Sunday of the Holy Fathers
St. Nicholas Bulletin - June 13, 2021 - Seventh Sunday of Pascha
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Christ is Ascended! Христос Вазнесенија! Χριστός Αναληφθέντες! Cristo ha Ascendido! |
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Guarding the Truth
Homily for the Sunday of the Holy Fathers
from His Emminence, Archbishop Elpidephoros
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Christ is Ascended!
Today we find ourselves in between two great centers of our Faith, Jerusalem and Nicea. Jerusalem, because following the Ascension of Lord, we are waiting with the Disciples in the Jerusalem of the heart, awaiting the promise of the Father, until we are clothed with power from on high.
And we look to Nicea, the See of the First Ecumenical Council and indeed the Seventh Ecumenical Council. But today belongs to the 318 Fathers of the First Council, the Synod that gave unto us the Creed, the Symbol of our Faith.
Like the 318 kinsman of the Prophet Abraham who fought with him to free his nephew, Lot, the 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council fought to liberate our Faith from the errors that denied the truth of the Holy Trinity. Today, in our celebration of the Feasts, we stand between these two great Cities of God: Jerusalem and Nicea. They point to one another in a loving exchange of faith and hope.
Jerusalem has a special significance, for it is the place – the Τόπος of Pilgrimage. It is the place where the experience of the Lord Jesus Christ’s ministry, and the miracles of His Cross, Resurrection, and visible Ascension into Heaven were self-evident to His Disciples. They were αὐτόπται, the eyewitnesses of the Word, as well as His servants. The realities of the Gospel that they experienced and lived were enshrined in their living memory, and we are the inheritors of this memory, not only through the Scripture, but through the ἂγραφα – the unwritten tradition of the Church.
But this precious memory of the Eyewitnesses of the Lord was not always kept pure and unalloyed. As the generations marched on, there emerged those who challenged the Church’s experience of Christ. The Beloved Disciple John says of such as these:
“They went forth from us, but they were not of us; for if they were of us, they would have abided with us, but [they went forth] in order to show that all of them were not of us.”
Even at this very early stage of the Church’s development in history, before the passing of the last Apostle, it is very clear that there were those who emerged from the Church with alternative doctrines that were adopted by many. But these doctrines were not based in the experience of our Lord Jesus Christ; only in conceptions and speculation about Him. They were not based in the message that the Father gave to His Son, which He then gave to His Disciples. This direct and inspired teaching to the Disciples forms the basis for the realization of the truth of who our Lord Jesus Christ really is, and all pure belief derives from this experiential realization.
That is why what commenced in Jerusalem did not stop there. The Lord said about His Disciples:
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
This was to be the Day of Pentecost, that is coming to us next Sunday. And from that first Pentecost to the present day, the Church has preserved the pure Faith of Christ intact.
That is why we celebrate the great city of Nicea on this Sunday. Nearly three-hundred years after the Descent of the Holy Spirit on that first Pentecost Sunday, that same power of the Holy Spirit was manifest at the First Ecumenical Council. The Fathers of the Church, convened by Saint Constantine himself in Nicea, came together to confirm the Church’s experience of the Living God, which is the same as the experience of the Disciples who were the eyewitnesses of the Lord.
Therefore, my beloved Christians, let us rejoice and be glad in the blesséd 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, who codified the Symbol of our Faith – later augmented at the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople. At every Divine Liturgy we affirm our faith in Christ, the faith of the Church when we say: “Πιστέυω – I believe!”
Through the past few months, this affirmation has been tested, but like gold from the furnace, we will come out of this pandemic with a more refined and pure understanding, based more on a living experience than habit.
Through the prayers of the 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea, may we always hold to the true faith that shone forth from Jerusalem, and may we share this faith to uttermost part of the earth. Amen.
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Commemorating Apostle Hermas of the Seventy, Martyr Hermias at Comana, Martyr Philosophus at Alexandria, New Martyr Philosophus of St Petersburg, Metropolitan Philotheos of Tobolsk Enlightener of Siberia, St Apollonios of the Egyptian Thebaid
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 6
The angelic powers were at Your tomb; the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Your grave, seeking Your most pure body. You took captive hell, not being tempted by it. You came to the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, Who rose from the dead, glory to You.
ASCENSION TROPARION—TONE 4
You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, granting joy to Your Disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing, they were assured, that You are the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world!
HOLY FATHERS TROPARION—TONE 8
You are most glorious, O Christ our God! You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth. Through them You have guided us to the true Faith. O greatly compassionate One, glory to You!
HOLY FATHERS KONTAKION — TONE 8
The Apostles’ preaching and the Fathers’ doctrines have established one Faith for the Church. Adorned with the robe of truth, woven from heavenly theology, it defines and glorifies the great mystery of piety.
ASCENSION KONTAKION —TONE 6
When You had fulfilled the dispensation for our sake, and united earth to heaven, You ascended in glory, O Christ our God, not being parted from those who love You, but remaining with them and crying: “I am with you, and there is no one against you!”
Instead of “It is Truly Meet…” - Tone 5
Magnify, O my soul, Christ the Giver of Life, Who has ascended from earth to heaven!
We magnify you, the Mother of God, who beyond reason and understanding gave birth in
time to the Timeless One.
Instead of “We have seen the True Light…” The ASCENSION TROPARION—TONE 4
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Lenny Tepsich Epistle: Grant Govelovich
Matins Next Week: Milan Radanovic Epistle Next Week: Natalija Gligorevic
EPISTLE: Acts 16: 16-34
EPISTLE: Acts 20: 16-18, 28-36
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Fourth Tone: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
CHOIR: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
READER: v: For You are just in all that You have done for us!
CHOIR: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
READER: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers ...
CHOIR: … and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, for Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: The Lord, the God of gods, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Gather to Me, My venerable ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Дјела Ап. 20: 16-18, 28-36
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 4 Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Хор: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Читач: Јер си праведан у свему што си учинио за нас.
Хор: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Читач: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших,
Хор: и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: читање из књиге дјела апостолских
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, y дане оне, Павле одлучи да прође мимо Ефес да се не би задржао у Азији; јер хиташе, ако би му било могуће, да о Педесетници буде у Јерусалиму. Из Милита пак посла у Ефес и дозва старјешине црквене. И кад дођоше к њему, рече им: Ви знате од првога дана када дођох у Азију, да бијах са вама све вријеме, пазите, дакле, на себе и на све стадо у коме вас Дух Свети постави за епископе да напасате Цркву Господа и Бога коју стече крвљу својом. Јер ја знам то да ће по одласку моме ући међу вас грабљиви вуци који не штеде стада; И између вас самих устаће људи који ће говорити наопако да одвлаче ученике за собом. Зато пазите и опомињите се да три године дан и ноћ не престајах поучавати са сузама свакога од вас. А од сада, браћо, предајем вас Богу и ријечи благодати његове, која може назидати и дати вам насљедство међу свима освећенима. Сребра, или злата, или руха, ни од кога не зажељех. Сами знате да потребама мојим и оних који су са мном били послужише ове руке моје. Све вам показах да се тако ваља трудити и помагати немоћнима, и опомињати се ријечи Господа Исуса коју он рече: Блаженије је давати него примати. И ово рекавши, клече на кољена своја са свима њима и помоли се Богу.
Читач: I Духом Твоме! Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Бог над боговима, Господ, говори и дозива земљу од истока сунчанога до запада.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Сакупите ми свеце моје који су учинили са мном завјет на жртвама
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
John 17: 1-13
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Јован 17: 1-13
Тада Исус подиже очи своје небу и рече: Оче, дошао је час, прослави Сина својега, да и Син твој прослави тебе; Као што си му дао власт над сваким тијелом, да свему што си му дао, дарује им живот вјечни. А ово је вјечни живот да познају тебе једнога истинитога Бога и кога си послао Исуса Христа. Ја те прославих на земљи; дјело сврших које си ми дао да извршим. И сада прослави ти мене, Оче, у тебе самога, славом коју имадох у тебе прије него свијет постаде. Објавих име твоје људима које си ми дао од свијета; твоји бијаху па си их мени дао, и твоју су ријеч одржали. Сад разумјеше да је све што си ми дао од тебе. Јер ријечи које си ми дао, дао сам њима: и они примише, и познаше заиста да од тебе изиђох, и вјероваше да ме ти посла. Ја се за њих молим, не молим се за свијет, него за оне које си ми дао, јер су твоји. И све моје твоје је, и твоје моје; и прославио сам се у њима. И више нисам у свијету. а они су у свијету, и ја долазим теби. Оче свети, сачувај их у име твоје, оне које си ми дао, да буду једно као ми. Док бијах с њима у свијету, ја их чувах у име твоје; оне које си ми дао сачувах; и нико од њих не погибе осим сина погибли, да се испуни Писмо. А сада долазим теби, и ово говорим на свијету, да имају радост моју испуњену у себи.
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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June Birthdays
Nikolas Lukic (June 1), Kolton Myers (June 2), Danica Mitrovic (June 2), Theodore Havalchak (June 3), Linda Wolf (June 4), Nora Van Huysen (June 5), Danilo Yanich (June 6), Marie Hernjak (June 6), Luke Jacobs (June 8), Jim Martin (June 9), Guiliana Bracale (June 10), Kyranna Radanovic (June 11), Jimmy Hernjak (June 11), Russell Heilman (June 13), Baylor Hook (June 13), Braydon Fithian (June 16), Xenia Grabbe (June 20), Aleksandar Bracale (June 20), Brian Lewis Jr (June 22), Cayden Healy (June 26), Michael Krnjaic (June 26), Matthew Hoover (June 28), Wayln Heilman (June 28)
June Anniversaries
Dr. James & Liliya Moses (June 1), Brian & Nikki Lewis (June 4), Mike & Terra Heilman (June 4), Fr Christopher & Popadija Andreja (June 13), Mike & Janet Krnjaic (June 14), Nick & Carole Blitva (June 16), Meghan & Brad Livingston (June 25), Mike & Samantha Stefan
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SUMMER SERVICE SCHEDULE
As we will continue to have the doors of the Church open during services, Matins will begin at 8am followed by Divine Liturgy at 9am.
PARASTOS FOR ST. NICHOLAS DEPARTED
Saturday morning, June 19 at 9:00am, we will sing a Parastos for all of the departed faithful from our St. Nicholas parish. We will then bless graves at Churchville, Baldwin and Woodlawn Cemeteries. If you would like to be there when your family graves are blessed, please come to the Parastos and make arrangements with Father Chris.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FELLOWSHIP HOUR
We are asking for volunteers to make coffee and provide refreshments after liturgy. Please sign up in the Lobby after Church, or contact the office during the week.
SERB PARK CLEAN-UP
We will begin our Serb Park clean-up on Saturday, June 26. Meet at the park at 9am to help clear debris (sticks and leaves, etc.), clean the kitchen and bathrooms, and other necessary tasks. God-willing, in July, we will have an in-person picnic!
CHURCH HALL USAGE
The Church Hall is once again available for parishioner use. Schedule your event with Daria Milletics or Fr. Chris to check for availability.
JUNE 27 BULLETIN REQUESTS
Please have bulletin request in by Thursday, June 18 for the June 27 bulletin.
SOTAYA BURGER SALE IS BACK!
On June 20th after Holy Liturgy, SOTAYA will be selling jumbo burger meals. Come and see us outside the church (weather permitting) or in the kitchen to get your meal. You may enjoy the meal in the social hall, bring a chair and enjoy it outside, or take some home. We hope to see you all, this is a once a year deal and we don’t want you to miss it!!
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS MEETING
The Seniors next meeting will be Tuesday, September 14, 2021. This will be our first meeting since February 2020. We will have the meeting in the Church Social Hall and it will be our indoor picnic. Further information will be sent closer to the September date.
SERBIAN/AMERICAN CLUB 2021 DUES
Peggy Radanovic is collecting club dues once again. Please mail your dues to her at her new address (203 Community Circle, Palmyra 17078) or here at church. You may call her with questions at 717-641-4249. Dues are $5 for the year.
ST NICHOLAS SENIORS 2021 DUES
JoAnn Filepas is collecting 2021 dues for the St Nicholas Seniors. Please mail your dues to her at (7054 Red Top Road, Harrisburg 17111). Dues are $5 for the year.
HOME MASSAGE THERAPY
Heather Dockery, our recently newly-illumined convert, is a licensed massage therapist and is offering free 30 home chair massages for all ages to parishioners. The massage would focus on the head, neck, shoulders and back. Reflexology (foot massage) and cranial sacral (head massage) are available as well. Call Heather to set up an appointment at 340.643.9800 or email at tresorvi@gmail.com. While not necessary, tips are appreciated!
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June Charity
OCCGH
The Orthodox Christian Charities of Greater Harrisburg, Inc. (OCCGH,) was formed in October of 2009 as a non-profit organization comprised of clergy and faithful from five local Orthodox Churches of the greater Harrisburg metropolitan area. Our goal is to provide opportunities for the citizens of the greater Harrisburg area to come into contact with Orthodoxy, to serve as an educational support to our local parishes, and to develop projects that witness to our Faith, as well as provide financial assistance to organizations and individuals who are in need.
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Sermon on the Ascension of the Lord
from St. Nicholai of Žiča, Ochrid and All America
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Thus did the One ascend to Heaven Who held heaven within Himself. He who carries hell within himself will end up in hell, but he who bears heaven within his soul will ascend to heaven. And truly, no one can ascend to heaven other than those who have heaven within; and no one can end up in hell besides those who have hell within. The familiar is drawn to what is familiar and unites with the familiar; but it rejects what is not familiar. Matter submits to the spirit to the extent that the human soul is filled with the Divine Spirit; and the laws of nature are obedient to moral laws, which govern the world. Because the Lord Jesus Christ is the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the perfection of moral law, to Him is subject all matter—the entire physical world, with all the laws of nature.
Any person, as a spirit, can be victorious in his life over a certain law of nature, with the help of another law of nature—that is, he can overcome it with his own spirit. Christ, as the God-Man, could subject the laws of nature to Himself through the law of the Spirit, which is the supreme law of the created world. However, this concept, just as any other spiritual concept, can be but partially explained by ordinary earthly conceptualizations and reasoning—and that only by examples and comparisons.
Spiritual things only become clear beyond a doubt when the spirit sees them and perceives them. In order to see and feel the manifestations of the spiritual world, long and exhausting spiritual practice is needed, after which, by God’s grace, spiritual vision may be opened in a person; this vision allows him to see what seems unbelievable and impossible to ordinary mortals. Nevertheless, a person must first believe those who have seen the unbelievable, and strengthen their faith from day to day, striving to see what is inaccessible to the common gaze.
Not in vain does the Lord say, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” [John 20:29]. The Lord God rejoices in their faith just as a father on earth rejoices that his children believe his every word. All the apostles were present at the Ascension of the Lord, gathered on the hill. This was their last collective meeting. However, this was not the last appearance of Christ. Later He appeared in a vision to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos, and to other apostles, as well as to martyrs, holy hierarchs, and confessors, over the course of the entire history of the Christian Church.
But the day will come—and that day is not far off—when all the righteous men and women who firmly believed in Him throughout their lives will see Him. And around Him in the heaven will gather all those who were baptized on earth in His name—not only with water, but also with the Spirit and Fire. And they will enter into His joy, which the Heavenly Father has prepared for all His chosen, and will inherit a joy that they have never known before.
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