Nov. 30 – 25th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 8

St. Gregory the Wonderworker of Neo-Caesarea (266). Ven. Lazarus the iconographer of Constantinople (857).

Eph. 4:1-6; Lk. 12:16-21;
1 Cor. 12:7-11; Mt. 10:5-8

Dec. 4 – THE ENTRY OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS INTO THE TEMPLE

ВВЕДЕННЯ В ХРАМ ПРЕСВЯТОЇ ВЛАДИЧИЦІ НАШОЇ БОГОРОДИЦІ І ВСЕДІВИ МАРІЇ

Heb. 9:1-7 ; Lk. 10:38-42; 11:27-28;

Dec. 7 – 26th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone 1

Afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos. Great-martyr Mercurius (259). Great-martyr Catherine (305). Martyrs Augusta, Porphyrius, and 200 soldiers (305). Martyr Philothea of Romania (1060). Venerable Mercurius, the Faster of the Kyiv Caves, Far Caves (14th c).

Eph. 5:8-19; Lk. 13:10-17;
Eph. 6:10-17; Lk. 21:12-19;

Апостол і Євангеліє - Gospel and Epistle of the Day

Дивіться у вказівках - See propers here

Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he was one of the Twelve Apostles (Mark 3:18; Luke 6:45; Acts 1:13), and was brother of the Apostle James Alphaeus (Mark 2:14). He was a publican, or tax-collector for Rome, in a time when the Jews were under the rule of the Roman Empire. He lived in the Galilean city of Capernaum. When Matthew heard the voice of Jesus Christ: "Come, follow Me" (Mt. 9:9), he left everything and followed the Savior. Christ and His disciples did not refuse Matthew's invitation and they visited his house, where they shared table with the publican's friends and acquaintances. Like the host, they were also publicans and known sinners. This event disturbed the pharisees and scribes a great deal.

Publicans who collected taxes from their countrymen did this with great profit for themselves. Usually greedy and cruel people, the Jews considered them pernicious betrayers of their country and religion. The word "publican" for the Jews had the connotation of "public sinner" and "idol-worshipper." To even speak with a tax-collector was considered a sin, and to associate with one was defilement. But the Jewish teachers were not able to comprehend that the Lord had "come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mt. 9:13).

Matthew, acknowledging his sinfulness, repaid fourfold anyone he had cheated, and he distributed his remaining possessions to the poor, and he followed after Christ with the other apostles. Saint Matthew was attentive to the instructions of the Divine Teacher, he beheld His innumerable miracles, he went together with the Twelve Apostles preaching to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Mt. 10:6). He was a witness to the suffering, death, and Resurrection of the Savior, and of His glorious Ascension into Heaven.

Having received the grace of the Holy Spirit, which descended upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, Saint Matthew preached in Palestine for several years. At the request of the Jewish converts at Jerusalem, the holy Apostle Matthew wrote his Gospel describing the earthly life of the Savior, before leaving to preach the Gospel in faraway lands.

In the order of the books of the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew comes first. Palestine is said to be the place where the Gospel was written. Saint Matthew wrote in Aramaic, and then it was translated into Greek. The Aramaic text has not survived, but many of the linguistic and cultural-historical peculiarities of the Greek translation give indications of it.

The Apostle Matthew preached among people who were awaiting the Messiah. His Gospel manifests itself as a vivid proof that Jesus Christ is the Messiah foretold by the prophets, and that there would not be another (Mt. 11:3).

The preaching and deeds of the Savior are presented by the evangelist in three divisions, constituting three aspects of the service of the Messiah: as Prophet and Law-Giver (Ch. 5-7), Lord over the world both visible and invisible (Ch. 8-25), and finally as High Priest offered as Sacrifice for the sins of all mankind (Ch. 26-27).

The theological content of the Gospel, besides the Christological themes, includes also the teaching about the Kingdom of God and about the Church, which the Lord sets forth in parables about the inner preparation for entering into the Kingdom (Ch. 5-7), about the worthiness of servers of the Church in the world (Ch. 10-11), about the signs of the Kingdom and its growth in the souls of mankind (Ch. 13), about the humility and simplicity of the inheritors of the Kingdom (Mt. 18:1-35; 19 13-30; 20:1-16; 25-27; 23:1-28), and about the eschatological revelations of the Kingdom in the Second Coming of Christ within the daily spiritual life of the Church (Ch. 24-25).

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Church are closely interconnected in the spiritual experience of Christianity: the Church is the historical embodiment of the Kingdom of Heaven in the world, and the Kingdom of Heaven is the Church of Christ in its eschatological perfection (Mt. 16:18-19; 28:18-20).

The holy Apostle brought the Gospel of Christ to Syria, Media, Persia, Parthia, and finishing his preaching in Ethiopia with a martyr's death. This land was inhabited by tribes of cannibals with primitive customs and beliefs. The holy Apostle Matthew converted some of the idol-worshippers to faith in Christ. He founded the Church and built a temple in the city of Mirmena, establishing there his companion Platon as bishop.

When the holy apostle was fervently entreating God for the conversion of the Ethiopians the Lord Himself appeared to him in the form of a youth. He gave him a staff, and commanded him to plant it at the doors of the church. The Lord said that a tree would grow from this staff and it would bear fruit, and from its roots would flow a stream of water. When the Ethiopians washed themselves in the water and ate the fruit, they lost their wild ways and became gentle and good.

When the holy apostle carried the staff towards the church, he was met by the wife and son of the ruler of the land, Fulvian, who were afflicted by unclean spirits. In the Name of Christ the holy apostle healed them. This miracle converted a number of the pagans to the Lord. But the ruler did not want his subjects to become Christians and cease worshiping the pagan gods. He accused the apostle of sorcery and gave orders to execute him.

They put Saint Matthew head downwards, piled up brushwood and ignited it. When the fire flared up, everyone then saw that the fire did not harm Saint Matthew. Then Fulvian gave orders to add more wood to the fire, and frenzied with boldness, he commanded to set up twelve idols around the fire. But the flames melted the idols and flared up toward Fulvian. The frightened Ethiopian turned to the saint with an entreaty for mercy, and by the prayer of the martyr the flame went out. The body of the holy apostle remained unharmed, and he departed to the Lord.

The ruler Fulvian deeply repented of his deed, but still he had doubts. By his command, they put the body of Saint Matthew into an iron coffin and threw it into the sea. In doing this Fulvian said that if the God of Matthew would preserve the body of the apostle in the water as He preserved him in the fire, then this would be proper reason to worship this One True God.

That night the Apostle Matthew appeared to Bishop Platon in a dream, and commanded him to go with clergy to the shore of the sea and to find his body there. The righteous Fulvian and his retinue went with the bishop to the shore of the sea. The coffin carried by the waves was taken to the church built by the apostle. Then Fulvian begged forgiveness of the holy Apostle Matthew, after which Bishop Platon baptized him, giving him the name Matthew in obedience to a command of God.

Soon Saint Fulvian-Matthew abdicated his rule and became a presbyter. Upon the death of Bishop Platon, the Apostle Matthew appeared to him and exhorted him to head the Ethiopian Church. Having become a bishop, Saint Fulvian-Matthew toiled at preaching the Word of God, continuing the work of his heavenly patron.

Апостол і євангеліст Матфей

Святий апостол Матфей був апостолом із дванадцяти, був братом апостола Якова Алфєєва. До навернення до Христа він служив митарем, збирачем податей для Риму. Почувши голос Іісуса Христа: «іди за Мною» (Мф. 9:9), він залишив свою посаду і пішов за Спасителем.

Прийнявши благодатні дари Духа Святого, апостол Матфей спочатку проповідував у Палестині. Перед відходом на проповідь до далеких країн він написав Євангеліє на прохання іудеїв, які залишалися в Єрусалимі. Євангеліє від Матфея стоїть першим у переліку книг Святого Письма Нового Завіту.

Написане воно єврейською мовою. Промови і діяння Спасителя Матфей викладає відповідно до трьох сторін служіння Христа: як Пророка і Законодавця, як Царя над світом невидимим і видимим, а також як Первосвященника, Котрий приносить Жертву за гріхи всіх людей.

Святий апостол Матфей обійшов з благовістям Сирію, Мідію, Персію і Парфію, закінчивши свої проповідницькі труди мученицькою кончиною в Ефіопії. Країна ця була населена племенами канібалів з грубими звичаями і віруваннями. Святий апостол Матфей своєю проповіддю тут навернув кількох ідолопоклонників до віри в Христа, заснував Церкву, побудував храм у місті Мірмени та поставив єпископом свого супутника на ім'я Платон.

Коли апостол старанно молив Бога про навернення ефіопів, під час молитви йому з'явився Сам Господь в образі юнака і, давши жезл, повелів поставити його біля дверей храму. Господь сказав, що із цього жезла виросте дерево і приноситиме плоди, а від кореня його витікатиме джерело води. Омившись у воді і скуштувавши плодів, ефіопи змінять свій дикий норов, стануть добрими і лагідними.

Коли апостол ніс жезл до храму, то зустрів дорогою дружину і сина правителя цієї країни Фулвіана, одержимих нечистим духом. Святий апостол іменем Іісуса Христа зцілив їх. Це чудо навернуло до Господа ще безліч язичників.

Однак володар не хотів, щоб його піддані стали християнами і припинили поклонятися язичницьким богам. Він звинуватив апостола в чаклунстві й наказав стратити його. Святого Матфея поклали обличчям донизу, засипали хмизом і підпалили. Коли багаття розгорілося, то всі побачили, що вогонь не шкодить святому Матфею. Тоді Фулвіан наказав додати хмизу в багаття, обливши його смолою і поставивши навколо дванадцять ідолів. Але полум'я розтопило ідолів і обпалило Фулвіана. Переляканий ефіоп звернувся до святого з благанням про пощаду, і по молитві апостола полум'я вщухло. Тіло святого апостола залишилося неушкодженим, і він відійшов до Господа. Це сталося в 60 році.

Правитель Фулвіан гірко розкаявся у скоєному, але сумнівів своїх не залишив. Він велів покласти тіло святого Матфея до залізного гробу і кинути в море. Водночас Фулвіан сказав, що коли Бог Матфеїв збереже тіло апостола у воді, як зберіг його у вогні, то слід поклонятися цьому Єдиному Істинному Богу.

Тієї ж ночі єпископу Платону в сонному видінні з'явився апостол Матфей і повелів іти з кліром на берег моря й знайти там його тіло. Прийшов на берег і Фулвіан зі своєю свитою.  Винесений хвилею гроб було з честю перенесено до храму, побудованого апостолом. Тоді Фулвіан попросив у Матфея прощення, після чого єпископ Платон хрестив його з ім'ям Матфей, яке дав йому за велінням Божим. Фулвіан згодом прийняв єпископство і продовжив справу просвіти свого народу.

Ukrainian Orthodox League
Thanksgiving Project

November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving and also the month we commemorate the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine. The UOL National Executive Board has decided that our yearly recommended Thanksgiving Project will focus on bringing a greater awareness of the Holodomor while helping the hungry in our communities now and in the future. In our remembrance, we strive to combat hunger in the present.

Please donate non-perishable foods in the bin in the vestibule.  Each item will be labeled with a sticker that says:

In 1932, 10 million people perished in an artificial famine in Ukraine.
We pray no one ever goes hungry again.

#Holodomor #UkrainianGenocide #NeverForget

All donations will be given to Our Lady of Sorrows food pantry.  If you would like to write a check, please make it payable to OLS Food Pantry.  We will collect food and donations until Sunday Dec 7th. 

Let's remember the innocent victims of the Ukrainian Holodomor, honor their memory, and help those in need within our own community at this time of giving!

Українська Православна Ліга Проєкт до Дня подяки

Листопад — це місяць, коли ми святкуємо День подяки, а також місяць, коли ми вшановуємо пам'ять жертв Голодомору в Україні. Національна виконавча рада УПЛ вирішила, що наш щорічний рекомендований Проєкт до Дня подяки буде зосереджений на підвищенні обізнаності про Голодомор, водночас допомагаючи голодним у наших громадах зараз і в майбутньому. У наших спогадах ми прагнемо боротися з голодом у сьогоденні.

Будь ласка, приносьте продукти тривалого зберігання до контейнера у вестибюлі. Кожен предмет буде позначено наліпкою з написом:

У 1932 році 10 мільйонів людей загинули від штучного голоду в Україні.
Ми молимося, щоб більше ніхто й ніколи не голодував.
#Голодомор #УкраїнськийГеноцид #НіколиНеЗабудемо

Усі пожертви будуть передані харчовій коморі храму Скорботної Божої Матері (Our Lady of Sorrows). Якщо ви бажаєте виписати чек, будь ласка, зазначте отримувачем
OLS Food Pantry. Ми збиратимемо продукти та пожертви до неділі, 7 грудня.

Давайте вшануємо пам'ять невинних жертв Українського Голодомору, віддамо шану їхній пам'яті та допоможемо тим, хто цього потребує у нашій власній громаді в цей час дарування!

Pirohy Session this week! (3 Potato batches)

Friday, December 5th:

• 7:30 am - Peel potatoes / boil / make filling - We need a few men to cook the potatoes and mix the filling.  Please come and learn!
• 10:00 am - 12 noon - Make balls… need help here too!

Saturday, December 6th:

• 7:30 am Set-up
• 8:00 am - 12 noon - Pinching - coffee - donuts - conversation
• Lunch served afterwards - Yum!

There are many ways to help!!  Please consider attending and making the work light and easy for all.  We need help both in the kitchen and with pinching… school-age runners too!

Please call your friends and family to attend too.

If you are unable to attend, please consider a donation towards the lunch expenses.

We do need a volunteer to handle the lunch for the session too.

Thank you for your time and dedication!!!… Mark Hatala and Nancy Tarcha

Constitution Committee

If you have any changes to our Constitution / Bylaws please submit them by December 1, 2025 at st.john@hrimno.com

The committee will meet in December to discuss all propositions and make recommendation to the Parish Council.

Thank you,
Brian Baxendale

Let's Help Ukraine!

St. John's Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund is accepting donations to help Ukrainians during war. Donations will go to provide food and other humanitarian needs.

To make donation online click here

We accept checks as well.

Please make the checks to St. John Ukrainian Humanitarian Fund

Mailing address:

1 Saint John's Parkway
Johnson City NY 13790
 

Cash is accepted in church

Pray for Ukraine!

Prayers for Ukraine are done during each service. To see the schedule click here.

Молитви за Україну проводяться під час кожної служби. За розкладом дивіться тут.

May God bless and protect Ukraine!

Please Note!

• Only Orthodox Christians may receive Holy Communion or other Sacraments.
  
• If you have not been to confession in over a month, please go to confession before receiving the Holy Gifts.
  
• We fast from all food and drink (including water) from bedtime (the previous night) until we receive the Holy Gifts during morning Divine Liturgy. That also means no coffee, no cigarettes, no gum, candies in the morning and during Divine Liturgy.

Happy Birthday

• November 30: Owen Hatala
  
• November 30: Marianne Linville
  
• December 02: Robert Onysko
  
• December 03: Victoria Wasyliw-Yap
  
• December 03: Isabelle Lepkowski
  
• December 03: Naveen Bhandari
  
• December 03: Mark Walling
  
• December 05: Mary Ann Klish
  
• December 06: Dr. Mark Hatala

* If your or someone else's birthday is missing or incorrect please let Fr. Ivan know right away.

Please Pray for the Servants of God

John, Rose, Solomiia, Bob, Melodye,
Nancy, Hristos, John, Jane,
Fr. Andre, Mary, Zenna, Douglas, Ivan,
Melanie, William, Marion, Helen,
Mariann, Robert, Jean, Ronald, Brian,
Fr. James, Scott, Andriy, James, William,
Pipinos, Fr. Gabriel and PM Susan, Vasyl

Upcoming Readings