Saturday, Nov. 26 – Alypius the Stylite, Venerable
4:15 PM Outreach Vespers in Santa Paula
5:00 PM Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula
Sunday, Nov. 27 – 25th Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
Monday, Nov. 28 – Stephen, Venerable Martyr
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
6:30 PM Akathist* for those suffering Addictions & Mental Illness
Wednesday, Nov. 30 – Andrew, Apostle
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
9:30 AM Photina Prayer/ Litter Pick-up Walk
5:45 PM Outreach Reader Vespers in Santa Paula
6:30 PM Divine Liturgy Sarah Jimenez & the “Andrews” of the parish
7:30 PM Firepit Social
Saturday, Dec. 3 – Zephaniah, Prophet
4:15 PM Outreach Vespers in Santa Paula
5:00 PM Outreach Divine Liturgy in Santa Paula
6:30 PM Reader Vespers
Sunday, Dec. 4 – 26th Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Matins
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy
*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, Fern Bonowicz, Shannon O’Neill, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s
Collection: $1,169.00; Candles: $30.93; Online: $80.00; Santa Paula: $354.00; Church Improvements: $25.00
Total: $1,658.93 / Attendance- PSM: 51; VCO: 65
This year we will celebrate St. Nicholas Day on Sunday Dec. 11 with a potluck lunch and a visit from Saint Nicholas himself for the children! Sign-up sheets are in the small hall. Please sign-up by Dec. 4 so we have an accurate headcount (especially if you are bringing children). We are celebrating with the Romanians. Liturgy is at the regular time of 9:30am.
The Outreach in Santa Paula will celebrate Saturday Dec. 10 after Divine Liturgy that evening. St. Nicholas will also make a visit there.
The prominent icon in the center of the back wall of the altar area is called the Theotokos Platytera. This translates to “Mother of God, More Spacious than the Cosmos”. To understand this title, we must understand why the icon is placed there. The domed ceiling symbolizes the cosmos, and the linear walls of the nave symbolizes the created earth. Where these meet, the dome and the walls, heaven and earth, is the incarnation of Christ, who as God and man binds these two spaces. That’s why the Theotokos Platytera is usually shown pregnant with Our Lord. Mary’s hands are outstretched in prayer (and protection if she is holding a white cloth). Christ is shown inside of a mandorla, almond-shaped layers of blue and/or gold surrounding His body. This mandorla reveals that a mystery is present, something of heaven is touching earth, and we need the eyes of faith to perceive it. In this case, the mystery is that of a virgin pregnant with the God-Man; heaven has truly met earth. Hence, she is “more spacious than the cosmos”. Even the cosmos, created by God, cannot contain Him, but the Theotokos, in her pregnancy, did.
This icon is also sometimes called “Our Lady of the Sign” because it represents the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 that “the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”
This icon, because it represents Our Lord’s condescension and incarnation, and therefore our access to Him, is the focus of our reverence (along with the entire Holy Place, including the Eucharist in the Tabernacle) when we enter the Temple, and especially when we enter the Holy Place.
“Woman, you are freed from your infirmity!” As the Physician of souls and bodies, our Lord shows mercy to the woman who had an infirmity for eighteen years. His healing can restore any brokenness, and the life in Christ allows us to bring his healing to the world. Are you being called to do so through the priestly, diaconal, monastic or religious life? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org
You can pick up the October issue of the GCU Magazine and the newest issue of the Joyful Light magazine from our seminary in the narthex of the Proto-cathedral.
Saturday, November 26 –
