July 05
St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-07-05
Bulletin Contents
Ecumenical Patriarchate News
Archepiscopal Message
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Fr. Vasilios' Message
Church Schedule
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (212) 473-0648
- Email:
- saint.john2011@gmail.com
- Street Address:
- 143 East 17th Street
- New York, NY 10003
- Mailing Address:
- 143 East 17th Street
- New York, NY 10003
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2020-06-28
- Publish Date:
- 2020-06-21
- Publish Date:
- 2020-06-14
- Publish Date:
- 2020-06-07
- Publish Date:
- 2020-05-31
- Publish Date:
- 2020-05-24
Ecumenical Patriarchate News
06/25/2020
Archepiscopal Message
ENCYCLICAL OF HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP ELPIDOPHOROS OF AMERICA
06/29/2020
Archdiocesan Council Keynote Address By His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
06/29/2020
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Eulogy for George Zapantis
06/29/2020
Today, we hear the cry of a mother, a mother unjustly deprived of her son, a mother whose heart is rent in two, a mother who has come to the Church of the Holy Cross upon which the Son of the Theotokos died, to bury her son. To mourn her son. To grieve her son.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Greeting AHEPA District 6, 84th Annual Convention (Virtual)
06/27/2020
Ecumenical Patriarchate Acts on Mode of Distribution of Holy Communion
06/25/2020
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Department of Greek Education Announces the Launch of Online Learning Tool StaEllinika
07/01/2020
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Department of Education is pleased to announce the launch of StaEllinika, a Greek Language learning platform, available to schools and language programs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Program is developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs of Greece and the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and is supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Be the Bee: Does God Have a Plan for You?
07/01/2020
In the season finale of "Be the Bee," Steve is joined by Anna Karos to explore how we can figure out what God wants for us. They draw inspiration from the lessons taught during the CrossRoad Summer Institute, a program designed to help high school juniors and seniors discover their vocation.
Spring Meeting of the Archdiocese Council Convenes Virtually
07/01/2020
On June 29, 2020 His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America convened the Spring Meeting of the Archdiocese Council. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, travel and meeting restrictions, and public health concerns, the meeting was held virtually via video conferencing in two separate sessions.
Video: Archbishop Elpidophoros Ἀντιφώνησις On the Occasion of the Anniversary of His Enthronement
06/24/2020
I glorify God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for allowing me to be here today, one year from my enthronement as Archbishop of America, to be here with you so that I may be your servant, your brother, and your friend
The Words We Choose
06/23/2020
A few years after graduating from seminary, a young priest was serving as an assistant priest in a parish in Long Island. Picking up the phone one day, he heard the voice of his Dogmatics professor from seminary. The professor politely asked, “How do you like your parish?” The young priest responded that he loved it and felt lucky to be there. The response from his professor would ring in his ears forever. “Luck is not an Orthodox concept,” the professor told him. “We say we are blessed.” From that day forward, the young priest replaced the word “lucky” with the word “blessed.”
Video: Remarks of Father Andreas Vithoulkas, One Year Anniversary of the Enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros
06/24/2020
Your Eminence: you have stood in the breach for all of us in these crises of faith and conscious. Where there is weakness, you have brought strength.
Where there is fear, you have brought courage. Where there is anxiety, you have brought comfort. And where there has been a vacuum of leadership, you have brought moral and spiritual bravery to the fore, as you, like our Holy Ecumenical Patriarch, fear only God alone.
Greek Orthodox Parishes Respond to Covid-19
06/19/2020
Fr. Vasilios' Message
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, AMERCIA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR ALL PEOPLE!
HELLO DEVOTED PARISHIONERS AND ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS OF ST. JOHN'S. WE ARE OPEN, AND THE RESTRICTIONS AND PRECAUTIONS ARE STILL IN PLACE. HOWEVER NOW WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE 25 PEOPLE IN CHURCH. THIS INCLUDES THE PRIEST, CHANTER, 1-2 PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND 21 PARISHIONERS. EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS AND/OR GLOVES WHILE IN THE CHURCH. ONLY THOSE WHO ARE IN GOOD HEALTH WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER. IF YOU ARE OVER 65 IT IS UP TO YOU IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND. IF YOU HAD CONTRACTED OR ARE STILL SUFFERING, OR RECUPERATING FROM THE VIRUS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER.
IF YOU BRING KOLYVA IT MUST BE WRAPPED IN PLASTIC WHEN IT IS BROUGHT INTO CHURCH, AND IT MUST BE TAKEN OUT THE SAME WAY. IT WILL NOT BE DISTRIBUTED IN CHURCH.
EVERY THURSDAY EVENING AT 7:30 P.M. I HOST AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY. IT IS OPEN TO ALL WHO WISH TO ATTEND. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT THE CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS OR TO MY PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE WEEKLY LINK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND BLESSINGS!
WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF DONATIONS FOR THE RENOVATIONS. SO PLEASE TAKE THE TIME AND BE AS GENEROUS AS YOU CAN TO HELP KEEP ST. JOHN'S A VIABLE COMMUNITY FOR TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN THIS YEAR'S STEWARDSHIP 2020 PLEASE DO THAT TODAY. THE 2020 FORM IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT "PI BAKERIE" IS OPEN AT 512 BROOME STREET, NYC. SINCE ARTOPOLIS CLOSED IN ASTORIA YOU CAN NOW FIND ALL THE FABULOUS GREEK PASTRIES, AND DELIGHTS TO SATISFY YOUR TASTE BUDS. PLEASE VISIT AND TELL REGINA WE SENT YOU. ENJOY!
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THE THREAT OF RELIGIOUS SYNCRETISM
I received this the other day and thought it would give you a new perspective on what our Orthodox Faith had to endure throughout the ages to keep it from losing the complete truth it possesses. Enjoy!
By Elias Ayala (MDiv & M.A.T.) July 2, 2020
Syncretism is the process by which aspects of one religion are assimilated into, blended with, another religion. The assimilation between them fundamentally changes both of them. The threat of syncretism has been with the church since its conception. The temptation to intertwine unbelieving philosophical thought with biblical principles was constant within a context where syncretism was the norm. Rome often mixed religious themes and borrowed deities from other religious perspectives. A good example was the fact that Rome borrowed deities from the Greek pantheon and gave them different names.
The Jews and the early Christians were frowned upon and disdained for their apparent arrogance in thinking that there was but One true deity which created all other things. The worship of local deities was quite common in the ancient world, and it was the height of arrogance to suggest that all other deities were false and empty, powerless idols. However, the worship and practice of the pagan culture roundabout the church often had an allure about it that caused some to adopt and syncretize paganism within the Christian system of thought. We see this syncretism most pronounced in the adoption of Greek philosophy into Christian thought.
The temptation to syncretize went even as far back as the Old Testament. Indeed, a large portion of the prophetic writings was dedicated to calling the people of Israel back to the worship of Yahweh, the One true God. For they often fell into idolatrous worship in which Baal and Asherah became objects of devotion. These no doubt were clear examples of Israel forsaking their covenant with their God and running after false deities, often doing so while simultaneously worshiping Yahweh. The syncretism was clear, they not only worshipped other gods, they often did so along side the worship of Yahweh.
Within the New Testament context, syncretism was very wide spread, largely due to the hellenization brought about by the exploits of Alexander the Great and those who followed after him. While Christianity in its essence forbade syncretism given its exclusive nature borrowed from its Old Testament roots, it was not immune to the many temptations to syncretize. Apart from this, there were many heretical views which vied for the soul of the newborn Christian faith. Many of these views were distortions of Christian truth which involved additions of Greek philosophical thought and other falsities which added to the confusion such syncretism brought.
While the Early Church Fathers fought hard against the rise of syncretistic manifestations of “Christianity”, this did not prevent such manifestations to pose a great threat to Christian truth. For example, the early church had to contend with Manichaeism, which was a sort of dualistic philosophy which saw the physical world as evil (This was common to Greek thinking, but not at all common to the Jewish mind-set which saw God’s creation of the physical world as good). The early church also had to deal very early on with Docetism, which was a view that denied that Jesus had a physical body. Notice the Greek underpinnings of this view; remember, for the Greeks of this stripe, the material world was evil and it was the spiritual that was considered good. Indeed, death for many Greeks was the liberation of the soul from the “prison” of the body. This runs contrary to the biblical conception of the material world in general and the material body more specifically. In fact, Docetism may have very well been the view which John wrote against calling it “antichrist” teaching. For how did John define “antichrist”? He says “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist” (2 John 1:7). The church also had to contend with Neoplatonism, a view which constituted an intentional effort to combine elements of Christian thought with Platonic philosophy and oriental dualism. The early church definitely had their work cut out for them.
The very history of the great creeds of Christendom encapsulate the struggle against syncretism. The great creeds were produced in response to false teaching, and sought to protect Christian orthodoxy from the threat of syncretism. The modern Christian is not immune to this threat. As the body of Christ, we are to stand firm uncompromisingly to God’s Word and avoid mixing the thought categories of darkness with the thought patterns of the light of God’s Word. End
Church Schedule
Service Schedule
Sunday, July 5, 2020
4th Sunday of Matthew
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Thursday, July 9, 2020
7:30 p.m. via online Zoom
Every Thursday Bible Study
Sunday, July 12, 2020
5th Sunday of Matthew
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Thursday, July 16, 2020
7:30 p.m. via online Zoom
Every Thursday Bible Study
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Sunday of Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Thursday, July 23, 2020
7:30 p.m. via online Zoom
Every Thursday Bible Study
Sunday, July 26, 2020
7th Sunday of Matthew
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Thursday, July 30, 2020
7:30 p.m. via online Zoom
Every Thursday Bible Study
Saturday, August 1, 2020
The Start of Dormition Fast
Sunday, August 2, 2020
8th Sunday of Matthew
9:15 a.m. Orthros/10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
Fourth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12
Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2.
Brethren, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Προκείμενον. Third Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 5:22-26, 6:1-2.
Ἀδελφοί, ὁ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη, μακροθυμία, χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη, πίστις, πρᾳότης, ἐγκράτεια· κατὰ τῶν τοιούτων οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος. Οἱ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν σὺν τοῖς παθήμασιν καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις. Εἰ ζῶμεν πνεύματι, πνεύματι καὶ στοιχῶμεν. Μὴ γινώμεθα κενόδοξοι, ἀλλήλους προκαλούμενοι, ἀλλήλοις φθονοῦντες. Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προληφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πρᾳότητος, σκοπῶν σεαυτόν μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς. Ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε, καὶ οὕτως ἀναπληρώσατε τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Gospel Reading
4th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 8:5-13
At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.
4th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 8:5-13
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ εἰς Καπερναοὺμ προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἑκατόνταρχος παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, ὁ παῖς μου βέβληται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ παραλυτικός, δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἐγὼ ἐλθὼν θεραπεύσω αὐτόν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος ἔφη· Κύριε, οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς ἵνα μου ὑπὸ τὴν στέγην εἰσέλθῃς· ἀλλὰ μόνον εἰπὲ λόγῳ, καὶ ἰαθήσεται ὁ παῖς μου. καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν, ἔχων ὑπ᾿ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας, καὶ λέγω τούτῳ, πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἄλλῳ, ἔρχου, καὶ ἔρχεται, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ μου, ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐθαύμασε καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἀκολουθοῦσιν· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον. λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσμῶν ἥξουσι καὶ ἀνακλιθήσονται μετὰ ᾿Αβραὰμ καὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐκβληθήσονται εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῳ· ὕπαγε, καὶ ὡς ἐπίστευσας γενηθήτω σοι. καὶ ἰάθη ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.
Saints and Feasts
July 05
Holy New Martyrs Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Novice Barbara
Grand Duchess Elizabeth, a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England and elder sister of Empress Alexandra of Russia (see July 4), was one of the most illustrious women of her day, known throughout Europe not only for her high birth and graceful beauty, but also for her modesty and goodness of heart. After marrying Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovich, she converted to Orthodoxy, although this was not required of her by her position. After the assassination of her husband in 1905, Grand Duchess Elizabeth withdrew from public life, founding the convent of Saints Martha and Mary, of which she became the superior. There she dedicated herself to prayer, fasting, tending the sick, and caring for the poor. After the Bolsheviks seized power, she was exiled to the Urals, where she and those with her were martyred in 1918 when they were cast alive into an abandoned mine. The Novice Barbara followed Saint Elizabeth into exile. When she was separated from the Grand Duchess, Barbara asked to be allowed to join her again; to terrify her, the Bolsheviks told her that she would be allowed to do this, but only if she were prepared for unheard-of torments and a violent death. To their amazement, she consented, and was deemed worthy of martyrdom with the Grand Duchess. Their holy relics were recovered and taken through Russia to China, and came to rest in the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem. When their reliquaries were opened in 1981, their bodies were found to be partially incorrupt, and sweet with the odour of sanctity. With them are also commemorated their fellow Martyrs: Grand Duke Sergius Mikhailovich; Princes John, Constantine, and Igor, the brethren; Prince Vladimir Paley; and Theodore Remez.
July 05
Uncovering of the Holy Relics of Our Righteous Father Sergius of Radonezh
Our righteous Father Sergius was born in Rostov, north of Moscow, about the year 1314. Named Bartholomew in Baptism, he was brought up in Radonezh, and at the death of his parents he withdrew to the wilderness to become a monk. It is notable that without having been trained in a monastery, he was of such a spiritual stature as to be able to take up the perilous eremitical life from the beginning, without falling into delusion or despondency. When he had endured with courage the deprivations of the solitary life, other monks began to come to him, for whom he was made abbot against his will. On the counsel of Philotheus, Patriarch of Constantinople, he organized his monks according to the cenobitic life, appointing duties to each. While Anthony and Theodosius of Kiev, and the other righteous Fathers before Sergius, had established their monasteries near to cities, Sergius was the leader and light of those who went far into the wilderness, and after his example the untrodden forests of northern Russia were settled with monks. When Grand Duke Demetrius Donskoy was about to go to battle against the invading Tartars, he first sought the blessing of Saint Sergius, through whose prayers he was triumphant. Saint Sergius was adorned with the highest virtues of Christ-like humility and burning love for God and neighbour, and received the gift of working wonders, of casting out demons, and of discretion for leading souls to salvation. When he served the Divine Liturgy, an Angel served with him visibly; he was also vouchsafed the visitation of the most holy Theotokos with the Apostles Peter and John. He was gathered to his Fathers on September 25, 1392. At the recovery of his holy relics on July 5, 1422, his body and garments were found fragrant and incorrupt. His life was written by the monks of Epiphanius, who knew him.
July 05
Athanasius of Mount Athos
Saint Athanasius had Trebizond for his homeland. He first entered the monastic life on the mountain called Kymaeos or Kyminas, which is in Mysia of Bithynia, then he went to Mount Athos and founded a large monastery, which is known as the Great Lavra. He became so renowned for his virtue that from Rome, Calabria, Georgia, and elsewhere, rulers, men of wealth and nobility, abbots, and even bishops came to him and were subject to him. When the time for his departure was at hand, God revealed to him how it would take place, so that he was able to instruct his spiritual children not to be troubled when it should come to pass. A new church was being built for the sake of the many who came to him, and only the dome had not been finished. Together with six of the brethren, the Saint went to the top of the church to help the workmen. The dome collapsed, and they fell. Five were killed at once, and the Saint died three hours later. His holy body remained incorrupt and he worked many miracles after his death. He reposed about the end of the tenth century.
July 05
Righteous Father Lampadus the Wonderworker
July 05
Kyprianos the New Martyr of Koutloumousiou Monastery
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode
Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Apolytikion for Athanasius of Athos in the Third Mode
The Angels' ranks were awed by thy life in the flesh, how, though corporeal, and clad with earthly clay, thou didst set forth with courage to invisible wars and wrestlings and didst boldly smite the hordes of the demons with mortal wounds. Wherefore, Christ rewarded thee with abundant gifts in return. Entreat Him that our souls find salvation, O most renowned Father Athanasius.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Τήν εν σαρκί ζωήν, σού κατεπλάγησαν, Αγγέλων τάγματα, πώς μετά σώματος, πρός αοράτους συμπλοκάς, εχώρησας πανεύφημε, καί κατετραυμάτισας, τών δαιμόνων, τάς φάλαγγας, όθεν Αθανάσιε, ο Χριστός σέ ημείψατο, πλουσίαις δωρεαίς, Διό Πάτερ, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Apolytikion of St. John the Baptist in the Second Mode
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.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode
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, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Wisdom of the Fathers
Let us hearken, as many as are to receive Christ: for it is possible to receive Him even now. Let us hearken, and emulate, and receive Him with as great zeal; for indeed, when you receive a poor man who is hungry and naked, you have received and cherished Him.
Homily 26 on Matthew 8, 4th Century
Patience is a labor that does not crush the soul. It never wavers under interruptions, good or bad...Patience sets a boundary to the daily onslaught of suffering...Patience comes from hope and mourning, and indeed to lack those is to be a slave of despondency.
Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 27: On Stillness; Paulist Press pg.271, 6th century
Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance, suppresses anger, restrains pride and envy, draws down the Holy Spirit into the soul and raises man to heaven.
Unknown, 4th century