Services at St. Andrew

Sunday 7/31 7th Sunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL @9:30am

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A 40-Day Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of our ever-memorable +James Dimitrios Halkias loving husband of Helen, beloved father of Kali (Chad) Cannizzaro, Michael (Maria) Halkias, grandfather of Lainie, Charlie and James Cannizzaro; James and Thomas Halkias

May his memory be eternal!

Divine Services

Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 8/1, 8/2 & 8/4 @6:30pm + Paraklesis Service

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!

Friday 8/5

@6:30pom Great Vespers

Saturday 8/6 +Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

+Orthros @8am Divine Liturgy at 9am

Ιερεσ Ακολουθίεσ

Δευτέρα Τρίτη & Πέμπτη -1/8. 2/8 & 4/8 ώρα 6:30μμ Ακολουθία Παράκλησις

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. Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε, σώσον ημάς.

Παρασκευή 5/8

ώρα 6.30μμ +Μέγας Εσπερινός

Σαββατγο 6/8 +Ἡ Μεταμόρφωσις τοῦ Κυρίου Ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

Όρθρος ώρα 8πμ Θεία Λειτουργία ώρα 9πμ

Baptism - Βάπτισή

On Saturday at 2pm Rachel Apriliani will be baptized and Chrismated according to the rites of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church

Sunday 8/7 8th 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 8^th 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

60^th Anniversary Gala Sunday November 13^th at the Meadow Wood in Randolph NJ see flyer below

Fr. John's Message

The Lord’s Voice 7-31-22

THE LOVE OF GOD

Today is the seventh Sunday, in the series of passages of the holy Gospel of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew. His divinely inspired pen floods us today with the love of God; it tells us very succinctly, and at the same time very comprehensively, that God is present in people's lives, as it informs us about a triple miraculous intervention of Jesus, with the restoration of vision in two blind men, and of the restoration of the mental, physical and spiritual health of a deaf and possessed man. It is worth stopping for a moment, and benefiting a lot from the answer that the teacher Christ gave to the touching pleas of the first two, to turn His gaze at them, and to have mercy on them. An answer that is simultaneously, a harbinger of the abundance of love, expressed with their healing. "According to your faith, let it be done to you"; according to your faith, let what you are asking of me, be done to you. Divine, simple, words, full of love and philanthropy, which, combined with the gaze of Jesus, are already beginning the recovery process. Faith, the dialect, we would say, of the communication with the true God, the bridge that unites heaven with the earth, the Maker with his creature, the father with his child, is undoubtedly the possibility for man to speak the language of God, and to freely live the life that He grants.

Faith, the language of the Saints

Discipleship in the sacred tradition of the people of God, teaches us that faith is the answer to how the faithful person can defeat his passions and weaknesses, overcome the machinations of the devil, gaze at God himself in his image in the world, which is fellow man. Above all, the faithful person, with the strength of his faith, knows when he falls, not to be disappointed, to not lose his hope, even if he is hurting and bleeding, but to take courage, confident in the grace of the Holy Mighty One, to get up and continue.

Faith makes man excel, not by being exalted, but by being humbled, escaping from the prison in which the so-called freedom is imprisoning him. The worldly criterion, when the devil rules him, has always wanted and still wants, under various pretexts, to suppress the hope that faith gives birth to. But faith resembles the leaven, which is small, is minimal, but when it is skillfully kneaded with flour and water, it greatly increases and gives many loaves, enough to feed and support the person. This is exactly how believers seem, small and cast aside, many times, to the world's shallow judgement. Faith, however, is the gift of the immortal God that immortalizes, eternalizes the person who believes, and grants him to overcome the present things unharmed, but also to participate in the joy of God's children. It is the road that fills a person with the experience of all those who chose the same path. The logic of those who do not participate in this joy, considers this choice absurd, depreciating, mocking and dynamiting it, many times.

A heavenly companionship

Encouragers of the struggler, on the path of God, are the choirs of Ascetics, Fathers, Martyrs and Neomartyrs and all of the Saints and righteous ones of the Old and New Testament. We can all be travelers on this path, despite our sinfulness, blessed by our holy baptism and our participation in the body of Christ. We are accompanied by the mediating presence and power of so many holy people who stand prayerfully at the throne of the Master Christ.

Our holy Church is the treasury of this gift. Let us run there, to the benefit of the mysteries of God, even if we think that we have completely lost our priceless treasure. Our Christ is waiting for us, to enrich us again. May it be!

Archim. A. A.

Daily Calendar

Sunday’s Coffee Hour July 31stis hosted by St Andrew community

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 15^th Celebration. or bring something to share

HOSTING Sunday’s Coffee Hour ON: Need Hosts for August 7 open, Aug 14 Melekos , Aug 15 Melekos, Aug 21 open, Aug 28 open

Sept 4^th Philoptochos, Sept. 11^TH PTA, Sep 18^TH at Asbury Park, Sept 25^TH GOYA

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Mon Tue Thu 8/1 8/2 & 8/4

@6:30 Paraklesis Service

Thursday 8/4 @7:45 PM Pre-marriage counseling session 1^st 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

@2pm Baptism

Sunday 8/7

8^thSunday 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 2^nd of 2

Sunday 8/14

8^thSunday 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

10^thSunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL of SJC

Saturday 8/27

Faith Kitchen – AHEPA & DOP hosting

Sunday 8/28

11^thSunday of Matthew +Orthros 8:15am & DL of SJC

Memorial Service +Kypros Kouyialis, +Vagios (Van) Paftinos

@ 2pm Baptism

Monday 8/29

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John +Orthros 8am & DL of SJC @9am

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!

FAITH & BLUE

Friday October 7 4-8pm at Saint Andrew Church.

LORDS VOICE

FONI KYRIOU 7-31-22

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

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 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 μαθητήν, ὃν ἐφίλει ὁ Ἰησοῦς, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ᾞραν τὸν Κύριον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ οὐκ οἴδαμεν ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. Ἐξῆλθεν οὖν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ ὁ ἄλλος μαθητής, 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 Γραφήν, 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 Letter to the Romans 15:1-7.

Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for 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 ῾Ρωμαίους 15:1-7.

Ἀδελφοί, ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλά, καθὼς γέγραπται, Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπʼ ἐμέ. Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν· ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ.

Gospel Reading

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

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

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

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

7th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 9:27-35

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγοντι ἐκεῖθεν τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ δύο τυφλοὶ κράζοντες καὶ λέγοντες· ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ. ἐλθόντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ τυφλοί, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· πιστεύετε ὅτι δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ναί, Κύριε. τότε ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν λέγων· κατὰ τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν γενηθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί· καὶ ἐνεβριμήσατο αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· ὁρᾶτε μηδεὶς γινωσκέτω. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες διεφήμισαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ.

Αὐτῶν δὲ ἐξερχομένων ἰδοὺ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον· καὶ ἐκβληθέντος τοῦ δαιμονίου ἐλάλησεν ὁ κωφός, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ὄχλοι λέγοντες ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ. οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον· ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια.

Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

Saints and Feasts

July 31

7th Sunday of Matthew

July 31

Forefeast of the Precious Cross

August 01

Procession of the Precious Cross

Because of the many diseases that occur in the month of August, the custom prevailed of old in Constantinople to carry the precious Wood of the Cross in procession throughout the city for its sanctification and its deliverance from illnesses. It was brought forth from the imperial treasury on the last day of July and placed upon the Holy Table of the Great Church of the Holy Wisdom; and beginning today, until the Dormition of the Theotokos, it was carried in procession throughout the city and was set forth for veneration before the people.

August 02

Phocas the Martyr

Saint Phocas was a gardener in a small village on the south coast of the Black Sea. He lived a simple life, carrying out acts of piety and love for all around him, even serving the pagans of the village, some of who left their ways and followed Christ. The local governor heard of this and sent soldiers to kill him. The saint stumbled upon these very soldiers and, without disclosing his name, ministered to them by receiving them into his home, feeding them, and giving them rest. That night he dug a grave for himself in his garden and prepared for all his possessions to be given away after his death.

The next morning, Phocas disclosed to the soldiers that it was he whom they were seeking to kill. The soldiers were distraught, not wanting to kill the saint who had shown them so much kindness. Phocas insisted that they must carry out their mission as he willingly laid his head beneath the sword. They proceeded to execute him and then bury him in the grave he dug in his garden. The site later became a source of miracles, and eventually a Church was erected upon it. Saint Phocas is frequently invoked for those who travel by sea. His life was recorded by Saint Asterius of Amasia (see October 10^th).

August 03

Salome the Holy Myrrhbearer

August 06

Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him" (Matt. 17: 5).

Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.

August 07

8th Sunday of Matthew

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 Eudocimus of Cappadocia in the Fourth Mode

The One that hath called thee from the earth to Heaven to dwell * preserveth thy body uncorrupted after thy death, O saintly Eudocimus; * for in living modestly and chastely, O blest one, * thou didst keep thy flesh free of all stain and defilement; * with boldness, therefore, pray unto Christ that we may all be saved.

Εκ γής ο καλέσας σε, πρός αιωνίους μονάς, τηρεί καί μετά θάνατον αδιαλώβητον, τό σώμά σου, Άγιε, σύ γάρ εν σωφροσύνη, καί σεμνή πολιτεία, μάκαρ επολιτεύσω, μή μολύνας τήν σάρκα, διό εν παρρησία Χριστώ, πρέσβευε σωθήναι ημάς.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Mode

You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

Επί τού όρους μετεμορφώθης, καί ως εχώρουν οι Μαθηταί σου τήν δόξαν σου, Χριστέ ο Θεός εθεάσαντο, ίνα όταν σε ίδωσι σταυρούμενον, τό μέν πάθος νοήσωσιν εκούσιον, τώ δέ κόσμω κηρύξωσιν, ότι σύ υπάρχεις αληθώς, τού Πατρός τό απαύγασμα.

Wisdom of the Fathers

He puts an end to the woman's fear ... He sets her right, in respect of her thinking to be hid ... He exhibits her faith to all, so as to provoke the rest also to emulation ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 31 on Matthew 9, 4th Century

And then at last He for His part lays His hand upon them, saying, "According to your faith be it unto you." And this He does to confirm their faith, and to show that they are participators in the good work ...