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St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2022-10-16
Bulletin Contents
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Upcoming Schedule
Pastor's Ponderings
Assembly of Bishops News
Allsaint
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St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (978) 685-4052
  • Street Address:

  • 8 Lowell Street

  • Lawrence, MA 01840-1416
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 10

  • Methuen, MA 01844

Contact Information

Father Ephraim Hastings
Pastor

fatherephraim33@gmail.com | 617-519-3966

Services Schedule

5 PM Saturdays - Vespers

9 AM Sundays - Orthros

10 AM Sundays - Divine Liturgy

Sunday School (Sept-May) following Holy Communion

Past Bulletins


Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Tone

Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind!

ان الحجر لما ختم من اليهود ، وجسدك الطاهر حُفظ من الجند ، قمت في اليوم الثالث ايها المخلص ، مانحاً العالم الحياة فلذلك قوات السماوات هتفوا اليك ياواهب الحياة : المجد لقيامتك ايها المسيح ، المجد لملكك ، المجد لتدبيرك يامحب البشر وحدك.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Eighth Tone

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.

انت ايها المسيح الهنا الفائق التسبيح، يا من اسست آباءنا القديسين على الأرض كواكب لامعة، وبهم هديتنا جميعاً الى الإيمان الحقيقي، ايها الجزيل الرحمة المجد لك.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth 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 St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

البروكيمنون. Fourth Tone. دانيال 3: 26-27.
مبارك أنت يارب إله آبائنا
Verse: لأنك عدل في كل ما صنعت

فصل من رسالة بولس الى تِيطُسَ 3: 8-15.

يَا وَلَدي تِيطُسَ، صَادِقَةٌ هِيَ الْكَلِمَةُ. وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ تُقَرِّرَ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ، لِكَيْ يَهْتَمَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللهِ أَنْ يُمَارِسُوا أَعْمَالاً حَسَنَةً. فَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ هِيَ الْحَسَنَةُ وَالنَّافِعَةُ لِلنَّاسِ. وَأَمَّا الْمُبَاحَثَاتُ الْغَبِيَّةُ وَالأَنْسَابُ وَالْخُصُومَاتُ وَالْمُنَازَعَاتُ النَّامُوسِيَّةُ فَاجْتَنِبْهَا، لأَنَّهَا غَيْرُ نَافِعَةٍ، وَبَاطِلَةٌ. اَلرَّجُلُ الْمُبْتَدِعُ بَعْدَ الإِنْذَارِ مَرَّةً وَمَرَّتَيْنِ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُ. عَالِماً أَنَّ مِثْلَ هَذَا قَدِ انْحَرَفَ، وَهُوَ يُخْطِئُ مَحْكُوماً عَلَيْهِ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ. حِينَمَا أُرْسِلُ إِلَيْكَ أَرْتِيمَاسَ أَوْ تِيخِيكُسَ بَادِرْ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ إِلَيَّ إِلَى نِيكُوبُولِيسَ، لأَنِّي عَزَمْتُ أَنْ أُشَتِّيَ هُنَاكَ. جَهِّزْ زِينَاسَ النَّامُوسِيَّ وَأَبُلُّوسَ بِاجْتِهَادٍ لِلسَّفَرِ حَتَّى لاَ يُعْوِزَهُمَا شَيْءٌ. وَلْيَتَعَلَّمْ مَنْ لَنَا أَيْضاً أَنْ يُمَارِسُوا أَعْمَالاً حَسَنَةً لِلْحَاجَاتِ الضَّرُورِيَّةِ، حَتَّى لاَ يَكُونُوا بِلاَ ثَمَرٍ. يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْكَ الَّذِينَ مَعِي جَمِيعاً. سَلِّمْ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَنَا فِي الإِيمَانِ. النِّعْمَةُ مَعَ جَمِيعِكُمْ. آمِينَ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
لوقا 8: 5-15

5 قال الرب هذا المثل ((خَرَجَ الزَّارِعُ لِيَزْرَعَ زَرْعَهُ. وَفِيمَا هُوَ يَزْرَعُ سَقَطَ بَعْضٌ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ ، فَانْدَاسَ وَأَكَلَتْهُ طُيُورُ السَّمَاءِ. 6وَسَقَطَ آخَرُ عَلَى الصَّخْرِ ، فَلَمَّا نَبَتَ جَفَّ لأَنَّهُ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُ رُطُوبَةٌ. 7وَسَقَطَ آخَرُ فِي وَسْطِ الشَّوْكِ ، فَنَبَتَ مَعَهُ الشَّوْكُ وَخَنَقَهُ. 8وَسَقَطَ آخَرُ فِي الأَرْضِ الصَّالِحَةِ ، فَلَمَّا نَبَتَ صَنَعَ ثَمَراً مِئَةَ ضِعْفٍ)). قَالَ هَذَا وَنَادَى: ((مَنْ لَهُ أُذْنَانِ لِلسَّمْعِ فَلْيَسْمَعْ !)). 9فَسَأَلَهُ تَلاَمِيذُهُ قَائِليِنَ : ((مَا عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ هَذَا الْمَثَلُ؟)). 10فَقَالَ: ((لَكُمْ قَدْ أُعْطِيَ أَنْ تَعْرِفُوا أَسْرَارَ مَلَكُوتِ اللهِ ، وَأَمَّا لِلْبَاقِينَ فَبِأَمْثَالٍ ، حَتَّى إِنَّهُمْ مُبْصِرِينَ لاَ يُبْصِرُونَ ، وَسَامِعِينَ لاَ يَفْهَمُونَ. 11وَهَذَا هُوَ الْمَثَلُ: الزَّرْعُ هُوَ كَلاَمُ اللهِ،  12وَالَّذِينَ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ ، ثُمَّ يَأْتِي إِبْلِيسُ وَيَنْزِعُ الْكَلِمَةَ مِنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ لِئَلاَّ يُؤْمِنُوا فَيَخْلُصُوا. 13وَالَّذِينَ عَلَى الصَّخْرِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ مَتَى سَمِعُوا يَقْبَلُونَ الْكَلِمَةَ بِفَرَحٍ،  وَهَؤُلاَءِ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ أَصْلٌ ، فَيُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَى حِينٍ ، وَفِي وَقْتِ التَّجْرِبَةِ يَرْتَدُّونَ. 14وَالَّذِي سَقَطَ بَيْنَ الشَّوْكِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ ، ثُمَّ يَذْهَبُونَ فَيَخْتَنِقُونَ مِنْ هُمُومِ الْحَيَاةِ وَغِنَاهَا وَلَذَّاتِهَا ، وَلاَ يُنْضِجُونَ ثَمَراً. 15وَالَّذِي فِي الأَرْضِ الْجَيِّدَةِ ، هُوَ الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ الْكَلِمَةَ فَيَحْفَظُونَهَا فِي قَلْبٍ جَيِّدٍ صَالِحٍ ، وَيُثْمِرُونَ بِالصَّبْرِ ولما قال هذا نادى من له أذنان للسمع فليسمع . 

 

 

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Wisdom of the Fathers

For by seed here He means His doctrine, and by land, the souls of men, and by the sower, Himself .... For as the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him, but simply and indifferently casts his seed; so He Himself too makes no distinction of rich and poor, of wise and unwise, of slothful or diligent, of brave or cowardly; but He discourses unto all, fulfilling His part, although foreknowing the results.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 44 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

Since there are certain people who find great fault with us for adoring and honoring both the image of the Savior and that of our Lady, as well as those of the rest of the saints and servants of Christ, let them hear how from the beginning God made man to His own image. For what reason, then, do we adore one another, except because we have been made to the image of God? As the inspired Basil, who is deeply learned in theology, says: "the honor paid to the image conveys to the original.," and the original is the thing imaged from which the copy is made.
St. John of Damascus
The Orthodox Faith, 4.16. Catholic University of America Press in Washington D.C. Translated by Frederic H. Chase, Jr. volume 37, page 370., 8th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
October 16

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.

04_crucifixion
October 16

Longinus the Centurion

This Martyr was in the service of Pontius Pilate at the time of Christ our Saviour's Passion. While standing guard at the Cross and beholding the earthquake and all that came to pass, he cried out with fear, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54). After the Resurrection, he forsook the military and departed for Cappadocia, his homeland, where he preached Christ. By the agency of Pontius Pilate, Tiberius Caesar had him arrested and beheaded.

Lukeevng
October 18

Luke the Evangelist

This Apostle was an Antiochean, a physician by trade, and a disciple and companion of Paul. He wrote his Gospel in Greek after Matthew and Mark, after which he wrote the Acts of the Apostles, and dedicated both works to Theophilus, who, according to some, was Governor of Achaia. He lived some eighty-six years and died in Achaia, perhaps in Patras, the capital of this district. His emblem is the calf, the third symbolical beast mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), which is a symbol of Christ's sacrificial and priestly office, as Saint Irenaeus says.

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Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, October 22

5 PM Vespers

Sunday, October 23

9 AM Orthros 

10 AM Divine Liturgy

Sunday School following Holy Communion

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Pastor's Ponderings

Today we remember and rejoice in the gift of the Incarnation of Our Laord God and Savior Jesus Christ! For it is by His incarnation that we write icons of Him, the Theoltokos and the Holy saints. When we venerate an icon the devotion we give passes to the one whose iconographic image is written. You may have noticed that I said "written" and not painted. This is because icons are a relection of the Incarnate Word of God or His mother and the saints who echo and radiant the light of the glory of God! Another take on the "written" naturew of icnons is that they are images which speak the saving events of salvation with a theological lens not unlike the Holy Scriptures. In other words, an icon is always an interpretation of the meaning of the person or event it depicts. Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council, pray for us that we may be filled with the radiance of God's mercy as we contemplate and honor the icons in our church and homes. Amen. Glory to God! Fr. Ephraim

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