St. LukeDiocese Orthodox Christian Church of the South, Orthodox Church in America The Rev. Father Basil Henry, Priest 1415 Woodstock Ave. • Anniston, Alabama • www.stlukeanniston.org/ basilncana@yahoo.com • (256) 235-3893 Sunday, January 16, 2011 • 34th Sunday after Pentecost Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-glorious Apostle Peter.
St. Anthony the Great (anticipated). Martyrs Speusippus and his brothers Eleusippus and Meleusippus, their grandmother Leonilla, and with them Neon, Turbo, and Jonilla (Oovilla), in Cappadocia (ca. 161-180). Martyr Danax the Reader, in Macedonia (2nd c.). St. Honoratus, archbishop of ArIes and founder of Lerins Monastery (429). St. James of Tarentaise (429). Martyr Sigebert, king of the East Angles (635). St. Fursey, Irish missionary monk of Burgh Castle (East Anglia), Lagny and Peronne (Gaul) (650). St. Romilus the Sinaite ofRavanica (1375). Blessed Maximus, priest of Totma (Vologda), fool-for-Christ (1650). New Hieromartyr Damascene of Gabrovo, hieromonk of Hilandar, at Svishtovo (1771). New Hieromartyr Nicholas, priest of Mytilene (1777).
Announcements
Remember in your prayers Matushka Angela Alessandroni for her recovery. Speak with Father Basil soon about scheduling your home to be blessed.
Many Years
May God grant Many Years to Don Lynn on his namesday, the Feast of St. Anthony the Great, tomorrow. The cover photo is of Yule Log at the Church of the Holy Resurrection in Podgorica, Montnegro on Christmas (Old Calendar).
This Week’s Service Schedule & scripture readings Monday, 1/17
St. Anthony the Great
No Service Vespers 4 p.m.
Tuesday, 1/18
St. Athanasius the Great
Hebrews 8:7-13
Mark 8:11-21
Heb. 9:810, 9:15-23
Mark 8:22-26
Wednesday, 1/19
Matins 8 a.m.
Hebrews 10:1-18
Mark 8:30-34
Thursday, 1/20
Matins 8 a.m.
Hebrews 10:35-11:7
Mark 9:10-16
Friday, 1/21
Matins 8 a.m.
Hebrews 11:8, 11-16
Mark 9:33-41
Ephesians 5:1-8
Luke 14:1-11
Ven. Macarius the Great Ven. Euthymius the Great St. Maxiumus the Confessor
Vespers 4 p.m.
Saturday, 1/15
Hebrews 13:17-21
Luke 6:17-23
Hebrews 13:17-21
Luke 6:17-23
This Week’s Fasts Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Great Vespers “Lord, I Call”
sunday (Tone 1)
Lead forth my soul from prison, that I may confess Thy name!
Accept our evening prayers, O holy Lord! Grant us remission of sins, for Thou alone hast manifested the Resurrection to the world. The righteous await me, till Thou shalt reward me.
Encircle Zion and surround her, O people! Give glory in her to the One Who rose from the dead! For He is our God, Who has delivered us from our transgressions! Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice!
Come, O people, let us hymn and fall down before Christ, glorifying His Resurrection from the dead! For He is our God, Who has delivered the world from the Enemy’s deceit! Let Thine ears give heed to the voice of my prayer!
Be glad, O heavens! Sound trumpets, O foundations of the earth! Sing in gladness, O mountains! Behold Emmanuel has nailed our sins to the Cross! Granting life, He has slain death. He has resurrected Adam as the Lover of Man. If Thou observest transgression, Lord, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee is propitiation.
Let us praise Him Who voluntarily was crucified in the flesh for our sake. He suffered, was buried, but rose from the dead. By Orthodoxy, confirm Thy Church, O Christ. Grant peace for our life, as the gracious Lover of Man. For Thy name’s sake have I waited upon Thee, O Lord; my soul hath waited upon Thy word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
We stand before Thy Life-Bearing tomb unworthily O Christ God, offering glory to Thine unspeakable compassion. Thou has accepted the cross and death, O Sinless One, to grant resurrection to the world, as the Lover of Man. Apostle
Peter (Tone 4)
From the morning watch even to the night, let Israel hope in the Lord!
Bound to the Lord, thou wast imprisoned in a dun-
geon. Thus thou didst bind falsehood, O Apostle. Therefore we honor thee with love and kiss thy chains with faith. From them we draw healing of body and salvation of our souls. We fittingly praise thee, O God-seer and converser with the Angels. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Bound to the Lord…
O praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye people!
Those who are bound by ignorance receive understanding through thee. The peoples of the Gentiles, who first were scattered, were shown to thee in an image of a sheet let down from on high containing every thing. Therefore, O Apostle, every generation glorifies thee, venerating the chains which thou didst bear with diligence for Christ. For His mercy hath been confirmed upon us and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever.
The One Whom thou didst deny at His condemnation, thou didst hymn when He rose from the dead. Thou didst preach Him to the ends of the earth, O Apostle, as the God and Man Who in His great goodness entered into fellowship with mankind! Therefore, we bless thee with love, O all-glorious Peter, venerating the chains which thou didst bear with diligence for Christ. Apostle
Peter (Tone 6)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Today Peter, the Rock of Faith, the foundation of the Church, appoints his precious chains for the devotion of our souls. Come and let us kiss them, crowning him with songs of praise as we sing: “Rejoice, O fervent champion of the faith, for with ardent knowledge and great boldness thou didst confess Christ, the Son of God! Rejoice, O joy of the universe, keeper of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, for thou givest grace to those who honor thee with love and venerate thy precious chains with longing! As thou dost stand before the throne of Christ, the King of all, ever pray for us who celebrate thy memory!
~3~
Dogmatikon (Tone 1)
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Let us praise the Virgin Mary. The gate of heaven, the glory of the world, the song of the angels, the beauty of the faithful. She was born of man, yet gave birth to God. She was revealed as the heaven, as the Temple of the God-head. She destroyed the wall of enmity. She commenced the peace, she opened the Kingdom. Since she is our foundation of faith, our defender is the Lord, whom she bore. Courage, courage! O people of God, for Christ will destroy our enemies, since He is all powerful.
Aposticha
Theotokion (Tone 6)
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
My Maker and Redeemer, Christ the Lord, was born of thee, O most pure Virgin. By accepting my nature, He freed Adam from his ancient curse. Unceasingly we magnify thee as the Mother of God! Rejoice, O celestial Joy! Rejoice, O Lady: the Protection, Intercession and Salvation of our souls!
Troparia
sunday (Tone 1)
We have been freed from sufferings by Thy suffering, O Christ. We have been delivered from corruption by Thy Resurrection. O Lord, glory to Thee! The Lord hath become King; with beauty hath he clothed himself.
Let creation rejoice! Let the heavens be glad! Let the nations clap their hands with gladness, for Christ our Savior has nailed our sins to the Cross. Slaying death, He has given life. He has resurrected fallen Adam as the Lover of Man. For He hath established the world, which shall not be moved.
As King of heaven and earth, Thou wast voluntarily crucified in Thy love for Man. Hell was angered when it met Thee below. Adam rose seeing Thee, the Creator, under the earth. O Wonder! How has the Life of All tasted death? Thou didst enlighten the world which cries: “O Lord, Who didst rise from the dead, glory to Thee!” Holiness belongeth to Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days!
The myrrhbearing women came with haste to Thy tomb, bearing myrrh and lamentations. Not finding Thy most pure body, they learned from the Angel of the new and glorious wonder. They told the Apostles: “The Lord is risen, granting to the world great mercy.” Apostle
sorrows consoled, and the storm-tossed ships of our life brought to harbor. Come, let us kiss them, and entreat Christ Who glorified him, saying: “By his prayers, O Christ, save our souls!”
sunday (Tone 1)
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate body, Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of life: Glory to Thy resurrection, O Christ, Glory to Thy Kingdom, Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Lover of man. Apostle
Peter (Tone 4)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
You came to us without leaving Rome through the precious chains that you wore. First-enthroned of the Apostles, we bow down to them in faith and pray: “Through your prayers to God grant us great mercy!”
Resurrectional Dismissal Theotokion (Tone 4) Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The mystery of all eternity, unknown even by Angels, through thee, Theotokos, is revealed to those on earth: God incarnate by union without confusion. He voluntarily accepted the Cross for us, by which He resurrected the first-created man, saving our souls from death.
Peter (Tone 6)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Peter, the Rock of faith, the fervent intercessor, again lifts us up together for a spiritual feast, setting before us his precious chains as provision for a costly banquet that our infirmities may be healed and our ~4~
“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Apostle Peter (John 6:68)
Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Beatitude Verses
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
I am come into a winter storm of perdition, and the sunday swollen rivers of mine innumerable failings trouble Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Through food, the enemy led Adam out of Paradise; me; but take compassion on me, 0 Lady, and guide me and through the Cross Christ led the thief back into it unto the divine haven. crying: Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest Troparia into Thy kingdom.
sunday (Tone 1)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
I venerate Thy sufferings and glorify Thy resurrection. With Adam and with the thief I raise a shining cry to Thee: Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews and the soldiers were guarding Thine immaculate body, Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of life: Glory to Thy resurrection, O Christ, Glory to Thy Kingdom, Glory to Thy dispensation, O only Lover of man.
Without sin, hast Thou been crucified, and of Thine own will hast Thou been laid in the tomb. But Thou as Apostle Peter (Tone 4) God hast risen raising Adam with Thyself, crying: ReYou came to us without leaving Rome through the member me, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. precious chains that you wore. First-enthroned of the Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, Apostles, we bow down to them in faith and pray: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. “Through your prayers to God grant us great mercy!” On the third day, O Christ our God, Thou hast raised from the tomb the temple of Thy “body raising with St. Anthony the Great (Tone 4) Thyself Adam and those descending from him, crying: You imitated the ways of zealous Elijah, and folRemember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. lowed the straight path of John the Baptist. You became a desert dweller and strengthened the world by Apostle Peter Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, your prayers. Father Anthony, intercede with Christ and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. God that our souls may be saved! The choirs of the Saints strike up a feast and the frightened phalanx of demons bitterly waileth, O Peter, as Kontakia sunday (Tone 1) they behold the tokens of thy sufferings receive worship. Thou didst rise as God from the grave in glory; and Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in the world didst Thou raise with Thee; and human heaven. nature hymneth Thee as God; and death hath vanThe soldiers guarding thee fell asleep at the presence of ished. Adam danceth for joy, O Master; Eve now an Angel, O Peter; and suddenly the chains, which we redeemed from her bondage rejoiceth, crying, Thou joyously venerate, fell off thy hands. art, O Christ, He that to all doth grant resurrection. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Apostle Peter (Tone 4) Thou who didst raise Tabitha when dead didst deaden the guards and shookest off the chains. All things con- Christ the Rock radiantly glorifies the Rock of Faith, cerning thee pass understanding, O Apostle. Where- the first-enthroned of the Disciples; He calls us to honor the miracles wrought through Peter’s chains, so that fore, we honour thee with faith. He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.
~5~
St. Anthony the Great (Tone 2)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
You rejected the tumult of this life and lived your life to the end in solitude, imitating the Baptist in every way. With him we honor you, most venerable Anthony, foundation of the Fathers.
Steadfast Protectress (Tone 6) Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Steadfast Protectress of Christians, constant Advocate before the Creator; despise not the entreating cries of us sinners, but in thy goodness come speedily to help us who call on thee in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for thou dost always protect those who honor thee!
Prokeimenon
Sunday (Tone 1)
Epistle Reading
Sunday (Colossians 3:4-11)
Brethren, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Alleluia Verses
Sunday (Tone 1) Let Thy mercy be upon us, O Lord, as we have set our Vs: God gives vengeance unto me, and subdues people hope on Thee. under me. Vs: Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; praise becometh Vs: He magnifies the salvation of the King and deals merthe upright! cifully with David, His anointed, and his seed forever.
Gospel Reading
Sunday (Luke 18:18-27)
At that time, a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have observed from my youth.” And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Please note Holy Communion is reserved for Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves beforehand through confession and fasting. All are welcome to receive the blessed bread and Father’s blessing after services. ~6~
~7~
The Orthodox Faith > Doctrine > Sources of Christian Doctrine
The Fathers There are in the Church a number of saints who were theologians and spiritual teachers who defended and explained the doctrines of the Christian Faith. These saints are called the holy fathers of the Church and their teachings are called the patristic teachings (patristic is from the Greek word for father). Some of the holy fathers are called apologists because they defended the Christian teachings against those outside the Church who ridiculed the faith. Their writings are called apologies which means “answers” or “defenses.”
chooses what he wants according to his own ideas and opinions, selecting certain parts of the Christian Tradition while rejecting others. By his actions, a heretic not only destroys the fullness of the Christian truth but also divides the life of the Church and causes division in the community.
Others of the holy fathers defended the Christian faith against certain members of the Church who de- Generally speaking, the Orthodox tradition regards the formed the truth and life of Christianity by choosing teachers of heresies as not merely being mistaken or igcertain parts of the Christian revelation and doctrine norant or misguided; it accuses them of being actively while denying other aspects. Those who deformed the aware of their actions and therefore sinful. A person Christian faith in this way and thereby destroyed the merely misguided or mistaken or teaching what he integrity of the Christian Church are called the her- believes to be the truth without being challenged or etics, and their doctrines are called heresies. By defini- opposed as to his possible errors is not considered to tion heresy means “choice,” and a heretic is one who be a heretic in the true sense of the word. Many of the ~8~
saints and even the holy fathers have elements in their sources for the discovery of the Church’s doctrine. teachings which Christians of later times have considThe writings of some of those fathers who have reered as being false or inaccurate. This, of course, does ceived the universal approval and praise of the Church not make them heretics. through the ages are of particular importance, such as Not all of the holy fathers were defenders against false- those of Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyons, Athahood or heresy. Some of them were simply the very nasius of Alexandria, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, positive teachers of the Christian faith, developing and Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Cyril of explaining its meaning in a deeper and fuller way. Oth- Alexandria, Cyril of Jerusalem, Maximus the Confesers were teachers of the spiritual life, giving instruction sor, John of Damascus, Photius of Constantinople, to the faithful about the meaning and method of com- and Gregory Palamas; and those of the ascetical and munion with God through prayer and Christian liv- spiritual fathers such as Anthony of Egypt, Macarius of ing. Those teachers who concentrated on the struggle Egypt, John of the Ladder, Isaac of Syria, Ephraim of of spiritual life are called the ascetical fathers, asceti- Syria, Simeon the New Theologian, and others. cism being the exercise and training of the “spiritual Sometimes it is difficult for us to read the writings of the athletes”; and those who concentrated on the way of fathers of the Church since their problems were often spiritual communion with God are called the mystical complicated and their manner of writing very different fathers, mysticism being defined as the genuine, expein style from our own. Also most of the spiritual and riential union with the Divine. ascetical writings are put in the monastic setting and All of the holy fathers, whether they are classified as theo- have to be transposed in order to be understandable and logical, pastoral, ascetical or mystical gave their teach- usable to those of us who are not monks or nuns. Neverings from the sources of their own living Christian expe- theless, it is important to read the writings of the fathers rience. They defended and described and explained the directly. One should do so slowly, a little at a time, with theological doctrines and ways of spiritual life from their careful thought and consideration and without making own living knowledge of these realities. They blended quick and capricious conclusions… the same way that together the brilliance of the intellect with the purity of one would read the Bible. Among the church fathers, the soul and the righteousness of life. This is what makes Saint John Chrysostom’s writings are very clear and dithem the holy fathers of the Church. rect and can be read by many with great profit if the proper care is given. Also the Philokalia—an anthology The writings of the Church Faof spiritual writings—exists in thers are not infallible, and it English, at least in part, and has even been said that in with proper care, it can be any given one of them some helpful to a mature Christian things could be found which in search of deeper insights could be questioned in the into the spiritual life. light of the fullness of the The series The Orthodox Tradition of the Church. Faith is intended to provide Nevertheless, taken as a basic, comprehensive inforwhole, the writings of the mation on the faith and the Fathers which are built life of the Orthodox Church upon the biblical and lifor the average reader. The turgical foundations of author is Fr. Thomas Hopko, Christian faith and life have Dean Emeritus of St. Vladigreat authority within the Ormir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY. thodox Church and are primary ~9~
Theology of Lay Ministries - Volume III, 2009
Time Management: an Orthodox Perspective By Albert Rossi, PhD and Julia Wickes, MA
The first thing to say, from an Orthodox perspective, is that there is no such thing as time management. We don’t manage time. Time manages us if we allow the Lord to have a place in our schedule. Whose time is it? Christ is everything, including the giver and owner of our time. He is the Way we format our schedule, the Truth about the meaning of time, and the flow of Life that moves us through time. C. S. Lewis makes a profound point about time. He says that we usually regard time as our own. We start our day with the curious assumption that we are the lawful possessors of an upcoming twenty-four hours. With that hazardous assumption we then plot a matrix for our day, filling in time slots with tasks or restful moments. We might hope that we are managing our time in a way that will somehow please God. But when we begin with the assumption that time is ours, inconveniences and unexpected interruptions become intrusions into “my time.” By contrast, we can begin with the assertion that time is not our own. Time belongs to the Lord and He has a plan for time that He desires us to accept for our own peace and joy. Adjusting our expectations Those who are trying to use their time to do the Lord’s will must begin every day, and every moment, with Jesus Christ. One question might be, “Lord, what do you want me to do, now?” But an even better question is, “Lord, what do you want to do through me now?” This takes the emphasis from the ego and places it on the Lord. If we believe that God has a plan for each moment, we can then be sensitive to each moment as it unfolds in unexpected ways. When we receive each moment as from the Lord we will begin to experience our time on earth as a series of small deaths and resurrections. Every loss is a gift that God gives us so that He can give us more. It might be saying goodbye to high school or college days, a move from the old neighborhood, the loss of a job, the loss of physical or mental health. We might lose loved ones through separation or death. In degrees,
the reactive thought might be, “This is the beginning of the end.” A more truthful thought would be, “This is the beginning of the beginning.” Death is the beginning of a new relationship with Christ, a fresh beginning of an entirely new life. Each loss and little death is a new beginning towards our ultimate beginning—heaven. As we adjust our expectations time takes on a new meaning. Sacrament of the present moment Simple awareness of the presence of God is the power within the present moment. The present moment--now-is the only place where God is. He discloses Himself through the reality of the present moment. Nowhere else. This is a mystery we can participate in by simply trying to be aware of His presence. Awareness, conscious contact with God, is the key. The Prayer of Metropolitan Philaret An Orthodox morning prayer by Metropolitan Philaret says: “In unforeseen events let us not forget that all are sent by Thee.” Here it is helpful to refine exactly what is meant by the idea that God sends all moments. God did not send terrorists to fly planes into the World Trade Center in New York City. Rather, God allowed terrorists to fly those planes. What, then, is implied by the all in Metropolitan Philaret’s prayer? An Orthodox perspective would say that events outside ourselves are subject to God’s allowing will, and moreover are beyond our understanding. However, by faith we believe and confess that God sends all of the events that pertain to us. All events in our day, even those that we anticipate in a human way, can legitimately be described as “unforeseen,” because they bear a divine potential which is not revealed to us in advance. But even “unforeseen events,” in the most mundane sense of the term—the unforeseen phone call or the inconvenient request—can take on a new meaning, simply because our time is not our own. To be continued
~10~
~11~
The Holy Altar at St. Luke’s on the Feast of the Theophany. Photo by John Mark Lemmel St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church 1415 Woodstock Ave. Anniston, AL 36207