Saturday, Aug. 27 – Poimen, Venerable
5:00 PM Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula
6:30 PM Reader Vespers
Sunday, Aug. 28 – 12th Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Aug. 29 – Beheading of John the Baptist
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy +NYPD/NYPA- 9/11/01 from Rick White
Wednesday, Aug. 31 – Deposition of the Sash of the Theotokos
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy +NYFD- 9/11/01 from Rick White
7:45 PM Firepit Social
Saturday, Sept. 3 – Anthimus, Bishop-Martyr
5:00 PM Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula
6:30 PM Reader Vespers
Sunday, Sept. 4 – 13th Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
(Please resubmit or submit names to admin@ByzantineLA.com)
Michael Hefferon, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
Collection: $1,935.00; Candles: $79.00; Online: $30.00; Santa Paula: $772.00; Holyday: $65.00; Special Gift: $440.00; Church Improvements: $50.00
Total: $4,3785.50 / Attendance- PSM: 73 VCO: 55
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me!” These words of our Lord inspired great saints such as Anthony the Great and Francis of Assisi. While each of us may answer this calling in different ways, we see that Jesus wants all of us to follow him. Is he seeking you to follow him as a priest, deacon, monk, or nun? If this may be the case, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
Altar Server Training Next Sunday
Any boy or man who would be interested in serving at the altar, or is already doing so, join us for an upcoming server training. We will meet after the usual post-liturgy events next Sunday, September 4th.
The Annual Eparchial Appeal is underway! You can use the instructions you received from the bishop, or you can visit our parish’s donation page here: https://ephx.org/st-marys-eparchial-appeal/ We are working to support our Eparchy as a community, so please prayerfully discern what you can give, and I know we will meet and exceed our goal (we get a large percentage back) if we have full participation. Thank you for your generosity! Donations are being accepted through Sept. 30. So far, we have raised $10,060.00 of our $25,544.72 goal. We need to raise $15,484.72 to meet our goal. Thank you to those who have contributed: Bates, Chirdon, Clemens, Cook, Crans, Golya, Herrera, Jimenez, Kieselhorst, Koman-Keogh, Michnya, Mina, Fr. O’Loughlin, O’Neill Onufrak, Patzwahl, Reichert, C. Roche, Summe, Theisen, Wiggins, P. Zimmerman, and W. Zimmerman
After St. John’s beheading, the disciples took his body and, according to oral tradition, they buried it in the Samaritan town of Sebaste, outside of Herod’s jurisdiction (cf. St. Jerome, PL 25, 1156). Soon the Baptist’s tomb became a great attraction for pilgrims, since God glorified His faithful servant with many miracles. This was the reason why Emperor Constantine the Great (d. 337 A.D.) ordered a magnificent basilica to be built over John’s tomb in Sebaste. Unfortunately, in a futile effort to restore paganism, Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363) burnt the venerable relics and dispersed their ashes in the wind (cf. Theodoret, P.G. 82, 1092). Nevertheless, the grave of St. John the Baptist continued to be venerated until the final defeat of the Crusaders in the 12th century.
According to another pious tradition, Venerable Johanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza (Lk. 8:3), took the head of St. John the Baptist and buried it on the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem.Almost 300 years later, the venerable head was found for the first time (confirmed by a miracle), and transferred to Emessa, Syria. After some time the heretics took possession of John’s head and concealed it in some monastery. In 453 A.D. it was discovered for the second time in the Arian monastery of Spelaion, near Emessa, and solemnly transferred to Constantinople. During the iconoclast repressions (the eighth century) , the venerable relic was taken by some monks and hidden in Comana, the Province of Pontus, where St. John Chrysostom died (d. 407). During the reign of Emperor Michael III, in 857, it was discovered for the third time and once again solemnly brought back to Constantinople, where it was deposited in the church of the imperial palace. St. John’s head finally disappeared during the Fourth Crusade (1204 A.D.), when it was taken by crusaders to the West. At the present time several churches in Western Europe claim its possession.
Read more about the feast here: https://bit.ly/3QWADgU
There is a Byzantine tradition on this feast day that the faithful do not eat anything that grows in a head (lettuce, cabbage, etc.), nor eat anything off a plate or platter.
Saturday, August 27 –
