Archangel Michael Church Η Εκκλησία του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ

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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 October 29, th Sunday of Luke 4 th Mode - 10 th Morning Gospel Elder Symeon Kragiopoulos: Our Ego For us to have genuine communion with Christ, it s necessary that our entire soul becomes conscious, that everything is brought into divine light, and that nothing remains in darkness. No matter how much someone believes - no matter how much someone struggles every day to devote himself to God - he must realize this vital point: inside, he s ruled by the ego, pride, and selfishness. This self-love and self-worship lives and reigns. Therefore, man must become humble: every day, he must increase in humility. He who truly loves humility, and desires to become humble, begs God for this. In the beginning and imperceptibly - later perhaps more truly - he starts, little by little, to feel this: the emptying of the soul from the ego, from selfishness, from the idol which we create within us. When someone is completely humbled, he surrenders himself to God; every day he makes a new beginning, and eventually his entire soul is exposed to divine light. But what does this state look like? The Lord didn t come simply to die Himself; rather, He said that we will also die with Him. And in the same way that He resurrected, we also will resurrect. Whatever Christ is after the resurrection, man also becomes this when he is united to Christ. An authentic Christian is not simply a good man who thinks some good things and does some good things; Christian means little Christ. In the end, Christ will make each one of us whatever He is Himself. He does not simply advise us from the outside, but enters into us and takes us into Himself. We are united to Him and become like Him. Even in this life we become like Christ, though this will become complete in the next life. (*This information is taken from Γέροντα Συμεών Κραγιόπουλος: «Ο Πόνος και o Εγωισμός Μας» «Ο πόνος φέρνει στην ψυχή περισσότερη ωφέλεια από οτιδήποτε άλλο. Μέσα μας, το θέλουμε δεν το θέλουμε, το καταλαβαίνουμε δεν το καταλαβαίνουμε, έχουμε πολλή φιλαυτία - φιλαυτία σημαίνει αγάπη στον εαυτό μας - πολύ εγωισμό. Όσο κι αν προσπαθεί κανείς με την προσευχή του ή με άλλους τρόπους να ξεφύγει από τον εαυτό του και να δοθεί στον Χριστό, δεν είναι εύκολο να το κάνει, διότι λυπάται τον εαυτό του, αγαπά τον εαυτό του και δεν αντέχει να τον ζορίσει, να τον κουράσει παραπάνω από όσο δέχεται ο εαυτός του. Είναι δηλαδή σαν τον γιατρό: όσο καλός γιατρός κι αν είναι κάποιος όταν χειρουργεί άλλους, εάν υποθέσουμε ότι θα θελήσει να κάνει έστω και μια μικρή επέμβαση στον εαυτό του - να αφαιρέσει, π.χ., ένα ξένο σώμα που μπήκε στο πόδι του ή να καθαρίσει μια πληγή - δεν θα τα καταφέρει καθώς θα βλέπει ότι κόβει τον ίδιο τον εαυτό του, το χέρι του δεν θα είναι σταθερό, θα αρχίσει να τρέμει κτλ. Μόνος του κανείς δεν σφάζει τον εαυτό του. Έτσι και με την προσευχή. Όσο κι αν προσευχηθούμε, δεν μπορούμε να ξεπεράσουμε τον εαυτό μας. Ο Θεός βέβαια ακούει την προσευχή μας όμως το θέμα δεν είναι αν μας ακούει ο Θεός. Το θέμα είναι πόσο εμείς δίνουμε τον εαυτό μας στον Θεό, πόσο όντως απαρνούμαστε τον παλαιό άνθρωπο, πόσο απαρνούμαστε τον εγωισμό μας, την υπερηφάνειά μας, τη φιλαυτία μας. Αυτό είναι κάτι που στοιχίζει, και δεν το κάνει εύκολα ο άνθρωπος.» (*Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Tῆς ἁγίας Ὁσιοµάρτυρος Ἀνανστασίας τῆς Ῥωµαίας. Tοῦ ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡµῶν Ἀβραµίου, καὶ Μαρίας τῆς ἀνεψίας αὐτοῦ. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιµον Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγµα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου µαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώµεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούµενος τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. 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. Κοντάκιον 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. Saints and Feasts The holy monastic martyr Anastasia of Rome; our devout father Abramios and his niece Maria. Resurrectional Hymn (4 th Mode) When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world. Hymn of the Archangels (4 th Mode) 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 (2 nd Mode) A protection of Christians unshamable, * intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering. * Please 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. Today s Scripture Readings Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20 Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Πρὸς Γαλάτας Ἐπιστολῆς Παύλου 2:16-20 Ἀδελφοί, εἰδότες ὅτι οὐ δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ἔργων νόµου, ἐὰν µὴ διὰ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ ἡµεῖς

3 εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαµεν, ἵνα δικαιωθῶµεν ἐκ πίστεως Χριστοῦ καὶ οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων νόµου διότι ἐξ ἔργων νόµου οὐ δικαιωθήσεται πᾶσα σάρξ. Εἰ δὲ ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ εὑρέθηµεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁµαρτωλοί, ἆρα Χριστὸς ἁµαρτίας διάκονος; µὴ γένοιτο! Εἰ γὰρ, ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδοµῶ, παραβάτην ἐµαυτὸν συνίστηµι. Ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόµου νόµῳ ἀπέθανον ἵνα Θεῷ ζήσω. Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωµαι ζῶ δὲ οὐκέτι ἐγώ, ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐµοὶ Χριστός ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, ἐν πίστει ζῶ τῇ τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός µε καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐµοῦ. Luke 8:41-56 At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. Kατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:41-56 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄνθρωπός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ, ᾧ ὄνοµα Ἰάειρος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς ὑπῆρχε καὶ πεσὼν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, ὅτι θυγάτηρ µονογενὴς ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς ἐτῶν δώδεκα καὶ αὕτη ἀπέθνῃσκεν. Ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτὸν οἱ ὄχλοι συνέπνιγον αὐτόν. καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ῥύσει αἵµατος ἀπὸ ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἥτις ἰατροῖς προσαναλώσασα ὅλον τὸν βίον οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ὑπ' οὐδενὸς θεραπευθῆναι, προσελθοῦσα ὄπισθεν ἥψατο τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱµατίου αὐτοῦ, καὶ παραχρῆµα ἔστη ἡ ῥύσις τοῦ αἵµατος αὐτῆς. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς Τίς ὁ ἁψάµενός µου; ἀρνουµένων δὲ πάντων εἶπεν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ Ἐπιστάτα, οἱ ὄχλοι συνέχουσί σε καὶ ἀποθλίβουσι καὶ λέγεις τίς ὁ ἁψάµενός µου; ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν Ἥψατό µού τις ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔγνων δύναµιν ἐξελθοῦσαν ἀπ' ἐµοῦ. ἰδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ ὅτι οὐκ ἔλαθε, τρέµουσα ἦλθε καὶ προσπεσοῦσα αὐτῷ δι' ἣν αἰτίαν ἥψατο αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ὡς ἰάθη παραχρῆµα. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Θάρσει, θύγατερ, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην. Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἔρχεταί τις παρὰ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου λέγων αὐτῷ ὅτι Τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ σου µὴ σκύλλε τὸν διδάσκαλον. ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀκούσας ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ λέγων Μὴ φοβοῦ µόνον πίστευε, καὶ σωθήσεται. ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν οὐκ ἀφῆκεν εἰσελθεῖν οὐδένα εἰ µὴ Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ τὸν πατέρα τῆς παιδὸς καὶ τὴν µητέρα. ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν. ὁ δὲ εἶπε Μὴ κλαίετε οὐκ ἀπέθανεν, ἀλλὰ καθεύδει. καὶ κατεγέλων αὐτοῦ, εἰδότες ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. αὐτὸς δὲ ἐκβαλὼν ἔξω πάντας καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἐφώνησε λέγων Ἡ παῖς, ἐγείρου. καὶ ἐπέστρεψε τὸ πνεῦµα αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀνέστη παραχρῆµα, καὶ διέταξεν αὐτῇ δοθῆναι φαγεῖν. καὶ ἐξέστησαν οἱ γονεῖς αὐτῆς ὁ δὲ παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς µηδενὶ εἰπεῖν τὸ γεγονός.

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8 Memorials: Virginia Farina Sophia Michael Tasi Pappas Worship Schedule: Tuesday, Nov. 7 Wednesday, Nov. 8 Wednesday, Nov. 8 ~ 1 year ~ 10 years ~ 62 years ~ Synaxis ( Gathering ) of the Archangels ~ Great Vespers 7:30 pm ~ Synaxis ( Gathering ) of the Archangels ~ Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am (followed by a meal in the fellowship hall) ~ St Nektarios of Aegina, the Wonderworker ~ Vigil 7:30 pm - 12 am Sunday School: Nursery - 1st grade will proceed to St Katherine s Chapel after receiving Holy Communion. Attention Bakers: We consistently need prosfora; anything you can offer would be much appreciated. 40-Day Churching: Today we welcome into the Church for the first time John Tsemelis, son of George and Christina Tsemelis. Upcoming Events: Sunday, Oct. 29 Friday, Nov. 3 Monday, Nov. 6 Friday, Nov. 10 Saturday, Nov. 18 Sunday, Nov. 19 ~ Pre-School Halloween Fundraiser (following Liturgy) ~ Goya vs. Parish Council (& priests) Annual Basketball Game (8 pm) ~ Philoptochos Meeting (7:30 pm) ~ Archangel Michael Name-day Gala (see flyer inside) ~ GOYA Thanksgiving Food Drive ~ Veteran s Sunday Philoptochos News: Contact: philoptochos@archangelmichaelchurch.org RAFFLE PRIZES NEEDED for our Annual Family Christmas Brunch. Please consider sponsoring a prize for the Grand Raffle. Can you offer your vacation home, time-share, artwork, restaurant vouchers, pieces of jewelry (any item, large or small will be so welcomed!) toward this effort? This is Philoptochos' major fundraiser which allows us to give generously to many worthwhile and deserving causes throughout the year. Please contact us. Our Philoptochos chapter has started a campaign through Help Feeding America. Our extensive research has shown that this organization is the most efficient at maximizing your donation dollars to "Set The Table" for those most in need. $1 = 11 meals!!...it s a no-brainer! Please donate any amount! Contact us for more information. GET FIT! GREEK ZUMBA FITNESS is back on TUESDAY mornings 9:30 am - 10:30 am in the AMC gym. ($20pp for individual classes, $15pp for a package of 10) Join us and bring your friends! Saturday, November 11, Children's Medical Fund Luncheon at "The Venetian" in Garfield, NJ. The Fund provides grants for innovative research programs to pediatric hospitals throughout the US and to organizations with special programs that care for children with critical and life-threatening illnesses. To reserve for this event, or to give a donation earmarked for the CMF, please contact us. HONOR OUR VETERANS on Sunday November 19th during coffee hour. Representatives from the VFW will be on hand to enlighten us as to the importance of supporting our vets and to provide an overview of the services they offer.