Epistle Reading of the Day | |
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15
Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
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Gospel Reading for the Day | |
The Gospel According to
Matthew 22:35-46
At that time, a lawyer came up to Jesus and asked him a question, to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, "What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put your enemies under your feet'? If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?" And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
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Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 4:6-15 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα
Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν· ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι· διωκόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν· εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.
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Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 22:35-46 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, νομικός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ, πειράζων αὐτόν καὶ λέγων· Διδάσκαλε, ποία ἐντολὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῷ νόμῳ; ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔφη αὐτῷ· Ἀγαπήσεις Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου· αὕτη ἐστὶ πρώτη καὶ μεγάλη ἐντολή. δευτέρα δὲ ὁμοία αὐτῇ· ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν. ἐν ταύταις ταῖς δυσὶν ἐντολαῖς ὅλος ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται κρέμανται. Συνηγμένων δὲ τῶν Φαρισαίων ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· Τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ; τίνος υἱός ἐστι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· Τοῦ Δαυῒδ. λέγει αὐτοῖς· Πῶς οὖν Δαυῒδ ἐν Πνεύματι Κύριον καλεῖ αὐτὸν λέγων, εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ Κυρίῳ μου, κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; εἰ οὖν Δαυῒδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν Κύριον, πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστι; καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο αὐτῷ ἀποκριθῆναι λόγον, οὐδὲ ἐτόλμησέ τις ἀπ' ἐκείνης τῆς ἡμέρας ἐπερωτῆσαι αὐτὸν οὐκέτι.
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READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS | |
Saint Agatha the Martyr – February 5
This Martyr, who was from Panormus (that is, Palermo) or perhaps Catania of Sicily, was a most comely and chaste virgin. After many exceedingly harsh torments, she gave up her spirit in prison at Catania in 251, because she did not consent to the seductions of Quintian, the Governor of Sicily. At her burial, an Angel placed a stone tablet on her grave inscribed with the words, "A righteous mind, self-determining, honor from God, the deliverance of her father-land." The following year this was fulfilled when Mount Etna erupted, spewing forth violent fire from which Catania was manifestly saved by Saint Agatha's prayers. The holy Martyr Agatha, the protectress and chief patroness of Sicily, is, with perhaps the exception of Saint Agnes of Rome, the most highly venerated Virgin Martyr of the West. Saint Damasus, Pope of Rome, and Saint Ambrose of Milan both wrote in praise of her.
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Saint Haralambos the Great Martyr - February 10
This Saint was a priest of the Christians in Magnesia, the foremost city of Thessaly, in the diocese having the same name. He contested during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235), when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia. At the time of his martyrdom the Saint was 103 years of age.
St. Haralambos is commemorated on February 10th, with the exception when this date falls on the Saturday of the Souls preceding Lent or on Clean Monday (the first day of Lent), in which case the feast is celebrated on February 9th.
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Saint Barsanuphius the Great – February 6
Saint Barsanuphius the Great, who was from Egypt, and his disciple, Saint John the Prophet, struggled in very strict reclusion during the sixth century at the monastery of Abba Seridus at Gaza of Palestine, and were endowed with amazing gifts of prophecy and spiritual discernment. They are mentioned by Saint Dorotheus of Gaza, their disciple, in his writings. Many of the counsels they sent to Christians who wrote to them are preserved in the book which bears their names. Once certain of the Fathers besought Saint Barsanuphius to pray that God stay His wrath and spare the world. Saint Barsanuphius wrote back that there were "three men perfect before God," whose prayers met at the throne of God and protected the whole world; to them it had been revealed that the wrath of God would not last long. These three, he said, were "John of Rome, Elias of Corinth, and another in the diocese of Jerusalem," concealing the name of the last, since it was himself.
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Saint Nikephoros the Martyr of Antioch
February 9
This Martyr, who was from Antioch in Syria, contested during the reign of Gallienus, about the year 260. Through the working of the evil one, his friendship with a certain Christian priest named Sapricius was turned to bitter hatred. Nikephoros, repenting of his enmity, tried both through intermediaries and in person to be reconciled with Sapricius, but to no avail. Later, when the persecution broke out under Valerian and Gallienus, Sapricius was seized as a Christian. When Saint Nikephoros learned that Sapriius had been arrested by the pagans and was enduring torments for Christ, he sent intermediaries to Sapricius, begging his forgiveness; but Sapricius would not forgive him. Later, as Sapricius was being taken to beheading, Nikephoros, hoping that Sapricius, at his end, in such a holy hour, would at last forgive him, met him on the way, fell before him, and fervently asked his forgiveness; but Sapricius forgave him not. Wherefore, though Sapricius had passed through many sufferings, and the crown of martyrdom was now awaiting him, because he disdained the chief commandments of love and forgiveness, the grace of God, which had been strengthening him in his torments, departed from him, and he told his executioners he would sacrifice. Nikephoros immediately confessed Christ before them, and being himself beheaded, took the crown that Sapricius had cast away.
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ΑΓΙΟΣ ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟΣ - ο Στρατηλάτης - (8 Φεβρουαρίου)
Καταγόταν από τη Μικρά Ασία, αλλά κατοικούσε στην Ηράκλεια του Πόντου.Ασκούσε το επάγγελμα του στρατιωτικού και τα φοβερά ψυχικά και σωματικά χαρίσματα τον οδήγησαν ψηλά στην στρατιωτική ιεραρχία. Ο αυτοκράτορας Λυκίνιος εντυπωσιαμσένος από τα χαρίσματά του, διόρισε Στρατηλάτη το Θεόδωρο και ζήτησε πληροφορίες γι’ αυτόν. Οι πληροφορίες ομως ανέφεραν,πως ο Θεόδωρος ήταν χριστιανός.Ο Λυκίνιος τον κάλεσε μπροστά του και του έκανε γνωστό πως κανένας στρατιώτης δεν επιτρεπόταν να είναι χριστιανός. Ο στρατηλάτης ομολόγησε μπροστά στον αυτοκράτορα το Χριστό.Ύστερα βασανίστηκε φρικτά και σταυρώθηκε, όμως και κατά την διάρκεια των βασανιστηρίων κατάφερε να πείσει πολλούς στρατιώτες να ασπαστούν το χριστιανισμό. Τελικά ο Θεόδωρος αποκεφαλίστηκε, αλλά η μνήμη του παραμένει αειθαλής και αθάνατος.
Ο Ιερομάρτυς Χαράλαμπος - (10 Φεβρουαρίου)
Ήταν Ιερέας στη Μαγνησία της Μ. Ασίας. Ή ζωή του ήταν μια συνεχής υπηρεσία αφοσίωσης στο Χριστό και αγάπης προς τον πλησίον. Όταν το 198 ο Σεπτίμιος Σεβήρος εξαπέλυσε διωγμό κατά των Χριστιανών, ο έπαρχος Λουκιανός έφερε μπροστά του το Χαράλαμπο και τον απείλησε ότι θα τον βασάνιζε πολύ σκληρά, για να αρνηθεί το Χριστό. ο γέροντας Ιερέας χαμογέλασε και απάντησε: "Εμείς οϊ χριστιανοί, είμαστε εξοικειωμένοι με τους αγώνες και τους πολέμους, όπως οι γενναίοι στρατιώτες δεν επιθυμούν τον ήσυχο θάνατο στο κρεβάτι, αλλά τον δοξασμένο της μάχης. Σε μένα υπάρχουν τα γηρατειά, αλλά να μάθετε καλά ότι στους δικούς μας αγώνες το πάν είναι ή ψυχή, ή αποφασιστικότητα, ή αυταπάρνηση. Αυτά δεν πέφτουν με την ηλικία, αλλά μένουν πάντοτε ανθηρά και νέα. Αμφιβάλλεις, έπαρχε; Δοκίμασε. Και θα δεις ότι με τη χάρη του Κυρίου μου Ιησού Χριστού θα κουρασθούν όλοι οι ακμαίοι δήμιοι σου , χωρίς ο ιερέας Χαράλαμπος να ζητήσει την επιείκεια σου". Εκνευρισμένος από τα λόγια αυτά ο έπαρχος, διατάζει και τον γδέρνουν ζωντανό. Αυτός, όμως, αντί να σπαράζει από τον πόνο, δοξολογούσε το Θεό για την αντοχή πού του έδινε. Τότε πολλοί δήμιοι, πού έβλεπαν αυτό το θαύμα, πίστεψαν στο Χριστό. Φοβισμένος ο έπαρχος τον άφησε ελεύθερο. Αργότερα ο ίδιος ο Σεβήρος, μη μπορώντας να τα βγάλει πέρα μαζί του, τον αποκεφάλισε σε ηλικία 113 ετών.
+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 in loving memory of George Galouzis.
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MEMORIAL
3 years for the late Dena (Konstantina) Zarkos
May her memory be eternal!
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COFFEE HOUR
Please join us for coffee hour in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy.
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PHILOPTOCHOS
General Meeting in Plato Hall
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YAL KAFENEIO
YAL Kafenio following the Divine Liturgy in Saint Catherine’s. Please join us for Valentine’s sweets, coffee, frappe, spiritual discussion, and fellowship. Hope to see you there!
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THIS WEEK:
Saturday, February 10 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy
+Hieromartyr Haralambos
BAPTISM
1:00 p.m., Child of Dr. and Mrs. Peter Papagiannopoulos
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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.
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 5, 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, 19, 26
Please 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
Our sincerest thanks to all who attended our membership drive last Sunday and submitted their 2024 Philoptochos membership in person and online. We’re off to a good start and look forward to increasing our numbers and our good works! We also thank Melia Linardos and Demetra Lakerdas for the very chic display and delicious refreshments they provided. Well done, ladies! Membership forms can be turned in during the coffee hour or electronically through March 10th (electronic form - see online bulletin).
TODAY – Sunday, Feb. 4 - General meeting, Plato Hall after the Divine Liturgy.
Feb. 18, Sunday: Wear Red for Heart Health Awareness - group photo during coffee hour.
Save the Date: March 10, Sunday - Apokreatiko Glendi - luncheon in Plato Hall after the Divine Liturgy.
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!
DID YOU KNOW? - Many people think that a non-Orthodox Christian becomes an Orthodox Christian when they get married in the Greek Orthodox Church. This is false. The only time a person becomes an Orthodox Christian is when they are Catechized, Baptized and Chrismated in the Orthodox Church. Otherwise, they cannot partake of any of the Sacraments or the service of the Funeral.
Here is another false notion. Many people think that a Greek Orthodox Christian remains Greek Orthodox even if they marry outside of the Church (i.e. Civil Hall, any non-Orthodox Christian Church or Religious Cults). This again is false. The reason why it is wrong is because he or she has severed their life from the Sacramental life of the Church, meaning that they cannot receive any of the Sacraments or be buried properly in the Orthodox Faith.
If you have a civil divorce, you are not in good standing ecclesiastically until you apply for and receive an Ecclesiastical Divorce. Persons who have received only a civil divorce are not allowed to receive any of the Sacraments in the Church; this includes the Funeral Service. If you or another person(s) have fallen into any of these (or other) predicaments, please contact Fr. Apostolos and he will direct you with information needed to attain complete restoration in the Church.
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
1 Playoffs to start on Feb 10th
Times and locations are not determined yet...the league is working on them.
We know there will be games on:
FEB 10th
for 5/6th (Mary Celik, Jimmy Kanel), HS-Girls (Tia Kanel), HS-Boys (Stratis Koulouris; Assistant Coach: Billy Panos)
Contact George Demas for more information
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**Flyers located in the Narthex.
Sunday, February 11 - Godparents Sunday following the Divine Liturgy.
Saturday, February 17 - Austin Community Meal in Plato Hall
Sunday, February 18 - Saint Euphrosynos’ Kitchen Meal. Please contact the church office if you would like to volunteer or if you know of someone who would benefit from this ministry
March 10 - Parish Oratorical Festival
March 10 - Apokreatiko Glendi in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy
April 7 - 2:30 p.m. Greek Independence Day Parade on Halsted in Greek town
May 12 - Mother’s Day Luncheon
May 20 - Golf Outing
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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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