Church Bulletin - April 13, 2003 - Fifth Sunday of Great Lent

FIFTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT - April 13, 2003
St. Mary of Egypt
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 9:11-14; Mk 10:32-45]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek and English ]

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

"THERE IS ONE AMONG YOU WHO WILL BETRAY ME"

Judas Iscariot is, without a doubt the most enigmatic and tragic figure in the New Testament. Prior to his calling by Christ, we know nothing about him. The word "Iscariot" literally means "the man of Kerioth," indicating that Judas was from this small town in the rugged southwestern part of Judea. This, in itself, sets him apart from his fellow Apostles, who were all from Galilee. The Gospels also tell us that Judas was in charge of the finances for the group, and in his writings, the Evangelist John directly questions his honesty in carrying our his duties.

What caused Judas to betray His Master? What motivation was behind this treacherous act? Some maintain that, given his love for money, the thirty pieces of silver he received for delivering Jesus to the high priests was motivation enough. Others believe that Judas was expecting Christ to usher in an earthly kingdom, leading Israel in revolt against Roman oppression. When this did not materialize, it is thought that a disillusioned Judas felt contempt rather than loyalty towards Christ. Still others feel that Judas was trying to force Jesus into claiming the long-anticipated throne of David, believing that if He was, indeed, the Messiah, nothing could harm Him.

Why was Judas a traitor? We will never know the answer to that question. What we do know, however, is that he will forever be vilified for his deceit and treachery. He will always be referred to as the "son of perdition," and will be numbered, as we sing in the Vespers on Great and Holy Thursday, "among the generation of vipers."

PEMPTH KURIAKH TWN NHSTEIWN
MARIAS AIGUPTIAS
JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

Tou` livqou sfragisqevnto~ uJpov tw`n jIoudaivwn, kaiv stratiwtw`n fulassovntwn tov a[crantovn sou sw`ma, ajnevsth~ trihvmero~ Swthvr, dwrouvmeno~ tw`/ kovsmw/ thvn zwhvn. Diav tou`to aiJ dunavmei~ tw`n oujranw`n, ejbovwn soi Zwodovta: Dovjxa th`/ ajnastavsei sou Cristev: dovxa th`/ basileiva/ sou: dovxa th`/ oijkonomiva/ sou, movne filavnqrwpe.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
JOHN OF THE LADDER

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

Savior, Your tomb was sealed by the Jews with a stone. Soldiers kept watch over Your sacred body. Yet, You rose on the third day, giving life to the world. Wherefore the powers of heaven cried out to You, O Giver of Life, "Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ; glory to Your Kingdom, glory to Your dispensation, who alone are the Loving One."

jApolutivkion th`~ JAgiva~

JjjEn soiv Mh`ter ajkribw`~ dieswvqh tov kat j eijkovna: labou`sa gavr tovn Staurovn, hjkolouvqhsa~ tw`/ Cristw`/, kaiv pravttousa ejdivdaske~, uJperora`/n mevn sarkov~, parevrcetai gavr: ejpimelei`sqai dev yuch`~, pravgmato~ ajqanavtou: diov kaiv metav jAggevlwn sunagavlletai, oJsiva Mariva tov pneu`mav sou.

Dismissal Hymn of the Saint

God’s image was perfectly preserved in you, O Mother. For, taking up the Cross you followed Christ. You taught us by example to disdain the flesh, a passing thing, but to see the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Mary, your spirit rejoices with the angels.

Qeotokivon

JO di¢ hJma`~ gennhqeiv~ ejk Parqevnou, kaiv stauvrwsin uJpomeivna~ ajgaqev, oJ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton skuleuvsa~, kaiv e[gersin deivxa~ wJ~ Qeov~, mhv parivdh/~ ou{~ e[plasa~ th`/ ceiriv sou: dei`xon thvn filanqrwpivan sou ejleh`mon: devxai thvn tekou`savn se Qeotovkon, presbeuvousan uJpevr hJmw`n: kaiv sw`son Swthvr hJmw`n, laovn ajpegnwsmevnon.

Theotokion

O Pure One, who were born for us of a Virgin, and endured Crucifixion, who vanquished death by death and, as God, showed forth the Resurrection; do not forget those You created by Your own hand. Show Your love, O Merciful One, and accept on our behalf the intercession of the Theotokos who bore You, and save us, O Savior, a desperate people.

jApolutivkion tou` JAgivou Nikolavou

JJJKanovna 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.

Dismissal Hymn of Saint 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.

Kontavkion

JJJJProstasiva, tw`n cristianw`n ajkataivscunte, mesiteiva, prov~ tovn poihthvn ajmetavqete, mhv parivdh/~, aJmartwlw`n dehvsewn fwnav~, ajllav provfqason, wJ~ ajgaqhv, eij~ thvn bohvqeian hJmw`n, tw`n pistw`~ kraugazovntwn soi: Tavcunon eij~ presbeivan, kaiv speu`son eij~ iJkesivan, hJ prostateuvousa ajeiv, Qeotovke, tw``n timwvntwn se.

Kontakion

Champion of Christians not put to shame, advocate before the Maker always steadfast, do not spurn sinners’ voices raised in prayer. In your goodness respond to bring help to us who devoutly petition you. Hasten your intercession and urgently make entreaty; for you unfailingly defend, Theotokos, those who honor you.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ pl. d¢ . Yalmov~ oe¢ .
Eu[xasqe kaiv ajpovdote Kurivw/ tw`/ Qew`/ hJmw`n.
Stivc. Gnwstov~ ejn th`/ jIoudaiva/ oJ Qeov~, ejn tw`/ JIsrahvl mevga tov o[noma aujtou`.
Prov~ JEbraivou~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. Q¢ 11<14

jAdelfoiv, Cristov~ paragenovmeno~ ajrciereuv~ tw`n mellovntwn ajgaqw`n diav th`~ meivzono~ kaiv teleiotevra~ skhnh`~, ouj ceiropoihvtou, tou`t j e[stin ouj tauvth~ th`~ ktivsew~, oujdev di j ai{mato~ travgwn kaiv movscwn, diav dev tou` ijdivou ai{mato~ eijsh`lqen ejfavpax eij~ tav {Agia, aijwnivan luvtrwsin euJravmeno~. Eij gavr tov ai|ma tauvrwn kaiv travgwn kaiv spodov~ damavlew~ rJantivzousa touv~ kekoinwmevnou~ aJgiavzei prov~ thvn th`~ sarkov~ kaqarovthta, povsw/ ma`llon tov ai|ma tou` Cristou`, o{~ diav Pneuvmato~ aijwnivou eJautovn proshvnegken a[mwmon tw`/ Qew`/, kaqariei` thvn suneivdhsin uJmw`n ajpov nekrw`n e[rgwn eij~ tov latreuvein Qew`/ zw`nti.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Eighth tone. Psalm 75. 11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse. God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.
Chapter 9.11-14.

Brethren, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Mavrkon.
Kef. I¢ 32<45

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, paralambavnei oJ jIhsou``~ touv~ dwvdeka maqhtav~ aujtou` kaiv h[rxato aujtoi`~ levgein tav mevllonta aujtw`/ sumbaivnein, o{ti ijdouv ajnabaivnomen eij~ JIerosovluma kaiv oJ uiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou paradoqhvsetai toi`~ ajrciereu`si kaiv toi`~ grammateu`si, kaiv katakrinou`sin aujtovn qanavtw/ kaiv paradwvsousin aujtovn toi`~ e[qnesin kaiv ejmpaivxousin aujtw`/, kaiv mastigwvsousin aujtovn kaiv ejmptuvsousin aujtw`/ kaiv ajpoktenou`sin aujtovn, kaiv th`/ trivth/ hJmevra/ ajnasthvsetai. Kaiv prosporeuvontai aujtw`/ jIavkwbo~ kaiv jIwavnnh~ uiJoiv Zebedaivou levgonte~: Didavskale, qevlomen i{na o{ a[n aijthvswmen poihvsh/~ hJmi`n. JO dev ei\pen aujtoi``~: Tiv qevlete poih`saiv me uJmi`n; OiJ dev ei\pon aujtw`/: Dov~ hJmi`n i{na ei|~ ejk dexiw`n sou kaiv ei|~ ejx eujwnuvmwn sou kaqivswmen ejn th`/ dovxh/ sou. JO dev jIhsou`~ ei\pen aujtoi`~: Oujk oi[date tiv aijtei`sqe. Duvnasqe piei`n tov pothvrion o{ ejgwv pivnw, kaiv tov bavptisma o{ ejgwv baptivzomai baptisqh`nai; OiJ dev ei\pon aujtw`/: Dunavmeqa. JO dev jIhsou`~ ei\pen aujtoi`~: Tov mevn pothvrion o{ ejgwv pivnw pivesqe, kaiv tov bavptisma o{ ejgwv baptivzomai baptisqhvsesqe: tov dev kaqivsai ejk dexiw`n mou kaiv ejx eujwnuvmwn mou oujk e[stin ejmovn dou`nai, ajll j oi|~ hJtoivmastai. Kaiv ajkouvsante~ oiJ Devka, h[rxanto ajganaktei`n periv jIakwvbou kaiv jIwavnnou. JO dev jIhsou`~ proskalesavmeno~ aujtouv~ levgei aujtoi`~: Oi[date o{ti oiJ dokou`nte~ a[rcein tw`n ejqnw`n katakurieuvousin aujtw`n kaiv oiJ megavloi aujtw`n katexousiavzousin aujtw`n: oujc ou{tw dev e[stai ejn uJmi`n, ajll j o{~ ejavn qevlh/ genevsqai mevga~ ejn uJmi`n, e[stai uJmw`n diavkono~, kaiv o{~ ejavn qevlh/ uJmw`n genevsqai prw`to~, e[stai pavntwn dou`lo~: kaiv gavr oJ uiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou oujk h\lqe diakonhqh`nai, ajllav diakonh`sai, kaiv dou`nai thvn yuchvn aujtou` luvtron ajntiv pollw`n.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Mark
Chapter 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street - Church
986 Chapman Street - Office
San Jose, California 95126