This Week

14th Sunday of Matthew, September 2
8:30 AM - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Monday, September 3
Labor Day - Church Office closed

Thursday, September 6
7:00 PM - Ward VI Neighborhood Planning Assembly

Nativity of the Most-Holy Theotokos, Saturday, September 8
8:00 AM - Orthros & Divine Liturgy; 5:00 PM - Great Vespers

Sunday before the Holy Cross, September 9
9:00 AM - Orthros & Divine Liturgy

Fasting Guidelines this Week:
Wednesday & Friday - Strict Fast; All other days - No Fasting

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 1st Mode

Eternal with the Father and the Spirit is the Word, Who of a Virgin was begotten for our salvation. As the faithful we both praise and worship Him, for in the flesh did He consent to ascend unto the Cross, and death did He endure and He raised unto life the dead through His all glorious resurrection.

Apolytikion for Martyr Mammas in the 4th Mode

Your Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by You the crown of incorruption, in that he contested for You our immortal God. Since he possessed Your power, he defeated the tyrants, dashing the demons' powerless displays of defiance. O Christ God, at his fervent entreaties, save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility's stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality's ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, "The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life."

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

14th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:1-4

Brethren, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

But I call God to witness against me - it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Gospel Reading

14th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 22:2-14

The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment; and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

Announcements & Future Events

WELCOME VISITORS — WE ARE PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US TODAY! The Orthodox Church teaches that Holy Communion is a sign of unity. In order to receive Holy Communion in the Greek Orthodox Church, you must have been baptized or chrismated in the Christian Orthodox Faith. If you are interested in learning more about Christian Orthodoxy, please contact our Parish Priest, Father Andreas. Communicants should prepare themselves through fasting, prayer and confession. All Christians are invited to come forward at the end of Divine Liturgy to receive the Antidoron, holy bread, which is offered to all as a blessing.

Καλή χρονιά και καλό μήνα! Happy New (Ecclesiastical) Year! In the Holy Orthodox Church, we have always followed the ancient practice of the Roman Empire by starting each Church Year by the Indiction, September 1. The Roman Empire used a September start for tax and administrative purposes, the civil calendar year began on January 1.

The Parish Council has moved the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon to Sunday, September 16. That Sunday we will also kick-off our educational programs for the upcoming year.

Please note: starting next week, on Sunday September 9, we will revert to our normal Sunday Divine Service times: Orthros (Matins) begins at 9:00 AM, followed by Divine Liturgy at approximately 10:00 AM.

Saints and Feasts

September 02

14th Sunday of Matthew

September 02

Mammas the Martyr

Saint Mammas was from Gangra of Paphlagonia. He was born in prison, where his parents were suffering for Christ's sake and ended their lives. He was named Mammas because, after he had long remained without speaking, he addressed his foster mother Ammia as "mamma." He contested for Christ about the year 275.

September 08

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

According to the ancient tradition of the Church, the Theotokos was born of barren and aged parents, Joachim and Anna, about the year 16 or 17 before the birth of Christ. Joachim was descended from the royal line of David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was of the priestly tribe of Levi, a daughter of the priest Matthan and Mary, his wife.

Wisdom of the Fathers

For unto Christ he would pass all on, saying, "He must increase, I must decrease;" by the Son Himself again, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you;" ... But not by words only, but also by actions did He bid them.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 69 on Matthew 22, 4th Century

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