Office hours: 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday

St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH, Primate May 21, 2017 V. Rev. Fr. Michel Najim, Dean & Great Economos Rev. Fr. Calinic Berger, Rev. Fr. George Taweel, Rev. Fr. Paul Olson Archdeacon George Shishim Deacons: Dn. John Germain, Dn. Eliya Ammari, Sub Dn. Gregory Foley, Sub Dn, Fouad Nasrallah Acolytes: Daniel Nofal, Michael George, Pierre Bitar Altar Boys: Meena Ammari, Alex Nima, Elias Shammaa Choir Director: Anne McClintic, Dr. Issac Haddad Chantors: Alberto Fayad, Elias Kuncar, Eva Najim Council Chairman: Haitham Matar. Ushers: Mrs. Jameel Beebe, Nassif Shammaa, Richard Ayoob, Curtis Annett, Mark Simon Bookstore: Isabel Elac Candles: Joseph Maalouf Church School Director: Badia Mamar & Coordinator: Salma Maalouf Youth Director: Joey Phoenix Men s Fellowship: George Hanna Ladies Society: Nora Hanna 2300 WEST THIRD STREET LOS ANGELES, CA 90057 Phone (213) 382-6269, Fax (213) 382-0175 www.stnicholasla.com E-mail: Cathedral@Stnicholasla.com Youtube: abounamn Teen Group: https://www.facebook.com/stnicksteengroup/ St. Nicholas Festival Web Site: lamedfest.org Office hours: 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday

EOTHINON 8 TONE 5 اللحن 5 االيوثينا 8 Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Blind Man; Equals-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen أحد األعمى و القد يسان قسطنطين وهيالنة المعادال الرسل Constantine, Prince of Murom, and his sons Michael and Theodore, the Wonderworkers THE FIRST ANTIPHON Shout with joy to God, all the earth; sing to His Name, give glory to His praises. Refrain: Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. Say to God: How awesome are Thy works; let all the earth worship Thee, and sing to Thee. Let it sing a song to Thy Name, O Most High. (Refrain) Glory Both now (Refrain) THE SECOND ANTIPHON May God have mercy upon us, and bless us, and may He cause His face to shine upon us, and have mercy upon us. Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations; let the peoples give thanks to Thee, O God, let all the peoples give thanks to Thee. (Refrain) May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him. (Refrain) Glory Both now O, only begotten Son and Word of God THE THIRD ANTIPHON + Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let them that Him flee from before His face. Refrain: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death; and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life! + As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish; as wax melteth before the fire. (Refrain) + So let sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad. (Refrain) + This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein. (Refrain) THE EISODIKON (ENTRANCE HYMN) OF THE FEAST In the great congregations bless God the Lord, from the springs of Israel. Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead, who sing to Thee: Alleluia. After the Little Entrance (Eisodos), sing these Apolytikia in the following order RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE FIVE Let us believers praise and worship the Word; coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation. For, He took pleasure in ascending the Cross in the flesh to suffer death; and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection. طروبارية القيامة على اللحن الخامس لنسبح نحن المؤمنين ونسجد للكلمة, المساوي لالب والروح في االزلية وعدم االبتداء, المولود من العذراء لخالص نا, النه س ر أن يصعد بالجسد على الصليب ويحتمل الموت, وي نهض الموتى بقيامت ه المجيدة.

APOLYTIKION OF SS. CONSTANTINE AND HELEN IN TONE EIGHT Having seen the image of Thy Cross in Heaven, and, like Paul, having received the call not from men, Thine apostle among kings, Constantine, entrusted the commonwealth to Thy hand, O Lord. Keep us always in peace, by the intercessions of the Theotokos, O only Lover of mankind. طروبارية القد يسان قسطنطين وهيالنة المعادال الرسل على اللحن الثامن يارب إن قسطنطين الذي هو رسولك في الملوك لما شاهد رسم صليبك في السماء عيانا وبمثابة بولس قبل الدعوة ليس من البشر وأودع بيدك المدينة المتملكة فأنقذها بالسالمة كل حين بشفاعات والدة اإلله يا محب البشر وحدك. TROPARION OF SAINT NICHOLAS IN TONE FOUR The verity of your actions revealed you to your flock a rule of faith, an icon of` mildness, and teacher of abstinence, O Father Bishop Nicholas; wherefore by humility you have achieved exaltation and by poverty richness. Intercede with Christ our God to save our souls. طروبارية القديس نيقوالوس على اللحن الرابع لقد أظهرتك أفعال الحق لرعيتك قانونا لإليمان وصورة للوداعة ومعلما لالمساك أيها األب رئيس الكهنة نيقوالوس فلذلك أحرزت بالتواضع الرفعة وبالمسكنة الغنى فتشفع إلى المسيح اإلله في خالص نفوس نا. KONTAKION OF PASCHA IN TONE EIGHT O Immortal One, when Thou didst descend into the tomb, Thou didst destroy the power of Hades; and Thou didst rise victorious, O Christ God. Thou hast said to the ointment bearing women: Rejoice! And Thou gavest peace to Thy Disciples, O Bestower of Resurrection to those who had fallen. قنداق الفصح على اللحن الثامن ولئن نزلت إلى قبر يا من ال يموت إال أن ك درست قوة الجحيم وقمت غالبا أيها المسيح اإلله. وللنسوة الحامالت الطيب قلت افرحن واهبا لرسل ك السالم يا مانح الواقعين القيام. THE EPISTLE Their voice has gone out into all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God. The Reading from the Acts of the Saintly and Pure Apostles. (26:1, 12-20) In those days, King Agrippa said to Paul, You have permission to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads. And I said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may

receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance. الرسالة إلى كل األرض خرج صوته السماوات, تذيع مجد هللا. فصل من أعمال الرسل القديسين األطهار. في تلك األيام, ق ال أ غ ر يب اس ل ب ول س : م أ ذ ون ل ك أ ن ت ت ك ل م أل ج ل ن ف س ك. ح ين ئ ذ ب س ط ب ول س ي د ه و ج ع ل ي ح ت ج : و ل م ا ك ن ت ذ اه با ف ي ذ ل ك إ ل ى د م ش ق ب س ل ط ان و و ص ي ة م ن ر ؤ س اء ال ك ه ن ة ر أ ي ت ف ي ن ص ف الن ه ار ف ي الط ر يق أ ي ه ا ال م ل ك ن ورا م ن الس م اء أ ف ض ل م ن ل م ع ان الش م س ق د أ ب ر ق ح و ل ي و ح و ل الذ اه ب ين م ع ي. ف ل م ا س ق ط ن ا ج م يع ن ا ع ل ى األ ر ض س م ع ت ص و تا ي ك ل م ن ي ب الل غ ة ال ع ب ر ان ي ة : ش او ل ش او ل ل م اذ ا ت ض ط ه د ن ي ص ع ب ع ل ي ك أ ن ت ر ف س م ن اخ س ف ق ل ت أ ن ا: م ن أ ن ت ي ا س ي د ف ق ال : أ ن ا ي س وع ال ذ ي أ ن ت ت ض ط ه د ه. و ل ك ن ق م و ق ف ع ل ى ر ج ل ي ك أل ن ي ل ه ذ ا ظ ه ر ت ل ك أل ن ت خ ب ك خ اد ما و ش اه دا ب م ا ر أ ي ت و ب م ا س أ ظ ه ر ل ك ب ه م ن ق ذا إ ي اك م ن الش ع ب و م ن األ م م ال ذ ين أ ن ا اآلن أ ر س ل ك إ ل ي ه م ل ت ف ت ح ع ي ون ه م ك ي ي ر ج ع وا م ن ظ ل م ات إ ل ى ن ور و م ن س ل ط ا ن الش ي ط ان إ ل ى هللا ح ت ى ي ن ال وا ب اإل يم ان ب ي غ ف ر ان ال خ ط اي ا و ن ص يبا م ع ال م ق د س ين. م ن ث م أ ي ه ا ال م ل ك أ غ ر يب اس ل م أ ك ن م ع ان دا ل لر ؤ ي ا الس م او ي ة ب ل أ خ ب ر ت أ و ال ال ذ ين ف ي د م ش ق و ف ي أ ور ش ل يم ح ت ى ج م يع ك ور ة ال ي ه ود ي ة ث م األ م م أ ن ي ت وب وا و ي ر ج ع وا إ ل ى هللا ع ام ل ين أ ع م اال ت ل ي ق ب الت و ب ة. THE HOLY GOSPEL The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John. (9:1-38) At that time, when Jesus was passing, He saw a man blind from his birth. And His Disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him Who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. As He said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man s eyes with the clay, saying to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam [which means Sent]. So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, Is not this the man who used to sit and beg? Some said, It is he ; others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am the man. They said to him, Then how were your eyes opened? He answered, The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash ; so I went and washed and received my sight. They said to him, Where is He? He said, I do not know. They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see. Some of the Pharisees

said, This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath. But others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, What do you say about Him, since He has opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet. The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see? His parents answered, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself. His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, He is of age, ask him. So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner. He answered, Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see. They said to him, What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become His disciples? And they reviled him, saying, You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He comes from. The man answered, Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing. They answered him, You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him He said, Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered, And Who is He, Sir, that I may believe in Him? Jesus said to him, You have seen Him, and it is He who speaks to you. He said, Lord, I believe ; and he worshiped Him. اإلنجيل المقدس فصل شريف من بشارة القديس يوحنا االنجيلي البشير والتلميذ الطاهر. في ذلك الز مان فيما يسوع م ج ت از رأى إنسان ا أ ع م ى منذ م و ل د ه فسأل ه تالميذ ه قائ ل ين: يا ر ب م ن أ خ ط أ أهذا أ م أبواه حت ى و ل د أعم ى أجاب يسوع : ال هذا أخطأ وال أبواه لكن لتظه ر أعمال هللا فيه. ينبغي لي أن أعمل أعمال ال ذي أرسل ن ي ما دام نهار يأتي ليل حين ال يستطيع أحد أن يعمل. ما د م ت في العال م فأنا نور العال م. قال هذا وت ف ل على األرض وصنع من ت ف ل ت ه ط ين ا وط ل ى بالط ين ع ي ن ي األعمى وقال له: ٱذ ه ب وٱغ ت س ل في ب ر ك ة س ل و ام )ال ذي تفسير ه الم ر س ل ( فمضى وٱغ ت س ل وع اد ب ص ير ا. فٱلجيران وال ذين كانوا ي ر و ن ه من ق ب ل أن ه أعمى قالوا: أليس هذا هو ال ذي كان يجل س وي س ت ع ط ي فقال بعض ه م: هذا هو وآخ رون قالوا: إن ه ي ش ب ه ه. وأم ا هو فكان يقول: إ ن ي أنا هو. فقالوا له: كيف ٱن ف ت ح ت عيناك أجاب ذلك وقال: إنسان ي قال له يسوع صنع طين ا وطلى عيني وقال لي ٱذ ه ب إلى

ب ر ك ة س ل و ام وٱغ ت س ل فمضيت وٱغ ت س ل ت فأبصرت. فقالوا له: أين ذاك فقال لهم: ال أعلم. فأت وا به أي بال ذي كان قبال أعمى إلى الف ر يسي ين. وكان حين صنع يسوع الط ين وفتح عين ي ه يوم سبت. فسأ ل ه الف ر يسي ون أيض ا كيف أ ب ص ر فقال لهم: جعل على عين ي طين ا ث م ٱغتس ل ت فأنا اآلن أ ب ص ر. فقال قوم من الف ر يسي ين: هذا اإلنسان ليس من هللا ألن ه ال يحف ظ الس بت. آخ رون قالوا: كيف يقد ر إنسان خاط ئ أن يعمل مثل هذه اآليات فوقع بينهم ش ق اق. فقالوا أيض ا لألعمى: ماذا تقول أنت عنه من حيث إ ن ه فتح عين ي ك فقال: إ ن ه نبي. ولم يصد ق اليهود عنه أن ه كان أعم ى فأبص ر حت ى د ع و ا أ ب و ي ال ذي أبصر وسأ ل وه ما قائ ل ين : أهذا هو ٱبن ك م ا ال ذي تقوالن إن ه و ل د أ ع م ى فكيف أبصر اآلن أجابهم أبواه وقاال: نحن نعل م أن هذا و ل د نا وأن ه و ل د أعمى وأم ا كيف أبصر اآلن فال ن ع ل م أو م ن فتح عين ي ه فنحن ال نعل م هو كام ل الس ن فٱس أ ل وه فهو يتكل م عن نفسه. قال أبواه هذا ألن ه م ا كانا يخافان من ٱليهود ألن اليهود كانوا قد تعاه د وا أن ه إ ن ٱعت ر ف أح د بأن ه المسيح ي خر ج من المجمع. فلذلك قال أبواه هو كام ل الس ن فٱسألوه. فدع وا ثان ي ة اإلنسان ال ذي كان أعم ى وقالوا له: أ ع ط مجد ا هلل فإن نا نعل م أن هذا اإلنسان خاط ئ. فأجاب ذلك وقال: أ خ اط ئ هو ال أعلم إن ما أعلم شيئ ا واح د ا أ ن ي كنت أعمى واآلن أنا أ ب ص ر. فقالوا له أيض ا: ماذا صنع بك كيف فتح عين يك أجابهم: قد أ خ ب ر ت ك م فلم تسم ع وا فماذا تريدون أن تسم ع وا أيض ا أ ل ع ل ك م أنتم أيض ا تريدون أن تصيروا له تالميذ ف ش ت م وه وقالوا له: أنت تلميذ ذاك وأم ا نحن فإ ن نا تالميذ موسى ونحن نعلم أن هللا قد كل م موسى. فأم ا هذا فال نعلم م ن أين هو. أجاب الر جل وقال لهم: إن في هذا ع ج ب ا أ ن ك م ما تعل م ون من أين هو وقد فتح عين ي ونحن نعلم أن هللا ال يسم ع للخ ط أ ة ولكن إذا أ ح د ٱت ق ى هللا وع م ل مشيئ ت ه ف ل ه يستجيب. منذ الد هر لم ي س م ع أ ن أ ح د ا فت ح ع ين ي م ول ود أعمى. فلو لم ي ك ن هذا من هللا لم ي ق د ر أن يفعل شيئ ا. أجابوه وقالوا له: إ ن ك في الخطايا قد و ل د ت بج مل ت ك أ ف أ ن ت ت ع ل م ن ا فأ خ ر ج وه خار ج ا. وس م ع يسوع أ ن ه م أ خ ر ج وه خار ج ا ف و ج د ه وقال له: أ ت ؤ م ن أ ن ت باب ن هللا فأجاب ذاك وقال : ف م ن هو يا س ي د أل ؤ م ن به فقال له يسوع : قد ر أ ي ت ه وال ذي يتكل م معك هو ه و. فقال: قد آم ن ت يا ر ب وس ج د له. HOLY OBLATION In loving memory of Ted, Ann and Teddy Nicholas; Asper, Bahejay and Johnny Nicholas; and Frank and Frieda Nicholas, offered by Robin & Dorothy Nicholas. Memory eternal. In loving memory of Gabriel, Mary, John, Kay, Ronald, Victoria and Georgette Beyrooty and Tom & Susie Toney. Memory eternal. For Dorothy Nicholas on the occasion of her 94th birthday by her niece, Robin and family. May God continue to bless her and grant her many years! Holy Bread Offered by: Dahabreh family and Robin Nicholas. 1 st Coffee Hour in honor of the 94th birthday of Dorothy Nicholas Sponsored by Robin Nicholas. 2 nd Coffee Hour is sponsored by The Ladies Society

If you would like to sponsor a Coffee Hour, please contact Mrs. Joujou George at (562) 522-1322. Please call 2-4 weeks in advance, if possible, to reserve the date(s) GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS There will be no Sunday School May 28, 2017 SATURDAY, MAY 27: TEEN SOYO BIBLE BOWL MEETING We re in it to win it! Our next Bible Bowl Study Session will be this Saturday, May 27 th, at 7 PM at the Shammaa Residence in Glendale (for info and directions, please contact Randa at 818-720-1458). Please bring a Bible (Orthodox Study Bible or New King James version), some paper to take notes and a pen. All teens are welcome to attend the study sessions and have a good time learning the Gospel of Mark. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24: HOLY ASCENSION The Holy Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, which marks the end of the Paschal season, will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 24th at 6:30PM. Those wishing to receive Holy Communion must fast, the ill and elderly at least from noon. MONDAY, MAY 29: MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES This year s Schedule of Services for Memorial Day are as follows: 9:00 AM: Forest Lawn - Glendale (meet at main entrance) 10:00 AM: Valhalla Cemetery (St. Nicholas Memorial Gardens) 11:00 AM: Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills (meet at main entrance) JUNE 6: MENS FELLOWSHIP MEETING Our next Men s fellowship social dinner will be Tuesday, June 6 th. More info to follow. PARKING AT ST. NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL Dear Faithful, please be reminded that the St. Nicholas parking lot is designated for the Clergy, elderly and parishioners with a handicap decal on their vehicles. Parking is based on first come first serve basis. No reservations are permitted. No double parking or parking in fire lanes is permitted. Our Security Officers have been authorized to place a warning letter on the windshield for parking violations. Parking is also available across from the church (Photo Parking lot), St Vincent s hospital and the surrounding streets. RAIES-MURR EDUCATIONAL TRUST SCHOLARSHIP Only members in good standing of St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church (Van Nuys) or St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral (Los Angeles) who have been accepted to or are currently enrolled in a publicly supported (not private)

institution of higher learning, including vocational, technical and trade schools, are eligible to apply for a Raies-Murr Scholarship. Applications can be obtained by e- mailing Mallory Murr and Vanessa Obenhaus at: RaiesMurrScholarship@gmail.com. The applications are due July 10. AMERICAN ARABIC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATON Graduating High School Seniors: Applicants must be planning to enter either an academic or vocational school the term following the granting of the scholarship, and a resident of one of the following California Counties: Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, or Ventura; be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and be of Arabic Heritage. College and Graduate Students: The above eligibility and qualifications apply. Applications can be obtained by emailing Donald P. Meena at donmeena@sbcglobal.net. The applications must be returned no later than June 15. The Deadline for Bulletin Announcements, Oblations and Trisagions, is Wednesday! Please send your emails to Hala at: Cathedral@stnicholasla.com THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST AND ITS MEANING 1. The Feast of the Ascension is one of the great feasts in Christianity. 2. Prophet and King David of the Old Testament prophesied about it. (Psalm 68:18 and Psalm 57:5). 3. Jesus Ascension into Heaven by His own power proves His Deity and confirms His heavenly divine origin as He said you are from beneath, I am from above... (John 8:23, and in John 3:13) He assured them saying No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven that is the Son of Man who is in heaven. 4. His ascension into heaven declares His victory over the world, Satan, death, Hades and capturing His enemies as the Holy Scriptures confirms: You have ascended on high, you have lead captivity captive; you have received gifts among men. (Ps 68:18). 5. He ascended to prepare a place for us in heaven. (Jn 14:20). 6. His Ascension and His sitting at the right hand of the Father means His glorification. God has no right or left, but sitting bears the meaning of resting after He had accomplished His great act of redemption; whereas the right hand of God refers to the place of His power, superiority, greatness, honor and victory. 7. He ascended to heaven to send to us the Holy Spirit the Comforter, to stay with us Forever and continue to teach us, and lead us to do the will of God (Jn 15:26) He ascended to heaven to intercede for us before the Father 8. Jesus was sure that His disciples would carry on His teaching after His ascension that is why He commissioned them saying: Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). 9. Jesus ascended to heaven and He shall come again with glory together with His Angels and saints upon the clouds to judge the living and the dead. By Elen Saleh