Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

Transcript

1 Sunday Bulletin April 6, 2014 Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt Transfiguration of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church 414 St. Stephen s School Road Austin, Texas (512) office@transfiguration.org website - Sunday Service Schedule Orthros 8:30am; Divine Liturgy 10:00am Reverend Fr. Vasileios Flegas, Proistamenos

2 Hymns for today Resurrection Hymn (Plagal 4th Tone) Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήµερον, ἵνα ἡµᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡµῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Ex ipsus katitthes o efsplagnos tafin katethexo triimeros ina imas eleftherosis ton pathon. I Zoi ke i anastasis imon Kirie thoxasi. From on high did You descend, O merciful Lord, for us did You endure, three days in the tomb that we may be, released from passions in this world, You who are our resurrection and our life Glory unto You O Lord. Hymn for St. Mary of Egypt Εν σοί Μήτερ ακριβώς διεσώθη τό κατ' εικόνα, λαβών γάρ τόν σταυρόν, ηκολούθησας τώ Χριστώ, καί πράττων εδίδασκες, υπεροράν µέν σαρκός, παρέρχεται γάρ επιµελείσθαι δέ ψυχής, πράγµατος αθανάτου, διό καί µετά Αγγέλων συναγάλλεται, οσία Μαρία τό πνεύµά σου. In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou did follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou did teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passes away, but to attend the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels. Hymn for the Transfiguration of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 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. When O Christ our God Thou wast Transfigured on the mountain, Thou didst reveal Thy glory to Thy disciples in proportion as they could bear it. Let Thine everlasting light also enlighten us sinners. Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Thou Bestower of light, glory to Thee. Kontakion Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, µεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀµετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁµαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡµῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιµώντων σε. A protection of Christians unshamable, Intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, reject not, the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; Your loving help bring unto us, Who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, As a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.

3 Epistle - Hebrews 9: BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Ἀδελφοί, Χριστὸς δὲ παραγενόµενος ἀρχιερεὺς τῶν µελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, διὰ τῆς µείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς, οὐ χειροποιήτου, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, οὐ ταύτης τῆς κτίσεως, οὐδὲ διʼ αἵµατος τράγων καὶ µόσχων, διὰ δὲ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵµατος εἰσῆλθεν ἐφάπαξ εἰς τὰ ἅγια, αἰωνίαν λύτρωσιν εὑράµενος. Εἰ γὰρ τὸ αἷµα ταύρων καὶ τράγων, καὶ σποδὸς δαµάλεως ῥαντίζουσα τοὺς κεκοινωµένους, ἁγιάζει πρὸς τὴν τῆς σαρκὸς καθαρότητα, πόσῳ µᾶλλον τὸ αἷµα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς διὰ πνεύµατος αἰωνίου ἑαυτὸν προσήνεγκεν ἄµωµον τῷ θεῷ, καθαριεῖ τὴν συνείδησιν ὑµῶν ἀπὸ νεκρῶν ἔργων, εἰς τὸ λατρεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι; Our Prayer List As you can see on page 5, our prayer list is getting very long! Please look over this list and if your loved one s health has improved, let us know so that we can remove their name from this Prayers for Health list. Thank you!

4 Gospel - Mark 10: At that time, Jesus taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραλαβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς δώδεκα µαθητάς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς λέγειν τὰ µέλλοντα αὐτῷ συµβαίνειν, ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἀναβαίνοµεν εἰς Ιεροσόλυµα καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθήσεται τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι καὶ γραµµατεῦσι, καὶ κατακρινοῦσιν αὐτὸν θανάτῳ καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσι, καὶ ἐµπαίξουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ µαστιγώσουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐµπτύσουσιν αὐτῷ καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡµέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται. Καὶ προσπορεύονται αὐτῷ Ιάκωβος καὶ Ιωάννης υἱοὶ Ζεβεδαίου λέγοντες διδάσκαλε, θέλοµεν ἵνα ὃ ἐὰν αἰτήσωµεν ποιήσῃς ἡµῖν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί θέλετε ποιῆσαί µε ὑµῖν; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ δὸς ἡµῖν ἵνα εἷς ἐκ δεξιῶν σου καὶ εἷς ἐξ εὐωνύµων σου καθίσωµεν ἐν τῇ δόξῃ σου. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς οὐκ οἴδατε τί αἰτεῖσθε. δύνασθε πιεῖν τὸ ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω, καὶ τὸ βάπτισµα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζοµαι βαπτισθῆναι; οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ δυνάµεθα. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τὸ µὲν ποτήριον ὃ ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε, καὶ τὸ βάπτισµα ὃ ἐγὼ βαπτίζοµαι βαπτισθήσεσθε τὸ δὲ καθίσαι ἐκ δεξιῶν µου καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύµων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐµὸν δοῦναι, ἀλλ οἷς ἡτοίµασται. Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἤρξαντο ἀγανακτεῖν περὶ Ιακώβου καὶ Ιωάννου. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς προσκαλεσάµενος αὐτοὺς λέγει αὐτοῖς οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ δοκοῦντες ἄρχειν τῶν ἐθνῶν κατακυριεύουσιν αὐτῶν καὶ οἱ µεγάλοι αὐτῶν κατεξουσιάζουσιν αὐτῶν οὐχ οὕτω δὲ ἔσται ἐν ὑµῖν, ἀλλ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ γενέσθαι µέγας ἐν ὑµῖν, ἔσται ὑµῶν διάκονος, καὶ ὃς ἐὰν θέλῃ ὑµῶν γενέσθαι πρῶτος, ἔσται πάντων δοῦλος καὶ γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἦλθε διακονηθῆναι, ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ λύτρον ἀντὶ πολλῶν.

5 Welcome Visitors! We welcome all new visitors who worshipped with us this morning. We are pleased to have you with us! Please join us next door after service for coffee and fellowship. There is material in the entrance of the church regarding ministries and events of Transfiguration. We hope that you will return often to worship with us and grow in Christ! Receiving Holy Communion The sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved for only baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared by fasting, prayer and confession. The Orthodox Church is not in sacramental communion with any other church outside the Orthodox Christian Faith. If you are not Orthodox, you are invited with everyone to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of service. If you would like information about the Orthodox Church, please see Fr. Vasileios after services. The Sunday School classes are in session. Please allow the students and their teachers to receive Communion first so that they can get to their class. Prayers for Health Arlena, Philip, Glenna, Euther, Nicole, Michael, Wanda, John, Lili, Archie, Paul, Michael, Petra, Luke, Matthew, Elizabeth, Venton, John, Ricky, Wayne, Sarah, Christopher, John, Konstandinos, Jan, Marie, Chris, MaryAnn, Cliff, Maggie, Lou, Thomas, Kathy, Kathryn, Greg, Bill, Christopher, Steve, Maggie, Nakis, Martha, George, Richard Simeon, Terri, Nicole, Mark, Maria, Nassos, Maria, Amy, Christina, Ana, Dolly, Irene, Fr. Ambrose, Vickie, Pat, Bill, Linda, Mindy, Jenny, Rosemary, Fr. Andreas, Emmanuel, Alkmene, Maree, Constanze, Jennifer, Timothy, Andrea, Janis Mae, Andreas, Luke, Zlata, Andrea, Albert, Dorothy, Presbytera Krissy, Larry, Jane, Boyd, Wilma, Ted, Nicolette, Danae, Alexandra, Fr. Damaskinos, Emmanuel, Thomas, Maria, Zoe, Kalliopi, Aikaterini, Garyfalia, Ioannis, Konstantinos, Nikolaos, Evangelia, Carol, Frank, Aikaterini, Eleni, Eirini, Dimitrios, Antigoni, Sharon, Georgia, Chrysoula, Michael, Dimitra, Suzanne, Fotini, Kirsten, Kimberlin, Alvin, Eric, Alison, Emily, Olga, Angie, Athanasios, Tristen, Damon, Fran, Melanie, Theone, Betty (Mary Elizabeth), Zoe, Gabriel, Themis, Maria, Panayiota, Dmitriy, Brandi, Cia, Jimmy, Sybella, David, Anthony, Susan, Carole, John, Stephanie, Maria, Sophie, Christa, Andrea, Greg, Patricia, Stephen, Nick, Westin, Larry, Anna, Barbara, Anna, Dana, Colleen, Zoe, John, Christine, Dave, Alysun, Sam, Kh. Anastasia-Velvet, Alex, Gabriella Marie, Lisa, Patricia, Joe, Marija, Sophia, Maria, Jerry, Layla, Deacon James, Johnathan, Xenia, Robin, Ben, Khouria Luanne, Kathy, Bill, Lisa, Katy, Katherine, Heidi, Eleni, Philio, Irene, Crissi, Kimberly, Robert, John, Jerry, David, Virginia, Anastasia-Stase, Evyenia, Molly, Andrew, Pat, Louis Joseph (Gregorios), Sandy, infant Alex, Dionne, Presbytera Flora, Gabriel, infant Abagail Grace, Nicholas the priest, Melanie, Billy, Maria Teresa, Cynthia, Dan, Molly, Richard, Christine Prayers for those in our Armed Forces SGT Jennifer D. Atkinson, SSG John Atkinson, COL Dave Romine, CPT James Alfaro, SSG Deane Anderson, CPT William Willett, MAJ Timothy Ullman, MAJ Chris Chase, Cadet Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, CPT. Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, Specialist Walter Hurbert (Nikolaos) Willoughby IV, LCDR Thomas Uhl

6 The Fifth Sunday of Great Lent: The Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt On the Fi h Sunday of Lent the Orthodox Church commemorates our Righteous Mother Mary of Egypt. The feast day of Saint Mary of Egypt is April 1, however, she is also commemorated on this Sunday due to her recogni on by the Church as a model of repentance. Our holy mother Mary was born in Egypt. She had le her parents at the age of twelve to go to Alexandria, where she spent the next seventeen years in debauchery and the greatest profligacy. One day, seeing a crowd of people moving towards the port, she followed them and set sail with them for Jerusalem. When they arrived in the Holy City, she followed the crowd that was thronging towards the Church of the Resurrec on, it being the day of the Exalta on of the Cross. But, when she reached the threshold of the church, an invisible force prevented her entering in spite of repeated efforts on her part, although the other pilgrims were able to go in without hindrance. Le alone in a corner of the narthex, she began to realize that it was the impurity of her life that was preven ng her approaching the holy Wood. She burst into tears and smote her breast and, seeing an icon of the Mother of God, made this prayer to her: "O Sovereign Lady, who didst bear God in the flesh, I know that I should not dare to look upon thine icon, thou who are pure in soul and body, because, debauched as I am, I must fill thee with disgust. But, as the God born of thee became man in order to call sinners to repentance, come to my aid! Allow me to go into the church and prostrate before His Cross. And, as soon as I have seen the Cross, I promise that I will renounce the world and all pleasures, and follow the path of salva on that thou willest to show me." She felt herself suddenly freed from the power that had held her and was able to enter the church. There she fervently venerated the Holy Cross and then, returning to the icon of the Mother of God, declared herself ready to follow the path that the Virgin would show her. A voice replied to her from on high: "If you cross the Jordan, you will find rest." Leaving the church, she discovered which road led to the Jordan and arrived one evening at the Church of Saint John the Bap st. She received Communion in the Holy Mysteries, and the next morning, she crossed the river and lived from that me on in the desert, remaining there for forty-seven years without ever encountering either another human being or any animal. During the first seventeen years, she had more than the physical trials, she had to face violent assaults from the passions and the memory of her sins and, throwing herself on the ground, she implored the Mother of God to come to her aid. Protected by God, who desires nothing but that the sinner should turn to Him and live, she uprooted all the passions from her heart by means of this extraordinary ascesis, and was able to turn the fire of carnal desire into a flame of divine love that made it possible for her to endure the implacable desert with joy, as though she were not in the flesh. A er all these years, a holy elder called Zosimas (April 4), had gone into the desert across the Jordan for the period of the Great Fast, saw one day a human form with a body blackened by the sun and with hair white as bleached linen to its shoulders. He ran a er this appari on that fled before him, begging it to give him its blessing and some saving words. When he came within ear-shot, Mary, calling by name him whom she had never seen, revealed to him that she was a woman and asked him to throw her his cloak that she might cover her nakedness. At the urging of the monk, who was transported at having at last met a God-bearing being who had a ained the perfec on of monas c life, the Saint recounted to him with tears the story of her life and conversion. Then, having finished her account, she begged him to come the following year to the bank of the Jordan with Holy Communion. When the day arrived, Zosimas saw Mary appearing on the further bank of the river. She made the sign of the Cross and crossed the Jordan, walking on the water. Having received Holy Communion weeping, she said: "Lord, now le est Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salva on" (Luke 2:29). She then took leave of Zosimas, asking him to meet her the following year in the place where they had first met. When the year was past, Zosimas, going to the agreed spot, found the Saint's body stretched on the ground, her arms crossed and her face turned towards the East. His tearful emo on prevented him from no cing at once an inscrip on traced on the ground by the Saint, which read: "Abba Zosimas, bury here the body of the humble Mary; give what is of dust to dust, a er having prayed for me. I died on the first day of April, the very night of the Passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, a er having partaken in the Holy Eucharist." Consoled in his grief by having learned the Saint's name, Zosimas tried to break up the earth with a s ck. He suddenly saw a lion approaching Mary's body and licking her feet. On the orders of the Elder, the beast dug a hole with its claws, in which Zosimas devoutly placed the Saint's body. On his return to the monastery, he recounted the marvels that God had wrought for those who turn away from sin and move towards Him with all their hearts. From the hardened sinner that she had been, Mary has, for a great many souls crushed under the burden of sin, become a source of hope and a model of conversion. This is why the Holy Fathers have placed the celebra on of her memory at the end of the Great Fast as an encouragement for all who have neglected their salva on, proclaiming that repentance can bring them back to God even at the eleventh hour. See more at: h p://lent.goarch.org/saint_mary_of_egypt/learn/#sthash.l16aqc2p.dpuf

7 WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Sunday, April 6, 2014 Schedule of Services Mon. April 7: Great Compline - 6:00pm Friday, April 11: Presanctified Liturgy- 10:00am Wed. April 9: 9th Hour Prayers- 5:30pm; Sat. April 12: Lazarus Saturday- Orthros- 9:00am; Presanctified Liturgy: 6:00pm Divine Liturgy-10:00am Sat. April 12: Great Vespers- 5:00pm This morning we welcome Fr. David and Presv. Vasiliki Eckley. Thank you, Fr. David, for serving with us while Fr. Vasileios is away! Fr. Vasileios and many of our GOYAns and sponsors are a ending the Metropolis Southern Region Lenten Retreat at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas. Please pray for a blessed retreat and safe travels for all! Memorial Service Today we will have the 40 Memorial service for Anthemios Melakis: Beloved father of Yanna Petty, and loving grandfather of themis and George Petty May his memory be eternal. BAY LEAVES If you have access to bay leaves, please bring them to us by Thursday, April 17! Contact the church office if you will be able to provide us with some. Thank you! Saturday of Lazarus Next Saturday, April 12, is the Saturday of Lazarus! Orthros will begin at 9:00, and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00am The youth will sing the Divine Liturgy with the chanters. Everyone is invited to join us after the Liturgy for a delicious pancake breakfast, a skit about Lazarus, and folding the palm crosses for Palm Sunday! ORTHODOXY 101 Introduction to Orthodoxy class will continue on Friday, April 11 at 6:00 PM. This class is for anyone who is interested in learning about the Orthodox Faith; After this week, this series will continue after Pascha - meeting every Friday. TO BE A PERSON INSIGHTS AS WE LIVE THE 40 DAYS This Wednesday evening will be the final evening Presanctified Liturgy before Holy Week. Please join us at 5:30 PM for the 9th Hour Prayers followed by the Presanctified. This Wednesday is also the final POT-LUCK dinner and discussion for this season with Fr. David and Presv. Vasiliki Eckley. GOLF (Greek Orthodox Ladies Fellowship) Please join us for our next study of Great Lent on Tuesday, April 8 Hope to see you there! Please contact Krystal Cawood to be added to our list- townsendcrafts@gmail.com Men s Study and Fellowship The next study will be held on Thursday, April 10 at 7:00am at the Jim s Restaurant at Research Blvd. (183) & Burnet Rd. The group is studying The Prison Epistles: Philippians-Ephesians-Colossians-Philemon by Lawrence R. Farley.

8 WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS continued: Sunday, April 6, 2014 FAITH Endowment Announces Travel Grants to Ionian Village FAITH will again sponsor a series of inancial aid travel grants to campers participating in the Ionian Village Summer Camp program. They will provide full and partial scholarships to those who qualify. The grants are for students ages and are available for both sessions. For more information call: Applications are available at: faithendowment.org Thank you to today s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Rigney, Rossnagel, Romine, Ross, Salmatanis, Strong Thank you to last week s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Poulos, Prasifka, Price, Qatato, Randol, Read Philoptochos News Philoptochos will be hos ng an event to benefit children with special needs, and to provide educa on about resources available to help these children. This special evening event is scheduled for Friday, June 13th from 5:30 7:30 p.m., at Mt. Tabor Hall. Many non-profit groups will be there sharing informa on regarding their organiza on and how they assist families of children with special needs. The event will begin with a cocktail (Greek hors d oeuvres, champagne, wine and/or coffee, and sweets) /informa on hour, followed by the highlight of the evening, the musical opera c debut of Lainie Horwedel and Susan Holland. In addi on, we will have a silent auc on of 10 FABULOUS items! Please save this date on your calendar for this very worthy fundraiser! Tickets will be $25.00 each and we will be hos ng only 160 guests. Ticket sale will be at church on Sundays beginning on Pascha Sunday; and they are available on our website. Attention Philoptochos Ladies After the Palm Sunday service next week, ALL Philoptochos members are asked to meet outside in front of the church for a group photo that will be submitted as a part of the National Philoptochos Convention. Bring your palm cross with you! ATTENTION ALL GRADUATING STUDENTS! Fr. Vasileios will be honoring all of you on Sunday, May 18th, and we need this information: We are collecting donations of plastic Easter eggs and candy for our annual Egg Hunt on Pascha. There is a collection bin in Mount Tabor Hall. Please drop off before Holy Friday, April 18. Thank you! The correct spelling of your name, as you d like it to appear in the bulletin The school you will attend next Fall The high school (or college) from which you are graduating A digital copy of your senior portrait or another nice photo A note about hobbies or activities in high school (i.e. band, theater, soccer, etc.) A note about future plans, if known Make sure you don t miss this Sunday! Next Week s Luncheon Sponsors: The Apostolakis and Read families Thank you to today s ushers: Mike Strong (PCM), Dan & Gigi Appling, Nyda Glaros, Joanne Draina Thank you to last week s ushers: David Mazaisz (PCM), Paul Petrogeorge, Allen Wynn Next week s ushers are: All Parish Council Members