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 Muñoz, Proistamenos
ΑΠΟΛΥΤΙΚΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

Ευφραινέσθω τά ουράνια,
αγαλλιάσθω τά επίγεια, ότι
εποίησε κράτος, εν βραχίονι
αυτού, ο Κύριος, επάτησε τώ
θανάτω τόν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος
τών νεκρών εγένετο, εκ κοιλίας
άδου ερρύσατο ημάς, καί παρέσχε
κόσμω τό μέγα έλεος.

Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly

things be glad; for the Lord has
wrought might with His arm, He
has trampled upon death by death.
The first-born of the dead has He become. From the depths of Hades has He delivered us, and has granted
great mercy to the world.
Ev τῇ Γεννήσει τὴν παρθενίαν ἐφύλαξας. Ἐν τῇ Κοιμήσει τὸν κόσμον οὐ κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε.
Μετέστης πρὸς τὴν ζωήν, Μήτηρ ὑπάρχουσα τῆς ζωῆς, καὶ ταῖς πρεσβείαις ταῖς σαῖς λυτρουμένη,
ἐκ θανάτου τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν.

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.

ΚΟΝΤΑΚΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

Τὴν ἐν πρεσβείαις ἀκοίμητον Θεοτόκον, καὶ προστασίαις ἀμετάθετον ἐλπίδα, τάφος καὶ νέκρωσις
οὐκ ἐκράτησεν, ὡς γὰρ ζωῆς Μητέρα, πρὸς τὴν ζωὴν μετέστησεν, ὁ μήτραν οἰκήσας ἀειπάρθενον.
Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in
intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to
life.

12th Sunday of matthew

Afterfeast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary, Andrew the General &
Martyr & his 2,593 soldiers, Holy Martyrs Timothy, Agapius and Thecla,
Theophanes the New Wonderworker of Macedonia, , Eutychianos and Strategios the Martyrs
August 19th, 2018
 Today’s scripture readings
Epistle reading
St. Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians 15: 1-11

BRETHREN, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which
you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast - unless
you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received,
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that
he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared
to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at
one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he
appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he
appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and
his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of
them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I
or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Gospel pericope
Matthew 19:16-26
At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good
deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there
is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?"
And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall
not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as
yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus
said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went
away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to
you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things
are possible."
 Announcements
Tues. Aug. 21st: Food Prep, 5-8pm

Wed. Aug. 22nd: Food Prep, 5-9pm

Thurs. Aug. 23rd: Food Prep, 2-9pm

Fri. Aug. 24th: Food Prep, 10am-3pm

Fri. Aug. 24th-Sun. Aug. 26th: Rochester Greek Fest!

Today’s Memorial Service: Jerome the Priest-monk, Sedkey Sedarous, Wageeda Sedarous

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION—Only 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. 9TH!

A parish-wide BBQ is planned for after Liturgy on Sunday, Sept. 9th @ Slatterly
Park (10th ST & 11th Ave SE). Come enjoy Johnny’s Chicken, Fr. Mark’s BBQ
Ribs, Hamburgers, Hotdogs! Please bring a side dish or dessert to share; beverages
will be provided! Let’s celebrate “Back-to-School” and the end of summer together!
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. 16th.
 Today’s liturgical commemorations
1. THE HOLY MARTYR ANDREW, STRATELATES [THE TRIBUNE THE COMMANDER]

Andrew was an officer, a tribune, in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Maximian. He was a Syrian by
birth and served in Syria. When the Persians menaced the Roman Empire with there military, Andrew was entrusted
with the army to battle against the enemy. During this occasion, Andrew was promoted as a commander -
Stratelates. Secretly a Christian, even though he was not baptized, Andrew trusted in the living God and, of the
many soldiers, he chose only the best and entered into battle. He said to his soldiers before the battle that if they
would call upon the help of the one, true God, Christ the Lord, their enemies will scatter as dust before them. Truly,
all the soldiers filled with enthusiasm at Andrew and his faith invoked Christ for assistance and made an assault. The
Persian army was utterly destroyed. When the victorious Andrew returned to Antioch some, who were envious,
accused Andrew of being a Christian and the imperial deputy summoned him to court. Andrew openly confessed his
unwavering faith in Christ. After bitter tortures, the deputy threw Andrew into prison and wrote to the emperor in
Rome. Knowing Andrew's respect among the people and in the army, the emperor ordered the deputy to free
Andrew to freedom and to seek another opportunity and another reason (not his faith) and then to kill him. Through
God's revelation, Andrew learned of the emperor's command and, taking with him his faithful soldiers, 2593 in
number, departed with them to Tarsus in Cilicia and there, all were baptized by Bishop Peter. Persecuted even there
by the imperial authorities, Andrew with his detachment withdrew farther into the Armenian mountain Tavros. Here,
in a ravine while they were at prayer, the Roman army caught up with them and all to the last one were beheaded.
Not one of them even wanted to defend themselves but all were desirous of a martyr's death for Christ. On this spot,
where a stream of the martyr's blood flowed, a spring of healing water erupted which cured many from every
disease. Bishop Peter came secretly with his people and, on the same spot, honorably buried the bodies of the
martyrs. Dying honorably, they were all crowned with the wreath of glory and took up habitation in the Kingdom of
Christ our Lord.

2. THE VENERABLE THEOPHANES

Theophanes was born in Ioannia and, as a young man, left all and went to Mt. Athos where he was tonsured a monk
in the community of Dochiariu. He was an example to all the monks in fasting, prayer, all-night vigils and depriving
himself of all that was unnecessary. In time, and because of this, he was elected as abbot. Later, because of some
misunderstanding with the monks, he left Mt. Athos and, with his nephew, went to Berea [Beroea] in Macedonia
where he established a monastery in honor of the All-holy Theotokos. When this monastery blossomed with the
spiritual life, Theophanes entrusted his nephew to govern it and he went to Naousa where he established another
monastery in honor of the Holy Archangels. Theophanes died peacefully in the fifteenth century. His miracle-
working relics, even now, repose in Naousa and manifest the great power of God.

3. THE HOLY MARTYRS TIMOTHY, AGAPIUS AND THECLA

All three were martyred for Christ during the reign of the wicked Emperor Diocletian. Timothy was burned alive
and Agapius and Thecla were thrown before wild beasts.