Celebrating 100 Years 1925-2025
| |
Epistle Reading of the Day
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24
Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
|
Απόστολος της Ημέρας
Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 16:13-24 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα
Ἀδελφοί, γρηγορεῖτε, στήκετε ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἀνδρίζεσθε, κραταιοῦσθε. Πάντα ὑμῶν ἐν ἀγάπῃ γινέσθω. Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί - οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς - ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ὑποτάσσησθε τοῖς τοιούτοις, καὶ παντὶ τῷ συνεργοῦντι καὶ κοπιῶντι. Χαίρω δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ παρουσίᾳ Στεφανᾶ καὶ Φουρτουνάτου καὶ Ἀχαϊκοῦ, ὅτι τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα οὗτοι ἀνεπλήρωσαν. Ἀνέπαυσαν γὰρ τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὑμῶν· ἐπιγινώσκετε οὖν τοὺς τοιούτους. Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τῆς Ἀσίας· ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς ἐν κυρίῳ πολλὰ Ἀκύλας καὶ Πρίσκιλλα, σὺν τῇ κατʼ οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίᾳ. Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες. Ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι ἁγίῳ. Ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ Παύλου. Εἴ τις οὐ φιλεῖ τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ἤτω ἀνάθεμα. Μαρὰν ἀθά. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μεθʼ ὑμῶν. Ἡ ἀγάπη μου μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Ἀμήν.
| | |
Gospel Reading for the Day
The Gospel According to
Luke 5:1-11
At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
|
Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 5:1-11 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἑστὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς παρὰ τὴν λίμνην Γεννησαρέτ, καὶ εἶδε δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀποβάντες ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀπέπλυναν τὰ δίκτυα. ἐμβὰς δὲ εἰς ἓν τῶν πλοίων, ὃ ἦν τοῦ Σίμωνος, ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐπαναγαγεῖν ὀλίγον· καὶ καθίσας ἐδίδασκεν ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου τοὺς ὄχλους. ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα· ἐπανάγαγε εἰς τὸ βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Σίμων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιστάτα, δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὸ δίκτυον. καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντες συνέκλεισαν πλῆθος ἰχθύων πολύ· διερρήγνυτο δὲ τὸ δίκτυον αὐτῶν. καὶ κατένευσαν τοῖς μετόχοις τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἑτέρῳ πλοίῳ τοῦ ἐλθόντας συλλαβέσθαι αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἦλθον καὶ ἔπλησαν ἀμφότερα τὰ πλοῖα, ὥστε βυθίζεσθαι αὐτά. ἰδὼν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσε τοῖς γόνασιν ᾿Ιησοῦ λέγων· ἔξελθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, Κύριε· θάμβος γὰρ περιέσχεν αὐτὸν καὶ πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἄγρᾳ τῶν ἰχθύων ᾗ συνέλαβον, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ᾿Ιάκωβον καὶ ᾿Ιωάννην, υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου, οἳ ἦσαν κοινωνοὶ τῷ Σίμωνι. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μὴ φοβοῦ· ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν. καὶ καταγαγόντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἀφέντες ἅπαντα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
| |
READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS | |
Saint Phocas the Martyr, Bishop of Sinope
This saint was known for the many miracles he worked and for his apostolic zeal in shepherding the flock of Sinope. He contested for the Faith during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, in the year 102, when he was burned to death in a bath-house. A homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom. The translation of his holy relics is celebrated on July 23. ~Commemorated on September 22
| | | |
Saint Euphrosyne of Alexandria September 25
Our righteous Mother Euphrosyne, who lived during the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger (408-450), was the daughter of Paphnutius of Egypt. Forsaking her father and his wealth, she renamed herself Smaragdus, and pretending to be a eunuch of the imperial palace, she dressed herself as a man and entered a monastery of men where her identity remained unknown until her repose thirty-eight years later.
| | |
|
The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian - Sept. 26
This Apostle was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of James the elder. First a fisherman by trade, he became an Apostle and the beloved Disciple of Christ. Only he of all the Disciples followed Him even to the Cross, and was entrusted with the care of our Saviour's Mother, as it were another son to her, and a brother of Christ the Teacher. After this, he preached throughout Asia Minor, especially in Ephesus. When the second persecution against the Christians began in the year 96 during the reign of Domitian, he was taken in bonds to Rome, and there was cast into a vat filled to the brim with boiling oil. Coming forth therefrom unharmed, he was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Returning again to Ephesus after the death of the tyrant, he wrote his Gospel (after the other Evangelists had already written theirs) and his three Catholic Epistles. In all, he lived ninety-five years and fell asleep in the Lord during the reign of Trajan in the year 100. He was called Theologian because he loftily expounded in his Gospel the theology of the inexpressible and eternal birth of the Son and Word of God the Father. It is for this cause that an eagle-a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Irenaeus says-is depicted in his icon, for this was one of the four symbolic living creatures that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:10)
| | |
The Conception of St. John the Baptist - September 23
This came to pass fifteen months before the birth of Christ, after the vision of the Angel that Zacharias, the father of the Forerunner, saw in the Temple while he executed the priest's office in the order of his course during the feast of the Tabernacles, as tradition bears witness. In this vision, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and said to him, "Thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John" (Luke 1:13). Knowing that Elizabeth was barren, and that both he and she were elderly, Zacharias did not believe what the Angel told him, although he had before him the example of Abraham and Sarah, of Hannah, mother of the Prophet Samuel, and of other barren women in Israel who gave birth by the power of God. Hence, he was condemned by the Archangel to remain speechless until the fulfilment of these words in their season, which also came to pass (Luke 1:7-24).
| | | |
ΜΙΚΡΟΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ
ΕΥΦΡΟΣΥΝΗΣ Οσίας και του πατρός αυτής Παφνουτίου - 25 Σεπτεμβρίου - Γεννήθηκε στην Αλεξάνδρεια της Αιγύπτου από πλουσίους, αλλά πιστούς και ενάρετους γονείς. Στα δώδεκα της χρόνια έμεινε ορφανή από μητέρα και ο πατέρας της Παφνούτιος αφοσιώθηκε ακόμη πιό φιλόστοργα στην επιμέλεια της κόρης του. Σε ηλικία περίπου δεκαοκτώ χρονών, ο πατέρας της, την αρραβώνιασε με πλούσιο και ευγενή νέο. Η Ευφροσύνη αφού διαμοίρασε την περιουσία της στους φτωχούς, ντύθηκε αντρικά και με το όνομα Σμάραγδος, πήγε σε μοναστήρι αντρών. Έκεί έζησε τριάνταοκτώ χρόνια, κάνοντας αυστηρή άσκηση. Όταν κατάλαβε πώς πλησίαζε το τέλος, ζήτησε να δεί τον πατέρα της, ο οποίος αγνοούσε την τύχη της, από τότε που είχε φύγει από το σπίτι της. Η συγκίνηση του πατέρα της ήταν τόσο μεγάλη πού, μετά το θάνατο της Ευφροσύνης, τη διαδέχτηκε στο κελί της και έζησε και εκείνος ασκητικά μέχρι το θάνατό του.
Η Μετάσταση του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Θεολόγου - 26 Σεπτεμβρίου - Αρκετοί είχαν την άποψη ότι ο Ιωάννης δεν πέθανε, αλλά μετατέθηκε στην άλλη ζωή, όπως ο Ηλίας. Η παράδοση που ασπάσθηκε η Εκκλησία μας είναι οι εξής: Ο Ιωάννης σε βαθιά γεράματα πέθανε στην Έφεσο και τάφηκε έξω από αυτή. Μετά από μερικές ήμέρες όταν οι μαθητές του επισκέφθηκαν τον τάφο, τον βρήκαν κενό. Η Εκκλησία μας λοιπόν δέχεται ότι στον αγαπημένο μαθητή του Κυρίου συνέβη ό,τι και με την Παναγία μητέρα Του. Δηλαδή ο Ιωάννης, ναί μέν πέθανε και ετάφη, αλλά, μετά τρείς μέρες αναστήθηκε και μετέστη στην αιώνια ζωή, για την οποία ο ίδιος να, τι λέει σχετικά: «ο έχων την υιόν έχει την ζωήν, ο μή έχων τον υιόν του Θεού την ζωήν ούκ έχει». Εκείνος δηλαδή που είναι ενωμένος μέσω της πίστης του με το Χριστό και τον έχει δικό του, έχει την αληθινή και αιώνια ζωή. Εκείνος όμως που δεν έχει τον Υιόν του Θεού, να έχει υπ’ όψιν του πως δεν έχει και την αληθινή και αιώνια ζωή.
+Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱέ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν
+Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner
| | | | |
This week’s Gift of Light is given in loving memory of Eleni Takoudis and for the health and well-being of The Takoudis-Foustalieraki Family.
MEMORIALS
40 days for the late George Kolettis
8 years for the late Spyros Kokolis
21 years for the late Eleni Takoudis
May their memory be eternal!
COFFEE HOUR
Please join us for coffee hour in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy.
|
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THIS WEEK
Monday, September 23 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Orthodox Studies in Saint Katherine’s Meeting Room.
Saturday, September 28 - 11:00 a.m. Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Luncheon at Concorde Banquets
WEDDING
3:00 p.m., Rowena Vidallo to James Kladis
|
SUNDAY SCHOOL CORNER
Sunday School classes began on September 15.
You may still register your children online at:
www.assumptionchicago.org or forms are available on the Pangari in the Narthex. You may give the completed form to the usher.
|
PHILOPTOCHOS
The featured Philoptochos commitment for the month of September is The Retired Clergy/Widowed Presvyteres Benevolent Fund. Established in 1988, the fund was created to provide support for retired clergy facing financial challenges. Through this commitment, the fund currently provides support for the Retired Clergy and Widowed Presvyteres of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
May you enjoy a blessed Ecclesiastical Year!
|
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 months of September and October:
September 29 and October 6, 13
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!
|
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
| |
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.
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Did you know that the Orthodox Church has a prayer service for Wedding Anniversaries? While planning with your spouse what you will do on your day of remembrance, don’t forget to contact the Church Office to set-up an appointment for the prayer service with Father Apostolos. While it is suggested that the prayer be read on your Wedding Anniversary, it may also be read on Sundays after Church services.
PARISH COUNCIL
We are seeking enthusiastic young individuals who are eager to serve the Lord and support the Priest in Christ’s ministry by joining the Parish Council. There are currently vacancies on the Parish Board, and if you are interested, please reach out to Father Apostolos or Tom Demos, Parish Council President, for more information. Serving in a leadership capacity within the church is both a joy and a privilege, and we assure you that you will be warmly welcomed as we journey together into the future. Remember, the greatest leadership comes from serving others! It may seem paradoxical, but it's a lifelong aspiration as we continue our ministry.
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST
Prayers for: Anna, Charlie, John, Nicoletta, Sarah, Nathan, Konstantine
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.
| |
**Flyers located in the Narthex.
September 23 - 6:30 p.m., Orthodox Studies in Saint Katherine’s Meeting Room
September 30 - 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Tenderhearted Ministry (a ministry for seniors 65 and over). Join us for prayer, lunch and discussion
October 13 -14 - Pilgrimage to Holy Dormition Romanian Monastery in Michigan
October 19, 2024 - Austin Community Meal in Plato Hall
October 19, 2024 - 6:30 p.m., Plato School Reunion at Fountain Blue Banquets.
October 20, 2024 - St. Euphrosynos Kitchen - Meal Preparation and Delivery
November 9 - Trivia Night - 6:00 p.m. Door & Drinks, 7:00 p.m. Trivia. $30/person – Metropolis Wide - up to 8 people on a team - All ages welcome. Cash and prizes - Cash Bar. Teams can dress up as their favorite theme.
November 10, 2024 - St. Euphrosynos Kitchen - Meal Preparation and Delivery
November 16, 2024 - Austin Community Meal in Plato Hall
| |
ASSUMPTION PANAGIA 100TH YEAR CELEBRATION 1925 - 2025
“More radiant than the rays of sun, and higher than the heavens…”
| |
|
100 Year Celebration Upcoming Events:
- 2024
- Plato School Reunion on October 19th
- YAL Hosted Trivia Night Fundraiser on November 9th
- 2025
- Vasilopita Cutting Celebration in January
- Philoptochos Tea Party and Apokreatiko Glendi Event in February
- Pan-Orthodox Vesper Service - Sunday of Orthodoxy in March
- Great Lent/Holy Easter Celebration in March/April
- Metropolis Oratorical Festival in April
- Centennial Golf Outing in May
- Special Panagia Feast Day Celebration in August
-
Culminating with our Centennial Celebration on October 12th
We are also excited to announce the launch of our Assumption Centennial Fund. This centennial fundraising program provides the ability to support up to three different initiatives:
- Our Church: We aim to beautify our church to raise $750,000 for renovations, including dome window repairs, security cameras, chandelier automation, Plato hall renovations, and much more.
- Our Community: We are dedicating $150,000 to support our community-based initiatives, including our video streaming and all our planned centennial activities.
- Our World: We have pledged $100,000 over the next ten years to support the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.
Please visit our 100th Year Celebration website for more information www.assumption100.com
| |
SAVE THE DATE - NOVEMBER 9, 2024
METROPOLIS WIDE TRIVIA NIGHT
PLATO HALL
Trivia Question of the week:
Do you know the best selling authors of all time?
|
| | | |