Church Bulletin - October 13, 2002 - Fourth Sunday of Luke

Fourth Sunday of Luke - October 13, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Titus 3:8-15; Lk 8:5-15]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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A HEALER OF THE BODY BECOMES A NOURISHER OF THE SOUL

THE EVANGELIST LUKE was a man of many talents. He was born in the city of Antioch in Syria in the 1st century. By profession, Luke was a physician, but after coming in contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ, he chose to dedicate his life to spreading the Gospel.

St. Luke was a contemporary of the Apostle Paul, and he is said to have accompanied him on his second missionary journey. The trip took them to regions such as Troas, Philippi, Rome, Caesarea and finally, Jerusalem. Paul had more than his share of physical difficulties, and Luke was undoubtedly largely responsible for tending to the medical needs of the "Apostle of the Gentiles."

The Evangelist Luke is credited as being the author of the Gospel which now bears his name. His work is critically acclaimed for its sensitivity, clarity and accuracy by Biblical scholars. Luke also wrote the Book of Acts, which gives us the best insight available into what life was like in the early Church.

Luke is also looked upon as being the Church's first iconographer. Tradition has it that his earliest icons were of the Mother of God. When Luke brought the icons to the Theotokos for her approval, she humbly cried out: "MAY MY GRACE AND THE GRACE OF HIM WHO WAS BORN OF ME BE WITH THESE ICONS!" Other icons written by St. Luke included portrayals of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

Luke fell asleep in the Lord in Thebes at the age of 84. Centuries later, his relics were taken to Constantinople and enshrined in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

KURIAKH D J TOU LOUKA
TWN AGIWN PATERWN
THS Z J OIKOUMENIKHS SUNODOU
Kavrpou kaiv Papuvlou tw`n MartuvrwnJ

Anastavsimon jApolutivkion

jKatevlusa~ tw`/ Staurw`/ sou tovn qavnaton: hjnevw/xa~ tw`/ Lhsth`/ tovn paravdeison: tw`n murofovrwn tovn qrh`non metevbale~: kaiv toi`~ soi`~ jApostovloi~ khruvttein ejpevtaxa~: o{ti ajnevsth~, Cristev oJ Qeov~, parevcwn tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LUKE
HOLY FATHERS OF THE
SEVENTH ECUMENICAL SUNOD
The Martyrs Karpos and Papylos

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

By Your Cross, O Christ our God, You destroyed death. You opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the lament of the Myrrh-bearing women, and You commanded the Apostles to proclaim You are risen, granting the world Your great mercy.

jApolutivkion tw`n JAgivwn Patevrwn

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

Dismissal Hymn 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.

Qeotokivon

JO di j hJma`~ gennhqeiv~ ejk Parqevnou, kaiv stauvrwsin uJpomeivna~ ajgaqev, oJ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton skuleuvsa~, kaiv e[gersin deivxa~ wJ~ Qeov~, mhv parivdh/~ ou{~ e[plasa~ th`/ ceiriv sou: dei`xon thvn filanqrwpivan sou ejleh`mon: devxai thvn tekou`savn se Qeotovkon, presbeuvousan uJpevr hJmw`n: kaiv sw`son Swthvr hJmw`n, laovn ajpegnwsmevnon.

Theotokion

O Pure One, who were born for us of a Virgin, and endured Crucifixion, who vanquished death by death and, as God, showed forth the Resurrection, do not forget those, You created by Your own hand. Show Your love, O Merciful One, and accept on our behalf the intercession of the Theotokos who bore You, and save us, O Savior, a desperate people.

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~ d j. {Umno~ Triw`n Paivdwn
(Danihvl g j).
Eujloghtov~ ei\, Kuvrie, oJ Qeov~ tw`n
patevrwn hJmw`n.
Stivc. {Oti dikaio~ ei\ ejpi pa`sin oi|~
ejpoivhsa~ hJmi`n.
Prov~ Tivton jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
Tivtou g j 8<15

jTevknon Tivte, pistov~ oJ lovgo~: kaiv periv touvtwn bouvlomaiv se diabebaiou`sqai, i{na frontivzwsi kalw`n e[rgwn proi?stasqai oiJ pepisteukovte~ tw`/ Qew`/: Tau`tav ejsti tav kalav kaiv wjfevlima toi`~ ajnqrwvpoi~: mwrav~ dev zhthvsei~ kaiv genealogiva~ kaiv e[rei~ kaiv mavca~ nomikav~ periivstaso: eijsi gavr ajnwfelei`~ kaiv mavtaioi. Aijretikovn a[nqrwpon metav mivan kaiv deutevran nouqesivan paraitou`, eijdwv~ o{ti ejxevstraptai oJ toiou`to~ kaiv aJmartavnei w[n aujtokatavkrito~. {Otan pevmyw jArtema`n prov~ se h[ Tucikovn, spouvdason ejlqei`n prov~ me eij~ Nikovpolin: jEkei` gavr kevkrika paraceimavsai. Zhna`n tovn nomikovn kaiv jApollwv spoudaivw~ provpemyon, i{na mhdevn aujtoi`~ leivph/. Manqanevtwsan dev kaiv oiJ hJmevteroi kalw`n e[rgwn proi?stasqai eij~ tav~ ajnagkaiva~ creiva~, i{na mhv w\sin a[karpoi. JAspavzontaiv se oiJ met j ejmou` pavnte~. [Aspasai touv~ filou`nta~ hJma`~ ejn pivstei. JH cavri~ metav pavntwn uJmw`n: ajmhvn.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Hymn of the
Three Children. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord,
the God of our Fathers.
Verse. For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to Titus.
Titus 3: 8-15

TITUS, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
Kef. h j (8), 5<15.

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~ thvn parabolhvn tauvthn. JExh`lqen oJ speivrwn tou` spei`rai tovn spovron aujtou`: kaiv ejn tw`/ speivrein aujtovn, o{ mevn e[pese parav thvn oJdovn, kaiv katepathvqh, kaiv tav peteinav tou` oujranou` katevfagen aujtov: kaiv e{teron e[pesen ejpiv thvn pevtran, kaiv fuevn ejxhravnqh, diav tov mhv e[cei ijkmavda: kaiv e{teron e[pesen ejn mevsw tw`n ajkanqw`n, kaiv sumfuei`sai aiJ a[kanqai ajpevpnixan aujtov: kaiv e{teron e[pesen ejpiv thvn gh`n thvn ajgaqhvn, kaiv fuevn ejpoivhse karpovn eJkatontaplasivona. JEpirwvtwn dev aujtovn oiJ Maqhtaiv aujtou` levgonte~: Tiv~ ei[h hJ parabolhv au{th; JO dev ei\pen: JUmi`n devdotai gnw`nai tav musthvria th`~ basileiva~ tou` Qeou`: toi`~ dev loipoi`~ ejn parabolai`~, i{na blevponte~ mhv blevpwsi, kaiv ajkouvonte~ mhv suniw`sin. [Esti dev au{th hJ parabolhv: JO spovro~, ejstivn oJ lovgo~ tou` Qeou`. OiJ dev parav thvn oJdovn, eijsivn oiJ ajkouvonte~: ei\ta e[rcetai oJ diavbolo~, kaiv ai[rei tovn lovgon ajpov th`~ kardiva~ aujtw`n, i{na mhv pisteuvsante~ swqw`sin. OiJ dev ejpiv th`~ pevtra~, oi{ o{tan ajkouvswsi, metav cara`~ devcontai tovn lovgon: kaiv ou|toi rJivzan oujk e[cousin, oi{ prov~ kairovn pisteuvsousi, kaiv ejn kairw`/ peirasmou` ajfivstantai. Tov dev eij~ tav~ ajkavnqa~ pesovn, ou|toiv eijsin oiJ ajkouvsante~, kaiv uJpov merimnw`n kaiv plouvtou kaiv hJdonw`n tou` bivou poreuovmenoi sumpnivvgontai, kaiv ouj telesforou`si. Tov dev ejn th`/ kalh`/ gh`/, ou|toi eijsin, oi{ tine~ ejn kardiva/ kalh`/ kaiv ajgaqh`/, ajkouvsante~ tovn lovgon, katevcousi, kaiv karpoforou`sin ejn uJpomonh`/. Tau`ta levgwn, ejfwvnei: JO e[cwn w\ta ajkouvein, ajkouevtw.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 8: 5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold."

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

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