practice the Jesus prayer and self-restraint and the Lord will surround you with the priceless gift of His love. “ —from the gerontikon ” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

upcoming church services: NO GREAT VESPERS THIS WEEK

clergy laity COFFEE HOUR SPONSORSHIP Fr. will be away this week at the biennial Please consider becoming a coffee hour sponsor. National Clergy Laity Congress in Nashville, KY. See sign up sheet in Narthex. Celebrate a birthday, In the event of an emergency, please contact As- name day, anniversary, etc with your parish family. sumption Church in St. Louis. church attire PARISH FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE There is no allowance for Church “summer- There will be a meeting after Divine services today. wear.” An Orthodox Christian should always come Please join the committee as we brainstorm for to Church dressed in modest attire (in every sea- new ideas and to discuss the 2017 Dinner Dance son), so as not to draw attention to him/herself, be- and Silent Auction. All are welcome to attend. coming a distraction to others. Traditionally wom- give a month towards our future en wear dresses or skirts of at least knee length; dresses, blouses / tops should, at minimum, in- Help offset our additional mortgage payment with clude short sleeves and cover the shoulder. Women a donation of $640. If you would like to sponsor should not wear lipstick or lip gloss to Church - it one month for 2016, please contact Fr. Michael. leaves a residue on the icons and on the Commu- prosphoro nion spoon. Men should dress in pants and polo or Please sign up to help bake prosforon on Sundays. button-down shirts. Shorts should never be worn If you are not able to bake, but would like to make in Church. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing is a donation for communion wine or other altar not appropriate for women or men. needs, please see Fr Michael. Thank you! BOOKSTORE he mind of a person is like the The collected works of St. Paisios the Athonite Trudder of a ship. Just as a ship are now available in the Bookstore. Titles in without a rudder goes off course, the Greek are also available. See Matthew Monos if same is true of our mind. It’s closely you would like to special order a book. “ connected to the heart and, when it’s disturbed, the whole of the inner and outer person is disturbed and they don’t know what they’re doing. —elder Ilie” square. Having confirmed the newly-converted in the intrigues of the jealous, St Alexander was com- the Faith, St Alexander again went into the des- pelled to move to Constantinople. ert, where by chance he came upon a cave of rob- Here he founded a new monastery, in which bers. Unafraid of the danger that threatened him, he also initiated a monastic rule of “unceasing he preached the Gospel to them and urged them vigilance.” St Alexander and his monks suffered to repent. In fact, all the robbers did repent. They at Constantinople under the Nestorian heretics, accepted holy Baptism, and they transformed their enduring beatings and imprisonment. After this, cave into a monastery, where they dwelt in prayer when the storm of unrest abated, St Alexander and penitence. St Alexander appointed an igumen spent the last days of his life at the Constantinople for them, gave them a monastic rule, and he himself monastery he founded. He died in extreme old age resettled still farther in the desert. in about the year 430, after 50 years of incessant For several years he lived in complete solitude. monastic effort. But even there lovers of solitude began to flock to Saint Anatolius, Patriarch of Constantinople, the monk. A monastery emerged, numbering 400 was born at Alexandria in the second half of the monks. Desiring at this monastery to establish un- fourth century, at a time when many representatives interrupted praise to the Lord, the monk prayed for of illustrious Byzantine families ardently strove three years, that the Creator would reveal to him to serve the Church of Christ armed with Greek His will, and having then received the revelation, he philosophic wisdom. Having studied philosophy, initiated at the monastery the following order: all St Anatolius was ordained a deacon by St Cyril of the monks were divided into 24 watches of prayer. Alexandria (January 18). Anatolius was present at Changing shifts each hour, day and night they sang the Third Ecumenical Council at in the in two choirs the Psalms of David, interrupting this year 431 (September 9), at which the holy Fathers only for the times of the divine services. The mon- condemned the false teaching of Nestorius. astery received the name “ the Unsleeping Ones,” St Anatolius remained a deacon at Alexandria because the monks sang praise to God throughout and after the death of St Cyril (+ 444), when the the day and night. See of Constantinople was occupied by Dioscorus, St Alexander guided the monastery on the Eu- a supporter of the heresy being spread by Eutyches, phrates for twelve years. Afterwards, leaving one of which said that the Divine nature in Christ had ful- his disciples, the experienced Elder Trophimus as ly swallowed up and absorbed His human nature. its igumen, he set out with some chosen brethren This false teaching undermined the very basis of through the cities bordering on Persia, preaching the Church’s teaching about the salvation and re- the Gospel among the pagans. After this mission- demption of humankind [trans. note: Since “what ary journeying, St Alexander lived with his monks is not assumed is not saved”, if Christ has only a for a certain while at Antioch. There he built a Divine nature and not a human nature, then the church for the city-dwellers, and a home for the salvation of humankind, and even the Incarnation sick and homeless with the money that charitable of Christ would be rendered heretically docetic]. In Antiochians put at his disposal. However, through the year 449 Dioscorus and his followers convened a heretical “Robber Council” at Ephesus, having re- ceived also the support of the emperor. The great Blessed John, Fool-for-Christ, Wonderworker of advocate of Orthodoxy, St Flavian, the Patriarch of Moscow, was born on the outskirts of Vologda. In Constantinople, was deposed. his youth he toiled at a saltworks, where he was a Elected to the See of Constantinople, St water-carrier. The saint combined strict fasting and Anatolius zealously set about restoring the pu- prayer with his heavy work. Later he moved on to rity of Orthodoxy. In 450, at a local Council in Rostov, where he began his exploit of holy foolish- Constantinople, St Anatolius condemned the her- ness for the sake of Christ. He wore chains with esy of Eutyches and Dioscorus. Having died in ex- heavy iron crosses, and on his head was a heavy ile, the confessor Flavian was numbered among the iron cap, for which they called him “John Big-Cap”. saints and his relics were transferred to the capital. In Moscow he went barefoot and almost naked in In the following year, 451, with the active par- even the most severe frost, and he foretold the great ticipation of Patriarch Anatolius, the Fourth Ecu- misfortunes for Russia, the Time of Troubles and menical Council was convened at Chalcedon. The the incursion of the Poles, saying that “in Moscow Fathers of the Chalcedon Council affirmed the will be many visible and invisible devils.” dogma about the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, “perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, true He fearlessly spoke the truth to everyone, regard- God and true man, made known in two natures less of the position they might occupy. Even to the without mingling, without change, indivisibly, in- Tsar himself, Boris Godunov, he often said : “A separably” (Greek: “asynkhutos, atreptos, adiaire- clever mind, you ask God’s doing. God long waits, tos, akhoristos”). painfully indeed it breaks”. Before death St John After a life of constant struggle against heresy indicated for himself a grave at the Pokrov church and for truth, Patriarch Anatolius died in the year on Rva, afterwards called the cathedral of Basil the 458. Great. Having prepared himself for the grave, he re- Among the canons enacted was the 28th Canon moved the chains and showered himself with water of the Fourth Ecumenical Council stating that the three times. Before his death (+ 1589) the blessed See of Constantinople is equal to the throne of Old one displayed the gift of healing. He was venerated Rome. The churches of Asia Minor, and the at Moscow as a great wonderworker and seer. On Black Sea region, and all new churches that might June 12, 1672 his relics were uncovered, resting be- arise in these regions were placed under the juris- neath a crypt in one of the chapels of the cathedral diction of the Patriarch of Constantinople, in ac- of Basil the Great. The Service and Life were pre- cord with the 28th Canon. served in manuscripts of the seventeenth century. St Anatolius also made a large contribution to On the second Sunday after , each lo- the literary treasury of the Orthodox Church. He cal Orthodox Church commemorates all the saints, composed liturgical hymns for Sundays, for certain known and unknown, who have shone forth in its Feasts of the Lord (the Nativity and the Theopha- territory. Accordingly, the Orthodox Church in ny of Christ), for the martyrs ( St Panteleimon the America remembers the saints of North America Healer, St George the Victory-Bearer, St Demetrius on this day. of Thessalonica). In the service books they are des- The first Divine Liturgy in what is now Ameri- ignated simply as “Anatolian” verses. can territory (northern latitude 58 degrees, 14 minutes, western longitude 141 degrees) was cel- ter his wife’s death, received monastic tonsure with ebrated on July 20, 1741, the Feast of the Prophet the name Innocent. He died in 1879 as the Metro- Elias, aboard the ship Peter under the command of politan of Moscow. Vitus Bering. Hieromonk Hilarion Trusov and the As the nineteenth century was drawing to a priest Ignatius Kozirevsky served together on that close, an event of enormous significance for the occasion. Several years later, the Russian merchant North American Church took place. On March Gregory I. Shelikov visited Valaam monastery, sug- 25, 1891, Bishop Vladimir went to Minneapolis to gesting to the abbot that it would be desirable to receive St Alexis Toth (May 7) and 361 of his pa- send missionaries to Russian America. rishioners into the Orthodox Church. This was the On September 24, 1794, after a journey of 7,327 beginning of the return of many Uniates to Ortho- miles (the longest missionary journey in Ortho- doxy. dox history) and 293 days, a group of monks from St Tikhon (Belavin), the future Patriarch of Valaam arrived on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The Moscow (April 7, October 9), came to America as mission was headed by Archimandrite Joasaph, bishop of the diocese of the Aleutians and Alaska and included Hieromonks Juvenal, Macarius, and in September 1898. As the only Orthodox bishop Athanasius, the Hierodeacons Nectarius and Ste- on the continent, St Tikhon traveled extensively phen, and the monks Herman and Joasaph. St Her- throughout North America in order to minister to man of Alaska (December 13, August 9), the last his widely scattered and diverse flock. He realized surviving member of the mission, fell asleep in the that the local church here could not be a permanent Lord in 1837. extension of the Russian Church. Therefore, he fo- Throughout the Church’s history, the seeds cused his efforts on giving the American Church a of faith have always been watered by the blood of diocesan and parish structure which would help it the martyrs. The Protomartyr Juvenal was killed mature and grow. near Lake Iliamna by natives in 1799, thus becom- St Tikhon returned to Russia in 1907, and was ing the first Orthodox Christian to shed his blood elected as Patriarch of Moscow ten years later. He for Christ in the New World. In 1816, St Peter the died in 1925, and for many years his exact burial Aleut was put to death by Spanish missionaries in place remained unknown. St Tikhon’s grave was California when he refused to convert to Roman discovered on February 22, 1992 in the smaller ca- Catholicism. thedral of Our Lady of the Don in the Don Mon- Missionary efforts continued in the nineteenth astery when a fire made renovation of the church century, with outreach to the native peoples of necessary. Alaska. Two of the most prominent laborers in In the twentieth century, in the aftermath of the Christ’s Vineyard were St Innocent Veniaminov Russian Revolution, countless men, women, and (March 31 and October 6) and St Jacob Netsvetov children received the crown of martyrdom rather (July 26), who translated Orthodox services and than renounce Christ. Sts John Kochurov (Octo- books into the native languages. Father Jacob Nets- ber 31) and Alexander Hotovitzky (December 4 vetev died in Sitka in 1864 after a life of devoted and August 7) both served the Church in North service to the Church. Father John Veniaminov, af- America before going back to Russia. St John be- came the first clergyman to be martyred in Russia number of saints and righteous ones and the count- on October 31, 1917 in St Petersburg. St Alexander less souls baptized in His name throughout the Hotovitzky, who served in America until 1914, was ages of ages. Even if we do not see the Lord face-to- killed in 1937. face as the apostles saw Him, we believe that He is In addition to the saints listed above, we also among us in the Body and Blood which we receive honor those saints who are known only to God, and according to His commandment; and in receiving have not been recognized officially by the Church. His Body and Blood we rejoice with unspeakable As we contemplate the lives of these saints, let us joy. remember that we are also called by God to a life of Brethren, the Lord is alive and the Lord is near! holiness. That is our unwavering faith, and that is the spark of fire that ignites our hearts into a flame of love for Homily on the joy the Lord, living and near. of faith in Christ To know that, out of love, the Lord our Creator descended to the earth, and revealed Himself as a by St. Nikolai Velimirovich man for our sake, and to further know that He was dead and that He showed Himself alive — what ho having not seen, ye love; in Whom though stronger foundation does our faith need, and what Wnow ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice stronger justification does our love require? with joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:8) Brethren, the Lord is alive and near. Even in our These are the words of the Holy Apostle Pe- own day. He reveals Himself to many righteous ter. He saw the Lord and loved Him. He looked at souls who serve Him with patience. the Lord and believed in Him. Precisely because O Living Lord, Thous Who wast dead and of that, he praises the love of those who have not art alive, enliven in us faith and love until our last seen the Lord and the faith of those who have not breath on earth — that by faith and love we may be seen Him with their eyes. Our Lord Himself said: made worthy to see Thee face-to-face, as did Thy Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have holy apostles. believed (John 20:29). Blessed are they who have not seen the Lord as the apostle saw Him, but nev- To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen. ertheless love Him with apostolic love. Blessed are they who have not seen the Lord as the apostle saw Him, but nevertheless believe in Him with apos- tolic faith! O my brethren, even if we do not see the Lord, we see His works, which have enlightened the en- tire history of mankind, from one end to the other, and have illumined every created thing under the heavens with a spiritual significance. Even if we do not see the Lord, we see His Holy Church — built upon His All-holy and Pure Blood — of the great