Church Bulletin - Septebmer 1 2002 - Sunday of the Indiction/Ecclesiastical New Year

Sunday of the Indiction - Ecclesiastical New Year - September 1, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 1 Tim 2: 1-7; Lk 4:16-22]
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"O LORD, BLESS THE CROWN OF THIS YEAR WITH YOUR GOODNESS"

At the First Ecumenical Council in 325 A.D., it was decreed that the Church Liturgical Year would begin on September 1st. This was no random selection, for the Romans had been celebrating the start on the civil year on this day for quite some time. The Jews also attached significance to the month of September. It was in September that Moses descended from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments. It was also during this month that Solomon's glorious Temple was consecrated. The Jews also viewed September as a time for offering sacrifices of thanksgiving to God, for this was the month when they harvested their crops.

It is the tradition of the Church that it was on September 1st that Christ came to the synagogue in Nazareth and read this passage from the book of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:18-21)

As we begin another Liturgical Year, a time when we will revisit and relive all of the major events in the life of our Savior, it would be good for us to reflect upon these words. In a spiritual sense, we are all POOR. We are all held CAPTIVE by sin and weighed down by the OPPRESSION of our faults and shortcomings. Still, the Lord stands before us once more, offering to heal us and set us free. Will this be the year that we open our eyes to Him and open our hearts to His message? Will this be the year that the Scriptures will be fulfilled in OUR ears? May this truly be that year.

KURIAKH THS INDIKTOU
Sumewvn tou` Stulivtou

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

JTou` 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.

SUNDAY OF THE INDICTION
Symeon the Stylite

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

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."

jApolutivkion th`~ jIndivktou
\Hco~ b j

jJO pavsh~ Dhmiourgov~ th`~ ktivsew~, oJ kairouv~ kaiv crovnou~ ejn th`/ ijdiva/ ejxousiva/ qevmeno~, eujlovghson tovn stevfanon tou` ejniautou` th`~ crhstovthtov~ sou Kuvrie, fulavttwn ejn eijrhvnh/ touv~ Basilei`~, kaiv thvn Povlin sou, presbeivai~ th`~ Qeotovkou: kaiv sw`son hJma`~.

Dismissal Hymn of the Indiction
Tone two

Creator of the universe, setting times and seasons by Your sole authority, bless the cycle of the year of Your grace, O Lord, guarding our rulers and Your nation in peace, at the intercession of the Theotokos, and save us.

jApolutivkion tou` jOsivou Sumewvn
\Hco~ a j.

JUpomonh`~ stu`lo~ gevgona~, zhlwvsa~ touv~ propavtora~ {Osie, tovn jIwvb ejn toi`~ pavqesi, tovn jIwshvf ejn toi`~ peirasmoi`~, kaiv thvn tw`n jAswmavtwn polteivan, uJpavrcwn ejn swvmati. Sumewvn Pathvr hJmw`n o{sie, prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of Saint Symeon
Tone one

For patience you have become a pillar, and the ancient fathers you have equaled and rivaled. You have rivaled Job in sufferings, Joseph in temptation, and the life of the incorporals, while yet you were in the flesh. Therefore, O our righteous Father Simeon, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.

jApolutivkion th`~ Qeotovkou
\Hco~ baruv~

Cai`re kecaritwmevnh Qeotovke Parqevne, limhvn kaiv prostasiva tou` gevnou~ tw`n ajnqrwvpwn: ejk sou` gavr ejsarkwvqh oJ Lutrwthv~ tou` kovsmou: movnh gavr uJpavrcei~ Mhvthr kaiv Parqevno~, ajeiv eujloghmevnh, kaiv dedoxasmevnh. Prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/ eijrhvnhn dwrhvsasqai pavsh/ th`/ oijkoumevnh/.

Dismissal Hymn of the Theotokos
Tone seven

Rejoice, O virgin Theotokos, full of grace, O haven and intercessor for mankind; for from you was the Deliverer of the world incarnate; and you alone are Mother and Virgin, blessed and glorified always. Intercede, therefore, with Christ God, to grant safety to all the universe.

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
Hco~ d j. JO uJywqeiv~ ejn tw`/ Staurw`/.

JO tw`n aijwvnwn Poihthv~ kaiv Despovth~, Qeev tw`n o{lwn, uJperouvsie o[ntw~, thvn ejniauvsion eujlovghson perivodon, sw/vzwn tw`/ ejlevei sou, tw`/ ajpeivrw/, oijktivrmon, pavnta~ touv~ latreuvonta~ soiv tw`/ movnw/ Despovth/, kaiv ejkbow`nta~ fovbw/ lutrwtav: Eu[foron pa`si tov e[to~ corhvghson.

Kontakion
Tone four

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. (Yalmov~ rmst jrld j).
Mevga~ oJ Kuvrio~ hJmw`n, kaiv megavlh hJ ijscuv~
aujtou`.
Stivc. Aijnei`tai tovn Kuvrion, o{ti ajgaqov~.
Prov~ Timovqeon A j jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov
jAnavgnwsma.
(Kef. B j 1<7)

Tevknon Timovqee, parakalw` prw`ton pavntwn poiei`sqai dehvsei~, proseucav~, ejnteuvxei~, eujcaristiva~, uJpevr pavntwn ajnqrwvpwn, uJpevr basilevwn kaiv pavntwn tw`n ejn uJperoch`/ o[ntwn, i{na h[remon kaiv hJsuvcion bivon diavgwmen ejn pavsh/ eujsebeiva/ kaiv semnovthti. Tou`to gavr kalovn kaiv ajpovdekton ejnwvpion tou` swth`ro~ hJmw`n Qeou`, o{~ pavnta~ ajnqrwvpou~ qevlei swqh`nai kaiv eij~ ejpivgnwsin ajlhqeiva~ ejlqei`n. Ei|~ gavr Qeov~, ei|~ kaiv kaiv mesivth~ Qeou` kaiv ajnqrwvpwn, a[nqrwpo~ Cristov~ jIhsou`~, oJ douv~ eJautovn ajntivlutron uJpevr pavntwn, tov martuvrion kairoi`~ ijdivoi~, eij~ o{ ejtevqhn ejgwv khvrux kaiv ajpovstolo~, ajlhvqeian levgw ejn Cristw`/, ouj yeuvdomai, didavskalo~ ejqnw`n ejn pivstei kaiv ajlhqeiva/.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 146.5;
134.3.
Great is our Lord and great is his power.
Verse. Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s
First Letter to Timothy.
Chapter 2.1-7.

TIMOTHY, my son, first of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quite and peaceful life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Eujaggevlion
jEk tou` katav Louka`n.
Kef. d j (4), 16<22.

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, h\lqen oJ jIhsou`~ eij~ thvn Nazarevt, ou| h\n teqrammevno~, kaiv eijsh`lqe katav tov eijwqov~ aujtw`/, ejn th`/ hJmevra/ tw`n Sabbavtwn, eij~ thvn Sunagwghvn, kaiv ajnevsth ajnagnw`nai. Kaiv ejpedovqh aujtw`/ biblivon JHsai?ou tou` profhvtou, kaiv ajnaptuvxa~ tov biblivon, eu{re tovn tovpon ou| h\n gegrammevnon: Pneu`ma Kurivou ejp j ejmev, ou| e{neken e[crisev me: eujaggelivzesqai ptwcoi`~ ajpevstalkev me, ijavsasqai touv~ suntetrimmevnou~ thvn kardivan, khru`xai aijcmalwvtoi~ a[fesin kaiv tufloi`~ ajnavbleyin, ajpostei`lai teqrausmevnou~ ejn ajfevsei, khru`xai ejniautovn Kurivou dektovn. Kaiv ptuvxa~ tov biblivon, ajpodouv~ tw`/ uJphrevth/, ejkavqise: kaiv pavntwn ejn th`/ Sunagwgh`/ oiJ ojfqalmoiv h\san ajtenivzonte~ aujtw`/. [Hrxato dev levgein prov~ aujtouv~, o{ti shvmeron peplhvrwtai hJ Grafhv au{th ejn toi`~ wjsivn uJmw`n. Kaiv pavnte~ ejmartuvroun aujtw`/, kaiv ejqauvmazon ejpiv toi`~ lovgoi~ th`~ cavrito~, toi`~ ejkporeuomevnoi~ ejk tou` stovmato~ aujtou`.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 4: 16-22

At that time, Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

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