THE 2015 BIG GREEK FOOD FEST OF NILES!

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1 You Belong Here! 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) AUGUST 2015 THE 2015 BIG GREEK FOOD FEST OF NILES!

2 WORSHIP SCHEDULE August Schedule of Services Monday, August 7 7:00 pm Paraclesis Sunday, August 9 Monday, August 10 7:00 pm Paraclesis Wednesday, August 12 7:00 pm Paraclesis Sat, August 15 Κοίμησις της Θεοτόκου The Dormition of the Theotokos 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, August 16 Sunday, August 23 Monday, August 24-St. Cosmas Aitolos Saturday, August 29 Beheading of John the Baptist Day of Strict Fasting 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, August 30 Sunday, September 6 Tues, September 8 Birth of the Theotokos 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, September 13 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Divine Liturgy SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS Monday, September 14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, September 20 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Sunday, September 27 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Divine Liturgy OUR SISTER COMMUNITIES of the Panagia (Chicago, Hegewisch, Orland Park and Racine) invite you to Great Vespers in honor of the Kimissis at 7:00 pm on Friday evening, August 14, and Divine Liturgy on Saturday. Of course, Liturgy WILL be celebrated at St. Haralambos on August 15! 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 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. If your loved one is hospitalized please call us, even if the illness is not serious! In a holistic approach to healing and well-being, a visit from the priest can be very positive. Most hospitals do not inform us when they receive patients from our parish. We depend on you! 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 MARRIAGE Marriage is one of the Holy Sacraments of our Church, and its ultimate purpose is the sanctification of the husband and wife in God s Kingdom. For an Orthodox Christian to remain in good standing, the wedding must take place in the Orthodox Church. Choosing a mate is an exciting and beautiful process. In addition to all our personal concerns in finding a loving and caring spouse, we should also consider other factors. Is there any impediment? Is there a relationship by blood or marriage with other relatives? Since Marriage is a Sacrament and takes place in the Name of Christ, both spouses must believe in Him. One of the spouses must be an Orthodox Christian, and the other spouse must also be Christian. If either person has been previously married, they must have a legal divorce. If they were married in the Orthodox Church, an ecclesiastical divorce is required. Care should be exercised in choosing a sponsor (κουμπάρος). Customarily, this person also baptizes the first child and, therefore, should be a conscientious Orthodox Christian in good standing. There should only be ONE sponsor. (A married couple can sponsor the wedding, since the two have become one by marriage.) Finally, keep in mind that there are some dates on which marriages are not permitted. Check with the church office! Marriage is perhaps the most wonderful gift that God has given. When two people find each and give themselves to each other selflessly, accepting each other s blessings and their faults, there can be no greater gift! Asking God to bless their loving relationship through the Sacrament of Holy Marriage is the ideal sanctification of this loving commitment!

3 HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS PHONE: 847/ From Father Dean Dear Stewards and Friends, August 2015 What THANK YOU comes close to expressing gratitude and appreciation to all of you who worked like you did to make our 2015 Greek Food Fest so successful? I cannot find the words! There was an army of young people and adults on Wednesday and Thursday before the Fest, lifting, pushing, pulling, tugging; moving tables, chairs and equipment into place!! There was another army Thursday cutting, skewering, making souvlakia! (Next year, we need more help!) There was another army Friday, Saturday and Sunday, cutting, cooking, chopping, grilling, frying, toting, selling, painting, serving, smiling! Yet another group (but not an army) that picked up, cleaned, sorted and stored equipment and supplies on Monday and Tuesday after the Fest! But army is not descriptive enough. Churchill would have said that you are HEROES tireless, devoted and determined! THANK YOU! (Special thanks to those parishioners and families who scheduled their summer vacation around the Festival so that they could help!) Although the weather was not friendly on Friday and Saturday, our Fest was one of our 3 or 4 most successful of all! We are looking forward to our August holidays, especially The Falling Asleep of the Panagia on August 15. We are in a season of fasting until then; let us take advantage of this unique summer opportunity to feed and strengthen our souls through her love! September first is the beginning of the Ecclesiastical year, and we also look forward to the special holidays of September! Also, plan on attending a very important General Assembly one day soon. This Assembly will impact on the future of our church and our whole community! Watch for more information! Very soon, school will be back in session and summer will feel like its over. Seize the day! Make the best of the remaining days! HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH NILES, ILLINOIS Proistamenos...Fr. Constantine P. Botsis Synefimerios....Fr. George Lamberis Pastoral Assistant Deacon John G. Suhayda Chanter Nick Harisiadis Parish Council Officers President Perry Giannopoulos Vice President Nick Andrews Treasurer..... David Loomos Secretary Argy Koutsikos Phase III Chairman... Stewardship.. Budget Committee Chairman...Perry Giannopoulos Building & Grounds Chairman.. Michael Pontikes and Theodoros Karabatsos Decor Committee Chairman...Stephan Aliferakis Finance Committee Chairman... Outreach Committee.....John Pierce School Board Chairman......Olympia Bournias Audit Committee Chairman...Evan Houpis.. Food Fest Chairman. Philoptochos President......Maria Dimitriou PTA Co-Presidents (Afternoon School) Anna Sikoral and Kathy Ioannidis PTA President (Preschool)...Marianna Memmos PTA Co-Presidents (Saturday School)......Angelo Mihalopoulos and Georgia Pipikios Greek School Principal... Mrs. Anastasia Liapi Saturday School Director...Mrs. Andrianna Panayiotou Preschool Director Mrs. Rita Petratos Sunday School Director...Presvytera Georgia Botsis Athletic Director David Loomos Scoutmaster George Alpogianis Asst Scoutmaster Sam Parmakis Asst Cubmaster John Frake Little Angels....Mrs. Tasia Liapi YAL President......Christina Pappadis GOYA President Alex Anton Jr. Goya Advisor.. Jolynn Ruggerio Bookstore Manager..... Jolynn Ruggerio Web Master George Houpis Office Staff..Barbara Skaouris and Alexandra Grivas Maintenance Staff.Juan Caro and Carolina Contreras IN THIS ISSUE: Letter from our Priest (pg 3) Announcements (pg 4-5) 2015 Greek Food Fest of Niles (pg 6-7) 2015 VCS (pg 8) Golf Outing! (pg 9)

4 YOU BELONG HERE WE BELONG TO GOD! Our church and our home give us the warmth and assurance of love and belonging. This church and our homes are the places where we experience love from God and His people. At the same time, we need your help to ensure that our church will be here to offer love and belonging to others: friends, visitors and future generations! The way we do this is through sincere and conscientious Stewardship. Stewardship means friendliness, welcoming visitors, pride and ownership of our church, and offering our time, talents and treasury. We urge you to make a bold and faith-filled commitment to your church for 2015, if you have not yet done so! Please set a level of giving that is a reflection of your love for God and of your appreciation for the blessings and benefits you derive from your Church. There is no minimum, but true stewardship means proportional giving giving in proportion to our resources and income. You belong here! PRAY FOR Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Paul Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop John Ibrahim, both of Aleppo, Syria, who were kidnapped April 22, Twenty-four months have passed, and their location and well-being remain unknown. There has been practically no media attention to their kidnapping. ST HARALAMBOS GOLF OUTING will take place Thursday, September 24 at the Old Orchard Country Club (Mount Prospect). Golf Lunch Dinner--Prizes--Rafflesmark your calendar! OUR 2015 BIG GREEK FOOD FEST OF NILES Congratulations to Elizabeth Lakani, the winner of this year s Grand Raffle! COMMUNITY NEWS FAMILY SYNAXIS This year s Labor Day Weekend Family Synaxis is called The Church in the Home: Finding Salvation in Family Life. It will take place Sept 4-6 at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, Wisconsin, and the workshop leader will be Fr. Joseph Copeland. The program includes worship, workshops and discussions fpor both adults and children, as well as outdoor activities. For more info and to register, please visit There is a discount for registrations prior to August 17! CHICAGO SYMPOSIUM UPDATE Synergy s Annual Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Holy R e s u r r e c t i o n S e r b i a n Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago. Father Josiah Trenham will present THE CROSS AND THE CRESCENT. Please visit for more information! GREEK SCHOOL REGISTRATION has begun for all our school programs for the school year. Our Preschool program, for 3, 4 ands 5 year-olds is daily Mon-Fri from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Our Afternoon School is offered on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4:30 to 6:30, and our Saturday Greek School runs from 9:00 am to 12:30. Registration information is available in our church office ( ). COLLEGE ADDRESSES--We would like to compile a list of all our students who are attending college, whether they are living at home or away. Please call the church office to let us know your student's mailing address and address! SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS SEPTEMBER 13! Register your children now! SAINT HARALAMBOS PHILOPTOCHOS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DINNER will take place Monday evening, September 28 in our Community Center. Philoptochos is the official women s organization of the Greek Orthodox Church, and is one of the most dynamic organizations in the life of the church. All the ladies of our community are invited to attend this dinner and become members of our Philoptochos! PHILOPTOCHOS LUNCHEON--The Annual Philoptochos Luncheon for the Metropolis of Chicago will take place this year on Saturday, September 19 at the Café La Cave in Des Plaines, IL. For reservations, please call the church office ( ). Plan to attend and support the work of Philoptochos!

5 ΕΝΟΡΙΑΚΕΣ ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ ΑΝΗΚΕΤΕ ΕΔΩ -- ΑΝΗΚΟΥΜΕ ΣΤΟΝ ΘΕΟ! Η εκκλησία μας και το σπίτι μας μας δίνουν θαλπωρή και επιβεβαίωση αγάπης και της αίσθησης του ανήκειν. Η εκκλησία αυτή και τα σπίτια μας ε ί ν α ι ο ι χ ώ ρ ο ι ό π ο υ αντιλαμβανόμεθα την αγάπη του Θεού και των ανθρώπων Του. Ταυτόχρονα, χρειαζόμεθα την βοήθειά σας δια να εξασφαλίσουμε ότι η εκκλησία μας θα είναι πάντα διαθέσιμη να προσφέρει την αγάπη και την αίσθηση του ανήκειν σε όλους: φίλους, επισκέπτες, και μελλοντικές γεννεές! Αυτό επιτυγχάνεται δια του ειλικρινούς και ευσυνειδήτου Stewardship. Το Stewardship σημαίνει καλωσύνη, καλωσόρισμα επισκεπτών, υπερηφάνεια δια την εκκλησία μας, και προσφέροντας τον χρόνο μας, τα ταλέντα μας και χρηματικές δωρεές. Σας παροτρύνουμε να συμπληρώσετε μία γενναιόδωρη και ευσυνείδητη κάρτα προσφοράς δια το 2015! Το αληθινό Stewardship σημαίνει να δίνουμε ανάλογα με τα εισοδήματά μας. Ανήκετε εδώ! ΝΕΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟΥ--Οι εγγραφές έχουν ήδη αρχίσει διά το σχολικό έτος για το Νηπιαγωγείο, το Απογευματινό Ελληνικό Σχολείο καθώς και για το Σαββατιανό Σχολείο. Σχεδιάστε να εγγράψετε τα παιδιά σας σε ένα από τα Ελληνικά Σχολικά Προγράμματά μας, όπου τα παιδιά μας θα μάθουν την γλώσσα, πίστη και κουλτούρα μας, και θα δημιουργήσουν φιλίες μέσα στην Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Κοινότητα. Η συμμετοχή των παιδιών μας στα προγράμματα αυτά, εξασφαλίζει την διατήρηση των αρχών μας και της Ελληνικής μας ταυτότητας! NEA ΚΑΤΗΧΗΤΙΚΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟΥ-Το Κατηχητικό Σχολείο αρχίζει την Κυριακή, 14 Σεπτεμβρίου! Μην παραλείψετε να εγγράψετε τα παιδιά σας εις αυτό το σπουδαίο πρόγραμμα. Το Κατηχητικό Σχολείο θα αρχίζει 9:30 π.μ.-μην αργοπορείτε! Save the Date! St. Haralambos 2015 GOLF OUTING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24! ΠΕΡΙ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΕΥΧΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΩΝ ΕΥΧΕΣ ΝΕΟΓΕΝΝΗΤΩΝ ΤΕΚΝΩΝ--Κάθε μάνα και το παιδί της, σαράντα ημέρες μετά την γέννησή του προσέρχονται στην εκκλησία για να λάβουν την Ευλογία των 40 Ημερών, κατά μίμησην του Ιησού Χριστού ο οποίος παρουσιάσθηκε στον Ιερόν Ναόν σαράντα ημέρες μετά την γέννησή του. Παρακαλούμε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας για να κανονίσετε την ευλογία αυτή. ΒΑΠΤΙΣΕΙΣ Παρακαλούμε όπως τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια να προγραμματίσετε Βαπτίσεις. Σχεδιάστε πολύ ενωρίτερα!-υπάρχουν μερικές μέρες που δεν γίνονται βαπτίσεις. ΓΑΜΟΙ-Παρακαλούμε όπως κανονίζετε συνάντηση με τον π. Κωνσταντίνο τουλάχιστον οκτώ μήνες πριν την προτεινόμενη ημερομηνία του γάμου δια τις απαιτούμενες προετοιμασίες. ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΣΗ Οι Εξομολογήσεις κανονίζονται κατόπιν ραντεβού. Δια να προγραμματίσετε εξομολογήσεις, παρακαλούμε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας. ΜΕΡΙΜΝΑ ΑΡΡΩΣΤΩΝ Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί που θα ήθελαν να λάβουν τα Άγια Μυστήρια και δεν μπορούν να έλθουν στην εκκλησία (βρίσκονται εις νοσοκομεία ή ανήμποροι εις τα σπίτια τους) παρακαλούνται να επικοινωνούν με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια να μπορέσουν να τα λάβουν. Παρακαλούμε να επικοινωνείτε με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας εαν κάποιος συγγενής σας είναι στο νοσοκομείο! Τα νοσοκομεία πλέον δεν μας πληροφορούν όταν έχουν αρρώστους από την ενορία μας. ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΑ Επιμνημόσυνες δεήσεις γίνονται για την αιώνιον ανάπαυση των τεθνεώντων. Συνήθως, αυτές οι δεήσεις γίνονται κατά τις 40 ημέρες, τους 6 μήνες, τον 1 ον χρόνο και τον 3 ον χρόνο. Όταν έχουν περάσει τρία χρόνια, είναι πιο αρμόζον να ενθυμούμεθα τους αποθανόντας κατά τα Ψυχοσάββατα STEWARDSHIP YOU BELONG HERE! 2015 STEWARDSHIP UPDATE As of July 20, 2015: 569 families have committed $ 297, How about you?

6 THE 2015 BIG GREEK FOOD FEST OF NILES!

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10 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 9 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 10 7:00 p Paraclesis :00 p Paraclesis :00 p-vespers at area churches 15 ΚΟΙΜΗΣΙΣ DORMITION of THEOTOKOS 8:30 am--orthros and Liturgy 16 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine Liturgy :30 pm Parish Council Mtg :30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 24 St. Cosmas the Aitolian 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 25 7:00 pm-school Board Meeting BEHEADING OF JOHN 8:30 am--orthros and Liturgy STRICT FASTING

11 the 2015 BIG GREEK FOOD FEST OF NILES Our 2015 Greek Food Fest was one of our most successful of all! Many thanks for your support we appreciate all who donated, volunteered and attended! HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE NILES, IL Address Service Requested