Church Bulletin - July 14, 2002 - Sunday of the Holy Fathers

Sunday of the Holy Fathers - July 14, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Titus 3:8-15; Mt 5:14-19]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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THE LEGEND OF ST. VERONICA

The Gospels document a multitude of times when our Lord displayed His power to heal. By and large, the identities of those who felt the healing touch of our Savior are shrouded in anonymity. They are simply referred to as "the man born blind," "the paralytic," "the ten lepers" and, as we see depicted on this morning's Church Bulletin, "the woman with an issue of blood." According to the Evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke, she had suffered from her infirmity for twelve years and, after touching the hem of Christ's garment, she was cured instantly.

Sacred tradition sheds some light on the mystery of who this woman was. She is said to be VERONICA, who is thought to have stepped out of the crowd and wiped our Lord's face as He
struggled beneath the weight of His Cross on the road to Golgotha. Pious legend has it that the image of Christ's countenance remained upon the precious cloth that she used for this act of kindness. Indeed, the name "Veronica" comes from the words "Vera" and "Icon," which literally mean "true image," lending credence to this amazing tale.

Following Christ's Resurrection, Veronica and her husband Zacchaios became Christian missionaries, taking the message of the Risen Savior as far as southern France. She carried the Lord's image with her always --which the Western Church now refers to as "Veronica's Veil." A claim is even made that the ailing Emperor Tiberius, whose physicians had given up hope for his recovery, was healed after being shown the legendary cloth by Veronica.

KURIAKH TWN AGIWN PATERWN
THS D J
OIKOUMENIKHS SUNODOU
jAkuvla tou` jApostovlou
JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

{Ote kath`lqe~ prov~ tovn qavnaton, hJ zwhv ajqavnato~, tovte tovn a{/dhn ejnevkrwsa~, th`/ ajstraph`/ th`~ Qeovthto~: o{te dev kaiv touv~ teqnew`ta~, ejk tw`n katacqonivwn ajnevsthsa~, pa`sai aiJ dunavmei~ tw`n ejpouranivwn ejkrauvgazon: Zwodovta Cristev, oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n, dovxa soi.

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF
THE FOURTH
ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
Aquila the Apostle
Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

When you descended to death, O immortal life, then the light of Your divinity destroyed Hades. When You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers cried out, "Glory to You, O Christ our God, the Giver of life."

jApolutivkion tw`n Patevrwn

JUpevrdedoxasmevno~ ei\, Cristev oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n oJ fwsthvra~ ejpiv gh`~ touv~ Patevra~ hJmw`n qemeliwvsa~, kaiv di j aujtw`n prov~ thvn ajlhqinhvn pivstin, pavnta~ hJma`~ oJdhghvsa~: poluevsplagcne, dovxa soi.

Dismissal Hymn of the Holy Fathers

You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth, and through them led us all to the true Faith. O Most compassionate, glory to You.

Qeotokivon

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.

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

Prostasiva, tw`n cristianw`n ajkataivscunte, mesiteiva, prov~ tovn poihthvn ajmetavqete, mhv parivdh/~, aJmartwlw`n dehvsewn fwnav~, ajllav provfqason, wJ~ ajgaqhv, eij~ thvn 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.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ d j. (Yalmov~ la j).
Eujfranqh`te ejpiv Kuvrion kaiv ajgallia`sqe divkaioi.
Makavrioi w|n ajfevqhsan aiJ ajnomivai.
Prov~Tivton g j 8<15

Tevknon Tivte, pistov~ oJ lovgo~: kaiv periv touvtwn bouvlomaiv se diabebaiou`sqai, I{na frontivzwsi kalw`n e[rgwn proi?stasqai oiJ pepisteukovte~ tw`/ Qew`/: Tau`tav ejsti tav kalav kaiv wjfevlima toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~: mwrav~ dev zhthvsei~ kaiv geneologiva~ kaiv e[rei~ kaiv mavca~ nomikav~ perii?staso: eijsi gavr ajnwfelei`~ kaiv mavtaioi. Aijretikovn a[nqrwpon metav mivan kaiv deutevran nouqesivan paraitou`, eijdwv~ o{ti ejxevstraptai oJ toiou`to~ kaiv aJmartavnei w[n aujtokatavkrito~. {Otan pevmyw jArtema`n prov~ se h[ Tucikovn, spouvdason ejlqei`n prov~ me eij~ Nikovpolin: jEkei` gavr kevkrika paraceimavsai. Zhna`n tovn nomikovn kaiv jApollwv spoudaivw~ provpemyon, I{na mhdevn aujtoi`~ leivph/. Manqanevtwsan dev kaiv oiJ hJmevteroi kalw`n e[rgwn proi?stasqai eij~ tav~ ajnagkaiva~ creiva~, I{na mhv w\sin a[karpoi. JAspavzontaiv se oiJ met j ejmou` pavnte~. JAspavsai touv~ filou`nta~ hJma`~ ejn pivstei. JH cavri~ metav pavntwn uJmw`n: ajmhvn.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 31. 11,1.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven.
Titus 3: 8-15

My child Titus, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

Eujaggevlion
jEk tou` katav Matqai`on.
Kef. e j (5), 14<19

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~ toi`~ eJautou` Maqhtai`~: JUmei`~ ejste tov fw`~ tou` kovsmou: ouj duvnatai povli~ krubh`nai, ejpavnw o[rou~ keimevnh: oujdev kaivousi luvcnon kaiv tiqevasin aujtovn uJpov tov movdion, ajll j ejpiv thvn lucnivan, kaiv lavmpei pa`si toi`~ ejn th`/ oijkiva/. Ou{tw lamyavtw tov fw`~ uJmw`n e[mprosqen tw`n ajnqrwvpwn, o{pw~ i{dwsin uJmw`n tav kalav e[rga, kaiv doxavswsi tovn Patevra uJmw`n tovn ejn toi`~ oujranoi`~. Mhv nomivshte o{ti h\lqon katalu`sai tovn novmon, h[ touv~ profhvta~: oujk h\lqon katalu`sai, ajllav plhrw`sai. JAmhvn gavr levgw uJmi`n: {Ew~ a[n parevlqh/ oJ oujranov~ kaiv hJ gh`, ijw`ta e{n, h[ miva keraiva ouj mhv parevlqh/ ajpov tou` novmou, e{w~ a[n pavnta gevnhtai. {O~ ejavn ou\n luvsh/ mivan tw`n ejntolw`n touvtwn tw`n ejlacivstwn, kaiv didavxjh/ ou[tw touv~ ajnqrwvpou~, ejlavcisto~ klhqhvsetai ejn th`/ basileiva/ tw`n oujranw`n: o{~ d j a[n poihvsh/ kaiv didavxh/, ou|to~ mevga~ klhqhvsetai ejn th`/ basileiva/ tw`n oujranw`n.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
Chapter 5: 14-19

The Lord said to his disciples: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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