Church Bulletin - March 24, 2002 - Sunday of Orthodoxy, 1st Sunday of Lent

Sunday of Orthodoxy - 1st Sunday of Lent - March 24, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Heb 11:24-26; Heb 11:32-40; Jn 1:43-51]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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CELEBRATING THE TRIUMPH Of ORTHODOXY

Each year, the First Sunday of the Great Fast is set aside to commemorate an important historical event: the celebration of the restoration of holy icons to their proper place within public and private worship. The Church had endured a long, bitter struggle between the iconoclasts - those who were vehemently opposed to the use of icons and sacred images -- and the true believers, who felt strongly about the role they played in the Church that they were willing to die for their right to venerate them. Most of the eighth century was taken up by this controversy, and even though the 7th Ecumenical Council decreed that icons should be venerated because of WHO and WHAT they represented, it was not until 843 A.D., largely through the efforts of the Empress Theodora of Constantinople, that this dispute was put to rest. On the First Sunday of Lent that year, a glorious procession made its way to the great Church of Hagia Sophia, with hierarchs, clergy and faithful alike carrying the sacred images that they fought so hard to preserve. Since then, the Church annually remembers this "Triumph of Orthodoxy" with special services and similar processions with icons.

Today, the Sunday of Orthodoxy is viewed as a day to remember all of the victories that the Church has attained through the centuries over persecutors, oppressors and heretics. We gratefully remember all those who "fought the good fight" in protection of their precious faith. It is no wonder that we proudly sing on this day: "O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory to all Orthodox Christians over their adversaries."

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.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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."

APOLUTIKION THS EORTHS

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

APOLYTIKION 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."

QEOTOKION

JPavnta uJpevr e[nnoian, pavnta uJperevndoxa tav sa,v Qeotovke musthvria: th`/ ajgnoiva/ 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.

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`/ uJpermavcw/ strathgw`/ tav nikhthvria, wJ~ lutrwqei`sa tw`n deinw`n eujcaristhvria, ajnagravfw soi hJ povli~ sou Qeotovke. JAll j wJ~ e[cousa tov kravto~ ajprosmavchton, ejk pantoivwn me kinduvnwn ejleuqevrwson, i{na 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!"

APOSTOLOS
( JEbraiou~ ia j 24<26,

jAdelfoiv, 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 levgwÉ 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/ macaira~ 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
(Hebrew 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 armies 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.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Matqai`on
( jIwavnnou a j 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 Mwsh`~ 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 agaqovn 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~É 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~É meivzw touvtwn o[yei. Kaiv levgei aujtw`/: jAmhvn ajmhvn levgw uJmi`n: ajp j a[rti o[yesqe tovn oujranovn ajnew/govta, kaiv touv~ jAggevlou~ tou` Qeou` ajnabaivnonta~, kaiv katabaivnonta~ ejpiv tovn UiJovn tou` ajnqrwvpou.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Matthew
(John 1:43-51)

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, San Jose, California 95126