Orthodox Church of the Holy Martyr Saint Eleftherios: November 2012

THE VOICE OF ORTHODOXY

The local parish of Holy Martyr St. Eleftherios Orthodox Church will have its test airing, or should say maiden radio broadcast on the 24th of November, 2012. Airing time is an hour only at its 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. to start with.

The said radio program will be aired via DWPS-FM, 91.1 MHz, covering towns of Gubat, Prieto Diaz, Barcelona, Bulusan, half of Casiguran, parts of Sorsogon City and extreme north of Samar province.

In case they can have more sponsors, then they can hook-up the program with other two more FM radio station; one is in Bulan and Sorsogon City. If these happen, then greater range will be added. The entire Sorsogon City including Bacon District, Rapu-rapu Island of Albay Province, Northern and Western Samar provinces, half of Masbate province including Ticao and Burias Islands; and of course other towns in the Province of Sorsogon will be covered for sure like: Sta. Magdalena, Matnog, Magallanes, Juban, Irosin, and Castilla.

So, they are soliciting the help of those who are seriously and earnestly wanting our program, which is THE VOICE OF ORTHODOXY to thrive and progress.

GLORY TO GOD!

HMSEGOC CELEBRATES THE FEAST WITH THANKSGIVING

The parishioners of the Holy Martyr Saint Eleftherios Greek

Orthodox Church celebrate the feast of Saint John Chrysostom

with prayers, penance, and Divine Liturgy.

They also enjoy the precence of each other.

They are indeed grateful to have Fr. Philemon and Fr. George

as their guests. With the leadership of Fr. Chrysostom, their

rector, and with the help of the Parish Council headed by Stefana,

they rendered a memorable get together with songs, dances,

and food sharing.

The presence of each one is indeed a blessing. Glory to God!

Kyrie Eleison!

"...Are there any who are grateful servants?

Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!..."

(Saint John Chrysostom, 347 - 407)

DIVINE LITURGY: FEAST OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

November 13, 2012

"We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth,

for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere on earth.

We cannot describe it to you; we only know that God dwells there

among men and that their Services surpasses the worship of all other

places..." (Rev. Thomas Fitzgerald)

"by this flesh [of Christ in the Eucharist] our community is raised to heaven ;

that is where this Bread truly dwells; and we enter into the Holy of Holies

by the pure offering of the Body of Christ" (St. Gregory Palamas)

HMSEGOC Celebrates the Feast Day of Saint John Chrysostom

November 13, 2012

MATINS

"How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to you to dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple." Psalm 65:4

HMSEGOC Celebrates the Feast Day of Saint John Chrysostom

November 13, 2012

THE SACRAMENTS OF PENANCE

"Did you commit sin? Enter the Church and repent for your sin; for here is the physician, not the judge; here one is not investigated, one receives remission of sins" (St. John Chrysostom)

November 12, 2012: Fr. Chrysostom welcomes Fr. Philemon and Fr. George

NOVEMBER 13: SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

John was born in Antioch in the year 354. His father, Secundus, was an imperial commander and his mother's name was Anthusa. Studying Greek philosophy, John became disgusted with Hellenic paganism and adopted the Christian Faith as the one and all-embracing truth. Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch, baptized John, and his parents also subsequently received baptism. Following his parents' repose, John was tonsured a monk and lived a strict life of asceticism. He then wrote a book, On the Priesthood, after which the Holy Apostles John and Peter appeared to him, and prophesied that he would have a life of great service, great grace and great suffering. When he was to be ordained a priest, an angel of God appeared simultaneously to John and to Patriarch Flavian (Meletius's successor). While the patriarch was ordaining John, a shining white dove was seen hovering over John's head. Glorified for his wisdom, asceticism and power of words, John was chosen as Patriarch of Constantinople at the behest of Emperor Arcadius. As patriarch, he governed the Church for six years with unequalled zeal and wisdom. He sent missionaries to the pagan Celts and Scythians and eradicated simony in the Church, deposing many bishops guilty of this vice. He extended the charitable works of the Church and wrote a special order of the Divine Liturgy. He shamed the heretics, denounced Empress Eudoxia, interpreted Holy Scripture with his golden mind and tongue, and bequeathed the Church many precious books of his homilies. The people glorified him, the envious loathed him, and the Empress, on two occasions, sent him into exile. John spent three years in exile, and reposed as an exile on the Feast of the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, September 14, 407, in the town of Comana in Georgia. Before his repose, the Holy Apostles John and Peter appeared to him again, as did the Holy Martyr Basiliscus (May 22) in whose church he received Communion for the last time. His last words were, ``Glory be to God for all things,'' and with that, the soul of the golden-mouthed patriarch was taken into Paradise.

ANGEL MICHAEL

NOVEMBER 8

The Synaxis of the Leader of the Heavenly Hosts Michael, and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Hosts was established at the beginning of the IV Century at the local Laodician Council, which occurred several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Laodician Council by its 35th Canon condemned and renounced as heretical the worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and it affirmed their proper Orthodox veneration. A feast day was established in November -- the ninth month from March (with which month the year began in ancient times) -- in accordance with the 9 Ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month was decreed for the intended Assemblage of all the Heavenly Powers -- in conjunction with the Day of the Dread Last-Judgement of God, which the holy fathers called the "Eighth Day" -- since after this age in which the seven days [of Creation] have elapsed will come the "Eighth Day" -- and then "shalt come the Son of Man in His Glory and all the holy Angels together with Him" (Mt 25:31).
The Angelic Ranks are divided into three Hierarchies: highest, middle, and lowest. In the Highest Hierarchy are included the three Ranks: the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest of all to the MostHoly Trinity stand the six-winged Seraphim (Flaming, and Fiery) (Is 6:12). They blaze with love for God and impel others to it.
After the Seraphim there stand before the Lord the many-eyed Cherubim (Gen 3:24). Their name means: outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, since through them -- radiating with the light of Divine-knowledge and understanding of the mysteries of God, there is sent down wisdom and enlightenment for true Divine-knowledge.
After the Cherubim, stand God-bearing through grace given them for their service, the Thrones (Col 1:16), mysteriously and incomprehensibly upholding God. They serve the uprightness of God's justice.

Linus Justine "Michael" R. Sarmiento
Holy Martyr Saint Eleftherios Greek Orthodox Church
Gubat, Sorsogon, Philippines

October 28, 2012: IOANNIS TIS KLIMAKOS VISITS HOLY MARTYR ST. ELEFTHERIOS ORTHODOX CHURCH

IOANNA'S BAPTISM and CHRISTMATION

AUGUST 25, 2012

Father Chrysostom and baby Ioanna

The proud parents, the godmother and Father Chrysostom

The Dimen family: Andrew, Monica, Laurencia and baby Ioanna.

Ioanna and her godmother, Cyrilla.

August 26, 2012: Baby Ioanna's first communion

SAINT PAUL, THE CONFESSOR

NOVEMBER 6

Saint Paul the Confessor, Archbishop of Constantinople, was chosen to the patriarchal throne after the death of Patriarch Alexander (+ 340), when the Arian heresy had again flared up. Many of the Arians were present at the Council which selected the new Archbishop of Constantinople. They revolted in opposition to the choice of St Paul, but the Orthodox at the Council were in the majority.

The emperor Constantius, ruling over the Eastern half of the Roman Empire, was an Arian. He was not in Constantinople for the election of the Archbishop, and so it took place without his consent. Upon his return, he convened a council which illegally deposed St Paul, and the emperor banished him from the capital. In place of the saint they elevated Eusebius of Nicomedia, an impious heretic. Archbishop Paul withdrew to Rome, where other Orthodox bishops were also banished by Eusebius.

Eusebius did not rule the Church of Constantinople for long. When he died, St Paul returned to Constantinople, and was greeted by his flock with love. But Constantius exiled the saint a second time, and so he returned to Rome. The Western emperor Constans wrote a harsh letter to his Eastern co-ruler, which he sent to Constantinople along with the holy exiled archpastor. The threats worked, and St Paul was reinstated upon the archepiscopal throne.

But soon the pious emperor Constans, a defender of the Orthodox, was treacherously murdered during a palace coup. They again banished St Paul from Constantinople and this time sent him off in exile to Armenia, to the city of Cucusus, where he endured a martyr's death.

When the Archbishop was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, Arians rushed upon him by force and strangled him with his own omophorion. This occurred in the year 350. In 381, the holy Emperor Theodosius the Great solemnly transferred the relics of St Paul the Confessor from Cucusus to Constantinople. In 1326, the relics of St Paul were transferred to Venice.

St Athanasius the Great, a contemporary of St Paul, writes briefly about his exiles, "St Paul the first time was sent by Constantine to Pontus, the second time he was fettered with chains by Constantius, and then he was locked up in Mesopotamian Syngara and from there moved to Emesus, and the fourth time to Cappadocian Cucusus in the Taurian wilderness."

reference: www.oca.com