IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN THIS YEAR'S STEWARDSHIP PLEASE DO THAT TODAY.
WE WILL SOON HAVE OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING IN OUR UNDERCROFT. ALL STEWARDS ARE ASKED TO ATTENDING. A MAILING WILL GO OUT SOON WITH ALL THE INFORMATION AND AGENDA.
THE GREEK DANCE CLASS HAS STARTED ALONG WITH BIBLE STUDY. PLEASE CALL THE CHURCH OR ASK ANYONE AT THE CANDLE STAND FOR INFORMATION.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
What was once the foundation for a healthy, spiritual, and virtuous society has now become something frowned upon. The Ten Commandments were proudly displayed on facades of public buildings, in courtrooms, and schools all around the United States. These ten divinely written commandments by God on Mount Sinai were given to Moses to be the glue that holds societies and civilizations together. Ten simple commandments that modernity and our secular society have a hard time comprehending their importance and value.
The ethics and respect for our Creator that the Ten Commandments hope to inculcate within each person in society is monumental. Why? Because these simple Commandments teach humanity how to interact with each other and with God. It is not by chance that the Ten Commandments were written on two separate slates. These two slates contain 5 commandments each. Moreover, each slate contains principles appropriate to two specific relationships.
Furthermore, these relationships contain not only God’s laws but His love for Humanity. Each of the ten is a road map of what is expected from each of us as human beings. The first 5 indicate our relationship with God. It is a vertical relationship that we have with God. In other words, it is a very important relationship that God demands from His beloved humanity.
However, its importance and significance do not override or supersede the next 5 Commandments. This may sound strange because they refer to God and our relationship with Him. It is for this reason that each of the Ten is specific to an individual’s health and wellbeing both spiritually and physically.
Likewise, the next five pertain to Man’s relationship with Man. These Five Commandments instruct and guide humanity on how to interact with one another and are not more important than the first five. They are referred to so a horizontal relationship with humanity and the importance of a moral and ethical interaction with them for a stable and loving society.
More importantly, both the vertical and horizontal relationships contained in the Ten Commandments are a gift that God has bestowed upon creation for their benefit. The love of God and Man are our duty if we wish to achieve the most basic human principles in our life. Unfortunately, if one decides to practice only the first five commandments, and love God more than Man they are capable of horrific actions against humanity.
On the other hand, if they only care about their relationship with Man, they are considered humanists. Both practices are considered distortions and breaking all the Commandments. Only when we practice all Ten Commandments are we on the road to Theosis and God’s grace. That is why Christ gave us His Great Commandment when asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He answers, “. . . thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind,” and again, “. . . Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Finally, what Christ does above is He reduces the ten into two, one from Man’s relationship with God, and one from Man’s relationship with Man. These are what all of humanity are called to do, and especially Christians. If we all lived by them this world would be a better place and God’s love would abound. AMEN!
Service Schedule
Sunday, January 20, 2019
12th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.
-
Thursday, January 24, 2019
6:30 p.m. Bible Study.
-
Sunday, January 27, 2019
15th Sunday of Luke
9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs
8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class
-
Thursday, January 31, 2019
6:30 p.m. Bible Study.
-
Saturday, February 2, 2019
The Presentation of Our Lord
8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy
-
Sunday, February 3, 2019
16th Sunday of Matthew
9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.
-
Thursday, February 7, 2019
6:30 p.m. Bible Study.
-
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Sunday of the Canaanite
9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.
-
Thursday, February 14, 2019
6:30 p.m. Bible Study.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.
-
Thursday, February 21, 2019
6:30 p.m. Bible Study.
-
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy
-
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Greek Dance Class.
-
Thursday, February 28, 2019
6:30 p.m. Bible Study.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
1st. Saturday of Souls
8:30am Orthros/9:30am Divine Liturgy
-
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Judgement Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
9:15am Orthros/10:15am Divine Liturgy
First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."
First Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 28:16-20
Οἱ δὲ ἕνδεκα μαθηταὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, εἰς τὸ ὄρος οὗ ἐτάξατο αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς. καὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ, οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν. καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἐδόθη μοι πᾶσα ἐξουσία ἐν οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς. πορευθέντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ῾Αγίου Πνεύματος, διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. ἀμήν.
Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 149.5,1.
The saints shall rejoice in glory.
Verse: Sing to the Lord a new song.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.
Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 149.5,1.
Καυχήσονται ὅσιοι ἐν δόξῃ
Στίχ. Ἄσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ ᾆσμα καινόν.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 4:6-15.
Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν· ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι· διωκόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν· εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.
12th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 17:12-19
At that time, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus's feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus: "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him: "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
12th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 17:12-19
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσερχομένου αὐτοῦ εἴς τινα κώμην ἀπήντησαν αὐτῷ δέκα λεπροὶ ἄνδρες, οἳ ἔστησαν πόρρωθεν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες· ᾿Ιησοῦ ἐπιστάτα, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. καὶ ἰδὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πορευθέντες ἐπιδείξατε ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσι. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκαθαρίσθησαν. εἷς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἰάθη, ὑπέστρεψε μετὰ φωνῆς μεγάλης δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ· καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν Σαμαρείτης. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· οὐχὶ οἱ δέκα ἐκαθαρίσθησαν; οἱ δὲ ἐννέα ποῦ; οὐχ εὑρέθησαν ὑποστρέψαντες δοῦναι δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ εἰ μὴ ὁ ἀλλογενὴς οὗτος; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀναστὰς πορεύου· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε.
This Saint, who was from Melitene in Armenia, was the son of pious parents named Paul and Dionysia. He was born about 377. Since his mother had been barren, he was named Euthymius-which means "good cheer" or "joy"-for this is what his parents experienced at his birth. He studied under Eutroius, the Bishop of Melitene, by whom he was ordained and entrusted with the care of the monasteries of Melitene. Then, after he had come to Palestine about the year 406, he became the leader of a multitude of monks. Through him, a great tribe of Arabs was turned to piety, when he healed the ailing son of their leader Aspebetos. Aspebetos was baptized with all his people; he took the Christian name of Peter, and was later consecrated Bishop for his tribe, being called "Bishop of the Tents." Saint Euthymius also fought against the Nestorians, Eutychians, and Manichaeans. When Eudocia, the widow of Saint Theodosius the Younger, had made her dwelling in Palestine, and had fallen into the heresy of the Monophysites which was championed in Palestine by a certain Theodosius, she sent envoys to Saint Symeon the Stylite in Syria (see Sept. 1), asking him his opinion of Eutyches and the Council of Chalcedon which had condemned him; Saint Symeon, praising the holiness and Orthodoxy of Saint Euthymius near whom she dwelt, sent her to him to be delivered from her error (the holy Empress Eudocia is commemorated Aug. 13). He became the divine oracle of the Church, or rather, "the vessel of divine utterance," as a certain historian writes. He was the instructor and elder of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified. Having lived for ninety-six years, he reposed in 473, on January 20.
The Martyr Neophytos, who was from Nicea in Bithynia, was the son of pious parents, Theodore and Florence. Led by grace from his childhood, he took up his dwelling in a cave upon Mount Olympus at the age of nine and lived there in asceticism and prayer. At the age of fifteen, during the reign of Diocletian about the year 290, he presented himself to the local Governor named Decius. Roused to fury by his unexpected boldness, Decius had him scourged, then laid out on a bed of fire. When he had been preserved by grace through these torments, he gave him up to wild beasts. But since the Saint remained unharmed, a certain pagan fell on him with a sword and slew him.
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
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press - Northridge, CA