St. Luke Byzantine Catholic Church

Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma

BIrth Of John the Baptist

The Birth of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated on June 24.

Liturgies:

Thursday, June 23 - Festal Vespers at 7:00 pm

Friday, June 24 - Divine Liturgy at 7:00 pm

The Nativity of the Holy Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John: The Gospel (Luke1:5) relates that the righteous parents of Saint John the Baptist, the Priest Zachariah and Elizabeth, lived in the ancient city of Hebron. They reached old age without having children, since Elizabeth was barren. Once, Saint Zachariah was serving in the Temple at Jerusalem and saw the Archangel Gabriel. He predicted that Saint Zachariah would father a son, who would announce the Savior, the Messiah, awaited by the Old Testament Church. Saint Elizabeth came to be with child and fearing derision at being pregnant so late in life, she kept it secret for five months. Then her relative, the Virgin Mary, came to share with her, her own joy. Elizabeth, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” was the first to greet the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God. Saint John leaped in his mother’s womb at the visit of the Most Holy Virgin Mary and the Son of God incarnate within her. Soon Saint Elizabeth gave birth to a son. On the eighth day, in accordance with the Law of Moses. He was circumcised and was called John. Everyone was amazed, since no one in the family had his name. When they asked Saint Zachariah about this, he motioned for a tablet and wrote on it: “his name is John.” Immediately his tongue was loosed, and Saint Zachariah glorified God.

Troparion (Tone 4):

Prophet and forerunner of the coming of Christ, although we honor you with love, we cannot give you worthy praise. Through your glorious and holy birth, your mother was freed from barrenness and your father from the loss of speech, and the incarnation of the Son of God is proclaimed to the world.

Kontakion (Tone 4):

Today she who once was barren gives birth to Christ's forerunner. He himself is the fulfillment of all prophecy; for in the Jordan, he imposed his hand upon the Word of God whom to be His prophet, herald, and forerunner.

Saints Peter and Paul

The feast of the Preminent Apostles Peter & Paul is celebrated on June 29.

Liturgies:

Tuesday, June 28 - Festal Vespers at 7:00 pm

Wednesday, June 29 Saturday- Divine Liturgy at 7:00 pm

The Holy Apostle Peter

Peter was the son of Jonah and the brother of Andrew the First-called. He was of the tribe of Simeon, from the town of Bethsaida. He was a fisherman and was at first called Simon, but the Lord was pleased to call him Cephas, or Peter (John 1:42). He was the first of the disciples to clearly express faith in the Lord Jesus, saying: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16). His love for the Lord was great, and his faith in the Lord became gradually stronger. When the Lord was brought to trial, Peter denied him three times; but after only one glance into the face of the Lord, Peter’s soul was filled with shame and repentance. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter showed himself to be a fearless and powerful preacher of the Gospel. Following one of his sermons in Jerusalem, three thousand souls were converted to the Faith. He preached the Gospel in Palestine, Asia Minor, Illyria and Italy. Peter worked many powerful miracles: he healed the sick and resurrected the dead, and the sick were healed even from his shadow. He had a great struggle with Simon the Magician, who proclaimed himself to be a god, but who was in reality a servant of Satan. Peter finally shamed and defeated him. By order of Simon’s friend, the evil Emperor Nero, Peter was condemned to death. Having consecrated Linus Bishop of Rome, and having counseled and comforted the flock of Christ, Peter proceeded joyfully to his death. Seeing the cross before him, he begged his executioners to crucify him upside down, for he considered himself unworthy to die as had his Lord. Thus, this great servant of the Great Lord reposed and received a wreath of eternal glory.

The Holy Apostle Paul

Paul was born in Tarsus and was of the tribe of Benjamin. At first, he was called Saul. He studied under Gamaliel and was a Pharisee and a persecutor of Christianity. He was miraculously converted to the Christian Faith by the Lord Himself, Who appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He was baptized by the Apostle Ananias, named Paul and numbered in the service of the Great Apostles. With fiery zeal Paul preached the Gospel everywhere, from the borders of Arabia to Spain, among the Jews and among Gentiles, and received the title, “the Apostle to the Gentiles.” As horrible as his sufferings were, so much greater was his superhuman patience. Throughout all the years of his preaching, Paul hug from day to day as on a weak thread between life and death. Having filled all his days and nights with labor and suffering for Christ, having organized the Church in many places, and having attained such a degree of perfection, he was able to say: not I, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). Paul was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero, at the same time as the martyrdom of the Apostle Peter.

Troparion (Tone 4):

Leaders of the Apostles, teachers of the world, intercede with the Lord of All to grant peace to the world and abundant merc to our souls.

Kontakion (Tone 4):

Lord, You have received your steadfast and inspired preachers, the foremost of your apostle, into the enjoyment of Your good gifts and repose. You preferred their suffering and death above any sacrifice. For You alone know the secrets of the heart.