Church Bulletin - October 14, 2001

4th Sunday of Luke - October 14, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Tit 3:8-15; Lk 8:5-15]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

SMALL IN STATURE . . . GREAT IN VIRTUE

At the beginning of His public ministry, our Lord selected 12 men to be His trusted companions and intimate followers: the Twelve Apostles. For three years, the Apostles never left Christ's side. They witnessed His miracles, learned from His parables and, ultimately, received special preparation from Him that enabled them to "go and teach all nations." Some of the Apostles achieved tremendous success in spreading Christ's Gospel and left behind a well-documented legacy of their missionary endeavors. Others are seemingly remembered by name only, with accounts of their works being sketchy at best.

The Apostle depicted on the cover of today's Church Bulletin, the Apostle James, falls into the latter category. He is referred to as "James the Less" to distinguish him from the other Apostle who bore the same name. As the reference to him implies, he was shorter than the other James. Little is known about James the Less. We do know, however, that he was the son of Alphaeus and the brother of the Apostle Matthew. His mother Mary is mentioned in the Gospel according to St. Mark as being one of the Myrrhbearers who went to the tomb at dawn to anoint the Body of our Lord.

Although his accomplishments have been overshadowed by the efforts of some of the other Apostles, James the Less is known to have spent nearly 30 years taking Christ's message to a pagan world. He preached throughout the region of Palestine, skillfully avoiding the persecution of the Roman authorities. He finally suffered martyrdom in Egypt in 62 A.D., enduring the same crucifixion that His Savior faced.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

{Ote kath`lqe~ prov~ tovn qavnaton, hJ zwhv ajqavnato~, tovte tovn a{/dhn ejnevkrwsa~, th`/ ajstraph`/ th`~ Qeovthto~. {Ote 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.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

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."

APOLUTIKION TWN AGIWN PATERWN

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.

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.

QEOTOKION

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.

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

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
(Tivtou g j 8<15)

Tevknon 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 geneologiva~ kaiv e[rei~ kaiv mavca~ nomikav~ perii?staso: 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~. JAspavsai touv~ filou`nta~ hJma`~ ejn pivstei. JH cavri~ metav pavntwn uJmw`n: ajmhvn.

EPISTLE
(Titus 3: 8-15)

My child Titus, 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 Tychicus 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.

EUAGGELION
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` katevfagan 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