+Saint Timothy the Apostle of the 70
The Apostle Timothy, who was from Lystra of Lycaonia, was born of a Greek (that is, pagan) father and a Jewish mother. His mother's name was Eunice, and his grandmother's name was Lois (II Tim. 1:5). He became the disciple of the Apostle Paul when the latter first preached there, and he followed St. Paul during the whole period of the Apostle's preaching. Afterwards, Timothy was consecrated by him as first Bishop of the church in Ephesus. Under the supervision of John the Evangelist, who governed all the churches in Asia, he completed his life as a martyr in the year 97. He was stoned to death by the heathens, because, as some surmise, he opposed the festival held in honor of Artemis (Diana). The Apostle Paul's First and Second Epistles to Timothy were written to him.
Epistle Reading for the Day
First Letter to Timothy 4:9-15
TIMOTHY, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.
Gospel Reading of the Day
The Reading is from Luke 19:1-10
At that time, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."
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Απόστολος της Ημέρας
Πρὸς Τιμόθεον α' 4:9-15
Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος. Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ κοπιῶμεν καὶ ὀνειδιζόμεθα, ὅτι ἠλπίκαμεν ἐπὶ θεῷ ζῶντι, ὅς ἐστιν σωτὴρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων, μάλιστα πιστῶν. Παράγγελλε ταῦτα καὶ δίδασκε. Μηδείς σου τῆς νεότητος καταφρονείτω, ἀλλὰ τύπος γίνου τῶν πιστῶν ἐν λόγῳ, ἐν ἀναστροφῇ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ, ἐν πνεύματι, ἐν πίστει, ἐν ἁγνείᾳ. Ἕως ἔρχομαι, πρόσεχε τῇ ἀναγνώσει, τῇ παρακλήσει, τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ. Μὴ ἀμέλει τοῦ ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος, ὃ ἐδόθη σοι διὰ προφητείας μετὰ ἐπιθέσεως τῶν χειρῶν τοῦ πρεσβυτερίου. Ταῦτα μελέτα, ἐν τούτοις ἴσθι, ἵνα σου ἡ προκοπὴ φανερὰ ᾖ ἐν πᾶσιν.
Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 19.1-10
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, διήρχετο τὴν ῾Ιεριχώ· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ ὀνόματι καλούμενος Ζακχαῖος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἀρχιτελώνης, καὶ οὗτος ἦν πλούσιος, καὶ ἐζήτει ἰδεῖν τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν τίς ἐστι, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύνατο ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου, ὅτι τῇ ἡλικίᾳ μικρὸς ἦν. καὶ προδραμὼν ἔμπροσθεν ἀνέβη ἐπὶ συκομορέαν, ἵνα ἴδῃ αὐτόν, ὅτι ἐκείνης ἤμελλε διέρχεσθαι. καὶ ὡς ἦλθεν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον, ἀναβλέψας ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶδεν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· Ζακχαῖε, σπεύσας κατάβηθι· σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι. καὶ σπεύσας κατέβη, καὶ ὑπεδέξατο αὐτὸν χαίρων. καὶ ἰδόντες πάντες διεγόγγυζον λέγοντες ὅτι παρὰ ἁμαρτωλῷ ἀνδρὶ εἰσῆλθε καταλῦσαι. σταθεὶς δὲ Ζακχαῖος εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Κύριον· ἰδοὺ τὰ ἡμίση τῶν ὑπαρχόντων μου, Κύριε, δίδωμι τοῖς πτωχοῖς, καὶ εἴ τινός τι ἐσυκοφάντησα, ἀποδίδωμι τετραπλοῦν. εἶπε δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι σήμερον σωτηρία τῷ οἴκῳ τούτῳ ἐγένετο, καθότι καὶ αὐτὸς υἱὸς ᾿Αβραάμ ἐστιν. ἦλθε γὰρ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ζητῆσαι καὶ σῶσαι τὸ ἀπολωλός.
READINGS FROM OUR HOLY CHURCH FATHERS
Saint Ephraim was born in Nisibis of Mesopotamia some time about the year 306, and in his youth was the disciple of Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis, one of the 318 Fathers at the First Ecumenical Council. Ephraim lived in Nisibis, practicing a severe ascetical life and increasing in holiness, until 363, the year in which Julian the Apostate was slain in his war against the Persians, and his successor Jovian surrendered Nisibis to them. Ephraim then made his dwelling in Edessa, where he found many heresies to do battle with. He waged an especial war against Bardaisan; this gnostic had written many hymns propagating his errors, which by their sweet melodies became popular and enticed souls away from the truth. Saint Ephraim, having received from God a singular gift of eloquence, turned Bardaisan's own weapon against him, and wrote a multitude of hymns to be chanted by choirs of women, which set forth the true doctrines, refuted heretical error, and praised the contests of the Martyrs.
Of the multitude of sermons, commentaries, and hymns that Saint Ephraim wrote, many were translated into Greek in his own lifetime. Sozomen says that Ephraim "Surpassed the most approved writers of Greece," observing that the Greek writings, when translated into other tongues, lose most of their original beauty, but Ephraim's works "are no less admired when read in Greek than when read in Syriac" (Eccl. Hist., Book 111, 16). Saint Ephraim was ordained deacon, some say by Saint Basil the Great, whom Sozomen said "was a great admirer of Ephraim, and was astonished at his erudition." Saint Ephraim was the first to make the poetic expression of hymnody and song a vehicle of Orthodox theological teachings, constituting it an integral part of the Church's worship; he may rightly be called the first and greatest hymnographer of the Church, who set the pattern for these who followed him, especially Saint Romanos the Melodist. Because of this he is called the "Harp of the Holy Spirit." Jerome says that his writings were read in some churches after the reading of the Scriptures, and adds that once he read a Greek translation of one of Ephraim's works, "and recognized, even in translation, the incisive power of his lofty genius" (De vir. ill., ch. CXV).
Shortly before the end of his life, a famine broke out in Edessa, and Saint Ephraim left his cell to rebuke the rich for not sharing their goods with the poor. The rich answered that they knew no one to whom they could entrust their goods. Ephraim asked them, "What do you think of me?" When they confessed their reverence for him, he offered to distribute their alms, to which they agreed. He himself cared with his own hands for many of the sick from the famine, and so crowned his life with mercy and love for neighbor. Saint Ephraim reposed in peace, according to some in the year 373, according to others, 379.
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+Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱέ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν
+Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner
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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
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ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ
Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΓΡΗΓΟΡΙΟΣ Ο ΘΕΟΛΟΓΟΣ - (25 Ιανουαρίου)
Ενας εκ των τριών μεγάλων ιεραρχών της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας. Γεννήθηκε το 329 μ.Χ. στην Αριανό της Καππαδοκίας. Πολυσπουδασμένος, σπούδασε στην Καισάρεια, την Παλαιστίνη, στην Αλεξάνδρεια και στην Αθήνα.Το 379 μ.Χ. πηγαίνει στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, αφού πρίν είχε χειροτονηθεί πρεσβύτερος στη Ναζιανζό, καθώς και επίσκοπος Σασίμων με σκοπό να συμβάλλει στον αγώνα της Εκκλησίας ενάντια στην αίρεση των «αρειανών». Εκλέγεται αρχιεπίσκοπος Κωνσταντινουπόλεως ενώ παροιμιώδεις έχουν μείνει οι λόγοι του περί θεότητος του Λόγου, εξαιτίας των οποίων του προσδώθηκε και το προσώνυμο Θεολόγος. Επειδή μάλιστα σε κάθε έργο του κάνει αναφορά στην Αγία Τριάδα, αποκαλείται και «Θεολόγος Τριαδικός». Ήταν στενός φίλος του Μ. Βασιλείου και έχει αφήσει πίσω του πολλούς Λόγους, Επιστολές και Έπη. Είναι ο πνευματικός άνθρωπος, ο Θεωρητικός νούς, που πάντα εξαίρεται πάνω από τα ανθρώπινα, είναι ο θεολόγος, ο ρήτορας, ο ποιητής. Οι Αγώνες του για την επικράτηση της Ορθοδόξου πίστεως τον ανέβασαν στον αρχιεπισκοπικό θρόνο της Νεας Ρώμης.Μα εκείνος αφήνοντας τις μικρότητες των ανθρώπων και χαιρετίζοντας συγκινητικά το ποίμνιό του, έφυγε για να αφιερωθεί στις πνευματικές θεωρίες.
Ανακομιδή λειψάνων ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΥ - (27 Ιανουαρίου)
Ο Ιωάννης ο Χρυσόστομος μπήκε στο στόχαστρο μικρόψυχων και εχθρικών επισκόπων και της αυτοκράτειρας Ευδοξίας, η οποία κατάφερε τελικά να τον εξορίσει. Πέρασε πάρα πολλά δεινά και κατά τη διάρκεια της τελευταίας του εξορίας στην Αρμενία, ο Ιωάννης δεν άντεξε τις κακουχίες και άφησε την τελευταία του πνοή. Το λείψανό του βρισκόταν για τριάντα χρόνια στα Κύμανα της Καπποδοκίας, στη γενέτειρα του Αγίου. Όταν όμως ο αυτοκράτορας Αρκάδιος και η μηχανορράφος Ευδοξία πέθαναν, ο Πατριάρχης Κωνσταντινουπόλεως Πρόκλος (μαθητής του Ιωάννη) έπεισε τον Θεοδόσιο το Β΄να επιτρέψει την ανακομιδή των λειψάνων και τη μεταφορά τους στην Πόλη. Έτσι και έγινε. Ο λαός μέσα σε πανηγυρική ατμόσφαιρα δέχτηκε με χαρά και ενθουσιασμό τα λείψανα του Ιωάννη, τα οποία κείτονται στο ναό των Αγίων Αποστόλων.
Ο Όσιος Εφραίμ, της Σύρου - (28 Ιανουαρίου)
Ο άγιος Εφραίμ είναι ένας από τους πιο πνευματικούς ανθρώπους της μοναχικής πολιτείας, πολυμαθής, ενάρετος, περίφημος συγγραφέας και υμνογράφος της Εκκλησίας μας. Τα έργα του είναι γλυγύτατα αναγνώσματα των μοναχών και των ευσεβών χριστιανών. Στο ιερό πρόσωπο του αγίου Εφραίμ του Σύρου, βρίσκει πλήρη δικαίωση ο άγαμος και μοναχικός βίος σαν μία εξαίρεση στην ζωή και σαν ολοκληρωτική δόση του ανθρώπου προς το Θεό, σαν ζωντανή και λογική θυσία, από την οποία ξεχύνεται το μύρο της αγιότητος και η ευωδία της αιωνίου ζωής. Αγγελικός είναι ο βίος του αληθινού μοναχού, γιατί καθώς λέγει ο Μέγας Βασίλειος, φίλος και θαυμαστής του αγίου Εφραίμ:« ίδιον τούτο της αγγελικής έστι φύσεως, το απηλλάχθαι της συζυγίας, μηδέ προς άλλο τι κάλλος μετεωρίζεσθαι, αλλά εις το θείον πρόσωπον διηνεκώς ατενίζειν».
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This week’s Gift of Light is given for Happy Birthday wishes for
Christine, Christian and Patricia.
MEMORIAL
1 year for the late Georgios Boutos
May his memory be eternal!
COFFEE HOUR
Today’s Coffee Hour is sponsored by Assumption Church Ministries. Please join us in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy. Thank you for hosting and for all your continued love, support and dedication to our beloved Assumption Panagia Church.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
General Assembly Meeting today beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Plato Hall.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY WEEKDAY SERVICES: | |
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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
Friday, February 10, 9:00 a.m. - Orthros and Divine Liturgy
+Saint Haralambos the Holy Martyr
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
View Parish Calendar
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PARISH MINISTRIES AND EVENTS | |
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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 on the Pangari 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
January 22 - General Assembly Meeting. Must be current Stewards of Assumption Church to participate. Meeting will be held in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy.
January 22 - YAL Coffee Round Table following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall
January 28 - Youth Trampoline Event - More information to come
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 - See insert for more information
February 19 - Philoptochos Apokreatiko Glendi following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall. See insert for more information.
March 11 - 10:00 a.m. - Wedding Couple Seminar for couples getting married in 2023 - meeting will be held in Plato Hall
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PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS
NEXT 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. See flyer enclosed.
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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!
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A blessed week to you and your families!!! |
Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago
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