The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search
Published by Spiro Bobotas, 2018-12-20 12:40:03

December 23, 2018

December 23, 2018

SAINT SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

MIAMI, FLORIDA

Sunday, December 23rd, 2018

Sunday Gospel before Nativity
The Reading is from Matthew 1:1-25

The book of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father
of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and
Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of
Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of
Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by
Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king And
David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of
Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa, and
Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the
father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Continued on pg 4.

Christmas Service Schedule
December 24th

Royal Hours @ 8:00 AM
Christmas Eve –December 24th
Matins–4:30 PM - Divine Liturgy –5:00 PM

Rev. Fr. Spiro D. Bobotas

Telephone 305- 854-2922 * Fax: 305-858-1854
Website: stsophiamiami.org
2401 S.W. 3rd Avenue, 33129

Mailing Address: 244 SW 24th Road Miami, Fl. 33129

Liturgical Guide

Apolytikion for the Resurrection– Tone PL 1
Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι

Eternal with the Father and the Spirit is the Word, Who of a Virgin was begotten
for our salvation. As the faithful we both praise and worship Him, for in the flesh did
He consent to ascend unto the Cross, and death did He endure and He raised un-

to life the dead through His all glorious resurrection.

Apolytikion for Forefeast of the Nativity in the First Mode

Ἑτοιμάζου Βηθλεέμ, ἤνοικται πᾶσιν ἡ Ἐδέμ

Be thou ready, Bethlehem, Eden hath opened unto all. Ephratha, prepare thyself,
for now, behold, the Tree of life hath blossomed forth in the cave from the Holy Vir-

gin. Her womb hath proved a true spiritual Paradise, wherein the divine and saving
Tree is found, and as we eat thereof we shall all live, and shall not die as did Adam.

For Christ is born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.

Apolytikion for Sun. before Nativity in the Second Mode

Μεγάλα τὰ τῆς πίστεως

Great are the achievements of faith! In the fountain of flame, as by the water of rest,
the Three Holy Children rejoiced. And the Prophet Daniel proved a shepherd of

lions as of sheep. By their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls

Apolytikion for St. Sophia Tone 3

Χαίρει ἔχουσα ἡ Ἐκκλησία,

Having you and your three daughters, as a sacred boast the Church rejoices, and
with gladness she praises you, You are to me my pride and joy, as are the most pre-
cious relics of your children; Oh Glorious Martyrs: Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love,

intercede to Christ our God to save our souls

Seasonal Kontakion in Tone 3
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, *
Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; *
with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a

young Child Who * before the ages is God.

Scripture Readings

Epistle Reading:

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter
to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40.

BRETHREN, by faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land,
living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for-
ward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God. And what more shall
I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and
Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, re-
ceived promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the
sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release,
that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even
chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they
were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill
-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains, and in
dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not re-
ceive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us,that apart from us
they should not be made perfect. and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my
house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my
banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

Continued from page 1

and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and
Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the
father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,
and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the
father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of
Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and
Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of
Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. So all the generations from
Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deporta-
tion to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to
the Christ fourteen generations. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in
this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they
came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her hus-
band Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to di-
vorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord ap-
peared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take
Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will
bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their
sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Em-
manuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as
the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she
had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.

Those well pleasing to God

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the
eighteenth of this month, we celebrate all those who from
ages past have been well-pleasing to God, beginning from
Adam even unto Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy
Theotokos, according to genealogy, as the Evangelist Luke
hath recorded historically (Luke 3:23-38); we also com-
memorate the Prophets and Prophetesses, and especially
the Prophet Daniel and the Holy Three Children.

WISDOM OF THE FATHERS

That God should have clothed Himself with our nature is a fact that should not seem
strange or extravagant to minds that do not form too paltry an idea of reality. Who, look-
ing at the universe, would be so feeble-minded as not to believe that God is all in all; that
He clothes Himself with the universe, and at the same time contains it and dwells in it?
What exists depends on Him Who exists, and nothing can exist except in the bosom of
Him Who is. If then all is in Him and He is in all, . . .Indeed, if the presence of God in us
does not take the same form now as it did then, we can at least agree in recognizing that
He is in us today no less tha He was then. Today, He is involved with us in as much as
He maintains creation in existence. Then He mingled Himself with our being to deify it by
contact with Him, after He had snatched it from death. . . For His resurrection becomes
for mortals the promise of their return to immortal life.

St. Gregory of Nyssa, Catechetical Orations, 25 (Patrologia Graeca, Migne.)

SAVE
THE
DATE!
JANUARY
12TH

If you have not gone to this
event I would strongly

encourage you to do so. It
is a beautiful affair starting

with Matins and the Di-
vine liturgy. Immediately
followed by the cross dive
directly behind the church.
The luncheon is always the
perfect way to end the day.
This Dinner is prepared
by the community of Saint
Catherine’s and is always a

treat.

On behalf of the Committee we would like to thank the Parishioners
& Friends that supported the St Sophia's 2018 Christmas under the

Stars. Because of you we had a highly successful fun filled
evening. Thank you!

Christmas Under the Stars Gold Sponsors

Mr..& Mrs.. Nick Kos Mr. & Mrs.. Julio Cabrera
Dr.& Mrs. Theodore & Sarafoglu Mr..& Mrs. Allen Donelan
Mrs.. Evangeline Gouletas Mrs. Tia Mekras
Mr.. Nicholas Hados Mr. Kenneth Cook
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Hados

Desert Table Sponsors

Mrs. Marsellos Mrs. Bia Marsellos Mrs. Annie Godur

Silent Auction Donors

Mrs. Annie Godur Ms. Eleni Monas Mrs. Marina Angleton
Mrs. Sheila Callesis Ms. Sarah Broenell Mrs.Candy Kakouris

Mrs. Christina Russo Tissot Watch Company
Mrs. Stephaine Demos Mr. & Mrs. Nick Poulos
Mrs. Alexandra Wensley Mr. Nick Callesis Ms.Gaby Rodriguez
Ms. Aleka Nakis Mr. Perry Lantz Mrs. Vicki Michalakos
Mrs.Ana Cabrera Mr. Christos Meletis Mrs. Maria Kakouris

A Hugh Thank you! to the committee, set up and break down crew
Mr. & Mrs.. Julio Cabrera Mr. Nicholas Hados
Mr. John Kiskinis Mr. Evangelos Marsellos
Mr. Jose Godur Ms. Bia Marsellos Mr. Ken Cook
Mrs. Sheila Callesis (Silent Auction Chairwoman)
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Hados (Event Chairs)

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 23th - Sunday before Nativity - Matins: 9:00 AM
- Liturgy: 10:00 AM

December 24th –Christmas Eve Morning - Royal Hours 8:00 AM

December 24th -Christmas Eve - Matins: 4:30 PM
- Liturgy: 5:00 PM

January 1st—Saint Basil the Great & Circumcision of Christ -Matins : 8:30 AM
- Liturgy: 9:00 AM

January 5th Vesper and Small Agiasmos : 5:00 PM

January 6th - Divine Liturgy for Holy Theophany — Matins : 9:00 AM
- Liturgy: 10 :00 AM

January 12th –Saturday Epiphany Celebration in West Palm Beach

Σας ευχομαστε καλα Xριστουγεννα
και ευχαριστμενο το Nεο Eτος!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

And a Happy New Year!


Click to View FlipBook Version