Saints and Feasts

January 26

15th Sunday of Luke

January 26

Xenophon & his Companions

This Saint, a wealthy nobleman of Constantinople, was filled with piety toward God. He had two sons, Arcadius and John, whom he sent to Beirut to study law. But they were shipwrecked during their voyage; barely saved, they forsook all things and departed for Palestine. Saint Xenophon and his wife Mary, ignorant of what had happened, went in search of their sons. On finding them in Jerusalem, dressed in the habit of monks, they also took up the monastic life. And thus, having completed their lives in holiness, they departed for the Lord about the beginning of the sixth century. Saint Xenophon and his sons reposed at Saint Sabbas Monastery, and Mary at the Monastery of Saint Theodosius.

January 30

Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom

This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor Alexis Comnenus (1081-1118).

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Apolytikion for St. Anna (Dec. 9) in the Fourth Mode

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed; for God hearkened to Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee."

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15.

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Gospel Reading

15th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10

At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

Wisdom of the Fathers

For Christ's presence is like that of some life-giving, scented balsam which restores health, enriches life and gives savor to the soul, the thoughts, the words of a man. In brief, distance from Christ means corruption and death, and closeness to Him means salvation and life.

Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic

Prolog, 4 February

Christ is the salvation that comes, and Zacchaeus is the house to which He comes.

Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic

Prolog, 4 February

Ministry News

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by the Kazantzis family in memory of Avram and Margarita Kazantzis and George and Jean Rieder.

Church Calendar:

Thursday, January 30: Three Hierarchs - Orthros / Liturgy, 9 am

Saturdays, February 22, February 29, March 7 – Saturday of Souls - 9 am

Monday, March 2: Kathara Deuftera (Clean Monday)- 5:30 pm

HOUSE AND BUSINESS BLESSINGS: Here are the available dates this month. If you would like your house and/or business blessed with the Holy Water of Epiphany please contact Fr. A. Additional dates can be worked out with him.

Wednesday, Jan. 29

Thursday, Jan. 30

Apokriatiko Glendi

We will be holding an Apokriatiko (“Mardi Gras”) Glendi on February 22 from 7-11 pm at the Mountain View Chalet on Route 173 in Asbury. The evening will include DJ entertainment, a tricky tray, appetizers, salad, a robust buffet, dessert, coffee, and soft drinks. Cash bar will be available. Masquerade costumes are encouraged. The cost will be $75 pp, $40 for children 12 and under. We need to have a paid commitment from 60 people TODAY, January 26, in order to secure the catering hall. Please see Arge Mardakis in the Fellowship Hall after Liturgy to sign up for the opportunity to party together before the start of Lent!

Education: In the month of February, Sunday school students are invited to make cards for patients of Hunterdon medical center. Just a few words of encouragement is all that is needed. These cards can be made at home or in class. Parents are invited to join in as well and brighten a patient’s day. They will be collected by the end of February. If you need to tweak, feel free.

On Sunday, February 16, Fr. A will hold a Teaching Liturgy. He will stop at various times during the Liturgy to explain the symbolism and meaning. These explanations will take the place of the children’s sermon. Sunday School is in session that day.

Save the Date: St. Anna Oratorical Festival - March 29. Topics are available online at https://www.goarch.org/oratorical

Hunterdon Happening

Voting for the Hunterdon Happening List Best Foodie Event is now open. We need to reclaim our title! Please vote and help spread the word! Link is below: http://hunterdon.happeningmag.com/happeninglist/2020-everything-hunterdon-foodie-event/

PC Corner

Please mark your calendars for this year’s events:

February 22 - Glendi. See note on first page.

March 22 - Spring General Assembly

April 12 - Palm Sunday Fish Lunch

April 24 - Trivia night

September 11-13 OPA

Nov 1 - Fall General Assembly

October 23 - Trivia night

November 14-15 - Eat & Shop

Archdiocese Issue with Listserv and Gmail Address as Sender: Currently, there have been some issues with sending messages to Listserv lists from gmail addresses. A workaround is being used, but if you are not receiving messages or bulletins, please let the Church office know.

Bulletin Inserts

Apokriatiko Glendi 2020

Share this flyer for the Glendi and invite your friends and family! We'll see you there!

Stewardship

Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.

2020 Stewardship Status: We have 35 Pledges totaling $78,000 for an average of $2,229 and $28,900 received to date. We also have 5 families who have contributed $1,280 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $175,000. If the remaining 126, 2019 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards.

Pick up your 2020 Stewardship Cards at the table in the Narthex today!

…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much

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