Sunday, June 28, 2020
Third Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 2 and Eothinon 3
Transfer of the Commemoration of the Holy and Glorious Apostles Peter and Paul
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 2
When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!
Apolytikion of Saints Peter and Paul – Tone 4
O Foremost in the ranks of Apostles, and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all to grant safety to the world and to our souls the Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of the Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe. For from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Kontakion of the Theotokos – Tone 2
O undisputed intercessor of Christians, the mediatrix unrejected by the Creator, turn not away from the voice of our petitions, though we be sinners. Come to us in time, who cry to thee in faith, with assistance; for thou art good. Hasten to us with intercessions, O Theotokos, who dost ever intercede for those who honour thee.
Epistle – II Corinthians 11:21-33; 12:6-9 (Saints Peter and Paul)
Prokeimenon. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth.
Verse. The heavens show forth the glory of God.
BRETHREN, whatever anyone dares to boast of – I am speaking as a fool – I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one – I am talking like a madman – with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.
I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows – and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Gospel – Matthew 16:13-19 (Holy Apostles Peter and Paul)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Next week’s homework: Galatians 5:22-6:2 (St. Athanasius of Mount Athos)
Matthew 8:5-13 (Fourth Sunday of Matthew)
JUNE 28, 2020 – TRANSFER OF THE COMMEMORATION OF THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
Mission Statement - The mission of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of Brooklyn, NY, is to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry out this mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy with love for each other, our neighbors, and our diverse world.
TODAY, JUNE 28 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Victor Arida, Adla Arout, William Assatly, Sr., Toufic Ayoub, Mabel Backal, Angela Boojamra, Leonard Coury, Michael Eyd, Nora Hamod, Alexander and Yvonne Hamwi, Mae Karram, Maggy Karam, Viola Kazan, George Lewis, Helen Sahadi, Salvatore Savarese, and Thomas Zaglool. Memory eternal!
Audrey and Charlie Sahadi offer Prayers of Oblation for the health of Brenda Sabbagh on the occasion of her birthday. Many years!
Sandra Coogan offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her father, Salvatore Savarese. Memory eternal!
Diane Jucovics offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her mother, Helen F. Sahadi. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 5 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. Fuad Dirbas, Michael Eyd and Nora Hamod, Fred and Marguerite Farkouh, Michael Jureidini, Olga Kaity, Abraham Kalaf, Kaleel Kalaf, Alfred A. Khouri, George Lewis, William Lewis, Yvette Milkie, Fred Nassoor, George Shammah, and Valentine Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Leila and Raymond Trabulsi of Lincoln, RI, will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lillian and Leon Hattab and Baseem and Valentine Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Our Parish Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of our benefactress, the handmaiden of God Georgette Maione. Georgette left a generous bequest for St. Mary’s Church in her estate plan. May we all follow her example. Memory eternal!
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, we will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please reverently hear these prayers before beginning to “chat.”
FASTING DISCIPLINE – Given that we celebrated the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul today, we return to our normal fasting discipline this week and for the month of July.
HOLY BREAD – Gloria Zain Darzi offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of June in loving memory of Wadia Zain. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church/home.
GREAT VESPERS – There will be no Great Vespers this Saturday, July 4. We are going to give our volunteer “staff” the evening off to celebrate with their families. We will resume Great Vespers on Saturday, July 11, at 5:00 PM.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Dr. Alice Farkouh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Loulou Malouf, Emily Maren (ME), Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), Marianne Trabulsi (NJ), Dr. Sam Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home). If a member of your family is in the hospital or recuperating at home, please call the church office and let us know as soon as possible.
PLEDGE GIVING – During these extraordinary times we ask everyone to maintain their pledge giving as much as possible. Please remember that St. Mary's Church now accepts donations online. Just visit https://smaoc.squarespace.com/donate and pay securely by credit card, debit card, or check. There is an option to indicate gifts made in honor of or in remembrance of someone.
AV VIRTUAL CAMP – Although the camping season at the Antiochian Village has been canceled, the Camp is preparing a series of virtual Evening Programs each week. For general information please go to office@avcamp.org. For specific information and registration for some programs please contact Evening Program Coordinator Nadia Ozone at nadia.ozone@gmail.com.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – We are pleased to announce that there will be an abbreviated and “socially distanced” outing this year on Thursday, September 24, at the Hempstead Country Club with only golf and tennis but no banquet. Please mark your calendars. This year only there will be no sponsors or honorees, but there will be a souvenir journal to mark the occasion. Additional information will follow either later this month or early next month. Fore!
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, June 29 Feast of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
Saturday, July 4 NO GREAT VESPERS
Saturday, July 11 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
August 1-15 Dormition Fast
Thursday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ
Thursday, September 24 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
We will livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc
FROM THE FATHERS – “It is required that not only with the body should we fast, but with the soul. Now the soul is humbled when it does not follow wicked opinions, but feeds on becoming virtues. For virtues and vices are the food of the soul, and it can eat either of these two. Bend your appetite toward virtues, as Paul says, “Being nourished by the word of truth.”
- St. Athanasius of Alexandria
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America