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, July 2, 2023
Placing of the Robe of the Theotokos in Blachernae
Tone 3 and Eothinon 4
Archbishop John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco
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 Placing of the Robe of the Theotokos in Blachernae - Tone 8
Thou hast bestowed upon thy city, O ever-virgin Theotokos and shelter of mankind, the robe and the belt of thy pure body, as a secure mantle, which by thy seedless birth-giving have remained without corruption; for by thee are nature and time regenerated. Wherefore, we implore thee to grant thy city safety, and our souls 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 for the Placing of the Robe of the Theotokos in Blachernae - Tone 4
O godly shelter that dost cover all mankind, the sacred robe that covered thy sacred body hast thou bestowed on all the faithful graciously, O pure Virgin, as a robe of divine incorruption. As we celebrate with love its august deposition, we cry to thee with faith, O graced of God: Rejoice, O Lady, thou boast of the Christian race.
Epistle – Hebrews 9:24-28 (Placing of the Robe of the Theotokos)
Prokeimenon. Luke 1:46-48. My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse. For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden!
BRETHREN, Christ did not enter into holy places made with hands, which are the antitypes of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God on our behalf; nor that He should offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with the blood of others; for then He would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now at the end of the ages He has been manifested once for all to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will be seen a second time, apart from sin, by those who wait for Him for salvation.
Gospel – Matthew 8:5-13 (Fourth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus entered Capernaum, and a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who were following him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Next week’s homework: Romans 10:1-10 (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 8:28-9:1 (Fifth Sunday of Matthew)
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 entire year. Many years! Donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
ANTIDORON – After receiving Holy Communion and at the end of the Divine Liturgy, it is customary to receive a piece of blessed bread or antidoron, the bread that remains after the preparation of the Holy Communion. While antidoron is not Holy Communion, it is blessed, and as such should be eaten carefully so that crumbs do not fall. Both adults and children should always remember to treat and consume the antidoron with respect.
JULY 2, 2023 – PLACING OF THE ROBE OF THE THEOTOKOS IN BLACHERNAE
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.
SUNDAY, JULY 2 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. Fuad Yousef Dirbas, Jamila Eadeh, Michael Eyd and Nora Hamod, Marguerite and Fred Farkouh, Viola Kazan, George T. Lewis, and Georgette Maione. Memory eternal!
Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Pierre Mansur. Memory eternal!
Irene Tashji offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Linda Abdallah. Memory eternal!
Regina and Brian Farkouh offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Marguerite and Fred Farkouh. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 9 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God George Abdelnoor Jr., Mary Farkouh, Amelia Khoury, Victor Makhoul, John Molfino, Edmund Saleeby, Ferris Samara, and Bassem Sukkarieh. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), George Khoury (Hamilton Park), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Rose Abdallah, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
CONTINUING EDUCTION – Our “summer semester” of adult and continuing education will meet on Wednesday, July 5, at 7:00 PM. We will use the book Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 5: Sacraments and Other Rites as our text. This week we will focus on the Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation. Please see Lorraine Deeb at the parish bookstore to order a copy. If you cannot afford the cost, please see Fr. Michael in confidence.
56th ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE CONVENTION, Phoenix, AZ – Sunday, July 23, 2023-Sunday, July 30, 2023 – Hosted by St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Phoenix, AZ, at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. To book rooms at the hotel, register for the convention, purchase convention event tickets and obtain forms to place a message in the Souvenir Journal, go to www.ac2023az.org. Rooms are booking quickly for this historic convention.
AIR CONDITIONING – We will set the A/C at a comfortable temperature, but if you feel the need, please remember to bring a sweater. We cannot adjust the temperature for individual needs.
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. We will publish the list of items to go into the backpacks on the flyer in next week’s bulletins. We ask our supporters to purchase the items and to bring them to church by Sunday, July 31 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 –Our next gathering will be on Friday, July 7, at 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
SECOND FRIDAY – On the Second Friday of each month there will be an informal discussion with the pastor concerning contemporary issues of family life. Our next gathering will be on Friday, July 14. All are welcome. Submit your questions or topics to Fr. Michael or Lara Rustom Allaham.
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.
ESTATE PLANNING – Planning for the future and creating the legacy you wish to leave is one of the most effective ways to ensure a lasting impact and to attest to your spiritual priorities. Making a gift in your will or living trust, known as a bequest, to St. Mary’s Church can guarantee that your legacy endures through generations. Your gift may be a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or the remainder after all other provisions are specified. Invest in your grandchildren, support Christ’s Church, and bear witness to the faith through your will or estate plan.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, July 5 Adult Education, 7:00 PM
Friday, July 7 Family Night, 7-9 PM
Monday, July 10 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, July 12 Adult Education, 7:00 PM
Friday, July 14 Second Friday Discussion Group, 7:30 PM
Sunday, July 16 Gangone-Bianco Wedding, 2:00 PM
July 23 – 30 Archdiocese Convention in Phoenix, AZ
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Great is the benefit of book learning, for books point out and teach us the way to repentance, since from the words of books we discover wisdom and temperance. This is the stream, watering the universe, from which springs wisdom. In books is a boundless depth, by them we are comforted in sorrows, and they are a bridle for moderation. If you enter diligently into the books of wisdom, then you shall discover great benefit for your soul. Therefore, the one who reads books converses with God or the saints.”
- St. Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America