S t . B a s i l t h e G r e a t A nt i o c h i a n O r t h o d o x C hu r c h
S t . B a s i l t h e G r e a t A nt i o c h i a n O r t h o d o x C hu r c h His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America.
His Grace Bishop THOMAS, Auxiliary Bishop of The Diocese of Oakland, Charleston, and the Mid-Atlantic.
REV. FATHER JAMES PURDIE, PASTOR 1520 Todds Lane Hampton, VA 23666 Phone: Office (757) 223-4159, Cell: (412) 327-4099 Email: OrthodoxHampton@gmail.com Web Site: www.OrthodoxHampton.com
Welcome visitors! If you are visiting with us for the first time, we greet you in the Holy Name of Christ, our Saviour, and hope you will join us in fellowship after worship. We are genuinely pleased to have you with us today. We must remind you that while the Orthodox Church prays for the unity of all, we do not practice “open Communion.� Only those Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting, and regular confession should approach the chalice.
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For questions, please contact Fr. James Purdie. Blessings.
Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker and Archbishop of Myra Our Holy Father Nicholas, emulator of the Apostles and ardent imitator of the Lord Jesus Christ, appears as a living pillar of the Church, zealous in defense of the faith and a model of pastoral solicitude for holy bishops. Through his countless miracles on behalf of the poor, the abandoned, of those suffering injustice and of all who call upon his fatherly protection, he has to this day shown himself “a good steward of the manifold grace of God” (I Peter 4:10). Saint Nicholas was born in Patara in Lycia towards the end of the third century, to Christian parents who had long been childless. From infancy, he showed his love of virtue and his zeal for observing the ordinances of the Church by abstaining from his mother’s breast on Wednesdays and Fridays until the evening. Pious and inclined to silence, he was educated in theology and, while still young, was ordained priest by his uncle, Archbishop Nicholas. For many years, vigil, fasting and prayer were the virtues he excelled in, but from the time of his parents’ death and his giving away his inheritance to the needy, the virtue of almsgiving became his greatest glory to God. He regarded himself merely as the steward of goods which belonged to the poor and took particular care to keep his good deeds secret, so as not to lose the heavenly reward (cf. Matthew 6:7). On three occasions he secretly left gold enough for the marriage portions of three maidens whom their debt-ridden father intended to give up to prostitution. When the man eventually discovered his good deed, Nicholas made him promise, as he valued his salvation, to tell no one of it. For many years the holy Bishop was, as the presence of Christ, a friend of man and good shepherd to his faithful; there was no misfortune that would not move him to compassion, no injustice that he would not redress, no discord that he would not allay. Wherever he happened to be, his illumined countenance and the atmosphere of radiant peace surrounding him were instantly recognizable. When he fell asleep in peace his people lamented the loss of their pastor and their providence, through whom they had received so many benefits, but the angels and Saints rejoiced with great joy to receive the meek Nicholas among them. His holy relics, placed in a church built in his honor at Myra, were venerated by crowds of pilgrims every year. + The Synaxarion
ANTIPHON tHE
RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE ONE
with Christ that He will save our souls.
While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.
TROPARION OF ST. BASIL THE GREAT IN TONE ONE
APOLYTIKION OF ST. NICHOLAS IN TONE FOUR Thy works of justice did reveal thee to thy community as a canon of faith, the likeness of humility and the teacher of abstinence, O thou Father and great Bishop Nicholas. Wherefore, by humility thou didst achieve exaltation, and by thy meekness wealth. Intercede, therefore, intercede 4
In all the earth that received thy sayings, thy melody did resound, O righteous father, through which thou didst go about and proclaim, as worthy of God, the nature of creatures, cultivating the character of mankind, O thou of kingly Priesthood, Basil. Wherefore, plead thou with Christ God to save our souls. KONTAKION OF PREPARATION OF CHRIST’S NATIVITY IN TONE THREE On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
EPISTLE tHE
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. What shall I render to the Lord for all that He has given me? The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. (13:17-21) Brethren, obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that
we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now may the God of peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 5
GOSPEL THE
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (13:10-17) At that time, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. And when Jesus saw her, He called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, 6
said to the people, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrite! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As Jesus said this, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by Him.
tHE
KOINONIKON ( COMMUNION HYMN)
Praise the Lord from the Heavens; Praise Him in the highest; Alleluia.
Post Communion Prayer of St. Basil the Great (pray silently after receiving the Holy Gifts) O Master, Christ our God, King of all ages and Maker of all things, I thank Thee for all the good things which Thou hast given me and of partaking of Thine immaculate and life-giving Mysteries. Wherefore, I pray Thee, who art good and loves mankind, keep me under Thy protection and in the shadow of Thy wings, and grant me a pure conscience, even unto my last breath to partake of Thy Holy Gifts for unto Thee we ascribe glory and thanksgiving, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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OFFERINGS + Prayers of Health and Safety are offered for +
Dn. Christopher and family, Ross family, Daniel, Irina, Christopher, Daria and child, Christopher, Daniel, Sophia, George, Anne, Nun Thecla, Ekaterina, Angelina, Igor, Alexander, Mark, Maia and family, Mirela and family, Simerick family, Vanessa and family, Maria, Thomas, Jeff, Mary, Paul, Elizabeth, Fr. Dean, Carolyn, Maria, Catherine, Anna, Erin, Sheldon family, Sylvia, Fr. John, Irene,
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John, Axenia, Maria, Ana, Vasilii, Irina, Arthur and family, Nasi family, Mariann, Nathaniel, Sidor family, Lowry family, Jones family, John, Oxana, Fr. James and family, Ysidora, Robert, Sarah, Elizabeth and child, Esra. Voron family, Slagy family, Ebru, Whelan family, Christina, Angela, Samantha, Ray, Jeff, Celeste, Edens family, Brown family, Howell family, Bowman family, Saur family
OFFERINGS +++ Prayers of Loving Memory are offered for +++
Marcie, Lena, Mary, Gerhard, Roger, Kelly, Bill, Gabby, Patricia, Tatiana, Sergei, Ion, Maria, Nadejda, Agrepina, Ion, Maria, Dustin, Aysem, Jaime, Ann, Steve, Eold, Eleanor, Beatrice, Richard, Richard, Radovanka, William, Lazar, Steven, John, Connie, Steven,
Ephimia, Ephim, Michael, Alexey, Alexander, Yuri, Boris, Valentin, Valentina, Alexandra, Seraphima, Vladimir, Nikolay, Sofia, Maria, Vasiliy, Lydia, Victor, Tatyana, Alexander, Evdokia, Fr. Neil, Muna, Leonard, Raymond, Mary Jane, Kh. Anastasia, Priscilla, Dan
Holy Bread is offered by Dasha Saur for the health, safety, and memory of her loved ones. 9
Jesus Heals the Bent Woman
If the Bent Woman had not been going to the Synagogue every Sunday, she may not have met Christ. But she had the courage and the spiritual strength to follow Christ –she was devout, and a regular churchgoer; she was never absent from devotional gatherings– and was not scandalised because of her illness. Us, we believe that we are going to meet Christ at very special moments. Yet, there, where we go about our regular daily duties, the Lord may come to find us at any given moment. And in unsuspecting times, he may say unexpectedly: “You are loosed from the illness of the sin. It is over. That was enough!” And we will say in surprise: “Was it so simple, so easy to be released from the ties of sin, from devil’s influence on me?” And you will say so, becasue it appears very difficult and complicated to feel healed and free. And it appears so, because our own stance is wrong. You are not, that is, honest towards God. But, what is this right stance which, so to speak, unties the hands of God and sets him free to work within us with our consent. Blaming ourselves, that is what it is: “I, my God, take responsibility for being dragged about wherever devil wishes. But I come to you, who is strong, to set me free of this influence”. Practically, this means that you start not to succumb to your whims and wishes. Christ is, thus, convinced that you indeed seek salvation. And He grants you spiritual awareness whereby you experience salvation. And while you are touching and feeling your own barrenness, at the same time you have a sense of being touched by this awareness, the divine grace, this supernatural spiritual reality within you. When you believe this way, simply and truly, then you stop doing things Christ does not want. Spontaneously, you strive eagerly to please God. + Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos