Se rvin g the Orthodo x Christian Co m m un ity o f Gre ate r Cle ve lan d. St. Ge o rge An tio chian Orthodo x Christian Church

Transcription

1 St Ge o rge An tio chian Orthodo x Christian Church Sunday of the Canaanite Woman Se rvin g the Orthodo x Christian Co m m un ity o f Gre ate r Cle ve lan d

2 St George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church 2587 West 14 th Street Cleveland, OH Metropolitan Arch-Bishop PHILIP SALIBA, Primate His Grace, Bishop MARK, Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest Very Rev Fr John Ojaimi, Pastor Home: (440) Cellular: (440) Rev Archdeacon Yarid Sahley Sub-Deacons: Sam Elias, & Labib El-Bardawil Website: stgeorgeclevelandcom Sunday, February 1, 2009 Pre-Presentation of Our Lord into the Temple, Sunday of the Canaanite Woman On this day we commemorate: Martyr Tryphon of Syria; Martyr Perpetus of Carthage and her four companions; Basil the Confessor, archbishop of Thessalonika; New martyr Anastasios of Anapios; Venerable David and Simon; Venerable Bridget of Ireland We welcome our visitors and guests! Please let us know who you are! While only Orthodox Christians prepared through confession & fasting may come for Holy Communion, everyone is welcome to partake of the Holy Bread after Liturgy Bread of Oblation, Trisagion Wheat & Coffee Hour are offered for the repose of the soul and in beloved memory of Marie El Richani (40 days) by her Sons Souheil & Nagi El Richani and their families Bread of Oblation and Trisagion Wheat are also be offered for the repose of the soul and in beloved memory of Wadad Seoud (40 days) by George Seoud and family Bread of Oblation is offered for the health, safety & spiritual welfare of Josephine Nehme, Malek & Mariam Saliba by the Charbel Saliba family Bread of Oblation is also offered for the repose of the soul and in beloved memory of Uncle Kemel Afif by the Elias Saliba family Prayers for the Health & Spiritual Welfare of: Houda Abdelkarim, Melissa Blank Aboid, Tommy Amato, Mary Assad, Naissef & Rita Courey, George & Mary Dawed, Dee DeGeorge, Ann Deeb, Emilie Easa, James Eassey, Helena Elias, Sarah Elias, Vera Elias, Norman Fadil, Peter Farage, AnneMarie, Dave & Altair Gann, Minerva Gantose, Leo & Christine George, Peter George, Pauline Hanna, Ava Harb, Samia Harb, Yasmine Harb, Lauren Ameen Hayek, George Karim, Marwan Karim, Hanadi Khouri, Helen Lambert, Eleanor McKibben, Joyce & Marie Nader, Kaukab Nader, Virginia Nader, Mary Namy, Nijmeh Rafeedie, Paul Saba, Jennie Sadallah, Christopher Fadel-Samuel, George Sarkes, Betty Selby, Alice Shiekh, Alvera Shiekh, Linda Simon, Helen Thomas, Georgine Trombetto, & Asma Zaboura

3 Candles are offered for the Health, Safety & Spiritual Welfare of: George & Joie Haddad (Anniversary Prayers) by Brien, Amy, Aliya, Elek & Khalil McDonald & Lora, Tom and Jordan Crossgrove George Haddad (Receovery) by Brien, Amy, Aliya, Elek & Khalil McDonald & Lora, Tom & Jordan Crossgrove Chad Gluss by Greg, Lauren, Alana & Adam Caraboolad Joan Haddad by Greg, Lauren, Alana & Adam Caraboolad Josephine Nehme, Malek & Mariam Saliba by the Charbel Saliba family Candles offered for the Repose of the Servants of God: Laila Nader by her children and grandchildren Edward Fadel by his wife, Rita & family Wadia Ameen by his wife Mary & family Mounir Nader by Hani & Marie Nader & family Maggie, Edma & Elias Aboumrad by George & Nayla Aboumrad & family UPCOMING DIVINE SERVICE Sunday, February 8, :30AM Divine 10:30AM Announcements The new website for St George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of Cleveland, Ohio it now available for stgeorgeclevelandcom Our Annual Parish Meeting was postponed to Sunday February 08, 2009 following Divine Liturgy St George Liturgical Choir PLEASE join us in singing praises to God Contact Milan, the choir director, Charlie Haddad, Choir Chairman or George Shiekh if interested in joining Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30PM St George Teens & Sunday School children will meet each Sunday following Communion The Teens Retreat & Basketball Tournament February 6 8, Cherry Ave NE Canton, Ohio Wall of Remembrances: There are still spaces available for you to remember someone in your family or a good friend It may be a wish for health & safety, someone who has gone to eternal rest, or just a wish of love Let us complete this wall as a tribute to our families Please see Deacon Yarid for details

4 Liturgical Page for Sunday, February 1, 2009 Little Entrance TROPARION Tone 8 From the heights Thou didst descend, O compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the threeday burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee The Entrance Hymn(Eisodikon): O come let us worship and fall down before Christ, O Son of God, who art risen from the dead, save us who sing unto thee: Alleluia After the Entrance we chant: TROPARION Tone 8 From the heights Thou didst descend, O compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the threeday burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our Life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee Troparion of Fore-Feast of Christ s Presentation Tone 1 The Heavens choirs looked down from the vaults of the Heavens, and gazing on the earth, they beheld with amazement the First-born of all creation brought forth as a suckling babe to the Temple by a pure and virginal mother; and with us, they now do sing a hymn for the Fore-feast, astonished and full of awe Troparion of St Tryphon Tone 4 Thy martyr, Tryphon, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons strengthless presumption O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful Troparion of St George Tone 4 As deliver of captives and defender of the poor, healer of the infirm, champion of kings, victorius great martyr George, intercede with Christ our God, for our souls salvation Kontakion of the Presentation of our Lord Tone 1 Thou, O Christ God, who by thy Birth, didst sanctify the Virgin's womb, and, as is meet, didst bless Simeon's arms, and didst also come to save us; preserve thy fold in wars, and confirm them whom thou didst love, for thou alone art the Lover of mankind The Trisagion Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us

5 Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages of ages Amen Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us Dynamis! (With Strength) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us The Megalynarion: It is truly meet to call thee Blessed, Lady Theotokos; Lady ever greatly blessed, and most perfect in innocence, and the Mother of our God Lady more precious than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond all measure than the Seraphim That without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, and art truly Theotokos We magnify thee The Koinonikon Praise ye the Lord from the Heavens; praise ye Him in the highest Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia Post-Communion We have seen the true light; we have received the heavenly Spirit We have found the true Faith Worshipping the undivided Trinity; for he hath saved us Great Dismissal "May He Who rose again from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His allimmaculate and all-blameless holy Mother, Through the prayers" The Life of the Saints The Martyr Tryphon was born in Phrygia, one of the districts of Asia Minor, in the village of Lampsacus From his early years the Lord granted him the power to cast out demons and to heal various maladies He once saved the inhabitants of his native city from starvation St Tryphon, by the power of his prayer, turned back a plague of locusts that were devouring the grain and devastating the fields St Tryphon gained particular fame by casting out an evil spirit from the daughter of the Roman emperor Gordian ( ) Helping everyone in distress, he asked only one thing from them: faith in Jesus Christ, by Whose grace he healed them When the emperor Decius ( ) assumed the imperial throne, he began a fierce persecution of Christians Someone reported to the commander Aquilinus that St Tryphon was boldly preaching faith in Christ,

6 and that he led many to Baptism The saint was arrested and subjected to interrogation, during which he fearlessly confessed his faith He was subjected to harsh tortures: they beat him with clubs, raked his body with iron hooks, they scorched his flesh with fire, and led him through the city, after iron nails were hammered into his feet St Tryphon bravely endured all the torments without complaint Finally, he was condemned to beheading with a sword The holy martyr prayed before his execution, thanking God for strengthening him in his sufferings He also asked the Lord to bless those who should call upon his name for help Just as the soldiers raised the sword over the head of the holy martyr, he surrendered his soul into the hands of God This event occurred in the city of Nicea in the year 250 Christians wrapped the holy body of the martyr in a clean shroud and wanted to bury him in the city of Nicea, where he suffered, but St Tryphon in a vision commanded them to take his body to his native land to the village of Lampsada Later on, the relics of St Tryphon were transferred to Constantinople, and then to Rome In Russia, St Tryphon is regarded as the patron saint of birds There is a story that when Tsar Ivan the Terrible was out hunting, his falconer carelessly allowed the Tsar s favorite falcon to fly away The Tsar ordered the falconer Tryphon Patrikeiev to find the bird within three days, or else he would be put to death Tryphon searched all through the forest, but without luck On the third day, exhausted by long searching, he returned to Moscow to the place called Marinaya Grove Overcome with weariness, he lay down to rest, fervently praying to his patron saint, the Martyr Tryphon, for help In a dream he saw a youth on a white horse, holding the Tsar s falcon on his hand The youth said, Take the lost bird, go to the Tsar and do not grieve When he awakened, the falconer actually spotted the falcon on a pine tree He took it to the Tsar and told him about the miraculous help he received from the holy Martyr Tryphon Grateful to St Tryphon for saving his life, Tryphon Patrikeiev built a chapel on the spot where the saint appeared Later on, he also built a church dedicated to the holy Martyr Tryphon in Moscow The holy martyr is greatly venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as the heavenly protector of Moscow Many Russian icons depict the saint holding a falcon on his arm

7 Epistle (For Tryphon of Syria) In the Saints that are in His earth hath the Lord wrought wonders Bless ye God in the congregations The Reading from the Epistle of St Paul to the Romans (8:28-39) Brethren, we know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the first-born among many brethren And those whom He predestined He also called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He Who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also give us all things with Him? Who shall bring any charge against God s elect? It is God Who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, Who died, yes, Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God, Who indeed intercedes for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Gospel Matthew 15:21-28 (17 th of Matthew) At that time, Jesus went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon But He did not answer her a word And His disciples came and begged him, saying, Send her away, for she is crying after us Jesus answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel But she came and knelt before Him, saying, Lord, help me And He answered, It is not fair to take the children s bread and throw it to the dogs She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire And her daughter was healed instantly

8 Romans (8:28-39) »: « ! «! 22»: Matthew 15:21-28 (17 th of Matthew)»:!» :»: 26»: «!»: «28»: ««! ««! 21 25

9 Beloved sisters and Brothers The Feast of Presentation of Our Lord into the Temple February 2 We all witnessed a baby churching service, but only few know that the root of that beautiful service and its prayer are related to the feast of the presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple which we celebrate on February second every year The Old Testament law prescribed that a first male child be dedicated in a special way to the Lord The custom dated back when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt after the ten plagues that God had sent on the Egyptians The last plague involved the death of every first-born male child in each Egyptian household The children of the Israelites were spared by the blood of the lamb sprinkled at the door In memory of this salvation, the Israelites dedicated every such child in a temple ceremony forty days after birth The ceremony also included ceremonial purification of the mother after childbirth Christ was the first-born male child in the household of the Virgin Mary According to the law, and 40 days after the birth, pious Joseph and St Mary took the child to the Temple in order to consecrate him to the Lord They offered two turtledoves or young pigeons The Church always saw a bit of irony in the offering that Mary and Joseph made because it was usually a year-old lamb that was to be offered, but if one could not afford that then two turtledoves would do The Church saw the irony in that it was truly the Lamb of God that Mary and Joseph brought to the Temple A priest of the temple performed the ceremony of dedication and presentation of Christ The presentation then is a celebration of consecration Jesus was consecrated already to His Father He came to do His Father s will Why did He undergo this consecration if it was not to show us that He truly would be a man like us in all things but sin? So it was that He was born (as we were all born) of a woman, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary On the eighth day after His birth, He was also circumcised according to the Law of Moses, again to identify as closely as possible with our frail sinful humanity Now He is presented in the Temple: consecrated, dedicated to God by His mother and His foster father Later on, as He began His public life, He would again identify with us by undergoing the baptism of repentance of John in the waters of the Jordan But chiefly He would identify with our sinful humanity by His death on the cross That death would bring life Jesus is now brought to the Temple by Mary and Joseph to be consecrated according to the Mosaic Law Just as you and I undergo a kind of consecration, so did He But our consecration is much deeper and greater than this because you and I have been consecrated to the Lord in the sacrament

10 of Baptism We are then brought to maturity in Confirmation We were dedicated to the Lord to do the Lord s work through and with and in Christ as members of His Mystical Body Most people who are Christians have been consecrated in this way Other people are consecrated in a special way according to their vocations Some people, men and women, consecrate their lives entirely and totally to God as monks and nuns They choose to give up this world It would be as if they had already died and live in community a new life that would foreshadow the life of eternal bliss in heaven We, as priests and deacons, are also consecrated in the ordained ministry We have another task and that is to bring as many souls as possible to Jesus Christ We stand here at the altar on your behalf to offer the sacrifice of Christ to our heavenly Father We conclude all of us have been consecrated in Baptism and Confirmation In some way we have been presented to God and to the church And we ve been presented with all your stuff, whether we rooted for the Browns or the Patriots, whether we re theological or practical, Democrat or Republican, intellectual or intuitive, whether we re more comfortable in Spanish, English, or in Arabic; with all that stuff, some of it revelatory, a lot of it just the plain old stuff or who you are and who any of us is, with all that earthly thoughts, feelings and passions we ve been presented to God and to the church, with someone having the confidence to say, Ah yes, here we see the possibility of God s light shining forth for the Israel of the church and for the wider world And we ve all presented ourselves In some way we ve said, Yes, that s the call Yes, that s the Spirit s moving in my life Yes, that s how I long to serve God and God s people We ve started a New Year, a lot of things have happened for a many of us since Christmas and New Year celebration, Changes happen quickly in this world In the midst of all of it, the small things and the big things on this Feast of the Presentation, I say this to you: Trust in your presentation Draw strength from those who had the vision to present you Stay centered in how you have presented yourself to God and to the church With Paul, I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship Amen

11 PROPER CHURCH ETIQUETTE Enter into His sanctuary with thanksgiving and into His Courts with praise (Psalm 100) We respectfully request that there be no unnecessary talking or noise during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy This is the House of God and it is incumbent upon every one of us to show all due respect to the One we have gathered to worship and for whom the Church exists Please make an effort to clean up after yourselves following Divine Liturgy Do not leave bulletins and bread in your seat or on the floor There are certain times during the Divine Liturgy when one should refrain from entering the Church out of respect for God and the worship of His people They are: During the Trisagion Hymn During the Epistle and Gospel readings During the Cherubic Hymn and Great Entrance During the Creed During The Anaphora ( Let us stand aright through Especially our all-holy Lady ) During Holy Communion one should remain standing throughout the distribution of the gifts If you have already received Holy Communion, please avail yourself of the Prayers of Thanksgiving which begin on Page 128 of the red prayer book while you wait for everyone else to receive Thank you for your cooperation and may God bless you richly during our liturgical celebration today and throughout the year **ATTENTION GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS** The Lebanese-Syrian Junior Women's League will again be awarding scholarships to young men and women of Lebanese & Syrian descent residing in the greater Cleveland area The application process begins on January 31st High school seniors should request applications from their guidance counselors College students can request applications by contacting Scholarship Chair Antoinette Wendzicki at LSJWLscholarship@gmailcom or All applications MUST be received by March 31st ATTENTION OUR YOUNG ADULT GROUP 1- Below is information regarding an opportunity for a pilgrimage to Russia? Registration is now open for the National Young Adult Pilgrimage to Russia!

12 Space is limited to 35 young adults and will be on a first-come, first-served basis The registration package price of $ (plus $22500 air taxes) includes round trip international airfare to/from New York's JFK Airport to Moscow, train from Moscow to St Petersburg, airfare from St Petersburg to Moscow, six full days of sightseeing, all bus trips, transfers, entrance fees, hotels (double occupancy), and daily breakfasts and lunches Deposit must be received by February 13, 2009! For more information please visit wwwyouthgoarchorgor contact us at Join other young adults from across the country in this unique spiritual and educational journey! Stroll down timeless roads and explore ancient locales of Russia, land of striking beauty, diversity, and magnificent capitals The journey begins with the historic city of Moscow, the heartland of former Imperial Russia, ancient Russian churches and the beautiful Kremlin, and continues on to St Petersburg, the most European of all Russian cities, today one of the most important cultural, scientific, and industrial cities in Russia Today Russia is a nation of diversity and tremendous vitality Cultural traditions of a great country have re-awakened with a newfound strength Ancient architectural monuments and cathedrals neglected and ruined in Soviet times are being rebuilt and restored Come and see what this incredible country has to offer! = 2- The Monthly Orthodox Young Adult Gathering Friday, February 20 St Nicholas Orthodox Church 9650 Johnnycake Ridge Rd Mentor, OH Program 7:00 pm Vespers Pizza & Salad Brief Talk by Fr Andrew Fellowship & Game Night RSVP frandrew@saintnicholas-ocaorg

13 MONASTERY EVENING TUES FEB PM MONASTERY MARCHA 5095 BROADVIEW RD RICHFIELD V REV FR JOHN OJAIMI ST EPHRAM THE SYRIAN HIS PRAYER SPIRITUAL LOYALTY ST GEORGE PARISH COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR DATE & TIME SPONSORED BY EVENT Feb 7:00PM Antiochian Women monthly meeting at Church, The Crepe Party Feb 14 Church School VALENTINE PARTY Feb 21 Church School PREPARATION OF FOOD/ /CARDS FOR SHUT-INS Month of March Antiochian Women LADIES MONTH/USHER & READ EPISTLE February Antiochian Women meeting April 12 Church School PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION W/BANNERS April 16@6:30pm Church School HOLY THURSDAY WASHING OF THE FEET April Parish Council SAINT GEORGE WEEKEND April 25 Church School PLAY /PRESENTATION St George Weekend May Antiochian Women HOLY CHEFS COOK OFF August Antiochian Women ST MARY S DAY DINNER June 6 Church School HUNTINGTON BEACH PARK July Midwest Diocese Parish Life Conference, is hosted by St James Antiochian Orthodox Sheraton Cincinnati North Hotel, Chester Rd Cincinnati, Ohio, To reserve call the or log on wwwstjameslovelandorg

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15 Spring Delegate Meeting and Clergy Gathering Wednesday February 25, Council of Presbyters Meeting 1 pm Vespers 6 pm followed by Dinner Thursday 7 am Orthros and 6 pm Vespers and Friday, Divine Liturgy 7 am for St Raphael of Brooklyn ---- Clergy Seminar Friday and Saturday Fellowship of St John, Antiochian Women and Teen SOYO gatherings Our Hotel Breckinridge Inn (not toll free) $6800 including taxes and breakfast Reserve under St Michael or St John The Spring Gathering is Hosted by The V Rev Alexander Atty and the faithful of St Michael the Archangel 3701 St Michael Church Drive, Louisville, KY (502)

16 REGISTRATION Room Rate: $99 with FREE parking H OT EL Chester Road Cincinnati, Ohio USA Special offers reservations: Phone: Fax: