Sunday December 4, 2005

+ Sunday, April 29^th 2007 +

Sunday of the Paralytic

Tone: 3 + Eothinon: 5

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“Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!”

O Merciful Christ, Creator of all, You came to earth to heal the sick. By Your word You raised up the paralyzed man at the pool near the Sheep Gate. You cured the woman with the flow of blood. You showed mercy to the daughter of the Canaanite woman possessed by an evil spirit. You healed the servant of the centurion. You opened the eyes of Bartimaeus. You are the physician of our souls and bodies. Therefore, we praise You: almighty Lord, glory to You!

+ The Epistle +

Verse: “Sing praises to our God, sing praises. Clap your hand, all you nations.

The Reading is from the Acts of the Holy Apostles.

(Chapter 9:32-42)

In those days, now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the county, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

+ The Holy Gospel +

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

(Chapter 5:1-15)

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, ‘Take up your pallet and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your pallet and walk’? Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.” The man went away and told the Jews it was Jesus who had healed him.

Meditation: Sunday of the Paralytic

St. John the Evengelist, a soaring eagle lifted up by the Spirit, was able to capture the divine grandeur of Christ. St. John’s account of Christ’s ministry reads like a continuous transfiguration. Christ is the fullness of grace and truth. He is the shepherd, the gate, and the vine. He is the life, the light, and the resurrection. Because He is the resurrection, He raises St. Lazarus from the dead. Because He is the light, He opens the blind man’s eyes. Because He is the life, He gives fullness of life to the paralyzed man at the pool by the Sheep Gate. The hymn book of the period of Pascha to Pentecost is called the Pentecostarion, which is a liturgical treasure containing hundreds of hymns which recount Christ’s great acts of mercy and which glorify Him. The Sundays and the entire week following each Sunday are known by the New Testament events they commemorate: “The Week of the Paralytic,” “The Week of the Myrrh-Bearers,” “The week of Thomas,” and so on. “Jesus Christ heals you!” (Acts 9:34), St. Peter said to Aeneas, a man from Lydda, and at once Aeneas got up. These words of the Apostle Peter parallel Christ’s command to the paralyzed man: “Get up and walk!” Christ’s saving words and works continued in the words and works of the Apostles. What assurance of faith, what divine authority, lie behind those words! Christ and the Apostles were men of mountain-moving faith, men full of inner power of the Holy Spirit. They could call upon God’s power with the great faith and the joyous confidence to heal. They liberated people from sickness and the burden of sin. What a moment of divine glory to see a person stand up and walk – free in his or her physical movements. It is an even greater moment of divine glory when we see a person healed from inner paralysis – free at last in his or her spiritual self and energized by the grace of God. Have you seen spiteful, compulsive, angry, or empty people? Have we not ourselves acted with bitterness, hatred, and sometimes despair? For what reasons? Isn’t it simply because evil, sinful passions, and darkness take control of our hearts? We are shackled by many bonds of sinful habits, and cannot freely relate to others with love, joy, kindness, patience, and a forgiving spirit. The two men healed by Christ and the Apostle Peter were bed-ridden for many years. They no doubt experienced moments of loneliness, resentment, and depression. But the light of God shone upon them and they were freed from the prison of physical and spiritual paralysis. Christ is always there, always caring, always ready to help us. We need but turn to the physician of bodies and souls and we receive astounding healings.

* Announcements *

v Every Saturday – Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m.

ü National March for Life 2007 – Justice for the Unborn!

On Wednesday, May 9^th at 8:45 p.m. at the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights Monument (corner of Elgin & Lisgar Sts, Ottawa) the 10^th Annual National March for Life 2007 will again take place with the annual Candlelight Vigil in defense of the innocent victims of Abortion. Today, after the Divine Liturgy, downstairs in the Cathedral Hall, the Pledge Form will be available for you to fill out and purchase your Vigil Candles. On Thursday, May 10^th at 12:00 p.m. Pro-Life Supporters will begin to gather on Parliament Hill to hear speeches about Abortion by prominent pro-life leaders and politicians, and at 1:30 p.m. there will be a march through downtown Ottawa with many signs and banners in support for Life. For more information visit the following website: (www.lifesite.net)

ü Connect 2007 – University of Balamand

For the 6^th year, the University of Balamand is sponsoring “Connect”, its popular cultural and academic exchange program. Connect aims at offering youth (17 – 25 years old) a unique learning experience that will enrich their mind and soul, and connect them with their land of ancestry and rich heritage. The program extends over a period of 4 weeks, from July 7^th to August 3^rd 2007. Based on the University’s main campus in the peaceful hills of North Lebanon, “Connect” offers a fun-packed program that’s sure to leave participants with lifetime memorable experiences. For more information, visit www.balamand.edu.lb/connect.

ü Registration for the 48^th Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Convention

This year, the 48^th Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Convention will be hosted by St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Montreal on July 23^rd – 29^th. Registration forms are available in the Cathedral Office for anybody who is interested in attending this year’s Convention and anyone interested in sponsoring a message for the Ad Journal. There are also copies of an information flyer available at the Candle Stand in the Vestibule.

ü Summer Pilgrimage to Greece (June 3^rd -15^th)

Have you thought about joining us on our pilgrimage to Greece this summer? We will be visiting lots of beautiful Churches & Monasteries; along with many Historic Ruins, Old Markets, Beautiful Beaches, Land Marks & Awe-inspiring Scenery!

Our trip to Greece is confirmed as planned. Those who have made their reservations and submitted their downpayments already are set to travel. A few places remain and anyone who is interested in going is asked to please call the Cathedral Office for more information.

ü Church Beautification

“Blessed are those who love the beauty of Thy House, O Lord”

Our Iconographer may unfortunately be retiring in the near future and we are looking to finish (while we still can) the empty areas over the Altar and over the Choir Loft with a beautiful new set of icons. Some icons left for selection are:

The Mystical/Last Supper
Christ washing the feet of His Disciples
The Holy Hymnographers (8 individual Icons)
Christ’s Entrance into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday)

If you are interested in donating any icons, please contact Fr. Ghattas in the office or speak to him after the Divine Liturgy.

ü New Epitaphios (Bier)

Over the years many donations have been collected by parishioners to purchase a new Epitaphios (Bier) for the Church. We are very thankful for their donations and we would like to let everyone know that our Beautification fund is still in need of more donations so we can finally order the Epitaphios (Bier), which will be made from the same wood with the same design as the Iconostasis. If you would like to help donate for this project, please speak with Fr. Ghattas or send your cheque to the Cathedral Office.

ü A Message from the Church School

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

We would like every student to have a special T-Shirt to take home at the end of this term. We would like your help in purchasing these shirts. The shirts will have:" I AM AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN" printed on the front and they will be Burgundy in colour. Students will wear them on special occasions at Church and anytime they want elsewhere. We would appreciate your donations as soon as possible as we have to collect the funds before ordering the T-Shirts and we want to have them by the last week in May. DONATIONS CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE CHURCH SCHOOL OFFICE TO JOANN NICHOLSON.

Yours in Christ,

St. Elias Church School

ü Fellowship of St. John the Divine

Weekly Meeting every Tuesday from 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. SHARP! Please be on time. A Bible Study/Religious Discussion will take place in the Church School Building (1^st Floor). Please give us your email address if you are not receiving our weekly online newsletter. Any member of the Fellowship who is interested in participating in the Parish Life Conference Bible Bowl (June 28^th - July 1^st 2007 at St. Elias Orthodox Church, Syracuse) is asked to speak with Ramia Ibrahim (ramiai@hotmail.com).

ü Teen SOYO

Next meeting on Wednesday May 2^nd 2007 from 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. SHARP! in the Church School Building. Please be on time. Please give us your email address if you are not receiving our online newsletter.

Bible Bowl: Team Study & Practice Meeting on Monday, April 30^th 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Any member of the Teen SOYO who is interested in participating in the Parish Life Conference Bible Bowl (June 28^th - July 1^st 2007 at St. Elias Orthodox Church, Syracuse) is asked to speak with Alannah Saikaley at: asaikaley@ashbury.on.ca

ü Benefit Concert for the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral

There will be a benefit Concert for the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral – “Prairie Oak Quintet” (Chamber Music Concert Series) on Saturday, May 5^th 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrews Church (82 Kent/Wellington). Tickets will be on sale TODAY, following the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral Hall downstairs ($20/Adult, $10/Student). For further information about the event, please speak to the representatives downstairs today.

ü Funeral Planning Information Seminar

Bring your family and/or executor to this informative presentation on Wednesday, May 2^nd, 2007 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the Cathedral Hall downstairs, concerning the serious subject of funeral planning. Learn what’s involved in making funeral arrangements for a loved one or for yourself, the responsibilities of an executor and how you can ease the decision-making burden for your family and executor. Patrick McGarry, Vice President and Certified Preplanning Consultant with Hulse, Playfair & McGarry will present this seminar and be available to answer questions.

RSVP : St. Elias Cathedral: (613) 738-2222

+ 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, Eastern 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

The Parish of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral

Will be proudly hosting a Luncheon to honour:

+ ArchPriest Ghattas Hajal +

In celebration of 30 years in the Holy Priesthood,

On Pentecost Sunday, May 27^th 2007

following the Divine Liturgy at St. Elias Banquet Centre.

Tickets will be on sale today in the Cathedral Hall downstairs

following the Divine Liturgy.

Adults: $30.00

Children 12 years and under: $15.00