SS.

kosmas & damianos Orthodox Church (goa)

703 W. Center Street, Rochester, MN (507) 282-1529 http://www.rochesterorthodoxchurch.org
office@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muoz, Proistamenos
/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

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When the stone had been sealed by the Judeans and the soldiers were
guarding Thine immaculate Body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O
Saviour, granting life unto the world. Wherefore, the powers of the
Heavens cried out to Thee, O Lifegiver: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O
Christ. Glory to Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thy dispensation, O only
Friend of man.

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You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your glory to Your disciples, insofar as
they could comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the
intercessions of the Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You.
/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

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Upon the mountain were You transfigured, and Your disciples beheld Your glory as far as they
were able, O Christ our God; so that when they would see You crucified they might understand
that Your Passion was deliberate, and declare to the world that in truth You are the Father's
radiance.
10th Sunday of matthew
Maximus the Confessor, Fathers Sergius, Stephanus, Castor and Palamonus, Dorotheus of Gaza, Tikhon of Zadonsk
August 13th, 2017
++DORMITION FAST++
 Todays scripture readings
Epistle reading
St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16
Prokeimenon. Mode 1.
Psalm 32.22,1
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

BRETHREN, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have
become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in
Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour
we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own
hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we
have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to
make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides
in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I
urge you, then, be imitators of me.
Gospel pericope
Matthew 17:14-23

At that time, a man came up to Him and kneeling before Him said, "Lord, have mercy on my
son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the
water. And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered,
"O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with
you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the
boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we
not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have
faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,'
and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except
by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is
to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third
day."
 Announcements
Tues. Aug. 15th: Dormition of the Holy Theotokos, Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:30am
Wed. Aug. 16th: Parish Council Meeting, 6:30pm
Thurs. Aug. 17th: Sunday School Teachers Meeting, 6:15pm

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians in good standing are

encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves
spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-
like, humble state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual
father, have observed the fasts of the Church, and they should have self-examined their conscience.
On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to
church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name
clearly, and hold the red communion cloth to your chin. After receiving, wipe your lips on the cloth,
step back carefully, hand the cloth to the next person and make the sign of the Cross as you step
away. Please do not be in a rush while communing! Please take special care not to bump the
Holy Chalice.

SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, SEPT. 10TH!

A parish-wide BBQ is planned for after Liturgy on
Sunday, Sept. 10th @ Slatterly Park (10th ST & 11th Ave
SE). Come enjoy Johnnys Chicken, Fr. Marks BBQ
Ribs, Hamburgers, Hotdogs! Please bring a side dish or
dessert to share; beverages will be provided! Lets celebrate
Back-to-School and the end of summer together!
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 Todays liturgical commemorations
1. SAINT MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR

The divine Maximus, who was from Constantinople, sprang from an illustrious family. He was a lover of wisdom and an
eminent theologian. At first, he was the chief private secretary of the Emperor Heraclius and his grandson Constans. But
when the Monothelite heresy became predominant in the royal court, out of hatred for this error the Saint departed for the
Monastery at Chrysopolis (Scutari), of which he later became the abbot. When Constans tried to constrain him either to
accept the Monothelite teaching, or to stop speaking and writing against it - neither of which the Saint accepted to do - his
tongue was uprooted and his right hand was cut off, and he was sent into exile, where he reposed in 662. At the time only
he and his few disciples were Orthodox in the East.

2. SAINT TIKHON OF ZADONSK OR VORONEZH

Tikhon was born in a simple peasant family in the village of Korotsk in the providence of Novgorod in the year 1724 A.D.
He received the monastic tonsure at age thirty-four and because of his mortifications and great spiritual wisdom, soon
received greater and greater service until finally he was consecrated as the Bishop of Voronezh. His episcopacy lasted for
almost five years and, because of frail health, he withdrew and took up residence in the monastery of Zadonsk. He died
peacefully in the year 1783 A.D. in Zadonsk where his miracle-working relics now repose. He was a great ascetic of the
Russian Church, rare shepherd, intercessor and an author of the most beautiful spiritual works. By his wisdom, holiness
and asceticism, Tikhon can be equated among the great fathers of the Orthodox Church of ancient times. Because of the
many witnessed miracles over his relics, he was proclaimed a saint, at first, by the people and after that by the official
church in the year 1861 A.D.

3. SAINT DOROTHEOS OF GAZA

Saint Dorotheos was born in Antioch, Syria, in the year 506 or 508 A.D. He began his education very early in life
and profited from the social statusof his parents. He received a classical education in the Greco-Roman world, which
included medical studies, thus allowing him to work as a physician. Despite his great mind, Dorotheos yearned for a life of
seclusion in the monastery. He inquired through letters with the holy men Barsanuphius and John (see February 6 th) as
how to begin the process towards monasticism. Many of these letters exist to this day and provide insight to the life of
Dorotheos and his relationship with his mentors. Dorotheos entered the monastery of Thawatha where Barsanuphius and
John lived. His quick mind and advanced education made life in the monastery difficult as he struggled with social
encounters and even challenged his abbot when he knew of better ways to run the monastery. This struggle against pride
lasted a great while and served as an ongoing lesson for Dorotheos. He worked as assistant to the holy father John and
enjoyed this position of communication between John and the rest of the community. As he progressed in the spiritual
life, Dorotheos was given spiritual charge over younger monks to which he was hesitant to accept as he struggled with
interactions with others. Despite his reservations, Dorotheos took charge over a young man named Dositheos and taught
him the monastic life, a relationship which proved to be difficult but beneficial for both.
 Sunday School Registration
The purpose of the registration is to ascertain the number of children
in each class to ensure that the proper materials are ordered. Loredana
is in charge of the registration and would like everyone to know that if
you have children between the ages of 3-18 she will be contacting you. If you have
any questions regarding registration please email her at loredanaj@yahoo.com First
day of Sunday School is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 17th.
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Pearls from the desert

Amma Theodora said, "Let us strive to enter by the narrow gate. Just as
the trees, if they have not stood before the winter's storms cannot bear
fruit, so it is with us; this present age is a storm and it is only through many
trials and temptations that we can obtain an inheritance in the Kingdom of
Heaven."

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STEWARDSHIP CORNER
It was Sunday and the parish council members were counting the Sunday offering in the church office as the trays
were being brought in from Divine Liturgy. One faithful parishioner found his way back to the church office and
politely inquired, How much do I owe? This well-intentioned parishioner was asking if he was up-to-date on his
pledge, but his question reveals something about our thought process in offering our gifts to the Church. No matter
how generously we support the Church, can we ever feel that we have given in proportion to the blessings we have
received? Many Greek Orthodox parishes have embraced the process of stewardship, by which we offer our gifts to
the church according to our blessings. Many continue to operate in a dues system. And some operate under a hybrid
Stewardship-with a minimum system. Each person coming to the gathering of the Church brought with them
everything they could spare for the needs of the Church. This meant for the sustenance of the clergy, widows and
orphans, for helping the poor, and for all the good works of the Church. This is the Church that we as Orthodox
Christians claim to be. Stewardship is not about calculations or portions or percentages. It cant be reduced to a
number of hours of service or dollars offered. Stewardship is a way of life. As Orthodox Christians, we are called to
a new way of seeing things a new way of life. Our stewardship is obedience to the greatest commandment to love
the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. We are called to bring others to commit their lives to Jesus
Christ in such a way that leads to the joy of knowing Him personally and profoundly.
 UPCOMING FEAST:
THE DORMITION
The Holy Scriptures tell us that when our
Lord was dying on the Cross, He saw
His mother and His disciple John and
said to the Virgin Mary, "Woman,
behold your son!" and to John, "Behold
your mother!" (John 19:25-27). From
that hour, the Apostle took care of the
Theotokos in his own home. Along with
the biblical reference in Acts 1:14 that
confirms that the Virgin Mary was with the Holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost, the
tradition of the Church holds that she remained in the home of the Apostle John in Jerusalem,
continuing a ministry in word and deed. At the time of her death, the disciples of our Lord
who were preaching throughout the world returned to Jerusalem to see the Theotokos. Except
for the Apostle Thomas, all of them including the Apostle Paul were gathered together at her
bedside. At the moment of her death, Jesus Christ himself descended and carried her soul
into heaven. Following her repose, the body of the Theotokos was taken in procession and
laid in a tomb near the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Apostle Thomas arrived three days
after her repose and desired to see her body, the tomb was found to be empty. The bodily
assumption of the Theotokos was confirmed by the message of an angel and by her
appearance to the Apostles. This great Feast of the Church and the icon celebrates a
fundamental teaching of our faiththe Resurrection of the body. In the case of the
Theotokos, this has been accomplished by the divine will of God. Thus, this Feast is a feast
of hope, hope in Resurrection and life eternal. Like those who gathered around the body of
the Virgin Mary, we gather around our departed loved ones and commend their souls into the
hands of Christ. As we remember those who have reposed in the faith before us and have
passed on into the communion of the Saints, we prepare ourselves to one day be received into
the new life of the age to come. We also affirm through this Feast as we journey toward our
heavenly abode that the Mother of God intercedes for us. Through Christ she has become the
mother of all of the children of God, embracing us with divine love.

In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O
Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from
death by your intercessions.
 Greek fest notes

A special thanks to all the Fest Committee members for their hard
work and planning this far to ensure another successful festival!

Our Greek Festival is August 25th, 26th, 27th and we need all
parishioners involved in working towards a successful Festival. A donation
list has recently been sent out to all parishioners and we strongly
encourage you to consider a donation(s) to offset our product cost.

In addition, as in years past we will also be relying on our parishioners

to supply their time and talents during the weekend. Sign up slots are
available through the following website:
www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0945a4ab29a6f49-holy2 Along with the
online sign up there wil also be a signup board in the Narthex. Please talk
to Calli in regards to volunteering at Greek Festival. Thank you!

We will also have important baking dates on Mon-Thurs the week

leading up to Greek Fest, beginning at 10am. All are invited to help out.

Notwithstanding the financial benefits of the Festival, this is also our

biggest outreach ministry to the local non-Orthodox community wherein
literally hundreds of guests pass through the doors of our church to hear
the informative tours and speak with our outreach volunteers. This is a
momentous weekend for our parish family on many levelscome and be a
part of the excitement!
 The Cup of Christ
By St. Ignaty Brianchaniov

Two beloved disciples asked the Lord for thrones of glory He gave
them His cup. (Matt. 20:23) The Cup of Christ is suffering. To those
who drink from it on earth, the Cup of Christ grants participation in
Christs Kingdom of grace; it prepares for them the thrones of
eternal glory in heaven.

We stand in silence before the Cup of Christ, nor can any man
complain about it or reject it; for He who commanded us to taste it,
first drank of it Himself. O tree of the knowledge of good and evil! You killed our ancestors in Paradise,
you deceived them by the delusions of sensual pleasure and the delusions of reason. Christ, the
Redeemer of the fallen, brought His Cup of salvation into this world, to the fallen and to those who are
exiled from Paradise. The bitterness of this Cup cleanses the heart from forbidden, destructive and sinful
pleasure; through the humility flowing from it in abundance, pride of understanding on the carnal level
is mortified. To him who drinks from the Cup with faith and patience, the eternal life which was and still
is lost to him by his tasting of forbidden fruit will be restored. I will accept the Cup of Christ, the cup of
salvation. (Psalm 116:13) The cup is accepted when a Christian bears earthly tribulation in the spirit of
humility learned from the Gospel. Saint Peter turned swiftly with a naked sword to defend the God-man,
who was surrounded by evil doers; but the meek Jesus said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the sheath:
the cup My Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11) So you too, when disaster surrounds
you, should comfort and strengthen your soul, saying: The Cup which my Father hath given me, shall I
not drink it?

The Cup is bitter: at first sight all human reasoning is confounded. Surmount reason by faith and drink
courageously from the bitter Cup: it is the Father who gives it to you, He who is all good and all wise. It
is neither the Pharisees, nor Caiaphas, nor Judas who prepared the Cup; it is neither Pilate nor his
soldiers who gave it! The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

The Pharisees think evil, Judas betrays, Pilate orders the unlawful killing, the soldiers of the government
execute his order. Through their evil deeds all these prepared their own true perdition. Do not prepare
for yourself just such a perdition by remembering evil, by longing for and dreaming of revenge, and by
indignation against your enemies. The heavenly Father is almighty and all-seeing: He sees your
afflictions, and if He had found it necessary and profitable to withdraw the Cup from you, He certainly
would have done so.