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 Most Reverend 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, February 2, 2025
Presentation (Meeting) of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Tone 7 and Eothinon 10
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’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 the Presentation of Christ into the Temple – Tone 1
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace, for from thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God, lighting those who are in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous old man, carrying in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, who granteth us resurrection.
Kontakion of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple – Tone 1
Thou, O Christ God, who by thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin’s womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon’s arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love; for thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
Epistle – Hebrews 7:7-17 (Presentation of Christ into the Temple)
Prokeimenon: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.
BRETHREN, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Gospel – Luke 2:22-40 (Presentation of Christ to the Temple)
AT THAT TIME, the infant Jesus was brought up to Jerusalem by his parents to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel.”
And Joseph and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own souls also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan’u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption in Jerusalem.
And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Next week’s homework: II Timothy 3:10-15 (Pharisee and Publican)
Luke 18:10-14 (Pharisee and Publican)
FEBRUARY 2, 2025 – FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
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.
TODAY, FEBRUARY 2 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Lila Zayat Ara, Dr. William and Hend Arida, Najla and Emil Arida, Louis Assatly, Elaine Ateyeh, Shamseh M. Dalack, Norman Alfred Galloway, and Violet Karkenny. Memory eternal!
Rima Alsifi and Elias Hazem offer Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the servants of God Jack Hazem and Mariejoe Sahyoun who will be joined in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony today. Many years!
Marc Galloway offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his father, the servant of God Norman Alfred Galloway. Memory eternal!
Victor Samaha offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of his parents, the servants of God Suraya and Samuel Samaha. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God David Bittar, Elias Darzi, Jacob Khoury, and Louis Sabah. Memory eternal!
The Family of Nadia Shafik Al Zaher will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. Memory eternal!
COFFEE HOUR – Dr. Kenneth and Mrs. Jeannie Arida and Family sponsor today’s Coffee Hour in memory of Dr. William and Hend Arida and Emil and Najla Arida. Memory eternal!
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 once again offered the Holy Bread for the entire year. Many years! Farid Bassous has offered the Holy Bread for the month of February in memory of his brother, Michele Bassous. Memory eternal! Additional donors are welcome for February and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, George Atallah (Clove Lakes), John Petrick (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Isla Albishara, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, Alice Farkouh, Diana Finger, Gregory Hamaty, George Khoury, Joseph Khouri, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, William Robinson, Raymond Saleeby, and Victoria Sleyman (at home).
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR FEBRUARY – The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their byproducts) is observed on all Wednesdays and Fridays in February until Monday, February 24, when we begin fasting from meat until Holy Pascha.
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, February 5, 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.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s will have their first meeting of 2025 on Sunday, February 9, immediately following the Divine Liturgy. All women of the parish are invited and welcome!
WINTER COAT DRIVE – Teen SOYO will continue receiving coats and winter outerwear through February. There is a large green box in the vestibule. We will distribute all items to the Pan-Orthodox Holy Cross Outreach Center on 4th Avenue and during the Midnight Run.
SUPER BOWL PARTY – Watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 9, at 5 PM here in our social hall. $25 for adults and $5 for children. B.Y.O.B. $32 at the door. RSVP by February 3 to Sam at (718) 288-7677 or Marwan at (347) 400-3633.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – The Annual Parish Meeting will take place on Sunday, February 23, following the Divine Liturgy. Please submit your nominations for the Parish Council to Vice Chair Robert Sabbagh after securing the nominee’s willingness to serve.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, February 5 Our Time Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Friday, February 7 Family Night, 7-9 PM
Saturday, February 8 Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sunday, February 9 Ladies of St. Mary’s Meeting
Super Bowl Party
Monday, February 10 Parish Council, 7 PM
Sunday, February 23 Annual Parish Meeting
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “We abide in God insofar as we do not sin.”
- Venerable Bede
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America