Church Bulletin - July 1, 2001 - 4th Sunday of Matthew

THE APOSTLES PETER & PAUL: LINKED THROUGHOUT ETERNITY

4th Sunday of Matthew - July 1, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 1 Cor 12:27-13:8; Mt 8:5-13 ]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

THE APOSTLES PETER & PAUL: LINKED THROUGHOUT ETERNITY

The firm foundation of Christ's Church was laid by the Apostles. After receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, they bravely went out and proclaimed the Risen Lord to everyone, willing to sacrifice everything for their Savior. Without slighting the efforts of the others, the Church has always given special recognition to the Apostles Peter and Paul, referring to them as "two beacons illuminating the Church with all of God's doctrine." While these two great Christian missionaries evangelized in different regions, they will forever be remembered together because of their zealous labors, which took the Gospel to all people, Jew and Gentile alike.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the lives of both of these Apostles is the fact that they were able to overcome glaring weaknesses in their faith and character and become revered and honored saints. Peter, despite his boasting to the contrary, deserted Christ after His arrest, going so far as to deny even knowing Jesus. Before his conversion, Paul was one of the greatest persecutors of Christians. He relished the task of seeking out followers of Christ and throwing them into prison.
In the liturgical cycle of our Holy Orthodox Church, the importance of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul is underscored by the observance of a special fast preceding it. This penitential period varies in length, always beginning on the Monday following the Sunday of All Saints.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

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~.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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.

APOLUTIKION TWN AGIWN ANARGURWN KOSMA KAI DAMIANOU

{Agioi jAnavrguroi kaiv qaumatourgoiv, ejpiskevyasqe tav~ ajsqeneiva~ hJmw`n: dwreavn ejlavbate, dwreavn dovte hJmi`n.

APOLYTIKION OF THE UNMERCENARY HEALERS COSMAS AND DAMIAN

Sainted Unmercenaries and Wonder Workers, regard our infirmities; freely you have received, freely share with us.

QEOTOKION

JO di j hJma`~ gennhqeiv~ ejk Parqevnou, kaiv stauvrwsin uJpomeivna~ ajgaqev, oJ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton skuleuvsa~, kaiv e[gersin deivxa~ wJ~ Qeov~, mhv parivdh/~ ou{~ e[plasa~ th`/ ceiriv sou: dei`xon thvn filanqrwpivan sou ejleh`mon: devxai thvn tekou`savn se Qeotovkon, presbeuvousan uJpevr hJmw`n: kaiv sw`son Swthvr hJmw`n, laovn ajpegnwsmevnon.

THEOTOKION

O Pure One, who were born for us of a Virgin, and endured Crucifixion, who vanquished death by death and, as God, showed forth the Resurrection, do not forget those, You created by Your own hand. Show Your love, O Merciful One, and accept on our behalf the intercession of the Theotokos who bore You, and save us, O Savior, a desperate people.

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

Prostasiva, tw`n cristianw`n ajkataivscunte, mesiteiva, prov~ tovn poihthvn ajmetavqete, mhv parivdh/~, aJmartwlw`n dehvsewn fwnav~, ajllav provfqason wJ~ ajgaqhv, eij~ bohvqeian hJmw`n, tw`n pistw`~ kraugazovntwn soi: Tavcunon eij~ presbeivan, kaiv speu`son eij~ iJkesivan, hJ prostateuvousa ajeiv, Qeotovke tw``n timwvntwn se.

KONTAKION

Champion of Christians not put to shame, advocate before the Maker always steadfast, do not spurn sinners’ voices raised in prayer. In your goodness respond to bring help to us who devoutly petition you. Hasten your intercession and urgently make entreaty; for you unfailingly defend, Theotokos, those who honor you.

APOSTOLOS
(A j Korinqivou~ ib j 27<31, ig j 1<8)

jAdelfoiv, uJmei`~ ejste sw`ma Cristou` kaiv mevlh ejk mevrou~. Kaiv ou{~ mevn e[qeto oJ Qeov~ ejn th`/ ejkklhsiva/ prw`ton ajpostovlou~, deuvteron profhvta~, trivton didaskavlou~, e[peita dunavmei~, ei\ta carivsmata ijamavtwn, ajntilhvyei~, kubernhvsei~, gevnh glwssw`n. Mhv pavnte~ ajpovstoloi; Mhv pavnte~ profh`tai; Mhv pavnte~ didavskaloi; Mhv pavnte~ dunavmei~; Mhv pavnte~ carivsmata e[cousin ijamavtwn; Mhv pavnte~ glwvssai~ lalouvsi; Mhv pavnte~ diermhneuvousi; Zhlou`te dev tav carivsmata tav kreivttona. Kaiv e[ti kaq j uJperbolhvn oJdovn uJmi`n deivknumi. JEavn tai`~ glwvsssai~ tw`n ajnqrwvpwn lalw` kaiv tw`n ajggevlwn, ajgavphn dev mhv e[cw, gevgona calkov~ hjcw`n h[ kuvmbalon ajlalavzon. Kaiv ejavn e[cw profhteivan kaiv eijdw` tav musthvria pavnta kaiv pa`san thvn gnw`sin, kaiv ejavn e[cw pavsan thvn pivstin, w{ste o{rh meqistavnein, ajgavphn dev mhv e[cw, oujdevn eijmi. Kaiv ejavn ywmivsw pavnta tav uJpavrcontav mou, kaiv ejavn paradw` tov sw`mav mou i{na kauqhvsomai, ajgavphn dev mhv e[cw, oujdevn wjfelou`mai. JH ajgavph makroqumei`, crhsteuvetai, hJ ajgavph ouj zhloi`, hJ ajgavph ouj perpereuvetai, ouj fusiou`tai, ouj ajschmonei`, ouj zhtei` tav eJauth`~, ouj paroxuvnetai, ouj logivzetai tov kakovn, ouj caivrei ejpiv th`/ ajdikiva/, sugcaivrei dev th`/ ajlhqeiva/: pavnta stevgei, pavnta pisteuvei, pavnta ejlpivzei, pavnta uJpomevnei. JH ajgavph oujdevpote ejkpivptei.

EPISTLE
(I Corinthians 12: 27-31, 13: 1-8)

Brethren, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous and boastful; it is not arrogant and rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on.
(Kef. h j (8), 5<13)

Tw`/ kairw/` ejkeivnw/, ejlqovnti tw`/ jIhsou` eij~ Kapernaouvm, prosh`lqen aujtw`/ JEkatovntarco~, parakalw`n aujtovn, kaiv levgwn: Kuvrie, oJ pai`~ mou bevblhtai ejn th`/ oijkiva/ paralutikov~, deinw`~ basanizovmeno~. Kaiv levgei aujtw`/ oJ jIhsou`~: jEgwv ejlqwvn qerapeuvaw aujtovn. Kaiv ajpokriqeiv~ oJ JEkatovntarco~ e[fh: Kuvrie, oujk eijmi iJkanov~ I{na mou uJpov thvn stevghn eijsevlqh/~: ajllav movnon eijpev lovgw/, kaiv ijaqhvsetai oJ pai`~ mou. Kaiv gavr ejgwv a[nqrwpo~ eijmi uJpov ejxousivan, e[cwn uJp j ejmautovn stratiwvta~ kaiv levgw touvtw/, Poreuvqhti, kaiv poreuvetai: kaiv a[llw/, [Ercou, kaiv e[rcetai kaiv tw`/ douvlw/ mou, Poivhson tou`to, kaiv poiei`. JAkouvsa~ dev oJ jIhsou`~, ejqauvmase, kaiv ei\pe toi`~ ajkolouqou`sin: jAmhvn levgw uJmi`n, oujdev ejn tw`/ jIsrahvl tosauvthn pivstin eu{ron. Levgw dev uJmi`n, o{ti polloiv ajpov ajnatolw`n kaiv dusmw`n h{xousi, kaiv ajnakliqhvsontai metav jAbraavm kaiv jIsaavk kaiv jIakwvb ejn th`/ basileiva/ tw`n oujranw`n: oiJ dev uiJoiv th`~ basileiva~ ejkblhqhvsontai eij~ tov skovto~ tov ejxwvteron: ejkei` e[stai oJ klauqmov~ kaiv oJ brugmov~ tw`n ojdovntwn. Kaiv ei\pen oJ jIhsou`~ tw`/ jEkatontavrcw/: {Upage, kaiv wJ~ ejpivsteusa~ genhqhvtw soi. Kaiv ijavqh oJ pai`~ aujtou` ejn th`/ w{ra/ ejkeivnh/.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(Chapter 8: 5-13)

At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

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