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

Mr. George Demas - Pastoral Assistant

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024

SYNAXIS OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

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READINGS AND PRAYERS

Synaxis of St. John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner

St. John is commemorated several times during the year, but his greatest feast is on this day, January 7th. Among the Gospel-figures surrounding the Saviour, the person of John the Baptist holds a very special place, by the manner of his birth in this world and of his earthly life, by his role of baptizer of men to repentance and his baptism of the Messiah, and, lastly, by the tragic manner of his departure from this world. He was of such moral purity that he indeed deserved the name 'angel', as he was named in the Scriptures, rather than being thought of as just a mortal man. John differs from all the other prophets in that he had the joy of showing forth to the world the One Whom he had foretold.

About the hand of St John: it is related that each year, on his feast-day, the archbishop would bring it out before the people. Sometimes the hand appeared open, and sometimes clenched. In the first case it indicated that it would be a fertile year, and in the second that it would be a year of famine.

Epistle Reading of the Day

Acts of the Apostles 19:1-8

In those days, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God.

Gospel Reading for the Day

John 1:29-34

At that time, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

Απόστολος της Ημέρας

Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 19:1-8

Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο δέ, ἐν τῷ τὸν Ἀπολλὼ εἶναι ἐν Κορίνθῳ, Παῦλον διελθόντα τὰ ἀνωτερικὰ μέρη ἐλθεῖν εἰς Ἔφεσον· καὶ εὑρών τινας μαθητὰς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς, Εἰ πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐλάβετε πιστεύσαντες; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτόν, Ἀλλʼ οὐδὲN εἰ πνεῦμα ἅγιόν ἐστιν, ἠκούσαμεν. Εἶπέν τε πρὸς αὐτούς, Εἰς τί οὖν ἐβαπτίσθητε; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον, Εἰς τὸ Ἰωάννου βάπτισμα. Εἶπεν δὲ Παῦλος, Ἰωάννης μὲν ἐβάπτισεν βάπτισμα μετανοίας, τῷ λαῷ λέγων εἰς τὸν ἐρχόμενον μετʼ αὐτὸν ἵνα πιστεύσωσιν, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ ἐβαπτίσθησαν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ἐπιθέντος αὐτοῖς τοῦ Παύλου τὰς χεῖρας, ἦλθεν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἐπʼ αὐτούς, ἐλάλουν τε γλώσσαις καὶ προεφήτευον. Ἦσαν δὲ οἱ πάντες ἄνδρες ὡσεὶ δεκαδύο. Εἰσελθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν ἐπαρρησιάζετο, ἐπὶ μῆνας τρεῖς διαλεγόμενος καὶ πείθων τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ.

Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας

Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:29-34

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, βλέπει ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν ἐρχόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει· ἴδε ὁ ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου. οὗτός ἐστι περὶ οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον· ὀπίσω μου ἔρχεται ἀνὴρ ὃς ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ, διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ὕδατι βαπτίζων. καὶ ἐμαρτύρησεν ᾿Ιωάννης λέγων ὅτι τεθέαμαι τὸ Πνεῦμα καταβαῖνον ὡς περιστερὰν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἔμεινεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν. κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ πέμψας με βαπτίζειν ἐν ὕδατι, ἐκεῖνός μοι εἶπεν· ἐφ᾽ ὃν ἂν ἴδῃς τὸ Πνεῦμα καταβαῖνον καὶ μένον ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ. κἀγὼ ἑώρακα καὶ μεμαρτύρηκα ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ.

ΑΓΙΟΛΟΓΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΕΟΡΤΕΣ

ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ Ο ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ – Η ΦΩΝΗ ΤΗΣ ΕΡΗΜΟΥ – (7 Ιανουαρίου)

Ο Ιωάννης ο Πρόδρομος αποτελεί παράδειγμα συνετού, πιστού στον Ιησού Χριστό, αξιοπρεπούς επιβλητικού κήρυκα του λόγου του Θεού. Γιός της ηλικιωμένης Ελισάβετ και του ιερέα Ζαχαρία, ο Ιωάννης από την έρημο της Ιουδαίας δίδασκε: «έφτασε η βασιλεία των ουρανών» πραγματικά πρόδρομος του έργου του Χριστού. Ο ίδιος ο Ιησούς Χριστός είπε αναφερόμενος στον Ιωάννη πώς «κανείς άνθρωπος δεν υπήρξε μεγαλύτερός του». Οταν ο προφήτης γεννήθηκε, ο πατέρας του αποκάλυψε την προφητική του αποστολή με τα λόγια: «Και σύ παιδίον, προφήτης υψίστου κληθείς προπορεύση γάρ πρό προσώπου Κυρίου ετοιμάσοι οδούς αυτού». Η γιορτή του Ιωάννη γιορτάζεται από τους χριστιανούς από τον 5^ο αιώνα, σήμερα ενώ το τραγικό τέλος του γιορτάζεται σε άλλη ημερομηνία. Ο άγιος Ιωάννης ο Πρόδρομος έχει πολλά ονόματα στην Αγία Γραφή και στην Παράδοση της Εκκλησίας μας. Στην Παλαιά Διαθήκη προφητικά ονόματα «Φωνή βοώντος εν τη ερήμω». Από την προετοιμασία και προλείανση της οδού του Κυρίου ονομάστηκε «Πρόδρομος», «η φωνή του Λόγου», « Ο εωσφόρος (δηλαδή ό αυγερινός) του Ηλίου», « ο φίλος του Νυμφίου»

Ο ΑΓΙΟΣ ΓΡΗΓΟΡΙΟΣ ο Θεολόγος Επίσκοπος Νύσσης – (10 Ιανουαρίου)

Ένας απο τους Τρείς Μεγάλους Ιεράρχας και Οικουμενικούς Διδασκάλους, είναι ο άγιος Γρηγόριος. Διδάσκεται τη στοιχειώδη εκπαίδευση στην Καισαρεία. Επειτα πηγαίνει κοντά σε περίφημους διδασκάσκάλους της ρητορικής και τέλος στα Πανεπιστήμια της Αθήνας, όπου βρίσκει συμφοιτητή το Μ. Βασίλειο. Όταν επιστρέφει στην πατρίδα του την Αριανζό, ο πατέρας του επίσκοπος Ναζιανζού τον χειροτονεί πρεσβύτερο, αλλά αυτός προτιμά την ησυχία του αναχωρητηρίου στο Πόντο, κοντά στον φίλο του Βασίλειο, για περισσότερη άσκηση στην πνευματική ζωή. Μετά από θερμές παρακλή σεις των δικών του επιστρέφει στην πατρίδα του και μπαίνει στην ενεργό δράση της Εκκλησίας. Η ψυχή του πληγώνεται απο αλλεπάλληλους θανάτους συγγενικών του προσώπων, πρώτα του αδελφού του Καισαρείου, έπειτα της αδελφής του Γοργονίας, μετά του πατέρα του και τέλος της μητέρας του Νόννας. Μετά από αυτές τις θλίψεις, η θεία Πρόνοια τον φέρνει στην Κων/πολη, όπου υπερασπίζεται με καταπληκτικό τρόπο τηυν Ορθοδοξία και χτυπά καίρια τους Αρειανούς, που είχαν πλημμυρίσει την Κωνσταντινούπολη Μετά τον σκληρό αυτό αγώνα ο Μ. Θεοδόσιος τον αναδεικνύει Πατριάρχη Κων/πόλεως. Οταν όμως αμφισβητήθηκε η εκλογή του, ο Άγιος προτίμησε να παραιτηθεί, παρά να τραυματίσει την ενότητα της Εκκλησίας. Έφυγε για να αφιερωθή στις πνευματικές του θεωρίες. Πόσο άραγε διδασκόμεθα εμείς οι σημερινοί χριστιανοί από τη στάση αυτή του Αγίου; Άφησε μεγάλο συγγραφικό έργο. Είναι ο Θεολόγος, ο ρήτορας, ο πνευματικός άνθρωπος, ο θεωρητικός νούς, ο ποιητής, που αντί για τον κοσμικό θόρυβο και την αίγλη των αξιωμάτων προτιμά την ησυχία της ερήμου και την απλότητα του ιδιωτικού βίου. Οι αγώνες για την επικράτηση της Ορθοδόξου πίστεως, τον ανέβασαν στον αρχιεπισκοπικό θρόνο της Νέας Ρώμης.

READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS

Saint Gregory of Nyssa – January 10

Saint Gregory, the younger brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox Faith, was born in 331. His brother Basil was encouraged by their elder sister Macrina to prefer the service of God to a secular career (see July 19); Saint Gregory was moved in a similar way by his godly mother Emily, who, when Gregory was still a young man, implored him to attend a service in honor of the holy Forty Martyrs at her retreat at Annesi on the River Iris. Saint Gregory came at his mother's bidding, but being wearied with the journey, and feeling little zeal, he fell asleep during the service. The Forty Martyrs then appeared to him in a dream, threatening him and reproaching him for his slothfulness. After this he repented and became very diligent in the service of God.

Gregory became bishop in 372, and because of his Orthodoxy he was exiled in 374 by Valens, who was of one mind with the Arians. After the death of Valens in 378, Gregory was recalled to his throne by the Emperor Gratian. He attended the Local Council of Antioch, which sent him to visit the churches of Arabia and Palestine, which had been defiled and ravaged by Arianism. He attended the Second Ecumenical Council, which was assembled in Constantinople in 381. Having lived some sixty years and left behind many remarkable writings, he reposed about the year 395. The acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council call him 'Father of Fathers."

Meditation:

Christ is illumined, let us shine forth with Him. Christ is baptized, let us descend with Him that we may also ascend with Him. Jesus is baptized; but we must attentively consider not only this but also some other points. Who is He, and by whom is He baptized, and at what time? He the All-pure; and He is baptized by John; and the time is the beginning of His miracles. What are we to learn and to be taught by this? To purify ourselves first; to be lowly minded; and to preach only in maturity both of spiritual and bodily stature.

+St. Gregory Nazianzen, Oration on the Holy Light

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST

Prayers for: Panagioti, Madalyn, Petros, Elaine, Kristine, Jon, Steve, Anastasia, Kathryn, Demetri, Andrea, Elaine, James, William, Anastasios, Polyxeni, 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

This week’s Gift of Light is given for the health and well being of the Takoudis Family.

MEMORIALS

40 days for the late Christina Makos

6 years for the late Nick Thomopoulos

7 years for the late Michael Walsh

8 years for the late Stephan (Stefanos) Wiseman

14 years for the late Emily (Amalia) Cotsirilos

49 years for the late George Cotsirilos

May their memory be eternal!

COFFEE HOUR

Please join us for coffee hour in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy.

Today’s coffee hour is sponsored by the Thomopoulos Family in loving memory of their loved ones. May God rest their souls. Thank you for hosting!

PARISH VASILOPITA CUTTING

Parish cutting of the Vasilopita (St. Basil’s Sweet Bread) will take place today following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall. Please join us in this joyous church family celebration. A happy, peaceful, and blessed 2024 to all!

+SAINT EUPHROSYNOS KITCHEN MEAL

Following the Divine Liturgy, preparation, and delivery of meals to our homebound parishioners. If you would like to volunteer or if you know someone who can benefit from this ministry, please contact the church office at: 773-626-3114.

COLLECTION TRAY FOR SAINT BASIL’S ACADEMY

Philoptochos will hold a collection tray at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy for Saint Basil's Academy. Thank you for your support and God bless! To learn more about Saint Basil’s Academy visit the following website: https://www.sbagoa.org/

2024 CALENDARS - 2024 Calendars have been mailed out to all Assumption stewards.

Ημερολόγια του 2024 έχουν ταχυδρομηθεί σε όλους του εγγεγραμμένους ενορίτες μας.

WELCOME TO OUR VISITORS

We welcome you to worship with us today. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian, or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to baptized and Chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians, all are invited to receive the antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The antidoron is not sacramental but is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church.

After the Divine Liturgy this morning, please join us in Plato Hall for fellowship, refreshments and visit with our Clergy, our Parish Council and the Stewards of our Parish.

We hope that you will return often to worship with us and to grow in faith.

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: January 21 - February 4, 11, 18, 25 - For later available dates, please contact the church office.

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.

Available weeks: February 4, 25 - March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Please contact the church office for April - 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

We welcome all returning members and prospective members to join us for coffee and doughnuts Sunday, January 28 in Plato Hall during coffee hour. Learn about the good works we do together as a team. Receive a small ‘blooming’ gift with membership.

Happy Names Day to those who celebrate their feast days on Holy Theophany, January 6 and Synaxis of John the Baptist, January 7. Xρόνια Πολλά!

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.

2024 STEWARDSHIP

Stewardship packets for 2024 have been mailed out. 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!

DID YOU KNOW? - Many people think that a non-Orthodox Christian becomes an Orthodox Christian when they get married in the Greek Orthodox Church. This is false. The only time a person becomes an Orthodox Christian is when they are Catechized, Baptized and Chrismated in the Orthodox Church. Otherwise, they cannot partake of any of the Sacraments or the service of the Funeral.

Here is another false notion. Many people think that a Greek Orthodox Christian remains Greek Orthodox even if they marry outside of the Church (i.e. Civil Hall, any non-Orthodox Christian Church or Religious Cults). This again is false. The reason why it is wrong is because he or she has severed their life from the Sacramental life of the Church, meaning that they cannot receive any of the Sacraments or be buried properly in the Orthodox Faith.

If you have a civil divorce, you are not in good standing ecclesiastically until you apply for and receive an Ecclesiastical Divorce. Persons who have received only a civil divorce are not allowed to receive any of the Sacraments in the Church; this includes the Funeral Service. If you or another person(s) have fallen into any of these (or other) predicaments, please contact Fr. Apostolos and he will direct you with information needed to attain complete restoration in the Church.

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.

UPCOMING 2023 EVENTS

**Flyers located in the Narthex.

January 7 - Parish Vasilopita in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy

January 20 - 12:30 p.m. Austin Community Meal in Plato Hall

Winter Family Weekend Retreat at Saint Iakovos Retreat Center on January 26-27, 2024. Skiing at Wilmont Mountain, Wilmont, Wisconsin.

March 10 - Parish Oratorical Festival

A BLESSED, HEALTHY, PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2024!!!

ΕΥΛΟΓΗΜΕΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΡΗΝΙΚΟΣ Ο ΚΑΙΝΟΥΡΓΙΟΣ ΧΡΟΝΟΣ 2024!!!

Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago

Email us: office@assumptionchicago.org

Learn more: assumptionchicago.org