January 08
St. Andrew Church
Publish Date: 2023-01-08
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:
- 2023-01-15
- Publish Date:
- 2023-01-01
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-25
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-18
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-11
- Publish Date:
- 2022-12-04
Services at St. Andrew
Friday 1/6 @ 8:00 am:
Holy Theophany Baptism of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
- Orthros, Divine Liturgy & The Great Blessing of the Waters
Saturday 1/7@ 8:00 am:
The Synaxis of the Holy Prophet St. John the Baptist
– Orthros & Divine Liturgy
Sunday 1/8 @ 8:15 am:
+ Sunday after Epiphany
- Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am
Memorial services on Sunday
A 40 Day Memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of +George Γεωργίου John Kyreakakis, beloved husband of Cindy, brother of Andrew (Phyllis) and Anthony (Elvira) Kyreakakis, as well as a Memorial Service for the repose of the souls of: +Christine Χριστίνας Kyreakakis.+Pauline Παυλίνας Papadakes, beloved family members.
A 40 Day Memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Andreas Ανδρέα Louca, beloved father of Antoni (Panayiota) Louca, grandfather of: Katerina (Sergei), Andrea, Demetri, Nicole, Alexa.
A One Year Memorial Service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Nikolaos Νικολάου Rotsides, beloved husband of Maria Rotsides, father of Eleni (Charles) Peterson, Demetrios (Veronica) Rotsides, Katerina (Oxmani) Corona, grandfather of: Chase, Nicholas, Constantine, Nicholas, James and Nicholas, as well as a Memorial Service for the repose of the soul of +Loukas Λουκά Rotsides, beloved son of Demetri and Veronica Rotsides. Friends and relatives are invited to join the families for refreshments downstairs in honor of their Loved ones blessed memory.
A TWO-YEAR memorial service will be held for the repose of the soul of +Andreas Ανδρέα Christodoulou, beloved husband of Hariclea, devoted father of: Kyriaki, Erini, Maria, and Philippos. Friends and relatives are invited to join the family for refreshments downstairs in honor of Andrea’s blessed memory
A Trisagion Service will be held for the repose for the repose of the souls of: +Stefanos Στεφάνου Vellios, +Christoforos Χριστοφόρου and +Vasiliki Βασιλικής Raptis, beloved family of Joanna Vellios.
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 | Consider making your donations using our New Abundant App
Announcements
Cutting of Community’s Vasilopita - On Sunday January 8th 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.
SUNDAY COFFEE Hour ON 1/8/23 is hosted by Philoptochos
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
Coffee Hour is hosted by: 1/15 PTA, 1/22 DOP, 1/29 GOYA, 2/5 Philoptochos, 2/12 PTA, 2/19 DOP, 2/26 GOYA , 3/5 Philoptochos, 3/12 PTA, 3/19 DOP, 3/26 Bakaliko…
Godparents Sunday: Sunday February 5th | Come with your godchild (ren) to Divine Liturgy
GOC Ecclesiastical Calendar 2023 are ready. Help us with mailing costs - Please take your calendar from outside the office. If you have already picked up your 2023 Calendar, please stop by and pick up the AMNOS Daily Bible Reading Guide for Orthodox Christians. It just arrived and is now available for you to take your copy
Greek Cypriot community: A Cypriot American graduate student at Seton Hall University is working on her thesis proposal. She is interested in putting together an oral history of the Greek Cypriot community in the United States, specifically of those who immigrated in the late 70s/early 80s after the Turkish occupation of 1974. She is looking to connect with Greek Cypriots in the U.S. and was hoping our parish may be able to provide her with some leads of individuals who would be willing to share their immigration stories. Please contact Diana at Diana.Minakakis@shu.edu
Fr. John's Message
LORD’S VOIVCE
JANUARY 8 2023
THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER AFTER THE LIGHTS
Today's Sunday in our liturgical church language is called "Sunday after the Lights [i.e. Epiphany]". This designation is not simply some time determination, but the deposition of the ecclesiastical faith and experience for the transformation and sanctification of time and man.
If the Feast of Lights is about the manifestation of the mystery of the Holy Trinity, in the testimony of the incarnation of the Son of God, and the illumination of all creation, then the believer who is granted to participate in these divine gifts, undergoes the good transformation. He is shown forth as God-bearing and Christ-bearing.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit
That is why the Apostle Paul points out that every believer has been given a special gift, according to the measure that Christ gives. And to establish the distribution of charismata and gifts of the Holy Spirit, he refers, first of all, to the incarnation of the Lord, presenting relevant verses from Psalm 67. After Christ, he says, finished His redemptive work, He ascended again "on high" (with His Ascension) and "captured captivity". That is, as the sacred Chrysostom interprets, He received (with His crucifictory sacrifice and Resurrection) as the captive, "the tyrant", that is, the devil, death, the curse, and sin, and abolished their authority. And then He "gave offerings to the people"; He filled the faithful with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The aforesaid ascension of the Lord into the heavens, and the granting of gifts, presuppose His descent to earth, i.e. His incarnation. And the incarnation of God the Word reveals that our salvation is founded on the humility and love of God, on the infinite condescension for His creature.
Then the Apostle becomes more specific as to the granting of gifts. He says that to some has given the gift of the apostle, to others, the prophet, to others, the evangelist and to others, the pastor and teacher. And all these, with the aim of edifying the faithful and facilitating the work of the ministry, so that the Body of Christ, i.e. the Church, is built up
Certainly, the greatest gift given to man is the capability for him to participate in life, light, holiness, and the immortality of Christ. This original, "better" gift, is the presupposition for the distribution of the other gifts as well. Therefore, all the members of the Church, analogous to the faith and working of the divine commandments, receive the gift of god-making energy of God, and the abundant giving of divine gifts, since "the performance of the Spirit lies in the will of man", as Saint Maximus the Confessor says.
Utilization of gifts
And precisely because the gifts are given "to the building up of the Body of Christ", it is inconceivable that they should be autonomized and put in a utilitarian context, because then they are altered and distorted. That is why the believer must offer them back to God, with love for God, and thanksgiving and, subsequently, to make the brothers in Christ partakers of these. In this way, the brother-loving, the ministry, and the fitting together of the members of the Church take place. Then the function of the Christian community as a gathering of Christified people, partakers of God's holiness, is realized
Our spiritual coming of age
The utilization and offering of gifts, makes a decisive contribution to the spiritual maturity of the believer and the acquisition of the unending perfection of which Christ is the measure, as the Apostle says: "in the measure of the age of the pleroma of Christ". Man acquires the sense that his gifts come from the Father of Lights, and so he deposits them at the Holy Altar, where the mystery of Love is celebrated. Having, therefore, in our hearts, gratitude to the Lord, who grants us various gifts, let us strive to make use of them, to the glory of God, and for the sake of the spiritual edification of our brethren.
Archim. N.K
Daily Calendar
House Blessings in Dover Jan 5, 6, 9 & 10 Please look for your post card w. Date in the Mail
Saturday 1/7
@2pm - Antoni Bulko ‘s Boy Scout COURT OF HONOR CEREMONY in SA Social Hall
House Blessings in Randolph Jan 10, 12, 13. & 17 Please look for post card w Date in the Mail
Tuesday 1/10
@7:30pm Sstewardship & Parish Council Zoom Meeting followed by PC Monthly Meeting
Friday 1/13
@7pm Wine & Cheese & Art Social Hall of SA
Sunday 1/15
12th Sunday of Luke +Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am
Memorial Service: +Michael Protopapas +Nikolaos Kritharis
-Parish Council Oath of Office in church
@12pm Saint Andrew Council of Ministries Meeting
Tuesday 1/17
+Saint Anthony +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am
Wednesday 1/18
+Saint Athanasios +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am
Friday 1/20
+Saint Euthymius the Great +Orthros @8am & Divine Liturgy @9am
@7pm Movie Night at Saint Andrew more tba
Saturday 1/21
Greek Letters & Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs at St Nichols in Roseland @5pm
Sunday 1/22
+15th Sunday of Luke+Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am
News - Flyers - Registrations - Other
PLEDGE 2023
When filling out your 2023 PLEDGE, we ask that you prayerfully consider your Christian Stewardship Commitment, commensurate with your resources and your gratitude for the bounties and blessings our Lord has bestowed on you.
Stewardship
Where does your pledge fall?
Lord's Voice
FONI KYRIOY in Greek 1-8-23
LIVING AN ORTHODOX LIFE
HOLY WATER - House Blessings
Leaders' Meeting
Sunday January 15 following church services RSVP attendance
Greek Letters Day
Northern New Jersey Region Greek Letters Celebration - Saturday, January 21, 2023, at SS. Nicholas, Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Roseland, NJ at 5:00pm
Super Bowl TAKE OUT
GYRO & SOUVLAKI | FEB 11TH SATURDAY 11AM - 6PM
Wine & Cheese | Movie
Friday Jan 13 @7PM WINE & CHEESE & ART SOCIAL HALL OF SA | Movie Night Fri Jan 20
Taste of North Jersey
Saturday, February 11, 2023 Vespers: 6:00 pm | Wine & Hors d’oeuvres: 7:00 pm at SS Nicholas, Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church | to benefit IOCC
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
Nikolaos, Kyriaki, James, Panagiotis, Florence, Konstantinos, Ekaterini, Antonia, Georgia, Olga, Angeliki, Vasilis, Hariklia, Alex, Peter, Alexandra, Dimitra, Kenneth, Andy, Dutch, Danny, Irene, Pamela, Anita, Maria, Sophia, Ioannis, Maurice, Pat, Bonita, Maria, Deryl, Mary, Elena, Konstantinos, Zenovia, Joanne, Anna, Panayiota, Thomas, Robert, Eleni, Leslie, Martin, Paula, Valerie, David, Barbara, Cesar, Angeliki, Maria, Demetri, Karen, Andrew, Stan, Vasiliki, Marios, Theodore, Fr. Konstantine, Mary, Eftihia, Ioannis, David , Andreas, Robert, Antonis, Susan, Alexandros, Gregory, Sophia, Tara, children and families of Ukraine, Ioanna, Landon, Lueda, Christine, Vasiliki, Anastasia, Aikaterini, Cynthia, Demetrios, Robin, Paraskevi, Theodore, Eleni, Athena, Katerina, Sophia, Eleni, Corinne,
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
Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18
At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus has lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them that He had said these things to her.
Eighth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:11-18
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, Μαρία εἱστήκει πρὸς τὸ μνημεῖον κλαίουσα ἔξω· ὡς οὖν ἔκλαιε, παρέκυψεν εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ θεωρεῖ δύο ἀγγέλους ἐν λευκοῖς καθεζομένους, ἕνα πρὸς τῇ κεφαλῇ, καὶ ἕνα πρὸς τοῖς ποσίν, ὅπου ἔκειτο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· Γύναι, τί κλαίεις; λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ὅτι ᾖραν τὸν Κύριόν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν· καὶ ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἑστῶτα, καὶ οὐκ ᾒδει ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστι. Λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Γύναι, τί κλαίεις; τίνα ζητεῖς; ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ κηπουρὸς ἐστι, λέγει αὐτῷ· Κύριε, εἰ σὺ ἐβάστασας αὐτόν, εἰπέ μοι ποῦ αὐτὸν ἔθηκας, κᾀγὼ αὐτὸν ἀρῶ· λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Μαρία· στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ· Ῥαββουνί· ὃ λέγεται Διδάσκαλε· λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μή μου ἃπτου· οὔπω γὰρ ἀναβέβηκα πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου, πορεύου δὲ πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς μου, καὶ εἰπὲ αὐτοῖς· Ἀναβαίνω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ πατέρα ὑμῶν, καὶ Θεόν μου καὶ Θεὸν ὑμῶν· ἔρχεται Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ ἀπαγγέλλουσα τοῖς μαθηταῖς ὅτι ἑώρακε τὸν Κύριον· καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13.
BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 4:7-13.
Ἀδελφοί, ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ λέγει, Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Τὸ δέ, Ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη πρῶτον εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς; Ὁ καταβάς, αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα. Καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους, τοὺς δὲ προφήτας, τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς, τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους, πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων, εἰς ἔργον διακονίας, εἰς οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ· μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Gospel Reading
Sunday after Epiphany
The Reading is from Matthew 4:12-17
At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Sunday after Epiphany
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 4:12-17
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι ᾿Ιωάννης παρεδόθη, ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, καὶ καταλιπὼν τὴν Ναζαρὲτ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς Καπερναοὺμ τὴν παραθαλασσίαν ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλείμ, ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ ῾Ησαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· γῆ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλείμ, ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου, Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκότειεἶδε φῶς μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτουφῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς. ᾿Απὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν· μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.
Saints and Feasts
January 08
George of Hozeva
Saint George lived about the beginning of the ninth century in Palestine, in a certain monastery called Hozeva, which lies in a great ravine between Jerusalem and Jericho.
January 08
Domnica the Righteous of Constantinople
Saint Domnica was from Carthage. During the reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Great, she came with four other virgins to Constantinople, where she was baptized by Nectarius, the Patriarch of Constantinople. She remained in Constantinople and became known for her extreme asceticism, the miracles that she worked, and the grace of prophecy that adorned her. She lived until the days of the Emperors Leo and Zeno, reposing in peace about the year 474.
January 10
Gregory of Nyssa
Saint Gregory, the younger brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox Faith, was born in 331. His brother Basil was encouraged by their elder sister Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career (see July 19); Saint Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honor of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. Saint Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this he repented and became very diligent in the service of God.
Gregory became bishop in 372, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 by Valens, who was of one mind with the Arians. After the death of Valens in 378, Gregory was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Council of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381. Having lived some sixty years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council call him 'Father of Fathers."
January 12
Tatiana the Martyr of Rome
Saint Tatiana was the daughter of a most distinguished consul of Rome. She became a deaconess of the Church, and for her confession of the Faith of Christ, she endured many torments. As she was suffering, angels punished her tormentors with the same torments they inflicted on her, until they cried out that they could no longer endure the scourges invisibly brought upon them. She was beheaded during the reign of Alexander Severus (111-135).
January 14
Savas I, Archbishop of Serbia
Saint Sabbas (Sava), the first Archbishop and teacher of the Serbs, and the most beloved of all the Saints of Serbia, was born in 1169, and was named Rastko by his parents. He was the son of Stephen Nemanja, the ruler of Serbia, who is better known as Saint Symeon the Myrrh-streamer (see Feb. 13). As a young man, Rastko fled secretly to the Holy Mountain, Athos, to the Monastery of Saint Panteleimon. When his father learned of his flight, he sent soldiers after him. Before they could seize him, he was tonsured a monk with the name of Sabbas, after Saint Sabbas the Sanctified (celebrated Dec. 5). Soon after, he entered the Monastery of Vatopedi, where his father joined him in 1197. Together they rebuilt the Monastery of Hilandar and made it a great spiritual center for their countrymen. In 1200 Saint Symeon reposed, and his body became a source of holy myrrh; in 1204 Saint Sabbas was compelled to return to Serbia with his father's relics, that he might restore peace between his two brothers, who were struggling over the rule of the kingdom. The grace of Saint Symeon's relics, and the mediations of Saint Sabbas, healed the division between his brethren. After persuading the Emperor in Constantinople and the Ecumenical Patriarch to grant autocephaly to the Serbian Church, the Saint against his will was ordained first Archbishop of his native land in 1219, where he labored diligently to establish the Orthodox Faith. In 1221 he crowned his brother Stephen first King of Serbia (the memory of Saint Stephen, First Crowned King of Serbia, is kept on September 24). In 1234, foreseeing by divine grace his coming departure to the Lord, he resigned the archiepiscopal throne, named his disciple Arsenius as his successor, and made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Mount Sinai; while returning through Bulgaria, he fell asleep in peace in 1236. Because he has been ever since the national hero of Serbia and an invincible bulwark strengthening the Orthodox Faith, the Moslem Turks burned his incorrupt relics in the year 1594. See also June 28.
January 15
John the Cave Dweller
Saint John, who was from Constantinople, was the son of illustrious parents -- Eutropius the Senator and Theodora. At twelve years of age he departed secretly from his home and went to the Monastery of the Unsleeping (see Dec. 29). Aflame with longing for his parents, he returned after six years to his father's home in the guise of a pauper and beggar. Living in a small hut at the gates of his parents' house (wherefrom he is called "hut-dweller"), he remained unknown therein for many years, and suffered mockery at the hands of those who had been his own servants. Foreknowing his death, he revealed himself to his parents, and within a few moments reposed, about the year 450.
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 Afterfeast of the Theophany in the First Mode
When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ βαπτιζομένου σου Κύριε, ἡ τῆς Τριάδος ἐφανερώθη προσκύνησις, τοῦ γὰρ Γεννήτορος ἡ φωνὴ προσεμαρτύρει σοί, ἀγαπητὸν σὲ Υἱὸν ὀνομάζουσα, καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα ἐν εἴδει περιστεράς, ἐβεβαίου τοῦ λόγου τὸ ἀσφαλές. Ὁ ἐπιφανεῖς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τὸν κόσμον φωτίσας δόξα σοί.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode
You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light."
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον τὴ οἰκουμένη, καὶ τὸ φῶς σου Κύριε, ἐσημειώθη ἐφ' ἡμᾶς, ἓν ἐπιγνώσει ὑμνούντάς σε. Ἦλθες ἐφάνης τὸ Φῶς τὸ ἀπρόσιτον.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Wisdom of the Fathers
For as persons not even knowing where to put a step forward, so they sat, overtaken by the darkness.
Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century
Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith.
Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 13, 2nd century