"To the Theotokos, let us run now most fervently,

As sinners and lowly ones, Let us fall down in repentance,

Crying from the depths of our soul: Lady, come and help us,

Have compassion upon us; Hasten now for we are lost in the host of our errors;

Do not turn your servants away, For you alone are a hope to us."

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

 August is the month that Orthodox Christians throughout the whole world cherish, extol and supplicate our Dear Lady (Despina), The Mother of God (Μήτερ του Θεού) Panagia (Παναγια / All Holy), Theotokos (God bearer), The Queen of All (Παντάνασσα), to Whom we offer our prayers, hymns and supplications for healing, protection and salvation, throughout the first 15 days of August.

 Is there a dogmatic, Biblical, hagiographical and historical foundation for doing this; or as some have claimed, did such practices simply develop from a "cult of Mariology", as a kind of Christian idolatry, by the ignorant masses across the centuries? Quite to the contrary!

 Let's review the Biblical, hymnological, historical, and hagiographical precedents that undergird our Orthodox Christian understanding:

 The special role of Mary is prophesied in the divine proclamation of the Holy Prophet Isaiah,

 "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." 7:14

 The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 1 (verses 46-55), records the lyrics of the "Song of Mary", that she extemporaneously offered unto the Lord, after informing Her cousin Elizabeth (John The Baptist's mother) of the glad tidings she had received through the Archangel Gabriel's Annunciation, wherein the Archangel addressed Her with the words, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!", as Mary was spinning the purple thread by the well at Her (Joseph's) home in Nazareth (Galilee).

 Elizabeth's reaction to the news of Mary's visitation by Archangel Gabriel was also extraordinary,  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe (the fetus, John the Baptist) leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told (to) her from the Lord." Luke 1:42-45

 Immediately, Mary responded to Elizabeth by declaring herself to be "Blessed among women", throughout all of the human generations to come:

 "And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His Maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call Me Blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And Holy is His Name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.”

 As the Holy Scriptures document in the above Gospel passages, it was the infant John the Baptist, and Elizabeth, John's Holy Mother who was carrying Him, who were the first persons to recognize and proclaim the unique Holiness of The Mother of God, following Mary's address by Archangel Gabriel. This was no random "cult of Mary" that ensued!

 It is also recorded by St. Luke the Evangelist, in His Book of the Acts of the Apostles, that Mary (Παναγία) remained with the Holy Apostles for the Ascension of Jesus Christ (i.e. occurring on the 40th day after the Resurrection), and then again in the Upper Room with them until the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday (i.e. the 50th Day):

 "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."  Acts 1:12-14

So, Mary, together with the Holy Apostles, obediently waited as they were commanded by Jesus, for the coming of the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of "The promise of the Father". (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; 2:33)

 As a contemporary of the Holy Apostle Paul, St. Dionysios (the 1st Bishop of Athens) described his own remarkable personal encounter with the Mother of God as follows:

 "During the lifetime of the Mother of God, who is said to have lived until the age of 59yrs old, Saint Dionysius journeyed from Athens to Jerusalem to meet Panagia; and was present during Her Holy Dormition. St. Dionysius testified to his teacher the Apostle Paul:

 “I witness by God, that besides the very God Himself, there is nothing else filled with such divine power and grace. No one can fully comprehend what I saw. I confess before God: when I was with John, who shone among the Apostles like the sun in the sky, when I was brought before the countenance of the Most Holy Virgin, I experienced an inexpressible sensation. Before me gleamed a sort of divine radiance which transfixed my spirit. I perceived the fragrance of indescribable aromas and was filled with such delight that my very body became faint, and my spirit could hardly endure these signs and marks of eternal majesty and heavenly power. The grace from her overwhelmed my heart and shook my very spirit. If I did not have in mind your instruction, I should have mistaken Her for the very God. It is impossible to stand before greater blessedness than this which I beheld.” – Personal testimony of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, 1st Bishop of Athens (Acts 17:34), martyred 96 AD

 Therefore, we should not be surprised to learn, oldest known hymn to Mary, "Beneath thy Protection..." dates prior to the middle of the 3rd Century AD (<250's) and reads as follows, 

"Beneath thy compassion,

We take refuge, O Theotokos [God-bearer]:

do not despise our petitions in time of trouble:

but rescue us from dangers,

only pure one, only blessed one."  and in Greek

 "Ὑπὸ τὴν σὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν,

καταφεύγομεν, Θεοτόκε.

Τὰς ἡμῶν ἱκεσίας,

μὴ παρίδῃς ἐν περιστάσει,

ἀλλ᾽ ἐκ κινδύνων λύτρωσαι ἡμᾶς,

μόνη Ἁγνή, μόνη εὐλογημένη."

As Orthodox Christians it is the last hymn we chant as the last dismissal hymn at the conclusion of the daily vespers during Great and Holy Lent, so it is still actively used.

 May we therefore, honor "The Theotokos", the theological title annunciated and codified by the 3rd Ecumenical Council (Synod of Ephesus, 431 AD).

 Bearing in mind the great love that was expressed by Christ on the Cross for the care and protection of His Holy Mother through His command to St. John the Apostle, Divine Evangelist and Theologian by saying,

 "When Jesus therefore saw His mother (Mary), and the disciple whom He loved (John) standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home." John 19:26-27

...and knowing that the honor Christ expressed for His Holy Mother, was in fulfillment of the expectations of The Divine Logos (Jesus Christ) expressed to Moses on Mt. Sinai when He gave Him the 10 Commandments, more specifically, of the Fifth (5th) Commandment of God to, "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Matthew 15:4; Exodus 20:12; and Deuteronomy 5:16)

 Let us Honor and Praise The All Holy Theotokos. Amen

 Respectfully,

Fr. Philemon

^*67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”   ⁶⁸ But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:67-69 (NKJV)

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August 27, 2023

12th Sunday of Matthew

 Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-17

Gospel: Matthew 19:16-26 Page 83

Memorials: Georgia Marinis ~ 40 Day

Mary Burpulis ~ 1 Year

Denise Soula Tsakiris  ~ 2 Year

Mallis Family ~ Nick 1 Year, James 2 Year,

Loula 19 Year, Demetrios 75 Year

NARTHEX DUTY TEAM:  Group 2

TODAY’S FELLOWSHIP IS OFFERED BY: No Coffee Hour -

Ministry Coffee Hours will resume in September.

THIS WEEK AT HOLY TRINITY:

Sunday, August 27

12th Sunday of Matthew

9:00am Orthros / 10am Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, August 29

Beheading of John the Baptist

9:00am Orthros / 10am Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, August 30

12pm Spiritual Pearls Bible Study  ~ St. Amphilochios

12pm Philoptochos Serving at Emmanuel Dining Room

Friday, September 1

Beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year

9:00am Orthros / 10am Divine Liturgy / Agiasmos

Sunday, September 3

13th Sunday of Matthew

9:00am Orthros / 10am Divine Liturgy

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A GIANT THANK YOU

to those who came and volunteered at the Festival.

To follow the service via the GOA Digital Chant Stand

type in the link below and click the date of the service.

https://dcs.goarch.org/goa/dcs/dcs.html

Welcome   

The Holy Trinity Family welcomes all visitors. We hope that you enjoyed the Divine Service of the Church of the Book of Acts. You participated in the most ancient Christian Service written by Saint John Chrysostomos- the Golden Mouth. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is distributed ONLY to those Baptized and/or Chrismated Orthodox Christians who have prepared according to our Sacred Tradition. We invite everyone to come forward at the end of the Divine Liturgy to receive the blessed bread. If you have any questions about the Orthodox Church or would like to discover how to join this Ancient Christian Faith please see the priest after the service or call the church office for an appointment 302-654-4446. We thank you and may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and yours abundantly always.  

Hymns for Sunday 

Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον. Ἦχος γʹ

Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος· ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον· πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο· ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐῤῥύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Resurrectional Apolytikion. Mode 3.

Let the heavens be glad. Let the earth rejoice exceedingly. For the Lord has shown strength with his arm. He trampled death by death. He became the first-born of the dead. Out of the belly of Hades, He has rescued us, and to the world He has granted the great mercy.

Ἦχος πλ. δʹ.

Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ πανσόφους τοὺς ἁλιεῖς ἀναδείξας, καταπέμψας αὐτοῖς τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην σαγηνεύσας, φιλάνθρωπε, δόξα σοι.

Mode pl. 4.

O Blessed are You, O Christ our God, who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them, made the fishermen wise, and through them illumined the world and to you the universe was ever drawn – all Glory to you O Lord.

Κοντάκιον. Ἦχος δʹ.

Ἰωακεὶμ καὶ Ἄννα ὀνειδισμοῦ ἀτεκνίας, καὶ Ἀδὰμ καὶ Εὔα, ἐκ τῆς φθορᾶς τοῦ θανάτου, ἠλευθερώθησαν, Ἄχραντε, ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ γεννήσει σου· αὐτὴν ἑορτάζει καὶ ὁ λαός σου, ἐνοχῆς τῶν πταισμάτων, λυτρωθεὶς ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει τὴν Θεοτόκον, καὶ τροφὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν.

Kontakion. Mode 4.

Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility's stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality's ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, "The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life."

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Our Lord Jesus Christ came in to the world that He might restore our humanity by filling it with the Divine and life-giving Holy Spirit. When this happens, we become a new creation in Christ overflowing with abundant life. All of us are called to participate in this Divine way of being. 

Although Holy Trintiy has a vibrant history extending over 85 years, we are continually gaining new families and new parish members through marriages, childbirths, conversions from non-Christian religions and by people who are embracing the Orthodox Chrisitan way of life.

If you or someone you may know are desiring to join our Church, please know that Fr. Philemon has an on-going process for welcoming, educating and recieving such candidates into our Holy Trinity Parish Family.

We ask that all of our members prayerfully reflect on who we have the opportunity to be welcoming here at Holy Trinity, so that you might share that information with Fr. Philemon. He may be reached directly on his cell phone (239) 963-7558 or by email at [email protected].

May the Lord bless,

The Outreach & Evangleism Ministry

Matthew 28: 18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Please note:

Fr. Philemon has been visiting homes and sharing meals with various families in the community to get to know them on a more personal level. He would love to come and visit with you, especially those with youth, to bless your home, meet everyone in your family and strive to know you & your children better! If you would like to have a pastoral visit with your family, please call the church office to set up a time.

If you have a pastoral emergency please call the

Church office @ 302.654.4446

Fr Philemon @ 239.963.7558, or

Stephen Karakasidis @ 302.383.0476