St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church

Sunday School Question of the Month:

Do you know what our Holy martyrs replied when the Jewish ruler (Dunaan) demanded that Christians should renounce Jesus Christ because he was crucified as a man not as God?

Sunday
October 3, 2010
19th Sunday after Pentecost

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 2

• Troparion of St. Dionysios Tone 4

O Holy Hieromartyr Dionysios, master of unction, measured in all things, clothed with a straight conscience as befits a priest: thou drewest ineffable truths from the Vessel of Election. Thou hast kept the faith and completed a course equal to His. Intercede with Christ God that He may save our souls.

• Troparion of St .Michael, Tone 4

O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: “Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high.”

• Kontakion of the Theotokos, Tone 4

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices, of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come to our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Epistle: Corinthians 11: 31 to end; 12:1-9
Gospel: Luke 6: 31-36

Proshora and Antidoron

It is customary that someone in the Orthodox congregation brings homemade bread for the Eucharistic ceremony. This bread is called Prosphora.
Prosphora is a Greek word which means an offering to God and it also represents Jesus Who is the Bread of life. The middle part of the bread is stamped with the abbreviations IC and XC which means Jesus Christ Conquers. During the Divine Liturgy, this square part is cut out in special way, which will be changed into the Body of Christ and it is called the Lamb of God. After partaking Holy Communion and at the end of the Liturgy, The left over of the bread (Antidoron) is distributed among the faithful who have not taken Communion.

The Holy bread is not Holy Communion

1. The Holy bread (Antidoron) is not Holy Communion and it is blessed.
2. We should treat the Holy bread with respect (It should be eaten carefully so the crumbs do not fall.)
3. Anyone can receive the Holy bread (Antidoron) at the end of the Liturgy.
4. Only Orthodox faithful who have prepared themselves through fasting, confession and prayer can receive Holy Communion.

Sunday
October 10, 2010
20th Sunday after Pentecost

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 3

• Troparion of the Martyrs, Tone 4

Victorious martyrs of the Lord, blessed is the earth that received thy blood! Holy are the heavenly places that opened to thy soul! Thou didst vanquish the enemy in battle, proclaiming Christ with courage! Intercede with Him, we pray, that He may save our souls!

• Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4

O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: “Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high.”

• Kontakion os the Theotokos, Tone 4

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices, of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come to our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee

Epistle: Gal. 1:11-19
Gospel: Luke 7:11-16

Why is incense burned in the Orthodox Church?

Incense is the sap of the frankincense tree, dried and burned in church as an offering to God.
It reminds us that our prayers should go up to heaven as the smoke of incense and it also enhances all our senses (smell) during the Divine Liturgy.
The offering of incense has been related to the worship of God since God commanded Moses to burn incense to Him in the tabernacle.
When the priests incense the Church at any time, the faithful should be standing.

Sunday
October 17, 2010
21st Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday of the Holy Fathers of 7th Ecumenical Council

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 4

• Troparion of the Holy Fathers, Tone 8

Thou, O Christ , art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our Holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true faith, O most merciful One, glory be to Thee.

• Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4

O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: “Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high.”

• Kontakion of the Theotokos, Tone4

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices, of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come to our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee

Epistle: Titus 3:8-15
Gospel: Luke8: 5-15

Did you know?
The service of the Holy Fathers is always on Sunday.

1.The First service is commemorated on the 7th Sunday after Pascha in memory of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.
2.The second service is commemorated on the Sunday closest to July 16th in memory of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils.
3.The Third service is commemorated on the Sunday closest to October eleventh in memory of the Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council.

The Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council is commemorated this year on October 17th. During the Divine Liturgy we sing the following Troparion:

“Thou, O Christ , art our God of exceeding praise who didst establish our Holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true faith, O most merciful one, glory be to Thee”.

Sunday
October 24, 2010
22nd Sunday after Pentecost

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 5

• Troparion of Arethas, Tone 1

O Lord, by the sufferings of the saints, which they endured for thy sake, have compassion and heal all the sufferings of us who implore thee, who art alone the Lover of mankind.

• Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4

O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: “Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high.”

• Kontakion of the Theotokos, Tone 4
  

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices, of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come to our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Epistle: Gal. 6: 11-18
Gospel: Luke 8: 26-39

October 24
The Holy Great martyr Arethas and of his companions (522-523)
***NEW***

St. Arethas was the leader of the Christian city of Nijran in Arabia. Dunaan was a Jewish ruler and an enemy of Christ. When Dunaan took power in the country of the Himyarite tribe in Arabia, he decided to eliminate Christianity from the land. First, he took over the city of Zafar, and then he turned to Nijran where he was unable to penetrate the defenses of this city so nobly inspired by the courageous St. Arethas. The treacherous Dunaan swore an oath that he would not force the Christians into Judaism, but he would just collect a tribute from Nijran. Not taking advice from their leader St. Arethas, the residents of Nijran put their trust in Dunaan and opened the gate of the city peacefully. The very next day, Dunaan ordered his soldiers to drag St. Arethas, his wife and his two daughters before the conqueror. Forced to witness the execution of his own two daughters, St. Arethas refused to join his army and to renounce Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. When Dunaan asked the Holy martyrs to renounce Christ because He was Crucified as a man and not as God, St. Arethas replied: “We shall not abjure (renounce) Christ, since He is Life for us. To die for Him is to find Life”. Together with his wife were beheaded after that.
In 523, it is estimated that more than 4000 Christians including Children, women and the elderly suffered martyrdom for Christ.

Sunday
October 31, 2010
23rd Sunday after Pentecost

• Troparion of the Resurrection, Tone 6

• Troparion of the Apostles, Tone 3

O Holy Apostles, intercede with God all-merciful that He may grant us the remission of our sins.

• Troparion of St. Michael, Tone 4

O Command ers of the heavenly hosts, we the unworthy beseech you, that through your entreaties you will fortify us, guarding us in the shelter of the wings of your ethereal glory, even as we fervently bow before You, crying: “Deliver us from all danger as commanders of the powers on high.”

• Troparion of the Theotokos, Tone 4

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices, of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come to our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Epistle: Ephesians 2:4-10
Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said: "Lift up your Cross
and follow me."
***NEW***

Over four thousands Christians in the city of Nijran were slain in many ways in 523. They were thrown in pits, burned to death, and beheaded. Even though, our Holy martyrs never tried to renounce Christ; they wanted to die for the sake of Him.
Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds." Matthew 16:24-27
[Our Holy Martyrs believed that Jesus is God the Word; He came into the world to save the world and to save sinners so they will have eternal life into the Kingdom of God for those who believe in Him; He was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary; He sacrificed, died for us, and on the third day he was resurrected. Also, they believed that the Son of God will come again in His glory of His Father to recompense them]. Neither threatening nor death could terrify them or make them give up the Orthodox Christian faith.] We, as Orthodox Christians, believe this to be true and are a part of our Holy Creed, “The Proclamation of our faith”.