Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, February 17, 2019 Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee

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1 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, February 17, 2019 Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee SAINTS OF THE WEEK of Apostle Peter before giving up his soul. Leo the Great, Pope of Rome, February 18 Pope Leo defended the Church against the heretics and saved Italy from destruction. He was born in Italy during the fifth century and received an excellent education. He yearned for the spiritual life and progressed from archdeacon to pope. Many heretics besieged the Church. Leo prevailed against Eutychius and Dioscoros who taught that there was only one nature in the Lord Jesus Christ. Almost twenty years later, Leo found it necessary to defend the Church against the Nestorians. He helped convene the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon to condemn the heresy of the Monophysites. In a letter to the Council, he wrote about the Orthodox teaching on the two natures, Divine and human, in the Lord Jesus Christ. All the bishops present at the Council agreed with Pope Leo, and Eutychius and Dioscoros were excommunicated. In defending his homeland, Pope Leo personally went out to meet Attila the Hun who was pillaging the country. He also defended Rome from the leader of the Vandals, persuading him not to burn buildings and spill blood. St. Leo received foreknowledge of his death, and he fasted and prayed for forty days at the tomb Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop Of Smyrna, Celebrated February 23 Polycarp became an orphan at an early age. An angel directed a pious widow to raise the child. After her death, Polycarp gave away all his possessions and led a chaste life. He was ordained a deacon by St. Bucolos, Bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp met the Apostle John the Theologian and accompanied him on his missionary travels. St. Bucolos ordained Polycarp to the priesthood, and before his death expressed his wish that Polycarp become bishop of Smyrna. His ordination was accomplished, and he guided his flock with zeal. God granted him the gift of wonderworking, casting out demons and healing the sick. He had the gift of insight, and through his prayers and fasting brought forth rain. During the Christian persecutions, by Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Polycarp was arrested and brought to trial. He forcefully confessed his faith in Christ, and for this was condemned to burning. When the executioners saw that the flames did not harm him, the pagans demanded that he be killed with a sword. So much blood flowed from him that the flames were extinguished. The Christians reverently gathered his relics 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 Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, παρηκολούθηκάς μου τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ, τῇ ἀγωγῇ, τῇ προθέσει, τῇ πίστει, τῇ μακροθυμίᾳ, τῇ ἀγάπῃ, τῇ ὑπομονῇ, τοῖς διωγμοῖς, τοῖς παθήμασιν, steadfastness, οἷά μοι ἐγένετο ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ, ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, ἐν Λύστροις, οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπήνεγκα καὶ ἐκ πάντων με ἐρρύσατο ὁ κύριος. Καὶ πάντες δὲ οἱ θέλοντες εὐσεβῶς ζῇν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διωχθήσονται. Πονηροὶ δὲ ἄνθρωποι καὶ γόητες προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον, πλανῶντες καὶ πλανώμενοι. Σὺ δὲ μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης, εἰδὼς παρὰ τίνος ἔμαθες, καὶ ὅτι ἀπὸ βρέφους τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα οἶδας, τὰ δυνάμενά σε σοφίσαι εἰς σωτηρίαν διὰ πίστεως τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ἄνθρωποι δύο ἀνέβησαν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν προσεύξασθαι, ὁ εἷς Φαρισαῖος καὶ ὁ ἕτερος τελώνης. ὁ Φαρισαῖος σταθεὶς πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ταῦτα προσηύχετο ὁ Θεός, εὐχαριστῶ σοι ὅτι οὐκ εἰμὶ ὥσπερ οἱ λοιποὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἅρπαγες, ἄδικοι, μοιχοί, ἢ καὶ ὡς οὗτος ὁ τελώνης νηστεύω δὶς τοῦ σαββάτου, ἀποδεκατῶ πάντα ὅσα κτῶμαι. καὶ ὁ τελώνης μακρόθεν ἑστὼς οὐκ ἤθελεν οὐδὲ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐπᾶραι, ἀλλ ἔτυπτεν εἰς τὸ στῆθος αὐτοῦ λέγων ὁ Θεός, ἱλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ. λέγω ὑμῖν, κατέβη οὗτος δεδικαιωμένος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ ἢ γὰρ ἐκεῖνος ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ταπεινῶν ὑψωθήσεται. ἑαυτὸν The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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4 Τρία πράγματα δεν κατανοώ... Τρία πράγματα δεν κατανοώ, γράφει ο π. Σωφρόνιος : α) πίστη χωρίς δόγμα β) χριστιανισμό έξω από την εκκλησία γ) χριστιανισμό χωρίς άσκηση. Και τα τρία αυτά, δόγμα, εκκλησία και ασκητική, δηλαδή χριστιανική άσκηση, συνιστούν για μένα ενιαία ζωή. **************************** Ο Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Χρυσόστομος μας λέει με ποιο τρόπο μπορούμε να μιμηθούμε τους μάρτυρες και τους αγίους. «Καταφρόνησαν εκείνοι την ζωή; Καταφρόνησε εσύ την απόλαυση - έριξαν εκείνοι τα σώματά τους στη φωτιά; Ρίξε εσύ τα χρήματα στα χέρια των πτωχών - καταπάτησαν εκείνοι τα αναμμένα κάρβουνα; Σβήσε εσύ την φλόγα της επιθυμίας. Φορτικά είναι αυτά αλλά και κερδοφόρα. Γι αυτό μην βλέπεις μόνο τα παρόντα που είναι δυσάρεστα, αλλά να κοιτάς και προς τα μέλλοντα που είναι ευχάριστα. Μην δίνεις μεγάλη σημασία στα δεινά που σε βρίσκουν όση στα ελπιζόμενα αγαθά που ακολουθούν, μην κοιτάς τα παθήματα αλλά τα βραβεία, όχι τους κόπους αλλά τους στεφάνους, όχι τους ιδρώτες αλλά τις αμοιβές, όχι τους πόνους αλλά τις ανταποδόσεις, όχι το καιόμενο πυρ αλλά την βασιλεία που είναι μπροστά μας, όχι τους δημίους που στέκονται γύρω σου αλλά τον στεφανώνοντα Χριστό. **************************** Ας πούμε «αδελφούς», όσους μας μισούν. Ας συγχωρήσουμε κάτι μικρό, για να κερδίσουμε το μεγαλύτερο - Την ομόνοια. Ας νικηθούμε για να νικήσουμε. Βλέπετε στους αγώνες των παλαιστών; Πολλές φορές με το γονατίσουν και να πέσουν κάτω νικούν τους αντιπάλους που στέκονται όρθιοι. - Αγ. Γρηγόριος ο Ναζιανζηνός

5 SAVE THE DATE February 22: Friday Fish Fry resumes February 23: Parish Women s Breakfast, Blueberry Hill, Homer Glen February 26: Annual Parish Family Potluck with Trivia Night February 27: Holy Unction March 2: Saturday of the Souls March 3: Apokries Luncheon: An Afternoon in Paris March 5: Vigil for the Finding of the Holy Cross March 9: Free Vision Screening, 11am-3pm March 10: Macaronada Luncheon March 11: Great Lent Begins March 17: Sunday of Orthodoxy March 21: Monthly H.O.P.E. Group 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 and Luncheon April 19-20: Philoptochos Easter Bake Sale April 20: Saturday of Lazarus Children s Retreat and the making of the palms April 21: Palm Sunday Luncheon May 3: Bright Friday Feast May 5: 2:00pm - Greek Parade on Halsted Street May 11: Parish Trip to the St. Iakovos Retreat Center, WI May 12: Mother s Day Breakfast JUNE GREEK FESTIVAL

6 Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness. Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights. All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday. Glory to God the Father Glory to God the Father and to the Son who reigns over all. Glory to the all-holy Spirit to whom all praise is due. This is the One God, the Trinity, Who created all existence who filled the heavens with spiritual beings, the land with creatures of earth, the oceans, rivers and springs with water s living things. From His own Spirit He gives life to all that lives so that all creatures can sing out praise to the wisdom of the creator, the solitary cause of their life, and their enduring. But more than all others, and in all things, rational nature shall sing out that He is the great King, the good Father. And so, Father, grant to me, by spirit and soul by mouth and mind, in purity of heart, to give You glory. Amen. - St. Gregory Nazianzen

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8 WEEKLY EVENTS Today Triodion Begins Sunday Church School Wednesday, February 20 7:00pm - Orthodox Book Study Thursday, February 21 10:00am - H.O.P.E. Group 11:00am - Orthodoxi Zoe Saturday, February 23 10:00am - Greek School 11:30am - Women s Winter Breakfast at Blueberry Hill, Homer Glen Sunday, February 24 Church School Today s coffee fellowship is hosted in memory of Andreas Bougas and Gus Chaousi. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. May their memory be eternal! STEWARSHIP 2019 Stewardship cards can picked up in 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. Σήμερα Αρχή Τριωδίου Κατηχητικό Σχολείο ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Τετάρτη, 20 Φεβρουαρίου 7.00μ.μ. - Μάθημα στα αγγλικά Πέμπτη, 21 Φεβρουαρίου 10.00π.μ. - Συνεδρίαση H.O.P.E π.μ. - Ορθόδοξη Ζωή Σάββατο, 23 Φεβρουαρίου 10.00π.μ. - Ελληνικό Σχολείο 11.30π.μ. - Πρωινό Ομάδας Κυριών Blueberry Hill, Homer Glen Κυριακή, 24 Φεβρουαρίου Κατηχητικό Σχολείο MEMORIALS Andreas Bougas 40 days, Right 1-7 Gus Chaousi 40 days, Left 2-3 Steve Sideris 1 year, Left 4-5 Avrilia Vasiliki Kouvelis 9 years, Left 6-7 Nikolaos Kouvelis 23 years, Left 6-7 May their memory be eternal!