Icon of the First Six Ecumenical Councils

Sunday of the First Six Ecumenical Councils

Sunday of the Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils July 16, 2017

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him Forever! Our Bishop, clergy, religious and faithful welcome you to St. Stephen Cathedral. We are delighted that you have joined us for our Divine Liturgy. Our Church follows the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the Gospel and passed on to us through the teachings of the Apostles and Holy Tradition.

Saint Stephen Byzantine Catholic Cathedral Sunday Divine Liturgy 8141 North 16th Street, Front Saturday 4:00 PM Phoenix, Arizona 85020-3950 Sunday 9:00 AM Office: 602.943.5379 Fax 602.997.4093 Weekday Services See Bulletin Website www.stsbcc.org

Served by:Most Rev. John S. Pazak, CSsR., Bishop

Most Reverend Gerald N. Dino, Bishop EmeritusVery Rev. Diodoro Mendoza, Rector -- rectorss@eparchyofphoenix.org

Rev. Joseph Hutsko, Vice-Rector – huts1009@gmail.comVery Rev. Archpriest David M. Petras, Retired

Msgr. Kevin McCauliffe, In ResidenceDeacon John Montalvo - Deacon James Danovich

Sister Christopher, OSBM

Parish Advisory Council Served by: Parish Advisory Finance Council Served by:Mary Beth Foster Sean Grimes Ted Cooke Stephanie RimmerMichelle Klinger Joanie Mahar Nicholas Stefaniak III Dolores SugentPatricia Marmol Basil Rabayda John Surmay Joan WolfeLuke Roll Ann Zamal

SPECIAL SPONSORSThis space is available for advertisements to help subside the cost of the bulletin. If you know of a busi-ness and/or an organization that would like to advertise in our bulletin please contact Fr. Diodoro for promotional rates. Thank you!

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This Week’s Liturgy Schedule

Sun. 7/16 Sunday of the Fathers of 1st 6 Ecumenical Council Tone 5 p.146 Tone 8 p. 341 Sat. 4:00 PM For our Parishioners, Benefactors and Friends (Fr. Joe)Sun. 9:00 AM Pani Matuszka Jxa Aniskowicz by Nina Murtezi (Fr. Joe)

Mon. 7/17 Holy Martyr Marina & Blessed Martyr Paul Gojdich p. 391 & Handout (Fr. Joe)8:00 AM GCU Lodge # 999 Deceased Members by GCU Lodge # 999

Tue. 7/18 Holy Martyrs Hyacinth & Emilian p. 381 (Fr. Joe) 8:00 AM GCU Lodge # 999 Deceased Members by GCU Lodge #999

Wed. 7/19 Vigil of Holy & Glorious Prophet Elijah Handout (Fr. Diodoro)7:00 PM Vigil Vesper/ Liturgy +Dominick Jendresak by Joanie Mahar Thu. 7/20 Holy & Glorious Prophet Elijah p. 3438:00 AM For Our Parishioners, Benefactors and Friends (Fr. Joe)

Fri. 7/21 Venerable Father Simeon & Fellow Ascetic John (Fr. Joe)9:00 AM Funeral Liturgy of John DeCenso

Sat. 7/22 The Holy Myrrh-Bearer Mary Magdalene No Morning Divine Liturgy

Sun. 7/23 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Tone 6 p.149Sat. 4:00 PM +Monta Lee Tomley by Joseph Gallucci (Fr. Joe)Sun. 9:00 AM For our Parishioners, (Fr. Diodoro) Special Intentions: Erwin Armada, Barbara Dugan, Joanie Mahar, Helen Furka, Vincent Rice, McCarthy Family, Gemma Hillman, Marti Lopez, Kathleen Linkowsky, Betty Geletey, Richard Gable, Robert King, Ann Ryan, Chris Faix, Robyn Foy and Elaine Browne.

May the Lord rest His healing hand on His servants and hear their requests:Mary Rabayda, Jane Walsh, Steve Durkit, Dorothy Dumnich, Richard Reese, Chris Balsz, Sr. Christopher, OSBM, Dorothy Bezeredi, Carlene Eneroth, Fred Way, Audrey Noble, Sharon White, Nancy Sandrock, Marlene Rolling, Bob Dugan, Cathy Milko, Michael Dougherty, Widad Butty, Kris Lara, Mike Chapa, Mark D. Chapa, Noa Lee Chapa, Teresa Blanc, Clementina Men-doza, Dolores Balcazar, Vivian Rodarte, Nicholas Stefaniak Jr., Marie Mika, Mary Popovich, Betty Iwinski, Anne Peterson, Dan Palaschak, Michael Sherwood, Christina Toth, Alice Garcia, Liz Kol, Evelyn & Linda Sopiak,, Anthony Diaz, Michael Diaz, and Matthew Diaz, Deacon Craig Anderson, Nicholas Toth, and Michelle Montalvo

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN SERVICE PROJECT

On Saturday, July 29th from 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM we will be packing boxes of food for hungry children. This service project takes place at Feed My Starving Children at 1345 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ 85210. In order to participate you must register by July 20th. The packing ses-sion starts at 11:30 AM but there is an instructional video which begins at 11:15 AM. Please note the directions for registering online. We will all meet at the site in Mesa. Use the link below to easily access registration for our group. http://volunteer.fmsc.org/Register/Group/JoinGroup.aspx?gid=1090225

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO SAN XAVIER DEL BAC MISSION AND ST. MELANY BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, TUCSONOur August Jubilee event will take place on Saturday August 19 and will be a day pilgrimage to San Xavier del Bac Mission and St. Melany Church in Tucson. We will depart from Phoenix at 7:30 AM and arrive back in Phoenix approximately 9:00 PM. There will be a $20.00 donation which will be used to give a donation to the mission for the tour and to help defray the cost of gasoline for trip. $20.00 donation will be for all adults and children 13 years and older. ($20.00 does not include dinner at the restaurant after the Vigil Vesper/Liturgy prior to our departure to Phoenix) If you are willing to drive please sign the sign-up sheet. All parishioners are welcome to attend and if someone might have difficulty paying the donation please see Fr. Joe. Schedule for the day is listed below:

Pilgrimage to Tucson Schedule: Saturday, August 19, 2017 7:30 AM- Depart Phoenix (From St. Stephen’s Parking Lot)10:00 AM- Arrive at San Xavier Mission/ Tour- 45 minutes10:45 AM- Free time at Mission11:30 AM- Depart Mission12:00 Noon- Arrive at St. Melany’s Church/Eat lunch at St. Melany’s Hall 1:00 PM- Akathist to Mother of God at St. Melany’s Church 2:00 PM- Talk about “The meaning of pilgrimage in life of Christians” by Fr. Joe 3:00 PM- Confessions & Time for Contemplative Prayer 4:00 PM- Vigil Vesper/Liturgy 5:30 PM- Depart for Dinner at local restaurant 7:00 PM- Depart for Phoenix 9:00 PM- Arrive back in Phoenix (St. Stephen’s Parking Lot)

50TH JUBILEE SEPTEMBER EVENT: POSTER & ESSAY CONTESTOn Sunday, September 17 (Catechetical Sunday) the posters and essays about the ECF student’s Patron Saint will be judged after the 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy at ECF class. Everyone should have received the instructional flyer. We have placed flyers some on the table at back of church. All posters and written essays must be submitted by September 10, 2017 to the appropriate Group Catechists.

This Week’s Candle IntentionsPentecost: +Monta Lee Tomley by Joseph Gallucci

Coming Events – Mark Your Calendars NowTuesday, July 18- Life in Christ Class at 6:30 PM in ChurchSaturday, July 22- Marriage Prep Class at 1:00 PM in Parish Conference RoomSunday, July 23- Parish Advisory Council Meeting in Parish Conference Room after 9 AM Lit-urgyTuesday, July 25- Life in Christ Class at 6:30 PM in Parish Conference RoomSaturday, July 29 – Feed My Starving Children Service Project: 11:15 AM – 1:30 PM 1345 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, AZ 85210Sunday, July 30- July Parishioners Birthday Pot Luck after 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy 50th Jubilee Committee Meeting in Parish Conference Room after 9 AM LiturgyTuesday, August 8- Life in Christ Class at 6:30 PM in Parish Conference Room Sunday, August 6- ECF Meeting with Rector, Vice-Rector, ECF Coordinator & Catechists After the 9 AM Divine Liturgy in the Parish Conference RoomSunday, August 13- Parish Finance Council Meeting in Parish Conference Room after 9 AM Liturgy

Saturday, August 19- Pilgrimage to San Xavier del Bac Mission & St. Melany Church in Tucson Departing at 7:30 AM from St. Stephen Cathedral Parking LotTuesday, August 22- Life in Christ Class in Parish at 6:30 PM in Parish Conference RoomSaturday, August 26- Marriage Prep Class at 1:00 PM om Parish Conference Room

Our Weekly Gifts to the Lord—May the Lord bless your kindness and generosity!Saturday: 4 PM: 28 9 AM: 114

Peter’s Pence: $15.00; Tithes: $1475.00; Candles: $49.25 ;Coffee Social: $37.00; Donations: Non-Parishioners: $116.25; Building Fund: 131.00; Accordion Club Rent- $180.00;Total: $2002.25 Income Correction for 7/2/2017- Peter’s Pence- 20.00; Tithes: $1330.75; Candles: $48.61;Coffee Social: $39.00; Gift Shop: $161.00; Donation Non-Parishioners: $129.25; Eparchial Reimbursement: $1974.33; Church/Hall Reimbursement: $300.00; Total: $4002.94

CURRENT BISHOP’S APPEALParish Goal: $29,700.00 Amount Pledged: $23,943.00 (67 of 108 households pledged)Pledge Payments Received: $23,848.00 Pledge Amount Needed to Reach Goal: $5757.00 The Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils

In the Ninth Article of the Nicea-Constantinople Symbol of Faith proclaimed by the holy Fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils, we confess our faith in “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.” By virtue of the catholic nature of the Church, an Ecumenical Council is the Church’s supreme authority, and possesses the competence to resolve major questions of church life. An Ecumenical Council is comprised of archpastors and pastors of the Church, and represen-tatives of all the local Churches, from every land of the “oikumene” (i.e. from all the whole inhab-ited world). The Church acknowledges the following Seven Holy Ecumenical Councils:

The First Ecumenical Council (Nicea I) (May 29, and also on seventh Sunday after Pascha) was convened in the year 325 against the heresy of Arius, in the city of Nicea in Bithynia under Saint Constantine the Great, Equal of the Apostles.

The Second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople I) (May 22) was convened in the year 381 against the heresy of Macedonias, by the emperor Theodosius the Great.

The Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus) (September 9) was convened in the year 431 against the heresy of Nestorius, in the city of Ephesus by the emperor Theodosius the Younger.

The Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon) (July 16) was convened in the year 451, against the Monophysite heresy, in the city of Chalcedon under the emperor Marcian.

The Fifth Ecumenical Council (Constnatinople II) (July 25) “Concerning the Three Chapters,” was convened in the year 553, under the emperor Justinian the Great.

The Sixth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople III) (January 23) met during the years 680-681, to fight the Monothelite heresy, under the emperor Constantine Pogonatos.

The fact that the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicea II) is not commemorated today testifies to the antiquity of today’s celebration. The Seventh Council, commemorated on the Sunday nearest to October 11, was convened at Nicea in the year 787 against the Iconoclast heresy, under the em-peror Constantine and his mother Irene.

The Church venerates the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils because Christ has established them as “lights upon the earth,” guiding us to the true Faith. “Adorned with the robe of truth,” the doctrine of the Fathers, based upon the preaching of the Apostles, has established one faith for the Church. The Ecumenical Councils, are the highest authority in the Church. Such Councils, guided by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and accepted by the Church, are infallible.

The Church’s conciliar definitions of dogma have the highest authority, and such definitions always begin with the Apostolic formula: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us...” (Acts 15: 28).

The Ecumenical Councils were always convened for a specific reason: to combat false opinions and heresies, and to clarify the Church’s teaching. But the Holy Spirit has thus seen fit, that the dogmas, the truths of faith, immutable in their content and scope, constantly and consequently are revealed by the conciliar mind of the Church, and are given precision by the holy Fathers within theologi-cal concepts and terms in exactly such measure as is needed by the Church itself for its economy of salvation. The Church, in expounding its dogmas, is dealing with the concerns of a given historical moment, “not revealing everything in haste and thoughtlessly, nor indeed, ultimately hiding some-thing” (Saint Gregory the Theologian).

A brief summary of the dogmatic theology of the First Six Ecumenical Councils is formulated and contained in the First Canon of the Council of Trullo (also known as Quinisext), held in the year 692. The 318 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council are spoken of in this Canon I of Trullo as having: “with unanimity of faith revealed and declared to us the consubstantiality of the three Persons of the Divine nature and, ... instructing the faithful to adore the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with one worship, they cast down and dispelled the false teaching about different degrees of Divinity.”

The 150 Holy Fathers of the Second Ecumenical Council left their mark on the theology of the Church concerning the Holy Spirit, “repudiating the teaching of Macedonius, as one who wished to divide the inseparable Unity, so that there might be no perfect mystery of our hope.”

The 200 God-bearing Fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council expounded the teaching that “Christ, the Incarnate Son of God is One.” They also confessed that “she who bore Him without seed was the spotless Ever-Virgin, glorifying her as truly the Mother of God.

The 630 Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council decreed that “the One Christ, the Son of God... must be glorified in two natures.”

The 165 God-bearing Holy Fathers of the Fifth Ecumenical Council “in synod anathematized and repudiated Theodore of Mopsuestia (the teacher of Nestorius), and Origen, and Didymus, and Evagrius, renovators of the Hellenic teaching about the transmigration of souls and the transmuta-tion of bodies and the impieties they raised against the resurrection of the dead.”

The 170 Holy Fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical Council “taught that we ought to confess two natu-ral volitions, or two wills [trans. note: one divine, and the other human], and two natural opera-tions (energies) in Him who was incarnate for our salvation, Jesus Christ, our true God.”In decisive moments of Church history, the holy Ecumenical Councils promulgated their dogmatic definitions, as trustworthy delimitations in the spiritual battle for the purity of Catholicity, which will last until such time, as “all shall come into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4: 13). In the struggle with new heresies, the Church does not abandon its former dogmatic concepts nor replace them with some sort of new formulations. The dogmatic formulae of the Holy Ecumenical Councils need never be superseded, they remain always contemporary to the living Tradition of the Church. Therefore the Church proclaims: “The faith of all in the Church of God hath been glorified by men, which were luminaries in the world, cleaving to the Word of Life, so that it be observed firmly, and that it dwell unshakably until the end of the ages, conjointly with their God-bestowed writings and dogmas. We reject and we anathematize all whom they have rejected and anathematized, as being enemies of Truth. And if anyone does not cleave to nor admit the aforementioned pious dogmas, and does not teach or preach accordingly, let him be anathema” (Canon I of the Council of Trullo).

In addition to their dogmatic definitions, the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils exerted great efforts towards the strengthening of church discipline. Local Councils promulgated their dis-ciplinary canons according to the circumstances of the time and place, frequently differing among themselves in various particulars.

The universal unity of the Catholic Church required unity also in canonical practice, i.e. a con-ciliar deliberation and affirmation of the most important canonical norms by the Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils. Thus, according to conciliar judgment, the Church has accepted: 20 Can-ons from the First, 7 Canons from the Second, 8 Canons from the Third, and 30 Canons from the Fourth Ecumenical Synods. The Fifth and the Sixth Councils concerned themselves only with resolving dogmatic questions, and did not leave behind any disciplinary canons.

The need to establish in codified form the customary practices during the years 451-680, and ultimately to compile a canonical codex for the Catholic Church, occasioned the convening of a special Council, which was wholly devoted to the general application of churchly rules. This was convened in the year 692. The Council “in the Imperial Palace” or “Under the Arches” (in Greek “en trullo”), came to be called the Council in Trullo. It is also called the “Quinisext” [meaning the “fifth and sixth”], because it is considered to have completed the activities of the Fifth and Sixth Councils, or rather that it was simply a direct continuation of the Sixth Ecumenical Council itself, separated by just a few years.

The Council in Trullo, with its 102 Canons (more than of all the Ecumenical Synods combined), had a tremendous significance in the history of the canonical theology of the Orthodox Church. It might be said that the Fathers of this Council produced a complete compilation of the basic codex from the relevant sources for the Catholic Church’s canons. Listing through in chronological order, and having been accepted by the Church the Canons of the Holy Apostles, and the Canons of the Holy Ecumenical and the Local Councils and of the holy Fathers, the Trullo Council declared: “Let no one be permitted to alter or to annul the aforementioned canons, nor in place of these put forth, or to accept others, made of spurious inscription” (2nd Canon of the Council in Trullo).

Church canons, sanctified by the authority of the first Six Ecumenical Councils (including the rules of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787, and the Constantinople Councils of 861 and 879, form the basis of THE RUDDER, or KORMCHAYA KNIGA (a canon law codex known as “Syn-tagma” or “Nomokanon” in 14 titles). In its repository of grace is expressed a canonical norm, a connection to every era, and a guide for all the local Catholic Churches in churchly practice.

New historical conditions can lead to the change of some particular external aspect of the life of the Church. This makes creative canonical activity necessary in the conciliar reasoning of the Church, in order to reconcile the external norms of churchly life with historical circumstances. The details of canonical regulation are not fully developed for the various eras of churchly organi-zation all at once. With every push to either forsake the literal meaning of a canon, or to fulfill and develop it, the Church again and again turns for reasoning and guidance to the eternal legacy of the Holy Ecumenical Councils, to the inexhaustable treasury of dogmatic and canonical truths.

Explanation of the Monthly Events & Celebrations of our Parish 50th Jubilee(Continued from last week)

In last week’s bulletin we reached the month of September with the explanation of the celebrations for our Jubilee Year. Some of the monthly events are still a work in progress so there might be some ideas explained here that the committee will tweak at our upcoming meeting at the end of July. The next month is October and an Icon Workshop towill be given by Fr. Elias Rafai on a weekend in the middle of October. We have a social affair scheduled after the Vigil Vesper/Liturgy at 4 PM on October 21. Our planned event is a BBQ with a hayride onsite.This will be an ideal event to invite to have parishioners invited some friends who have been away from church as well as inviting former parishioners. Evangelizing door to door can be a difficult task at times and socials such as a BBQ and hayride may just be the thing to open the door to bringing some new parishioners into our church. We don’t have a spiritual theme attached to the event but perhaps the sermon for the day can address evangelization and bringing home to the Church those who have been away as well as inviting newcomers.

November has been designated as a day of “Celebrating Vocations”. Saturday, November 11 is the day we picked but as of yet we don’t have a specific time. A possible idea is to have the presentation about vocations a couple of hours before the Vigil Divine Liturgy. The presentation is broken into five categories: Presbyters (Priests), Deacons, Consecrated Life (Sisters, Broth-ers, Priest Monks), Singles and Marriage. Each of these vocations is important to the life of the Church and the presentation can give all of us insight not only into our own particular vocation in the life of the Church but also the vocations other than our own.

December is of course a month of holydays and holidays. We have our annual St. Nicholas GCU Banquet that month which is a major social event. We also have a service proj-ect that month which will be on Wednesday, December 27 which will be Christmas Caroling to the Shut-ins. It is a month when we as a parish will share the joy of the Patron Saint of the Byzantine Catholic Church, St. Nicholas as well the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is important that month that we somehow honor the spirit of our Patron Saint, St. Stephen. Since the feast of St. Stephen comes so close to the Nativity of Christ (Christmas Day) our attendance at the Vigil Vesper/Liturgy has been a little shy, perhaps in this special year we can properly honor our Patron Saint with a large participation of parishioners that evening.

The month of January has always been a special time dedicated to ecumenism among various religions in our communities. Last January there was a special event among the Catholics and

Lutherans held at the Basilica in downtown Phoenix in which Bishop John, +Sr. Jean Marie and Fr. Joe participated. On the way home from the event +Sr. Jean Marie informed us that she was going to chair an Ecumenical Service at our cathedral in January. So in the spirit of +Sr. Jean Marie we will be celebrating an Ecumenical Service on Sunday, January 21 at 3:00 PM. In this event we will be sharing a part of our faith with those who worship God in a different way than we do.

February’s event will be a Panachida (Memorial Service) celebrated for the Founders and Benefactors of our parish.

March will feature two events, the first one will be a Great Fast Mission for our parish, beginning Sunday March 4 (Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross) and ending on Wednesday, March 7 with the celebration of the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. For many years, especially in the 1950’s and 1960’s many of our Byzantine churches would invite priests from religious orders to come and preach, hear confessions and give talks to the parishioners during Great Lent. This event will spiritually enhance our Great Lent journey in preparation for Pascha (The Resurrection of Our Lord).

Another event in March will be the making of Pascha (Easter) Baskets for the shut-ins of our parish. Throughout the celebrations of our Jubilee Year we want to touch the lives of as many of our parishioners as possible. Though the shut-ins are not able to come and worship with us ev-ery Sunday, many of them did during most of their life and besides praying for them, this service project of making and delivering Pascha Baskets to them will connect them both spiritually and socially with the other members of our parish.

In April we celebrate Pascha with our liturgical Services and Blessing of Easter Foods. As usual there will be an Easter Egg Hunt but with a little different twist on of the parishioners is go-ing to arrange plastic eggs to be dropped by a helicopter.

May 6 is slated as our Homecoming Parish Picnic where we reach out and plan events at the picnic which will specifically relate to all age groups of our parish. Homecoming picnics again are an important event to which we need to invite those who have been away.

Finally on Sunday, June 10 we end our year-long jubilee with the 50th Jubilee Divine Lit-urgy followed by a catered dinner in the parish hall.

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Elijah’s (Elias’) Journey

ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL RELIGIOUS GOODS & BOOK STORE

(Located in the Parish Hall)

Hours of Operation: After the Sunday 9:00 AM Divine Liturgy

Items for Sale:

Books on Byzantine Catholic Theology, Spirituality, LiturgyIcons, Chotki (Jesus Prayer Ropes), Crosses

Come and See What We Have! Many Great Gifts!