Church Bulletin - September 9, 2001 - Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross

Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross - September 9, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 6:11-18; Jn 3:13-17]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

PRIDE: A DEADLY ENEMY

In Proverbs 16:18. we hear these powerful words: "PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION, A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL." Because of his prideful desire to be like God. Satan, once an angel, was driven from heaven - banished for all of eternity. Adam and Eve, pridefully believing that they could possess the knowledge and wisdom of their Creator, ate the fruit from the one tree they were forbidden to touch, causing them to be cast out of Paradise. Yes. the consequences of the grave sin of pride can be of epic proportions.

Sadly, pride continues to claim its victims. We are driven by a multitude of goals and aspirations. When we achieve success in our endeavors, we are often reluctant to "give credit where credit is due." We quickly forget that without God's help, we can accomplish nothing. To be proud of our own works is nothing more than a failure on our part to recognize our place on the "Ladder of Creation." The Lord is our Master; we are His servants. In the words of the Blessed Augustine: "God created us for Himself, and our soul is lonely without Him."

We must remember the words spoken by Moses to the Israelites after receiving the Ten Commandments. While reassuring them that God will lead them into a land of plenty, he issues this warning to them as well: "Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God, that when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, you do not say in your heart: MY power and the might of MY hands have gotten me this." Indeed, may we, as well, never forget what God does for His faithful children.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Tovn sunavnarcon Lovgon, Patriv kaiv Pneuvmati, tovn ejk Parqevnou tecqevnta eij~ swthrivan hJmw`n, ajnumnhvswmen, pistoiv, kaiv proskunhvswmen: {Oti hujdovkhse sarkiv ajnelqei`n ejn tw`/ Staurw`/, kaiv qavnaton uJpomei`nai, kaiv ejgei`rai touv~ teqnew`ta~, ejn th`/ ejndovxw/ ajnastavsei aujtou`.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

O faithful, let us sing a hymn of praise and worship to the Logos who is co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, who was born of the Virgin for our salvation. Of His own will, He went upon the Cross in the flesh and suffered death, to raise the dead through His glorious Resurrection.

APOLUTIKION TWN AGIWN DIKAIWN QEOPATORWN IWAKEIM AND ANNHS

Tw`n dikaivwn Qeopatovrwn sou Kuvrie, thvn mnhvmhn eJortavzonte~, di j aujtw`n se duswpou`men: Sw`son tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

APOLYTIKION OF THE HOLY ANSCESTORS OF GOD JOACHIM AND ANNA

O Lord, celebrating the memory of the righteous divine ancestors, we beseech You through them to save our souls.

APOLUTIKION TOU GENEQLIOU THS QEOTOKOU

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.

APOLYTIKION OF THE BIRTH 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.

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

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

In Your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."

APOSTOLOS
(Galavta~ ~ 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``~ peritevmnesqe, 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 ejn 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
(Gal. 6: 11-18)

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

EUAGGELION
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