ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
601 South Central Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60644
Main: 773-626-3114
Fax: 773-626-3141
Father Apostolos N. Georgiafentis – Protopresbyter
SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2022 - SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS
ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 19 ΙΟΥΝΙΟΥ 2022 - ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΝΤΩΝ
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Honouring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, "But to me, exceedingly honourable are Thy friends, O Lord" (Ps. 138:16). And the divine Apostle, recounting the achievements of the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1). This commemoration began as the Sunday of All Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness (the meaning of "Martyr" in Greek) to Christ in manifold ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of their blood. Therefore, guided by the teaching of the Divine Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, we the pious honour all the Saints, the friends of God, for they are keepers of God's commandments, shining examples of virtue, and benefactors of mankind. Of course, we honour the known Saints especially on their own day of the year, as is evident in the Menologion. But since many Saints are unknown, and their number has increased with time, and will continue to increase until the end of time, the Church has appointed that once a year a common commemoration be made of all the Saints. This is the feast that we celebrate today. It is the harvest of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world; it is the "much fruit" brought forth by that "Grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died" (John 12:24); it is the glorification of the Saints as "the foundation of the Church, the perfection of the Gospel, they who fulfilled in deed the sayings of the Saviour". In this celebration, then, we reverently honour and call blessed all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives. All these, as well as the orders of the Angels, and especially our most holy Lady and Queen, the Ever-virgin Theotokos Mary, do we honour today, setting their life before us as an example of virtue, and entreating them to intercede in our behalf with God, Whose grace and boundless mercy be with us all. Amen.
Epistle Reading for the Day
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2
BRETHREN, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfection of our faith.
Gospel Reading
The Gospel of Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30
The Lord said to his disciples, "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first."
ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ
ΟΙ ΑΓΙΟΙ ΠΑΝΤΕΣ - ΟΙ ΜΙΜΗΤΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ
Πάντων των Οσίων Πατέρων, Των εν Αγίω Όρει του Άθω λαμψάντων.
Μεγάλη και θαυμαστή είναι η σημερινή ομήγυρη των Αγίων:
Προπάτορες και Προφήτες, Πατριάρχες και Απόστολοι, Μάρτυρες και Ιεράρχες, Ιερομάρτυρες και Οσιομάρτυρες, όσιοι και Δίκαιοι, μαζί με τα τάγματα των Αγγέλων, έχοντας στο μέσον, Την των αγίων Αγίαν την Υπεραγίαν Δέσποινα Θεοτόκο,ώς αστέρες πολύφωτοι προβάλλουν στο πνευματικό στερέωμα της Εκκλησίας. Ενωμένοι οι άγιοι με το Χριστό και λουσμένοι με το φώς του Αγίου Πνεύματος έζησαν στη ζωή τους την ίδια την ζωή του Χροστού. Αγάπησαν τον Θεό και τον άνθρωπο. Θυσιάστηκαν για την πίστηυ. Περιφρόνησαν κάθε χαρά του κόσμου για τη Βασιλεία των Ουρανών.
Τον κάθε ένα από τους γνωστούς Αγίους, τιμούμε ειδικά σε κάποια μέρα του χρόνου. Επειδή όμως πολλοί μας είναι άγνωστοι και ο αριθμός τους πολλαπλασιάστηκε κατά καιρούς, γι’ αυτό η Εκκλησία όρισε μία συγκεκριμένη κοινή Εορτή των γνωστών και αγνώστων, όλων των Αγίων της Οικουμένης. Έτσι λοιπόν την ημέρα αυτή τιμάμε με ευλάβεια όλους τους Δικαίους Προφήτες.
Οσίους, ανδρες και γυναίκες μαζί, γνωστούς και αγνώστους, όσους από τον Αδάμ, μέχρι τώρα απεβίωσαν με ευσέβεια και με τα καλά τους έργα δόξασαν τον Θεό. Αυτούς όλους και αυτές, επίσης τις στρατιές των Αγγέλων, πρίν από αυτούς δέ και μαζί με όλους την Παναγία Θεοτόκο και αειπαρθένο Μαρία, τιμάμε σήμερα με την παρούσα Γιορτή, προβάλλοντας τη ζωή της, σαν παράδειγμα αρετής. Και παρακαλούμε όλους αυτούς τους Αγίους, να πρεσβεύουν στον Θεό, για εμάς, προκειμένου η χάρη και το άπειρο έλεός Του, να είναι μαζί με όλους μας.
MEDITATION
“All of us sin constantly. We slip and fall. In reality, we fall into a trap set by the demons.
The Holy Fathers and the Saints always tell us, ‘It is important to get up immediately after a fall and to keep on walking toward God’. Even if we fall a hundred times a day, it does not matter; we must get up and go on walking toward God without looking back.
What has happened has happened – it is in the past. Just keep on going, all the while asking for help from God.”
+Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST - Prayers for: James, Tom, William, Anastasios, Polyxeni, Julia, Helen, Peter, Sophia
O 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.
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
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Please join us today after the Divine Liturgy and let’s celebrate together all the wonderful fathers and grandfathers with a luncheon following the Divine Liturgy.
Many years to all our loving fathers and grandfathers! May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the Father of all continue to bless you and keep you healthy always!
This week’s Gift of Light is given for health and well-being of The Daoulas Family.
MEMORIALS
3 days for the late Christina Dimopoulou
3 years for the late Chafick Nicholas Mansour
May their memory be eternal!
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK:
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
BAPTISM
11:00 a.m. - Child of Mr. and Mrs. Spiro Zarkos
WEDDING
3:00 p.m. - Anastasia Goudes to David Robinson
Church Office Hours - Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Το γραφείο της Εκκλησίας λειτουργή απο Δευτέρα με Παρασκευή 9:30 π.μ. εώς 2:00 μ.μ.
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JUNE/JULY WEEKDAY CHURCH SERVICES
Wednesday, June 29, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy
+Holy Apostles Peter & Paul
Thursday, June 30, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy
+Synaxis of the Holy Apostles
Friday, July 1, 10:30 a.m. - Agiasmos (Blessing of the waters)
Monday, July 25, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy
+Dormition of the Righteous Anna, mother of the Most Holy Theotokos
+Holy Righteous Martyr Paraskeve
Wednesday, July 27, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy
+Holy Great-martyr and Healer Panteleimon
Thursday, July 28, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy
+Saint Irene, Abbess of the Convent of Chrysovalantou
SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR
Dear Assumption Community,
Fr. Apostolos, the members of the Parish Council, and the scholarship committee are pleased to announce that it will again award scholarship(s) for the 2022-23 academic year. The Assumption Church Scholarship Fund is available to any incoming or current college students. The parents of the applicants must be stewards of the Assumption Church. Applications are available in the Church Office. Further details are available by calling the Church office at 773.626.3114. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 1, 2022. Awarded recipients will be recognized on Sunday, July 24th, 2022
In Christ,
Thomas K Demos
Parish Council President
PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER
Reminder: The General Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 26th, in Saint Catherine’s following the Divine Liturgy.
Oak Park Farmers’ Market Bake Sale, Saturday, July 16: On Saturday, July 9th, the ladies will be in the Plato Hall kitchen beginning at 9:30 am, making kourambiethes and melomakarona for the Oak Park Famers’ Market. If you plan to donate homemade Greek or American baked goods, please bring them on Saturday July 9 or Sunday, July 10 and our committee will wrap them for you. If you are able to bake on Saturday, July 9th or donate baked goods, please call Ann at home: 630-627-2895 or email: anndervis2002@gmail.com .
Also, the Oak Park Health Department requires that we have on hand, a list of all ingredients (but not the recipe) and name of the person who made baked goods. Please bring that information along with your baked goods on either Saturday, July 9 or Sunday, July 10 as well.
JOIN THE ASSUMPTION PANAGIA CHOIR!!!
We welcome choir members to join our Assumption choir ministry once a month in the choir loft. No choral experience is needed. It's a great way to share in the Divine Liturgy spiritually with your fellow parishioners! For more information, contact Marika Panton at mmpanton@comcast.net or 708-337-7435.
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.
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.
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 summer dates: July 31, August 7, August 14, August 28
*Please note: August 1 – 15 is the Panagia fast. Please only Lenten items.
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!
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.
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.
CHURCH ETIQUETTE: Please turn off or silence your cell phones.
God has once again blessed us with the return of the summer months and with summer comes warmer weather. Although it is appropriate to wear more open clothing during these sometimes extremely heated months, we must all remember to attend church wearing “respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control” (1 Timothy 2:9). This means men should come to church wearing dress pants with a sleeved shirt (no tanks, flip-flops, or shorts). Women should attend church wearing skirts that fall no higher than right above the knee; dress shoes/dress sandals, and sleeved tops (no flip-flops, sleeveless shirts, spaghetti straps, halter/tube tops, low-cut dresses/tops and mini skirts). While it easy for us to put on apparel that makes us comfortable, I pray that you understand the importance of dress when worshipping the Lord in His holy sanctuary. Have a Blessed and Safe Summer!
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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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