Church Bulletin - March 17, 2002

Cheese Fare Sunday - March 17, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Rom 13:11-14:4; Mt 6:14-21]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

[Click here to see past Church bulletin messages]
[ Home | Bulletin Menu | Previous | Next ]

"LET US OBSERVE A FAST ACCEPTABLE AND PLEASING TO THE LORD"

he Western world has a very unique approach to the beginning of Lent. As the days wind down prior to the start of this season of penitence, the philosophy of "eat drink and be merry" seems to be quite prevalent. In particular, Mardi Gras has come to symbolize man's need to engage in frivolous and over-indulgent activities before embarking on that annual spiritual journey that leads us to the Cross.

In Eastern thought and in the Holy Orthodox Church, however, Lent is approached from a totally different point of view. In her infinite wisdom, the Church eases us into the Great Fast. Four Pre-Lenten Sundays are set aside to place several important themes before us. The necessity for humility in our lives ... the knowledge that our Father is always willing to welcome us "home" when we repent ... the importance of prayer, fasting and good works ... all of these messages must be taken to heart if Lent is to be meaningful for us. The Church even sets down our Lenten fasting regulations in a gradual manner, calling upon us to first remove meat from out diet after Meatfare Sunday and dairy products after Cheesefare Sunday as the Great Fast is ushered in.

Lent is a time of spiritual renewal for us. The early Church Fathers called it a period of "spiritual combat," involving both body and soul. May we joyfully begin our Lenten journey, determined to conquer our passions and dedicated to the goal of making ourselves worthy of the gift of salvation that the Risen Lord offers us. Indeed, as we sing at Vespers on the first day of Great Lent: "Let us observe a fast acceptable and pleasing to the Lord."

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

JEx u{you~ kath`lqe~ oJ eu[splagcno~, tafhvn katedevxw trihvmeron, i{na hJma` ejleuqerwvsh/~ tw`n paqw`n. JH zwhv kaiv hJ ajnavstasi~ hJmw`n, Kuvrie dovxa soi.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

O Merciful One, You came from on high, and condescended to Your three-day burial to save us from passions. You are our life and our Resurrection. 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 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

Th`~ sofiva~ oJdhgev, fronhvsew~ corhgev, tw`n ajfrovnwn paideutav, kaiv ptwcw`n uJperaspistav, sthvrixon, sunevtison thvn kardivan mou, Devspota, suv divdou moi lovgon, oJ tou` patrov~ Lovgo~: ijdouv gavr tav ceivlh mou, ouj mhv kwluvsw ejn tw`/ kravzein soi: jEleh`mon, ejlevhsovn me tovn parapevsonta.

KONTAKION

O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who have fallen."

APOSTOLOS
(Rwmaivou~ ig j 11<14, id j 1<4)

jAdelfoiv, nu`n ejgguvteron hJmw`n hJ swthriva h[ o{te ejpisteuvsamen. JH nuvx proevkoyen, hJ dev hJmevra h[ggiken. JApoqwvmeqa ou\n tav e[rga tou` skovtou~ kaiv ejnduswvmeqa tav o{pla tou` fwtov~. JW~ ejn hJmevra/ eujschmovnw~ peripathv<swmen, mhv kwvmoi~ kaiv mevqai~, mhv koivtai~ kaiv ajselgeivai~, mhv e[ridi kaiv zhvlw/ ajll j ejnduvsasqe tovn Kuvrion jIhsou`n Cristovn, kaiv th`~ sarkov~ provnoian mhv poiei`sqe eij~ ejpiqumiva~. Tovn dev ajsqenou`nta th`/ pivstei proslambavnesqe, mhv eij~ diakrivsei~ diallogismw`n. {W~ mevn pisteuvei fagei`n pavnta, oJ dev ajsqenw`n lavcana ejsqivei. JO ejsqivwn tovn mhv ejsqivonta mhv ejxouqeneivtw, kaiv oJ mhv ejsqivwn tovn ejsqivonta mhv krinevtw: oJ Qeov~ gavr aujtovn proselavbeto. Suv tiv~ ei\ oJ krivnwn ajllovtrion oijkevthn; Tw`/ ijdivw/ Kurivw/ sthvkei h[ pivptei: staqhvsetai dev: dunatov~ gavr ejstin oJ Qeov~ sth`sai aujtovn.

EPISTLE
(Romans 13:11-14, 14:1-4)

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on
(Matq. ~ j 14<21)

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: jEavn ajfh`te toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~ tav paraptwvmata aujtw`n, ajfhvsei kaiv uJmi`n oJ Pathvr uJmw`n oJ oujravnio~: ejavn dev mhv ajfh`te toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~ tav paraptwvmata aujtw`n, oujdev oJ Pathvr uJmw`n ajfhvsei tav paraptwvmata uJmw`n. {Otan dev nhsteuvhte, mhv givnesqe w{sper oiJ uJpokritaiv, skuqrwpoiv: ajfanivzousi gavr tav provswpa aujtw`n, o{pw~ fanw`si toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~ nhsteuvonte~. JAmhvn levgw uJmi`n, o{ti ajpevcousi tovn misqovn aujtw`n. Suv dev nhsteuvwn, a[leiyaiv sou thvn kefalhvn, kaiv tov provswpovn sou nivyai, o{pw~ mhv fanh`~ toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~ nhsteuvwn, ajllav tw`/ Patriv sou tw`/ ejn tw`/ kruptw`/: kaiv oJ Pathvr sou blevpwn ejn tw`/ kruptw`/, ajpodwvsei soi ejn tw`/ fanerw`/. Mhv qhsaurivzete uJmi`n qhsaurouv~ ejpiv th`~ gh`~, o{pou shv~ kaiv brw`si~ ajfanivzei, kaiv o{pou klevptai dioruvssousi kaiv klevptousi: qhsaurivzete dev uJmi`n qhsaurouv~ ejn oujranw`/, o{pou ou[te shv~, ou[te brw`si~ ajfanivzei, kaiv o{pou klevptai ouj dioruvssousin, oujdev klevptousin. {Opou gavr ejstin oJ qhsaurov~ uJmw`n, ejkei` e[stai kaiv hJ kardiva uJmw`n.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(Matthew 6:14-21)

The Lord said: "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

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