SS. kosmas & damianos Orthodox Church (goa)

703 W. Center Street, Rochester, MN (507) 282-1529 http://www.rochesterorthodoxchurch.org

office@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muoz, Proistamenos

/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise

to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers'

lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou

art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

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Appropriate to your calling, O Champion Paraskevi, you

worshipped with the readiness your name bears. For an abode

you obtained faith, which is your namesake. Wherefore, you pour

forth healing and intercede for our souls.

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/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

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O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant:

despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our

aid who in faith cry unto you: Hasten to intercede, and speed to make supplication, you who ever

protect, O Theotokos, them that honor you.

8th

Sunday of matthew The Holy Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates, Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr of

Rome, St. Prisca, the Righteous Martyr, Moses the Hungarian, Jacob Netsvetov the Enlightener of Alaska

Sunday, July 26th 2015

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 67.35,26

God is wonderful among his saints.

Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

BRETHREN, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith

should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be

justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ

Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ

have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is

neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are

Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is

no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and

trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to

the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son,

born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we

might receive adoption as sons.

Gospel pericope

Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is

now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus

said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have

only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the

crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to

heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were

satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate

were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get

into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

Announcements

Liturgical/Program Schedule:

Mon. July 27th: St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr & Unmercenary, Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:30

Thurs. July 30th: Thursdays on First, volunteers needed!

Sat. August 1st: Dormition Fast Begins!

Todays Artoklosia: in honor of St. Paraskevi (whose relics we possess and whose icon graces

our iconostasis!) prepared by Maria Thomas for the health and salvation of her family.

Greek Festival Volunteers: Please join us all in working together for the benefit of our parish by

being a volunteer for our Greek Festival: August 28, 29, and 30. Sign up your times by going to

this website: http://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0945a4ab29a6f49-holy2/17693561

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOrthodox Christians in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, humble state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, have observed the fasts of the Church, and they should have self-examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, and hold the red communion cloth to your chin. After receiving, wipe your lips on the cloth, step back carefully, hand the cloth to the next person and make the sign of the Cross as you step away. Please do not be in a rush while communing! Please take special care not to bump the Holy Chalice.

ETIQUETTE REMINDER:

For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to

the Lord.

The summer months will soon be upon us and that means enjoying warm weather and fun in the sun. While shorts (for males & females), capris, flip-flops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, short skirts well above the knees, etc. are practical and may be acceptable at the pool or the lake front they are not appropriate attire at church, and must not be worn during the Divine Services

of the Church. At every Eucharistic celebration we are spiritually and physically brought in the awesome presence of Jesus

Christ Himself, and when we commune He comes to dwell within us in a miraculous way. Therefore the sanctity, solemnity, and

dignity of the Divine Liturgy must be preserved for the wellbeing of all. ******Parents, your assistance and guidance are most

especially helpful and appreciated.******

Todays Liturgical Commeorations

1. THE PRIESTLY-MARTYR HERMOLAUS

Hermolaus was a priest in Nicomedia during the reign of Emperor Maximian.

He was among the two thousand martyrs whom the emperor condemned to be

burned together with the church (December 28). Somehow Hermolaus, on that

occasion, escaped death with two other priests, Hermippas and Thermocrates.

Hermolaus baptized Saint Pantaleon with whom he was brought to trial,

tortured and finally beheaded. Hermippas and Thermocrates suffered with

them and all were crowned with the wreaths of victory and glory in the

Kingdom of Christ. They honorably suffered about the year 304 A.D.

2. THE VENERABLE FEMALE MARTYR PARASKEVI

Parasceva was born in Rome of Christian parents and from her

youth was instructed in the Faith of Christ. With great fervence, St.

Parasceva endeavored to fulfill all the commandments of God in

her life. Believing strongly and living according to her faith,

Parasceva directed others on the path [of salvation] with the help of

the True Faith and pious living. When her parents died Parasceva

distributed all of her property to the poor and was tonsured a nun.

As a nun she preached the Faith of Christ with an even greater zeal,

not hiding from anyone, even though at that time the Roman

authorities bloodily persecuted the Faith of Christ. First the

pernicious Jews accused St. Parasceva of preaching the prohibited

Faith. She was brought to trial before Emperor Antoninus. All the

flatteries of the emperor did not help in the least to cause her to

waver in the Faith. They then subjected her to fiery torments and

placed a red-hot helmet on her head. The Lord miraculously saved

her and Parasceva was delivered and left Rome. She again traveled

from city to city to convert the pagan people there to the True

Faith. In two more cities she was brought before princes and judges

and was tortured for her Lord, at the same time working great

miracles and by the power of God quickly recuperated from her pains and wounds. The pagans, as

always, ascribed her miracles to magic and her power of recovery to the mercy of their gods. St.

Parasceva once said to the prince who tortured her: "It is not your gods, O prince, who healed me but my

Christ the True God." Finally Prince Tarasius beheaded her. Thus this saint gloriously ended her fruitful

life. Her relics were later translated to Constantinople. She suffered honorably for Christ in the second

century.