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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Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee
became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine
immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried
thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou
Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.
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As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest
discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth,
thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Cyprian. Intercede with Christ our
God that our souls be saved.
/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.

2nd Sunday luke

The Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Virgin Martyr Justina, Theophilus the Confessor
October 2nd, 2016

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15

Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 2.
Psalm 27.9,1
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way,
but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not
destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested
in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of
Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the
same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believed, and so we speak,
knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His
presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase
thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel pericope

Luke 6:31-36
The Lord said, "And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love
you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those
who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those
from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as
much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward
will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be
merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Announcements
Wed. Oct. 5th: Paraklesis of Healing to St. Nektarios, 6pm
Thurs. Oct. 6th: St. Thomas the Apostle, Orthros/Divine Liturgy 8:30am
Sat. Oct. 8th: GOYA Highway Cleanup, 10am
Sunday School has begun: Please be mindful that our Sunday School children must be allowed to
receive Holy Communion first before the remaining faithful, this affords them most time in an actual
catechetical environment.

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians 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.

A BIG Deal for our Parish! Metropolis

of Chicago Basketball Tournament to
be hosted by Holy Anargyroi,
Rochester in February 2017! 500+
participants!
February 10-12, 2017 our parish is hosting the Metropolis of Chicago Basketball
Tournament. This is a true honor to welcome and provide Christian fellowship to our
brothers and sisters throughout our Metropolis. We are seeking volunteers for the
Tourney Committee. The meetings will be the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month with
the next meeting being Tuesday, Oct. 11th at 6pm. If you are interested in assisting with
the tournament and/or making a financial contribution please see Calli Kelly or Johnny
Mangouras.

Todays liturgical commemorations

1. Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ
Andrew was a Slav by birth. As a young man, he was enslaved; and was bought by Theognostus, a wealthy man in
Constantinople, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Wise (son of Emperor Basil the Macedonian). Andrew was
handsome in body and soul. Theognostus took a liking to Andrew, and allowed him to become literate. Andrew
fervently prayed to God, and with love attended church services. Obeying a heavenly revelation, he adopted the
ascesis of foolishness for Christ. Once, when he went to the well for water, he tore off his clothes, and slashed them
with a knife, feigning insanity. Saddened by this, his master Theognostus bound him in chains and brought him to
the Church of St. Anastasia the Deliverer from Bonds, so that prayers would be read for him. But Andrew did not
improve, and his master freed him as mentally ill. Andrew pretended insanity by day, but prayed to God all night
long. He lived without shelter of any kind. He even spent the nights outside, walked around half-naked in a single
tattered garment, and ate only a little bread when good men would give it to him. He shared all that he received with
the beggars, and would mock them-to avoid being be thanked by them-for holy Andrew wanted all his reward to
come from God. Therefore, the great grace of God entered into him and he was able to discern the secrets of men,
perceive angels and demons, exorcize demons from men, and correct men from their sins. Andrew had a most
beautiful vision of Paradise and the exalted powers of heaven. He also saw the Lord Christ on His throne of glory;
and he, with his disciple Epiphanius, saw the Most-holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae as she covered the
Christian people with her omophorion. This occurence is celebrated as the Feast of the Protection of the Most-holy
Theotokos (October1). In a vision he also heard ineffable, heavenly words that he dared not repeat to men. After a
life of almost unparalleled harshness of ascesis, Andrew entered into rest in the eternal glory of his Lord in 911.
2. The Hieromartyr Cyprian and Justina the Virgin
Cyprian moved from Carthage to Antioch, where Justina lived with her parents, Edesius and Cleodonia. Edesius was
a pagan priest, and his entire household was pagan. But when Justina visited a Christian church and learned the true
Faith, she converted both her father and mother to the Christian Faith. All three received baptism by Optatus the
bishop. Cyprian, however, was a magician, who consorted with impure spirits and practiced sorcery. A certain
dissolute pagan youth named Aglaidas was willing to pay any price to charm Justina, for she was beautiful. The holy
virgin Justina rejected him adamantly, and he sought help from Cyprian. Cyprian invoked one evil spirit after
another, to inflame Justina with impure passion for Aglaidas, but did not succeed. By the sign of the Cross and
prayer to God, she drove the evil spirits away. After this futile effort, Cyprian recognized the power of the Cross and
was baptized. Eventually, he was made a presbyter, then a bishop. Embittered pagans denounced him and Justina;
both were tried in Damascus, tortured, and then beheaded in Nicomedia. They entered into rest at the end of the third
century.
3. The Holy Martyrs David and Constantine
David and Constantine were Christian princes from Argveti (Georgia). They were condemned to death by Caliph
Emil-el Mumenim, and were drowned in a river in Imereti in the year 730. Before their death, they prayed to God
that He forgive the sins of all who would invoke them in prayer for help. After their prayers were completed,
lightning struck, and a voice from heaven said that their prayers had been heard. The saints' relics repose at the
Monastery of Motsameta in Georgia.