St. Stephen Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-12-10
Bulletin Contents
Allsaint
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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: 3:00 pm

Sunday

Matins: 8:15 am

Liturgy: 9:30 am


Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
December 10

James the Great Martyr of Persia

This Saint was from the city of Bythlaba and was of noble birth; he was the closest and most honoured friend of Isdiger (or Yazdegerd) I, King of Persia (reigned 399-420). Though a Christian from his youth, James renounced Christ because he was allured by the King's friendship and flatteries. When his mother and his wife learned of this, they declared to him by letter that they would have nothing more to do with him, since he had preferred a glory that is temporal to the love of Christ. Wounded in soul by these words and coming to himself, the Saint wept over his error, and repudiated the worship of the idols. Therefore, becoming exceedingly wroth, the King - this was Bahram (or Varahran) V (reigned 421-438), Isdiger's son and successor - condemned him to a most bitter death, the likes of which not even a brute beast was ever condemned to: that is, his body was dismembered at every joint of his arms and legs. And so, when he had been cut asunder limb by limb to his very hips and shoulders, the courageous Martyr was finally beheaded, in the year 421.


Allsaint
December 10

Nathaniel of Nitria & Pinouphrios of Egypt, the Righteous


Allsaint
December 10

Gregory of Sinai and his disciple Gerasimos


Allsaint
December 10

Arsenios of Rhaxos


Allsaint
December 10

Arsenios of Rhaxos


Allsaint
December 10

James the Wonderworker, Bishop of Rostov


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:12-35

At that time, [Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. That very day] 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 not it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into this 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. 

 

 


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 2nd Tone. 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 Letter to the Ephesians 6:10-17.

Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

البروكيمنون. 2nd Tone. مزمور 117: 14، 18.
الرب قوتي وتسبيحتي
Verse: أدباُ أدّبني الرب

فصل من رسالة بولس الى أَفسس 6: 10-17.

يَُّا إِخْوَة، تَقَوُّوا فِي الرَّبِّ وَفِي شِدَّةِ قُوَّتِهِ. الْبَسُوا سِلاَحَ اللهِ الْكَامِلَ لِكَيْ تَقْدِرُوا أَنْ تَثْبُتُوا ضِدَّ مَكَايِدِ إِبْلِيسَ. فَإِنَّ مُصَارَعَتَنَا لَيْسَتْ مَعَ دَمٍ وَلَحْمٍ، بَلْ مَعَ الرُّؤَسَاءِ، مَعَ السَّلاَطِينِ، مَعَ وُلاَةِ الْعَالَمِ، عَلَى ظُلْمَةِ هَذَا الدَّهْرِ، مَعَ أَجْنَادِ الشَّرِّ الرُّوحِيَّةِ فِي السَّمَاوِيَّاتِ. مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ احْمِلُوا سِلاَحَ اللهِ الْكَامِلَ لِكَيْ تَقْدِرُوا أَنْ تُقَاوِمُوا فِي الْيَوْمِ الشِّرِّيرِ، وَبَعْدَ أَنْ تُتَمِّمُوا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَنْ تَثْبُتُوا. فَاثْبُتُوا مُمَنْطِقِينَ أَحْقَاءَكُمْ بِالْحَقِّ، وَلاَبِسِينَ دِرْعَ الْبِرِّ، وَحَاذِينَ أَرْجُلَكُمْ بِاسْتِعْدَادِ إِنْجِيلِ السَّلاَمِ. حَامِلِينَ فَوْقَ الْكُلِّ تُرْسَ الإِيمَانِ، الَّذِي بِهِ تَقْدِرُونَ أَنْ تُطْفِئُوا جَمِيعَ سِهَامِ الشِّرِّيرِ الْمُلْتَهِبَةِ. وَخُذُوا خُوذَةَ الْخَلاَصِ، وَسَيْفَ الرُّوحِ الَّذِي هُوَ كَلِمَةُ اللهِ.


Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27

At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

لوقا 18: 18-27

18 في ذلك الزمان دنا إلى يسوع إنسان مجرباً له وقائلاً: ((أَيُّهَا الْمُعَلِّمُ الصَّالِحُ ، مَاذَا أَعْمَلُ لأَرِثَ الْحَيَاةَ الأَبَدِيَّةَ؟)) 19فَقَالَ لَهُ يَسُوعُ: ((لِمَاذَا تَدْعُونِي صَالِحاً؟ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ صَالِحاً إِلاَّ وَاحِدٌ وَهُوَ اللهُ. 20أَنْتَ تَعْرِفُ الْوَصَايَا: لاَ تَزْنِ. لاَ تَقْتُلْ. لاَ تَسْرِقْ. لاَ تَشْهَدْ بِالزُّورِ. أَكْرِمْ أَبَاكَ وَأُمَّكَ)). 21فَقَالَ: ((هَذِهِ كُلُّهَا حَفِظْتُهَا مُنْذُ حَدَاثَتِي)). 22فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ يَسُوعُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَهُ: ((يُعْوِزُكَ أَيْضاً شَيْءٌ: بِعْ كُلَّ مَا لَكَ وَوَزِّعْ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ ، فَيَكُونَ لَكَ كَنْزٌ فِي السَّمَاءِ ، وَتَعَالَ اتْبَعْنِي)). 23فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ حَزِنَ ، لأَنَّهُ كَانَ غَنِيّاً جِدّاً. 24فَلَمَّا رَآهُ يَسُوعُ قَدْ حَزِنَ ، قَالَ: ((مَا أَعْسَرَ دُخُولَ ذَوِي الأَمْوَالِ إِلَى مَلَكُوتِ اللهِ! 25لأَنَّ دُخُولَ جَمَلٍ مِنْ ثَقْبِ إِبْرَةٍ أَيْسَرُ مِنْ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ غَنِيٌّ إِلَى مَلَكُوتِ اللهِ!)). 26فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ سَمِعُوا: ((فَمَنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَخْلُصَ؟)) 27فَقَالَ: ((غَيْرُ الْمُسْتَطَاعِ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ مُسْتَطَاعٌ عِنْدَ اللهِ)).

 

 


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 2nd Tone

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

عندما انحدرت إلى الموت ايها الحياة الذي لايموت ، حينئذ أمتّ الجحيم ببرق لاهوتك، وعندما أقمت الاموات من تحت الثرى صرخ نحوك جميع القوات السماويين : ايها المسيح الاله المعطي الحياة المجد لك.

Apolytikion of Martyr James the Persian in the First Tone

Be entreated, O Lord, by the sufferings endured for You by the Saints, and we pray You, heal all our pain.

Kontakion of Martyr James the Persian in the Second Tone

O stout-hearted James, persuaded by thy noble wife, and fearing the dread tribunal, thou didst scorn all fear of the Persians with their profane decrees, and thou wast shown forth to be a most wondrous martyr of Christ, when all of thy body was pruned like a vine.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 3rd Tone

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

The Savior Himself is He Whom we are asked to put on. It is one and the same thing to say, 'Put on the whole armor of God,' and 'Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.' Our belt is truth and our breastplate is righteousness. The Savior is also called both 'truth' and 'righteousness.' On this principle He is also to be understood as the 'Gospel of peace.' He is Himself the 'shield of faith' and the helmet of salvation. He is the 'sword of the Spirit,' because He is the Word of God, living and efficacious, the utterance of which is stronger than any helmet and sharp on both sides.
St. Jerome
Unknown, 5th century

So great an evil is envy. For not against strangers only, but even against our own, is it ever warring.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 40 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

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