SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017

18th  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: 

SPIRITUAL ARTICLES FROM THE PROLOGUE: 

SEPTEMBER 25/OCTOBER 8, BY SAINT NIKOLAI VELIMIROVIC:  The Venerable Euphrosyne Euphrosyne was the daughter of Paphnutius, a wealthy and distinguished man of Alexandria. Her childless parents had besought God with prayer for the birth of a child, and they were given her. Her devout parents raised their daughter in the Christian Faith. Not wanting to enter into marriage, the young Euphrosyne hid from her father, changed into men’s clothing, and presented herself to the abbot of a monastery as a eunuch of Emperor Theodosius, giving the name Smaragdus. The abbot received her, and turned her over to the spiritual father Agapitus for guidance. By her fasting and prayerful asceticism, Smaragdus quickly surpassed all the monks in that monastery. When she had completed thirty-eight years of strict asceticism, her father Paphnutius visited that monastery, and the abbot directed him to Smaragdus for prayer and counsel. Smaragdus recognized Paphnutius, but Paphnutius did not recognize Smaragdus. When the father confessed his grief for his lost daughter, Smaragdus told him not to lose hope, for he would see his daughter again in this life, and besought him to come again within three days. When Paphnutius came again, Smaragdus was on her deathbed. The dying one said to Paphnutius: “I am Euphrosyne, your daughter; you are my father!” For a long time, the father was unable to come to himself due to his severe shock. Then, the Blessed Euphrosyne breathed her last, and her father wept over her. After burying her, Paphnutius himself entered the monastery, and settled in the cell of his holy, reposed daughter. After ten years of asceticism, Paphnutius also entered into rest in the Lord.

The Venerable Sergius of Radonezh Sergius was a great ascetic and light of the Russian Church. He was born in 1313, in Rostov, of devout parents, Cyril and Maria. After his parents’ deaths, Bartholomew—for that was his baptismal name—became a monk, and founded the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the forests of Radonezh. As a quiet and gentle servant of God, he knew only labor and prayer. Because of the purity of his heart he was made worthy of the gift of miracle-working, even resurrecting the dead in the name of Christ. The Holy Theotokos appeared to him many times. Princes and bishops came to him for advice. He blessed Prince Dimitri Donskoy, and foretold his victory in the battle for the liberation of Russia from the Tartars. He saw into the hearts of men as well as future events. His monastery was full of monks, even during his lifetime and, century after century, has been one of the most important centers of spiritual life and God’s miracles. St. Sergius entered into rest in the year 1392. Following his repose, he appeared many times to various people.

The Reading from the Second Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians (9: 6-11)

Brethren, this I say to you: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad; He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”  Now may he who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.     

THE GOSPEL READING FROM Saint Luke (5: 1-11)

At that time, as the multitude pressed about Jesus to hear the word of God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”  But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man,    O Lord!”  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men.”  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

THE PROTECTION OF THE MOST-HOLY THEOTOKOS

From time immemorial, the Church has celebrated the Most-holy Theotokos as the patroness and protectress of the Christian people, who, by her intercessory prayers, implores God's mercy for us sinners. The help of the Most-holy Mother of God has been clearly shown numerous times, to individuals and to nations, in peace and in war, in monastic deserts and in densely populated cities. The event that the Church commemorates and celebrates today confirms the Theotokos' consistent protection of Christian people. On October 1, 911, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Wise, there was an All-night Vigil in the Blachernae Church of the Mother of God in Constantinople. The church was full of people. St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ was standing in the rear of the church with his disciple Epiphanius. At four o'clock in the morning, the Most-holy Theotokos appeared above the people, holding her omophorion outstretched as a protective covering for the faithful. She was clothed in gold-encrusted purple, and shone with an ineffable radiance, surrounded by apostles, saints, martyrs and virgins. St. Andrew said to Blessed Epiphanius: "Do you see, brother, the Queen and Lady of all praying for the whole world?'' Epiphanius replied: "I see, Father, and am struck with amazement!'' The Feast of the Protection was instituted to commemorate this event, and to remind us that we can prayerfully receive the unceasing protection of the Most-holy Theotokos in any time of difficulty

ЧИТАЊЕ ИЗ ДРУГЕ ПОСЛАНИЦЕ КОРИЋАНИМА СВЕТОГ АПОСТОЛА ПАВЛА (9,6-11)

Браћо, ово пак велим: који с тврђом сеје, с тврђом ће и пожњети; а који благослов сеје, благослов ће и пожњети. Сваки по вољи свог срца, а не са жалошћу или од невоље; јер Бог љуби оног који драговољно даје. А Бог је кадар учинити да је међу вама изобилна свака благодат, да у свему свагда свако довољство имајући изобилујете за свако добро дело; Као што је писано: Просу, даде сиромасима; правда његова остаје вавек. А који даје семе сејачу, даће и хлеб за јело: и умножиће семе ваше, и даће да узрасту жита правде ваше; Да се у свему обогатите за сваку простоту која кроз нас чини хвалу Богу.. 

Читање светог Јеванђеља по Луки (5, 1-11)

У време оно, једанпут пак, кад народ належе к Њему да слушају реч Божију Он стајаше код језера генисаретског, И виде две лађе где стоје у крају, а рибари беху изишли из њих и испираху мреже: И уђе у једну од лађа која беше Симонова, и замоли га да мало одмакне од краја; и седавши учаше народ из лађе. А кад преста говорити, рече Симону: Хајде на дубину, и баците мреже своје те ловите. И одговарајући Симон рече Му: Учитељу! Сву ноћ смо се трудили, и ништа не ухватисмо: али по Твојој речи бацићу мрежу. И учинивши то ухватише велико мноштво риба, и мреже им се продреше. И намагоше на друштво које беше на другој лађи да дођу да им помогну; и дођоше, и напунише обе лађе тако да се готово потопе. А кад виде Симон Петар, припаде ка коленима Исусовим говорећи: Изиђи од мене, Господе! Ја сам човек грешан. Јер беше ушао страх у њега и у све који беху с њим од мноштва риба које ухватише; А тако и у Јакова и Јована, синове Зеведејеве, који беху другови Симонови. И рече Исус Симону: Не бој се; одселе ћеш људе ловити. И извукавши обе лађе на земљу оставише све, и отидоше за Њим.

Покров Пресвете Богородице. Од увек је црква прослављала Пресвету Богородицу као покровитељку и заштитницу рода хришћанскога, која својим ходатајственим молитвама умилостивљава Бога према нама грешнима. Безброј пута показала се очигледно помоћ Пресвете Богородице како појединцима тако и народима, како у миру тако и у рату, како у монашким пустињама тако и у многољудним градовима. Догађај који црква данас спомиње и празнује доказује само то постојано покровитељство Пресвете Богородице над родом хришћанским. 1. октобра 911. год. у време цара Лава Мудрога (или Философа) било је свеноћно бдење у Богородичиној цркви Влахерне у Цариграду. Народа је била пуна црква. У позадини цркве стајао је св. Андреј Јуродиви са својим учеником Епифанијем. У четврти сат ноћи појави се Пресвета Богородица изнад народа са распростртим омофором на рукама, као да том одећом покриваше народ. Беше обучена у златокрасну порфиру и сва блисташе у неисказаном сјају, окружена апостолима, светитељима, мученицима и девицама. Св. Андреј видећи то јављање показа руком Епифанију блаженом, и упита га: „видиш ли, брате, Царицу и госпођу над свим, како се моли за сав свет?" Одговори Епифаније: „видим, оче, и ужасавам се!" Због тога се установи ово празновање, да нас подсети како на тај догађај тако и на стално покровитељство Пресвете Богородице, кад год ми то покровитељство, тај покров њен молитвено иштемо у невољама.

RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION - TONE ONE:

When the stone had been sealed by the Jews; while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure Body; Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. The powers of heaven therefore cried to Thee, O Giver of Life: Glory to Thy Resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Thy Kingdom! Glory to Thy dispensation, O Thou who loves mankind.

TROPARION TO SAINT EUPHROSYNE – TONE ONE:

As an ascetic you hid your womanhood, and your falling-asleep was an amazement, O Euphrosyne.  Though a woman, you toiled as a man, and by your prayers you save those who honor you.

TROPARION TO SAINT SERGIUS OF RADONEZH – TONE FOUR:

A zealot of good deeds and a true warrior of Christ our God, you struggled greatly against the passions in this passing life; in songs and vigils and fasting you were an image and example to your disciples, thus the most Holy Spirit lived within you, and you were made beautiful by His working.  Since you have great boldness before the Holy Trinity, remember the flock which you have wisely gathered, and do not forget to visit your children as you promised, venerable Sergius our father.