Saints Cyril & Methodius

Bulgarian Orthodox Mission

January 29, 2012

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33^rd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone 8. Sunday of Zacchæus. New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Translation of the Relics of Hieromartyr Ignatius the Godbearer, Bishop of Antioch (107). St. Lavrentii (Lawrence), Recluse, of the Kiev Caves, Bishop of Turov (Near Caves—12^th c.). Ss. Gerásim (1441-1467), Pitirím (1445) and Jonah (1470), Bishops of Perm. Martyrs Romanus, Jacob (James), Philotheus, Hyperechius, Abibus, Julian, and Paregonius, at Samosata (297). Martyrs Silvanus, Bishop of Emesa, Luke the Deacon, and Mocius (Mucius) the Reader (312).

Sunday of Zacchaeus

Gospel Reading: Luke 19:1-10

(Four weeks before Great Lent begins)

We are a Parish of the

Orthodox Church in America

Archdiocese of Washington

Our website is ® www.bocdc.org

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

Today is our Annual Parish Meeting

According to our bylaws, our Annual Parish Meeting is to be held on the last Sunday in January. So, the meeting will take place today, after the Divine Liturgy.

† May Their Memory Be Eternal †

The Bishops Nestor, Gregory, and Job;

the Priests Peter, Ishmael, Michael, Leo, Homer, Thomas, Victor, and Milorad;

the Matushki Mary, Platonida, Sophronia, Artemis, and Barbara;

the Readers Philemon, John, and Robert Michael; and

the Servants of God, Linda, Bojanka, Magdalena, Julia, Rada, Radka, Anna, Olivera, Krustio, George, and Maria.

Those Who Are In Need of Prayer

The Priests Photius, Anthony, Vadim, Thomas, Paul, and Joseph;

the Presbyteras, Marie, Miriam, Mica, Helen, Rose, Juliana, & Anne;

the Servants of God, Zell, Flora, Karen, Victor, Erin, Kyriaki, Helen, Paulina, Jane, Denny, Oliver, Marion, Ellen, Marios & Sophia, Alexandra & Joseph, Catherine & Wayne, John & Carmeta, John & Carol, Dimitri & Rachael, Charlie & Karen, Chariessa & Nicholas, and David & Patricia.

Schedule of Services

Jan. 29 – SS Cyril & Methodius, 1:30: ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Feb. 5 – at St. Mark Church, 9:30

Feb. 12 – at SS Cyril & Methodius, 1:30

Feb. 19 – at St. Mark Church, 9:30

Feb. 26 – SS Cyril & Methodius, 1:30

The Sunday of Zacchaeus

The Church also remembers Zacchaeus on the Sunday of Zacchaeus, when Luke 19:1-10 is read, describing his encounter with Christ.

In the Slavic lectionary, the Sunday of Zacchaeus is also the Sunday before the Triodion begins (though in the Byzantine lectionary, it may occur earlier). It is read at this point in the liturgical year, immediately before Great Lent, to teach that one should turn away from sins.

In this way the Lenten journey should begin with a recognition of sinfulness, just as Zacchaeus recognized his sins. He promised to make restitution by giving half of his wealth to the poor and by paying to those he had falsely accused four times as much as they had lost. In this, he went beyond the requirements of the Law (Ex. 22:3-12).

Just as Zacchaeus "sought to see who Jesus was" (Luke 19:3), that same desire and effort to see Jesus starts the movement through Lent towards Pascha. It is the first movement of salvation.

Annual Parish Meeting

AGENDA

1. Registration
2. Opening Prayer
3. Determination of a Quorum
4. Reports
1. Priest - Fr. Timothy
2. Parish Council President - Ms. Zora Popova
3. Parish Council Treasurer - Mrs. Elena Murphy
4. Parish Council Secretary - Mr. Tzanko Stanchev
5. Election of 2012 Parish Council Members
6. Closing Prayer

2011 Parish Council

Fr. Timothy Perry, Priest-in-charge

1. Ms. Zora Popova, President

2. Ms. Nadiya Baltiska, Vice President

3. Mrs. Elena Murphy, Treasurer

4. Mr. Tzanko Stanchev, Secretary

5. Mr. Evgeniy Anguelov, Member

6. Ms. Lena Lenkova, Member

7. Ms. Lazarina Petrova, Member

8. Ms. Nadya Choparinoff, Alternate

Metropolitan JONAH

Archbishop of Washington

Metropolitan of All America and Canada

Orthodox Church in America

St. Ignatius the God-Bearer

Commemorated January 29

The Transfer of the Relics of the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer: (See December 20). After the holy hieromartyr Ignatius was thrown to the lions in the year 107 on the orders of the emperor Trajan, Christians gathered up his bones and preserved them at Rome.

Later, in the year 108, the saint's relics were collected and buried outside the gate of Daphne at Antioch. A second transfer, to the city of Antioch itself, took place in the year 438. After the capture of Antioch by the Persians, the relics of the Hieromartyr Ignatius were returned to Rome and placed into the church of the holy Hieromartyr Clement in the year 540 ( in 637, according to other sources).

St Ignatius introduced antiphonal singing into Church services. He has left us seven archpastoral epistles in which he provided instructions on faith, love and good works. He also urged his flock to preserve the unity of the faith and to beware of heretics. He encouraged people to honor and obey their bishops, "we should regard the bishop as we would the Lord Himself" (To the Ephesians 6)

In his Letter to Polycarp, St Ignatius writes: "Listen to the bishop, if you want God to listen to you... let your baptism be your shield, your faith a helmet, your charity a spear, your patience, like full armor." (Compare Eph. 6:14-17 and the Wisdom of Solomon 5:17-20. Also THE LADDER 4:2)

The Three Holy Hierarchs

Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom

Commemorated January 30

Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom: During the eleventh century, disputes raged in Constantinople about which of the three hierarchs was the greatest. Some preferred St Basil (January 1), others honored St Gregory the Theologian (January 25), while a third group exalted St John Chrysostom (November 13).

Dissension among Christians increased. Some called themselves Basilians, others referred to themselves as Gregorians, and others as Johnites.

By the will of God, the three hierarchs appeared to St John the Bishop of Euchaita (June 14) in the year 1084, and said that they were equal before God. "There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another."

They ordered that the disputes should stop, and that their common commemoration should be celebrated on a single day. Bishop John chose January 30 for their joint Feast, thus ending the controversy and restoring peace.