Icon of the Nativity of the Mother of God -- September 8th

Thirteenth Sunday after PentecostThirteenth Sunday of Matthew

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 3, 2017

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever! Our Bishop, clergy, religious and faithful welcome you to St. Stephen Cathedral. We are delighted that you have joined us for our Divine Liturgy. Our Church fol-lows the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel and passed on to us through the teachings of the Apostles and Holy Tradition.

Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral Sunday Divine Liturgy 8141 North 16th Street, Front Saturday 4:00 PM Phoenix, Arizona 85020-3950 Sunday 9:00 AM Office: 602.943.5379 Fax 602.997.4093 Weekday Services See Bulletin Website www.stsbcc.org Served by:

Most Rev. John S. Pazak, CSsR., BishopMost Reverend Gerald N. Dino, Bishop Emeritus

Very Rev. Diodoro Mendoza, Rector -- rectorss@eparchyofphoenix.orgRev. Joseph Hutsko, Vice-Rector – huts1009@gmail.com

Very Rev. Archpriest David M. Petras, RetiredMsgr. Kevin McCauliffe, In Residence

Deacon John Montalvo - Deacon James DanovichSister Christopher, OSBM

Parish Advisory Council Served by: Parish Advisory Finance Council Served by:Mary Beth Foster Sean Grimes John Surmay Dolores Sugent Patricia Marmol Ann Zlamal Joan Wolfe Nicholas Stefaniak IIILuke Roll Basil RabaydaJoanie Mahar

SPECIAL SPONSORSThis space is available for advertisements to help subside the cost of the bulletin. If you know of a busi-ness and/or an organization that would like to advertise in our bulletin please contact Fr. Diodoro for promotional rates. Thank you!

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This Week’s Liturgy Schedule

Sun. 9/3 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Tone 4 pp. 138-142 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 16:13-24 Gospel: Matthew 21:33-42Sat. 4:00 PM For our Parishioners, Benefactors and Friends (Msgr. Kevin)Sun. 9:00 AM +Cathy Simpson by Kathleen Richard (Msgr. Kevin)

14th Week after PentecostMon. 9/4 Bishop-Martyr Babylas of Antioch / LABOR DAY (Civil Holiday) 8:00 AM No Morning Liturgy Tue. 9/5 Holy Prophet Zachary & His Wife the Holy & Venerable Elizabeth p. 3668:00 AM +Lee C. Addis by Mary Addis (Fr. David)

Wed. 9/6 Memory of Miracle of Archangel Michael at Colossae p.3618:00 AM Special Intention (Fr. Kevin) Thu. 9/7 Vigil of the Nativity of the Theotokos - Vespers Handout & p. 244 & 245 7:00 PM 25th Anniversary Joseph Louis Gallucci by Joseph Gallucci (Fr. Diodoro)

Fri. 9/8 Nativity of the Theotokos p. 2439:00 AM For our Parishioners, Benefactors and Friends (Bishop Gerald)

Sat. 9/9 Saturday before the Exaltation of the Cross No Morning Liturgy

Sun. 9/10 Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18 Gospel: John 3:13-17Sat. 4:00 PM For our Parishioners, Benefactors and Friends (Fr. Joe)Sun. 9:00 AM +Stephen G. Palaschak by Dr.& Mrs. Joseph Palaschak (Fr. Dio-doro)

Special Intentions: Erwin Armada, Barbara Dugan, Joanie Mahar, Helen Furka, Vincent Rice, McCarthy Family, Gemma Hillman, Marti Lopez, Kathleen Linkowsky, Betty Geletey, Richard Gable, Robert King, Ann Ryan, Chris Faix, Robyn Foy, and Elaine Browne

May the Lord rest His healing hand on His servants and hear their requests:Mary Rabayda, Jane Walsh, Steve Durkit, Dorothy Dumnich, Richard Reese, Chris Balsz, Sr. Christopher, OSBM, Dorothy Bezeredi, Carlene Eneroth, Fred Way, Audrey Noble, Sharon White, Nancy Sandrock, Marlene Rolling, Bob Dugan, Cathy Milko, Michael Dougherty, Widad Butty, Kris Lara, Mike Chapa, Mark D. Chapa, Noa Lee Chapa, Teresa Blanc, Clementina Mendoza, Dolores Balcazar, Vivian Rodarte, Nicholas Stefaniak Jr., Marie Mika, Mary Popovich, Betty Iwinski, Anne Peterson, Dan Palaschak, Michael Sherwood, Christina Toth, Alice Garcia, Liz Kol, Evelyn Sopiak, Anthony Diaz, Michael Diaz, Matthew Diaz, Deacon Craig Anderson, Nicholas Toth, Michelle Montalvo, Nicholas Oprendek, Sandra Meyers, and Susan Stooks

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OUR PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES are extended to parishioner Evelyn Sopiak on the death of her daughter, Linda Sopiak. The Funeral Divine Liturgy for Linda was celebrated on Tuesday, August 29, the Feast of St. John the Baptist. May God grant blessed repose and eternal memory to his servant Linda.

QUARTERLY PARISHIONER OFFERING STATEMENTS Soon all parishioners will be receiv-ing quarterly statements of their monetary contributions to our Cathedral Parish. By using this quarterly system we can keep a better eye on the statements.

PARISH REGISTRATION FORMS If you did not send in your parish registration form or drop it in the box in church, please do so today. Forms are available at the entrance to church.

REGISTRATION FOR ECF CLASSES FOR 2017 - 2018ECF Classes begin on Catechetical Sunday, September 17. Deacon John Montalvo will be the ECFDirector for our parish. If you have not registered your children please do so today! Registration forms are on the table at the entrance to church. We ask parents to register their children so we can order the correct number of books for students and teachers

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS On Wednesday, September 13 we will celebrate Vigil Vesper/Liturgy for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. OnThursday, September 14 we will celebrate Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of the major feasts of our Byzantine Catholic Church.

Please make every effort to attend church either on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

BYZANTINE CATHOLIC BIBLE STUDY CLASS Classes will begin on Monday,September 11 at 6:00 PM and run for 6 weeks until October 24 and then break for 2 weeks and resume on Monday, November 6 and run another 6 weeks until December 11. The class will be on how to read and pray with the Bible and the following classes will be from the Gospel of St. Mat-thew. Classes will take place in the Parish Office Conference Room.

50th JUBILEE SEPTEMBER EVENT: ECF STUDENTS PATRON SAINT POST-ERS & ESSAYS CONTESTOn Sunday, September 17 (Catechetical Sunday) the posters and essays about the ECF student’s Patron Saint will be judged after the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy at ECF class. Everyone should have received the instructional flyer. We have placed flyers on the table at the entrance to church. All posters and written essays must be submitted by September 10 to the appropriate Group Cat-echists.

ICON PAINTING WORKSHOP: OCTOBER 13-15This 3-day course in the ancient technique of icon writing in the Byzantine tradition will be of-fered at St. Stephen’s on October 13-15, 2017. No art background is needed to participate. The instructor, Very Rev. Elias L. Rafaj, will teach the many steps of paint layering, and each individual student will complete an icon by the end of the workshop. Beginners and advanced students are welcome.

Daily Schedule of ClassesFriday 1:00 pm to 8:00 pmSaturday 9:00 am to 8:00 pmSunday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

Cost is $150.00 per person and payment is due by October 1. Checks payable to Icon Workshop – St Stephen Byzantine Cathedral. For credit card payments and registration, contact Fr. Diodoro at rectorss@eparchyofphoenix.org.

50TH JUBILEE & GCU OCTOBER EVENT: FALL FESTIVAL & HAYRIDE ON THE PARISH GROUNDS No, Fall is not in the air yet. It’s not even close, but we are in the process of planning a Fall Festival and Hayride event here at our parish on Saturday, October 28 after the 4 PM Vesper/Liturgy (ap-proximately 5:30 PM). It will be a wonderful event and details will be coming soon from the GCU

and the Parish 50th Jubilee Committee. We a planning to have a hay ride, food to purchase, a beer garden, outside seating on the patio, a bonfire within a fire ring, a raffle, trunk or treat for the young ones, and other items. Please make sure to mark this event on your calendars at home.

DONATE CAKE MIXES AND ICING At each Fish Fry we offer a wonderful assortment of desserts. Please drop off your donation of cake mixes and icing in the Parish Hall kitchen. Our goal is to have 100 cake and icing mixes by December 30. Thank you!

FISH FRYS ARE HERE! Our October 6th Fish Fry is right around the corner. Everyone’s help is needed to continue making this a spiritual and financial success. The SIGN UP sheet is in the hall (by the donuts). If you have any questions feel free to call Dolores at 480-991-1856. She would love to hear from future volunteers. THANK YOU!

ST. STEPHEN EASTERN CHRISTIAN FORMATION PROGRAM OPEN HOUSEAll catechists, parents, and children (pre-school to high school age) are invited to an information session concerning our 2017-1018 Catechetical Year next Sunday, September 10 following the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy. Deacon John Montalvo will be the Director of our Parish ECF.

PIROHI PREPARATION WORK DAY On Friday, September 15 beginning at 8:00 AM we will need help peeling potatoes, boiling the potatoes and mixing them with cheese and seasonings and then making the potato balls and also some sauerkraut balls for the pirohi. (Sauerkraut will be cooked the day before in order to cool.) Lunch will be served.

PIROHI WORK DAY: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 On Saturday, September 16 beginning at 8:00 AM we will be making pirohi for the Fish Frys. Please mark your calendar and come and help us. There are many different tasks to perform so there for sure is one that you’ll be good at and enjoy doing. Lunch will be provided.

Coming Events – Mark Your Calendars Now

Thursday, September 7- Vigil Vesper/Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos at 7:00 PMFriday, September 8- Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos at 9:00 AMSunday, September 10- ECF Open House for Parents, Students & Catechists Monday, September 11- Bible Study Class - Gospel of St. Matthew: Byzantine PerspectiveTuesday, September 12- Arizona Eastern Catholic Clergy Association Meeting at 11:30 AMWednesday, September 13- Vigil Vesper/Liturgy for Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 7:00 PMThursday, September 14- Divine Liturgy for Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 9:00 AM

Sunday, September 17-Catechetical Sunday: ECF Classes Begin / Poster & Essay ContestMonday, September 18- Bible Study Class - Gospel of St. Matthew: Byzantine PerspectiveFriday, October 13 – Sunday October 15: Parish 50th Jubilee Event Icon Workshop of the Holy Protection of Mother of God by Fr. Elias RafajSaturday, October 28- GCU & 50th Jubilee Hayride & Fall Festival after 4 PM Divine Liturgy Our Weekly Gifts to the Lord—May the Lord bless your kindness and generosity!

Saturday 4 PM: 34 & Sunday 9 AM: 106

Tithes: $2675.02; Dormition: $110.00; Candles: $36.76; Coffee Social: $7.00; Donations: Non-

arishioners: $49.00 ;Medical Insurance Collection: 25.00; Building Fund: $20.00; Stipend Reimbursement: $75.00; C.C. Foundation donation: $133.00; Clergy Travel Reimburse-ment: $600.00; Cathedraticum Refund: $17.74; Sr. Jean Marie Donation $224.00 ;Icon Work-shop: $150.00; Total: $4,148.50

Church New Year

Commemorated on September 1

The Nativity of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary: The Most Holy Virgin Mary was born at a time when people had reached such a degree of moral decay that it seemed altogether impossible to restore them. People often said that God must come into the world to restore faith and not permit the ruin of mankind.

The Son of God chose to take on human nature for the salvation of mankind, and chose as His Mother the All-Pure Virgin Mary, who alone was worthy to give birth to the Source of purity and holiness.

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary is celebrated by the Church as a day of universal joy. Within the context of the Old and the New Testaments, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was born on this radiant day, having been chosen before the ages by Divine Provi-dence to bring about the Mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. She is revealed as the Mother of the Savior of the World, Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Most Holy Virgin Mary was born in the small city of Galilee, Nazareth. Her parents were Righteous Joachim of the tribe of the Proph-et-King David, and Anna from the tribe of the First Priest Aaron. The couple was without child, since Saint Anna was barren.

Having reached old age, Joachim and Anna did not lose hope in God’s mercy. They had strong faith that for God everything is possible, and that He would be able to overcome the barrenness of Anna even in her old age, as He had once overcame the barrenness of Sarah, spouse of the Patri-arch Abraham. Saints Joachim and Anna vowed to dedicate the child which the Lord might give them, to the service of God in the Temple.

Childlessness was considered among the Hebrew nation as a Divine punishment for sin, and therefore the righteous Saints Joachim and Anna had to endure abuse from their own country-men. On one of the feast days at the Temple in Jerusalem, the elderly Joachim brought his sacrifice to offer to God, but the High Priest would not accept it, considering him to be unworthy since he was childless.

Saint Joachim in deep grief went into the wilderness, and there he prayed with tears to the Lord for a child. Saint Anna wept bitterly when she learned what had happened at the Jerusalem Temple. Never once did she complain against the Lord, but rather she prayed to ask God’s mercy on her family. The Lord fulfilled her petitions when the pious couple had attained extreme old age and prepared themselves by virtuous life for a sublime calling: to be the parents of the Most Holy Vir-gin Mary, the future Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Archangel Gabriel brought Joachim and

Anna the joyous message that their prayers were heard by God, and of them would be born a most blessed daughter Mary, through Whom would come the Salvation of all the World.

The Most Holy Virgin Mary surpassed in purity and virtue not only all mankind, but also the angels. She was manifest as the living Temple of God, so the Church sings in its festal hymns: “the East Gate... bringing Christ into the world for the salvation of our souls” (2nd Stichera on “Lord, I Have Cried”, Tone 6).

The Nativity of the Theotokos marks the change of the times when the great and comforting prom-ises of God for the salvation of the human race from slavery to the devil are about to be fulfilled. This event has brought to earth the grace of the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of Truth, piety, vir-tue and everlasting life. The Theotokos is revealed to all of us by grace as a merciful Intercessor and Mother, to Whom we have recourse with filial devotion.

(The Nativity of the Theotokos is celebrated on September 8th.)

Prayers to the Mother of God

Rejoice Mary, Mother of God, Virgin, full of grace, the Lord is with You: blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for you have given birth to the Savior of our souls. It is truly proper to glorify you, O Birth-giver of God, ever blessed, and all undefiled, the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without stain did bear God the word, truly, the Mother of God, we magnify. O gracious Mother of the gracious God, O most pure and blessed Mary, the Mother of God, pour the mercy of Your Son and our God upon my impassionate soul, and your intercessions set me unto good deeds, that I may pass the rest of my life without blemish and, with your aid, attain heaven. O Virgin mother of God, the only one who are pure and blessed. O Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls: being delivered from evil, as your servants, O Mother of God, we of-fer unto You the hymns of thanks and victory; but as you have invincible power, deliver us from all calamity, that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O ever-Virgin Bride! O Virgin, spotless, undefiled, unstained, all-chaste and Pure Lady, Bride of God, who by the glori-ous birth-giving hast united God the Word with Man and linked our fallen nature with Heavenly Things; who are the hope of the hopeless, the helper of the oppressed, the ready protection of those who haste unto Thee, and the refuge of Christians; despise me not, who am defiled and sin-ful, who by my wicked thoughts, words and deeds, have become an unworthy servant, and by my slothfulness have turned into a slave to evil affections. O Mother of the God of Love, have mercy and compassion upon me, a sinner and a prodigal. Accept this prayer which is offered to Thee

from my impure lips; and putting forward Thy maternal influence with thy Son, my Lord and Master, beseech Him to open unto me the lovingkindness of His grace; beseech Him to overlook my countless transgressions, to give me true repentance and to make me to be a zealous doer of His commandments. And Thou, being gracious and compassionate and tender-hearted, be Thou ever present with me in this life as my defender and helper, so that I may turn aside the assault of my enemies, and guide me into salvation; help my poor soul at the hour of my death, and drive far from it all the dark forms of the evil ones. And in the dreadful Judgement Day, deliver me from everlasting punishment, and present me as an inheritor of the ineffable glory of the son, our God.

O that I may obtain this, most-holy Lady and Birth-giver of God, through Thine intercessions and mediations, by the grace and exceedingly great love of Thine Only-Begotten son, my Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, to Whom is due, with the eternal Father and the All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, all honor and glory and worship, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O most glorious Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our God, accept our prayers and present them to Thy Son and our God that He may, for Thy sake, enlighten and save our souls.

PRAYER TO THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS – St Nikolai of Ohrid and Zhicha

Waves of passion disturb my spirit, great sadness and anguish have overwhelmed my soul. Em-balm my soul with Thy Son's peace, O Most Holy One, and by His Grace drive away every doubt and despair. Calm the storm of my sins that, like a fiery worm, burn me, and quench its flame. Fill my heart with joy, O Most Pure One, and disperse the fog of my iniquities before me, for it confus-es me. Illumine me with the light of Thy Son. Helpless is my soul, and everything is cumbersome, even prayer. Here I am, cold as a stone, my lips whispering prayers, while my heart remains im-movable, for it is smothered in anguish. Melt the ice which envelops my soul and warm my heart with Thy love.

I rely not on human protection, but fall down before Thee, O Most Pure Sovereign Mother of God; reject me not, but hearken unto the prayer of Thy servant. Sadness has overcome me; I can endure the demonic attack no more. I have no protection; there is no shelter for this poor man, and in this battle I am ever being wounded. I have no consolation, but in Thee, O Holy Sovereign. O Hope and Protection of all who believe, reject not my prayer. Amen.

O Most Holy Mother of Christ, Most Pure, Most Blessed Theotokos, Satan is pounding at me like the waves of the sea against a ship, pursuing me by day and tormenting me at night. I have no peace; turbulent is my soul, my spirit trembles. Hearken, O Most Holy One and help me. Intercede before the dear Lord that He may have mercy on me and forgive the sins I have committed. O Most Holy Mother of Jesus, Thy grace is great, and the mightiest opponent to the powers of hades. Thou art able to save even the greatest of sinners who, having been cast into the depths of hell by unclean powers, should call upon Thee. So too, save me, for lo, Satan will have me stumble and will destroy my faith, but I trust in the Lord. I magnify Thee, Who art more holy than the Cherubim and the Seraphim.

The Old Has Passed Away: All Things Are Made New

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