ASSUMPTION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
601 South Central Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60644
Main: 773-626-3114


Father Apostolos N. Georgiafentis – Protopresbyter

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2022 - ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 31 ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ 2022     

Forefeast of the Precious Cross – Saint Joseph of Armathea          
Προεόρτια του Τιμίου Σταυρού – Ίωσήφ ο απο Άριμαθαίας

READINGS AND PRAYERS
+HOLY TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD – AUGUST 6
Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him" (Matt. 17: 5). Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.

QUOTES FROM OUR HOLY ORTHODOX FATHERS

“A Christian must be courteous to all. His words and deeds should breathe with the Grace of the Holy Spirit, which abide in his soul, so that in this way he might glorify the name of God.” +Saint Nektarios of Aegina
 
Live simply and without thinking too much, like a child with his father. Faith without too much thinking works wonders. The logical mind hinders the Grace of God and miracles. Practice patience without judging with the local mind.” +Saint Paisios of Mount Athos
 
“Do not lose heart. There is hope, and it is Christ.” +Saint Ephraim the Syrian

Epistle Reading for the Day
   St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 15:1-7
BRETHREN, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Gospel Reading
The Gospel according to Matthew 9:27-35 
At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

Απόστολος της Ημέρας
     Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 15:1-7
Ἀδελφοί, ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλά, καθὼς γέγραπται, Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπʼ ἐμέ. Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν· ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ.

Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
     Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 9:27-35
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγοντι ἐκεῖθεν τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ δύο τυφλοὶ κράζοντες καὶ λέγοντες· ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ. ἐλθόντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ τυφλοί, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· πιστεύετε ὅτι δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ναί, Κύριε. τότε ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν λέγων· κατὰ τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν γενηθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί· καὶ ἐνεβριμήσατο αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· ὁρᾶτε μηδεὶς γινωσκέτω. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες διεφήμισαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ.
Αὐτῶν δὲ ἐξερχομένων ἰδοὺ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον· καὶ ἐκβληθέντος τοῦ δαιμονίου ἐλάλησεν ὁ κωφός, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ὄχλοι λέγοντες ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ. οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον· ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια.
Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.
ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΡΙΣΤΗΣ
Η ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ
Η Μεταμόρφωση του Κυρίου είναι μία εικόνα της θείας Μεγαλιότητάς του. Η φωνή που ακούστηκε τη στιγμή εκείνη από τον ουρανό ήταν η φωνή του Θεού που επιβεβαίωνε τη θεότητα του μεταμορφωθέντος Χριστού. Ηταν και μία παραγγελία προς εμάς τους ανθρώπους, τους οδοιπόρους της ζωής αυτής να υπακούουμε στις σωτήριες εντολές του Χριστού. Το «αρχέτυπον κάλλος», που με την πτώση του Αδάμ αμαυρώθηκε, με τη Μεταμόρφωση του Σοωτήρος, πήρε πάλι τη δόξα κσι τη θεία λαμπρότητα, ντυμένο με το άκτιστο κι αστραπόβολο φώς της θεότητας. Στη Μεταμόρφωση βλέπει ο ορθόδοξος τη δόξα της θεώσεώς του, τη σωτηρία της αμαυρωθείσης εικόνας του και τη μεταμόρφωσή του στον κόσμο του θείου φωτός. Καί όπως οι Απόστολοι της Μεταμορφώσεως «μετάρσιοι γενόμενοι τω πνεύματι, την θείαν ηλλοιώθησαν έκστασιν», έτσι και οι σημερινοί πιστοί βλέπουν και τη δική τους μελλοντική μεταμόρφωση μέσα στο αγιασμένο φώς του Θεού.
ANNOUNCEMENTS

This week’s Gift of Light is given for the health and well-being of James Georgalas
in honor of his 100th birthday.

MEMORIALS
1 year for the late Maria Paganis
5 years for the late James (Demetrios) Paganis
5 years for the late Renee (Ourania) Ekman
May their memory be eternal!

SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK:
MONDAY, AUGUST 1 - Dormition Fast Begins                                                             
10:30 a.m. - Agiasmos (Blessing of the waters)                  
6:30 p.m. - Small Paraklesis -                                                   
will be celebrated with His Grace Bishop Timothy            
of Hexamilion                                                                             
 
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2 - 10:30 a.m. - Great Paraklesis
 
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 - 6:30 p.m. - Small Paraklesis                                                     
 
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 - 10:30 a.m. - Great Paraklesis                                                   
 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5                                                                     
6:00 p.m. - +Forefeast of the Holy Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Great Festal Vespers will be held at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Harvard, IL

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 - +Holy Transfiguration of our Lord                                         
9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy                                     
Assumption Youth Outing - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come join your Assumption friends for some outdoor fun at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area - 1200 East Twin Lakes Dr., Palatine, IL. Youth of all ages are invited to attend. See flyer for more information.

ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ, 1 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ
Αρχή Νηστείας του Δεκαπενταύγουστου
10:30 π.μ. - Μικρός Αγιασμός  
6:30 μ.μ. - Μικρή Παράκλησις - Πρωτοστατούντος του ΘεοφιλεστάτουΕπισκοόπυ κ.κ. Τιμοθέου, Εξαμιλίου

ΤΡΙΤΗ, 2 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ
10:30 π.μ. - Μεγάλη Παράκλησις

ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ, 3 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ
6:30 μ.μ. - Μικρή Παράκλησις

ΠΕΜΠΤΗ, 4 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ
10:30 π.μ. - Μεγάλη Παράκλησις

ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ, 5 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ
6:00 μ.μ. - +Η Μεταμόρφωσις του Σωτήρος - Θα τελεσθεί Ο Μέγας Εσπερινός εις το Μοναστήρι της Μεταμορφώσεως, Harvard, Illinois

ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ, 6 ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ
+Η Μεταμόρφωσις του Κυρίου
9:00 π.μ. - Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία
Assumption Youth Outing - 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Come join your Assumption friends for some outdoor fun at the Twin Lakes Recreation Area - 1200 East Twin Lakes Dr., Palatine, IL. Youth of all ages are invited to attend. See flyer for more information.

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


COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST - Prayers for: Matthew, Elaine, Konstantinos, Angeliki, 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

PARISH MINISTRIES AND EVENTS
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS
Panagia Feast Day Activities:
 
Saturday, August 6, Transfiguration Liturgy, Orthros – 9:00 a.m.
 
·       Baking Lenten Melomakarona for Panagia Vespers will begin after conclusion of the Transfiguration Liturgy. We will also have General Meeting at some point during the baking. Please try to attend.
 
·       Baked goods needed for Panagia Feast Day. Please contact Valerie Green 847-337-5687 if you can help with either of these activities.
 
·       Volunteers are needed to help set, serve and cleanup for Panagia Vespers and Feast Day, Sunday, August 14 and Monday, August 15. Please contact Evie Maggos at 847-791-5644.
 
Lenten Recipe Booklet – There is still time to submit your favorite Lenten recipes to share in the Lenten Recipe Booklet, a great reference for Lenten meals! Please refer to the flyer enclosed for further information.  

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 summer dates: 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! 
FEAST DAY OF THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS
Items needed for the Feast Day of Panagia
As we prepare for the feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos, we will need 2 families to donate towards flowers for the weekly services for the Icon of Panagia at $250/per week and 1 family to donate for the flowers for the processional Icon on the feast day of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos at $300.
 
We also are asking for 4 families to donate towards the flowers to don the Icon of the Dormition of the Holy Panagia that is on the Iconostasio (Icon Screen) - Donation is $250/per family.
 
We need 4 families to donate towards flowers for the two Icons of the Dormition of the Panagia which are in the Narthex of our Church - Donation is $250/per family. Please contact the Church office if you would like to donate or need more information. May the Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you and your families. KALI PANAGIA!
 
ARTOKLASIA: If you are planning on offering an Artoklasia (blessing of the five loaves) for the vespers or feast day of Panagia, please contact the church office so we know how many artous, loaves of bread we will have. Please remember to submit your names and write, Artoklasia on top of your list and if it will be for vespers or for the feast day. Thank you and our Holy Panagia be with you and your families! 

MONDAY, AUGUST 8
6:30 p.m. - Great Paraklesis Service / 6:30 μ.μ. - Μεγάλη Παράκλησις
 
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9
10:30 a.m. - Small Paraklesis Service / 10:30 π.μ. - Μικρή Παράκλησις
 
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10
6:30 p.m. - Great Paraklesis Service / 6:30 μ.μ. - Μεγάλη Παράκλησις
 
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11
10:30 a.m. - Small Paraklesis Service / 10:30 π.μ. - Μικρή Παράκλησις
 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
6:30 p.m. - Great Paraklesis Service / 6:30 μ.μ. - Μεγάλη Παράκλησις
 
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
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
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
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS




SAVE THE DATE!

Nothing Sweeter than the start of Sunday Church School

Please join us for our kickoff event on August 28!

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2022
White Pines Golf Course - 500 Jefferson Street
Bensenville, IL 60106

Includes lunch, golf with cart and awards dinner
Early Bird Rate: $125 or $150 Day of Event - $40 Dinner Only 

To register and for more information, please use the following link:
 
  Payments can be made online or by contacting the church office
  at: 773.626.3114 – Please see flyer for more information.

A BLESSED WEEK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!
KALI PANAGIA! 


Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago
Learn more: assumptionchicago.org