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St Week of July 19th 2020 Sunday, July 19th 2020 Holy Fathers of the 4th Sts Peter & Paul Weekly Services Resurrection Hymn (Plagal 1st Tone) Wednesday Morning, July 22 “Eteranl with the Father and the Spirit is the Word, Feast St Mary Magdalene Who of a was begotten for our salvation. Orthros______8am As the faithful we both praise and worship Him, Divine Liturgy______9am for in the flesh did He consent to ascend unto the , Wednesday Evening, July 22 and death did He endure and He raised unto life Paraclesis to St. Niciforos Leper the dead through His all glorious resurrection.” & Wonderwonder______6pm Hymn for the Holy Fathers Saturday Morning, July 25 “Supremely blessed are You, O our God. Dormition St Anna You established the holy Fathers upon the earth as beacons, Orthros______8am and through them You have guided us all to the true Faith, Divine Liturgy______9am O greatly merciful One, glory be to You.” Saturday Evening, July 25 Hymn for Sts Peter and Paul Great Vespers______5pm “O leaders of the , and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all Sign-up For Services that He may grant peace unto , and to our souls His great mercy.” Reserve a spot by visiting the website at Hymn stspeterandpaulboulder.org “A protection of Christians unshamable, Please email Shanyn Bateh at intercessor to our holy Maker unwavering, [email protected] if you have any questions. Thank you. reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin; instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: hasten to intercede, and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, for those who honor you.” Scripture Readings Sixth Orthros : :36-53 : Titus 3:8-15 Gospel: St :14-19

1 Sts. Peter & Paul, Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council Sixth Orthros Gospel According to Luke 24:36-53 At that time, , having risen from the dead, stood and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their in the midst of his disciples and said to them, “Peace to minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, you.” But they were startled and frightened, and sup- “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on posed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why the third day rise from the dead, and that are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle to all nations, beginning from . You are wit- me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you nesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise see that I have.” And when he said this, he showed them of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved are clothed with power from on high.” for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you Then he led them out as far as , and lifting up anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, fish, and he took it and ate before them. he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. Then he said to them, “These are my words which I And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusa- spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything lem with great joy, and were continually in the temple written about me in the law of and the prophets blessing God. Epistle: St. Paul’s Letter to Titus 3:8-15 Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to in- When I send or Tychicos to you, do your sist on these things, so that those who have believed best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to in God may be careful to apply themselves to good spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But the lawyer and on their way; see that they lack avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing not to be unfruitful. him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. The Gospel According to Matthew 5:14-19 The Lord said to his disciples, “You are away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass the . A city set on a hill from the law until all is accomplished. cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp Whoever then relaxes one of the least of and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, these commandments and teaches men and it gives light to all in the house. Let so, shall be called least in your light so shine before men, that they of heaven; but he who does them and may see your good works and give glory teaches them shall be called great in the to your Father who is in heaven. Think kingdom of heaven.” not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For tru- ly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass

Petra News, Week of July 19th, 2020 2 St. Mary Magdalene, First Witness of the Resurrection By Dn. George P. BithosAugust 4, 2014 time of Christ, women were not considered creditable July 22/August 4 is the Feast Day of St. Mary Magda- witnesses. They were not allowed to give testimony, lene. I believe that Mary is one of the most interesting only men were considered believable. Yet to Jesus this of our . She is a woman of great theological signif- didn’t matter. He trusted these disciples, these women icance, but she is not well documented in history. The disciples to deliver the greatest news in the history of Tradition of the Church, gives us a good bit to think of the world. She had seen Jesus die on the Cross, seen concerning this special person. Him buried, seen the great stone set at the door, seen the guard posted at the door of the tomb, her tears were She carries several “titles” in the Church usage. She is shed for her teacher, she saw a stranger in the Garden, known most of all as Mary Magdalene. With this, we until she heard a familiar voice call her name. She know she came from a town named . This city then saw Him resurrected and glorified. Joy overcame was located on Lake Gennesaret (”a sorrow! As Jesus instructed her, garden of riches”), which is another Mary Magdalene found the other name for the Sea of or Lake disciples. She was a member of Tiberias. Geographically the town the inner circle; she was trusted by would be located presently north- them and when she delivered the west of Haifa, Israel near the Golan message, “I have seen the Lord” Heights. This places her town north (,18) they did not believed of . her. Jesus had to appear to them Mary also carries the titles of “Apos- and upbraid them before, even her tle to , Equal to the friends, would believe such news. Apostles and of course -bear- The other appearances of Jesus are er” There is mistaken idea that well documented in the . Mary was a prostitute before she After the Ascension and Pentecost, met Jesus. This is not true! There Mary travelled from Jerusalem is a tradition that Mary Magdalene to where she announced led such a chaste life that the devil the resurrection. One tradition thought she might be the one who concerning Mary Magdalene says was to bear Christ into the world, that she used her position to gain and for that reason he sent seven demons to torment an invitation to a banquet given by Emperor . her. The first time Mary is mentioned in the Gospels When she met him, she held a plain egg in her hand is St. ,1-3; Christ freed her from these demons and exclaimed “Christ is risen!” Caesar laughed, and and she followed him thereafter. She is considered one said that Christ rising from the dead was as likely as the of the Galilean disciples. We see her prominently in egg in her hand turning red while she held it. Before he the Passion narratives. She followed Jesus to Jerusalem finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright and was steadfast at the foot of the Cross with The red (for more details, see Wikipedia). Each time we Virgin Mary standing by Jesus in His darkest moments. answer, “Truly, He is Risen!” we should think of Mary. She figured importantly in the post-resurrectional After many years evangelising across the Mediterra- accounts. She is the first person to see the Risen Lord, nean area, she travelled to where she joined whom she saw twice, she spoke to Him near the tomb, St. and her friend, the Virgin Mary, She was the first to announce the Resurrection. The the Theotokos. There she died peacefully. During the privilege of being the “first” witness of the resurrection second of St. Photios the Great, he had her that was granted to Mary by the Lord is something that relics transferred to the Queen City (Constantinople). twentieth century sensibilities need to absorb. In the 3 Sts. Peter & Paul, Greek Orthodox Church The Skull and Bones of Mary Magdalene Outside Aix-en-, in the Var paths lead to the grotto. region in the south of France, is a me- The Dominican monks have been dieval town named -Maximin-la- the guardians of this sanctuary Sainte-Baume. Its is dedicated since 1295. The path up to the top to Mary Magdalene; under the crypt is a pilgrimage, as you find yourself there is a glass dome said to contain the surrounded by ancient trees and relic of her skull. bowed, worn away stones that have It is paraded around the town each been walked upon for centuries. year, along with the many visiting relics Near the top, you reach a steep in- of other churches around Europe, on cline, and a sign to remind you that the saint’s name day, July 22. The Feast this is a silent place, but visitors are Day is held the Sunday after the welcome. After all, people have been actual feast day if it does not fall on a making pilgrimages here since the Sunday. Hundreds of people have been 5th century. Kings, , saints, and gathering for this event for hundreds ordinary people have all walked the of years. Before the feast day mass, “King’s Path” to visit the cave. King costumed participants walk though the Louis XI visited in 1447 and in 1456, town, alerting the town of the mass, praying to Mary Magdalene for a accompanied by flutes, drums, rifles, son. In 1470, Charles VIII was born. and horses from the Camargue. After At the to the monastery you the Mass, there is a processional of reach the cave by climbing 150 steps the Relics, including the Skull of Mary to an oak door flanked by twin pillars. Magdalene. As you pass through the door, the But the area’s connection to Mary sound of water dripping into pools Magdalene extends up into the nearby from the ceiling of the grotto is the Sainte-Baume mountains. When only thing you hear. The only light Mary Magdalene fled the Holy Land, comes from stained glass windows legend says she took refuge in a cave and prayer candles. The air is cold. there. This mountaintop cave is now a The grotto is so huge that a full-scale hidden monastery called the Sanctuary chapel in honor of Mary Magdalene of Mary Magdalene, and it is located 25 stands inside it. kilometers outside of St. Maximin, at A housing Mary Magda- the top of a 90-minute hike through an lene’s bones rests in a niche on a ancient forest. On the edge of the forest lower level beneath her statue. As is a modest restaurant and a hotel you go down the stairs to an empty which is run by the Benedictine Sisters crypt, you stand in a pool of water of the Sacred Heart of Montmarte. beneath an statue of Mary From the dirt parking area, you can see Magdalene in Rapture, lit by candles. the forest, and above it, what almost Even it has its own history, as during looks like a Manitou cliff dwelling. It the French Revolution the statue was feels a million miles and a world away. hidden in the nearby town of Plan When you begin your pilgrimage, d’Aups to protect it from looting there are two paths to choose, but all during the French Revolution. Petra News, Week of July 19th, 2020 4 The Light Begins With Me Spiritual Reflection for the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – St Matthew 5:14-19

Every person exerts an influence in the world. If - and are held responsible by God - for the influ- you are not a Christian and are living a Godless ence we are sending out from our lives. life, by your example you are making it harder for We are held responsible by God for the influence others to follow the ways of peace and righteous- we send out from our life. If we elect to receive ness. By your unbelief, you are making it easier for God’s gift of salvation and become citizens of some to reject the way of life through Christ Jesus. heaven, we become in-volved in the lifestyle of It is a solemn thought that our lives are continually the kingdom. We become the reflected light of the radiating light or darkness, and there are ripples Great Light, which is Christ. It may seem awesome, of influence that we can never control or stop. No but the world will know Him because it knows us. man lives unto himself. We may not shine brightly, and sometimes our No one is entirely without influence. Everything lives may be only a glimmer of what they ought we say and do has a ripple effect. It either hurts or to be. But even so, if we are true followers of Jesus, helps. It either leads or misleads. It either advances our lives will be of the light and not of the dark- God’s Kingdom or hinders its. We are responsible ness. St. has said: “Christ left us on earth in order that we should become like beacons of light and teachers unto others; that we might act like leaven, move among men like , be like men unto children, and like spiritual men unto animal men, in order to win them over, and that we may be like seed, and bear abundant fruits. There would be no need for , if our lives were shining; there would be no need for words, if we bore witness with our deeds. There would be no pagan, if we were true Christians.”

The purpose of this shining for Christ is not that the world may see our good works and praise us, but that it may see God in and through our good works and fall down before His presence in our midst. Jesus is not promoting here a theology of good works, but a theology of the glory of God. – By Father Anthony Coniaris

5 Sts. Peter & Paul, Greek Orthodox Church News & Announcements Adult Education Philoptochos CAN’t Help Without You! Class: Journey to the Kingdom Saturday, July 18, 4pm We need canned donations “Journey to the Kingdom” will focus for Our Center! We took on a deeper understanding of the a little break for the past Divine . Please join us on few months, but they need Saturday, July 25, 4 pm. The class canned meat, tuna, chicken, will take place in the church. You are etc. There will be a box welcome to attend the class in the outside of church at the front church or participate live-stream. door starting this weekend if would like to drop off your Summer House Blessings canned food donation. If you would like us to shop Father Jordan will be blessing homes for you, we will be taking donations. You can contact this summer. Our parish family has Ashley Dzilvelis at [email protected] or send been separated, and we want to keep money via Venmo to @AshDz and I will make sure the special connection to the church. to get what we need. You can also mail a check to Father Jordan will bless your home Julie Powers, please contact her at powerjulie@ at the front door, sprinkling Holy gmail.com for her address, please put Our Center in Water at the entrance of the home. the memo line. Life cannot survive without water. Stewardship Gifts Our spiritual life cannot survive without prayer and Restrictions on regular services has the life giving and services of the church. an impact on the financial health Parishioners will be contacted to work out a good of our Church. Now more than time and day for the blessing. ever, easyTithe can help ensure Sts. Peter & Paul remains strong through these difficult times. You can set up recurring contributions to your stewardship pledge or make a one-time donation to Sts. Peter & Paul. Go to stspeterandpaulboulder. org and click on the easyTythe . 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. Thank you! Stewardship Chairs, George and Nicole Tsiouvaras

Petra News, Week of July 19th, 2020 6 Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church 5640 Jay Road, Boulder, CO 80301 303.581.1434 • stspeterandpaulboulder.org

About Our Parish Priest We welcome visitors worshiping with us today. Reverend Father Jordan Brown Our diverse church family encompasses Parish Council many converts to the Orthodox Christian Faith, as well as Greek, Arab, Romanian, President - Erica Gerakos Serbian and Russian Orthodox Christians. Vice President - Nicholas Kallan The foundation of the Orthodox Church Treasurer - Brian Gregory are the teachings and Holy Tradition of Secretary - Phillip Haratsaris Jesus Christ. We follow the first Christians Philoptochos who began to worship Jesus Christ after the Presidents - Dana Gall and and Resurrection. Sharon Dzilvelis Please introduce yourself to our priest and members of our com- Treasurer - Julie Powers munity. We also encourage you to join us for our fellowship after Book Store services in the parish hall and visit our bookstore. If you are inter- ested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please Sharon Dzilvelis visit with our priest, Fr. Jordan Brown. Youth / Goya Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church Fr. Jordan Brown Holy Communion is reserved only Choir Director for baptized and/or chrismated Orthodox Christians who have Presbytera Marika Brown properly prepared by prayer, fasting, Recurring Services and confession. Orthros - Sundays, 8:15am The Orthodox Church understands - Sundays, 9:30am the reception of Holy Communion Great Vespers - Saturdays, 5pm to be the highest expression of our Confession by appointment. faith. Both Orthodox and non-Or- thodox alike are invited to receive the ‘antidoro’ (blessed bread ) at the end of the Divine Liturgy.