August 16
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-08-16
Bulletin Contents
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- 434-973-2500
- Web:
- 33-ad.org
- Street Address:
- 7581 Rockfish Gap Turnpike
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
- Mailing Address:
- PO Box 6981
- Charlottesville, VA 22906
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-09
- Publish Date:
- 2020-08-02
- Publish Date:
- 2020-07-26
- Publish Date:
- 2020-07-19
- Publish Date:
- 2020-07-12
- Publish Date:
- 2020-07-05
Weekly Update
GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
The Dormition Fast concludes on Saturday 15 August, when we celebrate one of the most holy feasts of the Church, the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of our Most Holy Lady, The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. All are encouraged to take the time to view this 15-minute video which offers an excellent overview of the feast and teachings and practices of the Holy Church concerning it. At St. Nicholas we will celebrate this solemn and beautiful feast with the Divine Liturgy on Saturday beginning at 8am. We look forward to seeing you in church!
A homily for the Feast of the Dormition by St. Gregory Palamas is available here.
Signup Links
St. Nicholas Live Streaming Services
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A reminder that the Divine Liturgy is livestreamed each Sunday here on the St. Nicholas Greenwood YouTube channel -- don't forget to subscribe to the channel to receive updates
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Virtual Coffee Hour: Connect via Zoom, beginning at 11:30am: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83508000853
Opportunities to Serve Your Neighbor
As we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection each Sunday, we must continue to remember the critical importance of loving our neighbor (Mt 22:34-40), as the Lord commanded us to do ( "my neighbor is my salvation"). Love is demonstrated both in prayer and deed. Please remember your neighbors in this time of acute need. Here are some specific ways to help:
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Virginia hospitals across the state are experiencing a severe shortage of blood, and the UVA Medical Center is encouraging healthy and eligible individuals to contact the American Red Cross to make an appointment to donate. Our Archbishop Daniel and our seminarians have already done so!
- Cultivate Charlottesville, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and its network, Cville Community Cares, and Albemarle County’s Equity and Inclusion Office have worked together in various combinations to create the food availability schedules and a beautiful new online Food Map showing some of the food resources on our City and County. (Source: Charlottesville Community Cares' Newsletter June 23)
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Grace Grocery, our neighborhood food pantry at Crozet United Methodist Church, has several volunteer opportunities including set up, client help and clean up for food distributions, unloading food from truck, computer assistant, which are listed on the website. They provide training for first time volunteers. You can ask to be placed on their volunteer email list. Email: foodpantry@crozetunitedmethodist.org Phone: 434-823-4420
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Please also keep an eye on Support Charlottesville, which is a hub for opportunities to give (and receive) material support. This is a very good way to stay informed, get involved and help your neighbors in need.
Stewardship Reminder
Despite the current (temporary) modification to the parish's schedule of services, meetings, and events, all parishioners are reminded of the pledges they have made as part of their stewardship commitment of time, talent and treasure. Some parishioners may encounter financial hardship during this time of crisis, and we can only give as we are able. That said, the parish must continue to meet its budgetary obligations and operating expenses. Please continue sending your contributions by to the church via US Mail:
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
PO Box 6981
Charlottesville, VA 22906
Special Intentions, Needs and Requests
A reminder to contact Father directly (fr.charles@mailbox.org | 443-204-4542) with any special prayer requests, intentions or concerns/needs, and he will make sure these are addressed.
Recent Prayer Requests
+All who have reposed in the Lord this week due to the pandemic
+All those who have suffered and reposed in the explosion this week in Beirut, Lebanon
+Eugene (uncle to Sue M.)
+Syl (newly-departed, great uncle to Stephanie J.), and for Mable (solace)
+Sam (friend of Darya L.)
Doina (Godmother to Florin M., healing)
Stephanie and the child she bears
Infant John David (health)
Toby and family
Those who have suffered loss during recent flooding and severe weather
Marcia (friend of Sue M., healing)
Christopher (friend of Sue M., healing)
Gabriel (catechumen)
Tatiana (illness)
Liubov (mother of Anya B., healing)
Nicholas (friend of Sue M., healing)
Karen B. (healing)
Mary S. (healing)
Dorian (health and protection)
Chaplain Robby (serving those in prison)
Chaplain Joseph (serving those in prison)
Bill (mission work)
Elaine (mission work)
Fr. Robert and Pani Dobrodyka Christine (retirement)
All those working in defense of human dignity, justice and equality during this time of unrest
The hungry and the homeless, and all those struggling with mental illness and infirmity
All children born and unborn and for their parents
All those struggling financially during the pandemic, and for those whose basic necessities are out of reach
All medical personnel, first responders and others ministering to the sick, and those rendering vital services to their neighbors
All those in high-risk populations during this pandemic
Schedule of Upcoming Services
Saturday 15 August: Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
8am: Divine Liturgy
Sunday 16 August
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Sunday 23 August
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Sunday 30 August
9am: 3rd & 6th Hours
9:30am: Divine Liturgy
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 1st Tone
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure body, You rose on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life: “Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your Kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, O Lover of mankind!”
Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the 1st Tone
In giving birth you preserved your virginity. In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. You were translated to life O Mother of Life, and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.
Resurrectional Kontakion in the 1st Tone
As God, You rose from the tomb in glory, raising the world with Yourself. Human nature praises You as God, for death has vanished. Adam exults, O Master! Eve rejoices, for she is freed from bondage and cries to You: “You are the Giver of Resurrection to all, O Christ!”
Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone
Neither the tomb, nor death, could hold the Theotokos, who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions. For being the Mother of Life, she was translated to life by the One Who dwelt in her virginal womb.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14
At that time, being raised from the dead, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 1st Tone. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16.
Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
Gospel Reading
10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23
At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."
Wisdom of the Fathers
[The Lord] went on to mention mountains as well, and went even further: "Nothing will be impossible for you." Now, for your part, admire [the disciples'] sound values in not concealing their limitations, and the Spirit's power in gradually bringing on those without even a mustard seed in such a way that rivers and fountains of faith gush forth in them.
Homily 57 (PG 58, 563) Translated by Robert Charles Hill found in "Spiritual Gems from the Gospel of Matthew", 4th Century
At this point he is referring to the faith required for signs, and mentions a mustard seed is small in size, yet it is more potent than all others in its effects. So to bring out that the least degree of genuine faith is capable of great things, he mentioned the mustard seed.
Homily 56 (PG 58, 549-50) Translated by Robert Charles Hill in "Spiritual Gems from the Gospel of Matthew", 4th Century
For a man to have such faith appears simple, but it is, on the contrary, something very lofty, not easily attained by many. Such faith is born of boldness before God; but such boldness comes (only) from pleasing God. Beloved, great labour is needed to acquire, through pleasing God, such boldness before Him that one firmly believes that he will grant all that one asks; as it is written, Ask, and it shall be given to you.
The Gospel Commentary: edited by Hieromonk German Ciuba, 2002., 4th Century
Saints and Feasts
August 16
Afterfeast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
August 16
Translation of the Image of Our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ
When the fame of our Lord Jesus Christ came to Abgar, the ruler of Edessa, who was suffering from leprosy, Abgar sent a messenger named Ananias, through him asking the Savior to heal him of his disease, while bidding Ananias bring back a depiction of Him. When Ananias came to Jerusalem, and was unable to capture the likeness of our Lord, He, the Knower of hearts, asked for water, and having washed His immaculate and divine face, wiped it dry with a certain cloth, which He gave to Ananias to take to Abgar; the form of the Lord's face had been wondrously printed upon the cloth. As soon as Abgar received the cloth, which is called the Holy Napkin (Mandylion), he reverenced it with joy, and was healed of his leprosy; only his forehead remained afflicted. After the Lord's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, the Apostle Thaddaeus (see Aug. 21) came to Edessa, and when he had baptized Abgar and all his men, Abgar's remaining leprosy also was healed. Abgar had the holy image of our Savior fixed to a board and placed at the city gate, commanding that all who entered the city reverence it as they passed through. Abgar's grandson, however, returned to the worship of the idols, and the Bishop of Edessa learned of his intention to replace the Holy Napkin with an idol. Since the place where it stood above the city gate was a rounded hollow, he set a burning lamp before the Holy Napkin, put a tile facing it, then bricked up the place and smoothed it over, so that the holy icon made without hands was no longer to be seen, and the ungodly ruler gave no further thought to it.
With the passage of time, the hidden icon was forgotten, until the year 615, when Chosroes II, King of Persia, was assaulting the cities of Asia, and besieged Edessa. The Bishop of Edessa, Eulabius, instructed by a divine revelation, opened the sealed chamber above the city gate and found the Holy Napkin complete and incorrupt, the lamp burning, and the tile bearing upon itself an identical copy of the image that was on the Holy Napkin. The Persians had built a huge fire outside the city wall; when the Bishop approached with the Holy Napkin, a violent wind fell upon the fire, turning it back upon the Persians, who fled in defeat. The Holy Napkin remained in Edessa, even after the Arabs conquered it, until the year 944, when it was brought with honor and triumph to Constantinople in the reign of Romanus I, when Theophylact was Ecumenical Patriarch. The Holy Napkin was enshrined in the Church of the most holy Theotokos called the Pharos. This is the translation that is celebrated today.
August 16
Diomedes the Physician & Martyr of Tarsus
The holy Martyr Diomedes was from Tarsus in Cilicia, a physician who treated bodies with his healing art and souls with his piety. In the days of the Emperor Diocletian, about the year 288, Diomedes left Tarsus and came to Nicaea, where he benefited many both as a physician and as a preacher of the Faith. He was accused to Diocletian, who sent men to fetch him. When they arrived, although finding that he had already given up his soul to the Lord, they cut off his head to take it to the Emperor, and because of their inhumanity were stricken with blindness. When Diocletian saw the Saint's head, he commanded them to take it back and put it on the body in its place; when they had done so, they received their sight again. Saint Diomedes is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.