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, January 14, 2024
Leave-Taking (Apodosis) of and Sunday after the Theophany
Holy Fathers Slain at Sinai and Raithu
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 7
Thou didst shatter death by thy Cross. Thou didst open paradise to the thief. Thou didst turn the mourning of the ointment-bearing women into joy, and didst bid thine Apostles proclaim a warning that thou hast risen, O Christ, granting to the world thy Great Mercy.
Apolytikion of Epiphany – Tone 1
By thy baptism, O Lord, in the River Jordan, worship to the Trinity hath made its appearance; for the voice of the Lord did come forth to thee with the testimony, naming thee His beloved Son; and the Spirit in the likeness of a dove, confirming the truth of the word. Wherefore, O thou who didst appear and lighted the world, O Christ, 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 Epiphany – Tone 4
Today thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and thy light hath been shed upon us, who praise thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light.
Epistle – Ephesians 4:7-13 (Sunday after Epiphany)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 32.22, 1. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it is said, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Gospel - Matthew 4:12-17 (Sunday after Epiphany)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled;
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Next week’s homework: Colossians 3:4-11 (29th Sunday after Pentecost)
Luke 17:12-29 (Twelfth Sunday of Luke)
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.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR JANUARY – The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their byproducts) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays in January.
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.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
JANUARY 14, 2024 – LEAVE-TAKING (APODOSIS) OF AND SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY
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, JANUARY 14 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eli Abdallah, Alexander Azar, Emily and Edward Ghazal, Robert Samara, Riad Malouf, Edma Saab, Edmund Arthur Swaya, and Nora Trefz. Memory eternal!
Rose Abdallah offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of her husband, the servant of God Eli Abdallah. Memory eternal!
Remon Abou Assali and Nihad Almailaa offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Jamal Abou Assali who departed this life this week in Syria. Memory eternal!
The Family of Robert Forcina offers Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
Diane Nassoor Zamaria offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. Samir Zamaria, Widad and Iskander Zamaria, Helen and Michael Nassoor, and all the departed members of the Nassoor and Borgi Families. Memory eternal!
Dr. Iyad Nader and Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Sarah El Haddad, who departed this life in Syria on December 12. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
The Absey Family offers Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Albert Absey. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Albert Absey, Najat Cristo, George Elkas, Rev. Milatios and Loretta Fiani, Claudette Golam, John, Louise, Ned, Viola Kalesh and Barbara Salamy, Alexander G. Orfaly, Jr., Renate and George Sheheri, Minas Sparsidis, and Thomas Anthony Zarr. Memory eternal!
Peter Elkas will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his father, the servant of God George Elkas. Memory eternal!
George Salamy will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Barbara Salamy. Memory eternal!
BLESSING OF HOMES – Please see the flyer in this bulletin to schedule a pastoral home visit for the traditional blessing in the Epiphany season.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Charlie Bryant (Good Shepherd Rehab, Philadelphia), John Eyd (Jewish Home, Freehold), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Richard Zogob (NYU Lutheran), 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).
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 17, 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.
FAMILY NIGHT and MIDNIGHT RUN – There will be a Family Night on Friday, January 19, from 7-9 PM, and Deacon Farid will lead our delegation on the Midnight Run at approximately 8 PM. The group usually returns before 1 AM. Please see Deacon Farid for more information.
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 has opened. Please open an account and register at www.avcamp.org. Scholarship assistance is available from the camp and from the parish. Please see Fr. Michael for scholarship information.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Tuesday, January 16 Orthros & Divine Liturgy @ St. Anthony, Bergenfield, 6 PM
Wednesday, January 17 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Friday, January 19 Family Night & Midnight Run
Saturday, January 20 Great Vespers, 5:00
Prayers for Christian Unity after Great Vespers
Sunday, March 3 Annual Parish Meeting
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “We, in receiving baptism, in imitation of our Lord and teacher and guide, are not indeed buried in the earth (for this is the shelter of the body that is entirely dead, covering the infirmity and decay of our nature), but coming to the element akin to earth, to water, we conceal ourselves in that as the Saviour did in the earth: and by doing this thrice we represent for ourselves that grace of the resurrection which was wrought in three days.”
- St. Gregory of Nyssa