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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Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath
wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death.
The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades
hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

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A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life
has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance.
You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Averkios, our
father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

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

6th Sunday of luke

Averkios, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Wonderworker of Hierapolis,
Seven Holy Martyred Youths of Ephesus, Cecilia the Martyr
October 22nd, 2017
 Todays scripture readings
Epistle reading
St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19
Prokeimenon. Mode 4.
Psalm 18.4,1
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

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.

Gospel pericope
Luke 8:26-39

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons;
for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried
out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High
God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For
many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds
and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for
many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large
herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave.
Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake
and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.
Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the
demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had
seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding
country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat
and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away,
saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming
throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
 Announcements
Mon. Oct. 23rd: Adult Religious Ed: Gospel of St. John, 6pm
Thurs. Oct. 26th: St. Demetrios the Myrrh-flowing, Orthros/Divine Liturgy, 8:30am
Thurs. Oct. 26th: Adult Religious Ed: Inside the Temple, Inside the Liturgy, Inside the Community, 6pm
Sun. Oct 29th: Youth Wide Pumpkin Carving & Bonfire @ Brekke Farm, 4pm

Todays Memorial Service: Mr. Mogib Salama- 2yrs

Pumpkin Carving at the Brekke Farm: Mike & Kris Brekke will host a family pumpkin carving event at
the their farm on Sunday Oct. 29th from 4-7pm. There will be food from the grill, horse drawn wagon
rides, bonfire, and pumpkin carving. Everyone is invited and the only thing you need to bring is your
pumpkin and carving tools.

Coat and First Aid Supplies for FOCUS: our GOYANS will be serving the Thanksgiving meal again this
year at FOCUS-MN and they are in need of winter coats and first aid supplies (band aids, cotton balls,
alcohol swipes, gauze, etc.). A collection bin will be placed in the hallway between the nave and the hall
through Sunday, Nov. 19th, asking for your support!!

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.

Pearls from the desert

The thief was on the cross and he was justified by a
single word; and Judas who was counted in the number
of the apostles lost all his labor in one single night and
descended from heaven to hell. Therefore, let no-one
boast of his good works, for all those who trust in
themselves fall. - Abba Xanthias
 Todays liturgical commemorations
1. Saint Abercius, Equal to the Apostles

During the reigns of Emperor Antoninus and his son, Marcus Aurelius, St. Abercius was the bishop of the
city of Hierapolis in Phrygia. The great majority in this city were pagans, and St. Abercius governed his
sparse flock, sorrowing in his heart because of the great number of pagans and idolaters, and diligently
praying to God that He would bring them to the light of truth. During a boisterous idolatrous festival,
Abercius became inflamed with God's zeal and entered the idolatrous temple, smashing all the idols.
When the enraged pagans sought to kill him, three young madmen, foaming at the mouth and howling,
fell down before this man of God, and he drove the demons from them. The young men became sane and
calm. This turned the pagans' anger into amazement at the wonderworker of Christ, and five hundred of
them immediately desired baptism. Little by little, all of Hierapolis came to believe in Christ and were
baptized. The proconsul of the province, Publius, had a mother who was blind. Abercius restored her sight
by prayer, and Publius, his mother and many others believed in Christ. In old age, Abercius was
summoned to Rome, where he healed the emperor's daughter of insanity. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared
several times to His faithful follower. People from near and far came to him for miraculous help when
they suffered from incurable illnesses. The demons not only feared him, but also served him at his
command. At the guidance of the Lord Himself, Abercius preached the Gospel throughout Syria and
Mesopotamia. In great old age, St. Abercius presented himself to his beloved Lord in Hierapolis, at the
end of the second century.

2. The Venerable Lot

Lot was a great Egyptian ascetic and a contemporary of St. Arsenius the
Great and St. Agathon. He lived a life of asceticism in his monastery near a
lake at the town of Arsinoe, and directed many brethren on the path to
salvation. His close friend and advisor was Abba Joseph. Lot once said to
Joseph: ``Abba, I fast as much as I can, hold fast to prayer, keep silence and
contemplate, and also, through abstinence, guard myself from impure
thoughts. Therefore, what else can I do?'' The elder stood up, raised his
hands to heaven, and his ten fingers shone like ten flaming candles. He then
replied: ``If you desire, you can be all aflame!'' Having pleased God and set
many on the path to salvation, St. Lot entered peacefully into rest in the fifth
century.