Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

& Ninth Sunday of Luke

After-feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos

Apostles Philemon, Apphia, Archippos and Onesimos of the Seventy; Clement, bishop of Ochrid and enlightener of Bulgaria; Martyr Cecilia of Rome and those with her; Venerable Kallistos Xanthopoulos of Athos; Martyr Michael, prince of Tver

November 22^nd, 2015

Hymns of the Day

Troparion of the Resurrection – Tone 8

From the heights Thou didst descend, O compassionate One, and Thou didst submit to the three day burial, that Thou might deliver us from passion; Thou art our life and our Resurrection, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Troparion of the Entrance of the Theotokos – Tone 4

Today the Virgin is the foreshadowing of the pleasure of God, and the beginning of the preaching of the salvation of mankind. Thou hast appeared in the Temple of God openly and hast gone before, preaching Christ to all. Let us shout with one thrilling voice, saying: Rejoice, O thou who art the 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.

Troparion 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.

Epistle – Ephesians 4:1-7

Brethren, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, Who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

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.”

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 [of us] 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 individually, as a family, and as a country.

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

In the Antiochian Archdiocese there is 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 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!