Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, August 4, th Sunday of Matthew

Transcript

1 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, August 4, th Sunday of Matthew SAINTS OF THE WEEK Eudocia of Puzo and Maria, Daria, and Daria, celebrated on August 5th When Eudocia was nine years old, she befriended a girl named Maria, and they were inseparable for three years. When Eudocia was seventeen, she fe1l seriously ill and could only walk with a stick. Later, at the age of twenty, her condition worsened, and she burst out, saying, I m dying, I m on fire. From that day, she never got up again. She was chained to her bed for about thirty-five years, and several families took constant care of her. She lived in extreme poverty, wearing the same few clothes and never cutting her hair or nails. The Russian people had a special veneration for her great suffering. People came from great distances seeking spiritual edification. Eudocia was granted the gift of clairvoyance, and she more than once prophesied her own death. She read well but was unable to write. She read the lives of the saints most of all. She had a good voice and could recite the Psalter and chant verses and hymns by heart. However, during the Russian Revolution, Eudocia and three other virgins who cared for her, were arrested, interrogated, and beaten. There was a mock trial, and they were sentenced to execution. Just before their death, some women who were tending their flocks saw four columns of light rising from the cemetery to heaven. The four virgins received the Holy Mysteries, and this gave them joy. One of the soldiers saw a white dove with outstretched wings hovering about the martyrs, protecting them. He would not shoot, but the others did. A grave was dug, and the martyrs were placed therein. There was a rumor that some people bought coffins by night and transferred the saints into them, giving them an Orthodox burial. Blaine of the Isle of Bute celebrated on August 10th Blaine was from sixth-century Scotland, born on the Isle of Bute. His uncle was St. Cathan, who saw to Blaine s education in Ireland under the tutelage of Sts. Comgall and Kenneth. Blaine later became a monk and went to Scotland, where he eventually became a bishop. Several miracles are related to him, including the restoration of a dead boy to life. St. Blaine was buried at his church at Kingarth, Bute South Archer Road, Justice, Illinois (708) , fax (708) Web: office@holycrossil.org Rev. Economos Demetrios Kounavis - Parish Priest

2 ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ EPISTLE READING FOR THE DAY ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ GOSPEL READING FOR THE DAY Ἀδελφοί, ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλά, καθὼς γέγραπται, Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπʼ ἐμέ. Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ. Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγοντι ἐκεῖθεν τῷ Ιησοῦ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ δύο τυφλοὶ κράζοντες καὶ λέγοντες ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ. ἐλθόντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ τυφλοί, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς πιστεύετε ὅτι δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ ναί, Κύριε. τότε ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν λέγων κατὰ τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν γενηθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί καὶ ἐνεβριμήσατο αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς λέγων ὁρᾶτε μηδεὶς γινωσκέτω. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες διεφήμισαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ. Αὐτῶν δὲ ἐξερχομένων ἰδοὺ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον καὶ ἐκβληθέντος τοῦ δαιμονίου ἐλάλησεν ὁ κωφός, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ὄχλοι λέγοντες ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ Ισραήλ. οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια. Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ Ιησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ. At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

3 Labor Day Weekend Family Retreat: Join other Orthodox families at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Wisconsin over Labor Day Weekend for a fun-filled time reconnecting with your family and with God. Retreat leader Fr. Josiah Trenham is a prolific author, podcaster, and speaker, and is the founder and director of Patristic Nectar Publications (patristicnectar.org). A father of ten, Fr. Josiah will present workshops on the theme Spiritual Athleticism in Family Life. Interactive sessions for children (ages 3 & up) and teens, fun outdoor activities and time for worship and fellowship. Find more information at

4 Η καρδιά σου ένα θυμιατήρι... Η καρδιά σου ένα θυμιατήρι... Με τους κόπους τους πόνους, τους πειρασμούς, σαν κάρβουνο αναμμένο που σιγοκαίνε τα χαρίσματα σου ωσάν μοσχολίβανο... Μια πύρινη αγκαλιά το κάρβουνο με το λιβάνι. Να καίγεσαι μα να ευωδιά ο τόπος... Έτσι είναι η ζωή, παράδοξη... Στο ''φόρεμα'' της θα δεις όλα τα χρώματα... Η καρδιά σου ένα θυμιατήρι... Να λιβανίζεις με τα χαρίσματα σου την Εικόνα Του, τις εικόνες Του (ανθρώπους), να σκορπάς το άρωμα σου να ευφραίνεται ο κόσμος...να ευφραίνεσαι κι εσύ Μια ιστορία για την αγάπη και τη συγνώμη Είναι η ιστορία δύο φίλων που περπατούν στην έρημο. Κάποια στιγμή τσακώθηκαν και ο ένας από τους δύο έδωσε ένα χαστούκι στον άλλο. Αυτός ο τελευταίος, πονεμένος, αλλά χωρίς να πει τίποτα, έγραψε στην άμμο: «ΣΗΜΕΡΑ Ο ΚΑΛΥ- ΤΕΡΟΣ ΜΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΣ ΜΕ ΧΑΣΤΟΥΚΙΣΕ» Συνέχισαν να περπατούν μέχρι που βρήκαν μια όαση όπου αποφάσισαν να κάνουν μπάνιο. Αλλά αυτός που είχε φάει το χαστούκι παραλίγο να πνιγεί και ο φίλος του τον έσωσε. Όταν συνήλθε, έγραψε πάνω σε μία πέτρα: «ΣΗΜΕΡΑ Ο ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΟΣ ΜΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΣ ΜΟΥ ΕΣΩΣΕ ΤΗ ΖΩΗ». Αυτός που τον είχε χαστουκίσει και στη συνέχεια του έσωσε τη ζωή, τον ρώτησε: όταν σε χτύπησα, έγραψες πάνω στην άμμο, και τώρα έγραψες πάνω στη πέτρα. Γιατί; Ο άλλος φίλος απάντησε: «Όταν κάποιος μας πληγώνει, πρέπει να το γράφουμε στην άμμο όπου οι άνεμοι της συγγνώμης μπορούν να το σβήσουν. Αλλά όταν κάποιος κάνει κάτι καλό για μας, πρέπει να το χαράζουμε στην πέτρα, όπου κανένας άνεμος δεν μπορεί να το σβήσει». ΜΑΘΕ ΝΑ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΣ ΤΑ ΤΡΑΥΜΑΤΑ ΣΟΥ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΜΜΟ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΧΑΡΑΖΕΙΣ ΤΙΣ ΧΑΡΕΣ ΣΟΥ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΕ- ΤΡΑ. ΠΑΡΕ ΤΟ ΧΡΟΝΟ ΝΑ ΖΗΣΕΙΣ! **************************** **************************** Αυτός που έχει πραγματική ταπεινοφροσύνη, δεν ταράζεται όταν τον αδικούν και δεν απολογείται όταν τον κατηγορούν. Ταπεινός είναι εκείνος που δέχεται τις κατηγορίες χωρίς να διαμαρτύρεται. Την ταπεινοφροσύνη σου θα την δοκιμάσεις όταν δεν ταράζεσαι στις παρατηρήσεις που σου κάνουν, έστω κι αν είναι άδικες. -Αγ. Ισαάκ ο Σύρος

5 Today s coffee fellowship is hosted by the ladies of our Philoptochos Society. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. Please check out our website at or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all upcoming events! STEWARDSHIP 2019 Stewardship cards can be picked up in the church office. We ask that you prayerfully consider what you will offer to our beloved parish of Holy Cross in Our beloved parish requires approximately $915 per day to operate or an annual pledge average of $1670 per family. As always, we remain appreciative for all that you lovingly give. The St. Anna Women s Group is selling Orthodox greeting cards for any occasion. Special requests are accepted as well. Please see Presvytera Katerina for details. All proceeds benefit Christ s ministries through our beloved parish. Please support this worthy effort! Thank you for your support! August 10: Feed My Starving Children, Schaumburg August 24: Sunday School Teacher Workshop at St. George, Chicago September 3: Philoptochos Meeting September 7: First day of Greek School September 8: Sunday School Staff Meeting September 8: Altar Boy Workshop September 13: Vespers for Elevation of the Holy Cross September 14: Elevation of the Holy Cross SAVE THE DATE September 17: Family Night September 19: H.O.P.E. Group September 22: First day of Sunday School September 22: Family Fall Outing September 25-29: Metropolis Clergy Laity, Minneapolis, MN October 11-12: Metropolis of Chicago Dance Festival November 16: Philoptochos Children s Medical Fund January 26-February 6th: Holy Land Trip

6 The Love of the Panagia O holy Virgin Mary, tell us, thy children, of thy love on earth for thy Son and God. Tell us of how thou didst look upon His fair countenance, and reflect that this was He Whom all the heavenly hosts wait upon in awe and love. Tell us what thy soul felt when thou didst bear the wondrous Babe in thine arms. Tell us of how thou didst rear Him, how, sick at heart, thou and Joseph sought Him three long days in Jerusalem. Tell us of thine agony when the Lord was delivered up to be crucified, and lay dying on the Cross. Tell us what joy was thine over the Resurrection. Tell us how thy soul languished after the Lord s Ascension. We long to know of thy life on earth with the Lord but thou wast not minded to commit all these things to writing, and didst veil they secret heart in silence. -St. Silouan the Athonite On Humility There are certain kinds of trees which never bear fruit as long as their branches stay up straight, but if stones are hung on the branches to bend them down they begin to bear fruit. So it is with the soul. When it is humbled it begins to bear fruit, and the more fruit it bears the lowlier it becomes. So also the saints: the nearer they get to God, the more they see themselves as sinners. -St. Dorotheos of Gaza All Possible with God My joy, if you have such faith, believe also that to a believer everything is possible through God. -St. Seraphim of Sarov The Christian must be kind with everyone by St. Nektarios of Pentapolis, the Wonderworker Christians must, according to the commandment of the Lord, become holy and perfect. Perfection and holiness are first engraved deeply in the soul of the Christian, and from there they become sealed in his thoughts, his desires, his words and his actions. Thus, the grace of God, which exists in the soul, pours forth throughout the whole external character. The Christian must be kind [eugenikos] with everyone. His words and actions should exude the grace of the Holy Spirit which dwells in his soul, so as to bear witness to his Christian way of life and that the name of God might be glorified. Whoever is measured in his words, is measured also in his actions. Whoever tests the words that he is about to speak, also tests the works that he is about to perform, and thus he never oversteps the bounds of good and virtuous conduct. The grace-filled words of the Christian are characterized by tact and kindness. These are those that give birth to love, and bring peace and joy. In contrast, idle talk gives birth to hate, enemies, trials, love of falls, brawls, riots and wars. Therefore, let us always be kind. May an evil word never pass our lips, a word that is not seasoned with the grace of God, but may they always be grace-filled words, good words, words that bear witness to kindness according to Christ that adorn us spiritually.

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8 WEEKLY EVENTS Tuesday, August 6 8:30am - Holy Transfiguration with the blessing of the grapes 6:00pm - Great Paraklesis Wednesday, August 7 6:00pm - Small Paraklesis Thursday, August 8 6:00pm - Great Paraklesis Friday, August 9 6:00pm - Small Paraklesis Saturday, August 10 Feed My Starving Children Event ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Τρίτη, 6 Αυγούστου 8.30π.μ. - Μεταμόρφωσις του Σωτήρος Χριστού και η ευχή των σταφυλών 6.00μ.μ. - Μεγάλη Παράκληση Τετάρτη, 7 Αυγούστου 6.00μ.μ. - Μικρή Παράκληση Πέμπτη, 8 Αυγούστου 6.00μ.μ. - Μεγάλη Παράκληση Παρασκευή, 9 Αυγούστου 6.00μ.μ. - Μικρή Παράκληση Σάββατο, 10 Αυγούστου Feed My Starving Children Event