Church Bulletin - Septebmer 22 2002

First Sunday of Luke - September 22, 2002
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 1 Cor 16:13-24; Lk 5:1-11]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

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"TAKE MY MOTHER, THE EARTH, AND COVER ME WITH IT!"

John the Theologian had won wide acclaim in the early Church as an Apostle and Evangelist. Known as the "beloved disciple," he had certainly done his part in spreading the message of Jesus Christ. He preached throughout Asia Minor. He authored a deeply theological Gospel. He withstood torture, imprisonment and exile. Finally, at an advanced age of well over 100, John was permitted to return to the town of Ephesus and spend his remaining years in a place where much of his missionary work had been accomplished.

Sensing that his earthly life was rapidly coming to an end, St. John took a group of his loyal followers into the countryside on the outskirts of Ephesus. After spending time in prayer, the Theologian commanded his disciples to dig a grave, asking them to make it as deep as he was tall. John then climbed into the grave and made one final request: "Take my mother, the earth, and cover me with it!" Sadly, they carried out John's orders.

Returning to the city, John's mournful followers reported what had taken place. Tradition has it that a number of people went out and dug up the grave, only to find it empty! It is also said that on May 8th - the Feast Day of St. John the Theologian — a fragrant dust with miraculous healing powers, comes out of the tomb of this much - revered saint.

KURIAKH A J LOUKA
Fwka` Jieromavrturo~

JAnastavsimon jApolutivkion

Tov faidrovn th`~ ajnastavsew~ khvrugma, ejk tou` ajggevlou maqou`sai, aiJ tou` Kurivou maqhvtriai, kaiv thvn progonikhvn ajpovfasin ajporrivyasqai, toi`~ ajpostovloi~ kaucwvmenai e[legon: jEskuvleutai oJ qavnato~, hjgevrqh Cristov~ oJ Qeov~, dwrouvmeno~ tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LUKE
Phocas the Priest-martyr

Resurrection Dismissal Hymn

From the angel, the women disciples of the Lord heard the joyful news of the Resurrection and the repeal of the sentence imposed upon our forefathers. With pride, they said to the Apostles, "Death is vanquished. Christ our God is risen, bestowing upon the world His great mercy."

jApolutivkion Fwka` JIeromavrturo~

jJKaiv trovpwn mevtoco~, kaiv qrovnwn diavdoco~, tw`n jApostovlwn genovmeno~, thvn pravxin eu|re~ qeovpneuste, eij~ qewriva~ ejpivbasin: diav tou`to tovn lovgon th`~ ajlhqeiva~ ojrqotomw`n, kaiv th`/ pivstei ejnhvqlhsa~ mevcri~ ai{mato~, JIeromavrtu~ Fwka`: prevsbeue Cristw`/ tw`/ Qew`/, swqh`nai tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Dismissal Hymn of Phocas Priest-Martyr

In the manner of the Apostles, and as successor to their thrones, God-inspired One, you deemed action above contemplation. Thus, rightly teaching the word of truth, you contended in faith to a bloody end, Priest-Martyr Phocas. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Qeotokivon

Tov ajp j aijw`no~ ajpovkrufon, kaiv jAggevloi~ a[gnwston musthvrion, diav sou` Qeotovke, toi`~ ejpiv gh`~ pefanevrwtai: Qeov~ ejn ajsugcuvtw/ eJnwvsei sarkouvmeno~ kaiv Staurovn eJkousivw~ uJpevr hJmw`n katadexavmeno~: di j ou| ajnasthvsa~ tovn prwtovplaston, e[swsen ejk qanavtou tav~ yucav~ hJmw`n.

Theotokion

O Theotokos, the mystery hidden from all ages, unknown even to the angels, has been revealed in you to all who live upon the earth. God in perfect union becomes incarnate. For our sake, He willingly endured the Cross through which He raised up the first man He had fashioned, and saved our souls from death.

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

Prostasiva, 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.

jjApovstolo~
Prokeivmenon. \Hco~ d j. (Yalmov~ rg j).
JW~ ejmegaluvnqh tav e[rga sou, Kuvrie: pavnta ejn
sofiva/ ejpoivhsa~.
Stivc. Eujlovgei, hJ yuchv mou, tovn Kuvrion.
Prov~ Korinqivou~ A j jEpistolh``~ Pauvlou
tov jAnavgnwsma.
(Kef. IS j 13<24)

jAdelfoiv, grhgorei`te, sthvkete ejn th`/ pivstei, ajndrivzesqe, krataiou`sqe. Pavnta uJmw`n ejn ajgavph/ ginevsqw. Parakalw` dev uJma`~, ajdelfoiv: oi[date thvn oijkivan Stafana`, o{ti ejstivn ajparchv th`~ jAcai?a~ kaiv eij~ diakonivan toi`~ aJgivoi~ e[taxan ejautouv~: i{na kaiv uJmei``~ uJpotavsshsqe toi`~ toiouvtoi~ kaiv pantiv tw`/ sunergou`nti kaiv kopiw`nti. Caivrw dev ejpiv th`/ parousiva/ Stefana` kaiv Fourtounavtou kaiv jAcai>kou`, o{ti tov uJmw`n uJstevrhma ou|toi ajneplhvrwsan: ajnevpausan gavr tov ejmovn pneu`ma kaiv tov uJmw`n. jEpiginwvskete ou\n touv~ toiouvtou~. JAspavzontai uJma`~ aiJ ejkklhsivai th`~ jAsiva~. JAspavzontai uJma`~ ejn Kurivw/ pollav jAkuvla~ kaiv Privskilla suvn th`/ kat j oi\kon aujtw`n ejkklhsiva/. JAspavzontai uJma`~ oiJ ajdelfoiv pavnte~: jAspavsasqe ajllhvlou~ ejn filhvmati aJgivw/. JO ajspasmov~ th`/ ejmh`/ ceiriv Pauvlou. Ei[ ti~ ouj filei` tovn Kuvrion jIhsou`n Cristovn, h[tw ajnavqema. Maravn ajqa`. JH cavri~ tou` Kurivou jIhsou` Cristou` meq j uJmw`n. JH ajgavph mou metav pavntwn uJmw`n ejn Cristw`/ jIhsou`: ajmhvn.

Epistle
Prokeimenon. Fourth Tone. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how magnificent are your works.
You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter
to the Corinthians.
Chapter 16. 13-24.

BRETHREN, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Eujaggevlion
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
Kef. e j (5), 1<11

Tw`/ kairw`/ ejkeivnw/, ejstwv~ oJ jIhsou`~ parav thvn livmnhn Gennhsarevt, ei\de duvo ploi`a, ejstw`ta parav thvn livmnhn: oiJ dev ajliei`~ ajpobavnte~ ajp j aujtw`n, ajpevplunan tav divktua. JEmbav~ dev eij~ e{n tw`n ploivwn o{ h\n tou` Sivmwno~, hjrwvthsen aujtovn ajpov th`~ gh`~ ejpanagagei`n ojlivgon: kaiv kaqivsa~, ejdivdasken ejk tou` ploivou touv~ o[clou~. JW~ dev ejpauvsato lalw`n, ei\pe prov~ tovn Sivmwna: jEpanavgage eij~ tov bavqo~, kaiv calavsate tav divktua uJmw`n eij~ a[gran. Kaiv ajpokriqeiv~ oJ Sivmwn, ei\pen aujtw`/: jEpistavta, di j o{lh~ th`~ nuktov~ kopiavsante~, oujdevn ejlavbomen: ejpiv dev tw`/ rJJhvmativ sou calavsw tov divktuon. Kaiv tou`to poihvsante~, sunevkleisan plh`qo~ ijcquvwn poluv: dierjrJhvgnuto dev tov divktuon aujtw`n. Kaiv katevneusan toi`~ metovcoi~ toi`~ ejn tw`/ eJtevrw/ ploivw/, tou` ejlqovnta~ sullabevsqai aujtoi`~: kaiv h\lqon, kaiv e[plhsan ajmfovtera tav ploi`a, w{ste buqivzesqai aujtav. JIdwvn dev Sivmwn Pevtro~, prosevpese toi`~ govnasi tou` jIhsou`, levgwn: [Exelqe ajp j ejmou`, o{ti ajnhvr aJmartwlov~ eijmi, Kuvrie. Qavmbo~ gavr perievscen aujtovn kaiv pavnta~ touv~ suvn aujtw`/, ejpiv th`/ a[gra/ tw`n ijcquvwn h|/ sunevlabon: oJmoivw~ dev kaiv jIavkwbon kaiv jIwavnnhn, uiJouv~ Zebedaivou, oi{ h\san koinwnoiv tw`/ Sivmwni. Kaiv ei\pe prov~ tovn Sivmwna oJ jIhsou`~: Mhv fobou`: ajpov tou` nu`n ajnqrwvpou~ e[sh/ zwgrw`n. Kaiv katagagovnte~ tav ploi`a ejpiv thvn gh`n, ajfevnte~ a{panta, hjkolouvqhsan aujtw`/.

Gospel
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
Chapter 5: 1-11

At that time, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners on the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

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