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

Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω

τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ
Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to

burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free
us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be
to Thee.

Ἡ πρώην οὐ τίκτουσα, στεῖρα εὐφράνθητι· ἰδοὺ γὰρ συνέλαβες,

Ἡλίου λύχνον σαφῶς, φωτίζειν τὸν μέλλοντα, πᾶσαν τὴν
οἰκουμένην, ἀβλεψίαν νοσοῦσαν, χόρευε Ζαχαρία, ἐκβοῶν
παρρησίᾳ, Προφήτης τοῦ Ὑψίστου ἐστίν, ὁ μέλλων τίκτεσθαι.

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.

ΚΟΝΤΑΚΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

Προστασία τών Χριστιανών ακαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρός τόν Ποιητήν αμετάθετε, Μή παρίδης
αμαρτωλών δεήσεων φωνάς, αλλά πρόφθασον, ώς αγαθή, εις τήν βοήθειαν ημών, τών πιστώς
κραυγαζόντων σοι. Τάχυνον εις πρεσβείαν, καί σπεύσον εις ικεσίαν, η προστατεύουσα αεί,
Θεοτόκε, τών τιμώντων σε.

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.

1st Sunday of st luke

The Conception of St. John the Baptist, Xanthippe & Polyxene the Righteous
John the New Martyr of Epiros
September 23rd, 2018
 Today’s scripture readings
Epistle reading
St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 4:22-27
Psalm 63.11,1
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

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."

Gospel pericope
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.
 Announcements
Wed. Sept. 26th: Falling Asleep of St. John the Theologian, Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:30am

Outreach to our college students: in an effort to keep our youth who have moved on to college connected
at some level with church we have decided to send “care packages” to them throughout the academic
year. To that point, we are in need of your students’ mailing addresses! Please see Halina or Father, or
email church at office@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org. Thank you for your assistance in this new
endeavor1
Important Choir Rehearsals Scheduled: in anticipation of our new Metropolitan’s imminent visit, there
were will choir rehearsals scheduled on Monday evenings Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 at 7pm. PLEASE plan on
attending to finetune our participation within the complicatedly beautiful Hierarchal Divine Liturgy.
Sunday School has begun: Please be mindful that our Sunday School children must be allowed to
receive Holy Communion first before the remaining faithful, this affords them most time in an actual
catechetical environment.

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.
 Today’s liturgical commemorations
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).

STS. XANTHIPPE AND POLYXENE: The Monastic Women Xanthippe

and Polyxene were sisters by birth and they lived in Spain in the time of the
holy Apostles. They were among the first to hear the divine teaching of
Christ the Savior from the holy Apostle Paul, when he preached in their
land. Saint Xanthippe and her husband Probus accepted Christianity, but
Saint Polyxene was still a pagan when a certain man became entranced with
her extraordinary beauty and forcibly carried her off to Greece on a ship.
The Lord preserved her unharmed. On the voyage, the saint heard the
preaching of the holy Apostle Peter and believed in Christ. When she
arrived in Greece, Saint Polyxene turned to the Christians for protection and
defense and they hid her in the city of Patra in Achaia, where she formally
accepted Christianity and was baptized by the holy Apostle Andrew the
First-Called himself. She became a witness to his miracles, and how he
patiently and humbly endured his sufferings and death. She stood at the
cross upon which they crucified the holy Apostle Andrew. After his martyric death, Saint Polyxene
returned to Spain, where she and her older sister Xanthippe converted many pagans to Christ. Saint
Polyxene toiled for about forty years preaching the Gospel in Spain. Saint Xanthippe shared in her sister’s
work and preached in the populous city of Toledo. Saint Polyxene reposed in about the year 109, having
preserved her virginity to the end of her earthly life.

ST IRAIDA OF ALEXANDRIA: The Holy Martyr Iraida lived at Alexandria. Once, she went to a well
to draw water and saw a ship at the shore. On board were a large number of men, women, clergy and
monks, all fettered in chains for their confession of the Christian Faith. Casting aside her water pitcher,
the saint voluntarily joined the prisoners for Christ, and fetters were placed on her, too. When the ship
arrived in the Egyptian city of Antipolis, Saint Iraida was the first to undergo fierce torments and was
beheaded with the sword. After her, the other martyrs sealed their confession of faith in Christ with their
blood.