SUMMER THOUGHTS -6  - THE GREAT MARTYR MARINA

TEENAGE MARTYR FOR CHRIST – COMMEMORATED JULY 17

   The Holy Great Martyr Marina was born in Asia Minor, in the city of Antioch of Pisidia (southern Asia Minor), into the family of a pagan priest. In infancy she lost her mother, and her father gave her into the care of a nursemaid, who raised Marina in the Christian Faith, but without baptism. Learning that his daughter had become a Christian, the father angrily disowned her. During the time of the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305), when she was fifteen years old, St. Marina was arrested imprisoned. With trust in the God and His help, the young prisoner prepared for her impending fate.

   The governor Olymbrios, charmed with the beautiful girl, tried to persuade her to renounce the Christian Faith and become his wife. But the saint, unswayed, refused his offers. The vexed governor gave the holy martyr over to torture. Having beaten her fiercely, they fastened the saint with nails to a board and tore at her body with tridents. The governor himself, unable to bear the horror of these tortures, hid his face in his hands. But the holy martyr remained unyielding. Thrown for the night into prison, she was granted heavenly aid and healed of her wounds. They then burned the martyr with fire. Barely alive, the martyr prayed: "Lord, You have granted me to go through fire for Your Name, grant me also to go through the water of holy Baptism."

   Hearing the word "water", the governor gave orders to drown the saint in a large cauldron. The martyr besought the Lord that this manner of execution should become for her holy Baptism. When they plunged her into the water, there were those who saw a light, and a snow-white dove that came down from Heaven, bearing in its beak a golden crown. The fetters put upon St. Marina came apart by themselves. The martyr stood up in the font of Baptism glorifying the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. St. Marina emerged from the font completely healed, without any trace of burns. Amazed at this miracle, the people glorified the True God, and many came to believe. This brought the governor into a rage, and he gave orders to kill anyone who might confess the Name of Christ. 15,000 Christians perished there, and the holy Martyr Marina was beheaded.    The sufferings of the Great Martyr Marina were described by an eyewitness of the event, named Theotimos. Her sacred relics are preserved in Athens, in a church dedicated to the holy Virgin Martyr.

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

Evening Services as Announced

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE 4^TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

GOSPEL ENTRANCE AND OTHER HYMNS

Dismissal Hymn of the Resurrection - 3rd  Tone

   (Sing in Greek before the Entrance) ("Efrainestho ta Ourania"). Hymnal,  83-84.

   (Sing in English after the Entrance)"Let all things rejoice"). (Same).

Dismissal Hymn of the Holy Fathers

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

Dismissal Hymn of Greatmartyr Marina

  (Read) Your own lamb criest to You loudly, O Jesus, / and she says, / “For my Bridegroom do I long, and seeking You I now contend; / and I am crucified and buried with You in Your baptism. / I suffer for your sake, that I may reign with You. / I die for You that I may also live in You. / Accept me as an unblemished sacrifice / as I offer myself to You with love.” / At her entreaties and intercessions, / save our souls, O Merciful Lord.

Dismissal Hymn of the Presentation of Christ - (Sing) From sheet in the pew.

Kontakion “Prostasia ton Christianon”(Sung in Greek by Leaders)

   (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."

    TRISAGION: Dee and George Nikas offer today a Trisagion for the rest of the soul of their sister and sister-in-law Helen Alexiades, who passed away recently. Eternal Memory!

   HURRICANE DENNIS: We are thankful to the Lord that though Hurricane Dennis was a category 4 storm, and there was some damage and flooding to the north of us. Hernando County experienced some high winds and heavy rain, but minimal damage.

   FOR THE RECORD: In spite of the Hurricane, services were held at Christ the Savior Church on July 10 – Attendance 17 ; Candles $20; Stewardship $493; Building Fund donation $550. Many thanks for the generosity of all!

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---FRIENDS AND FAMILY NOTICES---

+Helen Nicolelis in memory of her Mother Rose Kostir

      + Dee  & GeorgeNikas: We pray for the soul our Sister & Sister-in-law Helen Alexiades

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PROSFORON BAKERS: Connie Mourgides 7/17. Fran Triantafilon 7/24; Presbytera Emily Harakas 7/31; George Nikas 8/6 (Transfiguration); Argyris and Carol Gymnaos 8/7. You, too, can make Prosforon Bread. For the recipe and instructions call George Nikas, Prosforon Bakers Chairperson at 597-1375.

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TODAY’S OFFERING – BECAUSE OF THE STORM LAST WEEK, THE MONTHLY TRAY FOR THE BUILDING FUND WAS NOT CIRCULATED. THE BUILDING FUND TRAY WILL BE PASSED TODAY, DURING THE DIVINE LITURGY.

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   HOSPITALIZED: Oak Hill: Anna Lee. Spring Hill: Achilleas Koulouvaris. We pray for a rapid recovery.