July 24
St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2022-07-24
Bulletin Contents
Services at St. Andrew
Announcements
Fr. John's Message
Daily Calendar
News - Flyers - Registrations - Other
Prayer List
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
St. Andrew Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (973) 584-0388
- Fax:
- (973) 584-3573
- Email:
- info@standrewgonj.org
- 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 8:15 am & Divine Liturgy at 9:30am
Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2022-07-17
- Publish Date:
- 2022-07-10
- Publish Date:
- 2022-07-03
- Publish Date:
- 2022-06-26
- Publish Date:
- 2022-06-19
- Publish Date:
- 2022-06-12
Services at St. Andrew
Sunday 7/24 6th Sunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL @9:30am
Artoclasia Service is offered today by the Marcou family for the health of: Alexander, Christopher, Nikolaos, Constantina, Kyriako.
Paraklesis is a service of supplication specifically for the living. Please fill out the names of those you would like to pray for and submit the names (of the living) to the church office or bring the names with you to church in the evening. Most Holy Theotokos save us!
Η Παράκλησις είναι Ακολουθεία ειδικά για τους ζωντανούς. Παρακαλώ συμπληρώστε τα ονόματα εκείνων που θα θέλατε να προσευχηθείτε και φέρετε τα στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας ή μαζί σας στην Ακολυθεία το βράδυ. ΥπεραγίαΘεοτόκε, σώσονημάς.
Sunday 7/31 7th Sunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL @9:30am
Participation in services is also available via livestream - go to: Home | St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church (orthodoxws.com) and choose LIVESTREAM on the Menu bar
Prayers/Liturgy can always be found at: https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/dcs.html
Online Giving System: Website: https://www.standrewgonj.org/ and choose PayPal / online WeShare
Announcements
NORTHERN NJ YAL End of Summer KICKOFF BASH - Friday August 19th 7:30-11:30pm at The Waterside Events in North Bergen, NJ Early Bird Tickets $60 by July 31st - Regular Price $90 see flyer for more details
Hellenic Afternoon School Program |Thursday September 8th at 4:30pm
Deadline to enroll your child in the HAS program by August 1, 2022.
It is important we have the number of enrolled students to plan accordingly for the new school year. Please email the office the registration forms with the preferred payment at your earliest convenience
Info & registration is on https://sagocrnj.orthodoxws.com -Ministries -Greek School
Parents, please attend Agiasmos in church, followed by Open House (Social Hall)
to meet with the HAS teachers & ED committee about
Coffee Hour Hosts JULY & August Summer Schedule: Summer Coffee Hour: It is our summer tradition that all coffee hour trays will benefit our Ministries. We all share the responsibility of bringing food. Please bring a cake, cookies, fruit, etc. to church with you from time to time to add to our coffee hour table. Or arrange to host a coffee hour by contacting the church office. If we do not have someone host and/or sponsor the coffee hour, we will not be able have one on that particular Sunday. Thanking-you in advance for your participation this summer.
RAFFLE!
2022 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 W4 MSRP $53, 395
STARLING BLUE | ALL-WHEEL DRIVE | REMOTE START | PARKING ASSISTANT | NAVIGATION|
TICKETS $25 EACH | DRAWING SEPTEMBER 25, 2022, 1PM
We need your help to make this raffle everything our church needs it to be this year!
Sign up for JUST 2 HOURS at our roadside. Sit, read, bring your laptop because we have wireless access out there, or even just relax
People pull up and buy tickets -- it can't get any easier, you just need to be there. Any day, any time. We need coverage from 8am to 8pm to schedule times email info@standrewgoj.org or call 973-584-0388
It is an easy way to help our church meet our annual budget and unforeseen expenses. We have made over $1,000 in just one day by manning the curbside raffle ticket sales. Please consider helping out in this easy way. Your church needs your support.
Annual Rummage Sale on Sept 9-11 Saint Andrew Philoptochos is looking for items you no longer want or need. Items must be in gently used condition, working order and as clean as possible. Clothing, shoes, electronics, small appliances, children’s toys, and costume jewelry are popular items.
You may drop off items at the church starting August 16th.
Volunteers are needed prior to the sales dates and during. Please Irene Laoudis iLaoudis@yahoo.com or Mary Michailidis mmichailidis@yahoo.com to volunteer or if you have any questions.
save the dates
RUMMAGE SALE September 9-10-11
GYRO SALE September 24th
CAR RAFFLE September 25th
60th Anniversary Gala Sunday November 13th at the Meadow Wood in Randolph NJ see flyer below
Fr. John's Message
The Lord’s Voice 7-24-22
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
A very characteristic event, which once again instructively provides us with the possibility to swim in the sea of the love of God, is that of today's healing of the paralytic by Christ. On the other hand, the Scribes, who are present, unfortunately, in every era, through the expression of the specific mentality, do not wish to see the miracle, do not understand the pain of their fellow man, they do not thank God the gift-giver. Which person of any religious and ethnic tradition, who fundamentally preserves humaneness within himself, wouldn't he be happy with what Christ is doing today? However, we see, once again, the teachers of the Law and guides of the people of the time, blinded by the absurdity of their formalism, again criticizing the benevolent God.
The invitation of Christ
Christ came with His preaching, His teaching, His attitude, to teach love, and to confess in every direction, that this is the greatest of virtues. The Scribes, both then and now, do not wish to participate in the feast of Christ, they do not love God, nor man either; they only love and desire the paranoid obsession with their rights and interests. Christ, on every occasion, with much discernment, during His three years of public action and teaching, wanted to call them to their senses and to repentance. His desire always was and is, that all people be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. For this reason, He suffered, was discredited and crucified, remaining faithful to the will of God the Father.
The desire of the Scribes was neither their own, nor the world’s salvation, but rather the salvation of the profit, which they considered that they had, by taking advantage of man’s most sacred yearning, which is his communion with the true God. Our Lord, however, came to save the world from the false salvation, imposed on him by his self-proclaimed saviors, the Scribes. He came to offer a profit, other than what they had until then, projected, deified: the profit of participation in the life of the other, the profit arising from the relief of an afflicted sick person, arising from the laughter and joy of a poor child who has never been offered a toy, from the embracing of a prisoner, who thought he had no one to visit him.
Our response
Christ is calling us again today, through His intervention, which is at the same time, the most lively sermon, to remember to work, but also to desire this forgotten profit. But at the same time, let us be careful not to become small, or even big imitators of the legacy of the Scribes. We live the miracle of God's intervention every day, both in our own life, and in that of our fellow human beings. The preservation of our humaneness, which is not at all a given, according to what the world today thinks, is not only a beneficence of ours towards our fellow man, but mainly it is a reverse beneficence, in which, we are the benefitted ones. The perception that prevailed then, and still prevails today, often even with teachers, rulers of this world, unfortunately is, that the social, material, and monetary profit, can cover many harms on a moral and spiritual level.
However, all of the above, become a rule, they become self-evident and given, while what is greatly sought for, in the end, turns out to be the person himself who is walking in this life with fidelity to God's will, and the awareness that he is truly human. While it is finally time, despite the sluggishness of the days, and the holidays, which may each of us have the possibility to do, before we proceed to harshly criticize our brothers, to seek again within us, the person with a humble attitude and self-censuring, the person of prayer to the philanthropic Master Christ.
Archim. A. A.
Daily Calendar
Sunday’s Coffee Hour July 24th is hosted by Bakaliko and sponsored by the Marcou Family
Bagels are donated by Jimmy Psaras of ALFA BAGELS on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ
Coffee is donated by Aristotle Leontopoulos of Coffee Associates in Edgewater, NJ
Summer schedule please consider hosting a Sunday in July and August contact office to reserve date you would like to schedule (in memory of: in honor of: or for the health of:) Looking for host/sponsor for August 15th Celebration.
HOSTING Sunday’s Coffee Hour ON: Need Hosts for July 31 & August 7th, August 7 open, Aug 14 Melekos , Aug 15 Melekos, Aug 21 open, Aug 28 open
Sept 4th Philoptochos, Sept. 11TH PTA, Sep 18TH at Asbury Park, Sept 25TH GOYA
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Sunday 7/31
7th Sunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL of SJC @9:30am
Memorial Service: +James Halkias
Mon Tue Thu 8/1 8/2 & 8/4
@6:30 Paraklesis Service
Thursday 8/4 @7:45 PM Pre-marriage counseling session 1st of 2
Friday 8/5
@6:30pm Great Vespers
Saturday 8/6
Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ +Orthros 8am & DL of SJC @9am
@11am Baptism
Sunday 8/7
8th Sunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL of SJC @9:30am
Mon Tue Thu Fri 8/8, 8/9, 8/11, 8/12
@6:30 Paraklesis Service
Thursday 8/11@7:45 PM Pre-marriage counseling session 2nd of 2
Sunday 8/14
8th Sunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL of SJC
Monday 8/15
The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary +Orthros 8am & DL of SJC @9am
Thursday 8/18
@4PM Wedding
Sunday 8/21
10th Sunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL of SJC
News - Flyers - Registrations - Other
Northern NJ YAL End of Summer Kickoff Bash
Northern NJ YAL End of Summer Kickoff Bash - Friday Aug. 19th - The Waterside Events North Bergen, NJ - Early Bird Tickets $60 by July 31st - Regular Price $90 see attached flyer for more info...
60th Anniversary
Saint Andrew celebration on Sunday Novermber 13th 2022
HELLENIC AFTERNOON SCHOOL
ENROLLEMENT OPEN NOW
Rummage Sale
..looking for items you no longer want or need. .. gently used condition, working order and as clean as possible. Clothing, shoes, electronics, small appliances, children’s toys, and costume jewelry are popular items. bring to church starting August 16th.
Holy Cross Celebration
8:30am Orthros and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. George in Asbury Park(Ocean) - 12:30pm Asbury Park Beach: Trisagion at the Patriarch Athenagoras Statue, Procession to the Water, the Blessing of the Waters, and the Diving for the Cross by the Youth
car raffle
2022 MERCEDES-BENZ | C300 W4 MSRP $53, 395 | TICKETS $25 EACH | DRAWING SEPTEMBER 25, 2022, 1PM
Farmers Market
Madison Farmers Market- about community, food, and fun!
Community Health Calendar
July 2022
FAITH & BLUE
Friday October 7 4-8pm at Saint Andrew Church.
LORD'S VOICE
FONI KYRIOY 7-24-22
Prayer List
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
Please keep these names in your prayers
Andrew, Stan, Vasiliki, Marios, Theodore, Gregory, Fr. Konstatnine, Mary, Eftihia, Ioannis, David , Andreas, Robert, Antonis, Susan, Alexandros, Gregory, Sophia, Tara, children and families of Ukraine, Ioanna, Landon, Lueda, Evangelia, Christine, Vasiliki, Anastasia, Aikaterini, Cynthia, Demetrios, Robin, Paraskevi, Theodore, Eleni, Athena, Katerina, Sophia, Eleni, Corinne, Maria, Ioannis, Michael, Eleana, Demetra, Kenneth, Eleni, Anastasios, Gregory, John, Marny, Chari, Nikolaos, Janet, Melissa, Marty, Andreas, Fotini, Georgia, Pamela, Haralambos, Photeine, Christina, Michael, Adrianne, George, Anastasia, Nicholas, Michael, Alexandra, Sofia, Joseph, Vasilios,
If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388 or send us an email to info@standrewgonj.org
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.
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. Plagal First Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 12:6-14.
Brethren, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Προκείμενον. Plagal First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 11.7,1.
Σὺ Κύριε, φυλάξαις ἡμᾶς καὶ διατηρήσαις ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Σῶσον με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 12:6-14.
Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες δὲ χαρίσματα κατὰ τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσαν ἡμῖν διάφορα, εἴτε προφητείαν, κατὰ τὴν ἀναλογίαν τῆς πίστεως· εἴτε διακονίαν, ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ· εἴτε ὁ διδάσκων, ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ· εἴτε ὁ παρακαλῶν, ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει· ὁ μεταδιδούς, ἐν ἁπλότητι· ὁ προϊστάμενος, ἐν σπουδῇ· ὁ ἐλεῶν, ἐν ἱλαρότητι. Ἡ ἀγάπη ἀνυπόκριτος. Ἀποστυγοῦντες τὸ πονηρόν, κολλώμενοι τῷ ἀγαθῷ. Τῇ φιλαδελφίᾳ εἰς ἀλλήλους φιλόστοργοι· τῇ τιμῇ ἀλλήλους προηγούμενοι· τῇ σπουδῇ μὴ ὀκνηροί· τῷ πνεύματι ζέοντες· τῷ κυρίῳ δουλεύοντες· τῇ ἐλπίδι χαίροντες· τῇ θλίψει ὑπομένοντες· τῇ προσευχῇ προσκαρτεροῦντες· ταῖς χρείαις τῶν ἁγίων κοινωνοῦντες· τὴν φιλοξενίαν διώκοντες. Εὐλογεῖτε τοὺς διώκοντας ὑμᾶς· εὐλογεῖτε, καὶ μὴ καταρᾶσθε.
Gospel Reading
6th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:1-8
At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
6th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 9:1-8
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐμβὰς εἰς πλοῖον διεπέρασε καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν. Καὶ ἰδοὺ προσέφερον αὐτῷ παραλυτικὸν ἐπὶ κλίνης βεβλημένον· καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν εἶπε τῷ παραλυτικῷ· θάρσει, τέκνον· ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. καὶ ἰδού τινες τῶν γραμματέων εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· οὗτος βλασφημεῖ. καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἵνα τί ὑμεῖς ἐνθυμεῖσθε πονηρὰ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί γάρ ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας - τότε λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· ἐγερθεὶς ἆρόν σου τὴν κλίνην καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἐγερθεὶς ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ. ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ ὄχλοι ἐθαύμασαν καὶ ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν δόντα ἐξουσίαν τοιαύτην τοῖς ἀνθρώποις.
Saints and Feasts
July 24
6th Sunday of Matthew
July 24
Boris and Gleb, the Passion-bearers
The holy Passion-bearers Boris and Gleb, named Romanus and David in sacred Baptism, were the pious sons of the holy Great Prince Vladimir. In 1015 they were slain at the command of their brother Svyatopolk-Saint Boris, on July 24 on the Alta River, near Pereyaslavl, and Saint Gleb, on September 5 on the bank of the Smyadinya River, near Smolensk. Although both had understood their brother's designs against them, they refused to take up arms against him and bring civil war upon their land, preferring to fulfill the commandment, "Resist not evil" (Matt. 5:39). The holy relics of Saint Boris were then buried in Vyshgorod, to which the holy relics of his brother were transferred five years later. Miracles were worked through the holy relics of the meek and guileless brothers during the consecration in Vyshgorod of a church in their honor on this day in 1021.
July 25
Dormition of St. Anna, mother of the Theotokos
According to tradition, Anna, the ancestor of God, lived for sixty-nine years, and her spouse Joachim, for eighty; according to one account, Saint Joachim died two years before Saint Anna. The Theotokos had been orphaned of both her parents already when she was eleven years of age, when she was living in the Temple (see Sept. 8 and Nov. 21). Saint Anna is invoked for conceiving children, and for help in difficult childbirth.
July 26
Paraskeve the Righteous Martyr of Rome
Saint Paraskeve, 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, Paraskeve), 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.
July 27
Panteleimon the Great Martyr & Healer
This Saint, who had Nicomedia as his homeland, was the son of Eustorgius and Eubula. His father was an idolater, but his mother was a Christian from her ancestors. It was through her that he was instructed in piety, and still later, he was catechized in the Faith of Christ by Saint Hermolaus (see July 26) and baptized by him. Being proficient in the physician's vocation, he practiced it in a philanthropic manner, healing every illness more by the grace of Christ than by medicines. Thus, although his parents had named him Pantoleon ("in all things a lion"), because of the compassion he showed for the souls and bodies of all, he was worthily renamed Panteleimon, meaning "all-merciful." On one occasion, when he restored the sight of a certain blind man by calling on the Divine Name, he enlightened also the eyes of this man's soul to the knowledge of the truth. This also became the cause for the martyrdom of him who had been blind, since when he was asked by whom and in what manner his eyes had been opened, in imitation of that blind man of the Gospel he confessed with boldness both who the physician was and the manner of his healing. For this he was put to death immediately. Panteleimon was arrested also, and having endured many wounds, he was finally beheaded in the year 305, during the reign of Maximian. Saint Panteleimon is one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and is held in special honor among them, even as Saint George is among the Martyrs.
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode
Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Apolytikion for Great Martyr Christina in the Fourth Mode
O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Η αμνάς σου Ιησού, κράζει μεγάλη τή φωνή Σέ νυμφίε μου ποθώ, καί σέ ζητούσα αθλώ, καί συσταυρούμαι, καί συνθάπτομαι τώ βαπτισμώ σου, καί πάσχω διά σέ, ως βασιλεύσω συν σοί, καί θνήσκω υπέρ σού, ίνα καί ζήσω εν σοί αλλ' ως θυσίαν άμωμον, προσδέχου τήν μετά πόθου τυθείσάν σοι, Αυτής πρεσβείαις, ως ελεήμων σώσον τάς ψυχάς ημών.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Apolytikion for the Church in the First Mode
Hymn of the Apostle St. Andrew: As first of the Apostles to receive the call, and very brother of the prince of them, intercede O Andrew, with the Master of all of us, peace to all the world to grant, and to our souls His great mercy.
Απολυτίκιο του Αποστόλου Ανδρέου: Ως των Αποσόλων πρωτόκλητος, και του κορυφαίου αυτάδελφος, τον Δεσπότην των όλων Ανδρέα ικέτευε, ειρήνην τη οικουμένη δωρήσασθαι, και ταις ψυχαίς ημών το μέγα έλεος
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.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Wisdom of the Fathers
Here he names a comprehensive thing. For the Apostleship even is called a ministry, and every spiritual work is a ministry. This is indeed a name of a peculiar office (viz. the 502 diaconate); however, it is used in a general sense. "Or he that teacheth, on teaching." See with what indifference he places them, the little first and the great afterwards, again giving us the same lesson, not to be puffed up or elated...."Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation." And this is a species of teaching too. For "if ye have any word of exhortation," it says, "speak unto the people." (Acts xiii. 15.) Then to show that it is no great good to follow after virtue unless this is done with the proper rule, he proceeds, "He that giveth" (<greek>metadidois</greek>, imparteth), "let him do it with simplicity." For it is not enough to give, but we must do it with munificence also, for this constantly answereth to the name of simplicity...For it is not enough to show mercy, but it behooves us to do it with a largeness and an ungrudging spirit, or rather not with an ungrudging, but even with a cheerful and rejoicing one, for not grudging does not amount to rejoicing...writing to the Corinthians also, he insisted very strongly upon. For to rouse them to such largeness he said, "He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Cor. ix. 6.) But to correct their temper he added, "Not grudgingly or of necessity." (ib. 7.) For both the shower of mercy ought to have, both ungrudgingness and pleasure.
Homily 21 on Romans 7, 4th Century
Through the toil of prayer and the anguish of your heart commune with those who are grieved at heart, and the Source of mercy will be opened up to your petitions.
Unknown, 7th century