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Saint Nicholas
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San Jose, California

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© 1999-2006 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of
San Jose, CA

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church


Meat-Fare Sunday - Sunday of the Last Judgment - March 10, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings:  1 Cor 8:8-9:2; Mt 25:31-46]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

[Click here to see past Church bulletin messages]
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THE FORTY HOLY MARTYRS OF SEBASTE

For the first three centuries of Christianity, followers of Christ faced terrible persecutions. The pagan Roman rulers had little tolerance for this new religion, and Christians were often faced with a monumental choice: renounce their Master or pay for their "disobedience" with their lives! Some tried to serve Rome and still live according to the principles of their faith, only to find this to be virtually impossible.

Such was the case with a group of saints whom the Church simply refers to now as the "Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste." They were soldiers in the Roman army in the early 4th century, stationed in the remote region of Sebaste, Armenia. They were courageous fighters, who distinguished themselves in their fierce defense of Rome against all enemies. They were also committed Christians, which did not set well with the Emperor Licinius. The Emperor sent
his envoys to Sebaste, hoping to convince the 40 men to pay proper homage to the pagan gods of Rome. When they refused, the soldiers were stripped naked and thrown into the frigid waters of a lake.

On the water's shores, Roman soldiers built blazing fires in an attempt to convince their freezing comrades to abandon Christ for warmth and shelter. Only one of these brave men weakened, but as he left his companions, it is said that he died immediately. According to Holy Tradition, an angel descended from heaven to minister to the dying soldiers, placing crowns on their heads. One of the guards on shore was so moved by this mystical happening that he, too, removed his clothing and entered the near-frozen lake, bringing the number of martyrs back to forty. Indeed, they were crowned with "glory and honor" as they left this world to receive their eternal reward.


ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Katevlusa~ tw`/ Staurw`/ sou tovn qavnaton: hjnevw/xa~ tw`/ Lhsth`/ tovn paravdeison: tw`n murofovrwn tovn qrh`non metevbale~: kaiv toi`~ soi`~ jApostovloi~ khruvttein ejpevtaxa~: o{ti ajnevsth~, Cristev oJ Qeov~, parevcwn tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

By Your Cross, O Christ our God, You destroyed death. You opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the lament of the Myrrh-bearing women, and You commanded the Apostles to proclaim You are risen, granting the world Your great mercy.


QEOTOKION

JW~ th``~ hJmw`n ajnastavsew~ qhsauvrisma, touv~ ejpiv soiv pepoiqovta~, panuvmnhte, ejk lavkkou kaiv buqou` ptaismavtwn ajnavgage. Suv gavr touv~ uJpeuquvnou~ th`/ aJmartiva/ e[swsa~, tekou`sa thvn swthrivan, hJ prov tovkou Parqevno~ kaiv ejn tovkw/ Parqevno~, kaiv metav tovkon pavlin ou|sa Parqevno~.

THEOTOKION

Treasury of our Resurrection, you are most praised. Lead us who trust in you from out of the pit and the depths of our offenses. By giving birth to Salvation, you saved those responsible for sin. You remained a virgin prior, a virgin during, and a virgin after the giving of birth: a virgin forever.


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

{Otan e[lqh/~ oJ Qeov~, ejpiv gh`~ metav dovxh~, kaiv trevmousi tav suvmpanta: potamov~ dev tou` purov~ prov tou` Bhvmato~ e{lkh, kaiv bivbloi ajnoivgwntai, kaiv tav kruptav dhmosieuvwntai: tovte ru`saiv me, ejk tou` purov~ tou` ajsbevstou, kaiv ajxivwson, ejk dexiw`n souv me sth`nai, Kritav dikaiovtate.

KONTAKION

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most Just.


APOSTOLOS
(A j Korinq. h j 8 < q j 2)

JAdelfoiv, brw`ma hJma`~ ouj parivsthsi tw`/ Qew`/: ou[te gavr ejavn favgwmen perisseuvomen, ou[te ejavn mhv favgwmen uJsterouvmeqa. Blevpete dev mhvpw~ hJ ejxousiva uJmw`n au{th provskomma gevnhtai toi`~ ajsqenou`sin. JEavn gavr ti~ I[dh/ se, tovn e[conta gnw`sin, ejn eijdwleivw/ katakeivmenon, oujciv hJ suneivdhsi~ aujtou` ajsqenou`~ o[nto~ oijkodomhqhvsetai eij~ tov tav eijdwlovquta ejsqiveinÉ Kaiv ajpolei`tai oJ ajsqenw`n ajdelfov~ ejpiv th`/ sh`/ gnwvsei, di j o{n Cristov~ ajpevqanen. Ou{tw dev aJmartavnonte~ eij~ touv~ ajdelfouv~ kaiv tuvptonte~ aujtw`n thvn suneivdhsin ajsqenou`san eij~ Cristovn aJmartavnete. Diovper eij brw`ma skandalivzei tovn ajdelfovn mou, ouj mh favgw kreva eij~ tovn aijw`na, i{na mhv tovn ajdelfovn mou skandalivsw. Oujk eijmiv ajpovstolo~É Oujk eijmiv ejleuvqero~É Oujciv jIhsou`n Cristovn tovn Kuvrion hJmw`n eJwvrakaÉ Ouj tov e[rgon mou uJmei`~ ejste ejn Kurivw/É Eij a[lloi~ oujk eijmiv ajpovstolo~, ajllav ge uJmi`n eijmi: hJ gavr sfragiv~ th`~ ejmh`~ ajpostolh`~ uJmei`~ ejste ejn Kurivw/.

EPISTLE
(I Cor. 8:2, 9:2)

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

 


EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on
(Kef. ke j 31<46)

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: {Otan e[lqh/ oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou ejn th`/ dovxh/ aujtou`, kaiv pavnte~ oiJ a{gioi [Aggeloi met j aujtou`, tovte kaqivsei ejpiv qrovnou dovxh~ aujtou`, kaiv sunacqhvsontai e[mprosqen aujtou` pavnta tav e[qnh, kaiv ajforiei` aujtouv~ ajp j ajllhvlwn, w{sper oJ poimhvn ajforivzei tav provbata ajpov tw`n ejrivfwn: kaiv sthvsei tav mevn provbata ejk dexiw`n aujtou`, tav dev ejrivfia ejx eujwnuvmwn. Tovte ejrei` oJ Basileuv~ toi`~ ejk dexiw`n aujtou`: Deu`te oiJ eujloghmevnoi tou` Patrov~ mou, klhronomhvsate thvn hJtoimasmevnhn uJmi`n basileivan ajpov katabolh`~ kovsmou. JEpeivnasa gavr, kaiv ejdwvkatev moi fagei`n: ejdivyhsa, kaiv ejpotivsatev me: xevno~ h[mhn, kaiv sunhgavgetev me: gumnov~, kaiv periebavletev me: hjsqevnhsa, kaiv ejpeskevyasqev me: ejn fulakh`/ h[mhn, kaiv h[lqete prov~ me. Tovte ajpokriqhvsontai aujtw`/ oiJ divkaioi, levgonte~: Kuvrie, povte sev ei[domen peinw`nta kaiv ejqrevyamenÉ h[ diyw`nta, kaiv ejpotivsamenÉ povte dev se ei[domen xevnon kaiv sunhgavgomenÉ h[ gumnovn kaiv periebavlomenÉ povte dev se ei[domen ajsqenh`, h[ ejn fulakh`/, kaiv h[lqomen prov~ seÉ Kaiv ajpokriqeiv~ oJ Basileuv~ ejrei` aujtoi`~: jAmhvn levgw uJmi`n, ejf j o{son ejpoihvsate eJniv touvtwn tw`n ajdelfw`n mou tw`n ejlacivstwn, ejmoiv ejpoihvsate. Tovte ejrei` kaiv toi``~ ejx eujwnuvmwn: Poreuvesqe ajp j ejmou` oiJ kathramevnoi eij~ tov pu`r tov aijwvnion, tov hJtoimasmevnon tw`/ diabovlw/ kaiv toi`~ ajggevloi~ aujtou`. JEpeivnasa gavr, kaiv oujk ejdwvkatev moi fagei`n: ejdivyhsa, kaiv oujk ejpotivsatev me: xevno~ h[mhn, kaiv ouj sunhgavgetev me: gumnov~, kaiv ouj periebavletev me: ajsqenhv~ kaiv ejn fulakh`/, kaiv oujk ejpeskevyasqev me. Tovte ajpokriqhvsontai aujtw`/ kaiv aujtoiv, levgonte~: Kuvrie, povte se ei[domen peinw`nta, h[ diyw`nta, h[ xevnon, h[ gumnovn h[ ajsqenh`, h[ ejn fulakh`/, kaiv ouj dihkonhvsamevn soiÉ Tovte ajpokriqhvsetai aujtoi`~, levgwn: jAmhvn levgw uJmi`n, ejf j o{son oujk ejpoihvsate eJniv touvtwn tw`n ejlacivstwn, oujdev ejmoiv ejpoihvsate. Kaiv ajpeleuvsontai ou|toi eij~ kovlasin aijwvnion, oiJ dev divkaioi eij~ zwhvn aijwvnion.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(Chapter 25:31-46)

The Lord said: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry and feed Thee, or thirsty and give Thee drink? And when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee?" And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

 


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



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Church: 1260 Davis Street, San Jose, CA 95126
Office: 986 Chapman Street, San Jose, CA 95126

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