|
Presentation of Our Lord into the Temple - February 2
When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary's forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord's Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master." And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.
Epistle Reading for the Day
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:16-18; 7:1
BRETHREN, you are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
Gospel Reading of the Day
Matthew 15:21-28
At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
| |
|
Απόστολος της Ημέρας
Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 6:16-18; 7:1
Ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐστε ναὸς Θεοῦ ζῶντος, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ θεός ὅτι Ἐνοικήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω· καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῶν θεός, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι λαός. Διὸ, Ἐξέλθετε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἀφορίσθητε, λέγει κύριος, καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε· κἀγὼ εἰσδέξομαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔσομαι ὑμῖν εἰς πατέρα, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθέ μοι εἰς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ. Ταύτας οὖν ἔχοντες τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἀγαπητοί, καθαρίσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ παντὸς μολυσμοῦ σαρκὸς καὶ πνεύματος, ἐπιτελοῦντες ἁγιωσύνην ἐν φόβῳ θεοῦ.
Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 15.21-28
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖθεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος.καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ Χαναναία ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων ἐκείνων ἐξελθοῦσα ἐκραύγαζεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· ἐλέησόν με, Κύριε, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ· ἡ θυγάτηρ μου κακῶς δαιμονίζεται.ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῇ λόγον. καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν, ὅτι κράζει ὄπισθεν ἡμῶν.ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἀπεστάλην εἰ μὴ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου ᾿Ισραήλ.ἡ δὲ ἐλθοῦσα προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· Κύριε, βοήθει μοι.ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἔστι καλὸν λαβεῖν τὸν ἄρτον τῶν τέκνων καὶ βαλεῖν τοῖς κυναρίοις.ἡ δὲ εἶπε· ναί, Κύριε· καὶ γὰρ τὰ κυνάρια ἐσθίει ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχίων τῶν πιπτόντων ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν.τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῇ· ὦ γύναι, μεγάλη σου ἡ πίστις! γενηθήτω σοι ὡς θέλεις. καὶ ἰάθη ἡ θυγάτηρ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης.
READINGS FROM OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS
+THREE HIERARCHS – JANUARY 30
This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor Alexis Comnenus (1081-1118).
Wisdom from Elder Thaddeus (+2003)
"The Lord is always waiting for us to unite ourselves with Him in love; but instead, we drift further and further away from Him. We know that there can be no life without love. This means that there is no life without God, for God is Love. But His love is not according to the understanding of the world. The love that the world gives us consists of suffering and enslavement, because the spirits of evil interfere with it. There is a little bit of love, but mostly it is just enslavement."
"When we talk to our fellow men and they tell us about their troubles, we will listen to them carefully if we have love for them. We will have compassion for their suffering and pain, for we are God’s creatures; we are a manifestation of the love of God. However, we often consider this a great burden; for we are oppressed by our own cares worries and weaknesses. "
“Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others.” +St. Augustine of Hippo
“Ask with tears, seek with obedience, knock with patience. For thus he who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
+St. John Climacus - "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" (Step 28)
"...And so let us be glad and bear with patience everything the world throws at us, secure in the knowledge that it is then that we are most in the mind of God."
+St. Basil the Great - "Gateway to Paradise"
ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ
Των Οικουμενικών Διδασκάλων (30 Ιανουαρίου)
Βασιλείου του Μεγάλου, Γρηγορίου του Θεολόγου και Ιωάννου του Χρυσοστόμου.
Η αλήθεια είναι ότι και οι Τρείς Ιεράρχαι είναι εξ ίσου μεγάλα και φωτεινά ονόματα της Εκκλησίας.Τους διακρίνουν όμως και μερικά ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά: Ο Βασίλειος έχει σαν ιδιαίτερα γνωρίσματα του τα εξής: Υπήρξε πολύ ασκητικός Πατήρ και με τις συγγραφές έθεσε τις βάσεις του μοναστικού βίου της Ορθοδόξου Ανατολής. Ως κήρυξ του θείου λόγου, είχε επιμελημένο ύφος και αρεσκόταν να αντλή διδάγματα από το άφωνο, πλήν ευγλωτότατο βιβλίο των θαυμασίων της υλική κτίσεως. Ανέπτυξε άφθαστο φιλανθρωπικό έργο. Ο Γρηγόριος ο Ναζιανζηνός, υπήρξε μέγας θεολογικός νούς και επίσης επιδιδόταν με επιτυχία στην ιερά ποίησι. Ο χαρακτήρας του ήταν πράος και άκακος. Ο δε Ιωάννης, ο ιερός Χρυσόστομος, ανέπτυξε πλουσιώτατο κηρυκτικό έργο, χάρις στη βαθειά γνώση των Γραφών και το απαράμιλλο τάλαντο της ευφράδείας του. Και οι τρείς δεν ήσαν κάτοχοι της ελληνικής παιδείας. Κοινά στοιχεία και των τριών ήταν η φιλανθρωπία, το πολύτιμο συγγραφικό τους έργο, η μόρφωσή τους, η σωφροσύνη και πάνω από όλα οι αγώνες τους για την ορθόδοξη πίστη και η ολοκληρωτική προσήλωσή τους στο Λόγο του Θεού. Αποτελούν και οι τρείς καμάρι του Ελληνισμού, πρωτοπόρα πνεύματα και αξεπέραστοι δάσκαλοι της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας μας, πραγματικά παραδείγματα μεγάλων ανθρώπων. Γι’ αυτό η Εκκλησία τους τιμά και ως προστάτες των Γραμμάτων.
Η Υπαπαντή του Κυρίου (2 Φεβρουαρίου)
Μια από τις Δεσποτικές εορτές της Εκκλησίας μας, τις εορτές δηλαδή τις αφιερωμένες στο Δεσπότη Χριστό, είναι και η εορτή της Υπαπαντής. Ο Ευαγγελιστής Λουκάς διηγείται και περιγράφει τα περιστατικά του καθαρισμού της Παναγίας, σαράντα ημέρες μετά τη θεία Γέννηση και της αφιερώσεως του Ιησού στο Θεό, «κατά τον νόμον του Μωυσέως». Ούτε το ένα, ούτε το άλλο ήταν ανάγκη να γίνη. Τι να καθαρισθή η πανάχραντη Θεοτόκος; Και σε ποιόν να αφιερωθή ο Θεός. Όμως γίνονται και τα δύο. «Ο παλαιός ημερών νηπιάσας σαρκί υπό μητρός Παρθένου τω ιερώ προσάγεται του οικείου νόμου πληρών το επάγγελμα». Συμορφώθηκε ο Ιησούς Χριστός προς το νόμο και υπο- βλήθηκε η Παναγία στις διατάξεις του καθαρισμού για να φανή, πώς όλοι χωρίς εξαίρεση οφείλουν να εκτελούν με ταπεινό φρόνημα ό,τι εντέλλεται ο Θεός και ορίζει η Εκκλησία. Η Υπαπαντή του Κυρίου είναι από τις πιο παλιές εορτές της Εκκλησίας και κατέχει ιδιαίτερη θέση στο εορτολόγιο μας.
| |
|
Prayers for: Steve, Anastasia, Katheryn, Demetri, Andrea, 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
| | |
|
This week’s Gift of Light is given in loving memory of James Paganis.
MEMORIALS
40 days for the late Pantazis Filis
4 years for the late Nicolaos Georgiafentis
May their memory be eternal!
COFFEE HOUR
Please join us following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall.
Today’s Coffee Hour is sponsored by The Families of Nicolaos Georgiafentis in his loving memory. May God rest his soul and may his memory be eternal!
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK:
Monday, January 30, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy
+Three Hierarchs
12:00 p.m. - Tenderhearted Ministry
6:00 p.m. - Orthodox Studies
Wednesday, February 1, 10:30 a.m. - Service of the Agiasmos
Thursday, February 2, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros & Divine Liturgy
+Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple
| |
PARISH MINISTRIES AND EVENTS | |
|
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.
2023 STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship packets have been mailed out and are also available in the Narthex and in the Church office. 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 beautiful parish of Panagia!
TENDERHEARTED MINISTRY
A ministry for our senior adults 65 years and older, Tenderhearted Ministry! We will host monthly meetings. Please join us on Monday, January 30, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. We are happy to announce that Dimitra Anderson, attorney with Anderson Law Offices, will present the day’s topic on Basic Estate Planning. Each meeting will begin with a Church Service, followed by lunch and the day’s presentation.
Please contact the church office at: 773.626.3114 or email: office@assumptionchicago.org to reserve a seat for each month.
ORTHODOX STUDIES – LIVING THE DIVINE LITURGY
Please join us for our next monthly study on Monday, January 30, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in Saint Catherine’s Chapel. Refreshments will be provided before Father Apostolos' presentation.
View Parish Calendar
| |
UPCOMING WEEKDAY SERVICES | |
|
Monday, January 30, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros and Divine Liturgy
+Three Hierarchs
Thursday, February 2, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros and Divine Liturgy
+The Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple
Saturday, February 18, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros and Divine Liturgy
+1st Saturday of Souls
Saturday, February 25, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros and Divine Liturgy
+2nd Saturday of Souls
Saturday, March 4, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros and Divine Liturgy
+3rd Saturday of Souls
| |
PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS
JOIN US THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 29 after Church in Plato Hall – Our 2023 Membership Kickoff Event, “Bubbles and Bites”. Please stop by our table! Find out what’s happening in Philoptochos, enjoy fellowship, and treat yourself to a luxurious to-go hand scrub!
February 12 - Also, start planning your red outfit for our ‘Go Red FOR Healthy Hearts’ group photo!
SAVE THE DATE – February 19 - Apokreatiko Glendi Luncheon.
| | |
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.
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 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!
| | |
|
UPCOMING 2023 EVENTS
January 30 - 12:00 p.m. - Tenderhearted Ministry (seniors 65 years and older) - meeting in Saint Catherine’s
January 30 - 6:00 p.m. - Orthodox Studies - meeting in Saint Catherine’s
February 12 - Sunday Church School Godparents Sunday
February 16 - 6:30 p.m. - Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks at the United Center. Greek Heritage Night!
February 19 - Philoptochos Apokreatiko Glendi following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall. Saint Euphrosynos Kitchen Meal. Please contact the church office if you would like to cook or volunteer.
February 24 - Kolyva Lesson for Youth and Family. More information to come.
March 11 - 10:00 a.m. - Wedding Couple Seminar for couples getting married in 2023 - meeting will be held in Plato Hall
April 22, 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. - Feed My Starving Children - 555 Exchange Court, Aurora, IL 60504. 25 Spots have been reserved for Assumption.
Click the following link for more information and to reserve: Manage your reservation »
| |
A blessed week to you and your families!!! |
Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago
| | | | |
