Church Bulletin - October 6, 2002 - Third Sunday of Luke

Third Sunday of Luke - October 6, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 2 Cor 4:6-15; Lk 7:11-16]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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SACRED SYMBOLS: THE CHURCH'S GREATEST TEACHING TOOLS

There are many excellent ways that we can learn more about our Holy Orthodox Faith. Currently, there are a wide variety of books and periodicals available that cover all aspects of Orthodoxy in a scholarly, but understandable manner. Most parishes offer some sort of adult education or bible study classes that provide us with a good foundation in what our Church teaches and believes.
Perhaps the best method, however, for learning the "basics" of our Faith is found in simply walking into our church and looking around! The Orthodox Church uses symbolism in a masterful way. There is a meaning behind everything we see in church. Let us look at a few of the simple, yet important ways that we can learn about our Faith by knowing something about our sacred symbols.

The greatest of all sacred symbols is the Cross. When we gaze upon it in church, it should remind us of God's great love for us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Candles were probably used for illumination in the early Church, but they have always stood as a reminder of Jesus Christ, Who proclaimed: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) Incense burning in the censer reassures us that, just as its smoke rises heavenward, so do our prayers. The Sanctuary itself in any church represents the kingdom of heaven, with the Altar Table symbolizing the Throne of God, upon which the bloodless sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy takes place.

These are but a few of the Church's sacred symbols. When we attend divine services, we must attempt to OBSERVE and ABSORB all that surrounds us.

KURIAKH G J TOU LOUKA
Qwmav tou` jApostovlou

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

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: ejskuvleusa~ tovn a{/dhn, mhv peirasqeiv~ uJp j aujtou`: uJphvnthsa~ th`/ Parqevnw/ dwrouvmeno~ thvn zwhvn. JO ajnastav~ ejk tw`n nekrw`n, Kuvrie, dovxa soi.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LUKE
Thomas the Apostle

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

O Christ the angelic 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!

jApolutivkion tou` jApostovlou Qwma`

J Apovstole a{gie Qwma`, prevsbeue tw`/ ejlehvmoni Qew`/, i{na ptaismavtwn a[fesin paravsch/ tai`~ yucai`~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of Thomas the Apostle

O Holy Apostle Thomas, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Qeotokivon

Sev thvn mesiteuvsasan thvn swthrivan tou` gevnou~ hJmw`n, ajnumnou`men Qeotovke Parqevne: ejn th`/ sarkiv gavr th`/ ejk sou` proslhfqeivsh, oJ UiJov~ sou kaiv Qeov~ hJmw`n, tov diav Staurou` katadexavmeno~ pavqo~, ejlutrwvsato hJma`~ ejk fqora`~, wJ~ filavnqrwpo~./

Theotokion

We praise you, Virgin Theotokos, intercessor of our race. In the flesh He received from you, your Son, our loving God, freed us from corruption by condescending to the Passion of the Cross.

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~ pl. b j. (Yalmov~ kz j).
Sw`son, Kuvrie, tovn laovn sou kaiv eujlovghson
thvn klhronomivan sou.
Stivc. Prov~ sev, Kuvrie, kekravxomai
oJ Qeov~ mou.
Prov~ Korinqivou~ B j jEpistolh``~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
(Kef. D j6<15)

jAdelfoiv, 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 j ouj stenocwrouvmenoi, ajporouvmenoi ajll j oujk ejxaporouvmenoi, diwkovmenoi ajll j oujk ejgkataleipovmenoi, kataballovmenoi ajll j 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 Louka`n.
Kef. z j (7), 11<16.

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, ejporeuveto oJ jIhsou`~ eij~ povlin kaloumevnhn Nai?n: kaiv suneporeuvonto aujtw`/ oiJ maqhtaiv aujtou` iJkanoiv, kaiv o[clo~ poluv~. JW~ dev h[ggise th`/ puvlh/ th`~ povlew~, kaiv ijdouv, ejxekomivzeto teqnhkwv~, uiJov~ monogenhv~ th`/ mhtriv aujtou`: kaiv au{th h\n chvra: kaiv o[clo~ th`~ povlew~ iJkanov~ h\n suvn aujth`/. Kaiv ijdwvn aujthvn oJ Kuvrio~, ejsplagcnivsqh ejp j aujth`/, kaiv ei\pen aujth`/. Mhv klai`e. Kaiv proselqwvn h{yato th`~ sorou`, oiJ dev bastavzonte~ e[sthsan, kaiv ei\pe: Neanivske, soiv levgw ejgevrqhti. Kaiv ajnejkavqisen oJ nekrov~, kaiv h[rxato lalei`n: kaiv e[dwken aujtovn th`/ mhtriv aujtou`. [Elabe dev fovbo~ a{panta~, kaiv ejdovxazon tovn Qeovn, levgonte~: {Oti Profhvth~ mevga~ ejghvgertai ejn hJmi`n: kaiv, o{ti ejpiskevyato oJ Qeov~ tovn laovn aujtou`.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 7: 11-16

At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.

When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man set up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

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