Sunday, August 18, 2024

 Tone 7

8th Sunday after Pentecost

Afterfeast of the Dormition

Martyrs Florus and Laurus of Illyria

HOW DOES THE THEOTOKOS “SAVE” US?

(Tuesday, August 13)

The laws of nature are overcome (Νενίκηνται τῆς φύσεως οἱ ὅροι / Побеждаются естества уставы) in you, O Pure Virgin: for birthgiving remains virginal, and life is united to death; a virgin after childbearing and alive after death, you ever save your inheritance, O Theotokos.

Matins, Canon of Dormition, Ode 9

(Sr. Vassa) On the eve of the great feast (or fast, if we’re on the Older Calendar) of the Dormition of the Theotokos, I’m reflecting on how the above-quoted hymn helps us better understand its final words: “you ever *save* your inheritance (i.e., all of us), O Theotokos.” 

Let’s first note that we do not confuse the Theotokos with our one-and-only Savior. What we are doing, when we affirm that the Theotokos “saves” us, is professing the indispensable role that she played, as Theo-tokos, in His incarnation, without which we would not have salvation. 

What is “salvation”? It means “a return to wholeness” from previous fragmentation or separation from that wholeness through all the contradictions of our being. Salvation is accomplished by the “Theo(s)”-part of the “Theo-tokos,” by God, but not without her part, the “tokos” or “birth giving” part. Our incarnate Lord integrates and overcomes our contradictions, like life and death, birth giving and virginity, fruitfulness and barrenness, victory and defeat, divinity and humanity, heaven and earth, spirit and body, by becoming one of us, in the flesh, through one of us – the Theotokos. The Mother of God exemplifies, par excellence, the whole Mother-Church that participates in this integration of the contradictions, in this return to wholeness that is “salvation,” in communion with Christ. The above-quoted hymn celebrates the salvific overcoming or integration of the contradictions in and through our “Theo-tokos.” That is to say, through the synergy of God and the human being that is manifested in her unique vocation, which continues to “save” us on a daily basis.

This is why we say, “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” – and not, “Mary, save us!” because we are professing our faith in the vital, indispensable part of our salvation that is the incarnation. And this is why traditionally we do not depict the Theotokos alone on icons, but always together with the Lord. It’s not just about her, nor just about God. It’s about both her, – a human being just as human as the rest of us, and God, Who invites all of us to participate in the synergy she exemplifies. We’re all invited to be “blessed” by receiving the Word of God (inside us, in our “wombs”) and then to “keep it” by giving it away; by giving birth to it in our world and sharing it in our own context. As Christ said to the woman who cried out from the crowd and blessed His mother (Lk 11:27): “Moreover, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it!” 

(Happy upcoming Dormition or Assumption, or Dormition Fast, dear Friends! For more on Dormition and Assumption, tune in to my new podcast for this week. The link is in the first comment below. And please pray for the deceased Archpriest George today, - it's the 40th day today after my dad's passing.)

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Thank you to everyone who helped with our outreach event during Ride the Drive! I appreciate you coming in a little earlier and staying a little later to let people know about SSCM!

This Thursday, August 15 is the patronal feast for Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. If you can do so, please plan to attend Vespers (6:00 PM, Wednesday, 8/14)and/or Matins & Liturgy (8:30 AM, Thursday, 8/15). Everyone is invited to the fellowship event after services. Come help our brothers and sisters at Assumption celebrate their feast day!

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, August 14

• 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00 PM: Great Vespers & Laminations for the Mother of God (Assumption)

Thursday, August 15 (Feast of the Dormition)

• 8:30 AM: Matins/Divine Liturgy (Assumption)

Saturday, August 17

• 4:00 PM: Confessions
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers 
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, August 18

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Looking Ahead to Next Week

Wednesday, August 21

• 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions

Thursday, August 22

• 1:00 PM- 5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 5:30 PM: Akathist to Our Lady, Queen of All

Saturday, August 24

• 4:00 PM: Confessions
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers 
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, August 25

• 9:00 AM: Hours
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 7 Troparion (Resurrection)

By Thy Cross Thou didst destroy death. To the thief Thou didst open Paradise. For the Myrrhbearers Thou didst change weeping into joy, and Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God, to proclaim that Thou art risen,//granting the world great mercy.

Tone 1 Troparion (Feast)

In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity. In falling asleep thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Thou wast translated to life, O Mother of Life,//and by thy prayers thou dost deliver our souls from death.

Tone 4 Troparion (Sts. Cyril & Methodius)

Divinely-wise Cyril and Methodius, / equals-to-the-apostles and teachers of the Slavs, / entreat the Master of all / to strengthen all nations in Orthodoxy and unity of mind, / to grant peace to the world and to save our souls.

Tone 4 Troparion (Martyrs)

Let us praise as is meet, O faithful, the most comely, radiant and divinely wise martyrs:Most blessed Florus and all-venerable Laurus, who proclaimed to all the uncreated Trinity. Suffering unto bloodshed, they were adorned with brilliant crowns.//Entreat Christ our God to save our souls!

Tone 7 Kontakion (Resurrection)

The dominion of death can no longer hold men captive, for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers. Hell is bound, while the Prophets rejoice and cry: “The Savior has come to those in faith;//enter, you faithful, into the Resurrection!”

Tone 3 Kontakion (Sts. Cyril & Methodius)

Let us honor the sacred pair, who translated divine scripture / pouring forth a fountain of divine knowledge from which we still draw today. / Now as you stand before the throne of the Most-high / we call you blessed, Cyril and Methodius, / as you fervently pray for our souls.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

Tone 8 Kontakion (Martyrs)

Today all the world honors in glory the divinely wise Florus and Laurus as pious martyrs who suffered for Christ. Through their prayers may we receive grace and mercy//and be delivered from calamity and temptation, and from wrath and sorrow on the Day of Judgment!

now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Tone 2 Kontakion (Feast)

Neither the tomb, nor death, could hold the Theotokos, who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions. For being the Mother of Life,//she was translated to life by the One Who dwelt in her virginal womb.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(Instead of “It is truly meet…,” we sing:)

The Angels, as they looked upon the Dormition of the Virgin, were struck with wonder, seeing how the Virgin went up from earth to heaven.

The limits of nature are overcome in thee, O Pure Virgin: for birthgiving remains virginal, and life is united to death; a virgin after childbearing and alive after death, thou dost ever save thine inheritance, O Theotokos.

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Brethren, now I plead with you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Gospel:  Matthew 14:14-22

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

By the age of 25, about 60% of those baptized as infants will no longer consider themselves members of the Orthodox Church. A parish on a university campus is an important witness not only to the surrounding community but also to high school age and younger parishioner. Establishing a parish on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison helps remind young people that graduating high school doesn't mean "graduating" from the Church. Please consider joining those who have committed their time, treasure and talent in establishing an Orthodox community on the Isthmus.

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