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 6, 2025
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Tone 3 and Eothinon 4
Righteous Father Sisoes the Great of Egypt
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 3
Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad; for the Lord hath done a mighty act with his own arm. He hath trampled down death and become the First-born from the dead. He hath delivered us from the depth of hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.
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 – Romans 6:18-23 (Fourth Sunday after Pentecost)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 46.6, 1. Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse. Clap your hands, all you nations.
BRETHREN, having been set free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.
When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gospel – Matthew 8:5-13 (Fourth Sunday of Matthew)
AT THAT TIME, Jesus entered Capernaum, and a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who were following him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Next week’s homework: Titus 3:8-15 (Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
Matthew 5:14-19 (Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council)
HOLY BREAD – HOLY BREAD – Paula Arnuk and Family have offered the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Dr. Issam Arnuk for the month. Memory eternal! Linda and George Salamy have made a donation for the entire year. Many years! Additional donors are welcome for July and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FASTING DISCIPLINE – We now resume our customary fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. This week we also abstain from fish on Friday in honor of the Great Martyr Euphemia.
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.”
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 6, 2025 – FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
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, JULY 6 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Dr. Fuad Yousef Dirbas, Jamila Eadeh, Marguerite and Fred Farkouh, Michael Eyd, and Nora Hamod, Viola Kazan, George T. Lewis, Georgette Maione, Lillian and Leon Hattab, and Baseem and Valentine Trabulsi. Memory eternal!
Rima Al Sifi offers Prayers of Oblation and the Holy Bread for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Maria Kryakous. Memory eternal!
Regina and Brian Farkouh offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Marguerite and Fred Farkouh. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 13 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God George Abdelnoor, Jr., Mary Farkouh, Amelia Khoury, Victor Makhoul, John Molfino, Edmund Saleeby, Ferris Samara, and Bassem Sukkarieh. Memory eternal!
Diane Zamaria will offer Prayers of Oblation, the Holy Bread, and a 2-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of her husband, the servant of God Dr. Samir Zamaria. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, John Petrick (Norwegian), Joyce Samaha (Sunrise, Mountain Lakes), Alice Farkouh, Robert Ghiz, Renee Setteducato, Rouda Abboud, Isla Albishara, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, George Khoury, Terry Mackoul, Denise McBride, and Alfred Nahas (at home).
SUMMER DRESS - With the warm summer Sundays upon us, please remember to dress properly for services. No shorts and t-shirts (especially with writing or logos on them) for adults and teens. Remember we are coming to worship in a sacred place.
GOLF OUTING – Mark your calendars for this year’s edition of the St. Mary’s Church Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing on Monday, September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos! This year we will be in a new location, the beautiful Richmond County Golf and Country Club on Staten Island, so it will be easier for Brooklyners, Staten Islanders, and New Jerseyites to attend. We will honor Nahla Bittar Fattouh with our Lifetime Achievement Award and the late Alexander Deeb with the Victor M. Samra, Jr. Memorial Award. Invitations and sponsorship forms will be in the mail this week. Please plan to support this event which has covered the cost of so many projects and capital improvements for our beloved parish.
DID YOU KNOW? It costs $7,178 every week to operate our parish. That number does not include capital expenses like the roof replacement.
OCPM – Our July pledge envelopes included a purple envelope for Prison Ministry (Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry). We will receive this collection on Sunday, July 27, Prison Ministry Sunday. Please be as generous as possible in support of this ministry. If you are not receiving monthly envelopes, please contact the church office.
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. We acknowledge donations from Rose Abdallah, Sonia and Henry Abounaoum, Anita Absey, Dr. Bassam and Naziha Aldaia, Nicole and Jeff Anderson, Kim and Gary Gangone, Majed Atalla and Samia Keriaky, Angela and Christopher Athineos, Sandra Arida, Joan Bacon, Patricia Ballan, John J. DeLuca Foundation, Nicholas El-Khoury, Father Michael and Laila Ellias, Anita and John Eyd, Deacon Farid and Aline Farkouh, Alice and David Furer, Josette and John Generale, Giorgi Guguberidze, James Harris, Krassimira Ivanchev, Joyce Katen, George Khoury, Dianna Russo Kitchen, Anne Mackoul, Edward Mackoul, Rafik Mahab, Corinne and Michael Mallia, Linda Mantia, Daria and Thomas Mayrose, Denise McBride, George Moore, Holly and Mark Nakleh, Susan and Gordon Nelson, Karen and Robert Rich, Marian Russo, Brenda Sabbagh, Audrey and Charles Sahadi, Louise Sahadi, Robert Sahadi, Linda and George Salamy, Catherine and Raymond Saleeby, Sam Salhany, Caroline and Peter Schneirla, Barbara and Dennis Shawah, Karen and Anthony Tadross, Irene Tashji, George Trisciuzzi, Marilyn and Mike Tulaney, Gale Zarr, Kathleen and Karl Zarr, Leen Zgheib, and Karen Zraick.
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 – As we enjoy the Fourth of July weekend, we have an opportunity to be thankful for our ability to worship freely. Let us assure our children and grandchildren the same opportunity to worship in this parish through a gift to St. Mary’s Church in our will or estate plan.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, July 14 Parish Council, 7 PM
July 21-27 Archdiocese Convention, Chicago, IL
Sunday, July 27 Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday
Monday, September 8 Saints and Sinners Golf and Tennis Outing
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever!”
- Psalm 30.12