Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Bulletin

ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

601 South Central Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60644

Main: 773-626-3114

Email: office@assumptionchicago.org

Website: assumptionchicago.org

Father Apostolos N. Georgiafentis – Protopresbyter

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14, 2022 - ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 14 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ 2022

READINGS AND PRAYERS

+THE DORMITION OF OUR MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God. With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

Epistle Reading for the Day

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

Gospel Reading

The Gospel According to Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Απόστολος της Ημέρας

Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 3:9-17 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα

Ἀδελφοί, Θεοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν συνεργοί· θεοῦ γεώργιον, θεοῦ οἰκοδομή ἐστε. Κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι, ὡς σοφὸς ἀρχιτέκτων θεμέλιον τέθεικα, ἄλλος δὲ ἐποικοδομεῖ. Ἕκαστος δὲ βλεπέτω πῶς ἐποικοδομεῖ. Θεμέλιον γὰρ ἄλλον οὐδεὶς δύναται θεῖναι παρὰ τὸν κείμενον, ὅς ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός. Εἰ δέ τις ἐποικοδομεῖ ἐπὶ τὸν θεμέλιον τοῦτον χρυσόν, ἄργυρον, λίθους τιμίους, ξύλα, χόρτον, καλάμην, ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον φανερὸν γενήσεται· ἡ γὰρ ἡμέρα δηλώσει, ὅτι ἐν πυρὶ ἀποκαλύπτεται· καὶ ἑκάστου τὸ ἔργον ὁποῖόν ἐστιν τὸ πῦρ δοκιμάσει. Εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον μένει ὃ ἐποικοδόμησεν, μισθὸν λήψεται. Εἴ τινος τὸ ἔργον κατακαήσεται, ζημιωθήσεται· αὐτὸς δὲ σωθήσεται, οὕτως δὲ ὡς διὰ πυρός. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ναὸς θεοῦ ἐστε, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ οἰκεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν; Εἴ τις τὸν ναὸν τοῦ θεοῦ φθείρει, φθερεῖ τοῦτον ὁ θεός· ὁ γὰρ ναὸς τοῦ θεοῦ ἅγιός ἐστιν, οἵτινές ἐστε ὑμεῖς.

Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας

Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 14:22-34 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠνάγκασεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς μαθητὰς ἐμβῆναι εἰς τὸ πλοῖον καὶ προάγειν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ πέραν, ἕως οὗ ἀπολύσῃ τοὺς ὄχλους. Καὶ ἀπολύσας τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος κατ᾽ ἰδίαν προσεύξασθαι. ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης μόνος ἦν ἐκεῖ. Τὸ δὲ πλοῖον ἤδη σταδίους πολλοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἀπεῖχεν, βασανιζόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν κυμάτων, ἦν γὰρ ἐναντίος ὁ ἄνεμος. Τετάρτῃ δὲ φυλακῇ τῆς νυκτὸς ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς περιπατῶν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν. Οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης περιπατοῦντα ἐταράχθησαν λέγοντες ὅτι Φάντασμά ἐστιν, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν. Εὐθὺς δὲ ἐλάλησεν [ὁ ᾽Ιησοῦς] αὐτοῖς λέγων, Θαρσεῖτε, ἐγώ εἰμι· μὴ φοβεῖσθε. Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν, Κύριε, εἰ σὺ εἶ, κέλευσόν με ἐλθεῖν πρὸς σὲ ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα· ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, ᾽Ελθέ. καὶ καταβὰς ἀπὸ τοῦ πλοίου ὁ Πέτρος περιεπάτησεν ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα καὶ ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν ᾽Ιησοῦν. Βλέπων δὲ τὸν ἄνεμον ἐφοβήθη, καὶ ἀρξάμενος καταποντίζεσθαι ἔκραξεν λέγων, Κύριε, σῶσόν με. Εὐθέως δὲ ὁ ᾽Ιησοῦς ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἐπελάβετο αὐτοῦ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, ᾽Ολιγόπιστε, εἰς τί ἐδίστασας; καὶ ἀναβάντων αὐτῶν εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος. Οἱ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες, ᾽Αληθῶς Θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ. Καὶ διαπεράσαντες ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν εἰς Γεννησαρέτ.

READINGS OF OUR HOLY ORTHODOX SAINTS

+Saint Myron - Commemorated on August 17

Saint Myron was a priest during the reign of Decius, when Antipater was ruler of Achaia. On the day of our Lord's Nativity, Antipater entered the church to seize the Christians and punish them. Saint Myron, kindled with holy zeal, roundly insulted Antipater, for which he was hung up and scraped, then cast into a raging furnace, but was preserved unharmed. When Myron refused to worship the idols, Antipater commanded that strips be cut in the Saint's flesh from his shoulders to his feet; the Saint took one of the strips of his flesh and flung it in the tyrant's face. He was beaten, and scraped again upon his beaten flesh; then he was thrown to wild beasts, but when Antipater saw them leaving off their fierce nature and protecting the Saint from harm, he was overcome with unbearable shame and slew himself. The Saint was then sent to Cyzicus, where the proconsul had him beheaded, about the year 250.

A prayer Saint Joseph the Hesychast would recite before beginning to pray

Lord Jesus Christ, sweetest Father, God and Lord of mercy, and Creator of the entire universe: Look upon my humility and forgive all my sins which I have committed all the years of my life up to this very day and hour. Send forth Thine All Holy Spirit, the Comforter, so that He may teach, illuminate, and safegaurd me so that I no longer sin, so that with a pure soul and heart I may adore, worship, glorify, thank, and love Thee with all my soul and heart, my sweetest Savior, Benefactor, and God, Who is worthy of all love and worship. Yes, good eternal Father, co-eternal Son, and All-Holy Spirit, count me worthy of enlightenment and divine spiritual knowledge, so that by beholding Thy sweet grace I may bear the burden of this vigil tonight, and render unto Thee my prayers and thanksgiving, through the intercessions of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the Saints. Amen.

"I cannot describe to you how much our Panagia likes chastity and purity. Since she is the only pure Virgin, she wants and loves everyone to be like that. As soon as we cry out to her she rushes to our help. You don't even finish saying, 'All-holy Theotokos, help me' and at once, like lightning, she shines through the nous and fills the heart with illumination. She draws the nous to prayer and the heart to Love." +Saint Joseph the Hesychast

The Virgin Mary is the Mother of God and the Mother of the whole world, and no fire is greater than Her Love! Her hands are wings, and no calamity is stronger than Her Protection! Embrace Her! +Saint Paisios the Athonite

ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΡΙΣΤΗΣ

Η ΗΜΕΡΑ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ - (15 Αυγούστου)

Η εορτή της Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου είναι η μεγαλύτερη από όλες τις εορτές που καθιέρω- σε η Εκκλησία προς τιμήν της Μητέρας του Κυρίου, τις θεομητερικές εορτές. Ίσως είναι και η παλαιότερη από όλες. Αρχικά ονομαζόταν «Ημέρα της Θεοτόκου Μαρίας». Η Θεοτόκος είναι το προσφιλέστερο και ιερότερο πρόσωπο μετά τον Κύριο, γι’ αυτό συγκέντρωσε την τιμή και την ευλάβεια όλων των χριστιανικών γενεών. Η Θεοτόκος Μαρία αναδείχθη οριστι- κά το εκλεκτότερο ανθρώπινο πλάσμα. Η προσωνυμία Υπεραγία και Παναγία αποδίδει αυ- τή την πραγματικότητα. Δέ διέπραξε ποτέ στη ζωή της θεληματική αμαρτία. Η αμαρτία που ενεργεί ώς δύμανη μέσα στη φύση,η αμαρτία ώς ρυπότητα της ψυχής,δε βρέθηκε ποτέ με- σα της.Η πίστη,η ταπείνωσή της,η υπακοή στο θείο θέλημα και η αγιότητά της την ανέδει- ξαν «Κεχαριτωμένη». Το σώμα της Θεοτόκου – που μετατέθηκε από τον τάφο, δεν ήταν η χωμάτινη σάρκα που φορούσε η Παναγία, όταν ζούσε στη γή, αλλά το άφθαρτισμένο και πνευματικά «αλλαγμένο» σώμα, όπως ακριβώς γράφει σ’ ένα σημείο ο απόστολος Παύλος: «Οι νεκροί εγερθήσονται άφθαρτοι, και ημείς αλλαγησόμεθα, δεί γάρ το φθαρτόν τούτο ενδύσσασθαι αφθαρσίαν και το θνητόν τούτο ενδύασασθαι αθανασίαν».

«EYAΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΘΕΟΥ» Η λέξη «Ευαγγέλιον» προέρχεται από το ρήμα «ευαγγελίζομαι» και σημαίνει αναγγέλλω ευχάριστα νέα, ευχάριστες ειδήσεις. «Ευαγγέλιον» επομένως είναι το χαρούμενο μήνυμα, η ευχάριστη είδηση. Αυτή την ωραία λέξη διάλεξαν οι Απόστολοι του

Χριστού για να χαρακτηρίσουν το περί Χριστού κήρυγμά τους. Ο λόγος για τον Χριστό, ο

προφορικός και ο γραπτός, είναι «ευαγγέλιον».

Κανένα βιβλίο στον κόσμο δεν δικαιούται να διεκδικήσει αυτόν τον ωραίο τίτλο, «το βιβλίο

της αγάπης», όσο η Καινή Διαθήκη.Τρείς αγάπες κυριαρχούν στις σελίδες της Καινής Διαθή-

κης. Η αγάπη του Θεού προς τον άνθρωπο, και η αγάπη του ανθρώπου για τον άνθρωπο. Πόσο μας λείπει η αγάπη και πώς θα ήταν άραγε ο κόσμος άν αντλούσε από την πηγή αυτή της αγάπης, όση του λείπει ;

Η ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ

Η Τετάρτη και κυρίως η Παρασκευή από την αποστολική ακόμη εποχή θεωρήθηκαν ώς ιδι- αίτερης σημασίας ημέρες της εβδομάδας, επειδή συνδέθηκαν με τα Άγια Πάθη του Κυρίου μας. ‘Εχουν πένθιμο χαρακτήρα και απαρχής ορίστηκαν από τους χριστιανούς ώς ημέρες νηστείας και προσευχής. Η νηστεία της Τετάρτης και της Παρασκευής ολόκληρο το χρόνο, είναι η αρχαιότερη από όλες τις άλλες νηστείες.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This week’s Gift of Light is given for the feast day of our beloved and Most Holy Theotokos. May our loving Panagia and Mother of all cover us in Her protection and guide us always!

SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

FOREFEAST OF THE DORMITION / ΠΡΟΕΟΡΤΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΤΗΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ

7:00 p.m. - Great Feast Day Vespers / 7:00 μ.μ. - Πανηγυρικός Μέγας Εσπερινός

ARTOKLASIA

Offered by the following families for their health and well-being:

Ms. Kyriaki and Family

Mrs. Matina Alexakis and Family

Mrs. Panagiota Laggas and Family

The Spyropoulos Family

ALL NIGHT VIGIL / ΟΛΟΝΥΚΤΟΣ ΑΓΡΥΠΝΙΑ

10:30 p.m. - Small Supplication to the Theotokos/10:30 μ.μ. - Ο Κανών της Μικρής Παρακλήσεως

(Names of the living inaudibly commemorated - Μνημόνευσις ονοματών ζώντων μυστικώς)

MONDAY, AUGUST 15 - ALL NIGHT VIGIL CONTINUES

THE DORMITION OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER VIRGIN MARY

Η ΚΟΙΜΗΣΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΥΠΕΡΑΓΙΑΣ ΔΕΣΠΟΙΝΗΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΤΗΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΕΙΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΥ ΜΑΡΙΑΣ

12:00 a.m. - Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos / 12:00 π.μ. - Ακάθιστος Ύμνος της Θεοτόκου

2:00 a.m. - Sacrament of Holy Unction / 2:00 π.μ. - Ακολουθία του Αγίου Ευχελαίου

First Divine Liturgy / Πρώτη Θεία Λειτουργία

4:00 a.m. - Orthros / 4:00 π.μ. - Όρθρος

5:00 a.m. - Divine Liturgy / 5:00 π.μ. - Θεία Λειτουργία

Second Divine Liturgy / Δεύτερη Θεία Λειτουργία

8:00 a.m. - Orthros / 8:00 π.μ. - Όρθρος

9:30 a.m. - Divine Liturgy / 9:30 π.μ. - Θεία Λειτουργία

Church Office Hours - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Church office closed on Thursdays.

View Parish Calendar

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST - Prayers for: Matthew, Elaine, Konstantinos, Angeliki, James, Tom, William, Anastasios, Polyxeni, Julia, Helen, Peter, Sophia

Prayers for the living will be retained on the list for 40 days. Contact Church Office to add names at office@assumptionchicago.org or call Panagia office at 773.626.3114

PARISH MINISTRIES AND EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS:

More information on the following events to follow.

August 21 - Saint Euphrosynos’ Kitchen - If you or someone you know would benefit from this ministry, or if you would like to deliver a meal or help in preparing the meal, please contact the church office at: 773-626-3114.

August 28 - Sweetest Sunday Church School Welcome Back Kickoff following Divine Liturgy in Wonka’s Chocolate Factory aka Plato Hall. Bring your children and spread the word!

September 24 - Liturgy in the Park at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, Wisconsin - More information to follow

October 20 - Grand Raffle Dinner Celebration at Café La Cave, 2777 S. Mannheim Road in Des Plaines. Please see insert for more information.

October 30 & 31 - Outreach Pumpkin Patch – More information to follow.

November 5 - Harvest Day

November 20 - Thanksgiving in a Bag

December 3 - Christmas Tree Lighting

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to those who volunteered to bake lenten melomakarona and to those who are baking for the Panagia’s Feast Day luncheon.

We are still in dire need of volunteers to help setup, serve and cleanup for Panagia’s Vespers, Sunday, August 14 and Monday, August 15. If you are able to assist with any of these tasks, please contact Evie Maggos at 847-791-5644.

SPONSORS NEEDED FOR HOSTING

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: August 28, September 4, 18 & 25

New procedures for sponsoring coffee hour are as follows:

Please note, we no longer can purchase or order items on your behalf for coffee hour. If you are unable to shop for the food items, we have a list of vendors that will be able to deliver on Sunday mornings (delivery please by 11:30 a.m. for 75-100 people), or you may order from other places that you would like and have them delivered.

Additionally, we request a fee of $75 made directly to Assumption Church for set-up, clean-up, tablecloths, plates, napkins, utensils, and coffee.

We thank 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.

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.

ARTOKLASIA – THE BLESSING OF THE FIVE LOAVES

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.

“And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” ~Matthew 14:19

2022 STEWARDSHIP

If you haven’t done so already, please pick up a Stewardship packet which is located on the Pangari or contact the church office and we will mail you one. Please fill out the pledge card (it is important that you enter a pledge amount) and the information card completely and return it back in the enclosed envelope. Thank you for supporting our beloved parish of Panagia!

LET’S STAY IN TOUCH - If you would like to receive information about services, activities and events that are happening at our church, please visit our website at: assumptionchicago.org to sign up or call the church office and submit your email address.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” ~Luke 21:1-4