+ Sunday, July 16th 2006 +

 5th Sunday after Holy Pentecost

& Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

Tone: 4                                                            +                                        Eothinion: 5

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+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit +

 

Those God-mantled Fathers have proclaimed today in concert that the uncreated Trinity is one God and one Lord, explaining to all the agreement of the simplicity of the one Nature through participation of the will, and the simplicity of the deed, and defining all as without beginning and without end. Wherefore, we glorify them, as being like to the Apostles and teaching their Gospel to all.

 

 

+ The Epistle +

Verse: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers. 

For Thou art just in all that Thou has done to us”.

The Reading is from the Letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Titus.

(Chapter 3:8-15)

Titus, my son, this is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ The Holy Gospel +

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

(Chapter 5:14-19)

 

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 breaks 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 the great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Meditation: “The 4th Ecumenical Council”

The 4th Ecumenical Council was held in Chalcedon, near Constantinople, 451, under Emperor Marcian: 630 Bishops were present. The Council was concerned, once again, with the nature of Jesus Christ. The teaching arose that Christ's human nature (less perfect) dissolved itself in His divine nature (more perfect): like a cube of sugar in a post of water. Thus, in reality, Christ had only one nature, the Divine. Hence, the term: Monophysites ("mono", one and "physis", "nature".) Monophysitism overemphasized the divine nature of Christ, at the expense of the human. The Council condemned Monophysitism and proclaimed that Christ has two complete natures: the divine and the human, as defined by previous Councils. These two natures function without confusion, are not divided nor separate (against Nestorius), and at no time did they undergo any change (against Eutyches: Monophysites).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ Synaxarion & Upcoming Services +

“Let my Prayer be set before Thee as Incense, and the lifting up of my Hands

as the Evening Sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2)

 

v      Today - Sunday, July 16th: Holy Hieromartyr Atheogenes of Heracleopolis

Apolytikon (Tone 4): As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou found discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Athenogenes. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 4): Having followed the Lord's teaching, as an eminent shepherd thou didst lay down thy life for Christ's sheep, O Hieromartyr Athenogenes. Wherefore, we praise thee and thy ten disciples who suffered with thee, guided by the fear of God and thy teaching; for the Lord hath crowned you as Saints with His life-giving right hand. Pray, then, to Him in behalf of us all.

Synaxarion: This Saint was from Sebastia of Cappadocia and became Bishop of Pidachthoa. He and ten of his disciples were tortured and beheaded by the Governor of Philomarchus in the times of Diocletian. There is a second Martyr Athenogenes commemorated today, mentioned by Saint Basil the Great in Chapter 29 of his treatise "On the Holy Spirit"; it is said that as this Athenogenes approached the fire, wherein he was to die a martyric death, he chanted the hymn ‘O Gladsome Light’ in praise of the Holy Trinity.

 

Ø     Every Saturday at 6:00 p.m. - Great Vespers

 

 

* Announcements & Activities *

“It is good to be Zealous in a Good Thing Always…” (Galatians 4:18)

 

ü      Feast of Prophet Elias & Opening Ceremony of the Lebanese Fun Festival

On Wednesday, July 19th, we will be celebrating the Feast of our Patron Saint: Prophet Elias. The Vesperal Divine Liturgy will begin at 7:00 p.m. Please bring your whole family and celebrate this very important feast with us! After the Service, the Opening Ceremony for the Lebanese Fun Festival will follow. You are all welcome to come and enjoy another great time, please bring your family & friends! (Keep in mind that there will also be Guided Tours in the Cathedral with Video Presentations and Orthodox Books & Icons for sale).

 

 

 

 

 

ü      Fellowship of St. John the Divine

All members of the Fellowship of St. John the Divine are asked to attend the Great Vespers Service every Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Following the Service, a Bible Study/Religious Discussion will take place in the Conference Room, and once in a while there will be an outing for dinner, etc. Please give us your email address if you are not receiving our weekly online newsletter.

 

ü      Teen SOYO

All members of the Teen SOYO are asked to attend the weekly Teen Night Meetings (Tuesdays 7-9 p.m.) no matter what the topic or activities are! We have a mix of activities: Sports, Games, Discussions, etc. Please come on time, we begin every Teen Night Meeting with the Little Compline Service at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

 

ü      Message to all Beloved Families of this Parish (Young & Old)

Please don’t stop coming to Church during the summer just because ‘school is out’. God’s House is never closed, every Sunday there is Divine Liturgy. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are offered to you. Please do not be tempted by the sunny weather and skip Church if you are really able to make it. Our Summer Hours should satisfy you (Matins at 8:45 a.m. & Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.), by the time Sunday’s Divine Liturgy is over, you can go for lunch and enjoy the rest of the day after taking God’s blessing.

 

ü      Ladies Needed!

Beginning tomorrow (Monday, July 17th) the Ladies will be picking parsley everyday of the Lebanese Fun Festival from 10 am – 10 pm in the Banquet Center. Ladies of our parish are asked to help and volunteer.

 

ü      Thank You!

We would like to thank Vincent Karam, Victor Karam, and Eddie Abou Nehme for doing a great job at controlling our parking lot last Saturday during the Volleyball Tournament at Mooney’s Bay. Thank you for your time and effort. God bless you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral +

(2975 Riverside Drive – Ottawa)

Cathedral Office: 700 Ridgewood Ave

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1V 6N1

Telephone: (613) 738-2222, Fax: (613) 737-4392

Email: info@steliascathedral.com, Website: www.steliascathedral.com

The Rt. Rev. Bishop ALEXANDER

Bishop of Ottawa, East Canada and Upstate New York

 

The Very Rev. Father Ghattas Hajal – Dean

Rev. Father Mark Arsenios Wyatt – Assistant Priest

The Very Rev. Father Daniel Matheson – Emeritus