THE APODOSIS OF THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS ΙΑ΄ Ματθαῖου AUGUST 23 PARABLE OF THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT 19 AUGUST (19 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ) 2012 APODOSIS The Orthodox Church celebrates many feasts during the Ecclesiasti- cal Year that begins on September 1. There are two types of feasts, movable dates (Palm Sunday, Pascha, Pentecost, etc.) and non- movable dates (Nativity, Presentation, and Dormition of the Theoto- kos, etc.). The non-movable feast days have periods before the feast for preparation, the Forefeast, and after the feast for celebration, the Afterfeast. The last day of the feast is called Apodosis, a Greek term meaning, “giving back or giving away,” the liturgical “Leavetaking” of a great feast. SAINT BARBARA GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH The major liturgical feasts in Byzantine times lasted for many days We are a Greek (Eastern) Orthodox parish, with a variety of celebrations, both in the churches and in the streets. part of the oldest Christian tradition, The first and last day (Apodosis) of the festivals were especially ob- served with church services where the main liturgical hymns and dating to 33 A.D., the Day of Pentecost. poetic compositions being sung and chanted explained the theologi- We trace our roots back to the Apostles and their teachings. cal significance of the events being celebrated. The Apodosis was We hold fast to the moral, theological and liturgical the last commemoration before the feast was drawn to a close and traditions of the Early Christian Church. “ordinary liturgical time” resumed. We are pleased that you have chosen to experience the Adapted from: Blackwell Reference Online, Orthodox Wiki, Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece worship of Early Christianity in a modern setting. WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW We welcome you to worship with us today. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian or Tone of the week: Tone Two - Ηχος β' this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Al- Eleventh Eothinon though Holy Communion and other Sacraments (called Mysteries in the Orthodox Church) are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians, Divine Liturgy Hymnal Pages 81 - 82 all are invited to receive the antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The antidoron is not sacramental, but is reminiscent of the agape Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Tone feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. When You descended to death, O Immortal Life, then, the light of Your divinity de- stroyed Hades. When You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly ON RECEIVING COMMUNION powers cried out, "Glory to You our Christ, the Giver of Life." - © Narthex Press When approaching the chalice, it is proper to state your baptized or chrismated name, Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην and with head tilted slightly back, open your mouth sufficiently so that the priest may ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν place the body and blood of Christ on your tongue. Prior to stepping up, in order that you do not “bump” the chalice, you may do your stavros (cross yourself). Prior to that καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων while at your seat, it is customary to read the prayers of preparation found in the Divine ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.” ‐ © Greek Standard Text Liturgy Hymnal and on page 6 of this bulletin. Apolytikion for the Afterfeast of the Theotokos’ Dormition Note: The hymn the choir sings during Communion is on page 97 in the Divine In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, Liturgy Hymnal. you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. CHRISMATION NAMES & NAME DAYS As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your In Orthodox countries, at Baptism (or Chrismation, if an adult) you are given a Chris- intercessions. - © Narthex tian Saint’s name. This is the name you give to the priest when receiving communion. The name is a Christian Saint’s name, because God recognizes their names. Each Saint Εν τή Γεννήσει τήν παρθενίαν εφύλαξας, is celebrated on a particular day, the Saint’s Name Day. When you receive your name, έν τή Κοιμήσει τόν κόσμον ού κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε, Μετέστης πρός τήν your Saint’s Name Day becomes your Name Day. In lieu of birthdays, especially after ζωήν, μήτηρ υπάρχουσα τής ζωής, καί ταίς πρεσβείαις ταίς σαίς the age of twelve, Orthodox Christians celebrate their Name Day. λυτρουμένη, εκ θανάτου τάς ψυχάς ημών. ‐ © Greek Standard Text For those celebrating a Name Day this week we wish you Chronia Polla - “Many years” Apolytikion for St. Barbara “Let us honor the holy Barbara for, with the aid of the Cross A NOTE ABOUT THE HYMNS OF THE DAY as her weapon, she crushed the snares of the enemy, and was On the following page, you will find the Apolytikion of the day, Troparion of the rescued from them like a bird. - © Narthex Press Church, and Kontakion of the day. Because these beautiful hymns are frequently sung in Greek, we include them in English for your understanding. They are sung as the Βαρβάραν τὴν Ἁγίαν τιμήσωμεν, ἐχθροῦ γὰρ τὰς παγίδας συνέτριψε, καὶ ὡς στρουθίον ἐρρύσθη ἐξ αὐτῶν, βοηθεία priest returns to the Sanctuary at the Conclusion of the Small Entrance. St. Barbara, καὶ ὅπλω τοῦ Σταυροῦ ἡ Πάνσεμνος. Athens, Greece ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2012, WE COMMEMORATE: Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone St. Andrew the General & Martyr & his 2593 soldiers (left) O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant. O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, Holy Martyrs Timothy, Agapius & Thecla to come to the aid of those who in faith cry to you. Hasten to intercede and speed to make supplication, O you who ever protects, O Theotokos, those that honor you. - © St. Theophanes, Holy Transfiguration Monastery New Wonderworker of Macedonia (left) Kontakion for the Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever Afterfeast of the Dormition of the Theotokos vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever- (right) virginal womb transposed her to life. - © Narthex Press EPISTLE READING GOSPEL READING The Reading is from St. Paul's The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35 First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12 ELEVENTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW The Unmerciful Servant Cephas (Peter) & His Wife Unforgiving Servant, Nelly Bube, Kazakhstan BRETHREN, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my de- The Lord said this parable, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who fense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord or- and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the dered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating forgave him the debt. any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is writ- a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow ten in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and re- for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow ported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material bene- you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger, his fits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nev- lord delivered him to the jailors, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” ertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.