Fr. Donat Augusta Message

SUNDAY, August 11: Orthros at 9:00am. Divine Liturgy at 10:00am. Social Hour in the Parish Hall following Liturgy.

GREETER SCHEDULE: August 11: Mike Russo; August 18: Spyros; August 25: Arven; August 31: (Wedding) Ross/Arven.

THURSDAY, August 15: DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS. Doxology at 9:45 am. Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

REFLECTION ON THE DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY. On Thursday, August 15^th we remember the falling asleep of the blessed Holy Theotokos. She, who is higher than the heavens and more glorious than the cherubim, commends her most pure soul into the hands of her Son and our God. All of the disciples gathered together from the ends of the earth to bury the Mother and Theotokos. Her tomb becomes a ladder to heaven. She is the one through whom our salvation has come. The spotless Bride and Mother of our Lord is the one chosen by God to be the dwelling place of His union with humankind.

Let everyone praise the most holy Translation of the Mother of God who delivers her spotless soul into the hands of her Son. Angels in heaven and we on earth honor and venerate the Dormition of the Mother of Christ, our God and the Creator of all. Our constant prayer is that she will never cease to intercede with our Lord on our behalf, for next to God we have put our hope in her, the all glorious and unwedded Theotokos.

(Apolytikion) “In giving birth, O Theotokos, you retained your virginity, and in falling asleep you have not forsaken the world. You who are the Mother of Life have passed over into life, and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.”

We celebrate the undefiled Mother of Christ our God, and we praise her all glorious,deathless Dormition. In giving birth to the Son of God by a conception that was without seed, she in a similar manner fell asleep in a death that was without corruption. As the apostles surrounded her deathbed, Peter exclaimed, “O undefiled Virgin, I see you who are the life of all mankind lying there, and I am struck with wonder: for He who is the delight of the future life made His dwelling in you. Pray, then, fervently to your Son and God to save your flock from harm.”

The death of the pure Virgin was a crossing into a better and eternal life. She was translated from this mortal life to that which is endless and even divine, so that she can look in joy upon her Son and Lord. The gates of heaven were opened wide and the angels sang as Christ received the virgin treasure of His own Mother in her great joy. Neither the tomb nor death had any power over the Theotokos and as the Mother of Life she has been transported into life by Christ our Lord Who is her son.

The apostles accompanied in Zion the divine Ark of holiness as they sang: “To where do you now depart, O Tabernacle of the living God? Cease not to watch over all those who glorify you in song.” Gone to dwell in the tomb, the Theotokos made it a paradise. And standing beside her tomb today, we joyously sing: ”You, O Mother of Him who is Lord of all, your glorious Dormition the heavens rejoice and the angels exalt; the whole earth celebrates, singing a hymn of departure to the Mother of Him who is Lord of all”

Amen.

SCHEDULING MEMORIAL SERVICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Memorial Services scheduled for Sundays at the end of the Liturgy can be announced in the weekly eBulletin if the information is sent to Fr. Don's email. Please send your Memorial information by email to Fr. Don by the Thursday prior to the scheduled Memorial Service date. FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org

TUESDAYS @ ST. BASIL CHURCH: Every Tuesday come to St. Basil for fun and friendship! The St. Basil Church will be open every week this summer on Tuesdays from 9AM - 12PM, kids and adults are welcome. This summer we will tackle some Church beautification projects such as clearing out the kitchen and classrooms, while kids enjoy a craft, Greek movies, or help with a church project. The aim is to build community, connect with our kids and help start the process of making the Parish Hall and kitchen a functional and useable space for all. Plan to stop by any Tuesday and help us spread the word!

Email to Fr. Don: FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org .

Email to St. Basil Church: office@stbasil.ct.goarch.org. You can ask to forward your email to the parish priest, the parish council, the Philoptochos, the Greek School, or the New Haven Greek Community for a response. Just indicate where you want your email to be directed..

Visit our St. Basil parish website: www.stbasil.ct.goarch.org. You will find many interesting links. Especially visit the "Orthodox Marketplace" where you will find an excellent selection of icons, books, and gift ideas for birthdays and holidays. Also, you can link to our Parish Facebook page. Thanks to Arven Saunders for managing the parish website.

On Facebook do a search for: "Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church." You will find lots of information about parish activities, photos, and updates. Thanks to Athena Nomikos for her work posting photos and information on our parish Facebook site.

ST. BASIL CHURCH CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES

ST. BASIL CALENDAR

THURSDAY, August 15: DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS. Doxology at 9:45 am. Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am.

GREETER SCHEDULE: August 11: Mike Russo August 18: Spyros August 25: Arven. August 31: Wedding, Ross/Arven.

MEMORIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Memorial Services scheduled for Sundays at the end of the Liturgy can be announced in this weekly eBulletin. Please send your email to Fr. Don by the Thursday prior to the scheduled memorial service date. FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org

ST. BASIL 2019 GREEK FAIR: September 20, 21, 22. Plans for the FAIR are now underway. Please keep these dates free to offer time and support at the FAIR. Your contributions, donations, and donations of time working at the Fair are necessary to make a successful Fair this year.

ST. BASIL GREEK SCHOOL St. Basil Greek School had its end of the school year celebration on Friday, June7th. Our students had prepared a nice program with Greek poems that everyone enjoyed and then they received their report cards. After the program the parents had a short meeting with their children's teacher to discuss the progress of the student/s and then everyone enjoyed a pot luck dinner. The new academic year will start on October 9, 2019. For any information or question that you may have, please call Athena Condos (203-387-9504)

You may add church events/announcements/Memorials/FAIR News by sending email to: FrDonatAugusta@mail.goarch.org.

Greek Cultural Fair 2019

Fair Flyer and Volunteer Form

Please print out the Flyer and distribute to help promote the Greek Cultural Fair 2019. Also, fill out the Volunteer Form and return it to the Church indicating your areas to help. And, if you wish, send in a donation to help defray some of the cost and give your donation to support this year's Fair. Thank you.

Stewardship Form.

STEWARDSHIP 2019 FORM

Print out the Stewardship 2019 Form and send it to St. Basil Church with your offering. Send to: St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, PO Box 9356, New Haven, CT 06533.

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 the Corinthians 1:10-17.

Brethren, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 1:10-17.

Ἀδελφοί, παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα τὸ αὐτὸ λέγητε πάντες, καὶ μὴ ᾖ ἐν ὑμῖν σχίσματα, ἦτε δὲ κατηρτισμένοι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ νοῒ καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ γνώμῃ. Ἐδηλώθη γάρ μοι περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί μου, ὑπὸ τῶν Χλόης, ὅτι ἔριδες ἐν ὑμῖν εἰσιν. Λέγω δὲ τοῦτο, ὅτι ἕκαστος ὑμῶν λέγει, Ἐγὼ μέν εἰμι Παύλου, Ἐγὼ δὲ Ἀπολλώ, Ἐγὼ δὲ Κηφᾶ, Ἐγὼ δὲ Χριστοῦ. Μεμέρισται ὁ Χριστός; Μὴ Παῦλος ἐσταυρώθη ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἢ εἰς τὸ ὄνομα Παύλου ἐβαπτίσθητε; Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ ὅτι οὐδένα ὑμῶν ἐβάπτισα, εἰ μὴ Κρίσπον καὶ Γάϊον· ἵνα μή τις εἴπῃ ὅτι εἰς τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα ἐβάπτισα. Ἐβάπτισα δὲ καὶ τὸν Στεφανᾶ οἶκον· λοιπὸν οὐκ οἶδα εἴ τινα ἄλλον ἐβάπτισα. Οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλέν με Χριστὸς βαπτίζειν, ἀλλʼ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι· οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ λόγου, ἵνα μὴ κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Gospel Reading

8th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

8th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 14:14-22

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶδε πολὺν ὄχλον, καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐθεράπευσε τοὺς ἀρρώστους αὐτῶν. ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· ἔρημός ἐστιν ὁ τόπος καὶ ἡ ὥρα ἤδη παρῆλθεν· ἀπόλυσον τοὺς ὄχλους, ἵνα ἀπελθόντες εἰς τὰς κώμας ἀγοράσωσιν ἑαυτοῖς βρώματα. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν ἀπελθεῖν· δότε αὐτοῖς ὑμεῖς φαγεῖν. οἱ δὲ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· οὐκ ἔχομεν ὧδε εἰ μὴ πέντε ἄρτους καὶ δύο ἰχθύας. ὁ δὲ εἶπε· φέρετέ μοι αὐτοὺς ὧδε. καὶ κελεύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνακλιθῆναι ἐπὶ τοὺς χόρτους, λαβὼν τοὺς πέντε ἄρτους καὶ τοὺς δύο ἰχθύας, ἀναβλέψας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εὐλόγησε, καὶ κλάσας ἔδωκε τοῖς μαθηταῖς τοὺς ἄρτους, οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ τοῖς ὄχλοις. καὶ ἔφαγον πάντες καὶ ἐχορτάσθησαν, καὶ ἦραν τὸ περισσεῦον τῶν κλασμάτων δώδεκα κοφίνους πλήρεις. οἱ δὲ ἐσθίοντες ἦσαν ἄνδρες ὡσεὶ πεντακισχίλιοι χωρὶς γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων. Καὶ εὐθέως ἠνάγκασεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους.

Wisdom of the Fathers

And another thing too we learn, the self-restraint of the disciples which they practised in necessary things, and how little they accounted of food.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

For being twelve, they had five loaves only and two fishes; so secondary to them were the things of the body: so did they cling to the things spiritual only. And not even that little did they hold fast, but gave up even it when asked.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 49 on Matthew 14, 4th Century

Saints and Feasts

August 11

8th Sunday of Matthew

August 15

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God (see Oct. 3 and 4).

ST. BASIL GREEK SCHOOL

ST. BASIL GREEK SCHOOL St. Basil Greek School had its end of the school year celebration on Friday, June7th. Our students had prepared a nice program with Greek poems that everyone enjoyed and then they received their report cards. After the program the parents had a short meeting with their children's teacher to discuss the progress of the student/s and then everyone enjoyed a pot luck dinner. The new academic year will start on October 9, 2019. If you have any questions about the Greek School, call: Athena Condos at 203-387-9504 or email Athena at: athenacondos250@hotmail.com.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

By Your Cross, O Christ our God, You destroyed death. You opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the lament of the Myrrh-bearing women, and You commanded the Apostles to proclaim You are risen, granting the world Your great mercy.

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Transfiguration in the Grave Mode

You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You.

Μετεμορθώθης εν τώ όρει Χριστέ ο Θεός, δείξας τοίς Μαθηταίς σου τήν δόξαν σου, καθώς ήδυναντο, Λάμψον καί ημίν τοίς αμαρτωλοίς, τό φώς σου τό αϊδιον, πρεσβείαις τής Θεοτόκου, φωτοδότα δόξα σοι.

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.

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