The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.
Epistle Reading for the Day
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4
Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.
Gospel Reading for the Day
The Gospel According to Matthew 6:14-21
The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Απόστολος της Ημέρας
Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα
Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω· ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.
Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα
Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· ᾿Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. ῞Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι, ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι· θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.
Μικρός Συναξαριστής
H Λειτουργία των Προηγιασμένων
Η θεία Λειτουργία των Προηγιασμένων, ονομάζεται έτσι, διότι τα τίμια δώρα, είναι ήδη αγιασμένα από τη Λειτουργία της προηγουμένης Κυριακής . Η γενεσιουργός αιτία της Λειτουργίας αυτής, είναι ο πένθιμος χαρακτήρας της Μεγ. Τεσσαρακοστής κατά την οποία οι χριστιανοί δεν επιτρέπεται να τελούν πανηγυρική Λειτουργία, εκτός Σαββάτου ακι Κυριακής. Τελείται αυτή κάθε Τετάρτη και Παρασκευή της Μεγ. Τεσσαρακοστής, καθώς και σε ορισθείσες εκ του Τυπικού εορτές, μετά τις Ώρες με τον Εσπερινό.
Α΄ ΧΑΙΡΕΤΙΣΜΟΙ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ
Από την κατάρα της Εύας στη χαρά της Παναγίας
Χαίρε αναστάεως τύπον εκλάμπουσα – Χαίρε των Αγγέλων τον βίον εμφαίνουσα!
Ο ιερός υμνογράφος του Ακάθιστου Ύμνου παραλληλίζει τη χαρά της παναγίας με την άρα (κατάρα) της Εύας. Η Εύα με την αλόγιστη παρακοή της έγινε κατάρα για το ανθρώπινο γένος καταδικάζοντάς το στο θάνατο. Η Παναγία αντίθετα, με την υπακοή της στο θέλημα του Θεού, μετέτρεψε την κατάρα σε ευλογία, την πίκρα του Θανάτου σε χαρά ζωής. Ω! Πάνσεπτε Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε μεσίτευσε τις προσευχές μας στον Υιόν σου και Θεό και ικέτευε Αυτόν δια μέσου εσού να σώσει την ψυχήν μας.
ΤΟ ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΟ ΝΟΗΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΑΣ
Νηστεία σωματική χωρίς την πνευματική δεν είναι νηστεία, αλλά υποκρισία. Αληθινή νηστεία είναι η εκκοπή των παθών, η απομάκρυνση απο την αμαρτία, η εκρίζωση των κακών συνηθειών, η εγκράτεια των αισθήσεων. Τι ωφελεί να νηστεύει το στομάχι και ο λογισμός να είναι βυθισμένος στην ακολασία. Ποιό το κέρδος να νηστεύει η κοιλιά και η γλώσσα να κατεσθίει με την καταλαλιά της υπολήψεις των συνανθρώπων;
“The sign of sincere love is to forgive wrongs done to us.
It was with such love that the Lord loved the world.”
+St. Mark the Ascetic
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST - Prayers for: Anastasios, Konstantinos, Olga, 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
