Church Bulletin - September 30, 2001

2nd Sunday of Luke - September 30, 2001
[ Click here for the Bible readings: 2 Cor 6:16-7:1; Lk 6:31-36]
[ Click here for the Bible readings in Greek ]

A LONG AND FRUITFUL LIFE

The Church honors many saints who, despite their attempts to flee the world and live in relative obscurity, attained notoriety throughout the ages. One such saint is the Venerable Kyriakos the Hermit. Kyriakos was born in Corinth in 448 A.D. There were several bishops in his family, and it was assumed that Kyriakos would also rise quickly through the ranks of the clergy and would, one day, ascend to the lofty level of the episcopacy.

Kyriakos, however, saw his life in a different light. He took a literal interpretation of Christ's words — "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself . . ." — and totally embraced the monastic way of life. Living among the ascetic communities in the rugged wilderness surrounding Jerusalem, Kyriakos was content to spend his time in prayer and fasting. It is said that he ate once a day, partaking only of vegetables. To deepen his contemplative nature, the venerable hermit went through a period of self-imposed silence that lasted for 10 years!

At the age of 40, Kyriakos was ordained to the priesthood. It was only after his superiors promised this would not disturb his desired lifestyle that he accepted ordination. Some 30 years later, Kyriakos left the monastery in which he was dwelling for the isolation of the desert region of Natufa. Still, he was never completely alone. Word of his holiness spread, and many pious men and women would make pilgrimages to visit with Kyriakos in the desert, seeking his wise counsel.
A few years before his death, this amazing monastic came "back to civilization" and settled in the community of St. Chariton. Finally, after some 90 years of service to God, Kryiakos fell asleep in the Lord in 557 A.D.

ANASTASIMON APOLUTIKION

JEx u{you~ kath`lqe~ oJ eu[splagcno~, tafhvn katedevxw trihvmeron, i{na ejleuqerwvsh/~ tw`n paqw`n. JH zwhv kaiv hJ ajnavstasi~ hJmw`n, Kuvrie, dovxa soi.

RESURRECTION APOLYTIKION

O Merciful One, You came from on high, and condescended to Your three-day burial to save us from passions. You are our life and our Resurrection. Glory to You.

APOLUTIKION GRHGORIOU EPISKOPOU ARMENIAS

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

APOLYTIKION OF SAINT GREGORY BISHOP OF ARMENIA

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 Gregory. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

THEOTOKION

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~ 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.

APOSTOLOS
(B j Kor. ~ j 16<z j 1)

jAdelfoiv, uJmei``~ ejste naov~ Qeou` zw`nto~, kaqwv~ ei\pen oJ Qeov~ o{ti ejnoikhvsw ejn aujtoi`~ kaiv ejmperipathvsw, kaiv e[somai aujtw`n Qeov~, kaiv aujtoiv e[sontaiv moi laov~. Diov ejxevlqete ejk mevsou aujtw`n kaiv ajforivsqhte, levgei Kuvrio~, kaiv ajkaqavrtou mhv a{ptesqe, kajgwv eijsdevxomai uJma`~, kaiv e[somai uJmi`n eij~ patevra, kaiv uJmei`~ e[sesqev moi eij~ uiJouv~ kaiv qugatevra~, levgei Kuvrio~ pantokravtwr. Tau`ta ou\n e[conte~ tav~ ejpaggeliva~, ajgaphtoiv, kaqarivswmen eJautouv~ ajpov pantov~ molusmou` sarkov~ kaiv pneuvmato~, ejpitelou`nte~ aJgiwsuvnhn ejn fovbw/ Qeou`.

EPISTLE
(2 Cor. 6: 16-18, 7:1)

Brethren, we are the temple of the living God; God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.

EUAGGELION
JEk tou` katav Louka`n.
(Kef. ~ j (6), 31<36)

Ei\pen oJ Kuvrio~: Kaqwv~ qevlete I{na poiw`sin uJmi`n oiJ a[nqrwpoi, kaiv uJmei`~ poiei`te aujtoi`~ oJmoivw~. Kaiv eij ajgapa`te touv~ ajgapw`nta~ uJma``~, poiva uJmi`n cavri~ ejstiv; kaiv gavr oiJ aJmartwloiv touv~ ajgapw`nta~ aujtouv~ ajgapw`si. Kaiv ejavn ajgaqopoih`te touv~ ajgaqopoiou`nta~ uJma`~, poiva uJmi`n hJ cavri~ ejstiv; kaiv gavr oiJ aJmartwloiv tov aujtov poiou`si. Kaiv a[n daneivzhte par j w|n ejlpivzete ajpolabei`n, poiva uJmi`n cavri~ ejstiv; kaiv gavr oiJ aJmartwloiv aJmartwloi`~ daneivzousin, I{na ajpolavbwsi tav I[sa. Plhvn ajgapa`te touv~ ejcqrouv~ uJmw`n, kaiv ajgaqopoiei`te, kaiv daneivzete, mhdevn ajpelpivzonte~: kaiv e[stai oJ misqov~ uJmw`n poluv~, kaiv e[sesqe uiJoiv tou` JUyivstou: o{ti aujtov~ crhstov~ ejstin ejpiv touv~ ajcarivstou~ kaiv ponhrouv~. Givnesqe ou\n oijktivrmone~, kaqwv~ kaiv oJ Pathvr uJmw`n oijktivrmwn ejstin.

GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to St. Luke
(Chapter 6: 31-36)

The Lord said: "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

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