St. Stephen Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-08-20
Bulletin Contents
Allsaint
Organization Icon
St. Stephen Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (707)235-0316
  • Street Address:

  • 11055 Hirschfeld Way

  • Rancho Cordova, CA 95670


Contact Information




Services Schedule

 

Saturday

Vespers: 4:00pm

Sunday

Matins: 8:45am

Liturgy: 10:00am


Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
August 17

Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus

The Seven Youths hid themselves in a certain cave near Ephesus in the year 250, to escape the persecution of Decius. By divine grace, a sleep came upon them and they slept for 184 years, until the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger, when the doctrine of the resurrection was being assailed by heretics. They then awoke, that is, were resurrected, confirming in the sight of all the bodily resurrection; and again after a short time, by divine command, they reposed in the Lord in the year 434.


Allsaint
August 18

Eusignius the Martyr of Antioch

This Martyr was from Antioch, and had been a soldier from the time of the reign of Constantius Chlorus (the father of Saint Constantine the Great) to that of Julian the Apostate. He censured Julian's ungodliness and reminded him that he was the nephew of Saint Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor. He reminded him further, that from his tender youth he had been nourished on the milk of piety and instructed in the Faith of Christ, had been a fellow student of Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian, had been a reader of the Church of Nicomedia, and that he had set all these things at nought and become a transgressor of the promises made in his divine Baptism, and had offered to the idols the adoration that is due to God alone. Reminding the Apostate of all these things and reproving him, he was beheaded in the year 361, having lived altogether 110 years, and been a soldier for more than sixty.


Transfiguration
August 19

Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him" (Matt. 17: 5).

Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.


Allsaint
August 20

The Holy Righteous Martyr Dometius

This Martyr, who lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, was a Persian by race and an idolater by religion. He was catechized by a certain Christian named Abarus. He went to Nisibis, a city of Mesopotamia, where he was baptized and donned the monastic habit in a certain monastery. He afterwards ascended a mountain and there endured in extreme ascetical struggles, working miracles for those that came to him, and converting many unbelievers. Julian the Apostate learned of these things as he was marching against the Persians in 363, and at his command the Saint and his two disciples were stoned to death, as they were chanting the Sixth Hour.


BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25

At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead, and he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So, the word went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die; but Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Eleventh Orthros Gospel
يوحنا 21: 14-25

14في ذلك الزمان أظهر يسوع نفسه لتلاميذه من بعد ما قام من بين الأموات 15وقال لسمعان بطرس ((يَا سِمْعَانُ بْنَ يُونَا، أَتُحِبُّنِي أَكْثَرَ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ؟)) قَالَ لَهُ: ((نَعَمْ يَا رَبُّ أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّكَ)). قَالَ لَهُ: ((ارْعَ خِرَافِي)). 16قَالَ لَهُ أَيْضاً ثَانِيَةً: ((يَا سِمْعَانُ بْنَ يُونَا، أَتُحِبُّنِي؟)) قَالَ لَهُ: ((نَعَمْ يَا رَبُّ، أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّكَ)). قَالَ لَهُ: ((ارْعَ غَنَمِي)). 17قَالَ لَهُ ثَالِثَةً: ((يَا سِمْعَانُ بْنَ يُونَا، أَتُحِبُّنِي؟)) فَحَزِنَ بُطْرُسُ لأَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ ثَالِثَةً: أَتُحِبُّنِي؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ: ((يَا رَبُّ، أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ. أَنْتَ تَعْرِفُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّكَ)). قَالَ لَهُ يَسُوعُ: ((ارْعَ غَنَمِي. 18اَلْحَقَّ الْحَقَّ أَقُولُ لَكَ: لَمَّا كُنْتَ أَكْثَرَ حَدَاثَةً كُنْتَ تُمَنْطِقُ ذَاتَكَ وَتَمْشِي حَيْثُ تَشَاءُ. وَلَكِنْ مَتَى شِخْتَ فَإِنَّكَ تَمُدُّ يَدَيْكَ وَآخَرُ يُمَنْطِقُكَ، وَيَحْمِلُكَ حَيْثُ لاَ تَشَاءُ)). 19قَالَ هَذَا مُشِيراً إِلَى أَيَّةِ مِيتَةٍ كَانَ مُزْمِعاً أَنْ يُمَجِّدَ اللَّهَ بِهَا. وَلَمَّا قَالَ هَذَا قَالَ لَهُ: ((اتْبَعْنِي)). 20فَالْتَفَتَ بُطْرُسُ وَنَظَرَ التِّلْمِيذَ الَّذِي كَانَ يَسُوعُ يُحِبُّهُ يَتْبَعُهُ، وَهُوَ أَيْضاً الَّذِي اتَّكَأَ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ وَقْتَ الْعَشَاءِ، وَقَالَ: (( يَا سَيِّدُ ، مَنْ هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَلِّمُكَ؟)) 21فَلَمَّا رَأَى بُطْرُسُ هَذَا ، قَالَ لِيَسُوعَ: ((يَا رَبُّ، وَهَذَا مَا لَهُ؟)) 22قَالَ لَهُ يَسُوعُ: ((إِنْ كُنْتُ أَشَاءُ أَنَّهُ يَبْقَى حَتَّى أَجِيءَ ، فَمَاذَا لَكَ؟ اتْبَعْنِي أَنْتَ!)). 23فَذَاعَ هَذَا الْقَوْلُ بَيْنَ الإِخْوَةِ: إِنَّ ذَلِكَ التِّلْمِيذَ لاَ يَمُوتُ. وَلَكِنْ لَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُ يَسُوعُ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَمُوتُ، بَلْ: ((إِنْ كُنْتُ أَشَاءُ أَنَّهُ يَبْقَى حَتَّى أَجِيءَ ، فَمَاذَا لَكَ؟)).24هَذَا هُوَ التِّلْمِيذُ الَّذِي يَشْهَدُ بِهَذَا وَكَتَبَ هَذَا. وَنَعْلَمُ أَنَّ شَهَادَتَهُ حَقٌّ.25وَأَشْيَاءُ أُخَرُ كَثِيرَةٌ صَنَعَهَا يَسُوعُ ، إِنْ كُتِبَتْ وَاحِدَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَلَسْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْعَالَمَ نَفْسَهُ يَسَعُ الْكُتُبَ الْمَكْتُوبَةَ.

 

 


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 2nd Tone. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12.

Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a sister as wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, 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.

البروكيمنون. 2nd Tone. مزمور 117: 14، 18.
الرب قوتي وتسبيحتي
أدباُ أدّبني الرب

فصل من رسالة بولس الاولى الى اهل كورنثس 9: 2-12.

يَُّا إِخْوَة، أَنْتُمْ خَتْمُ رِسَالَتِي فِي الرَّبِّ. هَذَا هُوَ احْتِجَاجِي عِنْدَ الَّذِينَ يَفْحَصُونَنِي. أَلَعَلَّنَا لَيْسَ لَنَا سُلْطَانٌ أَنْ نَأْكُلَ وَنَشْرَبَ؟ أَلَعَلَّنَا لَيْسَ لَنَا سُلْطَانٌ أَنْ نَجُولَ بِأُخْتٍ زَوْجَةً كَبَاقِي الرُّسُلِ وَإِخْوَةِ الرَّبِّ وَصَفَا؟ أَمْ أَنَا وَبَرْنَابَا وَحْدَنَا لَيْسَ لَنَا سُلْطَانٌ أَنْ لاَ نَشْتَغِلَ؟ مَنْ تَجَنَّدَ قَطُّ بِنَفَقَةِ نَفْسِهِ؟ وَمَنْ يَغْرِسُ كَرْماً وَمِنْ ثَمَرِهِ لاَ يَأْكُلُ؟ أَوْ مَنْ يَرْعَى رَعِيَّةً وَمِنْ لَبَنِ الرَّعِيَّةِ لاَ يَأْكُلُ؟ أَلَعَلِّي أَتَكَلَّمُ بِهَذَا كَإِنْسَانٍ؟ أَمْ لَيْسَ النَّامُوسُ أَيْضاً يَقُولُ هَذَا؟ فَإِنَّهُ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي نَامُوسِ مُوسَى: ((لاَ تَكُمَّ ثَوْراً دَارِساً)). أَلَعَلَّ اللهَ تُهِمُّهُ الثِّيرَانُ؟ أَمْ يَقُولُ مُطْلَقاً مِنْ أَجْلِنَا؟ إِنَّهُ مِنْ أَجْلِنَا مَكْتُوبٌ. لأَنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي لِلْحَرَّاثِ أَنْ يَحْرُثَ عَلَى رَجَاءٍ وَلِلدَّارِسِ عَلَى الرَّجَاءِ أَنْ يَكُونَ شَرِيكاً فِي رَجَائِهِ. إِنْ كُنَّا نَحْنُ قَدْ زَرَعْنَا لَكُمُ الرُّوحِيَّاتِ أَفَعَظِيمٌ إِنْ حَصَدْنَا مِنْكُمُ الْجَسَدِيَّاتِ؟ إِنْ كَانَ آخَرُونَ شُرَكَاءَ فِي السُّلْطَانِ عَلَيْكُمْ أَفَلَسْنَا نَحْنُ بِالأَوْلَى؟ لَكِنَّنَا لَمْ نَسْتَعْمِلْ هَذَا السُّلْطَانَ بَلْ نَتَحَمَّلُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ لِئَلاَّ نَجْعَلَ عَائِقاً لإِنْجِيلِ الْمَسِيحِ.


Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35

The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who 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 ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till 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."

11th Sunday of Matthew
متى 18: 23-35

23 قال الرب هذا المثل  يُشْبِهُ مَلَكُوتُ السَّمَاوَاتِ إِنْسَاناً مَلِكاً أَرَادَ أَنْ يُحَاسِبَ عَبِيدَهُ. 24فَلَمَّا ابْتَدَأَ فِي الْمُحَاسَبَةِ قُدِّمَ إِلَيْهِ وَاحِدٌ مَدْيُونٌ بِعَشْرَةِ آلاَفِ وَزْنَةٍ. 25وَإِذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَا يُوفِي أَمَرَ سَيِّدُهُ أَنْ يُبَاعَ هُوَ وَامْرَأَتُهُ وَأَوْلاَدُهُ وَكُلُّ مَا لَهُ ، وَيُوفَي الدَّيْنُ. 26فَخَرَّ الْعَبْدُ وَسَجَدَ لَهُ قَائِلاً: يَا سَيِّدُ ، تَمَهَّلْ عَلَيَّ فَأُوفِيَكَ الْجَمِيعَ. 27فَتَحَنَّنَ سَيِّدُ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدِ وَأَطْلَقَهُ ، وَتَرَكَ لَهُ الدَّيْنَ. 28وَلَمَّا خَرَجَ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدُ وَجَدَ وَاحِداً مِنَ الْعَبِيدِ رُفَقَائِهِ كَانَ مَدْيُوناً لَهُ بِمِئَةِ دِينَارٍ ، فَأَمْسَكَهُ وَأَخَذَ بِعُنُقِهِ قَائِلاً: أَوْفِنِي مَا لِي عَلَيْكَ. 29فَخَرَّ الْعَبْدُ رَفِيقُهُ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ وَطَلَبَ إِلَيْهِ قَائِلاً: تَمَهَّلْ عَلَيَّ فَأُوفِيَكَ الْجَمِيعَ. 30فَلَمْ يُرِدْ بَلْ مَضَى وَأَلْقَاهُ فِي سِجْنٍ حَتَّى يُوفِيَ الدَّيْنَ. 31فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْعَبِيدُ رُفَقَاؤُهُ مَا كَانَ ، حَزِنُوا جِدّاً. وَأَتَوْا وَقَصُّوا عَلَى سَيِّدِهِمْ كُلَّ مَا جَرَى. 32فَدَعَاهُ حِينَئِذٍ سَيِّدُهُ وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَيُّهَا الْعَبْدُ الشِّرِّيرُ ، كُلُّ ذَلِكَ الدَّيْنِ تَرَكْتُهُ لَكَ لأَنَّكَ طَلَبْتَ إِلَيَّ. 33أَفَمَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ أَيْضاً تَرْحَمُ الْعَبْدَ رَفِيقَكَ كَمَا رَحِمْتُكَ أَنَا؟. 34وَغَضِبَ سَيِّدُهُ وَسَلَّمَهُ إِلَى الْمُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى يُوفِيَ كُلَّ مَا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ. 35فَهَكَذَا أَبِي السَّمَاوِيُّ يَفْعَلُ بِكُمْ إِنْ لَمْ تَتْرُكُوا مِنْ قُلُوبِكُمْ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ لأَخِيهِ زَلَّاتِهِ. 

 

 


BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Martyr Dometius in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Apolytikion of Holy Transfiguration in the Grave Tone

You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You.

Kontakion of Holy Transfiguration in the Grave Tone

You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.
BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Wherefore then did He not do this, nor forgive the debt before the account? Desiring to teach him, from how many obligations He is delivering him, that in this way at least he might become more mild towards his fellow servant .... He gave more than he asked, remission and forgiveness of the entire debt.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 61 on Matthew 18, 4th Century

When then you are minded to be revengeful, consider that against yourself are you revengeful, not against another; that you art binding up your own sins, not your neighbors ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 61 on Matthew 18, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Support St. Stephen's

 

amazon smile

 

BACK TO TOP

Forms & Flyers

BACK TO TOP

Announcements

Wednesday, August 16th

The Service of the Paraklesis to

The Most Holy Theotokos at 5:30 pm

with The Very Rev. Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne

Dr. Damaskinos Alazrai

 

Thursday, August 17th

The Service of the Paraklesis to

The Most Holy Theotokos at 5:30 pm

with The Very Rev. Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne

Dr. Damaskinos Alazrai

 

Friday, August 18th

The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ

Vespers at 6:00 pm

with The Very Rev. Fr. Romanos Khoury

 

Saturday, August 19th

The Holy Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ 

Matins at 8:45 am & Liturgy at 10:00 am

Vespers Service at 1:00 pm

with The Very Rev. Fr. Romanos Khoury

 

Sunday, August 27th

Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

Matins at 8:30 am & Liturgy at 9:45 am

Lamentations at 11:30 followed by a procession

with The Very Rev. Fr. Romanos Khoury

 

BACK TO TOP