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Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church
Publish Date: 2020-05-24
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Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (617) 625-2222
  • Fax:
  • (617) 628-4529
  • Street Address:

  • 29 Central Street

  • Somerville, MA 02143


Past Bulletins


Weekly Events

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

FIRST OF ALL

I have to say that I am very blessed to be your pastor.

I am very happy that we were able to go through these difficult times together, enduring everything that came our way as one person and one united community. Everyone was very responsive, willing and ready to jump in and help by any means necessary. Thank you for your continuous and uninterrupted stewardship. The celebrations of the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior were very difficult because of the circumstances, but the knowledge that you were with me through your prayers and ready to support the church any way you could was greatly reassuring. It strengthened me and gave me the necessary courage to go through Holy Week without seeing the prayerful faces of your worshiping families.

Your Easter donations made our sanctuary more beautiful then ever.  Lighting candles online and other generous donations will help support the church financially so that we can go through the rest of the year.

My special thanks to all the parish council members who met almost every week to facilitate all the details as it was a very demanding time.  Although I was in the front line together with our talented Chanter Richard Barrett, I knew that the parish council was right behind us through the leadership of our wonderful president Diane Karavitis. Now that we can see the light on the other side of the tunnel they, our dedicated parish council members, are doing everything in their power to guarantee the smooth and safe opening of our church and the return to normal community life. I cannot wait to see you all in church after the preparations are finished and permissions received regarding the opening of the houses of worship in Somerville. My prayer is to see a return of an even stronger community who has been through the recent challenges far from each other geographically, but always united and together as one Body and one Soul.

May our Triune God bless you in every day of your life.

With deep Love and Care

Fr. Anthony Tandilyan

The Pastor and the Servant of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary 

 

 Αγαπητοί αδελφοί και αδελφές  εν  Χριστό,

 Χριστός Ανέστη!

 ΠΡΩΤΑ ΑΠΟ ΟΛΑ

 Πρέπει να πω ότι είμαι πολύ ευλογημένος που είμαι ιερέας σας.

 Είμαι πολύ χαρούμενος που καταφέραμε να περάσουμε αυτές τις δύσκολες στιγμές μαζί, υποβάλλοντας ότι ήρθε στο δρόμο μας ως ένα άτομο και μια ενωμένη κοινότητα. Όλοι ήταν πολύ ανταποκρινόμενοι, πρόθυμοι και έτοιμοι να μπουν και να βοηθήσουν με κάθε μέσο που απαιτείται. Σας ευχαριστώ για τη συνεχή και αδιάκοπη διαχείριση σας. Οι εορτασμοί της γιορτής της Ανάστασης του Κυρίου και του Σωτήρα μας ήταν πολύ δύσκολες λόγω των περιστάσεων, αλλά η γνώση ότι ήσασταν μαζί μου μέσω των προσευχών σας και έτοιμοι να υποστηρίξετε την εκκλησία με όποιο τρόπο μπορούσατε ήταν πολύ καθησυχαστική. Με ενίσχυσε και μου έδωσε το απαραίτητο θάρρος για να περάσω την Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα χωρίς να βλέπω τα προσευχόμενα πρόσωπα των λατρεμένων οικογενειών σας.

Οι Πασχαλινές δωρεές σας έκαναν το ιερό μας  πιο όμορφο από ποτέ. Το να ανάβετε κεριά στο διαδίκτυο και άλλες γενναιόδωρες δωρεές θα βοηθήσουν να υποστηρίξετε οικονομικά την εκκλησία, ώστε να μπορέσουμε να περάσουμε τον υπόλοιπο χρόνο

Ευχαριστώ θερμά όλα τα μέλη του ενοριακού συμβουλίου που συγκεντρώνονταν σχεδόν κάθε εβδομάδα για να διευκολύνουν όλες τις λεπτομέρειες καθώς ήταν μια πολύ απαιτητική στιγμή. Παρόλο που ήμουν στην πρώτη γραμμή μαζί με τον ταλαντούχο Chanter Richard Barrett, ήξερα ότι το ενοριακό συμβούλιο ήταν ακριβώς πίσω μας μέσω της ηγεσίας της υπέροχης προέδρου μας Δήμητρα Καραβίτη. Τώρα που μπορούμε να δούμε το φως στην άλλη πλευρά του τούνελ, αυτά, τα αφοσιωμένα μέλη του ενοριακού συμβουλίου, κάνουν ότι μπορούν για να εγγυηθούν το ομαλό και ασφαλές άνοιγμα της εκκλησίας μας και την επιστροφή στην κανονική κοινοτική ζωή. Ανυπομονώ να σας δω όλους στην εκκλησία μετά την ολοκλήρωση των προετοιμασιών και λάβουμε άδεια σχετικά με το άνοιγμα των οίκων λατρείας στο Σόμερβιλ.   Προσεύχομαι να δω την επιστροφή μιας ακόμη ισχυρότερης κοινότητας που αντιμετώπισε τις πρόσφατες προκλήσεις μακριά ο ένας από τον άλλο γεωγραφικά, αλλά πάντα ενωμένη και μαζί ως ένα Σώμα και μία Ψυχή.

Ο Θεός μας να σας ευλογεί κάθε μέρα της ζωής σας.

Με βαθιά αγάπη και φροντίδα

 π. Αντώνιος Ταντιλιάν

 ______________________________________________________           

Dear Dormition Parishioners

Christ is Risen!  

We continue to pray that you are doing well, staying safe and healthy!

Governor Baker and the Metropolis of Boston under the guidance of our Metropolitan Methodios addressed regarding the reopening of Houses of Worship as of Monday, May 18th, but unfortunately, the City of Somerville Mayor Curtatone is taking a more cautious approach by delaying the reopening of churches until further notice.

Please rest assured that in the meantime, Fr. Anthony, along with the Parish Council is working diligently to devise a plan and implement health and safety measures to best protect our priest, our staff, and our parishioners.   As of right now, our Dormition Church remains closed, this includes any and all services, bible studies & ministry gatherings.  Services will continue to be live-streamed on our website and on Facebook.  All ministries will also continue to meet via ZOOM until further notice from the City of Somerville.

We will inform you via email and through announcements on our website page www.dormitionchurch.org & Facebook page once we are prepared to open.  Thank you for understanding and we look forward to seeing you all soon.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 508-574-9862.  

In His Service,
Diane Karavitis, Parish Council President

 

Αγαπητοί Ενορίτες της Κοίμησης,

Χριστός Ανέστη!

Συνεχίζουμε να προσευχόμαστε ότι είστε καλά, παραμένοντας ασφαλείς και υγιείς!  Ο Κυβερνήτς Μπέικερ και η Μητρόπολη της Βοστώνης υπό την καθοδήγηση του Μητροπολίτη μας Μεθόδιου μίλησαν σχετικά με την επανέναρξη λειτουγίας των Οίκων Λατρείας από την Δευτέρα, 18 Μαίου, αλλά δυστυχώς, ο Δήμαρχος της πόλης του Σόμερβιλ, Curtatone υιοθετεί μια πιό επιφυλακτική προσέγγιση καθυστερώντας το άνοιγμα των Εκκλησιών μέχρι νεωτέρας ειδοποίησης.

Να είστε βέβαιοι ότι στο μεταξύ, ο πάτερ Αντώνιος, μαζί με το Ενοριακό Συμβούλιο εργάζονται σκληρά για να βρούν ένα σχέδιο και να εφαρμόσουν μέτρα υγείας και ασφάλειας για την καλύτερη προστασία του ιερέα μας, του προσωπικού μας και των ενοριτών μας.  Σήμερα, η Εκκλησία της Κοιμήσης παραμένει κλειστή, περιλαμβανομένων όλων των υπερεσιών, μελέτες της Αγίας Γραφής και συγκεντρώσεις των διακονιών.  Οι υπηρεσίες θα συνεχίσουν να μεταδίδονται ζωντανά μέσω της ιστοσελίδας μας και στο Facebook.

Ολες οι διακονίες θα συνεχίσουν να συναντιούνται μέσω ΖΟΟΜ μέχρι περαιτέρω ειδοποίηση από την πόλη μας.  Θα σας ενημερώσουμε μέσω email και μέσω ανακοινώσεων στην ιστοσελίδα μας στό www.dormitionchurch.org και στην σελίδα του Facebook, μόλις είμαστε έτοιμοι νά ξανανοίξουμε. 

Σας ευχαριστούμε για την κατανόηση και ανυπομονούμε να σας δούμε σύντομα.  Εάν έχετε απορίες, μην διστάσετε να επικοινωνησετε μαζι μου στο 508-574-9862.

Στήν Υπηρεσία Του,

Δήμητρα Καραβίτη, Πρόεδρος του Κοινοτικού Συμβουλίου

___________________________________________ 

  • Sunday Divine Liturgies Live-Streaming 
    • 8:30 a.m. Orthros and 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy 
    • You can find the link on our website: www.dormitionchurch.org
    • Please help your elderly family members who are not computer savvy stay connected with the church.  It’s important for them to feel a connection to something that has been part of them their entire lives. 
  • Bible Study with Father Anthony Live-Streaming 
    • Daily at 7:00 p.m. 
    • The Zoom Bible Study on Saturday's at 11a.m.
    • You can find the link on our website: www.dormitionchurch.org 

_______________________________________

 The Service Offered Below will ONLY be Online

SUNDAY OF THE BLINDMAN -  May 24, 2020  

Orthros 8:30 a.m. &  Div. Liturgy 10 a.m.

HOLY ASCENSION - Thursday, May 28, 2020  

Orthros 8:30 a.m. &  Div. Liturgy 9:30 a.m. 

_________________________________________

 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Father Anthony will be available to perform the Trisagia Services at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett,  on Monday, May 25th from 11:00 a.m.—12:30 p.m.  

ΗΜΕΡΑ ΜΝΗΜΗΣ

 Ο πατήρ Αντώνιος θα είναι διαθέσιμος για να τελέσει Τρισάγια στο κοιμητήριο του Everett την Δευτέρα, 25 Μαϊου, από τις 11.00 π.μ. μέχρι τις 12.30 μ.μ.  

__________________________________________

 PARISHIONER OF THE YEAR 2020

  Fr. Anthony and the Parish Council would like to congratulate our 2020 Parishioner of the Year,

 Mrs. Pauline Karavακis. To learn more about Mrs. Karavakis please visit our website.

  

Every year the Metropolis of Boston honours the Parishioner of the year honourees with a dinner at Lombardos in Randolph.  This year due to the pandemic the program will take place virtually.  Viewers will experience everything on their screen privately from their homes.  If you would like to purchase a ticket in honour of Our Parishioner of the Year, Mrs. Pauline Karavakis, you may still do so as you would if you attended the event.  The $75 ticket price this year will buy 7 meals for those who are in need.    

Please consider purchasing tickets by calling the church office at 617-625-2222 or by emailing our Parish Council President, Diane Karavitis at dianekaravitis@netzero.net

 ΕΝΟΡΙΤΡΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΧΡΟΝΙΑΣ ΤΟΥ 2020

Ο π. Αντώνιος και το Ενοριακό Συμβούλιο εκφράζουν τα συγχαρητήριά τους στήν κυρία Πολυξένη Καραβάκης, η οποία εξελέγη Ενορίτης της Χρονιάς του 2020.  Για να μάθετε περισσότερα για την κα Καραβάκη επισκεφθείτε την ιστοσελίδα μας.

  

Κάθε χρόνο η Μητρόπολη της Βοστώνης τιμά τον Ενορίτη της χρονιάς με ένα δείπνο στο Λομβάρδο στο Ράντολφ.

Δυστυχώς, φέτος λόγω της πανδημίας το πρόγραμμα θα πραγματοποιηθεί εικονικώς.  Θα μπορείτε να δείτε τα πάντα στην οθόνη σας αποκλειστικά απο τα σπιτια σας.  Εάν θέλετε να αγοράσετε ένα εισιτήριο προς τιμήν της Ενορίτισας της Χρονιάς, κυρίας Πολυξένης Kαραβάκη, μπορείτε να το κάνετε όπως θα κάνατε εάν συμμετείχατε στην εκδήλωση. Η τιμή των εισιτηρίων $75  φέτος θα αγοράσει 7 γεύματα για όσους έχουν ανάγκη. 

Εξετάστε το ενδεχόμενο να αγοράσετε εισιτήρια τηλεφωνώντας στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας στο 617-625-2222 ή στέλνοντας email στη Πρόεδρο του Κοινοτικού Συμβουλίου, Δήμητρα Καραβίτη στην διεύθυνση dianekaravitis@netzero.net

________________________________________

HOPE & JOY

Schedule:  Friday Zoom Gathering

May 22, 2020 - 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Topic2020 Quarantine Time Capsule 

Story time with Fr. Anthony: The Samaritan Woman

May 22, 2020 - 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Topic: Project & Frame

Story time with Fr. Anthony

Joydotvm@gmail.com

Kate Ferrari - (617) 910-0139

Eleni Raschi - eleniraschi@gmail.com

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Saints and Feasts

Jcblind1
May 24

Sunday of the Blind Man

The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."

Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.


Allsaint
May 24

Symeon the Stylite of the Mountain

Saint Symeon, the "New Stylite," was born in Antioch; John his father was from Edessa, and Martha his mother was from Antioch. From his childhood he was under the special guidance of Saint John the Baptist and adopted an extremely ascetical way of life. He became a monk as a young man, and after living in the monastery for a while he ascended upon a pillar, and abode upon it for eighteen years. Then he came to Wondrous Mountain, and lived in a dry and rocky place, where after ten years he mounted another pillar, upon which he lived in great hardship for forty-five years, working many miracles and being counted worthy of divine revelations. He reposed in 595, at the age of eighty-five years, seventy-nine of which he had passed in asceticism.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal First Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34.

IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

Προκείμενον. Plagal First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 11.7,1.
Σὺ Κύριε, φυλάξαις ἡμᾶς καὶ διατηρήσαις ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Σῶσον με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 16:16-34.

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο δὲ πορευομένων ἡμῶν εἰς προσευχὴν παιδίσκην τινὰ ἔχουσαν πνεῦμα πύθωνος ἀπαντῆσαι ἡμῖν, ἥτις ἐργασίαν πολλὴν παρεῖχε τοῖς κυρίοις αὐτῆς μαντευομένη.αὕτη κατακολουθήσασα τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἔκραζε λέγουσα· οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου εἰσίν, οἵτινες καταγγέλλουσιν ἡμῖν ὁδὸν σωτηρίας. τοῦτο δὲ ἐποίει ἐπὶ πολλὰς ἡμέρας. διαπονηθεὶς δὲ ὁ Παῦλος καὶ ἐπιστρέψας τῷ πνεύματι εἶπε· παραγγέλλω σοι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς. καὶ ἐξῆλθεν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ. ᾿Ιδόντες δὲ οἱ κύριοι αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῶν, ἐπιλαβόμενοι τὸν Παῦλον καὶ τὸν Σίλαν εἵλκυσαν εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, καὶ προσαγαγόντες αὐτοὺς τοῖς στρατηγοῖς εἶπον· οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐκταράσσουσιν ἡμῶν τὴν πόλιν ᾿Ιουδαῖοι ὑπάρχοντες, καὶ καταγγέλλουσιν ἔθη ἃ οὐκ ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν παραδέχεσθαι οὐδὲ ποιεῖν ῾Ρωμαίοις οὖσι. καὶ συνεπέστη ὁ ὄχλος κατ᾿ αὐτῶν. καὶ οἱ στρατηγοὶ περιρρήξαντες αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια ἐκέλευον ῥαβδίζειν, πολλάς τε ἐπιθέντες αὐτοῖς πληγὰς ἔβαλον εἰς φυλακήν, παραγγείλαντες τῷ δεσμοφύλακι ἀσφαλῶς τηρεῖν αὐτούς· ὃς παραγγελίαν τοιαύτην εἰληφὼς ἔβαλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν ἐσωτέραν φυλακὴν καὶ τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν ἠσφαλίσατο εἰς τὸ ξύλον. Κατὰ δὲ τὸ μεσονύκτιον Παῦλος καὶ Σίλας προσευχόμενοι ὕμνουν τὸν Θεόν· ἐπηκροῶντο δὲ αὐτῶν οἱ δέσμιοι. ἄφνω δὲ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας, ὥστε σαλευθῆναι τὰ θεμέλια τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου, ἀνεῴχθησάν τε παραχρῆμα αἱ θύραι πᾶσαι καὶ πάντων τὰ δεσμὰ ἀνέθη. ἔξυπνος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ καὶ ἰδὼν ἀνεῳγμένας τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, σπασάμενος μάχαιραν ἔμελλεν ἑαυτὸν ἀναιρεῖν, νομίζων ἐκπεφευγέναι τοὺς δεσμίους. ἐφώνησε δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὁ Παῦλος λέγων· μηδὲν πράξῃς σεαυτῷ κακόν· ἅπαντες γάρ ἐσμεν ἐνθάδε. αἰτήσας δὲ φῶτα εἰσεπήδησε, καὶ ἔντρομος γενόμενος προσέπεσε τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Σίλᾳ,καὶ προαγαγὼν αὐτοὺς ἔξω ἔφη· κύριοι, τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν ἵνα σωθῶ; οἱ δὲ εἶπον· πίστευσον ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ σωθήσῃ σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου. καὶ ἐλάλησαν αὐτῷ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ. καὶ παραλαβὼν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς νυκτὸς ἔλουσεν ἀπὸ τῶν πληγῶν, καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ αὐτοῦ πάντες παραχρῆμα, ἀναγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ παρέθηκε τράπεζαν, καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο πανοικὶ πεπιστευκὼς τῷ Θεῷ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from John 9:1-38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.

Sunday of the Blind Man
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 9:1-38

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγων εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον τυφλὸν ἐκ γενετῆς. Καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· ῥαββί, τίς ἥμαρτεν, οὗτος ἢ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα τυφλὸς γεννηθῇ; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς· οὔτε οὗτος ἥμαρτεν οὔτε οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ. ἐμὲ δεῖ ἐργάζεσθαι τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πέμψαντός με ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστίν· ἔρχεται νὺξ ὅτε οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐργάζεσθαι. ὅταν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ᾦ, φῶς εἰμι τοῦ κόσμου. ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἔπτυσε χαμαὶ καὶ ἐποίησε πηλὸν ἐκ τοῦ πτύσματος, καὶ ἐπέχρισε τὸν πηλὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ τυφλοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὕπαγε νίψαι εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωάμ, ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται ἀπεσταλμένος. ἀπῆλθεν οὖν καὶ ἐνίψατο, καὶ ἦλθε βλέπων. Οἱ οὖν γείτονες καὶ οἱ θεωροῦντες αὐτὸν τὸ πρότερον ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν, ἔλεγον· οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ καθήμενος καὶ προσαιτῶν; ἄλλοι ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν· ἄλλοι δὲ ὅτι ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐστιν. ἐκεῖνος ἔλεγεν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ· πῶς ἀνεῴχθησάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν· ἄνθρωπος λεγόμενος ᾿Ιησοῦς πηλὸν ἐποίησε καὶ ἐπέχρισέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ εἶπέ μοι· ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν τοῦ Σιλωὰμ καὶ νίψαι· ἀπελθὼν δὲ καὶ νιψάμενος ἀνέβλεψα. εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ· ποῦ ἐστιν ἐκεῖνος; λέγει· οὐκ οἶδα. ῎Αγουσιν αὐτὸν πρὸς τοὺς Φαρισαίους, τόν ποτε τυφλόν. ἦν δὲ σάββατον ὅτε τὸν πηλὸν ἐποίησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ ἀνέῳξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. πάλιν οὖν ἠρώτων αὐτὸν καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι πῶς ἀνέβλεψεν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πηλὸν ἐπέθηκέ μου ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, καὶ ἐνιψάμην, καὶ βλέπω. ἔλεγον οὖν ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων τινές· οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔστι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι τὸ σάββατον οὐ τηρεῖ. ἄλλοι ἔλεγον· πῶς δύναται ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς τοιαῦτα σημεῖα ποιεῖν; καὶ σχίσμα ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς. λέγουσι τῷ τυφλῷ πάλιν· σὺ τί λέγεις περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν ὅτι προφήτης ἐστίν. οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν οὖν οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέβλεψεν, ἕως ὅτου ἐφώνησαν τοὺς γονεῖς αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀναβλέψαντος καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτοὺς λέγοντες· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ὑμῶν, ὃν ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη; πῶς οὖν ἄρτι βλέπει; ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπον· οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη· πῶς δὲ νῦν βλέπει οὐκ οἴδαμεν, ἢ τίς ἤνοιξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμεῖς οὐκ οἴδαμεν· αὐτὸς ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε, αὐτὸς περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λαλήσει. ταῦτα εἶπον οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐφοβοῦντο τοὺς ᾿Ιουδαίους· ἤδη γὰρ συνετέθειντο οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι ἵνα, ἐάν τις αὐτὸν ὁμολογήσῃ Χριστόν, ἀποσυνάγωγος γένηται. διὰ τοῦτο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπον ὅτι ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε. ἐφώνησαν οὖν ἐκ δευτέρου τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὃς ἦν τυφλός, καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· δὸς δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ· ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν· εἰ ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν οὐκ οἶδα· ἓν οἶδα, ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι βλέπω. εἶπον δὲ αὐτῷ πάλιν· τί ἐποίησέ σοι; πῶς ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς· εἶπον ὑμῖν ἤδη, καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε· τί πάλιν θέλετε ἀκούειν; μὴ καὶ ὑμεῖς θέλετε αὐτοῦ μαθηταὶ γενέσθαι; ἐλοιδόρησαν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπον· σὺ εἶ μαθητὴς ἐκείνου· ἡμεῖς δὲ τοῦ Μωϋσέως ἐσμὲν μαθηταί. ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι Μωϋσεῖ λελάληκεν ὁ Θεός· τοῦτον δὲ οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐστίν. ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ θαυμαστόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε πόθεν ἐστί, καὶ ἀνέῳξέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ ἀκούει, ἀλλ᾽ ἐάν τις θεοσεβὴς ᾖ καὶ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ποιῇ, τούτου ἀκούει. ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἠκούσθη ὅτι ἤνοιξέ τις ὀφθαλμοὺς τυφλοῦ γεγεννημένου. εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος παρὰ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἠδύνατο ποιεῖν οὐδέν.ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ· ἐν ἁμαρτίαις σὺ ἐγεννήθης ὅλος, καὶ σὺ διδάσκεις ἡμᾶς; καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω.

῎Ηκουσεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω, καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εἶπεν αὐτῷ· σὺ πιστεύεις εἰς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπε· καὶ τίς ἐστι, Κύριε, ἵνα πιστεύσω εἰς αὐτόν; εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· καὶ ἑώρακας αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ λαλῶν μετὰ σοῦ ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν. ὁ δὲ ἔφη· πιστεύω, Κύριε· καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness: since he recovered the sight of the eyes within.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 56 on John 9, 4th Century

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