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, February 6, 2011 • 37th Sunday after Pentecost Sunday of Zacchæus • Afterfeast of the Meeting
St. Bucolus, bishop of Smyrna (ca. 100). Virgin-martyr Dorothea, and with her Martyrs Christina and Callista, sisters, and Theophilus, at Cæsarea in Cappadocia (ca. 288-300). Virgin-martyr Fausta, and with her Martyrs Evilasius and Maximus, at Cyzicus (ca. 305-311). Martyr Julian of Emesa (312). Virgin-martyrs Martha and Mary at Tanis (Hermopolis) in Egypt. St. James, ascetic of Syria (ca. 460). St. Mael, bishop of Ardagh, disciple of St. Patrick (488). St. Vedast, bishop of Arras (540). Sts. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet, monks of Gaza (ca. 543). St. Amand, apostle of Maastricht (675). St. Photius, patriarch of Constantinople (891). St. Arsenius of Iqalto, Georgia (1127). St. Dorothea, schemanun of Kashin (1629). New Hieromartyr Basil Nadezhnin, priest of Moscow (1937). (Gr. Cal.: St. John of Thebes, monk.)
Announcements
The bulletins are now linked on our Facebook page. You can also view the bulletins online without a Facebook account. Please ask Reader Nicholas for the details. The cover photo is of the Monastery of St. Xenia on Mt. Athos.
This Week’s Service Schedule & scripture readings Monday, 2/7
No Service
1 Peter 2:21-3:9 Mark 12:13-17 Daily Vespers 4 p.m.
Tuesday, 2/8
1 Peter 3:10-22 Mark 12:18-27
Wednesday, 2/9
Matins 8 a.m.
1 Peter 4:1-11
Thursday, 2/10
Matins 8 a.m.
1 Peter 4:12-5:5 Mark 12:38-44
Friday, 2/11
Matins 8 a.m.
2 Peter 1:1-10
Mark 13:1-8
2 Tim. 2:11-19
Luke 18:2-8
2 Tim. 3:10-15
Luke 18:10-14
Great Vespers 4 p.m.
Saturday, 2/12 Sunday, 2/13
Sunday of Publican & Pharisee
Hours 9:40 a.m.
Divine Liturgy 10 a.m.
Mark 12:28-37
Service times are subject to change. Please check with Fr. Basil if in any doubt.
This Week’s Fasts Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
“Lord, I Call”
Great Vespers
From the morning watch even to the night, let Israel hope in the Lord!
sunday (Tone 4)
Holding in his arms the Savior, Who was born in these We glorify Thy Resurrection on the third day, O Christ latter times for the salvation of us mortals, Simeon reGod, by always honoring Thy life-creating Cross; by it joiced and cried aloud: “I have seen the light of the nations Thou hast renewed the corrupted nature of man, O Al- and the glory of Israel. Lord, now let Thy servant depart mighty One. By it, Thou hast renewed our entrance to in peace, as Thou hast commanded!” heaven, for Thou art good and the Lover of man. St. Bucolus Bishop of Smyrna (Tone 6) Lead forth my soul from prison, that I may confess Thy name!
The righteous await me, till Thou shalt reward me.
Thou didst loose the Tree’s verdict of disobedience, O Savior, by being voluntarily nailed to the tree of the Cross. By descending to hell, O Almighty God, Thou didst break the bonds of death. Therefore, we adore Thy Resurrection from the dead, singing in joy: “Glory to Thee, O all powerful One!”
For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Shining with the light of deifying virtues, O most holy Father, thou wast mystically placed as a light in the lampstand of the divine Church, illumining it with thy sacred teachings. O praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye people!
The Holy Spirit has sanctified thee, O most holy BucoOut of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, lus, and through thee bestows sanctification, enlighthear my voice! enment, and redemption to those who approach thee Thou didst smash the gates of hell, O Lord, and by Thy in faith, O God-bearing Father. death, Thou didst demolish the kingdom of death. Thou didst deliver the race of men from corruption, For His mercy hath been confirmed upon us and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever. granting to the world life, incorruption and great merPreaching the supreme goodness of our God, O wise facy. ther, thou didst generously bestow grace upon embittered Let Thine ears give heed to the voice of my prayer! people, leading them to the Savior, as a most holy priest. Come, O people! Let us sing of the Savior’s ResurrecAfterfeast of the tion on the third day! By it, we have been freed from the Meeting (Tone 5) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit… unbreakable bonds of hell. By it, we have received life and incorruption. Save us by Thy Resurrection, O Life- Search the Scriptures, just as Christ our God said in the Gospels! For in them we find Him being brought forth creating and Almighty Savior, glory to Thee! and wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, Afterfeast of the Meeting (Tone 1) and nourished with milk, receiving circumcision and If Thou observest transgression, Lord, O Lord, who shall held by Simeon, neither in fancy nor in fantasy but in stand? For with Thee is propitiation. truth appearing to the world. Let us cry aloud to Him: Our Redeemer, the Creator of all, is carried to the Tem“O prë-eternal God, glory to Thee!” ple by His Virgin Mother. The Elder received Him, crying out with joy: “Now Thy servant may depart in peace, according to Thy word, O Good One!”
Dogmatikon (Tone 4)
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The Prophet David was a Father of the Lord through thee, O Virgin. He foretold in songs the One Who worked Simeon received in his arms from the Virgin our Sav- wonders in thee. “At Thy right hand stood the Queen,” ior, begotten before all ages. He cried: “Behold, the Thy Mother, the mediatrix of life, since God was freely ends of the earth are enlightened by Thy glory! Now born of her without a father. He wanted to renew His Thy servant may depart in peace, for I have seen Thee, fallen image, made corrupt in passion, so He took the lost O Good One!” sheep upon His shoulder and brought it to His Father, 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.
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joining it to the heavenly powers. Christ who hast great and rich mercy hast saved the world, O Theotokos.
Afterfeast of the
Meeting (Tone 5)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Aposticha
The Ancient of Days, as a Child in the flesh, is brought by His Mother, the Virgin, into the Holy Temple, fulsunday (Tone 4) filling the promise announced by His own Law. ReBy ascending the Cross, O Lord, Thou hast annulled ceiving Him, Simeon said: “Now let Thy servant deour ancestral curse! By descending to hell, Thou hast part in peace, according to Thy word, for mine eyes freed the eternal prisoners, granting incorruption to have seen Thy salvation, O Lord!” the human race! Therefore in songs we glorify Thy lifecreating and saving Resurrection.
Troparia
The Lord hath become King; with beauty hath he clothed himself.
By hanging upon the tree, O only powerful Lord, Thou didst shake all of creation! By being laid in the tomb, Thou hast raised those who dwelt in the tombs, granting life and incorruption to the human race! Therefore in songs we glorify Thy rising on the third day.
sunday (Tone 4)
Having learned the radiant proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast off the ancestral curse, and boasting they told the Apostles: Death hath been despoiled. Christ God is risen, granting unto the world great mercy.
For He hath established the world, which shall not be moved.
St. Bucolus Bishop of Smyrna (Tone 4)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Thy lawless people, O Christ, handed Thee over to PiYou shone with the rays of virtue received from him late, condemned to be crucified, by proving themwho leaned on the Master’s breast. Resplendent, Godselves ungrateful before their Benefactor! But voluninspired hierarch, you led your flock to the pastures of tarily, Thou didst endure burial, rising by Thine own truth. Entreat Christ our God for those who honor power on the third day as God, granting us life everyou, Father Bucolus! lasting and great mercy. Afterfeast of the
Holiness belongeth to Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days!
Meeting (Tone 1)
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. With tears the women reached Thy tomb, searching for Thee, but not finding Thee. They wept with wail- Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Full of Grace! From you ing and lamented: “Woe to us! Our Savior, King of all, shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enhow wast Thou stolen? What place can hold Thy life- lightening those who sat in darkness. Rejoice and be bearing body?” An Angel replied to them: “Do not glad, O righteous Elder, you accepted in your arms weep but go and proclaim that the Lord is risen, grant- the Redeemer of our souls, Who grants us the Resurrection! ing us joy as the Only Compassionate One!”
“To some people your love will be expressed with joy and to others it will be expressed with your pain. You will consider everyone your brother or your sister, for we are all children of Eve. Then, in your prayer you will say: ‘My God, help those first who are in greater need, whether they are alive or reposed brothers in the Lord.’ At this point, you will share your heart with the whole world and you will have nothing but immense love, which is Christ.” Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos (1924–1994) ~4~
Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Beatitude Verses
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Truly bearing the imprint of him who begot thee besunday fore the ages, through compassion for mortals thou Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Through a tree, Adam was deprived of his home in hast now put on their weakness. Paradise; while through the wood of the Cross, the Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. thief went there to dwell. For the one by tasting set I have worshipped thee, Son of the Most High, Son aside the commandment of the Maker, while the other, of a Virgin, God become a little child. Now release crucified with Him, confessed the hidden God crying me in peace. aloud: ‘Remember me in Thy kingdom.’
Troparia
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.
sunday (Tone 4)
Having learned the radiant proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast off the ancestral curse, and boasting they told the Apostles: Death hath been despoiled. Christ God is risen, granting unto the world great mercy. Afterfeast of the
Meeting (Tone 1)
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.’
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Full of Grace! From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, enlightening those who sat in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous Elder, you accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, Who grants us the Resurrection!
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
St. Bucolus Bishop of Smyrna (Tone 4)
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.’ Afterfeast of the
You shone with the rays of virtue received from him who leaned on the Master’s breast. Resplendent, God-inspired hierarch, you led your flock to the pastures of truth. Entreat Christ our God for those who honor you, Father Bucolus!
Kontakia
Meeting
sunday (Tone 4)
My Savior and Deliverer, from the grave as God, hath raised the earth-born from their bonds; and the The Elder having seen with his eyes, the salvation gates of hell hath He broken down; and as Master is that had come to the people, cried aloud to Thee, ‘O risen on the third day. Christ, who come from God, ‘Thou art my God!’ Bishop of Smyrna Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
St. Bucolus
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
(Tone 2)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
He who was beloved of Christ saw the purity of your Thou hast been set up in Sion as a stumbling stone and life; he made you a shepherd of the Church and a rock of offence for the disobedient, unbreakable salva- radiant lamp of godliness. Holy father Bucolus, you tion of believers. truly emulated his virtues. ~5~
Afterfeast of the
Gospel Reading
Meeting (Tone 1)
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
By Thy Nativity Thou didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb and blessed Simeon’s hands, O Christ God. Now Thou hast come and saved us through love. Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of Man!
Prokeimenon
Sunday (Tone 4)
How great art Thy works become, O Lord; in wisdom hast Thou made them all. Vs: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, Thou art become exceeding great. Afterfeast of the
Meeting (Tone 3)
Vs: My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Epistle Reading
Sunday
1 Timothy 4:9-15
Sunday
Luke 19:1-10
At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchæus; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchæus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchæus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”
My son Timothy, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by Theotokion prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the Meeting presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself O Virgin Theotokos, hope of all Christians! Protect, wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. preserve, and save those who hope in thee! We faithful saw the figure in the shadow of the Law, Alleluia Verses and the scriptures: every male child that opened Sunday (Tone 4) the womb was holy to God. Therefore, we also magVs: Go forth, prosper and reign, for the sake of nify the first begotten Son of the unoriginate Fameekness, righteousness and truth. ther, the firstborn Son of the unwedded Mother. Vs: For Thou lovest righteousness, and doth hate inPlease note Holy Communion is reserved for Orthodox iquity. Christians who have prepared themselves beforehand. All are welcome to receive the blessed bread and Father’s Vs: Lord, now let Thy servant depart in peace, accordblessing after services. Afterfeast of the
Meeting (Tone 8)
ing to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation!
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Theology of Lay Ministries - Volume II, 1996
Finding One’s Vocation in Life By Fr. Thomas Hopko
When we consider the Orthodox Christian understanding of vocation, several points can be made. The most obvious are the following: Everyone Has A Calling
God creates every human being in His image and likeness for everlasting life. There are no mistakes and no accidents. As the saying goes, “God makes no junk.” Everyone, or, in Biblical language, the “many” are called. But not all are chosen. Some are rejected not because they have no vocation from God, but because they refuse to accept their calling.
Everyone Has The Same Calling
In a certain sense every person has the same vocation, which is to be a saint. We are all called to be saints, to be holy as God is holy, to be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect. (Rom. 1:7, 1 Cor. 1:2, 2 Pet. 1:15, Mt. 5:48) We are all made to fulfill ourselves as creatures made in God’s image and likeness for eternal life. And we can do so because God not only creates us with this possibility, and indeed, this command; but because He also does evEveryone has a vocation. And all vocations are “relierything in His power to guarantee its accomplishment gious.” This does not mean that everyone is called to by sending His Son and His Spirit to the world. serve the church in a professional manner; to be a bishop, priest, deacon, monk, nun, psalmreader or church Since Christ has been glorified and the Holy Spirit has worker of one sort or another. Obviously not all are been poured out on all flesh, there is no excuse for those called to these specifically ecclesiastical ministries. But who know and believe this, and experience it in the life everyone is called to serve God and their fellow human of the Christian Church, not to be saints. Everything beings in some form of life which God Himself wills. possible has been done to secure this. There is nothing This “form of life” is not necessarily a job or profession. more that God can do. All is given and all is fulfilled. For example, some people may be called to suffer on The rest is up to us. Whatever the Lord may be dothis earth and to bear the results of fallen humanity in ing with other people in other places, some things are the most violent manner; to be victimized by disease, certain for Christians, and certainly us Orthodox: We retardation, affliction; to be the objects of other people’s can cooperate with God. We can share His holiness. cares, or disdain. This is their vocation, and they are par- We can become, as the saints themselves teach us, all ticularly blessed by God and loved by Christ in its ac- that God Himself is by His gracious action in our lives. ceptance and fulfillment. We can become loving, peaceful, joyful, good, wise, true, patient, kind, compassionate, powerful, pure, free, selfIn a word, there is a divine plan and purpose for everydetermining... Or we can refuse to cooperate with God, one. There is a “predestination,” not in the sense that never find our true selves, and perish. God programs His creatures or forces His will upon them against their will, but rather that God knows ev- Everyone Has His Or Her Unique Calling ery person from before the foundation of the world and All are called to be saints, but each person is called to do so provides their unique life and the specific conditions of in his or her own unique way. No two persons are the same. their earthly way which are literally the best possible Each one is different. All are called to partake of God’s beconditions for them (however unacceptable this may ing and life. All are called to love as He loves, know as He seem to us creatures in our limited and fallen state.) knows, serve as He serves, live as He lives. But each will And God works together with each one of us so that, by do it in his or her own specific manner, according to the suffering what we must on this earth, we may attain to concrete conditions and means that God provides. life everlasting in the age to come. To Be Continued Next Week ~11~
The Orthodox Faith > Doctrine > Sources of Christian Doctrine
Church Art The Orthodox Church has a rich tradition of iconography as well as other church arts: music, architecture, sculpture, needlework, poetry, etc. This artistic tradition is based on the Orthodox Christian doctrine of human creativity rooted in God’s love for man and the world in creation. Because man is created in the image and likeness of God, and because God so loved man and the world as to create, save and glorify them by His own coming in Christ and the Holy Spirit, the artistic expressions of man and the blessings and inspirations of God merge into a holy artistic creativity which truly expresses the deepest truths of the Christian vision of God, man, and nature. The icon is Orthodoxy’s highest artistic achievement. It is a gospel proclamation, a doctrinal teaching and a spiritual inspiration in colors and lines. The traditional Orthodox icon is not a holy picture. It is not a pictorial portrayal of some Christian saint or event in a “photocopy” way. It is, on the contrary, the expression of the eternal and divine reality, significance, and purpose of the given person or event depicted. In the gracious freedom of the divine inspiration, the icon depicts its subject as at the same time both human and yet “full of God,” earthly and yet heavenly, physical and yet spiritual, “bearing the cross” and yet full of grace,
light, peace and joy. In this way the icon expresses a deeper “realism” than that which would be shown in the simple reproduction of the physical externals of the historic person or happening. Thus, in their own unique way the various types of Orthodox icons, through their form and style and manner of depiction as well as through their actual contents and use in the Church, are an inexhaustible source of revelation of the Orthodox doctrine and faith. Musical expression may be added to the icon as a source of discovering the Orthodox Christian worldview. Here, however, there is greater difficulty because of the loss in recent years of the liturgical and spiritual meaning of music in the Church. Just as the theological meaning of the traditional Orthodox icon is being rediscovered, so is the traditional doctrinal significance of Orthodox music. The process in the latter case, however, is much slower, much more difficult, and much less evident to the average person.
The traditional Orthodox architecture also expresses the doctrine of the Church, particularly in its emphasis on “God with us” and the complete communion of men and the world with God in Christ. The use of domed ceilings, the shape and layout of the buildings, the placing of the icons, the use of vestments, etc., all express the teachings of the Church. The traditional Orthodox church architecture and art work are expressions of the Orthodox Christian doctrines of creation, salvation and eternal life. It is a very important spiritual exercise for Christians to study the holy icons and the hymns of the Church’s liturgy. One can learn much about God and His gracious actions among men by a careful and prayerful contemplation of the artistic expressions of Church doctrine and life The series The Orthodox Faith is intended to provide basic, comprehensive information on the faith and the life of the Orthodox Church for the average reader. The author is Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY.
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Cross Word Puzzle St. John Chrysostom
Find the words related to the life of St. John
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ANTHUSA BANISHMENT CONSTANTINOPLE JOHN RELICS
Copyright ©2008 -‐ Department of Christian Education -‐ Orthodox Church in America
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ANTIOCH CHRYSOSTOM EMPRESS MONK SECUNDUS
The good things in life‌. Not our weaknesses and faults‌ Can sometimes be our greatest temptations
Vices vs. Virtues Winter Retreat For the entire community sponsored by Philoptochos Featuring Fr. Thomas Hopko February 25th and 26th, 2011 Holy Trinity Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral Birmingham, Alabama ~14~
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Father Ignatius of the Monastery Stanjevići in Montenegro