Church Bulletin - May 25, 2003 - Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman - May 25, 2003
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 2 Cor 4:6-15; John 4:5-42]
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JACOB'S WELL

In the largely rainless lands of the Middle East, water is a constant preoccupation. Throughout the Old Testament, much attention is given to wells, and the donors of these sites of refreshment were forever held in high esteem by the local community.

The setting of the Gospel lesson on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman is Jacob's Well. In Genesis, it is implied that such a well was dug by this venerable Patriarch when he and his family returned to Shechem in Canaan and settled outside the city. The well served as a point of rest and refuge for the numberous caravan that passed through the desert enroute to regions of greater population and civilization.

In our Orthodox Christian tradition, Jacob's Well and its surroundings were made famous by the encounter there between Jesus and "Photini", the woman of Samaria. In their lengthy conversation, Christ beautifully uses the symbolism of water to point out that He can provide us with "water" that would quench our thirst eternally. Jacob of the Old Testament provided the inhabitants of that region with water that took care of their PHYSICAL NEEDS. Christ, the new Jacob, offers all of us LIVING WATER, which satisfies all of our SPIRITUAL NEEDS. Truly, it is through Jesus Christ that we receive what is necessary for eternal life.

As early as the late 4th century, church historians write of an edifice erected over the location of Jacob's Well. The church has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. It is estimated that the well itself measures some 162 feet in depth.

KURIAKH THS SAMAREITIDOS
JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

Tov faidrovn th`~ ajnastavsew~ khvrugma, ejk tou` jAggevlou maqou`sai, aiJ tou` Kurivou maqhvtriai, kaiv thvn progonikhvn ajpovfasin ajporjrJivyasai, toi`~ jApostovloi~ kaucwvmenai e[legon: jEskuvleutai oJ qavnato~, hjgevrqh Cristov~ oJ Qeov~, dwrouvmeno~ tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

The women disciples of the Lord heard from the angel, the joyful news of the Resurrection and the repeal of the sentence imposed upon our forefathers. With pride they said to the Apostles, "Death is vanquished. Christ our God is risen, bestowing upon the world His great mercy."

jApolutivkion th`~ trivth~ EuJrevsew~ th`~ Kefalh`~ tou` Prodrovmou kaiv Baptistou` jIwavnnou

JW~ qei`on qhsauvrisma, ejgkekrummevnon th`/ gh`/, Cristov~ ajpekavluye, thvn Kefalhvn sou hJmi`n, profh`ta kaiv Provdrome: pavnte~ ou\n sunelqovnte~ ejn th`/ tauvth~ euJrevsei, a[/smasi qehgovroi~, tovn Swth`ra uJmnou`men, tovn swv/zonta hJma`~ ejk fqora`~, tai`~ iJkesivai~ sou.

Dismissal Hymn of the Third Finding of the Precious Head of John the Baptist

O Prophet and Forerunner, Christ revealed your Head for us as a sacred treasure hidden in the earth. Wherefore, all who have gathered, commemorating this discovery, praise the Savior with divine hymns, who by your entreaties delivered us from corruption.

jApolutivkion th`~ JEorth`~

JMesouvsh~ th`~ eJorth`~, diyw`savn mou thvn yuchvn, eujsebeiva~ povtison navmasa: o{ti pa`si Swthvr ejbovhsa~: JO diyw`n ejrcevsqw prov~ me kaiv pinevtw. JH phghv th`~ zwh`~, Cristev oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n, dovxa soi.

Dismissal Hymn of the Feast Day

At midday in the feast, refresh my thirsty soul with the flowing waters of piety. For You cried out to all, O Savior, "Let him who thirsts come to me and drink." You, O Christ our God, are the Fountain of Life, glory to You.

jApolutivkion tou` jAgivou Nikolavou

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.

Dismissal Hymn 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.

Kontavkion

\Eij kaiv ejn tavfw/, kath`lqe~ ajqavnate, ajllav tou` a{/dou, kaqei`le~ thvn dujnamin: kaiv ajnevsth~ wJ~ nikhthv~, Cristev oJ Qeov~, gunaixiv murofovroi~, fqegxavmeno~: Caivrete, kaiv toi``~ soi`~ ajpostovloi~, eijrhvnhn dwrouvmeno~ oJ toi`~ pesou`si, parevcwn ajnnavstasin.

Kontakion

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades’ power, and rose the victor, Christ God. To the myrrh-bearing women, saying "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You are He Who raises up the fallen.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ pl. b¢ . (Yalmov~ kz¢ ).
Sw`son, Kuvrie, tovn laovn sou kaiv eujlovghson
thvn klhronomivan sou.
Stivc. Prov~ sev, Kuvrie, kekravxomai oJ Qeov~ mou.
Prov~ Korinqivou~ B¢ Epistolh``~ Pauvlou tov
jAnavgnwsma.
(Kef. D¢ 6<15)

jjAdelfoiv, oJ Qeov~ oJ eijpwvn ejk skovtou~ fw`~ lavmyai, o{~ e[lamyen ejn tai`~ kardivai~ hJmw`n prov~ fwtismovn th`~ gnwvsew~ th`~ dovxh~ tou` Qeou` ejn proswvpw/ jIhsou` Cristou`. [Ecomen dev tovn qhsaurovn tou`ton ejn ojstrakivnoi~ skeuvesin, i{na hJ uJperbolhv th`~ dunavmew~ h\/ tou` Qeou` kaiv mhv ejx hJmw`n, ejn pantiv qlibovmenoi ajll¢ ouj stenocwrouvmenoi, ajporouvmenoi ajll¢ oujk ejxaporouvmenoi, diwkovmenoi ajll¢ oujk ejgkataleipovmenoi, kataballovmenoi ajll¢ oujk ajpolluvmenoi, pavntote thvn nevkrwsin tou` Kurivou jIhsou` ejn tw`/ swvmati perifevronte~, i{na kaiv hJ zwhv tou` jIhsou` ejn tw`/ swvmati hJmw`n fanerwqh`/. JAeiv gavr hJmei`~ oiJ zw`nte~ eij~ qavnaton paradidovmeqa diav jIhsou`n, i{na kaiv hJ zwhv tou` jIhsou` fanerwqh`/ ejn th`/ qnhth`/ sarkiv hJmw`n. {Wste oJ mevn qavnato~ ejn hJmi`n ejnergei`tai, hJ dev zwhv ejn uJmi`n. [Econte~ dev tov aujtov pneu`ma th`~ pivstew~ katav tov gegrammevnon, jEpivsteusa, diov ejlavlhsa, kaiv hJmei`~ pisteuvomen, diov kaiv lalou`men, eijdovte~ o{ti oJ ejgeivra~ tovn Kuvrion jIhsou`n kaiv hJma`~ diav jIhsou` ejgerei` kaiv parasthvsei suvn uJmi`n. Tav gavr pavnta di j uJma`~, i{na hJ cavri~ pleonavsasa diav tw`n pleiovnwn thvn eujcaristivan perisseuvsh/ eij~ thvn dovxan tou` Qeou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your
inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Letter
to the Corinthians.
Chapter 4. 6-15.

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believe, and so I spoke," we too believed, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav jIwavnnhn.
Kef. d j (4), 5<42

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw,/ e[rcetai oJ jIhsou`~ eij~ thvn povlin th`~ Samareiva~ legomevnhn Sucavr, plhsivon tou` cwrivou o{ e[dwken jIakwvb jIwshvf tw`/ uiJw`/ aujtou`: h\n dev ejkei` phghv tou` jIakwvb. jjO ou\n jIhsou`~ kekopiakwvv~ ejk th`~ oJdoiporiva~, ejkaqevzeto ou{tw~ ejpiv th`/ phgh`/: w{ra h\n wJseiv e{kth. [Ercetai gunhv ejk th`~ Samareiva~ ajntlh`sai u{dwr. Levgei aujth`/ oJ jIhsou`~: Dov~ moi piei`n. OiJ gavr maqhtaiv aujtou` ajpelhluvqeisan eij~ thvn povlin, i{na trofav~ ajgoravswsi. Levgei ou\n aujtw`/ hJ gunhv hJ Samareivti~: Pw`~ suv jIoudai`o~ w[n, par j ejmou` piei`n aijtei`~, ou[sh~ gunaikov~ Samareivtido~; Ouj gavr sugcrw`ntai jIoudai`oi Samareivtai~. JApekrivqh jIhsou`~ kaiv ei\pen aujth`/: Eij h{/dei~ thvn dwreavn tou` Qeou`, kaiv tiv~ ejstin oJ levgwn soi, dov~ moi piei`n, suv a[n h[/thsa~ aujtovn, kaiv e[dwken a[n soi u{dwr zw`n. Levgei aujtw`/ hJ gunhv: Kuvrie, ou[te a[ntlhma e[cei~, kaiv tov frevar ejstiv baquv: povqen ou\n e[cei~ tov u{dwr tov zw`n; mhv suv meivzwn eij tou` patrov~ hJmw`n jIakwvb, o{~ e[dwken hJmi`n tov frevar, kaiv aujtov~ ejx aujtou` e[pie, kaiv oiJ uiJoiv aujtou`, kaiv tav qrevmmata aujtou`; jApekrivqh oJ jIhsou`~ kaiv ei\pen aujth`/: Pa`~ oJ pivnwn ejk tou` u{dato~ touvtou, diyhvsei pavlin: o{~ d j a[n pivh/ ejk tou` u{dato~, ou| ejgwv dwvsw aujtw`/ ouj mhv diyhvsh/ eij~ tovn aijw`na, ajllav tov u{dwr o{ dwvsw aujtw`/, genhvsetai ejn aujtw`/ phghv u{dato~ aJllomevnou eij~ zwhvn aijwvnion. Levgei prov~ aujtovn hJ gunhv: Kuvrie, dov~ moi tou`to tov u{dwr, i{na mhv diyw`, mhdev e[rcwmai ejnqavde ajntlei`n. Levgei aujth`/ oJ jIhsou`~: {Upage fwvnhson tovn a[ndra sou, kaiv ejlqev ejnqavde. JApekrivqh hJ gunhv kaiv ei\pen: Oujk e[cw a[ndra. Levgei aujth`/ oJ jIhsou`~: Kalw`~ ei\pa~ o{ti a[ndra oujk e]cw: pevnte gavr a[ndra~ e[sce~, kaiv nu`n o{n e[cei~, oujk e[sti sou ajnhvr: tou`to ajlhqev~ ei[rhka~. Levgei aujtw`/ hJ gunhv: Kuvrie, qewrw` o{ti profhvth~ ei\ suv. OiJ patevre~ hJmw`n ejn tw`/ o{rei touvtw/ prosekuvnhsan: kaiv uJmei`~ levgete, o{ti ejn JIerousaluvmoi~ ejstivn oJ tovpo~ o{pou dei` proskunei`n. Levgei aujth`/ oJ jIhsou`~: Guvnai, pivsteusovn moi, o{ti e[rcetai w{ra, o{te ou[te ejn tw`/ o[rei touvtw/ ou[te ejn JIerousaluvmoi~ proskunhvsete tw`/ Patriv. JUmei`~ proskunei`te o{ oujk oi[date, hJmei`~ proskunou`men, o{ oi[damen: o{ti hJ swthriva ejk tw`n jIoudaivwn ejstivn. JAll j e[rcetai w{ra, kaiv nu`n ejstin, o{te oiJ ajlhqinoiv proskunhtaiv proskunhvsousi tw`/ Patriv ejn pneuvmati, kaiv ajlhqeiva/: kaiv gavr oJ Pathvr toiouvtou~ zhtei` touv~ proskunou`nta~ aujtovn. Pneu`ma oJ Qeov~, kaiv touv~ proskunou`nta~ aujtovn, ejn pneuvmati kaiv ajlhqeiva/ dei` proskunei`n. Levgei aujtw`/ hJ gunhv. Oi\da o{ti Messiva~ e[rcetai, oJ legovmeno~ Cristov~: o{tan e[lqh/ ejkei`no~, ajnaggelei`n hJmi`n a{panta. Levgei aujth`/ oJ jIhsou`~: jEgwv eijmi, oJ lalwvn soi. Kaiv ejpiv tou`to h\lqon oiJ Maqhtaiv aujtou`, kaiv ejqauvmasan o{ti metav gunaikov~ ejlavlei: oujdeiv~ mevntoi ei\pe: Tiv zhtei`~; h[, tiv lalei`~ met j aujth`~; jAfh`ken ou\n thvn uJdrivan aujth`~ hJ gunhv, kaiv ajph`lqen eij~ thvn povlin, kaiv levgei toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~: Deu`te, I[dete a[nqrwpon, o}~ ei\pe moi pavnta o{sa ejpoivhsa: mhvti ou|tov~ ejstin oJ Cristov~; jExh`lqon ou\n ejk th`~ povlew~, kaiv h[rconto prov~ aujtovn. JEn dev tw`/ metaxuv, hjrwvtwn aujtovn oiJ Maqhtaiv aujtou`, levgonte~: JRabbiv, favge. JO dev ei\pen aujtoi`~: jEgwv brw`sin e[cw fagei`n, h{n uJmei`~ oujk oi[date. [Elegon ou\n oiJ Maqhtaiv prov~ ajllhvlou~: Mhv ti~ h[negken aujtw`/ fagei`n; Levgei aujtoi`~ oJ jIhsou`~: jEmovn brw`mav ejstin, i{na poiw` tov qevlhma tou` pevmyantov~ me, kaiv teleiwvsw aujtou` tov e[rgon. Oujc uJmei``~ levgete, o{ti e[ti tetravmhnov~ ejsti, kaiv oJ qerismov~ e[rcetai; jIdouv, levgw uJmi`n, ejpavrate touv~ ojfqalmouv~ uJmw`n, kaiv qeavsasqe tav~ cwvra~, o{ti leukaiv eijsi prov~ qerismovn h[dh. Kaiv oJ qerivzwn, misqovn lambavnei, kaiv sunavgei karpovn eij~ zwhvn aijwvnion, i{na kaiv oJ speivrwn oJmou` caivrh/, kaiv oJ qerivzwn. JEn gavr touvtw/ oJ lovgo~ ejstivn oJ ajlhqinov~, o{ti a[llo~ ejstivn oJ speivrwn, kaiv a[llo~ oJ qerivzwn. JEgwv ajpevsteila uJma`~ qerivzein, o{ oujc uJmei`~ kekopiavkate: a[lloi kekopiavkasi, kaiv uJmei``~ eij~ tovn kovpon aujtw`n eujselhluvqate. JEk dev th``~ povlew~ ejkeivnh~ polloiv tw`n Samareitw`n ejpivsteusan eij~ aujtovn, diav tovn lovgon th`~ gunaikov~, marturouvsh~: {Oti eijpev moi pavnta o{sa ejpoivhsa. JW~ ou\n h\lqon prov~ aujtovn oiJ Samarei`tai, hjrwvtwn aujtovn mei`nai par j aujtoi`~: kaiv e[meinen ejkei` duvo hJmevra~. Kaiv pollw`/ pleivou~ ejpivsteusan diav tovn lovgon aujtou`. Th`/ te gunaikiv e[legon: {Oti oujkevti diav thvn shvn laliavn pisteuvomen: aujtoiv gavr ajkhkovamen, kaiv oi[damen, o{ti aujtov~ ejstin ajlhqw`~ oJ Swthvr tou` kovsmou, oJ Cristov~.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. John
Chapter 4: 5-42

At that time Jesus came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."

Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband, this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming, he who is called Christ; when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."

Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? They went out of the city and were coming to him.

Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest?" I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."

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