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
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meat Fare)
Tone 3 and Eothinon 3
Apostles Archippos, Philemon and Apphias of the Seventy
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.
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 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 Meat Fare Sunday – Tone 1
When thou comest, O God, to earth with glory, and all creatures tremble before thee, and the river of fire floweth before the Altar, and the books are opened and sins revealed, deliver me then from that unquenchable fire, and make me worthy to stand at thy right hand, O righteous Judge.
Epistle – I Corinthians 8:8-9:2 (Meat Fare Sunday)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 117.14, 18. The Lord is my strength and my son.
Verse. The Lord has chastened me sorely.
BRETHREN, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol’s temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother’s falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Gospel – Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare Sunday)
THE LORD SAID, “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see the hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Next week’s homework: Romans 13:11-14:4 (Sunday of Forgiveness)
Matthew 6:14-21 (Cheese Fare)
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – As the faithful approach to reverence the cross, receive a blessing and a piece of antidoron (holy bread) at the dismissal, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please greet each other quietly as we reverently hear these prayers.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
FEBRUARY 19, 2023 – SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT (MEAT FARE)
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, FEBRUARY 19 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Thomas Abdallah, Mary Alexander, Almaza Allawh, Charles Assatly, Margaret Assatly, Margaret Fiani Dib, Rt. Rev. Ananias Kassab, George Kassab, Renges Orfaly, and Alice Puccarielli. Memory eternal!
Trisha Aznavoorian and Barbara Stringile and Family offer Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread, and a Memorial Service for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary and Samuel Bittar, Laurice and Samuel Arbeeny, and Diana Arbeeny Craigmyle. Memory eternal!
Rhonda Byrnes will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, the servants of God Margaret and Charles Assatly. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Yvonne Absey, Najibi Anthony, Mary Samara D’Angelico, Vincent D’Angelico, William Haddad, Mounir Kaba, Lillian Malouf, Robert Malouf, Robert Sabbagh, Areff Samara, Robert Samara, Rose Samara, and Wendy Sadaka Zavolas. Memory eternal!
Brenda Sabbagh and Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Robert Sabbagh. Memory eternal! In lieu of a coffee hour the family will make a donation to St. Mary’s.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rose Zrake (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Nancy Zarouni (at home).
FASTING DISICIPLINE – Meat Fare Sunday (today) is the last day we eat meat, poultry, and their by-products until Holy Pascha (April 16). The traditional fasting discipline during this Cheese Fare Week (no red or white meat and poultry) is observed on all days meaning eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil and their by-products may be consumed on all days. Sunday, February 26, is Cheese Fare Sunday and the last day we eat eggs, cheese, dairy and their by-products until Holy Pascha. The Great Fast begins on February 27 and continues until the Feast of Feasts, Pascha: Our Lord’s Resurrection. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) is observed on all weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays, wine and olive oil are allowed.
HOUSE BLESSINGS – Please note that there is only one more Sunday before the beginning of Great Lent. If you would like the priest to bless your home, please make an appointment as soon as possible.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – As Great Lent approaches, we prepare for the annual Food for Hungry People program which is especially important this year following the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. This year the organizers are encouraging families to prepare their own individual alms boxes for use at home. If writing a check, please make it payable to St. Mary Church earmarked “FFHP.” “The rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much.” – St. John Chrysostom
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – We will hold our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, March 5, the first Sunday of Great Lent, following the Divine Liturgy. Please submit the names of candidates for the Parish Council to Dianna Russo Kitchen or Fr. Michael after receiving the nominee’s consent to run.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP – It is time to start planning for summer camp! Registration for all programs except Family Camp has opened. Parents, please register your campers as soon as possible. We expect this year to return to normal following the pandemic years. Go to www.avcamp.org to open an account and register. Scholarships are available through Fr. Michael.
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
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, February 19 Meat Fare Sunday Luncheon
Saturday, February 25 Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sunday, February 26 Forgiveness Vespers
Monday, February 27 Great Lent Begins
Great Compline @ St. Nicholas Cathedral, 7 PM
Wednesday, March 1 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 PM
Friday, March 3 First Akathist/Madayeh, 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 4 Games Festival, 6-9 PM
Sunday, March 5 Annual Parish Meeting
Saturday, June 10 Spring Festival
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc
FROM THE FATHERS – “We are not asked merely to call ourselves Christians; we are asked to be Chistians through our deeds.”
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America