81st Street and Ridge Boulevard Website: www.smaoc.org
Brooklyn, NY 11209 Church Office: (718) 238-8008
Email: churchsecretary@smaoc.org Rectory: (718) 745-8481
His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council
Tone 4 and Eothinon 5
Great-Martyr Marina of Antioch in Pisidia
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 Holy Fathers – Tone 8
Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of the Great Martyr Marina – Tone 4
O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in 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.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
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 – Titus 3:8-15 (Holy Fathers)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 31.11, 1. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse. Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven.
TITUS, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.
When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.
All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
Gospel – Matthew 5:14-19 (Holy Fathers)
THE LORD SAID to his disciples, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Next week’s homework: Romans 12:6-14 (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 9:1-8 (Sixth Sunday of Mathew)
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.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JULY 17, 2022 – HOLY FATHERS OF THE FOURTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
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 receive the blessing and partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor during the coffee hour and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
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 17 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Donald Abraham Ballan, Very Reverend Father Wakeem Dalack, Victor Farkouh, Gloria Saba Gallloway, Joseph Imtanios, Joseph A. Khoury, Eissa Makarious Laham, Marguerite Sabah, William Anthony Soued, and George Zrake. Memory eternal!
Patricia Ballan offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Donald Abraham Ballan. Memory eternal!
Helene and Marc Galloway offer prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Gloria Saba Galloway. Memory eternal!
Nadia Soued offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God William Anthony Soued. Memory eternal!
Irene Tashji offers Payers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Linda Abdallah. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 24 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Rose and Dewey Awad, Khourieh Rose Khoury, George Sabbagh, Georgette and John Shahood, and Laurice Swaya. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the balance of the year. Donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
COFFEE HOUR – In July and August the parish will host simplified Coffee Hours following the Divine Liturgy. In the future we will be seeking volunteers to help with preparation and clean up.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Charles Bryant, Claudette Budai, John Eyd, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Gabe Golam, Lily Lang, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Renee Setteducato, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
PASTORAL EMERGENCY – Fr. Michael will be at the Antiochian Village from today through Friday for the Biennial Clergy Symposium. In case of a pastoral emergency please call Fr. Michael’s mobile number – (917) 670-3857. The reception at the Village is poor, so please be persistent and patient.
BACKPACK PROJECT – Teen SOYO has once again volunteered to assemble 48 backpacks for underprivileged students in District 20 of the NYC Department of Education in cooperation with FOCUS. Please see the list of items to go into the backpacks on the flyer in this week’s bulletins. We ask our supporters to purchase the items and to bring them to church by Sunday, July 31, or make a donation of $30 (payable to St. Mary’s Church earmarked “backpacks”), and we will shop, so that we can assemble the backpacks and deliver them to the school before the beginning of the academic year. The Teens thank you for supporting their community outreach project!
FAMILY NIGHT – We have resumed our Family Night gatherings at the church. Our next gathering will be on Friday, July 22, at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
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.
ESTATE PLANNING – A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make in order to impact the ministry of the Church significantly. An estate plan can include a provision that leaves a lasting gift to St. Mary’s Church. A bequest could be a gift of specific assets, a dollar amount, or a percentage of the estate. A bequest could also be the residue of an estate after all gifts have been made to heirs. Consider naming St. Mary’s as a beneficiary on your retirement accounts (such as an IRA). Qualified charities are able to receive the full value of dollars in these plans without incurring income taxes
DATES TO REMEMBER
July 18-22 Clergy Symposium @ Antiochian Village
Friday, July 22 Family Night, 7 PM
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Saturday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration
Monday, August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Wednesday, September 7 Vesperal Divine Liturgy, 7 PM
Thursday, September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
Sunday, September 11 St. Mary’s Feast Day Barbecue
Monday, September 19 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
Friday, September 30 Fall Hafli
Saturday, October 1 Church School Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, October 15 Bay Ridge Eats for a Cause
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”
- II Corinthians 2:14