Saturday, May 20 – Thaleleus and Others, Martyrs
3:30 PM Santa Paula Outreach Akathist*
5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy
6:30 PM Reader Vespers
Sunday, May 21 – Sunday of the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, May 22 – Basiliscucs, Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
4:00 PM Evening Prayer
5:30 PM Akathist* for those suffering Addictions&Mental Illness
Wednesday, May 24 – Simeon, Venerable
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
9:30 AM Photina Prayer and trash pick-up walk
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy
7:45 PM Firepit Social
Saturday, May 27 – 5th All Souls Saturday
9:30 AM 5th All Souls Saturday Divine Liturgy
5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy
Sunday, May 28 – Pentecost Sunday
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
11:15 AM Pentecost Potluck Feast
*Add first names to this prayer service by emailing niemirick@gmail.com
St. Mary’s: Sundays 8:45 AM or by appointment
Santa Paula: Saturdays 4:15 PM or by appointment
(Please resubmit or submit names to admin@ByzantineLA.com)
The Carlin Family, Michael Hefferon, Shirley Kunze, Michael Mina, Peter Mina, Fr, John Mina, Mila Mina, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Shannon O’Neill, Fern Bonowicz, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
Collection: $3,490.00; Online: $260.00; Santa Paula: $390.00; Candles: $64.00; Church Improvements: $100.00; Outreach Improvements: $30.00; Bishop’s Appeal: $300.00; Other: $2,000.00
Total: $6,634.00 / Attendance – PSM: 76 VCO: 50
This Sunday we commemorate the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in 325. They had gathered to explain the relationship Jesus Christ to God the Father. A priest from Alexandria named Arius had been falsely teaching that Jesus was created by God and that there was a time that He (the Son) did not exist. This heresy was condemned by the bishops who attended this first Ecumenical Council. The bishops came from the various Christian communities throughout the Christian world. In response to Arius falsely teaching that Jesus was “created,” the Council asserted that Jesus Christ “was begotten, not made.” In response to Arius falsely teaching that Jesus was created out of nothing or out of something else, the Holy Fathers of the Council stated that Jesus Christ was begotten “of the same substance or essence of the Father.” The Holy Fathers of the first Nicaean Council asserted the full or complete divinity” of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Second Divine Person of the Blessed Trinity.
The decision to condemn the heresy espoused by Arius and to depose Arius was nearly unanimous. All but two bishops had made this resolution. Indeed, the issue of Arianism was their primary concern. In addition to that, the Holy Fathers of the Council also dealt with establishing a date for the celebration of Pascha (Easter) and the promulgation of Canons (church laws or regulations) regarding the standards for ordination of clerics (behavior and background), the reconciliation of lapsed Christians (public penance and repentance) and the readmittance of heretics and schismatics, and the role of deacons in the liturgical life of the Church.
Regarding the celebration of Pascha/Easter, it was established to be the first Sunday after the full moon, which comes after the vernal or spring equinox. There was discussion whether to independently designate the date or to rely on the Jewish calendar. The Holy Fathers of the Council decided to separate Easter computation from all dependence on the Jewish calendar.
The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea had safeguarded the holy faith from error, the heresy of Arianism and had sought to state clearly and adequately the relationship between Jesus, the Son of God, and God the Father. They affirmed the true and complete divinity of Christ. They asserted their belief “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, true God of true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father…”
This credo or creed of Nicaea along with the teaching and promulgations of the Council of Constantinople in 381 would help formulate the “Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed” that Eastern Catholics and Orthodox profess at each Divine Liturgy
Taken from https://ukrarcheparchy.us/articles/sunday-of-the-holy-fathers-of-the-first-ecumenical-council-in-nicaea-325-a-d by Rev. D. George Worschak
“Keep them through your Name which you have given me, so that they may be one, even as we are one.” Jesus prayed that we would share in the unity of the life-creating Trinity. The Church needs men and women who are called to live this prayer out in a religious vocation. He may be calling you to become a monk, a nun, or to ordained ministry. To learn more, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
The April edition of GCU magazine is now available in the back of the church.
Saturday, May 20 –
