St. Stephen Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-06-16
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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

June 16

Fathers of the 1st Council

The heresiarch Arius was a Libyan by race and a protopresbyter of the Church of Alexandria. In 315, he began to blaspheme against the Son and Word of God, saying that He is not true God, consubstantial with the Father, but is rather a work and creation, alien to the essence and glory of the Father, and that there was a time when He was not. This frightful blasphemy shook the faithful of Alexandria. Alexander, his Archbishop, after trying in vain to correct him through admonitions, cut him off from communion and finally in a local council deposed him in the year 321. Yet neither did the blasphemer wish to be corrected, nor did he cease sowing the deadly tares of his heretical teachings; but writing to the bishops of other cities, Arius and his followers requested that his doctrine be examined, and if it were unsound, that the correct teaching be declared to him. By this means, his heresy became universally known and won many supporters, so that the whole Church was soon in an uproar.

Therefore, moved by divine zeal, the first Christian Sovereign, Saint Constantine the Great, the equal to the Apostles, summoned the renowned First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, a city of Bithynia. It was there that the shepherds and teachers of the Church of Christ gathered from all regions in the year 325. All of them, with one mouth and one voice, declared that the Son and Word of God is one in essence with the Father, true God of true God, and they composed the holy Symbol of Faith up to the seventh article (since the remainder, beginning with "And in the Holy Spirit," was completed by the Second Ecumenical Council). Thus they anathematized the impious Arius of evil belief and those of like mind with him, and cut them off as rotten members from the whole body of the faithful.

Therefore, recognizing the divine Fathers as heralds of the Faith after the divine Apostles, the Church of Christ has appointed this present Sunday for their annual commemoration, in thanksgiving and unto the glory of God, unto their praise and honour, and unto the strengthening of the true Faith.


June 16

Lucillian of Byzantium, 4 martyred Youths and Paula the Virgin

Formerly a priest of the idols near Nicomedia, the Saint came to the Christian Faith in his old age; this was during the reign of Aurelian (270-275). Lucillian was brought before Silvan the Count; when he refused to return to the service of the idols, his jaw was broken, he was beaten with rods, and hanged upside down, then imprisoned with four Christian children, Claudius, Hypatius, Paul, and Dionysius. All of them were brought out again before Silvan, and remaining constant in their faith, were cast into a raging furnace. Preserved unharmed, they were sent to Byzantium, where the children were beheaded, and Lucillian was crucified. The virgin Paula, a Christian, buried their holy relics. For this, she was taken before the Count, and refusing to sacrifice to the idols, was stripped naked and mercilessly thrashed; after other torments, she was beheaded, in 270. There was a church in their honor in Constantinople.


June 16

Athanasios the Wonderworker


June 16

Kevin, Abbot of Glendalough


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14

At that time, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and He revealed Himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas, called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after He was raised from the dead. .

Tenth Orthros Gospel
يوحنا 21: 1-14

1في ذلك الزمان أَظْهَرَ أَيْضاً يَسُوعُ نَفْسَهُ لِلتَّلاَمِيذِ عَلَى بَحْرِ طَبَرِيَّةَ. ظَهَرَ هَكَذَا: 2كَانَ سِمْعَانُ بُطْرُسُ، وَتُومَا الَّذِي يُقَالُ لَهُ التَّوْأَمُ، وَنَثَنَائِيلُ الَّذِي مِنْ قَانَا الْجَلِيلِ، وَابْنَا زَبْدِي، وَاثْنَانِ آخَرَانِ مِنْ تَلاَمِيذِهِ مَعَ بَعْضِهِمْ. 3قَالَ لَهُمْ سِمْعَانُ بُطْرُسُ: ((أَنَا أَذْهَبُ لأَتَصَيَّدَ)). قَالُوا لَهُ: ((نَذْهَبُ نَحْنُ أَيْضاً مَعَكَ)). فَخَرَجُوا وَدَخَلُوا السَّفِينَةَ لِلْوَقْتِ. وَفِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ لَمْ يُمْسِكُوا شَيْئاً. 4وَلَمَّا كَانَ الصُّبْحُ ، وَقَفَ يَسُوعُ عَلَى الشَّاطِئِ. وَلَكِنَّ التَّلاَمِيذَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ يَسُوعُ. 5فَقَالَ لَهُمْ يَسُوعُ: ((يَا غِلْمَانُ أَلَعَلَّ عِنْدَكُمْ إِدَاماً؟)). أَجَابُوهُ: ((لاَ!)) 6فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: ((أَلْقُوا الشَّبَكَةَ إِلَى جَانِبِ السَّفِينَةِ الأَيْمَنِ فَتَجِدُوا)). فَأَلْقَوْا، وَلَمْ يَعُودُوا يَقْدِرُونَ أَنْ يَجْذِبُوهَا مِنْ كَثْرَةِ السَّمَكِ. 7فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ التِّلْمِيذُ الَّذِي كَانَ يَسُوعُ يُحِبُّهُ لِبُطْرُسَ: ((هُوَ الرَّبُّ!)). فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ سِمْعَانُ بُطْرُسُ أَنَّهُ الرَّبُّ، اتَّزَرَ بِثَوْبِهِ، لأَنَّهُ كَانَ عُرْيَاناً، وَأَلْقَى نَفْسَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ. 8وَأَمَّا التَّلاَمِيذُ الآخَرُونَ فَجَاءُوا بِالسَّفِينَةِ، لأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا بَعِيدِينَ عَنِ الأَرْضِ إِلاَّ نَحْوَ مِئَتَيْ ذِرَاعٍ، وَهُمْ يَجُرُّونَ شَبَكَةَ السَّمَكِ. 9فَلَمَّا خَرَجُوا إِلَى الأَرْضِ نَظَرُوا جَمْراً مَوْضُوعاً وَسَمَكاً مَوْضُوعاً عَلَيْهِ وَخُبْزاً. 10قَالَ لَهُمْ يَسُوعُ: ((قَدِّمُوا مِنَ السَّمَكِ الَّذِي أَمْسَكْتُمُ الآنَ)).11فَصَعِدَ سِمْعَانُ بُطْرُسُ وَجَذَبَ الشَّبَكَةَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ، مُمْتَلِئَةً سَمَكاً كَبِيراً ، مِئَةً وَثلاَثاً وَخَمْسِينَ. وَمَعْ هَذِهِ الْكَثْرَةِ لَمْ تَتَخَرَّقِ الشَّبَكَةُ. 12قَالَ لَهُمْ يَسُوعُ: ((هَلُمُّوا تَغَدَّوْا!)). وَلَمْ يَجْسُرْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ التَّلاَمِيذِ أَنْ يَسْأَلَهُ: مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ إِذْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الرَّبُّ. 13ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَسُوعُ وَأَخَذَ الْخُبْزَ وَأَعْطَاهُمْ وَكَذَلِكَ السَّمَكَ. 14هَذِهِ مَرَّةٌ ثَالِثَةٌ ظَهَرَ يَسُوعُ لِتَلاَمِيذِهِ بَعْدَمَا قَامَ مِنَ الأَمْوَاتِ.

 

 


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36.

IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

البروكيمنون. 4th Tone. دانيال 3: 26-27.
مبارك أنت يارب إله آبائنا
Verse: لأنك عدل في كل ما صنعت

فصل من أعمال الرسل 20: 16-18 ، 28-36.

16 في تلك الأيام عَزَمَ بُولُس أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزَ أَفَسُسَ فِي الْبَحْرِ لِئَلاَّ يَعْرِضَ لَهُ أَنْ يَصْرِفَ وَقْتاً فِي أَسِيَّا لأَنَّهُ كَانَ يُسْرِعُ حَتَّى إِذَا أَمْكَنَهُ يَكُونُ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ فِي يَوْمِ الْخَمْسِينَ.17وَمِنْ مِيلِيتُسَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَى أَفَسُسَ وَاسْتَدْعَى قُسُوسَ الْكَنِيسَةِ. 18فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا إِلَيْهِ قَالَ لَهُمْ: ((أَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ دَخَلْتُ أَسِيَّا كَيْفَ كُنْتُ مَعَكُمْ كُلَّ الزَّمَانِ. 28اِحْتَرِزُوا اذاً لأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَلِجَمِيعِ الرَّعِيَّةِ الَّتِي أَقَامَكُمُ الرُّوحُ الْقُدُسُ فِيهَا أَسَاقِفَةً لِتَرْعُوا كَنِيسَةَ اللهِ الَّتِي اقْتَنَاهَا بِدَمِهِ. 29لأَنِّي أَعْلَمُ هَذَا: أَنَّهُ بَعْدَ ذِهَابِي سَيَدْخُلُ بَيْنَكُمْ ذِئَابٌ خَاطِفَةٌ لاَ تُشْفِقُ عَلَى الرَّعِيَّةِ. 30وَمِنْكُمْ أَنْتُمْ سَيَقُومُ رِجَالٌ يَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِأُمُورٍ مُلْتَوِيَةٍ لِيَجْتَذِبُوا التَّلاَمِيذَ وَرَاءَهُمْ. 31لِذَلِكَ اسْهَرُوا مُتَذَكِّرِينَ أَنِّي ثَلاَثَ سِنِينَ لَيْلاً وَنَهَاراً لَمْ أَفْتُرْ عَنْ أَنْ أُنْذِرَ بِدُمُوعٍ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ. 32وَالآنَ أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمْ يَا إِخْوَتِي لِلَّهِ وَلِكَلِمَةِ نِعْمَتِهِ الْقَادِرَةِ أَنْ تَبْنِيَكُمْ وَتُعْطِيَكُمْ مِيرَاثاً مَعَ جَمِيعِ الْمُقَدَّسِينَ. 33فِضَّةَ أَوْ ذَهَبَ أَوْ لِبَاسَ أَحَدٍ لَمْ أَشْتَهِ. 34أَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ حَاجَاتِي وَحَاجَاتِ الَّذِينَ مَعِي خَدَمَتْهَا هَاتَانِ الْيَدَانِ. 35فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَرَيْتُكُمْ أَنَّهُ هَكَذَا يَنْبَغِي أَنَّكُمْ تَتْعَبُونَ وَتَعْضُدُونَ الضُّعَفَاءَ مُتَذَكِّرِينَ كَلِمَاتِ الرَّبِّ يَسُوعَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَغْبُوطٌ هُوَ الْعَطَاءُ أَكْثَرُ مِنَ الأَخْذِ)). 36وَلَمَّا قَالَ هَذَا جَثَا عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ مَعَ جَمِيعِهِمْ وَصَلَّى.

 

 


Gospel Reading

Fathers of the 1st Council
The Reading is from John 17:1-13

At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

"I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."

Fathers of the 1st Council
يوحنا 17: 1-13

1في ذلك الزمانِ رفع يسوعَ عَيْنَيْهِ نَحْوَ السَّمَاءِ وَقَالَ: ((أَيُّهَا الآبُ قَدْ أَتَتِ السَّاعَةُ. مَجِّدِ ابْنَكَ لِيُمَجِّدَكَ ابْنُكَ أَيْضاً 2إِذْ أَعْطَيْتَهُ سُلْطَاناً عَلَى كُلِّ جَسَدٍ لِيُعْطِيَ حَيَاةً أَبَدِيَّةً لِكُلِّ مَنْ أَعْطَيْتَهُ. 3وَهَذِهِ هِيَ الْحَيَاةُ الأَبَدِيَّةُ: أَنْ يَعْرِفُوكَ أَنْتَ الإِلَهَ الْحَقِيقِيَّ وَحْدَكَ وَيَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَهُ. 4أَنَا مَجَّدْتُكَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ. الْعَمَلَ الَّذِي أَعْطَيْتَنِي لأَعْمَلَ قَدْ أَكْمَلْتُهُ. 5وَالآنَ مَجِّدْنِي أَنْتَ أَيُّهَا الآبُ عِنْدَ ذَاتِكَ بِالْمَجْدِ الَّذِي كَانَ لِي عِنْدَكَ قَبْلَ كَوْنِ الْعَالَمِ. 6((أَنَا أَظْهَرْتُ اسْمَكَ لِلنَّاسِ الَّذِينَ أَعْطَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْعَالَمِ. كَانُوا لَكَ وَأَعْطَيْتَهُمْ لِي، وَقَدْ حَفِظُوا كلاَمَكَ. 7وَالآنَ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا أَعْطَيْتَنِي هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ،  8لأَنَّ الْكَلاَمَ الَّذِي أَعْطَيْتَنِي قَدْ أَعْطَيْتُهُمْ، وَهُمْ قَبِلُوا وَعَلِمُوا يَقِيناً أَنِّي خَرَجْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَآمَنُوا أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ أَرْسَلْتَنِي. 9مِنْ أَجْلِهِمْ أَنَا أَسْأَلُ. لَسْتُ أَسْأَلُ مِنْ أَجْلِ الْعَالَمِ، بَلْ مِنْ أَجْلِ الَّذِينَ أَعْطَيْتَنِي لأَنَّهُمْ لَكَ. 10وَكُلُّ مَا هُوَ لِي فَهُوَ لَكَ، وَمَا هُوَ لَكَ فَهُوَ لِي، وَأَنَا مُمَجَّدٌ فِيهِمْ. 11وَلَسْتُ أَنَا بَعْدُ فِي الْعَالَمِ، وَأَمَّا هَؤُلاَءِ فَهُمْ فِي الْعَالَمِ، وَأَنَا آتِي إِلَيْكَ. أَيُّهَا الآبُ الْقُدُّوسُ، احْفَظْهُمْ فِي اسْمِكَ الَّذِينَ أَعْطَيْتَنِي، لِيَكُونُوا وَاحِداً كَمَا نَحْنُ. 12حِينَ كُنْتُ مَعَهُمْ فِي الْعَالَمِ كُنْتُ أَحْفَظُهُمْ فِي اسْمِكَ. الَّذِينَ أَعْطَيْتَنِي حَفِظْتُهُمْ، وَلَمْ يَهْلِكْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ ابْنُ الْهلاَكِ لِيَتِمَّ الْكِتَابُ. 13أَمَّا الآنَ فَإِنِّي آتِي إِلَيْكَ. وَأَتَكَلَّمُ بِهَذَا فِي الْعَالَمِ لِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ فَرَحِي كَامِلاً فِيهِمْ.

 

 


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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 for Holy Ascension in the 4th Tone

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit; and they were assured by the blessing that Thou art the Son of God and Redeemer of the world.

صعدت بمجد أيها المسيح الإله وفرحت تلاميذك بموعد الورح القدس إذ أيقنوا بالبركة أنك أنت ابن الله المخلص جنس البشر

Apolytikion for Fathers of the 1st Council in the 8th Tone

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.

انت ايها المسيح الهنا الفائق التسبيح، يا من اسست آباءنا القديسين على الأرض كواكب لامعة، وبهم هديتنا جميعاً الى الإيمان الحقيقي، ايها الجزيل الرحمة المجد لك.

Apolytikion of Martyrs Lucillian and Paula in the First Tone

Let all of us entreat Christ the Lord's holy Martyrs, for they make supplication for our souls' salvation; with faith and with longing, therefore, let us draw nigh unto them, for they overflow with the divine grace of healings, and they drive away the ranks of demons in terror, as guardians of the Faith.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 6th Tone

O Christ our God, upon fulfilling Your dispensation for our sake, You ascended in Glory, uniting the earthly with the heavenly. You were never separate but remained inseparable, and cried out to those who love You, "I am with you and no one is against you."
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Wisdom of the Fathers

For there is One God, and One Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus. For He still pleads even now as Man for my salvation; ...
St. Gregory the Theologian
4th Theological Oration, 4th Century

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