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, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 - ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 25 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2022

1ST SUNDAY OF LUKE

READINGS AND PRAYERS

FALLING ASLEEP OF ST. JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN

SEPTEMBER 26

This Apostle was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of James the elder. First a fisherman by trade, he became an Apostle and the beloved Disciple of Christ. Only he of all the Disciples followed Him even to the Cross, and was entrusted with the care of our Saviour's Mother, as it were another son to her, and a brother of Christ the Teacher. After this, he preached throughout Asia Minor, especially in Ephesus. When the second persecution against the Christians began in the year 96 during the reign of Domitian, he was taken in bonds to Rome, and there was cast into a vat filled to the brim with boiling oil. Coming forth therefrom unharmed, he was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Returning again to Ephesus after the death of the tyrant, he wrote his Gospel (after the other Evangelists had already written theirs) and his three Catholic Epistles. In all, he lived ninety-five years and fell asleep in the Lord during the reign of Trajan in the year 100. He was called Theologian because he loftily expounded in his Gospel the theology of the inexpressible and eternal birth of the Son and Word of God the Father. It is for this cause that an eagle-a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Irenaeus says-is depicted in his icon, for this was one of the four symbolic living creatures that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:10).

Epistle Reading for the Day

St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15

Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel Reading

The Gospel According to Luke 5:1-11

At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Απόστολος της Ημέρας

Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 4:6-15 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα

Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν· ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι· διωκόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν· εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.

Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας

Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 5:1-11 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἑστὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς παρὰ τὴν λίμνην Γεννησαρέτ, καὶ εἶδε δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀποβάντες ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀπέπλυναν τὰ δίκτυα. ἐμβὰς δὲ εἰς ἓν τῶν πλοίων, ὃ ἦν τοῦ Σίμωνος, ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐπαναγαγεῖν ὀλίγον· καὶ καθίσας ἐδίδασκεν ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου τοὺς ὄχλους. ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα· ἐπανάγαγε εἰς τὸ βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Σίμων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιστάτα, δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὸ δίκτυον. καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντες συνέκλεισαν πλῆθος ἰχθύων πολύ· διερρήγνυτο δὲ τὸ δίκτυον αὐτῶν. καὶ κατένευσαν τοῖς μετόχοις τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἑτέρῳ πλοίῳ τοῦ ἐλθόντας συλλαβέσθαι αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἦλθον καὶ ἔπλησαν ἀμφότερα τὰ πλοῖα, ὥστε βυθίζεσθαι αὐτά. ἰδὼν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσε τοῖς γόνασιν ᾿Ιησοῦ λέγων· ἔξελθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, Κύριε· θάμβος γὰρ περιέσχεν αὐτὸν καὶ πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἄγρᾳ τῶν ἰχθύων ᾗ συνέλαβον, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ᾿Ιάκωβον καὶ ᾿Ιωάννην, υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου, οἳ ἦσαν κοινωνοὶ τῷ Σίμωνι. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μὴ φοβοῦ· ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν. καὶ καταγαγόντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἀφέντες ἅπαντα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.

ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ

ΕΥΦΡΟΣΥΝΗΣ Οσίας και του πατρός αυτής Παφνουτίου - 25 Σεπτεμβρίου

Γεννήθηκε στην Αλεξάνδρεια της Αιγύπτου από πλουσίους, αλλά πιστούς και ενάρετους γονείς. Στα δώδεκά της χρόνια έμεινε ορφανή από μητέρα και ο πατέρας της Παφνούτιος

αφοσιώθηκε ακόμη πιό φιλόστοργα στην επιμέλεια της κόρης του. Σε ηλικία περίπου δεκαοκτώ χρονών, ο πατέρας της, την αρραβώνιασε με πλούσιο και ευγενή νέο. Η Ευφροσύνη αφού διαμοίρασε την περιουσία της στους φτωχούς, ντύθηκε αντρικά και με το όνομα Σμάραγδος, πήγε σε μοναστήρι αντρών. Έκεί έζησε τριάντα-οκτώ χρόνια, κάνοντας αυστηρή άσκηση. Όταν κατάλαβε πώς πλησίαζε το τέλος, ζήτησε να δεί τον πατέρα της, ο οποίος αγνοούσε την τύχη της, από τότε που είχε φύγει από το σπίτι της. Η συγκίνηση του πατέρα της ήταν τόο μεγάλη πού, μετά το θάνατο της Ευφροσύνης, τη διαδέχτηκε στο κελί της και έζησε και εκείνος ασκητικά μέχρι το θάνατό του.

Η Μετάσταση του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Θεολόγου - 26 Σεπτεμβρίου

Αρκετοί είχαν την άποψη ότι ο Ιωάννης δεν πέθανε, αλλά μετατέθηκε στην άλλη ζωή,όπως

ο Ηλίας. Η παράδοση που ασπάσθηκε η Εκκλησία μας είναι οι εξής: Ο Ιωάννης σε βαθειά

γεράματα πέθανε στην Έφεσο και τάφηκε έξω από αυτή. Μετά από μερικές ήμέρες όταν οι μαθητές του επισκέφθηκαν τον τάφο, τον βρήκαν κενό. Η Εκκλησία μας λοιπόν δέχεται ότι στον αγαπημένο μαθητή του Κυρίου συνέβη ό,τι και με την Παναγία μητέρα Του. Δηλαδή ο Ιωάννης, ναί μέν πέθανε και ετάφη, αλλά, μετά τρείς μέρες αναστήθηκε και μετέστη στην αιώνια ζωή, για την οποία ο ίδιος να, τι λέει σχετικά: «ο έχων την υιόν έχει την ζωήν, ο μή έχων τον υιόν του Θεού την ζωήν ούκ έχει». Εκείνος δηλαδή που είναι ενωμένος μέσω της πίστης του με το Χριστό και τον έχει δικό του, έχει την αληθινή και αιώνια ζωή. Εκείνος όμως που δεν έχει τον Υιόν του Θεού, να έχει υπ’ όψιν του πως δεν έχει και την αλήθινή και αιώνια ζωή.

ΡΩΜΑΝΟΣ, Ο ΜΕΛΩΔΟΣ - 1 Οκτωβρίου

Ο Ρωμανός θεωρείται και είναι ο σπουδαιότερος υμνωδός της Εκκλησίας μας. ΄Ελαβε το χάρισμα της συντάξεως και μελουργήσεως των κοντακίων από την Υπεραγία Θεοτόκο, που δι’ ονείρου του έδωσε ένα τεμάχιο χαρτιού με την εντολή να το φάγει. Και του φάνηκε πως το κατάπιε. Ήταν τότε εορτή των Χριστιανών. Μετά από το όραμα αυτό ο Ρωμανός ξύπνισε αμέσως και αφού ανέβηκε στον άμβωνα, άρχισε να ψάλλει: «Η Παρθένος σήμερον τον υπερούσιον τίκτει …….».

READINGS OF OUR HOLY ORTHODOX SAINTS

“God is everywhere. There is no place God is not…You cry out to Him, ‘Where art Thou, my God?’ And He answers, “I am present, my child! I am always beside you.’ Both inside and outside, above and below, wherever you turn, everything shouts, ‘God!’ In Him we live and move. We breathe God, we eat God, we clothe ourselves with God. Everything praises and blesses God. All of creation shouts His praise. Everything animate and inanimate speaks wondrously and glorifies the Creator. Let every breath praise the Lord!”

+Saint Joseph the Hesychast

+Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria

September 25

Our righteous Mother Euphrosyne, who lived during the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger (408-450), was the daughter of Paphnutius of Egypt. Forsaking her father and his wealth, she renamed herself Smaragdus, and pretending to be a eunuch of the imperial palace, she dressed herself as a man and entered a monastery of men where her identity remained unknown until her repose thirty-eight years later.

+Saint Romanos the Melodist – October 1

Saint Romanos flourished during the reign of Anastasius (491-518). He was from Emesa of Syria, and apparently was born of Jewish parents, for a hymn written in his honour in Greek says he was "of Hebrew stock," and it has furthermore been noted that he uses many Semitic idioms in his writings. He was baptized an Orthodox Christian, and at some time became a deacon in the Church of Beirut. He was the first composer of the kontakia, the foremost of which is that of the feast of Christ's Nativity, On this day the Virgin .... In composing many of his kontakia. Saint Romanos was inspired by the hymns of Saint Ephraim of Syria.

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

MEMORIALS

14 years for the late Demetra (Jane) Gagomiros

25 years for the late John Gagomiros

May their memory be eternal!

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.

SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

11:30 a.m. - Tenderhearted Ministry for seniors 65 and older. Each gathering begins with a church service, followed by lunch and the day’s event. Please contact the church office if you will be attending.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

10:30 a.m. - Agiasmos Service (Blessing of the waters)

WEDDING

3:00 p.m. - Harriet White to Brian Dockstader

6:00 p.m. - Assumption YAL Bonfire Party - Please see flyer for more information

View Parish Calendar

PARISH MINISTRIES AND EVENTS

UPCOMING 2022 EVENTS:

More information on the following events to follow.

September 25 - YAL Coffee Chat during coffee hour - Assumption YAL wants to see you there!

September 26, 11:30 a.m. - Tenderhearted Ministry is a ministry for seniors 65 and older. Each gathering begins with a Church Service, followed by lunch and the day’s event. Please contact the church office at: 773.626.3114 or email: office@assumptionchicago.org for reservations. All seniors are encouraged to attend. Please join us!

October 3 - 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 20 - Grand Raffle Dinner Celebration at Café La Cave, 2777 S. Mannheim Road in Des Plaines. Please see insert for more information.

October 28, 29 & 30 - Outreach Pumpkin Patch

November 5 - Harvest Day

November 20 - Thanksgiving in a Bag

December 3 - Christmas Tree Lighting

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

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS

Lenten Recipes Booklet – Due date fast approaching!

Send in your go-to fasting recipes by September 27th via our email: assumptionphiloptochos@gmail.com

Loukoumathes Sundays

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

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: September 25; October 30; November 13 & 27

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: Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, Nov. 6, 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18, 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