Sunday, July 25, 2021
Dormition of Righteous Anna, Mother of the Theotokos
Tone 4 and Eothinon 5
Righteous Mother Olympias, Deaconess of Constantinople
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
Apolytikion of the Dormition of the Righteous Anna - Tone 4
O Godly-minded Anna, thou didst give birth to the Theotokos, the spotless Mother of Life. Wherefore, thou hast been translated now in gladness to thy heavenly end, which is the abode of all who rejoice, seeking forgiveness of sins for those who eagerly honor thee, O ever-blessed one.
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 Righteous Anna – Tone 2
Let us celebrate with faith, the memory of the righteous ancestors of Christ, requesting their help in faith for our deliverance from all tribulations. We who cry unto thee, be with us, O Lord, as thou were pleased to glorify them.
Epistle – Galatians 4:22-28 (Dormition of the Righteous Anna)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 26.35, 26. God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse. Bless God in the congregations.
BRETHREN, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married.”
Gospel – Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1 (Fifth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus came to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.
And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.
Next week’s homework: Romans 12:6-14 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 9:1-8 (Sixth Sunday of Matthew)
HOLY BREAD – Donors are welcome for August and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.”
FASTING DISCIPLINE – From August 1 through August 14 we observe the Dormition Fast in anticipation of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15.
COFFEE HOUR – Weather permitting, there will be a “Grab and Go” Coffee Hour in front of the church following the Divine Liturgy. We would welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to set up and/or clean up. Please see Parish Council Chair Chris Athineos or Vice Chair Dianna Russo Kitchen. Donations are always welcome!
JULY 25, 2021 – DORMITION OF RIGHTEOUS ANNA, MOTHER OF THE THEOTOKOS
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, JULY 25 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Evelyn Arwady, Dewey and Rose Awad, Mabel Backal, Leonard Coury, Alexander and Yvonne Hamwi, Ronald A. Jabara, Kh. Rose Khoury, George Sabbagh, Lulu Sahdala, Vivian Salem, Georgette and John Shahood, Laurice Swaya, and Thomas Zaglool. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 1 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Assatly, Vivian Biele, William B. Cury, Nabiha Dibbs, Adele Forzly, Louis Haddad, Henry Joseph Halaby, lll, Victoria Katen, Selma Klele, Adrienne Poulakakos, and Victor Samra Sr. Memory eternal!
The Family of Loulou Malouf will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Evelyn Shamoun (NYU Lutheran), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Gary Gangone, Mary Ganim, Alfred Nahas, Louis Savarese, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
UPDATED COVID POLICY – Worshippers who have completed the vaccination process (both injections of Pfizer or Moderna, or the single Johnson and Johnson vaccine, plus two weeks) may remove their masks while seated but must replace them when moving around the church. Due to the uptick in Delta variant infections, we are again temporarily suspending choral singing and chanting.
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 cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The Dormition Fast begins on Sunday, August 1, and continues through the eve of the great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on Saturday, August 14. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, eggs, wine and olive oil) is observed Monday through Friday with katalysis for wine and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday, and for fish, wine and olive oil on the great feast of the Transfiguration on Friday, August 6.
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION – We will celebrate Orthros at 9:30 AM and the Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 6, for the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ.
STREET NAMING – We are pleased to announce that the City of New York will dedicate the corner of Ridge Boulevard and 81st Street in honor of our long-time pastor, Very Rev. Fr. Paul W.S. Schneirla, of blessed memory, on Sunday, October 24, following the Divine Liturgy. More details will follow, but please save that date.
SPECIAL SERVICE PROJECT – In cooperation with FOCUS, our Teen SOYO will conduct a special service project to provide 48 backpacks full of school supplies to elementary school students here in NYC DOE District 20 who are living in homeless shelters or transitional housing. The backpacks have already arrived, and we placed the order for the school supplies this week. We invite our faithful members to contribute $30 to cover the cost of one backpack with supplies. Please make your check payable to Teen SOYO with “backpack” in the memo line. We will set a date to ask for volunteers to come and help assemble the backpacks either this week or in early August. We will then deliver everything to the District 20 office on 89th Street between 4th and 5th Avenues for distribution before the beginning of the new school year.
WORD MAGAZINE – All registered members of the parish are entitled to receive the Word Magazine at home. If you are not receiving the Word, please contact the church office so that we can submit your name for the mailing list. Thank you.
DATES TO REMEMBER
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Friday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ
Orthros, 9:30 AM, Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
Sunday, August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Wednesday, September 8 Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
Sunday, September 12 Metropolitan JOSEPH visits
Sunday, September 19 Church School Opens
Monday, September 20 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
Sunday, October 24 Street Naming for Fr. Paul Schneirla
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Ask for repentance in your prayer and nothing else, neither for divine lights, nor miracles, nor prophecies, nor spiritual gifts – nothing but repentance. Repentance will bring you humility, humility will bring the grace of God, and God will have in His grace everything you need for your salvation, or anything you might need to help another soul.”
- Elder Paisios the Athonite