Sunday, April 11, 2021
Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
Commemoration of John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder of Divine Ascent”
Tone 3 and Eothinon 11
Hieromartyr Antypas, Bishop of Pergamum
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depth of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of St. John of the Ladder – Tone 8
The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundred-fold. Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John, intercede with Christ God to 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 for the Sundays in Lent – Tone 8
To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that has that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.
Epistle – Hebrews 6:13-20 (Fourth Sunday in Lent)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 28.11, 1. The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two changeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Gospel – Mark 9:17-31 (Fourth Sunday in Lent)
AT THAT TIME, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered him, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at his mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”
They went out from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and after he is killed, he will rise on the third day.”
Megalynarion – In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed temple and noetic paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee.
LITURGICAL NOTE: During Great Lent we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 9:11-14 (Fifth Sunday of Great Lent)
Mark 10:32-45 (Fifth Sunday of Great Lent)
APRIL 11, 2021 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT – COMMEMORATION OF JOHN CLIMACUS, AUTHOR OF “THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT”
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.
We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us today. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and a recent confession may approach to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to reverence the cross and to partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor, and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
TODAY, APRIL 11 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Najla Arida, Mary Ayoub, Helen Cook, James J. Coury, Fred Dibbs, Jean and George Fadool, Marie Farkouh, Raymond Farkouh, Jean Haddad, Albert Hanna, George Kaiatt, Edward S. Mackoul, Alex Mashnouk, Vivian Massab, Viola Mesnooh, Linda and William Nafash, Stanley Najjar, Nazira and Gabriel Samen, Mary Savarese, Marie Tashji, Felipe Trabulsi, and John Wizeman. Memory eternal!
Rose Zrake offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the health and safety of the Bogris and Zrake Families. Many years!
Peter Elkas offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God George Kaiatt. Memory eternal!
Irene Tashji offers Prayers of Oblation and a Two-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of her mother, Mary Louise Tashji, and a 45-Year Memorial for her grandfather, Thomas Abdallah. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 18 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Annette Absey, Isabel Araman Zain, and Albert Zarr. Memory eternal!
The Family of Gloria Harris will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
Our Parish Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of our former Associate Pastor, Very Rev. Fr. George Morelli. Memory eternal!
The Family of Robert Thabit will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
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 to “chat.”
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
HOLY BREAD – The Farkouh and Mackoul Families offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of April in loving memory of Margaret and Edward Mackoul and Mary and Ray Farkouh. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for May and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember these brethren in your intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Mary Ganim (Heritage Rehab), Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Susan Hadad, Edward Hanna, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
LENTEN LITURGICAL SCHEDULE – This week only there will be Great Compline on Monday at 6:30 PM, Little Compline with the Canon of St. Andrew on Wednesday at 7:00 PM, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts on Thursday at 7:00 PM, the final Madayeh/Akathist on Friday at 7:00 PM, and Great Vespers on Saturday at 5:00 PM.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR APRIL - The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, cheese, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their by-products) is observed on all days of Great Lent with the exception of wine and olive oil being allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
LOCAL FOOD PANTRY - On Saturday, April 17, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Bay Ridge Cares invites members of the community to bring unexpired and non-perishable food items to help stock the shelves of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. The pantry is in great need to help feed the over 100 families a week that need food support. Volunteers will be on hand in front of 6753 4th Ave to receive donations to the church’s food pantry. The list of items which will be accepted includes canned and dried food, paper products, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and toiletries. Members of the community can simply drive up, pop their trunk, and volunteers will receive their donations. Neighbors can also walk up with any items they would like to provide to help the food pantry.
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, April 12 Great Compline, 6:30 PM
Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, April 14 Little Compline and Canon of St. Andrew, 7:00 PM
Thursday, April 15 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 7:00 PM
Friday, April 16 Fifth Madayeh/Akathist, 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 17 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
We livestream all divine services via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Prayer is the remedy of gloom and despondency.”
- St. Evagrios the Solitary