195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca Matins 8:00 a.m. Liturgy 10:30 a.m. The Very Rev. Father Giris Hanna (408)

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1 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, Ca Matins 8:00 a.m. Liturgy 10:30 a.m. The Very Rev. Father Giris Hanna (408) Sunday January 26 (1/13), st Sunday after Pentecost. Sunday after the Theophany. Martyrs Hermylus and Stratonicus at Belgrade (315) األحد الحادي والثالثون بعد العنصرة. األحد الواقع بعد عيد الظهور األلهي. تذكار القديسين ارميلس واستراتونيكس الشهيدين Matins (Eothina IX): John 20:19-31 Epistle: Ephesians 4:7 13 Gospel: Mathew 4:12 17 Living a Life of Theophany Shirtless and the More Happy for It After Christ was baptized, the first words that He said were: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Why? Because after we have been baptized, we are always tempted again and the only way to end temptation is to repent. But what exactly do these words mean? What is repentance? What is the Kingdom of Heaven? In order to understand the meaning of the word repentance, we must first understand the nature of the opposite of repentance, the reason for repentance sin. Sin comes to us in three stages. Firstly, we have a thought, a temptation towards evil. Secondly, we entertain that thought and imagine its attraction until it becomes irresistible. Thirdly, we act on that thought that we have entertained. These are the three stages of sin. Repentance also has three stages. Firstly, our consciences are pricked, we have the thought that what we have done is bad. Secondly, we entertain that consciousness and develop it until action becomes irresistible. Thirdly, we act. These are the three stages of repentance. Repentance then is not just an idea, a thought, it is above all an action. Repentance is a change of mind which leads to a practical and visible change in our way of life. Yes, it is true, that often we seem to come to confession with the same sins as before. Yes, it is true, that often we seem to make no progress, that although we have done wrong yet again, we have no tears, no depth of repentance to make us change our way of life. However, this should not mean that we lose hope, that we despair. That would be to fall to another temptation of the demon, the thought that we are unable to repent and that all our efforts are futile. Merely coming to confession and saying that we are weak, that we have done wrong yet again, that our repentance lacks depth, is an act of repentance in itself. As the Gospel says, we must forgive even unto seven times seventy.

2 Moreover, by continued repentance and the determination to repent, eventually depth of repentance and tears will come to us. If this is repentance, what then is the Kingdom of Heaven? Firstly, the Kingdom of Heaven was Christ Himself Who spoke these words to the people of that time, before whom He stood. The Kingdom of Heaven was indeed at hand, for He stood before them. Secondly, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand in another sense and stands before us here and now. The Kingdom of Heaven is here and now, but it depends on our willingness to accept Christ and His Holiness, Mercy and Grace. At this very moment each one of us is in fact able to meet God and enter into His eternal joy, but only if we wish to do so through deep repentance. The joy of the Kingdom of Heaven, simply the state of contentment with God, our well-being, is open to all who wish to accept Christ, the Word of God. Yes, it is true that our well-being does to some extent depend on whether we have a job, a roof over our heads, enough money to pay our way in the world. But none of these things is absolutely essential, for there are people who have all these things but are still unhappy, they do not have the Kingdom of Heaven. And there are people who have none of these things and yet they are happy, they have the Kingdom of Heaven. This reminds me of film-stars who marry and then divorce, remarry and re-divorce and do this six or seven times, and each time blame the others for the divorce. In fact it is the film-stars who bear the problem inside themselves, in their selfishness and hardness of heart. It reminds me of someone who goes from country to country and job to job, blaming each uprooting on others. In fact the problem is carried in the suitcase, the problem is with the instability of the person, their inability to get on with others, it is not in external circumstances. It also reminds me also of the old folk-tale about happiness, which goes like this: There was once a King who was very sad. He was told by his advisors that he should send out servants to find someone who was completely happy, take the shirt from his back and put it on. Then the King would be completely happy. So the King sent out his servants and they searched up and down the kingdom. Eventually one of the royal servants found a man who was completely happy. The servant returned to the King with the good news. The King asked impatiently: But where then is the man s shirt? Unfortunately, replied the servant, this man who was completely happy was so poor that he did not have a shirt. In other words the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven depends ultimately not on our external circumstances but on ourselves, on our interior disposition, on our ability to repent. Indeed it is only if we repent that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. May God grant us the desire for that repentance. Archpriest Andrew Phillips, Orthodox England Services This Week Monday 1/20 at 10am Commemoration of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John

3 Saints This Week Friday 1/24 (1/11) St. Theodosius the Great, the Coenobiarch Wine and Oil allowed on this day Planted in the courts of your Lord, you blossomed beautifully with virtue, and increased your children in the desert, showering them with streams of your tears, O chief shepherd of the divine flock of God. Therefore, we cry to you: "Rejoice, Father Theodosius." قد غرست في ديار ربك فأثمرت بفضائلك البهية. وكثرت اوالدك في البرية ترويهم بوابل دموعك يا رئيس قطعان حظائر هللا فلذلك نهتف اليك السالم عليك ايها اآلب ثاودوسيوس May his memory be eternal Board of Trustees for 2014 The Board of Trustees welcomes its new members to the Board of Trustees for 2014: Anna Keilo and Elias Shehadeh Please join Deebeh Khashan and her family for the 40-day Trisagion memorial service for her husband, the servant of God سامي خشان - Khashan Sami This Sunday 1/26 after the liturgy service. فليكن ذكره مؤبدا Congratulations Paul & Christy Smyra For presenting their new-born baby-girl Natalie Smyra To the Holy Altar on Sunday January 19 May our Lord grant Natalie and family with His blessings and grace for a holy life and good health. sjoc@earthlink.net or call (408) for your bulletin personal announcements, comments, or feedback. Many thanks to the departing board members: Monty Swaiss, Constantine Menesez and Yousef Yacoub for your hard work and dedication to your church in Board Members: Bassam Khoury President Jimmy Swaiss Vice President Samer Aboujudom Treasurer Yousef Hanna Secretary Akram Hanna, Anna Keilo, Elias Shehadeh, Jason Quiles, Majdi Aboujudom, and Richard Bateh. Congratulations to all the 2014 board members and may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ guide your way through a busy and challenging 2014 ahead. God bless you all Happy Birthdays Aknas Alsawssaji 1/22 Olfat Zuriakat 1/24 Rajaie Dabaie 1/25 Hussam Khadder 1/26 عقبال المئة سنة!!!

4 Thank You For Your Understanding If you need to talk to Fr. Giris after the liturgy on Sundays, he will be more than happy to take as much time as you need. But please allow him to spend some time with the rest of the parish in the church hall first. Please do not tie him up in the church or in the office immediately after the liturgy. You can also call him directly and set an appointment to meet with him privately. General Parish Meeting New Date Sunday Febraury 2, 2014 Immediately after liturgy in the church to present the Budget Forecast for 2014, and to present the 2014 Board of Trustees. Please do your very best to stay in the church and listen to the latest updates about the church and meet the new Board Members. House Blessings *** Food for the Soul *** Fr. Giris will be more than happy to come and bless your house with Holy Water any time starting Monday 1/20. Hanan Aboujudom will schedule Fr. Giris daily visits and home blessings. Please contact Hanan at (408) to schedule. Fr. Giris would like to finish all home blessings before the start of Great Lent on March 3. It will be much harder to schedule him during Lent. If at all possible, please help Fr. Giris do home blessings during the day time. Please help make Fr. Giris visits as short as possible so he can bless as many homes as possible. Home blessings should not take more than 15 minutes or 30 minutes at the most. For The Whole Family Every Thursday at 7pm Starting this Thursday January 23 rd, we will have weekly Bible Study sessions for the whole family. House Blessings are a yearly tradition. On and for a few weeks following Theophany but before the beginning of Great Lent, it is customary to invite the parish priest to bless your home with the Holy Water. The priest will go to each room, blessing it by sprinkling Holy Water, which will protect you and your family from evil spirits. For House Blessings, it is appropriate that all family members are in attendance. Sessions will start at 7pm sharp. Please bring your family and bring your questions for Fr. Giris. Please mark your calendar every Thursday at 7pm sharp.

5 THE WILL OF GOD One must always pray that the Lord will show him the way Let us pray to the Lord that He will save us and will come to our aid in times of sorrow and need. I see no other refuge or hope. Human solutions are vain and mistaken. When you have to endure something which is very difficult, but you know that it is not of your own will, you receive moral relief and peace of soul. May God s will be done! May the Lord not discredit our faith and devotion to His will. Our only hope is in God. He is our firm foundation, for everything else is unsure. You absolutely do not know where it might be better, where it might be worse, or what to expect. May God s will be done! Our work is to preserve ourselves in the faith, and to keep ourselves from every sin, and entrust everything else to God. - St. Nikon Mark Your Calendar 2014 Pledge Boxes Are Here Sunday February 2 nd Special Super bowl Lunch at the church. Hang around at the church, have delicious lunch and watch Super bowl on the big screen in the church hall Saturday February 22 nd If you have not picked up your 2014 Pledge Box & Envelopes, please get one from treasurer Samer Aboujudom. And please don t forget to fill out a Pledge Form. This is our only way to track your annual pledges, forecast our church budget, and have your contact information. Thank you for your support Tax Letters Within the next couple of weeks you should receive your 2013 donation letter for your 2013 taxes. Please see Samer Aboujudom if you don t receive it. Lunch This Sunday January 26 will be provided by Nick & Lena Khoury and Family Anwar Behnam and Family St. James Annual Crab Feed dinner. Tickets and details soon. Thank you and God bless you.

6 Venerable Theodosius the Great, the Cenobiarch Friday 1/24 (1/11) Saint Theodosius the Great lived during the fifth-sixth centuries, and was the founder of cenobitic monasticism. He was born in Cappadocia of pious parents. Endowed with a splendid voice, he zealously toiled at church reading and singing. St Theodosius prayed fervently that the Lord would guide him on the way to salvation. In his early years he visited the Holy Land and met with St Simeon the Stylite, who blessed him and predicted future pastoral service for him. Yearning for the solitary life, Saint Theodosius settled in Palestine into a desolate cave, in which, according to Tradition, the three Magi had spent the night, having come to worship the Savior after His Nativity. He lived there for thirty years in great abstinence and unceasing prayer. People flocked to the ascetic, wishing to live under his guidance. When the cave could no longer hold all the monks, St Theodosius prayed that the Lord Himself would indicate a place for the monks. Taking a censer with cold charcoal and incense, the monk started walking into the desert. At a certain spot the charcoal ignited by itself and the incense smoke began to rise. Here the monk established the first cenobitic monastery, or Lavra (meaning "broad" or "populous"). Soon the Lavra of St Theodosius became renowned, and up to 700 monks gathered at it. According to the final testament of St Theodosius, the Lavra rendered service to neighbor, giving aid to the poor and providing shelter for wanderers. St Theodosius was extremely compassionate. Once, when there was a famine in Palestine and a multitude of people gathered at the monastery, the monk gave orders to allow everyone into the monastery enclosure. His disciples were annoyed, knowing that the monastery did not have the means to feed all those who had come. But when they went into the bakery, they saw that through the prayers of the abba, it was filled with bread. This miracle was repeated every time St Theodosius wanted to help the destitute. At the monastery, St Theodosius built a home for taking in strangers, separate infirmaries for monks and laymen, and also a shelter for the dying. Seeing that people from various lands gathered at the Lavra, the saint arranged for services in the various languages: Greek, Georgian and Armenian. All gathered to receive the Holy Mysteries in the large church, where divine services were chanted in Greek. During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius ( ) there arose the heresy of Eutychius and Severus, which recognized neither the sacraments nor the clergy. The emperor accepted the false teaching, and the Orthodox began to suffer persecution. St Theodosius stood firmly in defense of Orthodoxy and wrote a letter to the emperor on behalf of the monks, in which they denounced him and refuted the heresy with the teachings of the Ecumenical Councils. He affirmed moreover, that the desert-dwellers and monks would firmly support the Orthodox teaching. The emperor showed restraint for a short while, but then he renewed his persecution of the Orthodox. The holy Elder then showed great zeal for the truth. Leaving the monastery, he came to Jerusalem and in the church, he stood at the high place and cried out for all to hear: "Whoever does not honor the four Ecumenical Councils, let him be anathema!" For this bold deed the monk was sent to prison, but soon returned after the death of the emperor. St Theodosius accomplished many healings and other miracles during his life, coming to the aid of the needy. Through his prayers he once destroyed the locusts devastating the fields in Palestine. Also by his intercession, soldiers were saved from death, and he also saved those perishing in shipwrecks and those lost in the desert. Once, the saint gave orders to strike the semandron (a piece of wood hit with a mallet), so that the brethren would gather at prayer. He told them, "The wrath of God draws near the East." After several days it became known that a strong earthquake had destroyed the city of Antioch at the very hour when the saint had summoned the brethren to prayer. Before his death, St Theodosius summoned to him three beloved bishops and revealed to them that he would soon depart to the Lord. After three days, he died at the age of 105. The saint's body was buried with reverence in the cave in which he lived at the beginning of his ascetic deeds.

7 St. Nektarios: On Temptations By St. Nektarios of Aegina Temptations are granted to reveal our hidden passions, to be combated against, and thus heal our soul. They are also a sample of divine mercy. For this reason trust in God and ask for His help, in order to strengthen you in your fight. Hope in God never leads to despair. Temptations bring humility. God knows the resistance of each of us, and grants temptations according to the measure of our strength. However, we must make sure to be vigilant and careful, that we do not put ourselves into temptation. Trust in God the Good, the Mighty, the Living, and He will lead you into rest. After the trial follows spiritual joy. The Lord monitors those who endure trials and tribulations for His love. Therefore do not become despondent and do not flinch. I do not want you to be overwhelmed and grieve for what happens contrary to your will: no matter how justified it is. Such grief is symptomatic of egoism. Beware of egoism which hides beneath the form of justification. Beware of untimely sadness which is created after a just evaluation. Excessive grief for all of these things are the temptation. True grief is one: that which is created when we come to know well the miserable plight of our soul. All other griefs have nothing to do with the grace of God. Be sure to guard in your heart the joy of the Holy Spirit, and do not allow the evil one to pour out his bitterness. Beware! Beware, lest the Paradise that exists in you turns into Hell. St. James Orthodox Church 195 N. Main Street Milpitas, CA Monday 1/20 (1/7) Commemoration of the Holy Glorious Prophet Forerunner and Baptist John

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