Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 8th Tone

PAGE 102: From the heights thou didst descend O Compassionate One, and thou didst submit to the three-day burial, that thou might deliver us from passion. Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to thee.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the 8th Tone

Through thee the divine likeness was securely preserved, O Mother Mary for thou didst carry the cross and followed Christ. By example and precept thou midst teach us to ignore the body because it is perishable, and to attend to the concerns of the undying soul. Therefore, doth thy soul rejoice with the angels.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant: O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned, but be thou quick, o good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee. Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplications, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 8th Tone. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14.

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Saints and Feasts

April 02

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

Upcoming Services, Events, and Information

TDon't forget CONFESSION! This is a requirement for all parishioners during the Lenten season!

THIS WEEK:

Monday: Catechumen Class @ 6:30 PM

Wednesday: Presanctified Liturgy @ 6:00 PM (last of the year)

Friday: The Canon of Lazarus Saturday @ 6:30 PM

Saturday: Divine Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday @ 10:00 AM

Palm Sunday: Fish Cookout after Liturgy and procession! We will also take a collection for our Paschal flowers.

Remember in your prayers those in need Nicholas, Tamara, Theodore, Aubrey, Elizabeth, Alexandra, Mary, Edward, James, Daren, Florence, Josephine, Pelagia, Tara, Mitrophan, Ruth, Lani, Douglas, Anastasia, Mary, Reader Miguel, Jesse, Timothy, Andrea, Patricia, Pasquale, Allyn, Robert, Jesse, Angelina, Kevin, Peter, Mary, Jude, Patricia, Jennifer, the catechumens Glyceria, John, Thomas, Theophylact, Richard, Alexandra, Newly-reposed Anna and Stomatios.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Sin is not a created being, but a distrubance arising in nature. The God of heaven did not create sin although it resides in all people. In all people dwells our wicked sin. Having found lodging in all people, it incites them to do all evil deeds. For there is no one born, however wise he may be, no one who can be so wise, that he does not sin.

Because of the example of Mary of Egypt, let us mend our lives also. We have much need of it. And let us ask this Mary, every night and every day, that she entreat the Creator with who she shared deep love. Let us do this service so that on the day of judgment we will not be found to be in wickedness. May He give us a great share in everlasting life. Let every thinking person answer and say, "Amen."

- Anonymous Spanish Life of St. Mary of Egypt, 6th Century

If you have an announcement for the bulletin, please send an email to bulletin@stjamesorthodox.org by THURSDAY.

St. James Orthodox Church is a mission of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

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