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Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Mission |
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O ye incorporeal angels who stand before the throne of God, luminous with the brilliance thereof and everlastingly shining with radiance. As secondary luminaries, entreat Christ, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy. O immortal messengers of the truly incorruptible Life, ye most blessed ones who received life from the first Life, ye have become holy beholders of the eternal Wisdom, full of light, and reflecting lamps shown forth as is meet. O ye archangels and angels, principalities, thrones, dominions, six-winged seraphim, and divine, many-eyed cherubim, instruments of wisdom, virtues and powers most divine. Pray ye to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy. Archives:
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HOLY RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC MISSION
FATHER THOMAS O’CONNELL, PASTOR FATHER MICHAEL MAPLES, ASSISTANT PASTOR FATHER DEACON RON VOLEK, PASTORAL ASSISTANT HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH 307 BLACK OAK RIDGE ROAD PO BOX 817 SEYMOUR, TN 37865 PHONE: 865-609-1081 www.hrbcc.org
Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na Niky!
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
Divine Liturgy begins at 4 p.m. Every Sunday
Ninth Hour Prayer precedes Liturgy at 3:30 p.m.
Potluck supper follows Liturgy on the third Sunday of the month
Also at this time non-perishable foods and items for those in need
DECEMBER 2, 2007
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY PROPHET HABAKKUK
Our Offerings
SOLEMN HOLY DAYS
OUR HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS, THE WONDERWORKER ARCHBISHOP OF MYRA
December 6, Thursday Divine Liturgy @ 7:30 p.m.
FEAST OF THE CONCEPTION OF ST. ANN
December 8, Saturday Divine Liturgy on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 @ 7:30 p.m.
Our Offerings
ST. NICHOLAS: DEVOTED TO ACTS OF CHARITY
The fame and esteem of this fourth century saint has not dimmed with the passing of the centuries; in fact, it is glowing
more brilliantly than ever! Great interest has been aroused in our day about the remarkable and lovable Good
St. Nicholas — otherwise known as Santa Claus. His giving away of all his inherited property to the poor is
legendary. As the holy season of Christmas draws near, we are reminded of St. Nicholas’ selfless acts of mercy
and are called upon to do the same.
Here are a few interesting facts associated with his life:
St. Nicholas was born in Patara, a small Mediterranean town in southern Turkey. His parents, Theofan and Nonna, were
pious Christians who raised their child with great love and care.
He became the Bishop of Myra (now called Demre) located about 40 miles from his hometown. Some 1600 years ago, Myra was a
busy seaport. It is now known for its exciting archeological digs — including that of an ancient Roman theater and a
necropolis (an historic burial ground). The remains of the Church of St. Nicholas were discovered some 15 to 20 feet
below ground and continually draws pilgrims from around the world.
St. Nicholas died about 343 and was laid to rest in his church. However, in 1087 some traders from Bari, Italy, are
said to have brought the remains of the saint to their city after having taken them from the tomb at Myra. A huge church
was built in Bari, and many pilgrims make their way there, too, in order to honor the beloved saint.
God is in the Heart
There is a proverb that says that the favorite dwelling place of God is in the heart. Indeed, God dwelt in the hearts of
these two beloved saints of the Eastern Church — St. Barbara and St. John of Damascus — whose memory
we celebrate this week on December 4.
St. Barbara was the beautiful daughter of a third century nobleman. Remarkably, she came to know of Christ without a
human teacher. It is said that God, Himself, opened the heart of this young woman and revealed Himself to her. When her
father, who was not a Christian, heard of this, he became furious. St. Barbara fled from her home, but her father
apprehended her and turned her over to the governor for torture. After being tortured and humiliated, she was executed by
the hand of her own father! Her martyrdom, however, was the beginning of a new life in Christ. After her death, she
appeared to many, and her relics have been said to work countless miracles.
St. John of Damascus is best known for his defense of the veneration of icons during the iconoclastic heresy. To
prevent him from writing in favor of icons, it was ordered that his right hand be cut off! He prayed before the icon of the
Mother of God and his hand was miraculously healed. In commemoration of this, there is a very famous icon of the Mother of
God depicted with a third hand. St. John is also known for composing many beautiful hymns still used in our church at
Easter, during funerals, and at other times throughout the year.
PASTORAL PONDERINGS
We need to remind ourselves about a word or a theory that is prevalent among some Protestants (not all)...The Rapture.
According to its definition, this refers to an event in which some people will be taken up from life on earth directly into
the air to meet the returning Christ. This concept was first proposed by Reverend Nelson Darby, an Irish Anglican
lawyer-pastor in 1800 A.D. This belief in the Rapture was rooted and mistakenly misinterpreted from the fourth and
fifth chapters of 1 Thessalonians. According to Darby and his followers after this secret removal of believers, would
come the rise of the Antichrist and the implementation of the “Mark of the Beast” during seven years of
Tribulation. At the end of those seven years, the second coming of Christ and Armageddon, the final battle between good
and evil would take place.
There is a passage in Matthew (24:40-41) which does speak about some people being “taken” and some being
“left behind,” but t the word for “taken” in Greek means, not “to go up” but rather
“to go along with.” It isn't a magical word about the “born again and saved” people floating up in
the air as many Protestants believe. It is much more like Jesus’ words to the apostles by the Sea of Galilee:
“follow me” or “come along with me.” The Catholic view sees the millennium not as an earthly
golden age in which the world will be totally Christianized, but as the present period of Christ’s rule in heaven and
on earth. It is interesting to note that this was also the view held by the original Protestant reformers, and as such it
differs from modern Fundamentalists and Evangelical groups.
—Father Thomas O’Connell
Last updated: 19-Dec-2007 |
