Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 2nd Tone

Angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it became like dead, and at Your grave Mary was standing, seeking Your most pure body. You plundered Hades, not being tempted by it; You encountered the virgin, granting life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You!

Apolytikion for Holy Ascension in the 4th Tone

You ascended in glory O Christ Our Lord and God, and Your disciples were filled with joy, by the promise of the Holy Spirit unto them. And through this blessing You did proclaim and thus assure them, that You are truly the Son of God and the redeemer of the world.

Apolytikion for Fathers of the 1st Council in the Plagal 4th Tone

You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth, and through them led us all to the true Faith. O Most compassionate, glory to You.

Apolytikion of Saint Basil the Great in the 1st Tone

Your voice resounded throughout the world that received your word by which, in godly manner, you taught dogma, clarified the nature of beings, and set in order the character of people. Venerable father, Royal Priesthood, intercede to Christ God to grant us great mercy.

Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γὴν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος σου, ὡς δεξαμένην τὸν λόγον σου, δι' οὗ θεοπρεπῶς ἐδογμάτισας, τὴν φύσιν τῶν ὄντων ἐτράνωσας, τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἤθη κατεκόσμησας, Βασίλειον Ἱεράτευμα, Πάτερ Ὅσιε, Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 2nd Tone

O Christ our God, upon fulfilling Your dispensation for our sake, You ascended in Glory, uniting the earthly with the heavenly. You were never separate but remained inseparable, and cried out to those who love You, "I am with you and no one is against you."

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36.

IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Gospel Reading

Fathers of the 1st Council
The Reading is from John 17:1-13

At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

"I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."

Wisdom of the Fathers

For there is One God, and One Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. For He still pleads even now as Man for my salvation; ...

St. Gregory the Theologian

4th Theological Oration, 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

May 31

Fathers of the 1st Council

The heresiarch Arius was a Libyan by race and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria. In 315, he began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God, saying that He is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time when He was not. This frightful blasphemy shook the faithful of Alexandria. Alexander, his Archbishop, after trying in vain to correct him through admonitions, cut him off from communion and finally in a local council deposed him in the year 321. Yet neither did the blasphemer wish to be corrected, nor did he cease sowing the deadly tares of his heretical teachings; but writing to the bishops of other cities, Arius and his followers requested that his doctrine be examined, and if it were unsound, that the correct teaching be declared to him. By this means, his heresy became universally known and won many supporters, so that the whole Church was soon in an uproar.

Therefore, moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, Saint Constantine the Great, the equal to the Apostles, summoned the renowned First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a city of Bithynia. It was there that the shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the holy Symbol of Faith up to the seventh article (since the remainder, beginning with "And in the Holy Spirit," was completed by the Second Ecumenical Council). Thus they anathematized the impious Arius of evil belief and those of like mind with him, and cut them off as rotten members from the whole body of the faithful.

Therefore, recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honour, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith.

Announcements

Current Community Update

We continue to journey through our liturgical worship with faith and grace! Furthermore, we continue with current temporary adjustments to Saint Basil life, in accordance with directives from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver.

Liturgical

National, State and local directives are changing rapidly, including in references to churches. Our Church hierarchy is in constant communication with public directives, guidlines and the prayerful consideration of how to reopen liturgical life.

This Sunday

This Sunday we will have our third Sunday Divine Liturgy with parishioners inside of the sanctuary. As previously announced, social distancing measures will be in effect, limiting the number of people inside. All others will be expected to stay outside in the courtyard or surrounding area, listening to the Divine Services through the exterior speakers. At the distribution of Holy Communion, in accordance with the perscribed social distancing measures, parishioners wishing to receive Holy Communion will all have the opportunity to receive the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ. All parishioners inside or outside of the sanctuary are asked to follow the direction of our parish council members and ushers, who will facilitate the process of approaching to receive the Holy Sacrament.

Multiple Liturgies

Through the remainder of June, Saint Basil's will celebrate the Divine Liturgy three times each week. This is to provide ample opportunity for the faithful to participate in the Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion, without forcing a large gathering. Anyone in an 'at risk' demographic is encouraged to come to the weekday Liturgies.

For further information, please refer to the emails sent earlier this week, or the parish facebook page.

For additional pastoral services, please contact the church office.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT SAINT BASIL'S!

Saint Basil's has lost a minimum of $250,000 in budgeted income due to the Covid19 Crisis. Now is a chance for you to respond!

A Special Matching Challenge Gift has been given to Saint Basil's! All additional offerings to Saint Basil's between Pascha and Pentecost (June 7) will be matched, up to a total of $100,000. Through your participation you join in the saying #TogetherWeAreStrong at Saint Basil's!

Please read the letter titled, 'Matching Challenge Gift,"in the attachment section of this weekly bulletin for further details.

#TogetherWeAreStrong at Saint Basil's!

88 households have participated in the Match Challenge.

HELP US BREAK 100 PARTICIPANTS THIS WEEK! WHAT # WILL YOU BE? WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

Community Events, Meetings & Gatherings

MASKS!

We are close to the finish line! Saint Basil's is in partnership with the Friends of Cyprus with the stated goal of making 5000 masks by the end of May to be donated to local charities. About 1,000 have been made!!! This is great -- let's keep the momentum and reach this goal! Please contact Mary-Ann Constantinou for further information: mary.ann.constantinou@gmail.com

All community events, meetings or gatherings are temporarily suspended. Ministries are taking place online.

Online Ministries

Still Anxious? 11 Week Journey: Saturday @ 5 pm, a continued ministerial discussion group born from the Saint Theopisti Women's Book Club.

Holy Week ZOOM GOYA Discussion: Wednesday @ 2pm, we will offer online GOYA Discussion! Please encourage your teens to log-on for our GOYA discussion as we check in with our young people to support them during this confusing time!

ZOOM Online Bible Study: Wednesday @ 11am, we will offer online Bible Study!

*All zoom links and passwords can be found at: http://mystbasil.org/calendar/church-calendar/

In Addition

Support your Spiritual Home during this unique time! In addition to sending checks, Saint Basil’s can currently accept offerings through PayPal and credit card payments by clicking on the Donate to the Church button at the top of the parish website: www.mystbasil.org. We are continuing to research additional forums to make it easier for all the faithful to make offerings back to God through His Church during this time when recognition of our need for God and His Church is heightened in our daily experience.

All Saint Basil’s faithful are asked to please pray in this chapter of human need! Included in this eblast, please find the Prayer of Protection from the Coronavirus for daily offering. May our Patron, Saint Basil the Great, intercede to the Lord on our behalf!

In His Service,

Father Luke

Prayer of Protection from the Coronavirus

O God Almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, and of all creation visible and invisible, in Your ineffable goodness, look down upon Your people gathered in Your name. Be our helper and defender in this day of affliction. You know our weakness. You hear our cry in repentance and contrition of heart. O Lord who loves mankind deliver us from the impending threat of the corona virus. Send Your Angel to watch over us and protect us. Grant health and recovery to those suffering from this virus. Guide the hands of physicians and preserve those who are healthy that we may continue to serve You in peace and glorify Your most honorable and majestic Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

*full service for the Protection from the Coronavirus in the attachment section of this bulletin.

Calendar

Saint Basil Calendar

May 31 to June 7, 2020

Sunday, May 31

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

Monday, June 1

9:00AM Divine Liturgy: Saint Justin the Philosopher

Wednesday, June 3

11:00AM Online ZOOM Bible Study

12:30PM Prayer Service for Protection from the Coronavirus

2:00PM Online ZOOM GOYA Discussion

Saturday, June 6

9:00AM Divine Liturgy: Saturday of Souls

5:00PM Still Anxious? 11 Week Journey

Sunday, June 7

Pentecost Sunday

8:30AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

Attachments

Matching Challenge Gift

Prayer Service for Protection from the Coronavirus

Be Part of the Family at Saint Basil's

The gathering of faithful (Ekklesia) at Saint Basil's is a spiritual family that is waiting for you! The healing Love of God and fellowship of those who seek It, are what binds us together and we hope that you stay or join! Welcome to Saint basil's - Welcome to your Spiritual Family!

2020 Stewardship Card

Offer back to God a little from all that He has given you. It is good for your soul and supports the sustainability and growth of parish ministries at Saint Basil's. Become a Steward today by completing the 2020 Stewardship Card and returning it to the church office.

General Information

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