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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Let the heavens be glad; let earthly things rejoice; for the
Lord hath wrought might with His arm. He hath
trampled down death by death; the first-born of the dead
hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He
delivered us and hath granted to the world great mercy.
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O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant
our souls forgiveness of sins.
/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

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

Sunday of st luke the evangelist

October 18th, 2015

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 4:5-11, 14-18

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.
Psalm 18.4,1
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.
BRETHREN, conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech
always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.
Tychicos will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant
in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may
encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimos, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of
yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place. Aristarchos my fellow prisoner greets
you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions if he comes to
you, receive him), and Jesus who is called Justos. These are the only men of the circumcision among my
fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Luke the beloved physician
and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in
her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the
Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippos, "See that you
fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord." I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
Remember my fetters. Grace be with you. Amen.
Gospel pericope

Luke 10:16-21
The Lord said to his disciples, "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me,
and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord,
even the demons are subject to us in your name! " And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not
rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in
heaven. " In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and
revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
TODAY: GOYA Pumpkin Carving, grill out, & bonfire @ Brekke Farm, 5pm
Wednesday Oct. 21st: Building Committee Meeting, 5pm
Wednesday Oct. 21st: Parish Council Meeting, 6:30pm
IOCC Benefit Gathering: Please join us on Tues. Nov. 10th 6pm @ Ari and Penny Kolas
residence to learn about and support the ongoing humanitarian work of IOCC on the global
scale, and especially in Syria where IOCC is currently the 2nd largest NGO in the entire country!

Philoptochos Fundraiser: During the month of October the Philoptochos will be doing a
new and unique fundraiser to help raise funds for our ministries. We are going to be selling
soap. Herbaria soap is high quality, all natural soap. These soaps do not contain any animal
products, chemicals, dyes or artificial fragrances, they only use essential oils to give them a
wonderful smell. They make great gifts for Christmas, a hostess gift or for that one person who
has everything. Everyone needs soap, why not make it a special one. We will have samples for
people to see and smell, I promise you will not be disappointed. If this is not something you
want to purchase for yourself, might I suggest a donation to our Philoxenia house for our guests
or to the Dorothy Day House which is a temporary shelter for those who find themselves in
crisis and are in need of the basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter.
HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians (i.e. the Orthodox Church
does not practice 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.

TODAYS COMMEMORATIONS
1. The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke
Luke was born in Antioch. In his youth, he excelled in his
studies of Greek philosophy, medicine and art. During the
ministry of the Lord Jesus on earth, Luke came to
Jerusalem, where he saw the Savior face to face, heard His
saving teaching and was witness to His miraculous works.
Coming to belief in the Lord, St. Luke was numbered
among the Seventy Apostles, and was sent out to preach.
With Cleopas, he saw the resurrected Lord on the road to
Emmaus (Luke 24). After the descent of the Holy Spirit,
Luke returned to Antioch and there became a fellow worker
of the Apostle Paul and traveled to Rome with him,
converting Jews and pagans to the Christian Faith. Luke,
the beloved physician, greets you, writes the Apostle Paul
to the Colossians. (Colossians 4:14). At the request of Christians, he wrote his Gospel in about the year
60. Following the martyrdom of the great Apostle Paul, St. Luke preached the Gospel throughout Italy,
Dalmatia, Macedonia and other regions. He painted icons of the Most-holy Theotokos-not just one, but
three-and icons of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Hence, St. Luke is considered to be the founder of
Christian iconography. In old age, he visited Libya and Upper Egypt. From Egypt he returned to Greece,
where he continued to preach and convert many with great zeal despite his old age. In addition to his
Gospel, St. Luke wrote the Acts and dedicated both works to Theophilus, the governor of Achaia. Luke
was eighty-four years old when the wicked idolaters tortured him for the sake of Christ and hanged him
from an olive tree in the town of Thebes, in Boethia. The miracle-working relics of this wonderful saint
were transported to Constantinople in the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of Constantine.

2. Saints Julian and Didymus the Blind

St. Julian, called the ``Hermit,'' was a Persian and an unlearned peasant, but because of the purity of his
heart he was a vessel of the grace of the Holy Spirit. He lived a life of asceticism beside the Euphrates
River in Mesopotamia, and possessed the gift of clairvoyance. In the same moment that Julian the
Apostate perished, St. Julian discerned this in the spirit, and declared it to his disciples. St. Didymus the
Blind was his contemporary. He lived in Alexandria, and also perceived in the spirit the death of Julian.
St. Didymus was at prayer during the night when a voice came to him from heaven, saying: ``Today the
Emperor Julian is no more, inform Patriarch Athanasius of this.'' St. Anthony the Great greatly respected
this wondrous blind saint who had the spirit of discernment. He stayed with him and prayed to God with
him whenever he came to Alexandria from the desert. Both St. Julian and St. Didymus, wonderful
servants of God, entered into rest some time after the year 362.