Church Bulletin - November 3, 2002 - Fifth Sunday of Luke

Fifth Sunday of Luke - November 3, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 2 Cor 11:31-12:9; Lk 16:19-31]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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"HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU..."

On November 8th & 21st, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Archangel Michael and all Bodiless Powers of heaven. The Church has always been sensitive to the significance of angels, who have been defined as "invisible, immortal beings, who are pure spirits and who possess a keen intellect and free will."

Angels serve a twofold purpose. Their chief task is to give constant praise and glory to God. The Prophet Daniel once had a vision of heaven, where he saw "thousands upon thousands of angels," ministering without ceasing before the throne of God. The second task given to angels by God is to serve as His messengers and guardians. Throughout the scriptures, we can find numerous examples of angles bringing important messages from God to His faithful servants. The Church teaches us that every individual has been assigned a guardian angle to guide and protect them. Indeed, at every Divine Liturgy was ask the Lord to send us "...an angel of peace, a faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies."

The Archangel Michael is viewed as the leader of the angelic hosts and the protector of all of God's people. In the hymns prescribed for this feast day, he is called the "...leader, the champion and the chief captain of the angels." According to the Book of Revelation, it was the Archangel Michael who drove the fallen angel Lucifer and his followers from heaven (Rev. 12:7)

According to the teachings of the Church, angels are divide into nine distinct ranks: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

KURIAKH E J LOUKA
Gewrgivou tou` Neapolivtou
kaiv jAkeyima` Mavrturo~

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

J{Ote kath`lqe~ prov~ tovn qavnaton, hJ zwhv ajqavnato~, tovte tovn a{/dhn ejnevkrwsa~, th`/ ajstraph`/ th`~ Qeovthto~: o{te dev kaiv touv~ teqnew`ta~, ejk tw`n katacqonivwn ajnevsthsa~, pa`sai aiJ dunavmei~ tw`n ejpouranivwn ejkrauvgazon: Zwodovta Cristev, oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n, dovxa soi.

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
George the Neopolitan
and Akepsinas the Martyr

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

When you descended to death, O immortal life, then the light of Your divinity destroyed Hades. When You raised the dead from the depths of darkness, all the heavenly powers cried out, "Glory to You, O Christ our God, the Giver of life."

jApolutivkion tou` JAgivou

JW~ tw`n aijcmalwvtwn ejleuqerwthv~, kaiv tw`n ptwcw`n uJperaspisthv~, ajsqenouvntwn ijatrov~, basilevwn uJpevrmaco~, tropaiofovre megalomavrtu~ Gewvrgie, prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of the Saint

As liberator of captives, defender of the poor, physician of the ailing, and champion of Kings, beseech Christ our God, O great martyr George, standard bearer, for the salvation of our souls.

Qeotokivon

Tov ajp j aijw`no~ ajpovkrufon, kaiv jAggevloi~ a[gnwston musthvrion, diav sou` Qeotovke, toi`~ ejpiv gh`~ pefanevrwtai: Qeov~ ejn ajsugcuvtw/ eJnwvsei sarkouvmeno~ kaiv Staurovn eJkousivw~ uJpevr hJmw`n katadexavmeno~: di j ou| ajnasthvsa~ tovn prwtovplaston, e[swsen ejk qanavtou tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Theotokion

O Theotokos, the mystery hidden from all ages, unknown even to the angels, has been revealed in you to all who live upon the earth. God in perfect union becomes incarnate. For our sake, He willingly endured the Cross through which He raised up the first man He had fashioned, and saved our souls from death.

jApolutikion 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

Prostasiva, tw`n cristianw`n ajkataivscunte, mesiteiva, prov~ tovn poihthvn ajmetavqete, mhv parivdh/~, aJmartwlw`n dehvsewn fwnav~, ajllav provfqason, wJ~ ajgaqhv, eij~ thvn bohvqeian hJmw`n, tw`n pistw`~ kraugazovntwn soi: Tavcunon eij~ presbeivan, kaiv speu`son eij~ iJkesivan, hJ prostateuvousa ajeiv, Qeotovke, tw``n timwvntwn se.

Kontakion

Champion of Christians not put to shame, advocate before the Maker always steadfast, do not spurn sinners’ voices raised in prayer. In your goodness respond to bring help to us who devoutly petition you. Hasten your intercession and urgently make entreaty; for you unfailingly defend, Theotokos, those who honor you.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ b j. (Yalmov~ riz j).
jIscuv~ mou kaiv u{mnhsiv~ mou oJ Kuvrio~.
Stivc. Paideuvwn ejpeuvdeusev me oJ Kuvrio~.
Prov~ Korinqivou~ B j jEpistolh`~
Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
Kef. ia j31<33, ib j 1<9

jjAdelfoiv, oJ Qeov~ kaiv pathvr tou` Kurivou hJmw`n jIhsou` Cristou` oi\den, oJ w[n eujloghtov~ eij~ touv~ aiw`na~, o{ti ouj yeuvdomai. JEn Damaskw`/ oJ ejqnavrch~ jArevta tou` basilevw~ ejfrouvrei thvn Damaskhnw`n povlin piavsai me qevlwn, kaiv diav qurivdo~ ejn sargavnh/ ejcalavsqhn diav tou` teivcou~ kaiv ejxevfugon tav~ cei`ra~ aujtou`. Kauca`sqai dhv ouj sumfevrei moi: ejleuvsomai gavr eij~ ojptasiva~ kaiv ajpokaluvyei~ Kurivou. Oi\da a[nqrwpon ejn Cristw`/ prov ejtw`n dekatessavrwn: ei[te ejn swvmati oujk oi\da, ei[te ejktov~ tou` swvmato~ oujk oi\da, oJ Qeov~ oi\den: aJrpagevnta tovn toiou`ton e{w~ trivtou oujranou`. Kaiv oi\da tovn toiou`ton a[nqrwpon: ei[te ejn swvmati ei[te ejktov~ tou` swvmato~, oujk oi\da, oJ Qeov~ oi\den, o{ti hJrpavgh eij~ tovn paravdeison kaiv h[kousen a[rrhta rJhvmata, a{ oujk ejxovn ajnqrwvpw/ lalh`sai. JUpevr tou` toiouvtou kauchvsomai, uJpevr th`~ ejmautou` ouj kauchvsomai eij mhv ejn tai`~ ajsqeneivai~ mou. jEavn gavr qelhvsw kauchvsasqai, oujk e[somai a[frwn: ajlhvqeian gavr ejrw`. Feivdomai dev mhv ti~ eij~ ejmev logivshtai uJpevr o{ blevpei me h[ ajkouvei ti ejx ejmou`. Kaiv th`/ uJperbolh`/ tw`n ajpokaluvyewn i{na mhv uJperaivrwmai, ejdovqh moi skovloy th`/ sarkiv, a[ggelo~ sata`n, i{na mev kolafivzh/ i{na mhv uJperaivrwmai. JUpevr touvtou triv~ tovn Kuvrion parekavlesa i{na ajposth`/ ajp j ejmou`: kaiv ei[rhkev moi: jArkei` soi hJ cavri~ mou: hJ gavr duvnamiv~ mou ejn ajsqeneiva/ teleiou`tai. {Hdista ou\n ma`llon kauchvsomai ejn tai`~ ajsqeneivai~ mou, i{na ejpiskhnwvsh/ ejp j ejmev hJ duvnami~ tou` Cristou`.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Second Tone.
Psalm 117.14, 18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse. The Lord has Chastened me sorely.
The reading is from
Saint Paul’s Second Letter
to the Corinthians.
Chapters 11:31-33, 12: 1-9

Brethren, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` Katav Louka`n.
Kef. i~ j (16), 19<31.

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: [Anqrwpov~ ti~ h\n plouvsio~, kaiv ejnediduvsketo porfuvran kaiv buvsson, eujfrainovmeno~ kaq j hJmevran lamprw``~. Ptwcov~ dev ti~ h\n, ojnovmati Lavzaro~, o{~ ejbevblhto prov~ tovn pulw`na aujtou` hJlkwmevno~, kaiv ejpiqumw`n cortasqh`nai ajpov tw`n yucivwn tw`n piptovntwn ajpov th`~ trapevzh~ tou` plousivou: ajllav kaiv oiJ kuvne~ ejrcovmenoi ajpevleicon tav e{lkh aujtou`. JEgevneto dev ajpoqanei`n tovn ptwcovn, kaiv ajpenecqh`nai aujtovn uJpov tw`n jAggevlwn eij~ tovn kovlpon tou` jAbraavm. JApevqane dev kaiv oJ plouvsio~, kaiv ejtavfh. Kaiv ejn tw`/ {A/dh/ ejpavra~ touv~ ojfqalmouv~ aujtou`, uJpavrcwn ejn basavnoi~, oJra`/ tovn jAbraavm ajpov makrovqen, kaiv Lavzaron ejn toi`~ kovlpoi~ aujtou`. Kaiv aujtov~ fwnhvsa~ ei\pe: Pavter jAbraavm, ejlevhsovn me, kaiv pevmyon Lavzaron, i{na bavyh/ tov a[kron tou` daktuvlou aujtou` u{dato~, kaiv katayuvxh/ thvn glw`ssav mou: o{ti ojdunw`mai ejn th`/ flogiv tauvth/. Ei\pe dev jAbraavm: Tevknon, mnhvsqhti o{ti ajpevlabe~ suv tav ajgaqav sou ejn th`/ zwh`/ sou, kaiv Lavzaro~ oJmoivw~ tav kakav: nu`n dev w|de parakalei`tai, suv dev ojduna`sai. Kaiv ejpiv pa`si touvtoi~, metaxuv hJmw`n kaiv uJmw`n cavsma mevga ejsthvriktai, o{pw~ oiJ qevlonte~ diabh`nai ejnteu`nqen prov~ uJma`~ mhv duvnwntai, mhdev oiJ ejkei`qen prov~ hJma`~ diaperw`sin. Ei\pe dev. JErwtw` ou\n se, Pavter, i{na pevmyh/~ aujtovn eij~ tovn oi\kon tou` patrov~ mou: e[cw gavr pevnte ajdelfouv~, o{pw~ diamartuvrhtai aujtoi`~, i{{na mhv kaiv aujtoiv e[lqwsin eij~ tovn tovpon tou`ton th`~ basavnou. Levgei aujtw`/ jAbraavm: [Ecousi Mwseva kaiv touv~ Profhvta~: ajkousavtwsan aujtw`n. JO dev ei\pen. Oujciv, Pavter jAbraavm: ajll j ejavn ti~ ajpov nekrw`n poreuqh`/ prov~ aujtouv~, metanohvsousin. Ei\pe dev aujtw`/: Eij Mwsevw~ kaiv tw`n Profhtw`n oujk ajkouvousin, oujdev ejavn ti~ ejk nekrw`n ajnasth`/, peisqhvsontai.

Gospel
From the gospel according to
St. Luke
Chapter 16:19-31

The Lord said: "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’

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