Church Bulletin - May 26, 2001 - Sunday of the 318 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

Sunday of the 318 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council - May 27, 2001
"THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH GREAT JOY"

Sunday of the 318 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council - May 27, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Acts 20:16-18, 28-36; Jn 17:1-13 ]

THEY RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH GREAT JOY

After His Resurrection, our Lord spent a considerable amount of time preparing His Apostles for their appointed task of spreading His Gospel throughout the world. He spoke to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3) and opened their minds so that they might understand and comprehend the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45) Finally, after 40 days had passed, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives and ascended into Heaven, vanishing before the very eyes of His devoted followers.

One might have expected the Apostles to be overcome by sadness at this mysterious happening. For three years, they had been Christ's constant companions. Now He was gone - they would see their Master no more. Amazingly, Luke's Gospel reports that they returned to Jerusalem WITH GREAT JOY! The Apostles rejoiced, for they believed that one day, they would be reunited with their Savior. This was the blessed thought that would sustain them as they endured suffering, persecution and, ultimately, martyrdom as they sought to carry out their Great Commission to: Go and teach all nations. (Matthew 28:19) They knew victory would be theirs, for the Holy Spirit would strengthen them, no matter what they would have to overcome.

In like manner, we rejoice in Christ's Ascension as well. He returned to His Heavenly Kingdom, yet He is with us always! Indeed, we look forward with great anticipation to that day when we will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:17) where we will finally experience what Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those Who love Him. (1 Cor. 2:9)

Special Message for the day... on this Sunday of the God-bearing Fathers

In 315, Arius, a Libyan by birth and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria, began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God saying that he is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time when He was not. This heresy, known as Arianism, began to spread and gain followers in many cities. Moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, St. Constantine the Great, summoned the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, where 318 shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the first seven articles of the holy Symbol of Faith, the Nicene Creed. Thus they anathematized Arius and his followers as heretics. Recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honor, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith. (from the Great Horologion)

References:

The Creed

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

O Christ the agile powers appeared at Your tomb, the guards were as dead, and Mary stood by the grave, seeking Your sacred body. You destroyed Hades yet remained untouched by it. You encountered the Virgin and, through her, bestowed life. Glory to You who have risen from the dead!

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

jAggelikaiv dunavmei~ ejpiv tov mnh`mav sou, kaiv oiJ fulavssonte~ ajpenekrwvqhsan: kaiv I{stato Mariva ejn tw`/ tavfw/, zhtou`sa tov a[crantovn sou sw`ma. JEskuvleusa~ tovn {Adhn mhv peirasqeiv~ uJp j aujtou`, uJphvnthsa~ th`/ Parqevnw/ dwrouvmeno~ thvn zwhvn. JO ajnastav~ ejk tw`n nekrw`n, Kuvrie, dovxa soi.

APOLYTIKION OF THE HOLY FATHERS

You are greatly glorified, O Christ our God, who established our Fathers as luminaries upon the earth, and through them led us all to the true Faith. O Most compassionate, glory to You.

APOLUTIKION TWN AGIWN PWTERWN

JUpevrdedoxasmevno~ ei\, Cristev oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n oJ fwsthvra~ ejpiv gh`~ touv~ Patevra~ hJmw`n qemeliwvsa~, kaiv di j aujtw`n prov~ thvn ajlhqinhvn pivstin, pavnta~ hJma`~ oJdhghvsa~: poluevsplagcne, dovxa soi.

APOLYTIKION OF THE ASCENSION

You have ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened your Disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily you are the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.

APOLUTIKION THS ANALHYEWS

jAnelhvfqh~ ejn dovxh/, Cristev oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n, caropoihvsa~ touv~ Maqhtav~, th`/ ejpaggeliva/ tou` aJgivou Pneuvmato~: bebaiwqevntwn aujtw`n diav th`~ eujlogiva~, o{ti suv ei\ oJ UiJov~ tou` Qeou`, oJ lutrwthv~ tou` kovsmou.

APOLYTIKION OF SAINT NICHOLAS

An example of 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.

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 ta uJyhlav, th`/ ptwceiva/ tav plouvsia, Pavter iJeravrca Nikovlae: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

KONTAKION

O Christ our God, upon fulfilling Your dispensation for our sake, You ascended in glory, uniting the earthly with the heavenly. You were never separate but remained inseparate, and cried out to those who love You, "I am with You and no one is against You."

KONTAKION

Thvn uJpevr hJmw`n, plhrwvsa~ oijkonomivan, kaiv tav ejpiv th`~ gh`~ eJnwvsa~ toi`~ oujranivoi~, ajnelhvfqh~ ejn dovxh/, Cristev oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n, oujdamovqen cwrizovmeno~, ajllav mevnwn ajdiavstato~, kaiv bow`n toi`~ ajgapw`siv se: jEgwv eijmi meq j hJmw`n, kaiv oujdeiv~ kaq j uJmw`n.

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