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Assumption of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-01-03
Bulletin Contents
Calendar & Announcements
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
Baptism
Organization Icon
Assumption of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 7179193382
  • Street Address:

  • 801 Montecito Drive

  • San Angelo, TX 76903

Contact Information

Fr. Mark Lichtenstein, Pastor • (717) 919-3382 • frmark@orthodoxsanangelo.org



Services Schedule

All Morning Services 9 AM • All Evening Services 6 PM
Wednesdays 6 PM Bible Study (Year-Round) & Church School (September - May)
Fridays 6 PM Choir Practice for All (September - May)

Past Bulletins


Calendar & Announcements

Announcements for 1/3/2021

Calendar:

  • ​UPDATE 01/05/2021: CANCELLED 
    All Theophany services this week are cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. We are sorry. We will ask the bishop for permission to do a Blessing of the Waters service on Sunday, January 10, instead.

  • NEW! The Wednesday discussion group is starting a new discussion group THIS WEEK on January 6. If you want to join the discussion group, please contact Tony Bartl, who will be leading the topic. Everyone is welcome to participate.

  • Friday, January 7, there will be no services for the Synaxis of John the Baptist. This is due to Fr. Mark's ASU job.

  • Annual House Blessings normally occur in January. However, the clergy and His Eminence have not yet decided on policy regarding house blessings during this time of the pandemic. Please watch the parish website for announcements.

  • January 17, Sunday, is St. Anthony's feastday. It also is Fr. Mark's 11th Anniversary of ordination to the diaconate.

  • Monday, January 25, there will be no services for St. Gregory the Theologian due to Fr. Mark's ASU job. However, we will be able to have services 5 days later for St. Gregory's joint feast day with St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great. This will be on a Saturday. (See note for January 30.)

  • Saturday, January 30, we will have 9 a.m. Orthros and 10 a.m. Liturgy for the feastday of the Three Hierarchs. This is the name we give to St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John Chrosostom, and St. Basil the Great. (Note: We have their icon, a small one, in our ioconstasis.)

Other Announcements:

  • We need more chanters and readers. If you are interested in chanting or reading for the Church — or in learning how — please see Fr. Mark.
  • We need donations of prosforo. Fresh altar bread is much preferred.  We will run out before Christmas unless some of you make more. Please contact Fr. Mark if you'd like to offer bread for the liturgy. Also, if you need a seal, Fr. Mark has one to loan to a prospective baker until they can purchase their own.
  • Are you taking up a new hobby in the New Year? Presbytera Krista West now offers folk embroidery kits and patterns inspired by traditional motifs and designs from many Orthodox lands (Greek, Balkan, Ukrainian, and more.). Presbytera Krista is the ecclesiastical tailor who sewed many of Fr. Mark's vestments, and the pandemic has been extremely hard on her business. You could help her keep ecclesiastical tailoring alive (only a small number of people offer this service, in the whole world) by supporting her business. Please visit her Avlea Folk Embroidery website, www.avlea.life. Her embroidery kits and patterns are wonderful for decorating your home or icon corner. They also make gifts that will be appreciated for years to come, because of their beauty and high quality.

** As always, see the website for any changes and updates. **

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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.

Epistle Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Gospel Reading

Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 5th Tone

To the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation, let us, the faithful, give praise and worship. For he willed to be lifted up on the cross in the flesh, to endure death and raise the dead by his glorious resurrection.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Theophany in the 4th Tone

Make ready, Zebulon; prepare, O Nephthali. O Jordan, stop your flow, and with rejoicing receive the Master as he comes to be baptized. You too, O Adam, exalt with our mother Eve. Do not hide yourselves as you did, of old, in paradise. At the sight of your nakedness Christ has come forth, clothing you in innocence and renewing all creation.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone

In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.
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Saints and Feasts

Baptism
January 03

Sunday before Epiphany

Allsaint
January 03

Malachi the Prophet

The Prophet Malachi ("messenger of God") is the last of the twelve minor Prophets, and also of all the Prophets of the Old Testament. He prophesied in the days of Nehemias, a wise man among the Jews, who also held a high and powerful position in the court of Artaxerxes the Long-armed, King of the Persians, who reigned from 465 to 424 B.C. Malachis' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters; he foretold the coming of Christ as the Sun of Righteousness (4:2)

Gordios
January 03

Gordios the Martyr of Caesarea

The Martyr Gordios who was from Caesarea of Cappadocia, was a centurion by rank. Unable to bear the impiety of the heathen, he withdrew to the wilderness to purify himself through prayer and fasting. After he perceived that his ascetical training had prepared him sufficiently, he came down from the mountains when a certain pagan festival was held in Caesarea, attended by all, and presented himself before the multitude. Although the spectacles of the festival continued, no one paid them any heed, but all eyes were turned upon him. From his sojourn in the mountains, his look was wild, his beard was long, his raiment squalid, his body like a skeleton; yet a certain grace shone round about him. He was recognized, and a loud shout and tumult was made as his fellow Christians rejoiced, and the enemies of the truth cried out for his death. He boldly professed his faith before the Governor, and after torments was beheaded, in the reign of Licinius in the year 314. Saint Basil the Great delivered a homily on Saint Gordios, mentioning that some of those in his audience had been present at the saint's martyrdom (PG 31:497).

Baptismb1cp
January 03

Forefeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Allsaint
January 03

Righteous Genevieve of Paris

Allsaint
January 03

Righteous Peter of Atroas

Allsaint
January 03

Righteous Akakios the Wonderworker

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Wisdom of the Fathers

It is the sole and peculiar property of the Substance that transcends all, to be able to bestow on men the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and make those that draw near unto It partakers of the divine nature.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century

But this exists in Christ, not as a thing received, nor by communication from another, but as His own, and as belonging to His substance, for He baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century

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