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 has
wrought might with His arm, He has trampled upon death by death.
The first-born of the dead has He become. From the depths of Hades
has He delivered us, and has granted great mercy to the world.

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The world has found in you a great champion in time of peril, as you
emerged the victor in routing the barbarians. For as you brought to naught the boasts of Lyaios,
imparting courage to Nestor in the stadium, in like manner, holy one, great Martyr Dimitrios, invoke
Christ God for us, that He may grant us His great mercy.


/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.


6
th
Sunday of luke
Holy Great-Martyr Demetrios the Myrrhbearer and Wonderwoker of Thessaloniki
October 26
th
, 2014
Todays scripture readings

Epistle reading
St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode.
Psalm 63.11,1
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

TIMOTHY, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me
before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a
good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to
satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It
is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the
Lord will grant you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,
descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters
like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect,
that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.

Gospel periscope
Luke 8:26-39

At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons;
for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried
out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High
God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For
many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds
and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for
many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large
herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave.
Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake
and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.
Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the
demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had
seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding
country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat
and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away,
saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming
throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Announcements
Liturgical/Program Schedule:
TODAY: Youth Choir Practice after Sunday School
Mon. Oct. 27
th
: Stewardship Meeting, 5:30pm
Mon. Oct. 27
th
: Adult Choir Practice for Christmas Concert, 7pm
Tues. Oct. 28
th
: Protection of the Theotokos/OXI Day, Orthros/Liturgy, 8:30am
Thurs. Oct. 30
th
: Holy Unction Service in preparation for Patronal Feast Day, 6pm
Fri. Oct. 31
st
: Great Vespers SS. Kosmas & Damianos Feast Day, **5pm**
Sat. Nov. 1
st
: SS. Kosmas & Damianos Feast Day, Orthros/Liturgy, 8:30am
Sun. Nov. 2
nd
: Daylight Savings ENDS, turn back clocks 1 hr.

Special Tray TODAY: Fr. Neophytos Kongai, a priest serving the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Kenya
under the Patriarchate of Alexandria, is in severe financial distress. Fr Neophytos studied at Holy Cross
with Fr. Mark and is still a close friend. Unfortunately, his situation is still one of need. In consultation
with the Philoptochos (who is also considering organizing a separate fundraiser) a 2
nd
tray will be passed
on Sunday Oct. 26
th
to benefit Fr. Neophytos.

Orhodoxy 101 Books are in!: if you havent picked up your copy of The Faith, please see Fr. Mark
during the coffee hour for purchase. Dont delay as last time they sold out in one session!

IOCC Benefit Gathering: Please join us on Tues. Nov. 11
th
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 2
nd
largest NGO in the entire country! For more info and registration
please visit www.iocc.org/events/rochester-mn-11-11-14web.aspx

Annual Twin Cities IOCC Dinner: Youre invited to the annual benefit dinner for IOCC on Thursday,
Nov. 13
th
at St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church in MSP. Join the pan-Orthodox faithful of the Twin
Cities in support of IOCCs latest humanitarian work around the world. Hear first-hand accounts of
work in Greece from summer intern Clia Mpogiatzis. For questions contact Justin and Krysten
Theodotou at theodotou2014@gmail.com To register please visit www.iocc.org/Minneapolis

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNIONOnly Orthodox Christians (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:
The Holy Great-martyr Demetrius
This glorious and wonderworking saint was born in Thessalonica of noble
and devout parents. Implored of God by childless parents, Demetrius was
their only son, and so was raised and educated with great care. Demetrius's
father was a commander in Thessalonica. When his father died, Emperor
Maximian appointed Demetrius as commander in his place. As he
appointed him, Maximian, an opponent of Christ, particularly
recommended that he persecute and exterminate the Christians in
Thessalonica. Demetrius not only disobeyed the emperor but openly
confessed and preached the Lord Jesus Christ in the city of Thessalonica.
When the emperor heard of this he became furious with Demetrius. Then,
when he was returning from battle against the Sarmatians, Maximian
stopped at Thessalonica to investigate the matter. The emperor summoned
Demetrius and questioned him about his faith. Demetrius openly
acknowledged his Christian Faith to the emperor and also denounced the
emperor's idolatry. Maximian cast Demetrius into prison. Knowing what
was awaiting him, Demetrius gave all his goods to his faithful servant
Lupus to distribute to the poor, and joyfully awaited his imminent
suffering for Christ the Lord. An angel of God appeared to him in prison,
saying: ``Peace be to you, O sufferer of Christ; be brave and be strong!''
After several days, the emperor sent soldiers to the prison to kill Demetrius. The soldiers found the saint of God
at prayer and ran him through with lances. Christians secretly took his body and honorably buried it. Healing
myrrh flowed from the body of the martyr of Christ, curing many of the sick. Soon, a small church was built over
his relics. An Illyrian nobleman, Leontius, was afflicted with an incurable illness. He hastened, with prayer, to
the relics of St. Demetrius and was completely healed. In thanksgiving, Leontius erected a much larger church on
the site of the old church. The saint appeared to him on two occasions. When Emperor Justinian wanted to
translate the relics of the saint from Thessalonica to Constantinople, flaming sparks sprang from the tomb and a
voice was heard: ``Stop, and do not touch!'' And thus, the relics of St. Demetrius have remained for all time in
Thessalonica. As the protector of Thessalonica, St. Demetrius has appeared many times, and on many occasions
has saved Thessalonica from great calamity. His miracles are without number. The Russians considered St.
Demetrius to be the protector of Siberia, which was conquered and annexed to Russia on October 26, 1581.
The Commemoration of the Great Earthquake of Constantinople
In the year 740, during the reign of Emperor Leo the Isaurian, there was a terrifying and prolonged earthquake in
Constantinople. The people considered this a punishment from God for their sins, and prayed with great
repentance to the Most-holy Theotokos and St. Demetrius, until God showed mercy and the earthquake ceased.