The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, August 6, 2023
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August 6, 2023
Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that “there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom” (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him” (Matt. 17: 5).
Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun” (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord’s Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.
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Liturgical Guide
Apolytikion for Holy Transfiguration in the Grave Mode
Μετεμορθώθης εν τώ όρει Χριστέ ο Θεός…
Thou wast transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, showing to Thy disciples Thy glory as each one could endure. Shine forth Thou on us, who are sinners all, Thy light ever-unending, through the prayers of the Theotokos. Light-bestower, glory be to Thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Mode
Επί τού όρους μετεμορφώθης…
You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from St. Peter’s Second Universal Letter 1:10-19
BRETHREN, be more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 17:1-9
At that time, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.”
Announcements
Correction
Last week’s Trisagion announcement for Panayiotis Dogatzis was incorrect. The correct announcement is Panayiotis Dogatzis (4 years) survived by his sons Pantelis and Geronimos. The Trisagion prayer was requested by Afroditi Petropoulou.
St. Demetrios Registration 2023-2024
Registration for our programs will take place Sunday, August 6 and Sunday, August 13. Stewardship of the individual or family (in the case of children) is mandatory.
Also, the Parental Covenant, Student Code of Conduct, Release of liability, and Release form and waiver are required.
Operation Classroom
St. Demetrios Philoptochos’ annual Support of Operation Classroom begins today and will finish on August 27th.We are again providing support to Bennett Elementary School, who provides excellent education and care to the children of our community.A list of needed supplies will be posted. Monetary donations will also be greatly appreciated. Those donations will be used to purchase additional supplies.Thank you for supporting this worthy cause and your Philoptochos Organization.
Save the Date
Summertime BINGO, Saturday, August 26th. Doors open at 11:30am. Kandaras Hall.
Gyro Night
Join us on Saturday, August 19 at 6:30pm for our annual Gyro night. The meal is complimentary.
GOYA News
August 12th. District GOYA Meet and Greet!!!!
GOYA District is having the first District GOYA Event of the new year at Season’s Clubhouse in Boca Raton. . .
Please RSVP to goya@stdemetrios.org by August 4.
Youth Programs News
Donation Opportunities- Summertime Angels
Thoughts on Stewardship
The Feast of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor reveals the glorious light of Christ’s divinity. In describing this event St. John Chrysostom explains that Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Prophets of the Old Testament. Both had visions of God. Moses is symbolic of the dead while Elijah, having been carried up to heaven in a chariot of fire, represents the living over whom – both the living and the dead – Christ reigns in glory!
Also in the icon are the Apostles Peter, James and John. Christ appears to them, not in the form of man, the “suffering servant”, but in the form of God! Church hymnology states: “For taking apart the three Disciples He has expressly chosen…He led them up into the mountain by themselves; and for a short time He concealed the flesh He had assumed, and was transfigured before them.”
The Transfiguration of Christ is a theophany, a manifestation of God that displays His uncreated divine energy. In the Transfiguration we celebrate the divinity of Christ and the call for His faithful followers to allow God to live in their lives.
Orthodox Christian STEWARDSHIP is the response we offer when God lives in our lives. The participation of the three disciples, along with Moses and Elijah, reveal to us the entire Church: the disciples representing the Church on earth and the prophets the heavenly Church. God’s covenant in the Old Testament is fulfilled in Christ. The testimony of these two prophets and three disciples is the revelation of God in Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We, then, become members of the body of Christ through Baptism and Chrismation into the Faith.
The STEWARDSHIP Program is the way for everyone to belong. We are expected to make an honest and sincere contribution of our time, our talent, and our treasure to the sacred ministry of the Church. No matter what one’s income so long as one gives as an expression of faith and love the work of Christ’s church will grow and prevail.
See: Matthew 17:1-12; Mark 9:2-10; Luke 9:28-36
Stewardship
Please fill out a year 2023 pledge form by clicking here https://stdemetrios.org/our-parish/stewardship/stewardship-form/ Or download this form, fill out both sides completely and return it to the office. Thank you!
Calendar
Saturday 8/5
10:00am HDF practice
Sunday 8/6 The Transfiguration
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Liturgy Registration for all programs
1:15pm Bible Study
Wednesday 8/9
6:00pm Paraklesis Service
Friday 8/11
6:00pm Paraklesis Service
Saturday 8/12
9:30am DOP meeting
12:00pm District GOYA meet and great pool party at Boca Raton
Sunday 8/13
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Liturgy Registration for all programs
1:15pm Bible Study
