Church Bulletin - Septebmer 8, 2002 - Nativity of the Theotokos

Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Nativity of the Theotokos
September 8, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 6:11-18; Jn 3:13-17]
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THE NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS: A DAY OF JOY

Few events in life are as joyful as the birth of a child. Parents, family and friends alike all join in celebrating this wonderful occasion!

Our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates the Nativity of the Theotokos on September 8/21. Indeed, this birth was not only a source of rejoicing for her parents, Joachim and Anna, but for all of creation as well. Many of the Church Fathers stressed the spiritual joy brought about by the birth of the Ever-Virgin Mary. In his sermon for this great Feast, St. Andrew of Crete writes: "Let heaven, earth, the sea and all living creatures rejoice today, for a child is born, from whom we have received salvation -- Christ our Lord -- Who abides with us forever." St. John of Damascus echoes these sentiments in one of his writings: "The Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God is a time of universal joy, for through her, the entire human race was renewed, and the sorrow of Eve, our first mother, was transformed into joy."

An examination of the hymns prescribed for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos shows a masterful development of this theme of rejoicing. We are taught that the source of our joy rests in the ending of the childlessness of Joachim and Anna, which ultimately marked the beginning of mankind's salvation. Perhaps the far-reaching impact of this celebration is best found in the words of the Exapostilarion for Matins on this day: "Renew yourself, O Adam and be happy, 0 Eve, rejoice, you Prophets together with the Apostles and all of the righteous ones, for today, the universal joy of the angels and men has shone forth from the venerable Joachim and Anna: Mary, the Mother of God."

KURIAKH PRO THS UYWSEWS
TOU TIMIOU STAUROU
Tov Genevsion th`~ Qeotovkou

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

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

SUNDAY BEFORE THE ELEVATION
OF THE CROSS
The Nativity of the Theotokos

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

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."

jApolutivkion th`~ Qeotovkou

JH Gevnnhsiv~ sou Qeotovke, caravn ejmhvnuse pavsh/ th`/ oijkoumevnh/: ejk sou` gavr ajnevteilen oJ {Hlio~ th`~ dikaiosuvnh~, Cristov~ oJ Qeov~ hJmw`n: kaiv luvsa~ thvn katavran, e[dwke thvn eujlogivan: kaiv katarghvsa~ tovn qavnaton, ejdwrhvsato hJmi`n zwhvn thvn aijwvnion.

Dismissal Hymn of the Theotokos

Your birth, O Theotokos, brought joy to the whole world, for from you dawned the sun of righteousness, Christ our God. Freeing us from the curse, He gave us His blessings. Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life.

Kontavkion

jIwakeivm kaiv [Anna ojneidismou` ajtekniva~, kaiv jAdavm kaiv Eu[a ejk th`~ fqora`~ tou` qanavtou, hjleuqerwvqhsan [Acrante, ejn th`/ aJgiva/ Gennhvsei sou: aujthvn eJortazei kaiv oJ laov~ sou, ejnoch`~ tw`n ptaismavtwn, lutrwqeiv~ ejn tw`/ kravzein soi: JH Stei`ra tivktei thvn Qeotovkon, kaiv trofovn th`~ zwh`~ hJmw`n.

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~ pl. b j. (Yalmov~ kz j).
Sw`son, Kuvrie, tovn laovn sou kaiv eujlovghson
thvn klhronomivan sou.
Stivc. Prov~ sev, Kuvrie, kekravxomai oJ Qeov~ mou.
Prov~ Galavta~ jEpistolh`~ Pauvlou tov jAnavgnwsma.
(Kef. ST j 11<18)

jAdelfoiv, i[dete phlivkoi~ uJmi`n gravmmasin e[graya th`/ ejmh`/ ceiriv. O{soi qevlousin eujproswph`sai ejn sarkiv, ou|toi ajnagkavzousin uJma``~ peritevmnesqai, movnon i{na mhv tw`/ staurw`/ tou` Cristou` diwvkwntai. Oujdev gavr oiJ peritetmhmevnoi aujtoiv novmon fulavssousin, ajllav qevlousin uJma`~ peritevmnesqai, i{na ejn th`/ uJmetevra/ sarkiv kauchvswntai. JEmoiv dev mhv gevnoito kauca`sqai eij mhv ejn tw`/ staurw`/ tou` Kurivou hJmw`n jIhsou` Cristou`, di j ou| ejmoiv kovsmo~ ejstauvrwtai kajgwv tw`/ kovsmw/: ejn gavr Cristw`/ jIhsou` ou[te peritomhv ti ijscuvei ou[te ajkrobustiva, ajllav kainhv ktivsi~. Kaiv o{soi tw`/ kanovni touvtw/ stoichvsousin, eijrhvnh ejp jaujtouv~ kaiv e[leo~, kaiv ejpiv tovn jIsrahvl tou` Qeou`. Tou` loipou` kovpou~ moi mhdeiv~ parecevtw: ejgwv gavr tav stivgmata tou` Kurivou jIhsou` ejn tw`/ swvmativ mou bastavzw. JH cavri~ tou` Kurivou hJmw`n jIhsou` Cristou` metav tou` pneuvmato~ uJmw`n, ajdelfoiv: ajmhvn.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Sixth Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people
and bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.
Chapter 6. 11-18.

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 jIwavnnhn.
Kef. g j (3), 13<17.

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: Oujdeiv~ ajnabevbhken eij~ tovn oujranovn, eijmhv oJ ejk tou` oujranou` katabav~, oJ UiJov~ tou` ajnqrwvpou, oJ w[n ejn tw`/ oujranw`/. Kaiv kaqwv~ Mwsh`~ u{ywse tovn o[fin ejn th`/ ejrhvmw/, ou{tw~ uJywqh`nai dei` tovn UiJovn tou` ajnqrwvpou, i{na pa`~ oJ pisteuvwn eij~ aujtovn mhv ajpovlhtai, ajll j e[ch/ zwhvn aijwvnion. Ou{tw gavr hjgavphsen oJ Qeov~ tovn kovsmon, w{ste tovn UiJovn aujtou` tovn monogenh` e[dwken, i{na pa``~ oJ pisteuvwn eij~ aujtovn mhv ajpovlhtai, ajll j e[ch/ zwhvn aijwvnion. Ouj gavr ajpevsteilen oJ Qeov~ tovn UiJovn aujtou` eij~ tovn kovsmon, i{na krivnh/ tovn kovsmon, ajll j i{na swqh`/ oJ kovsmo~ di j aujtou`.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. John
Chapter 3: 13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man, who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." For God so loves the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

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