An Orthodox Christian community on the campus of UW-Madison

1020 Regent St
(Lower Level)
Madison, WI 53715

Weekly Services:

Vespers: 5:00 PM Saturday
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 AM Sunday

Confessions: before and after Saturday Vespers or by appointment.

www.madisonorthodox.com

Click above to send names of those to be commemorated at Liturgy.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Tone 5

30th Sunday after Pentecost; Afterfeast of the Theophany; Sunday After the Theophany; Ven. George the Chozebite

Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Commemorated on January 6

(OCA) Theophany is the Feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by Saint John the Forerunner, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. From ancient times this Feast was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light and has appeared to illumine “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of death” (Mt.4:16), and to save the fallen race of mankind by grace.

In the ancient Church it was the custom to baptize catechumens at the Vespers of Theophany, so that Baptism also is revealed as the spiritual illumination of mankind.

The origin of the Feast of Theophany goes back to Apostolic times, and it is mentioned in The Apostolic Constitutions (Book V:13). From the second century we have the testimony of Saint Clement of Alexandria concerning the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, and the night vigil before this Feast.

There is a third century dialogue about the services for Theophany between the holy martyr Hippolytus and Saint Gregory the Wonderworker. In the following centuries, from the fourth to ninth century, all the great Fathers of the Church: Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, John of Damascus, commented on the Feast of Theophany.

The monks Joseph the Studite, Theophanes and Byzantios composed much liturgical music for this Feast, which is sung at Orthodox services even today. Saint John of Damascus said that the Lord was baptized, not because He Himself had need for cleansing, but “to bury human sin by water,” to fulfill the Law, to reveal the mystery of the Holy Trinity, and finally, to sanctify “the nature of water” and to offer us the form and example of Baptism.

On the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, the Holy Church proclaims our faith in the most sublime mystery, incomprehensible to human intellect, of one God in three Persons. It teaches us to confess and glorify the Holy Trinity, one in Essence and Undivided. It exposes and overthrows the errors of ancient teachings which attempted to explain the Creator of the world by reason, and in human terms.

The Church shows the necessity of Baptism for believers in Christ, and it inspires us with a sense of deep gratitude for the illumination and purification of our sinful nature. The Church teaches that our salvation and cleansing from sin is possible only by the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit, therefore it is necessary to preserve worthily these gifts of the grace of holy Baptism, keeping clean this priceless garb, for “As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27).

On the day of Theophany, all foods are permitted, even if the Feast falls on a Wednesday or Friday.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Congratulations to Ryan (Jacob) Sipe who was baptized this past Saturday. May the Lord our God grant His newly illumined servant Jacob, his family, and his sponsor Dusan Marinkovich, peace, health, salvation, and visitation, and preserve them for many years!

This Friday (1/6) is the Feast of Theophany. Royal Hours will be Thursday (1/5) at 9 AM with Vespers and the Blessing of Water at 5 PM. Liturgy for the Feast will be Friday morning at 7 AM.

If you wish to have your house, apartment, office, or place of business blessed please contact me or Fr Christopher to arrange a time.

Thanks in large part to our participation in November of the Ecumenical Prayer Service for Thanksgiving at Our Lady Queen Catholic Church, parishioners from one of the local Catholic parishes contact me about providing housing for the two women and a young child (6 years old) who recently came to Madison after fleeing the war in Odesa.

Mtka Mary and I will be on vacation from January 10-17. In case of an emergency please call Fr Christopher (his cell number is on the calendar).

If you have done so, please pick up a church calendar. They are on the table next to the holy water.

In Christ,

Fr Gregory

This Week at Ss Cyril & Methodius

Wednesday, January 4

11 AM-3 PM: Office Hours/Confessions

Thursday, January 5

9:00 AM: Royal Hours
5:00 PM: Vespers & blessing of Water

Friday, January 6 (Theophany)

7:00 AM: Divine Liturgy

Saturday, January 7

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

Sunday, January 8

9:00 AM: Hours/Pre-Communion Prayers
9:30 AM: Divine Liturgy
1:30 PM: Pan-Orthodox Blessing of the Waters of Lake Mendota (see flyer below)

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, January 4

11 AM-3 PM: Office Hours/Confessions [canceled]

Thursday, January 5

1:00 PM-5:00 PM: Office Hours/Confessions [canceled]

Saturday, January 7

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

Sunday, January 8

9:00 AM: Hours/Pre-Communion 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 1 Troparion (Feast)

When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, and called Thee His beloved Son; and the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ our God, Who hast revealed Thyself//and hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee.

Troparion Tone 4 (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 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!”

Glory…

Tone 4 Kontakion (St. George)

Thou hast appeared as a brilliant light and hast illumined with divine rays those who cry to thee, O George. Pray for us to Christ the Master, Who appeared in the waters// to illumine those born on earth!

Now and ever…

Tone 4 Kontakion (Feast)

Today Thou hast shone forth to the world, O Lord, and the light of Thy countenance has been marked on us. Knowing Thee, we sing Thy praises: “Thou hast come and revealed Thyself,// O unapproachable Light.”

Sunday Readings

Epistle: Ephesians 4:7-13

BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17

At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

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

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

Magnify, O my soul, the most pure Virgin Theotokos, more honorable than the heavenly hosts!

No tongue knows how to praise thee worthily, O Theotokos; even angels are overcome with awe praising thee. But since thou art good, accept our faith; for thou knowest our love inspired by God! Thou art the defender of Christians, and we magnify thee.

Communion Hymn

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest

The grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

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.

Unsubscribe | Manage your subscription | View online