Divine Liturgy, Sunday, April 21, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Lent: Venerable Mary of Egypt (Tone 5)
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Sunday, April 21, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Lent: Venerable Mary of Egypt - Tone 5
Fast: Fish, wine and oil allowed
Father Micah Chisholm Phone: (989) 324-8773
[www.stsebastianorthodoxchurch.org]
Entrance Hymn: Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, Who rose from the dead O Son of God, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia!
Resurrectional Troparion – Tone 5: Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.
Troparion – St. Sebastian – Tone 8: The image of God was preserved in thee, O father, for thou didst take up thy cross and follow Christ. Thou didst teach by thine own example that the flesh is to be spurned as transient, while the soul needs great care as it is immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Sebastian, thou dost rejoice with the Angels.
Troparion – St. Mary of Egypt (522) - Tone 8: The image of God was truly preserved in thee, O Mother, for thou didst take up the Cross and follow Christ. By so doing, thou hast taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away; but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. Therefore thy spirit, O holy Mother Mary, rejoices with the angels.
Resurrectional Kontakion – Tone 5: Thou didst descend into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty; resurrecting the dead as Creator, and didst destroy the sting of death, Thou hast delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Man, and we all cry to Thee: O Lord, save us!
Kontakion – St. Sebastian – Tone 2: O father Sebastian, armed with purity of soul and grasping unceasing prayer as firmly as a spear. Thou didst pierce the demons’ armies. Unceasingly pray for us all.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!
Kontakion – St. Mary of Egypt (522) – Tone 3: Having been a sinful woman, thou didst become through repentance a bride of Christ. Having attained angelic life, thou didst defeat demons with the weapon of the Cross. Therefore, O most glorious Mary, thou art a bride of the Kingdom.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion of the Theotokos – Tone 6: Steadfast Protectress of Christians, constant advocate before the Creator, despise not the cry of us sinners, but in thy goodness come speedily to help us who call on thee in faith. Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for thou dost ever protect those who honor thee.
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The Prokeimenon (in the 5th Tone): Thou, O Lord, shalt protect us and preserve us from this generation forever.
Verse: Save me, O Lord for a righteous man there is no more.
Epistle Reading (Hebrews 9:11-14 (§321 mid); Galatians 3:23-29 (§208))
Brethren, Christ came as a High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
From Galatians: Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Gospel (St. Mark 10:32-45 (§47); St. Luke 7:36-50 (§33))
At that time: His disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
At that time: one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
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Hymn to the Theotokos
All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace, the assembly of angels and the race of men. O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, the glory of virgins, from whom God was incarnate and became a child – our God before the ages. He made your body into a throne, and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. All of creation rejoices in you, O Full of Grace. Glory to you, glory to you!
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest! In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Pre-Communion Prayer
I believe, O Lord, and I confess that Thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, Who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Moreover, I believe that this is truly Thy most Pure Body, and that this is truly Thine Own Precious Blood. Wherefore, I pray Thee: Have mercy on me and forgive me my transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, in word and in deed, in knowledge and in ignorance. And vouchsafe me to partake without condemnation of Thy most pure Mysteries unto the remission of my sins and life everlasting. Amen.
Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God, receive me today as a communicant; for I will not speak of the Mystery to Thine enemies, nor will I give Thee a kiss as did Judas, but like the Thief do I confess Thee: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom.
Let not the communion of Thy Holy Mysteries be unto me for judgment, or condemnation, O Lord, but for thehealing of soul and body. Amen.
Polychronion (The Many Years)
Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All the Rus, Our Lord the Very Most Reverend Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Our Lord the Most Reverend Peter, Archbishop of Chicago and Mid-America, and their God-protected flock, this land, its civil authorities and armed forces, the God-preserved Lands of Rus, The Rector of this Holy Parish and all Orthodox Christians: Preserve, O Lord, for many years!
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Note: The Parish Council has decided to regularly publish our latest “Operational” financial health status for general awareness. The information will be freshened each month. Here is the 2024 status as of 03/31/24:
March only Yr to Date
Total Operating Income to Date: $ 5,291 $ 14,363
Total Operating Expenses to Date: $ 4,659 * $ 14,882 *
Current Building Fund Balance $ 104,583
* Includes Diocesan Assessment increment
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Please pray for our Catechumens:
Nathan & Claire
And also for Ma. Stephanie, and Donald Clewley & Family
If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox faith,
or are interested in learning how you can become a part of Saint Sebastian Orthodox Christian Church,
please speak to Father Micah.
