Epistle Reading of the Day | |
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets -- who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
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Gospel Reading for the Day | |
The Gospel of John 1:43-51
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
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Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:24-26,32-40
Ἀδελφοί, πίστει Μωϋσῆς μέγας γενόμενος ἠρνήσατο λέγεσθαι υἱὸς θυγατρὸς Φαραώ, μᾶλλον ἑλόμενος συγκακουχεῖσθαι τῷ λαῷ τοῦ θεοῦ ἢ πρόσκαιρον ἔχειν ἁμαρτίας ἀπόλαυσιν· μείζονα πλοῦτον ἡγησάμενος τῶν Αἰγύπτου θησαυρῶν τὸν ὀνειδισμὸν τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἀπέβλεπεν γὰρ εἰς τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν. Καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω; Ἐπιλείψει γὰρ με διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ τε καὶ Σαμψών καὶ Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν· οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν· ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς· ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον· περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.
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Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:43-51
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἠθέλησεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· καὶ εὑρίσκει Φίλιππον καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. ἦν δὲ ὁ Φίλιππος ἀπὸ Βηθσαϊδά, ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ᾿Ανδρέου καὶ Πέτρου.εὑρίσκει Φίλιππος τὸν Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ὃν ἔγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καὶ οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν, ᾿Ιησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ᾿Ιωσὴφ τὸν ἀπὸ Ναζαρέτ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· ἐκ Ναζαρὲτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθὸν εἶναι; λέγει αὐτῷ Φίλιππος· ἔρχου καὶ ἴδε. εἶδεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὸν Ναθαναὴλ ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει περὶ αὐτοῦ· ἴδε ἀληθῶς ᾿Ισραηλίτης, ἐν ᾧ δόλος οὐκ ἔστι. λέγει αὐτῷ Ναθαναήλ· πόθεν με γινώσκεις; ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πρὸ τοῦ σε Φίλιππον φωνῆσαι, ὄντα ὑπὸ τὴν συκῆν εἶδόν σε. ἀπεκρίθη Ναθαναὴλ καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ῥαββί, σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, σὺ εἶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. ἀπεκρίθη ᾿Ιησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὅτι εἶπόν σοι, εἶδόν σε ὑποκάτω τῆς συκῆς, πιστεύεις; μείζω τούτων ὄψει. καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἀπ᾽ ἄρτι ὄψεσθε τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀνεῳγότα, καὶ τοὺς ἀγγέλους τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναβαίνοντας καὶ καταβαίνοντας ἐπὶ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου.
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READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS | |
 |  | For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora (celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14), established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons, not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this, on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor, made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph of true doctrine over heresy.
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Η Αναστήλωση των αγίων Εικόνων - Οι Εικόνες στη ζωή των Ορθοδόξων
Η χρήση των εικόνων είναι μία αρχαία παράδοση της Εκκλησίας. Η λατρεία ανήκει μόνο στο Θεό, ενώ στην εικόνα αρμόζει η τιμητική προσκύνηση στο εικονιζόμενο πρόσωπο και όχι στα υλικά της Εικόνας. Ο Ιωάννης ο Δαμασκηνός, τονίζει την παιδαγωγική αξία των εικόνων, οι οποίες είναι για τους αγράμματους, ό,τι είναι τα βιβλία για τους γραμματισμένους και συνεχίζει: «Προσκυνώ την εικόνα του Χριστού, ώς σαρκωμένου Θεού, την εικόνα της Δέσποινας, ώς μητέρα του Υιού του Θεού, την εικόνα των αγίων, ώς φίλων του Θεού, που πάλεψαν την αμαρτία, ώς το σημείο να δώσουν το αίμα τους. Και τιμώ με σεβασμό και προσκύνηση. Γιατί η τιμή της εικόνας πηγαίνει στο πρωτότυπο, λέγει ο θείος Βασίλειος: Ποιός πρώτος έφτιαξε την εικόνα; Ο ίδιος ο Θεός πρώτος γέννησε το μονογενή Υιό και Λόγο Του, εικόνα του, ζωντανή, φυσική ώς απαράλλακτο χαρακτήρα της αϊδιότητάς Του και δημιούργησε τον άνθρωπο κατ’ εικόνα Του και καθ’ομοίωση».
ΣΤΗΝ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑ ΜΑΣ Σε χαιρετίζουμε οι πιστοί Θεοτόκε Παρθένε, εσένα το σεπτό κειμήλιο της αγιότητος ολόκληρης της οικουμένης, τη λαμπάδα την άσβεστη, το χωρίο το οποίο χώρισε ο αχώρητος Θεός, ο ναός ο ακατάλυτος του Θεού Λόγος. Σε χαιρετίζουμε σαν αμνάδα από την οποία γεννήθηκε ο Αμνός του Θεού, ο αίρων την αμαρτίαν του Κόσμου. Μεταξύ όλων των γυναικών, όλων των αιώνων και όλων των λαών, η Θεοτόκος είναι η κατ’ εξοχήν ευλογημένη. Αυτή εν μέσω όλης της γυναικείας φύσεως ευρέθη η εκλεκτή για να γίνει μητέρα του Υιού του Θεού. Αυτή εκλέγεται από το Θεό, για να γίνει όργανο ευλογίας στους ανθρώπους. Για τούτο και ονομάζεται «ευλογημένη εν γυναιξί».
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GIFT OF LIGHT
This week’s Gift of Light is given in loving memory of Lou Mitchell and Pauline Kavis.
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MEMORIALS
40 days for the late Aphrodite Effie Tragos
20 years for the late Maria Dallas
May their memory be eternal!
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PILGRAMAGE OF DISCOVERY
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate are sponsoring a presentation entitled, “Pilgrimage of Discovery”, presented by Christen Massouras. The Presentation will be held immediately following the Divine Liturgy in Saint Catherine’s Chapel.
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COFFEE HOUR
Please join us for coffee hour in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy. Today’s coffee hour is sponsored by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Thank you for hosting and for your continued support!
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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THIS WEEK
Monday, March 25 - 8:15 a.m., Orthros and Hierarchal Divine Liturgy - +Annunciation of the Theotokos - Services will be held at Annunciation Cathedral, 1017 N. La Salle Dr., Chicago, IL 60610 - Church Office Closed
Tuesday, March 26 - 11:45 a.m., Tenderhearted Ministry for seniors 65 and over in Saint Catherine’s. Commencing with a Church Service, delightful lunch and presentation for the day. Please join us!
5:00 p.m., Great Compline Service
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Please join us this Tuesday for Orthodox Studies -
Father Apostolos will present: Orthodox Teachings on Mourning the Loss of a Loved One - Part 2. Lenten refreshments will be provided before Father's presentation.
Wednesday, March 27 - 9:00 a.m., Service of the 9th Hour followed by
Pre-Sanctified Liturgy at 9:30 a.m.
Friday, March 29 - 7:00 p.m., Salutation Service to the Holy Theotokos
Flowers for Panagia were donated by an Anonymous Donor for health and well-being.
Thank you to our donor and God bless!
Saturday, March 30 - 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wedding Couple Seminar for couples getting married at Assumption Church this year.
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THE ARCHIVE COMMITTEE
Dear Parishioners,
As we walk toward our centennial year of 2025, we are collecting photos, artifacts, and stories that contribute to the history of our beloved Panagia, and we ask for your input and help.
We need parishioners who can identify people in our photos, beginning from the wooden church and Sunday school.
In addition, the committee is asking for artifacts and memorabilia from your family history to be copied and recorded. Volunteers are needed to help with sorting and other archival tasks.
Please get in touch with us at archives@assumptionchicago.org
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LIVE STREAM MINISTRY
Our church is actively seeking volunteers to join the Live Stream Ministry. This opportunity involves volunteering once a month on Sundays. If you are interested, kindly reach out to Jack Woods at deltasig8@gmail.com via email.
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LITTLE LAMBS
Join our delightful Little Lambs class at Sunday church school – a special experience designed for toddlers and their parents. We're thrilled to welcome little ones aged 12 months and up, fostering a warm and engaging environment for early spiritual growth. This Parents and Tots SCS Class is designed to nurture faith and provide an opportunity for families to connect with others. Our parent-led class uses age appropriate Orthodox-based resources. Anyone interested in joining Little Lambs may reach out to Katherine Jones at kmjones0402@gmail.com for more information.
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SPONSORS NEEDED FOR COFFEE HOUR
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: March 31, April 7, 14, 21 - May 12, 19, 26
Great Lent March 18 – May 5. Please Lenten items only.
Thank you to our beloved parishioners and friends of Assumption Panagia for your continued love and support!
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Daffodils for Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross (April 7) - $150 Donated
1 Wreath for the Veneration of the Holy Cross (April 7) $200
5 sets of Palm Arches for Church Aisle - $200 per set (includes set up and delivery) - see photo.
Palm Leaves for Palm Sunday (April 28) - $750.00
Palm Buds for making of Crosses to be distributed to the faithful on Palm Sunday - $200
Flowers for the Icon of Palm Sunday (April 28) - $200 Donated
Flowers for Large Icon of the Last Supper (Eve of Holy Wednesday - May 1) - $400
1 bag of Flour and Olive Oil along with 7 candles for the Sacrament of the Holy Unction (Holy Wednesday - May 1) - $50.00
4 Wreaths (Eve of Holy Thursday May 2) - $300 per wreath Donated
3 sets of Candles for Crucifix (2 upstairs & 1 downstairs) - $60 per set
Rose Petals for the Service of the Apokathelosis (Afternoon of Holy Friday) Donated
Full & King Size Sheet for the Service of the Apokathelosis (Holy Friday) Donated
Red and White Carnations to be distributed to the faithful (Holy Friday Eve) - $250
Flowers for the Icon of the 1st Anastasi (Holy Saturday Morning) - $250
5 Baskets of Flower Petals for 1st Anastasi Service – Mixed large bags of flower petals mixed with Palm leaves strewn in Church during service - $150 per basket
Flowers for the Large Icon of the Holy Resurrection (Holy Saturday) - $400
Flowers for the Resurrectional Banner, Lavaron (Holy Saturday) - $275.00 Donated
12 Large Potted Easter Lilies for Great and Holy Pascha (May 5) - $100 per plant
2 Clergy Paschal Candles - $275 per candle Donated
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!
DONATIONS NEEDED FOR FLOWERS FOR THE ICON OF PANAGIA
As we prepare our Church for this Lenten season, we kindly ask parishioners to help with the cost of flowers. Each week, the icon of Panagia is adorned for the Salutations. We request that one family per week contribute to help continue this tradition. A donation of $350.00 is needed per week. As you may know, decorating the Church is a labor of love. We appreciate your help as we prepare for what is the center of our Orthodox faith, the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. All donors will be recognized in the weekly bulletin. Please contact the Church office if you would like to donate. Thank you and God bless!
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.
Available weeks: April 7, 14, 28 - May 26
Contact the church office for June - December 2024 availability.
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.
PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER
Saturday, April 13 - Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Lenten Retreat
St. George Greek Orthodox Church • 2701 N. Sheffield Ave • 9:00 am – 1:30 pm
All are welcome. Topic: Walk in Christ the Light
RSVP to us via email assumptionphiloptochos@gmail.com or phone 847- 791-5644 by Monday, April 1 and we will send one group reservation.
Details - see flyer included or available at Church.
2024 STEWARDSHIP
Thank you to all who have submitted their 2024 Stewardship Pledge Cards. If you have not yet submitted your stewardship card, packets are available on the Pangari in the Narthex.
Please fill out the pledge card (it is important that you enter a pledge amount) and the information card completely and return it in the enclosed envelope. Thank you for supporting our beautiful parish of Panagia!
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. 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.
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST
Prayers for: Sophia, Panagioti, Madalyn, Petros, Elaine, Kristine, Jon, Steve, Anastasia, Kathryn, Demetri, Andrea, Matthew, Elaine, James, William, Anastasios, Polyxeni, Peter, and 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.
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**Flyers located in the Narthex.
March 30 - 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wedding Couple Seminar for couples getting married this year at Assution Panagia.
April 7 - 12:00 p.m., YAL Kafenio in Saint Catherine’s following the Divine Liturgy
April 7 - 12:00 p.m., Saint Euphrosynos Kitchen Meal in Plato Hall.
April 7 - 2:30 p.m., Greek Independence Day Parade on Halsted in Greek town
April 14 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hellenic Museum Tour on Halsted Street preceded with lunch at Greek Islands. Seniors 65 & older free - Adults $30, Children 18 & younger $15. Contact George Demas for reservations at george@assumptionchicago.org or call Church Office.
April 20 - 12:30 p.m., Austin Community Meal in Plato Hall
April 21 - Date Change! Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival
April 27, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saint Lazarus Family Lenten Retreat
May 12 - Mother’s Day Luncheon. More information to follow.
May 20 - Annual Golf Outing - White Pines Golf Course and Banquets – 500 W. Jefferson St., Bensenville, IL 60106. $150 per golfer. See flyer for more information.
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Sunday, October 12, 2025 – Assumption Panagia celebrating 100 years –
More information to come.
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A blessed week to you and your families!!!
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Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago
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