Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, January 13, 2019 Sunday After Epiphany

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1 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, January 13, 2019 Sunday After Epiphany SAINTS OF THE WEEK Venerable Theodoulos of Sinai - January 14 As a young boy, Theodoulos went to live with his father St. Neilos the Faster on Mount Sinai during the fifth century. Barbarians once attacked the monks there, and Theodoulos was taken prisoner. The pagans, who worshipped things created rather than the Creator, decided to sacrifice him to their god, the morning dawn. Neilos prayed for God s intercession, and the barbarians overslept, missing the sunrise. They took Theodoulos to the city of Eluza, and he was ransomed by the local bishop. Neilos found his son there, and they returned to Sinai, where they served the Lord until the end of their lives. Theodoulos wrote about the slaughter of the monks at Raithu Monastery. The relics of Sts. Neilos and Theodoulos were found incorrupt and were transferred to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. Martyr Theodula of Anazarbus & Companions January 18 The third-century persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian were brought to Celicia by Governor Pelagiius, who had Theodula arrested. Because she would not deny her Christian faith, Pelagius gave orders to suspend her by her hair and to burn her with skewers. She would not back down and did not seem affected by the torture. Instead, she chastised him and his idols. By her prayers, an idol fell and was smashed. Pelagius bargained with her to restore it, and he would believe. Through prayer, she restored the idol, and he recanted, but he did not know what to do with her. The commander Helladius vowed to convert her, promising his own life if he failed. He drove nails into her head but panicked when she remained steadfast. She prayed and converted him to Christianity, and for this, he was beheaded. She was thrown into a furnace, and again God preserved her. Another came forward, and he too was converted and soon beheaded. When Theodula was placed on a burning rack, the rack collapsed, and those watching were burned. Finally, Theodula and others were thrown into a large furnace, and she gave up her spirit. WELCOME We welcome today all the Godparents and Godchildren! Please join us in the community center after church to celebrate as a family for breakfast: $10 for adults and $7 for children under the age of South Archer Road, Justice, Illinois (708) , fax (708) Web: office@holycrossil.org Rev. Fr. Demetrios Kounavis - Parish Priest

2 ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ EPISTLE READING FOR THE DAY ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ GOSPEL READING FOR THE DAY Ἀδελφοί, ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ λέγει, Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Τὸ δέ, Ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη πρῶτον εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς; Ὁ καταβάς, αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα. Καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους, τοὺς δὲ προφήτας, τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς, τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους, πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων, εἰς ἔργον διακονίας, εἰς οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. 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. Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ὅτι Ιωάννης παρεδόθη, ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, καὶ καταλιπὼν τὴν Ναζαρὲτ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς Καπερναοὺμ τὴν παραθαλασσίαν ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλείμ, ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ Ησαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος γῆ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλείμ, ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου, Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκότειεἶδε φῶς μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτουφῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς. Απὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ Ιησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν μετανοεῖτε ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. 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."

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4 Να ακουμπάμε ολόκληροι πάνω στον Χριστό "Σήμερον", έλεγε το τροπάριο, "Ιωάννης απτεται κορυφης του Δεσπότου", βάζει το χέρι του στην κορυφή του Χριστού και όλα έφριξαν, διότι ήταν αμαρτωλός και αγιάσθηκε. Νοιώθετε πόσο περισσότερο αγιασμό και τιμή και δόξα αποδίδει σε μας ο Κύριος, όταν όχι απλώς ακουμπά το χέρι μας ε- πάνω στην κεφαλή Του - όπως συνέβη με τον Ιωάννη -, αλλά όταν εκείνος ακουμπά ολόκληρος επάνω στο κάθε μέλος του σωματικού και πνευματικού οργανισμού μας; Και τι δικό μας δεν ακουμπά η κεφαλή του Κυρίου, η καρδιά Του, το στήθος Του, τα πόδια Του και όλα όσα συνήργησαν στην δόξα του ανθρώπου, στην σωτηρία του αμαρτωλού γένους μας; Όταν τόσα θαυμαστά μας αποκάλυψε ο Κύριος, πώς είναι δυνατόν εμείς φτωχικά, ψεύτικα, αμαρτωλά, σκληρά να αντιμετωπίσουμε τον καινούργιο χρόνο, που μας άνοιξε ο Θεός;...Όπως ο Ιωάννης έβαλε το χέρι του επάνω στον Χριστό, έτσι ας βάζουμε και εμείς την καρδιά μας και τα μάτια μας,... και ολόκληροι ας ακουμπάμε πάνω στον Χριστό. Γέροντας Αιμιλιανός Σιμωνοπετρίτης Η ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΙΑ ΤΟΥ ''ΑΛΟΙΜΟΝΟ'' Με τη θυσία άντεξε η Ορθοδοξία, με τη θυσία θ αντέξει. Δεν καταλαβαίνουμε ότι το ζητούμενο σήμερα είναι να δώσουμε μια θυσιαστική μαρτυρία. Προτιμούμε να μοιρολογούμε: Αλοίμονο, κοίτα τι γίνεται! Αλοίμονο τι ξεδιαντροπιά υπάρχει! Αλοίμονο καταστρέφεται η οικογένεια! Αλοίμονο θέλουν να βγάλουν τις εικόνες από τα σχολεία, αλοίμονο, αλοίμονο! Η πνευματική μας ζωή περιορίζεται σε εκατοντάδες αλοίμονο, αντί να καταλάβουμε ότι πρέπει να δώσουμε τη θυσιαστική μαρτυρία, όπως έκαναν οι Άγιοι Πατέρες, όπως έκανε ο Μέγας Α- ντώνιος τον καιρό των αιρέσεων, τον καιρό των διωγμών, βγήκε από την έρημο να δώσει την ορθή μαρτυρία. Και ωστόσο, κατά θέλημα Θεού, δεν έλαβε το στέφανο του μαρτυρίου, αλλά έδωσε τη μαρτυρία του. Εμείς κάνουμε ακριβώς το αντίθετο: αντί να δώσουμε την καλή μαρτυρία για να μας προστατεύσει ο Θεός, φυλάμε τον εαυτό μας και αρνούμαστε το Θεό. Αν η Εκκλησία δεν είχε μάρτυρες το τέλος του κόσμου θα είχε έρθει προ πολλού. Επειδή μόνο με τη θυσιαστική μαρτυρία άντεξε η πίστη. Αν εμείς δεν τρεφόμαστε από το παράδειγμα των μαρτύρων του τελευταίου (κομμουνιστικού) διωγμού και των προηγούμενων διωγμών, δε θα μπορέσουμε ν αντέξουμε στον αναίμακτο διωγμό που ήδη έχει αρχίσει. Και αν θα έχουμε και ένα αιματηρό διωγμό, τότε είναι που δεν θ αντέξουμε. Αλλά δεν πρέπει να περιμένουμε τον αιματηρό διωγμό. Η Εκκλησία διώκεται από το διάβολο εδώ και δύο χιλιάδες χρόνια. Με αίμα ή χωρίς αίμα, δεν έχει σημασία. Ποτέ ο διάβολος δεν άφησε ήσυχους τους χριστιανούς. Αυτός χτύπησε τον Μ. Α- ντώνιο τόσο πολύ που ίσα που άντεξε τα χτυπήματα. Όταν μετά φανερώθηκε ο Χριστός στον άγιο, εκείνος τον ρώτησε: Που ήσουν Κύριε; Γιατί μ εγκατέλειψες; Και ο Χριστός του απάντησε: Εδώ ήμουν μαζί σου! ΕΜΕΙΣ ΔΕ ΘΕΛΟΥΜΕ ΝΑ Υ- ΠΟΦΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟ ΚΑΙ ΟΥΤΕ ΠΟΥ ΘΕΛΟΥΜΕ ΝΑ ΑΚΟΥΣΟΥΜΕ ΟΤΙ Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΜΑΖΙ ΜΑΣ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΙΡΟ ΤΗΣ ΔΟΚΙΜΑΣΙΑΣ.

5 BLESSING OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES On January 6th the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of Holy Theophany, which is the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate this feast by having our homes and businesses blessed. Please call the church office to schedule your blessing. January 23: Orthodox Life in English Winter Session begins January 27: St. Valentine s Couples Ministry at Kefi Restaurant, Palos Heights January 31: Metropolis of Chicago Department of Religious Education Trivia Night February 8-9: Parish women s retreat at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center, WI February 16: Winter Food Fest February 17: Triodion begins February 19: Family Night February 22: Friday Fish Fry resumes SAVE THE DATE February 24: Parish Women s Breakfast February 26: Parish Family Potluck February 27: Holy Unction March 2: Saturday of the Souls March 5: Vigil for the Finding of the Holy Cross March 11: Great Lent Begins March 26: Philoptochos Feed the Hungry at Annunciation Cathedral March 30: Vespers of the Holy Cross March 31: Sunday of the Holy Cross with Greek School Program

6 The Responsibilities of the Godparent only begin at baptism, the role really expands and hopefully blossoms as the Godparent and Godchild develop a close and loving relationship. As with any relationship, this spiritual one needs to be fostered and cared for in order for it to develop. The best way for this relationship to grow is through prayer. Pray for your Godchild and his or her parents, and the parents should encourage their child to pray for the Godparents. By doing this you are encouraging a relationship and giving it the spiritual basis on which to mature. Here are some practical ideas to foster a good relationship: 1) Celebrate the anniversary of the baptism with a card or a telephone call. Along with learning about the child s patron saint, learn about the saint whose feast day is celebrated on the date of his or her baptism and share the story of that saint s life with your Godchild. 2) Model your faith through your actions. Understand the sacraments as well as the teachings of the church so that you will be able to answer questions that your Godchild may have. 3) Encourage the faith life through the types of gifts that you give your Godchild. Some examples of gifts are a bible, prayer book, books on the lives of saints, prayer rope, etc. By doing this you are giving tools to help your Godchild grow in the faith and are helping him/her to start a personal library of Orthodox teachings. 4) If you live in close proximity to your Godchild make yourself available to spend time with him or her. Find out when school activities and sports events are scheduled and try to go to a few. Plan a special time, whether for lunch or a trip to the zoo, to be with your Godchild. These times together will only help to make your relationship closer. 5) If you live far away, call, write, or e- mail your Godchild. Send a letter at the beginning of a church season (Advent, Lent, etc.) to let him or her know that you will be praying for him. If possible, plan visits to see your Godchild. 6) From the moment of Baptism, your Godchild deserves a very special place in your prayers, for on the day of judgment you will be asked about your Godchild s soul. 7) A faithful Godparent will be a friend in Christ and maintain close contact with his Godchild. The focus at all times is to progress the child in the knowledge and practice of the Orthodox Faith. He should at all times model a Christ-like example. The relationship between the Godparent and the baptized is so important and so close that the Church forbids marriage between the Godparent and Godchild. 8) Pray through the ups and downs of life with your Godchild. Find out what s troubling or challenging your Godchild, what he or she is excited about or eagerly anticipating, then do your best to talk about God in that context. Encourage your Godchild to pray, pray together, and let your godchild know that you are praying for him or her every day. 9) Make a big deal of your Godchild s Name Day. Celebrate with a special visit and dinner if you re nearby, and give a spiritually oriented gift to celebrate, like an age-appropriate book of his patron saint s life, a new icon, etc. 10) Emphasize the spiritual aspects of holidays. Make it a tradition to read the stories of the Nativity and Pascha morning with your godchild and help his or her parents downplay the material and commercial aspects. Play up the feasts of the Church instead by bringing candles to be blessed at the Feast of the Presentation and flowers at the Dormition of the Theotokos and sharing them with your godchild, or by baking a birthday cake for the nativities of the Theotokos, Jesus, and St. John the Baptist. 11) Invite your godchild to go with you to Great Vespers, Matins, or weekday services for the feasts if you live close by. Encourage your whole god-family to come to Church for services other than the Sunday/resurrectional Divine Liturgy, if they don t do so regularly. 12) Ask what your godchild is learning in Church school. Discuss the lesson of the week, and offer to help with Church school homework, prepare for oratorical competition or catechism bowl, etc. Buy your godchild s first Bible, and update it regularly as his or her reading level increases. Encourage him or her to study the Gospel! 13) Help your godchild serve God. Choose a service project to work at regularly together, such as working at a hot-meal program or visiting parishioners in the hospital. Help him or her discover new ways to use God-given talents to help others the artistic might design posters or programs for retreats, the musical might record Church music for shut-ins, etc. Encourage your godsons to serve in the altar, too, and cheer them on each week. 14) Make your godchild one of the family. Include your godchild, and his or her parents and siblings, in your own family s social events: reunions, picnics, camping trips, and zoo and museum outings. 15) Spend time together. Keep in touch by phone, , or postcard if your godchildren are out of state or across the globe. Prayer and love in Christ know no distance!

7 Ελεημοσύνη - Φιλαργυρία Ο πλούτος δεν απαγορεύεται, αν τον χρησιμοποιεί κανείς, όπως πρέπει. Δεν είναι κακό το κρασί αλλά το μεθύσι. Έτσι δεν είναι κακό ο πλούτος, αλλά η φιλαργυρία και η πλεονεξία. Ο φιλάργυρος δεν είναι πλούσιος. Ο φιλάργυρος χρειάζεται πολλά. Κι όποιος χρειάζεται πολλά, δεν θα ευπορήσει ποτέ. Και σαν κάποιος να τον έχει προστάξει να μην αγγίζει τίποτα από τα συναγμένα, έτσι με κάθε προσοχή τα φυλάει, λες και δεν είναι δικά του αλλά ξένα. Πως λοιπόν, τα κατέχει, αφού δεν μπορεί να τα χρησιμοποιήσει; -Αγ. Ιωάννου Χρυσοστόμου

8 WEEKLY EVENTS Sunday, January 13 Godparent Sunday Metropolis of Chicago Vasilopita held at Sts. Constantine & Helen, Palos Hills Wednesday, January 16 7:00pm - St. Anthony Vespers at Metropolis of Chicago Chapel Thursday, January 17 8:30am - St. Anthony 10:00am - H.O.P.E. Group 11:00am - Orthodoxi Zoe Friday, January 18 8:30am - St. Athanasios Saturday, January 19 10:00am - Greek School Sunday, January 20 Stewardship Sunday Parish Council Elections ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Κυριακή, 13 Ιανουαρίου Godparent Sunday Κοπή Βασιλόπιτας Ι.Μ. Σικάγου στον Ι.Ν. Αγ. Κων/ου κ. Ελένης, Palos Hills Τετάρτη, 16 Ιανουαρίου 7.00μ.μ. - Εσπερινός του Αγ. Αντωνίου στο Μητρoπολιτικό Παρεκκλήσιον Πέμπτη, 17 Ιανουαρίου 8.30π.μ. - Αγ. Αντωνίου 10.00π.μ. - Συνεδρίαση H.O.P.E π.μ. - Ορθόδοξη Ζωή Παρασκευή, 18 Ιανουαρίου 8.30π.μ. - Αγ. Αθανασίου Σάββατο, 19 Ιανουαρίου 10.00π.μ. - Ελληνικό Σχολείο Κυριακή, 20 Ιανουαρίου Stewardship Sunday Εκλογές Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου Today s coffee fellowship is hosted by our Philoptochos Society. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. STEWARSHIP Stewardship Sunday is on January 20th. Stewardship pledge cards will be mailed out next week. They can also be picked up at the church office; we ask that you prayerfully consider what you will offer to our beloved parish of Holy Cross in Our beloved parish requires approximately $915 per day to operate or an annual pledge average of $1670 per family. As always, we remain appreciative for all that you lovingly give.