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 31, 2022
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 6 and Eothinon 7
Holy and Just Eudokimos of Cappadocia
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. Eudokimos – Tone 4
The One that hath called thee from the earth to Heaven to dwell preserveth thy body uncorrupted after thy death, O saintly Eudokimos; for in living modestly and chastely, O blest one, thou didst keep thy flesh free of all stain and defilement; with boldness, therefore, pray unto Christ that we may all be saved.
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 Transfiguration – Tone 7
Thou wast transfigured on the mount, and thy Disciples, in so far as they were able, beheld thy glory, O Christ our God: so that, when they should see thee crucified, they would remember that thy suffering was voluntary, and could declare to all the world that thou art truly the effulgent Splendour of the Father.
Epistle – Romans 15:1-7 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 27.9, 1. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
BRETHREN, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
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 1:10-17 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 14:14-22 (Eighth 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.”
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the balance of the year. Donors are welcome for August 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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JULY 31, 2022 – SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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 31 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Victoria and Peter Boragi, Agnes Hamwi, Alex N. Kalaf, Sr., Victoria Katen, Selma Klele, and Itidal Makdissi. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God William B. Cury, George J. Kalesh, Salwa Khoury, Lou Lou Malouf, Margaret Razook, and Victor Samra, Sr. Memory eternal!
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), Kenneth Jabara (Lehigh Valley), 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).
BACKPACK PROJECT – Teen SOYO will once again volunteer 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!
MIDNIGHT RUN – On the third Friday of each month Deacon Farid leads a group to participate in the Midnight Run which distributes food and clothing to the homeless on the streets of New York City. Volunteers can help in the early evening to prepare food for distribution, or they can make the actual trip a little later. The next Midnight Run will be on Friday, August 18. Please see Deacon Farid to volunteer or for more information.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – The Dormition Fast begins on Monday, August 1, and continues through the eve of the great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on Sunday, 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 Saturday, August 6.
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION – We will celebrate Orthros at 9:00 AM and the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 6, for the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ.
PARAKLESIS – We will celebrate a Paraklesis to the Theotokos on Mondays, August 1 and 8 at 7 PM during the Dormition Fast. A paraklesis is a service of supplication specifically for the living (as opposed to a Memorial Service, which is a supplication for the departed). Please submit your names of the living to Fr. Michael today at pastor@smaoc.org.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The invitations for this year’s Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing on Monday, September 19, at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club will go out this week. This year we will honor Dr. Alice Farkhouh with our Lifetime Achievement Award, and we will remember Dina and George Moore with the Victor J. Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. The deadline for the journal will be August 31. Please see Daria Mayrose for more information.
FALL HAFLI – Please save the date, Friday, September 30, for our Fall Hafli. Please see Chair Rima Alsifi Hazem for more information.
ON-LINE GIVING – St. Mary's Church now accepts donations online. Just visit https://smaoc.squarespace.com/donate and pay securely by credit card, debit card, or checking account. There is an option to indicate gifts made in honor of or in remembrance of someone.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, July 31 Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Monday, August 1 Paraklesis, 7 PM
Saturday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration
Orthros, 9:00 AM and Divine Liturgy, 10:00 AM
Ryan Queen Baptism, 12:30 PM
Monday, August 8 Paraklesis, 7 PM
Monday, August 15 Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
Wednesday, September 7 Vesperal Divine Liturgy, 7:00 PM
Thursday, September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
Sunday, September 11 St. Mary’s Feast Day Celebration
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 – “O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me. For this verse has, not undeservedly, been taken out of the whole of Scripture for this purpose. It contains allthe feeling that can come upon human nature; it is very rightly and properly suited for every situation and for evey need that may come upon us.”
- St. John Cassian
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America