Church Bulletin - April 21, 2002

5th Sunday of Lent - April 21, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 9:11-14; Mk 10:32-45]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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"I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE"

Aside from the Twelve Apostles, little is known of other friends and acquaintances that Jesus may have had. We do know of one person with whom our Lord was apparently very close: Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. Their friendship was the motivation for Christ's most impressive miracle: THE RAISING OF LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD.

The Gospel of St. John provides us with detailed information concerning this miraculous happening. When Jesus receives word that Lazarus was gravely ill, He reacts in a puzzling manner. Instead of going to be with His friend, Christ remains in an undisclosed location, going to Bethany only when He learns that Lazarus was surely dead.

It is largely significant to note that Christ arrives at the home of Martha and Mary FOUR DAYS after the death of their brother. The Jews believed that the soul lingered around the body for three days. On the fourth day, it was felt that there was absolutely no hope of reviving the one who had passed on. Surely, our Lord was aware of this. He knew that when He cried out: "LAZARUS, COME FORTH!" and his friend came out of his tomb, still bound in his burial clothes, there would be no doubt concerning His power over death.

The family and friends of Lazarus were overjoyed! Little did they realize that this was merely a foreshadowing of greater things to come. Little did they know that in a week's time, Christ would raise Himself from His grave of three days, and that His words to Martha would truly impact the entire world throughout eternity: "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE"

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Tovn sunavnarcon Lovgon Patriv kaiv Pneuvmati, tovn ejk parqevnou tecqevnta eij~ swthrivan hJmw`n, ajnumnhvswmen pistoiv kaiv proskunhvswmen: o{ti hujdovkhse sarkiv, ajnelqei`n ejn tw`/ Staurw`/, kaiv qavnaton uJpomei`nai, kaiv ejgei`rai touv~ teqnew`ta~, ejn th`/ ejndovxw/ ajnastavsei aujtou`.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

O faithful, let us sing a hymn of praise and worship to the Logos who is co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, who was born of the Virgin for our salvation. Of His own will, He went upon the Cross in the flesh and suffered death, to raise the dead through His glorious Resurrection.

APOLUTIKION THS AGIAS

jEn 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`sqe dev yuch`~, pravgmato~ ajqanavtou: diov kaiv metav jAggevlwn sunagavlletai, oJsiva Mariva tov pneu`mav sou.

APOLYTIKION 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.

QEOTOKION

JO di j 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.

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~ Q j 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~ rantivzousa 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
(Hebrews 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.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Mavrkon.
(Kef. I j, 32<45)

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, paralambavnei oJ jIhsou``~ touv~ dwvdeka Maqhtav~ aujtou,` kaiv h[rxato aujtoi`~ levgein tav mevllonta aujtw`/ sumbaivnein: {Oti ijdouv, ajnabaivnomen eij~ JIerosovluma, kaiv oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou paradoqhvsetai toi`~ jArciereu`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~, oiJ 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`nÉ 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`naiÉ 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, San Jose, California 95126