TODAY: January 5, 2020

Forefeast of Theophany

SERVICE SCHEDULE:

Orthros & Divine Liturgy        8:30AM

Sunday School    NO SUnday School - Sunday School will resume January 12th, 2020

Epistle:     II Timothy 4:5-8    Page 125

Gospel:     Mark 1:1-8  Page 125

(The Epistle and Gospel Readings can be found in the Divine Liturgy Books in the pew rack.)

MEMORIALS:      

NARTHEX DUTY TEAM:  Group 2

TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP IS OFFERED BY: The Parish Council

THIS WEEK AT HOLY TRINITY:

Sunday, January 5

Today we welcome Fr Steven Vlahos to Holy Trinity.

Forefeast of Theophany / Blessing of the Waters

8:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy

NO Sunday School - Sunday School will resume next Sudnay, January 12, 2020

Monday, January 6

Holy Theophany / Great Blessing of the Waters

8:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, January 8

12:30pm Bible Study

5:30pm Greek School

6:30pm BBall Practice

7pm GOYA Dance Practice

Thursday, January 9

12pm Young @ Heart Gathering

Friday, January 10

5:30pm YOUTH Dance Practice

Welcome  

The Holy Trinity Family welcomes all our visitors. We hope that you enjoyed the Divine Service of the Church of the Book of Acts. You participated in the most ancient Christian Service written by Saint John Chrysostomos- the Golden Mouth. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is distributed ONLY to those Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared according to our Sacred Tradition. We invite you to come forward, if you wish, at the end of the Divine Liturgy to receive the blessed bread. If you have any questions about the Orthodox Church or would like to discover how to join this Ancient Christian Faith please see Fr. Christos at the coffee hour downstairs at the Hellenic Community Center or call the church office for an appointment 302-654-4446. We thank you and may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and yours abundantly always.  

Hymns for Sunday  

ἈπολυτίκιονἈναστάσιμον. Ἦχοςδʹ.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀποῤῥίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode 4.

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

Προεόρτιον. Ἦχοςδʹ. Κατεπλάγη Ἰωσήφ.

Ἀπεστρέφετό ποτε, ὁ Ἰορδάνης ποταμός, τῇ μηλωτῇ Ἐλισαιέ, ἀναληφθέντος Ἠλιού, καὶ διῃρεῖτο τὰ ὕδατα ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, καὶ γέγονεν αὐτῷ, ξηρὰ ὁδὸς ἡ ὑγρά, εἰς τύπον ἀληθῶς τοῦ Βαπτίσματος, δι' οὗ ἡμεῖς τὴν ῥέουσαν, τοῦ βίου διαπερῶμεν διάβασιν, Χριστὸς ἐφάνη, ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ, ἁγιάσαι τὰ ὕδατα.

For the Forefeast. Mode 4. Joseph marveled.

Jordan River once turned back when Elisha struck its stream with his mantle in the wake of Elias's ascent; and the water was parted to the one side and to the other. And thus, the fluid stream became a dry way for him, a symbol and truly a type of Baptism, by which we now pass over the streaming passage of the present life. And Christ appeared at the Jordan River to sanctify the waters.

Ἦχοςπλ. δʹ.

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.

Mode pl. 4.

Blessed are You, O Christ our God. You made the fishermen all-wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them You drew the world into Your net. O Lover of mankind, glory to You.

Κοντάκιον. Ἦχοςδʹ. Ἐπεφάνηςσήμερον.

Ἐν τοῖς ῥείθροις σήμερον τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, γεγονὼς ὁ Κύριος, τῷ Ἰωάννῃ ἐκβοᾷ· Μὴ δειλιάσῃς βαπτίσαι με· σῶσαι γὰρ ἥκω, Ἀδὰμ τὸν πρωτοπλαστον.

Kontakion. Mode 4. You appeared today.

To the flowing streams today of River Jordan comes the Lord and cries aloud to John the Baptist, and He says, "Be not afraid to baptize me now; for I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man."

 On January 5, we commemorate the holy Martyrs Theopemptos and Theonas.

 Reading

When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.

Apolytikion of Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas

Fourth Tone

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

Kontakion of Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas

Second Tone

As a righteous priest of the ineffable mysteries and a godly minister of grace, in the contest of martyrdom thou didst initiate the glorious Theonas into the God-inspired Faith, O Theopemptus. And together with him, thou didst cry out in the stadium: Christ is the strength of the Martyrs.

Forefeast of Holy Theophany

Apolytikion of Eve of Epiphany

Fourth Tone

River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.

Holy Trinity Family,

This message is to inform you that Presbytera Joanna’s father, George Tsarsis, fell asleep in the Lord this morning and Fr Christos is taking an emergency leave of absence to accompany her to Greece for the burial and family matters.

Father Steven Vlahos will be presiding over the following Divine Liturgies:

Sunday, January 5 (Forefeast of Theophany)

Monday, January 6 (Holy Theophany)

Sunday, January 12 (Sunday after Theophany)

Sunday, January 19 (12^th Sunday of St Luke)

Please note that due to this emergency, the following services are canceled:

•  Tuesday, December 31 @ 6pm

•  Tuesday, January 7 (John the Baptist)

• Friday, January 17 (St Anthony)

• Saturday, January 18 (Ss Anthanasios & Cyril)

• Tuesday, January 21 (St Maximus the Confessor)

In Father Christos’ absence, should a pastoral emergency arise, please immediately contact the Church Office (302-654-4446) or George Rassias (610-322-3200 cell) so that the appropriate clergy/pastoral assistance can be secured for you and your family.

Father Christos will be returning on January 22^nd. Please keep Fr Christos, Presbytera Joanna and their family in your prayers.

Zoe se mas,

George Rassias