St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church Diocese of the South, Orthodox Church in America
The Rev. Father Basil Henry, Priest 1415 Woodstock Ave. • Anniston, Alabama • www.stlukeanniston.org/
January 8, 2011 • 30th Sunday after Pentecost
Afterfeast and Sunday after the Theophany. Ven. George the Chozebite, Abbot (6th c.). Ven. Domnica of Constantinople (474). St. Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus (9th c.). Ven. Gregory, Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves (Near Caves—1093). Ven. Gregory the Recluse, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—13th-14th c.). Hieromartyr Isidore and 72 others at Yuriev (Estonia—1472). St. Paisius of Uglich (1504). Hieromartyr Carterius of Cæsarea in Cappadocia (304). Martyrs Theophilus the Deacon, and Helladius, in Libya (4th c.). Martyrs Julian and his wife, Basilissa, and with them Marcionilla, her son Celsus, Anthony, Anastasius, 7 children and 20 soldiers, at Antinoë in Egypt (313). Ven. Elias the Hermit, of Egypt (4th c.). Martyr Abo the Perfumer, of Tiflis (Georgia—790).
Announcements
We welcome our Visitors and hope you can join us for coffee hour following Divine Liturgy. Speak with Father Basil soon about scheduling a time to have your home blessed. Tuesday is Ed Smith’s Namesday and Wednesday is Nicholas Beal’s birthday. May God grant them Many Years. The icon on the front is of the Theophany of Christ by iconographer Tatiana Grant (http://spiritualpaintings.com)
This Week’s Fasting, Service and Scripture Schedule Tues, 1/10 Wed, 1/11 Thurs, 1/12 Fri, 1/13 Sat, 1/14
Mon, 1/9
Sun, 1/15
Matins 8 a.m.
Matins 8 a.m.
Bible Study 5 p.m.
No service
Matins 8 a.m.
Great Vespers Divine Liturgy 4 p.m. 10 a.m.
Heb. 11:17- 23, 27-31
Heb. 12:2526,13:22-25
James 1:1-18
James 1:19-27
James 2:1-13
Col. 1:3-6
1 Tim. 1:15-17
Mark 8:11-21
Mark 8:22-26
Mark 8:30-34
Mark 9:10-16
Mark 9:33-41
Luke 14:1-11
Luke 18:18-27
Martyr Tatiana of Rome
St. Hilary of Poitiers
St. Nina of Georgia
St. Ita of Kileedy
2 Cor. 4:6-15 (Saint)
Matt. 11:27-30 (Saint)
St. Philip, Met. of Moscow
St. Gregory of Nyssa
Ven. Theodosius the Great
Service times are subject to change. Please check with Fr. Basil if in any doubt.
“Lord, I Call”
Great Vespers
St. George the Chozebite (Tone 4)
From the morning watch even to the night, let Israel hope in the Lord!
Sunday (Tone 5)
Lead forth my soul from prison, that I may confess Thy name!
By Thy precious Cross, O Christ, Thou hast put the devil to shame. By Thy Resurrection, Thou hast blunted the sting of sin and saved us from the gates of death! We glorify Thee, O Only begotten One. The righteous await me, till Thou shalt reward me.
Christ was led as a sheep to the slaughter in order to grant Resurrection to the human race! The princes of hell were frightened by this, for the gates of sorrow were lifted. Christ the King of glory had entered, saying to those in chains: “Go forth!” And to those in darkness: “Come to the light!” Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice!
O, great wonder! The Creator of the invisible suffered in the flesh in His love for man and rose again immortal! Come, O sons of nations, let us worship Him! Delivered from error by His compassion, we have learned to sing of one God in three Persons!
Theophany of our Lord (Tone 2)
Let Thine ears give heed to the voice of my prayer!
The Forerunner beheld our Enlightenment, who has brought light to all mankind, draw near to be baptized and he rejoiced in soul while his hand trembled. He showed Him to the people saying: “Behold, the Redeemer of Israel, Who sets us free from corruption.” O Sinless Christ our God, Glory to Thee! If Thou observest transgression, Lord, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee is propitiation.
The hosts of angels were filled with fear, as they saw our Deliverer baptized by a servant and receiving witness through the coming of the Spirit, and the Father’s voice was heard from on high: “He upon Whom the Forerunner lays his hand, the same is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” O Christ our God, Glory to Thee! 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.
The attacks of thoughts did not shake the citadel of thy soul, O blessed Father, for putting forth thy firm ascetic discipline as a wall of defense, thou didst keep thyself completely unharmed and safe from the wicked enemy; and thou didst take thy place in the presence of the Master of all, as thou didst receive the crown of victory. For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Neither the length of the road nor the difficulty of the places could disengage thee from the fiery character of thy journey to God. For having come with joy to the places where the feet of our God had walked, thou wast not careless, O venerable George, lest thou not arrive, through ascetic deeds and labors, at the heavenly Zion.
Ven Domnica of Constantinople (Tone 4)
O praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye people!
From the regions of the west thou didst rise up, O most blessed one, shining to the East like a dazzling star, with the rays of thy virtuous actions, O venerable mother, and thou didst enlighten the minds of the faithful by the splendor of thy miracles; therefore we bless thee and honor thy memory, magnifying Christ Who glorified thee in holiness. For His mercy hath been confirmed upon us and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever.
Wounded by the desire for Christ’s love, O all-praiseworthy Domnica, thou didst follow after Him, having denied thyself temporal glory, and the pleasures of the flesh, and every other enjoyment of life; therefore thou didst come to dwell in the most radiant bridal chamber of Jesus, the Lover of man, and the Savior of our souls.
Theophany of our Lord (Tone 2)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Thou has bowed Thine head before the Forerunner and has crushed the heads of the dragons. Thou has descended into the waters and has given light to all things that they might glorify Thee, O Savior, the Enlightenment of our souls.
The streams of the Jordan received Thee who are the fountain, and the comforter descended in the form of a dove. He Who bowed the heaven’s bowed His head and the clay cried aloud to Him that formed Him “Why does Thou command of me what lies beyond my power? For I have need to be baptized of Thee.” O Sinless Christ our God, Glory to Thee! ~3~
Dogmatikon (Tone 5)
Holiness belongeth to Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days!
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
In the Red Sea of old, a type of the Virgin Bride was prefigured. There Moses divided the waters. Here Gabriel assisted in the miracle. There Israel crossed the sea without getting wet. Here the Virgin gave birth to Christ without seed. After Israel’s passage, the sea remained impassable. After Emmanuel’s birth, the Virgin remained a Virgin. O ever-existing God, Who appeared as Man, O Lord, have mercy on us!
Aposticha
Sunday (Tone 5)
We magnify Thee in songs of praise, O Incarnate Christ and Savior. By accepting the Cross and death for our sake, as the Lord and Lover of man, Thou didst overthrow the gates of hell, and didst arise on the third day, saving our souls. The Lord hath become King; with beauty hath He clothed Himself.
By being pierced in the side, O Lover of man, Thou hast poured out drops of life and salvation for all. By accepting death in the flesh, Thou hast granted us immortality. Thou hast freed us by being placed in the tomb, and hast resurrected us with Thyself in glory, as God! Glory to Thee, O Lord and Lover of man! For He hath established the world, which shall not be moved.
Thy crucifixion and descent into hell are awesome, O Lover of man! Thou hast captured it, releasing the ancient prisoners. Thou hast opened Paradise and given it to us! Grant us purification of sins, who glorify Thy Resurrection on the third day! Make us worthy of Paradise and save us, O Lover of man!
For our sake, Thou didst accept death in the flesh, to rise from the dead on the third day! Heal us from our earthly passions, and restore us from our evil transgressions; and save us, O Lover of man!
Theophany of our Lord (Tone 2)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Seeing Thee, O Christ our God, draw near to him in the river Jordan. John said: “Why are Thou, Who has no defilement, come to Thy servant, O Lord? In Whose name shall I baptize Thee? Of the Father? But Thou does bear Him in Thyself. Of the Son? But Thou are Thyself this Son made flesh. Of the Holy Spirit? But Thou did know that through Thine own mouth Thou does give Him to the faithful. O God Who has appeared have mercy upon us.
Troparia
Sunday (Tone 5)
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection!
Theophany of our Lord (Tone 1)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His Beloved Son; and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ our God, Thou hast revealed Thyself, and have enlightened the world, glory to Thee!
The Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
heophany is the Feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by the St John the Forerunner, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. From ancient times this Feast was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light and has appeared to illumine “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of death” Continued on page 6 (Mt.4:16), and to save the fallen race of mankind by grace. ➡ ~4~
Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Beatitude Verses
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Sunday
Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.
Through a tree, Adam was deprived of his home in Paradise; while through the wood of the Cross, the thief went there to dwell. For the one by tasting set aside the commandment of the Maker, while the other, crucified with Him, confessed the hidden God crying aloud: ‘Remember me in Thy kingdom.’ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Lifted upon the Cross, Thou, O Lord, as God, hath both destroyed the power of death and blotted out the handwriting against us. Do Thou Who alone lovest mankind, grant us the repentance of the thief as we serve Thee with faith, O Christ our God, and cry to Thee: ‘Remember us also in Thy kingdom.’ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Crucified and rising from the tomb in power on the third day, with Thyself hast Thou, only Immortal, raised Adam, the first-formed man. Make me also worthy, O Lord, to turn to repentance with my whole heart and with warm faith ever to cry to Thee: ‘Remember me, O Savior, in Thy kingdom.’ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thou hast torn to pieces on the Cross, the handwriting against us and counted among the dead, Thou hast bound yonder tyrant, delivering all from the bonds of hell by Thy resurrection. Through it we have been enlightened and cry aloud to Thee, Lord who lovest mankind: ‘Remember us also in Thy kingdom.’
Theophany of our Lord
Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
O Church of Chrlst, who of old wast barren and grievously childless, be glad today; for by water and the Spirit children have been born unto thee, who cry out with faith: ‘There is none as holy as our God!’ Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
In the wilderness the forerunner crieth out with a loud voice: “Prepare ye the ways of Christ and make straight the paths of our God, crying out with faith: There is none as holy as our God!”
Christ, Who was begotten incorruptibly of God the Father, is incarnate of the Virgin without defilement. The forerunner teacheth that it is not possible to loose the sandals, the bond between the Word and us, of Him Who delivereth mortals from deception. Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Christ shall baptize His enemies, who do not acknowledge Him as God, with the uttermost fire; but He shall restore with the water of grace those who accept His divinity, delivering them from their transgressions.
Troparia
Sunday (Tone 5)
Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection!
Theophany of our Lord (Tone 1)
When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His Beloved Son; and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ our God, Thou hast revealed Thyself, and have enlightened the world, glory to Thee!
Kontakia
sunday (Tone 5)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Thou didst descend into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty, resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of death. Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man, and we cry to Thee: O Lord, save us!
Theophany of our Lord (Tone 4)
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Today Thou hast shone forth to the world, O Lord, and the light of Thy countenance has been marked on us. Knowing Thee, we sing Thy praises: “Thou hast come and revealed Thyself, O unapproachable Light.”
~5~
Prokeimenon
Sunday
after Theophany
Vs: For Thou hast said: “Mercy will be established forever; My truth will be prepared in the heavens.”
(Tone 1)
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us as we have set our hope on Thee!
Gospel Reading
Sunday after Theophany
Vs: Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the The Gospel according to St. Matthew (4:12-17) just! At that time Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth He Epistle Reading went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the terriSunday after Theophany tory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians (4:7-13) the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of ZeBrethren, unto everyone of us is given grace according to the bulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, that descended is the same also that ascended up far above for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and Theotokion some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, Theophany of our Lord for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Magnify, O my soul, the most-pure Virgin Theotokos, Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the more honorable than the heavenly hosts! knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the No tongue knows how to praise thee worthily, O Themeasure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: otokos; even Angels are overcome with awe praising thee. But since thou art good, accept our faith; for Alleluia Verses thou knowest our love inspired by God! Thou art the Sunday after Theophany (Tone 5) Vs: I will sing of Thy mercies, O Lord, forever; with my defender of Christians, and we magnify thee.
mouth I will proclaim Thy truth from generation to generation. Continued from page 4
In the ancient Church it was the custom to baptize catechumens at the Vespers of Theophany, so that Baptism also is revealed as the spiritual illumination of mankind.
human sin by water,” to fulfill the Law, to reveal the mystery of the Holy Trinity, and finally, to sanctify “the nature of water” and to offer us the form and example of Baptism.
The origin of the Feast of Theophany goes back to Apostolic times, and it is mentioned in The Apostolic Constitutions (Book V:13). From the second century we have the testimony of St Clement of Alexandria concerning the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, and the night vigil before this Feast.
On the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Church proclaims our faith in the most sublime mystery, incomprehensible to human intellect, of one God in three Persons. It teaches us to confess and glorify the Holy Trinity, one in Essence and Indivisible. It exposes and overthrows the errors of ancient teachings which attempted to explain the Creator of the world by reason, and in human terms.
The monks Joseph the Studite, Theophanes and Byzantios composed much liturgical music for this Feast, which is sung at Orthodox services even today. St John of Damascus said that the Lord was baptized, not because He Himself had need for cleansing, but “to bury
The Church shows the necessity of Baptism for believers in Christ, and it inspires us with a sense of deep gratitude for the illumination and purification of our sinful nature.
~6~
The Church teaches that our salvation and cleansing from sin is possible only by the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit, therefore it is necessary to preserve worthily
these gifts of the grace of holy Baptism, keeping clean this priceless garb, for “As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27).
St Gregory the Bishop of Nyssa
aint Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, was a younger brother of St Basil the Great (January 1). His birth and upbringing came at a time when the Arian disputes were at their height. Having received an excellent education, he was at one time a teacher of rhetoric. In the year 372, he was consecrated by St Basil the Great as bishop of the city of Nyssa in Cappadocia. St Gregory was an ardent advocate for Orthodoxy, and he fought against the Arian heresy with his brother St Basil. Gregory was persecuted by the Arians, by whom he was falsely accused of improper use of church property, and thereby deprived of his See and sent to Ancyra. In the following year St Gregory was again deposed in absentia by a council of Arian bishops, but he continued to encourage his flock in Orthodoxy, wandering about from place to place. After the death of the emperor Valens (378), St Gregory was restored to his cathedra and was joyously received by his flock. His brother St Basil the Great died in 379. Only with difficulty did St Gregory survive the loss of his brother and guide. He delivered a funeral oration for him, and completed St Basil’s study of the six days of Creation, the Hexaemeron. That same year St Gregory participated in the Council of Antioch against heretics who refused to recognize the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God. Others at the opposite extreme, who worshipped the Mother of God as being God Herself, were also denounced by the Council. He visited the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which were infected with the Arian heresy, to assert the Orthodox teaching about the Most Holy Theotokos. On his return journey St Gregory visited Jerusalem and the Holy Places. In the year 381 St Gregory was one of the chief figures of the Second Ecumenical Council, convened at Constantinople against the heresy of Macedonius, who incorrectly taught about the Holy Spirit. At this Council, on the initiative of St Gregory, the Nicean Symbol of Faith (the Creed) was completed.
Together with the other bishops St Gregory affirmed St Gregory the Theologian as Archpastor of Constantinople. In the year 383, St Gregory of Nyssa participated in a Council at Constantinople, where he preached a sermon on the divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit. In 386, he was again at Constantinople, and he was asked to speak the funeral oration in memory of the empress Placilla. Again in 394 St Gregory was present in Constantinople at a local Council, convened to resolve church matters in Arabia. St Gregory of Nyssa was a fiery defender of Orthodox dogmas and a zealous teacher of his flock, a kind and compassionate father to his spiritual children, and their intercessor before the courts. He was distinguished by his magnanimity, patience and love of peace. Having reached old age, St Gregory of Nyssa died soon after the Council of Constantinople. Together with his great contemporaries, Sts Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian, St Gregory of Nyssa had a significant influence on the Church life of his time. His sister, St Macrina, wrote to him: “You are renowned both in the cities, and gatherings of people, and throughout entire districts. Churches ask you for help.” St Gregory is known in history as one of the most profound Christian thinkers of the fourth century. Endowed with philosophical talent, he saw philosophy as a means for a deeper penetration into the authentic meaning of divine revelation. St Gregory left behind many remarkable works of dogmatic character, as well as sermons and discourses. He has been called “the Father of Fathers.”
~7~
A child holds the cross as believers sing and dance at the river Tundzha, as they celebrate Epiphany in the town of Kalofer, Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Traditionally, an Eastern Orthodox priest throws a cross in the river and it is believed that the one who retrieves it will be healthy through the year . (AP Photo/Valentina Petrova)
St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church 1415 Woodstock Ave. Anniston, AL 36207