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

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Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having

cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the

Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to

the world.

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Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of

incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they

cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ

God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

/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.

6th

Sunday of luke

Holy Martyrs Marcian & Martyrius the Notaries, Tabitha, who was raised from the dead by

Peter the Apostle

October 25th, 2015

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 103.24,1

O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.

Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

BRETHREN, you know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ,

even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the

law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ,

we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up

again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to

the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ

who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and

gave himself for me.

Gospel pericope

Luke 8:26-39

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons;

for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried

out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High

God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For

many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds

and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for

many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large

herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave.

Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake

and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the

demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had

seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding

country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat

and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away,

saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming

throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Announcements

Liturgical/Program Schedule:

Monday Oct. 26th: St. Demetrios the Great Martyr, Orthros/Divine Liturgy, 8:30am

Tues.-Wed. Oct. 27th-28th: Fr Mark away for Metropolitans Name Day Celebrations

Sat. Oct. 31st: Patronal Feast Day Hierarchal Vespers w/ Met. Iakovos, 5pm

Sun. Nov. 1st: Patronal Feast Day Hierarchal Orthros/Divine Liturgy, 8:30am

Sun. Nov. 1st: Feast Day Luncheon following Divine Liturgy @ Johnny Mangos (Byron)

Todays Memorial Services: Aristidis (Steve) Kereakos- 3yrs Dimitri Petrusev 1yr

IOCC Benefit Gathering: Please join us on Tues. Nov. 10th 6pm @ Ari and Penny Kolas

residence to learn about and support the ongoing humanitarian work of IOCC on the global

scale, and especially in Syria where IOCC is currently the 2nd largest NGO in the entire country!

Philoptochos Fundraiser: During the month of October the Philoptochos will be doing a new and unique fundraiser to help raise funds for our ministries. We are going to be selling

soap. Herbaria soap is high quality, all natural soap. These soaps do not contain any animal

products, chemicals, dyes or artificial fragrances, they only use essential oils to give them a

wonderful smell. They make great gifts for Christmas, a hostess gift or for that one person who

has everything. Everyone needs soap, why not make it a special one. We will have samples for

people to see and smell, I promise you will not be disappointed. If this is not something you

want to purchase for yourself, might I suggest a donation to our Philoxenia house for our guests

or to the Dorothy Day House which is a temporary shelter for those who find themselves in

crisis and are in need of the basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter.

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians (i.e. the Orthodox Church does not practice open communion) 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.

TODAYS COMMEMORATIONS

1. The Holy Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius

These saints of God were clergymen under Paul, the Patriarch of Constantinople, during the reign of

Emperor Constantius. With the death of the great Emperor Constantine, the Arian heresy, which until then

had been suppressed, revived and gained momentum. Even Emperor Constantius himself leaned toward

this heresy. There were two influential noblemen at the emperor's court, Eusebius and Philip, both of

whom were ardent Arians. Under their influence, Patriarch Paul was ousted from the patriarchal throne

and banished to Armenia, where the Arians strangled him. Then the dishonorable Macedonius seized the

patriarchal throne. At that time Orthodoxy had two bitter struggles: against the pagans and against the

heretics. Marcian and Martyrius interceded with all their strength and determination on the side of

Orthodoxy. Marcian was a reader and Martyrius was a subdeacon at the cathedral church of Hagia

Sophia; under Patriarch Paul they had been patriarchal notaries (secretaries). The Arians at first tried to

bribe them, but when these holy men rejected this with scorn, the heretics condemned them to death.

When they were brought to the executioner, they raised their hands and prayed to God, giving Him thanks

for a martyr's end to their lives: ``Lord, we rejoice that we depart from this life by such a death. Make us

worthy to be partakers of eternal life. Thou art our life!'' They placed their necks beneath the sword and

were beheaded in the year 355. Later, St. John Chrysostom built a church in their name over their

miracle-working relics.

2. The Holy Martyr Anastasius

He was a cloth-maker and a zealous Christian. During Diocletian's persecution of Christians, this man of

God appeared before the judge in the Dalmatian town of Solin, and confessed his faith in Christ. He was

inhumanly tortured and slain, and his body was thrown into the sea but was later found and honorably

buried.

3. Saint Tabitha

St. Tabitha (which means ``gazelle'') was a disciple of the

apostles and lived in Joppa. She was full of good works and

almsdeeds (Acts 9:36), but suddenly became weak and died.

The Apostle Peter was then in the town of Lydda, and the

grieving disciples sent for him, imploring him to comfort her

kinsmen. Upon his arrival, the great Apostle of Christ told

everyone to leave the room where the corpse lay, then knelt in

prayer. Then, turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise (Acts

9:40) and Tabitha opened her eyes and stood up. Many

believed in the Lord Jesus Christ because of this wonderful

miracle.