The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, July 21st, 2024
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Sunday, July 21st, 2024
4th Sunday of Matthew
John and Symeon the Fool for Christ
Commemorated on July 21st
These Saints were from the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia and flourished during the reign of Justin the Younger (565-578). After a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were moved with a desire to forsake the world; they were tonsured monks by the Abbot Nicon, and soon after left the monastery to struggle together in the wilderness near the Dead Sea. When they had passed a little more than thirty years together in silence and prayer, Symeon, having reached the heights of dispassion, departed for Emesa in Syria, where he passed the rest of his life playing the fool, saving many souls from sin while hiding his sanctity with seemingly senseless behavior. He reposed in 570; by the providence of God, John, who had remained in the wilderness, departed soon after.
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Mary Magdalene, Myrrhberer & Equal-to-the-Apostles
Commemorated July 22nd
Saint Mary was from Magdala in Galilee on the Sea of Tiberias, and for this was named Magdalene. When the Lord Jesus cast out seven demons from her, from which she had been suffering, she became His faithful and inseparable disciple, following Him and ministering unto Him even to the time of His crucifixion and burial. Then, returning to Jerusalem together with the rest of the Myrrh-bearers, she prepared the fragrant spices for anointing the body of the Lord. And on the Lord’s day they came very early to the tomb, even before the Angels appeared declaring the Resurrection of the Lord. When Mary Magdalene saw the stone taken away from the tomb, she ran and proclaimed it to Peter and John. And returning immediately to the tomb and weeping outside, she was deemed worthy to be the first of the Myrrh-bearers to behold the Lord arisen from the dead, and when she fell at His feet, she heard Him say, “Touch Me not.” After the Lord’s Ascension, nothing certain is known concerning her. Some accounts say that she went to Rome and later returned to Jerusalem, and from there proceeded to Ephesus, where she ended her life, preaching Christ. Although it is sometimes said that Saint Mary Magdalene was the “sinful woman” of the Gospel, this is nowhere stated in the tradition of the Church, in the sacred hymnology, or in the Holy Gospels themselves, which say only that our Lord cast seven demons out of her, not that she was a fallen woman. “Madeleine” is a form of Magdalene.
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode
Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια…
Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
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 Second Mode
Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε…
O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 6:18-23
Brethren, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 8:5-13
At that time, as Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, beseeching Him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And He said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Memorial
Dimitrios “Jim” Bakatselos (2 yrs) survived by his wife Tara, children Christina (John), Eleni, and Alexandra, parents Elefteria and Platon, brother Telly (Melissa), nieces Demi and Sophia, and nephew Christian.
Trisagion
Petroula Papastavrou (1 yr) survived by 3 children, 2 grandchildren, and her sisters Angeliki Stringos and Ioanna Lambiris.
40 Day blessing
Angela and Thomas Manos and big sister Sophia present Vasilea Eleni.
Announcements
Coffee Hour
In his memory, the family of Jim Bakatselos has sponsored the coffee hour.
Loving Stitches
Bring your knitting, crocheting, or other craft and join the fun on Tuesday, July 23 at 11:00am
Philoptochos News
Did you know that Philoptochos is the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Church?
Did you know that Philoptochos means “friend of the poor”?
Did you know that the St Elpis chapter of St Demetrios donated over $18,000 in 2023 to those in need, with over $11,000 helping those in our community?
Did you know that the monthly BINGO games donate to Feeding South Florida and support Covenant House?
Did you know that your $10 donation will provide a Bingo gift prize to the winner of a Bingo game?
The next Bingo Game is Saturday noon, July 20th in the Kandaras Hall. (See full notice in this bulletin.) Bring your family for a fun afternoon, and please consider making a $10 donation to this worthy monthly event. (Checks payable to: Philoptochos.) See Athena Loucas or Juanita Antley or any Philoptochos member. Thank you for your generosity! See you on July 20th.
BINGO
Saturday, July 20th, at 12:00 noon. Doors open at 11:30am. Many gift prizes. 50/50 raffle, plus refreshments. Join us for a relaxing afternoon of fun, family, friends, & food. Get 2 BINGO cards for $7.00 at the door. Supporting Feeding South Florida and Covenant House. Invite your neighbors and friends. See you on Saturday, July 20th at 11:30am
Summertime Angels
It’s time for our annual fundraiser. During the quite summer months, utilities and fixed expenses don’t take a vacation! As always, we thank you for your generosity.
Stewardship Year 2024
We are more than a quarter through the calendar year.
If you have filled out a pledge form for year 2024 but have not yet made a donation toward your pledge of treasure, please do so.
To make payments on your pledge, use https://stdemetrios.org/make-a-donation/ and at the drop down menu choose “Stewardship” . If paying by check, please note “Pledge 2024” on the memo line.
We thank our parishioners who have pledged their gifts of time, talent and treasure for year 2024.
If you have not, please fill out a form. You can download a form, pick up a form at church, or use https://stdemetrios.org/our-parish/stewardship/stewardship-form/.
Calendar
Saturday 7/20
12:00pm Bingo
Sunday 7/21
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
Tuesday 7/23
11:00am Loving Stitches
Sunday 7/28
8:30am/9:30am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
