March 10
St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2019-03-10
Bulletin Contents
Services at St. Andrew
Fr. John's Message
Announcements
News - Flyers - Registrations - Other
Prayer List
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
St. Andrew Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (973) 584-0388
- Fax:
- (973) 584-3573
- Email:
- info@standrewgonj.org
- Street Address:
- 1447 Sussex Turnpike
- Randolph, NJ 07869-1830
- Mailing Address:
- 1447 Sussex Turnpike
- Randolph, NJ 07869-1830
Contact Information
Services Schedule
On Sunday we celebrate
Orthros at 8:45 am & Divine Liturgy at 10am
Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2019-03-17
- Publish Date:
- 2019-03-03
- Publish Date:
- 2019-02-24
- Publish Date:
- 2019-02-17
- Publish Date:
- 2019-02-10
- Publish Date:
- 2019-02-03
Services at St. Andrew
March 9th, 16th, +SATURDAY OF SOULS (Psychosavata)
Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9:15am
During memorial services, we commemorate the souls of all Orthodox Christians who have gone before us into eternal rest. In praying for those who have “fallen asleep in the Lord,” we continue to ask that God may have mercy on them in His divine judgment so they may gain the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. The names offered during the “Saturdays of the Souls” (March 2, March 9 and March 16) at the beginning of the Lenten season will be commemorated.
Also remember your loved ones by not only submitting their names, but by attending the holy services to offer your own prayers for their eternal rest. Anyone wishing to do so may also bring or order a dish of memorial wheat (“kollyva”) for use during the service.P lease, bring your list of names to the service, or if not able to attend, call the Church Office 973-584-0388 ahead of time or send it by email to info@standrewgonj.org
May their memory be eternal (see SOS flyer at end of e-mail for more information)
March 10th , 2019 + Forgiveness Sunday
Orthros at 8:45am Divine Liturgy at 10am
Memorials:
A 40 Day Memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of our ever memorable + Vasiliki Vicki Flaris Rapp, the beloved wife of Paris, adoring mother of Alexander, loving daughter to Alexandra and Zenovia and cherished friend of many parishioners at St. Andrew. Friends are invited to join the family in our Social Hall for refreshments in honor of +Vicki’s blessed memory.
An Annual Memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of our ever memorable +Kostantinos, +Christina, +Ioannis Seretis, beloved family members of Vasilios and Paraskevi Seretis.
May their memory be eternal. Αιωνία η μνήμη αυτών.
Wedding:
On Sunday March 10th, 2019 at 2:00 m Thomas N. Yfantis will wed Vanessa Encarnacion, of Washington Township, NJ.
Fr. John's Message
Holy and Great Lent 2019
The Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Esteemed Members of the Metropolitan Council, Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Sisterhood, Faculty and Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools, Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout Orthodox Christians of the Greek Orthodox Communities of our Holy Metropolis of New Jersey
My Beloved in the Lord,
With the commencement of Great Lent we begin our journey to Holy Week wherein we commemorate the entry of our Lord into Jerusalem, the institution of the Eucharist, our Lord’s betrayal, His Passion, His death on the Cross, and, ultimately, His Resurrection from the dead on the third day. For us to approach the most holy feast of Pascha, we must properly prepare ourselves throughout this Lenten journey so that we may participate in the feast with a pure heart. This journey is long and difficult struggle and it begins with us in utter darkness since it reflects the seemingly hopeless state of humanity. Our pilgrimage from darkness to light during Holy and Great Lent is similar to humanity’s journey throughout the ages. Having disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, our ancestors found themselves closed outside the gates of Paradise and confronted with their new state of being. They found themselves in a land of darkness; a land where they encountered loneliness for the first time as they were distanced from their Creator; a land where pain was a new sensation to them; a land where they became acquainted with the feeling of fear. Though Adam and Eve would use their free will to disobey their Creator, God would ensure that humanity had a way to return to him utilizing the same free will that cost them their freedom. It would be many generations before the time was ripe for our Lord to reveal Himself in the flesh and to present this opportunity for us to reverse the curse of darkness so that we may return to His Divine Light.
It is precisely this journey of humanity from darkness to light that we relive during the course of Great Lent. This journey towards the Light of the Resurrection requires us to prepare through prayer, forgiveness, fasting, and almsgiving and it gives us increased opportunities to exercise our freedom in a manner that is directed not towards ourselves, but towards God and our neighbor. During this period of Great Lent we see more Divine Services such as Pre-Sanctified Liturgies, Great and Small Compline, and the Akathist Services. Even though few people are able to make all of these services, challenge yourself to go to Church more than you already do. Challenge yourself to pray more and to truly listen to the words of the hymns. Challenge yourself to increase your personal prayer life so that you build a relationship with God and with the Saints. Forgiveness is also a hallmark of the Lenten period. It is necessary to ask forgiveness from God and from your neighbor. Therefore, if you have not been to confession in a while or even if you have never gone to confession, schedule a time to meet with your parish priest so you may confess your sins to God and so that your parish priest may help give you pastoral guidance. Seek forgiveness from your neighbor and ask forgiveness from those who love you and from those who do not. In this way, we learn humility so that we may honestly implore “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 50:10).
Fasting is an important part of this Lenten journey not because we deprive ourselves, but because we learn to control our free will. Fasting is not just abstaining from food, but also controlling what comes out of our mouths like scornful words, curses, or exhibiting temper. When fasting from certain foods, however, challenge yourself to do more than you have done before within reason. The object of fasting is not self-mortification, but it is meant to display that we are not merely body, we are also soul and that there is more to us than just our physical bodies, there is also a spirit that has been given free will. Finally, the act of giving to the poor or donating our time to helping others highlights the fundamental aspect of not living for ourselves, but living for Christ since each of our neighbors are made in the image and likeness of our Lord. Push yourselves to give more to those who are less fortunate or to give your time to those who are the marginalized members of our society. If you know a lonely person, spend some time with them and bring them greater joy. Spend additional time with someone in the hospital who may not get many visitors. Invite someone who may be estranged from the Church to your local parish. These small acts are seeds that are nurtured and cared for over time and which tend to bear the sweetest fruits in the Lord’s vineyard.
My beloved children in the Lord, we must not approach Holy and Great Lent as an obligation to be fulfilled, but as a relationship with God and neighbor to be repaired and restored. The purpose of this journey is not to check off a series of boxes in an effort to momentarily complete a task, but its purpose is to engender in us a true metanoia wherein we turn back to God and continually orient ourselves towards Him. Furthermore, we should not look at Great Lent as a mere reenactment of our Lord’s Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection, but we approach this feast as active participants of this reality through the Divine Services as we hear repeated during the Bridegroom services of Holy Week, “Come, then, and with our minds now purified, let us also go with Him and be crucified with Him and die for Him to the pleasures of this life, so that we may also live with Him…”
It is my most fervent hope and prayer that as we begin this period of Holy and Great Lent that we actively participate in prayer, forgiveness, fasting, and almsgiving. Finally, I pray we all remained focused on permanently orienting ourselves towards God as we prepare ourselves to fully participate in His glorious three-day Resurrection.
With Paternal Love and Blessings,
† E V A N G E L O S Metropolitan of New Jersey
Announcements
We’d like to be able to better communicate with everyone on social media where appropriate.
Please Like Us / Follow Us on our church Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Religious-Organization/St-Andrew-Greek-Orthodox-Church-Randolph-NJ-758987230951158/
A 2nd Stewardship Sunday - March 10th
The Stewardship Committee understands that submitting your pledge card in November may not be uppermost in your mind as the holiday season approaches. With that in mind, we will be celebrating a Second Stewardship Sunday on March 10th.
If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your 2019 pledge.
Stewardship Program Update 02-21-2019: We would like to thank everyone
who submitted their 2019 Christian Stewardship Commitment. 122 families have sent in their pledges Totaling $130,390
Total Operating Budget 2019 $828, 065
Stewardship Income $350,000 | $130,390 committed to date)
Close the Gap: $86,165 Fundraising Income: $198, 000 Other Income: $193,900
Balanced Budget $828, 065
Online Giving System - WeShare click on link and follow instructions https://standrewgonj.churchgiving.com/ws/opportunities/or call the office
GOYA SIGHTS & SOUNDS REPLAY on Sunday 3-17-19
NOTE DATE CHANGED (from 3/10 to March 17)
All are invited today after coffee hour to see our talented GOYAns perform their “sounds”. Their art work will be displayed that was entered at the Sights & Sounds Festival held at Holy Trinity in Westfield on Saturday March 2nd.
“Now at our candle stand in the Narthex”
……A number of soul edifying publications are available weekly for FREE at our candle stand in the Narthex
Now available for the next 2 weeks: 3 select (small) volumes from the 7 volume Spiritual Life Series published by www.newromepress. Each small book in this series tackles topics of spiritual significance for the Orthodox Christian's daily life. Now Freely available:
Do not judge…Understanding the Vice of Passing Judgement…. And as we ponder over the trouble we have to be virtuous and live a life in Christ, we lose heart and give up. Christ, however, suggested a very simple and easy way for us to please Him and avoid…..Read More
On the Vice of Envy…… And whereas all the passions produce at any rate some momentary pleasure in the person who experiences them, envy wastes away the soul through continual, sorrow at the happiness of one's fellow-man... This passion is usually well hidden……Read More
On Repentance and Confession…… Repentance is man’s return to God. It is a change-of-heart in the nous from the darkness of sin to the light of Christ. The beginning of this journey is “the awareness of our errors, which is a great opportunity for us to attract divine mercy. This is why the Prophet David says to God…..Read More
House Blessings
Fr. John Theodosion will begin the House Blessings in our community on the 1st week in January 2019. St. Andrew Parishioners will be notified of his pending visit. Please look for a “Blue Post Card” indicating date and time.
We will also be announcing in the weekly bulletin the towns that Fr. John will be visiting. If you don’t receive “Blue Post Card” when your town is listed, please contact the office ASAP and make arrangements for «Agiasmo» in your home.
NOTE: Please do not offer Fr. John any food or snacks. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated, but unfortunately his time is very limited and will only delay his next visit.
Rescheduling of missed appointments will be after Pascha. 973-584-0388
St Thomas Church services at St. Andrew on Sundays
Our friends the parishioners of St. Thomas Orthodox Church of India, located on West Blackwell St. in Dover had a big loss last week. Their church was damaged by a fire and they requested our help. We at St. Andrew will be making our Gym available to them so they are able to hold their Sunday services. We ask you to please not enter the gym while their services are in session. We have also allocated the parking lot in the back of the gym for their parishioners.
Coffee Hour Hosts
3/10 PTA, *3/17 DOP, *3/24 GOYA, *3/31 GOYA, 4/7 Philoptochos, 4/14 DOP, 4/21 Palm Sunday (*Lent), 4/28 PASCHA NO COFFEE HOUR,
5/5 Philoptochos, 5/10 PTA, 5/19, DOP, 5/26 Bakaliko
BAGELS for Sunday Coffee hour are donated by ALPHA BAGELS located on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ. We thank them for their generosity and continued support.
Save the dates
April 14 - Greek Independence Day Parade in NYC
May 10 - Philoptochos Annual Tricky Tray
May 19 - Religious Education Graduation & Scholarship Awards Program
May 30 - Hellenic Afternoon School Graduation Program
May 30, 31 & June 1: Family Picture with Lifetouch for upcoming Saint Andrew Directory
June: 7-8-9 Big Greek Festival
June 30: Car Raffle Drawing
News - Flyers - Registrations - Other
Saturday of Souls
MARCH 2, 9, 16, 2019 ORTHROS @8AM & DIVINE LITURGY @9:15AM
Stewardship Sunday
Second Stewardship Sunday on March 10th. If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your 2019 pledge.
Stewardship
Stewardship Commitment 2019 Form
Church Schedule This Week
March 10-17
Great Lent Study
Fridays at 10:30am March 15th through April 12th.
Family Nights
Every Friday evening at 5:15pm during Lent March 15th to April 12th
volleyball
volleyball fundamentals for girls; at St. Andrew gym on Sundays 1.30-3pm in March 3, 17, 24 and April 7 &14
Philoptochos
Scholarship Applications and all supporting documentation ... postmarked on or before May 1, 2019. The award notification will be announced on May 19, 2019.
Please share information
Despina Dermatis Prassas asks for help for her son Peter.
Lenten Services
The Great Compline: Mondays at 6:30pm | The Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts: Wednesdays at 6:30pm | Salutations or Akathist to the Theotokos: Fridays at 6:30pm
Prayer List
If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388
Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed. Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the Proskomide “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.
Simeon, George, Richard, Evangelia, Hannah, Andrew, Constantinos, Eftychia, Kyzoula, Lukas, Lukas, Anna Christina, Ronny, Stephanie, Lukas, Zoe, Spyridoula, Maria, Eugenia, Alexa, Eleni, Vasiliki, Hope, Hristos, Rosemary, Susan, Don, Corinne, Sophia, Stavroula, Konstantinos, Anastasia, Pamela, Brian,Brandon, Fotini, Irene, Eleutherios, Andriana, John, Panayioti, William, Nikki, Kyriaki, Panayiota, Beatrice, Demetrios, Andreas, Ioanna,Marykate, John, Konstantinos, Barbara, Reta, Despina, Eleni, Bonnie, Rose, Richard, Mary, Petros, Demosthenes, Angeliki, Christian, Olga, Efthimia, Demitra, Antonia, Norma, Beatrice, Geoffrey, Theonimfi, Donald, Alexandra, Kathy, John, Reggie, Shannon, Yiota, Christopher, Asimina, Margarita, Ellen, Konstantinos, Despina, Margaret, Georgia, Antonios, Maria, Kleo, Constantine, Paul, Christos, Vasilis, Maxine, Hana, Eva, Nicoletta, Nicholas, Tina, Stefanos, Paraskevi, George, Anastasia, Hristos, John, Christopher, George, Chris, Konstantinos, Aristea, Fr. Demetri, Prz Spyridoula, Eleni, Marcella, Demetri, Fotini, William, Robert, Nicholas, Konstantinos, Helen, Kelly,
Prayer for a Sick Person:
Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode
From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode
O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.
Saints and Feasts
March 10
Forgiveness Sunday
The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.
March 10
Michael Mauroudes the New-Martyr
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18
At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that He had said these things to her.
Eighth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:11-18
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Μαρία δὲ εἱστήκει πρὸς τῷ μνημείῳ κλαίουσα ἔξω. ὡς οὖν ἔκλαιε, παρέκυψεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον καὶ θεωρεῖ δύο ἀγγέλους ἐν λευκοῖς καθεζομένους, ἕνα πρὸς τῇ κεφαλῇ καὶ ἕνα πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν, ὅπου ἔκειτο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· γύναι, τί κλαίεις; λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὅτι ἦραν τὸν Κύριόν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. καὶ ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν ἑστῶτα, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐστι. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· γύναι, τί κλαίεις; τίνα ζητεῖς; ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ κηπουρός ἐστι, λέγει αὐτῷ· κύριε, εἰ σὺ ἐβάστασας αὐτόν, εἰπέ μοι ποῦ ἔθηκας αὐτόν, κἀγὼ αὐτὸν ἀρῶ. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· Μαρία. στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββουνί, ὃ λέγεται, διδάσκαλε. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μή μου ἅπτου· οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου· πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς· ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν. ἔρχεται Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἀπαγγέλλουσα τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὅτι ἑώρακε τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.
Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4.
Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω· ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.
Gospel Reading
Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21
The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Forgiveness Sunday
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· ᾿Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. ῞Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι· θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.
Wisdom of the Fathers
Here it were well to sigh aloud, and to wail bitterly: for not only do we imitate the hypocrites, but we have even surpassed them.
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century
For I know, yea I know many, not merely fasting and making a display of it, but neglecting to fast, and yet wearing the masks of them that fast, and cloaking themselves with an excuse worse than their sin.
Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century