SS. kosmas & damianos Orthodox Church (goa) 703 W. Center Street, Rochester, MN (507) 282-1529 http://www.rochesterorthodoxchurch.org

office@rochesterorthodoxchurch.org Rev. Fr. Mark Muoz, Proistamenos

/APOLYTIKIA FOR TODAY

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O Christ our God, before Your Passion, You raised Lazarus from the dead to confirm the common

Resurrection for all. Therefore, we carry the symbols of victory as did the youths, and we cry out to

You, the victor over death, "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. "

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O Christ, Our God, we have been Buried with You through Baptism, and by Your Resurrection made

worthy of Life immortal. Praising You, we cry out, "Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in

the name of the Lord."

/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

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In Heaven, He is seated upon a Throne and on earth He rides upon a foal. O Christ our God, accept the

praise of the Angels and the hymn of the Children who cry out to You, "Blessed are You who comes to

recall Adam."

Palm sunday

Monk-Martyrs Claudius, Diodore, Victor, Victorinus, and those with them, Theodora the Righteous of

Thessaloniki, Agathopodes and Theodulos the Martyrs

April 5th, 2015

+Fast: Fish/Wine/Oil Allowed+

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 117.26,1

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The

Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with

thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all

understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true,

whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if

there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have

learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel pericope

John 12:1-18

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the

dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him.

Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with

her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his

disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and

given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had

the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day

of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." When the great

crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see

Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death,

because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a

great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches

of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the

Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not,

daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not

understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of

him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the

tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that

they heard he had done this sign.

Announcements

HOLY WEEK 2015 Palm Sunday Eve: 1st Bridegroom Service- 7pm

Holy Monday: 2nd Bridegroom Service-7pm

Holy Tuesday: 3rd Bridegroom Service (Hymn of Kassiane)-7pm

Holy Wednesday: Holy Unction-3:30pm & Orthros of Holy Thursday-7pm

Holy Thursday: Vesperal Liturgy-8:30am His Grace Bishop +DEMETRIOS presiding, Egg dying after

morning service in church hall; Holy Passion Service (12 Gospels)-7pm (Reading of the Psalms)

Holy Friday: Royal Hours-9am - Apokathilosis-3pm & Lamentations-7pm

Holy Saturday: Vesperal Liturgy-8:30am

& HOLY PASCHA/ANASTASIS-11pm*

Holy PASCHA: Agapi Vespers-11am

*Paschal Dinner to follow service in church hall.

No Catechetical School: Today to allow the children to participate in the procession with the palms.

Palm Sunday Fish Plaki Dinner: April 5th, immediately following Divine Liturgy in the church hall.

Please join us for a fish plaki dinner and support Holy Anargyrois Philoptochos Society as all proceeds

go to our chapter and local charities. $12 for adults and $6 for children.

Chanters Stand (Psalteri): please be advised that the psalteri is an extension, of sorts, of the altar and is

therefore not common space. Rather, it is reserved for those individuals who have expressed a desire to

Father to be present at the psalteri and who have received his blessing to do so. During Holy Week we

have a plethora of services some of which are quite long and we may be in need of readers. If you are

interested in functioning as such please speak with Father before proceeding to the psalteri.

Agapi Vespers: to avoid disorder and confusion if you would like to read the Gospel Section in a foreign

language for the Agapi Vespers please see Father before Holy Friday indicating which language youll be

reading so the proper preparations can be made; no last minute additions will be accommodated the day

of.

Holy Week Liturgical Books: We have ordered several copies of the official Holy Week Book endorsed

by our Metropolis. This comprehensive book, compiled by Fr. Pappadeas, will be used exclusively for all

the liturgical celebrations from Palm Sunday evening through the Agapi Vespers on Pascha. Each book is

$25, and ARE NOW AVAILABLE.

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians (i.e. the Orthodox Church does not observe open communion) in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, humble state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, have observed the fasts of the Church, and they should have self-examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, and hold the red communion cloth to your chin. After receiving, wipe your lips on the cloth, step back carefully, hand the cloth to the next person and make the sign of the Cross as you step away. Please do not be in a rush while communing! Please take special care not to bump the Holy Chalice.

Pascha flowers: We need your HELP! Although many have donated towards Holy Week

flower decoration, we are currently about $600 short compared to this time last year. If you

havent had a chance to donate please see Presbytera Michelle in the narthex after Liturgy.

Thank you all for your generosity!!!

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SAVE THE DATE: SPRING GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF ALL STEWRDS IN GOOD

STANDING OF HOLY ANARGYROI G.O. CHURCH WILL BE SUNDAY APRIL

19th AFTER THE DIVINE LITURGY!

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Who turned off the lights!? in order to maintain the proper ambiance of

compunction and solemnity of the Holy Week services the lights will be

dimmed to a bare minimum. You are encouraged to bring a candle from

the narthex with you in order to follow along in the Holy Week book.

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Having purified our souls, let us noetically uphold

branches, and with faith extol Christ, as the Children did

of old, and with a loud voice let us cry out to the Master,

"O Savior, blessed are You, the One who came to the

world to save Adam and his race from the primordial

curse. As You were pleased to do, spiritually You came to

be the new Adam in Your love for humanity. O Word,

You ordered all things for our good. Glory be to You, O

Lord."- Orthros of Palm Sunday

Orthodox Christian Celebration of Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, which is preceded by the Matins service. A Great Vespers is conducted on Saturday evening according to the order prescribed in the Triodion. Scripture readings for Palm Sunday are: At the Vespers: Genesis 49:1,8-12; Zephaniah 3:14-19; Zechariah 9:9-15. At the Orthros (Matins): Matthew 21:1-17. At the Divine Liturgy: Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18. On this Sunday, in addition to the Divine Liturgy, the Church observes the Blessing and Distribution of the Palms. A basket containing the woven palm crosses is placed on a table in front of the icon of the Lord, which is on the Iconostasion. The prayer for the blessing of the Palms is found in the Ieratikon or the Euxologion. According to the rubrics of the Typikon, this prayer is read at the Orthros just before the Psalms of Praise (Ainoi). The palms are then distributed to the faithful. The text of the prayer, however, indicates clearly that it is less a prayer for the blessing of the palms, even though that is its title, and more a blessing upon those, who in imitation of the New Testament event hold palms in their hands as symbols of Christ's victory and as signs of a virtuous Christian life. It appears then, that it

would be more correct to have the faithful hold the palms in their hands during the course of the Divine Liturgy when the Church celebrates both the presence and the coming of the Lord in the mystery of the Eucharist.

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Pearls from the Desert

O strange and inconceivable thing! We did not really die, we were not really buried, we were not really crucified and raised again, but

our imitation was but a figure, while our salvation is in reality. Christ

was actually crucified, and actually buried, and truly rose again; and

all these things have been vouchsafed to us, that we, by imitation

communicating in His sufferings, might gain salvation in reality. O

surpassing loving-kindness! Christ received the nails in His

undefiled hands and feet, and endured anguish; while to me without

suffering or toil, by the fellowship of His pain He vouchsafed

salvation. -St. Cyril of Jerusalem

The bridegroom services

Beginning on the evening of Palm Sunday and continuing through the evening of Holy Tuesday, the Orthodox

Church observes a special service known as the Service of the Bridgegroom. Each evening service is the Matins or

Orthros service of the following day (e.g. the service held on Sunday evening is the Orthros service for Holy

Monday). The name of the service is from the figure of the Bridegroom in the parable of the Ten Virgins found in

Matthew 25:1-13. The first part of Holy Week presents us with an array of themes based chiefly on the last days of

Jesus' earthly life. The story of the Passion, as told and recorded by the Evangelists, is preceded by a series of

incidents located in Jerusalem and a collection of parables, sayings and discourses centered on Jesus' divine sonship,

the kingdom of God, the Parousia, and Jesus' castigation of the hypocrisy and dark motives of the religious leaders.

The observances of the first three days of Great Week are rooted in these incidents and sayings. The three days

constitute a single liturgical unit. They have the same cycle and system of daily prayer. The Scripture lessons,

hymns, commemorations, and ceremonials that make up the festal elements in the respective services of the cycle

highlight significant aspects of salvation history, by calling to mind the events that anticipated the Passion and by

proclaiming the inevitability and significance of the Parousia. The Orthros of each of these days is called the

Service of the Bridegroom (Akolouthia tou Nimfiou). The name comes from the central figure in the well-known

parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). The title Bridegroom suggests the intimacy of love. It is not without

significance that the kingdom of God is compared to a bridal feast and a bridal chamber. The Christ of the Passion is

the divine Bridegroom of the Church. The imagery connotes the final union of the Lover and the beloved. The title

Bridegroom also suggests the Parousia. In the patristic tradition, the aforementioned parable is related to the Second

Coming; and is associated with the need for spiritual vigilance and preparedness, by which we are enabled to keep

the divine commandments and receive the blessings of the age to come. The troparion "Behold the Bridegroom

comes in the middle of the night", which is sung at the beginning of the Orthros of Great Monday, Tuesday and

Wednesday, relates the worshiping community to that essential expectation: watching and waiting for the Lord, who

will come again to judge the living and the dead.

On Holy Monday we commemorate Joseph the Patriarch, the beloved son of Jacob. A major figure of the Old Testament,

Joseph's story is told in the final section of the Book of Genesis (chs. 37-50). Because of his exceptional qualities and

remarkable life, our patristic and liturgical tradition portrays Joseph as tipos Christou, i.e., as a prototype, prefigurement or

image of Christ. The story of Joseph illustrates the mystery of God's providence, promise and redemption. Innocent, chaste

and righteous, his life bears witness to the power of God's love and promise. The lesson to be learned from Joseph's life, as

it bears upon the ultimate redemption wrought by the death and resurrection of Christ, is summed up in the words he

addressed to his brothers who had previously betrayed him, Fear not ... As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for

you and your little ones. Thus he reassured them and comforted them (Genesis 50:19-21).

Todays liturgical commemorations

1. THE HOLY MARTYRS AGATHOPODUS AND THEODULUS

Agathopodus was a deacon and Theodulus was a lector in the church at Thessalonica.

Agathopodus was adorned with the greying of age and Theodulus with youthful understanding

and chastity. At the time of Diocletian's pursuit of Christians these two were summoned to court.

They responded with rejoicing and holding each other by the hand, they walked along crying out:

"We are Christians!" All the advice of the judges that they deny Christ and worship idols,

remained in vain. After an extended imprisonment and hunger they were sentenced to death by

drowning in the sea. Their hands were bound behind their backs, a heavy stone was hung around

their necks and they were led out to be drowned. When they first wanted to toss Agathopodus

into the deep, he cried out: "Behold, by this second baptism we are washed of all our sins and in

purity do we depart to Christ Jesus." Shortly afterward, the sea tossed their drowned bodies upon

the shore and Christians buried their bodies with honors. St. Theodulus appeared to his

acquaintances as a bright angel in glistening attire and ordered them to distribute all of his

remaining estate to the poor. These glorious and wonderful soldiers of Christ suffered honorably

during the reign of Diocletian and the Thessalonican Prince Faustinus in the year 303 A.D.

2. THE VENERABLE MARK OF TRACHE

He is also called "Mark the Athenian" because Athens was the place of his birth. His parents died

after he completed his higher education in Athens. He thought to himself that death, even for

himself, was unavoidable and that one should sufficiently prepare beforehand for that honorable

departure from this world. Distributing all of his possessions to the poor, he sat on a plank in the

sea and with a tenacious faith in God's help, prayed that God direct him wherever He wills. God,

in His Providence, protected him and brought him to Lybia (or Ethiopia) to a mountain called

Trache. Mark lived an ascetical life on this mountain for ninety-five years, seeing neither man

nor beast. For thirty years, he waged a violent combat with evil spirits and suffered from hunger,

thirst, frost and heat. He ate dirt and drank sea water. After thirty years of the most vehement

suffering, the defeated demons fled from him and an angel of God began to bring him food daily

in the form of bread, fish and fruit. St. Serapion visited him before his death and, afterward,

made known the miraculous life of Mark. Mark asked St. Serapion: "Are there any Christians in

the world now, who, if they were to say to this mountain, `Arise from here and hurl yourself into

the sea,' would it be so?" At that moment, the mountain upon which they stood moved in the

direction of the sea. Mark raised his hand and stopped it. Such was the miracle-working power

which this man of God possessed. Before his death, he prayed for the salvation of mankind and

then gave up his soul to God. St. Serapion saw angels as they bore Mark's soul and he also saw

an extended hand from heaven which received it. St. Mark lived to be one-hundred thirty years

old and died about the year 400 A.D.

Spring Cleanin Time! Its time to get ready for Pascha, and were asking for volunteers to clean the

nave of the Church, and help out on the following days:

Saturday of Lazarus, April 4th thorough cleaning after services

Palm Sunday, April 5th

after luncheon remove palms, decorate for Holy Week.

Holy Saturday, April 11th- after Liturgy, light cleaning and decorate for Pascha

Palm Sunday Plaki

Dinner

Fish Plaki, rice, salad, dessert, drinks

Adults: $12 Children 12 & under: $6

Sponsored by the Philoptochos Society

Special Thank You to Aprils Coffee Hour Hosts: 4/5 Palm Sunday Luncheon,

4/12 Paschal Meal sponsored by your Parish Council, 4/19 Salah & Catherine

Sedarous, 4/26 Jimmy & Vicki Psomas.

And one more thank you: to all our awesome volunteers that helped

during yesterdays major clean up and luncheon prep! Thank you to :

Tia, Richard, Soula, Kathy, Anna, Bob, Ray, Halina, Natasha, Mike,

Alexei, Kelly girls, Muoz kids, Ronnie, Jacob, Kiki, Sergei, Jackie, Calli,

Ann, Denise, Maria, & Angie! (Please forgive if we inadvertently

omitted a name!)