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Sts. Constantine and Helen Church
Publish Date: 2020-10-25
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Gadarene
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Sts. Constantine and Helen Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (414) 778-1555
  • Street Address:

  • 2160 N. Wauwatosa Avenue

  • Wauwatosa, WI 53213


Contact Information






Services Schedule

SUNDAY MATINS/DIVINE LITURGY, 8:15 am


Past Bulletins


Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Archbishop Elpidophoros Announces Appointments to the 2020-2022 Archdiocesan Council

10/21/2020

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has today announced his appointments to the 2020-2022 Archdiocesan Council.

Archbishop Elpidophoros Appoints the National Philoptochos 2020-2022 Executive Board

10/19/2020

Today, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America in his capacity as Chairman of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society announced the appointment of the Executive Board Members for the 2020-2022 term.

Archbishop Elpidophoros Completes Visits to All Parishes, Chapels and Monasteries Within the Archdiocesan District

10/19/2020

On Sunday, October 18, 2020, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Silver Spring, MD. With this visit the Archbishop has been to all of the parishes, chapels and monastic communities located within the Archdiocesan District, which comprises the states of New York, Connecticut, Maryland, the District of Columbia and also the Bahamas.

Panos Coufos Interviews With the Orthodox Observer on MBC's 2020 Fall Camp

10/19/2020

The Orthodox Observer sat down with the recently appointed Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Metropolis of Boston, Panos Coufos, about the Metropolis of Boston's Fall Camp programming in 2020 amid Covid-19.
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Notes

Our church has been approved for Phase 3

A few things to be aware of when you are attending services during the "Level Three" phase:

  1. First of all, if you feel sick, please stay home (we can reschedule you for a different Sunday);
  2. Please only come on Sundays you have pre-registered for;
  3. All attendees must wear a mask during their time in the church;
  4. The Metropolis has asked that we keep track of those in attendance.  To do this, one of our parish council members will be marking those present.  Please give your name if asked;
  5. Please follow the directions of the parish council members while in the church;
  6. Please maintain a 6-foot ddistance between those around you;
  7. Holy Communion will be distributed as normal - again, please follow the directions of the parish council as you come forward to receive;
  8. After church has ended, please follow the directions of the parish council in exiting the church - and we ask that you do not linger outside around the church.

 

Our church will continue to provide online live streaming of church services through Facebook Live on our Facebook page.  We are currently facing some technical difficulties and cannot stream on YouTube Live.  Fr. Panteleimon and the Parish Council are working to resolve this as soon as possible. 

Plus, now you can "Light a Candle - Say a Prayer".  Just visit https://onrealm.org/StsCnH/-/give/candles to make your donation online and send us an email (father.pgd@gmail.com and church@stsconstantinehelenwi.org) with the number and type of candles along with who/what you would like us to pray for and will do so at our next church service.

New Procedure for Church Attendance Signup!

In order to better track attendance and seating availability on a weekly basis, we are making changes to the signing up process for church attendance.

Everyone will have to sign up for each specific Sunday that they would like to attend church services.  Registration events have been setup in Realm for the following few Sundays; you may have received the relevant automatic notifications already.  If you have family members that do not have internet access, you can add them to your registration as guests.  Otherwise, please let them know that they can call me (414.778.1555) during office hours and I will register them. 

Moving forward, since life happens, if you have signed up for a service but cannot attend, please cancel your reservation so that someone else can attend.  If you need help, please contact me.

If you have not joined Realm, our online community, yet, please send me an email requesting an invitation.  In Realm, go to Events, choose the "Sunday Matins/Divine Lit..." for the Sunday you would like to register, and click on the "Register by date" to register.

As always, please contact me if I can be of assistance,

Nikki

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Community

Realm (onrealm.org) & it's app, Connect, is not for one-way communication, from our church leaders to you.  It can (& should) be used for the communiation between the members of each Group.  JOY is the first ministry that has adopted Realm as their communication tool.  Ask them. 

By the way, would anyone like to lead a Group? What if we created  a Group where the members could help each other out during this pandemic?  If someone is immunocompromised, for instance, or has young children, and can't go to the grocery store, they could ask if anyone else is going and if they are willing to pick up whatever they need (or, pick up their prescription, or a 10,000 piece puzzle for the kids...)  and deliver to their house... Email the church (church@stsconstantinehelenwi.org) your ideas but keep in mind, that no Groups can be created/activated until someone steps up to lead them.  (Hint: It's not hard... just accepting requests to join the Group and keeping the conversation going).

Want to test it out?  You can join our Prayer Requests Group (In Groups, search in Community for Prayer Requests).

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 Donate now button

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Friday Fish Fry Opening October 9th!

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This Sunday

SUNDAY, October 25th, 2020—6th Sunday of Luke 

EPISTLE: St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19 

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 8:26-39 

For more information on an event in the following calendar, please visit:  http://www.stsconstantinehelenwi.org/parish-calendar/

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Our News and Interests

Stscnh.1

YouTube link to last Sunday's Liturgy

I've uploaded last Sunday's church services on YouTube:

Sunday (10/18) services: https://youtu.be/6ACB9xehoiY

Nikki


Sunday School News

Fr. Panteleimon and our Sunday School teachers have talked about having class at church, live, in the nave and in the gym. But after discussing this with the COVID protocol committee, and the executive committee, we realized that there were too many logistics and too many things that could go wrong doing it live.
 
So for the next four months, Sunday school will look as follows:
  1. We will not be having live classes here at church;
  2. Every Sunday, I will preach my sermon after the gospel as I normally do, and in addition, at the end of liturgy I will offer a 10 minutes micro Sunday school lesson for everyone there;
  3. In addition, one of our parishioners will be sending out a weekly email, prior to the weekend, with a variety of "Do it yourself" Sunday school plans that parents can do with their children at home;
  4. We are also looking into having teachers, do weekly, or biweekly, or once a month, zoom classes with their students.

Meanwhile, the Realm Sunday School classes have been created in Realm (as Groups) and we are currently in the process of adding the students.  YOU CAN HELP!  Please double-check your familiy's online details and make sure that your children't information is complete, include birthdate and school grade.  If you'd like to take it a step further, you can add your children to their Sunday School Class Group.  If you prefer, we can do it for you!  Just fill out the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiALuny8zROY0HhvPJ1dgGpQCyXRnuTspI8U8XIBvgahFGqw/viewform?usp=sf_link

You can find information, about updating your information, setting your privacy settings, and even how to add a family member (spouse, children) here: https://help.acst.com/content/congregants/congregants/your-family

For information on how to find and join a Group: https://help.acst.com/content/congregants/congregants/groups/find-a-group-to-join

If you need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact Jennie Panagopoulos (JP@StsConstantineHelenWI.Org) or Nikki at the church office (Nikki@StsConstantineHelenWI.Org)


Sts Constantine & Helen Greek School of Wauwatosa.

The Greek Language Program will run virtually and is planning for in-person classes after for the second half of the school year depending on the circumstances.  After considering input from the Greek School families: 

First day of Virtual school - Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
 
End of the school year - Last week of May 2021
 
Level 1A - Tuesday 6:00-7:00 pm, Friday 6:00-7:00 pm - Ka Eleni Tourloukis
 
Level 1B - Monday 6:00-7:00 pm, Wednesday 6:00-7:00 pm - Ka Konstantina Boukara
 
Level 2A - Tuesday 6:00-7:15 pm, Thursday 6:00-7:15 pm - Ka Anastasia Tsiantou
 
 
Kindergarten - Tentative (more info to follow)
 
Pre-school - Pre-recorded class

For more info please email: greekschoolemail@gmail.com or call the church office


Bible Studies

During the Fall and Winter season the Bible Study will meet each Friday at 10:30 a. m. on Zoom.us (until further notice.)

 We are studying The Psalms. Each week, we try to prayerfully and reverently read each word to find another drop of eternal truth and all the words together make up the boundless ocean of Eternal Truth God has so graciously given us. Reading the Bible is more than reading a book, it truly gives us life.

 Please come and join us in this new Church Year 2020-2021.

 If anyone has any questions, please give Janet Christopulos a call. 414-446-5916.


Western Region Basketball Tournament

There will be NO Western Region Basketball Tournament in February 2021.


GOYA-Sponsored Community Christmas Card

You can sign up now to have your family name included in this year's GOYA Sponsored Community Christmas Card!

GOYA members will be taking names & donations starting this Sunday. The deadline is SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd

 Or, if you prefer, you can register & pay online in Realm.  Look at the Events section.


telos Project Webinar

Join us for a webinar on

Attachment, Trust, and Humility
A Young Adult’s Guide to Resilience in 2020

 
with Dr. George Stavros
Executive Director, Danielsen Institute, Boston University

Monday, October 26, 2020
8:00–9:00 PM Eastern
2020 is turning out to be the most tumultuous year in at least a generation. We are only beginning to identify and reckon with the long-term impacts of a global pandemic, explosive racial tensions, a chaotic presidential election, and an ongoing world climate crisis. 

For young adults, these events have particular meaning and also raise critical questions. One of the questions which we will attempt to address is—“Is it possible for me to flourish and thrive right now, without being overwhelmed by fear, anger, despair, or numbness?” During this hour, we will discuss a combination of social science and theological guideposts to help us find our way during these uncertain times. We will also touch upon ways young adults can help one another with resilience and our parishes can foster resilience.

George Stavros is the executive director of the Danielsen Institute and Clinical Associate Professor of Pastoral Psychology at Boston University.  His clinical and research interests include psychotherapy practice and training and psychotherapy outcomes; clergy wellness; and exploring the connection between spirituality and mental health.  He is a licensed psychologist and has an M.Div. from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.


This webinar is geared for young adults and all who love young adults—priests, parish leaders, parents, grandparents. A webinar of the Telos Project, it is part of a research project of the Office of Vocation & Ministry at Hellenic College Holy Cross on how our young adults and Orthodox parishes engage one another.
REGISTER HERE!
 
 
Know a Young Adult who wants to make a difference? And join a cohort of other young adults who want to design and pilot cool projects? Tell them about...

Fanari Winter Camp Info

For more information, visit www.fanari.camp


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Bulletin Inserts

    Nativity Fast Challenge

    Nativity Fast Challenge

    Let's come together as a parish family for a little prayer challenge! In just 10-15 minutes per day you'll read one kathisma from the Book of Psalms each day for the 40-days of the Nativity Fast (November 15th to December 24th)! For more details about this amazing opportunity to be a part of this group, see the attached file! To join, contact Janet Christopulos at 414.446.5916 or email her at mikechristopulos79@gmail.com


    2020/2021 PanHellenic Scholarship

    2020/2021 PanHellenic Scholarship

    To apply, visit panhellenicsf.org/apply - Deadline: January 31, 2021


    OCWA Scholarship Info

    OCWA Scholarship Info

    Deadline is February 7th, 2021


    Family Synaxis: Marriage Makeover, Living in Harmony & Unity

    Family Synaxis: Marriage Makeover, Living in Harmony & Unity

    Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020 - 9am to 3 pm @ St. Nicholas G.O. Church Oak Lawn, IL Learn more & register @ www.gocfamilysynaxis.org


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Calendar

  • Online Calendar

    October 25 to November 8, 2020

    Sunday, October 25

    8:15AM +Matins

    9:15AM +Divine Liturgy

    12:00PM JOY Pumpkin Farm Outing

    Monday, October 26

    8:00AM +Matins/Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1B

    Tuesday, October 27

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 2A

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1A

    Wednesday, October 28

    8:00AM +Matins/Divine Liturgy

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1B

    Thursday, October 29

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 2A

    Friday, October 30

    10:30AM Bible Studies on Zoom.us

    4:00PM Fish Fry - To-Go ONLY

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1A

    Sunday, November 1

    8:15AM +Matins

    9:15AM +Divine Liturgy

    4:30PM JOY Zoom Session with Fr. Panteleimon

    Monday, November 2

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1B

    Tuesday, November 3

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 2A

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1A

    Wednesday, November 4

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1B

    Thursday, November 5

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 2A

    Friday, November 6

    10:30AM Bible Studies on Zoom.us

    4:00PM Fish Fry - To-Go ONLY

    6:00PM Greek School (Online), Level 1A

    Saturday, November 7

    12:00PM OCF using church building for College retreat

    Sunday, November 8

    +Memorial: 1-Year Mike Christopulos

    +Memorial: 40-days Dina Manesis

    +Memorial: 2-Year Sultana Kalpakidou

    Memorial - 14 years Yannis Dalamisios

    Coming DEADLINE: The Vine announcements

    8:15AM Matins and Divine Liturgy - Holy Archangels

    8:15AM +Matins

    9:15AM +Divine Liturgy

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Saints and Feasts

Gadarene
October 25

6th Sunday of Luke


Allsaint
October 25

Martyr Chrysanthe


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Ninth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31

Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ. Ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον· ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφίενται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται.

Θωμᾶς δὲ εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. Ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἐωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθ᾽ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ Θωμᾶς μετ᾽ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾷ· Φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ὧδε καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με, πεπίστευκας· μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστι γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.


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 1:11-19.

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.

Προκείμενον. Third Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 1:11-19.

Ἀδελφοί, γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτό, οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν· καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων. Ὅτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι· οὐδὲ ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν, καὶ πάλιν ὑπέστρεψα εἰς Δαμασκόν. Ἔπειτα μετὰ ἔτη τρία ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Πέτρον, καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε. Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου.


Gospel Reading

6th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

6th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:26-39

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντι τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντίπερα τῆς Γαλιλαίας. ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ὃς εἶχε δαιμόνια ἐκ χρόνων ἱκανῶν, καὶ ἱμάτιον οὐκ ἐνεδιδύσκετο καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν. ἰδὼν δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ ἀνακράξας προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ καὶ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπε· τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, ᾿Ιησοῦ, υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου; δέομαί σου, μή με βασανίσῃς. παρήγγειλε γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτόν, καὶ ἐδεσμεῖτο ἁλύσεσι καὶ πέδαις φυλασσόμενος, καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο ὑπὸ τοῦ δαίμονος εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους. ἐπηρώτησε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· τί σοί ἐστιν ὄνομα; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· λεγεών· ὅτι δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς αὐτόν· καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν. ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένων ἐν τῷ ὄρει· καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς. ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη. ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγενημένον ἔφυγον, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς. ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός, καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀφ᾿ οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξεληλύθει, ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν. ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ ἰδόντες πῶς ἐσώθη ὁ δαιμονισθείς. καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο. αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν. ἐδέετο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια, εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ διηγοῦ ὅσα ἐποίησέ σοι ὁ Θεός. καὶ ἀπῆλθε καθ᾿ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν κηρύσσων ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

For if we, going about on the earth which is familiar and well known to us, being encompassed with a body, when we are journeying in a strange road, know not which way to go unless we have some one to lead us; how should the soul, being rent away from the body, and having gone out from all her accustomed region, know where to walk without one to show her the way?
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 28 on Matthew 8, 4th Century

Some say, 'Why do they [demons] possess people?' I answer those who wish to have this explained that the reason of these things is very deep. Somewhere one of His saints addressed God by saying, 'Your judgments are a vast abyss.' As long as we bear this in mind, we will perhaps not miss the mark.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on Luke, Homily 44. (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture; vol 3: Luke, Intervarsity Press)

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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.
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.

Apolytikion for Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius in the Fourth Mode

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.
Οι Μάρτυρές σου, Κύριε, εν τή αθλήσει αυτών, στεφάνους εκομίσαντο τής αφθαρσίας, εκ σού τού Θεού ημών, σχόντες γάρ τήν ισχύν σου, τούς τυράννους καθείλον, έθραυσαν καί δαιμόνων, τά ανίσχυρα θράση. Αυτών ταίς ικεσίαις, Χριστέ ο Θεός, σώσον τάς ψυχάς ημών.

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.
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.
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