Holy anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church

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

church@holyanargyroi.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muñoz, Proistamenos
ΑΠΟΛΤΣΙΚΙΑ ΣΗ΢ ΗΜΕΡΑ΢/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY
Ευλογητός εί, Χριστέ ο Θεός ημών, ο
πανσόφους τούς αλιείς αναδείξας,
καταπέμψας αυτοίς τό Πνεύμα τό
άγιον, καί δι' αυτών τήν οικουμένην
σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι. (

Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who

made fishermen all-wise, sending upon
them the Holy Spirit and, through them,
netting the world. O Loving One, glory to
You.(3)

ΚΟΝΤΑΚΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

Ότε καταβάς τάς γλώσσας συνέχεε, διεμέριζεν

έθνη ο Ύψιστος, ότε τού πυρός τάς γλώσσας
διένειμεν, εις ενότητα πάντας εκάλεσε, καί
συμφώνως δοξάζομεν τό πανάγιον Πνεύμα.
When the Most High came down and confounded tongues of men (Babel), He divided
the Nations. When He dispensed the Tongues of Fire, He called all to unity, and with
one voice we glorify the Most Holy Spirit.

Sunday of pentecost
St. Michael of Synada, St. Mary the Myyrhbearer
May 23rd, 2010
 Today’s scripture readings

Epistle reading
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
WHEN THE DAY of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a
sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they
were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one
of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every
nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered,
because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and
wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear,
each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of
Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the
parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans
and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

Gospel pericope
John 7:37-52; 8:12

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come
to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of
living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as
yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. When they heard these words,
some of the people said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is
the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and
comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there was a division among the people over
him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then went back to
the chief priest and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered,
"No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? Have
any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are
accursed." Nikodemos, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our
law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you
from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee." Again Jesus spoke to
them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life."
 COMMUNION PRAYERS
I believe and confess, Lord, that You are truly the Christ, the Son of
the living God, Who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I
am the first. I also believe that this is truly Your pure Body and that
this is truly Your precious Blood. Therefore, I pray to You. Have
mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, voluntary and
involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown. And make me
worthy without condemnation to partake of Your pure Mysteries for
the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Amen.

Behold, my Maker, I approach Holy Communion. Burn me not as I partake, for You are fire
which burns the unworthy, but cleanse me from every stain.

Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your
mystery to Your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to
You: Lord, remember me in Your kingdom.

Seeing the Divine Blood, have fear, O man, for it is coal that burns the unworthy. It is God’s
Body that deifies and nourishes me; it deifies the spirit and nourishes the mind mystically.

You have smitten me with yearning, O Christ, and with Your divine love You have changed me.
Burn away my sins with spiritual fire and make me worthy to be filled with Your joy, that
rejoicing in Your goodness, I may magnify Your two Comings.

How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of Your saints? If I dare to enter the bridal
chamber, my clothing will accuse me, since it is not a wedding garment; and being bound up, I
shall be cast out by the angels. In Your love, Lord, cleanse the vileness of my soul and save me.

Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, let not these holy Gifts be to my condemnation
because of my unworthiness, but for the cleansing and sanctification of soul and body and the
pledge of the future life and kingdom. It is good for me to cling to God and to place in Him the
hope of my salvation.

Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of Your mystical Supper. I will not reveal Your
mystery to Your enemies. Nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to
You: Lord remember me in Your kingdom.
 Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
***NO FASTING THE WEEK AFTER PENTECOST***
Sun. May 23rd: Kneeling Vespers immediately following Liturgy
Sun. May 23rd: Philoptochos Meeting, after Liturgy/Kneeling Vespers
Mon. May 24th: Building Committee Meeting, 6pm
Fri. May 28th: St. John Chrysostom Monastery Trip, leave from Church 3pm
Sat. May 29th: NO Great Vespers

Monastery Trip: Fr. Demetri Carellas will be speaking at St. John Chrysostom Monastery on
Saturday, May 29th. We will leave Rochester Friday afternoon, spend the night at the
Monastery, attend the early morning Liturgy, and hear Fr.’s presentation throughout the day on
Saturday. There is a signup sheet in the Narthex for those who plan on attending; our numbers
will determine how we arrange transportation.

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION—Orthodox 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.

Mexican Luncheon to benefit

GOYA Mission
Please join us after the Liturgy for
Pentecost for a Mexican Feast! Food will
be prepared by Michael Brekke & Johnny Mangouras under the
expert eye and guidance of Fr. Mark! All proceeds to benefit
Project Mexico!
 Today’s liturgical commemorations
1. St Michael, Bishop of Synnada.
From his childhood, this wise and holy hierarch consecrated himself to the service of Christ. He laboured
in asceticism together with Saint Theophylact of Nicomedia. Once, in a time of drought, these two holy
men caused an abundance of rain to fall on the earth by their prayers. Because of the life of asceticism
and chastity that Michael had led from his early youth, he was chosen and consecrated by Patriarch
Tarasius as Bishop of Synnada. He took part in the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787. At the wish of
the Emperor, he visited Caliph Harun al-Rashid to conduct peace negotiations. In the time of the wicked
Emperor Leo the Armenian, he was deposed from his episcopal throne for his veneration of the holy icons
and sent into exile, where he died in want and poverty, faithful to Orthodoxy to the end. He entered into
the Kingdom of Christ the King in 818.

2. Our Holy Father, the Martyr Michael.

On the death of his parents, this Michael gave all his goods away to orphans and went on pilgrimage to
the holy places in Jerusalem. He then entered the monastic community of St Sava the Sanctified and
became a monk. Although quite young and ruddy of face, he became withered and pale from much
fasting. At that time, the Arabs held sway over Jerusalem. It once happened that Michael's spiritual father
sent him to the town to sell some handwork. A eunuch of an Arab princess met him on the street and took
him to the princess to display his wares. When the princess beheld the handsome monk, she began to
burn with an impure lust, and proposed to the monk a carnal sin such as Potiphar's wife once proposed to
chaste Joseph. When. Michael refused her impure suggestion and turned to flee, the enraged princess
gave orders that he be beaten with staves and taken to the Sultan with the false accusation of blasphemy
against Mahomet. The Sultan urged him to accept Islam, but he refused. They gave him strong poison,
hoping to kill him, but he drank it all up with no ill-effect at all. Then the Sultan commanded that he be
slain with the sword in the centre of Jerusalem. The monks found his body and carried it to St Sava's
monastery, where they gave it burial. St Michael suffered for Christ and was glorified in the 9th century.

3. Our Holy Mother Euphrosyne, Princess of Polotsk.

She was the daughter of Prince Vseslav of Polotsk. When her parents wished her to be married, she ran
away to a monastery and became a nun. An angel of the Lord appeared to her three times to show her
the place where she was to build a new monastery for virgins. She brought her own sister, Evdokia, into
monasticism and many other young girls from the ranks of the aristocracy. One kinswoman of hers,
Zvenislava, a princess of Borisov, brought all her wealth, clothing and precious jewels, and said: 'I count
all the beauty of this world as naught, and wish to give these fine things, prepared for my marriage, to the
Church of the Saviour. And I desire to espouse myself to Him in a spiritual marriage, and to bow my head
beneath His easy, and light yoke.' Euphrosyne professed her too, and gave her the name Evpraxia. In old
age, Euphrosyne evinced a desire to die in Jerusalem, and prayed for this boon. God heard her prayer,
and she did indeed die in the monastery of St Theodosius in Jerusalem on May 23rd, 1173, during a visit
there.
 Holy Land &
Constantinople
“Seeing with our eyes that which our heart beholds”
Join us for a unique life changing pilgrimage to the land
of the Prophets, the Apostles, Panagia, and Jesus
Christ Himself.

Fr. Mark will be leading the 13 day pilgrimage in mid-June of 2011. Sites will
include Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Mt. Tabor, Sea of Galilee, Cana,
Nazareth, Capernaum, River Jordan,
Dead Sea (Qumran), and several days in
Constantinople with visits scheduled to
Hagia Sofia, Blachernae, Chora
Monastery, and a private audience with
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Confirmed Dates:
June12-24
 Tongues of Fire
After the Saviour's Ascension into the Heavens, the eleven
Apostles and the rest of His disciples, the God-loving
women who followed after Him from the beginning, His
Mother, the most holy Virgin Mary, and His brethren-all
together about 120 souls returned from the Mount of
Olives to Jerusalem. Entering into the house where they
gathered, they went into the upper room, and there they
persevered in prayer and supplication, awaiting the
coming of the Holy Spirit, as their Divine Teacher had
promised them. In the meanwhile, they chose Matthias,
who was elected to take the place of Judas among the
Apostles. Thus, on this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha,
the tenth day after the Ascension and the fiftieth day after
Pascha, at the third hour of the day from the rising of the
sun, there suddenly came a sound from Heaven, as when a
mighty wind blows, and it filled the whole house where the Apostles and the rest with them were gathered.
Immediately after the sound, there appeared tongues of fire that divided and rested upon the head of each one.
Filled with the Spirit, all those present began speaking not in their native tongue, but in other tongues and
dialects, as the Holy Spirit instructed them.

The multitudes that had come together from various places for the feast, most of whom were Jews by race and
religion, were called Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and so forth, according to the places where they dwelt.
Though they spoke many different tongues, they were present in Jerusalem by divine dispensation. When they
heard that sound that came down from Heaven to the place where the disciples of Christ were gathered, all ran
together to learn what had taken place. But they were confounded when they came and heard the Apostles
speaking in their own tongues. Marvelling at this, they said one to another, "Behold, are not all these which
speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" But others,
because of their foolishness and excess of evil, mocked the wonder and said that the Apostles were drunken.

Then Peter stood up with the eleven, and raising his voice, spoke to all the people, proving that that which
had taken place was not drunkenness, but the fulfilment of God's promise that had been spoken by the
Prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that I shall pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and daughters shall prophesy" (Joel 2:28), and he preached Jesus of Nazareth unto them,
proving in many ways that He is Christ the Lord, Whom the Jews crucified but God raised from the dead.
On hearing Peter's teaching, many were smitten with compunction and received the word. Thus, they
were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added to the Faith of Christ.
 Memorial Day Commemorations

Although Memorial Day is specifically

dedicated to those men and women who fell in
service to their country it has become tradition
to ‘remember’ all departed loved ones on this
day. We will gather Monday, May 31st-
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) to give to Father
for commemoration. You may include those
departed relatives who are not laid to rest at
Oakwood in your lists.