SAINT LUKE the EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH July 26, 2015

SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH july 26, 2015

8th sunday of matthew

Holy Virgin Martyr Paraskevi of Rome was the only daughter of Christian parents, Agathon and Politia, and from her early years she dedicated herself to God. She spent much of her time in prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. After the death of her parents St Paraskevi distributed all of her inheritance to the poor, and consecrated her virginity to Christ. Emulating the holy Apostles, she began to preach to the pagans about Christ, converting many to Christianity. She was arrested during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161) because she refused to worship the idols. She was brought to trial and fearlessly confessed herself a Christian. Neither enticements of honors and material possessions, nor threats of torture and death shook the firmness of the saint nor turned her from Christ. She was given over to beastly tortures. They put a red-hot helmet on her head and threw her in a cauldron filled with boiling oil and pitch. By the power of God the holy martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor peered into the cauldron, St Paraskevi threw a drop of the hot liquid in his face, and he was burned. The emperor began to ask her for help, and the holy martyr healed him. After this the emperor set her free. Traveling from one place to another to preach the Gospel, St Paraskevi arrived in a city where the gover- nor was named Asclepius. Here again they tried the saint and sentenced her to death. They took her to an immense serpent living in a cave, so that it would devour her. But St Paraskevi made the Sign of the Cross over the snake and it died. Asclepius and the citizens witnessed this miracle and believed in Christ. She was set free, and continued her preaching. In a city where the governor was a certain Tarasius, St Paraskevi endured fierce tortures and was beheaded in the year 140. Many miracles took place at the saint’s tomb: the blind received sight, the lame walked, and barren women gave birth to children. It is not only in the past that the saint performed her miracles, but even today she helps those who call on her in faith. Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates of Nicomedia, were among the small number of those remaining alive after 20,000 Christians were burned alive in a church at Nicomedia in the year 303 (December 28), on the orders of the emperor Maximian (284-305). They in remote places and did not cease to preach Christianity to the pagans. The young pagan named Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, July 27) often passed by the house in which St Hermolaus had concealed himself. Once St Hermolaus chanced to meet the youth and

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 βαρυσ. apolytikion. Mode varys. ατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳ- y means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished Kξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυρο- Bdeath. To the robber You opened Paradise. The φόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀπο- lamentation of the myrrh-bearing women You trans- στόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας· ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ formed, and You gave Your Apostles the order to pro- Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. claim to all that You had risen, O Christ our God, and granted the world Your great mercy. Ἀπολυτ. tησ αγιας. Ἦχος α. apolytikion of the saint. Ἦχος 1. ὴν σπουδήν σου τῇ κλήσει κατάλληλον, ἐργα- our diligence corresponded to your name, Para- Τσαμένη φερώνυμε, τὴν ὁμώνυμόν σου πίστιν, Yskevi, which denotes preparedness. Through faith εἰς κατοικίαν κεκλήρωσαι, Παρασκευὴ ἀθληφόρε· you inherited the promised dwelling that was pre- ὅθεν προχέεις ἰάματα, καὶ πρεσβεύεις ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυ- pared for you, O prize-winning Martyr. Therefore χῶν ἡμῶν. you pour out cures and healings, and you intercede on behalf of 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, μεσι- rotection of Christians unshamable, mediation Πτεία, πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε, μὴ παρίδῃς, Pwith the Creator immovable, we sinners beg you, ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς do not despise the voices of our prayers, but antici- ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυ- pate, since you are good, and swiftly come unto our γαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον aid as we cry out to you with faith: Hurry to interces- εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν sion, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who τιμώντων σε. defend now and ever those who honor you. THE READINGS OF THE DAY

epistle reading gospel reading The letter of paul to Matthew 14: 14–22 galatians 3:23–29, 4:1–5

rethren, before faith came, we were kept in t that time, Jesus saw that there was a great custody under the law, locked up to wait crowd, and he had compassion on them and Bfor the faith which would later be revealed. Ahealed their sick. When evening came, his Hence, the law was our tutor which was to bring us disciples came to him and said, “This place is de- to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. But serted, and the hour is already late. Send the crowds now that faith has come, we are no longer under a away so that they may go into the villages and buy tutor, and you are all God’s children, through faith food for themselves.” But Jesus said to them, “They in Christ Jesus! For as many of you as have been do not need to go away. You give them something baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is to eat.” They replied, “We only have here five loaves neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor and two fish!” Jesus said, “Bring them to me.” Hav- free, there is neither male nor female; for you are ing instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass, all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then he took the five loaves and the two fish. Looking you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves promise. Here is my point: as long as the heir is a to the disciples, and the disciples distributed it to child, he is no different than a slave, although being the multitudes. And so, everyone ate and was satis- the owner of everything. The heir is under tutors fied. His disciples gathered up twelve baskets full and trustees until the day appointed by the father. of what remained left over from the broken pieces. Likewise, when we too were children, we were held Those who ate were about five thousand men, be- in bondage under the elemental principles of the sides women and children. Immediately after this, world. But when the fullness of the time came, God Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and told sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under them to go ahead of him to the other side, while he the law, so that he might redeem those who were would send the crowds away. under the law and so that we might receive adop- tion as children.

Be the grasshopper of the night. Wash your bed and water your couch every night with your tears. Keep awake and become like a lonely sparrow. Sing with your spirit, sing also with your understanding the Psalm, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all He has done for you…’” “ —st. jerome ” announcements Saturday, January 25, Great Vespers, 5pm

upcoming church services: Saturday, August 1, Great Vespers, 5pm upcoming fasting period HOPE and joy During the upcoming fasting period (begin- We are starting a new ministry for our children. ning Aug. 1), we will celebrate the Paraklesis to HOPE is for children in grades K through 2nd and the Most Holy Theotokos on August 3, 7, 10, 12 at JOY is for children in grades 3rd through 6th. We 5pm. Please submit names of Orthodox Christians will begin by having a mini-workshop on August to be commemorated during the Paraklesis using 8, 2015 starting at 11:00am. Please complete the complete the enclosed Commemoration Form registration forms available in the Narthex. If you and leave it in the basket in the Narthex. have any questions, please see Calin Chindris or upcoming vigil Presvytera Jeannie. On August 14, at 8pm, we will gather to of- give a month towards our future fer praise to the All-Glorious Virgin on the com- We would like to offer families and individuals the memoration of her ever memorable Falling Asleep opportunity to help offset our mortgage payment (Dormition / Koimisis). I pray that many will with a donation of $640. If you would like to spon- come and honor our Most Holy Lady; come as you sor one month for 2015, please contact Fr. Michael. are able – attending even part of the services is a Thus far 4 commitments have been made for 2015. great blessing! Services will begin at 8pm. church attire flower donations - artoclasia There is no allowance for Church “summer- We need someone to bake Artoclasia for the Vigil wear.” An Orthodox Christian should always come on August 14, and we also need 3x $100 donations to Church dressed in modest attire (in every sea- for flowers to decorate the icon of the Feast. Please son), so as not to draw attention to him/herself, be- see Fr. Michael if you would like to make a dona- coming a distraction to others. Traditionally wom- tion or bake the Artoclasia. en wear dresses or skirts of at least knee length; school supply drive dresses, blouses / tops should, at minimum, in- clude short sleeves and cover the shoulder. Women Voluntary Action Center is in need of school sup- should not wear lipstick or lip gloss to Church - it ply donations to help insure that Boone County’s leaves a residue on the icons and on the Commu- low-income children are prepared for the upcom- nion spoon. Men should dress in pants and polo or ing school year. Please join Philoptochos by pur- button-down shirts. Shorts should never be worn chasing some supplies; please see the list in Nar- in Church. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing is thex for items most needed. Donations must be not appropriate for women or men. received by August 23. Thank you! synaxarion asked him to stop by his house. In their conversa- to come. Osip and Antony were eventually able to tion St Hermolaus began to explain to his guest the study at the St Petersburg Naval Academy in Rus- falseness, impiety and vanity of worshipping the sia, becoming a naval officer and a shipbuilder, pagan gods. From that day on, Pantoleon began to respectively. Their sister, Elena, married a success- visit St Hermolaus daily and received holy Baptism ful and respected clerk for the Russian-American from him. Company. But Jacob yearned for a different kind When the trial of the holy Great Martyr Pan- of success, a success that the world might consider teleimon was being held, Sts Hermolaus, Hermip- failure for “the righteous live forever, their reward is pus and Hermocrates, were also arrested. The Lord with the Lord” (Wis. Sol. 5:15). And so, when the Jesus Christ appeared to St Hermolaus one evening family moved to Irkutsk in 1823, Jacob enrolled in and revealed to him that on the following day he the Irkutsk Theological Seminary and placed all his would suffer for Him and receive a martyr’s crown. hope in Christ by seeking first the Kingdom of God Sts Hermippus and Hermocrates were arrested (Mt. 6:33). and brought to trial after St Hermolaus. All three Jacob was tonsured as a Subdeacon on October were given the chance to deny Christ and offer 1, 1825. He married a Russian woman (perhaps sacrifice to idols. But they resolutely refused, con- also a Creole) named Anna Simeonovna, and in fessed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and were 1826 graduated from the Seminary with cer- prepared gladly to die for Him. tificates in history and theology. On October 31, The pagans began to threaten the holy priests 1826, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and with torture and death. Suddenly, a strong earth- assigned to serve the altar of the Holy Trinity-St quake occurred, and the idols and pagan temple Peter Church in Irkutsk. Two years later, on March collapsed and shattered. This was reported to the 4, 1828, Archbishop Michael, who had earlier or- emperor. The enraged Maximian gave the holy dained Father John Veniaminov (St Innocent), el- martyrs over to torture and pronounced upon evated the godly deacon Jacob to the Holy Priest- them a sentence of death. Bravely enduring all the hood. This, however, was no ordinary ordination. torments, the holy Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Her- As if he were a new Patrick, hearing the mystical mippus and Hermocrates were beheaded in about call of his distant flock, Father Jacob yearned to the year 305. return to his native Alaska. And the all-good God, Father Jacob (Netsvetov) of Alaska was born of who “satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry pious parents in 1802 on Atka Island, Alaska. His soul with goodness” (Ps.107:9) heard the prayer of father, Yegor Vasil’evich Netsvetov was a Russian his servant. from Tobolsk. His mother, Maria Alekseevna, was Archbishop Michael provided Father Jacob with an Aleut from Atka island. Yegor and Maria had two antimensia: one for the new Church which four children who survived infancy; Jacob was the would be dedicated to the glory of God in honor first born, followed by Osip (Joseph), Elena, and of St Nicholas the Wonderworker in Atka, and one Antony. Yegor and Maria were devoted to their to be used for missionary activity. On May 1, 1828 children and, though of meager means, did all they a molieben for travelers was served, and Father Ja- could to provide them with the education which cob, his father, Yegor, (now tonsured as reader for would help them in this life as well as in the life the Atka Church), and his matushka, Anna, set out When his first six months had ended (end of for Alaska. 1829), Father Jacob recorded that he had baptized Who can tell of the perils and trials associated 16, chrismated 442, married 53 couples, and bur- with such a journey? Travel in those days was never ied 8. easy, either overland or over the waves of the sea. Once the church was constructed, Father Jacob Nevertheless, aided by prayer and confidence in turned his attention to the building of a school in God’s providence, the Netsvetov family arrived which the children would learn to read and write safely in Atka over a year later, on June 15, 1829. both Russian and Unangan Aleut. The Russian The new assignment for the newly-ordained Father American Company provided some of the support Jacob would also prove to be quite a challenge. The initially, with the students providing the remain- Atka “parish” comprised a territory stretching for der. This continued until 1841, when it was reorga- nearly 2,000 miles and included Amchitka, Attu, nized as a parish school and ties with the company Copper, Bering and Kurile Islands. But this did ceased. Father Jacob proved to be a talented educa- not deter the godly young priest, for when he was tor and translator whose students became distin- clothed in the garments of the Priesthood, he was guished Aleut leaders in the next generation. found to be “clad with zeal as a cloak’ (Is. 59:17), Father Netsvetov led an active physical and in- and so he threw himself wholly into his sacred tellectual life, hunting and gathering for his own ministry. His deep love for God and for his flock subsistence needs, preparing specimens of fish and was evident in everything that he did. Both in Atka marine animals for the natural history museums of and in the distant villages and settlements which Moscow and St Petersburg, corresponding with St he visited, Father Jacob offered himself as a “liv- Innocent (Veniaminov) on matters of linguistics ing sacrifice” (Rom 12:1). Having “no worry about and translations. He labored over the creation of his life” (Mt. 6:25 ff), the holy one endured mani- an adequate alphabet for the Unangan-Aleut lan- fold tortures of cold, wet, wind, illness, hunger and guage, and the translation of the Holy Scriptures exhaustion, for to him life was Christ (Phil 1:21). and other appropriate literature into that language. Showing himself as a “rule of faith,” his example St Innocent praised the young pastor for his holi- brought his people to a deep commitment to their ness of life, his teaching, and for continuing this own salvation. Being fully bilingual and bicultural, work of translating which he, himself, had begun Father Jacob was uniquely blessed by God to care earlier among the native peoples. After fifteen years for the souls of his fellow Alaskans. of service, Father Jacob was awarded the Nabedren- When he arrived in Atka, the Church of St Nich- nik, Kamilavka, and Gold Cross. Later, he would be olas had not yet been built. So, with his own hands made Archpriest and receive the Order of St Anna. Father Jacob constructed a large tent (Acts 18:3) in These ecclesiastical awards do not tell of the which he conducted the services. For Father Jacob personal sufferings of this warrior for Christ. In the services of the Church were life: life for his peo- March of 1836, his precious wife, Anna, died of ple and life for himself. It was in the worship of God cancer; his home burned to the ground in July of that he found both strength and joy. Later he would 1836; and his dear father, Yegor, died of an unde- transport this tent with him on his missionary jour- termined illness in 1837. Who can utter the depth neys, and like Moses in the wilderness, the grace of of sorrow felt by this God-pleaser? Yet he lifted up God was found wherever this tent was taken (Num his voice with that ancient sufferer and cried, “shall 4:1 ff; 10:17 ff). we indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity? In all this he did not sin with his failed, continued to be an evangelical beacon of the lips” (Job 2:10). In his journal Father Jacob attrib- grace of God in southwestern Alaska. uted all to “the Will of Him whose Providence and Establishing his headquarters in the Yup’ik Es- Will are inscrutable and whose actions toward men kimo village of Ikogmiute (today’s ‘Russian Mis- are incomprehensible.” He patiently endured hard- sion’) he traveled to native settlements hundreds ships and sufferings like the Holy Apostle Paul. He of miles up and down Alaska’s longest river (the saw in these misfortunes not a Victory by the hater Yukon) as well as the Kuskokwim River region. At of men’s souls (i.e. the devil) but a call from God to the insistence of Indian leaders, he traveled as far as even greater spiritual struggles. With this in mind, the middle of the Innoko River baptizing hundreds Father Jacob petitioned his ruling bishop to return of Indians from various, and often formerly hostile, to Irkutsk in order to enter the monastic life. A year tribes. “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for later, word reached him that permission was grant- brethren to dwell together in unity” (Ps 133:1). He ed contingent upon the arrival of a replacement. built the first Christian temple in this region, and None ever came. dedicated it to the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Instead, Bishop Innocent soon came to Atka and Cross. Here Father Jacob, in spite of failing health, asked Father Jacob to accompany him on a voyage joyfully celebrated the Church’s cycle of services, by ship to Kamchatka. Who can know the heavenly including all of the services prescribed for Holy discourse enjoyed by these two lovers of Christ Week and Pascha. as they traveled over the waves? This, however, is Finally, in 1863, the evil One, who “walks about clear, the holy archpastor was able to accomplish like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” three things in Father Netsvetov. Firstly, he ap- (I Pet 5:8), sought one last time to get the better plied the healing salve of the Spirit with words of of the righteous one. So the devil, the father of lies, comfort; secondly, he dissuaded Father Jacob from (John 8:44), inspired an assistant of Father Jacob entering the monastery; and thirdly, he revealed to level spurious and slanderous charges against to the godly priest the true plan of the Savior for his master. This resulted in a summons to Sitka, is- his life, that he ‘might preach (Christ) among the sued by Bishop Peter. The godly pastor was quickly Gentiles” (Gal. 1: 16) deep in the Alaskan interior. cleared of all charges, but due to his ever-worsening Father Jacob continued to serve his far-flung flock health, he remained in Sitka for his final year serv- of the Atka parish until December 30, 1844. A new ing a Tlingit chapel. He died on July 26, 1864 at the zeal had taken hold of him, and it was then that St age of 60 and was buried on the third day at the en- Innocent appointed him to head the new Kvikhpak try of the chapel. During his final missionary trav- Mission in order to bring the light of Christ to the els in the Kuskokwim/Yukon delta region, he had people of the Yukon. Here, aided by two young baptized 1,320 people—distinguishing himself as Creole assistants, Innokentii Shayashnikov and the evangelizer of the Yup’ik Eskimo and Athabas- Konstantin Lukin, together with his young neph- can Indian peoples. ew, Vasilii Netsvetov, Father Jacob “settled’ in the This brief history has recounted the basic chro- wilderness of Alaska. nology of the saint’s life and labors, but we must not He learned new languages, embraced new peo- neglect to relate his other deeds, that the light be ples and cultures, devised another alphabet, built not “hidden under a bushel” (Mt.5:15). In 184 1, another church and Orthodox community, and for Father Jacob encountered a group of women from the next twenty years, until his health and eyesight his flock in Amlia who had fallen victim to certain demonic influences and teachings. Blaming himself were traditional enemies. One example from his for the seduction and fall of his spiritual children by journal reads: the evil one, he informed the leader among them “Beginning in the morning, upon my invitation, that he was going to pay them a visit. all the Kol’chane and Ingalit from the Yukon and Upon arriving, he found one of the women par- the local ones gathered at my place and I preached alyzed, semi-conscious and unable to speak. He or- the word of God, concluding at noon. Everyone dered that she be removed to another house apart, listened to the preaching with attention and with- and on the next day when this was accomplished, out discussion or dissent, and in the end they all he lit the lampada before the icons of the beautiful expressed faith and their wish to accept Holy Bap- corner, vested himself in his priestly epitrachilion tism, both the Kol’chane and the Ingatit (formerly (stole), sprinkled holy water throughout the room, traditional enemies). I made a count by families and began the first prayers of exorcism. He then and in groups, and then in the afternoon began the left. baptismal service. First I baptized 50 Kol’chane and During the night he was notified that the wom- Ingalit men, the latter from the Yukon and Innoko. an had begun to speak but incoherently. He came It was already evening when I completed the ser- immediately to her and performed a second ex- vice. March 21, 1853.” orcism. This time, she sprang out of her bed and So it was that this apostolic man, this new Job, stood next to the saint, joined her prayer to his, and conducted himself during his earthly course. There accompanied them with prostrations. When the are many other deeds and wonders which he per- prayers were finished, Father Jacob again sprinkled formed, many known and many more known only her with holy water and gave her the precious cross to God. Few missionaries in history have had to to kiss. She regained full consciousness, a state endure the hardships which Father Jacob faced, of health and true reason—that is, even the false yet he did so with patience and humility. His life of teachings of the evil spirits had no more part in her. faith and piety are the legacy which he leaves to us, Once in November of 1845, Father Jacob was his spiritual children in America, and indeed to all preaching in the village of Kalskag, where the local Christians throughout the world. chief was also the head shaman. He spoke for all of the villagers and resisted the Word of God force- fully. But the saint, calm and full of the Holy Spirit, The flower, even when cut, keeps its continued to sow the seeds of right belief and piety. odor, and when bruised increases it, After many hours, the chief fell silent and finally and when torn does not lose it; so, came to believe. The villagers, in solidarity with too, the Lord Jesus on that gallows of their leader, also joyously expressed their belief in “the cross neither failed when bruised, the Triune God and sought Holy Baptism. nor fainted when torn; and when cut Father Jacob was a physician of bodies as well as by the pricking of the lance, made souls. He often cared for the sick among his flock more beautiful by the sacred color of even to his own detriment. During the winter of the outpoured blood, He grew young 1850-1851 the saint was himself ravaged with illness. Yet he cared for the sick and dispensed medi- again, Himself not knowing how to cine to them every day. Father Jacob’s preaching of- die and exhaling among the dead the ten brought together in the Holy Faith tribes who gift of eternal life. —st. ambrose of milan”