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 SABA
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, December 31, 2023
Sunday before the Theophany of Christ and
Apodosis (Leave-Taking) of the Nativity of Christ
Tone 5 and Eothinon 8
Venerable Melania the Younger of Rome
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’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 5
Let us believers praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For he took pleasure in ascending the cross in the flesh to suffer death, and to raise the dead by his glorious resurrection.
Apolytikion of the Nativity of Christ – Tone 4
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world; for they that worshipped the stars did learn therefrom to worship thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest thou didst come. O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ – Tone 2
Proclaim, O Joseph, to David, the grandparent of God, the amazing wonders; for thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; for with the shepherds thou didst give glory, with the Magi thou didst worship, and by the angel it was revealed to thee. Wherefore, plead thou 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 of the Nativity of Christ – Tone 3
Today the Virgin giveth birth to the Transcendent in essence; the earth offereth the cave to the unapproachable One; the angels with the shepherds glorify him; and the Magi with the star travel on their way; for a new child hath been born for our sakes, God before the ages.
Epistle – II Timothy 4:5-8 (Sunday before Epiphany)
Prokeimenon. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse. To you, O Lord, have I cried, O my God.
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Gospel – St. Mark 1:1-8 (Sunday before Epiphany)
THE BEGINNING of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Next week’s homework: Acts 19:1-8 (Synaxis of John the Baptist)
John 1:29-34 (Synaxis of John the Baptist)
DECEMBER 31, 2023 – SUNDAY BEFORE THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST AND APODOSIS (LEAVE-TAKING) OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST
DECEMBER IS ORDER OF ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH MONTH
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Fred Arida, Economous Faried Farkouh and Khouryee Wassila Farkouh, Rose Merhige, Effie Shraky, Ann Marie Smatt, Nazli N. and Demetri Zayat. Memory eternal!
Our Parish Family offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Hooda Germack as we will do each year on the Sunday closest to her birthday, January 1. Memory eternal!
Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh will offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Economous Farid Farkouh and Khouryee Wasilla Farkouh. Memory eternal!
Maryann Gullo offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Effie Shraky. Memory eternal!
Drs. Lori and Michael Smatt offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Anne Marie Smatt. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Nora and Kalil Ballan, Ameenie Freije, Pauline Haddad, Mary Hamwi, Maria Hindelly, Leila M. Khouri, Robert Malouf, Ronald Sadaka, Alberta Samaha, and Emil Tweel. Memory eternal!
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the entire year. Many years! Additional donors are welcome for January and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Charlie Bryant (UPenn), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
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.”
FEAST OF EPHIPHANY – We will celebrate Festal Orthros at 6 PM and the Divine Liturgy for Epiphany with the Great Blessing of Water at 7PM on Friday, January 5. There will be a retreat for Young Adults at St. Nicholas Cathedral on Saturday morning and a retreat for Teens here at St. Mary’s Church following Great Vespers on Saturday, January 6. His Eminence, Most Rev. Metropolitan SABA, will preside at the divine services on Sunday, January 7. A luncheon will follow the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Please see Daria Mayrose or Laila Ellias for reservations. You may also call the church office and speak with Geri.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR JANUARY – There is no fasting through January 4. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their byproducts) is observed on Friday, January 5, in preparation for Theophany, and on all Wednesdays and Fridays in January.
WINTER COAT DRIVE – The Teen SOYO Winter Coat Drive will continue through February. Coats, scarves, gloves, blankets, and other cold weather attire are welcome. Please place your offerings on the table in the vestibule. We will distribute all items to local charities and recipients.
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, January 3, from 1-3 PM. All are welcome. Please see Marilyn Tulaney for more information. In addition, Our Time sponsors Pickleball on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 PM. All players and spectators are welcome.
BOB SABBAGH MEMORIAL LOTTERY – Once again Deacon Farid Farkouh has chaired the former Little Bit ‘o Luck Drawing, now named in memory of Bob Sabbagh. First, second, and third prizes went to Dianna Russo Kitchen, Edgar Saadi of Los Angeles, and Marian Russo respectively. Congratulations! We’ll see you all next year!
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP – The Antiochian Village will host Winter Camp for teens in grades 7-12 on February 16-19. Registration forms for campers and staff are available online at https://avcamp.org/programs/winter-camp/. Also, registration for Summer Camp opens on Sunday, January 7, at 6:00 PM. Please open an account and register at www.avcamp.org. Scholarship assistance is available from the camp and from the parish.
ESTATE PLANNING – I can’t take it with me. Whose shall it be? My children and grandchildren? Of course! But what about my mother, the church? Let me include St. Mary’s Church in my estate plan.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, December 31 New Year’s Eve Party
Monday, January 1 Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and of St. Basil
Friday, January 5 Royal Hours for Epiphany, 9-10:30 AM
Festal Orthros, 6:00 PM & Divine Liturgy for Epiphany
With the Great Blessing of Water
Saturday, January 6 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM & Teen Retreat, 6-8 PM
Sunday, January 7 Metropolitan SABA presides
Monday, January 8 Parish Council, 7:00 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.”
- St. Basil the Great
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America