ARCHANGEL MICHAEL CHURCH Η ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧΑΓΓΕΛΟΥ ΜΙΧΑΗΛ

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1 ARCHANGEL MICHAEL CHURCH Η ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧΑΓΓΕΛΟΥ ΜΙΧΑΗΛ 100 Fairview Drive, Port Washington, NY Phone: (516) Fax: (516) Office Πρωτοπρεσβύτεροι: Fr. John K. Lardas & Fr. Dennis Strouzas Deacon: Dn. Joshua Pappas Plagal 2nd Tone-7th Morning Gospel / Ἦχος πλ. β - Ἑωθινόν Ζ 7th Sunday of Matthew: August 7, 2016 The Icon of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos shows her on her deathbed surrounded by the Apostles. Christ is standing in the center (1.) looking at His mother. He is holding a small child clothed in white representing the soul of the Virgin Mary. With His golden garments, the angels above His head, and the mandorla surrounding Him, Christ is depicted in His divine glory. The posture of the Apostles direct attention toward the Theotokos (2.). On the right Saint Peter censes the body of the Theotokos. On the left Saint Paul (3.) bows low in honor of her. Together with the Apostles are several bishops (4.) and women. The bishops traditionally represented are James, the brother of the Lord, Timothy, Heirotheus, and Dionysius the Areopagite. They are shown wearing episcopal vestments. The women are members of the church in Jerusalem. In front of the bed of the Theotokos is a candle (5.) that helps to form a central axis in the icon. Above the candle is the body of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Standing over His mother is Christ holding her most pure soul. Above Christ the gates of heaven stand open, ready to receive the Mother of God. This great Feast of the Church and the icon celebrates a fundamental teaching of our faith the Resurrection of the body. In the case of the Theotokos, this has been accomplished by the divine will of God. Thus, this Feast is a feast of hope, hope in Resurrection and life eternal. Like those who gathered around the body of the Virgin Mary, we gather around our departed loved ones and commend their souls into the hands of Christ. As we remember those who have reposed in the faith before us and have passed on into the communion of the Saints, we prepare ourselves to one day be received into the new life of the age to come. We also affirm through this Feast as we journey toward our heavenly abode that the Mother of God intercedes for us. Through Christ she has become the mother of all of the children of God, embracing us with divine love.

2 Κυριακή: Ζ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΥ. Τοῦ Ἁγίου Ὁσιομάρτυρος Δεμετίου του Πέρσου. Τῶν ὁσίων Πατέρων ἡμῶν Νικάνορος τοῦ Δαυματουργού καί Θεοδοσίου τοῦ νέου καί Ἰαματικοῦ. Τού Ὁσίου Ἰωσήφ Γεροντογιάννη, τοῦ ἐκ Λιθινῶν Σητείας Sunday: The 7th Sunday of MATHEW. The Holy Righteous Martyr Dometius of Persia. Our Holy Father Nicanorus the Wonderworker and Theodosius the New and Healer. The Holy Father Joseph Gerontogiannis of Lithines Sitia Το Αναστάσιμο Απολυτίκον Ήχου Πλ. β Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Ἀπολυτίκιον τῆς Μεταμορφώσεως Μετεμορθώθης εν τώ όρει Χριστέ ο Θεός, δείξας τοίς Μαθηταίς σου τήν δόξαν σου, καθώς ήδυναντο, Λάμψον καί ημίν τοίς αμαρτωλοίς, τό φώς σου τό αϊδιον, πρεσβείαις τής Θεοτόκου, φωτοδότα δόξα σοι. Απολυτίκον του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιὼν Ἀρχιστράτηγε, δυσωπούμέν σε ἀεὶ ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταὶς σαὶς δεήσεσι τειχίσης ἡμᾶς, σκέπη τῶν πτερύγων τῆς ἀϋλου σου δόξης, φρουρῶν ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας, ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λύτρωσαι ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχης τῶν ἄνω δυνάμεων. Κοντάκιον τῆς Μεταμορφώσεως Επί τού όρους μετεμορφώθης, καί ως εχώρουν οι Μαθηταί σου τήν δόξαν σου, Χριστέ ο Θεός εθεάσαντο, ίνα όταν σε ίδωσι σταυρούμενον, τό μέν πάθος νοήσωσιν εκούσιον, τώ δέ κόσμω κηρύξωσιν, ότι σύ υπάρχεις αληθώς, τού Πατρός τό απαύγασμα. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Second Tone Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee. Apolytikion of the Transfiguration You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You. Apolytikion of the Archangel Michael Supreme Commanders of the Hosts of heavens, * we, the unworthy, importune and beseech you * that by your supplilcations ye encircle us * in the shelter of the wings * of your immaterial glory, * guarding us who now fall down * and cry to you with fervor: * Deliver us from dangers of all kinds, * as the great marshals of the heavenly hosts on high. Kontakion of the Transfiguration You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.

3 Πρὸς Ρωμαίους 15:1-7 Ἀδελφοί, ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλά, καθὼς γέγραπται, Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπʼ ἐμέ. Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ. St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 15:1-7 BRETHREN, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 9:27-35 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγοντι ἐκεῖθεν τῷ Ιησοῦ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ δύο τυφλοὶ κράζοντες καὶ λέγοντες ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ. ἐλθόντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ τυφλοί, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς πιστεύετε ὅτι δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ ναί, Κύριε. τότε ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν λέγων κατὰ τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν γενηθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί καὶ ἐνεβριμήσατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς λέγων ὁρᾶτε μηδεὶς γινωσκέτω. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες διεφήμισαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ. Αὐτῶν δὲ ἐξερχομένων ἰδοὺ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον καὶ ἐκβληθέντος τοῦ δαιμονίου ἐλάλησεν ὁ κωφός, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ὄχλοι λέγοντες ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ Ισραήλ. οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια. Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ Ιησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ. The Gospel according to Matthew 9:27-35 At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

4 ΤΟ ΕΟΡΤΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΠΕΡΙΕΧΟΜΕΝΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΟΡΤΗΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣ Για την κατανόηση του εορτολογικού περιεχομένου της εορτής της Κοιμήσεως, όπως και των άλλων θεομητορικών εορτών, της Συλλήψεως, της Γεννήσεως και των Εισοδίων, πρέπει να κάμωμε μία μικρά αναδρομή στις πηγές, από τις οποίες αντλήθηκαν τα θεομητορικά αυτά θέματα. Διαφορετικά είναι αδύνατο να ερμηνεύση κανείς ό,τι συνδέεται με τον εορτασμό αυτόν, τα συναξάρια, την υμνογραφία και την εικονογραφία τους. Οι αυθεντικές ιστορικές πηγές, τά Ευαγγέλια και τα άλλα βιβλία της Καινής Διαθήκης, δεν μας διέσωσαν πληροφορίες για τον πρό του Ευαγγελισμού και για τον μετά την Ανάληψι του Κυρίου βίο της Θεοτόκου. Πρόθεσις των ιερών συγγραφέων ήταν να αφηγηθούν τον βίο και το σωτηριώδες έργο του Χριστού και ό,τι άμεσα συνεδέετο με Αυτόν και όχο να ικανοποιήσουν την ευλαβή περιέργεια ή τα ιστορικά ενδιαφέροντα των αναγνωστών τους. Η παράδοσις όμως της Εκκλησίας διέσωσε από στόματος εις στόμα διάφορες πληροφορίες πού αφορούσαν στον βίο της Θεοτόκου πρό της συλλήψεως του Κυρίου και μετά την Ανάστασί Του. Αργότερα διάφοροι ευλαβείς, κατά το πλείστον, συγγραφείς περιέλαβαν τις πληροφορίες αυτές και τις ανέπτυξαν με την φαντασία τους και για να έχουν περισσότερο κύρος έθεσαν στους τίτλους των έργων τους μεγάλα αποστολικά ονόματα. Η Εκκλησία α[ ερριψε και κατεδίκασε τα βιβλία αυτά και τα ωνόμασε Απόκρυφα και Ψευδεπίγραφα. Σε μεταγενεστέρα εποχή πολλές από τις διηγήσεις αυτές, τουλάχιστον στις βασικές τους γραμμές, έδωσαν θέματα στην διαμόρφωσι εορτών, στην σύνταξι συναξαρίων, στην ποίηση ύμνων και στην εικονογραφία. Εξ άλλου, καθώς προείπαμε, ο πυρήν των διηγήσεων αυτών είχε ως βάσι του παμπάλαιες ιστορικές παραδόσεις γυ ρω από το πρόσωπο της Θεοτόκου.

5 Worship Services Saturday, August 6: Holy Transfiguration, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am Sunday, August 7: Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am Monday, August 8: Paraclesis Service, 7:30 pm, Chapel Wednesday, August 10: Paraclesis Service, 7:30 pm, Chapel Sunday, August 14: Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am Monday, August 15: Dormition of the Theotokos, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am Memorials Sergios Despotis 9 months Pavlos Roditis 8 years Everlasting be their memory. Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη Philoptochos News FABULOUS FINDS: Many more volunteers are still needed, so please let us know how you would like to help. Please festival@archangelmichaelchurch.org Please note that Philoptochos will be conducting elections for the new board in May Please consider joining our board with the new term and sharing your gifts and talents as a "Friend of the Poor." In the interim we are seeking Chairpeople to head up a few of the many outreaches we have begun. All the wheels are in motion, they just each need a captain! Please contact Chris Ioannou if you have a special Philanthropic passion that is calling to you (516) Save the Date for our 2016 Greek Festival on the Harbor!