June 5, 2011 • 7th Sunday of Pascha • Sunday of the Holy FathersHieromartyr Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre. Repose of St. Theodore Yaroslavich, older brother of St. Alexander Nevsky. Martyrs

Marcian, Nicander, Hyperechius, Apollonius, Leonides, Arius, Gorgias, Selenias, Irenius, and Pambo, of Egypt. St. Theodore the wonderworker, hermit of the Jordan. St. Anubius, confessor and anchorite of Egypt. Blessed Constantine, Metropolitan of Kiev. Blessed Igor-George, tonsured Gabriel, Great Prince of Chernigov and Kiev. St. Abba Dorotheus of Palestine. St. Peter, monk of Serbia. Finding of the relics of Saints Bassian and Jonah, monks of Pertomsk (Solovki). St. Basil, Bishop of Ryazan. New-Martyr Mark of Smyrna, who suffered in Chios. St. Illidius, Bishop of Clermont (Gaul). (Greek Calendar: Martyr Christopher of Rome.

Martyr Conon of Rome.)

Announcements Please keep Linda in your prayers as she has surgery tomorrow. Fr. Basil’s class on St. Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians continues every Wednesday evening.

St. Luke Orthodox Christian ChurchDiocese of the South, Orthodox Church in America

The Rev. Father Basil Henry, Priest1415 Woodstock Ave. • Anniston, Alabama • www.stlukeanniston.org/

basilncana@yahoo.com • (256) 235-3893

This Week’s Scripture, Service and Fasting ScheduleMon, 6/6 Tues, 6/7 Wed, 6/8 Thurs, 6/9 Fri, 6/10 saT, 6/11 sun, 6/12

Fast Fast

No services

Matins 8 a.m.

Bible study4 p.m.

Matins8 a.m.

Matins8 a.m.

Great vespers4 p.m.

Divine Liturgy10 a.m.

Acts 21:8-14 Acts 21:26-32 Acts 23:1-11 Acts 25:13-19 Acts 27:1-44 Acts 28:1-31 Kneeling vespersJohn 14:27-15:7 John 16:2-13 John 16:15-23 John 16:23-33 John 17:18-26 John 21:15-25

1 Thess. 4:13-17(DepArTeD)

Acts 2:1-11

John 5:24-30(DepArTeD)

John 7:37-52; 8:12

St. Michael the Gardener

St. priscilla of rome

St. John of Kronstadt

St. Columba, enlightener of

ScotlandLeavetaking of

AscensionSt. Luke the

physicianSunday of Holy

pentecost

Service times are subject to change. please check with Fr. Basil if in any doubt.

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Great Vespers“Lord, I Call”

sunday (Tone 6)Lead forth my soul from prison, that I may confess Thy name!Possessing victory over hell, O Christ, since Thou art free among the dead, Thou didst ascend the Cross, raising with Thyself those who sat in the shades of death. Drawing life from Thy light, O Almighty Sav-ior, have mercy on us!

The righteous await me, till Thou shalt reward me.Today Christ tramples on death, for He is risen as He said! Let us all sing this song, for He has granted joy to the world: “O Light unapproachable, O Fountain of life! O Savior Almighty, have mercy on us!”

Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice!

Where shall we sinners flee from Thee Who art in all creation? In heaven Thou dwellest! In hell Thou didst trample on death! In the depths of the sea? Even there is Thy hand, O Master! To Thee we flee, and falling before Thee, we pray: “O Thou Who didst rise from the dead, have mercy on us!”

asCensIon of our Lord (Tone 6)Let Thine ears give heed to the voice of my prayer!

The Lord ascended into heaven, to send the Comforter into the world! The heavens prepared His throne, the clouds, His royal mount; the angels were amazed, see-ing a Man exalted; the Father awaits His co-everlasting Son, the Holy Spirit commands the Angels! “Lift up your heads, O you gates! Clap your hands, all you na-tions, for Christ has ascended to where He was before!”

If Thou observest transgression, Lord, O Lord, who shall stand? For with Thee is propitiation.

The Cherubim were amazed by Thine Ascension, O Lord. They beheld the God of angels ascending the clouds! We glorify Thee, for Thy mercy is good! O Lord, glory to Thee!For Thy name’s sake have I waited upon Thee, O Lord; my soul

hath waited upon Thy word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.We praise the likeness of Thine appearance, seeing Thine Ascension upon the mount, O Christ; the splen-dor of the Father’s glory, we bow in worship before Thy Passion; we honor Thy Resurrection! We glorify Thy glorious Ascension! O Lord, have mercy on us!

sunday of the HoLy FatHers (Tone 6)From the morning watch even to the night, let Israel hope in

the Lord!Thou wast begotten from the Father before the Morning Star, but Arius wrongly taught that Thou wast created: in his ignorance he designated Thee as a creature, yet the Fathers of the Council proclaimed Thee as Son of God, co-enthroned with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

For with the Lord there is mercy and with Him is plenteous redemption, and He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.O Savior, who has torn Thy garment? Who has chal-lenged the unity of the triune Godhead? It is Arius, for he denied that Thou art equal to the Father. Those who follow him do not believe that God took flesh for our sake, but the Fathers of the Council proclaimed Thee as Son of God, co-enthroned with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

O praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye people!Arius fell into the abyss of sin, pretending blindness that he might not see the Light. By his purpose he became the image of Judas. But the Council at Nicea proclaimed Thee as Son of God, co-enthroned with the Father and the Holy Spirit.For His mercy hath been confirmed upon us and the truth of

the Lord remaineth forever.The foolish Arius blasphemed the All-holy Trinity, di-viding the Persons into three different unequal sub-stances, but the God-bearing Fathers denounced his confusion: they assembled with the zeal of Elijah, de-stroying error with the sword of the Spirit, as they were directed by the inspiration of God.

sunday of the HoLy FatHers (Tone 6)Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…

Today let us praise the mystical trumpets of the Spirit, the God-bearing Fathers, who stand in the midst of the Church, singing true theology, praising the changeless Trinity! They laid low the errors of Arius and upheld the Orthodox Faith. They always entreat the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

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dogmatIkon (Tone 6)Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Who will not bless thee, O most holy Virgin? Who will not sing of thy most pure childbearing? The only-begotten Son shone timelessly from the Father, but from thee He was ineffably incarnate. God by nature yet man for our sake; not two persons, but One known in two natures. Entreat Him, O pure and all-blessed Lady, to have mercy on our souls!

old testament readingssunday of the HoLy FatHers

The 1st book of Moses called Genesis (14:14-20)Now when Abram heard that Lot his nephew had been taken captive, he numbered his own home-born ser-vants, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued after them as far as Dan. And he fell upon them by night, he and his servants, and smote them and pursued them as far as Chobal, which is on the left of Damascus. And he brought back all the cavalry of Sodom, and he brought back Lot his nephew and all his goods and the women and the people. And the king of Sodom came out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chodologómor and the kings with him, to the valley of Sabí; this is the plain of a king. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out loaves and wine; he was priest of the most high God. And he blessed Abram and said: Blessed is Abram by the most high God, who created the heaven and the earth. And blessed is the most high God, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.

The 5th book of Moses called Deuteronomy (1:8-11, 15-17)Moses said to the children of Israel: See, I have handed over the land in front you; go in and inherit the land which I swore to your fathers, to Abraham and to Isaac and to Jacob, that I would give it to them and to their seed after them. And I spoke to you at that time saying: I shall not be able to bear you alone. The Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are to-day as the stars of heaven in multitude. May the Lord the God of our fathers multiply you a thousand times more than you are, and bless you as He has spoken to you. And I took from you wise and understanding and prudent men, and I set them to rule over you, captains of thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens and recorders for your judges. And I commanded your

judges at that time, saying: Hear cases between your brethren, and judge rightly between a man and his brother and the proselyte who is with him. You shall not have respect to persons in judging. You shall hear the small as well as the great. You shall not shrink be-fore any man’s person; for the judgement is God’s.

The 5th book of Moses called Deuteronomy (10:14-18; 20-21)Moses said to the children of Israel: Behold, the heav-en and the highest heaven, the earth and all that is in it belong to the Lord your God. The Lord preferred your fathers, to love them: and he chose their seed af-ter them, you above all nations, as it is at this day. So circumcise the hardness of your heart and stiffen your neck no longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and strong and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribe. He executes judgement for the proselyte, the orphan and the widow; and loves the proselyte, giving him food and clothing. You shall fear the Lord your God and serve him, and to him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in his name. He is your boast, and he your God, who has done for you the great and won-derful things which your eyes have seen.

apostichasunday (Tone 6)

Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Savior, the Angels in heaven sing! Enable us on earth to glorify Thee in pu-rity of heart!

The Lord hath become King; with beauty hath he clothed himself.

Destroying the gates of hell; breaking the chains of death; Thou didst resurrect the fallen human race as Almighty God! O Lord, Who didst rise from the dead, glory to Thee!

For He hath established the world, which shall not be moved.Desiring to return us to Paradise, Christ was nailed to the Cross and placed in a tomb. The Myrrhbearing Women sought Him with tears, crying, “Woe to us, O Savior! How dost Thou deign to descend to death? What place can hold Thy life-bearing body? Come to us as Thou didst promise! Take away our wailing and tears!” Then the Angel appeared to them: “Stop your lamenta-tions! Go, proclaim to the Apostles: ‘The Lord is risen, granting us purification and great mercy!’”

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Holiness belongeth to Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days!Having been crucified as Thou didst will, by Thy buri-al Thou didst capture death, O Christ, and arise on the third day as God in glory, granting the world un-ending life and great mercy!

sunday of the HoLy FatHers (Tone 4)Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…

Today we celebrate the annual memory of the God-bearing Fathers who assembled in Nicea. They laid low the godless doctrines of Arius, driving him from the unity of the Catholic Church, and teaching us how to confess the consubstantial and co-eternal Son of God. They said this clearly in the Symbol of Faith, and we follow their divine doctrines, believing in and serving the Son with the Father and the all-Holy Spir-it, the consubstantial Trinity and one Divinity.

asCensIon of our Lord (Tone 4)Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

After Thou didst fulfill the mystery hidden from eter-nity and for generations, as the Good One, O Lord, Thou camest with Thy Disciples to the Mount of Olives, together with the one who bore Thee, the Creator and Fashioner of all things. For to her, who in Thy Passion endured more than all the others because she was Thy

mother, was granted to enjoy the glorification of Thy body. Participating in Thine Ascension into Heaven, O Master, we glorify the great mercy that was show to us.

tropariasunday (Tone 6)

The angelic powers were at Thy tomb, and the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Thy grave, seek-ing Thine immaculate body, Thou didst despoil hell, not being tempted by it. Thou didst go to meet the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, who didst rise from the dead, glory to Thee.

sunday of the HoLy FatHers (Tone 8)Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,…

Most glorious art Thou, O Christ our God! Thou hast established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth! Through them Thou hast guided us to the true Faith! O greatly compassionate One, glory to Thee!

asCensIon of our Lord (Tone 4)Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Christ God, Thou hast ascended in Glory, granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured that Thou art the son of God, the Redeemer of the world.

Osunday of the Holy Fathers

On the seventh Sunday of Pascha, we commemorate the holy God-bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.The Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council has been celebrated by the Church of Christ from an-cient times. The Lord Jesus Christ left the Church a great promise, “I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:18). Al-though the Church of Christ on earth will pass through difficult struggles with the Enemy of salvation, it will emerge victorious. The holy martyrs bore witness to the truth of the Savior’s words, enduring suffering and death for confessing Christ, but the persecutor’s sword is shattered by the Cross of Christ.

Persecution of Christians ceased during the fourth cen-tury, but heresies arose within the Church itself. One of

the most pernicious of these heresies was Arianism. Arius, a priest of Alexandria, was a man of immense pride and ambition. In denying the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His equality with God the Father, Arius falsely taught that the Savior is not consubstan-tial with the Father, but is only a created being.

A local Council, convened with Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria presiding, condemned the false teachings of Arius. However, Arius would not submit to the author-ity of the Church. He wrote to many bishops, denounc-ing the decrees of the local Council. He spread his false teaching throughout the East, receiving support from certain Eastern bishops. continued on page 8

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Divine Liturgy of St John ChrysostomBeatitude Verses

sundayBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of

Heaven.Remember me, my God and Savior, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom and save me as Thou alone lovest mankind.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.Through the wood of the cross Thou hast saved again Adam who was beguiled by the tree and the thief as he cried aloud: ‘Remember me, O Lord, in Thy kingdom.’

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.O Giver of life, having broken the gates and chains of hell; Thou, Savior, hast made all men rise crying aloud: ‘Glory to Thy resurrection.’

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Do Thou Who hast by Thy burial and Thy resurrec-tion despoiled death, and filled all things with joy, re-member me as Thou art compassionate.

asCensIon of our Lord

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.O Christ, Giver of life, you have gone up to the Father and raised up our race, O lover of humankind, in your ineffable compassion.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.The ranks of Angels, as they saw your mortal nature, O Saviour, going up with you, were astounded and hymned you ceaselessly.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.The choirs of Angels were amazed, O Christ, as they saw you being taken up with your body, and they hymned your holy Ascension.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.Human nature, which had fallen by corruption, you raised up, O Christ, and by your Ascension you ex-alted and glorified us with yourself.

sunday of the HoLy FatHersBlessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.Escape the mystery of providence he could not, the sower of tares, who was called by the surname Lunacy; for having rivalled Judas, like him the wholly evil one was split asunder.Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.Master, the revered, godly assembly of the Fathers pro-claimed you as the only-begotten brightness shining from the Father’s essence, and as the Son begotten be-fore all things.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…Burst open was the belly, the source which poured out the foul and undrinkable water of impious heresies, by the ploughshare of the intercession of the inspired Priests.

Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.Lampstand, ark, table and jar, so Moses, greatest of the prophets, wrote of you of old, in symbols signifying the incarnation from you of the Most High, O Virgin Mother.

tropariasunday (Tone 6)

The angelic powers were at Thy tomb, and the guards became as dead men. Mary stood by Thy grave, seek-ing Thine immaculate body, Thou didst despoil hell, not being tempted by it. Thou didst go to meet the Virgin, granting life. O Lord, who didst rise from the dead, glory to Thee.

asCensIon of our Lord (Tone 4)O Christ God, Thou hast ascended in Glory, granting joy to Thy disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit. Through the blessing they were assured that Thou art the son of God, the Redeemer of the world.

sunday of the HoLy FatHers (Tone 8)Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,…

Most glorious art Thou, O Christ our God! Thou hast established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth! Through them Thou hast guided us to the true Faith! O greatly compassionate One, glory to Thee!

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kontakiasunday of the HoLy FatHers (Tone 8)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…The apostles’ preaching and the fathers’ doctrines have established one faith for the Church. Adorned with the robe of truth, woven from heavenly theology, it defines and glorifies the great mystery of Orthodoxy.

asCensIon of our Lord (Tone 6)Both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

When Thou didst fulfill the dispensation for our sake, and unite earth to heaven: Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, not being parted from those who love Thee, but remaining with them and crying: I am with you and no one will be against you!

Prokeimenonsong of the FatHers (Tone 4)

Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified be Thy Name unto the ages!

Vs: For Thou art righteous in all things which Thou hast done unto us!

epistle readingsunday of the HoLy FatHers

The Acts of the Holy Apostles (20:16-18, 28-36)In those days, Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, be-cause he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Take heed therefore unto your-selves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that

so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remem-ber the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

alleluia Versessunday of the HoLy FatHers (Tone 1)

Vs: The Lord, the God of gods, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Vs: Gather to Me, My venerable ones, who made a cov-enant with Me by sacrifice!

gospel readingsunday of the HoLy FatHers

The Gospel according to St. John (17:1-13)At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.

“I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Fa-ther, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

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theotokionasCensIon of our Lord

Magnify, O my soul, Christ the Giver of Life, Who has ascended from earth to heaven! We magnify you, the Mother of God, who beyond reason and understanding gave birth in time to the Timeless One.

Investigating these dissen-tions, the holy emperor Constantine (May 21) consult-ed Bishop Hosius of Cordova (Aug. 27), who assured him that the heresy of Arius was directed against the most fundamental dogma of Christ’s Church, and so he decided to convene an Ecumenical Council. In 325, 318 bishops representing Christian Churches from var-ious lands gathered together at Nicea.

Among the assembled bishops were many confessors who had suffered during the persecutions, and who bore the marks of torture upon their bodies. Also par-ticipating in the Council were several great luminaries of the Church: St Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Ly-cia (December 6 and May 9), St Spyridon, Bishop of Tremithos (December 12), and others venerated by the Church as holy Fathers.

With Patriarch Alexander of Alexandria came his dea-con, Athanasius (who later became Patriarch of Alexan-dria (May 2 and January 18). He is called “the Great,” for he was a zealous champion for the purity of Ortho-doxy. In the Sixth Ode of the Canon for today’s Feast, he is referred to as “the thir-teenth Apostle.”

The emperor Constantine presided over the sessions of the Council. In his speech, responding to the welcome by Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea, he said, “God has helped me cast down the impious might of the persecutors, but more distressful for me than any blood spilled in battle is for a soldier, is the internal strife in the Church of God, for it is more ruinous.”

Arius, with seventeen bishops among his supporters, re-mained arrogant, but his teaching was repudiated and he was excommunicated from the Church. In his speech, the holy deacon Athanasius conclusively refut-ed the blasphemous opinions of Arius. The heresiarch Arius is depicted in iconography sitting on Satan’s knees, or in the mouth of the Beast of the Deep (Rev. 13).

The Fathers of the Council declined to accept a Symbol of Faith (Creed) proposed by the Arians. Instead, they affirmed the Orthodox Symbol of Faith. St Constan-tine asked the Council to insert into the text of the Symbol of Faith the word “consubstantial,” which he had heard in the speeches of the bishops. The Fathers of the Council unanimously accepted this suggestion.

In the Nicean Creed, the holy Fathers set forth and confirmed the Apostolic teachings about Christ’s di-vine nature. The heresy of Arius was exposed and repu-diated as an error of haughty reason. After resolving this chief dogmatic question, the Council also issued Twelve Canons on questions of churchly administra-

tion and discipline. Also decid-ed was the date for the celebra-

tion of Holy Pascha. By decision of the Council, Holy Pascha should not be celebrated by Christians on the same day with the Jewish Passover, but on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the ver-nal equinox (which oc-cured on March 22 in 325).

The First Ecumenical Council is also commemo-rated on May 29.

continued from page 5

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Tascension of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on the fortieth day after the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha (Easter). Since the date of Pascha changes each year, the date of the Feast of the Ascension changes. The Feast is always celebrated on a Thursday.The Feast itself commemorates when, on the fortieth day after His Resurrection, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives, and after blessing them and ask-ing them to wait for the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit, He ascended into heaven.

BIBLICaL storyThe story of the Ascension of our Lord, celebrated as one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Church, is found in the book of the Acts of the Apostles 1:3-11. It is also mentioned in the Gospels of Mark (16:19) and Luke (24:50-53). The moment of the Ascension is told in one sentence: “He was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took Him from their sight” (Acts 1:9).

Christ made His last appearance on earth, forty days after His Resurrection from the dead. The Acts of the Apostles states that the disciples were in Jerusalem. Je-sus appeared before them and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the “Promise of the Father”. He stated, “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).

After Jesus gave these instructions, He led the disciples to the Mount of Olives. Here, He commissioned them to be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It is also at this time that the disciples were directed by Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptiz-ing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus also told them that He would be with them always, “even to the end of the world” (Mat-thew 28:20).

As the disciples

watched, Jesus lifted up His hands, blessed them, and then was taken up out of their sight (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). Two angels appeared to them and asked them why they were gazing into heaven. Then one of the angels said, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him going into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

ICon oF tHe FeastThe icon of The Ascension of Our Lord is a joyous icon. It is painted with bright colors. Christ is shown ascend-ing in His glory in a mandorla 1. A mandorla is a de-sign which is almond-shaped or round. Inside the man-dorla is the figure of a holy person. Christ blesses the assembly with His right hand 2. In His left is a scroll. The scroll is a symbol of teaching 3. This icon shows that the Lord in heaven is the source of blessing. In ad-dition, Jesus is the source of knowledge. The icon re-minds us that Christ continues to be the source of the teaching and message of the Church, blessing and guiding those to whom He has entrusted his work.

The icon of the Ascension includes some who did not witness the Ascension. St. Paul is shown to the left of the Theotokos, but we know that he was not present at the Ascension 6. At that time, St. Paul did not yet be-lieve in Jesus. But he became a Christian and one of the greatest Apostles and missionaries of Church.

The icon expresses the sovereignty of Christ over His Church; He is its Head, its guide, its

source of inspiration and teaching; it re-ceives its commission

and ministry from Him, and fulfils it in the

power of the Holy Spirit.

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The Twelve ApostlesBy Rev. George Mastrantonis. Continued from last week

The influence of their witness and testimony was enormous. They simply stated what they knew. There was no doubt in their minds as to the certainty of their knowledge. St. John, in finishing his Gospel, sealed it thus: “This is the disciple who bears witness to these things” (21:24); and in starting his first Epistle he states firmly:

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, of the Word of life ... That which we have seen and heard we declare unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3).

The ministry of the Apostles was guided and blessed, and they were aware of this. They felt the presence of Christ and the companionship of the Holy Spirit in every step and turn of their work. Also, they were aware of their appointment. They were not presenting themselves, but were representing the Lord as Prophet, Priest and King, with authority and effectiveness. They appointed their successors and thus established the spe-cial priesthood of the Church. In the Orthodox Church there is no ordination of deacon, priest and bishop without referring to the Apostles through the lists of names of predecessors. Thus, the Apostolic succession is very important not only for the teaching of the Church, but also for its sanctification. It is accepted in the Or-thodox Church that the bishops of the Church are the successors to the Apostles.

The Orthodox Church upholds the Creed in which, for centuries, the beliefs of the Orthodox Faith have been

stated. In the ninth article of the Creed the Church is defined as “one, holy, catholic and apostolic.” One for its unique Lord; holy for its sanctification; catholic as preserving for all (“katholou”) the whole truth, and apostolic through its establishment by the Apostles, whereby Scripture and Tradition refers to the Apostles and, through them, to Christ. The Church is the bul-wark of the Truth because the Apostles who established the Church trained and appointed its “Proestos” (reli-gious leaders) and bequeathed to it the oral and written teachings. The Apostles exercised in worship and prayer, in preaching and pastoral work, the New Testament of the Lord. By them and through them the believers of the Church, in the past and the present, rejoice in learn-ing the atoning truth and will of the living God.

The personal life of the Apostles is not very well known. For some of them we know nothing except names. But their work remains for generations to come. It was their intention to carry on the Lord’s work and will, rather than their own. From the fruits of their work we visual-ize their character and intentions.

Following is a biographical note in brief on each of the Apostles. The names are taken from the list according to St. Luke 6:12f.

sHort BIograPHIes oF tHe tWeLVe

simon, PeterBorn in Bethsaida in Galilee, be was a fisherman and was named by Jesus Christ “Cephas” (in Greek, Peter), and called to be a fisher of men, an Apostle. In all lists of the Twelve he is named first, and belonged to the inner group of Apostles. He was present at the Transfiguration and at the Agony of Christ. When he professed his belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Lord promised that “Thou art Peter and on this rock will I build My Church”, meaning on the rock of faith in the Savior. Peter’s confession of faith was soon followed by a sharp rebuke, from the Lord. Peter said that he would never leave his Lord, and was answered by the prediction of his triple denial, which later took place. Later, Peter made reparation for his triple denial by a triple protestation of love.

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After the Ascension, Peter took the leadership of the Apostles. He spoke on the day of Pentecost and was the first to perform a miracle in the name of Jesus. He accepted Cornelius for baptism and thus opened the Church to the Gentiles. His authority is evident at the Apostles’ Council at Jerusalem, although Paul rebuked him for giving in to the demands of the Jewish Christians to disassociate himself from the Gentiles.

Peter is the founder of the Church in Antioch. He probably went to Rome and was crucified head downward dur-ing the reign of Nero (54-68).

andrewA disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew heard him refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Andrew asked for an audience and saw Jesus for a day, then proclaimed, “We have found the Messiah,” in itself a creed and confession for the Christian faith. He brought his brother, Simon-Peter, to Christ. Although not one of the inner circle, he played the first role in several events which are recorded. Eusebius in his Church History states that Andrew later went to Scythia. Ac-cording to tradition he was martyred at Patras, Greece, crucified on an X-shaped cross, which since has become known as St. Andrew’s Cross. He is regarded as being connected with the writing of St. John’s Gospel. According to tradition, he is the founder of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

James (the greater)He was the son of Zebedee. He, with his elder brother John and with Peter, constituted the privileged group—the inner circle of the disciples. James was present at the Transfiguration and the Agony in Gethsemane. His zeal was ardent and he and his brother were named by the Lord

“Boanerges”, which means “sons of thunder”. James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I in A. D. 44, the first of the Twelve to suffer martyrdom. A theory that he preached in Spain is counter to the tradition of the Church and the Epistle to the Romans, 15:20 and 24, which concur that he did not leave Jerusalem. According to an old Spanish tradition, the body of St. James was transferred to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where St. James was one of the most revered Spanish saints during the Middle Ages.

JohnHe was one of the inner circle with Peter and James. The son of Zebedee, he and his brother James were named the “sons of thunder”. John is the author of the fourth Gospel, the Book of Revelation and three Catholic Epistles. He was imprisoned with Peter and later appeared in the Sanhedrin. John also was sent with Peter to Samaria, where they prayed that the converts might receive the Holy Spirit. In Jerusalem, he was present at the Council of the Apostles. John was “one of the two” with Andrew who first had an audience with the Lord, He was the one “whom Jesus loved” and who reclined on his bosom at the Mystic Supper.

Jesus from His cross entrusted His mother to John at the foot of the cross. He was the one who ran with Peter to the tomb on the morning of the resurrection, and who recognized the Risen Lord at the Sea of Tiberius, where our Lord spoke to him the words that he would not die ( John 21:7).

According to tradition, he went to Asia Minor and settled in Ephesus. Later he was exiled to Patmos, an island.

To be continued next week.

st. Luke orthodox Christian Church1415 Woodstock ave.anniston, aL 36207

Moscow. Shrine of St. George on Poklonnaya Hill in honor of the

Victory in Great Patriotic War were laid next to the memorial at Poklonnaya Hill

May 9, 1994