Church Bulletin - January 5, 2003 - Eve of Holy Theophany

Eve of Holy Theophany and Blessing of the Waters - January 5, 2003
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"THE SACRED WATER OF THE JORDAN RIVER"

The Baptism of our Lord is closely identified with the Jordan River, a body of water that had great significance for the Israelites long before this mysterious event. After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, this was the river God's chosen people crossed to enter the "promised land." It was from the banks of the Jordan that the Prophet Elias was taken up into heaven by a chariot of fire. It was also in these waters that Elisha - the successor of Elias - commanded that Naaman the Syrian wash and be cleansed of leprosy. The Second Book of Kings chronicles how Naaman was skeptical of this, claiming that the rivers of Damascus could be used to cleanse him just as well. Nevertheless, he did as Elisha instructed him to do, and he was healed.

This was the river to which Christ came to be baptized. It was already "sacred water" for the Israelites, and our Lord's baptism in the Jordan served to reinforce Christ's claim to be the Messiah. There is no doubt that its relevance was not lost on the pious Jews of His time. Nor should its importance be lost on us either.

We cannot cross over into the "promised land" of God's heavenly kingdom unless Christ leads us there, just as Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan. Only Christ can wash and cleanse us of our spiritual illnesses. He is our only source of spiritual healing - just as Naaman had only one source of assistance for his physical ailments.

As we celebrate the great Feast Day of Theophany, may we remember how the Jordan River was sanctified forever by Christ's baptism in its waters.

KURIAKH PRO TWN FWTWN
Qeopevmptou, Qewna` tw`n Martuvrwn
kaiv Sugklhtikh`~ th`~ jOsiva~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

Eujfrainevsqw tav oujravnia, ajgalliavsqw tav ejpivgeia, o{ti ejpoivhse kravto~ ejn bracivoni aujtou` oJ Kuvrio~: ejpavthse tw`/ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton, prwtovtoko~ tw`n nekrw`n ejgevneto, ejk koiliva~ a/{dou ejrjrJuvsato hJma`~, kaiv parevsce tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

SUNDAY BEFORE EPIPHANY
Theopemptos and Theona the Martyrs
Synklitiki the Venerable

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord, by His mighty Arm, has created a Dominion. He has conquered death by death, and become the firstborn of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy.

jApolutivkion Kuriakh`~ prov tw`n Fwvtwn

JApestrevfeto potev, oJ jIordavnh~ potamov~, th`/ mhlwth`/ jElissaiev, ajnalhfqevnto~ JHliouv, kaiv dih/rei`to tav u{data e[nqen kaiv e[nqen: kaiv gevgonen aujtw`/, xhrav oJdov~ hJ uJgrav, eij~ tuvpon ajlhqw`~ tou` baptivsmato~, di¢ ou| hJmei`~ thvn rJevousan, tou` bivou diaperw`men diavbasin. Cristov~ ejfavnh, ejn jIordavnh/, aJgiavsai tav u{data.

Dismissal Hymn of Sunday
before Epiphany

The River Jordan once reversed its course before the mantle of Elisha when Elijah ascended, and the waters parted from the side. The waterway became dry land for him as a true image of Baptism through which we cross the changing passage of life. Christ has appeared in the Jordan, sanctifying the waters.

jApolutivkion th`~ tou` Cristou` Gennhvsew~

JJH 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~ jAnatolhvn. Kuvrie dovxa soi.

Dismissal Hymn of the Birth of Christ

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.

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

JJjEn toi`~ rJeivqroi~ shvmeron, tou` jIordavnou, gegonwv~ oJ Kuvrio~, tw`/ jIwavnnh/ ejkboa`/: Mhv deiliavsh/~ baptivsai me: sw`sai gavr h{kw, jAdavm tovn prwtovplaston.

Kontakion

Appearing in the streams of the Jordan today, the Lord cries out to John. "Do not be afraid to Baptize Me for I have come to save Adam, the first to be created."

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ pl. b¢ . (Yalmov~ kz¢ ).
Sw`son, Kuvrie, tovn laovn sou kaiv
eujlovghson thvn klhronomivan sou.
Stivc. Prov~ sev, Kuvrie, kekravxomai
oJ Qeov~ mou.
Prov~ Timovqeon B¢ jEpistolh`~
Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
(Kef. D¢ 5<8)

jjTevknon Timovqee, nh`fe ejn pa`si, kakopavqhson, e[rgon poivhson eujaggelistou`, thvn diakonivan sou plhrofovrhson. JEgwv gavr h[dh spevndomai, kaiv oJ kairov~ th`~ ejmh`~ ajnaluvsew~ ejfevsthke. Tovn ajgw`na tovn kalovn hjgwvnismai, tovn drovmon tetevleka, thvn pivstin tethvrhka: loipovn ajpovkeitaiv moi oJ th`~ dikaiosuvnh~ stevfano~, o{n ajpodwvsei moi oJ Kuvrio~ ejn ejkeivnh/ th`/ hJmevra/, oJ divkaio~ krithv~, ouj movnon dev ejmoiv, ajllav kaiv pa`si toi`~ hjgaphkovsi thvn ejpifavneian aujtou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27. 9,1.
O Lord, save your people and
bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried,
O my God.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s
Second Letter to Timothy.
(Chapter 4. 5-8)

Timothy my Son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Eujaggevlion
jEk tou` katav Mavrkon.
(Kef. a¢ . (1) 1<8)

JjArchv tou` Eujaggelivou jIhsou` Cristou`, uiJou` tou` Qeou`. JW~ gevgraptai ejn toi`~ profhvtai~: " jIdouv ejgwv ajpostevllw tovn a[ggelovn mou prov proswvpou sou, o{~ kataskeuavsei thvn oJdovn sou e[mprosqevn sou: fwnhv bow`nto~ ejn th`/ ejrhvmw/, eJtoimavsate thvn oJdovn Kurivou, eujqeiva~ poiei`te tav~ trivbou~ aujtou`". JEgevneto jIwavnnh~ baptivzwn ejn th`/ ejrhvmw/ kaiv khruvsswn bavptisma metanoiva~ eij~ a[fesin aJmartiw`n. Kaiv ejxeporeuveto prov~ aujtovn pa`sa hJ jIoudaiva cwvra kaiv oiJ JIerosolumi`tai, kaiv ejbaptizonto pavnte~ ejn tw`/ jIordavnh/ potamw`/ uJp j aujtou` ejxomologouvmenoi tav~ aJmartiva~ aujtw`n. \Hn dev jIwavnnh~ ejndedumevno~ trivca~ kamhvlou kaiv zwvnhn dermativnhn periv thvn ojsfuvn aujtou`, kaiv ejsqivwn ajkrivda~ kaiv mevli a[grion. Kaiv ejkhvrusse levgwn: [Ercetai oJ ijscurovterov~ mou ojpivsw mou, ou| oujk eijmiv iJkanov~ kuvya~ lu`sai tovn iJmavnta tw`n uJpodhmavtwn aujtou`. JEgwv mevn ejbavptisa uJma`~ ejn u{dati, aujtov~ dev baptivsei uJma`~ ejn Pneuvmati JAgivw/.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to
St. Mark (Chapter 1: 1-8)

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

"Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way;
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight"

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

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