Sunday, November 5, 2023

Tone 5

 22nd Sunday after Pentecost (7th of Luke)

Martyrs Galacteon and Episteme (3rd c.). Apostles Patrobus, Hermas, Linus, Gaius, and Philologus of the Seventy (1st c.). St. Gregory, archbishop of Alexandria (9th c.)

Martyrs Galaction and his wife, Epistemis, at Emesa

(OCA) There was a rich and distinguished couple named Kletophon and Leukippe, who lived in the Syrian city of Emesa, and for a long time they were childless. They gave much gold to the pagan priests, but still they remained childless.

The city of Emesa was governed by a Syrian named Secundus, put there by the Roman Caesars. He was a merciless and zealous persecutor of Christians, and to intimidate them he ordered that the instruments of torture be displayed on the streets. The slightest suspicion of belonging to “the sect of the Galilean” (as thus Christians were called by the pagans), was enough to get a man arrested and handed over for torture. In spite of this, many Christians voluntarily surrendered themselves into the hands of the executioners, in their desire to suffer for Christ.

A certain old man by the name of Onuphrius concealed his monastic and priestly dignity beneath his beggar’s rags. He walked from house to house in Emesa, begging alms. At the same time, whenever he saw the possibility of turning people away from the pagan error, he preached about Christ.

Once, he came to the magnificent house of Leukippe. Accepting alms from her, he sensed that the woman was in sorrow, and he asked what was the cause of this sadness. She told the Elder about her familial misfortune. In consoling her, Onuphrius began to tell her about the one true God, about His omnipotence and mercy, and how He always grants the prayer of those turning to Him with faith. Hope filled the soul of Leukippe. She believed and accepted Holy Baptism. Soon after this it was revealed to her in a dream that she would give birth to a son, who would be a true follower of Christ. At first, Leukippe concealed her delight from her husband, but after the infant was born, she revealed the secret to her husband and also persuaded him to be baptized.

They named the baby Galaction and his parents raised him in the Christian Faith and provided him a fine education. He could make an illustrious career for himself, but Galaction sought rather an unsullied monastic life in solitude and prayer.

When Galaction turned twenty-four, his father resolved to marry him off and they found him a bride, a beautiful and illustrious girl by the name of Episteme. The son did not oppose the will of his father, but by the will of God, the wedding was postponed for a time. Visiting his betrothed, Galaction gradually revealed his faith to her. Eventually, he converted her to Christ and he secretly baptized her himself.

Besides Episteme he baptized also one of her servants, Eutolmius. The newly-illumined decided on the initiative of Galaction, to devote themselves to the monastic life. Leaving the city, they hid themselves away on Mount Publion, where there were two monasteries, one for men and the other for women. The new monastics had to take with them all the necessities for physical toil, since the inhabitants of both monasteries were both old and infirm.

For several years the monastics struggled in work, fasting and prayer. Once, Episteme had a vision in her sleep: she and Galaction stood in a wondrous palace before a radiant King, and the King bestowed golden crowns on them. This was a prefiguring of their impending martyrdom.

The pagans became aware of the existence of the monasteries, and a military detachment was sent to apprehend their inhabitants. But the monks and the nuns succeeded in hiding themselves in the hills. Galaction, however, had no desire to flee and so he remained in his cell, reading Holy Scripture. When Episteme saw that the soldiers were leading Galaction away in chains, she began to implore the Abbess to permit her to go also, since she wanted to accept torture for Christ together with her fiancé and teacher. The Abbess tearfully blessed Episteme to do so.

The saints endured terrible torments, while supplicating and glorifying Christ. Their hands and legs were cut off, their tongues were cut out, and then they were beheaded.

Eutolmius, the former servant of Episteme, and who had become her brother in Christ and fellow ascetic in monastic struggles, secretly buried the bodies of the holy martyrs. He later wrote an account of their virtuous life and their glorious martyrdom, for his contemporaries and for posterity.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

We'll serve the Akathist to Our Lady, the Queen of All for the sick, THIS Thursday (11/2) at 5:15 PM. If you have people you'd like to be remembered, please submit their names here. 

Catechumen class & Vespers this Saturday (11/4).

Our Coptic brothers and sisters are having a bake sale on Saturday, November 11 (see below) please come out and support them.

Finally, daylight savings time ends this Sunday. Please remember to turn your clocks back one hour before going to sleep on Saturday.

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, November 1

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

Thursday, November 2

• 1:00-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 5:15 PM: Akathist to Our Lady, Queen of All
• 6:00-8:00 PM: OCF Meeting

Saturday,  November 4: Remember to Set Your Clocks Back! 

• 3:30 PM: Catechumen Class
• 4:30 PM: Confessions
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers
• 6:00 PM: Confessions

Sunday, November 5: Daylight Saving Time Ends

• 9:00 AM: Hours & Precommunion Prayers
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, November 8

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

Thursday, November 9

• 1:00-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions
• 6:00-8:00 PM: OCF Meeting

Saturday,  November 11 (UW Homegame)

• 3:30 PM: Catechumen Class [canceled]
• 4:30 PM: Confessions [canceled]
• 5:00 PM: Great Vespers [canceled]
• 6:00 PM: Confessions [canceled]

Sunday, November 12

• 9:00 AM: Hours & Precommunion Prayers
• 9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy

Hymns After the Small Entrance

Tone 5 Troparion (Resurrection)

Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead//by His glorious Resurrection. 

Tone 4 Troparion (Ss 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 1 Troparion (Martyrs)

Let us the faithful honor these two betrothed athletes: Galacteon and modest Epistemis. Their ascetic labors blossomed into martyrdom, Therefore we cry to them: “Glory to Him Who has strengthened you! Glory to Him Who has crowned you!// Glory to Him Who through you grants healing to all!”

Tone 5 Kontakion (Resurrection)

Thou didst descend into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty, resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of death. Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of man,//and we cry to Thee: “O Lord, save us!”

Tone 3 Kontakion (Ss 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 2 Kontakion (Martyrs)

You are numbered among the hosts of martyrs for you were illustrious in mighty contests. Galacteon, together with Epistemis, thy faithful wife and companion in struggle,//unceasingly intercede to the one God for us all!

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

Tone 6 Theotokion

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18

Brethren, see with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 8:41-56

And behold, a man named Jairus came, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. But as Jesus went, the crowd pressed against him. There was a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years and who had spent all she had on physicians, but she could not be healed by any. She came behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. Immediately, the flow of her blood stopped. 

Jesus said, “Who touched me?” As everyone was denying it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you, and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

But Jesus said, “Someone has touched me, for I perceived that power has gone out from me.” When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came forth trembling. Falling down before Jesus, in the presence of all the people, she confessed to him why she had touched him, and how she had immediately been healed. He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer! Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” 

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, “Do not be afraid! Only believe, and she will be healed.” When Jesus arrived at the house, he did not allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, and James, as well as the father of the child and her mother. All were weeping and mourning the girl, but Jesus said, “Do not weep! She is not dead, but sleeping.” But they mocked him, knowing that she was dead. Jesus put them all outside, and taking the girl by the hand, he called, “Child, arise!” Her spirit returned, and she immediately got up. He ordered that something to eat should be given to her. Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.

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. Help us reach your children and grandchildren with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.