ICON OF THE CANAANITE WOMAN

17TH SUNDAY OF ST. MATTHEW

SUNDAY OF THE CANAANITE WOMAN

TRANSLATION OF THE RELICS OF ST. IGNATIUS THE GODBEARER

jANUARY 29, 2012

In the Orthodox Church the Lenten Triodian is a preparation for the period of Lent. The last Sunday before the start of the Triodion, the Orthodox Church reads the gospel of the Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28).

lITURGICAL cELEBRATIONS

 Monday, January 30:  FEAST OF THE THREE HIERARCHS - St. Basil the Great, St. John Chrysostom, and St.

At the heart of prayer is persistence.  Today’s Gospel passage (Matthew 15:21-28) illustrates the extent to which a person will go to secure what he/she needs from a beneficent, all-loving God. Jesus has withdrawn to a distant land (the only instance in the Gospels where he is outside Jewish territory) just prior to the epic of His passion and death. He is approached by a Canaanite woman whose ethnic background is repulsive to a faithful Jew. Furthermore, she makes a request of the stranger that He deliver her daughter from demonic possession. The daughter is broken.  The mother seems desperate.

HIEROMATRY IGNATIUS THE GODBEARER, BISHOP OF ANTIOCH

The Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, was a disciple of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, as was also St Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna (February 23). St Ignatius was the second bishop of Antioch, and successor to Bishop Euodius, Apostle of the Seventy (September 7).

Tradition suggests that when St Ignatius was a little boy, the Savior hugged him and said: "Unless you turn and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Mt. 18:3). The saint was called "God-Bearer" (Theophoros), because he bore God in his heart and prayed unceasingly to Him.

BIBLE STUDY CONTINUES
A study of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew has begun and is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Join us for this spiritually profitable study!

GREEK MUSIC CONCERT ON JANUARY 28, 2012
On January 28, 2012, at 6:30pm, join us for a special music night with  “Mortes”and  “The Mediterranean Colors Band” in smyrneika, rebetika, paradosiaka and old laika songs . The event will take place in St. George’s Grand Hall, and the tickets cost $20, - children under 16 come free. The event will benefit the Greek School.