Sunday, July 26, 2020
Holy and Righteous Martyr Paraskeva of Rome
Tone 6 and Eothinon 7
Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates of Nicomedia
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 6
When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou that art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of St. Paraskeva – Tone 1
Wise and praiseworthy martyr of Christ Paraskeva, by accepting courage and rejecting feminine weakness you conquered the devil! You put your torturer to shame by crying out, Come, rend my body with your sword and burn it with fire, for I go rejoicing to Christ my bridegroom! By her prayers, O Christ God, save our souls!
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 – Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5 (St. Paraskeve)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 67.35, 26. God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse. Bless God in the congregations.
BRETHREN, when formerly you did not know God, you were in bondage to those which by nature are not gods; but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, to which you desire to be in bondage again? You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. I am fearful for you, lest by any means I have labored among you in vain.
I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong; but you know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first; and that, which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you neither despised nor rejected, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where then is that blessedness of yours? For I bear you witness, that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? They have zeal for you, but it is not good; for they would exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you, but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you. Tell me, you who desire to be under the Law, do you not hear the Law?
Gospel – Matthew 9:27-35 (Seventh Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus was passing by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud and saying, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then Jesus touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to Jesus. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity of the people.
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 11:10-17 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 14:14-22 (Eighth Sunday of Matthew)
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please reverently hear these prayers before beginning an online “chat.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church/home.
JULY 26, 2020 – SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE FOURTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
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, JULY 26 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Evelyn Arwady, Rose and Dewey Rose, Kh. Rose Khoury, George Sabbagh, Lulu Sahdala, Vivian Salem, Georgette and John Shahood, and Laurice Swaya. Memory eternal!
Leila and Raymond Trabulsi and Family offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Donald Ballan. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Assatly, Vivian Biele, Peter Boragi, Victoria Boragi, William B. Cury, Nabiha Dibbs, Adele Forzly, Henry Joseph Halaby, lll, Victoria Katen, Sally Klele, Adrienne Poulakakos, and Victor Samra, Sr. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of July for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Farkouh, Diana Mansur and Pierre Mansur. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for August and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Eddie Hanna (Hyam Salomon), 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.
MEMORY ETERNAL – We extend our sympathies to Patricia Ballan, her sons, and their family on the repose of the soul of the servant of God Donald Ballan who departed this life in hope of the Resurrection on Wednesday. The family will receive visitors at Raynor and D’Andrea Funeral Home, 683 Montauk Highway, West Sayville, NY, this afternoon from 3-6 PM, and the funeral will be here at St. Mary’s Church tomorrow at 10:00 AM.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE - We are increasing capacity in line with civil and Archdiocese guidelines while still maintaining the social distancing of 6 feet. There is always a possibility that the church may reach social distance capacity in which case worshippers may wait safely 6 feet apart outside the church. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy people outside may enter the church, as attendees exit, to receive Holy Communion, holy bread, and/or to light a candle. We still ask everyone who wants to attend in person either to call the church office or email pastor@smaoc.org ahead of time.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The Dormition Fast begins on Saturday, August 1, and continues until Friday, August 14. During this Fast we observe the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil) Monday through Friday, with katalysis for wine and olive oil on Saturdays and Sundays and for fish, wine and olive oil on the great feast of the Transfiguration (August 6).
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.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE VIRTUAL CAMP - Although the camping season at the Antiochian Village has been canceled, the Camp is offering a full schedule of virtual programs each week. The schedule for Week 7 is now available. For general information please go to office@avcamp.org, or email the new Camp Director Fr. Christopher Shadid at frchris@avcamp.org. In order to receive daily text reminders about available programs text @villyav to the number 81010.
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!
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, August 1 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, August 2 Metropolitan JOSEPH @ St. Nicholas Cathedral, 10:30 AM
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Wednesday, August 5 Evening Divine Liturgy, 7:00 PM
Thursday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ
Monday, August 10 Parish Council, 7:30 PM via Zoom
Saturday, August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Thursday, September 24 11th Annual Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
We will livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “I remember an elderly monk at Esphigmenou Monastery on Mt. Athos, who was so simple that he thought “Ascension” was a female saint. He prayed to her on his prayer rope, ‘Saint of God, intercede for us!’ Once he had to feed a sick brother in the monastery infirmary, and had nothing to offer him. He immediately went down the stairs, opened a window overlooking the sea, stretched his arms out and said, ‘Ascension, my Saint, give me a little fish for the Brother.’ And right away, as if by miracle, a big fish jumped out of the sea and into his hands. The others who saw him were astonished, but he simply looked at them smiling, as if he were saying, ‘What’s so strange about what you have just seen?’”
- Elder Paisios the Athonite