Third Sunday of the Great Fast Sunday of the Holy Cross

Transcription

1 Third Sunday of the Great Fast Sunday of the Holy Cross Icon of the Sunday of the Holy Cross

2 Great Vespers for Sunday for Second Sunday of Great Lent Saturday, March 3, 2018 Service begins on page 1 of the Office of Vespers Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O My Soul Version A Pg 2 Version with melody Lamp-Lighting Psalms & Great Incensation Tone 6 Pg 82 Handout Hymns of Vespers (Resurrection) Hymns of (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Glory Tone 4 Pg 4 Handout Dogmatikon (Resurrection) Now and ever Tone6 Pg 87 Handout Prokeimenon Tone 6 Pg 13 Vespers Book O.T. Reading Exodus 8:1-15 Hymn of Glorification Pg 14 Vespers Book Apostica (Resurrection ) Tone 6 Pp Handout Apostica (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Tone 4 Pg 5 Handout Apostica Theotokion (Resurrection) Tone 8 Pg 67 Handout Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 6 Pg 91 Handout Troparion (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Glory Tone 1 Pg 7 Handout Theotokion (Resurrection) Tone 1 Pg 34 Handout Divine Liturgy of St. Basil for Second Sunday of Great Lent Saturday, March 3 & Sunday, March 4, 2018 Service begins on page 11 of the Green Book (Beattitudes taken) First & Second Typical Psalm Version A Pp Hymn of the Incarnation Version A Pg 18 Beatitudes Pp Entrance Hymn Version A Pg 25 Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 6 Pg 152 Troparion (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Tone 1 Pg 223 Kontakion (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Tone 7 Pg 224 We Bow to Your Cross Version A Pg 27 Prokimenon (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Tone 6 Pg 224 Alleluia (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Tone 8 Pp 225 Let us Who Mystically Version B Pg 33 Nicene Creed Version A Pg 51 Holy, Holy, Holy & Amen (St. Basil Liturgy) Version A Pg We Praise You (Anamnesis) (St. Basil Liturgy) Version A Pg 98 Magnification Pg Our Father Tone 1 Pg 66 Communion Hymn (3rd Sunday of Great Lent) Version A Pg 225 We Have Seen the True Light Version A Pg 82 May Our Mouth Be Filled Version A Pg 84 Blessed Be the Name Version A Pg 88

3 SPECIAL SPONSORS This space is available for advertisements to help subsidize the cost of the bulletin. If you know of a business and/or an organization that would like to advertise in our bulletin please contact Fr. Diodoro for promotional rates. Thank you. Vital Biz Group, PLLC Strategies for Today s Business Scottsdale AZ Nicholas Stefaniak III, CPA info@vitalbizgroup.com Office Cell ************************************************************************************************* LOUIE S ULTRA CLEANERS Eco-friendly Dry Cleaning/ Alterations & Repairs/ Wedding Gown Preservation Leather & Suede/ Household Items 4410 W. Union Hills Dr. Glendale, AZ (623) N. Tatum Blvd. Phoenix AZ 85028

4 ANOUNCEMENTS AN- ST. STEPHEN CATHEDRAL GREAT LENT MISSION: MARCH 3 MARCH 7 Our March 50th Jubilee Anniversary Event for our parish will be a parish mission directed by Archpriest David Petras. The theme of the mission will be The Cross in the Life of Christians. The parish mission will begin on Saturday, March 3 with the 3:00 PM Vespers followed by the Divine Liturgy and conclude on Wednesday, March 7 with the 7:00 PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy. Archpriest Petras will preach at the Liturgies on Saturday and Sunday, the Services on Monday and Tuesday, and at the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy on Wednesday. Confessions will be heard during the parish mission on Saturday, March 3: Noon 3 PM and on Monday, March 5, Tuesday, March 6 and Wednesday, March 7 from 6 PM 8 PM. The parish mission gives us a wonderful opportunity to prepare for Our Lord s Resurrection on Pascha. NEW LED LIGHTS with a special APS rebate new LED lights will be installed in the entire Cathedral complex. This will save us a lot of money in the many APS bills we have. NEW PAINT FOR THE CHURCH EXTERIOR As part of our Jubilee anniversary and a partial grant we are receiving, we need to paint the Cathedral. The existing paint is peeling and is too monochromatic. Please vote to see what color you prefer. We d like your input. Thank you. MONDAY SOUP DINNERS DURING GREAT LENT BEGINNING ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26 UNTIL MONDAY, MARCH 19- Lenten reflections begin or Byzantine Bible Study begins at 6:30 PM for 45 minutes followed by soup dinner. Reflections will be given on Prayers in the East; St. John Climacus and Repentance BYZANTINE CATHOLIC EPARCHY BISHOP S APPEAL- As of February 23 the Eparchy of Phoenix has received 33 pledges and payments from our parishioners of St. Stephen Cathedral. If you have not made your pledge yet, we encourage you to do so. Your pledge is an expression of your solidarity with the Eparchy of Phoenix and Bishop John. Remember that you can use your credit card to make payments for your pledge. Please remember to make your check to the Eparchy of Phoenix. Thank you! ONLINE GIVING IS HERE! Please go to our website. and press the donate button. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God s varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10) Here are reasons to sign up for Electronic Giving: 1) No need to write checks or bring cash to church. 2) More secure than checks. 3) All contributions are recorded for you on your bank statement with date of settlement. 4) IT COSTS YOU NOTHING. Online Giving is offered for Both St Stephens Byzantine Cathedral & the Eparchy of Phoenix (You can make your Bishop s Appeal Payment online!) Thank you!

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS (CONTINUED) NEW TRASH BIN Waste Management will now be picking up twice a week. COVERAGE OF OUR LADY OF WISDOM ITALO-GREEK CHURCH IN LAS VEGAS- As most of you know by now, Bishop John and the clergy here at the Cathedral and the Eparchial Offices have been going up to Las Vegas to take care of Our Lady of Wisdom during the illness and subsequent death of + Archimandrite Francis Vivona. We ask you to keep the parishioners of Our Lady of Wisdom and the hierarchy and clergy who will continue to serve the parish until a permanent pastor or administrator is appointed by Bishop John in your prayer. Here is a revised schedule of the dates when our clergy will be serving at Our Lady of Wisdom: February 23- February 25: Msgr. Kevin March 2- March 11: Fr. Joe March 16- March 18: Msgr. Kevin March 23- April 3: THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HELPED PREPARE, WORKED DURING & AFTER THE FISH FRY & PIROHI DINNER THIS PAST FRIDAY!! PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS OF THE FISH FRY & PIROHI DINNER BY COMING TO HAVE DINNER WITH YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS. THANK YOU!!

6 This Week s Candle Intention Eternal Lamp- Kathleen Wursta Resurrection: +Anne Peterson Our Weekly Gifts to the Lord May the Lord bless your kindness and generosity! Saturday: 4 PM: 27/ 9 AM: 117 Tithes: $1, Candles: $51.00 Bake Sale: $9.00 Gift Shop: $32.00 Coffee Social: $63.33 Priests Medical Insurance: $25.00 Bishop s Appeal: $30.00 Total: $1, (We have 125 families and 33 families donated in tithe & other collections) February Income and Expenses will be available next week. Coming Events Mark Your Calendars Monday, March 5- Prayers in the East at 6:30 PM followed by Soup Dinner in Parish Hall Saturday, March 10 & 24- Marriage Preparation Class at 1:00 PM in Parish Conference Room Monday, March 12- Repentance at 6:30 PM followed by Soup Dinner in Parish Hall Friday, March 16-GCU Matching Funds Rummage Sale for Painting of Church Exterior & Bell 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Saturday, March 17- GCU Rummage Sale for Painting of Church Exterior & Bell 8 AM 1 PM Sunday, March 18- Parish 50th Jubilee Committee Meeting after 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy Monday, March 19- St. John of Climacus at 6:30 PM followed by Soup Dinner in Parish Hall

7 Sun.3/4 3:00 pm 4:00 pm 9:00 am Mon 3/5 9:00 am 6:30 pm Tues 3/6 9:00 am Wed 3/7 5:00 pm 7:00 pm Thurs 3/8 9:00 am Fri 3/9 7:30pm Third Sunday of Great Lent/Veneration of the Holy Cross O.T. Reading-Isaiah 29:13-19 Epistle- Hebrews 4:14-16 Gospel- Mark 8:34-9:1 Vespers of Great Lent Intention of Parishioners of St. Stephen Cathedral +William & Mary Lousberg by Thomas & Joan Tenczar The Holy Martyr Conon Matins of Great Lent Lenten Reflection Prayers in the East & Soup Supper The Holy Forty-Two Martyrs of Ammorium Terce-Sext Mid-Lent / Bishop Martyrs of Cherson Parastas for + Alice Garcia Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts +Clarence Badar by Laureen Badar Our Venerable Father and Confessor Theopylact Funeral Divine Liturgy & Inurnment + Alice Garcia The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts +Michael & Sophie Tenczar by Thomas & Joan Tenczar Tone 4 Fr. David Fr. David Fr. David Bishop John Sat 3/10 9:00am Fourth All Souls Saturday Divine Liturgy & Panachida for the Faithful Departed Sun 3/11 Sat 3:00pm Sat 4:00pm Sun 9:00am Fourth Sunday of the Great Lent / Our Holy Father John Climacus Vespers of Great Lent Intention of Parishioners of St. Stephen Cathedral Tone 5 Msgr. Kevin

8 Special Intentions: Erwin Armada, Barbara Dugan, Joanie Mahar, Helen Furka, Vincent Rice, McCarthy Family, Gemma Hillman, Marti Lopez, Kathleen Linkowsky, Betty Geletey, Richard Gable, Robert King, Ann Ryan, Chris Faix, Robyn Foy and Elaine Browne, Mark Chapa, Mike Chapa and Iliana Villegas. May the Lord rest His healing hand on His servants and hear their requests: Mary Rabayda, Jane Walsh, Steve Durkit, Dorothy Dumnich, Richard Reese, Chris Balsz, Sr. Christopher OSBM, Dorothy Bezeredi, Carlene Eneroth, Fred Way, Sharon White, Nancy Sandrock, Marlene Rolling, Bob Dugan, Cathy Milko, Michael Dougherty, Widad Butty, Clementina Mendoza, Nicholas Stefaniak Sr., Mary Popovich, Dan Palaschak, Michael Sherwood, Christina Toth, Liz Kol, Evelyn Sopiak, Deacon Craig Anderson, Nicholas Toth, Michelle Montalvo, Nicholas Oprendek, Dennis Milko, Karen Kol, Gabriel Papke, Audrey Bacha, Kathleen Wursta and Fr. Andriy Chriovsky THIRD SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT / VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS OLD TESTAMENT READING AT VESPERS ISAIAH 29:13-19 The Lord says: These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish. Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, Who sees us? Who will know? You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, You did not make me? Can the pot say to the potter, You know nothing? In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile field and the fertile field seem like a forest? In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

9 THIRD SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS EPISTLE: HEBREWS 4:14-5:6 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, You are my Son; today I have become your Father. And he says in another place, You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. GOSPEL - MARK 8:34-9:1 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father s glory with the holy angels. And he said to them, Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.

10 Why Do We Venerate the Holy Cross? This third Sunday of Lent is the day we venerate the Holy Cross. Why do we do this? What do we mean when speak of the cross? Sure, we know that Jesus was crucified on the cross, but is there more that we don't understand? To answer these questions we have to go back to the book of Genesis, particularly the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God loves us. We see this when God created Adam and Eve (who in the scriptural text represent all mankind) in His image and likeness. God gave Adam and Eve the "breath of life." He gave them dominion over all created things (Gen.1:26); He blessed them and commanded them to procreate (Gen. 1:28); and He gave them food (Gen. 1:29). All the things necessary and sufficient for life were included. Most important was that God gave Himself. Eden was considered paradise because Adam and Eve existed in harmony with God drawing freely from the life that flowed from Him. There was no death, sorrow, disease, or suffering because the communion with God was complete. Love, however, presumes a radical freedom. Love cannot be coerced. Just as God is free to love His creation, so were Adam and Eve free to love God in return. This was the purpose of the tree in the Garden. God said that Adam and Eve could eat anything in the Garden except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they ate of this tree, they would die (Gen. 2:15-17). God does not want mankind to die. The devil in the form of a serpent tempts the woman to eat of the tree by lying to her saying, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:4-5). It was a subtle lie, and like most lies it contained a shred of truth. The Church Fathers taught that the disobedience of Adam and Eve did indeed open their eyes to good and evil, but made them captive to the evil as well. Had they obeyed God, they may have grown in their knowledge and understanding to perceive the same things without falling from the grace of God. The disobedience had many consequences, the most evident being physical death (in theological terms: the separation of the soul from the body). "You are dust and to the dust you shall return" God tells Adam and Eve (Gen.3:19). They were expelled from the Garden and an angel brandishing a flaming sword was set to guard the gate and guard the Tree of Life (Gen.3:24). What does all this have to do with the Crucifixion Cross of Christ? God wanted Adam and Eve to become like Him. They were to share in the life that has its source in Him. That's why He created them in His image and likeness. But the life He offered could only be experienced in obedience to Him as a free response to His love. God's love, in other words, always presumes a radical freedom in the object of His love because without freedom, it is impossible for love to be returned. Note how no prohibition existed against eating from the Tree of Life, but only against the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life is immortality or eternal life. "Then the Lord God said, 'Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" (Gen.3:22). Note the gravity of this passage. If death had not entered the world, if the separation of the soul from the body was not delivered as a just consequence of their disobedience, then Adam and Eve would be condemned to eternal corruption - a living death so to speak. Death, as painful and grievous as it is, also makes it possible

11 to shed corruption and return to the primordial state -- not by recreating Eden, but by the transformation of death into an exodus into the Kingdom of God. That is why Christ entered death. He came to restore the fallen creation by opening the gate to the Kingdom. Because Christ was sinless, the penalty of sin (which is death) was not upon Him. Therefore, His crucifixion on the Cross was a completely self-less and sacrificial act. Further, because Christ was sinless, He could also be raised from the dead. As we know, the Holy Spirit raised Christ from dead after three days. Note two verses of the Katavasias (hymns) sung during the Orthros service this morning: The fiery sword no longer guards the gate of Eden, for in a strange and glorious way the wood of the Cross has quenched its flames. The sting of death and the victory of hell are now destroyed, for You have come, my Savior, crying unto those in hell: "Return again to Paradise" (Gen. 3:24; 1Cor. 15:55; 1Peter 3:19). Pilate set up three crosses in the place of the Skull, two for the thieves and one for the Giver of Life. Seeing Him, hell cried to those below: 'O my ministers and powers! Who is this that has fixed a nail in my heart? A wooden spear has pierced me suddenly, and I am torn apart. Inwardly I suffer; anguish has seized my belly and my senses. My spirit trembles, and I am constrained to cast out Adam and his posterity. A tree brought them to my realm, but now the Tree of the Cross brings them back again to Paradise. In Christ, who the Apostle Paul calls the "Second Adam" we see the love of God manifested to the same degree we saw in Eden, although now God's love is directed towards the reconciliation of His fallen creation with Himself. In this way, the Cross becomes the Tree of Life, the source through which God's light and life is encountered and experienced in the fallen world. This is one reason why we venerate the Holy Cross.

12 Third Sunday of Great Lent / Veneration of the Holy Cross March 4, 2018 Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever! Welcome to Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral. We are delighted you have come to pray with us. Our Church follows the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel and passed on to us through the teachings of the Holy Apostles and Holy Tradition. Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral 8141 North 16th Street, Front Sunday Divine Liturgy Phoenix, Arizona Saturday 4:00 PM Office: Fax Sunday 9:00 AM Website Weekday Services See Bulletin Served by: Most Rev. John S. Pazak, CSsR., Bishop Most Reverend Gerald N. Dino, Bishop Emeritus Very Rev. Diodoro Mendoza, Rector rectorss@eparchyofphoenix.org Rev. Joseph Hutsko, Vice-Rector huts1009@gmail.com Very Rev. Archpriest David M. Petras, Retired Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe, In Residence Deacon John Montalvo - Deacon James Danovich - Deacon Adam Lowe Parish Advisory Council Served by: Parish Finance Council Served by: Mary Beth Foster Sean Grimes Peyton Becktold John Surmay Dolores Sugent Jessica Kotyun Joanie Mahar Basil Rabayda Joan Wolfe Nicholas Stefaniak III Simon Marmol Ann Zlamal Jennifer Landis Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe The Cross, Our Victory Eastern Christian Bulletin Service -- PO Box Fairfax, VA Ph: Fax: