Saintly Notes Theophany (January 6) W hen our Lord reached thirty years from His physical birth, He began His teaching and salvific work. He Himself signified this "beginning of the beginning" by His baptism in the Jordan river. St. Cyril of Jerusalem says, " The beginning of the world - water; the beginning of the Good News - Jordan." At the time of the baptism of the Lord in water, that mystery was declared to the world: that mystery which was prophesied in the Old Testament; the mystery about which in ancient Egypt and India was only fabled; i.e., the mystery of the Divine Holy Trinity. The Father was revealed to the sense of hearing; the Spirit was revealed to the sense of sight, and in addition to these, the Son was revealed to the sense of touch. The Father uttered His witness about the Son, the Son was baptized in the water, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovered above the water. When John the Baptist witnessed and said about Christ, "Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world" (St. John 1:29), and when John immersed and baptized the Lord in the Jordan, the mission of Christ in the world and the path of our salvation was shown. That is to say: The Lord took upon Himself the sins of mankind and died under them [immersion] and became alive again [the coming out of the water]; and we must die as the old sinful man and become alive again as cleansed, renewed and regenerated. This is the Savior and this is the path of salvation. The Feast of the Epiphany [Theophany in Greek] is also called the Feast of Illumination. For us, the event in the Jordan river illuminates, by manifesting to us God as Trinity, consubstantial and undivided. That is one way. And, the second: everyone of us through baptism in water is illumined by this, that we become adopted by the Father of Lights through the merits of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit. Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ January 6, 2008 (Taken from The Prologue from Ochrid, Birmingham: Lazarica Press, 1985)
Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Refrains of the Second Antiphon (Used between the appointed verses.) Refrain: Save us, O Son of God, Who wast baptized by John in the Jordan; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. Third Antiphon: Troparion of Theophany Tone 1 Verse: 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. All Saints Orthodox Church, Raleigh NC (www.allsaintsnc.org) 919-859-1332 The V. Rev. Nicholas R. A. Sorensen, Archpriest The Rev. David Keim, Deacon January 6, 2008 This Week s Schedule (www.allsaintsnc.org) Today: Epiphany: 8:00a Orthros; 9:00a Church School; 10:00a Divine Liturgy w/great Blessing of the Waters. Monday: 7:00p OBF Groups Tuesday 7:00p Parish Council Meeting Wednesday: 9:15a Third Hour Prayer; 6:30p Vespers Saturday: 5:30p Great Vespers Sunday: 8:00a Orthros; 9:00a Church School; 10:00a Divine Liturgy Refrain: 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 form of a dove confirmed the truth of His word. O Christ our God, Who hath appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee. Entrance Hymn 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 wast baptized by John in the Jordan; who sing to Thee. Alleluia. Troparion of Theophany Tone 1 (See above) Kontakion of the Theophnay of Christ Tone 4 Today Thou hast appeared to the universe, O Lord, and Thy light hath been shed upon us, who praise Thee with knowledge, saying, Thou hast come and appeared, O unapproachable Light. In Place of The Trisagion As many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia (3x) Epistle and Gospel Readings Today: (See insert) Next Sunday: Epistle: Eph. 4:7 13 Gospel: Matt. 4:12 17 Megalynarion Magnify, O my soul, her who is more honorable and more exalted in glory than the heavenly hosts Verily, all tongues are at a loss to praise thee properly; and every mind, even though transcending the world, is distracted in thy praise, O Theotokos. But because thou art good, accept our faith, having known our divine longing. Wherefore, since thou art the helper of Christians, we do magnify thee. Communion Hymn Tone 8 The grace of God our Savior hath appeared to all men. Alleluia. Parish Notes Altar Servers Today Nicholas Christopoulos, Christian Christopoulos, William Christopoulos, Christopher Wingenbach, Ilya Moundous, Dmitri Riselvato, Joseph Bailey. Special Attention Don t Forget to Bring Nonperishable Foods for Our Can Goods Drive. Our Teens are collecting the can goods in the Narthex and will take them regularly to the Raleigh Food Bank. Last year All Saints donated 1650 lbs of food to help feed the hungry in our area. Please help our Teens surpass last year s total. Deacon David is Serving in Boone Today. Please pray for him and for Sts. Peter and Paul Mission. House Blessings. Fr. Nicholas will begin the blessings of our parish homes this week. If you wish for him to bless your home, please sign up (on bulletin board outside of the parish hall) for a week and time in which Fr. will be in your area. Christmas Thank You! Fr. Nicholas and his family as well as Deacon David and his family wish to thank each of the members of the parish for their many expressions of love during this past Christmas season. Your cards, gifts, and, yes, even Christmas emails were gratefully received. Also thank you to the entire parish for the gift of the vestment bag for Fr. Nicholas and the cash gift for Deacon David. May God grant to our loving and peaceful parish family many, many, many years and a spiritually edifying Year of Grace in 2008. Fr. Nicholas, Barbara, and Family Dn. David, Shell, and Family
Prokeimenon: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Epistle: Titus 2:11 15; 3:4 7 (RSV) My son Titus, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world; awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. Epistle and Gospel Readings Gospel: Matt. 3:13 17 (RSV) At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, I need to be baptized by Thee, and Thou dost come to me? But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased. Prokeimenon: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever. Epistle: Titus 2:11 15; 3:4 7 (RSV) My son Titus, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world; awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds. Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. Epistle and Gospel Readings Gospel: Matt. 3:13 17 (RSV) At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, I need to be baptized by Thee, and Thou dost come to me? But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.
A Word from Our Fathers Perform every work attentively, no matter how unimportant it may seem, as if being done before the face of God. Remember that the Lord sees everything. (St. Nikon) Gratitude in a Christian is such a great thing that, along with love, it accompanies him into the future life, where he will celebrate with them the eternal Pascha. (St. Ambrose) We must give thanks for all things to the Lord, Who has rightly given us difficulties that we may learn patience, which is more beneficial than comforts, and ennobles the soul. (St. Moses) A Word from Our Fathers Perform every work attentively, no matter how unimportant it may seem, as if being done before the face of God. Remember that the Lord sees everything. (St. Nikon) Gratitude in a Christian is such a great thing that, along with love, it accompanies him into the future life, where he will celebrate with them the eternal Pascha. (St. Ambrose) We must give thanks for all things to the Lord, Who has rightly given us difficulties that we may learn patience, which is more beneficial than comforts, and ennobles the soul. (St. Moses)
Instructions for Epiphany House Blessings 2008 This year Epiphany house blessings will begin on January 8 th and conclude on February 8 th. This is that special time of year when the priest comes to bless the parishioners homes with the Holy Water from the feast of the Theophany (January 6 th ). Each room of your home will be sprinkled with the Holy Water and the appropriate prayers of blessing spoken. Preparation for the priest s visit includes placing an icon, a candle, and a list of people (living and departed) for whom you want the priest to pray on the kitchen or dining room table (the priest will start the service of blessing from this table unless you have an icon corner where you normally say prayers, in which case, he will start there). In addition, all radios, TV s, stereos, etc. should be turned off, and all in the household should gather to participate in the blessing. It is not necessary to have your home blessed every year but if you would like for Father Nicholas to come to your home, please signup on the sheets on the hall bulletin board at the church. Please note that there is a specific sheet for the area in which you live. Father will be in your area on the dates specified. When you sign the sheet please make note of the time and the date. Instructions for Epiphany House Blessings 2008 This year Epiphany house blessings will begin on January 8 th and conclude on February 8 th. This is that special time of year when the priest comes to bless the parishioners homes with the Holy Water from the feast of the Theophany (January 6 th ). Each room of your home will be sprinkled with the Holy Water and the appropriate prayers of blessing spoken. Preparation for the priest s visit includes placing an icon, a candle, and a list of people (living and departed) for whom you want the priest to pray on the kitchen or dining room table (the priest will start the service of blessing from this table unless you have an icon corner where you normally say prayers, in which case, he will start there). In addition, all radios, TV s, stereos, etc. should be turned off, and all in the household should gather to participate in the blessing. It is not necessary to have your home blessed every year but if you would like for Father Nicholas to come to your home, please signup on the sheets on the hall bulletin board at the church. Please note that there is a specific sheet for the area in which you live. Father will be in your area on the dates specified. When you sign the sheet please make note of the time and the date.