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FOR OUR WEEKLY BULLETIN

Vol. 1, No. 2 – Sunday, January 27, 2002

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Eastern Orthodox Church of Hernando County

Ecumenical Patriarchate + Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America + Diocese of Atlanta

Meeting at St. Nicholas Chapel, 13460 Olympic Village Lane, Brooksville, FL -  (352) 796-8482

FR. STANLEY S. HARAKAS, PROTOPRESBYTER - (352) 688-2382 (Afternoons and Evenings)

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LEARNING AND FAITH

  Enemies of the Christian Faith sometimes accuse the Church as being opposed to education and learning. Nothing could be further from the truth. The feast of the Three Great Hierarchs observed on January 30, shows the Orthodox Church's appreciation of education. The commemoration of St. Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom –who lived in the fourth century- helps us to understand this aspect of our Orthodox Christian Faith.

  The Three Hierarchs were highly educated. They were effective writers and speakers of the Greek language. They also studied other areas of knowledge. They had a full liberal arts education, knowing and referring frequently to the knowledge of their times regarding philosophy, history, literature, architecture, mathematics, physics, biology, geography, geology, and economics.

  The teachings of the Christian Faith, however, interested them the most. It was primarily for this reason that the Church considers them "great." Yet, while they considered the Christian Faith as the most important aspect of their knowledge, they integrated their Christian faith and their knowledge of the world.

  St. Basil is an example. When asked whether young people should study non-religious subjects, he said that knowledge of the world is in fact knowledge of God’s world. But, that this study must be conducted with strong Christian criteria, so as not to be corrupted by false world-views. He distinguished between true knowledge of the world and false opinions about the world. He used the example of the bee, which flies from flower to flower, extracting only what is beneficial. St. Basil wrote a book on The Six Days of Creation. In it, he used the science of his day to interpret the Bible's creation story. St. Basil showed respect for knowledge.

   The Church promotes knowledge and learning. Orthodox Christians, young and old, appreciate and value education, but we need to discern what is true, good and valuable, rejecting the rest.

  Come to Church this Wednesday, January 30 to honor the Three Great Hierarchs, St. Basil the Great, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Gregory the Theologian!

Service Hours: Sundays and Feast days: Orthros at 9:30 a.m.; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.

 

15TH Sunday of Luke – 1st Tone

Relocation of Relics of St. John Chrysostom (+438); Empress Markiane; Neomartyr Demetrios of Constantinople (+1785); Rightous Clement of Athens (+1111).

  

  EPISTLE READING - Hebrews 7:26-8:2 (St. John Chrysostom)

  It was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up him-

self. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord.

  GOSPEL READING – Luke 6:17-23

  Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

 

GOSPEL ENTRANCE HYMNS

  Dismissal Hymn – 1^st Tone Divine Liturgy Hymnal, p. 80-81

(Sing in Greek (“Tou lithou sfragisthentos”) before the Gospel Entrance and in English after the Entrance (“The stone that had been sealed ...”)

  Hymn of St. John Chrysostom

 (Read) The grace that shines forth from your mouth / like a torch has enlightened the universe, / bestowed treasures of generosity / upon the world, / and shown us the eminence of humility. / While you teach us by your words, / Father John Chrysostom, / pray to the Word, / Christ our God, / that He may save our souls.

  (Sing in English) Hymn of St. Nicholas - Divine Liturgy Hymnal, p. 110-111

“An example of the Faith and a life of humility. . .”

  (Read) The Kontakion – Your birth sanctified a Virgin’s womb / and fittingly blessed the hands of Symeon. / You have now come and saved us, O Christ, our God. / In troubled times / as the only loving One, / give peace to your nation/ and strength to those in civil authority, / whom You love.

  

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Our grant request to the Home Missions Committee of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese for a three year subsidy was forwarded by His Grace, Bishop Alexios of Atlanta to New York. Pray for approval of our request!

 

FEAST OF THE THREE GREAT HIERARCHS: Wednesday, January 30. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. Come and honor these Great Saints.

 

OLYMPIC VILLAGE FOUNDATION MEMBERS’ MEETING - Saturday, February 16, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Plan to attend this informative meeting.

 

HOW TO CONTACT FR. STANLEY: Church Office Hours are normally on Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m. But this coming week Fr. Stanley will be out of town on Friday and Saturday, attending the Consecration of Bishop Savas (Zembillas) of Troas, in New York City. Office hours THIS WEEK ONLY, Wednesday, January 30, 2:30-4 p.m. Church Office phone – (352) 796-8482. Leave a message if there is no answer. Fr. Stanley’s home phone is (352) 688-2382. Call in the afternoons and evenings (Emergencies - anytime). Or, e-mail: Rharakas@aol.com.

 

HAVE YOU SENT YOUR ENTRY TO NAME OUR WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN? The deadline is Sunday, February 17, 2002. The prize will be awarded in Church on Sunday, February 24, 2002. The winner will be chosen by the Parish Council. Enter the contest by writing your suggestion on plain paper with your name, address, phone number and Email Address. Mail it to Eastern Orthodox Church of Hernando County, P.O. Box 5566, Spring Hill, FL 34611.

 

STEWARDSHIP is a way of living your Orthodox Christian life. It is being eager to give of yourself for God’s purposes. Stewardship of time is finding minutes each day to commune with the Lord. It means setting aside time for worship each week. To be a steward of the time God has given you is to dedicate your time to His goals and purposes. Be an Orthodox Christian steward of time.

 

PROSFORON BAKERS NEEDED! Prosforon Bread is the bread with the seal in it that is used for Holy Communion and for the Antidoron bread distributed after the Divine Liturgy. Volunteers can take turns baking. See George Nikas, who is coordinating this important service to the Church, or call him at 597-1375.

 

HOSPITALIZED AND SICK this past week were Geraldine Levandis at Oak Hill Hospital, and Connie Mourgides at home. We pray for their rapid recovery. Always let Fr. Stanley know when a family member is hospitalized or is ill at home.

 

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH we will have a “Dialogue Sermon.” Parishioners can ask Fr. Stanley questions that they have about our Orthodox Faith and answers will be given. Your first opportunity is next Sunday, February 3. Start thinking!

 

Learn More About Your Orthodox Faith. Organizational Meeting, Wed. Jan. 30 at 4:00 p.m. Bible Study? Lectures? Orthodox Books? Church Fathers?  Come and give us your ideas. The Class will start in February.

 

THANKS TO ST. GEORGE CHURCH OF NEW PORT RICHEY for the generous gift to our mission parish of eight bottles of Communion Wine. Fr. Stanley wrote to Fr. Panagiotis Papageorgiou and the Parish Council “We feel that this most appropriate gift binds us together in a special way, since the Communion Wine from you blesses us with your spiritual presence each time we gather to worship.”

 

FROM ST. BASIL: “When the day is over, there comes thanksgiving for what we have been given during the day and for our achievements; and confession of our failures …. For a review of the past is a great help against falling into similar faults.”

 

 

EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH

OF HERNANDO COUNTY

P.O. BOX 5566,

SPRING HILL, FL 34611