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, May 25, 2025
Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Blind Man and
Third Discovery of the Forerunner’s Honorable Head
Tone 5 and Eothinon 8
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 Forerunner’s Head Discovery – Tone 4
Christ God hath revealed to us thy truly venerable head as a divine treasure that had been concealed in the earth, O Prophet and Forerunner. Wherefore, as we gather on the feast of its finding, with our hymns inspired of God, we praise Christ the Savior Who by thy mighty prayers saveth us from every kind of harm.
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 – II Corinthians 4:6-15 (Third Discovery of the Head of John the Baptist)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 63.11, 1. The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse. O God, hear my cry when I pray to you.
BRETHREN, it is the God Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. While we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of 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 – Within the Patriarchate of Antioch some suspend fasting until the Feast of the Ascension, May 29. There is also no kneeling until Holy Pentecost on June 8.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
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.
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
May 25, 2025 – SIXTH SUNDAY OF PASCHA: SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN
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, MAY 25 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Fares Deban, Alan Fadel, Thomas Gehshan, Archimandrite Agapios Golam, Rose Makhoul, Victoria Makhoul, Victor M. Samra, Jr., Mildred Sarkis, and Adib Zamlout.
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of the servants of God Catherine Meshach and Juan Daniel Marte Valelrio. Many years!
The Kabah Family offers Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread, and a 6-month memorial for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Nadia Zaher Kabah. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 1 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Shafica Debagie, George Fattouh, James Vernon Harris, Nicholas Malouf, Wadih Massab, John and Maurice Moussy, Alice Muscat, Khalil Nader, Nicholas Orfaly, Sebastian Rothhammer, Henrietta Shawah, Adolph, Rose and Nicholas Smatt, Christ Sparsidis, Theodore Tadross, and Marianne Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Leila and Raymond Trabulsi will offer Prayers of Oblation for the health of the servants of God Drs. Edward and Karen Trabulsi and Family, and Michael Trabulsi. Many years! They will also pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Marianne and Victor Trabulsi, Herb and John Trabulsi, Valentine and Baseem Trabulsi, Helen and Dr. Robert Haddad, and Lily and Leon Hattab. Memory eternal!
The Family of Patti Zraick DeLuca will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of her soul. A Coffee Hour in her memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
The Family of Christ Sparsidis will offer Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread, and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Terry Mackoul (HSS), John Petrick (Norwegian), Joyce Samaha (Sunrise, Mountain Lakes), Alice Farkouh, Robert Ghiz, Charlie Sahadi, Renee Setteducato, Rouda Abboud, Isla Albishara, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Victoria Sleyman, and Anthony Speer (at home).
OUR TIME – Our (over 50) senior fellowship, “Our Time”, meets every other Wednesday, including Wednesday, May 28, 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.
FEAST OF THE ASCENSION – We will celebrate a Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension on Wednesday, May 28, at 7 PM. Please begin your eucharistic fast after an early lunch.
DID YOU KNOW? It costs $7,178 every week to operate our parish. That number does not include capital expenses like the roof replacement.
ROOF APPEAL – Last week the Parish Council mailed an appeal for the replacement of the church roof. If all of our 300 households contributed approximately $400 each, we would cover the cost. Let’s prayerfully consider our response to this necessary project.
ADULT EDUCATION – This week we will interrupt our study of the Book of Acts and our Catechumen class on Wednesdays in order to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation with an Evening Divine Liturgy at 7 PM. In addition, there will be a class for catechumens and inquirers at the same time. Instructors for both classes are a mystery!
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 – On this last Sunday of the Paschal season we hear about the Blind Man. Let us pray that Jesus Christ will open our eyes so that we can see the benefit and blessing of leaving something to His Holy Church in our wills and estate plans.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday, May 28 “Our Time” Adult Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Evening Divine Liturgy, 7 PM
Thursday, May 29 Feast of the Ascension
Saturday, May 31 Great Vespers, 5 PM
Games Festival
Monday, June 2 Fundraiser of Holy Cross Brooklyn Outreach Center
Wednesday, June 4 Bible Study and Catechumen Classes, 7 PM
Sunday, June 8 Holy Pentecost
Monday, June 9 Parish Council, 7 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “It is not one’s own efforts which lead to the goal, because without grace, efforts produce little. Nor does grace without effort bring what is sought, because grace acts in us and for us and through our efforts.”
- St. Theophan the Recluse
CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!