St. Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church
1100 Hicksville Rd. • Seaford, NY, 11783
Rev. Fr. Andrew Gromm
(516) 541-3628 / onearthasinheaven@yahoo.com
Website: www.sgnseaford.org/
Sunday Mornings: Hours- 9:15, Liturgy- 9:30, Church School- 10:40
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January 17, 2016 / 33rd Sunday of Pentecost
Epistle: Hebrews 4:1-13; Gospel: Luke 17:12-19; Tone 8
Commemorations: St. Anthony the Great (+356); St. Severus the Pious, Bishop (+647); St.
Anthony the New (+1056); St. Anthony of Tver (+1481); St. George of Ioannina (+1838).
Wednesday, January 20th
9:00 AM- Divine Liturgy
Saturday, January 23rd
5:30 PM- Vespers
Christos Kreščajetsja! Vo Jordani!
Christ is Baptized! In the Jordan!
Blessings: Fr. Andrew is ready for house blessings & visiting. Please contact him or sign up.
Youth: Helpers are needed! Two of our parishioners need company & food. But Fr. Andrew
can’t help them alone. He needs others to get involved. So he asks for the youths, maybe an
adult at times, to join him in learning how the Gospel of giving into action. We may meet at
ethnic restaurants or at church, about once a month. Lessons on Christ’s love & other holy
topics will be discussed, along with games & old-fashioned, non-electronic fun. Please help us
fulfill Christ’s commandment to love our neighbors in actual deed! We all need each other.
Shirts: Our diocesan parish in Potomac, MD has a fundraiser selling t-shirts with Truth printed
on them. There are lots of sizes, colors, etc. The flyer is in the kitchen’s bulletin board.
Parish Finances: Last week’s contributions were $636 and expenses were $1771.
Prayers: Health for Anthony, Kathleen, Martha, Anthony, Eugenia, Gregory, Elizabeth, Mary,
Annette, Anna, Lydia, Anne, Frank, Paul, Liz & George. /// Jobs for Nicholas, Valerie and Peter.
Rubrics for the 33rd Sunday After Pentecost
1.
RESURRECTION TROPARION: (Tone 8)
You came to earth from heaven, O Gracious One. * You allowed Yourself to be in the grave
for three days, * that we might be freed from our passions. * O Lord, our Life & our Resurrection,
glory to You.
2.
TROPAR OF ST. ANTHONY: (Tone 4)
You imitated the ways of zealous Elijah, * and followed the straight path of John the Baptist. *
You became a desert dweller * and strengthened the world by your prayers. * Father Anthony,
intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved!
3. KONDAK OF ST. ANTHONY: (Tone 2)
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
You rejected the tumult of this life * and lived your life to the end in solitude, imitating the Baptist
in every way. * With him we honor you, most venerable Anthony, * foundation of the Fathers.
4. RESURRECTION KONDAK: (Tone 8)
Now and ever and forever. Amen.
You raised the dead when You arose from the grave, * You restored Adam, * and Eve rejoices in
Your Resurrection. * Since You have risen from the dead, O Merciful One, * there is celebration *
throughout all the world.
5. PROKEIMENON: (Tone 8)
Pray and give glory, and give glory to the Lord our God, to the Lord our God.
v. In Judah, God is known, His Name is great in Israel. (Psalm 76:1)
Pray and give glory, and give glory to the Lord our God, to the Lord our God.
6. THE EPISTLE LESSON:
(Hebrews 4:1-13)
The Reading is from the holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.
Brethren: While the promise of entrance into God’s rest still holds, we ought to be fearful of
disobeying lest anyone of you be judged to have lost his chance of entering. We have indeed
heard the good news, as they did. But the word which they heard did not profit them, for they did
not receive it in faith. It is we who have believed who enter into that rest, just as God said, “Thus I
swore in my anger, ‘They shall never enter into my rest.’” Yet God’s work was finished when he
created the world, for in reference to the 7th day Scripture somewhere says, “And God rested from
all his work on the 7th day.” And again, in the place we have referred to, God says, “They shall
never enter into my rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter and those to whom it was
first announced did not because of unbelief, God once more set a day, “today”, when long
afterward he spoke through David the words we have quoted, “Today, if you should hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.” Now if Joshua had led them into the place of rest, God would not have
spoken afterward of another day. Therefore a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. And
he who enters into God’s rest, rests from his own work as God did from his. Let us strive to enter
into that rest, so that no one may fall, in imitation of the example of Israel’s unbelief. Indeed, God’s
word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates and divides soul and
spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart. Nothing is concealed
from him. All lies bare and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
7. ALLELUIA:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
v. O Come let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful sound to the Rock of our salvation.
(Psalm 95:1)
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
v. Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful sound to Him with
songs of praise! (Psalm 95:2)
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
8. THE GOSPEL LESSON:
(Luke 17:12-19)
Let Us Be Attentive: At that time, as Jesus was entering a certain village, there met him ten
lepers, who stood far off and lifted up their voice, crying, “Jesus, master, have pity on us!” And
when he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to priests.” And it happened as they were on
their way, that they were made clean. But one of them, seeing that he was made clean, returned,
with a loud voice glorifying God, and he fell on his face at his feet, giving thanks. And he was a
Samaritan. But Jesus spoke to him and said, “Were not the ten made clean? But where are the
nine? Has no one been found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?” And he said to
him, “Arise, go on your way, for your faith has saved you.”
“He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his Mother.”
St. Cyprian of Carthage (+258)
St. Anthony the Great: A Life of Work (taken from an Orthodox website)
Saint Anthony the Great is known as the Father of monasticism. In 251, he was born in Egypt in Coma,
near the Thebaid desert. His parents were pious Christians of illustrious lineage and Anthony was a serious
child and obedient to his parents. He loved church services and listened to the Holy Scripture so attentively,
that he remembered what he heard all his life.
When St Anthony was 20 years old, he lost his parents. Then he heard the Gospel passage where Christ
speaks to the rich young man, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give it to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Anthony felt that these words
applied to him. So he sold his property & inheritance, then distributed the money to the poor, and left his
sister in the care of pious virgins in a convent.
St Anthony began his ascetical life in a hut not far from his village. By working with his hands, he was able
to earn his livelihood and give alms to the poor. Sometimes, the holy youth visited other ascetics living in
the area and from each he sought direction and benefit.
At this time, St Anthony endured terrible temptations from the devil. The Enemy of the race of man
troubled the young ascetic with thoughts of his former life, doubts about his chosen path, concern for his
sister, lewd thoughts and carnal feelings. But the saint extinguished that fire by meditating on Christ and
thinking of eternal punishment, thereby overcoming the devil.
Knowing the devil would attack in another way, St Anthony prayed & intensified his efforts. He prayed that
the Lord would show him the path of salvation & was granted a vision. The ascetic saw a man, who finished
a prayer and then worked, finished a prayer and then worked. This was an angel, who the Lord sent to
instruct His chosen one the path to salvation.
St Anthony accustomed himself to a stricter way of life. He ate food only after sunset, he spent all night
praying until dawn. Soon he slept only every third day. But the devil would not cease his tricks. Trying to
scare the monk, he appeared in the guise of monstrous phantoms. But the saint protected himself with the
Life-Creating Cross and with prayer.
For greater solitude, St Anthony moved farther from the village to a cemetery. He shut himself in a tomb
while a friend brought him a little bread on at times. In the form of ferocious beasts, devils tried to force the
saint to leave that place, but he defeated them by trusting the Lord. He saw the roof opening & a ray of light
coming down to him. The demons left & he cried out, “Where have You been, O Merciful Jesus? Why didn’t
You appear at the very beginning to end my pain?” The Lord replied, “I was here, but I wanted to see your
struggle. Now, since you have not yielded, I shall always help you & make your name known in all the
world.” After this vision, St Anthony was healed of his wounds & felt stronger than before. He was then 35
years old.
St Anthony went back to the desert and spent 20 years in complete isolation and constant struggle with
demons. Then he finally achieved perfect calm. Soon St Anthony’s cell was surrounded by several
monasteries, and the saint acted as a father & guide to their inhabitants, giving spiritual instruction to all
who came to the desert seeking salvation. He increased the zeal of those who were already monks &
inspired others with love for the ascetical life. He told them to strive to please the Lord & not become fainthearted in their labors. He also urged them not to fear demonic assaults, but to repel the Enemy by the
power of the Lord’s Life-Creating Cross.
The Lord granted the saint the gift of wonderworking, casting out demons & healing the sick by the power
of his prayer. Another time, St Anthony left the desert for Alexandria to defend the Orthodox Faith against
the Manichaean & Arian heresies. During his brief stay at Alexandria, he converted many pagans to Christ.
People from all walks of life loved the saint and sought his advice. Pagan philosophers once came to
Abba Anthony intending to mock him for his lack of education, but by his words he reduced them to silence.
St Anthony spent 85 years in the solitary desert. Shortly before his death, he told the brethren that soon
he would be taken from them. He instructed them to preserve the Orthodox Faith in its purity, to avoid any
association with heretics and not to be negligent in their monastic struggles. “Strive to be united first with the
Lord & then with the saints, so that after death they may receive you as familiar friends into the everlasting
dwellings.” St Anthony died peacefully in 356, at age 105. He was buried in the desert by his disciples.
Share the Light Sunday
January 17, 2016
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Beloved Clergy, Godly Monastics, and Blessed Faithful:
We greet you during this great and joyous Feast of Theophany in the name of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christ’s earthly ministry begins with His baptism by St. John
the Forerunner & the proclamation of the Triune God, “This is my Son in whom I am well
pleased.” Today we write you to join Christ’s ministry as disciples of the 21st Century.
Now more than ever, the next generation of Orthodox leaders, our Christian brothers
and sisters in persecution, and faith seekers worldwide need a witness to Christ. People
are lost in temptation with no hope of salvation. They need to hear the message of our
Lord. By the Grace of God we have the Orthodox Christian Network - to inspire the
faithful everywhere; raise up our children; call back the wayward; and reach out
to our cities and towns with the joyful, Christ-centered message of the Orthodox
Christian Church.
In parishes across the country and in homes around the world, millions of youth,
families, priests, Bible Study groups, and those yearning to learn more about the
Church visit the Orthodox Christian Network every day. As an official agency of the
Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, the
Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) comforts, inspires, interacts and informs
Orthodox Christians and seekers through Digital Media. OCN invites you and your
congregation to Listen, Read, Watch, Learn and Interact at www.myocn.net with our
Internet radio stations, news programs, blogs, Live Bible Study, and popular social
media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
During the Orthodox Christian Network’s 20th Anniversary, the Assembly asks
every Orthodox parish in America to participate in a Share the Light Sunday.
Please spread the word about this ministry, and remember OCN in your parish’s
charitable giving. OCN is not financially underwritten by any one organization,
jurisdiction, or individual. Rather, OCN is supported entirely by parish and personal
donations. When your parish supports OCN, you contribute to strengthening Orthodox
evangelism and outreach in the Digital Age.
On behalf of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops, we thank you for your
continued support of this vital ministry. Let us go forth and share the Good News.
Faithfully in Christ,
The Right Reverend Bishop Peter (Episcopal Liaison of OCN)
Nicholas Mavrick (Chairman of the Board)
Rev. Christopher T. Metropulos (Founding Father)
St. Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church
1100 Hicksville Rd. • Seaford, NY, 11783
Rev. Fr. Andrew Gromm
(516) 541-3628 / onearthasinheaven@yahoo.com
Website: www.sgnseaford.org/
Weekly Bible Message
January 17, 2016
Does it bother you when you are told to work or when you realize you
have a lot of work to do? There is nothing wrong with this feeling if you can
control it. And that’s the key! You have to work at having a good work ethic
and to keep other healthy attitudes. In other words, work is not only about
earning money but also about improving yourself and others.
Jesus Christ once met 10 lepers who wanted to be healed by Him. He told
them to go and see the priests. On the way, they all were healed. But one of
them turned around and went to thank the Lord Jesus for His miracle of
kindness. Unlike the other 9 ex-lepers, this ex-leper had worked at having
the proper spirit of thankfulness. When he worshipped in the years before
he met Christ, the glory & thanksgiving sent to Heaven were taken to heart.
Some people have problems understanding work. They think work is only
about what is useful in life. For example, they view work as a job, like being
a doctor, a trucker, a salesman and other things which provide material
benefits to others. So they think of being a priest as a waste of time, talent
and money. Since priests pray a lot, visit the needy and organize parishes,
as critics say, spiritual work is said to be useless and unproductive.
By the Holy Spirit, St. Paul did not understand Christ in this way. He saw
prayer, worship and the priesthood as the purest form of work. This work
was learning how to be a better person, to love properly, to correctly care
for people and to teach this to others. Such work involves obedience to
God and to the Apostolic Church. Thus, work is not just about money and
providing material services for bodily life. Spiritual work is the basis and
center of all life, of all service to mankind, of all meaningful love. And just
as we must work and then rest from work, so is working at prayer the path
toward resting in Heaven. May we all work together and relax forever!