Holy Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church

703 w. Center St. Rochester, MN 55902 ph. 282-1529 church@holyanargyroi.org

www.holyanargyroi.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muñoz, Proistamenos
Today’s Apolytikia
Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέωξας τῷ
Ληστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν
θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις
κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ
Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

You did abolish death by Your cross; You did

open Paradise to the thief; You did transform
the myrrh-bearers’ lamentation, and did bid Your
Apostles to preach that You are risen, O Christ
God, granting great mercy to the world.
Ἑτοιμάζου Ζαβουλών, καὶ εὐτρεπίζου Νεφθαλείμ. Ἰορδάνη ποταμέ, στῆθι
ὑπόδεξαι σκιρτῶν, τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ἐρχόμενον τὸν Δεσπότην. Ἀγάλλου ὁ Ἀδὰμ σὺν τῇ Προμήτορι,
μὴ κρύπτετε ἑαυτούς, ὡς ἐν Παραδείσῳ τὸ πρίν, καὶ γὰρ γυμνοὺς ἰδὼν ὑμᾶς ἐπέφανεν, ἵνα ἐνδύσῃ
τὴν πρώτην στολήν. Χριστὸς ἐφάνη, τὴν πᾶσαν κτίσιν, θέλων ἀνακαινίσαι.

Make ready O Zebulum; Prepare yourself O Naphthali; Cease to flow O River Jordan; Receive the
Master who comes to be baptized, in joy. Adam, rejoice with the first mother. Do not hide in Paradise, as
before, for He came to see us, even naked, that He might clothe us as we were before. Christ has appeared
to renew all creation.

Today’s Kontakion

Ἐν τοῖς ῥείθροις σήμερον τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, γεγονὼς ὁ Κύριος, τῷ Ἰωάννῃ ἐκβοᾷ· Μὴ δειλιάσῃς
βαπτίσαι με· σῶσαι γὰρ ἥκω, Ἀδὰμ τὸν πρωτόπλαστον.
In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not
afraid and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I am come to save Adam, the first-formed man.

Sunday before the Feast of Theophany

St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Kosmas Patriarch of Constantinople, Pope Sylvester of Rome
January 2nd, 2010
 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your
ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid
up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on
that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Gospel Pericope
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one
crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" John the baptizer
appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And
there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were
baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair,
and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached,
saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to
stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy
Spirit."
 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 mysteries to your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief
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 nota 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 mysteries to your enemies, nor will I give You a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief
confess to You: Lord, remember me in Your kingdom.
 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
Sun. Jan. 2nd: Youth Christmas Pageant after Liturgy
Sun. Jan. 2nd: Annual Vasilopita Celebration after Pageant
Mon. Jan. 3rd: Philoxenia Meeting, 5pm
Mon. Jan. 3rd: Adult Religious Education, 6pm
Wed. Jan. 5th: Forefeast of Theophany, Royal Hours/Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil/Blessing
of the Waters 8:30am **Strict Fast Day**
Thurs. Jan. 6th: Holy Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-Orthros/Divine
Liturgy/Great Blessing of Waters, 8:30am **No Fasting**
Sat. Jan. 8th: Great Vespers, 6pm
Sun. Jan. 9th: Young Adult League (YAL) establishment meeting after Liturgy

Christmas Pageant: our youth will interpret the Christmas message for us today after Liturgy. We
would like to thank Connie Jelatis, and her co-workers, for organizing and facilitating this year’s
Pageant; and to the parents who encourage their children’s participation.

St. Basil’s Academy: today the Philoptochos Society will pass a tray for the needs for St. Basil
Academy. This is part of an annual appeal on behalf of the Archdiocesan Philoptochos Board. Not
sure what the Academy does? Please see the brochure in this bulletin.

House blessings: If you would like to have your homes/businesses blessed please contact Fr. Mark
immediately to make your appt. Please refer to Jan.’s edition of “Box & Spoon” for appropriate
preparations.

Coffee Hour Fellowship Sign-up: we are currently soliciting volunteers to host our fellowship hour
after Sunday Liturgy for New Year, 2011. We specifically need volunteers for the month of January
(Jan. 2nd will be the annual Vasilopita celebration). Please see Jackie Barbes , Denise Mangouras, or
Maria Thomas to signup. Thank you for your hospitality!

WITH THE FEAR OF GOD, FAITH, AND LOVE DRAW NEAR: Only those Orthodox Christians in
good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves
spiritually, mentally, and physically. They should 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 fasting regulations, 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 the
holy chalice state your baptismal name, 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 the of the cross
as you step away. Please do not be in a rush while communing.
 Today’s liturgical commemorations
1. SAINT SYLVESTER, BISHOP OF ROME Sylvester was born in Rome and from his early youth was
learned in worldly wisdom and in the Faith of Christ. He always conducted his life according to the Gospel
commandments. He benefited much from the instruction of Timothy the priest whose death for the Faith
Sylvester himself witnessed and, observing the example of the heroic sacrifice of his teacher, was imbued with
such a spirit throughout his entire life. At age thirty, he became the Bishop of Rome. He amended the customs
of Christians. For example, he dispensed the fast on Saturdays, which was practiced by many Christians up to
that time, and ordered that fasting be observed only on Holy and Great Saturday as well as on those Saturdays
that fall within the fasting seasons. By his prayers and miracles Sylvester assisted in bringing Emperor
Constantine and his mother Helena into the True Faith. They were later baptized. He participated with the
Empress Helena in finding the Honorable Cross. He governed the Church of God for twenty years.

2. THE VENERABLE SERAPHIM OF SAROV Saint Seraphim was born in the town of Kursk in 1759.
From tender childhood he was under the protection of the most holy Mother of God, who, when he was nine
years old, appeared to him in a vision, and through her icon of Kursk, healed him from a grave sickness from
which he had not been expected to recover. At the age of nineteen he entered the monastery of Sarov, where
he amazed all with his obedience, his lofty asceticism, and his great humility. In 1780 the Saint was stricken with
a sickness which he manfully endured for three years, until our Lady the Theotokos healed him, appearing to
him with the Apostles Peter and John. He was tonsured a monk in 1786, being named for the holy Hieromartyr
Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (Dec. 4), and was ordained deacon a year later. In his unquenchable love for
God, he continually added labours to labours, increasing in virtue and prayer with titan strides. Once, during the
Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday, he was counted worthy of a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who
appeared encompassed by the heavenly hosts. After this dread vision, he gave himself over to greater labours.
In 1794, Saint Seraphim took up the solitary life in a cell in the forest. This period of extreme asceticism lasted
some fifteen years, until 1810. It was at this time that he took upon himself one of the greatest feats of his life.
Assailed with despondency and a storm of contrary thoughts raised by the enemy of our salvation, the Saint
passed a thousand nights on a rock, continuing in prayer until God gave him complete victory over the enemy.
On another occasion, he was assaulted by robbers, who broke his chest and his head with their blows, leaving
him almost dead. Here again, he began to recover after an appearance of the most holy Theotokos, who came
to him with the Apostles Peter and John, and pointing to Saint Seraphim, uttered those awesome words, "This is
one of my kind." In 1810, at the age of fifty; weakened with his more than human struggles, Saint Seraphim
returned to the monastery for the third part of his ascetical labours, in which he lived as a recluse until 1825. For
the first five years of his reclusion, he spoke to no one at all, and little is known of this period. After five years, he
began receiving visitors little by little, giving counsel and consolation to ailing souls. In 1825, the most holy
Theotokos appeared to the Saint and revealed to him that it was pleasing to God that he fully end his seclusion;
from this time the number of people who came to see him grew daily. It was also at the command of the holy
Virgin that he undertook the spiritual direction of the Diveyevo Convent. He healed bodily ailments, foretold
things to come, brought hardened sinners to repentance, and saw clearly the secrets of the heart of those who
came to him. Through his utter humility and childlike simplicity, his unrivalled ascetical travails, and his angel-
like love for God, he ascended to the holiness and greatness of the ancient God-bearing Fathers and became
like Anthony for Egypt, the physician for the whole Russian land. In all, the most holy Theotokos appeared to
him twelve times in his life. The last was on Annunciation, 1831, to announce to him that he would soon, enter
into his rest. She appeared to him accompanied by twelve virgins-martyrs and monastic saints-with Saint John
the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. With a body ailing and broken from innumerable hardships, and an
unspotted soul shining with the light of Heaven, the Saint lived less than two years after this, falling asleep in
peace on January 2, 1833, chanting Paschal hymns. On the night of his repose, the righteous Philaret of the
Glinsk Hermitage beheld his soul ascending to Heaven in light. Because of the universal testimony to the
singular holiness of his life, and the seas of miracles that he performed both in life and after death, his
veneration quickly spread beyond the boundaries of the Russian Empire to every corner of the earth. See also
July 19.
Pearls from the desert…
The brethren who were assembled said to Abba Pambo, 'Say
something to the Archbishop, so that he may be edified.' The old
man said to them, 'If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be
edified by my speech.'

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


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My family and I wish you all a blessed, joyful, and memorable Christmas
Celebration, and a prosperous and peaceful New Year!
May the Christ-Child grant us all peace, genuine love, and His abundant
mercies!
Many thanks for the gifts, greetings, and cards!
-Fr. Mark

Inclement Weather & Church Closing:

We are all too aware that in Minnesota we receive a wide variety of weather! If it is
decided that services or events will need to be cancelled due to bad weather the
following protocol will be immediately implemented:
 An announcement will appear on KTTC’s Storm Center and Closing System.
 An email will be sent to the parishioners who have registered their email w/ the office.
 An announcement will be posted on the parish’s Facebook page.
 House Blessings
When the icon corner is in order, the
priest should be called so that the
home can be sanctified and
dedicated as the family church. The
service performed by the priest to
bless the new dwelling is somewhat
similar to the consecration of a
church [in Russian practice] in that
holy water, holy oil and incense are
used and a lesson from the Holy
Gospel is read. All the rooms of the
house are sprinkled with holy water and each of the four outer walls are anointed with the sign of
the Cross with holy oil, a candle placed before them, and after the censing of the house, the lesson
from the Holy Gospel is read [in Greek practice the service of The Small Blessing of Waters is
generally done]. At the conclusion of the blessing, the inhabitants are blessed with holy water: the
husband first, followed by the wife and then the children—the oldest first. Relatives and friends
present are then blessed. Once a new dwelling has been blessed, it is not to be assumed that the
priest need not be called periodically to bless the dwelling. Traditionally, houses are blessed
annually on, or shortly after, the Feast of Theophany. The Greater Blessing of Waters takes
place on this feast day; the waters from this blessing are brought into the dwelling of the
parishioners and are sprinkled in all rooms by the priest. The blessing of homes by these holy
waters maintains the spiritual association between the family church and the parish, as well as
again providing for the sharing of God's spiritual gifts. Some Orthodox Christians ask the priest to
bless their dwelling at the same time when an Akathist or Molieben (prayer service) is served by
the priest in the family church. Neither the annual blessing nor the blessing in conjunction with
these short services are as elaborate as the blessing of the new dwelling, but because of this it
should not be overlooked, for it is in this way that the grace of God is extended to individual
dwellings.
 HISTORY OF THE CELEBRATION OF THEOPHANY

THE EVENTS of the Baptism of Jesus Christ and the appearance of the Holy Trinity, as they are
recorded in the Bible, were held with reverence and admiration over the period of the years. With the end
of the persecutions, the contents of these events were developed in the observance of the feast of
Epiphany which is called the Feast of Lights. The origin of the observance of the celebration of the
Epiphany is to be found in the activities of Gnosticism. Its fundamental principle is the idea that
individual salvation comes through knowledge, gnosis, rather than through faith or works. The 6th of
January was designated as the feast day of Epiphany because on that day was the birthday of Aeon, the
patron god of Alexandria. The Gnostics had designated Christ as one of the Aeons in their elaborate
system. In opposition to these heretics, it appears that the Orthodox Church acted to protect its followers
from this falsification by defining the Theophany of the Holy Trinity, that is, the appearance of God
during the Baptism of Christ. The earliest definite evidence of this celebration is given by Ammianus
Marcellinus where this pagan Roman historian mentions that Julian the Apostate participated in this
feastday in Vienne of Gaul. The Orthodox Church gave to this Feast its correct significance and meaning
and celebrated purposely this Feast on the same date to counteract the false celebration of the Gnostics. In
all probability, Epiphany was introduced to Gaul, with its Greek name, by St. Athanasius (336), coming
from Alexandria. It is known that in the East the Nativity of Christ was celebrated together with Epiphany
on the 6th of January, while in the West the Nativity was celebrated before Epiphany became known to
them. This fact seems to account for the difference in the content of Epiphany as given by the East and
the West. That is, in the East, the celebration centered in the Theophany of Christ witnessed by the other
two Persons of the Holy Trinity and in connection with the Birth of Christ. The Armenians, who have
preserved the ancient tradition of combining the Nativity with Epiphany, still celebrate the Nativity of
Christ on the evening of January 5th and Epiphany with the Sanctification of the Waters on the 6th of
January.

In the Western Church, Epiphany is dedicated to the commemoration of three events: (i) the baptism of
Jesus; (ii) the visit of the Wisemen to Bethlehem, and (iii) the miracle of Cana (the changing of the water
into wine), by which the Western Church celebrated the manifestation of Christ to the world and His
power to perform miracles. IN THE EAST, the Nativity, after being introduced from the West, was
designated to be observed also on December 25th, probably by the heretic Arians in Antioch. This
happened about fifty years after Epiphany was designated. In fact, St. Basil and St. Gregory had
attempted to differentiate between the two celebrations by imposing the name "Theophany" on the Birth
of Christ, December 25th, and keeping the name "Epiphany" for the celebration on the 6th of January.
However, they were unsuccessful.

In the Orthodox Church the celebration of

Epiphany took on an elaborate appearance for two reasons: first, in opposition to the corresponding
celebrations of the heretics and pagans; and, secondly, due to the meaning of the feast-day itself, as the
worship of the true God of the Holy Trinity, the catechumens came to be baptized on this day, Seberian,
Bishop of Gavalon, remarks that in the Church there was great abundance of light on this feastday
because the Christians carried lighted candles.