November 23
St. Spyridon Church
Publish Date: 2020-11-23
Bulletin Contents
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Saints and Feasts
Saint Spyridon Calendar
Coming Events
Wisdom of the Fathers
Daily Announcements
St. Spyridon Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (708)385-2311
- Fax:
- (708) 385-0166
- Email:
- office@saint-spyridon.net
- Street Address:
- 12307 S. Ridgeland
- Palos Heights, IL 60463
- Mailing Address:
- 12307 S. Ridgeland
- Palos Heights, IL 60463
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sunday Orthros - 8:00 a.m. followed by the Divine Liturgy
Saturday Vespers - 6:00 p.m.
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2020-11-24
- Publish Date:
- 2020-11-22
- Publish Date:
- 2020-11-18
- Publish Date:
- 2020-11-17
- Publish Date:
- 2020-11-14
- Publish Date:
- 2020-11-12
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.4,1.
Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God you are very great.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians 1:1-10.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring.
This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering - since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed.
Gospel Reading
Monday of the 10th Week
The Reading is from Luke 17:20-25
At that time, when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, 'Lo, there!' or 'Lo, here!' Do not go, do not follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation."
Hymns of the Day
Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode
Today is the prelude of God's good will and the heralding of the salvation of mankind. In the temple of God, the Virgin is presented openly, and she proclaimeth Christ unto all. To her, then, with a great voice let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O thou fulfilment of the Creator's dispensation.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion for Amphilochius, Bp. Of Iconium in the Fourth Mode
O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our life in peace.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode
Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press
Saints and Feasts
November 23
Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium
Saint Amphilochius, who was born in Cappadocia, shone forth in asceticism and divine knowledge even from his youth. He was consecrated Bishop of Iconium in 341, he struggled courageously against the blasphemies of Eunomius, Macedonius the enemy of the Holy Spirit, and the followers of Arius. He was present at the Second Ecumenical Council of the 150 Fathers, which took place in Constantinople, convoked during the reign of Theodosius the Great in the year 381. In 383 Amphilochius wished to persuade the Emperor Theodosius to forbid the Arians from gathering in Constantinople and to commit the churches to the Orthodox, but the Emperor was reluctant to do such a thing. The next time that Amphilochius entered the palace, he addressed Theodosius with proper honour, but slighted his young son Arcadius in his presence. Theodosius was indignant, and said the dishonour shown to his son was equally an insult to himself. To this Saint Amphilochius answered that as he would not suffer an insult to his son, so he ought to believe that God is wroth with those who blaspheme His Only-begotten. Saint Theodosius understood and admired Amphilochius' ingenious device, and he issued the desired edict in September of the same year. Saint Amphilochius, having reached deep old age, reposed in peace about the year 395. Saint Basil the Great wrote many letters to Saint Amphilochius, his friend and Fellow champion of the Faith, and at his request wrote his treatise On the Holy Spirit, which besides demonstrating the divinity of the Holy Spirit and His equality with the Father and the Son, defends the Church's unwritten ancient traditions, such as making the sign of the Cross, turning towards the East in prayer, no kneeling on Sunday, and so forth.
November 23
Gregory, Bishop of Agrigentum
Saint Gregory, the son of pious parents named Chariton and Theodora, was born in Agrigentum, a city of Sicily, and was great in virtue from his childhood. He was baptized, brought up, and tonsured reader by Bishop Potamion during the reign of Justinian II, in the seventh century. At the age of eighteen he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was ordained deacon by Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem. He traveled to Constantinople, and then to Rome where he was consecrated Bishop of his native Agrigentum. As Bishop of Agrigentum he worked many miracles and shone brilliantly in virtue, but also suffered many great temptation; from the priests Sabine and Crescentius, who so envied him that they slandered him to the Pope as a fornicator and had him cast into prison for two and a half years. In the end, however, he vindicated himself by casting the demon out of the woman who had falsely accused him of committing sin with her. Saint Gregory reposed in peace in deep old age.
Saint Spyridon Calendar
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Saint Spyridon Calendar
November 23 to December 8, 2020
Monday, November 23Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at Sts. Constantine & Helen
9:00AM Church Office Open
4:30PM Greek School Online
Tuesday, November 24Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at Sts. Constantine & Helen
9:00AM Church Office Open
6:00PM Bible Study
Wednesday, November 25Fasting Day
Catherine the Great Martyr of Alexandria
8:00AM St. Katherine - Orthros & Liturgy at Sts. Constantine & Helen
9:00AM Church Office Open
Thursday, November 26St. Nicon teacher of Repentance
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at Sts. Constantine & Helen
Friday, November 27Fasting Day
James the Great Martyr of Persia
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at Sts. Constantine & Helen
9:00AM Church Office Open
Saturday, November 28Stephen the New
8:30AM 1st Hour & Divine Liturgy
Sunday, November 29Paramonus, Philumenus, and their 370 Companion Martyrs in Bithynia
8:00AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy
7:00PM Vespers at St. Andrew's
Monday, November 30Andrew the First- Called Apostle
8:00AM St. Andrew - Orthros & Liturgy
9:00AM Church Office Open
9:00AM Archangels Academy
4:30PM Greek School Online
7:00PM Bible Study
Tuesday, December 1Philaret the Merciful of Amnia
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas
9:00AM Church Office Open
9:00AM Archangels Academy
11:00AM Bible Study in Greek
Wednesday, December 2Fasting Day
Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas
9:00AM Church Office Open
9:00AM Archangels Academy
Thursday, December 3Prophet Zephaniah
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas
9:00AM Church Office Open
9:00AM Archangels Academy
Friday, December 4Fasting Day
Greatmartyr Barbara at Heliopolis, in Syria
8:30AM Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas
9:00AM Church Office Open
9:00AM Archangels Academy
4:30PM Greek School Online
6:00PM Paraklesis
Saturday, December 5Sabbas the Sanctified
8:30AM 1st Hour & Divine Liturgy
7:00PM Vespers at St. Nicholas
Sunday, December 6Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
8:00AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy
2:00PM Baptism
Monday, December 7Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
8:30AM Divine Liturgy
9:00AM Church Office Open
9:00AM Archangels Academy
4:30PM Greek School Online
7:00PM Bible Study
Tuesday, December 8Venerable Patapius of Thebes
Coming Events
Stewardship 2020
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 9:10) Notice the connection the Apostle Paul makes between increasing your store of seed and enlarging the harvest of your righteousness. When we are equipped with enough resources to give generously, our capacity to produce a greater effect is increased. Paul makes a holy assumption here that, as God supplies, the Corinthians by the time of his writing would use the blessings appropriately—that is, for righteous works, such as funding the mission and work of the church. Join us in practicing the Apostle Paul’s generous assumption as we give to the Lord with what he has given us.. You can offer your donations by mail or on-line through our parish website which is now featuring Tithe.ly as one of its donation platforms. Everyone’s assistance is greatly appreciated. We thank the 300 Stewards who have already committed their stewardship for 2020. Stewardship materials are available on our website.
Advent 2020 - Forty Day Liturgy
Dear Faithful, I am pleased to announce that the Southside Parishes of Assumption (Homer Glen), Holy Cross (Justice), Sts. Constantine & Helen (Palos Hills), St. Nicholas (Oak Lawn), All Saints (Joliet), and St. Spyridon (Palos Heights), will be celebrating the 'Sarantaleitourgo' - Forty Days of the Divine Liturgy in preparation for Christmas. During these Liturgies we pray for the health of our loved ones and for the repose of those who have fallen asleep. You may offer your prayer list either in person or electronically by November 15, 2020. Every week we will rotate among the southside parishes according to the attached schedule. There is Liturgy at every parish on Sundays and major holidays. At St. Spyridon, we will continue to also have Liturgy every Saturday, as well as on major holidays, according to the parish schedule available at www.Saint-Spyridon.net.
Food Pick Up
Every Thursday, 1pm-2pm, our Food Pantry is open to the public for curbside pick up of non-perishable food. Please call the church office when you arrive to pick up food.
PTA Cookbook
Please share your recipes with the PTA and they will transform them into a Parish Cookbook for a PTA fundraiser. Send in your recipes at spyridonpta@gmail.com. Deadline for Recipes is February 28, 2021
Christmas Greek Pastries To-Go
Dear Faithful, Due to the current situation with Covid-19, St. Spyridon has cancelled the Annual Christmas Craft Show... but don't despair! Our popular Greek Pastries are here for you! We have a limited, but still fabulous menu. Your favorite Greek Pastries will be ready for pick-up on Saturday, December 5, 2020. Place your order TODAY! To order online, visit http://www.saint-spyridon.net/philoptochos-christmas-pastries-to-go-.html or directly to our order platform: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-greek-pastries-to-go-tickets-126173651789?fbclid=IwAR1RiE1WD-2P0AS9epjnu8kYBcMFdcpMyEIR7fQz1p1eafLVxvEa7uwSogI
November 2020 Voice
The Voice is our monthly newsletter. If you wish to receive a hard copy please contact the church office.
Sunday Bulletin
Weekly Bulletin of Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church. News, announcements, readings, hymns and lives of saints.
Wisdom of the Fathers
We are aware of the torment that the enemy frequently inflicts upon us visibly or invisibly. But we do not perceive the torment and anguish that we inflict upon him, when we sometimes succeed in practising the virtues, when we repent over our transgressions or show long-suffering and perseverance in our difficulties, or when we pray and do other things which pierce him to the heart, torture him and cause him bitter grief. God in His providence conceals all this from us, so as to prevent us from growing sluggish. Be sure, however, that 'God thinks it right to repay with affliction those who afflict you' (2 Thess. 1:6)."
"We are reborn through water by the action of the holy and life-creating Spirit, so that if we commit ourselves totally to God, we are immediately purified in soul and body by the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us and drives out sin. Since the form imprinted on the soul is single and simple, it is not possible, as some have thought, for two contrary powers to be present in the soul simultaneously. For when through holy baptism divine grace in its infinite love permeates the lineaments of God's image - thereby renewing in the soul the capacity for attaining the divine likeness - what place is there for the devil? For light has nothing in common with darkness (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14). We who are pursuing the spiritual way believe that the protean serpent is expelled from the shrine of the intellect through the waters of baptism; but we must not be surprised if after baptism we still have wicked as well as good thoughts. For although baptism removes from us the stain resulting from sin, it does not thereby heal the duality of our will immediately, neither does it prevent the demons from attacking us or speaking decetful words to us. In this way we are led to take up the weapons of righteousness, and to preserve through the power of God what we could not keep safe through the efforts of our soul alone
On Spiritual Knowledge no. 78, Philokalia Vol. 1 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 280
But I trust in God that you, because of your pure lives, will bring forth fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold. For, it is said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. And, my brethren, entertain no other conception of the kingdom of the heavens than that it is the very contemplation of realities. This the divine Scriptures call blessedness. For "the kingdom of heaven is within you." The inner man consists of nothing but contemplation. The kingdom of the heavens, then, must be contemplation. Now we behold their shadows as in a glass; hereafter, set free from this earthly body, clad in the incorruptible and the immortal, we shall behold their archetypes, we shall see them, that is, if we have steered our own life's course aright, and if we have heeded the right faith, for otherwise none shall see the Lord.
Letter to the Caesarean Monks, Letter VIII, 12. B#32, p. 122.
Daily Announcements
COVID 19 Parish Relief Fund Upate
Please take a moment to watch this video by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael. The Metropolis of Chicago announced recently it had exceeded its $250,000 fundraising goal for the COVID-19 Parish Relief Fund. To date, $138,613 has been distributed to 10 parishes most affected by the pandemic. 100% of all monies raised by the Metropolis will go directly to parishes in need.
Thank you to all you contributed to the COVID-19 Parish Relief Fund, especially at a time when such displays of community, friendship, and love were most needed.
ATTENDING DIVINE SERVICES
On Saturday, November 21st and Sunday, November 22nd, Fr. Nicholas Jonas has graciously accepted to fill in at Saint Spyridon and celebrate the Orthros & Divine Liturgy on both days. On Saturday, November 21st, the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos, Orthros and Divine Liturgy will take place at 8:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m., and on Sunday, November 22nd, Orthros & Divine Liturgy will take place at 8:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.. To sign up to attend these services please visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4caaaa22a1ff2-saint or call the church office.
Sunday School classes for 3rd-8th grades will also take place on Sunday, November 22nd. To sign up for class please visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4caaaa22a1ff2-stspyridon
We continue to have limitations on church attendance as mandated by the State of Illinois and CDC guidelines. As of now, masks are required when attending church and those who belong to vulnerable groups are encouraged to stay home. Our Sunday services are streamed on our Parish YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC68WCiYHUYSTCqlelnAWLvQ.
¨ Please visit the sign-up link to reserve your spots for services: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0f4caaaa22a1ff2-saint
¨ Take the time to assist family members who are not familiar with the reservation platform. You can also call the church office during office hours to make your reservation. Please do not call/text Fr. Tilemahos or Parish Council members for reservations. Also note that scheduled services, availability and reservations may be adjusted at any time.
¨ Please note that we have made the community center available for the faithful to watch the streamed service and then receive Holy Communion and Antidoron. If you sign up for attending the streamed service you will enter through the east entrance of the community center. Safety protocols will be observed at all times.
¨ Please note that we also have Liturgy every Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. It is a great option for all the faithful now that our schedules are starting to get busier or for when Sunday services are filled.
¨ Furthermore, families that wish to celebrate memorials are encouraged to hold them on the Saturday Liturgies. Not only is it more appropriate to hold memorial services on Saturdays which is the day of the week dedicated to the departed, but it also allows more of our faithful to sign-up for the limited spots on Sunday worship. If you are holding a memorial on a Sunday, please notify the church office at least two weeks prior in order to accommodate your guests.
¨ If you sign-up for a Sunday service and it turns out that you are not able to come, please delete your reservation as soon as possible so that others may take your spot. Please be mindful to come to all the services that you reserve.
¨ I wish to thank our chanters Angelo and Alexia, our Parish Council members, and our church custodians for giving the additional time and effort needed to hold all our services.
¨ I also wish to commend you for your attendance in all our worship services and for your fervor, patience, and understanding during these difficult times.
FULL SERVICE SCHEDULE: http://www.saint-spyridon.net/service-schedule.html