Church Bulletin - March 16, 2003 - Sunday of Orthodoxy

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY - March 16, 2003
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 11:24-26, 32-40; John 1:44-52]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek and English ]

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"WE HAVE SEEN THE TRUE LIGHT"

For centuries, the First Sunday of Great Lent has been referred to as the "Sunday of Orthodoxy." It is a day when the church rejoices at the great victory that was won over a heretical faction that sought to remove holy icons from the churches and homes of the faithful believers in the 8th century. Orthodox hierarchs, clergy and faithful of all backgrounds traditionally come together to worship on this day in commemoration of this.

Yet the "Sunday of Orthodoxy" is more than a jubilant retelling of a historical event. It is a time for us also to reflect upon what it actually means when we say that we are an Orthodox Christian. An Orthodox Christian is a member of the oldest Christian Church. Our roots date back to Christ and His Apostles. As we proclaim in the "Synodikon" that is read at Vespers on this day, indeed we are "the Faith of the Prophets, the Apostles and the Fathers." For 2,000 years, we have carefully preserved the teachings of our Lord and the sacred tradition that has developed in the Church since Apostolic times. Men and women have died protecting the holy truths that are so much a part of what we call Holy Orthodoxy. This is the spiritual legacy that has been passed on to us.

With this legacy, however, comes responsibility. Our generation must continue to proclaim a changeless Christ to a changing world, taking great care in seeing that nothing that we have received is ever lost or tarnished. Being an Orthodox Christian challenges us to embrace a lifestyle that can never be compromised, for it is the lifestyle set down by Christ Himself. Only by LOVING and LIVING our precious Faith will a real and total "victory" by the Orthodox Church be achieved.

PRWTH KURIAKH TWN NHSTEIWN
KURIAKH THS ORQODOXIAS
Sabivnou Mavrturo~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

J{Tovn sunavnarcon Lovgon, Patriv kaiv Pneuvmati, tovn ejk Parqevnou tecqevnta eij~ swthrivan hJmw`n, ajnumnhvswmen, pistoiv, kaiv proskunhvswmen: o{ti hujdovkhse sarkiv ajnelqei`n ejn tw`/ Staurw`/, kaiv qavnaton uJpomei`nai, kaiv ejgei`rai touv~ teqnew`ta~, ejn th`/ ejndovxw/ ajnastavsei aujtou`.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
Savinos the Maryr

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

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.

jApolutivkion th`~ JEorth`~

Thvn a[cranton Eijkovna sou proskunou`men jAgaqev, aijtouvmenoi sugcwvrhsin tw`n ptaismavtwn hJmw`n, Cristev oJ Qeov~: boulhvsei gavr hujdovkhsa~ sarkiv ajnelqei`n ejn tw`/ Staurw`/, i{na ruvsh/ ou{~ e[plasa~ ejk th`~ douleiva~ tou` ejcqrou`: o{qen eujcarivstw~ bow`men soi: Cara`~ ejplhvrwsa~ tav pavnta, oJ Swthvr hJmw`n, paragenovmeno~ eij~ tov sw`sai tovn Kovsmon.

Dismissal Hymn of the Feast Day

O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate Your Pure Image, O Good One. Of Your own will, You condescended to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh and deliver those You created from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, thankfully, we cry out, "When You came to save the world, You filled all things with joy, O Our Savior."

Qeotokivon

Pavnta uJpevr e[nnoian, pavnta uJperevndoxa tav sa,v Qeotovke musthvria: th`/ aJgneiva/ ejsfragismevnh kaiv parqeniva/ fulattomevnh, mhvthr ejgnwvsqh~ ajyeudhv~, Qeovn tekou`sa ajlhqinovn. Aujtovn ijkevteue, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Theotokion

Your Mysteries, O Theotokos, are beyond comprehension and glory. You gave birth to the true God, and became a mother indeed, while you remained sealed in purity and in virginity. Beseech Him to save our souls.

jApolutivkion tou` JAgivou Nikolavou

JJJKanovna 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 Saint 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

JJJJTh`/ uJpermavcw/ strathgw`/ tav nikhthvria, JW~ lutrwqei`sa tw`n deinw`n, eujcaristhvria, jAnagravfw soi hJ Povli~ sou, Qeotovke. JAll¢ wJ~ e[cousa tov kravto~ ajprosmavchton, jEk pantoivwn me kinduvnwn ejleuqevrwson, {Ina kravzw soi: Cai`re, nuvmfh ajnuvmfeute.

Kontakion

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ d¢ . {Umno~ triw`n paivdwn (Danihvl g¢ ).
Eujloghtov~ ei\, Kuvrie, tw`n patevrwn hJmw`n.
Stivc. {Oti divkaio~ ei\ ejpiv pa`sin, oi|~ ejpoivhsa~ hJmi`n.
Prov~ JEbraivou~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. IA¢ 24<26, 32<40

jjAdelfoiv, pivstei Mwu>sh`~ mevga~ genovmeno~ hjrnhvsato levgesqai uiJov~ qugatrov~ Farawv, ma`llon eJlovmeno~ sugkakoucei`sqai tw`/ law`/ tou` Qeou` h[ provskairon e[cein aJmartiva~ ajpovlausin, meivzona plou`ton hJghsavmeno~ tw`n Aijguvptou qhsaurw`n tovn ojneidismovn tou` Cristou`: ajpevblepe gavr eij~ thvn misqapodosivan. Kaiv tiv e[ti levgw; jEpileivyei gavr me dihgouvmenon oJ crovno~ periv Gedewvn, Baravk te kaiv Samywvn kaiv jIefqave, Daui?d te kaiv Samouhvl kaiv tw`n profhtw`n, oi{ diav pivstew~ kathgwnivsanto basileiva~, eijrgavsanto dikaiosuvnhn, ejpevtucon ejpaggeliw`n, e[fraxan stovmata leovntwn, e[sbesan duvnamin purov~, e[fugon stovmata macaivra~, ejnedunamwvqhsan ajpov ajsqeneiva~, ejgenhvqhsan ijscuroiv ejn polevmw/, parembolav~ e[klinan ajllotrivwn: e[labon gunai`ke~ ejx ajnastavsew~ touv~ nekrouv~ aujtw`n: a[lloi dev ejtumpanivsqhsan, ouj prosdexavmenoi thvn ajpoluvtrwsin, i{na kreivttono~ ajnastavsew~ tuvcwsin: e{teroi dev ejmpaigmw`n kaiv mastivgwn pei`ran e[labon, e[ti dev desmw`n kaiv fulakh`~: ejliqavsqhsan, ejprivsqhsan, ejpeiravsqhsan, ejn fovnw/ macaivra~ ajpevqanon, perih`lqon ejn mulwtai`~, ejn aijgeivoi~ devrmasin, uJsterouvmenoi, qlibovmenoi, kakoucouvmenoi, w|n oujk h\n a[xio~ oJ kovsmo~, ejn ejrhmivai~ planwvmenoi kaiv o[resi kaiv sphlaivoi~ kaiv tai`~ ojpai`~ th`~ gh`~. Kaiv ou|toi pavnte~ marturhqevnte~ diav th``~ pivstew~ oujk ejkomivsanto thvn ejpaggelivan, tou` Qeou` periv hJmw`n krei`ttovn ti probleyamevnou, i{na mhv cwriv~ hJmw`n teleiwqw`si.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Hymn of the Three Children, Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our Fathers.
Verse. For you are righteous in all things you have done for us.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.
Chapter 11.24-26; 32-40.

Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Japhthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And in all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav jIwavnnhn.
Kaf. a j (1), 44<52.

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, hjqevlhsen oJ jIhsou`~ ejxelqei`n eij~ thvn Galilaivan: kaiv euJrivskei Fivlippon kaiv levgei aujtw`/: jAkolouvqei moi. \Hn dev oJ Fivlippo~ ajpov Bhqsai>dav, ejk th`~ povlew~ jAndrevou kaiv Pevtrou. EuJrivskei Fivlippo~ tovn Naqanahvl kaiv levgei aujtw`/: {On e[graye Mwu>sh`~ ejn tw`/ novmw/ kaiv oiJ Profh`tai, euJrhvkamen, jIhsou`n tovn uiJovn tou` jIwshvf tovn ajpov Nazarevt. Kaiv ei\pen aujtw`/ Naqanahvl: jEk Nazarevt duvnataiv ti ajgaqovn ei\nai; Levgei aujtw`/ Fivlippo~: [Ercou kaiv i[de. Ei\den oJ jIhsou`~ tovn Naqanahvl ejrcovmenon prov~ aujtovn kaiv levgei periv aujtou`: [Ide ajlhqw`~ jIsrahlivth~, ejn w|/ dovlo~ oujk e[sti. Levgei aujtw`/ Naqanahvl: Povqen me ginwvskei~; jApekrivqh oJ jIhsou`~, kaiv ei\pen aujtw`/: Prov tou` se Fivlippon fwnh`sai, o[nta uJpov thvn sukh`n ei\dovn se. jApekrivqh Naqanahvl kaiv levgei aujtw`/: JRabbiv, suv h\ oJ UiJov~ tou` Qeou`, suv h\ oJ basileuv~ tou` jIsrahvl. JApekrivqh jIhsou`~ kaiv ei\pen aujtw`/: {Oti ei\povn soi, ei\dovn se uJpokavtw th``~ sukh`~ pisteuvei~; meivzw touvtwn o[yei. Kaiv levgei aujtw`/: jAmhvn ajmhvn levgw uJmi`n, ajp j a[rti o[yesqe tovn oujranovn ajnew/govta, kaiv touv~ ajggevlou~ tou` Qeou` ajnabaivnonta~ kaiv katabaivnonta~ ejpiv tovn uiJovn tou` ajnqrwvpou.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. John
Chapter 1:44-52

At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man."

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
1260 Davis Street - Church
986 Chapman Street - Office
San Jose, California 95126