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 7, 2024
Great Martyr Kyriaki of Nicomedia
Tone 1 and Eothinon 2
Venerable Thomas of Mt. Maleon
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 1
The stone being sealed by the Jews, and thy pure body being guarded by the soldiers, thou didst rise on the third day, O Saviour, granting life to the world. Wherefore, the heavenly powers acclaimed thee, O Giver of life, crying, glory to thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to thy kingdom! Glory to thy gracious providence, O thou only Lover of mankind.
Apolytikion of Great Martyr Kyriaki – Tone 5
Thou didst prove an auspicious and pleasing sacrifice, a holy offering, O valiant prizewinner Kyriaki, when thou broughtest thy Creator thine own spotless soul; which Christ in turn hath glorified, for through thee, He poureth forth divine gifts and endless graces upon the faithful who praise thee, since He is the Friend of man.
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 – Galatians 3:23-39; 4:1-5 (St. Kyriaki)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 18:4, 1. Their sound has gone forth into all the earth.
Verse. The Heavens declare the glory of God!
BRETHREN, before faith came, we were preserved under the Law, enclosed within, until the faith would afterward be revealed. The Law then was our tutor leading us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ much from the bond-servant, though he is lord of all; but he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Gospel – Matthew 4:18-23 (Second Sunday after Pentecost)
AT THAT TIME, as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
HOLY BREAD – Barbara and George Salamy have made a donation for the entire year. Additional donors are welcome for July, and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
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.”
Next week’s homework: Titus 3:8-15 (Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
Matthew 5:14-19 (Third Sunday of Matthew)
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
JULY 7, 2024 – GREAT MARTYR KYRIAKI OF NICOMEDIA
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.
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, JULY 7 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God George Abdelnoor, Jr., Dr. Fuad Yousef Dirbas, Jamila Eadeh, Marguerite and Fred Farkouh, Michael Eyd, Nora Hamod, Viola Kazan, George T. Lewis, Georgette Maione, Ferris Samara, Lillian and Leon Hattab, and Baseem and Valentine Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Yvonne Allawh and Family offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Fouad Allawh. Memory eternal!
Dr. Nicolas El-Khoury offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his beloved father, George El-Khoury, on the 20th anniversary of his repose. Memory eternal!
Roberta and Albert Khoury offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Georgette Maione. Memory eternal!
Leila and Raymond Trabulsi of Lincoln, RI, offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of their parents, Lillian and Leon Hattab and Baseem and Valentine Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Diane Zamaria offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of her husband, the servant Dr. Samir Alexander Zamaria, on the anniversary of his birthday. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 14 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Farkouh, Amelia Khoury, Victor Makhoul, John Molfino, Edmund Saleeby, and Bassem Sukkarieh. Memory eternal!
The Farkouh Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary and Ray Farkouh. Memory eternal!
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, Anita Eyd, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Anthony Speer, and Rose Zrake (at home).
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. Invitations and sponsorship applications will go out the third week of this month. Save the date!
SUMMER SEMESTER – Our continuing education class for adults will meet exclusively on-line on most Tuesdays of July and August at 7:00 PM. The link is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81008521083?pwd=QUEyZm8wdmc4aUxTdTdOMzVPN2lRUT09.
Our text will be Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 5: Sacraments and Other Rites by Metropolitan HILARION (Alfeyev). Please purchase a copy of the book at the parish bookstore. We will order them at a discount from St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press. If you cannot afford the price of the book, please see Fr. Michael in confidence. This week we will review chapters 1 and 2.
BACKPACK PROJECT – Teen SOYO will once again sponsor 48 backpacks for underprivileged students in District 20 of the NYC Department of Education in cooperation with FOCUS. We welcome donations of $25/backpack. Our total commitment is $1200. Please make checks payable to St. Mary’s Church with “Backpack” in the memo line. The Teens thank you for supporting their community outreach project!
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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Tuesday, July 9 Summer Class On-line, 7 PM
Friday, July 19 Family Night, 7-9 PM
July 22-26 Clergy Symposium at Antiochian Village
August 1-14 Dormition Fast
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “So struggle, not fearing empty fears, and do not spare yourselves. The myrrh-bearing women were close to the Lord while being jostled by those who crucified Christ. You, too, do not look upon what is not within you. Let the world scream, let foolish superstition rage, let misfortunes arise – you follow your path, not looking back or to the side. Do not observe that which surrounds you; do not hear empty talk. Only look at what is underneath your feet and patiently set them on the indicated commandments, and look to your conscience which has been enlightened from above. For in the world also there are many women laborers of piety who also seek the Lord and zealously seek to attain Him. Beware that you are not left behind them.”
- St. Theophan the Recluse