Transcript 11th Sunday of Luke - St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church

Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church
8306 NC HWY 751,
Durham NC 27713
919-484-1600
[email protected],
www.stbarbarachurchnc.org
News & Announcements
December 11, 2016
11th Sunday of Luke
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Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople
Luke the New Stylite of Chalcedon
Holy Martyrs Ascepsia and Aethal
Holy Martyrs Miracus and Barsabas
Leontios the Righteous of Monemvasia
The Glorious King Nikephoros Phokas
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NEWCOMERS AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME !
Sunday Worship Schedule: Matins 9:00 am & Divine Liturgy 10:00 am
To Our Visitors and Guests
We welcome you to worship with us today, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are
pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and chrismated (confirmed)
Orthodox Christians in good standing with the Church, all are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the
conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not a sacrament, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the
ancient Christian Church. After the Divine Liturgy this morning please join us in the Church hall for fellowship and refreshments. Please
complete a Visitor's Card before you leave today and drop it in the offering tray, or give it to one of the parishioners after the service, or
mail it to the church Office.
Today's Readings:
Epistle Reading
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The Reading is from the 3rd chapter of Daniel verses 26 and 27
BRETHREN, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore
what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of
these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in
them. But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one
another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is
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being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.
Δανιήλ 3.26-27
Ἀδελφοί, ὅταν ὁ Χριστὸς φανερωθῇ, ἡ ζωὴ ἡμῶν, τότε καὶ ὑμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ φανερωθήσεσθε ἐν δόξῃ. Νεκρώσατε οὖν τὰ
μέλη ὑμῶν τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, πορνείαν, ἀκαθαρσίαν, πάθος, ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν, καὶ τὴν πλεονεξίαν, ἥτις ἐστὶν εἰδωλολατρεία,
διʼ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας· Ἐν οἷς καὶ ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε, ὅτε ἐζῆτε ἐν αὐτοῖς. Νυνὶ
δὲ ἀπόθεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς τὰ πάντα, ὀργήν, θυμόν, κακίαν, βλασφημίαν, αἰσχρολογίαν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος ὑμῶν· μὴ ψεύδεσθε
εἰς ἀλλήλους, ἀπεκδυσάμενοι τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον σὺν ταῖς πράξεσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐνδυσάμενοι τὸν νέον, τὸν
ἀνακαινούμενον εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν κατʼ εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν· ὅπου οὐκ ἔνι Ἕλλην καὶ Ἰουδαῖος, περιτομὴ καὶ
ἀκροβυστία, βάρβαρος, Σκύθης, δοῦλος, ἐλεύθερος· ἀλλὰ τὰ πάντα καὶ ἐν πᾶσιν Χριστός.
The Gospel according to Luke 14:16-24
The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent
his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses.
The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And
another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me
excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant
came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out
quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.'
And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the
master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that
my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called,
but few are chosen.'"
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 14:16-24
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπός τις ἐποίησε δεῖπνον μέγα καὶ ἐκάλεσε πολλούς· καὶ ἀπέστειλε τὸν
δοῦλον αὐτοῦ τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ δείπνου εἰπεῖν τοῖς κεκλημένοις· ἔρχεσθε, ὅτι ἤδη ἕτοιμά ἐστι πάντα. καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ μιᾶς
παραιτεῖσθαι πάντες. ὁ πρῶτος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀγρὸν ἠγόρασα, καὶ ἔχω ἀνάγκην ἐξελθεῖν καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτόν· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με
παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· ζεύγη βοῶν ἠγόρασα πέντε, καὶ πορεύομαι δοκιμάσαι αὐτά· ἐρωτῶ σε, ἔχε με
παρῃτημένον. καὶ ἕτερος εἶπε· γυναῖκα ἔγημα, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν. καὶ παραγενόμενος ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος
ἀπήγγειλε τῷ κυρίῳ αὐτοῦ ταῦτα. τότε ὀργισθεὶς ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης εἶπε τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ· ἔξελθε ταχέως εἰς τὰς πλατείας καὶ
ῥύμας τῆς πόλεως, καὶ τοὺς πτωχοὺς καὶ ἀναπήρους καὶ χωλοὺς καὶ τυφλοὺς εἰσάγαγε ὧδε. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ δοῦλος· κύριε,
γέγονεν ὡς ἐπέταξας, καὶ ἔτι τόπος ἐστί. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον· ἔξελθε εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς καὶ φραγμοὺς καὶ
ἀνάγκασον εἰσελθεῖν, ἵνα γεμισθῇ ὁ οἶκος μου. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐκείνων τῶν κεκλημένων γεύσεταί
μου τοῦ δείπνου. Πολλοί γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δέ ἐκλεκτοί.
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This Sunday's coffee hour :
is being sponsored by Angie Quint, who attends our adult beginners Greek class on Saturday afternoons.
Parish Council Elections today after Services.
Polls close at 1:00 pm.
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WE NEED YOU as a STEWARD !
Our Saint Barbara Church needs each and every family
to join our Stewardship Program.
Our goal is to have 150 Pledged Families
in the Stewardship Program.
As of Sept. 30th we have 103 Pledged Families in our
Stewardship Program.
Please help us Reach our Goal.
PROJECTS TO DATE:
2015
February 7
June 6-7
July 18
September 12
September 26
October 3
November 6
November 20-21
December 6
December 12
Gyro Day
Greek Festival
Gyro Feast
Yard Sale
Fashion Show
Chicken Dinners To-go
Evening of Music
Joint Philoptochos/PC Fundraiser
Saint Barbara Celebration Banquet
Holiday Greek Pastries
2016
January 16
January 30
February 20
June 4-5
July 23
September 24
October 1
November 18-19
December 2
December 10
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Evening of Music
Spaghetti Event
Gyro Event
Greek Festival
Gyro Event
Evening of Jazz
Greek Style Chicken Dinner & Pastry
Athenian Grill and Pastry
Christmas Concert
Holiday Greek Pastries
St. Spyridon the Wonderworker and Bishop of
Tremithus
Commemorated this Monday December 12
Orthros and Divine Liturgy starting at 9:00 am
with Artoclasia
Saint Spyridon of Tremithus was born towards the end of the third century
on the island of Cyprus. He was a shepherd, and had a wife and children. He
used all his substance for the needs of his neighbors and the homeless, for
which the Lord rewarded him with a gift of wonderworking. He healed those
who were incurably sick, and cast out demons.
After the death of his wife, during the reign of Constantine the Great (306337), he was made Bishop of Tremithus, Cyprus. As a bishop, the saint did
not alter his manner of life, but combined pastoral service with deeds of
charity.
According to the witness of Church historians, Saint Spyridon participated in
the sessions of the First Ecumenical Council in the year 325. At the Council, the saint entered into a dispute
with a Greek philosopher who was defending the Arian heresy. The power of Saint Spyridon’s plain, direct
speech showed everyone the importance of human wisdom before God’s Wisdom: “Listen, philosopher, to what
I tell you. There is one God Who created man from dust. He has ordered all things, both visible and invisible,
by His Word and His Spirit. The Word is the Son of God, Who came down upon the earth on account of our
sins. He was born of a Virgin, He lived among men, and suffered and died for our salvation, and then He arose
from the dead, and He has resurrected the human race with Him. We believe that He is one in essence
(consubstantial) with the Father, and equal to Him in authority and honor. We believe this without any sly
rationalizations, for it is impossible to grasp this mystery by human reason.”
As a result of their discussion, the opponent of Christianity became the saint’s zealous defender and later
received holy Baptism. After his conversation with Saint Spyridon, the philosopher turned to his companions
and said, “Listen! Until now my rivals have presented their arguments, and I was able to refute their proofs with
other proofs. But instead of proofs from reason, the words of this Elder are filled with some sort of special
power, and no one can refute them, since it is impossible for man to oppose God. If any of you thinks as I do
now, let him believe in Christ and join me in following this man, for God Himself speaks through his lips.”
At this Council, Saint Spyridon displayed the unity of the Holy Trinity in a remarkable way. He took a brick in
his hand and squeezed it. At that instant fire shot up from it, water dripped on the ground, and only dust
remained in the hands of the wonderworker. “There was only one brick,” Saint Spyridon said, “but it was
composed of three elements. In the Holy Trinity there are three Persons, but only one God.”
The saint cared for his flock with great love. Through his prayers, drought was replaced by abundant rains, and
incessant rains were replaced by fair weather. Through his prayers the sick were healed and demons cast out.
A woman once came up to him with a dead child in her arms, imploring the intercession of the saint. He prayed,
and the infant was restored to life. The mother, overcome with joy, collapsed lifeless. Through the prayers of
the saint of God, the mother was restored to life.
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Another time, hastening to save his friend, who had been falsely accused and sentenced to death, the saint was
hindered on his way by the unanticipated flooding of a stream. The saint commanded the water: “Halt! For the
Lord of all the world commands that you permit me to cross so that a man may be saved.” The will of the saint
was fulfilled, and he crossed over happily to the other shore. The judge, apprised of the miracle that had
occurred, received Saint Spyridon with esteem and set his friend free.
Similar instances are known from the life of the saint. Once, he went into an empty church, and ordered that the
lampadas and candles be lit, and then he began the service. When he said, “Peace be unto all,” both he and the
deacon heard from above the resounding of “a great multitude of voices saying, “And with thy spirit.” This
choir was majestic and more sweetly melodious than any human choir. To each petition of the litanies, the
invisible choir sang, “Lord, have mercy.” Attracted by the church singing, the people who lived nearby hastened
towards it. As they got closer and closer to the church, the wondrous singing filled their ears and gladdened
their hearts. But when they entered into the church, they saw no one but the bishop and several church servers,
and they no longer heard the singing which had greatly astonished them.”
Saint Simeon Metaphrastes (November 9), the author of his Life, likened Saint Spyridon to the Patriarch
Abraham in his hospitality. Sozomen, in his CHURCH HISTORY, offers an amazing example from the life of
the saint of how he received strangers. One time, at the start of the Forty-day Fast, a stranger knocked at his
door. Seeing that the traveller was very exhausted, Saint Spyridon said to his daughter, “Wash the feet of this
man, so he may recline to dine.” But since it was Lent there were none of the necessary provisions, for the saint
“partook of food only on certain days, and on other days he went without food.” His daughter replied that there
was no bread or flour in the house. Then Saint Spyridon, apologizing to his guest, ordered his daughter to cook
a salted ham from their larder. After seating the stranger at table, he began to eat, urging that man to do the
same. When the latter refused, calling himself a Christian, the saint rejoined, “It is not proper to refuse this, for
the Word of God proclaims, “Unto the pure all things are pure” (Titus 1:15).
Another historical detail reported by Sozomen, was characteristic of the saint. It was his custom to distribute
one part of the gathered harvest to the destitute, and another portion to those having need while in debt. He did
not take a portion for himself, but simply showed them the entrance to his storeroom, where each could take as
much as was needed, and could later pay it back in the same way, without records or accountings.
There is also the tale by Socrates Scholasticus about how robbers planned to steal the sheep of Saint Spyridon.
They broke into the sheepfold at night, but here they found themselves all tied up by some invisible power.
When morning came the saint went to his flock, and seeing the tied-up robbers, he prayed and released them.
For a long while he advised them to leave their path of iniquity and earn their livelihood by respectable work.
Then he made them a gift of a sheep and sending them off, the saint said kindly, “Take this for your trouble, so
that you did not spend a sleepless night in vain.”
All the Lives of the saint speak of the amazing simplicity and the gift of wonderworking granted him by God.
Through a word of the saint the dead were awakened, the elements of nature tamed, the idols smashed. At one
point, a Council had been convened at Alexandria by the Patriarch to discuss what to do about the idols and
pagan temples there. Through the prayers of the Fathers of the Council all the idols fell down except one, which
was very much revered. It was revealed to the Patriarch in a vision that this idol had to be shattered by Saint
Spyridon of Tremithus. Invited by the Council, the saint set sail on a ship, and at the moment the ship touched
shore and the saint stepped out on land, the idol in Alexandria with all its offerings turned to dust, which then
was reported to the Patriarch and all the bishops.
Saint Spyridon lived his earthly life in righteousness and sanctity, and prayerfully surrendered his soul to the
Lord. His relics repose on the island of Corfu (Kerkyra), in a church named after him (His right hand, however,
is located in Rome).
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TRIANGLE YAL PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION
The Triangle Young Adult League (YAL) is a Pan-Orthodox Christian Young Adult Ministry for the Triangle area
(Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) of North Carolina. We welcome all post-college young adults to join us!
(note: we primarily comprise of members who are between ages 22 - 35).
YAL's Mission:
Our mission is to bring young Orthodox Christians together for Service, Fellowship, Worship and Christian Witness.
We do so only with the support of all of our parishes, and the love and mentorship of the St. John the Merciful
Outreach Ministry.
HOPE AND JOY ACTIVITIES - SAVE THE DATES - FIRST SATURDAY
OF THE MONTH - MEETING AT THE CHURCH - TIMES TBA
November 5: Peace
December 3: Off because St. Barbara's Vespers
January 7: Patience; Vasilopita
February 4: Kindness
March 4: Goodness
April 1: Faithfulness
May 6: Gentleness
June 3: Self-Control
This 2016-2107 theme is "The Fruits of the Spirit" Each session we will
include fellowship and an activities based lesson on one fruit per month,
Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΣΠΥΡΙΔΩΝ Ο ΘΑΥΜΑΤΟΥΡΓΟΣ

Επίσκοπος Τριμυθούντος Κύπρου
Γεννήθηκε από οικογένεια βοσκών, που ήταν κάπως εύπορη, το 270 μ.Χ. Αν και μορφώθηκε
αρκετά στην πατρίδα του Κύπρο, δεν άλλαξε επάγγελμα. Συνέχισε και αυτός να είναι βοσκός.
Ήταν χαρακτήρας απλός, αγαθός, γεμάτος αγάπη για τον πλησίον του. Τις Κυριακές και τις
γιορτές, συχνά έπαιρνε τους βοσκούς και τους οδηγούσε στους ιερούς ναούς, και κατόπιν τους εξηγούσε την
ευαγγελική ή την αποστολική περικοπή. Ο Θεός τον ευλόγησε να γίνεται συχνά προστάτης χήρων και ορφανών.
Νυμφεύθηκε ευσεβή σύζυγο και απέκτησε παιδιά. Γρήγορα, όμως, η σύζυγός του πέθανε. Για να επουλώσει το τραύμα
του ο Σπυρίδων αφοσιώθηκε ακόμα περισσότερο στη διδαχή του θείου λόγου.
Μετά από πολλές πιέσεις, χειροτονήθηκε ιερέας. Και πράγματι, υπήρξε αληθινός ιερέας του Ευαγγελίου, έτσι όπως τον
θέλει ο θείος Παύλος: «Ανεπίληπτον, νηφάλιον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον, φιλόξενον, διδακτικόν, τέκνα έχοντα εν
υποταγή μετά πάσης σεμνότητος» . Δηλαδή ακατηγόρητο, προσεκτικό, εγκρατή, σεμνό, φιλόξενο, διδακτικό, και να έχει
παιδιά που να υποτάσσονται με κάθε σεμνότητα.
Έτσι και ο Σπυρίδων, τόσο σωστός υπήρξε σαν ιερέας, ώστε όταν χήρεψε η επισκοπή Τριμυθούντος στην Κύπρο, δια
βοής λαός και κλήρος τον εξέλεξαν επίσκοπο.
Από τη θέση αυτή ο Σπυρίδων προχώρησε τόσο πολύ στην αρετή, ώστε τον αξίωσε ο Θεός να κάνει πολλά θαύματα.
Στις 12 Δεκεμβρίου το 350 μ. Χ. απεβίωσε.
Το λείψανό του πήγε στην Κωνσταντινούπολη και μετά στην Κέρκυρα όπου βρίσκεται μέχρι σήμερα.
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Sunday School Christmas Pageant
Next Sunday after Services
December 18, 2016
We are happy to announce the cast for An Orthodox Nativity Pageant, written by our very own Summer Kinard:
Cast:
Narrator 1 - Theodore Harris
Narrator 2 - Achilleas Boutis
Mary Theotokos - Chloe Claypoole
Angel Gabriel - Michael Kinard
Joseph the Protector - Constantine Papanikas
James the brother of Jesus - Nikolas Dufault
Donkey - Katerina Theodosiadis
Innkeepers - parishioners
Innkeeper’s wife - Sophia (parishioner)
Midwives - Female Byzantine chanters & Ksenia
Dufault
Friendly Beasts - Preschoolers
Head Angel - Angelika Papanikas
Angels - K-2 graders
Head Shepherdess - Nadia Samoilenko
Shepherds and shepherdesses - 3-5th graders
Wise Men - Johnny Mariakakis, Panayiotis
Mavroidis, Ethan Mangum
Carrier of the Star - Brooklynn Claypoole
We are so blessed to have so many talented children and to be able to bring to life a reenactment of when our
Savior and Lord Jesus Christ was born.
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Save the Date - May 6 & 7, 2017 - Saint Barbara
Greek Festival
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS TO PHILOPTOCHOS' SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS ANGELS.
THE GIFTS WERE DELIVERED TUESDAY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THEKY PAPPAS, thank you Theky! YOUR
GENEROSITY HAS MADE A CHILDS CHRISTMAS!
Catherine Constantinou
WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Kαλά Χριστούγεννα






The Celebration of Christmas
will be on Saturday Night as in Years Past
Matins and Divine Liturgy will begin at 6:30 pm.
THERE WILL BE NO SERVICES
ON SUNDAY MORNING
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