81st Street and Ridge Boulevard Website: www.smaoc.org
Brooklyn, NY 11209 Church Office: (718) 238-8008
Email: churchsecretary@smaoc.org Rectory: (718) 745-8481
His Eminence Metropolitan SABA
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Great Lent
Tone 4 and Eothinon 1
Commemoration of John Climacus, Author of “The Ladder”
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 4
Having learned the joyful message of the Resurrection from the angel, the women disciples of the Lord cast from them their parental condemnation, and proudly broke the news to the disciples, saying, Death hath been spoiled. Christ God is risen, granting the world great mercy.
Apolytikion of St. John of the Ladder – Tone 8
The barren wilderness thou didst make fertile with the streams of thy tears; and by thy deep sighing thou hast given fruit through thy struggles a hundred-fold. Accordingly, thou hast become a star for the universe, sparkling with miracles. Therefore, O righteous Father John, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Apolytikion of the Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe. For from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Kontakion for the Sundays in Lent – Tone 8
To thee, the Champion Leader, do I offer thanks of victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror; but as thou that has that power invincible, O Theotokos, thou alone can set me free: from all forms of danger free me and deliver me, that I may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride without Bridegroom.
Epistle – Hebrews 6:13-20 (Fourth Sunday in Lent)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 28.11, 1. The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse. Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two changeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Gospel – Mark 9:17-31 (Fourth Sunday in Lent)
AT THAT TIME, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And Jesus answered him, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at his mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has he had this?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when Jesus had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And Jesus said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”
They went out from there and passed through Galilee. And Jesus would not have anyone know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and after he is killed, he will rise on the third day.”
Megalynarion – In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation: the angelic hosts, and the race of men, O hallowed temple and noetic paradise, glory of virgins, of whom God was incarnate and became a little child, even our God Who is before all the ages; for He made thy womb a throne and thy body He made more spacious than the heavens. In thee rejoiceth, O full of grace, all creation; and it glorifieth thee.
During Great Lent we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
Next week’s homework: Hebrews 9:11-14 (Fifth Sunday of Great Lent)
Mark 10:32-45 (Fifth Sunday of Great Lent)
APRIL 14, 2024 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT
We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us today. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and a recent confession may approach to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to receive the blessing and partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor during the coffee hour and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
Mission Statement - The mission of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of Brooklyn, NY, is to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry out this mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy with love for each other, our neighbors, and our diverse world.
SUNDAY, APRIL 14 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Annetta Absey, Najla Arida, Ray Farkouh, Mary C. Gehshan, Dr. George Ghiz, Wilfred Jabara, Lynn Lewis, Vivian S. Massab, Victoria and Esber Najjar, Maria Pallas, Marie Louise Tashji, Adele Trisciuzzi, and Isabel Araman Zain. Memory eternal!
The Farkouh Family offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of their parents and grandparents, Mary and Ray Farkouh. Memory eternal!
George Trisciuzzi offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of his parents, the servants of God Adele and Teodoro Trisciuzzi. Memory eternal!
The Ladies of St. Mary’s offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Dr. Robert Haddad. Memory eternal!
Leila and Ray Trabulsi offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Dr. Robert Haddad. Memory eternal!
The Haddad Family offers Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Dr. Robert Haddad. Josette and John Generale will sponsor a Coffee Hour in his memory following the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
Malakeh Kswami and Family offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Hassan Kswami. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, APRIL 21 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Ayoub, Jean and George Fadool, Marie Farkouh, Albert Hanna, Edward Hanna, George Kaiatt, Edward S. Mackoul, Violet Mamary, Linda and William Nafash, Olga and Abraham Saba, Mary B. Savarese, Leon Smatt, Felipe Trabulsi, John Wizeman, Albert G. Zarr. Memory eternal!
Rose Abdallah will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Olga and Abraham Saba and Jean and George Fadool. Memory eternal!
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
Peter Elkas will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his uncle, the servant of God George Kaiatt. Memory eternal!
The Kaba Family will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Wajiha Kaba, Muneer Kaba, George Kadour, Afefeh Zaher, and Vicky Zaher. Memory eternal!
Drs. Lori and Michael Smatt will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Leon Smatt. Memory eternal!
Ann Zarr and Family will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Albert G. Zarr. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
FASTING DISICIPLINE – The Great Fast continues until our celebration of the Feast of Feasts, Pascha: Our Lord’s Resurrection (May 5). The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) is observed on all weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays, wine and olive oil are allowed.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Howard Samara (Upper East Side Rehab), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, John Eyd, Alice Farkouh, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Richard Zogob, and Rose Zrake (at home).
PATRIARCH OFFERING – Our pledge envelopes for the month of April included a pink envelope marked “Patriarch Offering.” Please use this envelope to support the Metropolitan’s annual appeal on behalf of the Patriarch of Antioch, especially in the wake of last year’s earthquake. Our minimum contribution as a parish is $500. If anyone is currently not receiving pledge envelopes, please see Fr. Michael or Parish Council Chair Anthony Zrake.
LENTEN RESOURCES – Great Lent is here. Our parish Bookstore, dedicated to the memory of Elena Paris, has copies of the service books for Great Lent, including Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and Holy Week. There are also a few Lenten cookbooks available. Please contact Lorraine Deeb at ldeebsped@verizon.net or (718) 491-4996 to reserve your books.
FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE – The traditional FFHP collection boxes are available in the narthex. Remember the least of Christ’s brethren by depositing your extra change at the end of each day, and return the box on or before Palm Sunday. “The rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much.” St. John Chrysostom
LENTEN LITURGICAL SCHEDULE – There will be Great Compline each Monday night at 7:00 PM, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts each Wednesday at 6:30 PM and the Akathist/Madayeh Service each Friday at 6:30 PM. This week’s Great Compline will be at St. Nicholas Cathedral. A Pot Luck Supper will follow each Wednesday service, and each parish organization will host a dinner after the Friday service. Great Vespers will continue each Saturday at 5:00 PM.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s invite all our parishioners (men too!) to participate in our humanitarian project this year. We once again request the preparation of hygiene kits to be distributed to the homeless during the Midnight Run each month. In a one gallon ZipLock bag please include: 1 washcloth, bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clipper, comb, 3 band-aids, disposable razor (optional). Feel free to prepare more than one kit! The kits can be given to Sandra Arida or any one of the Ladies. Thank you all for your support.
SACRAMENT OF REPENTANCE (CONFESSION) – The Great Fast is THE TIME for all believers to receive the Sacrament of Repentance (Confession). The pastor hears confessions by appointment and before and after all the divine services. Please do not wait until the last minute! If you would like to go to one of the other Orthodox priests in Brooklyn, feel free to do so, but inform the pastor.
ON-LINE GIVING – St. Mary's Church now accepts donations online. Just visit https://smaoc.squarespace.com/donate and pay securely by credit card, debit card, or checking account. There is an option to indicate gifts made in honor of or in remembrance of someone.
ESTATE PLANNING – A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make in order to impact the ministry of the Church significantly. An estate plan can include a provision that leaves a lasting gift to St. Mary’s Church. A bequest could be a gift of specific assets, a dollar amount, or a percentage of the estate. A bequest could also be the residue of an estate after all gifts have been made to heirs. Consider naming St. Mary’s as a beneficiary on your retirement accounts (such as an IRA). Qualified charities are able to receive the full value of dollars in these plans without incurring income taxes
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday, April 15 Great Compline @ St. Nicholas Cathedral, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 17 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 PM
Followed by Pot Luck Supper
Thursday, April 18 Little Compline with Great Cannon & Life of Mary of Egypt, 7
Friday, April 19 Little Compline with Akathist/Madayeh, 6:30 PM
Followed by “Our Time” Dinner
Saturday, April 20 All Parish Retreat
Great Vespers to follow the Retreat
Monday, April 22 Great Compline at St. Mary’s Church, 7:00 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “If you continue your almsgiving, offering to the poor out of the little that you have, not only will you not be in want, but the Lord will bless and increase what you have. And for the few things which you will give here, in this temporary life, you will receive a thousand fold more in eternal life. You will hear the Lord saying to you: “I was hungry, and you gave me food.” And when you say to Him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You?” He shall say, “Yes you did not see me, but you did see my poor brethren, the hungry. The bread which you gave them, it is the same as if you gave it to me. So now I grant unto you the eternal heavenly kingdom, and whatever goods I have, you shall have also and all those who fed the poor, the hungry, and showed mercy unto them.”
- St. Arsenios of Paros
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America