Saints RAPHAEL, NICHOLAS, & IRENE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Rev. Fr. Barnabas Powell, Proistamenos 3074 Bethelview Road, Cumming GA 30040 (770) 781-5250 www.stsrni.org officeadmin@stsrni.org facebook.com/sts Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church Read our daily devotionals at www.faithencouraged.org September 6, 2015 14 th Sunday of Matthew The Commemoration of the Miracle Wrought by Archangel Michael in Colossae (Chonae)
14 th Sunday of Matthew On This day, we also Commemorate: Miracle at Colassai and Martyr Calodote Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Apolytikion for St. Raphael in the First Tone To the offspring of Ithaca, the pride and joy of Lesvos, * monastic martyrs glory, let us offer to Raphael our songs of praise; * for lately he appeared, and pours out cures and healings to us all. * Inexplicably he appears to believers, both in dreams and awake, who cry: * Glory to Christ who gave you His might. * Glory to Him who gave you miracles. * Glory to Him who through you fulfills our prayerful requests. Apolytikion for St. Raphael in the Fourth Tone Because of the finding of your holy relics, wise one, * the Island of Lesvos has been filled fully with the grace, * which God richly gave to you. * You, O devout martyr Raphael, paradoxically * appeared to many people, and you grant cures and healings. * And therefore we the faithful re-joice in all your miracles. Apolytikion in honor of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Having contended on Lesvos for the sake of Christ God, you have sanctified the island since the discovery of your sacred relics, O blessed ones; wherefore we honor you, O Godbearing Raphael, together with Nicholas and virgin Irene, as our divine protectors and intercessors with the Lord. Singers and Chanters: Anthony Birozes, David Boyd, Marie Chapman, Emily Christy, Maria Hagen, Lynn Lucher, Jimmy Smith Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone: Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection. Apolytikion for the Archangel Michael in the Fourth Tone: Ο Chief Commander of the heavenly armies, * we the unworthy ones entreat you in earnest, * that you might with your supplications fortify us, * guarding us who run to you and beneath the protection * of the pinions of your immaterial glory, * and who with fervor shout: Deliver us, * from every danger, as Captain of the hosts on high. Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Tone: O Protection of Christians unshamable, mediation with the Creator immovable, we sinners beg you, do not despise the voices of our prayers, but anticipate, since you are good, and swiftly come unto our aid as we cry out to you with faith: Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who defend now and ever those who honor you.
EPISTLE READING St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 1:21-24; 2:1-4 Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 1. Psalm 11.7,1 You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us. Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed. BRETHREN, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. But I call God to witness against me - it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you Ἀδελφοί, ὁ βεβαιῶν ἡμᾶς σὺν ὑμῖν εἰς Χριστόν, καὶ χρίσας ἡμᾶς, θεός, ὁ καὶ σφραγισάμενος ἡμᾶς, καὶ δοὺς τὸν ἀρραβῶνα τοῦ πνεύματος ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν. Ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν θεὸν ἐπικαλοῦμαι ἐπὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ψυχήν, ὅτι φειδόμενος ὑμῶν οὐκέτι ἦλθον εἰς Κόρινθον. Οὐχ ὅτι κυριεύομεν ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως, ἀλλὰ συνεργοί ἐσμεν τῆς χαρᾶς ὑμῶν τῇ γὰρ πίστει ἑστήκατε. Ἔκρινα δὲ ἐμαυτῷ τοῦτο, τὸ μὴ πάλιν ἐν λύπῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐλθεῖν. Εἰ γὰρ ἐγὼ λυπῶ ὑμᾶς, καὶ τίς ἐστιν ὁ εὐφραίνων με, εἰ μὴ ὁ λυπούμενος ἐξ ἐμοῦ; Καὶ ἔγραψα ὑμῖν τοῦτο αὐτό, ἵνα μὴ ἐλθὼν λύπην ἔχω ἀφʼ ὧν ἔδει με χαίρειν, πεποιθὼς ἐπὶ πάντας ὑμᾶς, ὅτι ἡ ἐμὴ χαρὰ πάντων ὑμῶν ἐστίν. Ἐκ γὰρ πολλῆς θλίψεως καὶ συνοχῆς καρδίας ἔγραψα ὑμῖν διὰ πολλῶν δακρύων, οὐχ ἵνα λυπηθῆτε, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀγάπην ἵνα γνῶτε ἣν ἔχω περισσοτέρως εἰς ὑμᾶς.
GOSPEL READING The Gospel of Matthew 22:2-14 The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.' But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many a s you find.' And those servants went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅστις ἐποίησε γάμους τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ. Καὶ ἀπέστειλε τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν. Πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους λέγων Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις ἰδοὺ τὸ ἄριστόν μου ἡτοίμασα, οἱ ταῦροί μου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυμένα, καὶ πάντα ἕτοιμα δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάμους. οἱ δὲ ἀμελήσαντες ἀπῆλθον, ὃς μὲν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρόν, ὃς δὲ εἰς τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὕβρισαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν. Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκεῖνος ὠργίσθη, καὶ πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεσε τοὺς φονεῖς ἐκείνους καὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησε. Τότε λέγει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ Ο μὲν γάμος ἕτοιμός ἐστιν, οἱ δὲ κεκλημένοι οὐκ ἦσαν ἄξιοι πορεύεσθε οὖν ἐπὶ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν, καὶ ὅσους ἐὰν εὕρητε καλέσατε εἰς τοὺς γάμους. Καὶ ἐξελθόντες οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς συνήγαγον πάντας ὅσους εὗρον, πονηρούς τε καὶ ἀγαθούς καὶ ἐπλήσθη ὁ γάμος ἀνακειμένων. Εἰσελθὼν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς θεάσασθαι τοὺς ἀνακειμένους εἶδεν ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἐνδεδυμένον ἔνδυμα γάμου, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ Ἐταῖρε, πῶς εἰσῆλθες ὧδε μὴ ἔχων ἔνδυμα γάμου; Ο δὲ ἐφιμώθη. Τότε εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς διακόνοις Δήσαντες αὐτοῦ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ἄρατε αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκβάλετε εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων. Πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσι κλητοὶ, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.
Welcome to all visitors who are worshiping with us this morning. Please join us for Fellowship Hour afterwards in the Blue House. Father Barnabas is available to hear confession every Wednesday either before or after Vespers and by appointment. Please call or email the church office to request a time to meet with Father and avail yourself to this healing divine mystery of the Church. Please call the Church office for more information: (770) 781-5250. TODAY, Sept 6 Tues., Sept 8 Wed., Sept 9 Sat., Sept 12 14th Sunday of Matthew 8:45 a.m. Orthos 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Blessing of the Waters Nativity of the Theotokos 8:30 Orthos 9:30 Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. -Bible Study 6:30 p.m. - Vespers 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers Please see Events Calendar and Announcements at the front desk for more information on church activities. For Today: Ushers: John Patrick, Len Vanerstrom Welcoming Ministry: Deborah Bowen Fellowship Hosted by Diane Walters Parish Council of 2015: John Patrick, President; Harald Hagen, Vice President; David Chapman, Secretary; Chris Foxhall, Treasurer; Anthony Birozes, Kosta Bozzuto, Marie Chapman, Helen McCart, Johnny Melts, Greg Pappas, Plutarch Vamvakias, Len Vanerstrom Acolytes: Jacob and Jimmy Atkinson, David Druffner, Mike & Peter Jordanopolos, Spiro Kefalas, Christos Kaloudis, Thomas Miller, Jacob Sparks, Mike Trainor, Alex & Niko Tzevelekos, Christos Zourzoukis Senior Acolytes: Johnny Melts, Mike Manos, Dean Pryles Please say a special prayer for the following Individuals: Parras Ashe, Bill, Maryann, J. Andropoulos, J and S Consos, A. Dukas, V. Jones, N. Panos, D. Sarandis, and K. Yalanzon Friendly Reminder: The Orthodox Church practices close communion. This means only Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared to receive the Eucharist should approach the Chalice at communion. If you have any questions, please see Fr. Barnabas after service.