Η Αγία Μαρκέλλα. St. Markella

Transcript

1 STS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF BROOKLYN ΚΑΘΕΔΡΙΚΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗΣ 64 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York Telephone: (718) Fax Telephone: (718) ************************************************************************* Third Tone-4th Morning Gospel /Ήχος Γ - Εωθινόν Δ Η Αγία Μαρκέλλα St. Markella On July 22nd we also celebrate another great saint of our church, Mary Magdalene. The Orthodox Church honors the holy memory of St Mary Magdalene, the woman called by the Lord Himself from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Formerly immersed in sin and having received healing, she sincerely and irrevocably began a new life and never wavered from that path. Mary loved the Lord Who called her to a new life. She was faithful to Him not only when He was surrounded by enthusiastic crowds and winning recognition as a miracleworker, but also when all the disciples deserted Him in fear and He, humiliated and crucified, hung in torment upon the Cross. This is why the Lord, knowing her faithfulness, appeared to her first, and esteemed her worthy to be first to proclaim His Resurrection.

2 Κυριακή 21 Ιουλίου, 2013 Τῶν Ὁσίων Πατέρων ἡμῶν Ἰωάννου καί Συμεών τοῦ διά Χριστόν Σαλοῦ. Τοῦ ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατρός ἡμῶν Παρθενίου, Ἐπισκόπου Ραδοβυζίων Ἄρτης. Ιεζεκιήλ του Προφήτου ς Γ Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Sunday July 21,2013 John and Symeon the Fools for Christ Parthenios, Bishop of Arta Ezekiel the Prophet Ressurectional Apolytikion 3rd Tone Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world. Apolytikion of Sts. Constantine and Helen Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Friend of man. Apolytikion of St. Nicholas, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause, thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved. Kontakion O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant: O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honour thee.

3 φωνάζοντας «Πάτερ να σας πω κάτι που μόλις προ ολίγου συνέβη». Και πριν την αφήγησή της, παρουσία των πιστών, το βλέμμα της έπεσε στην εικόνα του τέμπλου δεξιά, όπου εικονίζεται η κεφαλή της Αγίας Μαρκέλλας, αιμόφυρτη στο κύμα και αναφώνησε: «Να την αυτή την κοπέλα είδα». Και αμέσως άρχισε την αφήγησή της: «Πηγαίναμε με τους Γονείς μου στο Αγίασμα της Αγίας. Στο σημείο της διαδρομής, που υπάρχει ο σταυρός του μαρτυρίου της, είδα στην κορφή του να πλανάται η μορφή μιας μαυροφόρας που πουλούσε παιδικά παιχνίδια. Λέω στους γονείς μου: Νωρίς δεν ήρθε η κοπέλα για το πανηγύρι; Εκείνοι δεν έβλεπαν τίποτε. Τους έδειξα τη κοπέλα κι αμέσως εξαφανίστηκε. Προχωρήσαμε, προσκυνήσαμε στο Αγίασμα και στην επιστροφή, στο ίδιο μέρος, αντίκρισα πάλι τη μαυροφόρα κόρη. Να την, φώναξα., εδώ είναι. Εκείνη σήκωσε το χέρι, με χαιρέτισε και χάθηκε». γ) Σ` έναν από τους ευκαλύπτους του περιβόλου του ναού αποκόπηκε ένα χονδρό κλαδί. Στο σημείο της κοπής σχηματίστηκε το πρόσωπο κοπέλας με μαλλιά κα φωτοστέφανο (εικάζεται ότι είναι η μορφή της Αγίας). Εκτός όμως από τις παραπάνω μαρτυρίες, ο ναός είναι γεμάτος από αναρίθμητα αφιερώματα πιστών, που θεραπεύτηκαν κατά καιρούς, αδιάψευστοι μάρτυρες των θαυμάτων της Αγίας. Πλήθος κόσμου από όλα τα μέρη της Ελλάδας συρρέει στο Ιερό προσκύνημα της Αγίας Μαρκέλλας για να δεχθεί τις ευεργετικές τις δωρεές. Γύρω από το ναό υπάρχουν αρκετοί ξενώνες για προσκυνητές καθώς και άνετος χώρος για κατασκήνωση και παρκάρισμα οχημάτων. St. Markella of Chios, the Much-suffering and Glorious Virgin Martyr - Commemorated on July 22 St. Markella lived in the village of Volissos, Chios in the middle of the fourteenth century. Her parents were Christians, and among the wealthiest citizens of Volissos. Her mother died when she was young, and so her father, the mayor of the village, saw to her education. St. Markella had been trained by her mother to be respectful and devout, and to guard her purity. She avoided associations with other girls who were more outgoing than she was so that she would not come to spiritual harm through such company. Her goal was to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, and to become a bride of Christ. St. Markella increased in virtue as she grew older, fasting, praying, and attending church services. She tried to keep the commandments and to lead others to God. She loved and respected her father, and comforted him in his grief over her mother s death. She told him she would take care of him in his old age and would not abandon him.as an adult, St. Markella was loved by everyone for her beauty and for her spiritual gifts. The devil tried to lure her into sin by placing evil thoughts in her mind. However, St. Markella resisted these temptations and so the devil turned away from a direct confrontation with her. Instead, he incited her father with an unnatural desire for his daughter.εventually, Markella s father changed in his behavior toward his child. He became moody and depressed, forbidding her to go into the garden or to speak with the neighbors. Unable to understand the reason for this change, she went to her room and wept. She prayed before an icon of the Mother of God, asking Her to help him. Soon she fell asleep, only to be awakened by her father s shouting.the unfortunate man had spent a long time struggling against his lust, but finally gave into it. At times he would speak to his daughter roughly, then later he would appear to be gentle. He wanted to be near her, and to stroke her hair. Unaware of her father s intentions, St Markella was happy to see him emerge from his melancholy state, thinking that her prayers had been answered.one day, her father openly declared the nature of his feelings for her. Horrified, Markella tried to avoid him as much as she could. Even the neighbors realized that there was something wrong, so they stopped speaking to him.one day, a shepherd was tending his sheep near the beach, and led them into the shade of a tree to avoid the hot July sun. Just as he was about to lie down, he heard a noise and looked up. He saw a young woman with a torn dress running down the hill. She hid in a nearby bush, ignoring its thorns.the shepherd wondered who was chasing her, and how she had come to this spot. He then heard the sound of a horse approaching, and recognized the mayor of the village. He asked the shepherd if he had seen his daughter., Markella. The shepherd said that he had not seen her, but pointed to her hiding place with his finger.the mayor ordered Markella to come out of the bush, but she refused. He then set fire to the bush in order to force her out. She emerged and ran toward the rocky shore, calling out to the Mother of God for help.markella continued to run, even though blood was flowing from her face and hands. Feeling a sharp pain in her leg, she saw that she had been shot with an arrow. She paused to pull it out, then began to run once more. She scrambled over the rocks, staining them with her blood. Hearing her father getting closer, she prayed that the earth would open up and swallow her.markella sank to her knees, her strength all gone. Then a miracle took place. The rock split open and received her body up to the waist. Her father drew near with wild-eyed joy shouting, I have caught you. Now where will you go? Drawing his sword, he began to butcher his helpless daughter, cutting off pieces of her body. Finally, he seized her by the hair and cut off her head, throwing it into the sea. The calm sea suddenly became stormy, and large waves crashed to the shore near her father s feet. Thinking that the sea was going to drown him because of his crime, he turned and fled. His ultimate fate has not been recorded.later, pious Christians built a church on the spot where St. Markella hid in the bush. The spot where she was killed became known as The Martyrdom of St. Markella, and the rock that opened to receive her is still there. The rock appears to be a large stone that broke off from a mountain and rolled into the sea. Soil from the mountain covers the spot on the side facing the land. On the side facing the ocean is a small hole, about the size of a finger. Healing water flows from the opening, which cures every illness of the faithful. The flow of water is not due to the movements of the tide, because when the tide is out, there would be no water. This, however, is not the case. The water is clear, but some of the nearby rocks have been stained with a reddish-yellow color. According to tradition, the lower extremities of St. Markella s body are still concealed in the rock.the most astonishing thing about the rock is not the warmth of the water, nor the discoloration of the other rocks, but what happens when a priest performs the Blessing of Water. Steam rises up from the water near the rock, and the entire area is covered with a mist. The sea returns to normal as soon as the service is over. Many miracles have occurred at the spot, and pilgrims flock there from all over the world.

4 100th Year Anniversary of Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral and 50th Year Anniversary of A. Fantis Parochial School Anniversary Gala Saturday, November 9, :00pm Stage 6 at Steiner Studios 15 Washington Ave Brooklyn Navy Yard, NY Music by: Yiannis Papastefanou and Come celebrate this significant milestone of our Cathedral and of our School while catching up with old friends and dancing the night away! *** To commemorate this historic year we are preparing a For more information call

5 Προς Ρωμαίους Επιστολής Παύλου το Ανάγνωσμα (6:18-23) Ἀδελφοί, ἐλευθερωθέντες δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐδουλώθητε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. Ἀνθρώπινον λέγω διὰ τὴν ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν. ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ καὶ τῇ ἀνομίᾳ εἰς τὴν ἀνομίαν, οὕτω νῦν παραστήσατε τὰ μέλη ὑμῶν δοῦλα τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ εἰς ἁγιασμόν. Ὅτε γὰρ δοῦλοι ἦτε τῆς ἁμαρτίας, ἐλεύθεροι ἦτε τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ. Τίνα οὖν καρπὸν εἴχετε τότε ἐφ οἷς νῦν ἐπαισχύνεσθε; τὸ γὰρ τέλος ἐκείνων θάνατος. Νυνὶ δὲ ἐλευθερωθέντες ἀπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας δουλωθέντες δὲ τῷ Θεῷ ἔχετε τὸν καρπὸν ὑμῶν εἰς ἁγιασμόν, τὸ δὲ τέλος ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Τὰ γὰρ ὀψώνια τῆς ἁμαρτίας θάνατος, τὸ δὲ χάρισμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ζωὴ αἰώνιος ἐν Χριστῷ Ιησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν. The Reading is according to the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (6:18-23) BRETHREN, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ********************************************************************************************** Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Ματθαῖον Ευαγγελίου το Ανάγνωσμα 8:5-13 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσελθόντος δὲ αὐτοῦ εἰς Καφαρναοὺμ προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἑκατόνταρχος παρακαλῶν αὐτὸνκαὶ λέγων, Κύριε, ὁ παῖς μου βέβληται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ παραλυτικός, δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Εγὼ ἐλθὼν θεραπεύσω αὐτόν. Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος ἔφη, Κύριε, οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς ἵνα μου ὑπὸ τὴν στέγην εἰσέλθῃς ἀλλὰ μόνον εἰπὲ λόγῳ, καὶ ἰαθήσεται ὁ παῖς μου. Καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν, ἔχων ὑπ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας, καὶ λέγω τούτῳ, Πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἄλλῳ, Ερχου, καὶ ἔρχεται, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ μου, Ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ἐθαύμασεν καὶ εἶπεν τοῖς ἀκολουθοῦσιν, Αμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, παρ οὐδενὶ τοσαύτην πίστιν ἐν τῷ Ισραὴλ εὗρον. Λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσμῶν ἥξουσιν καὶ ἀνακλιθήσονται μετὰ Αβραὰμ καὶ Ισαὰκ καὶ Ιακὼβ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐκβληθήσονται εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων. Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Ιησοῦς τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῃ, Ὕπαγε, ὡς ἐπίστευσας γενηθήτω σοι. καὶ ἰάθη ὁ παῖς [αὐτοῦ] ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐκείνῃ. The Reading is According to the Gospel of Matthew 8:5-13 At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

6 Μνημόσυνο Ελένη Καράντζης-Τζόνσον 1 χρόνο Καθημερινές Ακολουθίες 22 Ιουλίου Της Αγίας Μαρίας της Μαγδαληνής και της Αγίας Μαρκέλλας 26 Ιουλίου Η Εορτή της Αγίας Παρασκευής 27 Ιουλίου Η Εορτή του Αγίου Παντελεήμονος Όρθρος 8:30πμ -Θεία Λειτουργία 9:30πμ Σημαντικές Ημερομηνίες Σήμερα- Μέγας Εσπερινός στην Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου για την εορτή της Αγίας Μαρκέλλας-7:30μμ 5 Αυγούστου - Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός της Μεταμορφώσεως στην Μεταμόρφωση (Κορόνα) ( th Street. Corona, N.Y.) 14 Αυγούστου Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός της Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου στην Κοίμηση (Μπρούκλυν) (224 18th Street, Brooklyn)-7:30μμ 15 Σεπτεμβρίου Πίκνικ της Κοινότητος για την αρχή του εκκλησιαστικού έτους μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία 22 Σεπτεμβρίου- Γεύμα Φιλοπτώχου στην αίθουσα της εκκλησίας μετά την Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία υπό του Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Ατλάντας Αλέξιου 9 Νοεμβρίου- Χοροεσπερίδα των εκατόν χρόνων της κοινότητος στο Steiner Studios Memorial Helen Carangis Johnson-1 year Weekday Services July 22 The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene and St. Markella July 26-The Feast of St. Paraskevi July 27-The Feast of St. Panteleimon Orthros 8:30am Liturgy 9:30am Important Dates Today- Great Vespers at Kimisis Church for the Feast of St. Markella -7 :30pm August 5 The Great Vesper of the Transfiguration of Christ, at the church of the Transfiguration ( th Street. Corona, N.Y.) August 14 The Great Vesper of the Dormition of the Theotokos at Kimisi (224 18th Street, Brooklyn)-7:30pm September 15 Community Picnic for the beginning of the Ecclesiastical year following the Divine Liturgy September 22 Philoptochos Luncheon in the church hall after a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan of Atlanta Alexios. November th Year Anniversary Gala at Steiner Studios. Αγία Μαρκέλλα Στο κεφαλοχώρι της Βολισσού σε γραφική ακρογιαλιά βρίσκεται το κτιριακό συγκρότημα του ιερού Προσκυνήματος της Χιοπολίτιδας Αγίας Μαρκέλλας. Εδώ είναι και ο τόπος που μαρτύρησε (1500 μ.χ.). Η Αγία που είχε καταγωγή από τη Βολισσό ορφάνεψε σε μικρή ηλία από μητέρα. Αργότερα οι σωματικές της καλλονές άναψαν αμαρτωλούς πόθους στο σαρκολάτρη πατέρα της, στις κτηνώδεις επιθυμίες του οποίου δεν ήθελε να υποκύψει και γι αυτό εγκατέλειψε το σπίτι και κατέφυγε στα βουνά.ο παράφρων πατέρας της την ανακάλυψε. Έβαλε φωτιά στη πυκνή βάτο που κρυβόταν και στη συνέχεια τη καταδίωξε και με το βέλος του τη πλήγωσε. Εκείνη προσευχήθηκε και παρακάλεσε να σχισθεί η πέτρα που πατούσε για να τη σώσει. Η γη άνοιξε και την κατάπιε έως το στήθος. Ο σκληρός πατέρας της την πρόφτασε και της απέκοψε τους μαστούς και ύστερα το κεφάλι, το οποίο και έριξε στη θάλασσα. Το μέρος εκείνο που καθαγιάσθηκε από την αιμόφυρτη κεφαλή της Αγίας συχνά μετατρέπεται σε θαυματουργική πηγή με ιαματικό νερό. Και στον τόπο του κρησφύγετου της βάτου, η ευσέβεια των πιστών ύψωσε συμπαθητικό ναό αφιερωμένο στο όνομά της. Την ημέρα της εορτής της στις 22 Ιουλίου, παρουσία αρχών του νησιού και κοσμοσυρροής πιστών, γίνεται με κάθε επισημότητα, η λιτάνευση της Ιερής Εικόνας της και κάθε χρόνο η Αγία θαυματουργεί στη χάρη της.μερικά από τα πολλά θαύματά της σε παλαιότερους χρόνους (17ο και 18ο αιώνα), όπως αναφέρονται στο Χιακό Λειμωνάριο είναι: η θεραπεία των δύο ασθενών παιδιών (δύο ιερέων από τη Βολισσό), η σωτηρία από βέβαιο θάνατο γυναίκας μισοπεθαμένης στον Άγιο Γιώργη στο Φλώρι του Βροντάδου, το φως που χάρισε σε τυφλό παιδί, η ίαση σε ασθενή κοπέλλα από τα Ψαρά που έπασχε από ανίατο νόσημα στο στόμα, η θαυματουργική επέμβασή της σε ανίκανο χρόνια πολλά να περπατήσει ασθενή, η θεραπεία παράλυτης γυναίκας και άλλα. Αλλά και τώρα τελευταία (Ιούλιος 1992) ο αυτόπτης μάρτυρας αιδεσιμότατος Νικόλαος Μακρής μας ιστορεί τα ακόλουθα πρόσφατα περιστατικά, που η Αγία έκανε την θαυματουργική παρουσία της: α) Ενώ ο ίδιος τελούσε μπροστά σε προσκυνητές την Παράκληση στο Αγίασμά της, την ώρα του Ευαγγελίου το νερό έβραζε κι έχασε την αλμυρή του γεύση. β) Κατά τη Θεία Λειτουργία στο «Μετά φόβου Θεού..» μια νεαρή Ελληνοαμερικανίδα, μπήκε ανάσταση στο ναό της Αγίας