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 rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the
Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled
upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He
become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and
hath granted great mercy to the world.

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Lord save your people, and bless Your inheritance. Grant victory to the faithful against the
enemies of the Faith, and protect Your commonwealth by your Holy Cross.
/KONTAKION FOR TODAY

Ti ypermacho stratigo ta nikitiria, os lytrotheisa ton deinon efharistia, anagrafo si e polis sou
Theotoke, allos ehousa to kratos aprosmahiton, ek pantinon me kyndinon eletheroson, ina
krazo si, Here nymfi anymfefte.
O Champion Leader, we your faithful inscribe to you the prize of victory as gratitude for being
rescued from calamity, O Theotokos. But since you have invincible power, free us from all
kinds of perils so that we may cry out to you: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.

3rd Sunday of lent: veneration of the holy cross

Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicium, Joseph the Hymnographer, Theodosia and Irene the
Martyrs

April 3rd, 2016

+Fast: Wine/Oil Allowed+

Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading

St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6

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, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let
us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with
confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of
need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to
God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he
himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for
those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron
was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to
him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for
ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel pericope

Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his
life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the
whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For
whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of
him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with
the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
Mon. April 4th: Great Compline, 6pm
Wed. April 6th: Pre-sanctified Liturgy & Lenten Potluck, 6pm
Wed. April 6th: Special Potluck Lenten Meal featuring Chicago Greek Chef Arthur Laftsidis
Fri. April 8th: 4th SALUTATIONS to the Holy Theotokos, 6pm
Todays Memorial Service:

Niki & Nikolas Thomas- 10yrs

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.

Todays liturgical commemorations

1. SAINT NICETAS THE CONFESSOR: Nicetas was born in Bithynia in the city of Caesarea. His father, Filaret, after the
death of his spouse, was tonsured a monk while Nicetas remained with his paternal grandmother. After reaching maturity and
completing all of his studies, Nicetas entered the Monastery of Medikion, where the Abbot Nicephorus tonsured him a monk.
After seven years of hardship and mortification, Patriarch Tarasius ordained him a priest (Heiromonk). Following the deaths of
Abbot Nicephorus and Athanasius, the faithful companion of Nicetas, the monastic brotherhood elected him as abbot, against his
will. St. Nicetas was a holy example and model of life and asceticism to his brethren for many years. When Leo V, the Armenian,
was crowned emperor, after the pious Irene and the right-believing Emperors Nicephorus and Michael, the Iconoclastic struggle
was again enflamed. The emperor deposed Patriarch Nicephorus and later banished him into exile and, in his place, elevated the
heretic Theodotus Cassiteras, a man of impure life. Nicetas was also imprisoned and tortured but he remained steadfast in his
Orthodoxy. He was led from prison to prison and suffered hunger, thirst, chills, oppressive heat and ridicule. He did not permit
himself to waver. What particularly annoyed him was the laughter and scorn of a certain Nicholas. One night, Nicholas' deceased
father appeared to him in a dream and rebuked Nicholas saying:"Withdraw from Nicetas, the servant of God." From that moment
on Nicholas repented and did not annoy the saint anymore and turned others away from annoying him also. When Leo V, the
Armenian, met with a wicked death, the empire was taken over by the Orthodox Emperor Michael, the Stammerer, who liberated
all the Orthodox sufferers. Nicetas then withdrew to an isolated place near Constantinople, where in prayer and thanksgiving to
God for all, spent the remaining days of his earthly life. This great hierarch died in the year 824 A.D.

third SUNDAY OF THE FAST: veneration of the

holy cross
With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course
of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through
abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes
apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings
to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the
faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by
venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to
complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

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SPECIAL LENTEN POTLUCK

We have a very special event this Wednesday evening after
the Presanctified Liturgy! A (Greek) Chef from Chicago will
be visiting Rochester and wanted to cook for our parish
family! Arthurs Laftsidis will apply his fasting culinary skills
in our new kitchenplease plan on attending this unique
dinner!
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Pascha flowers: A table will be set up in the Narthex for collections of monetary donations
towards the Pascha flowers on Sundays until Palm Sunday- Donations can also be made at any
time to the Church during Lent, please mark Pascha flowers with your check or donation.
Thank you!

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Pearls from the Desert

What is more precious than anything in the world? Time! And what do we waste
uselessly and without being sorry? Time! What do we not value and what do we
disregard more than anything? Time! When we waste time, we lose ourselves
Time is given by God to use correctly for the salvation of the soul and the
acquisition of the life to come The Lord will call us to account for having stolen
time for our own whims, and for not using it for God and our souls. St. Sebastian
of Optina (Russia)re is a