Church Bulletin - October 7, 2001

3rd Sunday of Luke - October 7, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 2 Cor 9:6-11; Lk 7:11-16]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

KNOWING THE "UNKNOWN GOD"

When the Apostle Paul arrived in Athens on one of his missionary journeys, he discovered a pagan altar with this inscription: "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." While most of his preaching concerning the Risen Christ fell upon deaf ears in this center of learning in the ancient world, Paul's message touched the heart of a young man named Dionysios. Dionysios is commonly referred to as the "Areopagite," denoting that he was a member of the Athenian Senate. When St. Paul asked him who this "unknown god" was that he worshiped. Dionysios replied: "He is the One among the gods Who has not yet manifested Himself. He will reign over heaven and earth, and His kingdom will have no end." The Apostle realized that, incredibly, Dionysios was expressing a belief in Jesus Christ!

With great care, Paul explained to his new disciple the truths of the early Church: that God became Incarnate, dwelt among men, was crucified for us and, finally, rose from the dead. Filled with the grace of God, Dionysios and his entire family were baptized by St. Paul. God was no longer "unknown" to him!

While initially remaining in Athens and concentrating his efforts in establishing the Church there, Dionysios eventually embarked on missionary labors of his own. He made several visits to Jerusalem, where he was privileged to meet the Theotokos and several of the Apostles. He was even present for the Falling Asleep of the Mother of God. Dionysios suffered martyrdom in the region of Gaul, being beheaded there in 95 A.D.

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 TWN AGIWN

OiJ mavrturev~ sou, Kuvrie, ejn th`/ ajqlhvsei aujtw`n, stefavnou~ ejkomivsanto th`~ ajfqarsiva~, ejk sou` tou` Qeou` hJmw`n: scovnte~ gavr thvn ijscuvn sou, touv~ turavnnou~ kaqei`lon: e[qrausan kaiv daimovnwn, tav ajnivscura qravsh. Aujtw`n tai`~ iJkesivai~, Cristev oJ Qeov~, sw`son tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION OF THE SAINTS

Your Martyrs, O Lord received, from You our God, for their struggle, the crown of immortality. Armed with Your might they defeated the tyrants. They also crushed the imprudence of demons. By their intercessions O Christ our God, save our souls.

QEOTOKION

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.

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

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.

APOSTOLOS
(B j Korinqivou~ Q j 6<11)

jAdelfoiv, oJ speivrwn feidomevnw~ feidomevnw~ kaiv qerivsei, kaiv oJ speivrwn ejp j eujlogivai~ ejp j eujlogivai~ kaiv qerivsei. {Ekasto~ kaqwv~ proairei`tai th`/ kardiva/, mhv ejk luvph~ h[ ejx ajnavgkh~: iJlarovn gavr dovthn ajgapa`/ oJ Qeov~. Dunatov~ dev oJ Qeov~ pa`san cavrin perisseu`sai eij~ uJma`~, i{na ejn pantiv pavntote pa`san aujtavrkeian e[conte~ perisseuvhte eij~ pa`n e[rgon ajgaqovn, kaqwv~ gevgraptai: " jEskovrpisen, e[dwke toi`~ pevnhsin: hJ dikaiosuvnh aujtou` mevnei eij~ tovn aijw`na". JO dev ejpicorhgw`n spevrma tw`/ speivronti kaiv a[rton eij~ brw`sin corhghvsai kaiv plhqu`nai tovn spovron uJmw`n, kaiv aujxhvsai tav genhvmata th`~ dikaiosuvnh~ uJmw`n: ejn pantiv ploutizovmenoi eij~ pa`san aJplovthta, h{ti~ katergavzetai di j hJmw`n eujcaristivan tw`/ Qew`/.

EPISTLE
(2 Corinthians 9: 6-11)

Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

EUAGGELION
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 ejkavqisen 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