+ Sunday, July 30th 2006 +

 7th Sunday after Holy Pentecost

Tone: 6                                                             +                                        Eothinion: 7

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

 

Christ, the true Light, Who enlightens and sanctifies every person coming into the world, let the light of Your countenance shine upon us that we may see Your unapproachable Light; and guide our steps in the way of Your commandments  through the intercessions of Your all-Holy Mother and of all the Saints. Amen.

 

+ The Epistle +

Verse: “Save O Lord Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, 

Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord, O my God”.

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

(Chapter 15:1-7)

 

Brethren, we then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+ The Holy Gospel +

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

(Chapter 9:27-35)

 

At that time, when Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.” Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

 

Meditation: “From the Writings of St. Symeon the New Theologian

“God is light, and to those who have entered into union with Him He imparts of His own brightness to the extent that they have been purified. When the lamp of soul, that is, the mind, has been kindled, then it knows that a divine fire has taken hold of it and inflamed it. How great a marvel! Man is united to God spiritually and physically, since the soul is not separated from the mind, neither the body from the soul… it is evident that just as the Father abides in His own Son and the Son in His Father’s bosom by nature, so those who have been born anew through the Holy Spirit, and by His gift have become the brothers and sisters of Christ our God and sons and daughters of God by adoption, abide in God and God in them by grace…As for those who have not become true brothers and sisters of Christ, and who have not been changed at all in action, knowledge, contemplation, how are they not ashamed to call themselves Christians? How dare they open their mouths and shamelessly speak of God’s hidden mysteries with indifference as though they were lying on a bed?... I am wholly baffled by this! It is the blindness of mind and insensitivity and ignorance that accompany it and the presumption it produces that causes them to trample on the true gold, the most precious stone, the Lord Jesus Himself, the Christ.”

+ 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 30th: Sts. Silas & Silvanus the Apostles of the 70

Apolytikon (Tone 3): O Holy Apostles, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Kontakion (Tone 4): You have appeared as great and fruit-bearing branches of Christ the Vine, O God-proclaiming Apostles, bearing the virtues in great clusters, wisdom's fruit, which pour forth upon us all the sweet wine of salvation; which when we receive within, we are drunken with gladness, and celebrate your honoured memory. Pray that our sins be forgiven and we be saved.

Synaxarion: Saint Silas was a companion and fellow labourer of the Apostle Paul: "And Paul chose Silas and departed...and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches" (Acts 15:40-41). He later became Bishop of Corinth, and reposed in peace. Saint Silvanus became Bishop of Thessalonica, and also reposed in peace.

 

v     Dormition Fast: August 1st – August 14th

(Strict Fast: no meat, fish, or dairy products allowed)

 

v     Paraklesis Service Schedule

* Tuesday, August 1st at 7:00 p.m. (Special Supplication for Peace in Lebanon)

* Wednesday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m.

* Thursday, August 3rd at 7:00 p.m.

* Friday, August 4th at 7:00 p.m.

 

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

 

v     Next Sunday: Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord

(Fish allowed & Blessing of the Grapes)

 

*** Service Schedule for remainder of the Dormition Fast will continue next week. ***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Announcements & Activities *

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

 

ü      Next Sunday – 2nd Tray Collection: “Lebanon Relief Fund

Next week there will be a 2nd Tray collected in support of the “Lebanon Relief Fund” which was created by His Eminence Metropolitan PHILIP to help the suffering people in Lebanon. Please read his letter included in this bulletin for more information.

 

ü      Lebanese Fun Festival Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

We would like to thank the Committee and all the Volunteers of the Lebanese Fun Festival who did an excellent job this year as usual. On Thursday, August 10th at 7:00 p.m. there will be an Appreciation Dinner for the Volunteers at St. Elias Banquet Centre. All volunteers are welcome!

 

ü      Lebanese Fun Festival on ‘Rogers Television 22

Footage from the 2006 Lebanese Fun Festival will be aired on Rogers Television 22 at the following times: Sunday, August 6th at 8:30 p.m.; Monday, August 7th at 8:00 p.m.; Thursday, August 10th at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 12th at 9:00 a.m.; & Sunday, August 13th at 9:00 a.m.

 

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, Bible Studies, etc. Please come on time, we begin every Teen Night Meeting with the Little Compline Service at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

 

 

+ May Their Memory be Eternal +

+ 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