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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-07-26
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26_paraskevi
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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (970) 242-9590
  • Street Address:

  • 3585 North 12th Street

  • Grand Junction, CO 81506


Contact Information




Services Schedule

8:45am - Orthros, 10am - Divine Liturgy


Past Bulletins


Message from your Priest

Beloved in Christ,

There is a Romanian myth that says that when the Earth was first created, it was transparent, like glass or crystal-clear water. You could look down at your feet, and see clear through it to the other side. According to this myth, after Cain’s murder of his brother Abel, Cain covered over the transparency of the Earth so that he could hide his brother’s body in the ground. But God was not so easily fooled, and all of creation remained transparent to him. He responded to Cain’s plot by telling him that "your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground," (Gen. 4:11).

Of course, this myth does not describe any physical reality in creation. Yet, in a spiritual sense, it is true. Creation was originally intended to be a transparent medium of communication with God. This means that when we look at creation, we are intended to look 'through' it in order to see God's presence as the basis of all he has made. When we encounter our fellow human beings, we look 'through' them to see Christ's presence in his world.

Most of us do not see Christ's presence in our brothers and sisters. Like the two men in today's Gospel reading who were physically blind, we have become spiritually blind to the reality of Christ's presence throughout his creation. We tend to focus all of our attention on the surface-level of the world around us rather than looking 'through' creation to see our Lord "who fills all in all," (Eph. 1:23). We look on our fellow human beings at the surface-level of their faults and imperfections rather than viewing them as transparent revelations of their creator.

We can only regain our spiritual sight by looking inward. We can only begin to see Christ's presence in our neighbor when we first learn to see Christ's presence within ourselves. Our Epistle reading today tells us that "as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ," (Gal. 3:27). To respond faithfully to Christ's working in our lives is to be clothed with Christ, to allow Christ's presence in us to define and transform our lives. Such a person is viewed not primarily as what he or she used to be, but as what he or she is becoming in Christ. When we "have put on Christ," then in us "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female," but instead we are "all one in Christ Jesus," (Gal. 3:28).

Like the blind men in our Gospel reading, Christ heals us of our spiritual blindness when we cry out to him in prayer, "Have mercy on us, Son of David," (Matt. 9:27). When we find him in our hearts and call on him for mercy, then he answers our prayer by leading us to our salvation. Let us allow him to transform us once again into transparent witnesses to his presence throughout creation!

In Christ,

Fr. Jeremy

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead, and at Your grave Mary was standing, seeking Your most pure body. You plundered Hades, not being tempted by it; You encountered the virgin, granting life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You!

Apolytikion for Martyr Paraskeve in the First Mode

Showing a diligence befitting thy calling, O namesake of preparedness, thou hast gained, as thy dwelling, a faith worthy of thy name, O prizewinning Paraskeve. Hence, thou pourest forth healings and intercedest for our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

The protection of Christians unshameable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, do not turn from the prayerful cries of those who are in sin; instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercession and speed now to supplication as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10

On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5.

Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.


Gospel Reading

7th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:27-35

At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.


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Saints and Feasts

26_paraskevi
July 26

Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr of Rome

Saint Paraskevi, who was from a certain village near Rome, was born to pious parents, Agatho and Politia. Since she was born on a Friday (in Greek, Paraskevi), she was given this name, which means "preparation" or "preparedness" (compare Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31, where 'Friday' is called "the day of the preparation"). From childhood she was instructed in the sacred letters and devoted herself to the study of the divine Scriptures, while leading a monastic life and guiding many to the Faith of Christ. During the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, she was apprehended because she was a Christian and was urged to worship the idols, but she answered with the words of Jeremias: "Let the gods that have not made heaven and the earth perish from off the earth" (Jer. 10:11). Because of this she endured exceedingly painful torments, and was beheaded in the year 140. The faithful pray to her for the healing of eye ailments.


Allsaint
July 26

The Holy Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates

Saint Hermolaus and those with him were priests of the Church in Nicomedia, living in hiding after the Emperor Maximian had burnt to death the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia (see Dec. 28). It was Hermolaus who converted Saint Panteleimon to Christ. When Saint Panteleimon was seized as a Christian and was asked by Maximian who it was that had turned him from the idols, the Saint, enlightened by God that the time of his teacher's martyrdom also was at hand, revealed to Maximian that it was Hermolaus the priest. Saint Hermolaus was taken with Saints Hermippus and Hermocrates, and when they had confessed Christ to be the only true God, they were beheaded in the year 305. Saint Hermolaus is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.


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Parish Information

Following Divine Liturgy this morning, we will chant the Memorial Service for the servants of God Triantafilos Patsantaras, and Athanasios and Eleni Psahoulias Williams.
 
Virtual Church Camp: We will be hosting Rooted in Prayer: Virtual Church Camp for our children on August 1-5. If you are interested in having your children participate, please email Presbytera Allison at abackoustroy@gmail.com.
 
Here at St. Nicholas we are blessed to be able to welcome our community back to public services with the following directives in place:
 
-Individuals who have been exposed to the Coronavirus, or are at high risk as defined by the CDC (those 65-years or older, those with compromised immune systems, those with respiratory illness, heart conditions, or other underlying medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home. Our livestream will still be active for the time being.
-A distance of six feet must be observed between families at all times.
-Use of non-medical masks is required whenever in the Church building.
-There will be no fellowship hour following Liturgy. Parishioners are asked to depart the Church in an orderly fashion family-by-family following the dismissal.
-Icons are to be venerated by crossing oneself and bowing. Please do not kiss the icons.
-Distribution of antidoron will not take place.
 
If you do not currently receive emails from our parish, please give Fr. Jeremy your name and email address to be added to our list.
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This Week at St. Nicholas

  • Monday, July 27 Great Martyr Panteleimon: 8am - Orthros, 9am - Divine Liturgy
  • Wednesday, July 29: 6pm Paraklesis, 7pm Adult Ed
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