St. Thomaïs of Lesbos, Healer of Marriages

Transcription

1 10748 E. 116 th Street Fishers, Indiana (317) V. Rev. Father Nabil L. Hanna, Pastor (317) V. Rev. Father Radoslav Filipovich, Attached (317) Rev. James A. Childs, Deacon (317) Rev. Joseph Hazar, Deacon, Pastoral Assistant (607) A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest TONE 6 JANUARY 3, 2016 EOTHINON 9 THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS FOREFEAST OF & SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST HOLY PROPHET MALACHI MARTYR GORDIOS OF CAPPADOCIA VENERABLE THOMAÏS THE WONDERWORKER OF LESBOS VENERABLE GENEVIÈVE OF PARIS St. Thomaïs of Lesbos, Healer of Marriages Saint Thomaïs was born in Mytilene to well-to-do parents, named Michael and Kali, who were distinguished for their piety. The Theotokos herself appeared to the childless Kali and told her that she would give birth to Thomais. At the age of twenty-four, Thomais entered into marriage with Stephen, who proved to be her crown of thorns. Although she was a beautiful, virtuous, exemplary housewife and a pious spouse, giving him no occasion for discontentment, he still treated her very wretchedly. Her unhappy marriage caused her grieving parents to move to Constantinople. Her father died there soon after. Her mother then became a nun, and because of her virtue, she eventually became an abbess. Continued inside

2 PA RT I : L I T U RGY VA R I AT I O N S 3 RD ANTIPHON: TROPARION OF THE RESURRECTION (TONE 6) When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou ledest Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee. When Mary stood at Thy grave. APOLYTIKIA AFTER THE ENTRANCE Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 6) Schedule of Regular Weekly Services Sundays: Matins, 8:50 AM Divine Liturgy, 10 AM Wednesdays: Vespers, 6:30 PM Saturdays: Great Vespers, 5 PM Confession: After Saturday Vespers See Calendar for Feast Days and Other Weekday Services Scheduled Order for Holy Communion Members of the Orthodox Church age seven and above must prepare for Holy Communion with a recent confession, prayer, fasting from all food and drink from midnight (unless medical condition preclude it), being in church before the Epistle and Gospel readings, and being at peace with everyone. As there are NO CHURCH SCHOOL classes today, children should sit with their parents and come to Communion with them. An usher will dismiss your row from the center aisle. Then return to your place by a side aisle for the prayers of thanksgiving and the final blessing and dismissal. Please let choir members pass when they come down for Communion. During Sunday Matins Or by Appointment A Warm Welcome to Our Guests We are glad you are worshipping with us. Please note that Holy Communion is limited to members of the Orthodox Church in good standing, who have prepared with prayer, fasting and confession. For all others though we cannot share Communion with you, since it is an expression of membership and full unity in faith you are welcome to come forward after the dismissal, receive a blessing and partake of the blessed bread (in the large bowls). Please also sign our guest book, and introduce yourself to Fr. Nabil during the coffee hour. You may inquire with him how you can become a member.

3 Troparion of the Prefeast of Theophany (Tone 4) Make ready, O Zebulon, and prepare, O Nephtali, and thou, River Jordan, cease thy flow, and receive with joy the Master coming to be baptized. And thou, Adam, rejoice with the first mother, and hide not yourselves as ye Liberator of captives, Defender of the poor, the Physician of the sick and the Champion of kings, O Trophy-bearer, Great-martyr did of old in paradise; for having seen thee naked, He appeared to clothe thee with the first robe. Yea, Christ hath appeared desiring to renew the whole creation. Troparion for St. George (Tone 4, Byzantine) George, intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved. Kontakion of the Prefeast of Theophany (Tone 4) In the running waters of the Jordan River, on this day the Lord of all crieth to John: Be not afraid, and hesitate not to baptize Me, for I THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS am come to save Adam, the first-formed man. Prokeimenon (Psalm 27.9, 1 LXX; Tone 6) O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To You, O Lord, have I cried, O my God. Letter of St. Paul to Timothy (4.5-8; Sunday before Theophany) TIMOTHY, MY SON, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Holy Gospel according to St. Mark (1.1-8; Sunday before Theophany) THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel s hair, and had a leather

4 girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, After me comes He Who is mightier than I, the thong of Whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. HOLY OBLATIONS AND PRAYER REQUESTS By George and Sohir McKary and family, for the health of Mira, Magy and Monica. By Mina and Eloisa Khoury, for the health of Suhail Mustaklem. By Brian, Donna, Claire, Grace, and Brian, in memory of John Corey. By Barbara and Greg Mitchell, for the health of Edwin Jankura Sr. and Alma Hodson. By Salim and Paula Najjar, for the health of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Yeager. By Kathryn Sankey, in memory of Shirley Sankey, Janice Fadel, and Ann Freije. A sign-up sheet for baking and offering the prosphora (altar bread) is posted on the bulletin board, next to the elevator. You can also contact Thelma Hoover at (317) Given by David and Nancy Chobany. Given by Viorel Laslo. CHRISTMAS OBLATIONS ADDITIONS Given by Jay Bechara and Dawn Bechara, in memory of Dounia Khamis. Given by Samer, Norma, Laila, and Elias Nahas, for the health of Ibrahim and Salim Ashkar, and in memory of Nader George, and Laila Nahas. Given by V. Rev. Radoslav and Barbara Filipovich for the health of Joey, Justin, Abby, Stephen, and Quentin. Given by Samantha Saba, for the health of the Saba family and for the victims of violence throughout the world. Given by Doug Fadel, for the health of the Fadel and Dooley families, and in memory of Janice Fadel. Given by Mark and Ludmila Woodward, for the health of Nicholas, Mark, Natalie, Vasili, Jeremiah, Bruce, Nicolae, Fr. Ion, Fr. Sopian, Fr. Vasili, Fr. Grigorie, Mother Gabriella, Eugenia, Ina, Varouj, Tony, Efim, Lidia, Mikhail, Nichita, Anna, Grace, Natalia, Viorica, Laura, Maria, Stefan, Nicolae, Brad, Vada, David, Rebecca, Aliona, Natalia, Ion, Andrei, Betsy, Sarah, Ryan, Adam, Leandra, Alyssa, Sophia, Ludmila, and in memory of Ion, Simeon, Marioara, Stefan, Stefana, Gheorghe, Lidia, Darita, Victor, Gheorghe, Sergiu, Ion, Nina, Julia, Donald, Slavic, Ghenadii, Efim. Given by Aziz Freije, for the health of Giselle, Samantha, Vanessa, and Kevin.

5 PA RT I I : A N N O U N C EMEN TS JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP FOLLOWING THE LITURGY Coffee hour is hosted today by Hailat Seilu and Almaz Kiflu and family. The sign-up sheet for hosting coffee hour is posted on the bulletin board next to the elevator. We need people to sign up for the regular coffee hour as well as for the Church School snack. (Something simple is all that s expected, though you re welcome to do more for a special occasion.) SERVICES FOR THE EPIPHANY Tuesday, Jan. 5: Paramon of the Feast strict fasting Royal Hours of the Epiphany, 10 am Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of Water, 6:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 6: Great Feast of the Epiphany Matins, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am Check out how this Orthodox priest in Greece does the water blessing at MAY GOD BLESS YOUR HOME AND ALL WHO DWELL IN IT After the Twelve Days of Christmas we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany, whose celebration includes taking the water blessed at Epiphany to the homes of all our parishioners. Thus Fr. Nabil would like to come and visit with you, pray with you and ask God to bless your home. It would help in setting up his schedule if you would kindly return the coupon above. Father would like to do his best to see as many as possible before Lent, which will start March 14, Also note that Pascha will be May 1. Name Address Check ALL Possible Days: Check ALL Possible Times: House Blessing Scheduling Form Telephone Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Mornings Afternoons Evenings Please place in tray in church, or mail back as soon as possible.

6 THANKS FOR A GREAT CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR S CELEBRATION! We express our appreciation to Samantha Saba (overall coordinator), Giselle Freije (food) and the many, many hands who worked with them to put on the event. We had lots of excellent food and music. God bless you all! OUR PARISH CALENDARS AND DIRECTORIES ARE HERE! Please help yourself to a 2016 church calendar in the narthex. If you had your photo taken or if you submitted one, please see one of our ushers after Liturgy to receive a free directory copy for your family. In response to your requests, we are buying extra copies. If you do not have a photo in the directory, you will be able to buy one for $10. Please sign up to let us know to order one for you. PLEDGING TO BE PART OF GOD S WORK What shall I render to the Lord, for All His Bounty to Me? I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord. (Psalm 116.2, 17 Heb.) Thanks and blessings on all who stepped up and already made their stewardship commitments for This is the pledge we make to continue the operational support of our new church for the coming year and is separate from the building fund or mortgage pledge. If you haven t done so yet, please place your pledge card in the offering box at the candle stand, or return it by mail. You will find extra pledge cards in the narthex, or you can enter your pledge as a recurring donation online yourself at POD ( PORTABLE OFFERING DEVICES ) We are trying two of these devices in the narthex as a convenience to our parishioners who prefer to Swipe rather than use cash or checks. 1. Select the device labeled Regular Pledge or Mortgage, according to the intent of your donation. 2. Swipe your card on the side labeled $10, $25, $50 or $100 as many times as necessary to come up to the total you want to give. 3. A blue light will flash to indicate success.

7 LADIES OF ST. GEORGE: BRIEF MEETING TODAY All women of our parish are invited be part of the Ladies of St. George and to attend the regular meeting today, immediately coffee hour. We do not have a whole lot to discuss, so it should not last more than 30 minutes. What we do have though is quite important, so please plan to attend. I need everyone s support. Vicki Mesalam KNIGHTS OF ST. GEORGE The Knights of St. George is a fellowship that invites all men of our parish to join in fellowship, service and spiritual growth. The Knights will hold their monthly dinner/meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, January 7, at the Mezza Mediterranean Grille (9773 E 116th St., Fishers). ACTS OF THE APOSTLES BIBLE STUDY Deacon James Class on the Book of Acts class will continue on Wednesday, January 13, picking up with Chapter 22. We will meet again on January 20, and conclude on January 27. Class will meet after Wednesday Vespers from 7 pm - 8:30 pm in the north classrooms of the fellowship hall. PARISH FAMILY NIGHT: DINNER & MOVIE Lasagna, salad, garlic bread and dessert - All you can eat! $10 adults $7 kids 7 to 12 6 and under free See Vicki Mesalam for Tickets Saturday, January 23, following 5 pm Vespers Sponsored by the Ladies of St. George We will see War Room, released in 2015, this is a compelling drama with humor and heart. It explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships and every other area of our lives. We will also have children s movies simultaneously. INVITING ALL LADIES It s a girl! Let s shower Jennifer Hazar with our love and baby gifts. WHEN: Saturday, January 30, noon 2 pm WHERE: St. George Hall HOSTED BY: the clergy wives of our parish Jennifer is registered at Target and Buy Buy Baby. RSVP to Kh. Elaine Hanna ( , eaghanna@live.com), Kh. Barbara Filipovich, Kh. Patty Beauchamp or Sarah Childs.

8 Registration is open now! Register at for summer camp next year or for the upcoming winter camp (February 12-15, 2016). Bishop Anthony has instructed us not to send our youth to first session, as it runs the same time as the Midwest Parish Life Conference. Given the feedback we have received from our families, we will send our kids and provide transportation to Session 2: July 3 July 15. Because we believe strongly in the benefits of this program our parish will pay half of your children s tuition as well. We are also looking for some ways to involve the children in a little bit of fund raising to help them feel invested in this program and its importance. Anyone who has further need of assistance should speak to Fr. Nabil privately, as we don t want any child left out. MISSION WORK OPPORTUNITIES The Lord commanded his Disciples to go into all the world and to baptize, teach and make new disciples. This work falls to us, as His disciples in this generation, so everybody needs either to Be a missionary, or support a missionary! This summer, our Central Indiana Orthodox Mission Council is organizing a number of opportunities. 1. Kodiak, Alaska, June 14-26: working at St. Herman Seminary and in villages in the surrounding area. 2. Project Mexico, July 14-20: working on building for the homeless and with the boys at the St. Innocent Orphanage. 3. Guatemala, approx. Aug. 2-10: working with and for the children at the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage and the Orthodox Monastery Lavra Mambre. 4. Evansville, Indiana: dates are to be determined for weekend trips to help our St. Ananias mission church repair and prepare for Orthodox worship a building that is in the process of being purchased. See Brad Tingwald or Eddy Srour during coffee hour for more information and for application forms. You can also them at dbtingwald@sbcglobal.net or esrour@iu.edu

9 ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Check out to see if the colleges you re considering have OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship) chapters. OCF chapters provide an opportunity for fellowship among Orthodox Christian college students. BIBLE BOWL AND ORATORICAL FESTIVAL Our church is looking for our 2016 representatives to go to the Parish Life Conference in Detroit to compete in the Bible Bowl (Thursday, June 23) and Oratorical (Friday, June 24) festivals. We need teens to participate in the Oratorical Festival, and teens and adults to participate in the Bible Bowl. Please see the flyer for more information, or contact Dn. Joseph if you are interested in participating.

10 From orthodoxmom.com Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Thomais of Lesvos. Before we continue with her story, I want to insert a little disclaimer of sorts here. I am in no way condoning domestically abusive relationships. I simply wanted to post this incredible story of patience and long-suffering. Those of us in today s society have well tarnished views on what a true loving relationship should consist of. Movies, advertisements, song lyrics and more are constantly telling us how our men are supposed to behave. They must buy us extravagant gifts on birthdays and holidays, constantly remind us of how absolutely wonderful we are, take us on exotic trips just because. And perhaps, the most important rule of all, they must always, always give heartfelt apologies with handpicked flowers and/or Godiva chocolate regardless of who is at fault (because we all know it s usually him). I mean, my husband does all of those things, doesn t yours? Sure, some of those things are nice gestures, but is that really what love is? Personally, there s not one thing listed there that means anything to me. If I wanted expensive presents, flowers or chocolates, I could just as easily go get them myself. After three children and over eleven years of marriage, my understanding of love has changed drastically. Why is there very little value accredited to the husband who simply respects his wife, loves her unconditionally or allows her to worship freely! Or on the husband who supports his family, makes time for his wife and children, and creates a safe, stable and happy atmosphere in the home? Or the one who tenderly takes care of his wife when she s sick? I want a person to grow old with, someone who will never betray me or belittle me. Someone who will try his best to support me in my pursuits, even if he really doesn t understand them. These are the things that matter to me. I don t care if my husband publicly worships me while completely neglecting me and my family at home. I don t care if he showers me with gifts other girls would be envious of. It s simply not the life, let alone the type of husband, we should want. Granted, my darling hubby can sit in a room full of ninety year old women and nag with the best of them, the feeling comparable to being pecked to death by chickens. And sure, I ve hit my head on the cupboards he leaves open in the middle of the night that I ve asked him repeatedly to close, and I ll admit he drives me crazy when he tells me to get off of my phone or the computer. But regardless of whatever pet peeves I may have with him, he is still such a blessing in my life. Whenever he encourages me to fight the good fight, whenever he pushes me to do more spiritually, whenever we stand together in prayer with our family, I breathe a sigh of thanks to God for giving me someone that values the importance of a Christian-upbringing as much as I do. I thank God every day for giving me a man who loves Him more than me. I love my husband to death and wouldn t change one thing about him. He wouldn t be him, if I did. So, as you read the story of St. Thomais, I hope that you ll gain a greater appreciation for your husband. I hope that you ll overlook his lack of sensitivity or the clothes on the bathroom floor that are literally a step away from the hamper. Look hard into what really matters. You can even make a list of all the things you love about him. Show him that you re grateful for him. In celebration of the feast today, I challenge all of you to go out of your way to do something nice for your husband. I ll be renting one of the movies he has been wanting to watch and making one of dh s

11 favorite desserts tonight. After all, he s sat through (and rather enjoyed if I might add) two and a half seasons of Downton Abbey reruns with me, it s the least I can do. Come back and let me know what you did special! ST. THOMAÏS OF LESBOS (CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVER) Despite her marital martyrdom, Thomais continued her God-pleasing way of life. Day and night she worked in her home, weaving clothes for the poor and serving meals to the hungry. Diligently she sought for needy persons, in order to help them. The study of the Holy Scriptures was her greatest delight, and prayer, vigils and attending the divine services in the churches were her greatest consolation. Her husband, however, continued to be of an opposite disposition. He was unbelieving, avaricious, and greedy; and he spoke sarcastically to his saintly wife, reviling her piety and love. And not only this, but he beat her roughly, all over her body. She, however, remained unshaken, ever trusting in the will of God. She even rejoiced that she suffered on account of her love for her neighbor (that is, her husband). For she did not stop loving her husband, and she tried not to give him any cause for offense. From this way of life, the Saint became a pure vessel of the Holy Spirit, and she was found worthy to work miracles. But despite all of this, her husband remained unrepentant. Her death occurred as a result of the blows inflicted upon her by her barbaric husband. So, after thirteen years of martyrdom in her marriage, she found rest. She was thirty-eight years old. Saint Thomais was buried in the monastery where her mother had become abbess. Her grave became a fountain of many healings. She continued to demonstrate her love for her husband even after her death. Demon-possessed and living a wretched life, he was led to her tomb, where he received healing. From that moment, he began living a new life of virtue and piety. For centuries, her honorable relics remained incorrupt. The wounds she had received from her husband were especially evident on her hands. Although St. Thomais provides us with an extraordinary example of long-suffering, a genuinely Christian virtue, we also must remember that probably few are able to endure in the proper spirit such physical and emotional abuse from their spouses as did St. Thomais, St. Susanna of Georgia, and St. Golindoc. While the saints have much to say about the great spiritual value in bearing tribulations and suffering nobly which should never be forgotten they also point out that God does not demand of us what is above our strength. The Orthodox Church, with regret and while always upholding the ideal of the eternality of marriage, allows separation, and even divorce, in such cases, recognizing that one of the spouses has already broken the marriage bond of love. Yet even if a wife or husband decides that it is impossible to continue living with an abusive spouse, nevertheless the attitude of unconditional love and forgiveness of wrongs, as demonstrated by St. Thomais, should always remain the goal. Taken from the book Marriage as a Path to Holiness: Lives of Married Saints

12 PARISH PRAYER LIST Please include in your daily prayers the following those struggling with acute illness and those newly departed this life from our parishioners and those for whom they have requested our prayers. (Names are kept for 40 days, the date indicated after the name, and may be renewed upon request of the patient/family.) LIVING Metropolitan Paul and Archbishop John Persecuted Christians and All people suffering violence, captivity or homelessness throughout the world Messai Belayneh, on mission in Ethiopia Kenneth Hanna, Clearvista Lake Rehab., 1/26 Fred Corey, Allisonville Meadows Rehab., 1/21 Fouad Musleh, 1/20 Amal Khazal, 1/13 Hayfa Assalley, Tom s mother, 2/10 Thomas Tanoos, from Terre Haute, 1/21 Karla Fitzsimons, niece of George Freije and Elaine Eckhart, 1/21 Ibrahim and Khader Shaheen, brother and nephew of Hana Musleh, 1/20 Infant Alma, Greg and Barbara Mitchell s granddaughter, 1/18 Roger Dickinson, Brian s father, 1/12 Leon Chalhub, Christy Roberts father, 1/9 John Roman, former NAC president, 1/9 Kh. Christina Gillquist, All Saints Church, 1/8 DEPARTED Fr. Christodoulos Hadgigeorge, former pastor at Holy Trinity, 2/10 Fr. Richard Peters, Williamston, MI, 2/1 Archdeacon Russell Hodge, Minneapolis, 1/19 Kh. Joanne Bitar, Khouriyah of our retired Archdiocese Vicar General, 2/9 Charles Fender, Ana Nebesny s husband, 1/24 John Corey, cousin of Norma Johns, 1/20 Mary Jane Arbuckle, Kathleen Albert s mother, 1/16 Maria Demidova, 1/7 The victims of violence everywhere ST. GEORGE PARISH CALENDAR Sun. 3 Mon. 4 Tue. 5 Wed. 6 Thu. 7 Sat. 9 Sun. 10 Mon. 11 Wed. 13 January 2016 Matins, 8:50 am Choir practice, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am Ladies of St. George meeting, noon Church School staff meeting, 7 pm Paramon of Theophany Royal Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of Water, 6:30 pm Great Feast of Theophany Matins, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am Vespers, 6:30 pm Knights of St. George dinner/meeting, 7 pm at Mezza Restaurant Great Vespers and Confession, 5 pm Matins, 8:50 am Choir practice, 9 am Divine Liturgy, 10 am Church School staff meeting, 7 pm Vespers, 6:30 pm Bible Study on Acts, 7 pm When it s cold or wet/snowy, kindly enter via the glass lobby doors instead of the big church doors (so we don t let in a big blast of cold air or track in water). See the full calendar and the latest additions and updates at