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

Ἀγγελικαὶ δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες

ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ
ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾅδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ᾽
αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ
ἀναστὰς ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

The heavenly powers appeared at Your tomb, and those guarding it

became like dead. Mary stood at Your grave seeking Your pure
body. You stripped the power of Hades, not touched by its
corruption. You met the virgin woman as one who grants life. O
Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to You.

Ἀπόστολοι Ἅγιοι, πρεσβεύσατε τῷ ἐλεήμονι Θεῷ ἵνα

πταισμάτων ἄφεσιν, παράσχῃ ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν.

O Holy Apostles, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant

our souls forgiveness of sins.
ΚΟΝΤΑΚΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

Προστασία τών Χριστιανών ακαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρός τόν Ποιητήν αμετάθετε, Μή

παρίδης αμαρτωλών δεήσεων φωνάς, αλλά πρόφθασον, ώς αγαθή, εις τήν βοήθειαν ημών,
τών πιστώς κραυγαζόντων σοι. Τάχυνον εις πρεσβείαν, καί σπεύσον εις ικεσίαν, η
προστατεύουσα αεί, Θεοτόκε, τών τιμώντων σε.
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.

5th Sunday of St Luke

St. Stachys, Apellos, Aplia, & Aristoboulos of the 70, St. Nicholas the New Martyr
October 31st, 2010
 Today’s scripture readings
Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10

BRETHREN, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us,
even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the
immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace
you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God:
not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk
in them.

Gospel pericope
Luke 16:19-31

The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted
sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to
be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The
poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was
buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros
in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip
the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham
said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like
manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this,
between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to
you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also
come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them
hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will
repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced
if some one should rise from the dead.'"
 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:
Today: Parish Name Day Luncheon after Liturgy
Tonight: Great Vespers for Feast of Sts. Kosmas & Damian, 6pm
Mon. Nov. 1st: Feast of Sts. Kosmas & Damian, Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:30am
Mon. Nov. 1st: Adult Religious Education, 6pm
Sat. Nov. 6th: Great Vespers, 6pm **Daylight savings ends, set clocks back one hour**
Sun. Nov. 7th: General Assembly of all stewards in good standing, after Liturgy.

Parish Name Day Luncheon: will be served after this morning’s Divine Liturgy. The menu includes
Greek chicken, potatoes, salad, tyropites, and baklava. A free will donation is observed with all proceeds
going to the Building Fund.

Let’s tidy up!: Parents your cooperation is requested in keeping the playroom in the basement clean and
orderly after the coffee hour each Sunday. For a few Sundays in a row the room has been left in a rather
chaotic state. Please remind your children to pick up after themselves. Thanks for your help!

Important Library News: We are updating our checkout policy, including limiting to 2 items due within
4 weeks. We currently have some books that have been out for several months, even years! Please bring
back any books you have checked out promptly so others can use them. Also, as many groups use the
library, we would like to remind people to clean up after themselves and not to store papers or personal
items in the room.

OXI Day Commemoration: Next Saturday, 6th of November at 4:30 p.m, before Saturday's vespers,
there will be an audiovisual presentation of the historical day of OXI, the 28th of October. This
presentation concerns the Battle of Greece in WWII and is a great opportunity for those who want to
learn more about the modern history of Greece. This presentation is going to be given by the students of
the Greek School.

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION—Only 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.
 Today’s liturgical commemorations
1. The Holy Apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles
and Aristobulus.
They were of the Seventy. St Stachys was a helper of St Andrew the First-Called, who made
him bishop of Byzantium. He built a church in Argyropolis, and governed his flock with
faithfulness and zeal. After sixteen years as bishop, he entered peacefully into rest in the Lord.
Amplias and Urban were also fellow-workers with St Andrew, and were made bishop by him,
Amplias in Lydda and Urban in Macedonia. They both died as martyrs for Christ the Lord.
Narcissus was made Bishop of Athens by the Apostle Philip, and holy Apelles was Bishop of
Heraklion in Trachis. Aristobulus, the brother of the Apostle Barnabas, preached the Christian
faith in Britain and died peacefully there. He is also commemorated on March 16th.
2. The Holy Martyr Epimachus.
Born in Egypt, he lived there in asceticism, and there finished his earthly course a martyr. In
imitation of St John the Baptist, he went off as a young man into the desert. In response to his
great love for God, the Spirit of God instructed him in all truth and, with no other teacher, taught
him how to live the ascetic life. Epimachus discovered how the pagans were torturing and
slaughtering the Christians in Alexandria, so, all afire with zeal for the Faith, he went to the city
and knocked down the idols. When the pagans began to torture him for this, he cried out: 'Smite
me, spit on me, put a crown of thorns on my head and a reed in my hand; give me gall to drink,
crucify me and pierce me with a spear. The Lord endured all that, and I want to endure it!' In the
vast crowd that was watching the martyrdom of holy Epimachus, there was one woman with a
blind eye. She wept bitterly on witnessing the soul-less torture of the man of God, and, when the
torturers flayed his holy body, blood spurted from it and a drop fell on her eye. Suddenly she
could see, and her blind eye became as whole as the other. Then the woman cried out: 'Great is
the God in whom this sufferer believes!' After that, St Epimachus was beheaded and his soul
entered into eternal joy, in about 250.
3. The Holy Martyr Nicolas of Chios.
A devout young man and a great zealot for the Christian faith, Nicolas was born in the village of
Karyes on the island of Chios. He was tortured and beheaded by the Turks in 1754, and gave
his righteous soul into God's hands.
4. Our Holy Fathers Spiridon and Nicodemus.
They were monks and prosfora-makers in the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev. Spiridon was
illiterate, but he knew the whole Psalter by heart and worked miracles during his lifetime. He
entered into rest in 1148.
 PARISH ETHNIC POTLUCK
NOVEMBER 13th, 7 PM, after Vespers
FELLOWSHIP HALL

Celebrate our unique, multicultural parish family by

sharing a favorite dish from your heritage. Hot or cold,
spicy or sweet. Beverages, utensils, and paperware will
be provided.

Bring the whole family for a gastronomical treat!!

 Pearls from the desert…
Saint Ephraim the Syrian, the renown teacher of asceticism, once
decided to leave, for a time, his beloved silence in the desert and
go down to the city. "Lord," he prayed before setting out, "Put
before me a person to instruct me, when I pass through the city
gate." But at the moment that he reached the populous city of
Edessa, the first person that he encountered on his way was a
woman of the street, who stood and stared at him shamelessly.
The Saint complained to the Lord that He had deigned to let him
find the opposite of what he had asked for. Afterwards, he turned
to the woman and, to evoke some shame in her, told her
brusquely: "I am amazed that you do not turn red with
embarrassment for daring to stare at me so persistently." She
promptly told him: "I am doing that which suits me. Being created
from your rib, I should look at you. As for you, however, who
were created from dust, you would do well to have your gaze
constantly fixed on it." Receiving such an exact response, the Saint thanked God with gratitude.
A more beneficial lesson than this he surely could not have wanted.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

New Icons for sale in bookstore

 Christ “Pantokrator”, large and small size
 Theotokos “Sweet Kissing”, large and small size
 Theotokos “More Spacious than the Heavens”, large size
 St. Anthony the Great, small size
 St. Katherine, small size
 Sts. Kosmas & Damian, small and large sizes
 St. Ehpraim the New Martyr of Nea Makri, small size
 St. Gregory Palamas, small size
 St. John of San Francisco (Maximovitch), small size
 St. Nektarios,, small size
 GIVING ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
Adapted from an article by Rev. George I. Paulson

Since we are Christians, each person, young and old, man or woman, child or adult, rich or poor
gives to the Lord what he or she is able to give. At our Parish, giving varies from the children
giving $1 per week to some giving much more per week. Every bit helps to do the work of Christ.

There is an important factor in the matter of giving. It is not primarily how much a person gives on
any given Sunday, but "that I give every Sunday, whether I come to Church or not!" That is
the key, that I give whether I come to Church or not! The Bible tells us to give "on the first day of
the week," Sunday.
For example, if I come to Church 15 Sundays this year and put $20 in my envelope each time, I
would be contributing $300 for the year. But if I put $20 in each envelope on Sunday morning,
whether I come to Church or not, and then bring all those envelopes together when I do come, my
annual contribution to the Church would amount to $1,000 for the year. The point is that I would
not feel the impact of $20 each Sunday as I would if were to give $1,000 in one lump sum.

If every Steward of our parish made his or her first contribution of the week to the Lord on
Sunday morning, whether he or she went to Church or not, we would be able to meet our annual
Ministries and Operating Budget.
Any other income from other fund-raisers could be used for building maintenance, outreach to
the needy, and for countless other worthwhile needs.

This is what the Lord expects from us. This year be for us the first year in the life of our Church in
which our love for the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit
enable us to maintain the House of the Lord entirely through
our abundant Christian Stewardship giving. What a
blessing it would be!