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, OCTOBER 2, 2022 - ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 25 ΟΚΤΟΒΡΙΟΥ 2022

2ND SUNDAY OF LUKE

READINGS AND PRAYERS

The Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Virgin Martyr Justina Commemorated on October 2

Saint Justina who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian, who was from Antioch, began as an initiate of magic and worshipper of the demons. A certain foolish young man who had been smitten with Justina's beauty hired Cyprian to draw her to love him; when Cyprian had wed every demonic device he knew, and had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ Whom Justina invoked, he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth. Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded about the year 304.

Epistle Reading for the Day

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10

Brethren, working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Gospel Reading

The Gospel According to Luke 6:31-36

The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Απόστολος της Ημέρας

Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 6:1-10 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα

Ἀδελφοί, συνεργοῦντες δὲ καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν μὴ εἰς κενὸν τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ δέξασθαι ὑμᾶς - λέγει γάρ, Καιρῷ δεκτῷ ἐπήκουσά σου, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σωτηρίας ἐβοήθησά σοι· ἰδού, νῦν καιρὸς εὐπρόσδεκτος, ἰδού, νῦν ἡμέρα σωτηρίας - μηδεμίαν ἐν μηδενὶ διδόντες προσκοπήν, ἵνα μὴ μωμηθῇ ἡ διακονία· ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ συνιστῶντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς θεοῦ διάκονοι, ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις, ἐν πληγαῖς, ἐν φυλακαῖς, ἐν ἀκαταστασίαις, ἐν κόποις, ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις, ἐν νηστείαις, ἐν ἁγνότητι, ἐν γνώσει, ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ, ἐν χρηστότητι, ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀνυποκρίτῳ, ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ, διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν, διὰ δόξης καὶ ἀτιμίας, διὰ δυσφημίας καὶ εὐφημίας· ὡς πλάνοι καὶ ἀληθεῖς· ὡς ἀγνοούμενοι, καὶ ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι· ὡς ἀποθνῄσκοντες, καὶ ἰδού, ζῶμεν· ὡς παιδευόμενοι, καὶ μὴ θανατούμενοι· ὡς λυπούμενοι, ἀεὶ δὲ χαίροντες· ὡς πτωχοί, πολλοὺς δὲ πλουτίζοντες· ὡς μηδὲν ἔχοντες, καὶ πάντα κατέχοντες.

Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας

Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 6:31-36 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως. καὶ εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας αὐτοὺς ἀγαπῶσι. καὶ ἐὰν ἀγαθοποιῆτε τοὺς ἀγαθοποιοῦντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσι. καὶ ἐὰν δανείζητε παρ᾿ ὧν ἐλπίζετε ἀπολαβεῖν, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστί; καὶ γὰρ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς δανείζουσιν ἵνα ἀπολάβωσι τὰ ἴσα. πλὴν ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν καὶ ἀγαθοποιεῖτε καὶ δανείζετε μηδὲν ἀπελπίζοντες, καὶ ἔσται ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολύς, καὶ ἔσεσθε υἱοὶ ὑψίστου, ὅτι αὐτὸς χρηστός ἐστιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀχαρίστους καὶ πονηρούς. Γίνεσθε οὖν οἰκτίρμονες, καθὼς καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν οἰκτίρμων ἐστί.

ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ

O AΓΙΟΣ ΙΕΡΟΘΕΟΣ πρώτος επίσκοπος Αθηνών - (4 Οκτωβρίου)

Ο Ιερόθεος ήταν αρεοπαγίτης, όπως και ο άγιος Διονύσιος. Διδάχτηκε τη χριστιανική πίστη από τον απόστολο Παύλο, βαπτίστηκε και χειροτονήθηκε από αυτόν επίσκοπος Αθηνών.

Ο Ιερόθεος ήταν άνδρας μεγάλης κοινωνικής παιδείας, έκανε πρώτος επίσκοπος Αθηνών και εργάστηκε για το ποίμνιό του με πίση και πολύ ζήλο. Σύμφωνα με κάποια παράδοση Ο Ιερόθεος ήταν παρών και κατά την κοίμηση της Παναγίας στην Ιερουαλήμ.

Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΘΩΜΑΣ, ο απόστολος - (6 Οκτωβρίου)

΄Ηταν μεταξύ των δώδεκα μαθητών του Κυρίου και ανήκε σε οικογένεια αλιέων. Ο Θωμάς μετά την Ανάσταση του Χριστού και την πρώτη εμφάνισή Του στους μαθητές, δυσπιστούσε σε αυτά που του έλεγαν οι μαθηταί. Αλλά ο Κύριος επανεμφανίστηκε στους μαθητές μέσα

στο υπερώον, όταν μεταξύ τους βρισκόταν και ο Θωμάς. Τότε ο Κύριος προέτρεψε το Θωμά να ψηλαφήσει τις πληγές από τα καρφιά που Τον σταύρωσαν, και να μην γίνεται άπιστος αλλά πιστός. Εκθαμβούμενος ο Θωμάς, προσκύνησε και ανεβόησε: « Ο Κύριός μου και ο Θεός μου». Η δε απάντηση του Κυρίου ήταν τέτοια, που θα διδάσκει όλους όσους θέλουν να δυσπιστούν στην αλήθεια του Ευαγγελίου. Είπε λοιπόν ο Κύριος: « ότι εώτακάς με, πεπίστευκας, μακάριοι οι μη ιδόντες και πιστεύσαντες». - Δηλαδή:Μακαριότεροι είναι εκείνοι που, άν και δεν με είδαν πίστεψαν. Η παράδοση αναφέρει ότι ο Θωμάς μετά την επιφοίτηση του Αγίου Πνεύματος, πήγε και κήρυξε το Ευαγγέλιο στους Πέρσες, Μήδους και Ινδούς. Στην χώρα δε των τελευταίων, μαρτύρησε με θάνατο δια λογχισμού.΄Ετσι τον αξίωσε ο Θεός όχι μόνον να κηρύξει το Ευαγγέλιο Του, αλλά και να δώσει τη ζωή του γι’ Αυτόν.

TO ΠΛΟΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ

Οι πιστοί είναι οι επιβάτες του πλοίου της Εκκλησίας, που πλέει μέσα στην πολυκύμαντη θάλασσα του κόσμου. Ο πηδαλιούχος Χριστός καλεί στο πλοίο Του - Εκκλησία όλους τους ανθρώπους για να τους μεταφέρει, όπως τους Αποστόλους και τους αγίους, στην αγνή χώρα της βασιλείας των ουρανών.

Η ΑΓΑΠΗ ΚΑΝΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΨΥΧΗ ΜΑΣ ΕΥΡΥΧΩΡΟΤΕΡΗ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΝ ΟΥΡΑΝΟ!

READINGS OF OUR HOLY ORTHODOX SAINTS

+Saint Dionysios the Areopagite - October 3

This Saint was from Athens, a learned man, and a member of the famous judicial court of Mars Hill (in Greek Aeros Pagos, hence the name Areopagite (see Acts 17:19-34). When Saint Paul preached in Athens, he was one of the first there to believe in Christ, and, according to some, became the first bishop of that city. Others say -- and this may be more probable--that he was the second Bishop of Athens, after Saint Hierotheus, whom Dionysios calls his friend and teacher "after Paul" (On the Divine Names, 3:2). With Saint Hierotheus he was also present at the Dormition of the most holy Theotokos; the Doxasticon of the Aposticha for the service of the Dormition is partly taken from a passage in Chapter III of On the Divine Names. According to ancient tradition, he received a martyr's end (according to some, in Athens itself) about the year 96.

+Saint Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens - October 4

According to some, Hierotheus, like Saint Dionysius, was a member of the court of Mars Hill. Having first been instructed in the Faith of Christ by Paul, he became Bishop of Athens. He, in turn, initiated the divine Dionysius more perfectly into the mysteries of Christ; the latter, on his part, elaborated more clearly and distinctly Hierotheus' concise and summary teachings concerning the Faith. He too was brought miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit to be present at the Dormition of the Theotokos, when, together with the sacred Apostles, he became a leader of the divine hymnody. "He was wholly transported, wholly outside himself and was so deeply absorbed in communion with the sacred things he celebrated in hymnology, that to all who heard him and saw him and knew him, and yet knew him not, he seemed to be inspired of God, a divine hymnographer," as Dionysius says (On the Divine Names, 3:2). Having lived in a manner pleasing to God, he reposed in the Lord.

+Saint Thomas the Apostle of the 12

The name Thomas means, "twin." He was one of the Twelve, a Galilean by birth. Sophroneus (not the famous Patriarch of Jerusalem [7th Century, celebrated March 11], but a friend of Jerome's), quoted also by Jerome, says that Saint Thomas preached to the Parthians, Pesians, Medes, Hyrcanians, Bactrians, and neighbouring nations. According to Heracleon, the Apostle died a natural death; according to other accounts, he was martyred at Meliapur His tomb was known by Saint John Chrysostom to be at Edessa in Syria, to which city his holy relics may have been translated from India in the fourth century.

Meditation:

“Children, I beseech you to correct your hearts and thoughts, so that you may be pleasing to God. Consider that although we may reckon ourselves to be righteous and frequently succeed in deceiving men, we can conceal nothing from God. Let us therefore strive to preserve the holiness of our souls and to guard the purity of our bodies with all fervor. Ye are the temple of God, says the divine Apostle Paul; If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.” +Saint Nicholas of Myra

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Prayers for: Matthew, Elaine, James, Tom, William, Anastasios, Polyxeni, Julia, Helen, Peter, 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.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WE WELCOME OUR PASTORAL ASSISTANT MR. GEORGE DEMAS

Please join us after the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall as we welcome our Pastoral Assistant to our parish. You will have the opportunity to meet and welcome Mr. George Demas

during coffee hour.

This week’s Gift of Light is given for the health and well-being of The Kott Family.

MEMORIALS

4 years for the late Louis Demos

6 years for the late Christ Demos

8 years for the late James Demos

10 years for the late Dino Demos

May their memory be eternal!

BAPTISM: 2:00 p.m. - Child of Mr. Peter Andrianakos and Mrs. Christina Incisi

COLLEGE STUDENTS

Best of luck as you either begin or continue your college career. Father Apostolos, your family and friends at Assumption would like to keep in touch with you. Please provide our church office with your new contact information. As always, you will continue to be in our prayers, and we look forward to seeing you from time to time when you visit home.

EVENTS THIS WEEK:

Monday, October 3 - 10:00 a.m. - Annual Golf Outing at White Pines Golf Course - 500 Jefferson Street - Bensenville, IL 60106. Dinner begins at 5:00 p.m.

View Parish Calendar

PARISH MINISTRIES AND EVENTS

UPCOMING 2022 EVENTS:

More information on the following events to follow.

October 3 - 10:00 a.m. - Annual Golf Outing - White Pines Golf Course, 500 W. Jefferson St., Bensenville, IL. Register online at: https://tinyurl.com/agocgolf2022 Please see insert for more information.

October 16 - Saint Euphrosynos’ Kitchen Meal - 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.

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

October 23 - YAL Coffee Time - sit, chat, and connect at the YAL table during coffee hour

October 24 - 6:00 p.m. - Orthodox Studies in Saint Catherine’s Meeting Room

October 29 & 30 - Outreach Pumpkin Patch

October 31 - 11:30 a.m. - Tenderhearted Ministry in Saint Catherine’s Meeting Room

November 5 - 5:00 p.m. - Harvest Day

November 20 - Thanksgiving in a Bag

December 3 - 5:00 p.m. - Christmas Tree Lighting and YAL Santa Letter Writing

December 15 - 6:00 p.m. - YAL Christmas Party at Gulliver’s Pizza, 17W517 Roosevelt Road, Oakbrook Terrace

January 13 & 14 - Family Ski Trip *Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, WI*

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

Loukoumathes Sundays are Back!

Volunteers are needed to help on October 9th and 23rd after church during coffee hour. If you can help on either of these Sundays, please respond to

assumptionphiloptochos@gmail.com. Loukoumades - $10, Frappe - $5, proceeds to benefit Aid to Greece and Cyprus.

Feed the Hungry, October 18th - Annunciation Cathedral

Dark colored tube/crew socks are needed to distribute along with our to-go meal. Collection box in Saint Catherine narthex. Monetary donations in any amount are also appreciated.

Christmas Luncheon - Saturday, December 3rd, Greek Islands, Lombard. All are invited!

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: November 13, & 27; December 11 & 18

*Please note: Nativity Fast begins Nov. 15 - Dec. 25. Please Lenten items only during fast.

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, coffee, and supplies.

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.

Weeks available: Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 25.

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.

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.

SUNDAY CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS

Sunday Church School has begun. It's not too late to sign up your children. Please register your children using the following link. Click here for registration link