Church Bulletin - April 7, 2002 - 3rd Sunday of Lent

3rd Sunday of Lent - April 7, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 4:14-5:6; Mk 8:34-9:1]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

[Click here to see past Church bulletin messages]
[ Home | Bulletin Menu | Previous | Next ]

"THIS DAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE"

In nearly all icons of the Crucifixion, only Christ is shown on a Cross. This is quite understandable, for our Lord is certainly our focal point when we consider the happenings on what we would rightly call the darkest event in history.

The icon depicted on the cover of today's Church Bulletin, however, is true to the scriptural accounts of what actually happened on that first Great and Holy Friday. The Gospel of St. Matthew clearly states that "... two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left." (Matt. 27:38) St. Luke's account is even more detailed, for he tells us that one of the robbers crucified with Jesus (traditionally the one on His left) was blaspheming Him, insisting that "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." (Luke 23:39) The other man crucified with Christ chastised his fellow robber, acknowledging that "... this Man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:40). He then proceeds to ask the Lord to remember him in His kingdom, and hears in reply the most blessed of words: "THIS DAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE." (Luke 23:43)
The image of Christ crucified between two robbers and His subsequent conversation with them, has long been used as a symbolic explanation for the slanted lower bar on the triple-barred cross commonly found in Orthodox churches of a Slavic background. The robber on the left never sought forgiveness for his deeds. Consequently, the left side of the lower bar points downward as an indication of his condemnation. The robber on the right was repentant, so the right side of the lower bar points upward as a sign of the man's entrance into heaven.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Eujfrainevsqw tav oujravnia, ajgalliavsqw tav ejpivgeia, o{ti ejpoivhse kravto~, ejn bracivoni aujtou`, oJ Kuvrio~: ejpavthse tw`/ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton: prwtovtoko~ tw`n nekrw`n ejgevneto: ejk koiliva~ a/{dou ejrjrJuvsato hJma`~, kaiv parevsce tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord, by His mighty Arm, has created a Dominion. He has conquered death by death, and become the firstborn of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy.

APOLUTIKION
THS STAUROPROSKUNHSEWS

Sw`son, Kuvrie, tovn laovn sou, kaiv eujlovghson thvn klhronomivan sou, nivka~ toi`~ basileu`si, katav barbavrwn dwrouvmeno~, kaiv tov sovn fulavttwn, diav tou` Staurou` sou polivteuma.

APOLYTIKION OF THE
VENERATION OF THE CROSS

Lord save your people and bless Your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross.

QEOTOKION

Tou` Gabrihvl fqegxamevnou soi, Parqevne tov cai`re, suvn th`/ fwnh`/ ejsarkou`to, oJ tw`n o{lwn Despovth~, ejn soiv th`/ aJgiva kibwtw`/, wJ~ e[fh oJ divkaio~ Daui?d: ejdeivcqh~ platutevra tw`n oujranw`n, bastavsasa tovn Ktivsthn sou. Dovxa tw`/ ejnoikhvsanti ejn soiv: dovxa tw`/ proelqovnti ejk sou`: dovxa tw`/ ejleuqerwvsanti hJma`~, diav tou` tovkou sou.

THEOTOKION

At the very sound of Gabriel’s voice bringing you that greeting, O Virgin, the Lord of all became incarnate in you.As David the Just had foretold, you became a Holy Tabernacle. You became greater than the heavens by bearing your Creator. Glory to Him who came forth from you. Glory to Him, who set us free, being born from you.

APOLUTIKION TOU AGIOU NIKOLAOU

Kanovna pivstew~ , kaiv eijkovna praovthto~, ejgkrateiva~ Didavskalon, ajnevdeixev se th`/ poivmnh/ sou, hJ tw`n pragmavtwn ajlhvqeia: diav tou`to ejkthvsw th`/ tapeinwvsei tav uJyhlav, th`/ ptwceiva/ tav plouvsia, Pavter iJeravrca Nikovlae: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION OF ST. NICHOLAS

An example of the Faith and a life of humility, as a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock and through your truthfulness of your deeds were exalted by greatness through your humility uplifting all and by poverty gaining wealth. Father and hierarch Nicholas intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

KONTAKION

Th`/ uJpermavcw/ strathgw`/ tav nikhthvria, wJ~ lutrwqei`sa tw`n deinw`n eujcaristhvria, ajnagravfw soi hJ povli~ sou Qeotovke. JAll j wJ~ e[cousa tov kravto~ ajprosmavchton, ejk pantoivwn me kinduvnwn ejleuqevrwson, i{na kravzw soi: Cai`re, nuvmfh ajnuvmfeute.

KONTAKION

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

APOSTOLOS
( JEbraivou~ D j 14<16, E j 1<6)

JAdelfoiv, e[conte~ ajrciereva mevgan dielhluqovta touv~ oujranouv~, jIhsou`n tovn UiJovn tou` Qeou`, kratw`men th`~ oJmologiva~. Ouj gavr e[comen ajrciereva mhv dunavmenon sumpaqh`sai tai`~ ajsqeneivai~ hJmw`n, pepeirasmevnon dev katav pavnta kaq j oJmoiovthta cwriv~ aJmartiva~. Prosercwvmeqa ou\n metav parrhsiva~ tw`/ qrovnw/ th`~ cavrito~, i{na lavbwmen e[leon kaiv cavrin eu{rwmen eij~ eu[kairon bohvqeian. Pa`~ gavr ajrciereuv~ ejx ajnqrwvpwn lambanovmeno~ uJpevr ajnqrwvpwn kaqivstatai tav prov~ tovn Qeovn, i{na prosfevrh/ dw`rav te kaiv qusiva~ uJpevr aJmartiw`n, metriopaqei`n dunavmeno~ toi`~ ajgnoou`si kaiv planwmevnoi~, ejpeiv kaiv aujtov~ perivkeitai ajsqevneian: kaiv diav tauvthn ojfeivlei, kaqwv~ periv tou` laou`, ou{tw kaiv periv eJautou` prosfevrein uJpevr aJmartiw`n. Kaiv oujc j eJautw`/ ti~ lambavnei thvn timhvn, ajllav kalouvmeno~ uJpov tou` Qeou`, kaqavper kaiv oJ jAarwvn. Ou{tw kaiv oJ Cristov~ oujc eJautovn ejdovxase genhqh`nai ajrciereva, ajll j oJ lalhvsa~ prov~ aujtovn: ® JuiJov~ mou ei\ suv, ejgwv shvmeron gegevnnhkav se®: kaqwv~ kaiv ejn eJtevrw levgei: ®Suv iJereuv~ eij~ tovn aijw`na katav thvn tavxin Melcisedevk®.

EPISTLE
(Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:1-6)

Brethren, Since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Mavrkon
(Kef. H j 34<38. Q j 1)

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: {Osti~ qevlei ojpivsw mou ejlqei`n, ajparnhsavsqw eJautovn, kaiv ajravtw tovn staurovn aujtou`, kaiv ajkolouqeivtw moi. {O~ gavr a[n qevlh/ thvn yuchvn aujtou` sw`sai, ajpolevsei aujthvn: o{~ d j a[n ajpolevsh/ thvn eJautou` yuchvn, e{neken ejmou` kaiv tou` Eujaggelivou, ou|to~ swvsei aujthvn. Tiv gavr wjfelhvsei a[nqrwpon, ejavn kerdivsh/ tovn kovsmon o{lon, kaiv zhmiwqh`/ thvn yuchvn aujtou`É h[ tiv dwvsei a[nqrwpo~ ajntavllagma th`~ yuch`~ aujtou`É {O~ gavr ejavn ejpaiscunqh`/ me, kaiv touv~ ejmouv~ lovgou~ ejn th`/ genea`/ tauvth/ th`/ moicalivdi kaiv aJmartwlw`/, kaiv oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou ejpaiscunqhvsetai aujtovn, o{tan e[lqh/ ejn th`/ dovxh/ tou` Patrov~ aujtou`, metav tw`n jAggevlwn tw`n aJgivwn. Kaiv e[legen aujtoi`~: jAmhvn levgw uJmi`n, o{ti eijsiv tine~ tw`n w\de ejsthkovtwn, oi{tine~ ouj mhv geuvswntai qanavtou, e]w~ a[n I[dwsi thvn basileivan tou` Qeou` ejlhluqui`an ejn dunavmei.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Mark
(Chapter 8:34-38, 9:1)

The Lord said, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street, San Jose, California 95126