Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-07-18
Bulletin Contents
Worship Guidelines
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Saints and Feasts
Wisdom of the Fathers
News and Announcements
This Week's Events
Hlyfthrs
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Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 7076426916
  • Street Address:

  • 1224 Alabama Street

  • Vallejo, CA 94590

Contact Information

Fr. Ninos Oshaana
Priest

fatherninos@gmail.com | 408-910-1144

Services Schedule

A full listing of all our services and events is provided in this bulletin.  

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“Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in the midst of them.” -Matthew 18:20

 

Since the time of the Apostles, the Divine Liturgy has offered us communion with our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ through hymns, prayers, the hearing of the Scriptures and the great miracle of the Holy Eucharist for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

Upon entering this holy church, you are entering into worship with the angels and saints who continually worship God in heaven and are sanctified by His presence. Through your prayerful and heartfelt participation, through your sincere repentance and desire for union with Christ, the Divine Liturgy we celebrate today can be for you a powerful experience of "the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit" (2 Corinthians 13:14). Join in this holy and grace-filled work by following the service in the Divine Liturgy book in your pew or by simply being present, praying in your heart, “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”

 

Past Bulletins


Worship Guidelines

We enter the temple of God with reverence, humbly and quietly so as not to disturb those who are in prayer and as an expression of faith and awareness of the presence of the Lord, his saints and angels. No loud talking, irrelevant conversations, joking, etc. should take place in the Narthex or in the Sanctuary at anytime. To stand during worship is to affirm that we are in the presence of the Almighty God. The elderly, the sick and children may be seated as needed. There are specific parts of the service during which no one should be moving about. These parts of the service are: 

The Small Entrance, the Epistle and Gospel; the Cherubic Hymn, Great Entrance, Nicene Creed, the hymn Se Ymnoumen, the prayers: "Take, eat, this is my Body..." and, "we offer to you these gifts...", the prayer of institution: "And make this bread the precious Body of your Christ...", the Lord's Prayer,  Holy Communion, the sermon, dismissal prayer, any special services, e.g, memorial services. Whenever the Priest is facing the people or outside of the altar, everyone should stand wherever they are.

Dressing for God: The church is not just any ordinary place. We dress as modestly and respectfully as we can, because we are in the presence of God Himself. If invited by any earthly king or queen, we would dress in our finest clothes. Therefore, we should dress similarly when accepting an invitation from the Lord of Heaven. The way Orthodox Christians dress, both in and outside the temple, reflects their way of life and dedication to and fear of God. We dress modestly at all times, not in a flashy or provocative way that brings attention to ourselves.  

GENTLEMEN: Collared, button-up shirts, clean dress pants, sweaters or vests, ties and coats. Avoid jeans and shorts.

LADIES: Modest dresses and blouses, knee-length skirts or longer, clean dress pants. Avoid jeans or shorts, short skirts, skin-tight clothing, and strapless or sleeveless tops, high-heels shoes as they make noise on our floors. Head coverings may be worn, according to the biblical tradition and are available in the narthex. 

Only Orthodox Christians may participate in Holy Communion. Please be in church at the beginning, say the pre-communion prayers the previous evening or in the morning, fasting from food this morning (unless there is a medical reason) and had a recent confession. Allow the altar boys to place the red cloth under your chin. Do not wipe your mouth with it but consume everything that may be on your lips. Ladies please avoid wearing lipstick or lip-gloss when receiving Holy Communion. 

 

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Tone

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord has shown the mighty power of his arm. He has trampled down death by death, becoming the first born of the dead. He has delivered us from the depths of hell and has granted to all the world his great mercy.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Fathers in the 8th Tone

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

O unfailing protection of Christians, and our faithful advocate before the Creator: though we are sinners, do not ignore our entreaty; but in your goodness, grant your timely help to us who appeal to you in faith. Quickly make intercession; on our behalf make speedy supplication, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 6th Tone. Psalm 31.11,1.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse: Blessed are they whose transgressions have been forgiven.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Matthew 5:14-19

The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

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Saints and Feasts

Hlyfthrs
July 18

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the 630 Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches.

In the Slavic tradition, on this Sunday, the Fathers of the first six Ecumenical Councils are all commemorated.

Emilian
July 18

Holy Martyr Emilian

This Martyr was from Dorostolum in Thrace, the servant of a certain pagan in the days of Julian the Apostate (361-363). As a fervent Christian, Emilian abominated the error of the pagans, and one day entered the temple and broke all the idols with a hammer. Seeing that others were arrested and beaten for this, he gave himself up of his own accord. He was mercilessly whipped, then cast into a fire, in which he gave up his soul without his body suffering harm.

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Wisdom of the Fathers

"But whosoever shall do and teach," said He, "shall be called great." For not to ourselves alone, should we be profitable, but to others also; since neither is the reward as great for him who guides himself aright, as for one who with himself adds also another.
St. John Chrysostom
Homilies 15 and 16 on Matthew 5, 4th Century

Since he who cannot teach himself, yet attempts to set others right, will have many to ridicule him. Or rather such a one will have no power to teach at all, his actions uttering their voice against him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homilies 15 and 16 on Matthew 5, 4th Century

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News and Announcements

Memory Eternal for Bob Vogt

It is with sadness and heavy hearts yet with hope in the resurrection that we inform you that our friend, Parish Council President and long-time member of our community, Mr. Bob Vogt, fell asleep in the Lord in the early hours of Thursday morning. We extend our sincere condolences and prayers to his wife Tasia and the entire family. Bob's kindness, faith, devotion and generosity of time, treasure and his many talents will always be a true example for us all to follow.

The funeral services are as followed: Tuesday, July 20th Trisagion Prayers at 7pm. Funeral Service, July 21st at 11am, followed by internment at Rockville Cemetery in Fairfield. A Makaria reception will be held immediately after the internment at a nearby reception hall. Everyone is invited to come and honor the memory of Bob.


Gyro Feast & General Assembly

The Gyro Fest and General Assembly are currently postponed. Stay tuned for an updated date.


Choir Members wanted!

Fr. Ninos is currently looking for those who may be interested in joining the choir for Sts. Constantine and Helen. Members of the choir would sit in the front pews and lead the rest of the congregation in singing for Liturgy and other services. Please contact Fr. Ninos if you are interested!


Sunday Collection Offering

For many years, we used to pass around a tray for the Sunday collection offering. During the COVID restrictions, we stopped that practice as part of the guidelines that were given to us. However, this change was actually more appropriate from a spiritual perspective as only our worship experience should be the focus while inside the church. Instead of passing the tray again, we have now placed a small box in the narthex where you can make your Sunday offering, stewardship or other gifts when you enter or when you leave. Thank you and may God bless you for your generosity!


Candles and Offering

When we light a candle upon entering the church, we offer it with our heartfelt prayer to God for ourselves, family and friends. The wax represents our life that is passing away and the flame represents our soul which was illumined by the light of Christ through the Holy Spirit at our baptism. Lighting a candle signifies our commitment to following Christ until our death. 

There is a slot in the narthex table where you can deposit whatever donation you want to offer for the candles. These donations are one of the ways that help us sustain the parish expenses. If you don't have any cash with you this time, please take a candle regardless and offer something next time. Thank you and God bless you! 


Concerning the Antidoron

Please be careful when receiving the antidoron after Liturgy. It is holy bread that has been blessed upon the holy altar, so we would like to try our best to avoid dropping it or leaving crumbs to be stepped on.


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This Week's Events

  • Upcoming Events

    July 18 to August 1, 2021

    SUN
    MON
    TUE
    WED
    THU
    FRI
    SAT
    18
    8:30AM Orthros
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    5:00PM Great Vespers
    25
    8:30AM Orthros
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    26
    27
    St. Panteleimon
    8:30AM Orthros
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    28
    29
    30
    31
    5:00PM Great Vespers
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