St. Anthony The Great Antiochian Orthodox Church 4031 Aurora Rd.; Melbourne, Florida Mailing address : P.O.Box 267, Melbourne, FL 32902 Very Rev. Fr. Elia Shalhoub, Pastor & Dean of South Florida Deanery Phone: (305) 812-4940 E-Mail: elia_shalhoub@yahoo.com Pastor s address: 2295 Oklahoma St.. W. Palm Beach, FL 33406 (321) 806-7152 - Rev. Dn Stephanos http://www.stanthonyorthodoxchurch.com WELCOME GUESTS We at St. Anthony s Orthodox Church welcome all who are with us in prayer this morning. If you are a first time visitor, please fill out the guest form located on the literature table. Following services, please join us for sharing of fellowship, coffee, and food. St. Anthony s is a pan-nationality Orthodox community, under the omophorion of Metropolitan JOSEPH within the Self-ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, January 14, 2018 Leave-Taking of & Sunday after the Theophany of Christ Holy fathers slain at Sinai and Raithu; Virgin-martyr Agnes; Venerable Theodoulos, son of Neilos the Wise of Sinai; Nina, equal-to-the-apostles and enlightener of Georgia; Sabbas, first archbishop of Serbia NOTE TO CLERGY: Remember to include this special petition in the Great Litany before the one for the head of state, as directed by the Antiochian Archdiocese. Deacon: For Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John, and for their quick release from captivity and safe return, let us pray to the Lord. Choir: Lord, have mercy. THE FIRST ANTIPHON When Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among a barbarous people; Judah became His sanctuary; Israel His dominion. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. The sea beheld and fled: Jordan turned back. What aileth thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? And thou Jordan, that thou didst turn back? (Refrain) Glory Both now (Refrain) THE SECOND ANTIPHON I am filled with love, for the Lord will hear the voice of my supplication. For He hath inclined His ear unto me, and in my days will I call upon Him. Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who wast baptized by John in the Jordan; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. The pangs of death have encompassed me; the perils of hades have found me. Tribulation and sorrow have I found, and I called upon the name of the Lord. (Refrain) Merciful is the Lord, and righteous; and our God hath mercy. (Refrain) Glory Both now O, only begotten Son and Word of God
THE THIRD ANTIPHON O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Israel now confess that He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Let the house of Aaron confess that He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Let them now who fear the Lord confess that He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. ~ During the Little Entrance, after the verses of the Third Antiphon, chant the Apolytikion of Theophany. Then, the following: THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF THE LEAVE-TAKING OF THEOPHANY Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. The Lord is God and hath appeared unto us. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. ~ After the Entrance, sing the hymns in the following order below. RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE SEVEN 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 THEOPHANY OF CHRIST IN TONE ONE When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity wast made manifest; for the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the likeness of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee. APOLYTIKION OF ST. ANTHONY THE GREAT Thou didst become like the zealous Elijah in his condition, and followed John the Baptist in his upright ways. Becoming a dweller in the wilderness, and an establisher of the universe by thy prayer O Father Anthony. Wherefore intercede thou with Christ our God to save our souls. KONTAKION OF THE THEOPHANY OF CHRIST IN TONE FOUR (**The original melody**) On this day Thou hast appeared * unto the whole world, * and Thy light, O Sovereign Lord, * is signed on us who sing Thy praise * and chant with knowledge: Thou hast now come, * Thou hast appeared, O Thou Light unapproachable. ~ Trisagion Hymn: Holy God. THE EPISTLE (For the Sunday after Theophany of Christ) Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. (4:7-13) Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ s gift. Therefore, it is said, When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men. (In saying, He ascended, what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Please pray for the healing of Ralph Perers, Susan Perers, Hope Tanner, Lou Abraham, Alix Hall, Deborah Thieme, Shirley Young, Ann Shark, Jeries Adili, Josh Valance, Beverly Delida, Nina and Diogo Penas, Mary Robinson, Beth Manzini, John Archambeau, Holly Blank, Alex & Soula.
THE GOSPEL (For the Sunday after Theophany of Christ) The reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (4:12-17) At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. MEGALYNARION OF THE LEAVE-TAKING OF THEOPHANY IN TONE TWO Magnify, O my soul, the Maiden who delivered us from the curse. O the wonder of thy super-intelligent birth-giving, thou all-pure bride, the blessed Mother through whom we have received perfect salvation, we indite a fitting song, offering as a gift the song of gratitude. KOINONIKON (COMMUNION HYMN) OF THEOPHANY IN TONE EIGHT The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Alleluia. ~ After Communion, instead of singing We have seen the true light, sing the Festal Apolytikion: When Thou, O Lord. Announcements EPISTLE READINGS Please come close to people & project your voice January 14 Sophia Gardenhire St. Paul to the Ephesians (4:7-13) January 21 Gabriella Baika St. Paul to St. Timothy. (4:9-15) January 28 Subdeacon Jean Najjar St. Paul to St. Timothy. (3:10-15) Anthony and Anya Freude (today) May God grant you many more Happy and Healthy Years together! Sunday School classes will resume today, January 14. Hope you had a nice winter break. UPCOMING SUNDAY CALENDAR Below lists the upcoming Sundays from January 28th until Holy Pascha, which falls on April 8th this year. We invite you to join us each week for Sunday Liturgy to celebrate this special commemoration of Jesus life, death, and Resurrection. Please mark these special dates on your calendar. January 28 Pharisee & Publican March 9 Forty Holy Martyrs February 2 Presentation of Our Lord March 11 3rd Sunday of Lent February 4 Prodigal Son March 18 4th Sunday of Lent February 11 Meatfare Sunday March 25 5th Sunday of Lent February 18 Cheesefare Sunday April 1 PALM SUNDAY February 19 Beginning of Great Lent April 6 GOOD FRIDAY February 25 1st Sunday of Lent April 8 HOLY PASCHA (Sunday of Orthodoxy) March 4 2nd Sunday of Lent
32ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST AND SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS What Shakespeare Said!! So Beautiful He Said: I always feel happy, you know why? Because I don t expect anything from anyone, Expectations always hurt.. Life is short.. So love your life.. Be happy.. And Keep Smiling.. Just Live yourself and Before you speak >> Listen Before you Write >> Think Before you Spend>> Earn Before you Pray >> Forgive Before you hurt >> Feel Before you hate>> Love Before you quit >> Try Before you Die>> Live That s Life. Feel it, Live it & Enjoy it! THANK YOU to our 2018 PLEDGE MEMBERS: Very Rev. Fr. Elia & Odette Shalhoub Dn. Stephanos and Amani Adili Subdeacon Jean and Joujou Najjar Ralph and Susan Perers Debbie Thieme Eugene and Betty Popow Alix Hall Luke and Beverly Delida Patricia Smith Peri Kiros Gabriella Baika Richard and Stephanie Enstice Our Goal for 2018 is $50,000.00 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! If you have not yet made your 2018 pledge, we ask that you prayerfully consider doing so.
PREPARATION FOR LENT 1. THE DESIRE (SUNDAY OF ZACCHEUS) The shadow of Zacchaeus in his tree looms large on us on as we begin to prepare for our Lenten journey to Pascha. The following from St. Augustine (Sermon 174.3, in ACCS, Luke, pg 290) is a keen etymological insight (sycamore meaning "silly fig" from the Greek Syca and Moron] into the foolishness of the cross. Zacchaeus climbed away from the crowd and saw Jesus without the crowd getting in his way. The crowd laughs at the lowly, at people walking the way of humility, who leave the wrongs they suffer in God's hands and do not insist on getting back at their enemies. The crows laughs at the lowly and says, "you helpless, miserable clod, you cannot even stick up for yourself and back what is your own."...he ignored the crowd that was getting in his way. Instead, He climbed a sycamore tree, a tree of silly fruit. As the apostle says, "we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block indeed to the Jews [now notice the sycamore] but folly to the Gentiles." - St. Augustine
Keeping the Faith In the Holy Days by Fr. Joseph Allen from The Word, March 2000 Basically, the purpose of a fast and a fasting season Is to gain mastery over oneself. It is seeking to liberate oneself from those elements in our world which precisely seek to hold us in bondage: greed, revenge, gluttony, hate, gossip, etc. It is never only about food, as if God is pleased when we do not eat. It is never separated from prayer. It is also never about afflicting oneself with suffering and pain. Indeed, in the services of the Orthodox Church, we are reminded that the devil also never eats! And when we fast, the Gospel reminds us that we are to anoint our head and wash our face, that our fast will not be seen by men, but by our Father who sees in secret (Matthew 6:16-18). Food, of course, has always held its important place in the season of the fast because it is a first-line passion, a temptation, as everyone already knows, which truly does hold us in bondage. It takes us immediately to the point simply because we need food to live in this earthly life. Thus, abstinence relative to food is a veritable symbol of the more global task of liberation from dependence on this world, and its ways: eat, eat, eat; violence, violence, violence; consume, consume, consume, etc.! These and others like them militate against our seeking a dimension of life beyond this earthly world. Indeed, we must seek to be free for something, but first we must struggle to be free from something: the earthly passions which seek to possess us. And that s the point! We fast not only as an end in itself, but as a means to an end: to enter fully and organically into a holy time with God, and for our present purposes, this means the use of time culminating at the holy day, the sacred feastday. Therefore, this season of the fast which leads to the feast is never a time of business as usual. It is indeed a special time, one in which a struggle leads to a goal. It must, however, remain humble and never lead to judgmentalism or arrogance. In the seventh century, St. Dorotheos wellnoted this truth: When one fasts, thinking he is achieving something especially virtuous, he fasts foolishly, for he soon begins to criticize others and to consider himself something greater. Or to use the words of the Great Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans: Let him who eats not despise him who abstains, and let him who abstains not judge him who eats for God has welcomed him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? We see in this way that a fast, and a season of the fast, is never limited to the excesses which may come into our minds and mouths, but which also proceed out of our minds and mouths! Another critical element which truly belongs to the season preparatory to the holy day is almsgiving. When almsgiving is combined with prayer and fasting, those in the Eastern Christian Tradition believe they are creating the best environment for keeping our Faith in the celebration of a Feastday.
Again, like prayer and fasting, when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:1-4). Such is the humility needed when almsgiving is practiced. St. John Chrysostom, a great fourth century presbyter and Bishop of the Church, says we simply cannot be saved without giving alms. He reminds us that the wealthy can come closer to God only to the degree that they are charitable. Like Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great is even more specific: A person who has two coats and two pairs of shoes while his neighbor has none, is a thief. We must wonder, of course, what this says about the excesses of commercialism which abound during this very same season of preparation for the holy days! And yet, almsgiving during the preparatory time of the fast is merely reflecting God s love: If anyone has all the world s goods, and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against that brother, how does God s love abide in him? (I John 3:17) Just as in a person s stewardship for his or her parish, his or her community of Faith, if such giving is to be of any value, it must be a spiritual offering of sacrifice. One cannot merely give what is left over after all his own needs are satisfied; one must take from the essentials of his own life and offer it. Is this not the meaning of the poor widow in Luke s Gospel? Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And Jesus called his disciples and said to them, Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest: for they contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in of her essential living. And so, in attempting to keep our Faith in the holidays (holy days), understanding both the place of time and our use of time, is essential. Within the rhythm of time, natural to all of life, we cannot be passive. We must ourselves struggle during the preparatory time of fasting in order to truly arrive at a celebration of our Faith during the Feast Day. Remembering that any holy day is a day when God makes Himself known to us, a day when the doors are thrown open, allowing us to draw near to His presence that is, precisely to enter into His Kingdom the struggle on our part to get there is critical. For as Our Lord Himself said: The Kingdom of God is taken by force.
ST. ANTHONY THE GREAT ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH 4031 Aurora Rd., Melbourne, FL. 32934 www.stanthonyorthodoxchurch.com Very Rev. Fr. Elia Shalhoub Cell: (305) 812-4940 Elia_shalhoub@yahoo.com Follow us on FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/st.anthonyorthodox 2018 HOUSE BLESSING FORM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR HOUSE BLESSED, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORM ASAP. CHOOSE THREE ALTERNATE DATES AND TIMES, AND GIVE DIRECTIONS TO YOUR HOME AS WELL. When the priest comes to bless your home please make sure to have an Icon; a candle ready and your list of the names (Living & Deceased) to be prayed for. Thank you, V. Rev. Fr. Elia Shalhoub, Pastor NAME: (PLEASE PRINT) ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: (HOME) (OFFICE) (CELL) DATES/TIMES REQUESTED (Please list three date/time options): (Please let me know if you are available or not during the day on Saturday & Sunday only from 12:00 Noon. to 5:00 p.m. or if you prefer an Evening Visit.) Option #1: Option #2: Option #3: DIRECTIONS & EXACT ADDRESS PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO FATHER ELIA NO LATER THAN JANUARY 14, 2018.
The central sign of our acceptance of God s sanctification of the creation is the blessing of the homes of faithful Orthodox Christians. We bless homes: EPIPHANY 2018 BLESSING OF HOMES a. To reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven. b. To rid the home of every evil. c. To know that the family is a small church unit in Christ, to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God. d. To have the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God. Only the Church reveals what life is, and she alone is the Kingdom of God on earth. The Church lives within Christ, revealing Him to us. As the Church, we sprinkle blessed water throughout the home, as we chant, When you, 0 Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the Fathers voice bore witness to you and called you His Beloved Son, while the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed these words. 0 Christ our God, who has appeared to us and has enlightened the world, Glory to you. The priest consecrates the home to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in this act, the Church blesses, reveals and sanctifies. When the priest comes for the house blessing, please adhere to these guidelines: 1. Have as many family members there as possible. 2. Setup a place for prayer, in the dining room or kitchen, with an icon and a candle. 3. Print the first names of those for whom specific prayers are to be offered, including all family members on a sheet of paper, making a clear distinction between living and departed. 4. Take this time to get to know Father Elia better, asking any questions you may have. 5. If a child needs some time to talk to Father, respect his/her privacy and make the opportunity. 6. Make Father Elia aware of any special needs you may have. 7. Tell Father Elia about any family members who are in nursing homes or in need of a visit Please remember that Father Elia will be making many visitations. A lengthy social visit may not be possible at this time. If you would prefer a visit outside the Epiphany season, please let Father know.
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ABOUT COMMUNION We are happy that you have joined us today. Indeed, we pray for the unity of the Faith for the day when all of Christianity are united as ONE and can share a common Chalice. However, this is not the case as yet. The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) is offered only to Orthodox Christians who are in complete harmony with the Faith and prepared themselves through fasting and prayer. We hope that you do understand and if you have questions or wish to embrace the Orthodox Christian Faith, please talk with Father Elia. If you are a guest or otherwise not a regular communicant, please give your baptismal name when receiving. If you wish, feel free to share the Antidoran with those around you not taking communion.