Today we celebrate the fore-feast of the Nativity of the Most-Holy Theotokos and call to mind her miraculous conception by barren parents past child-bearing age. The Church acclaims the birth of the Theotokos in poetic terms so that we may more fully and reverently delve into the Great Mystery of God’s dispensation, preparing the way for the Word of Life to come forth from the Virgin. For this reason, in the hymnody of the Feast (itself part of Holy Tradition), we refer to the Blessed Mother as “the book” of the Word of Life, the “Life-bearing branch” of the Rod of Jesse, “the handmaid of God, who was chosen from all generations.” Mary was no ‘accidental’ choice by God, but rather, as the prophets foretell and as we see them fulfilled in her virginal birth, she is truly, in the words of the Prophet Ezekiel read at Vespers, “the only gateway of the only-begotten Son of God, Who passed through this gate yet kept it closed.” We celebrate this day the birth of a baby girl, ordinary like us in sharing our human nature and yet, so extraordinary, not only in the miracle of her own birth, but more importantly, in her yes to God, in her courageous example of humility, her modeling of true womanhood but also of true humanity, and in the absolute purity of her virginal birth of her Savior and ours, the Word of God and Light of the world, Jesus Christ. May she intercede for us as we celebrate her nativity, knowing that as she always points us to her Son, so she’ll also present our prayers to Him who is the Life of all.
With Christ’s love and blessing, Fr. Robert+
THIS WEEK AT HOLY ARCHANGELS:
- Sept. 10, 7 p.m., St. John’s Boathouse (parking in Gym lot or on King George St.): FIRST Applied Orthodox Theology Discussion: A discussion on the “how” of living out the Orthodox Christian Faith in our daily lives. This week: Orthodoxy versus Catholicism. Have a question/topic for us? Email Fr. Robert (Fr.RobertMiclean@gmail.com)
- Sept. 13, 5:30 p.m., Special Vigil with Litia and Artoklasia, Feast of the Elevation of the Life-Giving Cross; Confession following
- Sunday, Sept. 14, 9:30 a.m., Hours, 10 am Divine Liturgy, Trapeza Great Feast of the Elevation of the Life-Giving Cross
6-Month Financial Report: Holy Archangels received a total of $2143 in offerings in July. $2500 was pledged. $14,529 was received in offerings from January thru July 2014. The budgeted amount based on pledges is $17,500. This leaves us a gap of nearly $3000 to make up between now and Dec. to meet our expenses! Please stay current with your pledges/offerings, and consider increasing your offering or making a special one-time offering to help meet this deficit. Thank God for His provision and thank you for your faithful contributions! The Holy Archangels Mission Council
Prayer Requests:
- That God may grow our Mission “in spirit and in numbers…”
- For God’s financial provision for our Mission and ACM (Annapolis College Ministry);
- For our Mission that we may find a Choir Director;
- Departed handmaiden of God, Ana (grandmother of Mihaela Bedia-Ulmer)
- Archpriest George, Priest John, Dcn. Basil, Rdr. John, Benedict, James, Daniel, Seraphim, Ed, Johnson and Family, Bede, the Church in Georgia and Romania as they address the relativism of the West, speaking the truth in love, our suffering, persecuted Orthodox brethren in Iraq and Syria, a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Troparion (Resurrection) Tone 4
When the women Disciples of the Lord
learned from the Angel the joyous message of the Resurrection,
they cast away the ancestral curse and elatedly told the Apostles:
“Death is overthrown! Christ God is risen,//
granting the world great mercy!”
Troparion (Forefeast) Tone 4
Today from the stem of Jesse and from the loins of David,
the handmaid of God Mary is being born for us.
Therefore all creation is renewed and rejoices.
Heaven and earth rejoice together. Praise her, you families of nations,
for Joachim rejoices and Anna celebrates crying out://
“The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos the Nourisher of our life!”
Troparion (Holy Archangels) Tone 4
Commanders of the heavenly hosts, // we who are unworthy beseech you:
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you://
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the Commanders of the Powers on high!”
Kontakion (Resurrection) Tone 4
My Savior and Redeemer
as God rose from the tomb and delivered the earth-born from their chains.
He has shattered the gates of hell, and as Master,//
He has risen on the third day!
Kontakion (Forefeast) Tone 3
Today the Virgin Theotokos Mary,
the bridal chamber of the Heavenly Bridegroom,
by the will of the God is born of a barren woman,
being prepared as the chariot of God the Word.//
She was foreordained for this, since she is the divine gate and the true Mother of Life
Kontakion (Holy Archangels) Tone 2
Commanders of God’s armies // and ministers of the divine glory,
princes of the bodiless Angels // and guides of mankind;
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,//Supreme Commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.
