IF YOU HAVE NOT AS OF YET SENT IN YOUR STEWARDSHIP PLEASE DO SO TODAY, THANK YOU!
MARK YOU CALENDARS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 IS THE DATE OF OUR YEARLY FESTIVAL. WE ARE STILL WAITING APPROVAL FROM THE PERMIT OFFICE OF CITY HALL. PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR WEEKLY UPDATES.
TOMORROW I HAVE THE GRACE OF JOINING FR. EUGENE PAPPAS AGAIN ON HIS RADIO PROGRAM ON COSMOS FM 91.5 AT 1:15 UNTIL 2:00 P.M. PLEASE TUNE IN!
CHURCH LOST IN 9/11 RISES AGAIN AT WORLD TRADE CENTER.
PLEASE COPY AND PAST THE LINK BELOW TO READ THIS ARTICLE.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/church-lost-on-911-rises-again-at-world-trade-center/2017/09/08/77228628-944e-11e7-8482-8dc9a7af29f9_story.html?tid=ss_mail&utm_term=.5636245d674d
THE INTOLERANT!
With Mr. Colin Kaepernick refusing to stand and respect the flag during the playing of our National Anthem, and others wishing to take all religious headstones out of our National Cemeteries, Americans are now facing a new destruction and removal of anything that has to do with the Civil War and or slavery. This is a very slippery slope that really has no place in our society. History is a very meaningful and valuable tool to those who understand and see its value. On the other hand, for the intolerant it is riddled with negative connotations and pain.
When ISIS was gathering up steam as an extremist Islamic group, they went around Iraq destroying anything that did not reflect their brand of Islam. They destroyed such historical sites going back as far as the 13 century B.C. Many of the sites were under UNESCO's oversight, but that did not mean anything to ISIS. Mosques and Churches were also destroyed in order to accomplish "a form of cultural cleansing," says Irina Bokova the Director-General of UNESCO.
Moreover, some of the sites they destroyed are written about in the Old and New Testaments, and well know to the ordinary person like the Prophets Jonah of Nineveh, and Daniel were all destroyed. The oldest monastery in Iraq, named Dair Mar Elia built in the late 6th century A.D., was also demolished. There is no end to the destruction that these extremist would go to rid themselves of what they consider heretical.
Cultural cleansing has happened all over the world throughout the centuries, and it has now come to our own land. History is an important fact that all nations have experienced and have gone through. Some history is good and some bad. There is and will never be a utopian society, as long as we live in this Fallen World. All countries have and had demons that provoked them to do horrendous atrocities.
Likewise, some of the tribes of our American Indians for example brutally killed other Indian Tribes before the 1500's. "As they continued to migrate, the Comanche population increased dramatically due to the abundance of buffalo, an influx of Shoshone members, and the kidnapping of women and children from rival tribes and Mexican settlements." The Apache, and other American Indian Tribes also killed and enslaved their captives.
Furthermore, "The Bible contains several references to slavery, which was a common practice in antiquity. The Bible stipulates the treatment of slaves, especially in the Old Testament. There are also references to slavery in the New Testament. Israelite slaves were to be offered release after six to seven years of service, with some conditions. A foreign slave could be bequeathed to the owner's family, and be made to serve for the life of the slave, except in the case of certain injuries."
"The Biblical texts outline sources of slaves, legal status of slaves, economic roles of slavery, types of slavery, and debt slavery, which thoroughly explain the institution of slavery in Israel in antiquity. Each section-Exodus 21, Deuteronomy 15, and Leviticus 25- provides an outlook into the understanding of recent slave relations and gives guidance to the Israelites on how to further their life in a proper manual. Philo, one of the philosophers of the time, wrote texts on how to properly treat slaves, indicating that slavery was an important part of Jewish life, but also emphasizes the humanitarian perspective offered up by many Ancient Near East scholars."
"One such way of showing this is through the sharing of products, such as food and cloth, with other, underprivileged members of society. As shown by the number of rabbis at this time writing about the treatment of slaves, there were standards on how they should be treated. However, the Israelite texts are not unique, but many of the legal cultures of the Ancient Near East (ANE) have very similar slave laws, which created a whole specialization of comparative law study.
However, many have disputed the 800 references in the Bible to slavery. Depending on the translation of the Bible you use, the Greek word can be interrupted as slave or servant. So when some scholars say that the Bible condones slavery it is because it is present in both the Old and New Testaments. Unfortunately words do have meaning and servant is far different from slave.
As you can see from the documented facts above, many civilizations did things that today they are not so proud of, with the exception of ISIS. The recent form of "cultural cleansing" that is sweeping America today by Alt-Left Groups who chant death to America and want the removal of our historical artifacts are no better than ISIS, Nazis, and Communist who all destroyed what offended them in order to brainwash their people and keep them in the dark about their past.
How far will this so called cleansing go? Will it begin to encroach upon more than the statues of Civil War Generals, or will it spread to the Church since Jesus did not openly protest against slavery or servitude. On the contrary, in "Luke 7:3 we read that the Jews send elders to Jesus to ask him to heal their servant." In the King James version it is servant, but in many others versions it is slave. Will the Church then be attacked for what was done, accepted, and condoned by all nations of His time? Is this the slippery slop I stated in the beginning of this blog. No one is exempt from the narrow minded and intolerance of this age.
Finally, in an attempt to destroy and remove the history of America under "cultural cleansing," America will become a nation without any history at all. All the monuments in the US will be torn down because they offend one group or another. Before completing my military service I was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. You may have read or heard of this fort in your history books or TV. Why? Because it was where General Custer was stationed. Ft. Riley housed cavalry horses, and right after I was Honorably Discharged in late December 1967, the last cavalry horse died. His name was Chief and he died in the early part of 1968, he was "the last cavalry horse to be carried on Army rolls. He is buried standing in a special casket constructed by Fort Riley's engineers." Should his statue and tomb also be destroyed because of its history? Think about it! AMEN.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces that information published in a daily Greek-American newspaper stating that His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America was asked by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to resign, is false and baseless.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis released today the following joint message for prayer for the environment and God’s creation that includes an appeal for the healing of our wounded creation.
The Holy and Great Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced today the new composition of the Synod for the period Sept.1, 2017 to Feb. 2, 2018 under the chairmanship of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Sunday Before Holy Cross
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Monday, September 11, 2017
9/11 Memorial Service at Ground Zero!
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Sunday After Holy Cross
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Thursday, September 21, 2017
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
Sunday, September 24, 2017
1st Sunday of Luke
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, September 26, 2017
Falling Asleep of St. John the Theologian
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Thursday, September 28, 2017
6:30 p.m. Bible Study
MARK YOU CALENDARS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2017
IS THE DATE OF OUR YEARLY FESTIVAL.
WE ARE STILL WAITING APPROVAL FROM THE PERMIT OFFICE OF CITY HALL.
PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR WEEKLY UPDATES.
NGTV has posted Fr. Vasilios’ weekly programs on YOUTUBE. You may view the programs using keywords: “vasilios spiritual” Enjoy!
If you would like to sponsor a Coffee Hour, please see the Parish Council after Liturgy.
Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
Third Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:9-20
᾿Αναστὰς δὲ πρωῒ πρώτῃ σαββάτου ἐφάνη πρῶτον Μαρίᾳ τῇ Μαγδαληνῇ, ἀφ᾿ ἧς ἐκβεβλήκει ἑπτὰ δαιμόνια. ἐκείνη πορευθεῖσα ἀπήγγειλε τοῖς μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ γενομένοις, πενθοῦσι καὶ κλαίουσι. κἀκεῖνοι ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ζῇ καὶ ἐθεάθη ὑπ᾿ αὐτῆς, ἠπίστησαν. Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα δυσὶν ἐξ αὐτῶν περιπατοῦσιν ἐφανερώθη ἐν ἑτέρᾳ μορφῇ, πορευομένοις εἰς ἀγρόν. κἀκεῖνοι ἀπελθόντες ἀπήγγειλαν τοῖς λοιποῖς· οὐδὲ ἐκείνοις ἐπίστευσαν. ῞Υστερον ἀνακειμένοις αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ὠνείδισε τὴν ἀπιστίαν αὐτῶν καὶ σκληροκαρδίαν, ὅτι τοῖς θεασαμένοις αὐτὸν ἐγηγερμένον οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πορευθέντες εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἅπαντα κηρύξατε τὸ εὐαγγέλιον πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει. ὁ πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς σωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται. σημεῖα δὲ τοῖς πιστεύσασι ταῦτα παρακολουθήσει· ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου δαιμόνια ἐκβαλοῦσι· γλώσσαις λαλήσουσι καιναῖς· ὄφεις ἀροῦσι· κἂν θανάσιμόν τι πίωσιν, οὐ μὴ αὐτοὺς βλάψει· ἐπὶ ἀρρώστους χεῖρας ἐπιθήσουσι, καὶ καλῶς ἕξουσιν. ῾Ο μὲν οὖν Κύριος μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς ἀνελήφθη εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ. ἐκεῖνοι δὲ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν πανταχοῦ, τοῦ Κυρίου συνεργοῦντος καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος διὰ τῶν ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων. ἀμήν.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.
Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18.
Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.
Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."
Sunday before Holy Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.
These Martyrs, sisters according to the flesh, were from Bithynia. They lived in virginity on a mountain near the Pythian hot springs of Bithynia, devoting themselves to asceticism and prayer. Betrayed to the local governor, Fronto, they were subjected to frightful tortures, and so gave up their holy souls into the hands of God. They contested for the Faith during the reign of Maximian, in the year 304.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
The memory of the just is praised, but thou art well pleased, O Forerunner, with the testimony of the Lord. For thou hast verily been shown forth as more honoured than the prophets, since thou wast counted worthy to baptize in the stream Him whom they foretold. Therefore, having mightily contended and suffered for the truth, with joy thou hast preached also to those in Hades, of God’s manifestation in the flesh, who takes away the sin of the world and grants unto us great mercy.
Μνήµη δικαίου µέτ’ ἐγκωµίων, σοὶ δὲ ἀρκέσει ἡ µαρτυρία τοῦ Κυρίου Πρόδροµε, ἀνεδείχθης γὰρ ὄντως καὶ Προφητῶν σεβασµιώτερος, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ῥείθροις βαπτίσαι κατηξιώθης τὸν κηρυττόµενον. Ὅθεν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑπεραθλήσας, χαίρων εὐηγγελίσω καὶ τοὶς ἐν ἅδῃ, Θεὸν φανερωθέντα ἐν σαρκί, τὸν αἴροντα τὴν ἁµαρτίαν τοῦ κόσµου, καὶ παρέχοντα ἡµῖν τὸ µέγα ἔλεος.τοίς πάσι προκαταγγέλλεται, Αυτή καί ηµείς µεγαλοφώνως βοήσωµεν, Χαίρε τής οικονοµίας τού Κτίστου η εκπλήρωσις.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press - Northridge, CA