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 (516) ~ Clergy: Fr. John Lardas, Fr. Joshua Pappas, Fr. Dennis Strouzas 2 nd Mode ~ 11 th Morning Gospel September 1, 2019 ~ The New Ecclesiastical Year The New Ecclesiastical Year Happy New Year! Today, we celebrate the beginning of a New Ecclesiastical Year. Why this date? In the ancient agrarian culture from which Christianity emerged, September 1 st was a time of critical transition; it marked the end of the harvest (i.e. the gathering of crops) as well as the beginning of the new harvest (i.e. the planting of seeds). In our modern world of convenience, we feel less dependent on yearly agricultural production, though the Orthodox Church has retained September 1 st as the beginning of the year. More profound than making New Year s resolutions that enervate over time, the Feast of the Ecclesiastical New Year is an invitation to re-center our lives on Christ. Part of this return depends on whether or not we take advantage of one of the gifts associated with the Feast: the rhythm of the Liturgical year. This rhythm has several layers: daily Scripture readings, major feasts (commemorating primary events of salvation history), fast / feast periods, and the commemoration of specific saints and holy events. In the Liturgical year, we contemplate Christ directly and also through His glorified saints; either way, all roads lead to Christ. This is important because it gives us a sense of rhythm, with Christ at the center. Without a deliberate rhythm, our lives can go in many different directions, and often the destination is neither foreseen nor desired. Many things can wrongfully occupy the center of our lives: perhaps we place ourselves at the center, or perhaps work is at the center, or family, or something else. Maybe I line up everything in my life - job, marriage, house, children, friendships, hobbies, vacations - and then I place a bit of Orthodoxy in there too. It is rather easy for God to become a mere spiritual feature of my life, a life centered primarily around other things. Instead, here and now in the New Ecclesiastical Year, we re presented with an opportunity. The Church gives us a Liturgical rhythm daily, weekly, monthly, yearly to help us relate to God and the world around us in a new, transfigured, divine manner. This different framework sees God everywhere and rejoices in His presence, expressed aptly in one of the Orthros hymns of the Feast: Christ our God, You made all things in wisdom, establishing proper times and seasons for our lives. We give thanks to You in all circumstances and for all things. Bless this new year with Your grace, and make us worthy with a pure heart to praise You at all times. Αρχή της Ινδίκτου: Το περασμένο Σάββατο, η Εκκλησία μας εόρτασε την Αρχή της Ινδίκτου, δηλαδή αρχή του νέου Εκκλησιαστικού έτους. Για την περίπτωση αυτή, ο Άγιος Νικόδημος ο Αγιορείτης γράφει στον Συναξαριστή του: «H Eκκλησία του Xριστού κάμνει σήμερον ενθύμησιν της Iνδίκτου, και εορτάζει την αρχήν του νέου χρόνου: ήγουν, ίνα διά μέσου της υμνωδίας και ικεσίας, οπού προσφέρομεν εις τον Θεόν εν τη εορτή ταύτη, γένη ο Θεός ίλεως εις ημάς, και ευλογήση τον νέον χρόνον, και χαρίση τούτον εις ημάς ευτυχή και γεμάτον από όλα τα σωματικά αγαθά. Kαι ίνα φωτίση τας διανοίας μας, εις το να περάσωμεν όλον τον χρόνον καθαρώς και με αγαθήν συνείδησιν, και εις το να ευαρεστήσωμεν τω Θεώ, με την φύλαξιν των εντολών του. Kαι ούτω να τύχωμεν των εν Oυρανοίς αιωνίων αγαθών». (*Οι πληροφορίες είναι από:

2 Άγιοι και Εορτές Τῇ Αʹ τοῦ αὐτοῦ µηνός, ἀρχὴ τῆς Ἰνδίκτου, ἤτοι τοῦ νέου Ἕτους. Tοῦ Συµεὼν τοῦ Στυλίτου. Tῆς Ὁσίας Εὐανθίας. H κοίµησις Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναυῇ. Tῶν Ἁγίων τεσσαράκοντα γυναικῶν, Μαρτύρων, Παρθένων καὶ Ἀσκητριῶν, καὶ Ἀµµοὺν Διακόνου καὶ διδασκάλου αὐτῶν. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιµον Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾍδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάµεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡµῶν δόξα σοι. Τῆς Ἰνδίκτου Ὁ πάσης δηµιουργὸς τῆς κτίσεως, ὁ καιροὺς καὶ χρόνους ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ θέµενος, εὐλόγησον τὸν στέφανον τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ τῆς χρηστότητός σου Κύριε, φυλάττων ἐν εἰρήνῃ τοὺς Βασιλεῖς καὶ τὴν πόλιν σου, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου, καὶ σῶσον ἡµᾶς. Τῆς Θεοτόκου Χαῖρε κεχαριτωµένη Θεοτόκε Παρθένε, λιµὴν καὶ προστασία τοῦ γένους τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐσαρκώθη ὁ Λυτρωτὴς τοῦ κόσµου µόνη γὰρ ὑπάρχεις Μήτηρ καὶ Παρθένος, ἀεὶ εὐλογηµένη καὶ δεδοξασµένη, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, εἰρήνην δωρήσασθαι, πάσῃ τῇ οἰκουµένῃ. Τοῦ Ὁσίου Ὑποµονῆς στῦλος γέγονας, ζηλώσας τοὺς προπάτορας Ὅσιε, τὸν Ἰὼβ ἐν τοῖς πάθεσι, τὸν Ἰωσὴφ ἐν τοῖς πειρασµοῖς, καὶ τὴν τῶν Ἀσωµάτων πολιτείαν, ὑπάρχων ἐν σώµατι, Συµεὼν Πατὴρ ἡµῶν Ὅσιε, 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. Κοντάκιον (Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ) Ὁ τῶν αἰώνων Ποιητὴς καὶ Δεσπότης, Θεὲ τῶν ὅλων ὑπερούσιε ὄντως, τὴν ἐνιαύσιον εὐλόγησον περίοδον, σῴζων τῷ ἐλέει σου, τῷ ἀπείρῳ οἰκτίρµων, πάντας τοὺς λατερεύοντας, σοὶ τῷ µόνῳ Δεσπότῃ, καὶ ἐκβοῶντας φόβῳ Λυτρωτά, εὔφορον πᾶσι τὸ ἔτος χορήγησον. Saints and Feasts On September 1 is the beginning of the Indiction, i.e. the new [Ecclesiastical] Year; Saint Symeon the Stylite; Saint Evanthia; the repose of Righteous Joshua, son of Nun; the forty holy women Martyrs, Virgins, and Ascetics, and also their teacher, the Deacon Ammon. Hymn of the Resurrection (2 nd Mode) When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You. Hymn of the Indiction (2 nd Mode) O Fashioner of all creation, who made seasons and years by Your own authority, bless the crown of the year with Your goodness, O Lord, and preserve our rulers and Your city in peace, at the intercession of the Theotokos, and save us. Hymn of the Theotokos (Grave Mode) Rejoice, Maiden full of grace, O Virgin Theotokos; a haven and protection are you for all of mankind. From you did the Redeemer of the world become incarnate, only you are both a Mother and a Virgin. O Lady ever blessed and ever filled with glory, intercede with Christ God, beseeching Him to grant peace to the universe. Hymn of the Devout Man (1 st Mode) You became a pillar of patience, O devout one, emulating the forefathers, Job in his sufferings and Joseph in his temptations, and the manner of the bodiless, though you were still in body. O devout father Symeon, intercede with Christ God, to save our souls. Hymn of the Archangels (4 th Mode) Supreme Commanders of * the armies of Heaven, * we, the unworthy ones, entreat you in earnest, * that with 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 hosts on high. Kontakion (4 th Mode) You, the Creator and the Lord of the ages, O God of all, truly transcending all essence, we earnestly entreat, that You will bless the year, and, O tender-loving Lord, in Your infinite mercy, only Master, save us all who worship and serve You, O our Redeemer, and who cry with fear, "For all Your servants, make fruitful the coming year."

3 1 Tim. 2:1-7 Timothy, my son, first of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 1 Tim. 2:1-7 Τέκνον Τιµόθεε, παρακαλῶ οὖν πρῶτον πάντων ποιεῖσθαι δεήσεις, προσευχάς, ἐντεύξεις, εὐχαριστίας, ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεµον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωµεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεµνότητι. Τοῦτο γὰρ καλὸν καὶ ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡµῶν Θεοῦ, ὃς πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλει σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν. Εἷς γὰρ Θεός, εἷς καὶ µεσίτης Θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων, ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ιησοῦς, ὁ δοὺς ἑαυτὸν ἀντίλυτρον ὑπὲρ πάντων, τὸ µαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδίοις, εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κήρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος,- ἀλήθειαν λέγω ἐν Χριστῷ, οὐ ψεύδοµαι,- διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀληθεία. Luke 4:16-22 At that time, Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Kατὰ Λουκᾶν 4:16-22 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ναζαρά, οὗ ἦν τεθραµµένος, καὶ εἰσῆλθε κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡµέρᾳ τῶν σαββάτων εἰς τὴν συναγωγήν, καὶ ἀνέστη ἀναγνῶναι.καὶ ἐπεδόθη αὐτῷ βιβλίον Ησαΐου τοῦ προφήτου, καὶ ἀναπτύξας τὸ βιβλίον εὗρε τὸν τόπον οὗ ἦν γεγραµµένον Πνεῦµα Κυρίου ἐπ ἐµέ, οὗ εἵνεκεν ἔχρισέ µε, εὐαγγελίσασθαι πτωχοῖς ἀπέσταλκέ µε, ἰάσασθαι τοὺς συντετριµµένους τὴν καρδίαν, κηρῦξαι αἰχµαλώτοις ἄφεσιν καὶ τυφλοῖς ἀνάβλεψιν, ἀποστεῖλαι τεθραυσµένους ἐν ἀφέσει, κηρῦξαι ἐνιαυτὸν Κυρίου δεκτόν. καὶ πτύξας τὸ βιβλίον ἀποδοὺς τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ ἐκάθισε καὶ πάντων ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ οἱ ὀφθαλµοὶ ἦσαν ἀτενίζοντες αὐτῷ.ἤρξατο δὲ λέγειν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὅτι σήµερον πεπλήρωται ἡ γραφὴ αὕτη ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν ὑµῶν. καὶ πάντες ἐµαρτύρουν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐθαύµαζον ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις τῆς χάριτος τοῖς ἐκπορευοµένοις ἐκ τοῦ στόµατος αὐτοῦ.

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7 Wishing everyone a blessed and prosperous New Ecclesiastical Year here at Archangel Michael Church! *Please start bringing in some fresh basil that we can bless and distribute on Saturday, September 14th, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Orthros 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am) Worship Schedule: Fri., Sept. 6 ~ Remembrance of Miracle of Archangel Michael at Chonae: Orthros 8:30 am, Liturgy 9:30 am GOYA News: Registration and Ice Cream Social: Friday September 6th, 7:30 pm. All youth are invited to register for GOYA and Athletics! Come register, make an ice cream sundae, meet new GOYAns, and reconnect with your friends! Sunday School News: The first day of Sunday School and Registration is Sunday, September 8th. Sunday School begins at 9:30am and we would like for all the children to go directly to their classrooms at that time. This year on the first day of class we will have ice cream for all the children right after receiving Holy Communion. So please come and make your own Ice Cream Sundaes! Welcome Back Sunday - Next Sunday, September 8th, following Divine Liturgy: Representatives of our Church s many ministries will be ready to greet you, answer your questions, and assist with signing you and your family members up for our many beautiful ministries here at AMC. There is something available for everyone in the family! Please be sure to attend and plan to get involved in the exciting new year ahead! Memorials: Panos Rontoyiannis (Peter Rondos) ~ 40 days Upcoming Events: ~ Greek Festival on the Harbor: September (see flyer) ~ Fabulous Finds now available for sale! Sundays after Liturgy; and Tuesday & Thursdays from 10am - 12 noon ~ Save the Date: 5K Walk / Run - Saturday, October 26th

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