Church Bulletin - August 18, 2002 - Eighth Sunday of Matthew

Eighth Sunday of Matthew - August 18, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Rom 15:1-7; Mt 9:27-35]
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"REJOICE, FOR I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!"

We know that after our Lord ascended into heaven, the Apostle John was entrusted with the responsibility of caring for the Theotokos. While scholars differ in their opinion on just how long the Blessed Virgin lived after Christ departed from this world (estimates range from 10 to 22 years), there is something upon which all agree: the Mother of God longed for the day when she would be reunited with her Son.

While praying on the Mount of Olives one day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and brought her an answer to her fervent prayer: in three days, her earthly life would be over. She wanted the opportunity to bid farewell to all of the Apostles. Miraculously, all of them, with the exception of Thomas, were drawn back to Jerusalem for this extraordinary event. At the hour of her death, it is said that a brilliant light filled the room and Christ Himself, surrounded by angels, appeared and received her pure soul. The body of the Theotokos was buried in the Garden of Gethsemane.

When a grief-stricken Thomas arrived in Jerusalem three days later, he begged to be taken to the Virgin's tomb, so that he could see her body one last time. When the tomb was opened, however, the body of the Theotokos was not there! That evening as they gathered for prayer, the Apostles heard angelic singing. They looked up and saw the Mother of God in the radiance of heavenly glory. Her final words were not only a comfort to them, but to all of us as well: "REJOICE, FOR I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, AND I WILL PRAY FOR YOU BEFORE GOD."

KURIAKH H J MATQAIOU
Flwvrou kaiv Lauvrou tw`n Martuvrwn

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

Katevlusa~ tw`/ Staurw`/ sou tovn qavnaton: hjnevw/xa~ tw`/ Lhsth`/ tovn paravdeison: tw`n murofovrwn tovn qrh`non metevbale~: kaiv toi`~ soi`~ jApostovloi~ khruvttein ejpevtaxa~: o{ti ajnevsth~, Cristev oJ Qeov~, parevcwn tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

EIGHTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
Floros and Lavros the Martyrs

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

By Your Cross, O Christ our God, You destroyed death. You opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the lament of the Myrrh-bearing women, and You commanded the Apostles to proclaim You are risen, granting the world Your great mercy.

jApolutikion tou` JAgivou Nikolavou

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.

Dismissal Hymn 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.

Kontavkion

Thvn ejn presbeivai~ ajkoivmhton Qeotovkon, kaiv prostasivai~ ajmetavqeton ejlpivda, tavfo~ kaiv nevkrwsi~ oujk ejkravthsen: wJ~ gavr zwh`~ Mhtevra, prov~ thvn zwhvn metevsthsen, oJ mhvtran oijkhvsa~ ajeipavrqenon.

Kontakion

Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her life.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ Baruv~. (Yalmov~ kh j.).
Kuvrio~ ijscuvn tw`/ law`/ aujtou` dwvsei.
Stivc. jEnevgkate tw`/ Kurivw/ uiJoiv Qeou`,
ejnevgkate tw`/ Kurivw/ dovxan kaiv timhvn.
Prov~ Korinqivou~ A j jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. A j 10<17

jAdelfoiv, parakalw` uJma`~ diav tou` ojnovmato~ tou` Kurivou hJmw`n jIhsou` Cristou`, i{na tov aujtov levghte pavnte~, kaiv mhv h\/ ejn uJmi`n scivsmata, h\te dev kathrtismevnoi ejn tw`/ aujtw`/ noi? kaiv ejn th`/ aujth`/ gnwvmh/. JEdhlwvqh gavr moi periv uJmw`n, ajdelfoiv mou, uJpov tw`n Clovh~ o{ti e[ride~ ejn uJmi`n eijsi. Levgw dev tou`to, o{ti e{kasto~ uJmw`n levgei: ejgwv mevn eijmi Pauvlou, ejgwv dev jApollwv, ejgwv dev Khfa`/, ejgwv dev Cristou`. Memevristai oJ Cristov~_ Mhv Pau`lo~ ejstaurwvqh uJpevr uJmw`n_ [H eij~ tov o[noma Pauvlou ejbaptivsqhte_ Eujcaristw` tw`/ Qew`/ o{ti oujdevna uJmw`n ejbavptisa eij mhv Krivspon kaiv Gavi>on, i{na mhv ti~ ei[ph/ o{ti eij~ tov ejmovn o[noma ejbavptisa. JEbavptisa dev kaiv tovn Stefana` oi\kon: loipovn oujk oi\da ei[ tina a[llon ejbavptisa. Ouj gavr ajpevsteilev me Cristov~ baptivzein, ajll j eujaggelivzesqai, oujk ejn sofiva/ lovgou, i{na mhv kenwqh/` oJ staurov~ tou` Cristou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Seventh Tone. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God,
bring to the Lord honor and glory
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter
to the Corinthians.
Chapter 1.10,17.

BRETHREN, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispos and Gaius; lest anyone should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on.
Kef. id j (14), 14<22.

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, ei\den oJ jIhsou`~ poluvn o[clon, kaiv ejsplacnivsqh ejp j aujtouv~, kaiv ejqeravpeuse touv~ ajrrwvstou~ aujtw`n. jOyiva~ dev genomevnh~, prosh`lqon aujtw`/ oiJ Maqhtaiv aujtou`, levgonte~: [Erhmov~ ejstin oJ tovpo~, kaiv hJ w{ra h[dh parh`lqen: ajpovluson touv~ o[clou~, i{na ajpelqovnte~ eij~ tav~ kwvma~, ajgoravswsin eJautoi`~ brwvmata. JO dev jIhsou`~ ei\pen aujtoi`~: Ouj creivan e[cousin ajpelqei`n: dovte aujtoi`~ uJmei`~ fagei`n. OiJ dev levgousin aujtw`/: Oujk e[comen w|de, eij mhv pevnte a[rtou~ kaiv duvo ijcquva~. JO dev ei\pe: Fevretev moi aujtouv~ w|de. Kaiv keleuvsa~ touv~ o[clou~ ajnakliqh`nai ejpiv touv~ covrtou~, kaiv labwvn touv~ pevnte a[rtou~ kaiv touv~ duvo ijcquva~, ajnablevya~ eij~ tovn oujranovn, eujlovghse: kaiv klavsa~, e[dwke toi`~ Maqhtai`~ touv~ a[rtou~, oiJ dev Maqhtaiv toi`~ o[cloi~. Kaiv e[fagon pavnte~, kaiv ejcortavsqhsan: kaiv h\/ran tov periseu`on tw`n klasmavtwn, dwvdeka kofivnou~ plhvrei~. OiJ dev ejsqivonte~ h\san a[ndre~ wJseiv pentakiscivlioi, cwriv~ gunaikw`n kaiv paidivwn. Kaiv eujqevw~ hjnavgkasen oJ jIhsou`~ touv

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
Chapter 14: 14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

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