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Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-09-17
Bulletin Contents
Sophia
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Assumption Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (773) 626-3114
  • Fax:
  • (773) 626-3141
  • Street Address:

  • 601 South Central Avenue

  • Chicago, IL 60644-5089


Contact Information






Services Schedule

Worship Hours:

Sunday -MAIN CHURCH

8:30 am - Orthros

10:00 am - Divine Liturgy

Sunday Summer Hours - MAIN CHURCH
8:00 am - Orthros

9:30 am - Divine Liturgy

Sunday Church School 

 9:45 am - Divine Liturgy

Weekday Services

8:30 am - Orthros

9:30 am - Divine Liturgy


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Apolytikion of Martyrs Sophia, Pistis, Elpis & Agape in the Fourth Tone

O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy.

Kontakion of Martyrs Sophia, Pistis, Elpis & Agape in the First Tone

Since Faith and Hope and Love were in truth sacred branches of ven'rable Sophia, the namesake of wisdom by grace they have shown all men that Greek wisdom is foolishness, and in contest they proved to be prizewinning victors; wherefore, they received a crown that never shall perish from Christ God, the Lord of all.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.

Apolytikion of Great Martyr Catherine in the Plagal of the First Tone

Let us praise the most auspicious bride of Christ, the divine Catherine, protectress of Sinai, our aid and our help. For, she brilliantly silenced the eloquence of the impious by the sword of the spirit, and now, crowned as a martyr, she asks great mercy for all.

Kontakion of Great Martyr Catherine in the Second Tone

O friends of martyrs, now divinely raise up a renewed chorus, praising the all-wise Catherine. For, she proclaimed Christ in the arena, trampled on the serpent, and spat upon the knowledge of the orators.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

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Saints and Feasts

Sophia
September 17

Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.


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Parish News and Events

PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS

This Sunday, the Sunday Church School Students, teachers and families will be worshiping in the main Church as a ‘Church Family’.

Sunday Worship Hours:

Please make a note, we have returned to our Fall/Winter/Spring schedule for Worship Services.  In the main Church, Orthros will begin at 8:30am, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 10:00am.  The Sunday Church School Divine Liturgy will begin promptly at 9:45 am in Saint Catherine Chapel.

Sunday Church School Has Begun:

The Assumption Sunday Church School has begun.  Divine Liturgy begins promptly at 9:45am, with SCS Classes taking place immediately following the Divine Liturgy in Plato School.  If you have not, as yet, registered your child for the 2017-18 school year, please do so by contacting the Church Office, securing a registration form online at our Church’s Website (www.assumptionchicago.org), or by speaking with our SCS Director, Mrs. Christina Arvanites.

Memorial:

1 Year ~ Spyros Kokolis, Right Row 1

Coffee Fellowship:

The Coffee fellowship is hosted by the Assumption Community.  All are invited to stay, and enjoy fellowship.

Ministry, Ministry, Ministry!

Every Christian who has accepted salvation has also accepted the responsibility of working in the ministry of the Church.  The clergy have been called apart and given the grace and blessing to perform the specific sacramental functions of the church, but all Christians, clergy and laity alike, have been called to serve in our Lord’s ministry.  If this is not what the Church is doing, then we have entered into serious error.  Everything that we do as a Church should be in direct support of Christ’s ministry of salvation.  If we build buildings, they should be to support ministry.  Any event sponsored by the Church should be ministry or in support of ministry.  The Church’s budget should be driven by its ministry, not the ministry to be limited by its budget.

Stewardship:

2017 Stewardship Pledge commitment are due.  We ask that you please prayerfully consider your pledge commitment for 2017, complete the pledge card and mail it to the Church Office.  We are forever grateful to the many loving stewards, supporters, and friends of this Parish who stand tall in their commitment to our Lord, the Blessed Panagia and this ministry.

Celebration Of 125 Years Of Orthodoxy In Chicago:

On Saturday, September 30th, all jurisdictions of Orthodoxy will come together and celebrate 125 years of Orthodoxy in Chicago.  It is a historic milestone for all of Orthodoxy in Chicago, and it will be recognized with a Pan Orthodox Hierarchical Divine Liturgy beginning at 10:00am, in Lane Tech High School in Chicago.  All Hierarchs and Clergy from all jurisdictions will participate in this historic occasion. 

Following the Divine Liturgy, there will be a Celebration Banquet at Chicago Marriott O’Hare, in Chicago.  Our Parish of Panagia will participate as well, and tables will be reserved for our parishioners.  If you are able to attend, please call the Church Office to make your reservation.  Donation is $50.00.  This event is being hosted/sponsored by the Pan-Orthodox Clergy Association of Chicago.  Please make checks/payment to the Assumption Church.

PLEASE ALSO REFER TO THE ENCLOSED FLYER

 

2018 EPIPHANY PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LANDS:

It is with great joy and love in our Lord Jesus that Fr. Timothy, along with Fr. John Kalomas from the St. Andrew Church (Chicago), will again be leading an Eleven Day Pilgrimage from January 15th through 25th, 2018.  This pilgrimage will exclusively include the Holy Lands in Jerusalem, Israel, and Palestine.  Among the many places/sites to be visited include the Church and Tomb of St. George in Lydda,  the Holy Sepulcher where we will see the Holy Calvary, Holy Tomb, Chapel of Mary Magdalene, Temporary Prison of Christ, Saint Loginos, Finding of the Cross, Column of the Thorns, and the Chapel of Adam.  We then will walk to the Patriarchate to meet His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerualem, Theophilos III, follow Jesus’ footsteps on “Via Dolorosa” the Way of the Cross, Pretorium, Lithostrotos, the House of Nicodemos, the Prison of Saint Peter, the birthplace of Theotokos and the House of Saint Ann. Continue to the Tomb of Most Holy Mother of God in Gethsemane. We will visit Saint Stephanos, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Last Prayer.

We also will visit the Jordan River where we will enter the Holy Site of the Original Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ in the borders of Israel-Jordan.  We will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany at Jordan River with His Beatitude the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, who will bless the water.  We then visit St. Gerasimos, Mt. of Temptation in Jericho and the Dead Sea.

The following morning we will attend the Patriarchal Celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany in the Holy Sepulcher.  After the Divine Liturgy, we will visit Mount Zion, the Last Supper & Upper Room, King David’s Tomb, the Wailing Wall and the House & Tomb of Saint Simeon the Righteous in Katamonas.  We then will visit the Monastery of the Holy Cross and the House of Saint John the Baptist in Oreini.

In addition, we will visit the Mount of Olives for a panorama view of the Jerusalem, visit the Church of the Ascension, and small Galilea Saint Thedosius, Shepherds Field, Monastery of Saint Sabbas. We then return to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Holy Cave and the Manger of Christ, and the tombs of the infants killed by King Herod.

We then will depart for Tiberias, stopping first to visit the Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany and the Monastery of Martha & Maria. We continue through the Jordan Valley to Tiberias where we will spend the night.  The next morning we will cross the Sea of Galilee by boat to Capernaum. Here we will visit the ruins of the city where Jesus started His ministry, and see the site of the Synagogue where He was teaching.  We proceed to Tabgha, site of the Multiplication of  Five Loaves and Two Fishes.  From here, we will then drive to Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee and visit the Monastery of the twelve Apostoles in Capernaum.  We then return to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.  The next morning, we again visit Jordan River for our baptism (becoming a hatzi - a true pilgrim).

In this email as well as on our website (www.assumptionchicago.org), you will find a Flyer and Fact Sheet detailing the Trip, including dates, places, pricing, and other particulars.  Also included in this email is the brochure that describes each day's activities.  Because there is special pricing/discount given for registering early, you are urged to reply as soon as you can if you are interested in participating in this trip.  Should you have any questions, I urge that you please call me immediately.  Fr. John is advertising this Pilgrimage Trip in his own Parish, and we have decided to limit the size of this group, so space will be limited.  Again, if you have any questions, please see/speak to Fr. Timothy as soon as possible.

Youth Ministry:

GOYA Retreat
The Fall GOYA Retreat will be at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center from October 13th-15th. The retreat is for high school age GOYA members. More information to follow. You do not want to miss this awesome opportunity, so please save the date!

  College Students -- Check Out OCF  (Orthodox Christian Fellowship):

To our young people who are going away to college for the first time, or to those returning to school to continue their studies, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the organization which keeps you connected to your Church and your Orthodox Faith.  OCF has 300 chapters in colleges and universities throughout North America.  So be sure to check out their web site to locate and find out about your chapter --  WWW.OCF.NET.  We also encourage our college young people to share their e-mail addresses with our Church so that we may keep them informed of their “Spiritual Home” while they are away.  And always remember, your Assumption Church’s weekly Divine Liturgy Services are just a click away on your computer each Sunday as we now broadcast live each Sunday.  Just access it by going to our website at:  www.assumptionchicago.org

Also, our parish is starting a database of all college students in the community. If you have a college student in your family or if you are a college student, please send your name, school, area of study, address, and email address to Fr. Dimitri at frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org..

This fall, our parish will be introducing a Byzantine Music class for all those interested in learning the art of Orthodox music. Classes will be led by Fr. Dimitri and are for students in middle school through college. If interested in registering or if you have any questions, please contact Fr. Dimitri at frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org.

Dates to Remember:

 Monday, September 18th
7:00 pm – Adult Bible Study Resumes and will be
held in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room

Saturday, September 30th
10:00 am – Pan Orthodox Hierarchical Liturgy
Lane Tech Auditorium
2501 West Addison Street at Western Avenue Chicago
Following Divine Liturgy
Celebration Banquet at
Chicago Marriott O’Hare
8535 West Higgins Road
Chicago, IL
$50.00 Per Person

    Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed:

Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday in 2017?  You might want to celebrate a family event, a memorial, or just want to share time with the Church family.  Please call the Church Office (773.626.3114) to book a date and for more information.  Available dates for the 2017 Year:

Sept. 24                      Oct. 29                Nov. 26                 

Oct. 8                         Nov. 12                Dec. 24             

Oct. 15                       Nov. 19                Dec. 31

   Assumption Prayer Ministry:

The Assumption Adult Bible Study Group has developed an idea that may be of interest to parishioners and friends of our Panagia Parish.  They are interested in being able to form a ministry comprised of individuals who would like to pray for the health of those individuals who may be ill or experiencing health issues.  Our Orthodox Faith teaches us that the ‘power of prayer’ literally works miracles, and Jesus instructs us in the Bible that we should “always pray for one another in the fellowship of love and through the Holy Spirit”.   As a Panagia Parish, we are united as brothers and sisters in Christ, and we are encouraged to pray for one another as any family would do.  So, how do we plan to do it?  It’s simple, easy, and spiritually uplifting and rewarding.  Here is what we can all do:

  • If you are interested in participating, you need only submit your name and email address to the Church Office or Fr. Timothy.
  • When a name is submitted to be prayed for, you will be contacted by email, given the first name of the person to be prayed for, along with the prayer to be read by you, offering the prayer for the intercession of God upon that individual, and asking that the afflicted be healed by God’s abundant blessing.
  • Your prayer, together along with the many others who are offering a prayer for the person who is ill, will bring comfort beyond comprehension.

Just think about that….our prayers collectively praying for a person who needs the loving and tender Hand of God during his/her special time of need.  It’s that simple.  Just provide us with your email address, and you can join this ministry team who will pray for the person who needs help the most.  It costs nothing, takes only a few seconds to do, but will make us all part of a spiritual family that looks and cares for one another.

 Prosfora Bakers Needed:

One of the blessings of Stewardship that we are given is the ability to serve our Church in a number of ways.  Our Church is in need of individuals who can offer the weekly Prosforo (Bread) for the Divine Liturgy.  Should you be able to offer your service, please inform the Church office or see either Fr. Timothy or Mrs. Demetra Spyropoulos.  With the help of each steward/member, we come together as a Church family to better offer our thanks to our Lord.

Bookstore:

Do you need gifts for your family or relatives?  Then please visit the Bookstore in Plato Hall after the Divine Liturgy on Sundays.  There you will find unique gifts for everyone, such as books for children and adults, icons of your or your children’s patron saints, crosses, key chains and other beautiful items, which will make much appreciated gifts this year.  Please stop in and browse, you’ll be glad you did.

Holy Communion Announcement:

While we pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all the world’s Christians, the reality remains that there is still no intercommunion between our Orthodox Churches and the Churches of the West.  This means that only baptized, chrismated, and observant Orthodox faithful are allowed to receive Holy Communion in our churches.  At the same time, we warmly welcome all non-Orthodox to join us in prayer and celebration, and humbly offer to all present the Antidoro bread of fellowship at the end of the worship service.  We offer this important symbol ‘instead of the Gifts’, in the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘Till we all come to the unity of the Faith’ (Eph. 4.13).

 Website News:

In addition our Parish’s website, we encourage you to keep abreast on the latest news and happenings about Orthodoxy from our Metropolis of Chicago and our Holy Archdiocese.

Please use the links below to access any of the three sites:

Assumption Church:               www.assumptionchicago.org
Metropolis of Chicago:           www.metropolisofchicago.org
Archdiocese of America         www.goarch.org

All three websites will provide you with articles and resources for the Orthodox Church.  They include the history of Orthodoxy, special Services and Blessings, Spirituality, Teachings of the Orthodox Church, how to become a member of the Orthodox Church, the meaning and celebration of The Holy Eucharist, the form and characteristics of Orthodox worship, the Sacrament of Confession, Holy Week Meditation and Study Guide, Fasting, the Orthodox Calendar, and much more.  Specifically, on our Parish’s website, we have uploaded past and current editions of the Assumption Newsletter and the St. Catherine Newsletter, and are available for reading online.

We Need Your E-mail Address:

Are you receiving the weekly bulletin online in your e-mail mailbox each week?  How about our Assumption Church’s Newsletter and the Saint Catherine’s Newsletter?  If not, please give the Church Office your e-mail address so that you can stay informed about the schedule of religious services, events, and news of our Community.

Our Sunday Church Services are broadcast live on the Internet each week:

A reminder to all, our Parish of Panagia began broadcasting live to the internet each Sunday.  This is of particular benefit to our shut-ins, elderly, college students, and vacationers who are away from home, yet need to receive the benefit and blessing of the weekly Divine Liturgy experience.  All you need to do is log on to our website www.assumptionchicago.org, and click the link to begin watching the Worship Service live.  We have also archived our Services allowing anyone to click and watch the Service/sermon at their leisure.  We encourage you to give it a try.

NOTE:  Please note that this morning’s Divine Liturgy, as well as prior Divine Liturgies, are available for rebroadcast.  Simply log on to our Parish’s website (www.assumptionchicago.org), and click on the “Watch Worship Services Online” link.

Ushers:

Dean Bastounes, Tom Demos, Nick Mansour, Dean Sarantos, John Vassiliades

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