Saints and Feasts

November 01

5th Sunday of Luke

November 01

Cosmas and Damian the Holy Unmercenaries of Asia, and their mother Theodota

These Saints were from Asia (that is, Asia Minor). After the death of their father, their Christ-loving mother Theodota reared them in piety and in all manner of virtue, and had them instructed in every science, especially that of medicine. This became their vocation, and they went about healing every illness and malady, bestowing healing freely on both men and beasts alike; because of this, they are called "Unmercenaries." And thus, having completed the course of their life, they reposed in peace.

November 02

The Holy Martyrs Acindynos, Pegasios, Aphthonios, Elpidophoros, and Anempodistos

These Martyrs contested in Persia about the year 330, in the reign of Sapor (Shapur) II, King of Persia (325-379). Acindynus, Pegasius, and Anempodistus, Persian Christians, confessed Christ before the King, and were put to many torments. Aphthonius and Elpidophoros, drawn to the Faith of Christ through the Martyrs, were beheaded with another 7,000. Saints Acindynus, Pegasius, and Anempodistus were at last burned to death. Two churches were dedicated in their honour in Constantinople. As is often the case in church hymns, there is a play on the meanings of the Saints' names here. Acindynus means "unimperilled"; Pegasius is derived from pegazo--"to gush forth"; Aphthonius is derived from aphthonos-"abundant"; Elpidophoros means "hope-bearing"; Anempodistus means "unhindered." These are all Greek translations of their Persian names.

November 03

Dedication of the Temple of the Holy Great Martyr George in Lydda

The consecration of the Church of Saint George in Lydda of Palestine took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great. See also April 23.

November 06

Paul the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Paul was from Thessalonica. He became the secretary of Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople (see Aug. 30), a deacon, and then the successor of Saint Alexander in about 337. Because of his virtue, his eloquence in teaching, and his zeal for Orthodoxy, the Arians hated and feared him. When the Arian Emperor Constantius, who was in Antioch, learned of Paul's election, he exiled Paul and proclaimed the Arian Eusebius Patriarch. Saint Paul went to Rome, where he found Saint Athanasius the Great also in exile. Provided with letters by Pope Julius, Paul returned to Constantinople, and after the death of Eusebius in 342, ascended again his rightful throne; the Arians meanwhile elected Macedonius, because he rejected the Son's con-substantiality with the Father (and the divinity of the Holy Spirit besides). When Constantius, yet at Antioch, learned of Paul's return, he sent troops to Constantinople to drive Paul out. The Saint returned to Rome, where Saint Athanasius also was again in exile. Constans, Emperor of the West, Constantius' brother, but Orthodox, wrote to Constantius that if Athanasius and Paul were not allowed to return to their sees, he would come with troops to restore them him-self. So Paul again returned to his throne. After the death of Constans, however, Constantius had Paul deposed. Because of the love of the people for Saint Paul, Philip the Prefect, who was sent for him, was compelled to arrest him secretly to avoid a sedition. Paul was banished to Cucusus, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia; a town through which his most illustrious successor, Saint John Chrysostom would also pass on his way to Comana in his last exile. In Cucusus, about the year 350, as Saint Paul was celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the little house where he was a prisoner, the Arians strangled him with his own omophorion, so much did they fear him even in exile. His holy relics were brought back to Constantinople with honour by the Emperor Theodosius the Great.

November 07

33 Martyrs of Melitene

These holy Martyrs confessed during the reign of Diocletian and Maximian in the year 290. Of them, Saint Hieron was from Tyana in Cappadocia, a husbandman, of great bodily strength and high nobility of soul. As he was at work digging in his field, certain soldiers came to impress him into military service. He, however, not wishing to keep company with the impious, refused, and with his wooden tool alone drove away the armed soldiers, who fled in fear because of his strength. Later, however, he went of his own free will, and confessed Christ before the governor. His right hand was cut off, and he was imprisoned with thirty-two others, whom he strengthened in the Faith of Christ. Together they were all beheaded outside the city of Melitene in Armenia.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Cosmas and Damian the Holy Unmercenaries of Asia, and their mother Theodota
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 12:27-31; 13:1-8

Brethren, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Gospel Reading

5th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 16:19-31

The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"

Wisdom of the Fathers

By these words it is surely shown that in his [the rich man] daily feasting he had frequently sinned by his tongue, seeing that, while burning all over, he demanded to be cooled especially in his tongue. Again, that levity of conduct follows closely upon gluttony sacred authority testifies ... For the most part also edacity leads us even to lechery, because, when the belly is distended by repletion, the stings of lust are excited.

St. Gregory the Dialogist

The Book of Pastoral Rule, Chapter XIX, 6th century

The man who has once chosen pleasure in this life, and has not cured his inconsiderateness by repentance, places the land of the good beyond his own reach; for he has dug against himself the yawning impassable abyss of a necessity that nothing can break through.

St. Gregory of Nyssa

If your tongue is used to chattering, your heart will remain dim and foreign to the luminous intuitions of the Holy Spirit. But if your mouth is silent, your heart will ever be aflame with the spirit; hush your tongue that your heart may speak, and hush your heart that God may speak.

St. John of Dalyatha

Homily on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

For if any one becomes wholly and thoroughly carnal in thought, such as one with every motion and energy of the soul absorbed in fleshly desires, is not parted from such attachments, even in the disembodied state; just as those who have lingered long in noisome places do not part with the unpleasantness contracted by that lengthened stay, even when they pass into a sweet atmosphere.

St. Gregory of Nyssa

Parish News and Events

Sunday - November 1, 2020

8:45 a.m. Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

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MEMORIAL 3-Months:

George Trambas May His Memory Be Eternal

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This week's Gift of Light (November 1, 2020) is given

In Memory of Xenophon and Demetra Payne

~~~ THE 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. Reservations, with your donation to Assumption Church, can be made through the church office. Simply, ask for the week you desire and remember to offer the names of your loved ones, both the living and those who have fallen asleep, so that they may be commemorated at the Prothesis Table of Oblation) during the Sunday Orthros of that week.

An acknowledgement in the weekly bulletin will be printed. Please specify if you would like your donation posted either in memory of… or for the health and wellbeing of…. Our Church is blessed to have two consecrated Altars. During the Consecration service, and forever after, the Lord entrusts to the angelic powers to keep the holy Altar pure and holy. As Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki reminds us, the Holy Altar is the border between heaven and earth, it is the throne of glory and the dwelling place of God and the workshop of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We all need prayers, and your “Gift of Light” will help. -Father Apostolos

From Father Apostolos ....

In the Church all work together, all con-celebrate...The Liturgy is not just a sermon. It is not something to be listened to or watched. We should not go to church in the same way we go to the theater, but we should go in order to pray with the whole body of the Church and to be transfigured.

When we hear the priest say “let us bow our heads unto the Lord,” we should bow reverently thus giving more meaning to the words and getting into more active participation in the Liturgy.

Reviewing the News....

AXIOS! AXIOS!! AXIOS!!! Our Church rejoices at the great proclamation from our Mother Church which elected this week our very own Chancellor of The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and former Proistamenos of our Parish, Bishop Elect Timothy (Bakakos) of Hexamilion. Details of Bishop elect Timothy’s ordination to the Episcopacy are forth coming.

LET’S STAY CONNECTED - Help us to update our mailing lists. If you have moved, changed telephone numbers, or are not receiving our Church mailings, please call the Church Office. Also, our Church’s Listserv provides information and events related to the church, the weekly bulletins etc. Simply subscribe your email address through our Church’s website www.assumptionchicago.org under General Church Information link. Thank You!!

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION—Orthodox Christians in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, calm state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, and they should have self -examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, remove your mask and open wide. Do not hold or touch the red communion cloth and do not blot your lips. Please wait about 10 – 15 seconds before placing your mask on your face as to allow your lips to dry.

WORSHIPPING FROM HOME AT THIS TIME? Come to church when you feel comfortable doing so. We will be here for you. Thank you for your prayers during this trial and trying time. We will continue to pray for those suffering and those who help the suffering

Weekday Services for this week:

Monday, November 2 - 10:30 a.m. Blessing of the Holy Waters (Agiasmos)

Upcoming Weekday Services for November

Monday, November 9, 9:00 – 11:00am Feast of St. Nektarios: Othros & LIturgy
Monday, November 23, 10:30 – 11:30am Paraklesis of St. Catherine

Monday, November 23 6:00 – 7:30pm Sacrament of Holy nction

Tuesday, November 24 7:00-9:00pm Vespers of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr
Wednesday, November 25 :30 – 11:30am Catherine the Great Martyr Orthros - Liturgy

Monday, November 30 9:00am – 12:00pm St. Andrew Orthros - Liturgy

Reservation spots are available. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/sunday-assumption-services to register.

Church Order Please come into the church prior to the start of the sermon, but remain in the back if the sermon has started. Please follow the direction of our Parish Council for the new procedure for receiving Holy Communion.

Welcome to Assumption….Welcome Home!

~ Your Assistance is Appreciated for Thanksgiving in A Bag ~

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic we will not be able to host our Thanksgiving Meal to the Austin Community. However, the need for food is now more critical than ever in the Austin area. Our outreach team, partnering with the 15th District CPD has created Thanksgiving In A Bag program to help with some of this need. We are asking that our parishioners take a bag and fill it with some of theessentials needed to provide a Thanksgiving meal as well as a Jewel gift card for perishables and/or turkey purchase. All the details are included on the bag flyer attached. Bags with instructions are located in the Narthex. Filled bags need to be returned by Sunday, November 15th . Monetary donations can also be made and will be used to shop for the items. Bags will be distributed from our NE lot located at Central & Harrison on Sunday, November 22nd.

Coming Soon: Information on volunteer opportunities to help with the distribution of the bags and packing additional bags!

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FEED THE HUNGRY

It is with pleasure that we announce our participation in the ‘Feed the Hungry’ program on Tuesday, December 8^th. In past years, we hosted the annual Christmas Luncheon at Greek Islands Restaurant, requesting that attendees donate a bag of wrapped candy for distribution at ‘Feed the Hungry’.

This year, we kindly ask that if you are attending Church services and wish to donate a bag of wrapped candy, there will be a box in the Narthex to collect these donations until Sunday, November 29th. New scarves are also desired.

Should you wish to make a monetary donation in any amount, please make your check payable to Assumption Chicago Philoptochos and mail it to:

Mrs. Melia Linardos, Treasurer

Assumption Philoptochos

550 Renee Court

Geneva, IL 60134

Cell: 630.660.4643

We are sincerely grateful for your collaboration in the work of the Assumption Philoptochos!

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$$$ SCHOLARSHIP MONEY FOR Engineering Students of Hellenic descent! $$$

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO: NOVEMBER 15, 2020

The Hellenic Link Midwest added a scholarship specific to community college AES students.

The L&PH AES Scholarships for Illinois Community College Students Academic Year 2020-21

Two $750 scholarships will be awarded to Illinois Community College students of Greek descent that are residents of Illinois. For eligibility rules and the application, open the PDF version of the application.

The scholarships will be awarded to the recipients in January of 2021. Applications and all related materials and documents must be post-marked no later than November 15, 2020

Here is a link to it: http://www.helleniclinkmidwest.org/HLMW-scholarship.html .

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST (put this in your prayer corner at home)

O 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: Jenna, William, Momcilo, Jill, Panagiotis, Vasiliki, Elizabeth, Panagiota, Betty, Dimitri, Alexander, Vasiliki, Eleni, Panagiotis, George, Thomas, Nicholas, Sophia, Susan, Mary Lou, Mehmet. (Contact Assumption Business Office to add names at assumptionorthodoxchurch@gmail.com or call office at 773.626.3114

Axios! Axios! Axios!

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