Sunday of the 318 Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicaea

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1 Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church 8306 NC HWY 751 Durham NC News & Announcements May 28, 2017 Sunday of the 318 Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicaea The Holy Hieromartyr Eutychius, Bishop of Melitene Nikitas, Bishop of Chalcedon Heladios the Hieromartyr of the East Eutechios, Bishop of Mytilene Helikonis the Martyr Zacharias the New Martyr NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy 10:00 am To Our Visitors and Guests We welcome you to worship with us today, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not a sacrament, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning please join us in the Church hall for fellowship and refreshments. Please complete a Visitor's Card before you leave today and drop it in the offering tray, or give it to one of the parishioners after the service, or mail it to the church Office. The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord. Verse: Oh God, hear my cry. Today's Readings: The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, 1

2 not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ. Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου. Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 20:16-18, τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα είναι απο Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἔκρινεν ὁ Παῦλος παραπλεῦσαι τὴν Ἔφεσον, ὅπως μὴ γένηται αὐτῷ χρονοτριβῆσαι ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ ἔσπευδεν γάρ, εἰ δυνατὸν ἦν αὐτῷ, τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς γενέσθαι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς Μιλήτου πέμψας εἰς Ἔφεσον μετεκαλέσατο τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας. Ὡς δὲ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτόν, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, προσέχετε οὖν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ, ἐν ᾧ ὑμᾶς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἔθετο ἐπισκόπους, ποιμαίνειν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ θεοῦ, ἣν περιεποιήσατο διὰ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος. Ἐγὼ γὰρ οἶδα τοῦτο, ὅτι εἰσελεύσονται μετὰ τὴν ἄφιξίν μου λύκοι βαρεῖς εἰς ὑμᾶς, μὴ φειδόμενοι τοῦ ποιμνίου καὶ ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ἀναστήσονται ἄνδρες λαλοῦντες διεστραμμένα, τοῦ ἀποσπᾷν τοὺς μαθητὰς ὀπίσω αὐτῶν. Διὸ γρηγορεῖτε, μνημονεύοντες ὅτι τριετίαν νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν οὐκ ἐπαυσάμην μετὰ δακρύων νουθετῶν ἕνα ἕκαστον. Καὶ τὰ νῦν παρατίθεμαι ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, τῷ θεῷ καὶ τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, τῷ δυναμένῳ ἐποικοδομῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι ὑμῖν κληρονομίαν ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πᾶσιν. Ἀργυρίου ἢ χρυσίου ἢ ἱματισμοῦ οὐδενὸς ἐπεθύμησα. Αὐτοὶ γινώσκετε ὅτι ταῖς χρείαις μου καὶ τοῖς οὖσιν μετʼ ἐμοῦ ὑπηρέτησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὗται. Πάντα ὑπέδειξα ὑμῖν, ὅτι οὕτως κοπιῶντας δεῖ ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν ἀσθενούντων, μνημονεύειν τε τῶν λόγων τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ, ὅτι αὐτὸς εἶπεν, Μακάριόν ἐστιν μᾶλλον The Gospel According to John 17:1-13 At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made. "I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves." 2

3 Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 17:1-13 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ὁ Ιησοῦς, καὶ ἐπῆρε τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ εἶπε πάτερ, ἐλήλυθεν ἡ ὥρα δόξασόν σου τὸν υἱόν, ἵνα καὶ ὁ υἱός σου δοξάσῃ σε, καθὼς ἔδωκας αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν πάσης σαρκός, ἵνα πᾶν ὃ δέδωκας αὐτῷ δώσῃ αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωή, ἵνα γινώσκωσί σε τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν Θεὸν καὶ ὃν ἀπέστειλας Ιησοῦν Χριστόν. ἐγώ σε ἐδόξασα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τὸ ἔργον ἐτελείωσα ὃ δέδωκάς μοι ἵνα ποιήσω καὶ νῦν δόξασόν με σύ, πάτερ, παρὰ σεαυτῷ τῇ δόξῃ ᾗ εἶχον πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι παρὰ σοί. Εφανέρωσά σου τὸ ὄνομα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις οὓς δέδωκάς μοι ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου. σοὶ ἦσαν καὶ ἐμοὶ αὐτοὺς δέδωκας, καὶ τὸν λόγον σου τετηρήκασι. νῦν ἔγνωκαν ὅτι πάντα ὅσα δέδωκάς μοι παρὰ σοῦ ἐστιν ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα ἃ δέδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον, καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας. Εγὼ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐρωτῶ οὐ περὶ τοῦ κόσμου ἐρωτῶ, ἀλλὰ περὶ ὧν δέδωκάς μοι, ὅτι σοί εἰσι, καὶ τὰ ἐμὰ πάντα σά ἐστι καὶ τὰ σὰ ἐμά, καὶ δεδόξασμαι ἐν αὐτοῖς. καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ οὗτοι ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ εἰσί, καὶ ἐγὼ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι. πάτερ ἅγιε, τήρησον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ᾧ δέδωκάς μοι, ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν καθὼς ἡμεῖς. ὅτε ἤμην μετ αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, ἐγὼ ἐτήρουν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου οὓς δέδωκάς μοι ἐφύλαξα, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀπώλετο εἰ μὴ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας, ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ. νῦν δὲ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι, καὶ ταῦτα λαλῶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἵνα ἔχωσι τὴν χαρὰν τὴν ἐμὴν πεπληρωμένην ἐν αὐτοῖς. PROJECTS TO DATE: January 16 January 30 February 20 June 4-5 July 23 September 24 October 8 November December 2 December 10 May 6-7 June 17 September 9 October 7 November Evening of Music Spaghetti Event Gyro Event Greek Festival Gyro Event Evening of Jazz Greek Style Chicken Dinner & Pastry Athenian Grill and Pastry Christmas Concert Holiday Greek Pastries Greek Festival Gyro Feast Yard Sale Chicken Dinner Athenian Grill & Pastry Sale Gyro Feast - Save the Date - June 17th 3

4 Welcome to the online home of Tim Challies, blogger, author, and book reviewer. Setting & Purpose The First Council of Nicaea was convened in 325 by the Roman Emperor Constantine. Constantine had hoped to unite his empire under the banner of Christianity, but now saw such unity threatened by a grave theological dispute. Hosius of Cordoba recommended a council as the means to address the brewing controversy and Constantine responded by calling church leaders to Nicaea in Bithynia (modern-day Iznik, Turkey). Somewhere between 250 and 318 bishops from across the Roman empire attended, and the council began its formal deliberations on May 20. The major issue the council was charged with addressing was the nature of Christ s divinity, and in particular, the relationship between the Father and the Son. As a secondary matter the council was to debate the celebration of Easter. Major Characters The two most important figures at the council were Athanasius, a young deacon who came as a companion to Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, and Arius, a controversial presbyter and priest from Alexandria. Constantine was present as an overseer, but did not vote. The Conflict The conflict at the heart of the First Council of Nicaea involved the nature of God the Son in relation to God the Father. On one side of the conflict were those who held that Jesus Christ was created by the Father and on the other side were those who held that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Father. Arius was the lead proponent of the created position. He held that God the Son was God s first creation and that through him everything else was made (Colossians 1:15). This made the Son the only direct creation of the Father and thus unique among all creation as the first and greatest created being. He believed that the Father s divinity was greater than the Son s, and cited John 14:28 in support of his position: You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Arius said, If the Father begat the Son, he that was begotten had a beginning of existence: and from this it is evident, that there was a time when the Son was not. Alexander of Alexandria and his protege Athanasius held that Christ was begotten, not created, and was, therefore, fully equal to the Father. The council agreed with this view and understood that Arianism undermined the unity of the Godhead, making the Father greater than the Son and contradicting such scriptures as John 10:30 and John 1:1. Over the course of the council, the great majority of the delegates came to agree with 4

5 Athanasius that the Son had an eternal derivation from the Father but was nonetheless co-eternal and equally divine. Athanasius explained, Jesus that I know as my Redeemer cannot be less than God. The Result The debate lasted from May 20 until June 19, at which point the council produced an initial form of the Nicaean Creed which explicitly affirmed the begotten position and condemned Arianism. All but two of the attendees voted in its favor and those two, along with Arius, were excommunicated and banished to Illyria. All of Arius writings were ordered confiscated and burned. Here is a rough draft of one of the original version of the creed (which was adjusted at the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 381). We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made both in heaven and on earth]; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost. But those who say: There was a time when he was not; and He was not before he was made; and He was made out of nothing, or He is of another substance or essence, or The Son of God is created, or changeable, or alterable, they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church. The council also agreed on a date to celebrate Easter. In a circular letter Constantine issued after the council, he explained: At the council we also considered the issue of our holiest day, Easter, and it was determined by common consent that everyone, everywhere should celebrate it on one and the same day. Lasting Significance The First Council of Nicaea is most significant in settling an essential issue related to the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was decreed to be eternal and divine, equal with the Father, and infinitely greater than a created being. However, the Council is also significant as the first attempt to achieve a consensus among all Christians through a debate between representatives from the opposing sides. It set a precedent for holding councils to decide other doctrinal and practical church matters, and for turning these decisions into creeds and canon law. It would be 56 years before the next council, First Council of Constantinople. 5

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7 Attic Treasures and Yard Sale Dear Friends and Neighbors, Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, is holding an Attic Treasures and Yard Sale on Saturday, September 9 th, If you have any items you would be willing to donate to our sale, we would be happy to pick them up and deliver them to the church. We can also arrange for the pick-up of any large or bulky items, and ensure that you receive a receipt for income tax purposes. If you wish to drop off donations yourself at the church, we are located at 8306 NC Highway 751, about ½ a mile south of I-40 Exit 274 on the right (look for the golden dome). We would appreciate it if you would call the church office at (919) to confirm when you will be dropping off your items. The office is generally open Monday through Friday 10am- 2pm. Collection of items will begin on June 1 st, We can use almost any kind of merchandise in good condition, but there are some items that we are unable to accept. Examples of acceptable and non-acceptable items appear in the table below. Acceptable Items Furniture, rugs, lamps, decorative art Books, CDs, DVDs, games Children s clothing, toys, décor Garden and recreation/sporting equipment Women s shoes, jewelry, accessories Kitchen, home, bath & holiday décor items Linens, crystal, china & collectibles Tools, hardware Electronics & small appliances Non-Acceptable Items No Women s and Men s clothing (women s shoes ok) No Mattresses No Personal hygiene items No Undergarments No Baby cribs, car seats, plush toys No Very large items (appliances, pianos, sofa beds) No Text books, encyclopedias No Large non flat screen TVs If you have any questions, or you have items you d like to donate, please call: Name: Address: Phone: We re accepting donations from Thursday June 1 st through Thursday, September 7 th. Consider joining us for some fun shopping on yard sale day, Saturday, September 9 th, from 8:00am until 1:00pm. Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church 8306 NC Highway 751 Durham, NC

8 2017 Saint Barbara Steward Families through April 30, 2017 Akerley, Elly Alexander, Susan H. Arapoglou, Alexander Arvanitis, Marina Bakis, Basile & Mary Bakis, George & Sarris, Marie Barton, Lance & Maria (Marinos) Blackley, Agape Bogdanovic, Zora Bonfiglio, Barbara Bourbous, Nickolaos Brantley, Marion Brantley, Nick & Witham, Grace Callahan, Katherine Capsalis, Manual Carr, Sophie Christakos, Andrew & Cheryl Christakos, Arthur Christakos, Eleni Chronaki, Bessie Cocolas, Erie Constantinou, Lou Dabadnah, Sharan Dates, John & Ana Demetriades, George & Vicky Dennos, Anne Dennos, George & Patricia Dorton, Betty Dufault, Elena Estrada, Rolando & Helena Venakides Fedorovska, Nataliya Ferris, Laurice Fitzherbert, Dimitri Frangakis, Crist & Maria Glekas, Jim & Evy Goodwin, Christopher Goodwin, Leonard & Elaine Grassos, V Kantner, Ed & Eve Karamalegos, Antonios & Claire Katsohirakis, Andrew Katsohirakis, Steven Keener, Burt & Glenna Kinard, Andrew & Summer Kleoudis, Christi Kondilis-Mangum, Hrisavgi Korach, Kenneth & Karen Koutis, James Koutouzakis, Helen Kovacs, Istvan & Bogdanovic, Zorica Kuyper, Andrew Kuyper, Lee & Pauline Lazaris, Vesaria Mamaies, V. Rev. Father Stavroforos Mariakakis, Johnny & Catherine Marinos, Pete & Joan Mashalidis, Ellene Mavroidis, Panayiotis & Demetra McWhirter, John & Mary Jon Meadows, Rodney & Katherine Mitchell, Curtis & Alexis Odzak, Larry & Hope Oladipo, Richard Paliouras, Cindy Paliouras, James & Helen Paliouras, John & Dena Paliouras, Nicholas Panos, Peter & Evelyn Panov, Yuri & Elana Papazoglou, Matina Pappas, Katherine Pappas, Ted & Theky Paraschos, Sophia Pashales, George J Podgurski, Joseph & Kuyper, Pauline Przybyl, Daniel & Lori Qaqish, Olgha Quint, Angelia Rheinhardt, Keith & Alexia Samoilenko, Monica & Sergey Simopoulos, Michael & Maria Skudar, Iryna Stavrakakis, Mattheos & Marika Stefanadis, Zoe Stoney, Andrea Sullivan, William & Jennifer Sunas, Marian Theodosiadis, Konstantin & Amanda Thuer, Olga Trohanis, Donna Tryphonos, Tryphon & Suzanne Tsipis, Lou Varelas, Dimitrios 8 Varelas, Georgina Varelas, John Venakides, Vasilios Vlachos, Demetra Vurnakes, Helen Vurnakes, James & Frances Wilson, Preston & Catherine Winans, Diane R. Wippich, Robert & Roberta Wood, Jonathan & Maria Zaferatos, Konstantinos & Kerri Zehia, Anthony & Evelyn Zehia, Christina Our Stewardship Budget for 2017 is: $ 176,000 Number of Steward Families to date: 106 Total Amount Pledged for 2017 to date: $93,740 Average Contribution per Family: $884 Total Amount Paid to date: $ 53,065 Dear Parishioners, We are a Parish TOTALLY COMMITTED to Stewardship. This means 100% of our Stewardship is utilized to cover a major portion of the operational expenses of the Church. It includes all expenses from Clergy Salary and other related expenses, to Utilities, Equipment and Ground Maintenance, Assessments by the Archdiocese and Metropolis and insurance protection for our facilities and various functions. If your Name is not included in the above list, please, let us know by calling the Church Phone Number, , or the Parish President, Pete Marinos, at (cell). THANK YOU!

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