Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 24, 2019 Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

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1 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 24, 2019 Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas SAINTS OF THE WEEK Venerable John the Clairvoyant of Lycopolis, Celebrated on March 27 John was a carpenter from fourth-century Lycopolis, Egypt. At the age of twenty-five, he decided to become a monk. For the next five years, he lived in several different monasteries. He finally decided that he preferred complete quiet and solitude, and withdrew into the Thebaid. He lived there for thirty years in a small cell. He conversed with visitors and received food through a small window. God granted John the gift of clairvoyance. He foretold that Emperor Theodosius the Great would win a victory over his enemies Maximus and Eugenios, as well as the Gauls. He told visitors what their future held for them and gave them guidance. He anointed the sick with holy oil and healed them. John s directives included first to be humble, to imitate the saints as much as possible, and never to give yourself praise because sometimes those who reach perfection and whose prayers can cause miracles, can fall into the abyss. John instructed to love silence, divine contemplation, to have a pure mind, avoid sinful thoughts, give kindness to strangers, give alms, to help others, and to live without anger. By the example of his angelic life and soul-saving words, many people received spiritual benefit. St. John lived to the age of ninety. Stephen the Wonderworker, Abbot of Trigleia, Celebrated on March 28 Stephen was the ninth century abbot of Trigleia Monastery, south of the Sea of Marmara. He accepted monastic tonsure at a young age. He was meek, serene, and filled with compunction and love. He kept all-night vigils and had many virtues. God granted him the gift of working miracles, and he healed the sick. He also helped widows and was a father of orphans. His prayers cast down demons and silences heretics. When Emperor Leo the Armenian began the persecution against those who venerated the icons, Stephen was summoned for interrogation. Leo attempted to force him to sign a document that rejected the veneration of icons, but Stephen refused to sign it and denounced Leo s impiety. The iconoclasts tortured Stephen by various means, then imprisoned him, where he died from his weakened condition. Sweet-smelling myrrh exuded from his relics, and his reliquary proved to be the site of countless healings. He cured the demon-possessed, the blind, and paralytics 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 Κατʼ ἀρχάς, Κύριε, τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας, καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται, σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται, καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ, καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; Οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως ἡμᾶς προσέχειν τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν, μήποτε παραρρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ διʼ ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος, καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν, πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; Ἥτις, ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη. "IN THE BEGIN- NING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him. Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ δι ἡμερῶν καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἶκόν ἐστι. καὶ εὐθέως συνήχθησαν πολλοί, ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. καὶ ἔρχονται πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν φέροντες, αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσεγγίσαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον, ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν, καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον, ἐφ ᾧ ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ τέκνον, ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου. ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τί οὗτος οὕτω λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθέως ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ιησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως αὐτοὶ διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον, εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, ἀφέωνταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι, ἢ εἰπεῖν, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἁμαρτίας - λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. καὶ ἠγέρθη εὐθέως, καὶ ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἐναντίον πάντων, ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι οὐδέποτε οὕτως εἴδομεν. At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"i say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

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4 Να προσεύχεσαι. Για όλους... Και τι θα βγει; - Άγιος Βαρσανούφιος Κάποτε, ένας άρχοντας τής τσαρικής αυλής, πήγε να συμβουλευτεί έναν περίφημο τότε για την αρετή του, ιερέα τής Πετρούπολης. -Πάτερ, πες μου, τί να κάμω; Έχω πολλούς εχθρούς. Με μισούν «ματαίως» χωρίς κανένα λόγο. Με συκοφαντούν στον Τσάρο. Κινδυνεύω να χάσω την δουλειά μου. Aν ὁ Τσάρος πεισθεί και με απολύσει, πού θα σταθώ; Πώς θα ζήσω; Σάς παρακαλώ, συμβουλέψετέ με. Τί να κάμω; -Να προσεύχεσαι. Για όλους. Και περισσότερο για αητούς πού ξεσηκώθηκαν εναντίον σου. Και στο σπίτι. Aλλά και στην Εκκλησία, στην θεία λειτουργία. Έχει μεγάλη σημασία αυτό. -Και τί θα βγει με αυτό, πάτερ; είπε πικραμένος. -Θα το ιδείς. Τα «ψίχουλα», οι μαργαρίτες -οι μερίδες πού βγάζει ὁ ιερέας στην προσκομιδή, όταν διαβάζει ονόματα- συμβολίζουν τίς ψυχές των ανθρώπων ζώντων και κεκοιμημένων. Και κάποια στιγμή, αυτές τίς μερίδες ὁ παπάς τίς ρίχνει μέσα στο άγιο ποτήριο, με τα λόγια: «Απόπλυνε, Κύριε, τα αμαρτήματα των ενθάδε μνημονεθέντων δούλων σου, τω Αίματί Σου τω Ἁγίῳ». Δηλαδή παρακαλεί τον Χριστό να ξεπλύνει με το Αίμα Του τίς ψυχές των ανθρώπων πού μνημόνευσε. Και πρόσθεσε: - Γι αυτό, ἄν θέλεις, άκουσέ με. Γράψε τα ονόματα εκείνων πού σέ επιβουλεύονται σέ ένα χαρτί και δώσε τα στον ιερέα, να τα μνημονεύει στη λειτουργία και θα το ιδείς! Ἀπὸ τότε πέρασαν μια, δυο, τρείς βδομάδες. Μετά ἀπὸ ένα μήνα, νάτος, πάλι στον παπά. Και πέφτοντας μπροστά στα πόδια του, εξομολογήθηκε: - Θαύμα, πάτερ! Θαύμα! Θαύμα! Δεν θα το πιστέψετε! Έκανα αυτό πού μού είπατε. Και, να! Αυτοί πού μέχρι τώρα με μισούσαν, και ήθελαν το κακό μου, τώρα μού συμπεριφέρονται με τέτοιο σεβασμό, μού δείχνουν τέτοια αγάπη πού δεν ξέρω, πώς να το εξηγήσω. Το στόμα τους, πού πρώτα ήταν όλο χολή, τώρα Και ὁ σεβάσμιος γέροντας συμπέρανε: -Είδες, λοιπόν! Σού το έλεγα. Άφησε το θέμα σου στο Θεό και θα το ιδείς. Τώρα το βλέπεις, ολοκάθαρα, πόσο ὁ Θεός φροντίζει για μάς. Πάντοτε λοιπόν, και σύ «εν ψαλτηρίῳ» να το ανοίγεις το κάθε σου πρόβλημα. Να προσεύχεσαι. Ιδιαίτερα για «τούς ἐχθραίνοντάς σοι ματαίως» (Ψαλμ. 3,8) δηλαδή για εκείνους πού, χωρίς κανένα λόγο, σέ επιβουλεύονται. Κάι ὁ Θεός, θα τούς κάνει φίλους σου.

5 SAVE THE DATE 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 18: H.O.P.E. Group for April April 19-20: Philoptochos Easter Bake Sale April 20: Saturday of Lazarus Children s Retreat and the making of the palms April 20: Church Cleaning April 21: Palm Sunday Luncheon April 28: Easter Egg Hunt after Agape Vespers 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 May 19: Couples Outing (Location TBD) May 24-26: Metropolis of Chicago Jr. Olympics June 9: Graduate Sunday JUNE 21-23: 2019 GREEK FESTIVAL MEMORIALS Eleni Karakatsanis, 3 months, Right 1-2 Dimitrios Sarolas, 2 years, Left 2-4 May their memory be eternal! Today s coffee fellowship is hosted in memory of Dimitrios Sarolas. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. May his memory be eternal!

6 Sunday of St. Gregory of Palamas This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 a gai nst Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today. **************************** Annunciation of Theotokos Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her allblameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38). Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been wellpleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)

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8 WEEKLY EVENTS Monday, March 25 8:30am - Feast of the Annunciation Tuesday, March 26 Holy Cross Philoptochos Feed the Hungry Program at Annunciation Cathedral, Chicago Friday, March 29 6:30pm - 3rd Salutations to the Theotokos Saturday, March 30 10:00am - Greek School 7:00pm - Vespers for the Holy Cross Sunday, March 31 Sunday of the Holy Cross Greek School Program and Luncheon 6:00pm - Solemn Vespers at Assumption Church, Homer Glen with reflection given by Fr. Tilemahos ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Δευτέρα, 25 Μαρτίου 8.30π.μ. - Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου Τρίτη, 26 Μαρτίου Φιλόπτωχος Τιμίου Σταυρού στο Συσσίτιο των Απόρων στον Ι.Κ.Ν. Ευαγγελισμού Παρασκευή, 29 Μαρτίου 6.30μ.μ. - Γ Χαιρετισμοί Σάββατο, 30 Μαρτίου 10.00π.μ. - Ελληνικό Σχολείο 7.00μ.μ - Μέγας Πανηγυρικός Εσπερινός Κυριακή, 31 Μαρτίου Κυριακή της Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως, Πρόγραμμα/Γεύμα του Ελληνικού Σχολείου 6.00μ.μ. - Κατανυκτικός Εσπερινός στον Ι.Ν. Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου, Homer Glen, ομιλητής π. Τιλέμαχος Lenten and Holy Week Needs 2019 Flowers for the Panagia Icon (4 Salutations Services) - $225 each Flowers for the Panagia Icon (Akathist Hymn Service) - $225 Flowers for Sunday of the Holy Cross (Processional Icon) Daffodils Sunday of the Holy Cross Dikerotrikera Candles for Sunday of the Holy Cross Lambathes Holy Cross Vespers-$140 Palm Sunday Church Decor - $400 Palms and Bay Leaves for Palm Sunday - $1300 Flowers for Palm Sunday Icon Flowers for the Nymphios Icon Flowers for Last Supper Icon - $200 Wreath for Cross of Christ Candles for the 12 Gospels Flowers for the Crucifixion Icon Flowers for the Kouvouklion (Christ s Tomb) - $2350 Rose Petals for Myrophores - $150 Rose Water Gardenias for the Epitaphio Priest Paschal Candle Flowers for the Lavaron - $350 Easter Lilies - $ Altar Candles - $125 Anastasi Icon - $ white cups for Anastasi - $ red cups for Good Friday -$ cases white candles - $60 per case 1 case donated Thank you for your support during this holy season.