Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 9:2-12.

Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a sister as wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 18:23-35

The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

Ότε κατήλθες πρός τόν θάνατον, η ζωή η αθάνατος, τότε τόν Άδην ενέκρωσας, τή αστραπή τής Θεότητος· ότε δέ καί τούς τεθνεώτας, εκ τών καταχθονίων ανέστησας, πάσαι αι Δυνάμεις τών επουρανίων εκραύγαζον· Ζωοδότα Χριστέ ο Θεός ημών δόξα Σοι.

Όte katilthes pros ton thanaton, I zoe athanatos, tote ton Adin enekrosas, ti astrapi tis Theotitos. Ote de ke tous tethneotas ek ton katakthonion anestisas, pase e Dinamis ton epuranion ekravgazon. Zoodota Christe o Theos imon doxa Si.

When You descended to the realm of death You as life immortal rendered to Hades a mortal blow by Your all radiant divinity. And when You from infernal depths and the darkness below did raise the dead all the hosts of heaven’s powers did proclaim and cry out O life giving Christ and our God we give glory.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Transfiguration in the Grave Mode

Metemorfothis en to ori Christe o Theos/ dixas tis mathites sou tin doxan sou kathos idinanto./ Dixon ke imis tis amartolis/ to fos sou to aidion./ Presvies tis Theotokou/ Fotodota doxasi.

You were transfigured upon the mountain, O Christ our God,/ showing to Your disciples Your glory as much as they could bear./ Do also in us, sinners though we be,/ shine Your everlasting light,/ at the intercession of the Theotokos,/ o Giver of light./ Glory to You.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Mode

Upon the mountain were You transfigured, / and Your disciples beheld Your glory/ as far as they were able, O Christ our God;/ so that when they would see You crucified/ they might understand that Your Passion was deliberate, / and declare to the world that in truth You are the Father’s radiance.

Saints and Feasts

August 12

11th Sunday of Matthew

August 12

Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

August 12

The Holy Martyrs Photius and Anicetus of Nicomedia

These Martyrs contested in Nicomedia about the year 288. When Diocletian stirred up his persecution of the Christians, Anicetus presented himself openly and said that all who worship idols are blind and senseless. He was beaten with rods so ruthlessly that his bones appeared from the rents and wounds in his flesh. As he was suffering further torments, his nephew Photius came and embraced him, calling him his father and his uncle. He was also put to many tortures with him. They were then imprisoned together for three years. Finally they were cast into a furnace, where they gave up their spirits, and their bodies were preserved unharmed. Saint Anicetus is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.

August 12

Sergios, Stephen and Kastor

Welcome

This Weeks Announcements

We extend greetings and a warm welcome to all visitors worshipping with us today. Please fill out a“visitor information card” located in the narthex and hand to one of the greeters. Following the Liturgy, please join us in our social hall for the coffee social.
Holy Communion in our Church is offered only to Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through the disciplines of our faith. Speak to Fr. Costas for further details.

We kindly ask everyone to Please silence cell phones and pagers while in Church

Today ~ MNYMOSINO: 2 years for Mary Collaros; TRISAGIA: for the Collaros and Catavolos families; 9 months for Effie Natsis.
Today ~ Backpack blessing for ALL students as they prepare to return to school. A special blessing will also be offered for all college students present.
Monday ~ 7:00 p.m. Paraklesis service.
Wednesday ~ Dormition of the Theotokos; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy followed by free will donation luncheon hosted by Philoptochos.

Upcoming Events in Our Parish – Respond Early

Next Sunday ~ Epistle Reading, I Corinthians 15:1-11; Gospel, Matthew 19:16-26.
August 21 ~ 6:00 p.m. Family Ministry meeting.
August 22 ~ 6:00 p.m. GOYA basketball tournament planning meeting open to the entire community as we prepare to welcome up to 400 participants from within our Metropolis in January.
August 28 ~ 6:00 p.m. Stewardship meeting.
September 3 ~ Labor Day; office closed.
September 4 ~ 7:00 p.m. Home Committee meeting.
September 9 ~ Sunday School resumes following Holy Communion.
September 10 ~ 5:30 p.m. Greek School begins with Ayiasmo water blessing for all students and staff. Registration information available through our website. Payment must be received by the first day of class.
September 13 ~ 7:00 p.m. monthly Parish Council meeting.
September 14 ~ Exaltation of the Holy Cross; 8:30 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.
September 15 ~ 10:00 a.m. Pet Blessing.
September 16 ~ Parish Fair following Liturgy. Come see the many programs offered by the various ministries of our parish.
September 16 ~ 4:30 p.m. Parish Youth Picnic.
September 22 ~ 4:30 p.m. Philoptochos fundraiser Men Who Cook. Register to become one of the Men who Cook and purchase your tickets early.

Events in the Greater Cleveland Area and Beyond…

Thursday ~ Holy Trinity Canton Grecian Festival at the Canton Civic Center.
Saturday ~ 9:00 p.m. Holy Trinity Canton sponsors Basile comedy show at Canton Civic Center. Tickets $35 – contact Dino 330.412.5585, Larry 330.280.3701 or Bill 330.284.9586 for more info.
August 23 – 26 ~ Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral Mayfield Hts. Greek Fest.
August 24-25 ~ St. Innocent Orthodox Church is hosting a retreat with the V. Rev. Andrew Stephen Damick with the theme, “Orthodox Christian Engagement in our families, in our churches, and in our world” and will be offered in three talks – Friday, Aug 24 at 7 pm and Saturday, August 25 at 9 am.Free will offering will be accepted. For any questions contact Fr. Alessandro Margheritinoat: fatheralessandro@gmail.com, 419.699.8330.
August 31 – September 3 ~ Annunciation Cathedral Columbus Greek Festival.
September 7 – 9 ~ St. Nicholas Lorain Greek Festival.
September 22 ~ 3:30 p.m. Vespers followed by the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery 5^th Annual Dinner Banquet in Memory of Gerontissa Taxiarchia at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Pittsburgh. Tickets $100. RSVP to 724.352.3999 or 2018MonasteryBanquet.Eventbrite.com.
September 30 ~ 2:00 p.m. The Dr. John and Helen Collis Lecture series at the Cleveland Museum of Art presents the Cleveland Saint Luke: The Byzantine Artist as Creator, Bureaucrat, or Copyist by Dr. Antony Eastmond. FREE; reservations required – call 216.421.7350 or engage.clevelandart.org.