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St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2020-01-05
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Baptism
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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

January 5, Sunday Eve of Theophany: @ 8:45 am: 

Theopemptos, Bishop of Nicomedea (Fasting Day)

- Orthros, The Great Hours, The Great Vespers, Divine Liturgy of St. Basil & Blessing of the Waters

 Memorials 

Α 40 Day Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of our ever memorable +Vincent Βενέτιου Pellegrino, beloved husband of Jean, father of Anastasia and grandfather of Samantha and Christopher. Friends and relatives are invited to join the family of +Vincent for refreshments in honor of his blessed memory.

 Α 40 Day Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of our ever memorable +Kanella Κανέλας (Perdis) Perdikoulias, Beloved mother of Vickie (Vasiliki) and Perry (Pereklis), grandmother of Thomas, Nicholas and Peter Geannakakes.  Friends and relatives are invited to join the family of +Kanella for refreshments in honor of her blessed memory.

Α Three Μonth Μemorial Srvice for the repose of the soul of our ever memorable brother +Stilianos Στυλιανού  Kyriakides, beloved husband of Eleni and father of Athos, Andrea.

May their memory be eternal

January 6, Monday @ 8:00 am: 
Holy TheophanyBaptism of Our Lord and Saviour - Orthros, Divine Liturgy & The Great Blessing of the Waters

January 7, Tuesday @ 8:00 am: 
The Synaxis of the Holy Prophet St. John the Baptist – Orthros & Divine Liturgy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Announcements

at Saint Andrew

Caregiver Workshop

Join us on January 5th when our guest speaker will be Diana Sebzda, Director of Bereavement from the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Diana will discuss Anticipatory Grief and unique grieving styles. She has created programs to address the unmet needs of grieving people and will be sharing her perspective with us. Everyone grieves differently and Diana will explain how grief manifests differently in people and what our expectations and experiences bring to our bereavement. She will review the variables involved and present some coping skills and adjustment tactics. Please bring your questions/concerns and join us after services.

 

Ecclesiastical Calendars

The 2020 Ecclesiastical Calendars have arrived.  Please help us with postage and pick up your calendar. They are in Alpha order by the Bakaliko.

House Blessings

Fr. John Theodosion will begin the House Blessings in our community on the 1st week in January 2020.  St. Andrew Parishioners will be notified of his pending visit.  Please look for a “Post Card” indicating date and time.

We will also be announcing in the weekly bulletin the towns that Fr. John will be visiting. If you don’t receive a Post Card when your town is listed, please contact the office ASAP and make arrangements for «Agiasmo» in your home.

 

Community Vasilopita  -  Sunday January 12th    

As our yearly tradition has it, we will cut our Community’s Vasilopita.  Fr. John will bless the Vasilopita with the cutting knife crosswise in the “Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” He then will cut the center in a circle as an offering to our Lord Jesus, Who is first in our life. Then he will proceed to cut wedges starting with a piece for the Ever-Virgin Mary, for Saint Basil and for St. Andrew.  Subsequently, a wedge will be cut and received by a representative on behalf of each one of our St. Andrew ministries and organizations. Please join us in wishing all a Blessed and fruitful New Year.

St. Andrew Oratorical Festival January 12th

Our 7th-12th graders will be practicing their public speaking skills as they share their Orthodox journey with our community. Please join us upstairs in Church after Divine Liturgy and hear our youth present contemporary topics. A special thank you to Mrs. Athina Vella for her time and dedication coordinating this event.

MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION Αποκριάτικο Γλέντι 2020  

Sunday, February 16th, 2020 at 5:00 pm | Hosted by the St. Andrew PTA

an evening of entertainment, food, dancing, tricky tray & prizes!

NEW LOCATION: The Meadow Wood | 461 Route 10 East, Randolph

PRICING:   $55 (AGES 18 & OLDER)   |    $25 (AGES 5-17)   |   $10 AGES (4-UNDER)

Tickets must be purchased in advance no later than February 3rd **NO REFUNDS**

INFO contact: Anastasia Mitrakos anastasia7@yahoo.com or Demitra Paxos 973-970-8003

Tickets will be sold during coffee hour and Thursday evenings starting in January

 

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.  

Assistive Listening available: Don't miss a single sound.

Please use our Listening Device which was generously donated by one of our parishioners to be used during our Services.  Ask Parish Council at the narthex to assist you

Sunday Coffee Hour Hosts   

Jan: 1/5 Philoptochos, 1/12 PTA, 1/19 DOP, 1/26 GOYA

Feb: 2/2 Philoptochos, 2/9 PTA, 2/16 DOP, 2/23 GOYA

Mar: 3/1 Philoptochos, 3/8 PTA*, 3/16 DOP*, 3/22 GOYA*, 3/29 Bakaliko*

Apr:  4/5 Philoptochos*, 4/12 All Organizations participate for the  Palm Sun Luncheon*, 4/19 Pascha no coffee Hr , 4/26 GOYA

*Lenten refreshments/deserts during Great Lent please

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

 

Stewardship Update:

Are you an official member of Saint Andrew Church? Did you know that unless you have submitted a “Pledge Form” you aren’t officially a member?  If you haven’t fulfilled your pledge for 2019, please do so. We need everyone’s participation to fulfill our obligations. Lastly, thank you to all those who have fulfilled their 2019 pledge, and to those who have already made their 2020 Commitment.  We couldn’t do what we do without you and are grateful to God for your continued love and support.

As of December 24th, 108 families made their 2020 Pledge, totaling $135,388.

 

If you have not already made your commitment to Saint Andrew church, we ask that you prayerfully consider your blessings and submit your2020 pledge today.

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

social media

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

 New Year 2020

 

The Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy  Esteemed Members of the Metropolitan Council, Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Sisterhood, Faculty and Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools, Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout Orthodox Christians of the Communities of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey
 
 
My Beloved in the Lord,
 
 The occasion of a new year provides for us ample opportunities. Principally, it allows us to reflect on the previous year and to thank God for all His blessings. For many, it also constitutes an ideal opportunity to set goals for the upcoming year, often called New Year resolutions. More often than not, these resolutions tend to address external matters, but we must be honest in asking ourselves, how often do we set spiritual resolutions for ourselves? 
 
 When we reflect on the past year can we truly say to ourselves that we prayed as much as we could or went to every Church service offered or never sinned? Certainly not! Therefore, we must be honest with ourselves in saying that there is always opportunity for spiritual growth. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as making goals to attend the Divine Liturgy more often, committing to increase one’s personal prayer life, supporting the ministries of the Church more rigorously, or getting involved with organization and volunteer aspects of the Church. These actions help to set us on the correct path in building a strong spiritual life and if you do very few of these things, then set a reasonable goal for yourself to accomplish just a little bit more. If you already do many of these things, then find additional ways to increase your spiritual life. By setting spiritual resolutions for ourselves, we may prevent ourselves from being spiritually apathetic and offer to God more of ourselves since He has already blessed us with so much. 
 
 Additionally, the Church celebrates today the feast of St. Basil who, throughout his life, exemplified love for his neighbor. He typified this experience through his theological works and personal letters which often show that he was strict on himself and those close to him, but to those who were spiritually weak, he remained pastoral. He also showed love for his neighbor, particularly for the poor, by securing for them a return of their gold from the empire when they had been overburdened by tax assessments. When this money was returned to the people, he
devised a method by putting the gold coins in loaves of bread that were distributed to the populace and miraculously each family was given their just return. This is where we receive the tradition of the Vasilopita. St. Basil’s ministry provides us with numerous examples of love for our neighbor and care for the poor which we should emulate in our own spiritual lives.  
 
 My beloved children in the Lord, I implore you to forever seek to do more in your spiritual lives. Start your day by making the sign of the cross. If you do not pray often, then try to pray at least once a day. Commit to attending the Divine services more often. Always seek to see the person of Christ in your neighbor and to help those in need. It is my sincerest prayer that each of you find the way to build up your spiritual lives in this New Year. Praying that you and your families have a happy, healthy, and blessed New Year filled with every good and perfect gift from our Lord, I remain
 
    
 
With Paternal Love and Blessings, 
 
 
† E V A N G E L O S Metropolitan of New Jersey
 
 

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News - Flyers - Registrations - Other

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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.

Ioannis, Monica, Katerina, Tasia, Rose, Christina, Andrew, Margaret, Eleni, Paraskevi, Panagotis, Maria, Caroline, Demetrios, Konstantinos, Susan, Gregory, Nikoletta, Afrodite, Cassandra, 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, 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

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.

Seventh Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:1-10

Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἔρχεται πρωῒ σκοτίας ἔτι οὔσης εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ βλέπει τὸν λίθον ἠρμένον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου. τρέχει οὖν καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς Σίμωνα Πέτρον καὶ πρὸς τὸν ἄλλον μαθητὴν ὃν ἐφίλει ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἦραν τὸν Κύριον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς καὶ ἤρχοντο εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον. ἔτρεχον δὲ οἱ δύο ὁμοῦ· καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς προέδραμε τάχιον τοῦ Πέτρου καὶ ἦλθε πρῶτος εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει κείμενα τὰ ὀθόνια, οὐ μέντοι εἰσῆλθεν. ἔρχεται οὖν Σίμων Πέτρος ἀκολουθῶν αὐτῷ, καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον καὶ θεωρεῖ τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα, καὶ τὸ σουδάριον, ὃ ἦν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐ μετὰ τῶν ὀθονίων κείμενον, ἀλλὰ χωρὶς ἐντετυλιγμένον εἰς ἕνα τόπον. τότε οὖν εἰσῆλθε καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητὴς ὁ ἐλθὼν πρῶτος εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ εἶδε καὶ ἐπίστευσεν· οὐδέπω γὰρ ᾔδεισαν τὴν γραφὴν ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῆναι. ἀπῆλθον οὖν πάλιν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς οἱ μαθηταί.


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 Timothy 4:5-8.

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

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 Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα· λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Sunday before Epiphany
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8

᾿Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ῾Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου· φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο ᾿Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ ῾Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων· ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ.


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Saints and Feasts

Baptism
January 05

Sunday before Epiphany


Baptisma1cp
January 05

Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ


Allsaint
January 05

The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas

When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.


06_epiphany
January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.


07_john2
January 07

Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner

Today we celebrate the Synaxis in honour of the most sacred Forerunner, since he ministered at the Mystery of the Divine Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rest from labour. Fish allowed.


Theophny
January 12

Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Eve of Epiphany in the Fourth Mode

River Jordan was turned back by Elisseus' mantle once, when the fiery man of zeal Elias had been taken up; then were its waters divided hither and thither. The running streams became dry passage unto him, truly as a sign and type of Baptism, whereby we pass to the other side of the shifting stream of this fleeting life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan River, to sanctify the waters.
Ἀπεστρέφετο ποτέ, ὁ Ἰορδάνης ποταμός, τὴ μηλωτὴ Ἐλισαιέ, ἀναληφθέντος Ἡλιοῦ, καὶ διηρεῖτο τὰ ὕδατα ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, καὶ γέγονεν αὐτῷ, ξηρὰ ὁδὸς ἡ ὑγρά, εἰς τύπον ἀληθῶς τοῦ Βαπτίσματος, δι' οὗ ἡμεῖς τὴν ῥέουσαν, τοῦ βίου διαπερῶμεν διάβασιν, Χριστὸς ἐφάνη, ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ, ἁγιᾶσαι τὰ ὕδατα.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
Ἐν τοῖς ῥείθροις σήμερον τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, γεγονῶς ὁ Κύριος, τῶ Ἰωάννη ἐκβοᾷ. Μὴ δειλιάσης βαπτίσαι με, σῶσαι γὰρ ἥκω, Ἀδὰμ τὸν πρωτόπλαστον.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

For in a contest there is much labor needed--and after the contest victory falls to some, to others disgrace. Is the palm ever given or the crown granted before the course is finished? ... Therefore no one can receive a reward, unless he has striven lawfully; nor is the victory a glorious one, unless the contest also has been toilsome.
St. Ambrose of Milan
Chapter 15, Three Books on the Duties of the Clergy, 4th century

It is the sole and peculiar property of the Substance that transcends all, to be able to bestow on men the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and make those that draw near unto It partakers of the divine nature.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century

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