On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of an ass, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today. The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of an ass, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel.

Epistle Reading for the Day

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4:4-9

BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. 

Gospel Reading of the Day

The Reading is from John 12:1-8

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

Απόστολος της Ημέρας

Πρὸς Φιλιππησίους 4:4-9

Ἀδελφοί, χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε· πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε. Τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. Ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. Μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν. Καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν, φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε. Ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε· καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθʼ ὑμῶν.

Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας

Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 12.1-8

Πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν Ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς Βηθανίαν, ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὁ τεθνηκώς, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει· ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν τῶν ἀνακειμένων σὺν αὐτῷ. ἡ οὖν Μαρία, λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου, ἤλειψε τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξε ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ· ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου. λέγει οὖν εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, ᾿Ιούδας Σίμωνος ᾿Ισκαριώτης, ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι· διατί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχε καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· ἄφες αὐτήν, εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ μου τετήρηκεν αὐτό. τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε μεθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε.῎Εγνω οὖν ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι, καὶ ἦλθον οὐ διὰ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν μόνον, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἴδωσιν ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐβουλεύσαντο δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν,ὅτι πολλοὶ δι᾽ αὐτὸν ὑπῆγον τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων καὶ ἐπίστευον εἰς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν. Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται ᾿Ιησοῦς εἰς ῾Ιεροσόλυμα, ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔκραζον· ὡσαννά, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτό, καθώς ἐστι γεγραμμένον· μὴ φοβοῦ, θύγατερ Σιών· ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου. Ταῦτα δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ᾽ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα, καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ. ᾿Εμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, ὅτι ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον.

ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ

Η ΒΑΪΦΟΡΟΣ ΕΡΧΕΤΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ - Η είσοδος του Χριστού στα Ιεροσόλυμα για τη σημερινή Εκκλησία δεν είναι ανάμνηση ενός γεγονότος που κάποτε συνέβη κι έχουμε χρέος να το θυμόμαστε, αλλά η επανάληψη του ιδίου γεγονότος μέσα στα χρονικά και τοπικά πλαίσια του παρόντος. Και σήμερα έρχεται ο Χριστός μέσα στην πανηγυρική θεία Λειτουργία. Έρχεται πάλι για να σταυρωθεί κι αναστηθεί. Ερχεται για να επαναλάβει το Μυστήριο της φιλανθρωπίας Του. Τότε ερχόμενος ο Ιησούς απο τη Βηθανία στα Ιεροσόλυμα, έστειλε δύο απο τους Μαθητές του και του έφεραν ένα γαϊδουράκι, κάθησε επάνω του για να μπει στην πόλη. Ο δέ λαός ακούγοντας ότι ο Ιησούς έρχεται, πήραν αμέσως στα χέρια τους βάγια από φοίνικες και βγήκαν να τον υποδεχτούν. Κόβοντας κλαδιά απο τα δέντρα έστρωναν τον δρόμο απ’ όπου ο Ιησούς θα περνούσε. Και όλοι μαζί ακόμα και τα μικρά παιδιά φώναζαν: «Ωσαννά, ευλογημένος ο ερχόμενος έν ονόματι Κυρίου, ο Βασιλεύς του Ισραήλ».

Η ΕΙΣ ΑΔΟΥ ΚΑΘΟΔΟΣ - Μέσα στο ζωοδόχο Τάφο αναπαύεται άφθαρτο το ζωοποιό σώμα του Σωτήρος. Η ψυχή Του ενωμένη με τη θεότητά Του, κατέβηκε κυριαρχικά στον Άδη για να νεκρώση το θάνατο. Είναι ο θριαμβευτής, ο Βασιλιάς και σκήπτρο του είναι ο Σταυρός. Ο θάνατος κατάπιε το θνητό σώμα του Κυρίου και η ψυχή Του κατέβηκε, όπως όλων ώς τότε των νεκρών στον Άδη, αλλά σαν ενωμένα με τη θεία φύση Του έκαναν να εξαφανισθεί το σκοτάδι του αιωνίου θανάτου, η φθορά της ισχυροποιημένης αμαρτίας και το θράσος του παγγέλαστου πονηρού.

ΑΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΣΧΑ - Αυτή τη μέρα γιορτάζουμε την Αγία Ανάσταση του Κηρίου Ιησού Χριστού και ασπαζόμαστε εν Χριστώ μεταξύ μας. Δείχνοντας έτσι την κατάργηση της πρώην έχθρας ανάμεσα σ’ εμάς και τον Θεό και την επανασυμφιλίωσί του μαζί μας, χάρις στο Πάθος του Σωτήρα Χριστού. Η γιορτή λέγεται Πάσχα και είναι συνώνυμη με το Πάσχα των Εβραίων, που στη γλώσσα τους σημαίνει διάβαση. Έτσι και το Πάσχα των Ορθοδόξων Χριστιανών σημαίνει διάβαση με την έννοια ότι, ο παθών και αναστάς Ιησούς Χριστός μας πέρασε απο την κατάρα του Αδάμ και τη δουλεία του Διαβόλου στην πρώτη ελευθερία και μακαριότητα. Η δε παρούσα ημέρα της εβδομάδος, που είναι η πρώτη ημέρα από τις υπόλοιπες, αφιερωμένη στην τιμή του Κυρίου, ονομάστηκε απο τη λέξη αυτή Κυριακή και σ’ αυτή μετέθεσαν οι Απόστολοι την αργία και την ανάπαυση της γιορτής του Σαββάτου του παλιού νόμου.  Αληθώς Ανέστη ο Κύριος! Με αυτό το νικητήριο παιάνα διαδηλώνει, η Εκκλησία μας τη χαρά της, για το θρίαμβο και τη νίκη του Χριστού κατεπάνω στο θάνατο. Χαίρουν και αγάλλονται οι πιστοί. Πανηγυρίζουν οι χοροί των Αγγέλων. Σκιρτούν με ευφροσύνη «ουρανός τε και γή και τα καταχθόνια». Γιορτάζει ολόκληρη η φύση.

This week’s Gift of Light is given in loving memory of George Panos.

Palm Sunday Luncheon following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall.

12:00 p.m. - +Saint Euphrosynos’ Kitchen - Meal Delivery to homebound parishioners. If anyone would like to cook or deliver meals, please contact the church office.

Palm Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. - Bridegroom Service - Orthros of Holy Monday

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Holy Monday, April 10 - 6:30 p.m. Orthros of Holy Tuesday - Service of the Bridegroom

Holy Tuesday, April 11 - 6:30 p.m. Orthros of Holy Wednesday - Service of the Bridegroom

Holy Wednesday, April 12 - 2:30 p.m. Sacrament of Holy Unction

6:30 p.m. Orthros of Holy Thursday (Holy Unction Offered)

Holy Thursday, April 13 - 9:00 a.m. Vesperal Diving Liturgy of Saint Basil

6:30 p.m. Orthros of Holy Friday, The Twelve Gospel Readings and

Procession of the Crucified Christ

Holy Friday, April 14 - 9:00 a.m. Royal Hours

2:30 p.m. Removal of Christ from the Cross (Apokathilosis)

6:30 p.m. Orthros of Holy Saturday - Service of the Epitaphio

Holy Saturday, April 15 - 9:00 a.m. Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil

11:00 p.m. Canon of the Holy Resurrection

Great and Holy Pascha, Sunday, April 16 - 12:00 Midnight Resurrection Service and

Divine Liturgy

11:00 a.m. - Agape Vespers

RED EGGS NEEDED FOR PASCHA

Please contact Betty Tsiolis if you are able to dye some eggs red. She will provide you with tulle and ribbon to wrap the eggs. Dye will be available for purchase at church on April 9. **Please be certain the eggs are adequately hard boiled**

Eggs can be brought to church from Palm Sunday through the morning of Holy Saturday. Please contact Betty by phone 847-813-6491 or email james.tsiolis@gmail.com. Thank you! 



MYROFORES 

If any girls are interested in being a Myrofora, Myrrbearer during Holy Week Services, please contact Stavroula Spyropoulos at: (630) 217-0078. Practice will take place immediately following Palm Sunday services. 

FLOWERS FOR THE EPITAPHIO

We need families to contribute toward the cost of flowers for the Epitaphio. You may place your offering in the acrylic box located on the Pangari as you exit the church or visit our website at: www.assumptionchicago.org to donate online. If you would like, you may also contact the church office to donate. Thank you and God bless!   

ASSUMPTION PANAGIA BOOKSTORE 

Please visit our Religious Bookstore! Not only do we have beautiful Icons for your home and to give as gifts, we also have books for all ages, baby’s bibs for baptisms and much more! Our bookstore is open following the Divine Liturgy on Sundays in Plato Hall.

A Pastoral Reminder… 

Because receiving Holy Communion or any other Sacrament is an expression of our acceptance of the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Orthodox Faith, only Eastern Orthodox Christians (by baptism or chrismation) in good standing may participate. For this reason, persons who do not agree with these teachings, or are not in good standing (for example, married outside the Orthodox Church or civilly divorced and have not received an Ecclesiastical Divorce), must return to good standing in order to participate in Orthodox Sacraments such as Holy Communion and Unction; this instruction also applies to those who plan on becoming Sponsors (Κουμπάροι) at a Baptism, Chrismation or Wedding. For further information and guidance, call Father Apostolos.              

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. The Church, though, recognizes extenuating circumstances and will not condemn or deny funeral rites to any who must be cremated in these situations. 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.