St. Mary of Egypt A Model of Repentance

Transcript

1 The MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS PHONE (847) Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) MARCH 2010 St. Mary of Egypt A Model of Repentance Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. A penitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort. Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair. A penitent is an undisgraced convict. Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins. Repentance is purification of conscience. Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions. A penitent is the inflictor of his own punishments. Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness. +St. John Climacus

2 March Schedule of Services Sunday, March 7 Veneration of the Holy Cross Σταυροπροσκύνησις 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Monday, March 8 6:00 pm Great Compline Wednesday March 10 6:00 pm Presanctified Liturgy Friday, March 12 7:00 pm Salutations to the Theotokos Sunday, March 14 St. John of the Ladder 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Monday, March 15 6:00 pm Great Compline Wednesday March 17 6:00 pm The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete Friday, March 19 7:00 pm The Akathist Hymn Sunday, Μarch 21 St. Mary of Egypt 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Monday, March 22 6:00 pm Great Compline Thursday, March 25 Annunciation 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Saturday, March 27 Saturday of Lazaros 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy with Commentary Explanation Sunday, March 28 PALM SUNDAY 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy SEE HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE ON PAGE STEWARDSHIP & TITHING FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF THE FAITH As of February 24, 216 stewards have committed $120, Have you become a 2010 Steward yet? SACRAMENTS AND BLESSINGS BLESSINGS OF INFANTS Forty days after birth, a child and its mother come to church to receive a 40 Day Blessing, imitating Christ who was presented in the Temple 40 days after He was born. Please call the church office to arrange this blessing. BAPTISMS Please call the church office to schedule Baptisms. Plan ahead! there are some days when Baptisms are not performed. Keep in mind that there should be only one Godparent and that a child is supposed to be given but one name when he or she is baptized. WEDDINGS Please arrange an appointment with Fr. Dean at least eight months before the proposed wedding date to allow time for all necessary marriage preparation. CONFESSION Confessions are arranged by appointment. Please call the church office to schedule Confession. MINISTRY TO PERSONS WHO ARE SICK Orthodox Christians who would like to receive Holy Sacraments but are unable to attend church (hospitalized or at home) should contact the church office so Holy Sacraments can be administered to them. Please inform the church office if your loved one is hospitalized! Most hospitals no longer inform us when they receive patients from our parish. MEMORIAL SERVICES Memorial Services are offered for the eternal rest of persons who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Customarily, these services are offered at 40 days, at 6 months, at 1 year and at 3 years. When three years have passed, the departed are more properly remembered on the Saturdays of the Souls. DID YOU KNOW?.....About Saturday nights: Saturday night is the time of preparation for the Lord s Day (Sunday) and for the Divine Liturgy. It should be a quiet time of prayer and contemplation, a time to offer incense in our homes. Did you know that the day begins with the setting of the sun? That is why the vespers of our holidays falls the evening before the holiday: the holiday has already begun! For this reason, Orthodox Christians avoid planning parties and dinner dances on Saturday evenings. OUR 2010 BIG GREEK FOOD FeSt will take place July this summer. Mark your calendar! Please consider planning your vacation before or after our Fest; we need everyone's help! 2

3 HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS PHONE: 847/ From Father Dean March 2010 Dear Friends and Parishioners, The month of February was characterized by a flourish of visitors to St. Haralambos. We were honored by the visit of His Grace Bishop Ignatios of Madagascar in Africa. Before becoming a bishop, Bishop Ignatios served as a missionary in India, and he had visited our community before. Father Philippos also visited with us from Mt. Athos. The time he spent in our community enhanced our church services and ministries, and we look forward to his next visit! We also met His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas for the first time. Bishop Savas celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Haralambos on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. We are grateful to all of our visitors for the love and inspiration that they shared with us during their stay! Great Lent has begun, and we find ourselves on a beautiful journey of humility and repentance, leading us to forgiveness, peace and God s Kingdom. We are always reminded of the monumental repentance of Mary of Egypt (see the cover of this issue), and we think you will enjoy the brief article about forgiveness on page 6. Lent has many special church services to guide us to repentance; plan to attend as many as you can, and especially the Pan Orthodox Akathist Hymn which will take place on March 23 at the New Gracanica Serbian Monastery in Grays Lake. We also remind you that our parish Oratorical Festival will take place after church on Sunday, March 14. Come to admire the children of our Sunday, as well as the teens who have prepared speeches, essays and poems! Of course, we look forward to your support of our annual Easter Bake Sale, which will take place March in our Community Center. Our Philoptochos Ladies will be offering their homemade specialties: pastries, breads and Tsourekia, just in time for Pascha! And our wonderful PTA invites you to our Annual Palm Sunday Luncheon, as we celebrate our Lord s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Be certain to make your reservations early! Let s make a serious effort this year to follow the Lenten Schedule. The fathers of the Church have developed the Lenten process with great wisdom and experience, and we can all benefit greatly from the Lenten effort! Καλή Σαρακοστή! Fr. Dean The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 PAN-ORTHODOX AKATHIST HYMN 7:00 pm - Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Holy Protection Serbian Monastery Grayslake, IL SATURDAY OF LAZAROS FAMILY RETREAT SATURDAY, 3 HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH NILES, ILLINOIS Proistamenos..Fr. Constantine P. Botsis Synefimerios Fr. Chrysanthos Kerkeres Pastoral Assistant..... Deacon John G. Suhayda Chanter......Nick Harisiadis Parish Council Officers President George Anastasiadis Vice President..... Nick Andrews Treasurer... George Houpis Secretary... Evangelos Anastasiadis Budget Committee Chairman...George Conopeotis Building & Grounds Chairman.....Michael Pontikes and Theodoros Karabatsos Decor Committee Chairma....Stephan Aliferakis Finance Committee Chairman...George Kotsionis Phase III Chairman...Pete Zouras Board Chairman John Pierce Stewardship Com Chairman...Dr. Thomas Bournias Philoptochos President......Ritsa Bazianos PTA Co-Presidents (Afternoon )...Linda Politis and Pauline Sarantopoulos PTA President (Preschool)... Joanne Kereakes Greek Principal... Mrs. Anastasia Liapi GSL Director...Mrs. Evangelia Vlahou-Khouri Preschool Director......Mrs. Stacey Chiampas Sunday Director...Presvytera Georgia Botsis Athletic Director David Loomos Scoutmasters...John Melonides and George Alpogianis YAL President......Patricia Grivas GOYA President... George Adams Book Store Manager... Jolynn Ruggerio Web Page John Melonides Office Staff.Barbara Skaouris and Alexandra Grivas IN THIS ISSUE: Letter from our Priest (pg 3) Parish Announcements (pg 4) Ανακοινώσεις (pg 5) Thoughts about Great Lent (pp 6-7) Holy Week Schedule (pg 8) Youth News (pg 9) Calendar (pg 10) St. Haralambos PTAs Annual Palm Sunday Luncheon Sunday, March 28 Please call the church office ( ) to make your reservations!

4 COMMUNITY NEWS AND ACTIVITIES 2010 STEWARDSHIP & TITHING: FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF OUR FAITH STEWARDSHIP AND TITHING IN 2010 We have chosen the image of David slaying Goliath for our 2010 Stewardship Program. Against all odds, David faced the enemy and he prevailed! Conscientious Stewardship is also a serious matter! Let us pray to have such faith that we can be generous to our church even in difficult times, knowing that God loves a cheerful giver (II Corinthians 9:7). Heartfelt and conscientious Stewardship ensures that our church will be strong and able to minister to the needs of our children and friends, as well as all who turn to the Church for blessings, help and guidance. Our Stewardship is not so much a reflection on the Church, but a reflection on ourselves as givers. Stewardship is an expression of our love and appreciation to God for His many blessings; but it is also an expression of our love and respect for ourselves and for one another! Let us become not only worthy takers but worthy givers! IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT We would like to remind everyone that, on Holy Wednesday, Holy Unction will only be given by anointing. If there is a need for the anointing of the sick or those who are unable to attend the service, the priest will visit and anoint those persons by arrangement at the proper time. Holy Unction will no longer be giving out. SHUT-INS Please inform the Church office about elderly or ill individuals who would like our priest to visit them and bring them Holy Communion during this holy season. HOLY CONFESSION--Great Lent has begun, and it is customary to receive the Sacrament of Holy Confession during Lent. This can be done by appointment with Fr. Dean. We urge you: schedule your confession as early as possible and please do not wait until Holy Week! THE CELEBRATION OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY-- The Aristotle Greek invites you to its three programs honoring Greek Independence Day this month: The GSL at 11:30 am on Saturday morning, March 13. The Afternoon at 4:00 pm on Saturday, March 13. The Kindergarten-Preschool Program will be at 10:30 am on Friday morning, March 19. The students and the teachers have been working hard on their programs, and they would be honored by your presence! Plan to attend any or all of these programs, to honor our national holiday and to admire our children! ANNUAL EASTER BAKE SALE-Our Annual Easter Bake Sale will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, March in our Community Center. Please tell your friends, and bring them with you to shop for all your Easter Pastries and breads! The Bake Sale will be from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm. A PLEA TO ALL SUNDAY SCHOOL PARENTS: Sunday begins at 9:30 every Sunday. Please help your children SATURDAY OF LAZAROS FAMILY RETREAT WHAT IS A RELIQUARY? --Our Annual Sunday Saturday of Lazaros FAMILY RETREAT will take place on March 27 th, beginning at 9:00 am with a TEACHING LITURGY!!! Have you ever wondered about the real meaning behind what happens in the Divine Liturgy? Then come and experience the Teaching or Commentary Liturgy! The Retreat Program will include a Lenten Lunch, Lesson, and a Craft Project. Proper Church clothes are required, and Pre-Registration is only $20/family! Moms, dads, grandparents and kids are welcomed! You must register so there will be enough supplies! Registrations will be accepted until Thursday, March 25th. ANNUAL PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON--The St. Haralambos PTA invites you to its annual Palm Sunday Luncheon, after church services on Sunday, March 28. Because of space limitations, reservations will be required. The donation will be $15 for fish with skordalia, and $8 for spaghetti with marinara sauce; a number of "To Go" orders will also be available at $15. Seating is limited! To make reservations, please call the Church office ( ). VILLAGE FEAST LAMB ROAST! - The Saint Haralambos Community is hosting a Village Feast Lamb Roast beginning at 6:30pm on Bright Friday, April 9 on the Church grounds. A delicious Roast Lamb Dinner will be served, and there will be Loukoumathes, music and good parea or fellowship! Reservations are required so that enough food will be available! Please call the Church office (847) by April 6 for reservations! St. Haralambos Philoptochos presents its Annual Spring Bake Sale Home-made Pastries for Easter! Thursday-Friday, Mar 23-24, 2010 St. Haralambos Community Center LOOKING AHEAD. VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL will take place this summer during the week of June This is one of our very popular programs, and everyone has a great experience. Moms and Dads are needed to help! Please mark your calendar and reserve the dates! OUR BIG GREEK FOOD FEST OF NILES will take place July this summer, and planning has already begun. Of course, we will need much help, and we are always looking for new ideas and new people to get involved! Please talk to our chairpersons, Bill Bozikis, Tom Andrews, Demetra Lamprinakos, George Anastasiadis, Angelo Anastasiadis or Father Dean if you would like to offer your help. 4

5 ΕΝΟΡΙΑΚΕΣ ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ 2010 STEWARDSHIP AND TITHING: «ΑΓΩΝΙΖΟΜΕΝΟΙ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΛΟ ΑΓΩΝΑ ΔΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΠΙΣΤΗ ΜΑΣ» Δια το πρόγραμμα του 2010 Stewardship διαλέξαμε την εικόνα του Δαβίβ να πολεμάει τον Γολιάθ. Ενάντια όλων των πιθανοτήτων, ο Δαβίδ αντιμετώπισε τον εχθρό και ενίκησε! Είναι πολύ σοβαρό θέμα το Ευσυνείδητο Stewardship! Ας προσευχηθούμε να είναι η πίστη μας τόσο δυνατή ούτως ώστε να είμαστε γενναιόδωροι προς την εκκλησία μας ακόμη και στους δύσκολους καιρούς, ιλαρόν γαρ δότην αγαπά ο Θεός ( Προς B Kορινθίους 9:7). Η εγκάρδια και ευσυνείδητη προσφορά προς το το Stewardship ενδυναμώνει την εκκλησία μας και την καθιστά ικανή να εκτελεί την αποστολή της βοηθώντας τις ανάγκες των παιδιών και φίλων, καθώς επίσης και όλων όσων επιζητούν την ευλογία της εκκλησίας, την βοήθεια και την καθοδήγησή της. Το Stewardship δεν έχει αντίκτυπο στην εκκλησία μας αλλά εις εμάς τους δωρητές. Το Stewardship είναι μια έκφραση της αγάπης μας και της αναγνώρησης όλων των αγαθών που λαμβάνομε από τον Θεό. Αλλά επίσης είναι και μία έκφραση της αγάπης και εκτίμησης του εαυτού μας και του πλησίον μας! Ας γίνουμε άξιοι όχι μόνον να λαμβάνουμε αλλά άξιοι και να δίνουμε! ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ Θα θέλαμε να υπενθυμίσουμε εις όλους ότι την Μεγάλη Τετάρτη, το Άγιον Ευχέλαιον θα δίδεται μόνον κατόπιν χρίσεως από τους ιερείς. Εαν υπάρχει ανάγκη να χρισθεί κάποιος άρρωστος ή κάποιος που δεν μπορεί να έλθει στην εκκλησία, ο ιερέας θα φροντίσει να επισκεφτεί τα άτομα αυτά και να τα χρίσει στο σπίτι την καθορισμένη ώρα. To Άγιον Ευχέλαιον δεν θα δίδεται πλέον εκτός εκκλησίας. ΕΣΩΚΛΕΙΣΤΑ ΑΤΟΜΑ-Παρακαλούμε όπως πληροφορείτε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια τους ηλικιωμένους ή αρρώστους που θέλουν να λάβουν την Θείαν Κοινωνίαν και δεν δύνανται να έλθουν στην εκκλησία, ούτως ώστε ο ιερέας μας να προγραμματίσει να τους προσφέρει την Θείαν Κοινωνίαν όπου διαμένουν. ΤΟ ΜΥΣΤΗΡIΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΣΕΩΣ-Η Μεγάλη Σαρακοστή άρχισε και συvηθίζεται vα γίvονται εξoμoλογήσεις κατά τηv διάρκειαv της Νηστείας. Δια να γίνει αυτό πρέπει να κανονίσετε συνάντηση με τον π. Κωνσταντίνο. Σας παροτρύνουμε να κανονίσετε ημερομηνία εξομολογήσεως το συντομότερον δυνατόν--μηv περιμέvετε vα εξoμoλoγηθείτε την Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα! ΕΟΡΤΑΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΑΝΕΞΑΡΤΗΣΙΑΣ- Το Ελληνικό Σχολείο Αριστοτέλης σας προσκαλεί να συνεορτάσετε μαζί μας τις εκδηλώσεις δια την επέτειο της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας με τρία προγράμματα, που θα λάβουν χώραν ως εξής : Το GSL-Σάββατο πρωί, 13 Μαρτίου, 11:30 π.μ. Απογευματινό Σχολείο-Σάββατο, 13 Μαρτίου, 4:00 μ.μ. Προνήπιο-Νηπιαγωγείο-Παρασκευή πρωί, 19 Μαρτίου, 10:30 π.μ. Οι δάσκαλοι και οι μαθηταί έχουν εργαστεί σκληρά δια τα προγράμματα αυτά και η παρουσία σας θα τους τιμήσει ιδιαιτέρως. Σχεδιάστε να παρευρεθείτε δια να εορτάσετε την εθνική μας εορτή και να καμαρώσετε τα παιδιά μας! Η ΕΤΗΣIΑ ΜΑΣ ΠΩΛΗΣΗ ΓΛΥΚIΣΜΑΤΩΝ θα λάβη χώραv τηv Τρίτη και τηv Τετάρτη, Μαρτίου στην Κοινοτική μας αίθουσα! Ελάτε με τους φίλους σας vα πρoμηθευτείτε τα Πασχαλιvά σας γλυκίσματα και ψωμιά! Ολα είvαι σπιτίσια και voστιμώτατα! Η Πώληση γλυκισμάτωv θα διαρκέσει από τις 9:00 π.μ. έως τις 6:00 μ.μ. ΠΑΡΑΚΛΗΣΗ ΠΡΟΣ ΟΛΟΥΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΓΟΝΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟΥ-Το Κατηχητικό Σχολείο αρχίζει στις 9:30 κάθε Κυριακή. Παρακαλούμε βοηθείστε τα παιδιά σας να έρχονται εγκαίρως! ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΑΚΗ ΣΥΝΑΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΛΑΖΑΡΟΥ «ΤΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΛΕΙΨΑΝΟΘΗΚΗ;» Η Ετήσια ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΑΚΗ ΣΥΝΑΞΗ του Κατηχητικού Σχολείου το Σάββατο του Λαζάρου θα λάβει χώραν την 27 η Μαρτίου και θα αρχίσουμε στις 9:00 π.μ. με ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΙΚΗ ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ!!! Εχετε ποτέ αναρρωτηθεί ποίο είναι το πραγματικό νόημα της Θείας Λειτουργίας;-Ελάτε να απολαύσετε αυτήν την Διδακτικήν Λειτουργία! Η Σύναξη περιλαμβάνει νηστήσιμο πρόγευμα, μάθημα και χειροτεχνία. Προτιμητέα τα ρούχα που αρμόζουν στον χώρο της εκκλησίας και Εγγραφή είναι $20 η οικογένεια! Προσκαλούνται όλοι μητέρες, πατέρες, παπούδες, γιαγιάδες και παιδιά! Πρέπει να εγγραφείτε για να έχουμε αρκετές προμήθειες! Ημερομηνία λήξεως εγγραφών είναι η Πέμπτη, 25 Μαρτίου. ΕΤΗΣΙΟ ΓΕΥΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗΣ ΤΩΝ ΒΑΙΩΝ-Το PTA του Αγ. Χαραλάμπους σας προσκαλεί στο ετήσιο Γεύμα της Κυριακής των Βαίων, 28 Μαρτίου, μετά το τέλος της Θείας Λειτουργίας. Επειδή ο χώρος είναι περιορισμένος, χρειάζεται να κρατήσετε θέσεις. Η δωρεά είναι μόνον $15 δια το μπακαλάο με σκορδαλιά, και $8 δια τα μακαρόνια. Επίσης δεχόμεθα παραγγελίες To Go με $15. Οι θέσεις είναι περιορισμένες! Δια κρατήσεις θέσεων, παρακαλούμε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της Εκκλησίας (847/ ). ΠΑΣΧΑΛΙΝΟ ΓΛΕΝΤΙ ΜΕ ΨΗΤΟ ΑΡΝΙ -Η κοινότητα του Αγίου Χαραλάμπους ετοιμάζει ένα «Πασχαλινό Γλέντι με Ψητό Αρνί» που θα λάβει χώρα την Παρασκευή του Πάσχα, 9 Απριλίου στον εξωτερικό χώρο της εκκλησίας. Θα σερβιρισθεί Δείπνο με Ψητό Αρνί, λουκουμάδες, μουσική και καλή «παρέα»! Χρειάζονται κρατήσεις θέσεων δια να έχουμε αρκετό φαγητό για όλους! Παρακαλούμε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας (847/ ) μέχρι την 6 ην Απριλίου! 5

6 THOUGHTS FOR GREAT LENT FORGIVENESS AND HEALING To forgive does not mean to forget what has happened, but to shoulder the weight of another person s frailty or even another person s evil. St. Paul says, Learn to carry one another s burdens. These burdens are often the failure of each of us to be worthy of our calling our incapacity to love one another, to accept one another, to serve one another, to help one another on the way that leads to God. Let each of us pass a judgment on our whole soul, on our whole life, judge ourselves honestly and ask forgiveness not only from God but from our neighbor, which is sometimes much harder than asking forgiveness from God. We are all frail. We are all in need of support. Do we give this support to one another? Or do we chose those whom we want to support because we like them, because supporting them is a joy, because supporting them means that they also respond to us by gratitude, by friendship? Let us avoid seeking reasons not to forgive. I remember a man who said to me, I can forgive every person who has sinned against me, I can even love them, but I must hate the enemies of God. I thought of something which is told to us in the life of one of the saints, in which a priest was praying to God to punish those who betrayed Him by their lives if not by their words. And Christ appeared to him and said, Never pray for the punishment or the rejection of any one. If there was only one sinner in the world, I would choose to be incarnate again, and again to die upon the cross for this only sinner. Remember, if we do not forgive our brother, it is not only he who goes away with pain and tears in his heart, but we are wounded. If we do not forgive, we are ourselves not healed. The evil that occurred to us at the hands of another person remains with us, damaging our soul, destroying us. Let us learn to forgive, so that others may be healed, but also that we may be healed ourselves. Come and bow before the icon of Christ and of the Mother of God, then turn to one another with the readiness to be forgiven and to forgive, whatever the cost to us. Metropolitan Anthony Bloom of Sourozh from a Forgiveness Vespers sermon given in 1999 (from In Communion, the journal of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship, January 2010) The Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian O Lord and Master of my life, Give me not the spirit of laziness, meddling, love of power and gossip; Give, rather, the spirit of purity, humility, patience and love to me, Your servant. Yea, O Lord and King, Grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother, For You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. FOODS PERMITTED DURING GREAT LENT One of the great disciplines of the Lenten season is fasting. After His baptism, even Christ fasted for 40 days in the wilderness; to fast, therefore, is one way of imitating Christ. In Orthodox Christian tradition, we can distinguish two kinds of fasting. One is absolute fasting, which means to eat or drink nothing at all. Obviously, absolute fasting is observed only for short periods of time; this, for example, is the fast that we keep from the time we wake up until receiving Holy Communion. We also observe certain seasons of fasting, such as the 40 day period of Great Lent which precedes Holy Week and Pascha. This kind of fasting may be called ascetical fasting, because it consists mainly in abstinence from certain foods over a longer period of time. Its goal is to train and liberate us from the dominance of the flesh. To restore the primacy of the soul over the body requires a slow and patient effort; through fasting, we discover that we do not live "by bread alone". During these fasting periods, we continue to keep this ascetical fast even after receiving Holy Communion, and meats and fats are not permitted. But what can we eat? Here is a list of foods that are permitted during Great Lent: 1. Sea foods (other than fish): Shrimp, lobster, squid, octopus, oysters, clams, scallops, etc. 2. All fresh, canned or dried fruits. 3. All fresh, canned or dried vegetables. 4. Olives. 5. Bread and pastas: Spaghetti, macaroni, couscous, etc. 6. Grains and legumes: Rice, beans, chick peas, lentils, etc. 6

7 ABOUT FASTING QUOTES FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS To what end do fasting and penitence lead? They lead to the cleansing of the soul from sins, to peace of heart, to union with God; they fill us with devotion and sonship, and give us boldness before God. St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ, Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pg. 3 19th century It is required that not only with the body should we fast, but with the soul. Now the soul is humbled when it does not follow wicked opinions, but feeds on becoming virtues. For virtues and vices are the food of the soul, and it can eat either of these two. Bend your appetite toward virtues, as Paul says, Being nourished by the word of truth." St. Athansios of Alexandria, 4th century One day, while Saint Antony was sitting with a certain Abba, a virgin came up and said to the Elder: 'Abba, I fast six days of the week and I repeat by heart portions of the Old and New Testament daily.' To which the Elder replied: 'Does poverty mean the same to you as abundance?' 'No', she answered. 'Or dishonour the same as praise?' 'No, Abba.' 'Are your enemies the same for you as your friends?' 'No', she replied. At that the wise Elder said to her: 'Go, get to work, you have accomplished nothing.' St. Peter of Damaskos, Twenty-Four Discourses no. 9, The Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg th century SATURDAY OF LAZAROS The Neglected Holiday As Holy Week approaches, one beautiful holiday, the Saturday of Lazaros, seems to get neglected. The great miracle of raising Lazaros from the dead is an important holiday, and vital to us in understanding Palm Sunday and in our anticipation of our Lord s Resurrection, a few days later! This year, we will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Saturday of Lazaros, April 11 at 9:00 am. This will be a Liturgy with Commentary, and an excellent learning opportunity as the Liturgy is EXPLAINED. We urge everyone especially families to attend! Please plan to remain after the Liturgy to help make palm crosses, to be passed out on Palm Sunday. Our Family Retreat will take place after the Liturgy, as well. Learn What is a Reliquary? Call the church office to register for the Retreat! PAN-ORTHODOX AKATHIST HYMN 7:00 IN THE EVENING, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010 Holy Mother of God Serbian Orthodox Monastery Rt. 45, 1 mile south of Rt 132 (Grand Av.) Third Lake (Grayslake), IL RESPONSES WILL BE SUNG BY THE PAN-ORTHODOX CHOIR OF GREATER CHICAGO St. Haralambos Philoptochos presents Annual Spring Bake Sale Home-made Pastries for Easter! Tuesday-Wednesday, March 23-24, :00 am to 6:00 pm St. Haralambos Community Center 7373 Caldwell Avenue, Niles, Illinois Featuring: Easter Tsoureki Bread, Koulourakia, Easter Baskets, Lambathes and Red Eggs. Also Baklava, Diples, Galaktoboureko, Kataifi, Kourambiethes and Melomakarouna! LENTEN LUNCHEON Call ahead to place your order! DONATIONS FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER The St. Haralambos Church is very grateful, because every year we have so many thoughtful donors who step forward with Easter donations for general purposes and for those things that are needed for our celebration of Holy Week and Easter. If you would like to make a donation to cover any of the items listed below, please call the church office at 847/ potted Easter Lilies $35.00 each 3 Priest's Easter Candles DONATED 2 Vigil Lambathes each Candles for the Cross (6 sets of 3) per set 5 Flower Wreaths (stefani) boxes Vaia each 2 white sheets DONATED 2 boxes Palms DONATED Olive Oil, Flour (for Unction Service) All Easter donations, whether for these specific items or for the general needs of our Church, are greatly appreciated, and we thank you! 7

8 GREAT AND HOLY WEEK 2010 Η ΑΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ MΕΓΑΛΗ EΒΔΟΜΑΣ 2010 THE SATURDAY OF LAZAROS (Mar 27) 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy with Commentary PALM SUNDAY (March 28) 8:00 am Orthros 9:30 am Divine Liturgy PALM SUNDAY EVENING 7:00 pm Service of the Bridegroom GREAT AND HOLY MONDAY (March 29) 7:00 pm Service of the Bridegroom GREAT AND HOLY TUESDAY (March 30) 7:00 pm Service of the Bridegroom; Hymn of Cassiani GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY (March 31) 2:30 pm The Sacrament of Holy Unction 7:00 pm Orthros of the Last Supper, Holy Unction Anointing GREAT AND HOLY THURSDAY (April 1) 6:00 am Divine Liturgy of the Mystical Last Supper (Holy Communion) 7:00 pm The Twelve Passion Gospels GREAT AND HOLY FRIDAY (April 2) 9:00 am The Royal Hours 2:00 pm The Descent from the Cross 7:00 pm Service of the Lamentations GREAT AND HOLY SATURDAY (April 3) 8:30 am Liturgy of the "First Resurrection" (Holy Communion) HOLY SATURDAY EVENING 11:00 pm Orthros 12:00 am THE RESURRECTION, LITURGY OF PASCHA PASCHA SUNDAY (April 4) 11:30 am THE "AGAPI" EASTER VESPERS OF LOVE BRIGHT FRIDAY (April 9) THE LIFE-GIVING FOUNTAIN 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy HAPPY EASTER! ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ ΤΟΥ ΛΑΖΑΡΟΥ (27 Μαρτίου) 8:30 πμ Όρθρος 9:30 πμ Θεία Λειτουργία ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΒΑΙΩΝ (28 Μαρτίου) 8:00 πμ Όρθρος 9:30 πμ Θεία Λειτουργία ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΒΑΙΩΝ ΒΡΑΔΥ 7:00 μμ Ακολουθία του Νυμφίου~Κασσιανή ΑΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑ (29 Μαρτίου) 7:00 μμ Ακολουθία του Νυμφίου ΑΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΤΡΙΤΗ (30 Μαρτίου) 7:00 μμ Ακολουθία του Νυμφίου, Ύμνον της Κασσιανής ΑΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ (31 Μαρτίου) 2:30 μμ Το Μυστήριον του Ευχελαίου 7:00 μμ Όρθρος του Μυστικού Δείπνου, Ευχέλαιον ΑΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΠΕΜΠΤΗ (1 Απριλίου) 6:00 πμ Θεία Λειτουργία του Μυστικού Δείπνου (Θεία Κοινωνία) 7:00 μμ Τα Πάθη (Δώδεκα Ευαγγέλια) ΑΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ (2 Απρ) 9:00 πμ Οι Βασιλικές Ωρες 2:00 μμ Εσπερινός της Αποκαθηλώσεως 7:00 μμ Ο Επιτάφιος Θρήνος ΑΓΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ (3 Απριλίου) 8:30 πμ Λειτουργία «Πρώτης ναστάσεως» (Θεία Κοινωνία) ΜΕΓΑ ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ ΒΡΑΔΥ 11:00 μμ Όρθρος 12:00 πμ H ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ, ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΣΧΑ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΣΧΑ (4 Απριλίου) 11:30 πμ ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΑΠΗΣ ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ ΤΗΣ ΛΑΜΠΡΗΣ ΤΗΣ ΖΩΟΔΟΧΟΥ ΠΗΓΗΣ (9 Απριλίου) 8:30 πμ Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία ΚΑΛΟ ΠΑΣΧΑ! 8

9 As Pascha approaches, two Family Retreats are being planned: the Saturday of Lazaros Retreat on March 27, and the Holy Friday Retreat on April 2. The Lazaros Retreat is called What is a Reliquary? and will include the Commentary Liturgy in the morning, followed by a craft project, Lenten lunch and making of Palm Crosses to be given out the next day, on Palm Sunday. The Holy Friday Family Retreat is called They Knew Jesus. It is about persons who had personal experiences and contact with Christ, and the program will include a presentation, Lenten lunch, a craft project and the Service of the Descent from the Cross ( Apokathelosis ). There will be a registration fee of $20 per family for each Retreat, but only $25 for any family that registers for BOTH retreats. Please register by March 25! DESIGN A T-SHIRT! Saturday of Lazaros Family Retreat WHAT IS A RELIQUARY? 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturday, March 27, 2010 JR OLYMPICS will take place May 29, and we are looking for a new T-shirt design for our St. Haralambos Olympians! Children of St. Haralambos between 8 and 12 years old are invited to design and submit their pattern, and the best design will be chosen for this year s Olympians! The designs should be black-and-white, and must be submitted by April 30, 2010! Holy Friday Family Retreat THEY KNEW JESUS 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Friday, April 2, 2010 GOYA CONFESSION NIGHTS Monday nights, March 15 and March 22 will be CONFESSION NIGHTS for all our GOYANS, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. GOYANS are invited to come for Confession so that they might be prepared to celebrate PASCHA! ORATORICAL FESTIVAL SUNDAY, MARCH 14! Our Parish Oratorical Festival will take place following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, March 14 in our Community Center. All our parishioners are invited to come, hear and see the presentations offered by our Sunday classes and by our teenage participants!! ATTENTION TEENAGERS! All the teenagers of St. Haralambos are invited to participate in this year s Oratorical Festival. You are invited to prepare a spoken oratorical presentation, an essay, a poem or an icon. There are two divisions, one for junior high and one for senior high, and we hope that every teenager will participate! Our Little Angels learned about the Sunday of Orthodoxy and the meaning of the Holy Icops! The Little Angels is a new fun group for children, ages 4 and under, that meets on Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 1:00 am. Snacks are provided. This is a great way for our kids and parents to meet each other and get to know one another. IONIAN VILLAGE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER CAMP 2010: Teens who have completed grades 7-12 may attend either Summer Travel Camp (STC) July 1-20, 2010 or Byzantine Venture (BV) July 25-August 13, For more information about the program or to register for Summer Camp 2010 visit or contact the Ionian Village office at

10 March 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7 Veneration of Holy Cross 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 8 6:00-Compline 7:30-Fest Mtg 9 4:30 pm Greek 7:30 pm Bible Study 10 6:00-Liturgy of Presanctified :30 pm Greek 7:00-Salutations 13 9:00 am GSL 11:30am GSL Greek Independence Program 4:00pm Greek Greek Independence Program 14 St. John of the Ladder 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Oratorical Festival 15 6:00-Compline 16 4:30 pm Greek 4:30 PTA Mtg 7:30 pm Bible Study 17 6:00 The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete 7:30-Parish Council :30am Pre- Greek Independence Program 4:30 pm Greek 7:00-AKATHIST HYMN 20 9:00 am GSL OPEN HOUSE 21 St. Mary of Egypt 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Liturgy 22 SPRING BREAK NO PRE-SCHOOL NO GREEK SCHOOL NO GSL 6:00-Compline 23 7:00-Pan-Orth Akathist ANNUNCIATION OF THEOTOKOS 8:30 am Orthros and Liturgy Saturday of Lazaros 8:30 am Orthros 9:30-Liturgy with Explanation 9:30am-Family Retreat 28 PALM SUNDAY 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Liturgy Annual Luncheon 7:00 pm- Bridegroom 29 7:00 pm-- Bridegroom Service 30 7:00 pm-- Bridegroom Service 31 2:30pm Service of Holy Unction 7:00 pm Orthros of Holy Thursday (Anointing) 1 6:00 am Liturgy of the Mystical Supper 7:00 pm-the 12 Passion Gospels 2 9:00 am-the Royal Hours 11:00 Family Retreat 2:00 Descent from the Cross 7:00 pm-the Lamentations 3 8:30 am-liturgy of the First Resurrection 11:00 pm Holy Resurrection Η ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ 4 HOLY PASCHA 10:30 am The Vespers of Agapi 10

11 For information about ad sponsorship, please call St. George Publishing at or St. George Publishing, Inc. N0194 4c mss

12 HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE NILES, IL Address Service Requested PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID MILWAUKEE, WI PERMIT #5654 St. Haralambos PTA Annual Palm Sunday Luncheon Sunday, March 28, 2010 following church services Adults: $15 (Fish and skordalia) Children : $8 (Spaghetti dinner) $15 Orders to go Seating is limited! Please make reservations right away! Call our Church Office (847/ ) to make your reservations! 12