Sunday, May 4, 2025

Tone 2

 3rd Sunday of Pascha

Holy Myrrhbearing Women

Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph

Commemorated on May 4

(OCA) The Myrrh-bearing women are those women who followed the Lord, along with His Mother. They remained with her during the time of the saving Passion, and anointed the Lord's body with myrrh. Joseph and Νikόdēmos asked for and received the Lord's body from Pilate. They took it down from the Cross, wrapped it in linen cloths and spices, then they laid it in a tomb, and then they placed a great stone over the entrance of the tomb.

According to the Evangelist Matthew (27:57-61) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses (Mark 15:40) were there sitting opposite the sepulchre, and they saw where He had been laid. This other Mary was the Mother of God. Not only were these present, but also many other women, as Saint Luke says (24:10).

Today the Church honors Saints Mary Magdalene (July 22), Mary the wife of Cleopas (May 23), Joanna (June 27), Salome, mother of the sons of Zebedee (August 3), Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus (June 4), and the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, who was the stepmother of her husband Joseph’s sons James (October 23) and Joses (October 30). Today we also remember Saint Joseph of Arimathea (July 31), who was a secret disciple (John 19:38), and Saint Νikόdēmos, who was a disciple by night (John 3:3; 19:38).

The holy right-believing Queen Tamara of Georgia is honored twice during the year: on May 1, the day of her repose, and also on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.

On this day the Church also remembers All Saints of Thessalonica, Saint Seraphim Bishop of Phanar (December 4,1610), the New Martyr Elias Ardunis (January 31, 1686), and the New Martyr Demetrios of the Peloponnesos (April 13, 1803).

Christ is Risen!

I wanted to share with you some of the results of the Lily Endowment grant team meeting. Three areas are especially important: the seminary's core values, what inspires the work of the seminary (WHY Statement), and our mission statement.

CORE VALUES

1. Being Christlike in all we do
2. Fostering academic, pastoral, and spiritual excellence
3. Serving the whole Church
4. Fidelity to Holy Tradition

WHY Statement

Inspiring servant leaders equipped to fulfill Christ's saving mission to a world in need.

MISSION Statement

Our mission is to bring people closer to Christ through Orthodox spiritual formation, education, and the development of servant leaders.

You might want to ask, as outlined here, is St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary a place that you think could help you? How closely do the values, motivation, and mission statement of St. Sophia's align with the work of Ss Cyril & Methodius?

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

Akathist to the Mother of God, Pantanassa, Healer of Cancer

Please submit the first names of those for whom you would like to pray by clicking on the icon.

You may include the names of Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Protestants, as well as non-Christians.

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, April 30

• 2:00-3:30 PM: UW Faith Leaders Advisory Council

Thursday, May 1

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confession 
• 5:30 PM: Akathist to Our Lady Queen of All (submit names here)

Saturday, May 3

• 3:00 PM: Catechumen Class 
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, May 4 (Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women)

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

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, May 7

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

Thursday, May 8

• 1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confession 

Saturday, May 10

• 3:00 PM: Catechumen Class 
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers

Sunday, May 11 (Mothers Day/Feast of Ss Cyril & Methodius/Sunday of the Paralytic)

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

Priest: “Blessed is the Kingdom…” 

Choir: “Amen.”

Priest: “Christ is risen… “ (2 ½ times)

Choir: “and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”

(The Divine Liturgy is begun in this manner until the Leavetaking of Pascha.)

Epistle: Acts 6:1-7

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gospel:  Mark 15:43-16:8

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

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

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

The Angel cried to the Lady, full of grace:

“Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Again, I say: Rejoice,

thy Son is risen from His three days in the tomb!

With Himself He has raised all the dead.”

Rejoice, O ye people!

Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem!

The glory of the Lord has shone on thee.

Exult now, and be glad, O Zion!

Be radiant, O pure Theotokos,

in the Resurrection of thy Son!

Communion Hymn

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise thy God, O Zion! (Ps. 147:1)

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Priest: “In the fear of God…”

Choir: “Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord… “

Priest: “O God, save Thy people… “

Choir: “Christ is risen from the dead… “ (sung once, instead of “We have seen the True Light…)

Priest: “Always, now and ever…”

Choir: “Let our mouths be filled…”

DISMISSAL

Priest: The blessing of the Lord be upon you…”

Choir: Amen.

Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ…

Priest: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death,...

Choir: …and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”

Priest: May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God,... Choir: Amen.

Priest: CHRIST IS RISEN! (x3)

People: INDEED HE IS RISEN! (After each)

Choir: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! (x3)

And unto us hath He granted life eternal; we worship His Resurrection on the third day.

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 2 Troparion (Resurrection)

When Thou didst descend to death, O Life immortal, Thou didst slay hell with the splendor of Thy Godhead. And when from the depths Thou didst raise the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out://“O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to Thee!” 

Tone 2 Troparion (Pentecostarion)

The noble Joseph, when he had taken down Thy most pure Body from the Tree, wrapped it in fine linen and anointed it with spices, and placed it in a new tomb. But Thou didst arise on the third day, O Lord,//granting the world great mercy.

Tone 2 Troparion (Pentecostarion)

The Angel came to the myrrhbearing women at the tomb and said: “Myrrh is fitting for the dead; but Christ has shown Himself a stranger to corruption! So proclaim: ‘The Lord is risen,//granting the world great mercy.’”

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

Tone 2 Kontakion (Pentecostarion)

Thou didst command the Myrrhbearers to rejoice, O Christ God. By Thy Resurrection, Thou didst stop the lamentation of Eve, the first mother. Thou didst command them to preach to Thine Apostles://“The Savior is risen from the tomb!”

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

Tone 8 Kontakion (Pascha)

Thou didst descend into the tomb, O Immortal, Thou didst destroy the power of death. In victory didst Thou arise, O Christ God, proclaiming, “Rejoice!” to the Myrrhbearing Women,//granting peace to Thine Apostles, and bestowing Resurrection on the fallen. 

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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