St. Stephen Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-09-16
Bulletin Contents
Symstylt
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St. Stephen Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (707)235-0316
  • Street Address:

  • 11055 Hirschfeld Way

  • Rancho Cordova, CA 95670


Contact Information




Services Schedule

 

Saturday

Vespers: 3:00pm

Sunday

Matins: 8:45am

Liturgy: 10:00am


Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

Symstylt
September 14

Symeon the Stylite

Our righteous Father Symeon was born about the year 390 in a certain village named Sis, in the mountain region of Cilicia and Syria. Having first been a shepherd, he entered the monastic discipline at a young age. After trying various kinds of ascetical practices, both in the monastery and then in the wilderness, he began standing on pillars of progressively greater height, and heroically persevered in this for more than forty years; the greater part of this time he spent standing upright, even when one of his feet became gangrenous, and other parts of his body gave way under the strain. He did not adopt this strange way of life out of vainglory, a charge that some of his contemporaries made against him at the first: because he was already famous for his asceticism and holiness before ascending his first pillar (in Greek, style, whence he is called "Stylite"), many pious people came to him wishing to touch his garments, either for healing or for a blessing; to escape the continual vexation they caused, he made a pillar about ten feet high, and then higher and higher, until the fourth and last was about fifty feet high. The Church historian Theodoret of Cyrrhus, an eyewitness of his exploits who wrote of him while Symeon was yet alive, called him "the great wonder of the world." God gave him the grace to persevere in such an astonishing form of asceticism that multitudes came to see him from Persia, Armenia, South Arabia, Georgia, Thrace, Spain, Italy, Gaul, and the British Isles. Theodoret says that he became so famous in Rome that the Nomadic Arabs by the thousands believed in Christ and were baptized because of him; the King of Persia sent envoys to inquire into his way of life, and the Queen asked to be sent oil that he had blessed. He also was a great defender of sound doctrine, and confirmed the Orthodoxy of the Holy Council of Chalcedon for many who had been beguiled by the teachings of the Monophysites, including the Empress Eudocia, widow of Theodosius the Younger. After a life of unheard-of achievements and struggles, he reposed in peace at the age of sixty-nine, in the year 459.


Allsaint
September 15

Mammas the Martyr

Saint Mammas was from Gangra of Paphlagonia. He was born in prison, where his parents were suffering for Christ's sake and ended their lives. He was named Mammas because, after he had long remained without speaking, he addressed his foster mother Ammia as "mamma." He contested for Christ about the year 275.


Anthimos
September 16

Anthimus, Bishop of Nicomedea

After the death of the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia, their Bishop Anthimus fled to a certain village to care for his remaining flock. The Emperor Maximian sent men in search of him. When they found him, he promised to show Anthimus to them, but first took them in as guests, fed them, and only then made himself known to them. Amazed at his kindness, the soldiers promised him to tell Maximian that they had not found him. But Anthimus went willingly with them, and converting them by his admonitions, baptized them on the way. He boldly confessed his Faith before Maximian, and after frightful tortures was beheaded in the year 303 or 304.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Fifth Orthros Gospel
لوقا 24: 13-35

13 في ذلك الزمان َإِذَا اثْنَانِ مِنْهُمْ كَانَا مُنْطَلِقَيْنِ  إِلَى قَرْيَةٍ بَعِيدَةٍ عَنْ أُورُشَلِيمَ سِتِّينَ غَلْوَةً ، اسْمُهَا ((عِمْوَاسُ)). 14وَكَانَا يَتَكَلَّمَانِ بَعْضُهُمَا مَعَ بَعْضٍ عَنْ جَمِيعِ هَذِهِ الْحَوَادِثِ. 15وَفِيمَا هُمَا يَتَكَلَّمَانِ وَيَتَحَاوَرَانِ ، اقْتَرَبَ إِلَيْهِمَا يَسُوعُ نَفْسُهُ وَكَانَ يَمْشِي مَعَهُمَا. 16وَلَكِنْ أُمْسِكَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمَا عَنْ مَعْرِفَتِهِ. 17فَقَالَ لَهُمَا: ((مَا هَذَا الْكَلاَمُ الَّذِي تَتَطَارَحَانِ بِهِ وَأَنْتُمَا مَاشِيَانِ عَابِسَيْنِ؟)) 18فَأَجَابَ أَحَدُهُمَا ، الَّذِي اسْمُهُ كَِلْيُوبَاسُ: ((هَلْ أَنْتَ مُتَغَرِّبٌ وَحْدَكَ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ وَلَمْ تَعْلَمِ الأُمُورَ الَّتِي حَدَثَتْ فِيهَا فِي هَذِهِ الأَيَّامِ؟)) 19فَقَالَ لَهُمَا: ((وَمَا هِيَ؟)) فَقَالاَ: ((الْمُخْتَصَّةُ بِيَسُوعَ النَّاصِرِيِّ ، الَّذِي كَانَ إِنْسَاناً نَبِيّاً مُقْتَدِراً فِي الْفِعْلِ وَالْقَوْلِ أَمَامَ اللهِ وَجَمِيعِ الشَّعْبِ. 20كَيْفَ أَسْلَمَهُ رُؤَسَاءُ الْكَهَنَةِ وَحُكَّامُنَا لِقَضَاءِ الْمَوْتِ وَصَلَبُوهُ. 21وَنَحْنُ كُنَّا نَرْجُو أَنَّهُ هُوَ الْمُزْمِعُ أَنْ يَفْدِيَ إِسْرَائِيلَ. وَلَكِنْ ، مَعَ هَذَا كُلِّهِ ، الْيَوْمَ لَهُ ثَلاَثَةُ أَيَّامٍ مُنْذُ حَدَثَ ذَلِكَ. 22بَلْ بَعْضُ النِّسَاءِ مِنَّا حَيَّرْنَنَا إِذْ كُنَّ بَاكِراً عِنْدَ الْقَبْرِ، 23وَلَمَّا لَمْ يَجِدْنَ جَسَدَهُ أَتَيْنَ قَائِلاَتٍ: إِنَّهُنَّ رَأَيْنَ مَنْظَرَ مَلاَئِكَةٍ قَالُوا إِنَّهُ حَيٌّ. 24وَمَضَى قَوْمٌ مِنَ الَّذِينَ مَعَنَا إِلَى الْقَبْرِ ، فَوَجَدُوا هَكَذَا كَمَا قَالَتْ أَيْضاً النِّسَاءُ ، وَأَمَّا هُوَ فَلَمْ يَرَوْهُ)). 25فَقَالَ لَهُمَا: ((أَيُّهَا الْغَبِيَّانِ وَالْبَطِيئَا الْقُلُوبِ فِي الإِيمَانِ بِجَمِيعِ مَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ الأَنْبِيَاءُ 26أَمَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي أَنَّ الْمَسِيحَ يَتَأَلَّمُ بِهَذَا وَيَدْخُلُ إِلَى مَجْدِهِ؟)) 27ثُمَّ ابْتَدَأَ مِنْ مُوسَى وَمِنْ جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ يُفَسِّرُ لَهُمَا الأُمُورَ الْمُخْتَصَّةَ بِهِ فِي جَمِيعِ الْكُتُبِ.28ثُمَّ اقْتَرَبُوا إِلَى الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَا مُنْطَلِقَيْنِ إِلَيْهَا ، وَهُوَ تَظَاهَرَ كَأَنَّهُ مُنْطَلِقٌ إِلَى مَكَانٍ أَبْعَدَ. 29فَأَلْزَمَاهُ قَائِلَيْنِ: ((امْكُثْ مَعَنَا ، لأَنَّهُ نَحْوُ الْمَسَاءِ وَقَدْ مَالَ النَّهَارُ)). فَدَخَلَ لِيَمْكُثَ مَعَهُمَا. 30فَلَمَّا اتَّكَأَ مَعَهُمَا ، أَخَذَ خُبْزاً وَبَارَكَ وَكَسَّرَ وَنَاوَلَهُمَا ، 31فَانْفَتَحَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمَا وَعَرَفَاهُ ثُمَّ اخْتَفَى عَنْهُمَا، 32فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمَا لِبَعْضٍ: ((أَلَمْ يَكُنْ قَلْبُنَا مُلْتَهِباً فِينَا إِذْ كَانَ يُكَلِّمُنَا فِي الطَّرِيقِ وَيُوضِحُ لَنَا الْكُتُبَ؟)) 33فَقَامَا فِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ وَرَجَعَا إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ ، وَوَجَدَا الأَحَدَ عَشَرَ مُجْتَمِعِينَ ، هُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُمْ 34وَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ: ((إِنَّ الرَّبَّ قَامَ بِالْحَقِيقَةِ وَظَهَرَ لِسِمْعَانَ!)) 35وَأَمَّا هُمَا فَكَانَا يُخْبِرَانِ بِمَا حَدَثَ فِي الطَّرِيقِ ، وَكَيْفَ عَرَفَاهُ عِنْدَ كَسْرِ الْخُبْزِ. 

 

 


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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Hieromartyr Anthimus in the Fourth Tone

As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Anthimus . Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion of Hieromartyr Anthimus in the Fourth Tone

Among God's priests wast thou distinguished for fervour; and in completing well thy course as a Martyr, thou didst quench all the power of idolatry; for thou wast the champion of thy flock; hence, it crieth unto thee now mystically, as it showeth thee honour: Deliver us from perils by thy prayers, O godly-minded and glorious Anthimus.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

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Announcements

Saturday, September 29th 

Paint Night

at 4:00 pm

  

Saturday, October 6th 

 Fall Hafleh

  at 6:00 pm

 

Saturday, October 13th 

Youth Pizza & Movie Night

at 6:00 pm

 

 

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Forms & Flyers

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