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Epistle Reading of the Day
Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34
IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
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Gospel Reading for the Day
The Gospel of John 9:1-38
At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?"
There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.
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MEMORIALS
6 months for the falling asleep of Bishop Timothy Bakakos
40 days for the late George Lagios
5 years for the late George Harokopos
May their memory be eternal!
COFFEE HOUR
Please join us for coffee hour following the Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall.
We extend our sincere thanks to Order of Ahepa Garfield/DuPage Chapter #203 and Daughters of Penelope Homer Chapter #98 for hosting.
Thank you and God Bless you and your families!
40 DAY BABY BLESSING
We welcome baby Robert James, son of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Gonzini, Jr., for his
40-day blessing. Congratulations and God bless you!
SUNDAY SCHOOL GRADUATION
Assumption Sunday Church School Kick Off Summer & SCS Awards and Graduate Recognition Celebration in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy.
All are welcome to join us for an Ice Cream Sundae Bar.
Congratulations to our 2026 Sunday School Graduates!!!
SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK
Monday, May 18 - 11th Annual Assumption Church Golf Outing at Eaglewood Resort & Spa - Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and
Tee time at 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19 - 6:00 p.m., Apodosis of Pascha - Services will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 10050 Ivanhoe Ave, Schiller Park, IL 60176
Saturday, May 23 - Baptism - 11:00 a.m., Child of
Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Bouknight
May 23 - 25, Memorial Weekend - 45th Annual Greek Orthodox Junior Olympics held at Saints Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills, IL
GRADUATES SUNDAY
Our parish is compiling a list of names to honor students that are Graduating this year, 2026, from public or private schools: 8th grade, High School, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, Doctorate Degree or other Graduate Degrees. A day of acknowledgement will take place on Sunday, June 7, 2026, immediately after Church services recognizing the achievements of our parishioners who have successfully completed their academic requirements. A certificate, as well as a gift from our Parish, will be given to those who participate. If you are graduating this year, please submit your name, school that you attend(ed) and your grade of completion or Degree received, and (if applicable) school/university attending in the future to the church office by May 18. Please contact the church office at: (773) 626-3114 or email the information to: office@assumptionchicago.org
2026-2027 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
Christ is Risen! Attention All Students!
The 2026-2027 scholarship applications are now ready for submission. If you are interested in applying, please note that all applications must be received by
May 26, 2026. Before applying, kindly review the eligibility requirements and scholarship rules to ensure you meet the necessary criteria.
For any questions or further information, please contact the Church Office or our Scholarship Chairman, James Lakerdas at jlakerdas@chadwicklakerdas.com.
Please see the following links to complete your application:
2026-27 Scholarship Application
Scholarship Rules
You can also find the Scholarship Application on our website here: Links | Assumption Greek Orthodox Christian Church
We look forward to supporting your educational journey!
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: May 31, June 7, 21, 28 and July 5, 19, 26
Thank you to our beloved parishioners and friends of Assumption Panagia for your continued love and support!
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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.
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2026 STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship packets have been mailed out and are also 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. Thank you for supporting our beautiful parish of 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.
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Χριστός Ανέστη!
Sunday, May 17th, is the last day for the Philoptochos Food Drive benefiting the Beyond Hunger Food Pantry. A Drop off box is in St Catherine's narthex. See the flyer for nonperishable food donation details. Thank you for supporting this cause.
| | READINGS OF OUR ORTHODOX SAINTS | | |
SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN - May 17
The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes. When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam." Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.
Saint Thalalaios the Martyr and his Martyr Companions - May 20
Saint Thalalaios was from the region of Lebanon in Phoenicia, the son of Berucius, a Christian bishop; his mother's name was Romula. Raised in piety, he was trained as a physician. Because of the persecution of Numerian, the Saint departed to Cilicia, and in Anazarbus he hid himself in an olive grove; but he was seized and taken to Aegae of Cilicia to Theodore, the ruler. After many torments he was beheaded in 284. Saint Thalleleus is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.
About Saints Constantine and Helen - May 21
Saints Constantine and Helen, also known as Constantine and Helen, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Emperor Constantine and Empress Helen, made early and important contributions to the Orthodox Christian Church. They are celebrated together because Helen is Constantine’s mother.
Emperor Constantine
Referred to as a “sovereign to the Christians” Emperor Constantine was known for his beliefs. He was the son of Constantius Chlorus, a ruler of a portion of the Roman Empire, and Helen, the Empress who was also a Christian alongside her son. Constantine was born 272 and he became Emperor when his father died in 306. In 312, he learned that his opponent, Maxentius, began marching to Italy. Shortly after that, Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and told Constantine about the cross and its significance. After the dream, he ordered that his victory banner be inscribed with the Holy Cross and and the Name of Jesus Christ. On October 28, he officially marched and entered battle against Maxentius and won. He rode to Rome waving his victory banner proudly and was declared to rule Rome West, while his brother-in-law, Licinius, was to rule Rome East. Under Constantine’s rule, Christianity really took root. In 325 he organized the First Council of Nicaea and he addressed the assembly personally.
Empress Helen
Helen’s story with Christianity really begins after Constantine emerged victorious from the battle against Maxentius. During this time, she traveled to the Holy Lands in Jerusalem. During her travels, she is credited with finding the True Cross. Legend says that she was tipped off to the cross’s existence because she found the aromatic herb, basil, growing in the shape of a cross. Each year on September 14th, Orthodox Christians remember the cross on September 14th on the Feast Day of the Elevation of the Cross by taking home some fresh basil.
Holy Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - May 21
The Lord Jesus passed forty days on earth after His Resurrection from the dead, appearing continually in various places to His disciples, with whom He also spoke, ate, and drank, thereby further demonstrating His Resurrection. On this Thursday, the fortieth day after Pascha, He appeared again in Jerusalem. After He had first spoken to the disciples about many things, He gave them His last commandment, that is, that they go forth and proclaim His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. But He also commanded them that for the present, they were not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait there together until they receive power from on high, when the Holy Spirit would come upon them.
Saying these things, He led them to the Mount of Olives, and raising His hands, He blessed them; and saying again the words of the Father's blessing, He was parted from them and taken up. Immediately a cloud of light, a proof of His majesty, received Him. Sitting thereon as though on a royal chariot, He was taken up into Heaven, and after a short time was concealed from the sight of the disciples, who remained where they were with their eyes fixed on Him. At this point, two Angels in the form of men in white raiment appeared to them and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11). These words, in a complete and concise manner, declare what is taught in the Symbol of Faith concerning the Son and Word of God. Therefore, having so fulfilled all His dispensation for us, our Lord Jesus Christ ascended in glory into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God the Father. As for His sacred disciples, they returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, rejoicing because Christ had promised to send them the Holy Spirit.
It should be noted that the Mount of Olives is a Sabbath's day journey from Jerusalem, that is, the distance a Jew was permitted to walk on the day of the Sabbath. Ecumenius writes, "A Sabbath day's journey is one mile in length, as Clement says in his fifth Stromatis; it is two thousand cubits, as the Interpretation of the Acts states." They draw this conclusion from the fact that, while they were in the wilderness, the Israelites of old kept within this distance from the Holy Tabernacle, whither they walked on the Sabbath day to worship God.
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Η ΑΝΑΛΗΨΗ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ
Η Ανάσταση και η Ανάληψη είναι το πλήρωμα του λυτρωτικού έργου του Χριστού. Η κένωση – ταπείνωση του Θεού Λόγου που αρχίζει με τη σάρκωση, κορυφώνεται στη σταύρωση και το θάνατο, ενώ με την κάθοδο στον Άδη αρχίζει η δόξα του Χριστού. Κατά την Ανάληψη ανεβαίνει με δόξα στους ουρανούς και θά έλθει πάλι με όλη τη δόξα και λαμπρότητα κατά τη δεύτερη Παρουσία. «ΝΕΦΕΛΗ ΥΠΕΛΑΒΕΝ ΑΥΤΟΝ» - Ο Ηλίας ανελήφθη στους ουρανούς με πυρινο άρμα, ενώ ο Χριστός με νεφέλη, τον ίδιο τον θρόνο του Θεού Πατρός. Γιατί ο Ησαϊας λέγει για τον Πατέρα: «Νά ο Κύριος
κάθεται πάνω σε ελαφρά νεφέλη». Επειδή λοιπόν ο πατέρας κάθεται πάνω σε νεφέλη, γιαυτό έστειλε νεφέλη και στον Υιόν του για να δείξει « το ομότιμο και ομοούσιο της Θεότητος». (Άγ. Ιωάννης ο Χρυσόστομος)
ΕΙΚΟΝΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΑΛΗΨΕΩΣ
Η παράσταση της Αναλήψεως του Κυρίου είναι ανάλογη προς την παράδοση των «Θεοφανείων» της χριστιανικής εικονογραφίας. Ο Χριστός εικονίζεται στο μέσο στρογγυλής ή ελλειψοειδούς δόξας, κρατώντας με το αριστερό χέρι ειλατάριο ή ευαγγέλιο και με το δεξί να ευλογεί. Δύο συνήθως άγγελοι ανέρχονται μαζί με τον Χριστό, ενώ εικονίζονται και οι Απόστολοι μετά δέους, στο μέσον των οποίων βρίσκεται η Θεοτόκος.
ΟΙ ΙΣΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΙ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΕΝΗ
Ο μέγας Κωνσταντίνος γεννήθηκε το 247 μ.Χ. και η Ελένη ήταν η μητέρα του. Έμεινε στην ιστορία ώς ο πρώτος βασιλεύς των χριστιανών και αυτός που μετέφερε την πρωτεύουσα της αυτοκρατορίας απο τη Ρώμη στην Κωνσταντινούπολη στο Βυζάντιο το 328 μ.Χ. Όταν ο Μαξιμίνος και ο Μαξέντιος ενώθηκαν εναντίον του, είδε το γνωστό όραμα στον ουρανό, την επιγραφή «εν τούτω νίκα». Έφτιαξε ένα Σταυρό με την συγκεκριμένη επιγραφή και νίκησε τους αντιπάλους του. Κατόπιν κέρδισε και τον ανατολικό ηγεμόνα το Λικίνιο και έγινε βασιλιάς Ανατολής και Δύσης. Το 313 μ.Χ. υπέγραψε το διάταγμα της ανεξιθρησκείας, με το οποίο οι διωγμοί ενάντια στους χριστιανούς σταμάτησαν μετά από πολλά χρόνια. Πέθανε το 337 μ.Χ. αφού είχε βαπτισθεί χριστιανός. Η αγία Ελένη είναι η ευσεβής μητέρα και βασίλισσα. Έσκαψε στους Αγίους Τόπους και βρήκε τον Τίμιο Σταυρό στα Ιεροσόλυμα κι έχτισε τους πρώτους μεγάλους ναούς της χριστιανοσύνης. Η Εκκλησία μας γιορτάζει την μνήμη Κωνσταντίνου & Ελένης των Θεοστέπτων Βασιλέων και Ισαποστόλων στις 21 κάθε Μάη.
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Guided by our Orthodox Faith, our Outreach Ministry embraces a divine calling to serve and uplift the Assumption and surrounding Austin community in the spirit of Christ's love and transformative power. Our mission is to be a beacon of light providing hope and love by extending a helping hand to those in need. Through various outreach initiatives, including providing meals and clothes, compassion, love, prayer and essential human support, we strive to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families. Our Assumption Church serves as a platform to share our commitment to community service, foster connections, and inspire others to join us on this sacred journey of service in creating a more compassionate and thriving community for all.
For volunteer work, donating food and clothes, sponsorship, please contact us at: outreach@assumptionchicago.org
Check out our work at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/141235211@N07/albums/
| | 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: 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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May 26 - 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Tenderhearted Ministry Architectural Boat Tour. See flyer for more details and how to register
June 7 - Graduate Sunday and Scholarship Presentations in Plato Hall following Divine Liturgy. Scholarship applications will be available soon.
June 11 - Greek Heritage Night - White Sox vs Braves at 6:40 p.m.
30 tickets available. $28.28 per ticket in section 159. See flyer for more details.
Saint Euphrosynos Kitchen Meal Delivery Schedule:
6/7, 7/12, 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: 6/20, 7/18, 8/22, 9/19, 10/17, 11/21, 12,19
| | To access our Facebook page, please visit our website at assumptionchicago.org and click on the Facebook link as shown in the picture above. | | | | |
