Church Bulletin - February 16, 2003 - Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN AND THE PHARISEE - February 16, 2003
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 2 Tim 3:10-15; Lk 18:1-4]
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THE PRIEST-MARTYR BLAISE

Much of what we know about many of the saints of the early Church has been handed down to us in the form of oral tradition. Because little, if anything, was set down in writing concerning their spiritual accomplishments, it is not surprising that many legends and folklore developed through the ages concerning the saints.

Such is the case with the Priest-Martyr Blaise. Early Christian writers hardly make mention of him. Still, he remains a popular saint due to some fascinating stories that have somehow been connected with his life.

We do know that Blaise was the Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia in the 4th century. When the persecution of Christians became great in his city, Blaise fled to the protection of a cave in the nearby mountains. Tradition tells us that Blaise was actually a physician prior to becoming a hierarch of the Church. It is said that wild beasts would come to his cave to be treated for their various wounds and injuries. Blaise's love for animals, however, led to his ultimate martyrdom. Agricolaus, the Roman governor of the region, had sent his hunters into the hills to find game for him. It was then that they discovered the hiding place of the saintly bishop and brought him back to Sebaste, where he was tortured and imprisoned. Another legend has it that on the way back to Sebaste, Blaise helped a young boy who had a bone stuck in his throat. Because of this, he is looked upon the Western Church as the "Patron Saint of sore throats." After enduring terrible beatings, Blaise was put to death by beheading in 316 A.D.

KURIAKH TELWNOU KAI FARISAIOU
Pamfivlou Marturo~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

JTou` 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.

SUNDAY OF THE PUBLICAN
AND THE PHARISEE
Pamfilos the Martyr

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."

Qeotokivon

Tou` Gabrihvl fqegxamevnou soi, Parqevne tov cai`re, suvn th`/ fwnh`/ ejsarkou`to, oJ tw`n o{lwn Despovth~, ejn soiv th`/ aJgiva kibwtw`/, wJ~ e[fh oJ divkaio~ Daui?d: ejdeivcqh~ platutevra tw`n oujranw`n, bastavsasa tovn Ktivsthn sou. Dovxa tw`/ ejnoikhvsanti ejn soiv: dovxa tw`/ proelqovnti ejk sou`: dovxa tw`/ ejleuqerwvsanti hJma`~, diav tou` tovkou sou.

Theotokion

At the very sound of Gabriel’s voice bringing you that greeting, O Virgin, the Lord of All became incarnate in you. As David the Just had foretold, you became a Holy Tabernacle. You became greater than the heavens by bearing your Creator. Glory to Him who came forth from you. Glory to Him who set us free, being born of you.

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

JJJJFarisaivou fuvgwmen uJyhgorivan, kaiv Telwvnou mavqwmen, tov tapeinovn ejn stenagmoi`~, prov~ tovn Swth`ra kraugavzonte~: {Ilaqi movne, hJmi`n eujdiavllakte.

Kontakion

Let us flee from the boasting of the Pharisee and learn through our own sighs of sorrow the humility of the Publican. Let us cry out to the Savior, "Have mercy on us, for through You alone are we reconciled."

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~ Timovqeon B¢ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.

Tevknon Timovqee, parhkolouvqhkav~ mou th`/ didaskaliva/, th`/ ajgwgh`/, th`/ proqevsei, th`/ pivstei, th`/ makroqumiva/, th`/ ajgavph/, th`/ uJpomonh`/, toi`~ diwgmoi`~, toi`~ paqhvmasin, oi|av moi ejgevnonto ejn jAntioceiva/, ejn jIkonivw/, ejn Luvstroi~. Oi{ou~ diwgmouv~ uJphvnegka! Kaiv ejk pavntwn me ejrruvsato oJ Kuvrio~. Kaiv pavnte~ dev oiJ qevlonte~ eujsebw`~ zh`n ejn Cristw`/ jIhsou`, diwcqhv-sontai: ponhroiv dev a[nqrwpoi kaiv govhte~ prokovyousin ejpiv tov cei`ron, planw`nte~ kaiv planwvmenoi. Suv dev mevne ejn oi|~ e[maqe~ kaiv ejpistwvqh~, eijdwv~ parav tivno~ e[maqe~, kaiv o{ti ajpov brevfou~ tav iJerav gravmmata oi\da~, tav dunavmenav se sofivsai eij~ swthrivan diav pivstew~ th`~ ejn Cristw`/ jIhsou`.

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 Second Letter to Timothy. Chapter 3.10-15.

Timothy, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
Kef. ih¢ 10<14

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~ thvn parabolhvn tauvthn: [Anqrwpoi duvo ajnevbhsan eij~ tov iJerovn proseuvxasqai, oJ ei|~ Farisai`o~ kaiv oJ e{tero~ telwvnh~. JO Farisai`o~ staqeiv~ prov~ eJautovn tau`ta proshuvceto: JO Qeov~, eujcaristw` soi, o{ti oujk eijmiv w{sper oiJ loipoiv tw`n ajnqrwvpwn, a{rpage~, a[dikoi, moicoiv, h[ kaiv wJ~ ou|to~ oJ telwvnh~: nhsteuvw div~ tou` sabbavtou, ajpodekatw` pavnta o{sa ktw`mai. Kaiv oJ telwvnh~ makrovqen ejstwv~ oujk h[qelen oujdev touv~ ojfqalmouv~ eij~ tovn oujranovn ejpa`rai, ajll¢ e[tupte eij~ tov sth`qo~ aujtou` levgwn: JO Qeov~, iJlavsqhtiv moi tw`/ aJmartwlw/`. Levgw uJmi`n, katevbh ou|to~ dedikaiwmevno~ eij~ tovn oi\kon aujtou` h[ ejkei`no~: o{ti pa`~ oJ uJyw`n eJautovn, tapeinwqhvsetai: oJ dev tapeinw`n eJautovn, uJywqhvsetai.

Gospel
From the holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Chapter 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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