+ A Parish of +

The Orthodox Church in America www.oca.org

Most Rev. Archbishop Benjamin, Diocese of San Francisco and the West

www.dowoca.org

Very Rev. Fr. Archpriest John Armstrong frjohnarm@hotmail.com

Rev. Fr. Deacon John Manutes john.manutes@gmail.com

+ Worship Services +

Saturdays, 5:30 pm Great Vespers

(3rd & 6th Hour Prayers, 9:10 am)

Sundays, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy

Feast Days (See Monthly Calendar)

+ Parish Prayer List +

Please pray for and ask the Lord to have mercy on:

Hieroschemamonk Ambrose (Young) Mother Theodelphi Peter Anderson Benjamin, Justus, Kalena & Anthony Bertie Ericson; Linda & Kelly Armstrong Kathryn Birmingham Jeanie Cooper Agnes Craig Kafa Dalal Michael & Dagmar Drakulich Lauren Hansen Ronald Maue & Rhonda Grace George; Sarah; Nikolai and “Z” Joshua & Shannon Mead Joyce Mikita Shaun & Cheryl Matthew & Oleg Barbara Murray John & Michael Palmer St. Anthony Mission in Bozeman (Fr. David) St. Elijah Mission in Durango (Fr. Benjamin) St. Sophia Mission in CO Springs (Fr. Lawrence) St. Tikhon Mission in Parker (Fr. Alexander) Jonathan Paul Barbara Payne Natalia Perrin Martha Rapso John Russell John Salmon Sona Sarkissian, Mardig, and Seta Esther Schafer Kathleen Smith Christopher Sprecher Mary Streech Dana Such Don, Norma, Thomas and Jung Sook; Greg & Mary Muriel Weisman Vladimir and Natalia Zolotoochin

Our Missionaries: Archpriest Paul (SAMP); Michael, Lisa & Liam Colburn; Archpriest David Rucker & family; James Hargrave & family

Catechumens: Troy Nunley (Vladimir), Brandon Boyle (Constantine), Kristina Spargo (“Mary” Magdalena), and Vicki (Photini)

Newly Departed:

Memorial: Milo Vuyovich (01/07), Kurt Lucas (01)

Saint Herman

Orthodox Church

991 W. Prentice Ave. Littleton CO 80120 303-798-7306 www.sthermanoca.org

+ Pastoral Ministries +

Please contact Fr. John anytime for the following: Confession; Hospital Visits / Holy Unction; Memorial Services; Slavas; Moliebens; or, just to talk... You can call me at: 720-971-5931, or email me at: frjohnarm@hotmail.com

Saint Herman Orthodox Church

January 1, 2017

28th Sunday After Pentecost Forefeast of Theophany. Sunday Before Theophany.

The Circumcision of Christ. St. Basil the Great.

Holy Scriptures: 2 Timothy 4:5-8; Colossians 2:8-12; St. Mark 1:1-8; St. Luke 2:20-21,40-52

+ Today + January 1, 2017

Welcome to St. Herman Orthodox Church! We’re glad you came to worship with us!

Patron Saints: St. Basil (01/01), St. Emilia (01/01),

St. John the Forerunner (1/7)

“Preserve them, O Lord, for many years!”

Coffee Hour

+ This Week +

No fasting Mon—Wed and Friday!

Thursday, January 5 (Strict Fast): 9:30 am, Royal Hours for Theophany 6:30 pm, Vigil for Theophany

Friday, January 6 (Holy Theophany), 9:30 am, Festal Divine Liturgy w/Blessing of the Waters. Beginning of Annual House Blessings. Saturday, January 7 (Synaxis of St. John):

9:30 am, Liturgy for Synaxis of St. John the Forerunner & Baptizer of the Lord

5:30 am, Great Vespers & Confession

Handmaiden Schedule for January

Today, January 1, Nika & Sophia Bergbauer January 8, Sophie & Abigail Reynolds January 15, Tori & Katherine Pyle January 22, Tori Pyle & Cassia Brown January 29, Elizabeth & Juliana Gaines

Greeters Schedule for January

Today, January 1, Kevin Donahue January 8, Dorothy Zang January 15, Julia Urdenis January 22, Christine Salmon January 29, Olga Thomas

+ Looking Ahead +

Next Sunday, January 8, 9:30 am, Liturgy w/Blessing of the Waters. Swearing in of 2017 Parish Council members. Tuesday, January 10, 7:00 pm, Parish Council Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 11, 10 am & 6:30 pm, Book Study: “Orthodoxy & St. Augustine” Friday, January 13, 6:30 pm, Intro Class Saturday, January 14, 10:00 am, Parish Council Planning Meeting Monday, January 16, 11:00 am, Monarch Pass Snow Pack Blessing on Continental Divide followed by Lunch in Salida Sunday, Jan. 29, “Zacchaeus Sunday” Wed./Fri., Feb 1/2: Services for the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple

“When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity wast made manifest! For the Voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His Beloved Son! And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ our God, Who hast revealed Thyself, and hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee!” (Holy Theophany)

+ Synaxarion +

The Circumcision of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. The eighth day following His birth, the Divine Child was presented in the Temple and circumcised according to the Law existing in Israel since the time of Abraham. On this occasion, He was given the Name, “Jesus,” which the Archangel Gabriel announced to the All-Holy Virgin Mary. Old Covenant circumcision was the proto-type of New Covenant baptism. The circumcision of our Lord shows that He received upon Himself the true body of man and not just seemingly, as was later taught of Him by heretics. Our Lord was also circumcised because He wanted to fulfill the entire Law which He Himself gave through the Prophets and Forefathers. In fulfilling the written Law, He replaced it with Baptism in His Holy Church as was proclaimed by the Apostle Paul: " For neither circumcision means anything, nor uncircumcision, but only a new creation" (Galatians 6:15). (In the cycle of the liturgical calendar of the Church, this Feast of the Lord's Circumcision has neither a Pre– nor a Post– Feast.) St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Basil was born during the reign of the Emperor Constantine. While still unbaptized, Basil spent fifteen years in Athens where he studied philosophy, rhetoric, astronomy and all other secular sciences of that time. His colleagues at that time were Gregory the Theologian and Julian, later the apostate emperor. In his mature years he was baptized in the Jordan River along with Euvlios, his former teacher. He served as Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia for almost ten years and completed his earthly life fifty years after his birth. He was a great defender of Orthodoxy, a great light of moral purity, a religious zealot, a great theological mind, a great builder and pillar of the Church of God. Basil fully deserved the title "Great" [Gk: Megalos]. In liturgical services, he is referred to as the "bee of the Church of Christ which brings honey to the faithful, and with its stinger pricks the heretics." Numerous works of this Father of the Church are preserved; they include theological, apologetical, ascetical and canonical writings as well as the Holy and Divine Liturgy named after him. This Divine Liturgy is celebrated ten times throughout the year: today, the 1st of January, his feast day; on the Eve of the Nativity of our Lord; on the Eve of the Theophany of our Lord; all Sundays of the Honorable Fast [Lenten Season], except Palm Sunday; on Great and Holy Thursday and on Great and Holy Saturday. St. Basil died peacefully on Jan. 1, 379 and was translated into the Kingdom of Christ. St. Sylvester, Bishop of Rome (Jan. 2). Sylvester was born in Rome and from his early youth was learned in worldly wisdom and in the Faith of Christ. He always conducted his life according to the Gospel commandments. He benefited much from the instruction of Timothy the priest whose death for the Faith Sylvester himself witnessed and, observing the example of the heroic sacrifice of his teacher, was imbued with such a spirit throughout his entire life. At age thirty, he became the Bishop of Rome. He amended the customs of Christians. For example, he dispensed the fast on Saturdays, which was practiced by many Christians up to that time, and ordered that fasting be observed only on Great and Holy Saturday as well as on those Saturdays that fall within the fasting seasons. By his prayers and miracles, Sylvester assisted in bringing Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena into the True Faith. They were later baptized. He participated with the Empress Helena in finding the Honorable Cross. He governed the Church of God for 20 years. His earthly life ended honorably and he was translated into the heavenly Kingdom. Repose of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov (Jan. 2). Seraphim was one of the greatest Russian ascetics, discerners and miracle-workers. He was born in 1759 and died in 1833. Seraphim was distinguished by great humility. When the entire world praised him, he referred to himself as "the wretched Seraphim." The purpose of the Christian life, of all of our ascetical, liturgical and sacramental efforts is to “acquire the [uncreated divine Energy] Grace of the Holy Spirit” and become living temples of the Spirit of God.