The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, January 1, 2023
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January 1, 2023
Circumcision of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Since the Mosaic Law commands that if a woman give birth to a male child, he should be circumcised in the foreskin of his flesh on the eighth day (Lev. 12:2-3), on this, the eighth day from His Nativity, our Saviour accepted the circumcision commanded by the Law. According to the command of the Angel, He received the Name which is above every name: JESUS, which means “Saviour” (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31 and 2:21).
Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
Saint Basil the Great was born about the end of the year 329 in Caesarea of Cappadocia, to a family renowned for their learning and holiness. His parents’ names were Basil and Emily. His mother Emily (commemorated July 19) and his grandmother Macrina (Jan. 14) are Saints of the Church, together with all his brothers and sisters: Macrina, his elder sister (July 19), Gregory of Nyssa (Jan. 10), Peter of Sebastia (Jan. 9), and Naucratius. Basil studied in Constantnople under the sophist Libanius, then in Athens, where also he formed a friendship with the young Gregory, a fellow Cappadocian, later called “the Theologian.” Through the good influence of his sister Macrina (see July 19), he chose to embrace the ascetical life, abandoning his worldly career. He visited the monks in Egypt, in Palestine, in Syria, and in Mesopotamia, and upon returning to Caesarea, he departed to a hermitage on the Iris River in Pontus, not far from Annesi, where his mother and his sister Macrina were already treading the path of the ascetical life; here he also wrote his ascetical homilies.
About the year 370, when the bishop of his country reposed, he was elected to succeed to his throne and was entrusted with the Church of Christ, which he tended for eight years, living in voluntary poverty and strict asceticism, having no other care than to defend holy Orthodoxy as a worthy successor of the Apostles. The Emperor Valens, and Modestus, the Eparch of the East, who were of one mind with the Arians, tried with threats of exile and of torments to bend the Saint to their own confession, because he was the bastion of Orthodoxy in all Cappadocia, and preserved it from heresy when Arianism was at its strongest. But he set all their malice at nought, and in his willingness to give himself up to every suffering for the sake of the Faith, showed himself to be a martyr by volition. Modestus, amazed at Basil’s fearlessness in his presence, said that no one had ever so spoken to him. “Perhaps,” answered the Saint, “you have never met a bishop before.” The Emperor Valens himself was almost won over by Basil’s dignity and wisdom. When Valens’ son fell gravely sick, he asked Saint Basil to pray for him. The Saint promised that his son would be restated if Valens agreed to have him baptized by the Orthodox; Valens agreed, Basil prayed, and the son was restored. But afterwards the Emperor had him baptized by Arians, and the child died soon after. Later, Valens, persuaded by his counsellors, decided to send the Saint into exile because he would not accept the Arians into communion; but his pen broke when he was signing the edict of banishment. He tried a second time and a third, but the same thing happened, so that the Emperor was filled with dread, and tore up the document, and Basil was not banished. The truly great Basil, spent with extreme ascetical practices and continual labours, at the helm of the church, departed to the Lord on the 1st of January, in 379. at the age of forty-nine.
His writings are replete with wisdom and erudition, and rich are these gifts he set forth the doctrines concerning the mysteries both of the creation (see his Hexaemeron) and of the Holy Trinity (see On the Holy Spirit). Because of the majesty and keenness of his eloquence, he is honoured as “the revealer of heavenly things” and “the Great.”
Saint Basil is also celebrated on January 30th with Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom.
Liturgical Guide
Apolytikion for Circumcision of Jesus Christ in the First Mode
Μορφήν αναλλοιώτως ανθρωπίνην προσέλαβες…
Our human form hast Thou taken on Thyself without change, O greatly-compassionate Master, though being God by nature; fulfilling the Law, Thou willingly receivest circumcision in the flesh, that Thou mightest end the shadow and roll away the veil of our sinful passions. Glory be to Thy goodness unto us. Glory be to Thy compassion. Glory, O Word, to Thine inexpressible condescension.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Basil the Great in the First Mode
Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γὴν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος σου…
Thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy word. Thereby thou hast divinely taught the Faith; thou hast made manifest the nature of all things that be; thou hast adorned the ways of man. O namesake of the royal priesthood, our righteous Father Basil, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion of St. Demetrios in the Third Mode
Μέγαν εύρατο εv τοίς κιvδύvοις …
Greatness has been found in danger. You are champion of the world. A victor who could turn the nations back. You boldly encouraged Nestor to defeat Lyaeus in the arena. Therefore, holy great martyr Demetrios, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode
Ο τών όλων Κύριος, πειριτομήν υπομένει…
Now the Lord of all that is doth undergo circumcision, in His goodness cutting off the sins and failings of mortals. He this day doth give salvation unto the whole world; and the hierarch and bright daystar of the Creator now rejoiceth in the highest, Basil the wise and divine initiate of Christ.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 48.3,1.
My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.
Verse: Hear this all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians 2:8-12
BRETHREN, see to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 2:20-21, 40-52
At that time, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.
Announcements
Bookstore
Daily Bible reading guides for 2023 have arrived. They’re free, so pick yours up today and start the year with the Bible.
Remember to include some gifts with spiritual inspiration for the little ones. We have beautifully illustrated books about the Nativity and titles like Eleni Looks at Jealousy and Peter Clashes with Anger.
Choir
JOIN US IF YOU CAN SING 🎶
We are looking for new members in the St. Demetrios Choir. We’d love to have you join us! Please see Chanters Alex or Athena for more information. Thank you!
Epiphany Celebration
Save the Date
FESTIVAL February 2 – 5, 2023! WHERE TRADITION & CELEBRATION LIVE!
Yes! We’re having a festival!
This is one of ST DEMETRIOS’ BEST FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES & FUNDRAISERS!
YOU make it a SUCCESS!
VOLUNTEER!
Enjoy the company of friends! Make new friends! Welcome people & share our faith and beautiful culture!
SIGN UP TODAY & VOLUNTEER. Here are some of the areas:
Food Prep with Stacy, Emmy & our new Chef Jimmy
Set up festival grounds with Jared, Bill & Apostoli
Cashiers & Volunteer Table with Anna, Elaine, Faith
Bakery with Eva, Athena
Gyro with George, Greek Market with Mona
Loukoumades & Greek Cafe & Frappes with Karyl & the famous Loukou Queens
Greek Grill with Basil, Ted & Andy * Food Line with Victor & Christina
Admissions with Stefani * Parking with LTC Ken… and so much more at the narthex!
Let’s add your name to these areas too! SIGN UP TODAY!
AHEPA invites you to a live concert
For information, contact Chris Kapakos at ckapakos@comcast.net or (954) 709-9651.
Oral History Project
The Hellenic Cultural Society (HCS) of South Florida is undertaking an Oral History Project which aims at creating an archive of the emigration and immigration experience of Greek Americans.
> All humans in the Americas, including Native Americans, immigrated from other continents. Greeks have been emigrating from their ancestral villages, hamlets and cities since the ancient times. As a result, they established what became the cities of Alexandria, Nice, Napoli, Messina, Odessa and Byzantium, to name but a few. In more recent times, Greeks immigrated to the United States of America. Some of them are our ancestors. The experience of these ancestors is an integral part of American History and must be recorded.
> The HCS invites you to include in the proposed archive the emigration and immigration history of your family. This may be accomplished through a live interview or by submitting written answers to a set of questions. All this primary data will be uploaded on a website and will become available to scholars embarking on a variety of topics regarding Greek Americans. In addition to the narrative you may wish to include copies of photographs and documents such as certificates of birth, baptism, marriage, divorce and death, passports etc.
> For more information please contact Malvina Protogerou Currie at malvinacurrie@gmail.com or Stavroula Christodoulou at isapaul@aol.com or at SimplyGreekSF@gmail.com
Stewardship
if you have not already done so, please fill out a year 2022 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 1/1 St. Basil the Great
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Cutting of the Vasilopita
Tuesday 1/3
7:00pm AHEPA meeting
Friday 1/6 Epiphany
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy at Beach Pavillion Lauderdale by the Sea
Cross dive, refreshments
Saturday 1/7
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy at St. Catherine Church WPB
Cross dive, luncheon
Sunday 1/8
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School and Little Lambs
12:30pm Dance practice
1:15pm Bible Study
