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, June 9, 2024
Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Blind Man
Tone 5 and Eothinon 8
Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria
Today’s Hymns and Readings
After “Blessed is the Kingdom…”, “Christ is risen…” (3 times)
During the Little Entrance, “Christ is risen…”
Entrance Hymn – In the gathering places bless ye God the Lord from the springs of Israel. O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, save us, who sing unto Thee. Alleluia!
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 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 Holy Pascha – Tone 8
Though thou, O deathless One, didst descend into the grave, thou didst destroy the power of hell and, as Victor, thou didst rise again, O Christ our God. Thou didst greet the ointment bearing women, saying, rejoice! Thou didst bestow peace upon thy Disciples, and resurrection upon those that are fallen.
Epistle – Acts 16:16-34 (Blind Man)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 11.7, 1. You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse. Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.
IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, “These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
Gospel – John 9:1-38 (Sunday of the Blind Man)
AT THAT TIME, when Jesus was passing, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Silo’am” [which means Sent]. So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, “Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he”; others said, “No, but he is like him.” He said, “I am the man.” They said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Silo’am and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore, his parents said, “He is of age, ask him.”
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciple?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshipper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “And who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe”; and he worshipped him.
MEGALYNARION FOR PASCHA (Tone 1) – Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath arisen upon thee; dance now and be glad, O Zion, and do thy exult, O pure Theotokos, in the arising of Him Whom thou didst bear.
COMMUNION HYMN (Tone 8) – Receive ye the body of Christ; taste ye the Fountain of immortality.
Next week’s homework: Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council)
John 17:1-13 (Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council)
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.”
NO FASTING – FASTING DISCIPLINE – We have returned to our normal fasting practice. Within the Patriarchate of Antioch some suspend fasting until the Feast of the Ascension, June 13. There is also no kneeling until Holy Pentecost on June 23.
JUNE 9, 2024 – SIXTH SUNDAY OF PASCHA: SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN
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.
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!
TODAY, JUNE 9 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Edward Ateyeh Jr., Michael Haje, Eduardo Elias Khouzami, Joseph G. Mashamesh¸ Betty Massab, Albert Sabah, and Wadia Zain. Memory eternal!
Rose Abdallah, Josette and John Generale, Virginia Hindy, Bob Sahadi, and Irene Tashji offers Prayers of Oblation for the good health of Audrey and Charlie Sahadi on their **th birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary. Many years!
Diane Zamaria and Family offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the health of their family and friends and for the suffering people of the Middle East. Many years!
The family of David Khouri offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal!
June A. Sabah of Boynton Beach, FL, offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Albert Sabah. Memory eternal!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread, and a Memorial Service for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Sebastian Rothhammer. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 16 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Linda Abdallah, Alice, Wadiha and Edward Baloutine, Mabel Bittar, Nancy Davis, Kathleen Halloran, Mary and Phillip Hanna, Rose and George Samman, Olga and Albert G. Wardi. Memory eternal!
MEMORY ETERNAL! We are saddened to announce that the handmaiden of God Karine Salloum Matar departed this life on Wednesday. Her family will receive visitors at Harmon Funeral Home on Staten Island on Sunday, and the funeral will be here tomorrow at 10 AM. We extend our sympathies to Issam and Amy Matar and their family.
HOLY BREAD – Donors are welcome for June and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Howard Samara (Upper East Side Rehab), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi and Rose Zrake (at home).
FEAST OF THE ASCENSION – We will celebrate an Evening Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of Christ on Wednesday, June 12, at 7 PM. Please begin your Eucharistic fast after an early and light lunch.
MA’AMOUL BAKE SALE - Our annual Ma'amoul Bake Sale has come to another very successful end. This year due to the 5-week difference between Easters, our bakers were hard at work for far longer than in the past. The baking was excellent, the fellowship was better, and their efforts supported a vitally important cause. We will again present a check for $10,000 to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in support of their programs to aid the people suffering in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. An additional $3,000 was raised to offset the cost of purchasing an electric oven to be installed later this year. We especially acknowledge the continuing support and underwriting of Bob Sahadi and Audrey and Charlie Sahadi. Congratulations to all those listed below, and a very special thank you to all the men that came to help this year!
Ghazal Abouasale, Sonia Abounaoum, Nazia Aldaia, Nihad Almialaa, Stephanie Alsaify, Rima Alsifi-Hazem, Rosinella Ayoub, Aseel Banoura, Mayada Baroudy, Nahla Bittar, Majdeline Boutros Elkhoury, Kh. Laila Ellias, Marie Fallah, Karla Farhat, Aline Farkouh, Hilani Hanna, Marianne Hindelly, Terez Khoury, Kinana Isber, Hanadi Kaba-Maalouf, Hend Kaba, Lina Kaba, Samia Keriaky, Razan Khoury-Maalouf, Therese Maalouf, Nahla Laham, Christina Noma, Ghada Owaid, Chaza Rafiaa, Lara Rustom-Laham, Vanda Salloum, Rania Sousou, Irene Tashji, Rana Yaziji, Josephine Zgheib, Leen Zgheib, and Yvonne Zrake. God bless your very talented hands!
FAMILY NIGHT – Family Night will take place both this Friday, June 14, and next Friday, June 21, from 7 to 9 PM. Next week will also include the Midnight Run organized by Deacon Farid.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S DINNER – The Ladies of St. Mary’s will hold their annual “closing dinner” next Thursday, June 20, at 6:30 at Hunter’s Steak House. Please contact Ladies President Sandra Arida for more information.
EASTERN DIOCESES PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE – The parish of St. Mary of Hunt Valley, MD, will host this year’s Parish Life Conference at the beautiful Antiochian Village Conference and Retreat Center in Ligonier, PA, from June 26-30. Information and registration are now open on-line at www.antiochianevents.com. Please register and make room reservations now in order to secure a place at the conference center itself.
SAINTS AND SINNERS GOLF AND TENNIS OUTING – The next edition of the Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing will take place on Monday, September 30, at the Hempstead Country Club. This year we will honor Dr. John and Denise Alexander with the parish’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and we will remember Yvonne and Albert Absey with the Victor Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. Mark your calendar, and details will appear early this summer.
DABKE CLASS – Lynn Rose Salim will organize a Dabke Class on Wednesdays at 7 PM here in our social hall. Contact Lynn directly at (917) 227-1651 or lynnrose2000@hotmail.com for more information.
GAMES FESTIVAL – The St. Mary’s Church School and PTO announce the return of the very popular Games Festival on Saturday, June 29, from 5 to 9 PM in our social hall. Please see the flyer in this bulletin, or contact Lara Rustom Laham for more information.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, June 9 Savannah Saka Baptism, 1 PM
Monday, June 10 Parish Council, 7 PM
Wednesday, June 12 Evening Divine Liturgy, 7 PM
Thursday, June 13 Feast of the Ascension
Friday, June 14 Family Night, 7-9 PM
Saturday, June 15 Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sunday, June 16 Church School Graduation
Wednesday, June 19 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship Pizza Party, 1-3 PM
Thursday, June 20 Ladies Closing Dinner @ Hunter’s, 6:30 PM
Friday, June 21 Family Night and Midnight Run, 7-9 PM
Saturday, June 22 Rhapsody Players Concert
Sunday, June 23 Holy Pentecost
Saturday, June 29 PTO Games Festival, 5-9 PM
June 26-30 Parish Life Conference @ Antiochian Village
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death,
and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
Al Maseeh qam min bain il amwat, wa wati al mawt bil mawt,
wa wahabal hiyat lil la dhina fil qoobur.
Christos anesti ek nekron thanato thanaton patisas,
kai tis en tis mnimaszi zoin, charisamenos.
“Christ is risen” “Truly/Indeed He is risen!
“Christos Anesti” “Alithos Anesti”
“Christos Voskrese” “Vo Istinu Voskrese”
“Al Maseeh Qam” “Ha’an Qam”
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America