Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
& Ninth Sunday of Luke
After-Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos

 

November 23, 2014

 

Amphilokios, Bishop of Iconium: Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum: Ischyrion. Bishopin Egypt and Hermit of Sketis: Venerable Sisinios the Confessor of Kyzikos

 

Hymns of the Day

 

Troparion of the Ressurection – Tone 7

Thou didst shatter death by Thy Cross, Thou didst open paradise to the thief; Thou didst turn the sadness of the ointment-bearing women into joy. And didst bid Thine Apostles proclaim a warning, that Thou hast risen O Christ, granting to the world the Great Mercy.

 

Troparion of The Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple – Tone 4

Today is the prelude of the goodwill of God, of the preaching of the salvation of mankind. The Virgin appears in the temple of God, in anticipation proclaiming Christ to all. Let us rejoice and sing to her: Rejoice, O Fulfillment of the Creator’s dispensation.

 

Troparion of St Joseph –  Tone 2

Proclaim, O Joseph to David, the ancestor of God, the amazing wonder,
for by the angel they were revealed unto thee. For thou hast seen a Virgin great with child, and thou gave glory with the shepherds and didst worship with the Magi. Wherefore, plead with Christ God to save our souls.

 

Kontakion of the Entrance of the Theotokos – Tone 4

The all-pure temple of the Savior, the most precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the treasure-house of the glory of God, today enters the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace which is in the divine Spirit: whom also the angels of God do celebrate in song; for she is the heavenly tabernacle.

 

Koinonikon (Communion Hymn)

His proclamation hath gone out into all the earth; and his words to the ends of the universe. Alleluia.

 

Epistle – Ephesians 2:14-22

Brethren, Christ is our peace, Who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And He came and preached peace to you, who were far off, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in Whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

Gospel – Luke 12:16-21

The Lord spoke this parable: “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” As He said this, Jesus called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

 

To Fast or Feast on Thanksgiving Day?

Orthodox Christians in America are in a unique position regarding the celebration of Thanksgiving, which is our patriotic duty. Thanksgiving is no longer a time of fasting, but of feasting with family and friends (something which began to take shape after the Civil War in the 19th century and the Lincoln proclamation).

For those who follow the New Calendar especially, the giant feast associated with Thanksgiving coincides with a period of 40-day fasting prior to Christmas, though it sometimes falls within the Old Calendar fasting period as well (when fasting begins on November 28th). Generally, however, a dispensation is granted by local bishops and priests to allow the Orthodox faithful to participate in this traditional American holiday as a harvest festival, a time for families to come together and celebrate, and to offer thanks to God for all He grants to us both individually, as a family and as a country.

 

http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/11/orthodox-christians-and-thanksgiving.html

 

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese allows a dispensation from fasting for Thanksgiving Day.   

 

Whether you keep the Nativity Fast to the letter, or join with family and friends for a feast (in moderation), remember above all, the spirit of this time of preparation for the coming in the Flesh of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ …

 

Above all, give thanks to the Good God Who, in His eternal mercy (and through no feat of our own), saves us!