Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory be to You.

Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Luke the Evangelist in the Third Mode

O holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, make intercession to our merciful God, that He grant our souls forgiveness of offenses.

Απόστολε Άγιε, καί Ευαγγελιστά Λουκά, πρέσβευε τώ ελεήμονι Θεώ, ίνα πταισμάτων άφεσιν, παράσχη ταίς ψυχαίς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

A protection of Christians unshamable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, please reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.

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.

Saints and Feasts

October 18

Luke the Evangelist

The Evangelist Luke, "the beloved physician" as the Apostle Paul calls him, is the author of the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. A native of Antioch in Syria, he belonged to the chorus of the Seventy Apostles of Christ. He was a close associate of the Apostle Paul and accompanied him on his journeys in Troas, Philippi, from Philippi to Jerusalem and from Caesarea to Rome. He was also with him both times he was imprisoned. Indeed, during his second imprisonment, the Apostle Paul writes in his second epistle to Timothy that "Luke alone is with me".

The Evangelist Luke preached the Gospel in Dalmatia, France and Italy. Also in Boeotia and in Achaia, where he composed, according to St. Gregory the Theologian, the Gospel According to Luke. According to tradition, he was a painter and he depicted the Theotokos. He had an agonizing end, as indeed all the Apostles. Only John the Evangelist "was perfected in peace", and this happened because he experienced martyrdom "next to the Cross of Jesus." The relic of Saint Luke was transferred to the Sacred Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople in 357 A.D.

His life and times give us the opportunity to emphasize the following:

First, for someone to serve a person of power and glory is very natural according to the logic of the world and they justify this by the fact that for the inconvenience and toil given, a return awaits them. But for someone to toil and be inconvenienced for serving one who has no worldly power and therefore does not expect to reap something, and most importantly remains close to that person during trials and temptations, this exceeds fallen human logic, but also highlights the majesty of selfless love. For everything that does not agree with fallen human logic is not necessarily irrational, but it can also be super-rational, as is it is with true, selfless love. True love is not just a feeling, but sacrifice and a cross.

Second, in the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Luke the Evangelist refers to an event of a meeting he had with the risen Christ, three days after His burial. While walking along the road to Emmaus with the Apostle Cleopas and sadly discussing on the road all that took place over the previous three days, the risen Lord approached them and walked beside them. The events that followed are well known, how He interpreted for them the events that took place according to the Scriptures, such as His Passion and Resurrection, and this caused their hearts to burn within them. But they did not recognize who He was. This happened later during "the breaking of bread". That is, when He blessed the bread, He changed it into His Body and offered it to them as food. In fact they recognized Him, rather Christ "made Himself known to them", by revealing Himself to them during the Divine Liturgy. And although at the same time He disappeared, their hearts burned within them as earlier, and they were full of joy. This is why they left immediately and returned to Jerusalem, to announce the joyous event of the resurrection of Christ to His eleven disciples.

Hearts which are aflame with love for Christ, have the ability, under the right conditions, to know Him in the Divine Liturgy, in "the breaking of bread". This is not an emotional or psychological knowing, but an existential and ontological one. Saint Theophylact, Archbishop of Bulgaria, says that all who receive the Body and Blood of Christ, of course under the right conditions, the eyes of their soul are opened and they recognize Him, because the flesh of the Lord has great power and invites great joy. "Those who receive the blessed bread, their eyes open to recognize Him. The flesh of the Lord has great and ineffable power... The two disciples rejoiced, so that they got up and returned to Jerusalem."

We saw above, during the meeting of Christ with His two disciples as they were walking "towards Emmaus", that the interpretation of the Divine Scriptures preceded the Divine Communion. The same exact thing is repeated during every Divine Liturgy. The reading and interpretation of the Apostolic and Gospel passages is followed by the consecration of the Honorable Gifts and Divine Communion. And the reading is preceded by a prayer, which the priest reads silently, asking God to shine His divine Light in his heart and to open his mind that he may understand the Reading, so that he can interpret and transmit it to the people in a comprehensible and especially Orthodox way. He also asks God to implant in his soul divine fear, that he may be able to trample carnal desires and live a spiritual life, which is difficult and without the Grace of God is impossible.

To minister to "our neighbor", to every person without discrimination, and particularly the simple and despised and "the least", without selfishness, is a character trait of the saints, who know Love existentially, namely the Triune God, but in a similar proportion with all those who strive to achieve their personal sanctification.

October 18

Marinos the Martyr

The Holy Martyr Marinos lived in the third century, during a period of persecution against the Church. He was born and raised in Rome and received the office of a Senator. Gentleness, goodness and forbearance were his characteristics, as well as his great love, especially for the poor and needy, which created suspicion among his colleagues, who soon discovered that he was a Christian. And because they envied him for his many gifts, his irreproachable life and his blameless pattern of behavior, they denounced him and had him arrested by imperial order. The Saint boldly confessed his faith in Christ and refused to sacrifice to idols, which resulted in his being sentenced to death. He endured torture with admirable fortitude and patience and finally he was beheaded. His much-enduring and martyric body was buried by Christians, and his soul "flew" to the heavenly mansions where it rejoices together with the martyrs and all the saints.

The sacred writer of the synaxarion notes that when the martyr Marinos was led to the place of his torture and execution, he saw some of his friends crying, and addressing them he told them not to cry or be sad, but to rejoice, because he was walking from darkness to light, from the stadium to the prize and from death to eternal life.

His life and deeds give us the opportunity to emphasize the following:

First, envy is a terrible passion, since it darkens the mind of people and does not allow them to understand what is in their best interest. "For envy does not know where there is profit" (Praises for Holy Wednesday). Besides, the biggest crime in all of history, which was the condemnation of the God-man Christ to death by the cross, was due to envy. Matthew the Evangelist mentions that Pilate knew that "they handed Him (Christ) over, due to envy".

Saint Gregory of Nyssa calls envy the most wicked passion, the father of death, the first entrance of sin, the root of evil, the birth of sadness, the mother of calamity, a precondition for disobedience, the beginning of shame. He also calls it a deadly sting, a hidden weapon, a sickness of human nature, poisoned bile, voluntary languishing, a bitter arrow, a nail of the soul, a fire that burns the heart and a flame that flares the bowels. He also says that envy removed us from our home, from Paradise, taking the view of the snake against Eve. Our envy was the dividing wall from the Tree of Life, it stripped us of our sacred garb and covered our shame with the leaves of a fig tree. Envy armed Cain against nature which resulted in the first death, worthy of a sevenfold punishment. Envy made Joseph a slave. Finally he emphasizes that misfortune for the envious person is not his own calamity, but a strange happiness. Happiness for him is not his own good, but the misfortune of another. In other words, an envious person is tortured and suffers because of the happiness of another and rejoices in their suffering, which is why they are like vultures. That is, just like vultures eat carcasses and take satisfaction in horrible smells, even though they die from the scent, so also do people suffer from the disease of envy, they are "nourished" by the misfortune of another, while they suffer and are ruined by their happiness, as if it is myrrh.

Second, the terrible passion of envy is a passion of the spirited (θυμός, thymic or angered) part of the soul, and is cured by humility and love. When the spirited part of the soul operates normally, it is directed against the devil and sin. But when it is twisted and operates against nature, it turns against other people, even against irrational creation, which it hurts and destroys. In other words, the spirited part of the soul is bravery, which was given by God to man to help in the struggle against sin and to apply God's will. According to Saint Maximus the Confessor, love is the bridle that holds anger and does not allow it to turn to envy, which can lead people even to crime, which is why he urges: "The spirited part of the soul is restrained by love."

The Pharisees at the time of Christ saw Christ being a benefactor of people, healing the illnesses of their souls and bodies, and instead of rejoicing, they resented Christ. Indeed, they were blinded by pride and envy, and attributed the works of God to the devil. They would say that Christ cast out demons from the possessed by the power of the ruler of demons. In this way they committed the great sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which cannot be forgiven simply because proud and envious people do not repent. Unfortunately this sin is still committed today by many of those who suffer from the illness of pride, which begets envy.

The people of God, in all seasons, are envied, persecuted and slandered, but the uncreated Grace of God covers them, protects them, comforts them and supports them. Saint Gregory of Nyssa says that as many as climb to the highest rungs of the spiritual life, will remain immune to the arrows of envy, as it happened with the Prophet Moses, who was envied even by his sister Mariam. But he was at such a height, that the arrows of envy could not reach him and injure him and thus he remained unscathed.

Whoever overcomes their passions, by the Grace of God and their personal struggle, they have gained true love, which is why they "rejoice with those who rejoice" and "weep with those who weep". And the arrows of envy cannot banish from their heart - in which dwells the Grace of the Holy Spirit - joy and peace.

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 had 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 hold 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 δὲ εἱστήκει πρὸς τῷ μνημείῳ 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 ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῇ ἐκεῖνοι· γύναι, τί κλαίεις; λέγει αὐτοῖς· ὅτι ἦραν τὸν Κύριόν μου, καὶ οὐκ οἶδα ποῦ ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. καὶ ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἐστράφη εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω, καὶ θεωρεῖ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν ἑστῶτα, καὶ οὐκ ᾔδει ὅτι ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐστι. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· γύναι, τί κλαίεις; τίνα ζητεῖς; ἐκείνη δοκοῦσα ὅτι ὁ κηπουρός ἐστι, λέγει αὐτῷ· κύριε, εἰ σὺ ἐβάστασας αὐτόν, εἰπέ μοι ποῦ ἔθηκας αὐτόν, κἀγὼ αὐτὸν ἀρῶ. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· Μαρία. στραφεῖσα ἐκείνη λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββουνί, ὃ λέγεται, διδάσκαλε. λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μή μου ἅπτου· 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. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 4:5-11, 14-18.

Brethren, conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one. Tychicos will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimos, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place. Aristarchos my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions if he comes to you, receive him), and Jesus who is called Justos. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippos, "See that you fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord." I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. Grace be with you. Amen.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 18.4,1.
Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος αὐτῶν.
Στίχ. Οἱ οὐρανοὶ διηγοῦνται δόξαν Θεοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κολοσσαεῖς 4:5-11, 14-18.

Ἀδελφοί, ἐν σοφίᾳ περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω, τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι. Ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν πάντοτε ἐν χάριτι, ἅλατι ἠρτυμένος, εἰδέναι πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι. Τὰ κατʼ ἐμὲ πάντα γνωρίσει ὑμῖν Τυχικός, ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἀδελφὸς καὶ πιστὸς διάκονος καὶ σύνδουλος ἐν κυρίῳ· ὃν ἔπεμψα πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ἵνα γνῷ τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν καὶ παρακαλέσῃ τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν· σὺν Ὀνησίμῳ τῷ πιστῷ καὶ ἀγαπητῷ ἀδελφῷ, ὅς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν. Πάντα ὑμῖν γνωριοῦσιν τὰ ὧδε. Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Ἀρίσταρχος ὁ συναιχμάλωτός μου, καὶ Μᾶρκος ὁ ἀνεψιὸς Βαρνάβᾳ, περὶ οὗ ἐλάβετε ἐντολάς - ἐὰν ἔλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς, δέξασθε αὐτόν· καὶ Ἰησοῦς ὁ λεγόμενος Ἰοῦστος, οἱ ὄντες ἐκ περιτομῆς· οὗτοι μόνοι συνεργοὶ εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, οἵτινες ἐγενήθησάν μοι παρηγορία. Ἀσπάζεται ὑμᾶς Λουκᾶς ὁ ἰατρὸς ὁ ἀγαπητός, καὶ Δημᾶς. Ἀσπάσασθε τοὺς ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ ἀδελφούς, καὶ Νυμφᾶν, καὶ τὴν κατʼ οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἐκκλησίαν. Καὶ ὅταν ἀναγνωσθῇ παρʼ ὑμῖν ἡ ἐπιστολή, ποιήσατε ἵνα καὶ ἐν τῇ Λαοδικαίων ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀναγνωσθῇ, καὶ τὴν ἐκ Λαοδικείας ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀναγνῶτε. Καὶ εἴπατε Ἀρχίππῳ, Βλέπε τὴν διακονίαν ἣν παρέλαβες ἐν κυρίῳ, ἵνα αὐτὴν πληροῖς. Ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ Παύλου. Μνημονεύετέ μου τῶν δεσμῶν. Ἡ χάρις μεθʼ ὑμῶν. Ἀμήν.

Gospel Reading

Luke the Evangelist
The Reading is from Luke 10:16-21

The Lord said to his disciples, "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."

Luke the Evangelist
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10:16-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κὐριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· ῾Ο ἀκούων ὑμῶν ἐμοῦ ἀκούει, καὶ ὁ ἀθετῶν ὑμᾶς ἐμὲ ἀθετεῖ· ὁ δὲ ἐμὲ ἀθετῶν ἀθετεῖ τὸν ἀποστείλαντά με. ῾Υπέστρεψαν δὲ οἱ ἑβδομήκοντα μετὰ χαρᾶς λέγοντες· Κύριε, καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια ὑποτάσσεται ἡμῖν ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου. Εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς· ἐθεώρουν τὸν σατανᾶν ὡς ἀστραπὴν ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ πεσόντα. ἰδοὺ δίδωμι ὑμῖν τὴν ἐξουσίαν τοῦ πατεῖν ἐπάνω ὄφεων καὶ σκορπίων καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ, καὶ οὐδὲν ὑμᾶς οὐ μὴ ἀδικήσῃ. πλὴν ἐν τούτῳ μὴ χαίρετε, ὅτι τὰ πνεύματα ὑμῖν ὑποτάσσεται· χαίρετε δὲ ὅτι τὰ ὀνόματα ὑμῶν ἐγράφη ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. ᾿Εν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἠγαλλιάσατο τῷ πνεύματι ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν· ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι, πάτερ, κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἀπέκρυψας ταῦτα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν, καὶ ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις· ναί, ὁ πατήρ, ὅτι οὕτως ἐγένετο εὐδοκία ἔμπροσθέν σου.

News and Information

Young Adult Virtual Book Club

Our virtual book club is a great success! We are currently discussing the book, "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica". ZOOM discussions are being held Tuesdays at 6:30p and Saturdays at 11a. Feel free to join both meeting times as both discussions are sure to be unique with different people contributing. If you are interested, you can still join! Please contact Kirsti Davis at ksett as@nevada.unr.edu for more info and ZOOM meeting invite.

Class schedule (Classes greyed out have already been held)

Prep for Tues 9/22 at 6:30 pm or Sat 9/26 at 11am: None

Prep for Tues 10/6 at 6:30 pm or Sat 10/10 at 11 am: Pgs. 13-19; Chapters 2 and 8 (18 pgs)

Prep for Tues 10/20 at 6:30 pm or Sat 10/24 at 11 am: Pgs. 19-33; Chapters 5, 7 and 11 (29 pgs)

Prep for Tues 11/3 at 6:30 pm or Sat 11/7 at 11 am: Pgs. 33-45; Chapters 10, 12 and 13 (28 pgs)

Prep for Tues 11/17 at 6:30 pm or Sat 11/21 at 11 am: Pgs. 45-55; Chapters 3, 4 and 15 (32 pgs)

Prep for Tues 12/1 at 6:30 pm or Sat 12/5 at 11 am: Pgs. 55-60; Chapters 1, 6 and 9 (29 pgs)

Prep for Tues 12/8 at 6:30 pm or Sat 12/12 at 11 am: Chapters 14 and 16* (31 pgs)

*pick your favorite saying from Chapter 16 to discuss for the meeting

Here is the link for the Children's Word bulletin for this Sunday, October 18th

Evening Online Orthodoxy Class is intended for inquirers, catechumens & parishioners wanting to learn more about Orthodox Christianity. This class is held online via ZOOM on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. You are welcome to join us each week or simply drop-in when you have time. To receive a digital link to the text and a ZOOM invite, please contact Father Stephen by emailing him at fatherstephen@att.net

Dates, Topics & References: (Classes greyed out have already been held)

Sept. 16: Introduction & Orthodox Church History

Text: Orthodox Life, An Introduction to Orthodoxy = OL (OL pages 7-41)

Sept. 23: Orthodox Church History 2 (OL pages 7-41)

Sept. 30: Who is God? (OL pages 42-53)

Oct. 7: Creation (OL pages 54-62)

Oct. 14: What is the ‘Fall of Mankind’? (OL pages 64-69)

Oct. 21: How are We Saved? (OL pages 70-80)

Oct. 28: What is the Orthodox Way of Life? (OL pages 81-91)

Nov. 4: Mysteries or Sacraments of the Church (OL pages 92-131)

Nov. 11: Ascetic Practices & Orthodox Way of Life cont’d (OL pages 133-153)

Bible Study Online each Thursday morning at 11am. To receive a ZOOM invite please contact Father Stephen at fatherstephen@att.net

JOIN US for 8 Dates Marriage *WE'VE STARTED BUT YOU CAN STILL JOIN* The Family Wellness Ministry and the Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco announce their plan to host ten 75-minute marriage sessions bimonthly on Thursday nights, starting on Thursday, October 15. IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST MEETING, DON'T WORRY, YOU CAN STILL JOIN. This complimentary series will be led by our Metropolis Family Wellness Ministry Team, and will be a beautiful way to strengthen your commitment to one another and to God. Once you register, you will receive all of the hand-outs and information for each session. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Quick Reminders

A reservation is required for Sunday Services Click Here for Sign Up Procedures You do not need to sign up for services held Monday-Saturday. These are open on a first-come first-seated basis until capacity is reached. Please do not congregate in the Narthex or Small Hall after church.

o Face masks/coverings are required for everyone 10 years of age and older.

o Children ages 2-9 are strongly encouraged to wear a mask/covering.

Restoring Parish Life Update, October 2020

The sacred mission of the Church is to bring people to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). It is by this means that we come to know our Lord and to live our lives in pursuit of eternal life. It requires the commitment and conviction to live the life in Christ as an individual and within the community.

By now, many have heard Governor Sisolak has relaxed the limit on gatherings from 50 to 250 people, or 50% of fire code capacity. This is welcome news and should allow us to increase our capacity for services - however we must do so with care, in a thoughtful and thorough way. Just as we have worked closely with our Metropolis and followed the protocols of the Washoe County Health Department since the beginning of COVID-19, we will continue to do so. Please know that any decisions to increase capacity at Saint Anthony will be first submitted to the Metropolis for approval.

As we all know, this change does not signal an end to this pandemic and the challenges we still face. We still must continue to adhere to the many safety protocols in place, including social distancing of 6 feet between parishioners and the wearing of masks. The health and safety of our parishioners and our community continue to be of paramount importance to us.

The Reopening Team will be meeting in the days ahead to consider the updated regulations and adaptations we can make. We need to allow them the time to fully vet the information and consider the best ways to expand our capacity without impacting safety. Revisions will be communicated to you just as soon as they are known.

For the time being, there will be no changes to our current process for attending services. If you would like to attend church on Sunday, you will need to make a reservation. (Reservations are not needed for weekday services.)

We continue to pray for everyone to be safe from this virus and guide our hands as we carry forward on our journey of restoring parish life. We are all anxious for the time we can enter church without restriction. With patience, understanding, flexibility and love we will support each other and persevere in adapting to these adjustments knowing that “with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26b) +

Pastoral Visits & Holy Communion

For setting dates, sacraments, memorial services, personal counseling, confessions, sick calls and personal visitations that may include receiving Holy Communion, please call the church office (775-825-5365) and speak with Father Stephen or e-mail at fatherstephen@att.net. You may also contact Maria at the church office or email saintanthonychurch@sbcglobal.net

Please make sure you are receiving regular email updates from the parish. Get on our list by emailing saintanthonychurch@sbcglobal.net All authorized emails and messages regarding church and church-related business are sent from Father Stephen or the Church Office. Emails and messages received from other sources that reference church matters are considered unauthorized and are asked to be forwarded to the church office.

Live Streaming

All scheduled services are being live-streamed on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/saintanthonychurchreno/.We have seen great improvement with the quality of our streaming, but we are still learning. We now have someone at church monitoring the live-streaming and correcting issues as they arise. If your video freezes or disconnects, please refresh your screen. Sometimes you will need to look for a new post to pick up on services where they cut out. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we learn and grow with this capability. It is a blessing to be able to connect with those at home in this way.

Online Giving Portal for Stewardship & Donation Offerings

The Online Giving Portal can be accessed through our Church Website by clicking the new “Donations & Stewardship” tab. This functionality is secured for your protection and gives you the opportunity to make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring offering.

Our traditional ways of accepting offerings remain the same – the portal has been added for those who prefer the convenience of online giving. It also helps to mitigate the risks associated with handling cash. Our office remains open during weekdays and at services a collection tray will be placed in the Narthex (as a health and safety precaution it will not be passed).

Also be reminded it is still important to fill out a Stewardship Pledge card each year - this helps us to plan and budget effectively. If you have not completed one yet, please view and print a 2020 Stewardship Commitment Card by clicking on this address: http://www.saintanthonyreno.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Pledge-Card-PDF.pdf

IMPORTANT NOTE: All authorized emails and messages regarding church and church-related business are sent from Father Stephen or the Church Office. Emails received from other sources that reference church matters are considered unauthorized and may contain misleading information. We ask that these be forwarded to the church office. Thank you!

Click here for more info on FAITH & LIGHT FOR ALL GENERATIONS

Our prayers remain with you, your families, our community and our world for good health, strength, peace, and resilience now and in the days ahead!

Weekly Schedule

Sunday, October 18th Luke the Evangelist Orthros 9a; Divine Liturgy 10a

Tuesday, October 20th Young Adult Virtual Book Club 6:30pm (contact Kirsti Davis at ksettas@nevada.unr.edu for meeting invite)

Wednesday, October 21st Paraklesis 6p; Online Orthodoxy Class 7p

Thursday, October 22nd Online Bible Study 11a

Saturday, October 24th Young Adult Virtual Book Club 11am (contact Kirsti Davis at ksettas@nevada.unr.edu for meeting invite); Vespers 6p

Sunday, October 25th 6th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9a; Divine Liturgy 10a

Monday, October 26th Saint Demetrios Orthros 8a; Divine Liturgy 9a

Reminders:

Email the church office on Wednesday to RSVP for the following Sunday Liturgy.

Weekday services including Paraklesis, Vespers and Liturgy do not require an RSVP.

If you cannot attend, please join our services streaming online at https://www.facebook.com/saintanthonychurchreno

Serving Today

Narthex Greeters: Jim Phillips, John Lagios, Laura Codresco

Altar Flowers: Please contact the church office if you would like to provide fresh flowers.

In Our Prayers

May God grant us all good health and well-being.

May He protect us from the perils of the Coronavirus.

May our Lord bless and protect all those impacted by the wildfires in all ways possible.

May He protect the firefighters and have mercy on the victims of the devastating fires.

May He give us the will to continue to support and build our parish!

Please contact the church office at 825-5365 to give the names of those in need of prayer. Please know that the names of all parishioners are included in prayers at every Divine Liturgy.

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins