Church Bulletin - August 12, 2001 - 10th Sunday of Matthew

MATTHIAS - THE THIRTEENTH APOSTLE

10th Sunday of Matthew - August 12, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 1 Cor 4:9-16; Mt 17:14-23]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

THE THIRTEENTH APOSTLE
BY TAKING THE PLACE OF JUDAS,
MATTHIAS FULFILLED THE WORK
OF APOSTLESHIP

When the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit, it is recorded that they undertook the task of selecting a successor to Judas. Peter's words concerning this are chronicled in the Book of Acts: "Of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

Two candidates were proposed: Joseph called Barsabas, and Matthias. Lots were cast and, through the grace of God, Matthias was chosen to be an Apostle. Little is known of the background of this holy man. In fact, there is no other reference to him in the New Testament, aside from his election! Sacred Tradition tells us that he first took Christ's Gospel to Armenia, where he was met with great opposition. Armenia would become the first country to officially adopt Christianity as its state religion some 300 years later, but the number of converts won by Matthias was relatively small.

The missionary labors of the Apostle Matthias carried him to other remote areas of the world. He visited ancient Abyssinia and eventually found his way to Ethiopia. It was here that Matthias suffered martyrdom, giving his life for the Saviour that he loved dearly.
It is thought that a book entitled "The Traditions of Matthias" was written by this "Thirteenth Apostle." This work was often used and quoted by the early Church Fathers.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

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.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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."

APOLUTIKION THS METAMORFWSEWS

Metemorfwvqh~ ejn tw`/ [Orei, Cristev oJ Qeov~, deivxa~ toi`~ Maqhtai`~ sou thvn dovxan sou, kaqwv~ hjduvnato. Lavmyon kaiv hJmi`n toi`~ ajmartwloi`~, tov fw`~ sou tov aji?dion, presbeivai~ th`~ Qeotovkou: Fwtodovta, dovxa soi.

APOLYTIKION OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. Giver of light glory to 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

JEpiv tou` o[rou~ metemorfwvqh~, kaiv wJ~ ejcwvroun, oiJ maqhtaiv sou, thvn dovxan sou Cristev oJ Qeov~, ejqeavsanto: i{na o{tan se I[dwsi staurouvmenon, tov mevn pavqo~ nohvsousin eJkouvsion, tw`/ dev kovsmw/ khruvxwsin, o{ti suv uJpavrcei~ ajlhqw`~, tou` Patrov~ tov ajpauvgasma.

KONTAKION

You were transfigured upon the mount O Christ our God and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

KURIAKH I J
APOSTOLOS
(A j Kor. d j 9<16)

jAdelfoiv, oJ Qeov~ hJma`~ touv~ ajpostovlou~ ejscavtou~ ajpevdeixen, wJ~ ejpiqanativou~, o{ti qevatron ejgenhvqhmen tw`/ kovsmw/, kaiv ajggevloi~ kaiv ajnqrwvpoi~. JHmei`~ mwroiv diav Cristovn, uJmei`~ dev frovnimoi ejn Cristw`/: hJmei`~ ajsqenei`~, uJmei`~ dev ijscuroiv: uJmei`~ e[ndoxoi, hJmei`~ dev a[timoi. [Acri th`~ a[rti w{ra~ kaiv peinw`men kaiv diyw`men kaiv gumnhteuvomen kaiv kolafizovmeqa kaiv ajstatou`men kaiv kopiw`men ejrgazovmenoi tai`~ ijdivai~ cersiv: loidorouvmenoi eujlogou`men, diwkovmenoi ajnecovmeqa, blasfhmouvmenoi parakalou`men: wJ~ perikaqavrmata tou` kovsmou ejgenhvqhmen, pavntwn perivyhma e{w~ a[rti. Oujk ejntrevpwn uJma`~ gravfw tau`ta, ajll j wJ~ tevkna mou ajgaphtav nouqetw`. JEavn gavr murivou~ paidagwgouv~ e[chte ejn Cristw`/, ajll j ouj pollouv~ patevra~: ejn gavr Cristw`/ jIhsou` diav tou` eujaggelivou ejgwv uJma`~ ejgevnnhsa. Parakalw` ou\n uJma`~, mimhtaiv mou givnesqe.

TENTH SUNDAY
EPISTLE
(1 Cor. 4: 9-16)

Brethren, for I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on.
(Kef. iz j (17), 14<23)

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, a[nqrwpov~ ti~ prosh`lqe tw`/ jIhsou`, gonupetw`n aujtw`/, kaiv levgwn: Kuvrie, ejlevhsovn me tovn uiJovn, o{ti selhniavzetai, kaiv kakw`~ pavscei: pollavki~ gavr pivptei eij~ tov pu`r, kaiv pollavki~ eij~ tov u{dwr. Kai proshvnegka aujtovn toi`~ Maqhtai`~ sou, kaiv oujk hjdunhvqhsan aujtovn qerapeu`sai. Japokriqeiv~ dev oJ jIhsou`~, ei\pen: \W geneav a[pisto~ kaiv diestrammevnh, e{w~ povte e[somai meq j uJmw`n; e{w~ povte ajnevxomai uJmw`n; Fevretev moi aujtovn w|de. Kaiv ejpetivmhsen aujtw`/ oJ jIhsou`~, kaiv ejxh`lqen ejp j aujtou` tov daimovnion: kaiv ijavqh oJ pai`~ ajpov th`~ w{ra~ ejkeivnh~. Tovte proselqovnte~ oiJ Maqhtaiv tw`/ jIhsou` kat j ijdivan, ei\pon: Diav tiv hJmei`~ oujk hjdunhvqhmen ejkbalei`n aujtov; JO dev jIhsou`~ ei\pen aujtoi`~: Diav thvn ajpistivan uJmw`n. jAmhvn gavr levgw uJmi`n, ejavn e[cete pivstin wJ~ kovkkon sinavpew~, ejrei`te tw`/ o[rei touvtw/: Metavbhqi ejnteu`qen ejkei`, kaiv metabhvsetai: kaiv oujdevn ajdunathvsei uJmi`n. Tou`to dev tov gevno~ oujk ejkporeuvetai, eij mhv ejn proseuch`/ kaiv nhsteiva/. Janastrefomevnwn dev aujtw`n ejn th`/ Galilaiva/, ei\pen aujtoi`~ oJ jIhsou`~: Mevllei oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou paradivdosqai eij~ cei`ra~ ajnqrwvpwn: kaiv ajpoktenou`sin aujtovn, kaiv th`/ trivth/ hJmevra/ ejgerqhvsetai.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(Chapter 17: 14-23)

At that time, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move hence to yonder place,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting."

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."

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