Transfiguration of our Lord

Transcript

1 Sunday Bulletin June 14, ndSunday of Matthew Elisha the Prophet ; Methodios Pat. Of Constantinoupol Transfiguration of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church 414 St. Stephens School Road Austin, Texas (512) office@transfiguration.org website - Sunday Service Schedule Orthros 8:15am; Divine Liturgy 9:30am Reverend Fr. Vasileios Flegas, Proistamenos

2 Hymns Resurrection Hymn Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε. Tu lithu sfragisthentos ipo ton Iutheon, ke stratioton filassonton to ahranton Su soma, anestis triimeros Sotir, thorumenos to kosmo tin zoin. Thia tuto e thinamis ton uranon evoon si Zoothota. Thoxa ti Anastasi Su Christe, Thoxa ti Vasilia Su, Thoxa ti ikonomia Su, mone filanthrope. The stone that had been sealed before Your tomb by the Jews and the soldiers guarding did watch oe r Your pure and sacred body O Savior the third day You arose, and unto all the world did You give life where by all the heavenly powers did proclaim that You are the giver of life Glory unto our resurrected Christ, Glory unto Your Kingdom, Glory to Your dispensation O You alone who loves all. Hymn of Elisha Ὁ ἔνσαρκος ἄγγελος, τῶν Προφητῶν ἡ κρηπίς, ὁ δεύτερος Πρόδρομος τῆς παρουσίας Χριστοῦ, Ἠλίας ὁ ἔνδοξος, ἄνωθεν καταπέμψας, Ἐλισαίῳ τὴν χάριν, νόσους ἀποδιώκει, καὶ λεπροὺς καθαρίζει διὸ καὶ τοῖς τιμῶσιν αὐτὸν βρύει ἰάματα. The incarnate Angel, and the Prophets' summit and boast, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ our God, Elias, the glorious, from above sent down his grace upon Elisseus; he doth cast out sickness and doth also cleanse lepers; and unto all that honor him, he poureth forth streams of cures. 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. Metemorfothis en to ori, Christe o Theos, dixas tis mathites Sou tin doxan Sou, kathos idynando Lampson ke imin tis amartolis to fos Sou to aidion, presvies tis Theotokou Fotodota doxa Si. 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. By 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 - St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 2:10-16 Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus Ἀδελφοί, δόξα δὲ καὶ τιμὴ καὶ εἰρήνη παντὶ τῷ ἐργαζομένῳ τὸ ἀγαθόν, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι οὐ γάρ ἐστιν προσωποληψία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ. Ὅσοι γὰρ ἀνόμως ἥμαρτον, ἀνόμως καὶ ἀπολοῦνται καὶ ὅσοι ἐν νόμῳ ἥμαρτον, διὰ νόμου κριθήσονται οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἀκροαταὶ τοῦ νόμου δίκαιοι παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, ἀλλʼ οἱ ποιηταὶ τοῦ νόμου δικαιωθήσονται. Ὅταν γὰρ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τὰ τοῦ νόμου ποιῇ, οὗτοι, νόμον μὴ ἔχοντες, ἑαυτοῖς εἰσιν νόμος οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως, καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων, ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὅτε κρινεῖ ὁ θεὸς τὰ κρυπτὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου, διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Gospel - Matthew 4:18-23 At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, περιπατῶν δὲ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδε δύο ἀδελφούς, Σίμωνα τὸν λεγόμενον Πέτρον καὶ Ανδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων. οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ. Καὶ προβὰς ἐκεῖθεν εἶδεν ἄλλους δύο ἀδελφούς, Ιάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ιωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ Ζεβεδαίου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς. οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὸ πλοῖον καὶ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ. Καὶ περιῆγεν ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ὁ Ιησοῦς διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ. JOIN US TODAY IN MT. TABOR HALL TO HELP ASSEMBLE HYGIENE KITS FOR THE FLOOD VICTIMS IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA

4 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. he is always wrestling in prayer for you (Colossians 4:12) 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, SPC Mindy Keys, SPC Andrew Bentzel, MAJ Scot Thornhill, CPT Christopher Gilbert, CPT. Alexander Stathos, 1st LT Angela Bahlatzis, MIDN 1/C Joseph Barone, SGT Walter Hurbert ( Nikolaos ) Willoughby IV, LCDR Thomas Uhl, The Prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) Prayers for Health JoGeo, Konstantinos, Shelly, Ruthie, Barbara, Samantha, Maria, Efstathia, Tony, Rouba, Sarah, Emily, Kynlee, Wesley, Afrodite, Nick, Nicholas Wyatt, Cameren, Helen, Chrissy, Nancy, MaryAnn, Marian, Tina, Salin, George-Panagiotis, Raphael, Marta, Guadalupe, Caroline, John, Lili, Archie, Kelsey, Eva, Virginia, Makena, Dolly, Afrodite, Alexandros, Lou, Thomas, Greg, Bill, Kathryn, John, Kathy, Nakis, Maggie, Rosemary, Mindy, Pat, Louella, Steve, Marie, Clifford, Tina, Cynthia, Chad, Douglas, Mat. Sissy Yerger, Fr. Paul, Katerina, Vasili, Harry, Angie, Francis, Petya, Thomas, Romeo, John, John, Brenda, Georgie, Dale, Dale, Anna, Brenda, Carol, Jan, Nick, Damon, Afrodite, Nick, Alex,, John, Fr. Jason and family, Presv. Tiffany, Maria, David, Boyd, Chris, Jennifer, Jay, Dede, Michael, Jason, Ling, Josh, Chrissy, Bradley, Jim, Patricia, Argyre-Lisa, Rick, Milton, Gregg, Aphrodite, Carol, Lisa, Johanna, Candace, Kyle, Nicholas, Alex, Boriska, Judith, Dominique, Stephen, Irenaeus, Alexander, Mike, Lori, Annie, Anesti, Efstathia, Hannah, Papoulas, Anna, Cecelia, James, Celie, Sheila, Kathi, Paul, Marie, Robert (Raphael), Bill,

5 Prophet Elisha The Holy Prophet Elisha lived in the ninth century before the Birth of Christ, and was a native of the village of Abelmaum, near Jordan. By the command of the Lord he was called to prophetic service by the holy Prophet Elias (July 20). When it became time for the Prophet Elias to be taken up to Heaven, he said to Elisha, Ask what shall I do for you, before I am taken from you. Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of the grace of God: Let there be a double portion of your spirit upon me. The Prophet Elias said, You have asked a hard thing; if you see me when I am taken from you, then so shall it be for you; but if you don t see me, it wilt not be (4 [2] Kings 2: 12). As they went along the way talking, there appeared a fiery chariot and horses and separated them both. Elisha cried out, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horse! (4 Kings 2: 12). Picking up the mantle of his teacher which fell from the sky, Elisha received the power and prophetic gift of Elias. He spent more than 65 years in prophetic service, under six Israelite kings (from Ahab to Joash). While Elisha lived, he did not tremble before any prince, and no word could overcome him (Sirach 48: 13 [ Sirach is called Ecclesiasticus in Catholic Bibles ]). The holy prophet worked numerous miracles. He divided the waters of the Jordan, having struck it with the mantle of the Prophet Elias; he made the waters of a Jericho spring fit for drinking; he saved the armies of the kings of Israel and Judah that stood in an arid wilderness by bringing forth abundant water by his prayer; he delivered a poor widow from death by starvation through a miraculous increase of oil in a vessel. The Shunamite woman showing hospitality to the prophet was gladdened by the birth of a son through his prayer, and when the child died, he was raised back to life by the prophet. The Syrian military-commander Namaan was healed from leprosy but the prophet s servant Gehazi was afflicted since he disobeyed the prophet and took money from Namaan on the sly. Elisha predicted to the Israelite king Joash the victory over his enemies, and by the power of his prayer he worked many other miracles (4 Kings 3-13). The holy Prophet Elisha died in old age at Samaria. In his life he worked miracles, and at death his works were marvellous (Sir. 48: 15). A year after his death, a corpse was thrown into the prophet s grave. As soon as the dead man touched Elisha s bones, he came to life and stood up (4 Kings 13: 20-21). The Prophet Elisha and his teacher, the Prophet Elias, left no books behind them, since their prophetic preaching was oral. Jesus, son of Sirach, praised both great prophets (Sir. 48:1-15). John of Damascus composed a canon in honor of the Prophet Elisha, and at Constantinople a church was built in his honor. Julian the Apostate ( ) gave orders to burn the relics of the Prophet Elisha, Abdia (Obadiah) and John the Forerunner, but the holy relics were preserved by believers, and part of them were transferred to Alexandria. In the twentieth century, the humble priest Nicholas Planas had a great veneration for the Prophet Elisha, and was accounted worthy to see him in visions.

6 St Methodius the Patriarch of Constantinople Saint Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople, was born in Sicily into a rich family. Having a vocation to serve God, he went while still in his youth off to a monastery on the island of Chios and renovated it with his means. During the reign of the iconoclast Leo the Armenian ( ), Methodius held the high position of apokrisiaros ( advocate for Church matters ) under the holy Patriarch Nicephoros (June 2). He was dispatched by the patriarch to Rome on a mission to the papacy and he remained there. During this period Leo the Armenian removed Nicephoros from the patriarchal throne and put on it the iconoclast Theodotus of Melissinea, given the nickname Kassiter ( Tinman ) ( ). After the death of Leo the Armenian, Saint Methodius returned, and in the dignity of presbyter he struggled incessantly against the Iconoclast heresy. The emperor Michael the Stammerer ( ) at first was noted for his benevolence and he set free many imprisoned by his predecessor for their veneration of icons, but after a while he renewed the persecution against Orthodoxy. Saint Methodius was locked up in prison in Akrita. After the death of Michael the Stammerer, the ruler was Theophilus ( ), who also was an iconoclamore refined a man than his father, he set free Saint Methodius, who likewise was a man of learning, superbly skilled in matters not only ecclesial, but also civil. Having received his freedom, Saint Methodius renewed the struggle with the heretics, and for a while the emperor tolerated this. But after defeat in a war with the Arabs, Theophilus vented his anger against Methodius, saying, that God had punished him because he had letan icon-worshipper come close to him. Methodius objected, saying that the Lord was angry with him for the insults upon His holy icons. They gave the saint over to tortures, and struck him much about the face, from which his jaw was broken. Ugly scars remained on his face. Methodius was sent off to the island of Antigonos and he was locked up there with two robbers in a deep cave. In this dark prison where the light of day did not penetrate, Methodius languished for 7 years until the death of the emperor Theophilus. During this time, the holy Confessors Theodore and Theophanes the Branded (December 27), who had also been sent to prison, sent Methodius greetings in verse, and the prisoner replied with greetings in verse, as well. After the death of Theophilus, his son Michael III ( ) began to rule, but not being of mature age, the Byzantine Empire was actually ruled by his mother, the empress Theodora, a venerater of icons. The empress tired to extirpate the Iconoclast heresy, and gave orders to free the confessors imprisoned for icon veneration. The heretic Annios occupying the patriarchal throne was banished, and Saint Methodius chosen in his place. At Constantinople was convened a local Council with Saint Methodius presiding (842). The Council restored icon veneration and established an annual celebration of the triumph of Orthodoxy. The Synodikon of Orthodoxy compiled by Saint Methodius is read on the First Sunday of Great Lent. Attempting to undermine the authority of Saint Methodius, and also the love and esteem of his flock for him, the heretics slandered him as having transgressed chastity. The slander was exposed as such, and the enemies of the saint put to shame. The final years of the saint passed peacefully, he toiled much, wisely guided the Church and his flock, renovated temples ruined by the heretics, gathered up the relics of saints scattered about by the heretics, and transferred the relics of Patriarch Nicephorus from the place of his imprisonment back to Constantinople. Saint Methodius died in the year 846. He was spiritually close to Ioannikos (4 November), who had foretold that he would become patriarch and also the time of his death. Besides the Synodikon of Orthodoxy, the holy hierarch also compiled a rule for those converted to the Faith, three rites of marriage and several pastoral sermons and church hymns.

7 SAVE THE DATE!!! St. Nicholas Vacation Church Camp August 3-7 Registration is now open! Camp St. Nicholas is for all children from 2 years old to those entering 5th grade in the Fall, and children from all over the Austin area are welcome to attend! Camp runs from Monday, August 3 - Thursday, August 7, from 9:00-12:00 at Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 414 St. Stephens School Road, every day. On Saturday, August 8, we hope you'll join us for a Family Field Trip to Holy Archangel's Monastery in Kendalia, Texas Mini Retreat at Transfiguration Saturday, June 27 All women in our parish are invited to our next miniretreat with Father Vasileios and Presbytera Vasiliki, sponsored by TGOC Philoptochos. Please mark your calendars for Saturday, June 27. We will have breakfast at 8:30am and the retreat will start at 9am with a break for lunch at 12pm. More details to follow soon. Arabian Nights at St. Elias to benefit IOCC has been rescheduled for sometime in September Arabian Nights is coming back to St. Elias but it had to be rescheduled for September. The exact date will be announced later. Once again we will have the opportunity to help IOCC help the less fortunate around the globe. Live music, DJ, mezzes, and chilling under the stars, Arabian style! The cost will be $40, which includes mezzes and drink. The Retreat at Balcones Springs September 18 - September 20 A Parish wide retreat! Our first Parish wide camp for all members, where we can all relax and put behind us our everyday troubles and worries while we grow our faith and understanding of Orthodoxy. Council of Ministries Meeting Wednesday, June 24, Mt. Tabor, 7pm Our next quarterly Council of Ministries Meeting will be in Mount Tabor Hall, Wednesday, June 24, 2015 immediately following the Paraklesis Service that starts at 6pm. Please plan to attend and bring your Committee or Ministry calendar for the next year so that we can coordinate our activities with Father, and each other, up through Consecration next year. This is a potluck meeting and since it falls during the Apostles fasting, please bring your favorite Lenten food to share and we will, again, break bread together. If you can not attend, please send your calendar of planned events for the year so that we can include them in the discussions. Please RSVP with the office at

8 WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS Sunday, June 14, 2015 Services for this Week There are no services this week and there will be NO VESPERS on Saturday, June 20. GOLF and MOMMY & ME Thursday mornings at 10am GOLF (Greek Orthodox Ladies Fellowship) and Mommy & Me (a ministry that focuses on mothers and their children) ministries are getting together on Thursday mornings at 10am in Mt. Tabor Hall to study the book The Acts of the Apostles: Spreading the Word, by Lawrence R. Farley, which is available for purchase at our bookstore. All ladies are welcome to join the groups and of course, their little ones or not so little ones as well. There will be a short social hour until 10:30am to get to know each other and then we will start our study. IMPORTANT Special Parish Assembly Meeting Sunday, June 28 With the momentum of next year's consecration already upon us, the fundraising committee has proposed that the Capital Campaign be expanded to encompass more of the future development of our site. Come hear about and help decide our future as we will be making the most important financial decision since moving ahead with the construction of the sanctuary. Therefore, your comments and vote are critical to our future. Thank you to last week s Coffee Hour Sponsors Kounelias, Kourkounakis, Kwasny, Lambros, Leara Thank you to this weeks Coffee Hour Sponsors: Sewell, Miller, Maziasz, Maziasz, Meador Next week s Coffee Hour Sponsors: Lerman, Leatherwood, Levendakes, Lindsey, Long, Mankarious Thank you to last week s ushers: Stephen Dow (PCM) Harry Stamatis, Brian Holland, Allen Wynn Thank you to today's ushers: Allen Wynn (PCM) Maria Miller, Anita Jones, James Kalpaxis Next week s ushers are: Tom Gouris (PCM) Nyda Glaros, Kevin Korioth, Tricia Korioth