Publish-header
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-01-14
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
Saints and Feasts
Parish News and Events
17_anthony2
Organization Icon
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

Proistamenos Very Rev. Timothy Bakakos

frtimothy@assumptionchicago.org | 773-626-3114

Associate Pastor Rev. Fr. Dimitrios Burikas


frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org | 773-626-3114

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. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13.

BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Gospel Reading

Sunday after Epiphany
The Reading is from Matthew 4:12-17

At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

BACK TO TOP

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Apodosis of Epiphany in the First Mode

When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion of the Church in the First Mode

In giving birth, O Theotokos, you have retained your virginity, and in falling asleep you have not forsaken the world. You who are the Mother of Life have passed over into life, and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light."

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.
BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your faith.
St. Ignatius of Antioch
Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 13, 2nd century

For as persons not even knowing where to put a step forward, so they sat, overtaken by the darkness.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century

BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

17_anthony2
January 17

Anthony the Great

Saint Anthony, the Father of monks, was born in Egypt in 251 of pious parents who departed this life while he was yet young. On hearing the words of the Gospel: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor" (Matt. 19:21), he immediately put it into action. Distributing to the poor all he had, and fleeing from all the turmoil of the world, he departed to the desert. The manifold temptations he endured continually for the span of twenty years are incredible. His ascetic struggles by day and by night, whereby he mortified the uprisings of the passions and attained to the height of dispassion, surpass the bounds of nature; and the report of his deeds of virtue drew such a multitude to follow him that the desert was transformed into a city, while he became, so to speak, the governor, lawgiver, and master-trainer of all the citizens of this newly-formed city.

The cities of the world also enjoyed the fruit of his virtue. When the Christians were being persecuted and put to death under Maximinus in 312, he hastened to their aid and consolation. When the Church was troubled by the Arians, he went with zeal to Alexandria in 335 and struggled against them in behalf of Orthodoxy. During this time, by the grace of his words, he also turned many unbelievers to Christ.

Saint Anthony began his ascetic life outside his village of Coma in Upper Egypt, studying the ways of the ascetics and holy men there, and perfecting himself in the virtues of each until he surpassed them all. Desiring to increase his labors, he departed into the desert, and finding an abandoned fortress in the mountain, he made his dwelling in it, training himself in extreme fasting, unceasing prayer, and fierce conflicts with the demons. Here he remained, as mentioned above, about twenty years. Saint Athanasius the Great, who knew him personally and wrote his life, says that he came forth from that fortress "initiated in the mysteries and filled with the Spirit of God." Afterwards, because of the press of the faithful, who deprived him of his solitude, he was enlightened by God to journey with certain Bedouins, until he came to a mountain in the desert near the Red Sea, where he passed the remaining part of his life.

Saint Athanasius says of him that "his countenance had a great and wonderful grace. This gift also he had from the Saviour. For if he were present in a great company of monks, and any one who did not know him previously wished to see him, immediately coming forward he passed by the rest, and hurried to Anthony, as though attracted by his appearance. Yet neither in height nor breadth was he conspicuous above others, but in the serenity of his manner and the purity of his soul." So Passing his life, and becoming an example of virtue and a rule for monastics, he reposed on January 17 in the year 356, having lived altogether some 105 years.

BACK TO TOP

Parish News and Events

PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS

Memorials:

5 Years ~ Norma Tourlas, Right Rows 3 - 4
9 Years ~ Jane (Demetra) Gagomiros, Right Rows 1 - 2
  10 Years ~ Paraskevi (Dolores) Kalogeresis, NO PEWS
10 Years ~ John (Ioannis) Ferguson, Left Rows 1 - 2
15 Years ~ George Karahalios, NO PEWS
20 Years ~ John (Ioannis) Gagomiros, Right Rows 1 - 2
24 Years ~ Nick Tourlas, Right Rows 3 - 4
35 Years ~ Pagona Tourlas, Right Rows 3 - 4
50 Years ~ Vasili Tourlas, Right Rows 3 - 4

Coffee Fellowship:

Today’s coffee fellowship is hosted by Valerie Green and Betty Tsiolis to celebrate their name’s day.  All are invited to stay and enjoy fellowship.

Supporting Parish Ministry:

Orthodox Christian Stewardship is a way of life, which acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God.  A primary goal of Stewardship is to promote spiritual growth and strengthen faith. Becoming a Steward begins when we believe in God, to whom we give our love, loyalty and trust and act on those beliefs.  As Stewards, we affirm that every aspect of our lives comes as a gift from Him.  Stewardship calls on the faithful to cheerfully offer back to God a portion of the gifts with which they have been blessed.

An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church.  The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.  And each year the Steward is expected to carefully review his or her personal circumstances and make a commitment of time, talent, and treasure to support the Parish and her Ministries, which in turn support the National Ministries of our Archdiocese, Metropolises, and institutions.

Effective stewardship ministry is not a single event or project.  Rather, it is going out to our people wherever they are in their walk with Christ, listening to their concerns, helping them to realize their importance as branches of the True Vine, and encouraging them to offer their gifts in His service.  We use various resources to support our efforts, but unless we meet with our people personally, sincerely listen to their ideas and concerns, and share a vision for the future of the parish, our efforts will not reach their full potential.

In ‘Oriented Leadership’, their book on Orthodox Christian leadership, Williams and McKibben define stewardship as the “call of the faithful to share willingly the gifts that God has bestowed on them, including sharing these gifts for God’s work”.  Stewardship is devotion and service to God and His Church as persons, as families, as a Parish, as a Metropolis, as a National Church, and as the Church Universal.  Stewardship is our active commitment to use ALL our time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of humankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ’s redeeming love.

  • Stewardship is caring for the needs of others.
  • Stewardship is offering one's self to God as He offered Himself to us.
  • Stewardship is what a person does after saying "I believe..." as proof of that belief.                       - Williams and McKibben in Oriented Leadership

“People do not give to need; they give to vision…. Church people do not stretch their giving because of need to meet the budget; they give more because they are able to see a vision of people being reached and God’s purposes being accomplished in the life of the church and its ministry.” 

Parishes with successful Orthodox Christian Stewardship Programs have found that incredible support is unleashed from Stewards who unselfishly and joyfully offer their time, talent, and treasures, which in turn enhances the spirituality and ministry of the local parish.

Annual Parish Cutting of the Vasilopita Today,  Sunday, January 14th:

Following Worship Services on Sunday, January 14th, we will conduct the Annual Parish Cutting of the Vasilopita in Church.  This annual event is sponsored by the Ladies Philoptochos Society, with the entire proceeds benefitting the Saint Basil’s Academy in Garrison, New York.  After each Organization/Department Head receives a piece of Vasilopita, representing his/her co-workers, we will invite all parishioners to receive a piece of Saint Basil’s Bread that is a century’s old tradition of our Orthodox Christian Church.  Following the Cutting of the Vasilopita, members of the Ladies Philoptochos Society will pass a special tray where you can offer your gift to Saint Basil’s Academy.

Annual Stewardship Brunch February 4th:

Sunday, February 4th, following the Divine Liturgy, we again will enjoy our Annual Complimentary Stewardship Brunch, hosted by the Stewardship Committee and the Parish Council. We cordially invite everyone to join us in Plato Hall to enjoy fellowship.

Stewardship 2018:

We are forever grateful to our many stewards who faithfully contribute their stewardship gift to our Panagia Church without fail.  It is with the support of each member, supporter, and friend to Panagia and Her Church that allows this Parish to continue to offer its ministry to the faithful who enter its doors.

Stewardship is our way to give to back to God a portion of the ‘never-ending blessings’ that He unceasingly give to us each and every day.  That is a gift that can only be measured by us, and God expects us to make that determination honestly and with an open and loving heart.  Our Parish of Panagia is grateful to the vast majority who understand how we are expected to be ‘caretakers’ of His Earthly Church.  We call upon those individuals and families who have not, as yet, made your stewardship contribution for the year 2018, to consider doing that today.  Stewardship cards and information is located on the Pangari in the Narthex.  Please consider making your gift.  Thank you.

Assumption Basketball Season:

We are in the midst of our basketball season! If you have questions about this program contact Tom Demos at thomasdemos@gmail.com.

Below is the basketball schedule for our grade school team.

Game Times are at 4:30 pm

Sun 1/14 v St Johns (Westchester Park District)
Sat 1/20 at St Demetrios - Chicago
Sat 1/21 v. Holy Apostles (Westchester Park District)

Philoptochos:

The Vasilopita Celebration has always been a very important event with proceeds of this celebration dedicated to help Saint Basil Academy by providing a beacon of hope and a safe haven for Orthodox children in need by ensuring material, spiritual, educational and emotional support.  It is appropriate that the Academy be named for Saint Basil who was the founder of many orphanages, hospitals and homes for the elderly.

The Academy was founded in 1944 with the valuable assistance of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society.  Remarkably, the Philoptochos purchased the Jacob Ruppert Estate, home to Saint Basil Academy, with the proceeds of two Vasilopita celebrations!

The age-old Vasilopita tradition began in the fourth century, when Saint Basil the Great, who was a bishop, wanted to distribute money to the poor in his Diocese. He commissioned some women to bake sweetened bread, in which he arranged to place gold coins. Thus, the families in cutting the bread to nourish themselves, were pleasantly surprised to find the coins.  This tradition is very much alive in our homes and church communities symbolizing the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life for all who participate in the Vasilopita Observance.

After giving the matter much thought, the Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos, has decided to cancel the 2018 Vasilopita Celebration.  While it was a difficult decision to make, we are in fact, still in a state of mourning due to the passing of His Eminence Iakovos, of Blessed Memory who presided over this event for many years.  In addition, we are without a sitting Metropolitan.

As a result, no tickets will be sold to attend and/or support the Metropolis Vasilopita Celebration.  If you still wish to make a contribution to benefit Saint Basil Academy, you may do so by making your donation payable to the Assumption Philoptochos Society and giving it to any Board member.

On behalf of the Assumption Philoptochos Society, we are grateful for your contributions to Saint Basil Academy – past, present and future!

  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.

Byzantine Music Class:

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:

Wednesday, January 17th
Feast of St. Antonios
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy

Thursday, January 18th
Feast of St. Athanasios
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
11:30 am – Philoptochos General
Meeting in St. Catherine

Friday, January 19th
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Youth Night at
at Oak Brook Park District

Saturday, January 20th
Dive for the Cross
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Oak Brook Park District

Sunday, January 21st
Sunday Church School will be
worshipping in the main Church
8:30 am – Orthros
10:00 am – Divine Liturgy

Thursday, January 25th
Feast of St. Gregory
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy

Saturday, January 27th
3:00 - Snow Tubing
at Villa Oliva

Sunday, January 28th
TRIODION BEGINS
8:30 am – Orthros
10:00 am – Divine Liturgy

Monday, January 29th
7:00 pm - Adult Bible Studay
in St. Catherine Meeting Room

Tuesday, January 30th
Feast of Three Hierarchs
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy

Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed:

Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday in 2018?  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 2018 Year:

Jan. 21                    April 15                  May 13                   June 10

Jan. 28                    April 22                  May 20                   June 17

March 4                   April 29                  May 27                   June 24

March 25                 May 6                    June 3                     July 1

 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:

Andrew Kanel, Dr. Evie Maggos, Dr. Peter Panton, George Sefer, Lynn Voulgarakis, Dr. Voula Spyropoulos

BACK TO TOP