Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ Jan. 29, 2017 Sunday of the Canaanite Woman Grave Mode 10th Morning Gospel

Transcript

1 Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ 100 Fairway Drive, Port Washington, NY Phone: (516) Web Site: Clergy: Fr. John Lardas, Fr. Joshua Pappas, Fr. Dennis Strouzas Jan. 29, 2017 Sunday of the Canaanite Woman Grave Mode 10 th Morning Gospel In the gospel today, we see Christ ignoring a woman in serious spiritual pain. She s at the end of her rope, and she cries out with an honest heart, Have mercy on me, Lord! But Christ is silent; He ignores her; He doesn t offer even a single word. In the words of St John Chrysostom, this is a strange thing. He goes on to explain: Whom would this not have offended? Christ had gone through many villages, healing all the sick, but He utterly repels this woman. Who would not have been moved by her affliction, by the supplication she made for her sick daughter? She didn t approach Christ demanding anything; she only asked for mercy, yet she doesn t even receive an answer from Him. Perhaps some of the hearers were offended, but she wasn t offended. Did she relax in her earnestness? By no means; she was even more persistent. But it is not so with us; rather, when we fail to obtain what we want, we usually give up, whereas our desire and longing should actually increase. -St John Chrysostom Doesn t God continually do the same thing with us? Metropolitan Anthony Bloom says that prayer actually begins with God s silence: The day when God is absent, when He s silent that s the beginning of prayer. Not when we have a lot to say, but when we say to God, I can t live without You, why are You so cruel, so silent? God is always testing us. What s our response when we face difficulties? What s our response when God doesn t offer an immediate solution that meets all our supposed needs? What s our temperament like when things aren t going well? This is the real measure of our character, our spirituality, and our proximity to God. We see how the Canaanite woman responds. God s silence kindles her desire, her longing. She s not looking for a quick fix; she s simply asking for God s mercy, His comfort, His presence. Every obstacle makes her even more determined to find ultimate rest in God. In prayer we often expect God to do something for us remove a difficulty, give a blessing, satisfy our desires. Rather than asking God for something, are we prepared to simply ask for God Himself? As the prayer of St. Philaret reminds us, only God knows our true needs, which may be hidden from us despite what we think we need.

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Η Ἀνακοµιδὴ τῶν Λειψάνων τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἱεροµάρτυρος Ἰγνατίου τοῦ Θεοφόρου. Ὁ Ἅγιος Νεοµάρτυς Δηµήτριος ὁ Χιοπολίτης. Tῶν Ἁγίων ἑπτὰ Μαρτύρων, τῶν ἐν Σαµοσάτοις τελειωθέντων, Φιλοθέου, Ὑπερεχίου, Ἀβίβου, Ἰουλιανοῦ, Ῥωµανοῦ, Ἰακώβου καὶ Παρηγορίου. Α πολυτίκιον Α ναστα σιμον Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον µετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Τοῦ Ἁγίου Καὶ τρόπων µέτοχος, καὶ θρόνων διάδοχος, τῶν Ἀποστόλων γενόµενος, τὴν πρᾶξιν εὗρες Θεόπνευστε, εἰς θεωρίας ἐπίβασιν διὰ τοῦτο τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας ὀρθοτοµῶν, καὶ τῇ πίστει ἐνήθλησας µέχρις αἵµατος, Ἱεροµάρτυς Ἰγνάτιε. πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡµῶν. Απολυτίκιον Των Ταξιαρχών Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιῶν Ἀρχιστράτηγοι, δυσωποῦμεν ὑμᾶς ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταῖς ὑμῶν δεήσεσι, τειχίσητε ἡμᾶς, σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων, τῆς ἀΰλου ὑμῶν δόξης, φρουροῦντες ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας, ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας Ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λυτρώσασθε ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχαι τῶν ἄνω Δυνάμεων. Κοντα κιον Ὁ µήτραν παρθενικὴν ἁγιάσας τῷ τόκῳ σου, καὶ χεῖρας τοῦ Συµεὼν εὐλογήσας ὡς ἔπρεπε, προφθάσας καὶ νῦν ἔσωσας ἡµᾶς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλ' εἰρήνευσον ἐν πολέµοις τὸ πολίτευµα, καὶ κραταίωσον Βασιλεῖς οὓς ἠγάπησας, ὁ µόνος φιλάνθρωπος. Saints and Feasts The translation of the relics of the holy hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer; the holy Neomartyr Demetrios of Chios; the holy seven martyrs who reposed in Samosata: Philotheos, Hyperechios, Habib, Julian, Roman, Iakovos, and Parigorios. Resurrectional Hymn (Grave Mode) By Your Cross, O Lord, You destroyed death. To the thief You opened Paradise; the myrrhbearers' sorrow You transformed into joy. And You sent Your Apostles forth to proclaim that You had risen from the dead, Christ our God, bestowing on all the world Your great mercy. Hymn of the Saint (4 th Mode) Becoming a partner with the Apostles in way of life and successor to their thrones, O Godinspired Saint, in the active life you found an entrance to contemplation. Hence you rightly expounded the word of truth, and you shed your blood in struggling for the faith, O Hieromartyr Ignatius. Intercede with Christ our God, beseeching Him to save our souls. Hymn of the Archangels Supreme Commanders of * the hosts of the Heavens * we, the unworthy, importune and beseech you * that by your supplications you encircle us * in the shelter of the wings * of your heavenly 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 Feast (1 st Mode) You sanctified the Virgin s womb by Your birth, O Lord, and blessed the hands of Symeon fittingly, O Christ God; and even now You came and saved us. Now, give peace to our Nation in time of war, and strengthen our Leaders, so loved by You, the only one who loves humanity.

3 Today s Scripture Readings St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1 Brethren, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God. Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 6:16-18, 7:1 Ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐστε ναὸς Θεοῦ ζῶντος, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ θεός ὅτι Ἐνοικήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῶν θεός, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι λαός. Διὸ, Ἐξέλθετε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἀφορίσθητε, λέγει κύριος, καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε κἀγὼ εἰσδέξομαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔσομαι ὑμῖν εἰς πατέρα, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθέ μοι εἰς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ. Ταύτας οὖν ἔχοντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἀγαπητοί, καθαρίσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος, ἐπιτελοῦντες ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ θεοῦ. The Gospel according to Matthew 15:21-28 At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 15:21-28 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖθεν ὁ Ιησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ Χαναναία ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων ἐκείνων ἐξελθοῦσα ἐκραύγαζεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα ἐλέησόν με, Κύριε, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ ἡ θυγάτηρ μου κακῶς δαιμονίζεται. ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῇ λόγον. καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν, ὅτι κράζει ὄπισθεν ἡμῶν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν οὐκ ἀπεστάλην εἰ μὴ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου Ισραήλ. ἡ δὲ ἐλθοῦσα προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα Κύριε, βοήθει μοι. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν οὐκ ἔστι καλὸν λαβεῖν τὸν ἄρτον τῶν τέκνων καὶ βαλεῖν τοῖς κυναρίοις. ἡ δὲ εἶπε ναί, Κύριε καὶ γὰρ τὰ κυνάρια ἐσθίει ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχίων τῶν πιπτόντων ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν. τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὦ γύναι, μεγάλη σου ἡ πίστις! γενηθήτω σοι ὡς θέλεις. καὶ ἰάθη ἡ θυγάτηρ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης.

4 Άγιος Δημήτριος ο Χιοπολίτης Βιογραφία Ο Άγιος Δημήτριος γεννήθηκε το 1780 μ.χ. στο χωριό Παλιόκαστρο της Χίου από ενάρετους γονείς, τον Αποστόλη και την Μαρουλού. Σε νεαρή ηλικία έφθασε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη και εργαζόταν κοντά στον αδελφό του Ζαννή, ο οποίος ήταν έμπορος. Όταν χωρίς την άδεια του αδελφού του αρραβωνιάστηκε κάποια νέα, ο Ζαννής τον έδιωξε από το κατάστημά του. Ευρισκόμενος σε μεγάλη φτώχεια θυμήθηκε ότι ο Σείχ - ουλ - Ιμαλήλ όφειλε στον αδελφό του κάποιο ποσό από αγορές υφασμάτων και πήγε στο σπίτι του για να το εισπράξει και να το χρησιμοποιήσει ο ίδιος. Εκεί γνώρισε μία νεαρή μουσουλμάνα η οποία τον αγάπησε και του δήλωσε ότι για να τον παντρευτεί έπρεπε να αλλαξοπιστήσει. Ο Δημήτριος δέχθηκε την πρόταση και παρέμεινε στο σπίτι των Τούρκων για δύο μήνες. Γρήγορα όμως συνήλθε, δραπέτευσε και κρύφθηκε προσωρινά σε μία χριστιανική οικογένεια στην περιοχή του Σταυροδρομίου. Εκεί τον συνάντησε ο αδελφός του Ζαννής. Ο Δημήτριος εξομολογήθηκε στον πνευματικό του αδελφού του και συγχρόνως έστειλε επιστολή στον πατέρα του εξιστορώντας τα έως τότε γεγονότα της ζωής του αλλά και τον πόθο του να μαρτυρήσει για το Χριστό. Αφού κοινώνησε τα άχραντα μυστήρια παρουσιάσθηκε στον Τούρκο διοικητή και με παρρησία ομολόγησε την πίστη του. Παρά το γεγονός ότι οι Χιώτες της Κωνσταντινούπολης συγκέντρωσαν χρήματα για την απελευθέρωσή του, ο Δημήτριος παρέμεινε ακλόνητος στην πίστη του. Έτσι, μετά από φρικτά βασανιστήρια τα οποία υπέμεινε αγόγγυστα, αποκεφαλίστηκε στις 29 Ιανουαρίου 1802 μ.χ. Το τίμιο λείψανό του το παρέλαβαν οι Χριστιανοί και ενταφίασαν αυτό σε κάποιο μοναστήρι στο νησί Πρώτη. Α πολυτίκιον Ήχος γ'. Θείας πίστεως. Χαίρε βλάστημα, τερπνόν της Χίου` χαίρε καύχημα, των ορθοδόξων, καρτερόψυχε, νέε Δημήτριε` την γαρ αντίχριστον πλάνην εφαύλισας, ένθα του κράτους υπάρχει το φρύαγμα, ως ανέκραζες, Θεόν τον Χριστόν επίσταμαι, δωρούμενον ημίν το μέγα έλεος. *Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

5 Worship Services Monday, January 30, 2017 ~ Three Hierachs Orthros ~ 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy ~ 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 1, 2017 ~ Paraclesis ~ 10:00 a.m. Followed by Bible Study Vespers ~ 7:00 p.m. Followed by Bible Study Thursday, February 2, 2017 ~ Presentation of our Lord Orthros ~ 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy ~ 9:30 a.m. Memorials Eugenia Zbravos ~ 1 year Everlasting be her memory. Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη. Upcoming Events Sunday, January 29, 2017 ~ Greek Letters Celebration in honor of the Feast of the Three Hierarchs. The Greek School of our Community honors the following students who proudly excelled in the Comprehensive Examination administered by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese: Erika Kitsantas, Mary Tsahas, Liana Drenis, Sofia Matos, Peter Petrakis and Demetra Neocleous. Sunday, January 29, 2017 ~ Stewardship Sunday Saturday, February 11, 2017 ~ Comedy Night at AMC Saturday, February 11th, 2017 ~ Parathosi Greek Dance Event at Queens College Sunday, February 12, 2017 ~ Godparent s Sunday Friday, February 17 ~ GOYA ~ Midnight Run Save the Date and save your blood donation for the Archangel Michael Annual Blood Drive scheduled for Tuesday, March 14th from 2:30 pm 8:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. 1 in 3 adults will require a blood transfusion at some point in their lives. To be eligible to donate, you must be between the ages of 16 and 75, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Maryann or Marina Vlahos at

6 Philoptochos Please update your Stewardship for 2017 before April to help us meet our quarterly District and National Obligations. A form can be picked up in the lobby, at coffee hour or accessed on the church s website as well as through a link on the weekly blast. February is all about HEARTS! Join Philoptochos on Sunday, Feb. 5th as we GO RED FOR WOMEN'S HEART HEALTH! Homeless Men in need of Underwear! On Friday, February 17th Fr. John will take our GOYAns into NYC to minister to those most in need--our brothers that are homeless. They will be giving out new packages of clean socks, undershirts and underwear directly to those men living on the streets of New York City. We are seeking donations of new, unopened packages of MEN'S UNDERSHIRTS, UNDERWEAR, AND WHITE SOCKS in sizes of Men's M, L, and XL. We need your help to make this outreach effort a success. We are asking all to purchase the above and drop them off outside the main office. Sunday, February 12 ~ Join us immediately following the Divine Liturgy for our 2nd annual Godparents Breakfast to benefit the Make A Wish Foundation. Honor your Godparents and Godchildren for the role they play in your life and grant a local terminally ill child their last wish in the process! $15 Adults / $10 Children. Please notify us at Philoptochos@ArchangelMichaelChurch.org and we will be happy to hold a table for your family. 3/5 (Sun)~ Meeting after Church. 3/11 (Saturday) Join us for a trip via Coach bus to Agia Skepi Monestary in White Haven, PA! $25pp for Coach bus, max capacity 55 people. Please contact Eleni Raptis at or Philoptochos to make your reservation. Did You Know that LOCAL FOOD BANKS such as Island Harvest and the Interfaith Nutrition Network are the beneficiaries of any and all leftover foods from the many catered events hosted at AMC. We passionately support the Feed The Hungry initiative because hunger is closer than we all think!

7 The Archangel Michael Church Presents Καθαρά Δευτέρα/Clean Monday Why Be Orthodox? By Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture at Fordham University Great Compline 7:30PM Lenten Meal Served by The Philoptochos Ladies For further information, please call and RSVP to the church office at or Please reference ~ Clean Monday Presentation

8 Help AMC Feed the Hungry in our own community! Did you know that there are students in our own schools who would go home hungry on the weekends-if it were not for a weekend food bank available to them? This Weekend Food Bank has a name: Blessings in a Backpack. It is a 501 C(3) non-profit organization currently feeding over 89,000 children in nearly 1100 schools in 47 states. It is a combination of private sector funding and public partnership carried out in schools, including the Port Washington School District. Every week, over 50 children in Port Washington rely on food sent home in a backpack so they do not go hungry over the weekend. It s easy to help: Take a backpack home with you. Fill it with ONLY the items on the list. Return it to church by Thursday, Feb. 9th to the box outside the church office. We will deliver it for distribution. Any questions about this program, or other ways that Philoptochos Feeds the Hungry? Please philoptochos@archangelmichaelchurch.org. Also please visit for more information.