ST. NICHOLAS ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross. September 16, 2018

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1 ST. NICHOLAS ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross Great-Martyr Euphemia the All-Praised September 16, 2018 CLERGY His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York & Metropolitan of all North America His Grace Bishop ANTHONY, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest V. Rev. Fr. Michael Nasser, Pastor of St. Nicholas V. Rev. Fr. Elias Mitchell, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Archdeacon David Khorey Rev. Deacon Justin Adolphson Rev. Deacon Clement Nicoloff Subdeacon Nicholas Rock 2250 East Paris Ave, Grand Rapids, MI

2 WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS Thank you for attending today s Divine Liturgy. Please register your visit by completing the guest book located on the table in the narthex. We would appreciate getting to meet you, so feel free to join us for refreshments & fellowship in the Cultural Center. We believe Holy Communion to be a sign that in Christ we have all things in common, share an identical faith, and are united fully to the Orthodox Church. Anyone interested in learning more about our faith is encouraged to speak with one of our clergy. Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting, & regular confession are welcome to receive Holy Communion. WHO WE ARE St. Nicholas is a worshipping community in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian tradition that preserves, proclaims, and practices the Faith given by Christ to the Apostles, serving Him, one another and our neighbors. We manifest His love through sacramental and liturgical life, education, hospitality, works of mercy, and fellowship. We would love to share more about our Orthodox Faith with you. Our website and our bookstore are great resources to assist you in learning more about us and what we believe! Also, feel free to make an appointment with our pastor. We trust that you will experience Christ s presence as you worship with us today.

3 HYMNS AND READINGS OF THE DAY HYMNS RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION (TONE 7) Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy. APOLYTIKION OF THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS (TONE 1) O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, granting to Thy people victory over all their enemies, and by the power of Thy Cross preserving Thy commonwealth. APOLYTIKION OF ST. EUPHEMIA (TONE 4) O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy. APOLYTIKION OF ST. NICHOLAS Thy work of justice did show thee to thy congregation a canon of faith, the likeness of humility, a teacher of abstinence, O Father Bishop Nicholas. Wherefore, by humility thou didst achieve exaltation, and by meekness richness. Intercede, therefore, with Christ to save our soul. KONTAKION OF THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS (TONE 4) Do Thou, Who of Thine own good will was lifted up upon the Cross, O Christ our God, bestow Thy bounties upon the new Nation which is called by Thy Name; make glad in Thy might those who lawfully govern, that with them we may be led to victory over our adversaries, having in Thine aid a weapon of peace and a trophy invincible.

4 EPISTLE O Lord, how manifold are Thy works. In wisdom hast Thou made them all. Bless the Lord, O my soul. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. (2:16-20) Brethren, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

5 GOSPEL The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark (8:34-9:1) The Lord said, If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. And He said to them, Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God come with power.

6 SYNAXARION (LIVES OF THE SAINTS OF THE DAY) On September 16 in the Holy Orthodox Church we continue to celebrate the Elevation of the Holy Cross. We commemorate holy and glorious Great-martyr Euphemia the All-praised, along with the Martyrs Victor and Sosthenes of Chalcedon, executioners who believed in Christ through her. Verses Thou who was slain by a bear s jaw for God thy Maker, Art to be crowned, O Euphemia, with laudations. On the sixteenth a bear Euphemia slew. Euphemia was a beautiful virgin in body and in soul. When the Proconsul Priscus held a feast and offered sacrifices to Ares in Chalcedon, 49 Christians avoided this foul sacrificial offering and hid themselves. However, they were discovered and brought before Priscus, including Euphemia. When the arrogant Priscus asked them why they defied the imperial decree, they replied that they would defy any command given by him or the emperor contrary to the God of Heaven. For 19 consecutive days, Priscus imposed various tortures on them. On the twentieth day he separated Euphemia from the others and began to flatter her for her beauty, attempting to win her over to idolatry. As his flattery was in vain, he ordered that the virgin be tortured again, yet she was preserved by the power of God. Upon seeing this, two soldiers Victor and Sosthenes came to believe in Christ, for which they were thrown to the wild beasts, and thus gloriously ended their earthly lives. Euphemia was finally thrown to the wild beasts and, with a prayer of thanksgiving to God, gave up her spirit in the year 304. On this day, we also commemorate the Martyr Melitina of Marcianopolis in Thrace. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.

7 TRISAGION PRAYERS OF MERCY For the six-month anniversary of the falling asleep in the Lord of Eva Ozman by Julie Karrip and family. May her Memory be Eternal! HOLY OBLATION IS OFFERED For the health and blessings of Virginia Salhaney on her 95th birthday offered by your St. Nicholas family. May God grant you many years! For the health and blessings of Shirley Salhaney on her birthday by Michael and family. May God grant you many years! For the health & blessings of Amy Amash on her birthday offered by Jeff, Jackson, Cole, & Franklin. We love you! Many years! For the health and blessings of Evelyn Zahn on her birthday by Ana Bosma. May God grant you many years! For the health & blessings of Vince Amash on his birthday by Jeff, Amy, Jackson, Cole, & Franklin. May God grant you many years!! SERVING MINISTRIES Today Epistle Readers: Grant Medich Next Week Steve Medich Altar Servers: Coffee Hour: Team B Josh Nasser Sam Adolphson Jackson Amash Hamilton Gilbert Joachim Gilbert Noah Hoodhood Nate Sirotko Nick Sirotko Brian La Franboise Team A Parker David Alexander Amash Cam David Aiden DeMorrow Alek DeMorrow Eli Hajjar Victor Jammal Constantin Stanescu Dieter Zahn Hoodhood Family

8 REMEMBER IN YOUR DAILY PRAYERS LIVING Vera Mijatovic Audrey Nicoloff Ralph Thomas David Corey Mary Martin Eva Rose Saseen * If you desire a name to be added to this prayer list, Holy Oblations may be offered, with the option of being added to the bulletin Prayer List for 40 days. DEPARTED Victims of the continued conflicts in the Middle East PARISHIONERS DEPARTED IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 9/02/1970 Mary Sayfee 9/06/1959 Alex Ruffin 9/07/1956 Leena Majerezak 9/07/1987 John Wawee 9/08/1986 Nicholas Salhaney 9/08/1998 Robert Mickel 9/10/2009 John Ayoub 9/11/1966 Fred Maloley 9/13/1977 Seth Salhaney 9/17/2004 Mountaha Rizk 9/19/1987 Protosyngellos Khouri 9/21/1946 Faris Nickola 9/22/1960 Sellen Yared 9/22/2001 Demetra Yared 9/22/2016 Larry Kaleefey 9/23/1944 Hattem Corey 9/23/1984 James Mickel 9/26/1963 Abraham Haddad 9/27/1976 Mitchell Salhaney 9/28/1996 Josephine Wozniak 9/30/1996 James Mickel