The Orthodox Messenger
Vol. V, No. 30 – Sunday, July 16, 2006

Christ the Savior Greek Orthodox Church - Presentation of Christ at the Temple

The Hellenic Orthodox Mission of Hernando County, F lorida–“A Pan-Orthodox Christian Community”

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

 Website: http://orthodoxhernandocountyfl.org     

“WHO IS CHRIST?”

   It is still asked and answered by many in different ways. Some still, like the politically radical group at a state university on the West Coast of the USA, ridicule Him in cartoons and present Him in blasphemous ways. Others, like a right wing author present Him to the public as a “nice guy.” Between the two there are churches and sects and individuals with their peculiar views, most of them rehashes of the false teachings about Jesus Christ that appeared in the first three centuries of our Christian history.

   What say we, the Orthodox Christians? Our belief is based on the Holy Tradition of the Church which understands and interprets properly the Apostolic witness as it is recorded in the New Testament, the writings of the Holy Fathers of the Church, who gave us the Creed, and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils.

    Today we remember and honor the Holy Fathers of the 4^th Ecumenical Council which met in the year 451 in the city of Chalcedon on the Bosporus near Constantinople.

     Clarifying for all the teaching of the Christian tradition about Jesus Christ, it taught in clear terms what the Church had always believed about Jesus from the beginning. Jesus was fully and completely God and fully and completely a Human Being in one divine-human person. He was Theanthropos (Divine-Human): one person, who in Himself united the divine and human. Here is the Definition of the Fathers of the 4^th Ecumenical Council:

   “We teach with one voice that the Son of God and our Lord Jesus Christ is to be confessed as one and the same Person, that He is perfect in Godhead and perfect in humanity, truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and human body, being of the same nature with the Father, regarding His Godhead, and of the same nature with us, regarding His humanity, made in all things like us, sin only excepted; begotten of His Father before the worlds according to His Godhead; but in these last days for us human beings and for our salvation born into the world of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, the Theotokos, according to His manhood. This one and the same Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, must be confessed to be in two natures, unconfusedly, immutably, indivisibly, inseparably united, and that without the distinction of natures being taken away by such union, but rather the unique property of each nature being preserved and being united in one Person and subsistence, not separated or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son and only-begotten, God the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Prophets of old time have spoken concerning Him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ has taught us, and as the Creed of the Fathers has delivered to us.” 

 

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

Today’s Saints: 630 Fathers of the 4^th Ecumenical Council (+451); Athenogenes, Bishop of Sebasteia, Armenia (+311); the 1,500 Martyrs of Pisidia, Persia; Martyrs Paul, Chionia & Alventina of Palestine; Antiochos the Physician; Julia of Carthage; John of Turnovo.

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HOLY FATHERS OF THE 4^TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL IN CHALCEDON (451)

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

  Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection – 4th  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) (“To faidron tes Anastaseos”).Hymnal,  84-85

   (Sing in English after the Entrance)“When the tidings . . . ”). (Same).

  Dismissal Hymn of the Holy Fathers of the 4^th Ecumenical Council

   (Read) Supremely blessed are You, / O Christ our God. / You established the holy Fathers on earth / as beacons, / and through them / You have guided us all / to the true Faith. / O greatly merciful One, / glory be to You.

  Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ (See paper in the pews)

  Kontakion sung by leaders in Greek “Prostasia ton Christianon. . .”

(Read)  O never-failing protectress of Christians / and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator: / do not be heedless to the prayerful voices of us sinners, / but in your goodness extend your help to us / who call upon you with confidence. / Hasten, O Mother of God, / to intercede for us. / You have always protected those who honor you!

                        Return to p. 26 of the Hymnal, to sing “Holy God . . . .”

   EPISTLE – Titus 3:8-15 (Holy Fathers) Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned. When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful. All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

   GOSPEL – Matthew 5:14-19 (Holy Fathers) The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

ONE TRAY TODAY - For Stewardship & Visitors’ Gifts

   ANNOINTING FOR HEALTH: Following the Divine Liturgy today, the third Sunday of the month, there will be the Anointing for Health. We pray for the health and well-being of all in attendance today.

   COFFEE HOUR SPONSOR for today is Harriet Pasisis and for next week, July 23, is Patricia Heuer. Many thanks! Sponsors are needed for August. Please sign up for this much appreciated Stewardship of Time and Talent. Instructions are posted.

   SYMPATHY: Christ the Savior Church expresses sympathy to John, Theona and Peter Hatzi on the death on Saturday, July 1, of John’s sister Alice Mitchell in hospice in New Port Richey. Burial was in Chicago. May her memory be eternal and may the Lord of Peace grant the family comfort and strength in their loss.

DON’T FORGET TO REFLECT ON EACH DAY’S QUOTE IN THE JULY CALENDAR. FOR EACH DAY THERE IS A MESSAGE ABOUT “THE LORD!”

  DIAKONIA MAGAZINE: Now available in the Parish Hall is the beautiful new issue of the Metropolis of Atlanta quarterly magazine Diakonia. Just leave your $3 donation in the glass next to the magazines. YOUR COPY is waiting for you to pick up! Support our Metropolis, which generously supports our Mission!

   PROSFORON BAKERS: Gloria Vardakis 7/16; George Nikas 7/20 (Prophet Elias); Venice Cosmadelis 7/23; Presbytera Emily Harakas 7/30; George Nikas 8/6 (Sunday, Holy Transfiguration); Connie Mourgides 8/13; Metaxia Porter 8/15; Argiris & Carol Gynmaos 8/20; Fran Triantafilon 8/27; Helen Nicolelis 9/3:. George Nikas is Chair. For recipe and the seal, call George at 597-1375