Orthros at 8:15 am & Divine Liturgy at 9:30am
Weekday Orthros and Liturgies begin at 8am
Saturday 11/9
Nektarius the Wonderworker, Metropolitan of Pentapolis +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:00am
SACRAMENT of Baptism :On Saturday, November 9th at 11am the daughter of Christopher and Lynn (Eastlake) Geannakopoulos will be Baptized & Chrismated according to the rights of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Godmother will be Katrina Prisco.
Sunday 11/10
8TH Sunday of Luke |+Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am
Artoclasia Service
An Artoclasia Serviceis offered today for our Philoptochos members whose mission is to promote charitable, benevolent, and philanthropic outreach, to preserve the sanctity of life and family, and to perpetuate and promote our Orthodox faith and traditions.
An Artoclasia Service is also offered by Christos & Labrini Paxos for the health and wellbeing of the members in their family.
Wednesday11/13
+St John Chrysostom +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:00am
Memorial Service for the repose of the souls of: +Elias, +Barbara, +Norma, +John, +Nikolaos, and + Maria, beloved friends ofSultana Seretis’ family.
Thursday 11/14
+Philip the Apostle +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:00am
Saturday 11/16
+St Matthew the Apostle +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:00am
SACRAMENT of Baptism :
On Saturday, November 16th at 11:30am the son of Stephen and Samantha (Rose) Moshenwill be Baptized & Chrismated according to the rights of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Godfather will be Tyler Mornhineway.
On Saturday, November 16th at 1:00pm the son of Christopher and Lindsay (Hefferon) Gornallwill be Baptized & Chrismated according to the rights of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Godfather will be Michael Hefferon.
Sunday 11/17
9TH Sunday of Luke |+Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am
Participation in services is also available via livestream - go to: Home | St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church (orthodoxws.com) and choose LIVESTREAM on the Menu bar
Prayers/Liturgy can always be found at: https://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/dcs.html
Online Giving System: Website: https://www.standrewgonj.org/ and choose PayPal / online WeShare | Consider making your donations using our New Abundant App
Sunday 11/10
@11:45am HAS “FALL INTO READING” Ages 5-12 in Room 103
@11:45 am DOP Meeting in Room 102
@2pm GOYA GAMES in our GYM - Randolph vs Holmdel
COFFEE HOUR on Sunday is hosted by PTA in the Social Hall
Bagels are donated by Jimmy Psaras of ALFA BAGELS on Route 10 in Randolph, NJ
Coffee is donated by Aristotle Leontopoulos of Coffee Associates in Edgewater, NJ
Coffee Hour Hosts : 11/17 DOP, 11/24 GOYA, 12/1 Philoptochos , 12/8 PTA, 12/15, DOP
Sunday School Registration Link: https://forms.gle/qwhhXQoF2e8wqxji7
All questions should be directed to [email protected]
GOYA Registration Link: St. Andrew GOYA Registration 2024-2025
You must be 12 years old by October 1st and in 7th Grade
GREEK DANCE
1st day Thursday September 19
1st Session: Group 1 @ 6:30pm | Group 2 @7:15 pm | GOYA @8:00pm
Bible Study :Join us for Bible Study in Fr. John’s Office on Thursdays at 7:00pm |on November 7 & 14
Registration Forms contact the Church office [email protected]
HOPE & JOY is a Youth Group
for children in K-6th grades.
We have great news! Stala Jelis will be joining with Jenny Manis to organize this beautiful program. Stala will plan the HOPE events (grades k-2) and Jenny will plan the JOY events (grades 3-6), but we will have plenty of events together where it makes sense. We also look to the JOY children to help with some HOPE events as an opportunity to be of service to others. If your child is in 3rd grade, they can be in either group, but again, many events will be combined when appropriate. Questions? please email us. [email protected]
Stewardship 2024
As we move toward becoming a percentage giving community, we are adopting a rounding up approach to giving.
We ask you to join the Parish Council and Stewardship Ministry who have pledged to give a percentage of their income.
Please join us in this commitment to achieve our parish vision.
To learn more about what this means, click on - https://standrewgonj.org/stewardship/#round-u p or speak to a member of the Parish Council or the Stewardship Ministry.
If you are not already a member of Saint Andrew, please consider a pledge starting out at 1% of your income.
In gratitude for God’s Blessings, please click on and fill in the 2024 Stewardship Pledge. please send to the church office
phishing / CON ARTISTS TEXTS/EMAILS : Someone is sending out texts and emails asking for assistance and signing Fr John’s name. This is not Fr John’s cell number or email address. His cell number is 973-219-2941, his email is [email protected] . Please report the text/email as junk and delete and block the sender. We contacted the FBI about this problem and was informed that they do not take a case like this. We hope no one is fooled by these criminals. Please tell your friends. Fr will never reach out to anyone asking for “assistance” in this way. Thank you for your patience and understanding. God Bless!
THE LORD'S VOICE
November 10, 2024: 8th Sunday of Luke
WE AND OTHERS
Man’s earthly life is a complete acceptance of God's love, which must be offered unceasingly to others. This is also the theme of the Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable does not answer the question of who our neighbor is, but rather defines how each of us can become a neighbor to others, because everyone else is our neighbor, our brother.
Sterile formalism
The occasion for the parable is a lawyer asking about eternal life. He believed he could inherit eternal life, the Kingdom of God, by mechanically implementing the commandments.
The traveler in the parable fell into a trap of robbers, who left him half-dead from the abuse after taking everything. A priest of the Mosaic Law and the Temple of Solomon suddenly appeared. He saw the seriously injured man and walked away without helping. Then came a Levite, another servant of the Law and the Temple, who also saw the gravely injured man, and passed by, continuing his way. Both the priest and the Levite chose "sacrifice" and "burnt offerings," which means a sterile formalism, since the Law forbade the temple servants to come into contact with dead bodies, so as to not be defiled and be “pure” to fulfill their duties.
The one who offers love
Then, the third traveler, a Samaritan, who was a national and religious enemy of the Israelites saw the injured man and despite the fact that he was a Jew, he did not pass by him. He approached him, cleaned his wounds with oil and wine, bandaged them, placed him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, where he took care of the condition of the wounded man.
When the Lord asked the lawyer which of the three became a neighbor to the unfortunate man who fell victim to the thieves, the lawyer answered: "The one who showed love, interest, and affection for his suffering brother."
God's love
Christ demonstrated this love of God the Father in Himself, down to the point of enduring the cross and death for the salvation of the world. Thus, we also have the symbolic interpretation of the parable: the Good Samaritan is Christ. He who fell into the trap of the thieves is the person who is completely torn apart by sin, which leaves him "half-dead." The inn is the Church, our ark of salvation and healing. The oil and wine are the sacraments of the Church. The two denarii paid by the Good Samaritan are the Old and New Testaments. The Good Samaritan, Jesus Christ, will come again in His Second and glorious Coming to judge the living and the dead.
In an era of individualism, prevailing dehumanization, and indifference, love remains the sole criterion for our authenticity as Orthodox Christians and our entry into the Kingdom of God. Therefore, love is the essence of life and the foundation of the Church, which Saint Ignatius the God-Bearer describes as a unity of faith and love. Faith and hope teach man to scorn material goods. Whereas love unites the soul with God's virtues, seeking the Invisible through the noetic sense, as taught by St. Diadochos of Photiki.
God's love will save the world. However, this love needs to be expressed. As Christians, we are called to express it daily, to radiate it, to make it a message and a hope. This means that our turning toward others cannot be just words, but also actions. It should be a movement that embraces the entire human being. It includes understanding in daily life, acceptance, reconciliation, courtesy, kindness, reciprocity, meekness, and love.
† F. A.
Monday 11/11
@6pm Stewardship Meeting
@7:30PM Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday 11/12
@6:30 pm GOYA Volleyball
Wednesday11/13 St John Chrysostom +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:00am
@11amKnitting Crocheting & Pillow Ministry Meet
@6:00pm GOYA Basketball
Thursday 11/14 +Philip the Apostle +Orthros @8:00am & Divine Liturgy @9:00am
GOYA Panera Fundraiser | Ledgewood | Dance Costumes | Promo Code FUND4U online checkout 4-8p
@4:30 PM Hellenic Afternoon School
Greek Dance:@6:30 Group 1| @7:15pm Group 2 | @8pm GOYA
Thanksgiving food drive last day to bring in your food donations
@7pm Bible Study
Friday 11/15
Advent Lent begins
@10:30am Bible Q & A | also on: Dec 6, 13 & 20
@6:30pm Trivia & Magic Night
Saturday 11/16 +St Matthew the Apostle +Orthros @8:00am & Divine Liturgy @9:00am
Sunday 11/17
9TH Sunday of Luke |+Orthros @8:15am & Divine Liturgy @9:30am
Memorial Service: +Nicholas A Staikos, +Demetrios Dikeos, +Acimo Taxiarchou
@11:30am Choir Rehearsals in Church
Tuesday 11/19
@6:30 pm GOYA Volleyball
Wednesday11/20
@11amKnitting Crocheting & Pillow Ministry Meet
@6:00pm GOYA Basketball
Thursday 11/21
Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple +Orthros & Divine Liturgy @8:00am
@11:30am Agape Luncheon
@4:30 PM Hellenic Afternoon School
Greek Dance @6:30 Group 1| @7:15pm Group 2 | @8pm GOYA
Great Hierarchical Vespers | Holy Trinity 250 Gallows Hills Road Westfield NJ @6pm
Friday 11/22
St. Iakovos | Hierarchical DL Metropolis of NJ 215 E. Grove St Westfield, @9am
Trivia Night 11-15-2024 to purchase tickets click here https://magicandtrivianight.rsvpify.com
GOYA Panera Fundraiser | Ledgewood | Dance Costumes | Promo Code FUND4U online checkout 4-8p
Please bring to church no later than November 14, 2024. Food Drive is to benefit the Inter-Faith Food Pantry of Morris County and other area food pantries. Sponsored by Philoptochos
Turkey crafternoon Sunday Nov 17
Feastday Celebrations of St. Iakovos of Evia, the New Patron Saint of our sacred Metropolis, which will be taking place with Great Vespers on Nov. 21st at Holy Trinity in Westfield, NJ and Divine Liturgy on Nov. 22nd at the Metropolis Headquarters:
November 29 & 30: Feast Day celebrations of our Patron Saint, Andrew the First Called Apostle, and the ARCHPASTORAL VISIT OF HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN APOSTLOS OF NEW JERSEY.
THE FAITH WORKS MINISTRY! starting December 1st If you are interested in volunteering for Faith Works / Career Counseling or to take advantage of its valuable services ..
Saint Andrew Christmas Card! Names for the List and Entries for Christmas Card are due December 8
drop off Oct 15-Dec 6
FONI KYRIOU- IN GREEK -11-10-24
Prayer for a Sick Person:
Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal (me) Your servant from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant (me) patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray that You heal (me) as Your servant and grant (me) the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Please keep these names in your prayers
Maroulia, Areti, Niko, Romeo, Sophia, Zoe, Jean, Anna, Demetrios, Vasilios, Cynthia, Irene, Jackellyn, Joan, Maria, Panagoula, Sophia, Michael, Leonidas, Eleni, Barbara, Andrew, Effie, Hariklia, Alexandra, Angeliki, Mary, Demetrios, Stanley, Gianna, Konstantinos, Fr. George, Eftihia, Meropi, Thomas, Fotios, Alexandros, George, Johnathan, Christopher, Irene, Ioannis, Maria, Samuel, Peter, Vasilios, Demetrios, Despina, Natalia, Eleni, Demetrios, Roye, Elias, Eleana, Ellen, Andrew, Eleni, Denise, Eleni, Robert, Maria, Michael, Pamela, Angeliki, Theodoros, Constantinos, Andrew, Chari, Penelope…
If you would like us to remember you or your loved one in our prayers, please contact the office. 973-584-0388 or send us an email to [email protected]
Names will be kept on this list for approximately three months. Please resubmit Names if needed. Fr. John will pray for the Names above during the PROSKOMIDI “Offering of gifts” during the first part of the Divine Liturgy when our priest prepares the mystical gifts of bread and wine. Please keep these names in your prayers as well.
Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.
Ninth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 20:19-31
Οὔσης ὀψίας τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῇ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων, καὶ τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων ὅπου ἦσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ συνηγμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ· ἐχάρησαν οὖν οἱ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν Κύριον. Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν, καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέ με ὁ πατήρ, κᾀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς. Καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησε καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον. Ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἀφιένται αὐτοῖς, ἄν τινων κρατῆτε, κεκράτηνται. Θωμᾶς δέ, εἷς ἐκ τῶν δώδεκα, ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος, οὐκ ἦν μετʼ αὐτῶν ὅτε ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς· ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ οἱ ἄλλοι μαθηταί· Ἑωράκαμεν τὸν Κύριον. Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἐὰν μὴ ἴδω ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὸν δάκτυλόν μου εἰς τὸν τύπον τῶν ἥλων, καὶ βάλω τὴν χεῖρά μου εἰς τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοῦ, οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω. Καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας ὀκτὼ πάλιν ἦσαν ἔσω οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ Θωμᾶς μετʼ αὐτῶν. Ἔρχεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων, καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ μέσον καὶ εἶπεν· Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν. Εἶτα λέγει τῷ Θωμᾶ· φέρε τὸν δάκτυλόν σου ᾧδε, καὶ ἴδε τὰς χεῖράς μου. καὶ φέρε τὴν χεῖρά σου καὶ βάλε εἰς τὴν πλευράν μου, καὶ μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος ἀλλὰ πιστός. Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ Θωμᾶς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὅτι ἑώρακάς με πεπίστευκας, μακάριοι οἱ μὴ ἰδόντες, καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Πολλὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐνώπιον τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ἃ οὐκ ἔστιν γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ· ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες, ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.
Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
Προκείμενον. Third Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 1:11-19.
Ἀδελφοί, γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτό, οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν· καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων. Ὅτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι· οὐδὲ ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν, καὶ πάλιν ὑπέστρεψα εἰς Δαμασκόν. Ἔπειτα μετὰ ἔτη τρία ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Πέτρον, καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε. Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου.
8th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 10:25-37
At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?" And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live."
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
8th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 10:25-37
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, νομικός τις ἀνέστη ἐκπειράζων αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· διδάσκαλε, τί ποιήσας ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσω; ὁ δὲ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· ἐν τῷ νόμῳ τί γέγραπται; πῶς ἀναγινώσκεις; ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· ἀγαπήσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ἰσχύος σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας σου, καὶ τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν· εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ· ὀρθῶς ἀπεκρίθης· τοῦτο ποίει καὶ ζήσῃ. ὁ δὲ θέλων δικαιοῦν ἑαυτὸν εἶπε πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν· καὶ τίς ἐστί μου πλησίον; ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· ἄνθρωπός τις κατέβαινεν ἀπὸ ῾Ιερουσαλὴμ εἰς ῾Ιεριχώ, καὶ λῃσταῖς περιέπεσεν· οἳ καὶ ἐκδύσαντες αὐτὸν καὶ πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες ἀπῆλθον ἀφέντες ἡμιθανῆ τυγχάνοντα. κατὰ συγκυρίαν δὲ ἱερεύς τις κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἀντιπαρῆλθεν. ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Λευΐτης γενόμενος κατὰ τὸν τόπον, ἐλθὼν καὶ ἰδὼν ἀντιπαρῆλθε. Σαμαρείτης δέ τις ὁδεύων ἦλθε κατ᾿ αὐτόν, καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ προσελθὼν κατέδησε τὰ τραύματα αὐτοῦ ἐπιχέων ἔλαιον καὶ οἶνον, ἐπιβιβάσας δὲ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ἴδιον κτῆνος ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς πανδοχεῖον καὶ ἐπεμελήθη αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν αὔριον ἐξελθών, ἐκβαλὼν δύο δηνάρια ἔδωκε τῷ πανδοχεῖ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιμελήθητι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὅ τι ἂν προσδαπανήσῃς, ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ἐπανέρχεσθαί με ἀποδώσω σοι. τίς οὖν τούτων τῶν τριῶν πλησίον δοκεῖ σοι γεγονέναι τοῦ ἐμπεσόντος εἰς τοὺς λῃστάς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὁ ποιήσας τὸ ἔλεος μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· πορεύου καὶ σὺ ποίει ὁμοίως.
Of these Saints, Olympas and Rodion became disciples of Peter, the chief Apostle, and came to Rome, where they were beheaded by Nero. The others reposed in peace, having become bishops: Sosipater of Iconium, Quartus of Beirut, and Erastus of Paneas, or Paneias (which was also called Caesarea of Philippi); Saint Erastus had been chamberlain of the city of Corinth (Rom.16:23).
Saint Orestes was from Tyana of Cappadocia. During the persecution of Diocletian, this Martyr's ankles were pierced with long nails; being bound to a wild horse and violently dragged by it, he gave up his spirit in the year 289.
This greatest and most beloved of all Christian orators was born in Antioch the Great in the year 344 or 347; his pious parents were called Secundus and Anthusa. After his mother was widowed at the age of twenty, she devoted herself to bringing up John and his elder sister in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. John received his literary training under Anthragathius the philosopher, and Libanius the sophist, who was the greatest Greek scholar and rhetorician of his day. Libanius was a pagan, and when asked before his death whom he wished to have for his successor, he said, "John, had not the Christians stolen him from us." With such a training, and with such gifts as he had by nature, John had before him a brilliant career as a rhetorician. But through the good example of his godly mother Anthusa and of the holy Bishop Meletius of Antioch (see Feb. 12), by whom he was ordained reader about the year 370, he chose instead to dedicate himself to God. From the years 374 to 381 he lived the monastic life in the hermitages that were near Antioch. His extreme asceticism undermined his health, compelling him to return to Antioch, where Saint Meletius ordained him deacon about the year 381. Saint Meletius was called to Constantinople later that year to preside over the Second Ecumenical Council, during which he fell asleep in the Lord. In 386 Bishop Flavian ordained John presbyter of the Church of Antioch. Upon his elevation to the priesthood his career as a public preacher began, and his exceptional oratorical gifts were made manifest through his many sermons and commentaries. They are distinguished by their eloquence and the remarkable ease with which rich imagery and scriptural allusions are multiplied; by their depth of insight into the meaning of Scripture and the workings of God's providence; and, not least of all, by their earnestness and moral force, which issue from the heart of a blameless and guileless man who lived first what he preached to others. Because of his fame, he was chosen to succeed Saint Nectarius as Patriarch of Constantinople. He was taken away by stealth, to avoid the opposition of the people, and consecrated Patriarch of Constantinople on February 28, 398, by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who was to prove his mortal enemy.
At that time the Emperor of the East was Arcadius, who had had Saint Arsenius the Great as his tutor (see May 8); Arcadius was a man of weak character, and much under the influence of his wife Eudoxia. The zealous and upright Chrysostom's unsparing censures of the lax morals in the imperial city stung the vain Eudoxia; through Theophilus' plottings and her collaboration, Saint John was banished to Pontus in 403. The people were in an uproar, and the following night an earthquake shook the city; this so frightened the Empress Eudoxia that she begged Arcadius to call Chrysostom back. While his return was triumphant, his reconciliation with the Empress did not last long. When she had a silver statue of herself erected in the forum before the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Saint Sophia) in September of 403, and had it dedicated with much unseemly revelry, Saint John thundered against her, and she could not forgive him. In June of 404 he was exiled to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia. From here he exchanged letters with Pope Innocent of Rome, who sent bishops and priests to Constantinople requesting that a council be held. Saint John's enemies, dreading his return, prevailed upon the Emperor to see an insult in this, and had John taken to a more remote place of banishment called Pityus near the Caucasus. The journey was filled with bitter sufferings for the aged bishop, both because of the harshness of the elements and the cruelty of one of his 310 guards. He did not reach Pityus, but gave up his soul to the Lord near Comana in Pontus, at the chapel of the Martyr Basiliscus (see May 22), who had appeared to him shortly before, foretelling the day of his death, which came to pass on September 14, 407. His last words were "Glory be to God for all things." His holy relics were brought from Comana to Constantinople thirty-one years later by the Emperor Theodosius the Younger and Saint Pulcheria his sister, the children of Arcadius and Eudoxia, with fervent supplications that the sin of their parents against him be forgiven; this return of his holy relics is celebrated on January 27.
Saint John was surnamed Chrysostom ("Golden-mouth") because of his eloquence. He made exhaustive commentaries on the divine Scriptures and was the author of more works than any other Church Father, leaving us complete commentaries on the Book of Genesis, the Gospels of Saints Matthew and John, the Acts, and all the Epistles of Saint Paul. His extant works are 1,447 sermons and 240 epistles. Twenty-two teachers of the Church have written homilies of praise in his honour. Besides his feasts today and on January 27, he is celebrated as one of the Three Hierarchs on January 30, together with Saint Basil the Great and Saint Gregory the Theologian.
It should be noted that, because September 14 is the Exaltation of the Cross, the Saint's memory has been transferred to this day.
This Apostle, one of the Twelve, was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was a compatriot of Andrew and Peter. He was instructed in the teachings of the Law, and devoted himself to the study of the prophetic books. Therefore, when the Lord Jesus called him to the dignity of apostleship, he immediately sought out and found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1.45). Having preached Jesus the God-man throughout many parts of Asia Minor, and having suffered many things for His Name's sake, he was finally crucified upside down in Hierapolis of Phrygia.
This Apostle, who was also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and had Galilee as his homeland. A publican before being called by Christ, he became one of the Twelve Apostles, and an Evangelist. While still in Palestine, he wrote his Gospel first in Hebrew, being also the first of all to write the Gospel. When he is depicted in icons, there is portrayed next to him the likeness of a man, one of the symbolic living creatures mentioned by Ezekiel (1.10), which, as Saint Irenaeus writes, is a symbol of our Saviour's Incarnation.
Saint Gregory was born in Neocaesarea of Pontus to parents who were not Christians. He studied in Athens, in Alexandria, in Beirut, and finally for five years in Caesarea of Palestine under Origen, by whom he was also instructed in the Faith of Christ. Then, in the year 240, he became bishop of his own city, wherein he found only seventeen Christians. By the time the Saint reposed about the year 265, there were only seventeen unbelievers left there. Virtually the whole duration of his episcopacy was a time of continual, marvellous wonders worked by him. Because of this, he received the surname "Wonderworker"; even the enemies of the truth called him a second Moses (see Saint Basil the Great's On the Holy Spirit, ch. 29).
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Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Greek Standard Text