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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, JULY 14, 2024

FATHERS OF THE 4th ECUMENICAL COUNCIL


To view or print services please click here

READINGS OF THE DAY

Epistle Reading of the Day

 

St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15

 

TITUS, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.



Απόστολος της Ημέρας

 

Πρὸς Τίτον 3:8-15

 

Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις · μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. αιῥετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ ᾽ἐμοῦ πάντες. Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.



Gospel Reading for the Day

Matthew 5:14-19

 

The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."



Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας 

Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 5:14-19

 

Εἶπεν ὁ Κὐριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· ῾Υμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου. οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη·οὐδὲ καίουσι λύχνον καὶ τιθέασι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιον, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν, καὶ λάμπει πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ.οὕτω λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργα καὶ δοξάσωσι τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας· οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαι, ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι.ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτω τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δ᾿ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.


 


READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS

Our Holy Father Joseph the Confessor, Archbishop of Thessalonica - July 14

Saint Joseph was the brother of Saint Theodore the Studite (see Nov. 11). He also is called Studite, especially when he is mentioned together with his brother. According to Codinus, both of them composed the canons of the Triodion during the reign of Leo the Armenian, while in the Church of Saint Romanus (see Nov. 18); he is not to be confused with Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (Apr. 3). When Saint Joseph became Archbishop of Thessalonica, he was exiled thrice because of his godly zeal for the holy icons, suffering many hardships, imprisonments in dark dungeons, hunger, thirst, and every tribulation, in the midst of which he departed unto eternal life in 833.


Saint Aquila the Apostle among the 70 - July 14

Saint Aquila, who was from Pontus of Asia Minor, was a Jew by race and a tent-maker by trade. In the year 52 he and his wife Priscilla were in Corinth when Saint Paul first came there. They gave him hospitality, and the Apostle remained with them for many days, himself working at the same trade as they (Acts 18:2-3). And having believed in Christ through Paul, they followed him from that time on, working together with him and suffering perils with him for the sake of the preaching of the Gospel, as he himself testifies concerning them in his Epistle to the Romans, saying: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the nations" (Rom. 16:3-4). When and where they reposed is unknown.


Saint Marina the Great Martyr of Antioch - July 17

This Martyr lived during the reign of Claudius II (268-270). She was from Pisidia of Cilicia and was the only daughter of a certain priest of the idols. On being orphaned by her mother, she was handed over to a certain woman who instructed her in the Faith of Christ. When she was fifteen years old, she was apprehended by the ruler of Olmbrius, and when asked her name, homeland, and faith, she answered: "My name is Marina; I am the offspring of the Pisidia; I call upon the Name of my Lord Jesus Christ." Because of this she endured bonds, imprisonment, and many whippings, and was finally beheaded in the year 270. Saint Marina is especially invoked for deliverance from demonic possession.


 



 

Ο ΠΡΟΦΗΤΗΣ ΗΛΙΑΣ ο Θεσβίτης - (20 Ιουλίου) - Ο προφήτης Ηλίας ήταν γιός του Σωβάκ και καταγόταν από τη Θέσβη, γι’ αυτό και ονομάστηκε Θεσβίτης. Κατοικούσε στη γή Γαλαάδ και έδρασε στα χρόνια του βασιλιά Αχαάβ. Ο Ηλίας υπήρξε προφήτης, πολύ δραστήριος, με φλογερή ψυχή και καρδιά τολμηρή, άξιος αντιπρόσωπος του Θεού. Είναι αυτός που κατέβασε τρείς φορές φωτιά από τον ουρανό, κάνοντας τους Ισραηλίτες με μια φωνή να πούν: «αληθώς Κύριος ο Θεός, αυτός ο Θεός». Ο προφήτης Ηλίας είναι το χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα ανθρώπου που φλέγεται από θείο ζήλο πού όλη του η ύπαρξη είναι ένα αναμμένο καμίνι πίστεως και αφοσιώσεως στο Θεό. O προφήτης Ηλίας είναι εκείνος που στο όρος Χωρίβ είδε το Θεό, όσο είναι δυνατό, βέβαια, να Τον δεί άνθρωπος. Είναι εκείνος που έσχισε τον Ιορδάνη ποταμό και ανελήφθη με πύρινη άμαξα στον ουρανό. Τέλος είναι εκείνος που στη Μεταμόρφωση του Χριστού στάθηκε δίπλα Του μαζί με το Μωϋσή. Όλα αυτά δείχνουν με πόσο ζήλο υπηρέτησε ο προφήτης Ηλίας το θέλημα του Θεού. Ο προφήτης Ηλίας ο Θεσβίτης αναλήφθηκε στους ουρανούς μέσα σε ένα πύρινο άρμα.

 

Όσιος Νικόδημος ο Αγιορείτης ο σοφός διδάσκαλος της εκκλησίας-

(14 Ιουλίου) - Ο Όσιος Νικόδημος γεννήθηκε στη Νάξο το έτος 1749 μ.Χ. από γονείς ευσεβείς και ενάρετους, τον Αντώνιο και Αναστασία Καλλιβούρση (η οποία εμόνασε στην Ιερά Μονή Χρυσοστόμου Νάξου, με το όνομα Αγάθη). Το κατά κόσμον όνομά του ήταν Νικόλαος και από μικρός έδειχνε ότι ήταν άνθρωπος μεγάλης αρετής και φοβερής ευφυΐας. Τα πρώτα του γράμματα τα έμαθε στη Νάξο και έπειτα στη σχολή της ίδιας πόλης επέκτεινε τις γνώσεις του, με δάσκαλο τον αδελφό του Αγίου Κοσμά του Αιτωλού, Αρχιμανδρίτη Χρύσανθο. Κατόπιν 16 χρόνων πήγε στην Ελληνική σχολή της Σμύρνης, όπου κοντά σε φημισμένους διδασκάλους έλαβε ανώτερη παιδεία και αρετή. Μετά από ορισμένες περιπέτειες, το 1775 μ.Χ. πήγε στο Άγιον Όρος. Εκεί, στη Μονή του Άγιου Διονυσίου εκάρη μοναχός με το όνομα Νικόδημος. Οι Πατέρες της Μονής, που διέκριναν τα μεγάλα φυσικά και επίκτητα χαρίσματα του Νικόδημου, τον διόρισαν αναγνώστη και γραμματέα της Μονής. Στη Μονή αυτή ο Νικόδημος, υπήρξε υπόδειγμα διακονίας και πράξεων αρετής. Έπειτα αποσύρθηκε σε κάποιο κελί, όπου με ασκητικό τρόπο, επιδόθηκε στη μελέτη και συγγραφή πολλών οικοδομητικών, θεολογικών και αγιολογικών βιβλίων. Μεταξύ αυτών είναι ο «Συναξαριστής», το «Εορτοδρόμιον», η «Νέα Κλίμακα», ο «Αόρατος Πόλεμος» και άλλα πολλά.


Τελικά μετά από διάφορες περιπέτειες, που υπέστη στη βραχύχρονη ζωή του, απεβίωσε από ημιπληγία, σε ηλικία 60 χρονών, τις πρώτες ορθρινές ώρες της 14ης Ιουλίου του έτους 1809 μ.Χ. στο κελλί των Σκουρταίων, στις Καρυές του Αγίου Όρους. Τα τελευταία του λόγια ήταν η απάντηση που έδωσε στους μαθητές του όταν τον ρώτησαν αν ησυχάζει: «Τον Χριστό έβαλα μέσα μου και πως να μη ησυχάσω;». Ενταφιάστηκε στο Λαυριωτικό Κελί των Σκουρταίων στις Καρυαίς του Άγιου Όρους, αφήνοντας πίσω του ένα τεράστιο πνευματικό συγγραφικό έργο, που σήμερα αποτελεί κεφάλαιο για τον λαό της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

GIFT OF LIGHT

This week’s Gift of Light is given in loving memory of Frances Wahby


COFFEE HOUR

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


YAL KAFENIO

YAL Kafenio is Saint Catherin's following the Divine Liturgy. Young adults please join us for coffee and fellowship.

JULY - SCHEDULE OF WEEKDAY SERVICES

  

Saturday, July 20 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy - Prophet Elias

 

Thursday, July 25 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy - Dormition of the Righteous Anna, mother of the Most Holy Theotokos

 

Friday, July 26 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy - Saint Paraskeve

 

Saturday, July 27 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy - Saint Panteleimon


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

On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together in the Seven Ecumenical Councils, that is: the First Council, of the 318 Fathers who assembled in Nicaea in 325 to condemn Arius, who denied that the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father; the Fathers of the First Council also ordained that the whole Church should celebrate Pascha according to the same reckoning; the Second Council, of the 150 Fathers who assembled in Constantinople in 381 to condemn Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who denied the Divinity of the Holy Spirit; the Third Council, of the 200 Fathers who assembled in Ephesus in 431, to condemn Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who called Christ a mere man and not God incarnate; the Fourth Council, of the 630 who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches; the Fifth Council in 553, of the 165 who assembled in Constantinople for the second time to condemn Origen and Theodore of Mopsuestia, the teacher of Nestorius; the Sixth Council in 680, of the 170 who assembled in Constantinople for the third time, to condemn the Monothelite heresy, which taught that there is in Christ but one will, the divine; and the Seventh Council in 787, of the 350 who assembled in Nicaea for the second time to condemn Iconoclasm.


JULY / AUGUST - SCHEDULE OF WEEKDAY SERVICES

 

Friday, July 26 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy

+Saint Paraskevi of Rome

 

Saturday, July 27 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy

+Saint Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer

 

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR THE DORMITION OF THE HOLY THEOTOKOS

 

Thursday, August 1 - 10:30 a.m., Agiasmos (Blessing of the water)

6:30 p.m., Small Paraklesis Service

 

Friday, August 2 - 10:30 a.m., Great Paraklesis Service

 

Monday, August 5 - 6:00 p.m., Great Vespers for the Holy Transfiguration of our Lord will take place at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Monastery in Harvard, Illinois

 

Tuesday, August 6 - 9:00 a.m. Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Holy Transfiguration of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ


Tuesday, August 6- 5:00 p.m., Great Paraklesis Service

 

Wednesday, August 7 - 6:30 p.m., Small Paraklesis Service

 

Thursday, August 8 - 10:30 a.m., Great Paraklesis Service

 

Friday, August 9 - 6:30 p.m., Small Paraklesis Service

 

Wednesday, August 14 - 7:00 p.m., Great Vespers Dormition of the Theotokos

10:30 p.m. - Small Paraklesis Service

 

Thursday, August 15 - 12:00 a.m., Akathist Hymn to the Holy Theotokos

2:00 a.m., Sacrament of Holy Unction

4:00 a.m., Orthros - Dormition of the Holy Theotokos

5:00 a.m., 1st Divine Liturgy - Dormition of the Holy Theotokos

9:30 a.m., 2nd Divine Liturgy - Dormition of the Holy Theotokos

 

Friday, August 23 - 9:00 a.m., Apodosis of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos

 

Tuesday, August 27 - 9:00 a.m, Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Saint Phanourios the Great-Martyr

 

Thursday, August 29 - 9:00 a.m., Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

 



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 for the month of July: July 21 and August 4,11,18,25


The fast of the Dormition begins on August 1 through August 15. Please only Lenten items during this time.


For later dates 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.

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

There will be a General Meeting, Sunday, July 21 after Church in St. Catherin’s meeting room. We will discuss August 14 & 15 Feast Day receptions and news from the National Philoptochos Convention. Please plan on attending. Looking forward to seeing you! 



2024 STEWARDSHIP

Thank you to all who have submitted their 2024 Stewardship Pledge Cards. If you have not yet submitted your stewardship card, members of the Parish Council will be handing out stewardship packets today.


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! 


ASSUMPTION PANAGIA BOOKSTORE

Please visit our Religious Bookstore! Not only do we have beautiful Icons for your home and to give as gifts, we also have books for all ages, baby’s bibs for baptisms and much more! Our bookstore is open following the Divine Liturgy on Sundays in Plato Hall.


ARTOKLASIA – THE BLESSING OF BREAD

The Blessing of Five Loaves of Bread is a brief service of thanksgiving through which we express our gratitude for all the blessings of life. Oil, wine, wheat, and the loaves of bread which are used in the service, are viewed as the most basic elements necessary for life. The Blessing reminds us of the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fish by which Christ fed the multitude. This Blessing is usually offered during Vespers or after the Divine Liturgy on Feast days and other special occasions. After the Service, the bread is cut and distributed to the congregation. If you would like to offer an Artoklasia, please contact the church office at: 773.626.3114 or email: office@assumptionchicago.org to reserve a date. 


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: Charlie, John, Nicoletta, Sarah, Nathan


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 the church office to add names at office@assumptionchicago.org or call: 773.626.3114.

UPCOMING EVENTS


**Flyers located in the Narthex.

 

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


July 21 - 12:00 p.m., Saint Euphrosynos Meal - Meal Preparation and Delivery


July 23 - 7:00 p.m., Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers -Less than 5 tickets available!


August 24 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Family Summer Retreat at Saint Iakovos Center


A BLESSED WEEK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!!



Assumption Panagia Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago
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