Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2022-07-31
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
Entombment_joseph
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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 6th Tone

The angelic powers appeared at your tomb, the soldiers guarding it became as dead men, and Mary stood at your grave seeking, seeking your most pure body. But you made hell a captive; you were untouched by its might. You came to the virgin and granted life. O Lord, who rose from the dead, glory to you.

Apolytikion for Eudocimus of Cappadocia in the 4th Tone

The One that hath called thee from the earth to Heaven to dwell * preserveth thy body uncorrupted after thy death, O saintly Eudocimus; * for in living modestly and chastely, O blest one, * thou didst keep thy flesh free of all stain and defilement; * with boldness, therefore, pray unto Christ that we may all be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 7th Tone

You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, showing your disciples as much of your glory as they could bear, so that when they see you crucified they will know that you suffer freely, and they will tell all the world that you are truly the radiance of the Father.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 6th Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 15:1-7.

Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Gospel Reading

7th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:27-35

At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

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Saints and Feasts

Entombment_joseph
July 31

Joseph the Righteous of Arimathea

Saint Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent Jewish leader during the time of Jesus Christ. He is mentioned in the Gospels as being a rich man from Armiathea who was a secret disciple of Christ due to his status in the Sanhedrin. After the crucifixion and death of our Lord, Joseph approached Pontius Pilate out of piety and asked for the body of Jesus so that he might bury it honorably. He, together with Saint Nicodemus, removed the body of Christ from the cross in the presence of the Theotokos and the Myrrh-Bearing Women, wrapped it in a linen shroud, anointed it with spices, and laid it in a new tomb that he owned. This disciple later traveled the world proclaiming the Gospel until he reposed in peace in England. The Church commemorates him individually on July 31st and along with the Myrrh-Bearing Women and Nicodemus on the 3rd Sunday of Pascha (the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-Bearers).

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Wisdom of the Fathers

He puts an end to the woman's fear ... He sets her right, in respect of her thinking to be hid ... He exhibits her faith to all, so as to provoke the rest also to emulation ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 31 on Matthew 9, 4th Century

And then at last He for His part lays His hand upon them, saying, "According to your faith be it unto you." And this He does to confirm their faith, and to show that they are participators in the good work ...
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 32 on Matthew 9, 4th Century

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News and Announcements

Prayer List - Email StsCaH@gmail.com to add

Please keep in your prayers the servants of God: Zander, Rommel, Stephanie, Samir, Demetria, Alina, Katerina, Roula, Harriet, Pauline, Dale, Russell, George, Andreas, Nitsa, Rosa, Alberto, Brandon, Georgia Nickolatos, Brandon, Anastasia, George, Stefanos, Pat, Bill, Michael, Dorothy, Irvin, Amy, Phil Thomas, Evangelos, Magda, Sophia, Deme, Mary and Arnie

 

Church Clean-up Crew & Hall Helpers

We are putting together a crew to help around the parish on Sundays. We hope to get several volunteers to rotate throughout the weeks. Duties would include: Sweeping after Liturgy, changing the candles, take out the trash, helping count the money with a Parish Council member, clean up after the Fellowship meal, and so forth. 

If you're interested in helping in these essential, but often forgotten tasks, please reach out!


New Products in the Bookstore!

We recently partnered with a local small business soap maker and will be carrying their locally crafted all-natural soaps in the bookstore. There are a variety of scents and each are a 6oz bar, so they are pretty big bars as well. In addition, we are now also carrying from the Calistoga monastery, local honey and their bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar of a variety of different flavors and their homemade granola and Coffee from the Vashon Island Monks.

We hope to continue to stock a larger and larger variety. If you have any suggestions of things to add to our shelves, feel free to message StsCaHBookstore@gmail.com


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This Week's Events

  • Upcoming Events

    July 31 to August 15, 2022

    SUN
    MON
    TUE
    WED
    THU
    FRI
    SAT
    31
    8:30AM Matins
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    1
    AUG
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    2
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    3
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    4
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    5
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    6
    Transfiguration of the Lord
    8:00AM Matins
    9:00AM Divine Liturgy
    4:00PM Chant Practice
    5:00PM Great Vespers
    7
    8:30AM Matins
    10:00AM Divine Liturgy
    8
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    9
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    10
    St. Laurence, Archdeacon of Rome
    8:30AM 1st & 3rd Hours
    9:00AM Divine Liturgy
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    11
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    12
    8:45AM Daily Matins
    5:00PM Paraklesis
    13
    4:00PM Chant Practice
    5:00PM Great Vespers
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