Saints and Feasts

October 26

Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer & Great Martyr of Thessaloniki

Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, aquaintance of Demetrius', came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetrius, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrius was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword.

October 27

Nestor the Martyr of Thessaloniki

As mentioned in the account concerning Saint Demetrius (October 26), this Saint contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290.

October 28

Holy Protection of the Theotokos

The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the tenth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ's sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this we keep a yearly feast of gratitude, imploring our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.

The Feast is celebrated on October 1. In the 1950s, the Church of Greece began to observe the Feast on October 28.

October 29

Anastasia the Martyr of Rome

Saint Anastasia, who was young in age and lived in a convent, was seized by the impious. Confessing Christ openly and with boldness and enduring manifold torments, she was beheaded in the year 256, during the reign of Valerian.

October 30

Zenobios & Zenobia the Martyrs

These Saints were from Aegae in Cilicia, brought up in piety by their parents. Zenobius was a physician, and healed many freely by the power of God; because of his virtue he was consecrated Bishop of Aegae. With his sister he was taken by Lysias the Governor, and after many tortures they were beheaded, about the year 290, during the reign of Diocletian.

October 31

Stachys, Andrew, Amplias, Apelles, Urban, Aristobulus & Narcissus of the 70

Of these holy Apostles, Stachys became the first Bishop of Byzantium, consecrated by the Apostle Andrew. Having shepherded his people for sixteen years, he reposed in the Lord. As for the others, each one shone forth in the episcopal see appointed to him: Apelles, Bishop of Heraclea; Amplias, Bishop of Odyssopolis; Urban, Bishop of Macedonia; Narcissus, Bishop of Athens; and Aristobulus, Bishop of Britain.

November 01

Cosmas and Damianos the Holy Unmercenaries and their mother Theodota

These Saints were from Asia (that is, Asia Minor). After the death of their father, their Christ-loving mother Theodota reared them in piety and in all manner of virtue, and had them instructed in every science, especially that of medicine. This became their vocation, and they went about healing every illness and malady, bestowing healing freely on both men and beasts alike; because of this, they are called "Unmercenaries." And thus, having completed the course of their life, they reposed in peace.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 15.3,8.
Among the saints who are in his land, the Lord has been wondrous.
Verse: I see the Lord before me continually.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 12:27-31; 13:1-8.

Brethren, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Gospel Reading

5th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 16:19-31

The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

Apolytikion for Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian in the Third Mode

O Holy Unmercenaries and wonderworkers, visit our infirmities; freely ye received, freely give to us.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

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

Wisdom of the Fathers

The things that have come into being have received from the Creator their proper place, their beginning and, in some cases, their end. But there is no boundary to virtue. The psalmist says, 'I have seen the end the end of all perfection, but Your commandment is very broad and is without limit' (Ps. 118:96). Now if it is true...that love never fails (I Cor. 13:8),... then love has no boundary, and both in the present age and in the future age we will never cease to progress in it, as we add light to light.

St. John Climacus

Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 26: On Discernment; Paulist Press pgs. 250-251, 6th century

...every tree is known by its own fruit. So also is love known by its own fruit and the love of which Christianity speaks is known by its own fruit - revealing that it has in itself the truth of the eternal. All other love, whether humanly speaking it withers early and is altered or lovingly preserves itself for a round of time - such love is still transient; it merely blossoms. This is precisely its weakness and tragedy, whether it blossoms for an hour or for seventy years - it merely blossoms; but Christian love is eternal.

Soren Kierkegaard

Works of Love, Chapter 1; Harper Torchbooks pg. 25, 19th century

Weekly Services & Important Dates

NO CLASS THIS THURSDAY (29th) FOR CATECHUMENS as we will be having Vespers at John Revelis' Chapel Thursday evening-all are welcome.

October 29th - St. Anastasia the Roman (Thursday)
Vespers 6pm
This service will be held at John Revelis' chapel dedicated to her. Cider and treats to follow.
N9023 Lakeshore Rd Sheboygan, WI 53083

October anniversaries, birthdays, and name days.

Fr. David Moga - birthday - Oct 10th
Rachel and Bret Leback - anniversary - Oct 20th
Jim Christus - name day - Oct 26th
Lori Christus - birthday - Oct 27th
Bret Leback - birthday - Oct 28th

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November 1st - 5th Sunday of Luke
Orthros 9am - Divine Liturgy 10am

November 9th - St. Nektarios the Wonderworker (Monday)
Orthros 9am - Divine Liturgy 10am

November 8th - 7th Sunday of Luke
Orthros 9am - Divine Liturgy 10am

November 12th - Great Vespers for St. John Chrysostom (Thursday)
Great Vespers 6:30pm

November 15th - 8th Sunday of Luke: Nativity Fast begins
Orthros 9am - Divine Liturgy 10am

November 21st - Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple (Saturday)
Orthros 9am - Divine Liturgy 10am

November 22nd - 9th Sunday of Luke
Orthros 9am - Divine Liturgy 10am

November 24th - Feast of St. Catherine the Great (Tuesday)
Great Vespers 6:30pm

November 28th - Saturday
Orthros 9am - Divine Liturgy 10am

November anniversaries, birthdays, and name days.

Bret Leback - name day - Nov 2nd
Linda Moga - name day - Nov 8th
Fr. David Moga - name day - Nov 9th
Mary Holden - name day - Nov 21st
Andrew Denzin - name day - Nov 30th

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Weekly Bible Class Zoom Meeting
Catechumens/inquirers will be reading "Heterodoxy and Orthodoxy by Fr. Stephen Damick. All parishioners are invited to join. - Monday at 6:30 pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85887423891

Catechumen Meeting - Thursday 6:30pm
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82564417360

Stewardship Letter

From Fr. David Moga, Pastor

"May the grace and wisdom of the Holy Spirit be with all those who read this letter.

My brothers and sisters united in the body of Christ through our baptisms in the Holy Orthodox Church, of which we are all members, greetings!

This is first of all, an invitation to all who read this to come to the Divine Liturgy and other services offered to God on your behalf. Whether you come on a regular basis, are lukewarm in your faith, are not attending because of wounds received, disenchantment or sadly given up the True Faith, which is the source and font of all Christianity, you are welcomed. In the name of Christ, you are invited back with love.

Remember my brother and sisters that it is always about the salvation of our souls which is why the Holy Orthodox Church was established for the salvation of world. It was the faith of our immigrant ancestors who built The Church of St. Spyridon here in Sheboygan, as a place of worship for themselves and for all future generations. Imagine the founders of our Church digging the foundation by hand-after completing their workdays. That was their faith which is passed on to us, to preserve and grow.

We give thanks for all of you who take the time out of their busy lives to help with our Greek Festival every year. Since we are a small parish, it helps sustain the Church as a major fundraiser in the budget of the Church. Please remember that the Church of St. Spyridon’s is self sustaining, your continued support financially, with your time that you give for the ministry of the Church and talents offered for the Church are important.

Please take the time to quietly pray about your attendance, your ministry to the Church and your financial support. As said in the Book of Hosea “come back to me with all your heart”.

What ever your decisions maybe, know that you are loved and prayed for, at each Divine Liturgy. I look forward to making many new acquaintances. May the generosity of Christ our True God richly bless you."

Your servant, in Christ,

Fr. David Moga
Pastor St. Spyridon Church

[email protected]
2623523346 cell

Feast Day of St Olga of Kwethluk

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