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

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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.

/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

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O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator

most constant: despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be quick,

O good one, to come unto our aid who in faith cry unto you: Hasten to intercede, and

speed to make supplication, you who ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor you.

6th

Sunday of matthew

Proclus & Hilary the Martyrs of Ancyra, Our Holy Father Michael of Maleinus, Veronica, the

woman with the issue of blood who was healed by Jesus JULY 12TH 2015

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 12:6-14

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.

BRETHREN, having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:

if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his

teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who

gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine;

hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection;

outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve

the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute

you; bless and do not curse them.

Gospel pericope

Matthew 9:1-8

At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they

brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the

paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to

themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you

think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Rise and

walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" he

then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home.

When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such

authority to men.

Announcements

Liturgical/Program Schedule:

TODAY: Outreach Committee meeting after Divine Liturgy in Library!

Mon. July 13th: Orthodoxy 101, 6pm

Wed. July 15th: Parish Council Meeting, 6:30pm

Thurs. July 16th: Thursdays on First, volunteers needed!

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.******

Pearls from the Desert

When Abba Macarius was returning from the marsh to his cell one day carrying some palm-leaves, he

met the devil on the road with a scythe. The latter struck at him as much as he pleased, but in vain, and he

said to him, 'What is your power, Macarius, that makes me powerless against you? All that you do, I do,

too; you fast, so do I; you keep vigil, and I do not sleep at all; in one thing only do you beat me.' Abba

Macarius asked what that was. He said, 'Your humility. Because of that I can do nothing against you.'

Todays liturgical commemorations

1. THE HOLY MARTYRS PROCLUS AND HILARIUS

These holy martyrs were born in Kallippi in Asia and Proclus was the uncle of Hilarius. They were martyred during

the reign of Trajan. "What is your lineage?" the judge inquired of Proclus. Proclus answered: "My lineage is Christ

and my hope is my God." When the judge threatened him with tortures, Proclus said: "When you are afraid to

transgress the orders of the emperor in order not to fall into temporal sufferings, how much more are we Christians

afraid to transgress the commandment of God so that we may not fall into eternal sufferings!" While they were

torturing Proclus, Hilarius came before the judge and said: "I also am a Christian!" After much suffering, they were

both sentenced to death: Proclus was crucified on a cross and Hilarius was beheaded. Both entered into the joy of

their Lord.

2. THE VENERABLE MICHAEL OF MALEINOS

Michael was a wealthy man of noble birth. Rejecting earthly goods in his youth, he withdrew to Mt. Malea, near Mt.

Athos, where he lived a life of asceticism, purifying his heart through fasting and prayer. Later on, he had many

disciples, of which the most prominent was St. Athanasius the Athonite. Michael died peacefully about the year 940

A.D.

3. THE HOLY FEMALE MARTYR GOLINDUC [MARY]

Golinduc was a Persian by birth. She entered into marriage with a Persian sage and lived three years in the marital

state. She then had a vision of angels who showed her the other world: the torments of sinners and the unbelievers

and the joy of the righteous. After this, she left her husband and was baptized. At baptism, she received the name of

Mary. Persecuted by her husband, she was sentenced to prison for life. She was imprisoned for eighteen years and

remained steadfast in her faith. After this, she was thrown into a pit with a terrible snake but God saved her and the

snake did not harm her. When evil young men were sent to defile her, God made her invisible to their eyes.

Astonished at her sufferings, many Persians embraced the Faith of Christ. She visited Jerusalem where she

denounced the Severian heresy, which taught that the divine nature in Christ suffered for which they read the

Trisagion [TrisvjatojeThe ThriceHoly Hymn] in the following form: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy and Immortal

crucified for us, have mercy on us." Finally, after preaching the True Faith, she peacefully died near the city of

Nisibus in the year 587 A.D.

4. SAINT VERONICA

Veronica is the woman with the issue of blood whom the Lord healed. "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased

with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment" (St. Matthew 9:20).

Out of gratitude to the Lord her Healer, Veronica ordered a statue of the Lord Jesus be made for her before which

she prayed to God. According to tradition, this statue was preserved until the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate

who altered the statue into an idol of Zeus. This is one of the rarest instances that statues of saints were used in the

Eastern Church. As is known, the latter became a common practice in the Western Church. Saint Veronica remained

faithful to the Faith of Christ until death and died peacefully.