Weekly Sunday Bulletin – 16th Sunday of Luke

Apolytikion Ήχος A-1

Τού λίθου σφραγισθέντος…
The stone that had been sealed before Your tomb by the Jews and the soldiers guarding did watch o’er Your pure and sacred body O Savior the third day You arose, and unto all the world did You give life whereby all the heavenly powers did proclaim that You are the giver of life Glory unto our resurrected Christ. Glory unto Your Kingdom, Glory to Your dispensation. O You alone who loves all.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Meeting of the Lord in the First Mode

Ουράνιος χορός, ουρανίων αψίδων…
The Heavens’ choir looked down from the vaults of the Heavens, and gazing on the earth, they beheld with amazement the First-born of all creation brought forth as a suckling babe to the Temple by a pure and virginal mother; and with us, they now do sing a hymn for the Forefeast, astonished and full of awe.

Apolytikion for Martyr Trypho in the Fourth Mode

Ο Μάρτυς σου Κύριε, έν τή αθλήσει αυτού…
Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Apolytikion of St. Demetrios

Μέγαν εύρατο έν τοίς κινδύνοις…
The world found in you a great champion in dangers a victor who could turn the nations back! As you restrained Levi in the arena, you also inspired Nestor to courage! Therefore, holy, great martyr, Demetrios, entreat Christ

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

῾Ως ἀγκάλας σήμερον, πιστοὶ καρδίας…
On this day doth Symeon receive with gladness God, the Giver of the Law and he doth cry to Him in fear: Let me depart now, O Master Christ, for I have seen Thee, the Glory of Israel.

Artoklasia

For the health of Eileen who is donating her kidney to her brother-in-law Nicholas Deminis

Memorials

Paul Bisbikos (1yr) our beloved brother and choir member. May his memory be eternal! The choir of St. Demetrios

Rigas Condos (1yr) survived by his wife Demetra and children Olga and Louis, 4 grandchildren Alexis, Tatiana, Alexandra and Louisa

Trisagia

Constandino Tsourias (40dasy) survived by Antonia Papanikolaos

Pantelis Frangos (5yrs) survived by his wife Christine

Efharis Dawson (13yrs) survived by her sister Sophia Thermis, brothers Peter and Mitchell and family.

Josephine Papadales (12yrs) survived by son Basil and grandson Michael

Irene Athanasakos (16yrs) survived by daughters Antonia Hyland, Elizabeth Athanasakos, son Van (Carol) Athanasakos , 4 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren

Rose (Zoe) Patounis (25yrs) survived by her son Paul (Candace) and granddaughter Nicole

Ioannis, Angeliki, Nikolaos, Ekaterini, Theofilos, Ekaterini, Panagiotis and Dyonisios

Family of Fr. Milton and Presv. Poppy Stamatos.

 Saints and Feast Days

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they “did all their works to be seen of men” (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre’s sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

The Publican fasted not; and yet he was accepted in preference to him who had fasted; in order that thou mayest learn that fasting is unprofitable, except all other duties follow with it.

St. John Chrysostom

If there is a moral quality almost completely disregarded and even denied today, it is indeed humility. The culture in which we live constantly instills in us the sense of pride, of self-glorification, and of self-righteousness … Even our churches – are they not imbued with that same spirit of the Pharisee? Do we not want our every contribution, every ‘good deed,’ all the we do ‘for the Church’ to be acknowledged, praised, publicized? … How does one become humble? The answer, for a Christian, is simple: by contemplating Christ…”         Fr. Alexander Schmemann

Epistle Reading

St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 8:28-39

Brethren, we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Reading

The Gospel of Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”