The Seven Holy Maccabee Martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Saint Athanasius had Trebizond for his homeland. He first entered the monastic life on the mountain Kyminas, then he went to Mount Athos and founded a large monastery, which is known as the Great Lavra. He became so renowned for his virtue that from Rome, Calabria, Georgia, and elsewhere. Rulers, men of wealth and nobility, abbots, and even bishops came to him and were subject to him. When the time for his departure was at hand, God revealed to him how it would take place, so that he was able to instruct his spiritual children not to be troubled when it should come to pass. A new church was being built for the sake of the many who came to him, and only the dome had not been finished. Together with six of the brethren, the Saint went to the top of the church to help the workmen. The dome collapsed, and they fell. Five were killed at once, and the Saint died three hours later. His holy body remained incorrupt and he worked many miracles after his death. He reposed about the end of the tenth century.

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“For a true Christian, it doesn't matter when a war or a persecution comes. The true Christian is always ready, prepared with the lighted candle of his soul, to meet the Celestial Bridegroom. The true Christian does not live in fear and anxiety about when a war will break out or when a bomb will fall on his head.

He is looking for ways to sacrifice more for his neighbor and for God. The true Christian seeks the Kingdom of Heaven in himself and is not afraid of anything in this ephemeral life. For him, sorrow is joy and the Cross is resurrection!

In any case, our life is in the hands of God and only He knows the end of man. Therefore, let us not be afraid when we hear about wars and other terrible events, because all this must happen, as our Savior said. We should be afraid that our souls are not ready to meet Christ.” Elder Ioustinos

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

1350 East C Street P.O. Box 1465 Casper, Wyoming 82602-1465

Web Page: www.holytrinitycasper.org

His Eminence, Most Rev. Metropolitan ISAIAH, Primate

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver

Rev. Fr. Stephen T. Ziton, Proistamenos

(307) 237-9969 office paterstephen@yahoo.com (208) 252-3125 cellular

July 5, 2020

Fourth Sunday of Matthew

Commemorations: Athanasius of Mount Athos; Righteous Father Lampadus the Wonderworker; Kyprianos the New Martyr of Koutloumousiou Monastery; Uncovering of the Holy Relics of Our Righteous Father Sergius of Radonezh; Holy New Martyrs Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and the Novice Barbara;

synaxis of the 23 martyrs of Lesvos.

Tone 3 Eothinon 4

Health & Spiritual Welfare: Proto-Presb. Peter & Prsv. Despina, Nick Azar, Lee Shortridge, Vladimir Fluture, Jeanette Rose, Rovin Maris, Ioana Nenert, Joe Vlastos, Evelyn & Charlie Haddad, Anna Sophia Ziton, Michael George Mercury, Kathy Joannides, Lou Roussalis, Michael R. Bruno, William Schuldies, Annette Lee Jensen, Troy Zook, Tyler Trudgeom, Brandon Hancock, Lucy Purrington.

For Souls Departed: Chris & Antonia Barlos, Elaine Christopulos, Lula Brattis, Dena Bouzis, Maria Harkiolaki, Mary Karantzas, Steve Martin, Gus & Georgia Kamboris, Peter Kanelos, Nick Kamboris, Ann Manka, Bob Garner, Marioara Maris, Kathryn Halamandaris, Katie O'Keefe, Edith Kanelos, Nick Katsimanis, Athena Rosemary, Alex Lampros, Sylvia Kirby, Mary Bouzis,

George Zack Kofakis, Ioannis Zyguris.

Liturgical Page for July 5th:

After the Little Entrance:

I. Apolytikion of the Resurrection in tone 3.

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad, for the Lord hath done

a mighty act with His own arm. He hath trampled down death by death,

and become the first-born from the dead. He hath delivered us

from the depths of Hades, granting the world the Great Mercy.

II. Apolytikion of St. Athanasius in tone 3.

The Angels’ ranks were awed by thy life in the flesh, how, though corporeal, and clad with earthly clay, thou didst set forth with courage to invisible wars and wrestlings and didst boldly smite the hordes of the demons with mortal wounds. Wherefore, Christ rewarded thee with abundant gifts in return. Entreat Him that our souls find salvation, O most renowned Father Athanasius.

III. Apolytikion of Pentecost in tone 8. (page 115)

O Blessed are You, O Christ our God, Who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them made the fishermen wise, and through them illumined the world and to You the universe was ever drawn, all glory to You O Lord.

IV.   Ordinary Kontakion in tone 2.

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.

Prokeimenon: Sing praises to our God, sing praises.

Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

EPISTLE: THE READING IS FROM ST. PAUL’S

LETTER TO THE GALATIANS. ( 5 : 22 – 26; 6 : 1 - 2 )

BRETHREN: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Προκείμενον. Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.

Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.

Πρὸς Γαλάτας 5:22-26, 6:1-2 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ καρπὸς τοῦ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἀγάπη, χαρά, εἰρήνη, μακροθυμία, χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη, πίστις, πρᾳότης, ἐγκράτεια· κατὰ τῶν τοιούτων οὐκ ἔστιν νόμος. Οἱ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν σὺν τοῖς παθήμασιν καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις. Εἰ ζῶμεν πνεύματι, πνεύματι καὶ στοιχῶμεν. Μὴ γινώμεθα κενόδοξοι, ἀλλήλους προκαλούμενοι, ἀλλήλοις φθονοῦντες. Ἀδελφοί, ἐὰν καὶ προληφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι, ὑμεῖς οἱ πνευματικοὶ καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον ἐν πνεύματι πρᾳότητος, σκοπῶν σεαυτόν μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς. Ἀλλήλων τὰ βάρη βαστάζετε, καὶ οὕτως ἀναπληρώσατε τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

ST. MATTHEW ( 8 : 5 – 13 )

AT THAT TIME, As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 8:5-13 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ εἰς Καπερναοὺμ προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἑκατόνταρχος παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, ὁ παῖς μου βέβληται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ παραλυτικός, δεινῶς βασανιζόμενος. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἐγὼ ἐλθὼν θεραπεύσω αὐτόν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος ἔφη· Κύριε, οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς ἵνα μου ὑπὸ τὴν στέγην εἰσέλθῃς· ἀλλὰ μόνον εἰπὲ λόγῳ, καὶ ἰαθήσεται ὁ παῖς μου. καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ ἄνθρωπός εἰμι ὑπὸ ἐξουσίαν, ἔχων ὑπ᾿ ἐμαυτὸν στρατιώτας, καὶ λέγω τούτῳ, πορεύθητι, καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἄλλῳ, ἔρχου, καὶ ἔρχεται, καὶ τῷ δούλῳ μου, ποίησον τοῦτο, καὶ ποιεῖ. ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐθαύμασε καὶ εἶπε τοῖς ἀκολουθοῦσιν· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοσαύτην πίστιν εὗρον. λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσμῶν ἥξουσι καὶ ἀνακλιθήσονται μετὰ ᾿Αβραὰμ καὶ ᾿Ισαὰκ καὶ ᾿Ιακὼβ ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν, οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐκβληθήσονται εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τῷ ἑκατοντάρχῳ· ὕπαγε, καὶ ὡς ἐπίστευσας γενηθήτω σοι. καὶ ἰάθη ὁ παῖς αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.

Grand Duchess Elizabeth, a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England and elder sister of Empress Alexandra of Russia (see July 4), was one of the most illustrious women of her day, known throughout Europe not only for her high birth and graceful beauty, but also for her modesty and goodness of heart. After marrying Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovich, she converted to Orthodoxy, although this was not required of her by her position. After the assassination of her husband in 1905, Grand Duchess Elizabeth withdrew from public life, founding the convent of Saints Martha and Mary, of which she became the superior. There she dedicated herself to prayer, fasting, tending the sick, and caring for the poor. After the Bolsheviks seized power, she was exiled to the Urals, where she and those with her were martyred in 1918 when they were cast alive into an abandoned mine. The Novice Barbara followed Saint Elizabeth into exile. When she was separated from the Grand Duchess, Barbara asked to be allowed to join her again; to terrify her, the Bolsheviks told her that she would be allowed to do this, but only if she were prepared for unheard-of torments and a violent death. To their amazement, she consented, and was deemed worthy of martyrdom with the Grand Duchess. Their holy relics were recovered and taken through Russia to China, and came to rest in the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem. When their reliquaries were opened in 1981, their bodies were found to be partially incorrupt, and sweet with the odour of sanctity. With them are also commemorated their fellow Martyrs: Grand Duke Sergius Mikhailovich; Princes John, Constantine, and Igor, the brethren; Prince Vladimir Paley; and Theodore Remez.