Church Bulletin - December 30, 2001 - Sunday after the Nativity

Sunday after the Nativity - December 30, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 1:11-19; Mt 2:13-23]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR?"

Throughout our lives, we find that candles are an integral part of the Orthodox Christian worship
experience. Candles are held at baptisms and at weddings. A candle adorns our table when our home is being blessed at Theophany. Likewise, when we celebrate the great Feast of Pascha, it is a candle that ignites the joyful commemoration of our Lord's Resurrection. The first thing that many Orthodox faithful will do upon entering a church is light a candle.

What does this mean? What is the symbolism behind the use of candles in the Orthodox Church? Simply put, candles always remind us of Christ, Who is the "Light of the world." Scriptural references that testify to this are found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Isaiah the Prophet writes: "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great LIGHT." These words are now a meaningful part of the divine services that herald the Nativity of our Lord. The Evangelist John begins his Gospel with these words: "In Him was life, and the life was the LIGHT of men. And the LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:4-5) Christ also reminds us: "Walk while you have the LIGHT with you, lest the darkness overtake you." (John 12:35)

While a candle will eventually burn out, and its light dimmed, the "Light" of Christ can never be extinguished! He will always illumine the path of those who follow Him faithfully. He is always in our midst -- guiding us, comforting us and constantly showing us the way. Those
Who seek the warmth of His Light have nothing to fear, for He offers us endless hope.

When we see a candle in church, then, we must always think of Christ. May His Divine Light touch us all!

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 META THN TOU
CRISTOU GENNHSIN

Eujaggelivzou jIwshvf, tw`/ Daui?d tav qauvmata tw`/ qeopavtori: Parqevnon ei\de~ kuoforhvsasan: metav Mavgwn prosekuvnhsa~: metav Poimevnwn ejdoxolovghsa~: di j jAggevlou crhmatisqeiv~. JIkevteue Cristovn tovn Qeovn, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION AFTER THE
BIRTH OF CHRIST

O Joseph, proclaim to David, the ancestor of God, the good news of the miracles you witnessed; you saw a virgin give birth; you worshipped with the Magi; you gave glory with the shepherds; you conferred with an angel. Beseech Christ our God to save our souls.

APOLUTIKION THS EORTHS

JH Gevnnhsiv~ sou Cristev oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n, ajnevteile tw`/ kovsmw/, tov fw`~ tov th`~ gnwvsew~: ejn aujth`/ gavr oiJ toi`~ a[stroi~ latreuvonte~, uJpov ajstevro~ ejdidavskonto, sev proskunei`n tovn {Hlion th`~ dikaiosuvnh~, kaiv sev ginwvskein ejx u{you~ ajnatolhvn. Kuvrie dovxa soi.

APOLYTIKION OF THE FEAST DAY

Your birth, O Christ our God, dawned the light of knowledge upon the earth. For by Your birth, those who adored stars were taught by a star to worship You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You, Orient from on High. O Lord, 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

JH Parqevno~ shvmeron, tovn uJperouvsion tivktei, kaiv hJ gh` tov sphvlaion, tw`/ ajprosivtw/ prosavgei. [Aggeloi, metav poimevnwn doxologou`si: Mavgoi dev metav ajstevro~ oJdoiporou`si: di j hJma`~ gavr ejgennhvqh, Paidivon nevon, oJ prov aijwvnwn Qeov~.

KONTAKION

Today, the Virgin bears Him who is transcended, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the God before all ages.

APOSTOLOS
(Galavta~ a j 11<19)

jAdelfoiv, gnwrivzw uJmi`n tov eujaggevlion tov eujaggelisqevn ujp j ejmou` o{ti oujk ejsti katav a[nqrwpon: oujdev gavr ejgwv parav ajnqrwvpou parevlabon aujtov ou[te ejdidavcqhn, ajllav di j ajpokaluvyew~ jIhsou` Cristou`. JHkouvsate gavr thvn ejmhvn ajnastrofhvn pote ejn tw`/ jIoudai>smw`/, o{ti kaq j uJperbolhvn ejdivwkon thvn ejkklhsivan tou` Qeou` kaiv ejpovrqoun aujthvn, kaiv proevkopton ejn tw`/ jIoudai>smw`/ uJpevr pollouv~ sunhlikiwvta~ ejn tw`/ gevnei mou, perissotevrw~ zhlwthv~ uJpavrcwn tw`n patrikw`n mou paradovsewn. {Ote dev eujdovkhsen oJ Qeov~ oJ ajforivsa~ me ejk koiliva~ mhtrov~ mou kaiv kalevsa~ diav th`~ cavrito~ aujtou` ajpokaluvyai tovn uiJovn aujtou` ejn ejmoiv, i{na eujaggelivzwmai aujtovn ejn toi`~ e[qnesin, eujqevw~ ouj prosaneqevmhn sarkiv kaiv ai{mati, oujdev ajnh`lqon eij~ JIerosovluma prov~ touv~ prov ejmou` ajpostovlou~, ajllav ajph`lqon eij~ jArabivan, kaiv pavlin ejpevstreya eij~ Damaskovn. {Epeita metav e[th triva ajnh`lqon eij~ JIerosovluma iJstorh`sai Pevtron, kaiv ejpevmeina prov~ aujtovn hJmevra~ dekapevnte. {Eteron dev tw`n ajpostovlwn oujk ei\don eij mhv jIavkwbon tovn ajdelfovn tou` Kurivou.

EPISTLE
(Gal. 1: 11-19)

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on
(Kef. b j. (2), 13<23)

JAnacwrhsavntwn tw`n Mavgwn, ijdouv [Aggelo~ Kurivou faivnetai kat j o[nar tw`/ jIwshvf, levgwn: jEgerqeiv~ parevlabe tov Paidivon kaiv thvn Mhtevra aujtou`, kaiv feu`ge eij~ Ai[gupton: kaiv i[sqi ejkei`, e{w~ a[n ei[pw soi: mevllei gavr JHrwvdh~ zhtei`n tov Paidivon, tou` ajpolevsai aujtov! JO dev ejgerqeiv~, parevlabe tov Paidivon kaiv thvn Mhtevra aujtou` nuktov~, kaiv ajnecwvrhsen eij~ Ai[gupton: kaiv h\n ejkei` e{w~ th`~ teleuth`~ JHrwvdou: i{na plhrwqh` tov rhqevn uJpov tou` Kurivou diav tou` Profhvtou, levgonto~: ejx Aijguvptou ejkavlesa tovn UiJovn mou. Tovte JHrwvdh~, ijdwvn o{ti ejnepaivcqh uJpov tw`n Mavgwn, ejqumwvqh livan: kaiv ajposteivla~ ajnei`le pavnta~ touv~ pai`da~ touv~ ejn Bhqleevm kaiv ejn pa`si toi`~ oJrivoi~ aujth`~, ajpov dietou`~ kaiv katwtevrw, katav tovn crovnon o{n hjkrivbwse parav tw`n Mavgwn. Tovte ejplhrwvqh tov rJhqevn uJpov JIeremivou tou` Profhvtou, levgonto~: Fwnhv ejn Rama`/ hjkouvsqh, qrh`no~ kaiv klauqmov~ kaiv ojdurmov~ poluv~, JRachvl klaivousa tav tevkna aujth`~: kaiv oujk h[qele paraklhqh`nai, o{ti oujk eijsiv. Teleuthvsanto~ dev tou` JHrwvdou, ijdouv [Aggelo~ Kurivou kat j o[nar faivnetai tw`/ jIwshvf ejn Aijguvptw/, levgwn: jEgerqeiv~ paravlabe tov Paidivon kaiv thvn Mhtevra aujtou`, kaiv poreuvou eij~ gh`n jIsrahvl: teqnhvkasi gavr oiJ zhtou`nte~ thvn yuchvn tou` Paidivou. JO dev ejgerqeiv~, parevlabe tov Paidivon kaiv thvn Mhtevra aujtou`, kaiv h\lqen eij~ gh`n jIsrahvl. JAkouvsa~ dev o{ti jArcevlao~ basileuvei ejpiv th`~ jIoudaiva~ ajntiv JHrwvdou tou` Patrov~ aujtou`, ejfobhvqh ejkei` ajpelqei`n: crhmatisqeiv~ dev kat j o[nar, ajnecwvrhsen eij~ tav mevrh th`~ Galilaiva~, kaiv ejlqwvn katwv/khsen eij~ povlin legomevnhn Nazarevt: o{pw~ plhrwqh` tov rJhqevn diav tw`n Profhtw`n, o{ti Nazwrai`o~ klhqhvsetai.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(Chapter 2:13-23)

When the Wise Men had departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

"A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
She refused to be consoled,
Because they were no more."

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead." And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

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