SS. kosmas & damianos Orthodox Church (goa)

703 W. Center Street, Rochester, MN (507) 282-1529 http://www.rochesterorthodoxchurch.org

office@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muoz, Proistamenos

/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

,

,

, , ,

, ,

.

Let us worship the Word, O you faithful, praising Him that with the

Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure

Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to ascend the cross in the

flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His

glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

, ,

,

, ,

, , .

, ,

, .

For those honoring your memory, and reverencing your body, and with all piety venerate your myrrh-

giving relics, as you have boldness before God, intercede with the loving Christ, any by your fervent

entreaties from dangers save us, Oh holy Athanasios. Having also as co-intercessor the great Forerunner

of the Lord, as an unseen yet direct protector and rampart of your Monastery.

/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

, , ,

, , ,

.

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God,

saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Rejoice!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up

the fallen.

Sunday of the BLIND MAN Sts. Andronikos & Junia the Martyrs, St. Nektarios of Varlaam, Athanasios Archbishop of Christianopolis,

the New Martyrs of Batak, Bulgaria

May 17th, 2015

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34

Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 1.

Psalm 11.7,1

You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.

Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of

divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are

servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul

was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it

came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and

dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said,

"These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to

accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave

orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison,

charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened

their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners

were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were

shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke

and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the

prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for

lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said,

"Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your

household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the

same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought

them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

Gospel pericope

John 9:1-38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, 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. We 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 Siloam" (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 Siloam 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

anyone 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 disciples?" 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 anyone is a worshiper of God and does

his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it

been heard that anyone 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 man?" 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 worshiped him.

Announcements

Liturgical/Program Schedule:

TODAY: Sunday School Recognition & Church School Picnic @ Oxbow Park

Tues. May 19th: Leavetaking of Pascha: Great Vespers/Orthros/Liturgy beginning @ 7pm

Wed. May 20th: Parish Council Meeting, 6:30pm

Thurs. May 21st: Feast of the Ascension & SS. Konstantine & Helen, Orthros/Liturgy, 8:30am

Church School Picnic: All Church School families and teachers are invited to a Picnic (weather

permitting) TODAY @ Oxbow Park, Byron. Well gather at the first picnic shelter on the left

(look for a sign) at 1pm; simply bring a dish to share and a beverage. For more info please

contact Halina (251-6002) or Loredana (271-5928). Come and enjoy the fellowship and fun!

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOrthodox Christians in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, humble state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, have observed the fasts of the Church, and they should have self-examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, and hold the red communion cloth to your chin. After receiving, wipe your lips on the cloth, step back carefully, hand the cloth to the next person and make the sign of the Cross as you step away. Please do not be in a rush while communing! Please take special care not to bump the Holy Chalice.

ETIQUETTE REMINDER:

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to

the Lord.

The summer months will soon be upon us and that means enjoying warm weather and fun in the sun. While shorts (for males & females), capris, flip-flops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, short skirts well above the knees, etc. are practical and may be acceptable at the pool or the lake front they are not appropriate attire at church, and must not be worn during the Divine Services

of the Church. At every Eucharistic celebration we are spiritually and physically brought in the awesome presence of Jesus

Christ Himself, and when we commune He comes to dwell within us in a miraculous way. Therefore the sanctity, solemnity, and

dignity of the Divine Liturgy must be preserved for the wellbeing of all. ******Parents, your assistance and guidance are most

especially helpful and appreciated.******

Todays liturgical commemorations

THE HOLY APOSTLE ANDRONICUS

Andronicus was one of the Seventy Apostles. He was a kinsman of St. Paul, as Paul himself

writes: "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent

among the apostles and they were in Christ before me" (Romans 16:7). Paul also mentions St.

Junia, assistant of Andronicus. Andronicus was installed as bishop in Pannonia, but did not

remain in one place, rather preached the Gospel throughout Pannonia. With St. Junia, he

succeeded in converting many to Christ and destroyed many idolatrous temples. They both

possessed the power of Grace to work miracles through which they drove out demons from men

and healed every type of disease and illness. They both suffered for Christ and thus received the

two-fold wreath: the apostolic wreath and the martyr's wreath. Their holy relics were discovered

in the regions of Eugenius (February 22).

THE HOLY MARTYR SOLOCHON

Solochon was an Egyptian by birth and a Roman soldier under Commander Campanus during

the reign of the nefarious Emperor Maximian. When the directive from the emperor was handed

down that all the soldiers must offer up sacrifices to the idols, Solochon declared himself a

Christian. Two of his companions also declared themselves Christians: Pamphamir and

Pamphylon. The commander ordered that they be flogged and cruelly tortured from which Saints

Pamphamir and Pamphylon died. Solochon remained alive and was subjected to new tortures.

The commander ordered the soldiers to open his mouth with a sword and to pour the sacrifices of

the idols into his mouth. The martyr broke the iron sword with his teeth and did not consume the

foul sacrifice of the idols. Finally, they pierced a quill through both ears and left him to die. The

Christians removed the martyr and brought him to the home of a widow where he gradually, by

food and drink, became a little stronger and, again, continued to counsel the faithful to be

persistent in their faith and in their sufferings for the Faith. Following that, he gave thanks to

God, completed his earthly life and presented himself to the Lord in the kingdom of heaven in

the year 298 A.D.

SAINT STEPHEN, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Stephen was the son of Emperor Basil the Macedonian and brother of Emperor Leo the Wise. He

succeeded to the patriarchal throne after Photius and governed the Church of God from 889-893

A.D. He died peacefully and presented himself to the Lord Whom he greatly loved.

Memorial Day Commemorations In the United States Memorial Day was originally and specifically dedicated to remembering those military men and women who fell in service to their country, as opposed to a general commemoration of all loved ones. In addition we as Orthodox Christians should defer, and give priority to, the liturgical calendar of the Church for commemorating our departed loved ones (i.e. the four Saturday of Souls commemorations) thereby uniting our prayers with the Church at large through the offering of the Divine Liturgy. Notwithstanding, it has now become tradition to remember all departed loved ones on this day. We will gather Monday, May 25th-10am, at Oakwood Cemetery to chant the Trisagion Service for our departed loved ones. Please bring a list of your family members (baptismal first names only). You may include those departed relatives who are not laid to rest at Oakwood in your lists.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"If you guard your tongue, my brother, God will give you the gift of compunction of heart so that you

may see your soul, and thereby you will enter into spiritual joy. But if your tongue defeats you -

believe me in what I say to you - you will never be able of escape from darkness. If you do not have a

pure heart, at least have a pure mouth. -St. Isaac the Syrian +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

AHEPA 2015 CONVENTION IN ROCHESTER

Friday, June 5th: Traditional Greek Glendi, family style; outside @ the Civic Center

on the patio w/ dancing, lambs on the spit, Gyro/Souvlakia bar, and tons of fun

activities. Join us for a great casual evening w/ friends and family from around the

Midwest.

Saturday, June 6th: Gran Banquet @ the Doubletree Hotel w/ live music, steak or

chicken dinner, Greek Dancers of Minnesota and other entertainment. Mr. Randy

Chapman, publisher of the Post Bulletin, will deliver the key note address.

Sunaday, June 7th: Orthros/Divine Liturgy @ Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox

Church, home parish of the host chapter. Catered brunch to follow by Johnny Mangos

@ Civic Center w/ a delicious variety of foods!

For more information and tickets please see Ari Kolas!

THE HOLY ANARCHISTS

As of the 4th century A.D., the desert lands of Egypt saw the beginning of the longest-

living anarchic society of all time: that of the Christian anachorites. These were

people who had chosen to live there, in order to find the tranquility that was necessary

for their praying. Comparatively speaking: when we want to listen very attentively to

some very subtle music, we usually shut doors and windows and isolate ourselves in

our quietest corner (according to Fr. Sophrony of Essex). The same applies when you want to hear the

voice of God you isolate yourself in the quietest place you can find. You dont do it out of spite or aversion to the world, or to your body or to the joys of life etc.. This has been made clear innumerable

times in the history of Christianity; quite simply, the quietest place on earth that enables one to hear is the

desert. This amazing ultra-desert society -as it was called- albeit host to several monasteries (which were organized societies complete with a hierarchy), was basically an anarchic society overall, because it did not possess any authoritative structure whatsoever, except for the informal (but most essential)

relationship between teacher and pupil, i.e. that of a Geron (Elder) and a subject (pupil). Every new addition to the denizens of the desert would be initiated through this form of relationship to the spiritual

sciences, for example to humility and discernment (the ability to evaluate spiritual experiences). This

form of relationship was liberal: you had to be absolutely obedient to your Elder (to trust him with your

very life, in order to release yourself from your dependence on your personal desires), but you could also

leave him to go to another Elder, or even to live without an Elder. No-one would force you to do

anything. In this society -which was replete with more love than our secular, conventional societies-

many lost the path; however, thousands did attain sainthood.

The Gerontikon (a collection of narrations about the desert Elders) mentions how saint Jacob of Panepho, when asked by a certain wavering monk to what spiritual heights a denizen of the ultra-desert

can reach, the saint lifted up his arms in prayer and flames sprang from his fingertips. If you want to, make your whole become a fire he replied. Naturally the ultra-desert society was not cut off from the

worldwide Church, nor was it hostile towards the other

expressions of Christian living. Even more so, it did not deny priesthood and the holy sacraments, which were given to us by

God to help us in our union with Him as well as between us. This is why monasteries and anachorites coexisted harmoniously,

while some anachorites even ended up as Bishops and Fathers of

the Church, without regarding that this conflicted with their special way of approaching God. Anachorites would visit (or have among them) priests canonically ordained by a Bishop; they

would officiate and they would partake of the Body and the

Precious Blood of Christ. But in the ancient and the

Orthodox Church, priesthood was not an institution of power; it was seen as a gift of the Holy Spirit, and the priest was not some

kind of representative of God, but was the bearer of that gift (and of the responsibility) of performing the Divine Liturgy, of confessional and the other fundamental ecclesiastic

practices and of bringing the immaculate sacraments to other Christians. As a person, that same priest

could well be subject (as a pupil) to a holy teacher, who could quite easily not be a priest.

Modern-day, rebel thinkers who have removed God from their hearts without ever having discovered Him

have instead discovered anarchism; and yet, they never learnt of the existence of this anarchic society,

despite the fact that during the time they were struggling or writing about it in their own various ways, at

least the Russian and the Athonite ultra-deserts were already flourishing. The latter (the Holy Mountain

Athos) continues to prosper to this day, albeit confronting the various difficulties and adventures of

human history.

Saints have been produced and continue to be produced, even in bustling cities, unobtrusively and

humbly, in the way that befits our humble God (which is nothing like the bogey-man that others

acknowledge, known as morality). Most certainly, every saint man or woman regardless whether they live in a condominium or a wooden shack, possibly even raising ten children, also has a piece of

desert in his/her heart. They need it, in order to withdraw there and to hearken to the subtlest music in the

world: prayer.

By focusing our gaze on the saint-producing ultra-deserts, either by actually visiting them or by perusing

books like the Gerontikon (Elder Fathers), the Miterikon (Elder Mothers), the Leimonarion (the Prairie narratives), the Thebes of the North, the Hagiorite Fathers and the Hagiorite Narrations by the Elder Paisios and many other such books, I am convinced that it is the best way, for one who desires

to truly become acquainted with Christianity, to begin their journey. It is possible that the experience they

will encounter may become scandalous, and it may be that they will even unwittingly stray onto a wrong path. Whatever the case, may the blessing of all the saints of the deserts - the sandy desert of

Egypt and Palestine, the wooded desert of Athos, the wooded, boggy or frozen desert of Russia, the

woods of Rumania or Serbia, even the frozen desert of Alaska where Saint Herman of Alaska, Saint

Innocent Beniaminov, Saint Jacob Netchetov and others attained sainthood, but also the cement desert of

Omonoia Square in the heart of Athens where the Elder Porphyry attained sainthood be their valuable companions and their polar star that will guide them along the way.