St. Stephen Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-10-06
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St. Stephen Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (707)235-0316
  • Street Address:

  • 11055 Hirschfeld Way

  • Rancho Cordova, CA 95670


Contact Information




Services Schedule

 

Saturday

Vespers: 3:00 pm

Sunday

Matins: 8:15 am

Liturgy: 9:30 am


Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

October 06

The Conception of St. John the Baptist

This came to pass fifteen months before the birth of Christ, after the vision of the Angel that Zacharias, the father of the Forerunner, saw in the Temple while he executed the priest's office in the order of his course during the feast of the Tabernacles, as tradition bears witness. In this vision, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and said to him, "Thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John" (Luke 1:13). Knowing that Elizabeth was barren, and that both he and she were elderly, Zacharias did not believe what the Angel told him, although he had before him the example of Abraham and Sarah, of Hannah, mother of the Prophet Samuel, and of other barren women in Israel who gave birth by the power of God. Hence, he was condemned by the Archangel to remain speechless until the fulfilment of these words in their season, which also came to pass (Luke 1:7-24).


October 06

Xanthippe & Polyxene the Righteous


October 06

John the New Martyr of Epiros


October 06

Nicholas the New Martyr


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking spices, which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered His words and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the Apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Fourth Orthros Gospel
لوقا 24: 1-12

1 في ذلك الزمان و فِي أَوَّلِ الأُسْبُوعِ ، أَوَّلَ الْفَجْرِ ، جاءت النساء إِلَى الْقَبْرِ حَامِلاَتٍ الْحَنُوطَ الَّذِي أَعْدَدْنَهُ ، وَمَعَهُنَّ أُنَاسٌ. 2فَوَجَدْنَ الْحَجَرَ مُدَحْرَجاً عَنِ الْقَبْرِ، 3فَدَخَلْنَ وَلَمْ يَجِدْنَ جَسَدَ الرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ. 4وَفِيمَا هُنَّ مُحْتَارَاتٌ فِي ذَلِكَ ، إِذَا رَجُلاَنِ وَقَفَا بِهِنَّ بِثِيَابٍ بَرَّاقَةٍ. 5وَإِذْ كُنَّ خَائِفَاتٍ وَمُنَكِّسَاتٍ وُجُوهَهُنَّ إِلَى الأَرْضِ ، قَالاَ لَهُنَّ: ((لِمَاذَا تَطْلُبْنَ الْحَيَّ بَيْنَ الأَمْوَاتِ؟ 6لَيْسَ هُوَ هَهُنَا ، لَكِنَّهُ قَامَ! اُذْكُرْنَ كَيْفَ كَلَّمَكُنَّ وَهُوَ بَعْدُ فِي الْجَلِيلِ 7قَائِلاً: إِنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُسَلَّمَ ابْنُ الإِنْسَانِ فِي أَيْدِي أُنَاسٍ خُطَاةٍ ، وَيُصْلَبَ ، وَفِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ يَقُومُ)). 8فَتَذَكَّرْنَ كَلاَمَهُ، 9وَرَجَعْنَ مِنَ الْقَبْرِ ، وَأَخْبَرْنَ الأَحَدَ عَشَرَ وَجَمِيعَ الْبَاقِينَ بِهَذَا كُلِّهِ. 10وَكَانَتْ مَرْيَمُ الْمَجْدَلِيَّةُ وَيُوَنَّا وَمَرْيَمُ أُمُّ يَعْقُوبَ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ مَعَهُنَّ ، اللَّوَاتِي قُلْنَ هَذَا لِلرُّسُلِ.

11فَتَرَاءَى كَلاَمُهُنَّ لَهُمْ كَالْهَذَيَانِ وَلَمْ يُصَدِّقُوهُنَّ. 12فَقَامَ بُطْرُسُ وَرَكَضَ إِلَى الْقَبْرِ ، فَانْحَنَى وَنَظَرَ الأَكْفَانَ مَوْضُوعَةً وَحْدَهَا ، فَمَضَى مُتَعَجِّباً فِي نَفْسِهِ مِمَّا كَانَ.

 

 


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27.

Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."

البروكيمنون. 4th Tone. مزمور 67: 35، 26.
عجيب هو الله في قديسيه
Verse: في المجامع باركوا الله

فصل من رسالة بولس الاولى الى غلاطية 4: 22-27.

يَُّا إِخْوَة، كَانَ لإِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنَانِ، وَاحِدٌ مِنَ الْجَارِيَةِ وَالآخَرُ مِنَ الْحُرَّةِ. لَكِنَّ الَّذِي مِنَ الْجَارِيَةِ وُلِدَ حَسَبَ الْجَسَدِ، وَأَمَّا الَّذِي مِنَ الْحُرَّةِ فَبِالْمَوْعِدِ. وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ رَمْزٌ، لأَنَّ هَاتَيْنِ هُمَا الْعَهْدَانِ، أَحَدُهُمَا مِنْ جَبَلِ سِينَاءَ الْوَالِدُ لِلْعُبُودِيَّةِ، الَّذِي هُوَ هَاجَرُ. لأَنَّ هَاجَرَ جَبَلُ سِينَاءَ فِي الْعَرَبِيَّةِ. وَلَكِنَّهُ يُقَابِلُ أُورُشَلِيمَ الْحَاضِرَةَ، فَإِنَّهَا مُسْتَعْبَدَةٌ مَعَ بَنِيهَا. وَأَمَّا أُورُشَلِيمُ الْعُلْيَا، الَّتِي هِيَ أُمُّنَا جَمِيعاً، فَهِيَ حُرَّةٌ. لأَنَّهُ مَكْتُوبٌ: ((افْرَحِي أَيَّتُهَا الْعَاقِرُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَلِدْ. اهْتِفِي وَاصْرُخِي أَيَّتُهَا الَّتِي لَمْ تَتَمَخَّضْ، فَإِنَّ أَوْلاَدَ الْمُوحِشَةِ أَكْثَرُ مِنَ الَّتِي لَهَا زَوْجٌ)).


Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11

At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

لوقا 5: 1-11

1 في ذلك الزمان فيما يسوع كَانَ وَاقِفاً عِنْدَ بُحَيْرَةِ جَنِّيسَارَتَ. 2 رَأَى سَفِينَتَيْنِ وَاقِفَتَيْنِ عِنْدَ الْبُحَيْرَةِ ، وَالصَّيَّادُونَ قَدْ خَرَجُوا مِنْهُمَا وَغَسَلُوا الشِّبَاكَ. 3فَدَخَلَ إِحْدَى السَّفِينَتَيْنِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ لِسِمْعَانَ ، وَسَأَلَهُ أَنْ يُبْعِدَ قَلِيلاً عَنِ الْبَرِّ. ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وَصَارَ يُعَلِّمُ الْجُمُوعَ مِنَ السَّفِينَةِ. 4وَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنَ الْكَلاَمِ قَالَ لِسِمْعَانَ: ((ابْعُدْ إِلَى الْعُمْقِ وَأَلْقُوا شِبَاكَكُمْ لِلصَّيْدِ)). 5فَأَجَابَ سِمْعَانُ وَقَالَ لَهُ : ((يَا مُعَلِّمُ ، قَدْ تَعِبْنَا اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ وَلَمْ نَأْخُذْ شَيْئاً. وَلَكِنْ عَلَى كَلِمَتِكَ أُلْقِي الشَّبَكَةَ)). 6وَلَمَّا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ أَمْسَكُوا سَمَكاً كَثِيراً جِدّاً ، فَصَارَتْ شَبَكَتُهُمْ تَتَخَرَّقُ. 7فَأَشَارُوا إِلَى شُرَكَائِهِمُِ الَّذِينَ فِي السَّفِينَةِ الأُخْرَى أَنْ يَأْتُوا وَيُسَاعِدُوهُمْ. فَأَتَوْا وَمَلأُوا السَّفِينَتَيْنِ حَتَّى أَخَذَتَا فِي الْغَرَقِ. 8فَلَمَّا رَأَى سِمْعَانُ بُطْرُسُ ذَلِكَ خَرَّ عِنْدَ رُكْبَتَيْ يَسُوعَ قَائِلاً: ((اخْرُجْ مِنْ سَفِينَتِي يَارَبُّ ، لأَنِّي رَجُلٌ خَاطِئٌ)). 9إِذِ اعْتَرَتْهُ وَجمِيعَ الَّذِينَ مَعَهُ دَهْشَةٌ عَلَى صَيْدِ السَّمَكِ الَّذِي أَخَذُوهُ. 10وَكَذَلِكَ أَيْضاً يَعْقُوبُ وَيُوحَنَّا ابْنَا زَبْدِي اللَّذَانِ كَانَا شَرِيكَيْ سِمْعَانَ. فَقَالَ يَسُوعُ لِسِمْعَانَ: ((لاَ تَخَفْ! مِنَ الآنَ تَكُونُ تَصْطَادُ النَّاسَ!)) 11وَلَمَّا جَاءُوا بِالسَّفِينَتَيْنِ إِلَى الْبَرِّ تَرَكُوا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَتَبِعُوهُ. 

 

 


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 6th Tone

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

ان القوات الملائكية ظهروا على قبرك الموقر والحراس صاروا كالاموات ومريم وقفت عند القبر طالبة جسدك الطاهر فسبيت الجحيم ولم تجرب منها وصادفت البتول مانحاً الحياة فيامن قام من الاموات يارب المجد لك.

Apolytikion of Conception of the Forerunner in the Fourth Tone

Rejoice, O thou barren one who hadst not borne until now; for lo, in all truth thou hast conceived the lamp of the Sun, and he shall send forth his light over all the earth, which is afflicted with blindness. Dance, O Zacharias, and cry out with great boldness: The one to be born is the blest Prophet of God Most High.

Apolytikion of St Stephen in the 1st Tone

For the struggles you endured for Christ God, a royal diadem crowns your head, O First Champion of Martyrs. For you refuted the folly of the Jews and beheld your Savior on the right of the Father. Ever beseech Him, therefore, for our souls.

Kontakion of Conception of the Forerunner in the First Tone

Great Zacharias now doth rejoice with resplendence; Elizabeth his glorious yoke-mate exulteth; for she hath conceived divine John the Forerunner worthily, whom the great Archangel had announced with rejoicing, whom, as it is meet, we men revere as a sacred initiate of grace divine.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

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.
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Forms & Flyers

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Support St. Stephens

It is our hope that you will support our church so that we can continue to support our community, with the Good Lord’s blessings. Please note that no amount of help is too small, as every bit helps. We thank you in advance and may our Lord keep you in His care.

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 St. Stephen Orthodox Church

 PO Box 292343

 Sacramento, CA 95829 

    

 

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Wisdom of the Fathers

He who truly wishes to believe in God must be lifted above himself, his mind, and even the whole world. For this reason, the value of faith is considered higher than the value of man. It is even higher than the value of the whole world. Therefore, the reward of faith should be higher than all of man's possessions along with the glories of this world. The reward of faith is God.
Fr. Matthew the Poor
Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way, p. 74, 20th century

That dead man was being buried, and many friends were conducting him to his tomb. But there meets him Christ, the Life and Resurrection, for He is the destroyer of death and of corruption; He it is "in Whom we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28); He it is Who has restored the nature of man to that which it originally was; and has set free our death-fraught flesh from the bonds of death.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 36.42, p. 153., 5th Century

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