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Απόστολος της Ημέρας
Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 4:9-16 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα
Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους· ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ ἀγγέλοις, καὶ ἀνθρώποις. Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν, ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ· ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι. Ἄχρι τῆς ἄρτι ὥρας καὶ πεινῶμεν, καὶ διψῶμεν, καὶ γυμνητεύομεν, καὶ κολαφιζόμεθα, καὶ ἀστατοῦμεν, καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν· λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν· διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα· βλασφημούμενοι παρακαλοῦμεν· ὡς περικαθάρματα τοῦ κόσμου ἐγενήθημεν, πάντων περίψημα ἕως ἄρτι. Οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς γράφω ταῦτα, ἀλλʼ ὡς τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶ. Ἐὰν γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν Χριστῷ, ἀλλʼ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας· ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα. Παρακαλῶ οὖν ὑμᾶς, μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε.
Epistle Reading of the Day
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16
Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
Ευαγγέλιον της Ήμέρας
Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 17:14-23 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντων αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν ὄχλον προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπος γονυπετῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, ἐλέησόν μου τὸν υἱόν, ὅτι σεληνιάζεται καὶ κακῶς πάσχει· πολλάκις γὰρ πίπτει εἰς τὸ πῦρ καὶ πολλάκις εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ. καὶ προσήνεγκα αὐτὸν τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου, καὶ οὐκ ἠδυνήθησαν αὐτὸν θεραπεῦσαι. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν· ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος καὶ διεστραμμένη! ἕως πότε ἔσομαι μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν; ἕως πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετέ μοι αὐτὸν ὧδε. καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὸ δαιμόνιον καὶ ἐθεραπεύθη ὁ παῖς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης. Τότε προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ κατ᾿ ἰδίαν εἶπον· διατί ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· διὰ τὴν ἀπιστίαν ὑμῶν. ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν ὡς κόκκον σινάπεως, ἐρεῖτε τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, μετάβηθι ἐντεῦθεν ἐκεῖ, καὶ μεταβήσεται, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀδυνατήσει ὑμῖν. τοῦτο δὲ τὸ γένος οὐκ ἐκπορεύεται εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ. ᾿Αναστρεφομένων δὲ αὐτῶν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μέλλει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοσθαι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐγερθήσεται. καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα.
Gospel Reading for the Day
The Gospel According to Matthew 17:14-23
At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."
+Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱέ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν
+Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner
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GIFT OF LIGHT
This week’s Gift of Light is given in loving memory of George Kolettis.
COFFEE HOUR
Please join us for coffee hour following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall.
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 upcoming Sundays: August 16, 23, 30
The Dormition of the Holy Theotokos Fast is from August 1-15.
Please only Lenten items on those days.
ARTOKLASIA FOR THE DORMITION OF THE HOLY THEOTOKOS
Artoklasia will only be offered at the Vespers Service for the Feast of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos on Friday, August 14. Those who wish to offer an Artoklasia are asked to contact the church office. Please note that, as this is a fasting day, the five loaves should be Lenten.
FLOWERS FOR PANAGIA
We are asking for donations towards the flowers for the feast day of the Dormition of the Holy Theotokos. Please contact the Church office or visit: www.assumptionchicago.org to donate.
May our Holy Theotokos be with you and your families!
| | SCHEDULE OF WEEKDAY SERVICES AND EVENTS | | |
Monday, August 10 - 10:30 a.m. Small Paraklesis Service
Tuesday, August 11 - 10:30 a.m. Great Paraklesis Service
Wednesday, August 12 - 10:30 a.m. Small Paraklesis Service
Thursday, August 13 - 10:30 a.m. Great Paraklesis Service
DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS SERVICES
Friday, August 14
7:00 p.m., Great Vespers
All Night Vigil
10:00 p.m. - Small Paraklesis Service (Names of the living inaudibly commemorated), Epitaphios and Lamentations to the Virgin Mary
Saturday, August 15
12:00 a.m., Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
2:00 a.m. - Sacrament of Holy Unction
4:00 a.m. - Orthros / 5:00 a.m. 1st Divine Liturgy
8:30 a.m. - Orthros / 10:00 a.m. - 2nd Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
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100 YEARS OF MEMORIES
We are pleased to announce the availability of a special commemorative book, 100 Years of Memories, lovingly compiled by Mr. George Dervis in celebration of the centennial history of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church.
This meaningful collection preserves treasured photographs, stories, and memories from the life of our parish and will make a wonderful addition to every parishioner’s personal library.
Copies are available for purchase for $25 in the church bookstore. All proceeds will benefit Assumption Greek Orthodox Church.
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PHILOPTOCHOS
Our Panagia Feast days are fast approaching. We need help with setup, serving and cleanup. Please consider volunteering your time for the Vespers reception on August 14th and Feast day luncheon on August 15th. If you are able to assist or bring a baked good for our Feast day dessert table, please contact Valerie Green at 847-337-5687 or email greenva926@gmail.com.
A Sign-Up Genius is also available with volunteer time slots at
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A49A4AB22A3F49-64821576-dormition#/
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.
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. Through our Church’s Website, sign up can be made through our Tithe.ly platform. simply click on the big green GIVE button, request your week and make your donation. Please contact the church office to sponsor a week for the health and well-being of your family or in loving memory of a loved one.
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.
ARCHIVES
Καλό Μήνα και Καλή Παναγιά,
The Archive Committee has been on hiatus and now has returned to resume our collecting and recording activities. We invite you to forward any pictures, documents, or artifacts to us. Please volunteer to assist in sorting and cataloguing. We are excited to continue our work toward the 125th anniversary.
The Archive Committee
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2026 STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship packets are available on the Pangari in the Narthex. Please fill out the pledge card (it is important that you enter a pledge amount) and the information card completely and return it back in the enclosed envelope or visit and submit an online form by visiting our website at: assumptionchicago.org Thank you for supporting our beautiful parish of Assumption Panagia!
LET’S STAY IN TOUCH - If you would like to receive information about services, activities and events that are happening at our church, please visit our website at: assumptionchicago.org to sign up or call the church office and submit your email address.
| | READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS | |
| |  | August 15: The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.
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Matthias, Apostle of the 70 - August 9
After Judas by transgression fell from his apostleship (Acts 1: 25), and hanging himself out of despair ended his life with a wretched and shameful death (Matt. 27: 5), then, that the number of the Twelve not be lacking, all the disciples gathered in one place after the Ascension of the Savior (the number of men and women being 120), and they chose two men from among them, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was also surnamed Justus, and Matthias, and they set them in the midst. Then they prayed to God and cast lots, "and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles" (Acts 1: 15-26). And thus, having taken the place of Judas, Matthias fulfilled the work of apostleship and the prophecy concerning Judas, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David: "And his bishopric let another take" (Ps. 108(109):8). After this, it is said, Matthias preached the Gospel in Ethiopia, and completed his life there in martyrdom.
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Saint Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska & First Saint of America - August 9
Saint Herman (his name is a variant of Germanus) was born near Moscow in 1756. In his youth he became a monk, first at the Saint Sergius Hermitage near Saint Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland; while he dwelt there, the most holy Mother of God appeared to him, healing him of a grave malady. Afterwards he entered Valaam Monastery on Valiant Island in Lake Ladoga; he often withdrew into the wilderness to pray for days at a time. In 1794, answering a call for missionaries to preach the Gospel to the Aleuts, he came to the New World with the first Orthodox mission to Alaska. He settled on Spruce Island, which he called New Valaam, and here he persevered, even in the face of many grievous afflictions mostly at the hands of his own countrymen in the loving service of God and of his neighbour. Besides his many toils for the sake of the Aleuts, he subdued his flesh with great asceticism, wearing chains, sleeping little, fasting and praying much. He brought many people to Christ by the example of his life, his teaching, and his kindness and sanctity, and was granted the grace of working miracles and of prophetic insight. Since he was not a priest, Angels descended at Theophany to bless the waters in the bay; Saint Herman used this holy water to heal the sick. Because of his unwearying missionary labours, which were crowned by God with the salvation of countless souls, he is called the Enlightener of the Aleuts, and has likewise been renowned as a wonderworker since his repose in 1837.
“All you will need to do is one thing: kneel and say, ‘Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, Saviour, save us’, and you will have a great protection.”
+Saint Paisios the Athonite
“She is the boundary between created and uncreated nature... She became the receptacle of the uncontainable God, and in her repose, she proves to be the mother of all living grace, bridging earth and heaven.”
+Saint Gregory Palamas
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| Our Panagia hastens everywhere. She bestows her grace abundantly upon anyone who fervently cries out to her. She is a mediatress to Christ for everyone, because she was deemed worthy to give birth to the Lord and to become the Mother of God. She carries Him in Her arms and continuously entreats Him. Since we sinners do not have the boldness to run directly to God from the start, we cry out to His Mother. She regenerates us; she intercedes; she anticipates all our afflictions. She is our protectress and helper, more honorable than all the angels, beyond compare more glorious than the Cherubim and Seraphim, second in rank only to the Holy Trinity. Oh, but she is so good, so sweet, that you want to embrace her at every moment and obtain consoling grace. The more you love, the more you are loved. +Saint Joseph the Hesychast
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ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΣ - Ο ΜΗΝΑΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑΣ
Στους Ιερούς Ναούς και μάλιστα στα προσκυνήματα τα αφιερωμένα στο όνομά της, συντρέχουν οι πιστοί για να υμνολογήσουν τη Μητέρα του Θεού και να αναφέρουν σε Αυτήν τη θλίψη και τις αγωνίες τους. Και δίκαια, γιατί η Θεοτόκος είναι η λογική κλίμακα που κατέβασε το Θεό στον κόσμο και ανέβασε τον άνθρωπο στο Θεό.΄Ολος ο χριστιανικός κόσμος πιστοί με σέβας βαθύ και ευλάβεις απροσμέτριτη μακαρίζουν και τιμούν το υπερύμνιο όνοα της Αειπαρθένου Κόρης. Η γή όλη είναι γεμάτη από ιερούς Ναούς αφιερωμένους στο ένδοξο όνομά της, από πατθενώνες, μοναστήρια, ιδρύματα προσπάθειες που έχουν τεθή υπό την προστασία της. Η Παναγία είναι το ενδοξότερο πρόσωπο της ιστορίας των ανθρώπων και αυτό συνεχίζεται και θα συνεχίζεται.Ο Παντοκράτωρ Υιός και Θεός της εισακούει τις δεήσεις της που εμείς της απευθύνουμε. Κρύβει απέραντη αγάπη σε όλους μας.
Η ΗΜΕΡΑ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ - (15 Αυγούστου)
Η εορτή της Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου είναι η μεγαλύτερη από όλες τις εορτές που καθιέρω- σε η Εκκλησία προς τιμήν της Μητέρας του Κυρίου, τις θεομητερικές εορτές. Ίσως είναι και η παλαιότερη από όλες. Αρχικά ονομαζόταν «Ημέρα της Θεοτόκου Μαρίας». Η Θεοτόκος είναι το προσφιλέστερο και ιερότερο πρόσωπο μετά τον Κύριο, γι’ αυτό συγκέντρωσε την τιμή και την ευλάβεια όλων των χριστιανικών γενεών. Η Θεοτόκος Μαρία αναδείχθη οριστικά το εκλεκτότερο ανθρώπινο πλάσμα. Η προσωνυμία Υπεραγία και Παναγία αποδίδει αυτή την πραγματικότητα. Δέ διέπραξε ποτέ στη ζωή της θεληματική αμαρτία. Η αμαρτία που ενεργεί ώς δύμανη μέσα στη φύση,η αμαρτία ώς ρυπότητα της ψυχής,δε βρέθηκε ποτέ μεσα της.Η πίστη,η ταπείνωσή της,η υπακοή στο θείο θέλημα και η αγιότητά της την ανέδειξαν «Κεχαριτωμένη». Το σώμα της Θεοτόκου – που μετατέθηκε από τον τάφο, δεν ήταν η χωμάτινη σάρκα που φορούσε η Παναγία, όταν ζούσε στη γή, αλλά το άφθαρτισμένο και πνευματικά «αλλαγμένο» σώμα, όπως ακριβώς γράφει σ’ ένα σημείο ο απόστολος Παύλος: «Οι νεκροί εγερθήσονται άφθαρτοι, και ημείς αλλαγησόμεθα, δεί γάρ το φθαρτόν τούτο ενδύσσασθαι αφθαρσίαν και το θνητόν τούτο ενδύασασθαι αθανασίαν».
| | Visit our bookstore to explore a thoughtfully curated selection of spiritual treasures. You’ll also find a wide variety of beautiful icons, books, prayer ropes, incense, livani, and many other religious items. The bookstore is open after the Divine Liturgy on Sundays, and if you need something during the week, simply contact the Church office—we’ll be happy to arrange a time to open for you. | | |
Prayers for: Lindsey, Kathryn, Theodora, Maralyne, Panagiota, Alexandra, Demetrios, Sophia, Julia, Evgenia, Vasili, John, Petros, 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 Church Office to add names at office@assumptionchicago.org or call Panagia office at 773.626.3114
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Due to the severe weather experienced on Thursday, June 11, the Chicago White Sox game has been postponed and rescheduled for
Thursday, August 20 at 1:10 p.m.
SAVE THE DATE!!!
September 27 - Grand Raffle Dinner
The Empress Banquets, 200 E. Lake St., Addison, IL.
5:00 p.m. Cocktails and 6:00 p.m. Dinner
Dinner with 1 Raffle Ticket: Adults $150
Raffle Ticket Only: $100
Dinner Only: Adults $50 - Children 12 & Under $25
RSVP by September 21. Please see flyer and scan barcode to reserve your tickets. Contact the Church Office at 773-626-3114 or email Marina Demos at marinademos@yahoo.com for more information.
Saint Euphrosynos Kitchen Meal Delivery Schedule:
8/23, 9/20, 10/18, 11/8, 12/20
Please contact the Church office if you would like to volunteer or know of someone who would benefit from this ministry
Austin Community Meals in Plato Hall from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Schedule: 8/22, 9/19, 10/17, 11/21, 12,19
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A BLESSED WEEK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!
ΚΑΛΗ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑ! KALI PANAGIA!
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