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
Christ is Risen!
May 22nd, 2011 • 5th Sunday of Pascha • Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Righteous Melchizedek, King of Salem (believed to be ancient Jerusalem). Martyr Basiliscus, Bishop of Comana. Saint John Vladimir, King of Serbia, Martyr, Wonderworker (11th century). Hieromartyr Zachariah of Prussa (1802). Blessed James, youth, of Borovichi (Novgorod) (17th century). Martyrs Marcellus, Codratus, Paul, Demetrius, and Sophia. Repose of Cleopas of Valaam, disciple of St. Paisius Velichkovsky (1816).
Announcements
Timothy Holcombe and Marina Jameson will be united today in the Mystery of Holy Matrimony at 3 p.m. Reception will follow at the Crowan Cottage next door. Fr. Basil’s class on St. Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians is held every Wednesday at 4 p.m. Mon, 5/23
This Week’s Scripture and Service Schedule Tues, 5/24 Wed, 5/25 Thurs, 5/26 Fri, 5/27 Sat, 5/28
No Services
Matins 8 a.m.
Acts 12:12-17
Acts 12:2513:12
John 8:42-51
John 8:51-59
Bible Study 4 p.m.
Matins 8 a.m.
Acts 13:13-24 Acts 14:20-27 John 6:5-14
Matins 8 a.m. Acts 15:5-34
Vespers 4 p.m.
Sun, 5/29 Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m.
Acts 15:35-41 Acts 16:16-34
John 9:39-10:9
John 10:17-28
John 10:27-38
John 9:1-38
St. Augustine of Canterbury
Venerable Bede
St. Andrew the Fool for Christ
Sunday of the Blind Man
2 Cor. 4:6-15 Matt. 11:2-15
St. Joachim (Papoulakis) of Vatopedi
Sts. Sossana, Symeon, & Marciana
3rd Finding of the head of St. John the Baptist
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
Great Vespers “Lord, I Call”
From the morning watch even to the night, let Israel hope in the Lord!
sunday (Tone 4)
As it is written, the abundant outpouring of divine We glorify Thy Resurrection on the third day, O Christ gifts is drawing near. The chosen day of the Spirit is God, by always honoring Thy life-creating Cross; by it halfway come. The true promise of Christ to the DisThou hast renewed the corrupted nature of man, O Al- ciples after His death, burial, and Resurrection, hermighty One. By it, Thou hast renewed our entrance to alds the coming of the Comforter. Sunday of the heaven, for Thou art good and the Lover of man. Samaritan Woman (Tone 1) Lead forth my soul from prison, that I may confess Thy name!
For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
The righteous await me, till Thou shalt reward me.
Thou didst loose the Tree’s verdict of disobedience, O The Fountain of miracles came to the well at noon to Savior, by being voluntarily nailed to the tree of the catch the daughter of Eve. Once, Eve was driven out of Cross. By descending to hell, O Almighty God, Thou Paradise by the serpent’s guile; now a woman of Sadidst break the bonds of death. Therefore, we adore maria came to draw water. The Savior saw her and said Thy Resurrection from the dead, singing in joy: “Glo- to her: “Give me water to drink, and I will fill you ry to Thee, O all powerful One!” with the waters of eternal life!” She ran to the town Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, and proclaimed to the crowd: “Come and see Christ hear my voice! the Lord! He is the Savior of our souls!” Thou didst smash the gates of hell, O Lord, and by Thy Sunday of the Samaritan Woman (Tone 2) death, Thou didst demolish the kingdom of death. Thou O praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye people! didst deliver the race of men from corruption, granting to The Lord of compassion came to the well and spoke the world life, incorruption and great mercy. with a woman of Samaria. She said: “Give me Your Let Thine ears give heed to the voice of my prayer! water that I may never thirst again! I will drink from Come, O people! Let us sing of the Savior’s Resurrec- the fountain of joy and redemption. O Life-giving tion on the third day! By it, we have been freed from Lord, glory to You!” the unbreakable bonds of hell. By it, we have received For His mercy hath been confirmed upon us and the truth of life and incorruption. Save us by Thy Resurrection, O the Lord remaineth forever. Life-creating and Almighty Savior, glory to Thee! The Word of the Father, the co-eternal Son without be-
Midfeast of Pentecost (Tone 4)
If Thou observest transgression, Lord, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee is propitiation.
The middle of the days has come, beginning with the Savior’s Resurrection, and sealed by the holy Pentecost. The first and the last glisten with splendor. We rejoice in the union of both feasts, as we draw near to the Lord’s Ascension: the sign of our coming glorification. 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.
Be glad, O Zion! Hear the announcement of Christ’s Resurrection! Let her faithful sons rejoice! The filth of the daughters of Zion is washed away. Jerusalem, stained with the blood of God’s murder, is cleansed by the Spirit. With songs of joy she celebrates the middle of the feast.
ginning, came and sat by the well, though He is the Fountain of healing. A Samaritan woman came to draw water; when the Savior saw her, He said to her: “Give me water to drink! Go, call your husband!” She thought she was speaking not to God, but to a man. Trying to evade Him, she said: “I have no husband.” But the Teacher replied: “You speak the truth, for you have had five husbands, and the one living with you now is not your husband.” She was amazed by His words and ran back to the town. She said to the crowd: “Come and see Christ, Who grants the world great mercy!”
~3~
Sunday of the
Samaritan Woman (Tone 6)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Jesus met the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well. He wraps the earth in clouds, yet He asks for water from her. Oh, wonder! He Who rides on the cherubim speaks with an adulterous woman. He Who suspended the earth on the waters asks for a drink. He Who causes the lakes and springs to overflow is weary with thirst. Truly He desires to set the woman free from the Enemy’s snares. He drowns her sins in the waters of life, for He alone is the compassionate Lover of mankind.
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 wonders in thee. “At Thy right hand stood the Queen,” Thy Mother, the Mediatrix of life, since God was freely born of her without a father. He wanted to renew His fallen image, made corrupt in passion, so He took the lost sheep upon His shoulder and brought it to His Father, joining it to the heavenly powers. Christ who hast great and rich mercy hast saved the world, O Theotokos.
Aposticha
The myrrh-bearing women, at the break of dawn, drew near to the tomb of the Life-giver. There they found an Angel sitting upon the stone. He greeted them with these words: “Why do you seek the Living among the dead? Why do you mourn the Incorrupt amid corruption? Go, proclaim the glad tidings to His disciples!” This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Pascha of beauty, the Pascha of the Lord, A Pascha worthy of honor has dawned for us. Pascha! Let us embrace each other joyously! Pascha, ransom from affliction! For today, as from a bridal chamber, Christ has shown forth from the tomb, and filled the women with joy saying: “Proclaim the glad tidings to the Apostles!” Sunday of the
Samaritan Woman (Tone 8)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
In Your inexpressible dispensation, You were seen on earth, O Christ our God. When the woman of Samaria heard Your words, O Lover of mankind, she left her jar at the well and ran to the town. She said: “Come and see Him Who knew every secret hidden in my heart! Could He be the long-awaited Messiah, Who will grant us great mercy?”
sunday (Tone 4)
Pascha
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. By ascending the Cross, O Lord, Thou hast annulled This is the day of resurrection! Let us be illumined by our ancestral curse! By descending to hell, Thou hast the feast! Let us embrace each other! Let us call freed the eternal prisoners, granting incorruption to “Brothers” even those that hate us, and forgive all by the human race! Therefore in songs we glorify Thy lifethe resurrection, and so let us cry: “Christ is risen creating and saving Resurrection. from the dead, trampling down death by death, and Pascha upon those in the tombs bestowing life!” (1x) Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee from before His face!
Troparia
Today, a sacred Pascha is revealed to us: a new and sunday (Tone 4) holy Pascha, a mystical Pascha, a Pascha worthy of Having learned the radiant proclamation of the Resveneration, a Pascha which is Christ the Redeemer, a urrection from the Angel, the women disciples of the blameless Pascha, a great Pascha, a Pascha of the faithLord cast off the ancestral curse, and boasting they ful, a Pascha which has opened to us the gates of Paratold the Apostles: Death hath been despoiled. Christ dise, a Pascha which sanctifies all the faithful. God is risen, granting unto the world great mercy. As smoke vanishes so let them vanish; as wax melts before the fire!
Come from that scene, O women bearers of glad tidings, and say to Zion: “Receive from us the glad tidings of joy, of Christ’s Resurrection! Exult and be glad, and rejoice, O Jerusalem, seeing Christ the King, Who comes forth from the tomb like a bridegroom in procession!” So the sinners will perish before the face of God. But let the righteous be glad!
Midfeast of Pentecost (Tone 8)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
In the middle of the feast, O Savior, fill my thirsting soul with the waters of piety as Thou didst cry to all: “If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink!” O Christ God, Fountain of our life, glory to Thee!
~4~
Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom Beatitude Verses
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
If you do not believe the words, O Jews, be convinced by the Master’s works: why do you err, rejecting the Holy One of whom Moses wrote in the Law?
sunday
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Through a tree, Adam was deprived of his home in Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, Paradise; while through the wood of the Cross, the for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. thief went there to dwell. For the one by tasting set O Jesu, who control the ends of the earth, you went aside the commandment of the Maker, while the other, up and taught the crowds in the temple the word of crucified with Him, confessed the hidden God crying truth at the mid-point of the feast, as John declares. aloud: ‘Remember me in Thy kingdom.’ Sunday of the
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
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 meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
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.’
Samaritan Woman
Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.
Why do you weep? Why bring spices as to a mortal, O women? Christ has arisen, leaving the grave clothes behind empty, cried the youth who appeared of old flashing like lightning; Go, announce the Resurrection to his friends. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.
Good Lord, you are an inexhaustible stream of life, an abyss of mercy. As you journeyed you sat down by the Well of the Oath, and cried out to the woman of Samaria: Give me water to drink, that you may receive streams of forgiveness. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
With the bodiless powers, I hymn in faith the Father without beginning, and the Son equal in majesty, and Thou hast torn to pieces on the Cross, the handwriting the consubstantial Spirit, one Essence, and nature and against us and counted among the dead, Thou hast glory, and one kingship, God and Maker of all, who bound yonder tyrant, delivering all from the bonds of holds the universe together. hell by Thy resurrection. Through it we have been enBoth now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. lightened and cry aloud to Thee, Lord who lovest manPure one, we hymn you, as only Virgin who has given kind: ‘Remember us also in Thy kingdom.’ birth and kept her womb incorrupt, throne of the Lord, gate and mountain, and spiritual lampstand, Midfeast of Pentecost Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. bridal chamber of God, all light, and manifest taber‘Do not judge according to appearance, O Jews,’ said the nacle of glory, ark and jar and table. Master, as he stood teaching in the temple, as it is written, at the mid-point of the feast according to the law. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Do not judge according to appearance, O Jews; for Christ has come, whom the Prophets declared would come from Sion, and call back the world. ~5~
Troparia
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.’
Midfeast of Pentecost (Tone 8) In the middle of the feast, O Savior, fill my thirsting soul with the waters of piety as Thou didst cry to all: ‘If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink!’ O Christ God, Fountain of our life, glory to Thee!
Kontakia Sunday of the
Samaritan Woman (Tone 8)
preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things carne unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, The Samaritan Woman came to the well and found determined to send relief unto the brethren which faith; she saw You, the Water of wisdom and drank dwelt in Judæa: which also they did, and sent it to the abundantly. She inherited the heavenly Kingdom, and elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. is glorified forever! Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…
Alleluia Verses
Midfeast of Pentecost (Tone 4)
Sunday of the
Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Samaritan Woman (Tone 4)
Vs: Go forth, prosper and reign, for the sake of truth, Christ God, the Creator and Master of all, cried to all meekness and righteousness. in the midst of the feast of the Law: ‘Come and draw the water of immortality!’ We fall before Thee and Vs: For Thou lovest righteousness and doth hath iniquity. faithfully cry: ‘Grant us Thy mercies, for Thou art the Gospel Reading Fountain of our life!’ Sunday of the
Prokeimenon
Samaritan Woman
The Gospel according to St. John (4:5-42)
Samaritan Woman (Tone 3)
At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. Vs: All ye nations, clap your hands; shout unto God It was about the sixth hour. with a joyful noise. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. JeEpistle Reading sus said to her, “Give me a drink.” For his disciples Sunday of the Samaritan Woman had gone away into the city to buy food. The SaThe Acts of the Holy Apostles (11:19-26,29-30) maritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a In those days the apostles, which were scattered abroad Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” For upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus anas far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching swered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when have asked him and he would have given you living they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothSunday of the
Sing psalms unto our God, sing psalms; sing psalms unto our King, sing psalms.
~6~
ing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”
Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, “What do you wish?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the city and were coming to him. Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him food?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come Many Samaritans from that city believed in him behere.” The woman answered him, “I have no huscause of the woman’s testimony. “He told me all that band.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there and he whom you now have is not your husband; this two days. And many more believed because of his you said truly.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perword. They said to the woman, “It is no longer beceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped cause of your words that we believe, for we have heard on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, Savior of the world.” “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship Theotokion the Father. You worship what you do not know; we Pascha worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. The Angel cried to the Lady, full of grace: “Rejoice, But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true rejoice, O pure Virgin! Again, I say: ‘Rejoice, thy Son worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, is risen from His three days in the tomb! With Himfor such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spir- self He has raised all the dead.’” Rejoice, O ye people! it, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Shine, shine, shine, O New Jerusalem! The glory of Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he the Lord has shone on thee! Exult now, and be glad, comes, he will show us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I O Zion! Be radiant, O pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of thy Son! who speak to you am he.” ~7~
T
MidFeast of Pentecost
The fourth Sunday after the Feast of Holy Pascha is observed by the Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman. The day commemorates the encounter of Christ with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. The biblical story of this event and the dialog between Christ and the woman is found in the Gospel of Saint John 4:5-42. After the Saviour had miraculously healed the paralytic, the Jews, especially the Pharisees and Scribes, were moved with envy and persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him, using the excuse that He did not keep the Sabbath, since He worked miracles on that day. Jesus then departed to Galilee. About the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles, He went up again to the Temple and taught. The Jews, marvelling at the wisdom of His words, said, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” But Christ first reproached their unbelief and lawlessness, then proved to them by the Law that they sought to slay Him unjustly, supposedly as a despiser of the Law, since He had healed the paralytic on the Sabbath. Therefore, since the things spoken by Christ in the middle of the Feast of Tabernacles are related to the Sunday of the Paralytic that is just passed, and since we have already reached the midpoint of the fifty days between Pascha and Pentecost, the Church has appointed this present feast as a bond between the two great feasts, thereby uniting, as it were, the two into one, and partaking of the grace of them both.
cost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Passover was celebrated on the 15th of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar, which coincides roughly with our March. This feast commemorated that day on which the Hebrews were commanded to eat the lamb in the evening and anoint the doors of their houses with its blood. Then, having escaped bondage and death at the hands of the Egyptians, they passed through the Red Sea to come to the Promised Land. It is also called “the Feast of Unleavened Bread,” because they ate unleavened bread for seven days. Pentecost was celebrated fifty days after the Passover, first of all, because the Hebrew tribes had reached Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt, and there received the Law from God; secondly, it was celebrated to commemorate their entry into the Promised Land, where also they ate bread, after having been fed with manna forty years in the desert. Therefore, on this day they offered to God a sacrifice of bread prepared with new wheat. Finally, they also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles from the 15th to the 22nd of “the seventh month,” which corresponds roughly to our September. During this time, they live in booths made of branches in commemoration of the forty years they spent in the desert, living in tabernacles, that is, tents (Ex. 12:10-20; Lev. 23).
Therefore the feast is called Mid-Pentecost, and the Gospel Reading, “At Mid-feast”—though it refers to the Feast of Tabernacles—is used. It should be noted that there were three great Jewish feasts: the Passover, Pente~8~
I
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
In today’s Gospel we heard the story of our Lord’s meeting with a simple woman. This woman wasn’t going to the temple, nor to prayer, nor even on her way to perform some good deed. She was merely going for water, as thousands of women in every country, and as she had done from her youth.
She would take the bucket, walk to the well which was located in a valley (this well still exists), lower the bucket to fill it, and return along the mountain path to her village. Though she would have never suspected it, this was a special day for her. As usual, she put on her cloak, placed the bucket on her shoulder, as was the custom, and headed for the well. Tradition tells us that her name was Oria, in Greek, Fontinae, and in Russian, we pronounce it as Svetlana. However, the Gospel does not mention her name. It does mention that she was a Samaritan, that sect which believed in God and was awaiting the Lord’s deliverance, but considered that the most holy place was Mount Gerizim, where their temple stood. So this woman was on her way to the well, and perhaps was thinking about her heavy and bitter fate. Her life had not turned out very well; five times she had tried to create a family, and each time it had failed. Her current marriage wasn’t much better. Walking down to the well, she was probably thinking about her daily chores, about washing the clothes and baking the bread. A tired traveler was sitting by the well and asked her for a drink. Here began something completely new in her life. This traveler was the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was though He was waiting for her there, and asking her for a drink, He Himself would give her the living water of truth. This gospel story tells us of three things. First, that one might meet the Lord in the most usual circumstances of one’s life. This Samaritan woman did not suspect that sitting by the well, where every day she drew water for eating and cleaning, there awaited a prophet, the Messiah, Christ, the Savior of the world. Just like us, when we are caught up in our daily chores, often
think that the Lord is far away from us. But if our hearts have not lost the Lord, then He will meet with us even here. Secondly, this woman had lived a difficult life, and she herself was probably guilty that her personal relations had not worked out. This, however, did not stop the Lord from speaking to her about the most sublime of matters. She began to ask Him about faith, about where was the most holy of places; in Jerusalem as maintained the Jews, or with the Samaritans, on Mount Gerizim. The Lord said: “Jerusalem is the holy place, for from it comes salvation. But the time is coming, I tell you woman, when people will not worship on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, but everywhere, in spirit and truth. God is Spirit”. What a great secret He revealed to her! You don’t have to believe that God lives in a particular temple, building or church: there is no place on earth, where He is not living. There is only one place where He can’t be found, that place where evil reigns. He is calling every one of us, telling us that God is Spirit, and that those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and truth. This doesn’t mean that we ought not to gather together in church. It is a great blessing to pray with one another. It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have icons before us, for they remind us about the Lord and His saints. Nor does it mean that we can’t light candles before the icons, for they illuminate the holy images and symbolize our sacrifice to the church. But the most important sacrifice must be located in the heart. For no sacrifice is pleasing to God, unless the spirit is turned to Him in truth, in honesty and in bearing good witness. This spirit and truth is our faith, true and strong belief. Spirit and truth is love, spirit and truth is service.
This spirit is accessible not just to holy, extraordinary people, chosen from their mother’s womb, but to all. The Samaritan woman is an example for us. She was an ordinary woman, merely performing her daily chores. And God appeared to her, called her and told her about spirit and truth. This means that none of us have the right to say: “I’m too much of a sinner, too insignificant and much too unworthy to hear and understand the word of Christ.” Christ’s good news is directed to each one of us, to everyone in his time. The Word of God is like a sword, penetrating deep into our hearts, to the very depth of our being. Just feel this power and it will give to you eternal life, the living water which the Lord promised to this Samaritan woman. Amen. Fr. Alexander Men’ (1935-1990) ~9~
The Twelve Apostles By Rev. George Mastrantonis
THE CHOSEN ORIGINATORS
Jesus Christ endowed His Church with Himself and His divine Message. He handed it down to His disciples, who constituted His Church. Jesus Christ selected from among them Twelve Apostles to carry on with authority His Gospel, and He sent them to preach it and to baptize converts all over the world:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28: 19-20).
The Apostles kept their mission with integrity and faithfulness. They dedicated their lives to it; they injected the new faith in the’ true God into society to heal its infirmities.
able rocks on which the waves of disappointment of life lose their force and disappear. The Apostles of Christ are both the rocks and the lightposts for our life. To them, our ancestors in the Christian heritage and faith, this pamphlet is humbly dedicated, that both the writer and the reader might imitate their devotion and work and appreciate their convictions in Christ, “in Whom they lived and moved and had their being” (Acts 17: 28).
The Apostles organized the converts into groups called Churches. To these Churches the Apostles handed down the treasure of the new Gospel, their eyewitness account of the Word as they actually saw it take place, preserving it forever through the Church. This is the Gospel—the ORIGIN AND DEFINITION Tradition in the broad sense of the word—which we cherish today. Taking the Truth from the Apostles, the The only sources on the subject of the Twelve AposOrthodox Church is an “Apostolic” Church; it has its tles are the four Gospels and the first chapter of the roots in the apostolic ministry and succession, the apos- Acts, describing the relationship between Jesus and tolic faith and creed, and the apostolic word and scrip- His Apostles duringHisministry on earth. Although tures by which the Apostles and their immediate succes- the Apostles are the ultimate authors of the Gospels sors defended the Orthodox Faith and kept it undefiled they do not appear prominently in them; they are never magnified in them. The Gospels refer to them only beagainst heresies and persecutions. cause Jesus Himself was occupied with them, teaching But who are these blessed Apostles who were chosen to and training them to understand His origin and mishand down the new Gospel and establish the Church sion, in order to transmit to others correctly His personto which we belong today? Who empowered them to ality, His Gospel and His deeds. preach the Gospel and disregard all the threats which endangered and, in the end, took their lives? Who are Whenever they appeared later in their ministry, they these mighty personalities who were the instrumental spoke with authority and determination on behalf of figures behind the worldwide movement which has the Lord Who sent them to present His Gospel to the world. They never usurp or appropriate for themselves changed the pace of life of men thereafter? the new teachings. It is true that the Gospel took some Sometimes the voice of the past is the clearest and human aspects of their individual personalities. But most vivid guide for the minds and hearts of men of these aspects were such that they showed their undertoday, taking them out of the confused values of this life. standing and limitation of the words and deeds of their Sometimes the lives and deeds of men of the past are Lord; a reflection of the good news in their own simple unforgettable and stand as lightposts to illuminate the and humble life. The Apostles are both the preachers road for a future achievement. They stand as unshak- and the examples of the New Creation. ~10~
The Greek word “apostle” conveys to us the meaning of messenger, delegate, envoy or collector of tribute paid to the temple service. In the Gospels the Twelve were simply to be Christ’s envoys. As Jesus was sent by His Father, so the Apostles were sent by Jesus. Jesus Christ used contemporary terms for “apostle” and gave it His own content and interpretation stressing the idea of being “sent,” which means that an Apostle is a man with a mission throughout his entire life.
revelation and obedience to it; third, acceptance and conviction of the Truth, and then a full confession and proclamation of the faith. These acts make the Church a growing and moving entity. After Andrew and Peter and John, “one of the two”, Jesus found Phillip in Galilee, and called him to His crew; Phillip not only followed Him, but stated his conviction to Nathanial, we have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote… come and see” ( John 1:45, 46), and Nathanial saw Him and believed in Him: “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel,” he exclaimed in words to be echoed by millions in the generations to come.
Jesus Christ Himself gave the title “Apostle” to the Twelve in Luke 6:13 and Mark 3:14, “whom he also named apostles.” The term “apostle” (“apostolos” in Greek; a derivative from “apostellein”, meaning “to send”) signifies a special mission. An apostle is the One day passed and five promising people were His decommissioner of the person who sent him. Therefore, voted companions. Christ was no longer alone—except the term apostle is more definite than the term mes- at His agony, and on the Cross. senger (in Greek “angelos”). The apostle does not merely Demand and Dedication transmit a message, but he works to put it into practice among the recipients, both to let them understand it After the acquaintance of Jesus with His first disciples aright and to apply its contents in their faith and life. both in Judea and in Galilee, a recess took place. The center of His ministry had to be selected. After the imJESUS “CALLED” HIS APOSTLES prisonment of John the Baptist, Jesus stated in Galilee that the city of Capernaum would be the center of His The First Approach expedient strategy. The inhabitants of that city were Some of the Twelve Apostles were disciples of the Jewish people, and its position was more suitable to Forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist. They were ac- command Galilee. quainted with the Scripture and the expectations of their master. When John the Baptist was “looking upon Walking along the shore of the “sea of Galilee”, which Jesus as he walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God”’ actually is a lake, Jesus met again the two brothers, Si( John 1:36). Andrew, one of John’s disciples, with an- mon and Andrew, who were casting their nets. He comother, “heard him speak, and they followed Jesus” (v. 37). manded them now to follow Him and become fishers of men. At the same time and place Jesus found James and They followed him without asking! his brother John, fishers at the shore of the sea of GaliThus the Apostolic Church began. The took of their lee. He called them to follow Him. All obeyed instantly own to find out-to discover the truth for themselves. (Mark 1:16-20). Jesus called Matthew, Levi, in the They persisted, and “came and saw where he ( Jesus) same way (Mark 2:16; Matt. 9:9) in Capernaum. He dwelt, and abode with him that day” (v. 39). was a collector of taxes, probably of the customhouse of this city. Matthew left this position, bade farewell to They had a long audience with Jesus. What did they discuss? We do not know. What we do know is that they his fellow officials and followed the Lord. What a chalcame out of this sanctuary with, a definite faith in Him. lenge for us today—for the merchants and the white He was the One they were expecting. Andrew felt the collar workers! They left work and home, pleasures and impulse to express his belief to others. He first found habits; they discarded the dreams of their youth and on his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the ruins built firmly a new fortress of defense and apthe Messiah”, which means Christ, and “he brought peal. They demonstrated that an immutable conviction him to Jesus” (v. 42). St. Andrew’s act stands as an ex- in the living God can move mountains. ample for every disciple and apostle thereafter. First, the To be continued next week. pure desire to seek the Truth; second, acquaintance with ~11~
Pascha 2011 in the Monastery of Saint Augustine and Saint Seraphim Sarov, Trikorfo Phocis, Greece.
St. Luke Orthodox Christian Church 1415 Woodstock Ave. Anniston, AL 36207