January 15
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-01-15
Bulletin Contents
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (919) 781-4548
- Email:
- htraleighfr@gmail.com
- Street Address:
- 5000 Lead Mine Road
- Raleigh, NC 27612
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Orthros/ Matins: Sunday: 8:30 a.m.
Liturgy: Sunday: 10:00 a.m. ; Weekday: Please see online Church Calendar.
Vespers: See online Church Calendar.
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-22
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-08
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-01
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-25
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-18
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-11
Announcements
HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
RALEIGH, NC
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023
12th Sunday of Luke
ORTHROS 8:30 a.m. - DIVINE LITURGY 10:00 a.m.
Broadcasting begins at 8:25 a.m.
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Altar Boy Team on Duty: St Gregory the Theologian
New members or visitors, please stop by the Welcome Table across from the candlestand.
Orthros and The Divine Liturgy are broadcast live online each week.
Memory Eternal
Please join us in prayer following Divine Liturgy for the repose of the servant for God:
Timothy Byrd – 1 Year
May the Lord rest his soul where the just repose.
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Hellenic Dance Festival this Weekend
Our Greek Dance Team has been energetically practicing this past year for love of dance and in preparation for this weekend’s Hellenic Dance Festival. We wish them a safe journey with much success and great memories!
No Sunday School/Greek School this Sunday
Sunday School and Greek School will not be in session this Sunday but will resume next Sunday, January 22nd.
Church Office
The church office will be closed on Monday, January 16th in observance for Martin Luther King Day.
Apokreas Glendi
Tickets on Sale this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall!
Meat Fare Sunday, February 19
Capital Campaign Kickoff Event!
At Raleigh Marriott Crabtree
5pm – 10pm
Dinner, Live Music, Dancing
Tickets on sale each Sunday during coffee hour though Feb 5
Adults: $75. Children’s meal (12 and under): $25.
2022 Stewardship Pledges before Jan 15
The final day to turn in contributions for 2022 will be 1/15/2023.
Please make sure your check is dated for 2022 and must arrive at the church before 1/15/2023.
Statements will be mailed to you by 1/31/2023.
Please email Amalia Kythas at amalia@kythasaccounting.com if you have any questions on your contributions or need to update your address.
House Blessings Season
Please contact Father Paul directly for your House Blessing appointments.
Newcomers Sunday & Ministry Fair – Jan 29
On Sunday January 29th, our community would like to invite all who have joined our parish in the last year to a Welcome Coffee Hour. We will have name tags for all parishioners to wear with a special notation for those that have joined our community in the last year. Our parish would like the opportunity to introduce ourselves and get to know you over a cup of coffee and some refreshments.
During coffee hour on the 29th, we will also be having our 2023 Ministry Fair.
Please come and learn about the different ministries flourishing in our church and meet those involved.
There will be a fun “passport book“ activity for kids to participate in.
Our wonderful church has so much to offer both our new members and continued members,
we look forward to hearing more at the Ministry Fair.
AHEPA
Greetings Holy Trinity Community,
2023 has started off with a bang and holds promises of better days to come!
Sir Walter Raleigh AHEPA Chapter #10 will be kicking off the year with our first meeting this coming Sunday, 1/15 after the coffee hour in the multipurpose room.
Our 100TH year anniversary will be later this year with more details to come on this significant event.
This Sunday, we invite any men {over 18} to join us for our meeting.
We are starting to plan our community activities for the coming year.
Souper Bowl of Caring February 12
Our annual "Souper Bowl of Caring" will take place on Sunday, February 12th. We will be collecting canned goods to be given to the needy in our community. Monetary donations will also be accepted. All donations can be placed on the table outside of the fellowship hall. Please contact Zoe Pusic at 646-591-5132 or zpusic@yahoo.com if you have any questions. Thank you for your support!
GOYA
Souper Bowl of Caring: The table is ready, let's get it filled!
We cannot wait to see what our community can do!
Oratorical Planning, Vespers, and fun games will be on Saturday 1/21 from 3pm-7pm.
GOYANs will be working with adult volunteers to get advice and support as well as review topics and resources (3-5pm). Vespers will be at 5pm. Pizza dinner and fellowship/games will follow.
We will be baking cookies with Philoptochos, led by Penny Gallins on 2/4 from 10am-1pm and lunch will be provided. These cookies will be provided to the homebound members of our parish. We will also be making cards to go to the families while the cookies are in the oven.
Please sign up just to RSVP so that Penny Gallins can plan ingredients accordingly.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040544A5A62EA1F49-baking
February 5th will be the next Youth Sunday.
February 17- February 19 Queen's City Classic Basketball Tournament in Charlotte.
Holy Trinity GOYA Basketball Schedule
January 20: vs. Trinity (location: Rolesville; 7:30pm)
January 27: vs. Clayton (location: Trinity; 9:00pm)
February 3: vs. Rolesville (location: Rolesville; 8:00pm)
February 10: vs. Bayleaf (location: Trinity; 7:30pm)
Contact Bryce Livermore or Nick Pilos for more information on the games.
St Anthony’s Group
Saturday, January 14 – Annual Charity Raffle in the Parish Hall.
Homemade soup and salad will be served.
Tuesday, February 14 - Ambassadors of Good Will presentation and Potluck lunch in the Parish Hall
Saturday, February 25 - Lenten Retreat with Kaby Kokenes in the Parish Hall
Tuesday, March 7th – Spaghetti and Fellowship in the Parish Hall
Saturday, March 11th - Chair Exercises 1:30pm at the Church.
Saturday, March 18th: - Transgenerational Discussion at 11am in the Multi-Purpose Room and a Lenten luncheon will be provided. Whole community invited.
2023 Coffee Hour Sponsorship Opportunities
As we begin a new year, please consider signing up to sponsor a coffee hour in 2023. A family, a ministry, or a group of parishioners could sponsor a coffee hour by providing some light snacks to share. The signup sheet is on the bulletin board in the foyer. Thank you for considering participating in stewardship through hospitality!
Philoptochos News
Dear Philoptochos sisters and supporters,
We have started 2023 with joy, love, and thanksgiving.
Sydney Langford and Maria Hicks chaired our Vasilopita Sunday.
They diligently created a fun and hugely successful event, as we raised funds for our children and young adults that reside at St Basil Academy.
It was a joy to experience our entire parish coming together for the cutting of the beautiful Vasilopita Sydney made and for our auction.
John Demos, Auctioneer extraordinaire, entertained while he engaged all of us as we bid on expertly decorated Vasilopita made by our faithful Philoptochos sisters and supporters.
Allie Earle and her little ones assisted Father by cutting and passing out the Vasilopita to ministry leaders as he read the names. Chris Pappas found the coin!
Our GOYANS, Grace and Sarah Cate, assisted the Auctioneer while many parishioners participated in the bidding.
We were outbid by our younger generation!
The highest bidders were the Kouba brothers and the Flammia sisters.
The boys were crowned King and the girls were crowned Queen.
We always appreciate the support of Christina Brunk and Harry Nicholos.
A big thanks to everyone that helped make this day possible.
We all left church with full hearts.
Mark your calendars:
Sunday January 22
Our board is hosting our Membership Social/meeting in the multipurpose room following Liturgy.
Please join us for fellowship, food and drink.
Sunday January 29
We will be participating in the Ministry Fair
Saturday February 4
Philoptochos and GOYA baking session. More info to follow.
Broadcast Ministry Viewer Feedback Requested
Our Church Broadcast Ministry Team is asking viewers to let them know how they can improve their
broadcasts of the church services, sermons, lectures, and programs. Please take a few minutes to send
an email to htraleighbroadcasts@gmail.com with your feedback and suggestions. Thank you!
Can You Assist our Holy Patriarchate?
Friends and Stewards of Holy Trinity in Raleigh,
Last year our Holy Archdiocese asked each of the nine Metropolises to make a financial commitment to the Patriarch Bartholomew Endowment Fund in the amount of $100,000 to be paid over ten years.
Nick Moraitakis and I decided not to ask the Parish Councils for contributions but rather to go directly to individuals within our Parishes who have the means to contribute. Last year we engaged three of our Parishes.......Macon, Birmingham and Mobile. In November and December of 2021, we received almost $12,000 from 13 individual donors. So, we exceeded our yearly goal of $10,000.
This year we're asking Savannah, Charleston, and Raleigh to participate. If you have the means to possibly donate, please reach out to Father Paul.
Thank you so much and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Yours In Christ,
Spyros Dermatos
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta
Council Treasurer
UPCOMING SERVICES
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2023
12th SUNDAY OF LUKE
ORTHROS 8:30 A.M.
DIVINE LITURGY 10:00 A.M.
(LIVE BROADCAST BEGINS AT 8:25 A.M.)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2023
ST ANTHONY THE GREAT
ORTHROS 8:30 A.M.
DIVINE LITURGY 9:30 A.M.
(LIVE BROADCAST BEGINS AT 8:25 A.M.)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023
ST ATHANASIOS & CYRIL
ORTHROS 8:30 A.M.
DIVINE LITURGY 9:30 A.M.
(LIVE BROADCAST BEGINS AT 8:25 A.M.)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023
15th SUNDAY OF LUKE
ORTHROS 8:30 A.M.
DIVINE LITURGY 10:00 A.M.
(LIVE BROADCAST BEGINS AT 8:25 A.M.)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2023
SUNDAY OF THE CANAANITE
ORTHROS 8:30 A.M.
DIVINE LITURGY 10:00 A.M.
(LIVE BROADCAST BEGINS AT 8:25 A.M.)
MONDAY, JANAURY 30, 2023
SYNAXIS OF THE THREE HIERARCHS
ORTHROS 8:30 A.M.
DIVINE LITURGY 9:30 A.M.
(LIVE BROADCAST BEGINS AT 8:25 A.M.)
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode
Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.
Apolytikion for John the Hut-Dweller in the Fourth Mode
Since thou hadst with fervour longed after the Lord from thy youth, * thou leftest the world with its delights and nobly didst strive in valiant ascetic deeds. * Thou didst pitch thy hut before the gates of thy parents; * thou didst break the demons' snares, O all-blessed Father. * And therefore, as is meet, hath Christ God glorified thee, O John.
Ἐκ βρέφους τὸν Κύριον, ἐπιποθήσας θερμῶς, τὸν κόσμον κατέλιπες, καὶ τὰ ἐν κόσμῳ τερπνά, καὶ ἤσκησας ἄριστα, ἔπηξας τὴν καλύβην, πρὸ πυλῶν σῶν γονέων, ἔθραυσας τῶν δαιμόνων, τὰς ἐνέδρας Παμμάκαρ, διὸ σε Ἰωάννη Χριστός, ἀξίως ἐδόξασεν.
Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode
Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
Ὁ μήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῶ τόκω σου, καὶ χείρας τοῦ Συμεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νὺν ἔσωσας ἡμᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέμοις τὸ πολίτευμα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ μόνος φιλάνθρωπος.
The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
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, κᾀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον. Ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφιένται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωμᾶς δέ, εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς· ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν 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 μεθʼ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾶ· φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ᾧδε, καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου. καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ 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 ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες, ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
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.
Epistle Reading
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κολοσσαεῖς 3:4-11.
Ἀδελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία, διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας· Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν· μὴ ψεύδεσθε εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν· ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος· ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11.
Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel Reading
12th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 17:12-19
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσερχομένου αὐτοῦ εἴς τινα κώμην ἀπήντησαν αὐτῷ δέκα λεπροὶ ἄνδρες, οἳ ἔστησαν πόρρωθεν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες· ᾿Ιησοῦ ἐπιστάτα, ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς. καὶ ἰδὼν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· πορευθέντες ἐπιδείξατε ἑαυτοὺς τοῖς ἱερεῦσι. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτοὺς ἐκαθαρίσθησαν. εἷς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἰδὼν ὅτι ἰάθη, ὑπέστρεψε μετὰ φωνῆς μεγάλης δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν, καὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ· καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν Σαμαρείτης. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· οὐχὶ οἱ δέκα ἐκαθαρίσθησαν; οἱ δὲ ἐννέα ποῦ; οὐχ εὑρέθησαν ὑποστρέψαντες δοῦναι δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ εἰ μὴ ὁ ἀλλογενὴς οὗτος; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀναστὰς πορεύου· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε.
12th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 17:12-19
At that time, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus's feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus: "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him: "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
Wisdom of the Fathers
Having met the Savior, therefore, the lepers earnestly besought Him to free them from their misery, and called Him Master, that is. Teacher. No one pitied them when suffering this malady, but He Who had appeared on earth for this very reason, and had become man that He might show pity to all, He was moved with compassion for them, and had mercy on them.
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homilies 113-116. B#42, pp. 465-466, 4th Century
And why did He not rather say, I will, be you cleansed; as He did in the case of another leper, but commanded them rather to show themselves to the priests? It was because the law gave directions to this effect to those who were delivered from leprosy (Lev. 14-2); for it commanded them to show themselves to the priests, and to offer a sacrifice for their cleansing.
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homilies 113-116. B#42, pp. 465-466, 4th Century
Saints and Feasts
January 15
Paul of Thebes
Saint Paul, first among hermits, was born about 227 in the Thebaid of Egypt. In 250 he fled into the wilderness because of the persecution raging at that time under Decius. Having lived a solitary life in a certain cave for ninety-one years, he reposed in 341, at the age of 114, and was buried by Anthony the Great, who had been directed thither by God several days before the Saint's repose.
January 15
John the Hut-Dweller
Saint John, who was from Constantinople, was the son of illustrious parents -- Eutropius the Senator and Theodora. At twelve years of age he departed secretly from his home and went to the Monastery of the Unsleeping (see Dec. 29). Aflame with longing for his parents, he returned after six years to his father's home in the guise of a pauper and beggar. Living in a small hut at the gates of his parents' house (wherefrom he is called "hut-dweller"), he remained unknown therein for many years, and suffered mockery at the hands of those who had been his own servants. Foreknowing his death, he revealed himself to his parents, and within a few moments reposed, about the year 450.
January 15
Pansophios the Martyr of Alexandria
January 16
Veneration of Apostle Peter's Precious Chains
Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great and king of the Jews, grew wroth against the Church of Christ, and slew James, the brother of John the Evangelist. Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he took Peter also into custody and locked him up in prison, intending to keep him there until after the feast of the Passover, so that he could win the favour of the people by presenting him to them as a victim. But the Apostle was saved when he was miraculously set free by an Angel (Acts 12:1-19). The chains wherewith the Apostle was bound received from his most sacred body the grace of sanctification and healing, which is bestowed upon the faithful who draw nigh with faith.
That such sacred treasures work wonders and many healings is witnessed by the divine Scripture, where it speaks concerning Paul, saying that the Christians in Ephesus had such reverence for him, that his handkerchiefs and aprons, taken up with much reverence, healed the sick of their maladies: "So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:12). But not only the Apostles' clothing (which certainly touched the bodies of the sick), but even their shadow alone performed healings. On beholding this, people put their sick on stretchers and beds and brought them out into the streets that, when Peter passed by, his shadow "might overshadow some of them"(Acts 5:15). From this the Orthodox Catholic Church has learned to show reverence and piety not only to the relics of their bodies, but also in the clothing of God's Saints.
January 16
Veneration of Apostle Peter's Precious Chains
Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the Great and king of the Jews, grew wroth against the Church of Christ, and slew James, the brother of John the Evangelist. Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he took Peter also into custody and locked him up in prison, intending to keep him there until after the feast of the Passover, so that he could win the favour of the people by presenting him to them as a victim. But the Apostle was saved when he was miraculously set free by an Angel (Acts 12:1-19). The chains wherewith the Apostle was bound received from his most sacred body the grace of sanctification and healing, which is bestowed upon the faithful who draw nigh with faith.
That such sacred treasures work wonders and many healings is witnessed by the divine Scripture, where it speaks concerning Paul, saying that the Christians in Ephesus had such reverence for him, that his handkerchiefs and aprons, taken up with much reverence, healed the sick of their maladies: "So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:12). But not only the Apostles' clothing (which certainly touched the bodies of the sick), but even their shadow alone performed healings. On beholding this, people put their sick on stretchers and beds and brought them out into the streets that, when Peter passed by, his shadow "might overshadow some of them"(Acts 5:15). From this the Orthodox Catholic Church has learned to show reverence and piety not only to the relics of their bodies, but also in the clothing of God's Saints.
January 16
Righteous Hierodeacon Makarios of Kalogeras
January 16
Romilo the Monk of Mount Athos
January 16
Peusippos, Elasippos, and Mesippos the siblings, and their grandmother Neonilla
January 16