Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church

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1 733 South Ashland Ave Chicago, Illinois Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos Saints and Feasts: Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner Sunday, January 7, 2018 Telephone: (312) Office Fax: Fax (312) Parish Council President: Ms. Jayme Schenk Afterfeast of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Cedd, Bishop of Scotland Fursey, Abbot of Lagny The energy of the Holy Spirit, which we have already mystically received in baptism, is realized in two ways. First - to generalize - this gift is revealed... through arduous and protracted practice of the commandments: to the degree to which we effectively practice the commandments its radiance is increasingly manifested in us. Secondly, it is manifested to those under spiritual guidance through the continuous invocation of the Lord Jesus, repeated with conscious awareness, that is, through mindfulness of God. St. Gregory of Sinai On the Signs of Grace and Delusion no. 3, Philokalia Vol. 4 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 259, 14th centur Narthex Duty: Pat Cole & Gus Sarolas Welcoming Ministry: Orthros Reader: Maria Constantinides Coffee Hour: Marian Papas Memorial 40 Memorial: Marian Papas - May Her Memory Be Eternal Before The Creed When the Priest says: The Congregation responds: Christ is in our midst. He is and always will be, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Communion Guidelines: As a reminder, only Baptized and Chrismated Orthodox Christians who are in good standing may receive Holy Communion. Follow the Ushers row by row and please exit towards the outside aisles.

2 The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens. Liturgical Items We Need Please consider donating for the following Antidoron Standing Basket $400 This Basket will be used by the Altar Boys for Communion, Artoklasia Services, Unction(Ευχέλαιόν) Services, etc. Bishop Throne for the Holy Altar $450 This seat is placed in the Holy Altar for visiting Hierarchs and Clergy to use during Services

3 HYMNS OF THE DAY AFTER THE SMALL ENTRANCE Resurrectional Apolytikion Plagal of the 2 nd Tone When the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb and those who guarded You became as though dead, and standing by Your sepulcher was Mary seeking Your pure and sacred body. For You did vanquish Hades and uncorrupted by its touch You came unto the virgin woman, bestowing the gift of life O You who rose from the dead. Lord we give glory to You. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιµον Ήχος πλ. β Ἀγγελικαὶ υνάµεις ἐπὶ τὸ µνῆµά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶµα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, µὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούµενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Theophany 1 st Tone When You were baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness unto You, by calling You His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the verity of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to You. Apolytikion for Synaxis of John the Forerunner 2 nd Tone The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy. Apolytikion for the Church 1 st Tone Your proclamation went forth into all the earth, for it accepted your word, through which you taught the dogmas befitting God, you expounded on the nature of all that is, and you arranged the morals of society. A royal priesthood! Devout father Basil, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy. Kontakion 4 th Tone You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light." Απολυτίκιον Ήχος α' Ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ βαπτιζοµένου σου Κύριε, ἡ τῆς Τριάδος ἐφανερώθη προσκύνησις, τοῦ γὰρ Γεννήτορος ἡ φωνὴ προσεµαρτύρει σοί, ἀγαπητὸν σὲ Υἱὸν ὀνοµάζουσα, καὶ τὸ Πνεῦµα ἐν εἴδει περιστεράς, ἐβεβαίου τοῦ λόγου τὸ ἀσφαλές. Ὁ ἐπιφανεῖς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τὸν κόσµον φωτίσας δόξα σοί. Απολυτίκιον Ήχος β Μνήµη δικαίου µέτ' ἐγκωµίων, σοὶ δὲ ἀρκέσει ἡ µαρτυρία τοῦ Κυρίου Πρόδροµε, ἀνεδείχθης γὰρ ὄντως καὶ Προφητῶν σεβασµιώτερος, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ῥείθροις βαπτίσαι κατηξιώθης τὸν κηρυττόµενον. Ὅθεν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑπεραθλήσας, χαίρων εὐηγγελίσω καὶ τοὶς ἐν ἅδῃ, Θεὸν φανερωθέντα ἐν σαρκί, τὸν αἴροντα τὴν ἁµαρτίαν τοῦ κόσµου, καὶ παρέχοντα ἡµῖν τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Απολυτίκιον τοῦ Ναοῦ Ήχος α' Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος σου, ὡς δεξαµένην τὸν λόγον σου, δι' οὗ θεοπρεπῶς ἐδογµάτισας, τὴν φύσιν τῶν ὄντων ἐτράνωσας, τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἤθη κατεκόσµησας, Βασίλειον Ἱεράτευµα, Πάτερ Ὅσιε, Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ἡµῖν τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Κοντάκιον Ήχος δ ' Ἐπεφάνης σήµερον τὴ οἰκουµένη, καὶ τὸ φῶς σου Κύριε, ἐσηµειώθη ἐφ' ἡµᾶς, ἓν ἐπιγνώσει ὑµνούντάς σε. Ἦλθες ἐφάνης τὸ Φῶς τὸ ἀπρόσιτον.

4 THE EPISTLE / Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1 The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord. Verse: Oh God, hear my cry. The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 19:1-8 In those days, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all. And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, arguing and pleading about the kingdom of God. Προκείµενον. Ήχος βαρύς. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 63.11,1 Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ. Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς µου. Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 19:1-8 Ἐν ταῖς ἡµεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο δέ, ἐν τῷ τὸν Ἀπολλὼ εἶναι ἐν Κορίνθῳ, Παῦλον διελθόντα τὰ ἀνωτερικὰ µέρη ἐλθεῖν εἰς Ἔφεσον καὶ εὑρών τινας µαθητὰς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς, Εἰ πνεῦµα ἅγιον ἐλάβετε πιστεύσαντες; Οἱ δὲ εἶπονn πρὸς αὐτόν, Ἀλλʼ οὐδὲn εἰ πνεῦµα ἅγιόν ἐστιν, ἠκούσαµεν. Εἶπέν τε πρὸς αὐτούς, Εἰς τί οὖν ἐβαπτίσθητε; Οἱ δὲ εἶπον, Εἰς τὸ Ἰωάννου βάπτισµα. Εἶπεν δὲ Παῦλος, Ἰωάννης µὲν ἐβάπτισεν βάπτισµα µετανοίας, τῷ λαῷ λέγων εἰς τὸν ἐρχόµενον µετʼ αὐτὸν ἵνα πιστεύσωσιν, τοῦτʼ ἔστιν, εἰς τὸν Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν. Ἀκούσαντες δὲ ἐβαπτίσθησαν εἰς τὸ ὄνοµα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ἐπιθέντος αὐτοῖς τοῦ Παύλου τὰς χεῖρας, ἦλθεν τὸ πνεῦµα τὸ ἅγιον ἐπʼ αὐτούς, ἐλάλουν τε γλώσσαις καὶ προεφήτευον. Ἦσαν δὲ οἱ πάντες ἄνδρες ὡσεὶ δεκαδύο. Εἰσελθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν ἐπαρρησιάζετο, ἐπὶ µῆνας τρεῖς διαλεγόµενος καὶ πείθων τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ.

5 THE HOLY GOSPEL / ΤΟ ΘΕΙΟΝ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ The Gospel According to John 1:29-34 At that time, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 1:29-34 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσµα Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, βλέπει ὁ Ιωάννης τὸν Ιησοῦν ἐρχόµενον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ λέγει ἴδε ὁ ἀµνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁ αἴρων τὴν ἁµαρτίαν τοῦ κόσµου. οὗτός ἐστι περὶ οὗ ἐγὼ εἶπον ὀπίσω µου ἔρχεται ἀνὴρ ὃς ἔµπροσθέν µου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός µου ἦν. κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τῷ Ισραήλ, διὰ τοῦτο ἦλθον ἐγὼ ἐν τῷ ὕδατι βαπτίζων. καὶ ἐµαρτύρησεν Ιωάννης λέγων ὅτι τεθέαµαι τὸ Πνεῦµα καταβαῖνον ὡς περιστερὰν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἔµεινεν ἐπ αὐτόν. κἀγὼ οὐκ ᾔδειν αὐτόν, ἀλλ ὁ πέµψας µε βαπτίζειν ἐν ὕδατι, ἐκεῖνός µοι εἶπεν ἐφ ὃν ἂν ἴδῃς τὸ Πνεῦµα καταβαῖνον καὶ µένον ἐπ αὐτόν, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν Πνεύµατι Αγίῳ. κἀγὼ ἑώρακα καὶ µεµαρτύρηκα ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ. Download the APP DIGITAL CHANT STAND by AGES Initiatives To follow along during Orthros, Liturgy, Vespers, and Holy Week Services right on your smart device

6 He Was Just Bones Emmanuel Before FMSC Meal Packs - Emmanuel After One Year of FMSC In a remote Ugandan village, their mother died in childbirth. Their alcoholic father was often gone for weeks. At 11, Brian became the primary caretaker of his siblings: Joseph (7), Joan (5) and Emmanuel (2). Desperate to provide for them, he begged for food in a nearby village. When Brian s pleading resulted in no food, none of them ate. They slept on the dirt floor with empty stomachs. Every day was a struggle to survive. Little Emmanuel, called Emma, weighed barely nine pounds. His tummy was so swollen from malnutrition that his tiny legs struggled to support him. He didn t have strength to move. One day a woman, Madrine, noticed the children. She asked an FMSC food partner, Rakai Orphans Development Initiative (RODI),for help. There is a family where a child is about to die, she told RODI. When we found him, Emmanuel couldn t walk and wouldn t even talk, said Richard Mutaawe, Co-Founder of RODI. He literally didn t have any energy. He was just bones. RODI immediately gave the kids MannaPack Rice. We knew only FMSC food could save this family, they said. After one year of eating nutritious food every day, Emmanuel weighs 22 pounds. He smiles joyfully and is walking! Now we can all see hope, says RODI. Before we came here, Emma was dying. He would spend days without eating. FMSC food was truly manna from heaven. It totally changed their lives. Eleven-year-old Brian cooks the MannaPack for his young siblings over an open fire. He makes sure they wash their hands and leads a prayer before they eat. Brian says, Thank you so much for bringing us this food. Through RODI s support, the oldest children now attend school.

7 Feed My Starving Children Meal Packing Event You can save starving children by attending St. Basil Church s Feed My Starving Children meal packing event. These meals are specially formulated for malnourished children and sent to FMSC s partner around the world to be used in orphanages, schools, clinics and feeding programs to break the cycle of poverty. FMSC is a Christian non-profit organization whose food has reached more than 70 countries such as Uganda, El Salvador and Haiti. The World Health Organization reports that 6,200 children worldwide die each day from hunger related issues. But you can help. Each volunteer packs 216 meals at a packing session. St. Basil parishioners and supporters have packed a total of 14,472 meals at our three previous sessions! Sit down jobs are available. Make it a family event. Minimum age to participate is five. Date: Saturday, January 27 Time: 11:30 am 1:30 pm Place: Feed My Starving Children This is where we meet 1072 National Parkway, Schaumburg, IL Please RSVP by one of the following ways by Wednesday, January 24. Contact the Church office or Use the sign-up sheet in Philoptochos Hall or

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9 Dear Parishioners of St. Basil, Having just completed our Great and Holy Feast of our Patron, Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, I cannot help but reflect on the beauty, dignity, and grace that our beloved parish exhibited on the days leading up to the feast on the feast itself. I cannot thank you enough for your personal contributions of love for our beloved Saint Basil and His Parish. So much goes into the Feast of our Parish, and it can only come together with everyone s help. Between setting up the hall for our guests, decorating icons, baking and ordering pastries, preparing and serving the Vasilopitas, serving in the altar, chanting at the Analogion or singing in the Choir, among many other contributions, we showcased our very best to the Metropolis of Chicago and to our saint. I am exceptionally proud of our work that shows who the people of Saint Basil are. I am humbled to serve such wonderful Stewards of God s Holy House. I look forward to getting to know you better, and I pray that 2018 is full of every rich blessing your family deserves, through the intercessions of St. Basil the Great! With gratitude, I am your servant in Christ, Fr. Dimitri Tobias,

10 Calendar for the Week Ahead - Sunday, January 7, 10:30am - Sunday School Meets - Sunday, January 7, 11:30am - Parish Vasilopita - Sunday, January 7, 11:30am - Prison Ministry New Year's card writing to inmates - Sunday, January 7, 1:30pm - St. Basil to Bless the Chicago River - Monday, January 8, 7:00pm - Parish Council Meeting - Tuesday, January 9 OCF FIELD TRIP TO WEEPING ICON - Sunday, January 14, 8:15am - Orthros and Divine Liturgy - Sunday, January 14, 11:45am - Philoptochos Meeting Parish News and Events St. Basil Super Bash - Sunday, February 4, 2018 SAVE THE DATE: We are pleased to announce the return of the St. Basil Super Bash! Stay tuned for details! We need your help - You Might be Missing Out We have started a new weekly St. Basil E-Bulle n - which goes out early each week - and, for some of you, this is going into "spam" or "trash". Please take a look at your spam and trash files and if you see it there, with most servers there's a bu on you can push to stop it's going into trash/spam. Or you can enter stbasilchicago@comcast.net into your contacts list. Thanks! Greek man looking for stem cell donor match For more informa on visit - h ps://bethematch.org/ support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/ A Year End Charitable Giving Tip - If you have benefited from the significant gains in the stock market this year, you can do well as you do good. Consider making a gi of appreciated stock to St. Basil, the Church you love. Consult your financial advisor and ask about the poten al tax benefits of a gi of stock to St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church. You may be surprised how generous you can be thanks to a bull market. Hellenic Le ers Celebra on - Sunday, January 28th, I pray that you can join us at this annual event in fellowship as we celebrate Hellenism and Excellence. Though we do not currently possess a Greek School, we are s ll Phil- Hellenes and can support the enrichment and enhancement of Hellenic Educa on within our Metropolis for future genera ons. Please contact the Church office if you would like to a end or if you would like to donate. Tickets are $60 a person. Stewardship - Have You Become A Steward For 2018? If not, know that everything we have is God's and we are just managers during this brief life. Become a steward today. "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and mul ply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God" (2 Cor. 9:10-11). Prison Ministry New Years Cards to Inmates Please join prison ministry volunteers in sending out New Year s cards to inmates in the Angel Tree program. We will reassure them that we purchased and delivered Christmas gi s to their families. We will get together a er liturgy in the Philoptochos hall on Sunday, January 14. The whole process should take about a half hour or less. Any help you can give will be appreciated. Ladies Philoptochos Thank you for your dona ons to the November food drive for Chicago s Lakeview Pantry. The dona on table was overflowing with food that the homeless can heat up in shelters. Finding food is a daily struggle for the homeless. You eased that burden for many of the city s poorest of the poor. House/Business Blessings - It is customary to bless homes and businesses right a er the feast of Epiphany. Please contact Fr. Dimitri Tobias if you would like to have your home or business blessed ( ). 1 year memorial Marian Pappas - May Her Memory Be Eternal Coffee Hour is Hosted By The Philoptochos in Memory of Marian Papas.

11 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 NO BAPTISMS OR WEDDINGS PERMIT- TED TODAY No Fasting NO FASTING 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for St. Basil, followed by Doxology for the New Year" 2 NO BAPTISMS OR WEDDINGS PERMIT- TED TODAY NO FASTING No Fasting 3 NO BAPTISMS OR WEDDINGS PERMIT- TED TODAY NO FASTING No Fasting 4 NO BAPTISMS OR NO FASTING No Fasting 5 Fasting Day 6 Memorials Not Permitted 6:00 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy and Lesser Blessing of the Waters Liturgy and Great 8:00 am Orthros & Divine Blessing of the Waters of Theophany 7:00 pm Great Vespers for St. John the Baptist (at Des Plaines Parish) 7 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" 11:30 am Parish Vasilopita 11:30 am Prison Ministry New Year's card writing to inmates 8 9 OCF FIELD TRIP TO WEEPING ICON :15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" 11:45 am Philoptochos Meeting 7:00 pm Great Vespers for St. Anthony the Great at Metropolis Chapel :30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for St. Anthony at Metropolis Chapel 7:00 pm Great Vespers for Ss. Athanasios and Cyril (at Aurora parish) 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Ss. Athanasios & Cyril :15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" 28 No Fasting 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" :30 am St. Basil Parish Trip to Feed my Starving Children 29 No Fasting 7:00 pm Great Vespers for Three Hierarchs 30 No Fasting 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Synaxis of the Three Hierarch: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian 31 No Fasting St

12 Matthew 25: The Last Judgement For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: Please donate food for the needy. I was a stranger, and you took me in: Please welcome our Catechumens and Guests Naked, and you clothed me: Please consider donating clothes to the local shelter. I was sick, and you visited me: Please pray for the speedy recovery of: Nicholas I was in prison, and you came unto me: Please pray for and consider visiting our shut-ins. Please also see Pat Cole to see about writing Letters to those Incarcerated through our prison ministry. It means the world to them to receive love. VISITATION POLICY If you would like Fr. Dimitri to visit you in the hospital, please call him or have a family member call. Fr. Dimitri will not go unless he is asked by the family. This is in compliance with both HIPAA and patient privacy. Reflection If You are not receiving the Observer, please contact the Church Office. St. Basil the Great said, "Man is not something visible." Just as a house resembles a house, so the outward man resembles the outward appearance of a man. To the house is given honor according to the one who dwells in the house; so it is to man according to the spirit that dwells in him. In the physical sense it is obvious that the house is not the master but just a house in which the master dwells, but in the spiritual sense it is obvious that the body is not the man but only the house in which the man dwells.