Church Bulletin - October 21, 2001

6th Sunday of Luke - October 21, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 1:11-19; Lk 8:27-39]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

"AWAKE, YOU WHO SLEEP, AND CHRIST WILL GIVE YOU LIGHT."

It has been said that "truth is often stranger than fiction." Certainly the mysterious tale of the young men depicted on today's Church Bulletin - the Seven Youths of Ephesus -- fits into this category.

The Seven Youths of Ephesus lived in this ancient Turkish city in the middle of the third century. This was still the era of great persecution for Christians, and the Emperor Decius was known for having no tolerance for those who professed to be followers of Christ. When Decius decreed that all of his subjects had to pay homage to the pagan Roman gods, many Christians went into hiding, refusing to renounce their own God.

Fleeing for their lives, the seven friends -- Maximilian, Exakustodianus, lamblichos, Martinian, Dionysios, Antonius and Constantine -- entered a mountain cave, where they sought shelter. When the Emperor's soldiers discovered this hiding place, they simply sealed the cave's entrance, leaving the youths to perish.

The Seven Youths of Ephesus were long forgotten. Nearly 200 years later, however, their "tomb" was discovered and opened. Imagine everyone's amazement when the youths walked out of the cave alive! They recounted their tale of entrapment, and how they all had fallen asleep as they awaited their certain demise. Little did they realize that they would "sleep" for two centuries!
The story of the Seven Youths of Ephesus carries a powerful lesson, confirming beyond a shadow of a doubt the Church's belief in the resurrection of the body for those who fall asleep in the Lord.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Eujfrainevsqw tav oujravnia, ajgalliavsqw tav ejpivgeia, o{ti ejpoivhse kravto~ ejn bracivoni aujtou` oJ Kuvrio~: ejpavthse tw`/ qanavtw/ tovn qavnaton, prwtovtoko~ tw`n nekrw`n ejgevneto, ejk koiliva~ a{dou ejrjrJuvsato hJma`~, kaiv parevsce~ tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord, by His mighty Arm, has created a Dominion. He has conquered death by death, and become the firstborn of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of Hades, and has granted the world great mercy.

APOLUTIKION ILARIWNOS TOU OSIOU

Tai`~ tw`n dakruvwn sou rJoai`~, th`~ ejrhvmou tov a[gonon ejgewvrghsa~: kaiv toi`~ ejk bavqou~ stenagmoi`~, eij~ eJkatovn touv~ povnou~ ejkarpofovrhsa~: kaiv gevgona~ fwsthvr, th`/ oijkoumevnh/ lavmpwn toi`~ qauvmasin, JIlarivwn pathvr hJmw`n o{sie. Prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION OF THE VENERABLE ILARION

With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O Ilarion, our venerable Father, intercede to Christ our God, to save our souls.

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
(Galavta~ a j 11<19)

jAdelfoiv, gnwrivzw uJmi`n tov eujaggevlion tov eujaggelisqevn ujp j ejmou` o{ti oujk ejsti katav a[nqrwpon: oujdev gavr ejgwv parav ajnqrwvpou parevlabon aujtov ou[te ejdidavcqhn, ajllav diav ajpokaluvyew~ jIhsou` Cristou`. JHkouvsate gavr thvn ejmhvn ajnastrofhvn pote ejn tw`/ jIoudai>smw`/, o{ti kaq j uJperbolhvn ejdivwkon thvn ejkklhsivan tou` Qeou` kaiv ejpovrqoun aujthvn, kaiv proevkopton ejn tw`/ jIoudai>smw`/ uJpevr pollouv~ sunhlikiwvta~ ejn tw`/ gevnei mou, perissotevrw~ zhlwthv~ uJpavrcwn tw`n patrikw`n mou paradovsewn. {Ote dev eujdovkhsen oJ Qeov~ oJ ajforivsa~ me ejk koiliva~ mhtrov~ mou kaiv kalevsa~ diav th`~ cavrito~ aujtou` ajpokaluvyai tovn uiJovn aujtou` ejn ejmoiv, I{na eujaggelivzwmai aujtovn ejn toi`~ e[qnesin, eujqevw~ ouj prosaneqevmhn sarkiv kaiv ai{mati, oujdev ajnh`lqon eij~ JIerosovluma prov~ touv~ prov ejmou` ajpostovlou~, ajllav ajph`lqon eij~ jArabivan, kaiv pavlin uJpevstreya eij~ Damaskovn. {Epeita metav e[th triva ajnh`lqon eij~ JIerosovluma iJstorh`sai Pevtron, kaiv ejpevmeina prov~ aujtovn hJmevra~ dekapevnte: e{teron dev tw`n ajpostovlwn oujk ei\don eij mhv jIavkwbon tovn ajdelfovn tou` Kurivou.

EPISTLE
(Gal. 1: 11-19)

Brethren, for I would have you know, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the tradition of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the brother of the Lord.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
(Kef. h j (8), 27<39)

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, ejlqovnti tw`/ jIhsou` eij~ thvn cwvran tw`n Gadarhnw`n, uJphvnthsen aujtw`/ ajnhvr ti~ ejk th`~ povlew~, o{~ ei\ce daimovnia ejk crovnwn iJkanw`n, kaiv iJmavtion oujk ejnediduvsketo, kaiv ejn oijkiva/ oujk e[menen, ajll j ejn toi`~ mnhvmasin. JIdwvn dev tovn jIhsou`n, kaiv ajnakravxa~, prosevpesen aujtw`/, kaiv fwnh`/ megavlh/ ei\pe: Tiv ejmoiv kaiv soiv, jIhsou`, UiJev tou` Qeou` tou` JUyivstou; devomaiv sou, mhv me basanivsh/~. Parhvggeile gavr tw`/ pneuvmati tw`/ ajkaqavrtw/ ejxelqei`n ajpov tou` ajnqrwvpou. Polloi`~ gavr crovnoi~ sunhpavrkei aujtovn, kaiv ejdesmei`to aJluvsesi kaiv pevdai~ fulassovmeno~, kaiv diarjrJuvsswn tav desmav, hjlauvneto uJpov tou` daivmono~ eij~ tav~ ejrhvmou~. JEphrwvthse dev aujtovn oJ jIhsou`~ levgwn: Tiv soiv ejstin o[noma; JO dev ei\pe: Legewvn: o{ti daimovnia pollav eijsh`lqen eij~ aujtovn: kaiv parekavlei aujtovn I{na mhv ejpitavxh/ aujtoi`~ eij~ thvn a[busson ajpelqei`n. \Hn dev ejkei` ajgevlh coivrwn iJkanw`n boskomevnwn ejn tw`/ o[rei: kaiv parekavloun aujtovn I{na ejpitrevyh/ aujtoi`~ eij~ ejkeivnou~ eijselqei`n: kaiv ejpevtreyen aujtoi`~. JExelqovnta dev tav daimovnia ajpov tou` ajnqrwvpou, eijsh`lqen eij~ touv~ coivrou~: kaiv w{rmisen hJ ajgevlh katav tou` krhmnou` eij~ thvn livmnhn, kaiv ajpepnivgh. JIdovnte~ dev oiJ bovskonte~ tov gegenhmevnon, e[fugon, kaiv ajpelqovnte~ ajphvggeilan eij~ thvn povlin kaiv eij~ touv~ ajgrouv~. JExh`lqon dev ijdei`n tov gegonov~, kaiv h\lqon prov~ tovn jIhsou`n, kaiv eu|ron kaqhvmenon tovn a[nqrwpon, ajf j ou| tav daimovnia ejxelhluvqei, iJmatismevnon kaiv swfronou`nta, parav touv~ povda~ tou` jIhsou`, kaiv ejfobhvqhsan. JAphvggeilan dev aujtoi`~ oiJ ijdovnte~, pw`~ ejswvqh oJ daimonisqeiv~. Kaiv hjrwvthsan aujtovn a{pan tov plh`qo~ th`~ pericwvrou tw`n Gadarhnw`n, ajpelqei`n ajp j aujtw`n, o{ti fovbw/ megavlw/ suneivconto. Aujtov~ dev ejmbav~ eij~ tov ploi`on, uJpevstreyen. JEdeveto dev aujtou` oJ ajnhvr, ajf j ou| ejxelhluvqei tav daimovnia, ei\nai suvn aujtw`/: ajpevluse dev aujtovn oJ jIhsou``~, levgwn: JUpovstrefe eij~ tovn oi\kon sou, kaiv dihgou` o{sa ejpoivhsev soi oJ Qeov~. Kaiv ajph`lqe, kaq j o{lhn thvn povlin khruvsswn o{sa ejpoivhsen aujtw`/ oJ jIhsou`~.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
(Chapter 8: 27-39)

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me."

For he commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned, The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

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