We are a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and all are welcome to worship with us! Our services are in English. Please join us at our coffee hour downstairs after the service.
July 16/29, 2007
9th Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils
Sunday Troparion, Tone 8: From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; * to burial of three days hast Thou submitted*that Thou mightest free us from our passions. * O our Life and Resurrection, O Lord, glory be to Thee.
Troparion of the Holy Fathers, Tone 8: Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, * Who hast established our holy fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, * and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. * O Most merciful One, glory be to Thee.
Sunday Kontakion, Tone 8: Having arisen from the tomb, Thou didst raise up the dead and didst resurrect Adam. Eve also danceth at Thy Resurrection, and the ends of the world celebrate Thine arising from the dead, O Greatly-merciful One.
Kontakion of the Holy Fathers, Tone 8: The preaching of the apostles and the doctrines of the fathers confirmed the one Faith of the Church. *And wearing the garment of truth, woven from the theology on high, *She rightly divideth and glorifieth the great mystery of piety.
Kontakion of the Theotokos, Tone 6: O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, * mediation unto the Creator most constant, * O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned, * but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, * who in faith cry unto thee: * Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, * thou who dost ever protect, * O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Today’s Readings
Epistle: 1st Corinthians 3:9-17; Hebrews 13:7-16
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-34; John 17:1-13
Parish News
vGlory to God for such an enjoyable parish picnic last Sunday! Many thanks to everyone who came and helped make it such a memorable day.
vLarissa Samotowka had quadruple-bypass surgery on Thursday. Glory to God that she is doing well and recovering at MillardFillmoreGatesCircleHospital. Please remember her in your prayers.
vPlease remember in your prayers those traveling: Christopher and Ann (Lindsey) Clader, Silouan Dudley, Reader Nicolas and Benjamin Jackson, Hadzi-Antich Family.
vOrthodox Christian Fellowship is hosting a Summer Cook-Out at the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation today .
vNext Sunday, as always on the first Sunday of the month, we will serve the Moleben for the Conversion of the Non-Orthodox after coffee hour. Please bring your commemoration lists.
vWe are pleased to announce that Anna Wheeler’s and Herb Venticinque’s baby, Elijah Alexander, will be baptized here at Sts. Theodore on Sunday, August 12, at .
St. John of the Ladder on “That Clamorous Mistress, the Stomach”
As we are about to speak concerning the stomach, as in everything else, we propose to philosophize against ourselves. For I wonder if anyone has been liberated of this mistress before settling in the grave.
He who fondles a lion often tames it, but he who coddles the body makes it still wilder.
The glutton counts beforehand the days till Pascha, and he prepares the food for it several days in advance. The slave of his belly calculates with what dishes he will celebrate the feast, but the servant of God considers with what spiritual gifts he may be enriched.
If a stranger comes, the slave of the stomach is moved to love entirely from gluttony, and he regards laxity for himself as consolation for his brother. When others are present, he deems it right to allow himself wine; and thinking to hide his virtue, he becomes a slave of passion.
The perfect find their time of gladness and consolation in freedom from care in all things; the warrior-ascetic delights in the heat of the battle; but the slave of the passions revels in the Feast of feasts and the Festival of festivals.
The mind of a faster prays soberly, but the mind of an intemperate person is filled with impure idols.
He who cherishes his stomach and hopes to overcome the spirit of fornication is like one who tries to put out a fire with oil.
