Publish-header
St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2019-09-29
Bulletin Contents
18_lukewriting
Organization Icon
St. Andrew Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (973) 584-0388
  • Fax:
  • (973) 584-3573
  • Street Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830
  • Mailing Address:

  • 1447 Sussex Turnpike

  • Randolph, NJ 07869-1830


Contact Information






Services Schedule

On Sunday we celebrate

Orthros at 8:45 am & Divine Liturgy at 10am

Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am 

 

 


Past Bulletins


Services at St. Andrew

Wedding: Congratulations to Jose Reboredo and Olga Tsiavos who will be wed at 3:30pm on Saturday, September 28th, 2019.

Sunday 9/29 2nd Sunday of Luke

+Orthros at 8:45 am Divine Liturgy at 10 am

Memorials – Μνημόσυνα

A 40-day Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Demetrios (Jimmy) Δημήτρίου Stell, beloved brother of Helen, Mary, Jean and Vinny, and beloved uncle of James, Steven, Samantha, Anastasia and Christopher. Friends and relatives are invited to join the family for refreshments in honor of his blessed memory.

A One Year Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Argyro Αργυρός Syristatides, loving mother of Nicholas, Stratos and Haralambos Syristatides, beloved grandmother of Andrew, Nicholas, Nicole, and Emilia. . Friends and relatives are invited to join the family for refreshments in honor of her blessed memory.

A Five Year Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Vasilios Βασιλείου Pavlos, beloved brother of Tina Castorina. . Friends and relatives are invited to join the family for refreshments in honor of his blessed memory.

May their memory be eternal. Αιώνια η μνήμη αυτών.

Sunday:  

Coffee hour hosted by GOYA and sponsored by the Stell, Syristatides, and Pavlos families in honor of their beloveds’ memory

Iconography Presentation TODAY

 Baptisms :   

Panagiotis Ntekas and Angeliki Polydorou will be baptizing their twin daughters Eleni and Despoina at 1pm.

Haralampos and Ana (Nebierdze) Kasolas will be baptizing their daughter, Anastasia, at 3pm.

 

Thursday 10/4 +St. Hierotheos of Athens +Orthros at 8am and Divine Liturgyat 9am

Relics(we have the Relics of this saint in our church reliquary 

 

 

BACK TO TOP

Announcements

Iconography Presentation TODAY

Join us in welcoming Katerina Tsigas Papaioanou, who will be in room 102 at 12:30pm presenting on Greek Orthodox Iconography.

GOYA Games TODAY

Come cheer on our GOYAns in the GOYA Games against Roseland today in the Gym at 2:30pm!

Bus Trip to Taylor, PA

WE ARET FULL!! Bus is leaving at 4pm on Wednesday October 2nd from church parking for Taylor PA to venerate the miraculous and myrrh streaming icon of our Panaghia! Kardiotisa (the tender heart) Icon of our Panaghia

If you have any questions, or if you wish to be placed on a waiting list please contact John Moskonas at: jmoskonas@outlook.com or by phone/text at 973.271.7684 We will meet at the church at 3:30 pm. Wheels on the road at 4 pm! A free will offering to cover the cost of the trip is welcomed ($20 per seat will cover it).

Philoptochos Coat Drive

Please drop off gently used and clean winter coats for the Market Street Mission through the month of October.

Trunk or Treat

Sponsored by the St. Andrew PTA, Joy & Hope. Join us on Friday October 25th Rain or Shine from 6-9pm at the St. Andrew Community Center & parking lot. In the event of rain, we’ll meet in the Social Hall. Come for a safe trick or treating event, followed by snacks and drinks (provided) and a Halloween Movie. Come in costume and don't forget to bring your treats (nut-free please!). CARS AND CANDY NEEDED. Prize for the most creatively decorated car. RSVP through Sign Up Genius or contact us at ptastandrew@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list.

Registrations & Information

Please go to our Saint Andrew web site for more information and registration forms. Forms are also located below. 

Family & Student Information Form 2019-2020 The Information on this Form will be shared with Authorized Persons in charge of: Greek School, Sunday School, Greek Dance, GOYA Dance, {GOYA | JOY | HOPE | LAP | Scouts} One Form for above Youth activities |GOYAns need to register on line

Religious Education (Sunday school): Children should head down to their classes after Holy Communion

Hellenic Afternoon School (HAS) Ελληνικό Σχολείο  : Greek Language classes will begin on Thursday; Sept.12 |Register ASAP so we can order books accordingly HAS Students need to complete additional Form  

Greek Dance (Juniors & GOYA): Will start Thursday, Sept.20 ($310 per student: half at registration/ balance due 12/5)

GOYA :  2019-2020 Registration Form is on line. Kick off meeting was September 10th please fill out and submit payment via the church's We Share account.  If your child is new to GOYA and is at least 12 and in 7th grade (Public School, not Sunday School), we will need a copy of his/her birth certificate as well.    St. Andrew GOYA Registration 2019/2020

Hellenic Evening School (HES) : Modern Greek Language; Beginner & Intermediate Levels will start on September 24th and run consecutively through December 3rd Tuesday nights 7:00-9:00pm | Registration is open to Ages 15 and up | Tuition is $300 is due at Registration

 

Coffee Hour   

September: 9/29 GOYA

October: 10/6 Philoptochos 10/13 PTA, 10/20 DOP, 10/27GOYA

November: 11/3 Philoptochos 11/10 PTA, 11/17 DOP, 11/24 GOYA *
                        (11/29 Fri. Vespers, 11/30 Sat St. Andrew Day

December: 12/1 Philoptochos*, 12/8 PTA*, 12/15 DOP*, 12/22 GOYA*, 12/29 PC
                                  *Lenten refreshments/deserts during Advent Lent please

BAGELS for Sunday Coffee hour are donated by ALPHA BAGELS located on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ. We thank them for their generosity and continued support. 

Stewardship Update  8/29/19:

We would like to thank everyone who submitted their 2019 Christian Stewardship Commitment. 198 families have sent in their pledges Totaling  $191,390

Total Operating Budget 2019 $ 800, 000

Stewardship Income $350,000 | $191,390 committed to date)

Fundraising Income $450,000

Balanced Budget $800,000.

If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your 2019 pledge today.

Online Giving SystemWeShare click on link and follow instructions  
https://standrewgonj.churchgiving.com/ws/opportunities/ our website/ or call the office

Save the dates  

Nov 2:  DOP Fashion Show  

June 12-13-14, 2020: 50th Anniversary of our BigGreekFestival 

 

We’d like to be able to better communicate with everyone on social media where appropriate.

Please Like Us / Follow Us on our church Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Religious-Organization/St-Andrew-Greek-Orthodox-Church-Randolph-NJ-758987230951158/ 

BACK TO TOP

Fr. John's Message

Prayer Team | St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church | Sunday Epistles and Gospels

Saturday, September 21 | 14th Sunday

 The Sacrament of Baptism Explained in Two Verses

But 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.

II Corinthians 1: 21-24; 2: 1-4 (Epistle on the Fourteenth Sunday)

Good morning Prayer Team!

 

One of the most misunderstood Traditions in the Orthodox Church is the Sacrament of Baptism. First of all, the vast majority of people who are baptized are infants. They have no say in the matter and no memory of the service. Secondly, baptism is viewed as an event. It happens and then it is over. However, baptism is the initiation into an event that will last a lifetime, so it is not an end unto itself but rather it is a beginning. Most people think of baptism in the past tense, i.e. I was baptized, or I had my child baptized, as opposed to something that is present. To say “I was baptized” denotes an event that happened once and is now over. For those of us who are married, we don’t say “I was married on (whatever date you got married)”, as if to say that the marriage ceremony was an ending. We say “I am married,” because the date we were married brought us into a state of being which continues to the present, with both joys and obligations. The day we are baptized, we might say, is the day that we married Christ. But throughout our Christian life, we remain “married” to Him, with the joys and challenges that come along with it.  

 

Saint Paul summarizes the baptism services, when he writes in II Corinthians 1: 21-22“But 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.”  In these two verses, he summarizes what would become, and still is, the sacrament of baptism in the Orthodox Church. When a baptism is celebrated in the Orthodox Church, the one being baptized experiences three sacraments—Baptism (He has put His seal upon us), Chrismation (Given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee) and Holy Communion (God who establishes us with you in Christ).  

 

In baptism, we are initiated, which means God puts His mark on us. In the Old Testament, the mark of being one of God’s children was a physical mark of circumcision. In the New Testament, the mark of God on us is indelible. It is made with water. But a mark is made on us nonetheless.  In Chrismation, we are confirmed (or probably better made firm) in faith by having the Spirit placed into our hearts. To make an analogy, when we wash a car, we first wash and clean the dirt. Then we wax the car to protect it from getting dirty. Baptism and Chrismation work in almost the same way. Baptism washes us. Chrismation seals us. Finally, in Communion, God continually establishes Himself in us, and we in Him through Christ, Who comes into us in a physical and tangible way each time we receive Him. 

 

There is one more aspect of baptism that we tend to forget. And that is that Christ “has commissioned us.”  (1:21) A commission in the military is an order to perform a specific task. One officer might be commissioned to lead a group of soldiers, another might be commissioned to oversee a ship and another might be commissioned to monitor security and intelligence. All military personnel are commissioned to do one thing—defend our country—but to do it in a different way. In the same way, all Christians are commissioned to do one thing—spread the Gospel—but we are commissioned to do it in a different way. Some will spread the Gospel as priests, some as Sunday school teachers, some as parents, some as encouragers, some as quiet witnesses. But all of us who have been baptized have received the same commission, the Great Commission, to “go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”(Matthew 28:19-20) This is why this Gospel passage is read at every baptism, because everyone who has been baptized becomes a disciple and receives the same charge that the first disciples received after the Resurrection of Christ. 

 

A commission in the military lasts for a certain amount of time. Every few years, the serviceman is given the opportunity to re-enlist or to retire. If he retires, his commission ends. If he re-enlists, his commission remains.  

 

A commission to be a disciple lasts for a lifetime. There will be many opportunities to leave the “army of Christ.” We have that opportunity daily through sin and temptation. However, we also have the opportunity daily to re-enlist in the army through prayer and repentance. We re-enlist in a more formal way through the sacramental life of the church, specifically through frequent receiving of Holy Communion and through the Sacrament of Confession.  

 

We need to think of our participation in the Christian life not merely in terms of membership—that we belong—but in terms of commission—we are expected to do something and that something is to spread the Gospel. Of course, before we spread the Gospel, we must learn it for ourselves. So, we must be good learners, faithful followers, and also spreaders of the Gospel—this is the commission that we are all called to do, each of us in a unique way. Daily prayer affirms our commission. Weekly worship provides us a corporate affirmation, it’s where the whole local army (church community) gathers to affirm our commissions. Receiving Holy Communion strengthens our commissions because it gives us a personal encounter with our commander, our Savior, and allows us to carry Him in us as we go back out into battle.  

 

Baptism is what initiates us into the faith. Chrismation brings the Holy Spirit and His grace into us. Holy Communion sustains us. And living out Christ’s commission is what should give us focus, purpose and direction.  

 

Whereas You, O Lord, were labeled dead, yet in fact You put death to death. And You, the very emptier of graves, were Yourself interred. Soldiers overhead were guarding the sepulcher, even as You below resurrected the dead of all ages. Lord almighty and incomprehensible, glory to You. (2nd Kathisma of the first set, Plagal First Tone, Trans. by Fr. Seraphim Dedes)

 

Live out your commission today, in whatever unique way God has called you.  

 

+Fr. Stavros

BACK TO TOP

News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

    Trip to Taylor, PA

    Trip to Taylor, PA

    Bus Trip to Taylor, PA to venerate the miraculous and myrrh streaming icon of our Panaghai!


    Church Schedule

    Church Schedule

    Sept 29-October 6


    HAS Letter to Parents

    HAS Letter to Parents

    Hellenic Afternoon School starts 9/12/19 @4:30pm


    Hellenic Evening School (HES)

    Hellenic Evening School (HES)

    Modern Greek Language; Beginner & Intermediate Levels | 9/24-12/3, 2019| Tuesday nights 7:00-9:00pm | Registration is open to Ages 15 and up | TUITION IS $300 IS DUE AT REGISTRATION


    DOP Fashion Show

    DOP Fashion Show

    Daughters of Penelope Fashion Show, Luncheon & Designer Raffles held at Meadow Wood Manor Randolph - Nov 2nd - 11am-3pm


    Trunk Or Treat

    Trunk Or Treat

    Sponsored by St. Andrew PTA, HOPE & JOY. Join us on Friday, October 25 at 6pm Rain Or Shine.


BACK TO TOP

Prayer List

If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388

Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed.   Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the Proskomide “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.

Mary, George, Marilyn, Ann, Mary Ellen, Alexandra, Holly, Gary, Roye, Cristos, Panagiota, Anna, Panagiotis, John,  Nicos, Hannah, Christos, Theoseva, George, Genevieve, Christine, Anna, Louis, Marilyn, Suriana, Antonios, John, Maria, Dimitry Elias, Evangelia, George, Lois, Kyriaki, John, Rose, Evmorfia, Fr. Demetri, Prz Spyridoula, Eugenia, Constantinos, Eftychia, Kyzoula, Lukas, Athanasios, Angeliki, Christian, Olga, Efthimia, Demitra, Antonia,Anna Christina, Ronnie, Stephanie, Lukas, Zoe, Spyridoula, Maria, Eugenia, Alexa, Eleni, Vasiliki, Rosemary, Corinne, Sophia, Stavroula, Konstantinos, Anastasia, Pamela, Brian, Brandon, Irene, Eleutherios, Panayioti, William, Kyriaki, Panayiota, Beatrice, Demetrios, Andreas, Ioanna, Marykate, John, Konstantinos, Barbara, Despina, Eleni, Bonnie, Richard, Mary, Petros, Demosthenes, Norma, Beatrice, Geoffrey, Theonimfi, Alexandra, Kathy, John, Reggie, Shannon, Yiota, Christopher, Asimina, Margarita, Ellen, Konstantinos, Despina, Margaret, Georgia, Antonios, Maria, Kleo.

Prayer for a Sick Person:

Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health.  Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed.  I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

 

 
BACK TO TOP

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Fourth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12

Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.


Epistle Reading

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 Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

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 Κορινθίους β' 4:6-15.

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν· ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι· διωκόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν· εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.


Gospel Reading

2nd Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 6:31-36

The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

2nd Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 6:31-36

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως. καὶ εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας αὐτοὺς ἀγαπῶσι. καὶ ἐὰν ἀγαθοποιῆτε τοὺς ἀγαθοποιοῦντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσι. καὶ ἐὰν δανείζητε παρ᾿ ὧν ἐλπίζετε ἀπολαβεῖν, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς δανείζουσιν ἵνα ἀπολάβωσι τὰ ἴσα. πλὴν ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ ἀγαθοποιεῖτε καὶ δανείζετε μηδὲν ἀπελπίζοντες, καὶ ἔσται ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολύς, καὶ ἔσεσθε υἱοὶ ὑψίστου, ὅτι αὐτὸς χρηστός ἐστιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀχαρίστους καὶ πονηρούς. Γίνεσθε οὖν οἰκτίρμονες, καθὼς καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν οἰκτίρμων ἐστί.


BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

18_lukewriting
September 29

2nd Sunday of Luke


Symeonstyliteskiriakos
September 29

Cyriacus the Hermit of Palestine

This Saint was born in Corinth in 448. He went to Palestine to the Lavra of Euthymius the Great, but because of his youth was sent by Saint Euthymius to Saint Gerasimus; after the death of Saint Gerasimus he returned to the Lavra of Saint Euthymius. Later he took on a more rigorous life of asceticism in the wilderness of Natoufa, where there was nothing to eat except the exceedingly bitter wild herb called squills, which, however, through his prayers, God made sweet for him and his disciple. He lived 107 years and reposed in the year 555.


Allsaint
September 29

Martyr Petronius


BACK TO TOP

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 Cyriacus the Anchorite in the First Mode

Thou didst prove to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O Cyriacus, our God-bearing Father. By fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst obtain heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of them that have recourse to thee with faith. Glory to Him that hath given thee strength. Glory to Him that hath crowned thee. Glory to Him that worketh healings for all through thee.
Τής ερήμου πολίτης, καί εν σώματι Άγγελος, καί θαυματουργός ανεδείχθης, θεοφόρε Πατήρ ημών Κυριακέ, νηστεία, αγρυπνία, προσευχή, ουράνια χαρίσματα λαβών, θεραπεύεις τούς νοσούντας, καί τάς ψυχάς τών πίστει προστρεχόντων σοι, Δόξα τώ δεδωκότι σοι ισχύν, δόξα τώ σέ στεφανώσαντι, δόξα τώ ενεργούντι διά σού πάσιν ιάματα.

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.
BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

The sign that thou lovest God, is this, that thou lovest thy fellow; and if thou hatest thy fellow, thy hatred is towards God. For it is blasphemy if thou prayest before God while thou art wroth. For thy heart also convicts thee, that in vain thou multipliest words: thy conscience rightly judges that in thy prayers thou profitest nought.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
ON ADMONITION AND REPENTANCE.

Let us then, bearing in mind all the things which have been said, show forth great love even towards our enemies; and let us ease away that ridiculous custom, to which many of the more thoughtless give way, waiting for those that meet them to address them first.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 18 on Matthew 5, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP