34th Sunday after Pentecost (Translation of the Relics of St John Chrysostom/New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
We live in an age when it can be intimidating and scary to speak openly of our faith in Christ God or reveal ourselves to be Orthodox Christians. Often our pride gets the best of us: we focus on ourselves and fear being labeled or judged to be “one of those Christians.” Increasingly our faith is seen as out of step with the culture’s ever evolving ‘values.’ The meanings of sin, love, healing, and marriage (just to name a few of the concepts that the Truth of Christ has revealed to us through the Gospel) has all been changed by popular culture to mean something else. The Saints we commemorate this day all suffered for the sake of the Gospel and Orthodox Faith in different ways. For his uncompromising proclamation of the Gospel and Orthodox Faith, St. John Chrysostom was exiled and died from the harsh treatment. St. Nino forsook all that was familiar and comfortable to her out of love for God and the Georgian people and proclaimed the Gospel with the strength of the Apostles—At one point, even being targeted for murder. The new martyrs of Russia and the former Soviet Union, valiantly confessed Christ knowing that it may cost them the ultimate price—their blood. Our price is yet much less, but Christ God calls on us to love the people of America, those around us, with that same love that motivated these beloved Saints of God to come out of their comfort zone, to give all that they had so that others could know the reality and truth of Jesus Christ and the life that is only in Him. May we too emulate them and ask for their fervent prayers and intercessions. Glory to God in all things!
In His love, Fr. Robert+
House Blessings. This is the season when we ask Christ God to bless our homes for holy use, protection, and deification for the next year. Everyone is greatly encouraged to contact Fr. Robert before January 31 to have their house blessed with the water that God has sanctified by His Holy Spirit at Theophany.
This week at Holy Archangels:
- Wednesday, January 30, 6 p.m., Daily Vespers, St. John’s College Boathouse
- Saturday, February 2, 10am Divine Liturgy for the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple Trapeza following
- Saturday, February 3, 6 p.m.,Great Vespers with Matins Gospel. Confession following.
- Sunday, February 4, 9:30 a.m. Hours, Divine Liturgy followed by Trapeza.
Looking Ahead: Save the Dates!
- Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 23-24 , His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon to Visit Holy Archangels.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for our Mission that we may find a Choir Director.
- Pray for a safe delivery for Nino and baby.
- Healing for Fr. George Johnson, Viorica, Benedict, Marina, Colette, Mary, Leah and her baby, Katherine.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 1
When the stone had been sealed by the Jews,
while the soldiers were guarding Your most pure ^body,
You rose on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world.
The powers of heaven therefore cried to You, O Giver of Life:
“Glory to Your Resurrection, O Christ!
Glory to Your ^Kingdom!//
Glory to Your dispensation, O Lover of mankind!”
Troparion (St John Chrysostom) Tone 8
Grace shining forth from your lips like a beacon has enlightened the universe.
It has shown to the world the riches of poverty;
it has revealed to us the heights of humility.
Teaching us by your words, O Father John Chrysostom,//
Intercede before the Word, Christ our God, to save our souls!
Troparion (New Martyrs of Russia) Tone 4
Today the Church of Russia joyfully forms a chorus,
praising her new martyrs and confessors;
hierarchs and priests, royal passion-bearers, right-believing princes and princesses,
venerable men and women, and all Orthodox Christians.
Having laid down their life for faith in Christ during the days of godless persecution,
they preserved the truth by the shedding of blood.//
By their protection, O long-suffering Lord, preserve our land in Orthodoxy
till the end of the age.
Kontakion (St John Chrysostom) Tone 1
Most glorious John Chrysostom,
the Church of Constantinople greatly rejoiced, receiving the gift of your holy ^relics;
keeping them as a treasure of great price.
Through your intercession,//
they bring the grace of healing to those who praise you in hymns.
Kontakion (New Martyrs of Russia) (Today the Virgin) Tone 3
Today the new martyrs of Rus’ stand in white robes before the Lamb of God,
and with the angels they sing to God the hymn of victory:
“Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and praise, and honor,
and power, and strength be to our God
unto the ages of ages. Amen.”
