Leaving earthly care to the earth and that which is waste and refuse to the dust, come, let us arise from sleep with our eyes and hearts let us go towards higher things. Let us also lift up our thoughts and our attention from the earth to the gates of heaven, as if we were on the Mount of Olives, where we fix our eyes on the Redeemer as He is carried away to heaven. For it is there that the Lord departs for heaven; it is there also that He distributes his great gifts to the apostles, giving them strength and comforting them as a Father, guiding them as sons and saying to them: I am not separating myself from you; I shall always be with you, and no one shall ever have power over you.
This prayer is from the Matins service for the Ascension. Join us in prayer Thursday morning at 8:30 AM for Matins on Ascension Thursday.
Our venerable father Theodore was a disciple of St. Pachomius (May 15). Yearning for monastic life at an early age, he left his parents home at the age of fourteen and joined one of St. Pachomius’ monasteries. St. Theodore cared for St. Pachomius during his final illness. He became the hegumen of all of St. Pachomius’ monasteries, and eventually the head of all the monasteries in Thebaid. St. Theodore was famed for his holiness of life and his great gift of wonderworking.
Troparion
You made the wilderness your dwelling, O father Theodore, the bearer of God. You became an angel in the flesh and a wonderworker. Through fast, vigils, and prayers, you obtained from God special graces to heal the sick and to sanctify the souls of those who come to you with trust. Glory to the One who gave you strength! Glory to the One who crowned you! Glory to the One who through your intercession grants healing to all!
Kontakion
You bloomed like a flower in the house of God, bearing the fragrant fruit of virtue through your fasting. You have been made an equal of angels for this, O venerable father.
Epistle
Acts 17: 19-28a
In those days, the Athenians led Paul off the Areopagus, saying, “We are curious to know what this new teaching is that you propose. You are introducing subjects unfamiliar to us and we should like to know what it is all about.” (Indeed, all Athenians citizens, as well as the foreigners who live there, love nothing more than to tell about or listen to something new.)
Then Paul stood up in the Areopagus and delivered this address: “Men of Athens, I note that in every aspect you are scrupulously religious. As I walked around looking at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To a God Unknown.’ Now, what you are thus worshiping in ignorance I intend to make known to you. For the God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands: nor does he receive man’s service as if he were in need of it. Rather, it is he who gives to all life and breath and everything else. From one stock he made every nation of mankind to dwell on the face of the earth. It is he who set limits to their epochs and fixed the boundaries of their regions. They were to seek God, yes to grope for him and perhaps eventually to find him- though he us not really far from anyone of us.’In him we live and move and have our being.’”
Gospel
John 12: 19-36
At that time the Pharisees called a meeting against Jesus and remarked to one another, “See, there is nothing you can do! The whole world has run after him.”
Among those who had come up to worship at the feast of Passover were some Greeks. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him: “Sir, we should like to see Jesus,” Philip went to tell Andrew; Philip and Andrew in turn came to inform Jesus.
Jesus answered them: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I solemnly assure you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit. The man who loves his life loses it, while the man who hates his life in this world preserves it to life eternal. If anyone would serve me, let him follow me; where I am, there will my servant be. If anyone serves me, him the Father will honor. My soul is troubled now, yet what should I say – Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from the sky: “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
When the crowd of bystanders heard the voice, they said it was thunder. Others maintained, “An angel was speaking to him.” Jesus answered, “That voice did not come for my sake, but for yours. Now has judgment come upon this world, now will this world’s prince be driven out, and I – once I am lifted up from the earth – will draw all men to myself.” This statement indicated the sort of death he had to die. The crowd objected to his words: “We have heard it said in the law that the Messiah is to remain forever. How can you claim that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Just who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
Jesus answered: “the light is among you only a little longer. Walk while you still have it or darkness will come over you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. While you have the light, keep faith in the light; thus you will become sons of light.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Our venerable father Pachomius the Great was a soldier in Thebaid (Upper Egypt) in the fourth century. After watching Christians feed and care for his fellow soldiers because they loved their God and wanted to fulfill His commandment to love their neighbor, St. Pachomius converted to Christianity. After his baptism, St. Pachomius led a strict ascetic life. He turned to hermit Palaemon for spiritual guidance, and received his monastic tonsure from him. After wandering in the desert, St. Pachomius heard a Voice from heaven instructing him to settle there and build a monastery. His monastery attracted many followers, and eventually there were seven monasteries with St. Pachomius as Hegumen. His older brother came and joined him at the monastery, and his sister formed a women’s monastery across the Nile from her brothers.
Troparion
Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom, and your suffering made your labors fruitful a hundredfold; you became a shining torch over the world. O venerable father Pachomius, pray to Christ our God that He may save our souls.
Kontakion
You became a light for the ends of the earth. You peopled the desert with monks like a city. You weakened your body by your abstinence. You took up your cross and crucified yourself. Pray unceasingly for all of us.
Epistle
Acts 17: 1-9
In those days, Paul and Silas took the road through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. Following his usual custom, Paul joined the people there and conducted discussions with them about Scripture for three sabbaths. He explained many things, showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am telling you about is the Messiah!” Some of the Jews were convinced and threw their lot in with Paul and Silas. So, too, did a great number of Greeks sympathetic to Judaism, and numerous prominent women.
This only aroused the resentment of the Jews, however, who engaged loafers from the public square to form a mob and start a riot in the town. They marched on the house of Jason in an attempt to bring Paul and Silas before the people’s assembly. When they could not find them there, they dragged Jason himself and some of the brothers to the town magistrates, shouting: “These men have been creating a disturbance all over the place. Now they come here and Jason has taken them in. To a man, they disregard the Emperor’s decrees and claim instead that a certain Jesus is king.” In this way they stirred up the crowd. When the town’s magistrates heard the whole story, they released Jason and the others on bail.
Gospel
John 11: 47-54
At that time, the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin against Jesus. They said, “What are we to do with this man performing all sorts of signs? If we let him go on like this, the whole world will believe in him. Then the Romans will come in and sweep away our sanctuary and out nation.” One of their number named Caiaphas, who was a high priest that year, addressed them at this point: “You have no understanding whatever! Can you not see that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed?” He did not say this on his own. It was rather as high priest for that year that he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation – and not this nation only, but to gather into one all the dispersed children of God.
From that day onward there was a plan afoot to kill Jesus. In consequence, Jesus no longer moved about freely in Jewish circles. He withdrew instead to a town called Ephriam in the region near the desert, where he stayed with his disciples.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
The holy martyr Isidore was an officer in the Roman Navy in the third century. Once it was discovered that he was a Christian, St. Isidore’s admiral urged him to renounce Christ and made sacrifice to the idol, but St. Isidore refused saying, “You may be able to kill my body, but you have no power over my soul. The true, living God, Jesus Christ, abides in me; even after my death he shall be with me, and I with Him. I shall abide in Him, and I shall never cease to confess Him while breath still remains in my body.” He was tortured after his refusal, and thrown in prison. His own father even tried to convince him to deny Christ, yet St. Isidore’s faith remained unshaken. Despite his tongue being cut out to prevent his proclamations, St. Isidore continued to confess Christ through his tortures until the point he was finally beheaded. His body was retrieved from the well where it was thrown by Sts. Ammonios and Myrope, who buried him in secret with all due honor. St. Myrope was buried alongside St. Isidore on the Greek island of Chios.
Troparion
O Lord our God, your holy martyr Isidore has deserved the crown of immortality on account of his good fight. Armed with your strength, he has vanquished his persecutors and crushed Satan’s dreadful might. Through his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Kontakion
O glorious Isidore, through your constant prayers to God, you became a leader in the world and a martyr holy in spirit. Therefore, we sing hymns of praise to you.
Epistle
Acts 16: 16-34
In those days, while Paul and Luke were on their way to the place of prayer, they met a slave girl who had a clairvoyant spirit. She used to bring substantial profit to her masters by fortunetelling. The girl began to follow Paul and the rest of them shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God; they will make known to you a way of salvation.” She did this for several days until finally Paul became annoyed, turned around, and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you, come out of her!” Then and there the spirit left her.
When her masters saw that their source of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the main square before the local authorities. They turned them over to the magistrates with this complaint: “These men are agitators disturbing the peace of our city! Furthermore, they are Jews, which means they advocate customs which are not lawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” The crowd joined the attack on them, and the magistrates stripped them and ordered them to be flogged. After receiving many lashes they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was given instructions to guard them well. Upon receipt of these instructions he put them in maximum-security, going so far as to chain their feet to a stake.
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as their fellow prisoners listened, a severe earthquake suddenly shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains were pulled loose. The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself; but Paul shouted to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all still here.” The jailer called for a light, then rushed in and fell trembling at the seat of Paul and Silas. After a brief interval he let them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” Their answer was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and all your household.” They proceeded to announce the word of God to him and to everyone in his house. At that late hour of the night he took them in and bathed their wounds; then he and his whole household were baptized. He led them up into his house, spread a table before them, and joyfully celebrated with his whole family his newfound faith in God.
Gospel
John 9: 1-38
At the time, as Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, was it his son or that of his parents that caused him to be born blind?” “Neither,” answered Jesus, “ it was no sin, either of this man or of his parents. Rather, it was to let God’s works show forth in him. We must do the deeds of him who sent me while it is day. The night comes on when no one can work. While I am in the world I am the light of the world.”
With that Jesus spat on the ground, made mus with his saliva, and smeared the man’s eyes with mud. Then he told him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” This name means, “One who has been sent.” So the man went off and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and the people who had been accustomed to seeing him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the fellow who used to sit and beg?” Somewhere claiming it was he; others maintained it was not but someone who looked like him. The man himself said, “I am the one.” They said to him then, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered, “That man they called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes, telling me to go to Siloam and wash. When I did go and wash, I was able to see.” “Where is he?” they asked. He replied, “I have no idea.”
Next, they took the man who had been born blind to the Pharisees. Note that it was on a Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud pasted and opened his eyes. The Pharisees, in turn, began to inquire how he had recovered his sight. He told them, “He put mud on my eyes. I washed it off, and now I can see.” This prompted some of the Pharisees to assert, “This man cannot be from God because he does not keep the sabbath.” Others objected, “If a man is a sinner, how can he perform signs like these?” They were sharply divided over Jesus. Then they addressed the blind man again: “Since it was your eyes he opened, what do you have to say about him?” “He is a prophet,” he replied.
The Jews refused to believe that he had really been born blind and had begun to see, until they summoned the parents of this man who now could see. “Is this your son?” they asked, “and if so, do you attest that he was blind at birth? How do you account for the fact that now he can see?” The parents answered: “We know this is our son, and we know he was blind at birth. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we have no idea. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” His parents answered in this fashion because they were afraid of the Jews, who had already agreed among themselves that anyone who acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That is why his parents said, “He is of age — ask him.”
A second time they summoned the man who had been born blind and said to him, “Give glory to God! First of all, we know this man is a sinner.” “I do not know whether he is a sinner or not,” he answered. “I know this much: I was blind before; now I can see.” They persisted: “Just what did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” “I have told you once, but you would not listen to me,” he answered them. “Why do you want to hear it all over again? Do not tell me you want to become his disciples too?” They retorted scornfully: “You are the one who is that man’s disciple. We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man comes from.” The man came back at them: “Well, this is news! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners, but that if someone is devout and obeys his well, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever gave sight to a person blind from birth. If this man were not from God, he could never have done such a thing.” “What!” they exclaimed, “You are steeped in sin from your birth, and you are giving us lectures? With that they threw him out bodily.
When Jesus heard of his expulsion, he sought the man out and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus replied, “You have seen him, and he is speaking to you now.” “I do believe, Lord,” he said, and bowed down to worship him.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.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, Melanie Murray, Gene Francis, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
WEEKLY DEPOSIT:
Collection: $3,273.00; Online: $660.00; Santa Paula: $350.00; Candles: $28.00; Church Improvements: $50.00; Holydays: $455.00; Refund: $23.52
Total: $4,789.52 / Attendance – PSM: 77 VCO: 40
Mark Your Calendar
Thursday, 18 May: Ascension of Our Lord Divine Liturgy in Sherman Oaks on Wednesday 17 May at 6:30pm. Santa Paula Thursday May 18 6pm.
Saturday, 27 May: 5thAll-Soul’s Saturday: Divine Liturgy at 9:30am
Sunday, 28 May: Pentecost Sunday Feast. Sign-up sheets in the small hall or online (see Cowboy)
Monday, 29 May: Pentecost Monday: Divine Liturgy with procession at 6:30pm
The Ascension of Our Lord
Leaving earthly care to the earth and that which is waste and refuse to the dust, come, let us arise from sleep with our eyes and hearts let us go towards higher things. Let us also lift up our thoughts and our attention from the earth to the gates of heaven, as if we were on the Mount of Olives, where we fix our eyes on the Redeemer as He is carried away to heaven. For it is there that the Lord departs for heaven; it is there also that He distributes his great gifts to the apostles, giving them strength and comforting them as a Father, guiding them as sons and saying to them: I am not separating myself from you; I shall always be with you, and no one shall ever have power over you.
This prayer is from the Matins service for the Ascension. Join us in prayer Thursday morning at 8:30 AM for Matins on Ascension Thursday.
“One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see!” The healing love of Christ gave sight to the man born blind. Have you received the eyes to spiritually see your calling in life? Is he calling you to help the world see Him more clearly by a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, monastic or religious life? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
The holy martyr Glyceria was orphaned at an early age and became Christian. During the persecutions of Christians under the emperor Antoninus (138-161), an edict was issued that all Christians had to offer sacrifice to the idols. St. Glyceria was determined to suffer for Christ. On the appointed day, she drew a Sign of the Cross on her forehead and went to the pagan temple. When she removed her veil and revealed the holy Cross, she prayed to God to bring the pagans to their senses, thunder rumbled and the idol statue crashed to the floor smashing to pieces. The pagan priests order Glyceria to be pelted with stones, but the thrown stones did not touch her. She was thrown into prison. When her tortures started the next day, an angel appeared and frightened the torturers who could not continue. Angels brought St. Glyceria food and drink while she was in prison. Attempts to torture her were thwarted by her incessant prayers and Angels of the Lord who came to heal her and protect her. St. Glyceria was sentenced to be eaten by wild beasts. She went to her execution with great joy, but the lioness meekly crawled up to the saint and lay at her feet. Finally, St. Glyceria prayed to the Lord, imploring that He take her unto Himself. In answer she heard a Voice from Heaven, summoning her to heavenly bliss. At that moment, another lioness was set loose upon the saint. It pounced upon the martyr and killed her, but did not tear her apart. Her body was retrieved and reverently buried by Christians in the year 177.
Troparion
O Jesus, your lamb Glyceria cries out to You with great love: O Bridegroom, I long for You in great pain. I am crucified with You, and in baptism I am buried with You. I suffer for your sake in order to reign with You. I die for You in order to live in You. Accept me as an immaculate victim since I am immolated for your love. Through her intercession, O merciful One, save our souls.
Kontakion
O Glyceria, you loved the Virgin Mary, Mother of God and consecrated your virginity to Christ. Aflame with love for the Lord, you fought the good fight until death. For this, O martyred virgin, Christ our God crowns you with a double crown.
Epistle
Acts 15: 35-41
In those days, Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. After a certain time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back now and see how the brothers are getting on in each of their towns where we proclaimed the word of the Lord.” Barnabas wanted to take along John, called Mark. But Paul insisted that, as Mark had deserted them at Pamphylia, refusing to join them on that mission, he was not fit to be taken along now. The disagreement which ensued was so sharp that the two separated. Barnabas took Mark along with him and sailed for Cyprus.
Paul, for his part, chose Silas to accompany him on his journey, and in this he was commended by the brothers to the favor of the Lord. He traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, giving the churches there renewed assurance.
Gospel
John 10: 27-38
The Lord said to the people coming to him: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father is greater than all, in what he has given me, and there is no snatching out of his hand. The Father and I are one.”
When some of the Jews again reached for rocks to stone him, Jesus protested to them, “Many good deeds have I shown you from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” The Jews retorted, “It is not for any ‘good deed’ that we are stoning you, but for the blaspheming. You who are only a man are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered: “Is it not written in your law, ‘I have said, You are gods?’ If it calls those men gods to whom God’s word was addressed –and Scripture cannot lose its force– do you claim that I blasphemed when, as he whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’ If I do not perform my Father’s works, put no faith in me. But if I do perform them, even though you put no faith in me, out faith in these works, so as to realize what it means that the Father is in me and I in him.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Our holy father Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus, “a last relic of ancient piety,” as St. Jerome calls him, lived during the fourth century in Phoenicia. The Roman empress Honoria was his sister. He was of Jewish descent, and in his youth he received a fine education. He was converted to Christianity after seeing how a monk named Lucian gave away his clothing to a poor person. Struck with the monk’s compassion, Epiphanius asked to be instructed in Christianity.
Our holy father Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, was born at Constantinople in the seventh century. His father, a prominent senator, was killed by order of the emperor Constantine Pogonatos (668-685). Because of the sanctity of his life, Germanus was made bishop in the city of Cyzicus. St. Germanus rose up in defense of the Orthodox Faith against the iconoclast heretics. He was later made patriarch of Constantinople. St. Germanus continued to stand up against the iconoclasts and to their spokesman, the heretical emperor Leo III the Isaurian (717-741). He went to a monastery, where he spent the remainder of his life. The holy Patriarch Germanus died in the year 740, at age ninety-five, and was buried in the Chora monastery in Constantinople. Afterwards, his relics were transferred to France.
Troparion
O God of our ancestors, You always deal with us according to your everlasting compassion, take not your mercy away from us; but through the prayers of our ancestors, guide our lives along the ways of peace.
Kontakion
O faithful, let us sing a worthy hymn of praise in honor of the two glorious bishops, Epiphanius and Germanus. They enlightened the minds of those without faith, and to the faithful they presented God’s great mysteries, explaining true belief with great wisdom.
Epistle
Acts 15: 5-12
In those days, some of the converted Pharisess then got up and demanded that such Gentiles be circumcised and told to keep Mosaic law. The apostles and the presbyters accordingly convened to look into the matter. After much discussion, Peter took the floor and said to them: “Brothers, you know well enough that from the early days God selected me from your number to be the one whose lips the Gentile would hear the message of the gospel and believe. God, who reads the hearts of men, showed his approval by granting the Holy Spirit to them just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us, but purified their hearts by means of faith also. Why, then, do you put God to the test by trying to place on the shoulders of these converts a yoke which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear? Our belief is rather that we are saved by the favor of the Lord Jesus and so are they.” At that the whole assembly fell silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul as the two described all the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
Gospel
John 10: 17-28
The Lord said to the people coming to him: “The Father loves me for this: that I lay down my life to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down freely. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Because of these words, the Jews were sharply divided once more. Many were claiming: “He is possessed by a devil – out of his mind! Why pay attention to him?” Others maintained: “These are not the words of a madman. Surely a devil cannot open the eyes of the blind!”
It was winter, and the time came for the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in the temple area, in Solomon’s Portico, when the Jews gathered around him and said, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you really are the Messiah, tell us so in plain words.” Jesus answered: “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name give witness in my favor, but you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Our holy fathers Cyril and Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs, were brothers born in Thessalonica in the first half of the ninth century. Since Methodius had been a soldier among the Slavs in Macedonia, he was considered an excellent candidate for carrying the Gospel to the Khazars. After the invention of the first Slavonic alphabet by Cyril, they began translating the Gospel and liturgical books into Church Slavonic. At the invitation of Prince Rastislav, they went to Moravia to spread the Faith. They went to Rome at the invitation of the pope, and Cyril fell ill and died there on Feb. 14, 869. Methodius then returned to Moravia and continued his apostolic work until his death on April 6, 885.
Troparion
As equals to the apostles and teachers of the Slavs, beg the Master of all to confirm us in the faith and in unity of heart, O Cyril and Methodius. Beg Him for peace in the world and mercy on our souls.
Kontakion
We honor those priests who gave us the Light, who opened the fountain of theology for us by translating the Holy Scriptures, thus starting a river from them that still runs today. We glorify you, O Cyril and Methodius, who stand in heaven before the throne of the Lord on high, and who pray so fervently for all of us.
Readings for the saints
Epistle
Hebrews 13: 17-21
Brothers and sisters: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over you as men who must render an account. So act that they may fulfill their task with joy, not with sorrow, for that would be harmful to you. Pray for us; we are confident that we have a good conscience, wishing, as we do, to act rightly in every respect. I especially ask your prayers that I may be restored to you very soon. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. Through Jesus Christ may he carry out in you all that is pleasing to him. To Christ be the glory forever! Amen.
Gospel
John 10: 9-16
The Lord said: “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be safe. He will go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand — who is no shepherd nor owner of the sheep — catches sight of the wolf coming and runs away, leaving the sheep to be snatched and scattered by the wolf. That is because he works for pay; he has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me in the same way that the Father knows me and I know the Father; for these sheep I will give my life. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must lead them, too, and they shall hear my voice. There shall be one flock then, one shepherd.”
Readings for the day
Epistle
Acts 14:20b – 15:4
In those days, Paul left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news in that town and made numerous disciples, they retracted their steps to Lystra and Iconium first, then to Antioch. They gave their disciples reassurances, and encouraged them to preserve in the faith with this instruction: “We must undergo many trials if we are to enter into the reign of God.” In each church they installed presbyters and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.
Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. After preaching the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been commended to the favor of God for the task they had now completed. On their arrival, they called the congregation together and related all that God had helped them accomplish, and how he opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent some time there with the disciples.
Some men came down to Antioch from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” This created dissension and much controversy between them and Paul and Barnabas. Finally it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some others should go up to see the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem about this question.
The church saw them off and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling everyone about the conversion of the Gentiles as they went. Their story caused great joy among the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by that church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, to whom they reported all that God has helped them accomplish.
Gospel
John 9: 39-41, 10: 1-9
The Lord said to the people coming to him: “I came into this world to divide it, to make the sightless see and the seeing blind.” Some of the Pharisees around him picked this up, saying, “You are not calling us blind, are you?” To which Jesus replied: “If you were blind there would be no sin in that. ‘But we see,’ you say, and your sins remain. Truly I assure you: Whoever does not enter the sheepfold through the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a marauder. The one who enters through the gate is shepherd of the sheep; the keeper opens the gate for him. The sheep hear his voice as he calls his own by name and leads them out. When he has brought out those that are his, he walks in front of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. They will not follow a stranger; such a one they will flee, because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Even though Jesus used this figure with them, they did not grasp what he was trying to tell them. He therefore said to them again: “My solemn word is this: I am the sheepgate. All who came before me were thieves and marauders whom the sheep did not heed. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be safe. He will go in and out, and find pasture.”
The holy apostle Simon was from Cana in Galilee, and was known to the Lord and His Mother. Tradition says that he was the bridegroom at the wedding where the Savior performed His first miracle. After witnessing the miracle of the water turned into wine, he became a zealous follower of Christ. For this reason, he is known as St. Simon the Zealot. St. Simon was one of the Twelve Apostles, and received the Holy Spirit with the others on Pentecost. He traveled to many places from Britain to the Black Sea, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. After converting many pagans to the Lord, St. Simon suffered martyrdom by crucifixion.
Troparion
O holy apostle Simon, intercede with the all-merciful God that he may grant us forgiveness of our sins.
Kontakion
With holy hymns we bless Simon as a preacher of God, who rooted wisdom deeply in the hearts of the pious. Now he stands before the throne of Glory and rejoices in the company of angels. He prays unceasingly for all of us.
Readings for the saint
Epistle
1st Corinthians 4: 9-16
Brothers and sisters: As I see it, God has put us apostles at the end of the line, like men doomed to die in the arena. We have become like a spectacle to the universe, to angels and men alike. We are fools on Christ’s account. Ah, but in Christ you are wise! We are the weak ones, you the strong! They honor you, while they sneer at us! Up to this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, poorly clad, roughly treated, wandering about homeless. We work hard at manual labor. When we are insulted we respond with a blessing. Persecution comes our way; we bear it patiently. We are slandered, and we try conciliation. We have become the world’s refuse, the scum of all; that is the present state of affairs.
I am writing you this way not to shame you but to admonish you as my beloved children. Granted you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you have only one father. It was I who begot you in Christ Jesus through my preachings of the gospel. I beg you, be imitators of me.
Gospel
Matthew 13: 54-58
At that time, Jesus went to his native place and spent his time teaching them in their synagogues. They were filled with amazement, and said to one another, “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t Mary known to be his mother and James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? Aren’t his sisters our neighbors? Where did he get all this?” They found him altogether too much for them. Jesus said to them, “No prophet is without honor except in his native place, indeed in his own house.” And he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Readings for the day
Epistle
Acts 13: 13-24
In those days, from Paphos, Paul and his companions put out to sea and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued to travel on from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and of the prophets, the leading men of the synagogue sent this message to them: “Brothers, if you have any exhortation to address to the people, please speak up.”
So Paul arose, motioned to them for silence, and began: “Fellow Israelites and you others who reverence our God, listen to what I have to say! The God of the people Israel once chose our fathers. He made this people great during their sojourn in the land of Egypt, and with an outstretched arm he led them out of it. For forty years he put up with them in the desert: then he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan to give them that country as their heritage at the end of some four hundred and fifty years. Later on he set up judges to rule them until the time of the prophet Samuel. When they asked for a king, God gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled for forty years. Then God removed him and raised up David as their king; on this behalf God testified, ‘I have found David son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart who will fulfill my every wish.’
“According to his promise, God has brought forth from this man’s descendants Jesus, a savior for Israel. John heralded the coming of Jesus by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.”
Gospel
John 6: 5:14
At that time Jesus looked up and caught sight of a vast crowd coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat?” He knew well what he intended to do but he asked this to test Philip’s response. Philip replied, “Not even with two hundred days’ wages could we buy loaves enough to give each of them a mouthful!”
One of Jesus/ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, remarked to Jesus, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and a couple of dried fish, but what good is that for so many?” Jesus said, “Get the people to recline.” Even though the men numbered about five thousand, there was plenty of grass for them to find a place on the ground. Jesus then took the loaves of bread, gave thanks, and passed them around to those reclining there; he did the same with the dried fish, as much as they wanted. When they had had enough, he told his disciples, “Gather up the crusts that are left over so that nothing will go to waste.” At this, they gathered twelve baskets full of pieces left over by those who had been fed with the five barley loaves. When the people saw the sign he had performed they began to say, “This undoubtedly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Translation of the relics of our holy Father Nicholas from Myra to Bari in the reign of Alexis Commenus, emperor of New Rome in the year 1087. The body of the saint was taken to Italy after a Muslim attack on Lycia aiming to destroy the saint’s relics failed. Fearing another attempt would be successful, Venetian merchants transported the relics into the church of St. Stephen. The solemn bearing of the relics was accompanied by numerous healings of the sick, which inspired great reverence for the saint. A year afterwards, a church was built in the name of St. Nicholas and consecrated by Pope Urban II.
The holy prophet Isaiah lived 700 years before the birth of Christ, and was of royal lineage. Saint Isaiah was called to prophetic service during the reign of Oziah [Uzziah], king of Judea, and he prophesied for 60 years during the reign of kings Joatham, Achaz [Ahaz], Hezekiah and Manasseh. The start of his service was marked by the following vision: he beheld the Lord God, sitting in a majestic heavenly temple upon a high throne. Six-winged Seraphim encircled Him. With two wings they covered their faces, and with two wings they covered their feet, and with two wings they flew about crying out one to another, “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with His glory!” The pillars of the heavenly temple shook from their shouts, and in the temple arose the smoke of incense. The prophet cried out in terror, “Oh, an accursed man am I, granted to behold the Lord Sabaoth, and having impure lips and living amidst an impure people!” Then was sent him one of the Seraphim, having in hand a red-hot coal, which he took with tongs from the altar of the Lord. He touched it to the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah and said, “Lo, this has touched thy lips, and will take away with thine iniquities, and will cleanse thy sins.” After this Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord, directed towards him, “Whom shall I send, and who will go to this people?” Isaiah answered, “Here am I, send me” (Is 6:1 ff). And the Lord sent him to the Jews to exhort them to turn from the ways of impiety and idol worship, and to offer repentance.To those that repent and turn to the true God, the Lord promised mercy and forgiveness, but punishment and the judgment of God are appointed for the unrepentant. Then Isaiah asked the Lord, how long would the falling away of the Jewish nation from God continue. The Lord answered, “Until the cities be deserted, by reason of there being no people, and the land shall be made desolate. Just as when a tree be felled and from the stump come forth new shoots, so also from the destruction of the nation a holy remnant will remain, from which will emerge a new tribe.” Isaiah left behind him a book of prophecy in which he denounces the Jews for their unfaithfulness to the God of their Fathers. He predicted the captivity of the Jews and their return from captivity during the time of the emperor Cyrus, the destruction and renewal of Jerusalem and of the Temple. Together with this he predicts the historical fate also of the other nations bordering the Jews. But what is most important of all for us, the Prophet Isaiah with particular clarity and detail prophesies about the coming of the Messiah, Christ the Savior. The prophet names the Messiah as God and Man, teacher of all the nations, founder of the Kingdom of peace and love. The prophet foretells the birth of the Messiah from a Virgin, and with particular clarity he describes the Suffering of the Messiah for the sins of the world. He foresees His Resurrection and the universal spreading of His Church. By his clear foretelling of Christ the Savior, the Prophet Isaiah deserves to be called an Old Testament Evangelist. To him belong the words, “He beareth our sins and is smitten for us…. He was wounded for our sins and tortured for our transgressions. The chastisement of our world was upon Him, and by His wounds we were healed….” (Is 53:4-5. Vide Isaiah: 7:14, 11:1, 9:6, 53:4, 60:13, etc.). The holy Prophet Isaiah had also a gift of wonderworking. And so, when during the time of a siege of Jerusalem by enemies the besieged had become exhausted with thirst, he by his prayer drew out from beneath Mount Sion a spring of water, which was called Siloam, i.e. “sent from God.” It was to this spring afterwards that the Savior sent the man blind from birth to wash, and He restored his sight. By the prayer of the Prophet Isaiah, the Lord prolonged the life of Hezekiah for 15 years. The Prophet Isaiah died a martyr’s death. By order of the Jewish king Manasseh he was sawn through by a wood-saw. The prophet was buried not far from the Pool of Siloam. The relics of the holy Prophet Isaiah were afterwards transferred by the emperor Theodosius the Younger to Constantinople and installed in the church of Saint Laurence at Blachernae. At the present time part of the head of the Prophet Isaiah is preserved at Athos in the Hilandar monastery.
For the times and the events which occurred during the life of the Prophet Isaiah, see the 4th Book of Kings [alt. 2 Kings] (Ch 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, etc.), and likewise 2 Chr 26-32.
Troparion for the translation
A day of festal joy has come. The city of Bari rejoices, and the world sings with it. Today we celebrate the transfer of the relics of the wonderworking and holy Nicholas. Just as the perfect Light has gleamed in glory, so does Nicholas disperse the darkness of temptation for those who sing out: Save us as a patron, O Nicholas.
Kontakion for the translation
Like a star rising in the East, your relics have arisen and come to the West. The waters of the sea have been hallowed by your passage, and the city of Bari has received grace from you. You are truly a most wonderful miracle-worker and a merciful prelate; therefore, we praise you.
Readings for the translation of the relics
Epistle
Hebrews 13: 17-21
Brothers and sisters: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over you as men who must render an account. So act that they may fulfill their task with joy, not with sorrow, for that would be harmful to you. Pray for us; we are confident that we have a good conscience, wishing, as we do, to act rightly in every respect. I especially ask your prayers that I may be restored to you very soon. May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. Through Jesus Christ may he carry out in you all that is pleasing to him. To Christ be the glory forever! Amen.
Gospel
Luke 6: 17-23
At that time, coming down the mountain with the Twelve, Jesus stopped at a level to stretch where there were many of his disciples; a large crowd of people was with them from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coast of Tyre and Sidon, people who came to hear him and be healed of their diseases. Those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured; indeed, the whole crowd was trying to touch him because power went out from him which cured all. Then, raising his eyes to his disciples, he said: “Blest are you poor; the reign of God is yours. Blest are you who hunger; you shall be filled. Blest are you who are weeping; you shall laugh. Blest shall you be when men hate you, when they ostracize you and insult you and proscribe your name as evil because of the Son of Man. On the day they do so, rejoice and exult, for your reward shall be great in heaven.”
Readings for the day
Epistle
Acts 12:25 – 13:12
In those days, Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. On one occasion, while they were engaged in the liturgy of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them: “Set apart Barnabas ans Saul for me to do the work for which I have called them.” Then, after they had fasted and prayed, they imposed hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them off.
These two, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to the port of Seleucia and set sail from there for Cyprus. On their arrival in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues, John accompanying them as an assistant. They traveled over the whole island as far as Paphos, where they came across a Jewish magician named Bar-Jesus who posed as a prophet. He was attached to the court of the proconsular governor Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence who had summoned Barnabas and Saul and was anxious to hear the word of God. But Elymas – “the magician,” for that was what his name means – opposed them and sought to turn the governor away from the faith. Saul (also known as Paul) was filled with the Holy Spirit; he stared at Elymas and exclaimed: “You are an imposter and a thoroughgoing fraud, you son of Satan and enemy of all that is right! Will you never stop trying to make crooked the straight path of the Lord? The Lord’s hand is upon you even now! For a time you shall be blind, unable so much as to see the sun.” At once a musty darkness came over Elymas, and he groped about for someone to lead him by the hand. When the governor saw what had happened, he believed, so impressed was he by the teaching about the Lord.
Gospel
John 8: 51-58
The Lord said to the people coming to him: “I solemnly assure you, if a man is true to my word he shall never see death.” The Jews retorted, “Now we are sure you are possessed. Abraham is dead. The prophets are dead. Yet you claim, ‘A man shall never know death if he keeps my word.’ Surely you do not pretend to be greater than our father Abraham, who died! Or the prophets, who died! Whom do you make yourself out to be?”
Jesus answered: “If I glorify myself, that glory comes to nothing. He who gives me glory is the Father, the very one you claim for your God, even though you so not know him. But I know him. Were I to say I do not know him, I would be no better than you – a liar! Yes, I know him well, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he might see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
At this the Jews objected: “You are not yet fifty! How can you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered them: “I solemnly declare it: before Abraham came to be, I AM.” At that they picked up rocks to throw at Jesus, but he hid himself and slipped out of the temple precincts.
