Epistle Reading of the Day | |
St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1
BRETHREN, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
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Gospel Reading for the Day | |
The Gospel according to Matthew 15:21-28
At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
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Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 6:16-18, 7:1
Ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐστε ναὸς Θεοῦ ζῶντος, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ θεός ὅτι Ἐνοικήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω· καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῶν θεός, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι λαός. Διὸ, Ἐξέλθετε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἀφορίσθητε, λέγει κύριος, καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε· κἀγὼ εἰσδέξομαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔσομαι ὑμῖν εἰς πατέρα, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθέ μοι εἰς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ. Ταύτας οὖν ἔχοντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἀγαπητοί, καθαρίσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος, ἐπιτελοῦντες ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ θεοῦ.
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Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 15:21-28
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖθεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ Χαναναία ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων ἐκείνων ἐξελθοῦσα ἐκραύγαζεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· ἐλέησόν με, Κύριε, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ· ἡ θυγάτηρ μου κακῶς δαιμονίζεται. ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῇ λόγον. καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν, ὅτι κράζει ὄπισθεν ἡμῶν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἀπεστάλην εἰ μὴ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου ᾿Ισραήλ. ἡ δὲ ἐλθοῦσα προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· Κύριε, βοήθει μοι. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἔστι καλὸν λαβεῖν τὸν ἄρτον τῶν τέκνων καὶ βαλεῖν τοῖς κυναρίοις. ἡ δὲ εἶπε· ναί, Κύριε· καὶ γὰρ τὰ κυνάρια ἐσθίει ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχίων τῶν πιπτόντων ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν. τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῇ· ὦ γύναι, μεγάλη σου ἡ πίστις! γενηθήτω σοι ὡς θέλεις. καὶ ἰάθη ἡ θυγάτηρ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης.
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READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS | |
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SAINT PHILOTHEI THE RIGHTEOUS MARTYR OF ATHENS – FEBRUARY 19
Saint Philothei was born in Athens in 1522 to an illustrious family. Against her will, she was married to a man who proved to be most cruel. When he died three years later, the Saint took up the monastic life and established a convent, in which she became a true mother to her disciples. Many women enslaved and abused by the Moslem Turks also ran to her for refuge. Because of this, the Turkish rulers became enraged and came to her convent, dragged her by force out of the church, and beat her cruelly. After a few days, she reposed, giving thanks to God for all things. This came to pass in the year 1589. She was renowned for her almsgiving, and with Saints Hierotheus and Dionysius the Areopagite is considered a patron of the city of Athens.
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Saint Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna - February 23
This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says, "Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles, which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true" (Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).
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First & Second Finding of the Venerable Head of John the Baptist - Feb. 26
The first finding came to pass during the middle years of the fourth century, through a revelation of the holy Forerunner to two monks, who came to Jerusalem to worship our Saviour's Tomb. One of them took the venerable head in a clay jar to Emesa in Syria. After his death it went from the hands of one person to another, until it came into the possession of a certain priest-monk named Eustathius, an Arian. Because he ascribed to his own false belief the miracles wrought through the relic of the holy Baptist, he was driven from the cave in which he dwelt, and by dispensation forsook the holy head, which was again made known through a revelation of Saint John, and was found in a water jar, about the year 430, in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, when Uranius was Bishop of Emesa.
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Meditation:
“Along the difficult way – that is, the trial of sickness and so forth – the thorn of doubt, of impatience, of cowardice comes to rend the garment of the soul. What is needed, therefore, is to pull out this thorn through faith, hope, and patience, having Jesus Christ as a model. Throughout His earthly life, he had many afflictions, and his All-holy soul was oppressed by many thorns, and so He exclaimed, ‘In your patience, you will gain your souls’ (Luke 21:19).” +Elder Ephraim of Philotheou
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Η Oσιομάρτυς Φιλοθέη η Αθηναία - (19 Φεβρουαρίου)
Δεν ήταν μόνο η αρχαία εποχή που έδωσε Μάρτυρες και Οσίους. Και στα νεώτερα χρόνια και σήμερα και πάντα μέχρι της συντελείας των αιώνων θα αναδεικνύονται στην Εκκλησία του Χριστού Μάρτυρες και Όσιοι, σε απόδειξη ότι «Ιησούς Χριστός χθές και σήμερον ο αυτός και εις τους αιώνας» και σε επιβεβαίωση πώς η χριστιανική πίστη είναι στρατεία και ο βίος των πιστών μαρτυρία Ιησού Χριστού. Στα χρόνια της Τουρκικής σκλαβιάς στην Ελλάδα έζησε στην Αθήνα «οσίως τον βίον» η οσία Φιλοθέη, ανήκε στην πλούσια οικογένει των Μπενιζέλων. Μετά από ένα αποτυχυμένο γάμο (ο σύζυγός της την κτυπούσε και την ταλαιπωρούσε) αποφασίζει να γίνει μοναχή. Μοιράζει την μεγάλη περιουσία της στους πτωχούς και ιδρύει το 1550 τη γυναικεά Μονή του Αγίου Ανδρέα εκεί ακριβώς που είναι σήμερα το μέγαρο της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αθηνών και μάζευε εκεί και προστάτευε τα ορφανά και κατετραγμένα κορίτσια. Εκεί έβρισκαν καταφύγιο γυναίκες που τις καταδίωκαν οι Τούρκοι. Το Μοναστήρι διέθετε επίσης νοσοκομείο και υφαντουργικό εργαστήριο - άγιο έργο γυναικείας δραστηριότητας. Το έργο της Φιλοθέης δεν άρεσε στους Τούρκους. Μιά νύχτα 2 προς 3 Οκτωβρίου 1588 ενώ έκανε ολονυχτία στο μετόχι της των Πατησίων, μπήκαν οι Αγαρηνοί, την συλλαμβάνουν και τη βασανίζουν σκληρά. Εξαντλημένη από τις κακουχίες στις 19 Φεβρουαρίου, 1589 παρέδωσε στον Κύριο την αθώα της ψυχή. Αφήνει τον κόσμο αυτό, για να βρεθεί κοντά στον Χριστό, που τόσο θερμά αγάπησε και τόσο πιστά ακολούθησε. Μετά από 20 μέρες, εμύρισε ο τόπος όπου την κακοποίησαν, όπως και το σκήνωμά της μετά ένα χρόνο βρέθηκε σώο και μυροβόλο και φυλάσσεται στον Μητροπολιτικό Ιερό των Αθηνών.
Εύρεση Τιμίας Κεφαλής Αγίου Ιωάννου Προδρόμου (24 Φεβρουαρίου) - Αφού η Ηρωδιάδα είδε τη διαταγή της να γίνεται πραγματικότητα, να της φέρουν επί πίνακι την κεφαλή του Ιωάννη του Προδρόμου, την έθαψε κάπου στους χώρους γύρω από το ανάκτορο. Εκεί την ανακάληψαν για πρώτη φορά δύο μοναχοί. Από εκεί και πέρα η τιμία κεφαλή άλλαξε πολλά χέρια. Αφού πέρασε από τα χέρια ενός κεραμέα, της αδελφής, του ενός αιρετικού «αριανού» ιερομονάχου βρέθηκε σε ένα σπήλαιο τα χρόνια του αυτοκράτορα Ουαλεντινιανού. Αυτή η δεύτερη εύρεση της τιμίας κεφαλής του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Προδρόμου έγινε από κάποιον ιερέα στα Κόμανα της Καππαδοκίας. Από εκεί μετεκόμισε το ιερό λείψανο στην Κωνσταντινούπολη όπου η υποδοχή έγινε με μεγάλη επισημότητα. Ο τότε πιστότατος βασιλιάς και Πατριάρχης με όλο τον ορθόδοξο λαό, υπεδέχθησαν την τιμία κεφαλή του Προδρόμου.‘Επειτα με ευλάβεια την προσκύνησαν και την τοποθέτησαν σε τόπο ιερό. Έτσι επαληθε΄θετε ο λόγος του ψαλμωδού Δαυίδ: «Φυλάσσει Κύριος πάντα τα οστά αυτών, εν έξ αυτών ού συντριβήσεται». Το γεγονός ότι δεν χάθηκε, θεωρείται μέγα και βαρυσήμαντο επί- τευγμα της θέλησης του Κυρίου να μείνουν για πάντα οι άνθρωποί του.
+Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱέ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν
+Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner
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GIFT OF LIGHT
This week’s Gift of Light is given for the health and well-being of John Cooper.
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MEMORIALS
2 years for the late Presbytera Alexandra Foustalieraki
10 years for the late Penelope Vlahos
10 years for the late John P. Vlahos
12 years for the late Angelo (Evangelos) M. Glotsos
73 years for the late Michael T. Glotsos
May their memory be eternal!
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COFFEE HOUR
Please join us for coffee hour in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy.
Today’s coffee hour is sponsored by Jack and Anna Woods and Ted and Kathy Pappas. Serving Kathy’s chili along with other delicious treats. Thank you for hosting!
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SAINT EUPHROSYNOS KITCHEN MEAL
12:00 p.m. - Saint Euphrosynos’ Kitchen Meal. Please contact the church office if you would like to volunteer or if you know someone who would benefit from this ministry
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THIS WEEK:
Monday, February 19, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Orthodox Studies in Saint Catherine’s
Baptism
Saturday, February 24, 11:00 a.m. - Child of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Cooper
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LITTLE LAMBS
Join our delightful Little Lambs class at Sunday church school – a special experience designed for toddlers and their parents. We're thrilled to welcome little ones aged 12 months and up, fostering a warm and engaging environment for early spiritual growth. This Parents and Tots SCS Class is designed to nurture faith and provide an opportunity for families to connect with others. Our parent-led class uses age appropriate Orthodox-based resources. Anyone interested in joining Little Lambs may reach out to Katherine Jones at kmjones0402@gmail.com for more information.
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SPONSORS NEEDED FOR COFFEE HOUR
Please contact the Church office at:
773.626.3114 or email at: office@assumptionchicago.org if you would like to sponsor a coffee hour in memory of a loved one, a special occasion or just because.
Available dates: April 7, 14, 28 - May 12, 19, 26
Great Lent March 18 – May 5. Please Lenten items only.
Thank you to our beloved parishioners and friends of Assumption Panagia for your continued love and support!
GIFT OF LIGHT
Please give the “Gift of Light” to Assumption Panagia’s Church. We need a family or an individual to sponsor, per week, the lighting of our vigil lamps and candles in both of our holy Altars of Panagia and Saint Catherine. This includes the daily lighting of both of our Holy Altars throughout the week. Suggested donation for this ministry is $100.00. Through our Church’s Website, sign up can be made through our Tithe.ly platform. simply click on the big green GIVE button, request your week and make your donation.
Available weeks: April 7, 14, 28 - May 5, 12, 26
Contact the church office for June - December 2024 availability.
Please contact the church office to sponsor a week for the health and well-being of your family or in loving memory of a loved one.
PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER
Time for the Apokreatiko Glendi, "Safari" Sunday, March 10th in Plato Hall. A festive luncheon and fellowship are on the itinerary.
Make your reservations during coffee hour. See attached flyer for details.
Go Red Sunday: Join in the group photo in Plato Hall during coffee hour to raise awareness for heart health!
Know your numbers: blood pressure and cholesterol. Make healthy food choices and keep active. Stay engaged with friends. Celebrate survivors.
STEWARDSHIP PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, Thou are the Good Steward, who redeemed Adam and Eve of their failed stewardship by offering Thyself for the life of the world. Thou didst teach us in the feeding of the multitudes that whatever we give to God is returned to us manifold. Thou didst praise those good and faithful servants in the parable of the talents who returned to the Master their gifts multiplied. So help us to learn the joy of stewardship, remembering that everything we have comes from Thee. For Thou art the Good Steward and to Thee we offer thanksgiving, praise and glory, together with Thy Father who is everlasting and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit now and ever and onto the ages of ages. Amen.
2024 STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship packets for 2024 have been mailed out. Please fill out the pledge card (it is important that you enter a pledge amount) and the information card completely and return it in the enclosed envelope. Thank you for supporting our beautiful parish of Panagia!
ARTOKLASIA – THE BLESSING OF BREAD
The Blessing of Five Loaves of Bread is a brief service of thanksgiving through which we express our gratitude for all the blessings of life. Oil, wine, wheat, and the loaves of bread which are used in the service, are viewed as the most basic elements necessary for life. The Blessing reminds us of the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fish by which Christ fed the multitude. This Blessing is usually offered during Vespers or after the Divine Liturgy on Feast days and other special occasions. After the Service, the bread is cut and distributed to the congregation. If you would like to offer an Artoklasia, please contact the church office at: 773.626.3114 or email: office@assumptionchicago.org to reserve a date.
A Word about Cremation
Orthodox Christians should reject cremation, in accordance with the Church’s teachings about the sanctity of the human body and its role in our salvation. Orthodox Christians believe that in the General Resurrection, our bodies and souls will be restored to each other. Cremation is the deliberate desecration and destruction of what God has made and is viewed as the denial of the Resurrection. Cremation treats the body violently, without the respect due to it as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Those who voluntarily request cremation upon death will not receive an Orthodox funeral, either in the church, or the funeral home or any other place. Memorial services with kolyva are not allowed since the connection of the “kernel of wheat” as a sign of the Resurrection has been intentionally destroyed. It is an honor for Orthodox Christians to have a church funeral - our salvation and the state of our souls and bodies should always be at the forefront in our lives and for the lives of our loved ones.
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST
Prayers for: Panagioti, Madalyn, Petros, Elaine, Kristine, Jon, Steve, Anastasia, Kathryn, Demetri, Andrea, Matthew, Elaine, James, William, Anastasios, Polyxeni, Peter, and Sophia
Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who cured the mother in law of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; grant aid to these Your servants (Names) and heal them of every sickness of which they are grieved; lift them up from their pain, and send down upon them Your great mercy. For to you we send up Glory: to Father, and to Son, and to Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
STAG BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND UPDATE
Congratulations to the 5/6th Grade team, which includes our beloved, Mary Celik and Jimmy Kanel, for finishing 2nd in the SILVER DIVISION!!
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS (Tia Kanel)
Won semifinals last weekend and have FINALS on Sunday, February 18th at St. Nectarios at 4:30pm. Come support their championship game!!
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS (Stratis Koulouris; Assistant Coach: Billy Panos)
Results of the Saturday, February 17th games TBA next week.
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**Flyers located in the Narthex.
Monday, February 26 - 12:00 p.m., Tenderhearted Senior Ministry in Saint Catherine’s. Please bring your Wedding photo!
March 10 - Parish Oratorical Festival
March 10 - Apokreatiko Glendi, Safari Sunday in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy
March 16 - 12:30 p.m., Austin Community Meal in Plato Hall
April 7 - 2:30 p.m., Greek Independence Day Parade on Halsted in Greek town
May 12 - Mother’s Day Luncheon. More information to follow.
May 20 - Save the Date!!! Annual Golf Outing - White Pines Golf Course and Banquets – 500 W. Jefferson St., Bensenville, IL 60106. $150 per golfer. Please see flyer for more information.
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A blessed week to you and your families!!!
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Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago
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