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 16, 2023
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council
Tone 5 and Eothinon 6
Hieromartyr Ahtenogenes, Bishop of Herakleopolis, and His Ten Disciples
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 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 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 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 15:1-7 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost)
Matthew 9:27-35 (Seventh 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.”
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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
JULY 16, 2023 –
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.
SUNDAY, JULY 16 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Donald Abraham Ballan, Very Rev. Fr. Wakeem Dalack, Victor Farkouh, Gloria Saba Galloway, Joseph Imtanios, Josephine A. Khoury, Eissa Makarious Laham, Edmund Nahas, Marguerite Sabah, William Anthony Soued, and George Zrake. Memory eternal!
Razan Al-Khouri Maalouf and Family offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Rezkallah Alkhoury of Grove City, OH. Memory eternal!
Patricia Ballan offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Donald Abraham Ballan. Memory eternal!
The Farkouh Family offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of the handmaidens of God Mary Farkouh and Diana Mansur. Memory eternal!
Marc B. Galloway offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his mother, the handmaiden of God Gloria Saba Galloway. Memory eternal!
Nadia Soued offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God William Anthony Soued. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 23 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dewey and Rose Awad, Khourieh Rose Khoury, Georgette and John Shahood, and Laurice Swaya. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Rose Abdallah, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
HOLY BREAD – Donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
CONTINUING EDUCATION – Our “summer semester” of adult and continuing education will conclude on Wednesday, July 19, at 7:00 PM. Our final session will examine the funeral service and the rites surrounding death and burial. We will use the book Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 5: Sacraments and Other Rites as our text. Please see Lorraine Deeb at the parish bookstore to order a copy. If you cannot afford the cost, please see Fr. Michael in confidence. Remote participants can join by Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81144270876?pwd=NUlNK0NUM0tBMTVsZFVyNERieHRudz09.
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. The Teens are asking for a donation of $30 to cover the cost of the backpack and supplies. We plan to assemble the backpacks and deliver them to the school in August. The Teens thank you for supporting their community outreach project!
FAMILY NIGHT – The next Family Night will be this Friday, July 21, from 7-9 PM. Everyone is welcome.
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 and migrants 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, July 21. Please see Deacon Farid to volunteer or for more information.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The invitations to the annual Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing on Monday, September 18, will go out this week. Please respond generously to this major event as we have large capital expenditures happening this year. See Daria Mayrose for more information.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, July 16 Gangone-Bianco Wedding, 2:00 PM
Tuesday, July 18 Orthodoxy on Tap, 8:00 PM (See flyer)
Wednesday, July 19 Continuing Adult Education, 7:00 PM
Friday, July 21 Family Night, 7-9 PM
Midnight Run
July 23 – 30 Archdiocese Convention in Phoenix, AZ
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
Sunday, August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration
Friday, September 8 Nativity of the Theotokos
Monday, September 18 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “When you are wronged and your heart and feelings are hardened, do not be distressed, for this has happened providentially; but be glad and reject the thoughts that arise within you, knowing that if they are destroyed at the stage when they are only provocations, their evil consequences will be cut off; whereas if the thoughts persist the evil may be expected to develop.”
- St. Mark the Ascetic
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America