Assumption. Greek Orthodox Church. Agape news

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1 Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Agape news July & August 2013

2 PARISH LIFE

3 PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption, I would like to express the gratitude of the parish to all those that offered their stewardship of time and talents to the 11 th Annual Greek Cultural Festival. The event was truly a success, not only financially, but with the display of great cooperation and harmony that our faithful worked together side by side. This year s event brought together many leaders who used their talents to create unprecedented success for a festival on our property with many new events and ideas which led to the selling out of virtually everything thank you to all who aided in this effort! The church is built on a foundation of 4 activities: λειτουργία (worship, literally - work of the people), κοινωνία (community), ευαγγελία (evangelism) and μαρτυρία (witness). Each of these 4 activities were more than evident in our Greek Fest as we blessed the Festival with an Agiasmo, evangelized with tours, witnessed with love and worked in harmony. It is this κοινωνία (sense of community) unto which we must grasp. It is in our working together in each of the 4 activities that we accomplish His ministry in the world. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we must love one another in order to give each other strength when temptation tries to exploit our individual weaknesses and passions. Soon we will be celebrating the Great Feasts of the Transfiguration and of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The first gives us a foretaste of the glory of the Lord as He shines with uncreated light that one day I pray we all witness. The second is also the feast of our parish a great and Holy day in which we together commemorate our temple. It is with the faithful Orthodox that we celebrate and with our brothers and sisters of the faith that we feast. This λειτουργία, which literally means work of the people, is what will continue to give us His Peace. I remain, In His Service, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

4 JULY AND AUGUST EVENTS ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE Friday, August 2 nd - 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 3 rd - 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please bring your unwanted treasures (and all your extra shopping bags) to the Sunday School Rooms. July 23 rd, the Parishes of the Assumption and St. George will be spending a day of fun at Six Flags Great America in Chicago. We will meet at the front gate at 10:00am. Tickets can be reserved and prepaid from the Church office by July 21st for $35 per ticket. Church Nameday Celebration Saturday, August 17 th 5 p.m. 11:00 p.m. Please join us for a fun-filled day! Free Admission! Greek Music Great Food! Greek Cultural Festival 7 th Annual Golf Tournament Monday, August 19, :00 a.m. Shotgun Start See Paris Fotos, Liz Gorman, Georgia Lovejoy or Denny Mekus for more info!!!

5 JULY BIRTHDAYS AND NAMEDAYS 2 nd Kristin Lubbers 2 nd Barbara Minas 2 nd MaryBeth Stopoulos 3 rd Tony Stopoulos 6 th Mike Gorman 6 th Roseanne Monn 10 th Georgia Eleftheropoulos 11 th Dennis Collier 11 th Anthony Stopoulos 12 th Molly Mekus 14 th Costas Constantinou 15 th Elena Passini 16 th Linda Mekus 22 nd Arlene Gust 24 th Yvonne Constantinou 24 th Anne Driscoll 24 th Justin Harrison 30 th John Fotos Just a few of the Saints (Namedays) commemorated in July... 7 th St. Kyriaki the Great Martyr 13 th Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel 24 th Christina the Great Martyr 25 th Dormition of St. Anna 26 th St. Paraskevi of Rome 27 th St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr AUGUST BIRTHDAYS AND NAMEDAYS 2 nd John Eleftheropoulos 4 th Jayde Maess 5 th Pres. Doreece Boukis 5 th Drew Minas 6 th John Stopoulos 8 th Abraham Chirackal 8 th Naina Ninan 9 th Panayioti Dokolas 10 th Ardita Grunwald 13 th Vasilia Boukis 15 th Helen Panouses 17 th Dean Maess 20 th Zoe Anderson 21 st Eleni Argeros 21 st Angela Olvera 22 nd Diane Lamacki 22 nd Deno Minas 26 th Tom Gregory 26 th Jessica Maess 26 th Connor Miller 27 th Victor Cherevko 27 th Maria Georgiadis 27 th Chris Maess 28 th Maria Papageorgiou 29 th Lambros Mihalopoulos 29 th Anastasia Nikolopoulos 29 th Daryn Passini 30 th Molly Chirackal 30 th Kathy Papageorgiou 31 st Trevor Lannoo Just a few of the Saints (Namedays) commemorated in August th Panayioti, Panayiota, Thespina 20 th Samuel

6 ST. KYRIKOS Celebrated July 15 th The Holy Martyr Julitta and her three year old son Kyrikos were from the city of Iconium (now Konia) in central Asia Minor. They lived during the reign of Diocletian ( ). In the year 296, Julitta, who was a descendant of royalty and was quite wealthy, fled with Kyrikos from their estate leaving all behind except two handmaidens. Their journey to flee the persecutions led them to the city of Tarsus, a city in southeast Asia Minor that is most known for being the birthplace of the Apostle Paul. The city of Tarsus was governed by Alexander who was especially brutal in the persecution of the Christians. Julitta and Kyrikos were seized, Kyrikos was taken from his mother and Alexander s men began to beat Julitta. Although the handmaidens had escaped capture, they remained to witness the entire account. Kyrikos was a child that was pure and innocent and seemed to be admired by all who came in contact with him. Julitta had taught him as much as he could understand at his young age about the Faith and taught him how to pray. He displayed great obedience and an understanding that surpassed his young age. As Julitta was being beaten, Alexander attempted to hold Kyrikos and to win his affection. Kyrikos, though, continued to struggle to get to his mother. He fought to be released and even scratched the governor, Alexander. Finally, Kyrikos yelled that he was a Christian and that he loved Christ and he kicked Alexander in the stomach with all his might. The governor, now in pain, became very angry at Kyrikos and his declaration. He took the young boy and threw him down the stone steps that led to the judgment seat. Kyrikos head struck the steps repeatedly leaving a trail of blood with his head crushed. Seeing his dead body at the base of the steps, Julitta realized her son had received the crown of martyrdom. Her son was now in the arms of Christ, and Alexander would not have the opportunity to pervert his innocence. The persecution continued for Julitta, but she would not succumb to the many tortures. She was stripped and placed on a rack while her flesh was ripped with iron claws. Eventually, when Alexander realized she would not surrender her faith, he had her beheaded and had her body and that of Kyrikos taken outside of the city to be left for the wild animals to eat. However, the two handmaidens who had witnessed the entire event went and collected the bodies and buried them. Many years later, under Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, one of the handmaidens revealed the location of the grave. Their Relics were uncovered and found to be fragrant and incorrupt. Many who visited their tombs and asked for their intercessions witnessed miracles of healing.

7 ST. PANTELEIMON Celebrated July 27 th This Saint, who had Nicomedia as his homeland, was the son of Eustorgius and Eubula. His father was an idolater, but his mother was a Christian from her ancestors. It was through her that he was instructed in piety, and still later, he was catechized in the Faith of Christ by Saint Hermolaus (see July 26) and baptized by him. Being proficient in the physician's vocation, he practiced it in a philanthropic manner, healing every illness more by the grace of Christ than by medicines. Thus, although his parents had named him Pantoleon ("in all things a lion"), because of the compassion he showed for the souls and bodies of all, he was worthily renamed Panteleimon, meaning "all-merciful." On one occasion, when he restored the sight of a certain blind man by calling on the Divine Name, he enlightened also the eyes of this man's soul to the knowledge of the truth. This also became the cause for the martyrdom of him who had been blind, since when he was asked by whom and in what manner his eyes had been opened, in imitation of that blind man of the Gospel he confessed with boldness both who the physician was and the manner of his healing. For this he was put to death immediately. Panteleimon was arrested also, and having endured many wounds, he was finally beheaded in the year 305, during the reign of Maximian. Saint Panteleimon is one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and is held in special honor among them, even as Saint George is among the Martyrs.

8 TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD Celebrated August 6 Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him"(Mt. 17: 5). Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.

9 BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Celebrated August 29 The divine St John the Baptist, who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb: sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor. This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia. Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his deceased brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21-29).

10 SERVICE SCHEDULE July 7 Sunday 2 nd Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy July 14 Sunday Sunday of the Holy Fathers 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy July 15 Monday 10:00 a.m. Feast of Ss. Kyrikos and Julitta the Martyrs Divine Liturgy July 20 Saturday 9:30 a.m. Feast of Prophet Elias Divine Liturgy in Dubuque, IA July 21 Sunday 4 th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy July 26 Friday 10:00 a.m. Feast of St. Paraskevi Divine Liturgy July 27 Saturday 10:00 a.m. Feast of St. Panteleimon Divine Liturgy July 28 Sunday 5 th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 4 Sunday 6 th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 6 Tuesday 10:00 a.m. Great Feast of the Holy Transfiguration Divine Liturgy (Blessing of the Grapes) August 7 Wednesday Small Paraklesis Service (6:00 p.m.) August 9 Friday Small Paraklesis Service (6:00 p.m.) August 11 Sunday 7 th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 12 Monday Small Paraklesis Service (6:00 p.m.) August 14 Wednesday Eve of the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Church Nameday) 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers, Artoklasia and Reception August 15 Thursday Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Church Nameday) 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (followed by Artoklasia) August 18 Sunday 8 th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 25 Sunday 9 th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 29 Thursday 10:00 a.m. Beheading of St. John the Baptist Divine Liturgy

11 Πρόγραμμα Ιερών Ακολουθίων 7 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Β του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 14 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή των Αγίων Πατέρων (Δ Οίκ. Ζυν.) 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 15 Ιουλίου Δευτέρα Άγιοι Κήρυκος και Ιουλίττα 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 20 Ιουλίου Σάββατο Προφήτης Ἠλίας ὁ Θεσβίτης 9:30 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία στην Dubuque 21 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Δ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 26 Ιουλίου Παρασκευή Αγία Παρασκευή Οσιομάρτυς 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 27 Ιουλίου Σάββατο Άγιος Παντελεήμων Μεγαλομάρτυς 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 28 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ε του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. 10:00 π.μ. Όρθρος Θεία Λειτουργία 4 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΣΤ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 6 Αυγούστου Τρίτη Η Μεταμόρφωσις του Κυρίου 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 7 Αυγούστου Τετάρτη Μικρή Παράκλησις 6:00 μ.μ. 9 Αυγούστου Παρασκευή Μικρή Παράκλησις 6:00 μ.μ. 11 Αυγούστου Κυριακή 9:00 π.μ. Κυριακή Ζ του Ματθαίου Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 12 Αυγούστου Δευτέρα Μικρή Παράκλησις 6:00 μ.μ. 14 Αυγούστου Τετάρτη 7:00 μ.μ. Προεόρτια Κοιμήσεως Θεοτόκου Μέγας Εσπερινός (και Αρτοκλασία) 15 Αυγούστου Πέμπτη Η Κοίμησης της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία (και Αρτοκλασία) 18 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Κυριακή Η του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. 10:00 π.μ. Όρθρος Θεία Λειτουργία 25 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Κυριακή Θ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 29 Αυγούστου Τετάρτη Αποτομή Κεφάλης Αγίου Προδρόμου 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία

12 CHURCH. J Sunday Monday Tuesday 1 2 U L Y 2 nd Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour + Sacrament 2:00pm - Parish Council Mtg :00pm - Softball Game at Riverside Life Center Sunday of the Holy Fathers Orthros 9:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour All-English Divine Liturgy 4 th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Hierarchical Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 5 th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour All-English Divine Liturgy 15 Feast of Ss. Kyrikos and Julitta 16 6:00pm - Softball Double Header at Riverside Life Center Rummage Setup 10am 6:00pm - Softball Game at Riverside Life Center Family Fellowship Trip to Six Flags Great America 7:00pm - Softball Game at Riverside Life Center 30 Rummage Setup 10am

13 . CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3 Independence Day Souvlaki Fundraiser at Doc s Inn in Silvis for the John Deere Classic 12 Noon 12 Midnight 13 Souvlaki Fundraiser at Doc s Inn in Silvis for the John Deere Classic 12 Noon 12 Midnight Feast of Prophet Elias Divine Liturgy 9:30am in Dubuque, IA Feast of St. Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr Parish Council Dinner with Bishop Demetrios 27 Feast of St. Panteleimon the Great Martyr and Healer 31 Rummage Setup 10am Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free

14 CHURCH. A U G U S T Sunday Monday Tuesday Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free 9th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour + Sacrament 10th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 4 11 All English Divine Liturgy 11th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 12th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour All English Divine Liturgy Paraklesis Service 6:00pm Greek Cultural 7 th Annual Golf Tournament at TPC Deere Run Great Feast of the Holy Transfiguration Blessing of the Grapes 7:00pm - Softball Game at Riverside Life Center 6:30pm - Parish Council Meeting

15 . CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Rummage Setup 10am 2 Rummage Sale 9:00am - 1:00pm Rummage Sale 9:00am - 1:00pm Paraklesis Service 6:00pm 14 Dormition of the Theotokos Great Vespers 7:00pm Artoklasia Dormition of the Theotokos Orthros 9:00am Artoklasia Feastday Luncheon Paraklesis Service 6:00pm Feastday Celebration 5:00pm - 11:00pm Beheading of St. John the Baptist 30 31

16 DIAKONIA Prosforo Schedule July 7 Toula Poulimas July 14 Litsa Gregory July 21 Elaine Eleftheropoulos July 28 Kathy Panouses August 4 Toula Fotos August 11 Gerogia Eleftheropoulos August 18 Maria Georgiadis August 25 Cathy Diakogeorgiou Coffee Hour July 7 Mike and Helen Haney July 14 Not Yet Reserved July 21 Paraskevi Stamatoukos July 28 Joan Stopoulos August 4 Nick Fotiadis and Family August 11 Not Yet Reserved August 18 Not Yet Reserved August 25 Abraham, Biju, Joe and Families Parish Council Ushering Schedule July 7 th - Cathy Diakogeorgiou 14 th - Orest Akulow 21 st - Matt Miller 28 th - Paris Fotos August 4 th - Mike Haney 11 th - Denny Mekus 18 th - George Georgiadis 25 th - Kosta Dounoulis September 1 st - John Stopoulos 8 th - Cathy Diakogeorgiou 15 th - Orest Akulow 22 nd - Matt Miller 29 th - Paris Fotos For each Sunday, the council member listed is to be present at 9:00 a.m. The council member listed for the week following will be assigned to help during the Divine Liturgy beginning at 9:50 a.m. through the processing of the collection.

17 The Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos is a service in which we offer our prayers to the Blessed Mother of God in which we ask her to pray on our behalf to the Lord. Our supplications are for health, guidance and deliverance from adversity. It is through her prayers that we are saved, for she is closer to the Lord than you or I, and we know through many miracles that her prayers are heard. Please take a moment and prepare a list of those for whom you would like to have prayers offered - bring the list to the Paraklesis and offer your prayers with the whole community. For those who cannot come, know that the Church is open and that prayers are being offered for all of us. Again we pray for mercy, life, health, peace, safety, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of sins of the servants of God PARAKLESIS METROPOLIS VISIT On Sunday, July 21 st, His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox of Metropolis of Chicago, will be visiting the Assumption and will preside over the Divine Liturgy.

18 Οἱ Ἅγιοι Κήρυκος καὶ Ἰουλίττα Οἱ Ἅγιοι Κήρυκος καὶ Ἰουλίττα 15 Ιουλίου Ἡ Ἁγία Ἰουλίτα, ἔζησε κατὰ τὴν ἐποχὴ τοῦ αὐτοκράτορα Διοκλητιανοῦ. Καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὸ Ἰκόνιο τῆς Μικρᾶς Ἀσίας. Ἐπειδὴ ὅμως τότε κυριαρχοῦσε ὁ διωγμὸς κατὰ τῶν χριστιανῶν, πῆρε τὸν γιὸ της τὸν Κήρυκο καὶ πῆγε στὴν Σελεύκεια καὶ στὴν συνέχεια στὴν Ταρσό. Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐκεῖ συνάντησε τὴν ἴδια κατάσταση. Στὴν Ταρσὸ συνελήφθη ἀπὸ τὸν ἡγεμόνα,τὸν Ἀλέξανδρο, ὁ ὁποῖος τὴν ὑπέβαλε σὲ φρικτὰ βασανιστήρια μπροστὰ στὸ παιδί της. Στὴν συνέχεια προσπάθησε νὰ φέρει μὲ τὸ μέρος του τὸν μικρό. Τὸ παιδάκι ὅμως δὲν δεχόταν καὶ μάλιστα ἀφοῦ ἐπικαλέστηκε τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἔδωσε μία δυνατὴ κλωτσιὰ στὴν κοιλιὰ τοῦ ἡγεμόνα. Αὐτὸς ἐξοργίστηκε τόσο ποὺ τὸ πέταξε ἀπὸ τὰ σκαλιὰ σπάζοντας τὸ κρανίο τοῦ μικροῦ Κήρυκου. Μ' αὐτὸν τὸν τρόπο ἔλαβε τὸ στεφάνι τοῦ μαρτυρίου ὁ μικρὸς Κήρυκος. Ἡ δὲ μητέρα του μετὰ ἀπὸ λίγο, ἀφοῦ ὑπεβλήθη σὲ πολλὰ καὶ φρικτὰ βασανιστήρια, παρέδωσε τὸ πνεῦμα της στὸν Χριστό. Ἡ Ἁγία Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή Ἡ Ἁγία Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή ἡ μυροφόρος καὶ Ἰσαπόστολος 22 Ιουλίου Ἡ Ἁγία μυροφόρος καὶ Ἰσαπόστολος Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή, καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὰ Μάγδαλα. Ὅταν πληροφορήθηκε γιὰ τὸν Χριστό, πῆγε κοντά του καὶ ἀπαλλάχθηκε ἀπὸ τὰ δαιμόνια ποὺ τὴν ἐνοχλοῦσαν καὶ στὴν συνέχεια ἔγινε μαθήτρια του. Ἡ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή, ἀκολούθησε τὸν Χριστὸ ἕως τὸ πάθος Του, ἔγινε μυροφόρος, εἶδε πρώτη τὴν Ἀνάσταση, ὅταν ἀργὰ τὴν νύχτα τοῦ Σαββάτου εἶδε τὸν ἄγγελο ποὺ κύλησε τὴν πέτρα ἀπὸ τὴν θύρα τοῦ μνημείου. Ἐπίσης μόλις ξημέρωσε, ἐνῶ στέκονταν κοντὰ στὸ μνημεῖο, εἶδε δύο ἀγγέλους μὲ λευκὰ νὰ κάθονται στὸ μνημεῖο καὶ μετὰ εἶδε τὸν Χριστό, ὁ ὁποῖος μάλιστα ἐπειδὴ τὸν πέρασε γιὰ τὸν κηπουρό, τῆς εἶπε «Μή μου ἅπτου» (μὴν μὲ ἀγγίζεις). Μετὰ τὴν ἀνάληψη τοῦ Κυρίου, ἡ Μαρία πῆγε στὴν Ἔφεσο στὸν ἀπόστολο καὶ εὐαγγελιστὴ Ἰωάννη. Ἐκεῖ ἐκοιμήθη καὶ ἐνταφιάστηκε.

19 Μεγαλομάρτυς Παντελεήμων Ο Άγιος ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΗΜΩΝ ο Μεγαλομάρτυς και Ιαματικός 27 Ιουλίου Έ ζ ησε στα χ ρόνια τ ου αυτοκράτορα Διοκλητιανού και καταγόταν απο τη Νικομήδεια. Τον πατέρα του έλεγαν Ευστόργιο και τη μητέρα του, που ήταν ευσεβέστατη χριστιανή, Ευβούλη. Ο Παντελεήμων γρήγορα στερήθηκε τις φροντίδες της μητέρας του, διότι πέθανε πρόωρα. Αλλά ο Θεός τον αξίωσε να διδαχθεί τη χριστιανική πίστη απο ένα διακεκριμένο λειτουργικό της Εκκλησίας, τον Ιερέα Ερμόλαο. Τότε ο Παντελεήμων, είχε τελειώσει τις ιατρικές του σπουδές, κοντά στο φημισμένο γιατρό Ευφρόσυνο. Την επιστήμη του χρησιμοποίησε ιδιαίτερα για τους απόρους ασθενείς και έτρεχε με μοναδική προθυμία στις καλύβες τους, βοηθώντας τους όχι μόνο ιατρικά, αλλά και χρηματικά. Σε κάθε σπίτι που έμπαινε δίδασκε το Ευαγγέλιο και έφερνε σ αυτό πολλές ψυχές. Ήταν ευσπλαγχνικός σε ακρότατο βαθμό για όλους τους πάσχοντες, γι αυτό και ο Θεός του δώρησε το χάρισμα να θεραπεύει ασθενείς με μόνη την προσευχή του. Έτσι θεράπευσε πολλούς, μεταξύ αυτών και ένα τυφλό, που έγινε αφορμή να συλλάβει ο Διοκλητιανός και τον Άγιο. Τον τυφλό τον θανάτωσε διότι πίστεψε στο Χριστό και τον Παντελεήμονα υπέβαλε σε φρικτά βασανιστήρια, ώσπου στο τέλος τον αποκεφάλισε. Ο Παντελεήμων, όμως, ανήκει σ αυτούς, για τους οποίους ο Κύριος είπε: "μακάριοι οι ελεήμονες, ότι αυτοί ελεηθήσονται". Μακάριοι, δηλαδή, είναι, οι ευσπλαγχνικοί που συμπονούν στη δυστυχία του πλησίον, διότι αυτοί θα ελεηθούν απο το Θεό την ημέρα της Κρίσεως.

20 Η Μεταμόρφωσις του Κυρίου 6 Αυγούστου Κ α τ ά τ η δ ι ή γ η σ η τ ω ν Ευαγγελιστών, ο Κύριός μας Ιησούς Χριστός πήρε απο τους μαθητές τον Πέτρο, τον Ιωάννη και τον Ιάκοβω και ανέβηκε στο όρος Θαβώρ για να προσευχηθεί. Οι τρείς μαθητές Του, όπως ήταν κουρασμένοι απο τη δύσκολη ανάβαση στο Θαβώρ και ενώ κάθησαν να ξεκουρασθούν, έπεσα ν σε βαθύ ύπνο. Όταν, όμως, ξύπνησαν, αντίκρυσαν απροσδόκητο και εξαίσιο θέαμα. Το πρόσωπο του Κυρίου άστραφτε σαν τον ήλιο, και τα φορέματά Του ήταν λευκά σαν το φώς. Τον περιστοίχιζαν δε και συνομιλούσαν μαζί Του δυό άνδρες, ο Μωϋσής και ο Ηλίας. Αφού οι μαθητές συνήλθαν κάπως απο την έκπληξη, ο πάντα ενθουσιώδης, Πέτρος, θέλοντας να διατηρηθεί αυτή η αγία μέθη που προκαλούσε η ακτινοβολία του Κυρίου, ικετευτικά είπε να στήσουν τρείς σκηνές. Μία για τον Κύριο, μία για το Μωϋσή και μία για τον Ηλία. Πρίν προλάβει, όμως, να τελειώσει τη φράση του, ήλθε σύννεφο που τους σκέπασε και μέσα απ αυτό ακούστηκε φωνή που έλεγε: "Ούτος έστιν ο υιός μου ο αγαπητός, αυτού ακούετε". Δηλαδή, Αυτός είναι ο Υιός μου ο αγαπητός, που τον έστειλα για να σωθεί ο κόσμος. Αυτόν να ακούτε. Οφείλουμε, λοιπόν, και εμείς όχι μόνο να Τον ακούμε, αλλά και να Τον υπακούμε. Σε οποιοδήποτε δρόμο μας φέρει, είμαστε υποχρεωμένοι να πειθαρχούμε.

21 Η Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου 15 Αυγούστου Όπως είναι γνωστό, επάνω απο το Σταυρό ο Κύριός μας Ιησούς Χριστός, έδωσε εντολή και την Παναγία μητέρα του παρέλαβε ο Ιωάννης ο Ευαγγελιστής στο σπίτι του, όπου διέμενε μαζί με τον αδελφό του Ιάκωβο και τη μητέρα του Σαλώμη, συγγενή της Θεοτόκου. Όταν δε ήλθε η στιγμή να τελειώσει την επίγεια ζωή της, άγγελος Κυρίου της το έκανε γνωστό τρείς μέρες πρίν. Η χαρά της Θεοτόκου υπήρξε μεγάλη, διότι θα συναντούσε το μονογενή της Υιό και Θεό όλων των ανθρώπων. Πήγε, λοιπόν, και προσευχήθηκε στο όρος των Ελαιών, όπου συνήθιζε να προσεύχεται και ο Κύριος Ιησούς. Έπειτα, γύρισε στο σπίτι του Ιωάννη, όπου έκανε γνωστή την επικείμενη κοίμησή της. Η παράδοση αναφέρει ότι την τρίτη ημέρα απο την εμφάνιση του αγγέλου, λίγο πρίν κοιμηθεί η Θεοτόκος, οι Απόστολοι δεν ήταν όλοι στα Ιεροσόλυμα, αλλά σε μακρινούς τόπους όπου κήρυτταν το Ευαγγέλιο. Τότε, ξαφνικά νεφέλη τους άρπαξε και τους έφερε όλους μπροστά στο κρεβάτι, όπου ήταν ξαπλωμένη η Θεοτόκος και περίμενε την κοίμησή της. Όταν εκοιμήθη, με ψαλμούς και ύμνους την τοποθέτησαν στο μνήμα της Γεσθημανή. Μετά τρείς ημέρες, άνοιξαν τον τάφο και έκπληκτοι διαπίστωσαν ότι η Παναγία αναστήθηκε σωματικά και ανελήφθη στους ουρανούς. Και βέβαια, όλη η ανθρωπότητα, με ευγνωμοσύνη για τις πρεσβείες της στο Σωτήρα Χριστό, αναφωνεί: "Χαίρε, ώ Μήτερ της ζωής".

22 Agape News SPONSORS The Agape News is made possible by the generous support of the following parishioners: Fr. Jon, Presbytera Doreece and Vasilia Boukis In Memory of Harry and Alfreda Arvanis Michael and Nancy Avgenackis In Memory of George Bagatelas Paul and Christine Bagatelas Family Theodore and Karen Bagatelas Paula Baker In Memory of Sadie (Elias) Bakeris In Memory of Jimmy Boukis Steve, Vaso and Lynn Boukis Kleo Caras Victor and Judy Cherevko Dennis and Pam Collier Miltos and Cathy Diakogeorgiou Dounoulis Family Litsa Gregory Tom P. Gregory Pete and Arlene Gust Mike and Helen Haney James Jannes Mike and Terri Kandis George and Helen Kontos Joyce Coughlin and JoAnn Kontos Anastasios and Dimitra Korovilas Ninan Family In Memory of Christ T. Panousis Fr. Basil and Christina Papanikolaou Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros Ann Polillo Steve and Nancy Pyevich In Memory of Nickolaus, Halina, Andrei and Nickolaus Anthony and Joan Stopoulos Jim and Kristel Stopoulos Rick and Maria Krakos Thompson John and Mary Velon In Memory of George and Grace Vretis Sponsors offer $20 for the Ecclesiastical Year (beginning and ending Sept. 1 st ) Do you enjoy the Agape News? Then become a supporter!!! Here is my support of $20. Please list my sponsorship as follows:

23 The Windmill FAMILY RESTAURANT Reserve our banquet room today for your next celebration. Let us help create a special memory for you with our award-winning dishes. ADVERTISEMENTS Avenue of the Cities East Moline, IL (309) Miltos Diakogeorgiou, Parishioner Jose Zepeda, Chef Owners Owned by Chris & Kathy Panouses Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 Greek Cultural Festival Annual Golf Tournament 3629 Avenue of the Cities Moline, IL LCV Greek & Mediterranean Food Store Now selling a nice selection of Greek & Middle Eastern Products to the public Noon-5pm Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9am-Noon Saturday and by appointment th Ave. East Moline, IL Olympic Gyros Open 7 Days a Week 207 W. 53rd St. Davenport, IA Advantage Pest Control Servicing Assumption for 5 years Call Steve Today! 985 Ave. of the Cities Silvis, Illinois Owned by Parishioners John & MaryBeth Stopoulos Gulliver's Travel Southpark Mall Northpark Mall Duck Creek Plaza Todd Bagatelas, President

24 Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 4900 Kennedy Drive East Moline, Illinois Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID E. Moline, IL. Permit No. 153