Church Bulletin - July 15, 2001 - Sunday of Holy Fathers of 4th Ecumenical Council

Sunday of Holy Fathers of 4th Ecumenical Council - July 15, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Titus 3:8-15; Mt 5:14-19]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

LITTLE THINGS CAN COST US GREATLY

There was once a popular song entitled, "Little Things Mean A Lot." The lyrics extolled the virtue of life's small gestures — a thoughtful deed... a kind word... a gentle touch — pointing out that actions such as these are more valuable than all of the world's riches.

We must remember, however, that there are two sides to every coin. Little things in a NEGATIVE sense also have the potential to grow into problems of epic proportions. When tempted to sin, how often do we find ourselves justifying our actions with a philosophy of: "It's such a small thing. What harm can it possibly do?" How Satan loves to hear those words!

In the early years of the Christian Church, all Roman citizens were required to do a "little thing." Once a year, they had to appear before a statue of Caesar and burn a pinch of incense before it, proclaiming him to be their Lord. Christians were expected to do this as well, or suffer the consequences. One wonders how many of these brave men and women — fearful for their very lives — were tempted to fulfill the terms of this pagan ritual. After all, they weren't being forced to give up any of their beliefs. All they had to do was show proper respect to the Emperor. Still, these faithful servants of the Lord understood that their allegiance to the one true God could not be compromised. To do so would be the gravest of sins.

The lesson is there for us to learn. When it comes to our relationship with Christ and our obedience to His Commandments, nothing should ever be viewed as trivial or unimportant.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Tovn sunavnarcon Lovgon, Patriv kaiv Pneuvmati, tovn ejk Parqevnou tecqevnta eij~ swthrivan hJmw`n, ajnumnhvswmen, pistoiv, kaiv proskunhvswmen: {Oti 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 TWN AGIWN PATERWN

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.

APOLYTIKION 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.

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 ta 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~ swthrivan, 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
(Tivtou 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
(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.

EUAGGELION
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 the 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 fulfil 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