SAINT GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

July 7, 2013 second sunday of matthew Kyriake was the only child of Dorotheus and Eusebia. Since she was born on a Sunday (Kyriake, in Greek), she was named Kyriake. One day a wealthy magistrate wished to betroth Kyriake to his son. Not only was she young and beautiful, but her parents were wealthy, and the magistrate wished to control that wealth. The mag- istrate went to her parents to request her hand, but St Kyriake told him that she wished to remain a virgin, for she had dedicated herself to Christ. The magistrate was angered by her words, so he went to the emperor to denounce the saint and her parents as Christians who mocked the idols, and refused to offer to them. Diocletian sent soldiers to arrest the family and have them brought before him. He asked them why they would not honor the gods which he himself honored. They told him that these were false gods, and that Christ was the one true God. Dorotheus was beaten until the soldiers grew tired and were unable to continue. Since neither flattery nor torment had any effect, Diocletian sent Dorotheus and Eusebia to Melitene on the east- ern border between and Armenia. Then he sent St Kyriake to be interrogated by his son-in-law and co-ruler Maximian at . Maximian urged her not to throw her life away, promising her wealth and marriage to one of Diocletian’s relatives if she would worship the pagan gods. St Kyriake replied that she would never renounce Christ, nor did she desire worldly riches. Enraged by her bold answer, Maximian had her flogged. The soldiers who administered this punishment became tired, and had to be replaced three times. Shamed by his failure to overcome a young woman, Maximian sent St Kyriake to Hilarion, the eparch of , at Chalcedon. He told Hilarion to either convert Kyriake to paganism, or send her back to him. Making the same promises and threats that Diocletian and Maximian had made before, Hilarion was no more successful than they were. St Kyriake challenged him to do his worst, because Christ

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 α. apolytikion. Mode 1. οῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, he stone had been secured with a seal by the Τκαὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν TJudeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching σου Σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμε- Your immaculate body; * You rose on the third day, O νος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν· διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ Ἀναστάσει this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to σου Χριστέ, δό´ξα τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκο- You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your Resurrection, O νομίᾳ σου, μόνε φιλάνθρωπε. Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who love mankind.

Ἀπολυτίκιον της αγιας. δ´. Apolytikion for the saint. Mode 4. ἀμνάς σου Ἰησοῦ, κράζει μεγάλη τῇ φωνῇ. our own ewe-lamb cries to You loudly, O Jesus, Ἡ Σὲ Νυμφίε μου ποθῶ, καὶ σὲ ζητοῦσα ἀθλῶ, Yand she says, * “For my Bridegroom do I long, καὶ συσταυροῦμαι καὶ συνθάπτομαι τῷ βαπτισμῷ and seeking You I now contend; * and I am crucified σου· καὶ πάσχω διὰ σέ, ὡς βασιλεύσω σὺν σοί, καὶ and buried with You in Your baptism. * I suffer for θνήσκω ὑπὲρ σοῦ, ἵνα καὶ ζήσω ἐν σοί· ἀλλ᾽ ὡς θυ- Your sake, that I may reign with You. * I die for You σίαν ἄμωμον προσδέχου τὴν μετὰ πόθου τυθεῖσάν that I may also live in You. * Accept me as an unblem- σοι. Αὐτῆς πρεσβείαις, ὡς ἐλεήμων, σῶσον τὰς ψυ- ished sacrifice * as I offer myself to You with love.” * χὰς ἡμῶν. At her entreaties and intercessions, * save our souls, O Merciful Lord.

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 τῶν Πράξεων τῶν Ἀποστόλων, τόν τε σεμνὸν τοῦ recorder of the Acts of the Apostles, * and the splen- Εὐαγγελίου Χριστοῦ ὑπομνηματιστήν, ἀξίως τιμή- did author of the Gospel of Christ. * Let us praise σωμεν ὕμνοις ὁσίοις, ὡς νοσημάτων ἀνθρωπίνων with sacred hymns as a physician, * who heals the in- καὶ φυσικῶν ἀσθενειῶν θεραπευτήν, τὸν καθαίρο- firmities of man, * and the ailments of nature, * who ντα πληγὰς τοῦ πνεύματος, καὶ ἀδιαλείπτως πρε- cleanses spiritual wounds, and prays unceasingly for σβεύοντα ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν. our souls. Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος β´. Kontakion. Mode 2. ροστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν καταίσχυντε, με- Protection of Christians that cannot be put to Πσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν μετάθετε, μὴ παρί- O shame, mediation unto the creator most con- δῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, λλὰ πρόφθασον, stant: O despise not the voices of those who have ὡς γαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυ- sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our γαζόντων σοι. Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον aid, who in faith cry unto you: Hasten to intercession εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα εί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τι- and speed to make supplication, O you who ever pro- μώντων σε. tects, O , those that honor you. THE READINGS OF THE DAY reading gospel reading The letter of paul to the Matthew 4:18-23 galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5 RETHREN, before faith came, we were t that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea confined under the law, kept under re- of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon straint until faith should be revealed. who is called Peter and Andrew his BSo that the law was our custodian until Christ Abrother, casting a net into the sea; for they were came, that we might be justified by faith. But fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, now that faith has come, we are no longer un- and I will make you fishers of men.” Immedi- der a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all ately they left their nets and followed him. And sons of God, through faith. For as many of going on from there he saw two other broth- you as were baptized into Christ have put on ers, James the son of Zebedee and John his Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, is neither slave nor free, there is neither male mending their nets, and he called them. Imme- nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. diately they left their boat and their father, and And if you are Christ’s, then you are ’s followed him. And he went about all Galilee, offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean teaching in their synagogues and preaching the that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no bet- gospel of the kingdom and healing every dis- ter than a slave, though he is the owner of all ease and every infirmity among the people. the estate; but he is under guardians and trust- ees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

It was said of Abba Ammoes that when he went to church, he did not allow his to walk beside him but onlly at a certain distance; and if the latter came to ask him about his thoughts, he would move away from himm as soon as he “had replied, saying to him, ‘It is for fear that, after edifying words, irrelevant conversation should slip in, that I do not keep you with me.’. —sayings of the ” announcements upcoming church services: ORTHROS WILL NOT BE CELEBRATED ON July 14 or July 21. Divine Liturgy will begin on 10am on July 14 and July 21.

fr. See Karen Sade or Donna Hoffman by July 21 to Fr. Michael will be away from July 10 - 30. In the purchase a ticket. event of a pastoral emergency, please contact St. schnucks escrip program Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, St. Louis, MO, To participate in the Schuck’s eScrip program to (314) 361-6924. benefit our parish, 1) Pick up a card from John give a month towards our future Pardalos. 2) Shop at Schnucks and have your card A little over one year ago we purchased land for our scanned at check out. 3) Your purchases create future growth. As we did last year, we would like automatic contributions of up to 3% to the parish to offer families and individuals the opportunity to based on your monthly spending. help offset our additional mortgage payment with a donation of $640. If you would like to sponsor one month for 2013, please contact Fr. Michael. Thus far we have received committments for 4 of A brother questioned Abba 12 months. As always, your geneorsity is a blessing in this way, ‘My thoughts trouble me, to our community! making me put my sins aside, and concern myself with my brother’s warm up columbia - donations needed “faults’. The old man told him the fol- St. Luke’s Philoptochos will be collecting new or lowing story about Abba Dioscorus gently used coats, blankets, winter hats, and gloves (the ), ‘In his cell he wept over for low income families, the elderly and disabled himself, while his disciple was sit- individuals in Columbia through August 18th. ting in another cell. When the latter This is an anual event sponsored by the Voluntary came to see the old man he asked Action Center. All items should be laundered prior him, “Father, why are you weeping?” to donation. “I am weeping over my sins,” the old CHristmas in july man answered him. Then his disciple said, “You do not have any sins, Fa- Support the Voluntary Action Center’s 22nd Annu- ther.” The old man replied, “Truly, al Christmas in July picnic by purchasing a $10 raf- my child, if I were allowed to see my fle ticket. This event provides a Christmas themed sins, three or four men would not be picnic for low-income families. Funds raised help enough to weep the VAC to provide basic needs and emergency for them. “ services to Boone County’s low-income citizens. —sayings of the desert fathers” synaxarion would help her to triumph. The saint was sus- Just as St Kyriake ended her prayer, angels took pended by her hair for several hours, while sol- her soul before the soldiers could strike off her diers burned her body with torches. Not only head. Pious Christians took her relics and bur- did she endure all this, she also seemed to be- ied them in a place of honor. come more courageous under torture. Finally, Saint Thomas of Mt. Maleon was a military she was taken down and put into a prison cell. commander before he became a monk. Strong That night Christ appeared to her and and brave, he had participated in many battles, healed her wounds. When Hilarion saw her the and brought victory to his countrymen, for next day, he declared that she had been healed which he gained glory and esteem. But, striving by the gods because they pitied her. Then Hi- with all his heart towards God, Thomas aban- larion urged her to go to the temple to give doned the world and its honors, and he took thanks to the gods. She told him that she had monastic vows. been healed by Christ, but agreed to go to the With great humility he visited monastic temple. The eparch rejoiced, thinking that he Elders, asking for guidance in the spiritual life. had defeated her. After several years Thomas received the bless- In the temple, St Kyriake prayed that God ing for solitary wilderness life and, led by a pil- would destroy the soulless idols. Suddenly, lar of fire at night by the holy Prophet Elias, he there was a great earthquake which toppled the settled on Mount Maleon (on the eastern part idols, shattering them to pieces. Everyone fled of Athos). Dwelling in complete seclusion, St the temple in fear, leaving Hilarion behind. In- Thomas fought with invisible enemies with as stead of recognizing the power of Christ, the ep- much courage as he had displayed against the arch blasphemed the true God as the destroyer visible enemies of his country. of his pagan gods. He was struck by a bolt of The life and deeds of St Thomas could not lightning and died on the spot. be concealed from the surrounding area. People St Kyriake was tortured again by Apollo- began to flock to him seeking spiritual guidance, nius, who succeeded Hilarion as eparch. When and even those suffering from sickness, since he she was cast into a fire, the flames were extin- received from God the blessing to heal infirmi- guished. When she was thrown to wild beasts, ties. they became tame and gentle. Therefore, Apol- Many believers received help through the lonius sentenced her to death by the sword. She prayers of the holy monk. Even after his death, was permitted time to pray, so she asked God he does not cease to heal those who seek his aid, to receive her soul, and to remember those who from every passion and sickness. honored her martyrdom. Saint Akakios of Sinai lived during the sixth century and was a novice at a certain monas- tery in . The humble monk distinguished of the sons of Demetrius and Eudokia, had a himself by his patient and unquestioning obe- great influence upon the spiritual life of Prin- dience to his Elder, a harsh and dissolute man. cess Eudokia. St Demetrius of Priluki (February He forced his disciple to toil excessively, starved 11) was the godfather of another son. him with hunger, and beat him without mercy. The holy princess was a builder of church- Despite such treatment, St Akakios meekly en- es. In 1387 she founded the Ascension women’s dured the affliction and thanked God for every- monastery in the Moscow Kremlin. In 1395, thing. St Akakios died after suffering these tor- during Tamerlane’s invasion into the south- ments for nine years. ern regions of Russia, the Vladimir Icon of the Five days after Akakios was buried, his El- Mother of God was transferred to Moscow der told another Elder about the death of his upon her advice, miraculously defending the disciple. The second Elder did not believe that Russian land. During Lent, the princess secretly the young monk was dead. They went to the wore chains beneath her splendid royal garb. By grave of Akakios and the second Elder called her patronage the famous icon of the Archangel out: “Brother Akakios, are you dead?” From the Michael was painted, and later became the pa- grave a voice replied, “No, Father, how is it pos- tronal icon of the Kremlin’s Archangel Cathe- sible for an obedient man to die?” The startled dral. Elder of St Akakios fell down with tears before After raising five sons (a sixth died in infan- the grave, asking forgiveness of his disciple. cy), the princess was tonsured as a with the After this he repented, constantly saying to the name Euphrosyne. She completed her earthly Fathers, “I have committed murder.” He lived in journey on July 7, 1407 and was buried in the a cell near the grave of St Akakios, and he ended Ascension monastery she founded. his life in prayer and in meekness. St John Cli- The Holy Martyrs Peregrinus, Lucian, macus (March 30) mentions him in THE LAD- Pompeius, Hesychius, Papius, Saturninus and DER (Step 4:110) as an example of endurance Germanus were natives of Italy. They suffered and obedience, and of the rewards for these vir- for Christ under the emperor Trajan in the city tues. of Dirrachium, located at the shore of the Adri- Saint Euphrosyne, in the world Eudokia, atic sea. was the daughter of the Suzdal prince Demetri- Witnessing the martyrdom of As- us Constantovich (+ 1383), and from 1367 was tius, who was crucified by the Romans, they the wife of the Moscow Great Prince Demetrius openly praised the courage and firmness of the of the Don. Their happy union was for Russia a holy confessor. Because of this, they were seized, pledge of unity and peace between Moscow and and as confessors of faith in Christ, they were Suzdal. drowned in the sea. Their bodies, carried to St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, and shore by the waves, were hidden in the sand by even St Sergius of Radonezh, who baptized one Christians. The martyrs appeared to the Bishop of Alexandria ninety years later, ordering him The Blachernae Icon is celebrated on July 2, to bury their bodies and to build a church over and in the Fifth Week of Great Lent (Saturday them. of the Akathist). The Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God On the second Sunday after Pentecost, each was discovered at Jerusalem by the empress Eu- local Orthodox Church commemorates all the dokia during the time of St Juvenal, , known and unknown, who have shone of Jerusalem (July 2), and St Euthymius the forth in its territory. Accordingly, the Orthodox Great (January 20). The holy icon was sent to Church in America remembers the saints of , where the empress Pulcheria North America on this day. placed it in the Blacernae Church, where the Saints of all times, and in every country are Venerable Robe of the Mother of God (July 2) seen as the fulfillment of God’s promise to re- was preserved. deem fallen humanity. Their example encour- This holy icon is also called the Hodigi- ages us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin tria, or “She who leads the way.” It was with this which so easily besets us” and to “run with pa- icon that Patriarch Sergius (610-631) made tience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews the rounds of the walls of Constantinople in 12:1). The saints of North America also teach the year 626 with Moliebens during a siege of us how we should live, and what we must expect the capital by the Avars. In memory of this and to endure as Christians other victories, which were won thanks to the Although it is a relatively young church, the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, an Orthodox Church in America has produced annual celebration was established on Satur- saints in nearly all of the six major categories of day of the Fifth Week of the Great Fast to of- saints: Apostles (and Equals of the Apostles); fer Praises to the Most Holy Theotokos (Sat- Martyrs (and Confessors); Prophets; Hier- urday of the Akathist). At first the celebration archs; Monastic Saints; and the Righteous. took place only at the Blachernae church in Prophets, of course, lived in Old Testament Constantinople. In the ninth century the Feast times and predicted the coming of Christ. was included in the Typikon of St Sava the The first Divine Liturgy in what is now Sanctified, and in the Studite Rule. Later, it was American territory (northern latitude 58 de- included in the Lenten Triodion and made uni- grees, 14 minutes, western longitude 141 de- versal for all the Orthodox Church. grees) was celebrated on July 20, 1741, the Feast After the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, of the Prophet Elias, aboard the ship Peter under the Blachernae Icon was transferred to Mt. the command of Vitus Bering. Hieromonk Hi- Athos, and in 1654 it was sent by the Athonite larion Trusov and the priest Ignatius Kozirevsky to Moscow as gift to the Tsar Aleksei served together on that occasion. Several years Mikhailovich. later, the Russian merchant Gregory I. Shelikov visited Valaam monastery, suggesting to the ab- bot that it would be desirable to send missionar- As the nineteenth century was drawing to a ies to Russian America. close, an event of enormous significance for the On September 24, 1794, after a journey of North American Church took place. On March 7,327 miles (the longest missionary journey 25, 1891, Bishop Vladimir went to Minneapolis in Orthodox history) and 293 days, a group of to receive St Alexis Toth (May 7) and 361 of his monks from Valaam arrived on Kodiak Island parishioners into the Orthodox Church. This in Alaska. The mission was headed by Archi- was the beginning of the return of many Uniates mandrite Joasaph, and included Hieromonks to Orthodoxy. Juvenal, Macarius, and Athanasius, the Hiero- St Tikhon (Belavin), the future Patriarch of deacons Nectarius and Stephen, and the monks Moscow (April 7, October 9), came to America Herman and Joasaph. St Herman of Alaska as bishop of the diocese of the Aleutians and (December 13, August 9), the last surviving Alaska in September 1898. As the only Ortho- member of the mission, fell asleep in the Lord dox bishop on the continent, St Tikhon traveled in 1837. extensively throughout North America in order Throughout the Church’s history, the seeds to minister to his widely scattered and diverse of faith have always been watered by the blood flock. He realized that the local church here of the martyrs. The Protomartyr Juvenal was could not be a permanent extension of the Rus- killed near Lake Iliamna by natives in 1799, thus sian Church. Therefore, he focused his efforts becoming the first Orthodox Christian to shed on giving the American Church a diocesan and his blood for Christ in the New World. In 1816, parish structure which would help it mature and St Peter the Aleut was put to death by Spanish grow. missionaries in California when he refused to St Tikhon returned to Russia in 1907, and convert to Roman Catholicism. was elected as Patriarch of Moscow ten years Missionary efforts continued in the nine- later. He died in 1925, and for many years his ex- teenth century, with outreach to the native act burial place remained unknown. St Tikhon’s peoples of Alaska. Two of the most prominent grave was discovered on February 22, 1992 in laborers in Christ’s Vineyard were St Innocent the smaller cathedral of Our Lady of the Don in Veniaminov (March 31 and October 6) and the Don Monastery when a fire made renova- St Netsvetov (July 26), who translated tion of the church necessary. Orthodox services and books into the native languages. Father Jacob Netsvetev died in Sit- ka in 1864 after a life of devoted service to the Church. Father John Veniaminov, after his wife’s death, received monastic tonsure with the name Innocent. He died in 1879 as the Metropolitan of Moscow.