Church Bulletin - September 23, 2001

1st Sunday of Luke - September 23, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: Gal 4:22-27; Lk 5:1-11]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

WE CAN ONLY SERVE ONE MASTER!

If a soldier is to be successful in his career, it is essential that he become blindly obedient to the ruler he serves. In the second century, a Roman general learned this lesson on 2 distinct levels. Placidus was a respected and feared military leader during the reign of the infamous Emperor Trajan. He enthusiastically carried out the Emperor's wishes to have all Christians persecuted and eliminated, never questioning the brutal acts he was ordered to carry out.

While hunting one day, Placidus' loyalties — and his life -- changed dramatically. Encountering a deer in the forest, Placidus suddenly realized that this magnificent animal had a shining cross between his antlers! He heard a mysterious voice, saying: "Why are you against me, Placidus? I am Christ, Whom you unwittingly defame. Abandon your pagan gods and come unto Me, the Living God."

Returning home, Placidus was baptized, along with his wife and two sons, taking the name "EUSTATHIOS."

Eustathios attempted to serve Rome and Christ. For nearly fifteen years, Eustathios continued his military career. Somehow, he was able to lead his soldiers in battle against the enemies of the Empire, while avoiding the persecution of his fellow Christians. Ultimately, his loyalties were put to a test. After winning an important victory, Eustathios and his family were taken to Rome. During a celebration in his honor, Eustathios was asked to offer a sacrifice to the pagan Roman gods. He refused to do so, declaring that he was now a Christian, who served the One True God! The enraged Emperor had Eustathios and his family tortured and finally killed. Yes, Eustathios had lost the "battle," but he died knowing that he had really won the "war."

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

Katevlusa~ tw`/ Staurw`/ sou tovn qavnaton: hjnevw/xa~ tw`/ Lhsth`/ tovn paravdeison: tw`n murofovrwn tovn qrh`non metevbale~: kaiv toi`~ soi`~ jApostovloi~ khruvttein ejpevtaxa~: o{ti ajnevsth~, Cristev oJ Qeov~, parevcwn tw`/ kovsmw/ tov mevga e[leo~.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

By Your Cross, O Christ our God, You destroyed death. You opened paradise to the thief. You transformed the lament of the Myrrh-bearing women, and You commanded the Apostles to proclaim You are risen, granting the world Your great mercy.

APOLUTIKION TOU` PRODROMOU

JH prwvhn ouj tivktousa, stei`ra eujqravnqhti: ijdouv gavr sunevlabe~. JHlivou luvcnon safw`~, fwtivzein tovn mevllonta, pa`san thvn oijkoumevnhn, ajbleyivan nosou`san: covreue Zacariva, ejkbow`n parrhsiva/: Profhvth~ tou` JUyivstou ejstin, oJ mevllwn tivktesqai.

APOLYTIKION OF THE FORERUNNER

Be glad, O barren One, who could not bear. For behold, you have conceived the lamp of the Sun, who will enlighten the universe now suffering in blindness. Rejoice, O Zacharias, openly crying out, "He who is soon to be born is the Prophet of the Most High."

QEOTOKION

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.

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

Prostasiva, tw`n cristianw`n ajkataivscunte, mesiteiva, prov~ tovn poihthvn ajmetavqete, mhv parivdh/~, aJmartwlw`n dehvsewn fwnav~, ajllav provfqason, wJ~ ajgaqhv, eij~ bohvqeian hJmw`n tw`n pistw`~ kraugazovntwn soi: Tavcunon eij~ presbeivan, kaiv speu`son eij~ swthrivan, 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~ d j 22<27)

jAdelfoiv, jAbraavm duvo uiJouv~ e[scen, e{na ejk th`~ paidivskh~ kaiv e{na ejk th`~ ejleuqevra~. JAll j oJ mevn ejk th`~ paidivskh~ katav savrka gegevnnhtai, oJ dev ejk th`~ ejleuqevra~ diav th`~ ejpaggeliva~. {Atinav ejstin ajllhgorouvmena. Au{tai gavr eijsi duvo diaqh`kai, miva mevn ajpov o[rou~ Sina`, eij~ douleivan genw`sa, h{ti~ ejstivn [Agar. Tov gavr [Agar Sina` o[ro~ ejstivn ejn th`/ jArabiva/, sustoicei` dev th`/ nu`n JIerousalhvm, douleuvbei dev katav tw`n tevknwn aujth`~: hJ dev a[nw JIerousalhvm ejleuqevra ejstivn, h{ti~ ejstiv mhvthr pavntwn hJmw`n. Gevgraptai gavr: "Eujravnqhti stei`ra hJ ouj tivktousa, rh`xon kaiv bovhson hJ oujk wjdivnousa: o{ti pollav tav tevkna th`~ ejrhvmou ma`llon h[ th`~ ejcouvsh~ tovn a[ndra".

EPISTLE
(Galatians 4: 22-27)

Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."

EUAGGELION
JEk katv 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`/ rhvmativ 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 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