Saints Cyril & Methodius
Equals to the Apostles and Teachers of the Slavs
Bulgarian Orthodox Mission
Христос
воскресе из
мертвых,
смертию
смерть
поправ,
и сущим во
гробех живот
даровав!
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Samaritan Woman
May
22, 2011
5th SUNDAY OF PASCHA — Tone 4. Samaritan Woman. Martyr Basiliscus, Bishop of Comana (ca. 308).
Commemoration of the Second Ecumenical Council (381). St. John (Vladimir),
Ruler of Serbia (1015). Monk Martyr Paul of the Lavra (Mt. Athos—1818).
Today we celebrate the
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
The Mission’s services are being hosted through the
gracious support of:
Fr. John Vitko and the parishioners of St. Luke
Orthodox Church
6801 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101
We are a Parish of
the
Orthodox Church in
America
Archdiocese of
Washington
Parish Council, 2011
Ms.
Zora Popova, President
Mr.
Evgeniy Anguelov, Vice President
Ms.
Elena Murphy, Treasurer
Mr.
Tzanko Stanchev, Secretary
Ms.
Nadiya Baltiska, Member
Ms.
Lena Lenkova, Member
Ms.
Lazarina Petrova, Member
Ms.
Nadiya Choparinoff (Alternate Member)
†
May Their Memory Be Eternal
†
The
newly departed servant of God, Ivan;
the
Bishops Nestor, Gregory, Job, and
Nicholas;
the
Priests Peter, Ishmael, Michael, Leo, Homer, Thomas, Victor, and Milorad;
the Matushki Mary,
Platonida, Sophronia, and Barbara;
the
Readers Philemon, John, John, and Robert Michael; and
the Servants of God, Bistra,
Gerard, Ruby, Timothy, Megan, Bojanka, Magdalena, Alexander, Sophia, Shafik,
Julia, Rada, Radka, Anna, Dale, Olivera, Marianthe & Panaigioti, and
George.
Those
Who Are In Need of Prayer
His Beatitude,
Metropolitan JONAH;
the Priests Photius,
Anthony, Vadim, Thomas, Paul, and Joseph;
the Presbyteras, Artemis,
Marie, Miriam, Mica, Helen, Rose, Juliana, & Anne;
the servants of God, Annie,
Flora, Karen, Stella, Victor, Erin, Kyriaki, Helen, Therese, Jane, Denny,
Oliver, Marion, Ellen, Marios & Sophia, Alexandra & Joseph, Catherine
& Wayne, John & Carmeta, John & Carol, Dimitrie & Rachael, Charlie
& Karen, Chariessa & Nicholas, and David & Patricia.
Schedule of Services
May 29 The Blind Man, at St. George – 12:00
June 5 Holy Fathers of 1st Ecumenical Council, at SS Cyril
& Methodius – 1:30
June 11 Zadushnitsa at St. George – 11:00 AM
Candle Lighting During the Liturgy
Lighting of candles during the services may be done at most any time
during the divine liturgy. However, at
the times of the processions (small entrance, great entrance) and at the time
of the sermon, candle lighting is to be paused.
Especially at the time of the scripture readings and sermon, attention
should be focused on the words, not on individual candle-lighting.
The Samaritan Woman
The Holy Martyr Photina
(Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman, her sons Victor (named Photinus) and Joses; and
her sisters Anatola, Phota, Photis, Paraskeva, Kyriake; Nero's daughter
Domnina; and the Martyr Sebastian: The holy Martyr Photina was the Samaritan
Woman, with whom the Savior conversed at Jacob's Well (John. 4:5-42).
During the time of the emperor Nero (54-68), who displayed excessive
cruelty against Christians, St Photina lived in Carthage with her younger son
Joses and fearlessly preached the Gospel there. Her eldest son Victor fought
bravely in the Roman army against barbarians, and was appointed military
commander in the city of Attalia (Asia Minor). Later, Nero called him to Italy
to arrest and punish Christians.
Sebastian, an official in Italy, said to St Victor, "I know that
you, your mother and your brother, are followers of Christ. As a friend I
advise you to submit to the will of the emperor. If you inform on any
Christians, you will receive their wealth. I shall write to your mother and
brother, asking them not to preach Christ in public. Let them practice their
faith in secret."
St Victor replied, "I want to be a preacher of Christianity like my
mother and brother." Sebastian said, "O Victor, we all know what woes
await you, your mother and brother." Then Sebastian suddenly felt a sharp
pain in his eyes. He was dumbfounded, and his face was somber.
For three days he lay there blind, without uttering a word. On the
fourth day he declared, "The God of the Christians is the only true
God." St Victor asked why Sebastian had suddenly changed his mind. Sebastian
replied, "Because Christ is calling me." Soon he was baptized, and
immediately regained his sight. St Sebastian's servants, after witnessing the
miracle, were also baptized.
Reports of this reached Nero, and he commanded that the Christians be
brought to him at Rome. Then the Lord Himself appeared to the confessors and
said, "Fear not, for I am with you. Nero, and all who serve him, will be
vanquished." The Lord said to St Victor, "From this day forward, your
name will be Photinus, because through you, many will be enlightened and will
believe in Me." The Lord then told the Christians to strengthen and
encourage St Sebastian to peresevere until the end.
All these things, and even future events, were revealed to St Photina.
She left Carthage in the company of several Christians and joined the
confessors in Rome.
At Rome the emperor ordered the saints to be brought before him and he
asked them whether they truly believed in Christ. All the confessors refused to
renounce the Savior. Then the emperor gave orders to smash the martyrs' finger
joints. During the torments, the confessors felt no pain, and their hands
remained unharmed.
Nero ordered that Sts Sebastian, Photinus and Joses be blinded and
locked up in prison, and St Photina and her five sisters Anatola, Phota,
Photis, Paraskeva and Kyriake were sent to the imperial court under the
supervision of Nero's daughter Domnina. St Photina converted both Domnina and
all her servants to Christ. She also converted a sorcerer, who had brought her
poisoned food to kill her.
Three years passed, and Nero sent to the prison for one of his servants,
who had been locked up. The messengers reported to him that Sts Sebastian,
Photinus and Joses, who had been blinded, had completely recovered, and that
people were visiting them to hear their preaching, and indeed the whole prison
had been transformed into a bright and fragrant place where God was
glorified.
Nero then gave orders to crucify the saints, and to beat their naked
bodies with straps. On the fourth day the emperor sent servants to see whether
the martyrs were still alive. But, approaching the place of the tortures, the
servants fell blind. An angel of the Lord freed the martyrs from their crosses
and healed them. The saints took pity on the blinded servants, and restored
their sight by their prayers to the Lord. Those who were healed came to believe
in Christ and were soon baptized.
In an impotent rage Nero gave orders to flay the skin from St Photina
and to throw the martyr down a well. Sebastian, Photinus and Joses had their
legs cut off, and they were thrown to dogs, and then had their skin flayed off.
The sisters of St Photina also suffered terrible torments. Nero gave orders to
cut off their breasts and then to flay their skin. An expert in cruelty, the
emperor readied the fiercest execution for St Photis: they tied her by the feet
to the tops of two bent-over trees. When the ropes were cut the trees sprang
upright and tore the martyr apart. The emperor ordered the others beheaded. St
Photina was removed from the well and locked up in prison for twenty days.
After this Nero had her brought to him and asked if she would now relent
and offer sacrifice to the idols. St Photina spit in the face of the emperor,
and laughing at him, said, "O most impious of the blind, you profligate
and stupid man! Do you think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my
Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you?"
Hearing such words, Nero gave orders to again throw the martyr down the
well, where she surrendered her soul to God (ca. 66).
On the Greek Calendar, St Photina is commemorated on February 26.
Parish Council Meeting
The next regular Parish Council
meeting will take place after the Divine Liturgy today. St. Luke’s Church will be having a meeting
the same afternoon so the meeting may take place in the parish office.
The meeting is open to the
public and non-members may discuss the issues, but only members of the Parish
Council may cast a vote.
Special Thank You
Today, the Mission would like
to especially thank Ms. Pamela Perry for her years of professional assistance
singing the Divine Liturgy on Sundays for us.
Her gift as a singer and her accommodation of hymnology for the various
festal services is very much appreciated.
Thanks to Pamela for a job very well done.