Pastor: Fr John Vazquez | (518) 462-0579 |
fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com

Beloved,

The Son of God 

The last time we looked at the creed we looked at the words, and in one Lord Jesus Christ. Today we will look at the words the Son of God. As I pointed out last time, the word Lord is a title that identifies Jesus as Yahweh—the one who appeared to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Monoah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel etc. For today, the title Son of God is another way for us to declare in the creed who Jesus is. 

Right from the beginning of the Scriptures we see that God is Trinity when we He says—Let Us make man in Our image (Gen 1.26). As I have said before, for us to call God Father (I believe in one God the Father almighty) He must have a Son from all-eternity. God has always been Father, therefore He has always had the Son.

Often, in the Old Testament Scriptures, the understanding of the three persons of the Godhead is not as explicit. It is not until our Lord comes in the flesh that we can understand the Old Testament with unveiled face (2 Cor 3.16). Nevertheless we still see, in passages like Proverbs 8:22, that Christ—who is the Wisdom of God—is said to have been with God before creation and then in Daniel 7.13–14, that there is one like the Son of man, who comes to the Ancient of Days and is given dominion.

The New Testament Scriptures, in explaining and fleshing out the Old Testament Scriptures, are replete with passages that identify Jesus as the Son of God: the archangel Gabriel identifies the one born of Mary as the Son of God (Lk 1.35); the centurion at the cross recognizes Jesus as the Son of God (Mk 15.39); in Matthew 16.16 we see that Peter identifies Jesus as—the Son of the living God; the Pharisee’s attest that one of the reasons they have handed Jesus over to Pilate is because he made Himself the Son of God (Jn 19.7); The demons even acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God (Mt 8.29, Mk 3.11); St Paul identifies Jesus as the Son of God (2 Cor 1.19); and Jesus Himself affirms that He is the Son of God (Lk 22.70).

Our declaration in the creed that Jesus is the Son of God is a declaration that God chooses to reveal Himself. We understand that when it comes to human children, a son is like his father, and a daughter like her mother in many ways. This understanding that a child reveals their parent or is “an image” of their parent applies here with Jesus as the Son of God, but in this case, the Son perfectly reveals the Father (Heb 1.3). 

The very simple fact that God chooses to reveal Himself to us demonstrates that He is merciful, not leaving us without knowledge of Him. What a cause for great rejoicing—that we can know God through His Son. 

Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son and revelation of God to us!

With love in the risen Lord,

Fr John

Services and Events

Friday, July 12th—9am—St George Paraklesis 

Saturday, July 13th—5pm—Great Vespers 

Sunday, July 14th—9amOrthros and Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, July 17th8am—Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Saturday, July 20th—10AM–6PM—TEEN EVENT—Divine Liturgy for St Elias @ St George South Glens Falls 10am followed by a trip to Great Escape Amusement Park. 

Saturday, July 20th—NO GREAT VESPERS 

Sunday, July 21st—9amOrthros and Divine Liturgy (40 day Memorial for William Carragan) followed by Parish Council Meeting 

MONDAY JULY 22ND–SATURDAY JULY 27TH FR JOHN OUT OF TOWN FOR THE CLERGY SYMPOSIUM AT ANTIOCHIAN VILLIAGE—IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT FR PAUL FEDOROFF WHO IS AN OCA PRIEST IN THE AREA—‭(518) 573-7987

 

Church Calendar

Education

But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Pet 3.18

Read Metropolitan Saba's weekly teaching HERE

Get some caffeine for the soul with Coffee with the Fathers. WE ARE ON A HIATUS UNTIL SEPTEMBER when we plan to begin studying Hymns on Paradise by St Ephraim the Syrian. 

Study the Scriptures with us—Bible Study Saturday evenings at 6pm after vespers. WE ARE ON A HIATUS UNTIL SEPTEMBER when we plan to continue studying the Gospel of Matthew.

Click HERE for some resources for learning about our Faith

Click HERE for a great article on advice for mothers.

 

Did You Know...that Christ is Risen!...and...

*Festival for our sister parish of St George South Glens Falls is July 11–13th. 

*Our next Teen Event is Saturday July 20th—Liturgy at 10am at St George South Glens Falls for St Elias followed by a trip to GREAT ESCAPE AMUSEMENT PARK ($45 for tickets). 

*YES (Youth Equipped to Serve) is offering internships this fall. Over three months, interns work to bring the YES mission to their communities through an individualized project designed to meet a local need. The application deadline is Monday, July 15.
 
*Starting Thursday, July 18, Ancient Faith Kids will launch a new podcast, "A Joyful Noise: Exploring Byzantine Chant." Children will be taught in an age-appropriate manner about the eight modes used in Orthodox Christian Byzantine chant, learn about the parallagi scale, and sing hymns along with the host. Tune in!

Parish Prayer List

"Remember Me O Lord When You Come Into Your Kingdom." Lk 23.42

Please include in your daily prayers the following. Contact me to have someone added to the list. These are the names that will be remembered during the Divine Liturgy.

Living:

Bishop Alexander, Fr Gregory Potter, Fr Andrew, Fr Pat, Fr Joseph, Fr Chrysostom, Fr Peter and Matushka Sophia,  Fr Matthew, Fr Emmanuel, Dn Jorge, Dn Horia, The Rezek Family, Lamia, The Shahin Family, The Ruff Family, Diane, Callie, Leila, Helen, Lucy, Marsha, Mary, Georgette, Presbytera Marina, Hassib, Alex, Raymond.

All those suffering from illness, violence and want in this country and throughout the world and especially those in Ukraine Gaza and the middle east

Departed:

Fr Gregory DesMarais, Fr Alvian, Archpriest Basil (6.17), Archpriest James (6.17), Camile (7.2) William (6.9.24), Abrahim (6.9.24), those who have lost their lives and who have no one to pray for them, those who have passed in the conflict in Ukraine and the middle east.

Why do we pray for the dead?

Divine Liturgy Variables on Sunday, July 14, 2024

Tone 2 / Eothinon 3

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of Fourth Ecumenical Council

Apostle Aquila of the Seventy; Joseph the Confessor, archbishop of Thessalonica

 During the Little Entrance, chant the Resurrectional Apolytikion. The Eisodikon (Entrance Hymn) is “O come, let us worship… save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead…” After the Little Entrance, chant these hymns in the following order:

RESURRECTIONAL APOLYTIKION IN TONE TWO

When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hell with Thy Godly power. And when Thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of Heaven did cry aloud unto Thee: O Christ, Thou giver of life, glory to Thee.

APOLYTIKION OF THE HOLY FATHERS IN TONE EIGHT

Thou, O Christ, art our God of exceeding praise Who didst establish our Holy Fathers as luminous stars upon earth, and through them didst guide us unto the true Faith, O most merciful One, glory to Thee.

Now sing the apolytikion of the patron saint or feast of the temple.

ORDINARY KONTAKION IN TONE TWO

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.

THE EPISTLE

(For the Holy Fathers)

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O ye righteous. Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven!

The Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to St. Titus. (3:8-15)

Titus, my son, faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire you to affirm confidently, that those who have believed in God may be thoughtful of how to preside in honorable occupations. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, and genealogies, and contentions, and controversies about the Law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man who is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that such a one is subverted, and sins, being self-condemned. When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicós, give diligence to come to me to Nicopolis; for I have determined to winter there. Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that they may be lacking in nothing. And let our people also learn how to preside in honorable occupations, so as to help in cases of urgent need, that they should not be unfruitful. All who are with me salute you. Salute those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

THE GOSPEL

(For the Holy Fathers)

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (5:14-19)

The Lord said to His Disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father Who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

THE DISMISSAL

Priest: May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-immaculate and all-blameless holy Mother; by the might of the Precious and Life-giving Cross; by the protection of the honorable Bodiless Powers of Heaven; at the supplication of the honorable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople, whose Divine Liturgy we have now celebrated; of the holy, glorious and right-victorious Martyrs; of our venerable and God-bearing Fathers—especially the 630 of the Fourth Ecumenical Council whom we commemorate today—of Saint N., the patron and protector of this holy community; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, forasmuch as He is good and loveth mankind.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us.

Choir: Amen.

 

Parish Giving Summary—Fiscal Year 2023/24

Help us Meet our Goal of $120,000 for the Year

Sunday Giving for week of July 7th—$—293

Online Giving for week of July 7th—$2583

Total Giving for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—$72728.7

Families who have contributed for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—83

Families who have contributed over $5,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—3

Families who have contributed over $1,000 for fiscal year to date (October 23–September 24)—21

Check out our parish financial report by clicking HERE.

*You can set up a recurring monthly donation to the Church by clicking HERE 

Give to St. George

A Note to our Visitors

WELCOME!

We are blessed by your presence! Join us for fellowship after. Please note, in the Orthodox Church only baptized and chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared can partake of the Holy Eucharist. All others may come forward for a blessing with the chalice held over their head and receive a piece of blessed bread from the altar servers.

From a Father of the Church

Homily for the Sunday of the Fathers of the Fourth Council

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

The Fathers of the Church, through the study of Holy Scripture, the Old and New Testaments, especially with the Revelation of Christ to the Apostles, knew that Christ is the true God, the Son of God. The existence of the Holy Trinity was revealed at the Jordan River. On Mount Tabor, the face of Christ shone like the sun and His garments became white like light. Also, a bright cloud covered the Disciples and the voice of the Father was heard. This Light was not considered created, but divine, uncreated, the Light of divinity. In Christ there was a human nature (soul, body), but the radiance of divinity also came from within. This Light was not another nature, but the divine nature which was united with the human nature of Christ. Thus, the divinity of Christ was revealed without abolishing human nature. This led the Fathers to say that the two natures - divine and human - act in the hypostasis-person of the Word "inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably". https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2021/09/homilies-on-ecumenical-synods-fourth.html

Why should I care about the church fathers?