Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Mission

Icon of the Archangel Gabriel

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.

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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

JUNE 1, 2008
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY MARTYR JUSTIN AND HIS COMPANIONS

Our Offerings
May 25: $466 — Candles: $21

KONTAKION: TONE 4

Let us run, O ye people, to the Virgin Queen, the Theotokos, thanking Christ our God: and gazing tenderly at her miraculous icon, let us fall down and cry to her: “O Lady Mary, having visited this land by the appearance of thy venerable icon, keep all Christians in peace and prosperity, and make them heirs of the heavenly life; for to thee we cry in faith: Rejoice, O Virgin, salvation of the world!”

Third Sunday after Pentecost
(Matthew 6:22-23)

In the Gospel today, Jesus teaches us about the value of our soul, which according to Him is far greater in value than that of our body. Because of this, we have to care much more about the things that pertain to our soul and about our spiritual life. However, since we live in this “sensible” world, it is often true that we are much more interested in the earthly things, and in all those things that regard our body. Everyday we are encountered with all the necessities of our earthly life.

On the other hand, the spiritual world and the realm of our soul and its necessities escape our attention. It’s no wonder why we are engrossed in the earthly things and do not pay attention to the world beyond that of of our heavenly home — of which we are destined. Therefore, Jesus, our Savior, came down to earth not only to free us from the slavery of sin and the devil, but also to teach us about the God-fearing life and to turn our attention to the life of our soul.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will stand by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

There are two masters who strive for our allegiance: God and mammon. Thankfully, many people serve the one true God. Sadly though, some continue to serve mammon or the false god. Our Lord tells us that it is impossible to serve both. The heart cannot be divided between the two. It’s chief affection must be set on one or the other. Friendship with the world or mammon is at odds with God. To serve mammon is to desert the true God. It sets up an idol in one’s heart.

The decision to choose one or the other is ours to make. It is either God or mammon; heaven or hell. There is no compromise. “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)

It is no easy task in today’s world. All the worldly allurements are presented to us daily through television and other media. They can easily distract us from our true goal and Master. Each person has his temptations, burdens, difficulties and problems. But Each and every day, God is ready to give us His help and all the strength necessary to overcome any obstacle that stands in our path. Thus, make no compromises, but give your whole heart to God!

The Icon of the Theotokos called “The Cypress” (Commerated on June 2)

The prototype of this icon appeared on the island of Cypress in 392 at the burial site of Lazarus the brother of Sts. Mary and Martha. According to the Greek Synaxarion, an Arab on the island was passing a church that was dedicated to the Mother of God. Having contempt and disdain for anything that was Christian, he saw an icon of the Holy Virgin on the gate of the church and shot it with his bow and arrow. The arrow hit the Virgin’s knee and at once blood came running out.

There is another Cypress Icon called the “Hawk.” During the days when Cypress was governed by Christians, their ruler went hunting with his hawk. The bird was trained to retrieve prey. A bird was shot down and the hawk went after it. When it dived after the bird, the hawk became entangle in some brush. The ruler had his servants rescue the hawk, and when they did, they discovered an Icon of the Mother of God. Thus, the name “Hawk.” The ruler had a monastery built on that spot. There is also another icon on Cypress called, “Cleansing,” because of the healing of those with eye diseases.

In another story, a young girl from a village near Moscow in 1841 was stricken with tuberculosis of the neck. As she lay near death, she saw in a dream the Cypress Icon over the entrance of a church. A voice told her to go to the church, take the icon home, have a service of the Blessing of Water, and she would be healed. She did as she was told and immediately showed signs of improvement. Upon returning the icon back to the church, she then was completely healed.

Last updated: 19-Jun-2008