The offspring of Silyvria* and the guardian of Aegina* the true friend of virtue who appeared in the last years. O Nectarios* we faithful honor you* as a godly servant of Christ, * for you pour forth healing* of every kind for those who piously cry out. * Glory to Christ who has glorified you; * Glory to Him who has shown wonders in you; * Glory to Him who works healing through you for all.

ΑΠΟΛΥΤΙΚΙΟΝ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΝΕΚΤΑΡΙΟΥ

Σηλυβρίας τὸν γόνον καὶ Αἰγίνης τὸν ἔφορον, τὸν ἐσχάτοις χρόνοις φανέντα ἀρετῆς φίλον γνήσιον, Νεκτάριον τιμήσωμεν πιστοί, ὡς ἔνθεον θεράποντα Χριστοῦ. Ἀναβλύζει γὰρ ἰάσεις παντοδαπὰς τοῖς εὐλαβῶς κραυγάζουσι : Δόξα τῷ σὲ δοξάσαντι Χριστῷ, δόξα τῷ σὲ θαυμαστώσαντι, δόξα τῷ ἐνεργούντι διὰ σοῦ πᾶσιν ἰάματα.

A Gentile with Great Faith

It was then that Jesus departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon due to conflict with Pharisees. Then a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed. This woman shows immeasurable love—she so identifies with the sufferings of her daughter that she cries “Have mercy on me,” for she sees her daughter's well-being as her own and her daughter's sufferings as her own.

But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us. Jesus answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But then woman came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” Christ refuses to answer, not only because she is a Gentile and His ministry before His Passion is first to the Jews, but also to reveal this woman's profound faith and love. Several of the Fathers see the disciples' request to send her away as an attempt to persuade Jesus to heal the daughter, as if to say, “Give her what she wants so that she will leave.” Christ's response indicates this interpretation is correct, for He again refuses to heal the daughter.

But Jesus answered and said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.”

Having evoked this woman's love and persistent faith, Christ now reveals her humility. She accepts her place beneath the Jews, who were the chosen people of God, yet still desires a share in God's grace. Christ's hesitancy was not a lack of compassion, but a conscious means of revealing the virtues of this woman, both to the disciples and for her own sake. Her ultimate acceptance by Christ also points to the gathering of the Gentiles into the Church after Pentecost, no longer as dogs, but as children who are invited to eat the bread of eternal life.

Source: Nelson, Thomas. The Orthodox Study Bible: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World.

Special Announcement:

· Every Sunday at 12:30 pm (except on every first Sunday of the month), a regular service is now being added which is the Supplication or Healing Service to Saint Nectarios.

· If someone wants to sponsor the coffee hour, there is a sign-up sheet in the Hall. Please write legibly your name next to the date you want to sponsor

· We invite all ladies of our Church to come and join in our Ladies Philoptochos Society.

· We need oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) for the Church, please donate.

· Please notify us if someone in the member of the family or yourself is sick, so that we may offer healing prayer.