SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH

Transcription

1 SAINT JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca Matins 8:00 a.m. The Very Reverend Fr. Jiris Hanna (408) Liturgy 10:30 a.m. Sunday July 5 (6/22), th Sunday after Pentecost Hieromartyr Eusebius, bishop of Samosata (380) األحد الخامس بعد العنصرة - تذكار القديس الشهيد في الكهنة افسابيوس اسقف س ميساط Matins (Eothina V): Luke 24:12-35 Epistle: Romans 10:1 10 Gospel: Matthew 8:28 9:1 Apostles Fasting: June 8 July 11 About the 12 Apostles As we honor the Apostles during this Apostle s Fast season, it is worth while to explore the life of each of the twelve Apostles and learn more about their Holy Life. Apostle Bartholomew The Holy Apostle Bartholomew was born at Cana of Galilee and preached the Gospel in Syria and Asia Minor. He underwent much hardship and tribulations, he was stoned and locked up in prison. The Apostle Bartholomew went to India, where he translated the Gospel of Matthew into their language, and he converted many pagans to Christ. In gratitude, the king sent gifts to the apostle, who refused to accept them, saying that he sought only the salvation of the souls of mankind. Apostle Bartholomew was seized by the king's brother, and crucified upside down. But even from the cross he did not cease to proclaim the good news about Christ the Savior. Finally, they flayed the skin from the Apostle Bartholomew and cut off his head. Believers placed his relics in a leaden coffin and buried him. His relics were transferred to Rome. Apostle Thomas The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas was born in the Galileian city of Pansada and was a fisherman. The holy Apostle Thomas did not believe the reports of the other disciples about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe". On the eighth day after the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostle Thomas and showed him His wounds. "My Lord and my God," the Apostle cried out". The holy Apostle Thomas founded churches in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Parthia, Ethiopia and India. Preaching the Gospel earned him a martyr's death. For having converted the wife and son of the prefect of the Indian city of Meliapur, the holy apostle was locked up in prison, suffered torture, and finally, pierced with five spears, he departed to the Lord. Part of the relics of the holy Apostle Thomas are in India, in Hungary and on Mt. Athos.

2 Apostle and Evangelist Matthew The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew was a tax-collector. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ: "Come, follow Me", left everything and followed the Savior. Matthew, acknowledging his sinfulness, repaid fourfold anyone he had cheated, and he distributed his remaining possessions to the poor, and he followed after Christ with the other apostles. He was a witness to the suffering, death, and Resurrection of the Savior, and of His glorious Ascension into Heaven. The holy Apostle finished his preaching in Ethiopia with a martyr's death. The ruler accused the apostle of sorcery and gave orders to execute him. They put St Matthew head downwards, piled up brushwood and ignited it. When the fire flared up, everyone then saw that the fire did not harm St Matthew. The frightened Ethiopian turned to the saint with an entreaty for mercy, and by the prayer of the martyr the flame went out. The body of the holy apostle remained unharmed, and he departed to the Lord. Services This Week Thursday 7/2 at 7pm Holy Apostle Jude, the Brother of the Lord St. John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco Fish, Wine and Oil allowed on this day Thursday July 2 (6/19) Holy Apostle Jude, the Brother of the Lord You were chosen as a disciple for your firmness of mind: An unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ, You proclaimed His word to the Gentiles, Telling them to believe in one Godhead. You were glorified by Him, receiving the grace of healing, Healing the ills of all who came to you, O most praised Apostle Jude! قد أشرقت لنا من اصل شريف يا اخا الرب االله ومعاينه وكاروز المسيح الكلي الحكمة يهوذا الرسول بازغا مثل غصن انبته هللا. فغذيت العالم كله بثمار اقوالك و لتلقنك النعمة علمت باأليمان القويم بيسوع المسيح St. John Maximovitch, archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco Thy work of justice did show thee to the congregation a canon of faith, the likeness of humility, a teacher of abstinence, O Father, Bishop John. Wherefore, by humility thou didst achieve exaltation, and by meekness, richness. Intercede, therefore, with Christ to save our souls. قد أظهرتك أفعال الحق لرعيتك. قانونا لإليمان وصورة للوداعة ومعلما لإلمسا.. أيها ابآب رئيس الكهنة يوحنا. فلذلك أحرزت بالتواضع الرفعة وبالمسكنة الغنى. فتشفع إلى المسيح اإلله في خالص نفوسنا.

3 About Marriage By Saint John Chrysostom...let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife that she reverence her husband. (Eph. 5:33) A certain wise man, when enumerating which blessings are the most important included "a wife and husband who live in harmony (Sir. 25:1). In another place he emphasized this: "A friend or a companion never meets one amiss, but a wife with her husband is better than both." (Sir. 40:23). From the beginning God in His providence has planned this union of man and woman, and has spoken of the two as one: male and female He created them (Gen. 1:27), and there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28). There is no relationship between human beings so close as that of husband and wife, if they are united as they ought to be. When blessed David was mourning for Jonathan, who was of one soul with him, what comparison did he use to describe the loftiness of their love? Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women (II Sam. 1:26). The power of this love is truly stronger than any passion; other desires may be strong, but this one alone never fades. This love is deeply planted within our inmost being. Unnoticed by us, it attracts the bodies of men and women to each other, because in the beginning woman came forth from man, and from man and woman other men and women proceed. Can you see now how close this union is, and how God providentially created it from a single nature? He permitted Adam to marry Eve, who was more than sister or daughter; she was his own flesh! God caused the entire human race to proceed from this one point of origin. He did not, on the one hand, fashion woman independently from man, otherwise man would think of her as essentially different from himself. Nor did He enable woman to bear children without man; if this were the case she would be self-sufficient. Instead, just as the branches of a tree proceed from a single trunk, He made the one man Adam to be the origin of all mankind, both male and female, and made it impossible for men and women to be selfsufficient. Later, He forbade men to marry their sisters or daughters, so that our love would not be limited to members of our families, and withdrawn from the rest of the human race. All of this is implied in Christ's words: He who made them from the beginning made them male and female (Matt. 19:4). The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together. Men will take up arms and even sacrifice their lives for the sake of this love. St. Paul would not speak so earnestly about this subject without serious reason; why else would he say, Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord? Because when harmony prevails, the children are raised well, the household is kept in order, and neighbors, friends and relatives praise the result. Great benefits, both for families and states, are thus produced. When it is otherwise however, everything is thrown into confusion and turned upside down. When the generals of an army are at peace with each other, everything proceeds in an orderly fashion, and when they are not, everything is in disarray. It is the same here. For the sake of harmony, then, he said, Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord... A selection from On Marriage and Family Life by St. John Chrysostom, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Reprinted by kind permission of the publisher.

4 St. John Maximovitch The Holy Virgin Cathedral 6210 Geary Blvd. San Francisco CA Celebration of the 21 st Anniversary of the Canonization of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker Thursday, July 2 At 7:30 pm, following the daily Vespers and Matins (6:00 pm), St. John's relics will be transferred to the middle of the cathedral and an Akathist to St. John will be chanted before them. Friday, July 3 Confessions will begin at 5:00 pm. All-Night Vigil at 6:00 pm. Clergy from different dioceses and jurisdictions will concelebrate. The Vigil will be sung by two choirs. Saturday, July 4 Greeting of the presiding Bishop and the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am. After the Liturgy a Service of Intercession to St. John (Molieben) and procession. Festal luncheon for clergy and faithful in the cathedral fellowship hall Apostles Fast June 8 July 11 صوم الرسل General Apostles Fasting Rules Fish, Wine, and Oil allowed on all Saturdays and Sundays Mark Your Calendars Wine and Oil allowed on all Tuesdays and Thursdays Strict Fast (No Oil or Wine Allowed) on all Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Exceptions to fasting rules will be announced as they occur Have a Blessed Fast! Saturday July 18, 2014 St. James Summer Picnic Ed Levin Park Please see flyer for details

5 St. John Maximovitch of San Francisco Thursday July 2 (6/19) St. John Maximovitch Foresees his own Passing Among those who knew and loved St. John, the first response to the news of his sudden death was: it cannot be! And this was more than a reaction to the suddenness of the event; for among those who were close to him there had unaccountably developed the notion that this pillar of the Church, this holy man who was always accessible to his flock - would never cease to be! There would never be a time when one would not be able to turn to him for advice and consolation! In one sense, in a spiritual sense, this has since turned out be true. But it is also one of the realities of this world that every man who lives must die. St. John was prepared for this reality. While others expected of him many more years of fruitful service to the Church of Christ - for he was a relatively young hierarch - he was readying himself for an end which he had foreseen at least for some months, and the very day of which he apparently knew in advance. San Francisco 1966 One of the last pictures of St. John To the manager of the orphanage where he lived, who had spoken in the spring of 1966 of a diocesan meeting to be held three years later, he indicated, "I will not be here then. " In May, 1966, a woman who had known St. John for twelve years - and whose testimony, according to Metropolitan Philaret, is "worthy of complete confidence" - was amazed to hear him say, "I will die soon, at the end of June... not in San Francisco, but in Seattle... " On the evening before his departure for Seattle, four days before his death, VSt. John astonished a man with the words, " You will not kiss my hand again. " And on the day of his death, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy which he celebrated, he spent three hours in the altar praying, emerging not long before his death, which occurred at 3:50 p. m. on July 2 (June 19, Old Calendar), He died in his room in the parish building next to the church, without preparatory signs of any illness or affliction. He was heard to fall and, having been placed in a chair by those who ran to help him, breathed his last peacefully and with little evident pain. Today Archbishop John reposes in a chapel of the San Francisco Holy Virgin Cathedral on Pearl Street; and there a new chapter has begun in the story of this holy man. Just as St. Seraphim of Sarov told his spiritual children to regard him as living after his death, and to come to his grave and tell him what was in their hearts, so St. John also has proved to be hearing those who revere his memory. Soon after his death a onetime student of his, saw one night a dream (or a vision, he could not tell which): St. John, clad in Easter vestments, full of light and shining, was censing the cathedral and joyfully uttered to him just one word while blessing him: "happy." Later, before the end of the forty-day period, Fr. Constantine Z., long St. John's deacon, who had lately been angry at St. John and had begun to doubt his righteousness, saw St. John in a dream all in light, with rays of light shining around his head so brightly that it was impossible to look at them. Thus were Fr. Constantine's doubts of St. John's holiness dispelled. Serving in Tunis 1952 Surrounded by Uncreated Light Many others have seen Archbishop John in unusual dreams that have a particular significance or message. Some affirm that supernatural help has been granted them.

6

7 St. Tikhon the Bishop of Amathus in Cyprus Monday June 29 (6/16) Saint Tikhon, Bishop of Amathus, was born in the city Amathus on the island of Cyprus. His parents raised their son in Christian piety, and taught him the reading of sacred books. It is said that the gift of wonderworking appeared in St Tikhon at quite a young age. His father was the owner of a bakery, and whenever he left his son alone in the shop, the holy youth would give free bread to those in need. Learning of this, his father became angry, but the son said that he had read in the Scriptures, that in giving to God one receives back a hundredfold. I, said the youth, gave to God the bread which was taken, and he persuaded his father to go to the place where the grain was stored. With astonishment the father saw that the granary, which formerly was empty, was now filled to overflowing with wheat. From that time the father did not hinder his son from distributing bread to the poor. A certain gardener brought the dried prunings of vines from the vineyard. St Tikhon gathered them, planted them in his garden and besought the Lord that these branches might take root and yield fruit for the health of people. The Lord did so through the faith of the holy youth. The branches took root, and their fruit had a particular and very pleasant taste. It was used during the lifetime of the saint and after his death for making wine for the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist. They accepted the pious youth into the church clergy, made him a reader. Later, Mnemonios, the Bishop of Amathus ordained him a deacon. After the death of Bishop Mnemonios, St Tikhon by universal agreement was chosen as Bishop of Amathus. St Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus presided at the service. St Tikhon labored zealously to eradicate the remnants of paganism on Cyprus; he destroyed a pagan temple and spread the Christian Faith. The holy bishop was generous, his doors were open to all, and he listened to and lovingly fulfilled the request of each person who came to him. Fearing neither threats nor tortures, he firmly and fearlessly confessed his faith before pagans. In the service to St Tikhon it is stated that he foresaw the time of his death, which occurred in the year 425. The Prayers of Thanksgiving The word Eucharist, referring to the holy Mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ, means thanksgiving. At the close of the Liturgy, the Church has provided for Christians an opportunity to further offer thanks to God for the immeasurable blessing just bestowed. These prayers are said aloud while the clergy consume the remainder of the Precious Gifts. Following the Dismissal of Liturgy, worshippers are encouraged to venerate the cross and receive blessed bread. They may then stay for the Thanksgiving Prayers or quietly leave the nave. When in worship, we step outside of our hurried, fast-paced world and enter into the Kingdom. We should not be in such a hurry to leave, depriving ourselves of blessings by not being still and participating in the beauty of holiness. Quietly go in peace.

8 Happy Birthdays Fasting Lunch This Sunday July 5 Seana Mogannam 6/29 Akram Hanna 6/29 Youkhan Hanna 7/1 Naema Monsoor 7/1 Dawood Sarsam 7/1 Harbasima Bakalian 7/1 Mary Bekakos 7/1 John Dougherty 7/2 Carina Jiser 7/2 Leila Khoury 7/5 Serena Yacoub 7/5 Daniel Kafeety 7/5 will be provided by Nabil Ganim & family Thank you and God bless you. عقبال المئة سنة!!! sjoc@earthlink.net for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback From St. James Youth visit to St. John Maximovitch of San Francisco Saturday 6/27 The group enjoyed great time visiting and venerating St. John Maximovitch at the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco while Fr. Sergie explained the life of St. John in Shanghai and San Francisco. Everyone was also blessed visiting St. Tikhon church where St. John lived and everyone sat on St. John s own chair and visit his office.

9 Dunlap / Hume Lake Trip August 5 8, 2015 Deadline to Sign-up July 26 We plan to have a short trip, 3-nights/4-days, to visit the Life Giving Spring monastery and also head to the summit to Hume Lake and enjoy a day at the lake and beautiful nature. We need a minimum of 15 people to book St. Nicholas Ranch Retreat Center. Please sjoc@earthlink.net or contact Amal Khoury for details or to sign-up if interested GOOD VIRTUES Every person who desires to attain the kingdom of Christ must not look back and remember his lofty good deeds, especially his lofty thoughts. One must look at the struggles and glory of the saints, and how God stood by them! Instead, look at your own infirmities and sins, the departure of the soul, and the terrible torments in the next life and you will not sin. - St. Anatoly St. James Orthodox Church 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, CA Sunday 7/5 (6/22) Hieromartyr Eusebius The Bishop of Samosata

10