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 1, 2025
Sunday of the After-Feast of the Ascension
Tone 6 and Eothinon 10
Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 6
When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world; O thou that art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.
Apolytikion of the Ascension – Tone 4
Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened thy Disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit, having become confident of the blessing. Verily, thou art the Son of God, and Deliverer of the world.
Apolytikion of the Holy Fathers – Tone 8
Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, 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 the Ascension – Tone 6
When thou didst fulfill thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting the terrestrials with the celestials, thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, inseparable in space, but constant without separation, and crying unto thy beloved, I am with you, and no one shall be against you.
Epistle – Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
Prokeimenon. Hymn of the Three Children. Daniel 3.26-27. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse. For you are just in all you have done.
IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
And from Miletos he sent to Ephesus ad called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them:
“Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Gospel – John 17:1-13 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Nicea)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, since thou has given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou has given him. And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.
“I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word. Now they know that everything that thou hast given me is from thee; for I have given them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from thee; and they have believed that thou didst send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are thine; all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”
Next week’s homework: Acts 2:1-11 (Holy Pentecost)
John 7:37-52, 8:12 (Holy Pentecost)
FASTING DISCIPLINE – This week we fast as is customary on Wednesday and Friday. There is also no kneeling until Holy Pentecost on June 8.
ADULT EDUCATION – We will resume our study of the Book of Acts on Wednesdays at 7 PM. This week we will consider chapters 11-15. In addition, there will be a class for catechumens and inquirers at the same time.
MAAMOUL BAKE SALE – The Ladies of St. Mary’s are pleased to announce that their Annual Maamoul Bake Sale netted $13,175. They will contribute $10,000 to International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) for their relief work in Syria and Lebanon, $2,675 toward the cost of the new oven, and the difference of $500 to the Kitchen Supplies account. God bless all their efforts and their very talented hands!
ROOF APPEAL – The Parish Council has 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.
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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, June 2 Fundraiser of Holy Cross Brooklyn Outreach Center
Wednesday, June 4 Bible Study and Catechumen Classes, 7 PM
Saturday, June 7 Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sunday, June 8 Holy Pentecost
Monday, June 9 Parish Council, 7 PM
Thursday, June 12 Ladies’ Closing Dinner @ Hunter’s, 6:30 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
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
June 1, 2025 – SUNDAY OF THE AFTER-FEAST OF THE ASCENSION
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, JUNE 1 – We 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.
Leila and Raymond Trabulsi 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!
George Sadallah Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of Christopher Athineos, Fr. Michael Ellias, and Deacon Farid Farkouh on their birthdays. Many years! He also prays for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Sebastian Kyle Christian Rothhammer. Memory eternal!
The Family of Patricia Zraick DeLuca offers 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 offers Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread, and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of his soul. Memory eternal
NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 8 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eduardo Elias Khouzami, Betty Massab, Karime Salloum Matar, Albert Sabah, and Wadia Zain. Memory eternal!
MEMORY ETERNAL! We are deeply saddened to announce that the handmaiden of God Carol Malakie Zogob departed this life last Friday in her home. The family will receive visitors this afternoon from 4-8 PM here in the church, and her funeral will be at 10 AM tomorrow. Interment will follow at Green-Wood Cemetery. We extend our deepest sympathies to her husband Richard and his family and to Malakie’s children Dana and Theodore (Teddy) and their family.
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).
FROM THE FATHERS – “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
- Psalm 103.1