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St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2019-10-13
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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

October 13, 2019 + Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council  

+Orthros at 8:45am and Divine Liturgyat 10am 

Memorial – Μνημόσυνο

A 40 Day Memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Irene Ειρήνης Gribas , beloved family member of Ourania (Nitsa) and Despina Gribas). Friends and relatives are invited to join the family for refreshments in our social hall in honor of their loved ones blessed memory.

May her memory be eternal. Αιώνια η μνήμη αυτής.  

Friday 10/18 +St. Luke the Evangelist  

+Orthros at 8am and Divine Liturgy at 9am

 

Baptisms: 

On Friday, October 18th at 5pm Denos and Daniela (Genoble) will baptize their son.

On Saturday October 19th at 1pm Brett and Katrina (Geannakopoulos) Prisco will baptize their son.

  

 

 

 

 

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Announcements

This week at Saint Andrew 

Coffee hour on Sunday is hosted by PTA and sponsored by the Gribas family in honor of +Irene’s blessed memory. (Bagels donated by ALPHA BAGELS)

HOPE/JOY Meeting in Rooms 204 & 205 at 12:15-1pm : This is a fellowship group for HOPE is grades K-2, and the JOY is grades 3-6. Children only, no parents please. Our calendar of activities is posted in the Social Hall on our HOPE/JOY Bulletin Board. Take a peek when you are at coffee hour.

Free at our candle stand for the next 2 weeks!   The Amazing Life of Papa-Dimitri, The Man of God: Our holy Church displays a cloud of martyrs, confessors, and saints, known and unknown heroes of our faith. They were people like us, who with God’s grace and their personal labors, reached the heights of holiness.  Even in our godless times, God has His friends. One such hero of our faith is Papa-Dimitri Gagastathis, (1902 - 1975) a man of great faith and prayer, whose feet touched the earth, but whose head reached the heavens. This is a must read for our time…

Orthodoxy and other Christian confessions….what are the differences? This pluralistic world is often confusing when discussing matters of our faith. Often we find ourselves wondering since we have the “same God” and the “same Bible,” are there really differences or when we do see differences we ask ourselves: why does it matter? Join us Thursdays from 7-8:30 pm as we explore this idea through comparison and contrast in in light of commentary from the Church Fathers….and if you don’t know what a Church Father is…come and find out! Thursdays: 10/10, 10/17, 10/24 & 11/7.

Little Angels Playgroup:  Please join us every Friday at 10-11am for Little Angels playgroup. Each week we will teach your child basic Greek with fun activities, songs, and active play. It’s a great way to connect with other Moms and families in the St. Andrew community and build lifelong friendships for both you and your children. Great for any age, infant to 3 years old. Grandparents and caretakers are welcome. For more information contact Athina Vella at (973) 879-7095 or at amv1823@gmail.com.   

Call for participants to Mazi class: If your child is between 2 1/2-4 years old and you are interested in signing up for afternoon Μαζί με τη Μαμά Greek instruction please reach out to Athina Vella at (973) 879-7095 or at amv1823@gmail.com. We are trying to assemble a group class. 

Cub Scouts Meeting Friday in Room 102 & Gym on October 18 at 7pm

GYRO Saturday! ...on October 19 : On Saturday, October 19, we will have another GYRO SALE to help benefit our St. Andrew! Please let us know if you are able to help for a couple of hours. Contact the office or Nick Monokandilos. Join us in making this fundraiser a success. Tell your friends, neighbors, family to come enjoy our great tasting food! Look for our menu. Thank you! 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Trunk or Treat :All children and parents of the Saint Andrew community are invited to our annual Trunk or Treat followed by a Halloween Movie on Friday, Oct 25 from 6-9pm RAIN OR SHINE (will be in the gym if it rains) at the Saint Andrew Community Center, and parking lot. All children are encouraged to come in costume.  Don’t forget to bring your treat bags! CARS & CANDY NEEDED! PLEASE NO CANDY WITH NUTS!!!  (Snacks and drinks will be provided) In order to make this event successful we need your help. All cars must be decorated and ready by 6:30pm.  A prize will be awarded to the most creative looking car! RSVP THROUGH SIGN UP GENIUS IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING

Coat Drive: We are asking if you have a gently used coat to donate that you bring it to the church by Monday, October 28 so we can donate in time for the coat drive.  The Market Street Mission will hold their Annual Coat Drive on Saturday November 2nd 10am -1pm at the Morristown Green, in Morristown NJ.

Fashion Show and Luncheon : Daughters of Penelope will host a Fashion Show and Luncheon on Saturday, November 2nd at 11am-3pm at the Meadow Wood on Route 10 in Randolph NJ.  Proceeds to benefit Charitable Works of the DOP. For Tickets and information please contact: Eleni Boyadjis (609) 304-3714 / eboyadjis@aol.com, Julie Ioannou  (201) 602-1359 / jioannou18@yahoo.com, Yiota Louca  973) 615- 3215 /  prlouca@yahoo.com

Caregiver Workshop: Please join us for our Caregiver Workshop on November 3rd at 12:45 following services. Joanna Adu, Esq. will be our speaker. Joanna will cover various aspects of Estate Planning. Do you have a will? Should you set up a trust for your heirs? Do you want to make sure your assets are protected? Have you begun your Extended Care Planning? These and many more topics will be covered. Bring your questions and join us.

Sunday Coffee Hour Hosts    

October: 10/13 PTA, 10/20 GOYA, 10/27 PTA

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 Bakaliko
                                  *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  10/11/19:

We would like to thank everyone who submitted their 2019 Christian Stewardship Commitment. 236 families have sent in their pledges Totaling  $213,010

Total Operating Budget 2019 $ 800, 000

Stewardship Income $350,000 | $213,010 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

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/ 

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Fr. John's Message

 
 

 

Payer Team

 ESTEEM OTHERS HIGHLY 

But we beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

I Thessalonians 5:12-13

Friday, October 4

Part VIII - Do THIS Above Everything Else

 Jesus said to His Disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My Disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 14:34-35

Good morning Prayer Team!

 

The Bible is filled with “commandments”. Most of know the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are actually ten out of 613 commandments that are found in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The 613 commandments became so cumbersome that no one could follow all of them. People had a hard time even memorizing them.  

 

Jesus summarized all the commandments into two—love God and love your neighbor. And He summarized them even further into one word: Love. To serve God is to manifest love. Sin is the absence of love.  

 

I remember during my seminary studies, one day I felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff we needed to know. And I called my spiritual father in a panic and said, “What is it that I absolutely have to know in order to be a priest?” His answer was simple. He said I needed to know how to love people. He said “If you don’t love people, you will never be an effective priest.” That doesn’t mean that I didn’t learn a lot of things, but that the primary job of the priest is to manifest the love of God to people—through worship, prayer, preaching, teaching and counseling.  

 

Saint Paul, in his treatise on love in I Corinthians 13, tells us:

 

If I speak in the tongues of man and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (I Corinthians 13: 1-3)  

 

So, if you ever feel overwhelmed by all of the stuff you think you have to master in order to be a Christian, remember that one thing is more important than everything else, and that is love. That doesn’t mean to not pray, read the Bible, or follow the commandments. If you focus on love, it will lead you to these things.  

 

We are all overwhelmed with the business of the world. We forget to tell others we love them. We forget to offer gestures of love, unexpected kindnesses to people. Love is something that is given to someone else. While there may be self-respect or self-confidence, one cannot love himself, because by definition, love is taken from one person and given to another. To take and to give back to oneself is not love. Use today and offer as many expressions of love as possible—whether it is courtesy to other drivers on the road, or a kind word to the clerk in the store. Show love today.

 

We are wrapping up our discussion of I Thessalonians 5:12-13, on the subject of esteeming others highly. We have discussed this over the course of several reflections. And just like my seminary experience, looking at the Bible word by word can be intimidating. It is important to study the words of the Bible in depth, just like it was important to study the various aspects of theology in depth when I was at the seminary. However, the study of Scripture doesn’t amount to much if there is no application of it to our lives. The takeaway from any section of the Bible should be a greater desire to love God and to love others. Every section of Scripture reinforces this idea. So in esteeming others highly, let love lead the way.  

 

As for our Scripture verses today, there are many ways to advertise something. Banners, websites, t-shirts, commercials, and ads are ways companies market their products. Jesus told His followers that it’s not fancy slogans and billboards that will bring people to Him. People will know we are followers of Christ because of love. Christ led with love, which is why He died for us. We follow Him because of this. Others will come to Him because of love. In esteeming others, whoever you esteem today, let love lead.

 

As a practical matter, tell those who are close to you that you love them. It is important that we demonstrate love. It is important that we say it. It is also important that we hear it. Saying “I love you” to others is very encouraging and empowering for them. Hearing others say it to you have the same effect on you.  

 

Love God. Love other people. Love. This is what matters most in esteeming others highly.

 

Lord, thank You for your example of what it means to love others. You showed that by loving us so much that You died for us. Help me to offer love freely and joyfully to others. Surround me with people who encourage love. Remember those who I love most in my life (name your family and close friends). Allow our love to grow. Allow our love to honor You. Allow me to honor You with expressions of love today and every day. Amen.

 

Show love today!

 

+Fr. Stavros

 
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News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

    Church Schedule

    Church Schedule

    October 13-20


    GYRO Saturday

    GYRO Saturday

    October 19 at 11am-6pm MENU | GYRO SALE to help benefit St. Andrew! Please let us know if you are able to help for a couple of hours. Contact the office or Nick Monokandilos. Join us in making this fundraiser a success. Tell your friends, neighbors, family to come enjoy our great tasting food!


    Trunk Or Treat

    Trunk Or Treat

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


    Concert

    Concert

    Byzantine Choir: Saturday Oct 26 at Tom's River


    DOP Fashion Show

    DOP Fashion Show

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


    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


    Women's Retreat

    Women's Retreat

    Ancient Faith Women's Retreat Nov 14-17 | REGISTRATION CLOSES ON OCTOBER 15 AND SPACE IS LIMITED!


    PLAY GROUP - FRIDAYS

    PLAY GROUP - FRIDAYS

    Friday at 10-11am for Little Angels Playgroup (LAP). Each week we will teach your child basic Greek with fun activities, songs, and active play.


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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.

Aristea, Konstantinos, George, Mary, 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

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

 

 
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Sixth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:36-53

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἔστη ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. πτοηθέντες δὲ καὶ ἔμφοβοι γενόμενοι ἐδόκουν πνεῦμα θεωρεῖν. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί τεταραγμένοι ἐστέ, καὶ διατί διαλογισμοὶ ἀναβαίνουσιν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; ἴδετε τὰς χεῖράς μου καὶ τοὺς πόδας μου, ὅτι αὐτὸς ἐγώ εἰμι· ψηλαφήσατέ με καὶ ἴδετε, ὅτι πνεῦμα σάρκα καὶ ὀστέα οὐκ ἔχει καθὼς ἐμὲ θεωρεῖτε ἔχοντα. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐπέδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τοὺς πόδας. ἔτι δὲ ἀπιστούντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χαρᾶς καὶ θαυμαζόντων εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἔχετέ τι βρώσιμον ἐνθάδε; οἱ δὲ ἐπέδωκαν αὐτῷ ἰχθύος ὀπτοῦ μέρος καὶ ἀπὸ μελισσίου κηρίου, καὶ λαβὼν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ἔφαγεν. εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς· οὗτοι οἱ λόγοι οὓς ἐλάλησα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔτι ὢν σὺν ὑμῖν, ὅτι δεῖ πληρωθῆναι πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ νόμῳ Μωϋσέως καὶ προφήταις καὶ ψαλμοῖς περὶ ἐμοῦ. τότε διήνοιξεν αὐτῶν τὸν νοῦν τοῦ συνιέναι τὰς γραφάς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι οὕτω γέγραπται καὶ οὕτως ἔδει παθεῖν τὸν Χριστὸν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ, καὶ κηρυχθῆναι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ μετάνοιαν καὶ ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ἀρξάμενον ἀπὸ ῾Ιερουσαλήμ. ὑμεῖς δέ ἐστε μάρτυρες τούτων. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός μου ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς· ὑμεῖς δὲ καθίσατε ἐν τῇ πόλει ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ ἕως οὗ ἐνδύσησθε δύναμιν ἐξ ὕψους.

᾿Εξήγαγε δὲ αὐτοὺς ἔξω ἕως εἰς Βηθανίαν, καὶ ἐπάρας τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εὐλογεῖν αὐτὸν αὐτοὺς διέστη ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀνεφέρετο εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν. καὶ αὐτοὶ προσκυνήσαντες αὐτὸν ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ μετὰ χαρᾶς μεγάλης, καὶ ἦσαν διὰ παντὸς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ αἰνοῦντες καὶ εὐλογοῦντες τὸν Θεόν. ἀμήν.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. Δανιήλ 3.26-27.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τίτον 3:8-15.

Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις · μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. αιῥετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ ᾽ἐμοῦ πάντες. Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:5-15

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι τὸν σπόρον αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσε παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ κατεπατήθη, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατέφαγεν αὐτό· καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν, καὶ φυὲν ἐξηράνθη διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἰκμάδα· καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν, καὶ συμφυεῖσαι αἱ ἄκανθαι ἀπέπνιξαν αὐτό. καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, καὶ φυὲν ἐποίησε καρπὸν κατονταπλασίονα. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει· ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω. ᾿Επηρώτων δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· τίς εἴη ἡ παραβολὴ αὕτη; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς, ἵνα βλέποντες μὴ βλέπωσι καὶ ἀκούοντες μὴ συνιῶσιν. ἔστι δὲ αὕτη ἡ παραβολή· ὁ σπόρος ἐστὶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ· οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, εἶτα ἔρχεται ὁ διάβολος καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ἵνα μὴ πιστεύσαντες σωθῶσιν. οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσι, μετὰ χαρᾶς δέχονται τὸν λόγον, καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν, οἳ πρὸς καιρὸν πιστεύουσι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ ἀφίστανται. τὸ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας πεσόν, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, καὶ ὑπὸ μεριμνῶν καὶ πλούτου καὶ ἡδονῶν τοῦ βίου πορευόμενοι συμπνίγονται καὶ οὐ τελεσφοροῦσι. τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσι καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει· ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
October 13

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.


Allsaint
October 13

Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus, & Agathonica, the Martyrs of Pergamus

Saint Carpus was Bishop of the Church of Thyatira in Asia Minor and Papylus was his deacon, whom he had ordained. Seized as Christians and tormented in Thyatira, they were taken to Sardis, whither Agathodorus, their servant, followed them, and also confessed Christ, and was tormented with them. Together with Agathonica, the sister of Saint Papylus. they were all beheaded during the reign of Decius, in the year 250.


Allsaint
October 13

Benjamin the Deacon


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.
Ὑπερδεδοξασμένος εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ φωστῆρας ἐπὶ γῆς τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν θεμελιώσας, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν πρὸς τὴν ἀληθινὴν πίστιν, πάντας ἡμᾶς ὁδηγήσας· πολυεύσπλαγχνε, δόξα σοι.

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.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

For by seed here He means His doctrine, and by land, the souls of men, and by the sower, Himself .... For as the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him, but simply and indifferently casts his seed; so He Himself too makes no distinction of rich and poor, of wise and unwise, of slothful or diligent, of brave or cowardly; but He discourses unto all, fulfilling His part, although foreknowing the results.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 44 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

When you see life's pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death's snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose. As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men's souls and subject them to himself. A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy's will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
A Spiritual Psalter no 43, pg. 74, 4th century

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