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"ONUPHRIUS AND PETER: CHAMPIONS OF ASCETICISM"

2nd Sunday of Matthew - June 17, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Rom 2:10-16; Mt 4:18-23 ]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

[Click here to see past Church bulletin messages]
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ONUPHRIUS AND PETER: CHAMPIONS OF ASCETICISM

Depicted on the cover of the June 17, 2001 Church Bulletin are two men of different eras, who lived remarkably similar lives. Our Holy Father Onuphrius - given the honor of being called "The Great" - lived in the 4th century. Born to a royal couple in Persia, Onuphrius was given over to the care of monks in a desert monastery in Egypt. A diligent student of the Scriptures, Onuphrius immersed himself totally into the ascetic disciplines of prayer and fasting. Obeying the calling of the Lord, he eventually left the monastery to live the life of a hermit in the wilderness - a life he would live for nearly 70 years. After a chance encounter with a monk named Paphnutius, Onuphrius, whose snow-white hair and beard nearly reached the ground by this time, fell asleep in the Lord in the year 400 A.D.

Peter the Athonite lived in the 9th century. A brilliant military leader, Peter was captured in a great battle between the Greeks and Saracens and cast into prison. Miraculously delivered from captivity through the intercession of St. Nicholas, Peter went to Rome, where he was tonsured a monk. As he set out by ship for Constantinople, Peter saw a vision of the Theotokos, who directed him to journey to Mount Athos. Obediently, Peter went to the desolate island, where he lived in strict asceticism for more than 50 years. When he fell asleep in the Lord, Peter's dying wish was that this sacred site be revered as a citadel in honor of the Mother of God. Today, Mount Athos is one of the best-known centers of Orthodox monasticism, where thousands have followed Peter's example and given up everything to serve the Lord.

Special Message for the day...

In today's Gospel message we read that Christ invited four men to follow Him: the brothers Peter and Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee, James and John. "…and they followed Him."

We pray: Heavenly Father, You have called us to join in the work of establishing the Kingdom. Hear us now as we turn to you with our needs. We ask for your help to follow Your Son in His work, as His instruments. Amen.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Tou` 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.

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."

OiJ mavrturev~ sou, Kuvrie, ejn th`/ ajqlhvsei aujtw`n, stefavnou~ ejkomivsanto th`~ ajfqarsiva~, ejk sou` tou` Qeou` hJmw`n: scovnte~ gavr thvn ijscuvn sou, touv~ turavnnou~ kaqei`lon: e[qrausan kaiv daimovnwn, tav ajnivscura qravsh. Aujtw`n tai`~ iJkesivai~, Cristev oJ Qeov~, sw`son tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Your Martyrs, O Lord received, from You our God, for their struggle, the crown of immortality. Armed with Your might they defeated the tyrants. They also crushed the imprudence of demons. By their intercessions O Christ our God, save our souls.

Tov ajp j aijw`no~ ajpovkrufon, kaiv jAggevloi~ a[gnwston musthvrion, diav sou` Qeotovke, toi`~ ejpiv gh`~ pefanevrwtai: Qeov~ ejn ajsugcuvtw/ eJnwvsei sarkouvmeno~ kaiv Staurovn eJkousivw~ uJpevr hJmw`n katadexavmeno~: di j ou| ajnasthvsa~ tovn prwtovplaston, e[swsen ejk qanavtou tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

O Theotokos, the mystery hidden from all ages, unknown even to the angels, has been revealed in you to all who live upon the earth. God in perfect union becomes incarnate. For our sake, He willingly endured the Cross through which He raised up the first man He had fashioned, and saved our souls from death.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A jdelfoiv, dovxa kaiv timhv kaiv eijrhvnh pantiv tw`/ ejrgazomevnw/ tov ajgaqovn, jIoudaivw/ te prw`ton kaiv {Ellhni: ouj gavr ejsti proswpolhyiva parav tw`/ Qew`/. {Osoi gavr ajnovmw~ h{marton, ajnovmw~ kaiv ajpolou`ntai: kaiv o{soi ejn novmw/ h{marton, diav novmou kriqhvsontai. Ouj gavr oiJ ajkroataiv tou` novmou divkaioi parav tw`/ Qew`/, ajll j oiJ poihtaiv tou` novmou dikaiwqhvsontai. {Otan gavr e[qnh tav mhv novmon e[conta fuvsei tav tou` novmou poih`/, ou|toi novmon mhv e[conte~ eJautoi`~ eijsi novmo~, oi{tine~ ejnduvknuntai tov e[rgon tou` novmou graptovn ejn tai`~ kardivai~ aujtw`n, summarturouvsh~ aujtw`n th`~ suneidhvsew~ kaiv metaxuv ajllhvlwn tw`n logismw`n kathgorouvntwn h[ kaiv ajpologoumevnwn, ejn hJmevra/ o{te krinei` oJ Qeov~ tav kruptav tw`n ajnqrwvpwn katav tov eujaggevliovn mou diav jIhsou` Cristou`.

Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

All who have sinned without the law will also parish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, peripatw`n oJ jIhsou`~ parav thvn qavlassan th`~ Galilaiva~, ei\de duvo ajdelfouv~, Sivmwna tovn legovmenon Pevtron, kaiv jAndrevan tovn ajdelfovn aujtou`, bavllonta~ ajmfivblhstron eij~ thvn qavlassan: h\san gavr aJliei`~: kaiv levgei aujtoi`~: Deu`te ojpivsw mou, kaiv poihvsw uJma`~ aJliei`~ ajnqrwvpwn. OiJ dev eujqevw~ ajfevnte~ tav divktua, hjkolouvqhsan aujtw`/. Kaiv probav~ ejkei`qen, ei\den a[llou~ duvo ajdelfouv~, jIavkwbon tovn tou` Zebedaivou, kaiv jIwavnnhn tovn ajdelfovn aujtou`, ejn tw`/ ploivw/ metav Zebedaivou tou` patrov~ aujtw`n, katartivzonta~ tav divktua aujtw`n: kaiv ejkavlesen aujtouv~. OiJ dev eujqevw~ ajfevnte~ tov ploi`on kaiv tovn patevra aujtw`n, hjkolouvqhsan aujtw`/. Kaiv perih`gen o{lh thvn Galilaivan oJ jIhsou`~ didavskwn ejn tai`~ sunagwgai`~ aujtw`n, kaiv kurhvsswn tov Eujaggevlion th`~ Basileiva~ kaiv qerapeuvwn pa`san novson kaiv pa`san malakivan ejn tw`/ law`/.

At that time, Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.