About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and working miracles, many women who had received of His beneficence left their own homeland and from then on followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their own possessions, even until His crucifixion and entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, they came to the sepulchre, bearing the myrrh-oils they had prepared to anoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus that they are called the Myrrh-bearers. Of those whose names are known are the following: first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene (celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them, the evangelists have kept silence (Matt 27:55-56; 28:1-10. Mark 15:40-41. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-18. Acts 1:14).
Together with them we celebrate also the secret disciples of the Saviour, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees, learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures. He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of our Saviour's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out of reverence and love for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph, who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and noble man, and one of the counselors who were in Jerusalem. He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial. Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb, he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matt. 27:60).
Epistle Reading for the Day
St. John's First Universal Letter 1:1-7
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us - that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Gospel Reading for the Day
The Gospel according to Mark 15:43-47; 16:1-8
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Απόστολος της Ημέρας
Ἰωάννου α' 1:1-7
Ὃ ἦν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ὃ ἀκηκόαμεν, ὃ ἑωράκαμεν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν, ὃ ἐθεασάμεθα, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες ἡμῶν ἐψηλάφησαν περὶ τοῦ λόγου τῆς ζωῆς. Καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἐφανερώθη, καὶ ἑωράκαμεν, καὶ μαρτυροῦμεν, καὶ ἀπαγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν τὴν ζωὴν τὴν αἰώνιον, ἥτις ἦν πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, καὶ ἐφανερώθη ἡμῖν. Ὃ ἑωράκαμεν καὶ ἀκηκόαμεν, ἀπαγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν, ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς κοινωνίαν ἔχητε μεθʼ ἡμῶν· καὶ ἡ κοινωνία δὲ ἡ ἡμετέρα μετὰ τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· καὶ ταῦτα γράφομεν ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἡ χαρὰ ἡμῶν ᾖ πεπληρωμένη. Καὶ ἔστιν αὕτη ἡ ἀγγελία ἣν ἀκηκόαμεν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναγγέλλομεν ὑμῖν, ὅτι ὁ θεὸς φῶς ἐστίν, καὶ σκοτία ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδεμία. Ἐὰν εἴπωμεν ὅτι κοινωνίαν ἔχομεν μετʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τῷ σκότει περιπατῶμεν, ψευδόμεθα, καὶ οὐ ποιοῦμεν τὴν ἀλήθειαν· ἐὰν δὲ ἐν τῷ φωτὶ περιπατῶμεν, ὡς αὐτός ἐστιν ἐν τῷ φωτί, κοινωνίαν ἔχομεν μετʼ ἀλλήλων, καὶ τὸ αἷμα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ καθαρίζει ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας.
Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 15:43-47, 16:1-8
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθὼν ᾿Ιωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ ᾿Αριμαθαίας, εὐσχήμων βουλευτής, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν προσδεχόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, τολμήσας εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Πιλᾶτον καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ. ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐθαύμασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκε, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανε· καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ κεντυρίωνος ἐδωρήσατο τὸ σῶμα τῷ ᾿Ιωσήφ. καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καὶ καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησε τῇ σινδόνι καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνημείῳ, ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ προσεκύλισε λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου. ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιωσῆ ἐθεώρουν ποῦ τίθεται. Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε· ᾿Ιησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε· ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.
Μικρός Συναξαριστής
ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΜΥΡΟΦΟΡΩΝ
Την Κυριακή αυτή γιορτάζουμε τη μνήμη των γυναικών που άλειψαν με μύρα το σώμα του Κυρίου, μετά την αποκαθήλωση και πρίν την ταφή. Αυτές είναι η Μαρία, η Μαγδαληνή,Μαρια ή του Ιακώβου και μητέρα του Ιωσήφ, η Μαρία του Κλεόπα, λέγεται Ιωάννα η γυναίκα του Χουζά, επιτρόπου του Ηρώδη Αντύπα,Σαλώμη η μητέρα των γιών του Ζεβεδαίου,Σωσάννα και άλλες, που τα ονόματά τους αποσιωπήθηκαν από τους Ευαγγελιστές. Μαζί δε με τις Μυροφόρες γυναίκες εορτάζονται και οι δύο πρώην κορυφοί μαθητές του Χριστού Ιωασήφ και Νικόδημος, που έκαναν την αποκαθήλωση και την ταφήν του Κυρίου.
Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ Ο ΘΕΟΛΟΓΟΣ - (8 Μαϊου)
Ήταν ένας από τους δώδεκα μαθητές του Κυρίου και μάλιστα ο μαθητής «όν ηγάπα ο Ιησούς», τονοποίο αγαπούσε ιδιαίτερα. Ο Ιωάννης είναι ο συγγραφέας του 4ου κατά σειρά Eυαγγελίου στην Καινή Διαθήκη, καθώς και τριών Καθολικών Επιστολών και της Αποκάλυψης. Ο Ιωάννης συνεχίζει έντονα την δράση του και μετά την Ανάληψη του Κυρίου. Αυτός και ο Πέτρος είναι οι πρώτοι που κήρυξαν, μετά την επιφοίτηση του Αγίου Πνεύματος σε όλο το λαό το όνομα του Ιησού. Η παράδοση μας λέει ότι ο Ιωάννης κήρυξε το Ευαγγέλιο στη Μ.Ασία και στην Έδεσο. Εξορίστηκε στη Πάτμο, όπου έγραψε και την Αποκάλυψη. Εκείνο που αξίζει να αναφέρουμε είναι η φράση που συνεχώς έλεγε στους μαθητές του: «Τέκνα αγαπάτε αλλήλους και «ο Θεός αγάπη εστί». Ο κατ΄εξοχήν απόστολος της αγάπης αξιώθηκε να γίνει και ο υπέροχος θεολόγος του δόγματος της χριστιανικής θρησκείας.
ΑΓΙΑ ΓΛΥΚΕΡΙΑ - ( 13 Μαϊου)
Γεννήθηκε στην Τραϊανούπολη της Θράκης επί αυτοκράτορα Αντωνίνου (2ος αιώνας μ.Χ.).Ήταν χριστιανή, κάτι που εξόργισε τον τοπικό άρχοντα,το Σαβίνο, ο οποίος την κάλεσε να αλλαξοπιστήσει, θυσιάζοντας στα είδωλα. Η Γλυκερία όμως με απαράμιλλο θάρρος, εξήγησε πώς πιστεύει στον Ιησού Χριστό. Με τη δύναμη του Θεού διέλυσε και συνέτριψε το είδωλο του Δία, ενώ όταν την λιθοβόλησαν, δεν την άγγιξε ούτε μία πέτρα, κάτι που έκανε πολλούς ειδωλολάτρες να πιστέψουν στο Χριστό. Ο Σαβίνος τότε την έριξε στη φυλακή, όπου η Γλυκερία κατάφερε να οδηγήσει στο δρόμο του Θεού τον δεσμοφύλακα της. Κατόπιν την έριξαν σε ένα άγριο θηρίο, που δεν την κατασπά- ραξε, αλλά το δάγκωμα που κατάφερε σ’ αυτή προκάλεσε μετά απο λίγες ημέρες το θάνατό της και με τον τρόπο αυτό η τίμια, ηθική, χριστιανική και ένδοξη ζωή της Αγίας έλαβε ένα ένδοξο και διδακ- τικό τέλος. Το λέιψανό της ενταφιάσθηκε στην Ηράκλεια.
MANA = Aγάπη! ΜΗΤΕΡΑ = Στοργή! ΜΑΜΑ = Παράπονο!
REFLECTING ON MOTHER’S DAY
It is only natural that mothers take such an active role in developing the spiritual nature of their children. In those early years so much is formed about how we see God, ourselves and others. Part of the difficulties mothers, and fathers, face in raising their children is the balance between nurturing and spoiling their children. It is a natural human desire to make the lives of your children better than your own, but parents must be careful not to hand the world to their children while depriving them of the reality of life and how to live in the world. On this Mother's Day we all have an opportunity to think back on the lessons taught to us by our mothers and be grateful for their nurturing love and guidance. We show our love and gratitude by the way we live our lives. ~Father Apostolos
Meditation:
Who can find a virtuous woman? She is far more precious than jewels...
Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
Her sons rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her: Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. ~Proverbs 31:10, 25-30
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST - Prayers for: Tom, William, Anastasios, 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
