Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, November 4, 2018 5th Sunday of Luke St George the New Hieromartyr of Neapolis (Asia Minor) (+1797) - Commemorated on November 3rd "Saint George, the new martyr of Christ, lived in Neapolis of Asia Minor (Nev-Sechir in Turkish) in the eighteenth century. He was a priest at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos and served his flock with righteousness and holiness as a true servant of the Most-high. Gifted with the qualities of love and meekness, brotherly love and forbearance, humble and spotless was his support and consolation of the Greek Christians who then lived under the yoke of the Turks. As an angel on earth the divine George willingly served his fellow men cultivating the divine gifts and pleasing to God. In the year 1797 he was invited to the village Malakopi-located within six hours from Neapolis-to serve at some great feast and to bless their pious Christians, because their priest was ill, and or, in the opinion of others, was hiding from the fury of the Hagarenes [Turks]. The elder George now gladly accepted the invitation without considering the suffering and above all the risks. Mounting his shabby donkey, he proceeded willing. He approached close to Malakopi, when suddenly at Kobia Dere ", meaning ravine, he experienced a wild attack of Turkish shepherds, who angrily fell on him with an indescribable fury. They robbed him they stripped him naked, and in the end they gave him a martyric death, cutting off his precious head. His body, naked and bloodied, with his head they left in an adjacent canyon, but his soul flew close to its Lord to be numbered among the Righteous and the Hieromartyrs. Four days passed without the Holy priest reaching Malakopi, but also not returning to Neapolis. Concerned citizens of Neapolis went in search of him. They found his holy body and his precious head and lamenting and weeping at his difficult death, a shepherd hastily buried him, fearing the fury of Hagarenes. Above his grave a stone bore the simple inscription: The Priest George. Some time passed, until one night the holy hieromartyr appeared in a vision to a pious widow relating to her what happened and urging her to inform the Mayor to look to find the location in which he was buried. The woman did not give importance to it, but when after a few days the dream was repeated, she was fearful and did what the saint asked. Without delay the pious citizens of Neapolis led by a priest, called Neophytos, son also of priest Basilios, fellow priest [συνεφημερίου] of the saint, hastened and excavated that shallow [πρόχειρο] grave. Oh, the miracle! The relic of the Saint remained whole and incorrupt spreading heavenly fragrance and Grace! After they venerated it with reverence and awe, they placed in a wooden casket and carried it to the home of Fr. Neophytos, according to the desire of the Saint himself, and kept it in a cell. There many came, locals and foreigners, to venerate the Saint and receive blessing from his venerable relic. Miracles began to occur. The sick and disabled were healed, childless couples bore children, spiritual illnesses disappeared, and further during drought the citizens of Neapolis fled to the Saint, that they might shortly see the blessed rain fall strongly. All confessed how miraculous St. George was shown to be! In 1924, with the exchange of populations, the Greeks of Cappadocia left for free Greece, each taking with him whatever he considered most precious. The then priest of the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos archimandrite Ignatios, perceiving his first responsibility to safely transfer the miraculous and incorrupt relic of St. George, brought it from the shore of Mersinis by steamer to Attica. During the journey they had very rough seas, but they were lulled with a miracle of the Saint. In Attica the sacred relic was handed over to citizens of Neapolis, who placed it with reverence in the Church of St. Eustathios in New Neapolis, Perissos. Since then countless are the miracles and the healings which St. George worked to those who call on his name with faith. 7560 South Archer Road, Justice, Illinois 60458 (708) 594-2040, fax (708) 594-8362 Web: www.holycrossil.org; Email: office@holycrossil.org Rev. Fr. Demetrios Kounavis - Parish Priest
ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ EPISTLE READING FOR THE DAY ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ GOSPEL READING FOR THE DAY Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεός, πλούσιος ὢν ἐν ἐλέει, διὰ τὴν πολλὴν ἀγάπην αὐτοῦ ἣν ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς, καὶ ὄντας ἡμᾶς νεκροὺς τοῖς παραπτώμασιν συνεζωοποίησεν τῷ Χριστῷ - χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι - καὶ συνήγειρεν, καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἵνα ἐνδείξηται ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις τὸν ὑπερβάλλοντα πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ ἐν χρηστότητι ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. Αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν. Brethren, God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God: not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ανθρωπος δέ τις ἦν πλούσιος, καὶ ἐνεδιδύσκετο πορφύραν καὶ βύσσον εὐφραινόμενος καθ ἡμέραν λαμπρῶς. πτωχὸς δέ τις ἦν ὀνόματι Λάζαρος, ὃς ἐβέβλητο πρὸς τὸν πυλῶνα αὐτοῦ ἡλκωμένος καὶ ἐπιθυμῶν χορτασθῆναι ἀπὸ τῶν ψιχίων τῶν πιπτόντων ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τοῦ πλουσίου ἀλλὰ καὶ οἱ κύνες ἐρχόμενοι ἀπέλειχον τὰ ἕλκη αὐτοῦ. ἐγένετο δὲ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν πτωχὸν καὶ ἀπενεχθῆναι αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἰς τὸν κόλπον Αβραάμ ἀπέθανε δὲ καὶ ὁ πλούσιος καὶ ἐτάφη. καὶ ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ ἐπάρας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ, ὑπάρχων ἐν βασάνοις, ὁρᾷ τὸν Αβραὰμ ἀπὸ μακρόθεν καὶ Λάζαρον ἐν τοῖς κόλποις αὐτοῦ. καὶ αὐτὸς φωνήσας εἶπε πάτερ Αβραάμ, ἐλέησόν με καὶ πέμψον Λάζαρον ἵνα βάψῃ τὸ ἄκρον τοῦ δακτύλου αὐτοῦ ὕδατος καὶ καταψύξῃ τὴν γλῶσσάν μου, ὅτι ὀδυνῶμαι ἐν τῇ φλογὶ ταύτῃ. εἶπε δὲ Αβραάμ τέκνον, μνήσθητι ὅτι ἀπέλαβες σὺ τὰ ἀγαθά σου ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου, καὶ Λάζαρος ὁμοίως τὰ κακά νῦν δὲ ὧδε παρακαλεῖται, σὺ δὲ ὀδυνᾶσαι καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τούτοις μεταξὺ ἡμῶν καὶ ὑμῶν χάσμα μέγα ἐστήρικται, ὅπως οἱ θέλοντες διαβῆναι ἔνθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς μὴ δύνωνται, μηδὲ οἱ ἐκεῖθεν πρὸς ἡμᾶς διαπερῶσιν. εἶπε δέ ἐρωτῶ οὖν σε, πάτερ, ἵνα πέμψῃς αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου ἔχω γὰρ πέντε ἀδελφούς ὅπως διαμαρτύρηται αὐτοῖς, ἵνα μὴ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλθωσιν εἰς τὸν τόπον τοῦτον τῆς βασάνου. λέγει αὐτῷ Αβραάμ ἔχουσι Μωϋσέα καὶ τοὺς προφήτας ἀκουσάτωσαν αὐτῶν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν οὐχί, πάτερ Αβραάμ, ἀλλ ἐάν τις ἀπὸ νεκρῶν πορευθῇ πρὸς αὐτούς, μετανοήσουσιν. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ εἰ Μωϋσέως καὶ τῶν προφητῶν οὐκ ἀκούουσιν, οὐδὲ ἐάν τις ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀναστῇ πεισθήσονται. The Lord said, "There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazaros, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazaros in his bosom. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazaros to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazaros in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses, and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to them, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.'"
Στη διαθήκη της μια ευσεβής μητέρα καρφίτσωσε και ένα κιτρινισμένο φυλλαράκι που τόχε πάντοτε μαζί της και πολλές φορές την έβλεπαν τα παιδιά της να το συμβουλεύεται συχνά κοντά στην εικόνα του Χριστού. Το φυλλαράκι εκείνο έγραφε: Παιδιά μου αυτές οι τέσσερεις λέξεις θα σας χαρίσουν παντοτινή ευτυχία: Όταν - Όπου - Όπως - Όσο Τέσσερεις λέξεις που σαν συνδεθούν με τον Ουρανό θα σας χαρίσουν την ευτυχισμένη ζωή: Κύριε χρησιμοποίησέ με: όταν θέλεις όπου θέλεις όπως θέλεις όσο θέλεις. Αυτή η προσευχή με βοήθησε όσο ζούσα. Αυτήν την ιερή κληρονομιά αφήνω τώρα σε σάς. ************************************************************************************** Για την ευχή Δεν πρέπει να αφήνουμε την Ευχή: «Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, Υιέ Θεού, ελέησόν με, τον α- μαρτωλό.» Πρέπει να μάθουμε να την λέμε συνέχεια, χωρίς σταματημό. Έτσι θα συγκρατούμε τον νου μας και δεν θα γυρίζει στα μάταια. Με την Ευχή ο νους αναπαύεται και αγάλλεται. «Όχι, ο Θεός δεν τιμωρεί, ο άνθρωπος αυτοτιμωρείται» Άγιος Πορφύριος Καυσοκαλυβίτης «Αγάπα όλους» «Δεν πρέπει να κάνεις τον χριστιανικό σου αγώνα με κηρύγματα και αντιδικίες, αλλά με πραγματική μυστική αγάπη. Όταν α- ντιδικούμε, οι άλλοι αντιδρούν. Όταν τους αγαπάμε, συγκινούνται και τους κερδίζουμε. Όταν αγαπάμε, νομίζουμε ότι προσφέρουμε στους άλλους, ενώ στην πραγματικότητα προσφέρουμε πρώτα στον εαυτό μας. Η αγάπη χρειάζεται θυσίες. Να θυσιάζουμε ταπεινά κάτι δικό μας, που στην πραγματικότητα είναι του Θεού». «Όταν αγαπάς τον Χριστό, α- γαπάς όλους» «Ο Χριστός είναι η Εκκλησία και η Εκκλησία είναι ο Χριστός, που μας έχει προσλάβει όλους στον Εαυτό Του. Όταν αγαπάς τον Χριστό, αγαπάς συγχρόνως όλους τους ανθρώπους, χωρίς να ρωτάς αν οι άνθρωποι είναι άξιοι της αγάπης ή ακόμη αν την αποδεχθούν ή την απορρίψουν. Όταν θέλεις να συναντήσεις τον Χριστό, θα Τον βρεις στο χώρο της Εκκλησίας, γιατί εδώ είναι ενωμένη ολόκληρη η ανθρωπότητα με τον Θεό στο Πρόσωπο του Χριστού. Δεν μπορεί να επικοινωνείς με τον Χριστό και να μην τα έχεις καλά με τους άλλους ανθρώπους». «Ο Θεός δεν τιμωρεί» «Όχι, ο Θεός δεν τιμωρεί, ο άνθρωπος αυτοτιμωρείται, απομακρυνόμενος από τον Θεό. Είναι, ας πούμε: Εδώ νερό, εκεί φωτιά. Είμαι ελεύθερος να διαλέξω. Βάζω το χέρι μου στο νερό, δροσίζομαι, το βάζω στη φωτιά, καίγομαι». «Η αγάπη προς το Θεό» Μια άλλη μέρα ερωτώ το Γέροντα πώς πρέπει να είναι η αγάπη μας προς το Θεό και μου λέει: «Η αγάπη μας προς το Θεό, παιδί μου, πρέπει να είναι πάρα πολύ μεγάλη και χωρίς να υπάρχει καμιά διάσπαση σε άλλα πράγματα. Σου φέρνω σαν παράδειγμα το εξής: Ο άνθρωπος μοιάζει να έχει εντός του μια μπαταρία με ορισμένη ενέργεια. Όταν αυτή την ενέργεια την ξοδεύει σε άλλα διάφορα πράγματα εκτός της αγάπης προς τον Θεό, η ενέργεια που απομένει μέσα του γι Αυτόν είναι ελάχιστη και ίσως πολλές φορές μηδαμινή. Όταν όμως διαθέτουμε όλη μας την ενέργεια προς τον Θεό, τότε η αγάπη μας είναι μεγάλη προς Αυτόν». από το βιβλίο: «ΑΠΟΣΠΑΣΜΑΤΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥΣ ΛΟΓΟΥΣ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΚΑΡΙΣΤΟΥ ΓΕ- ΡΟΝΤΑ ΠΟΡΦΥΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΥΣΟΚΑΛΥΒΙΤΗ»
A Great Miracle of St. Nektarios in Romania "In a small village in Romania no priests existed and the residents went often to the Patriarch and demanded him to fulfill the empty spot. However, the Patriarch did not have the means of satisfying the demand for a priest. The villagers went over and over again but there was nothing their Patriarch said that was any different... that he did not have any extra priests or else he would send one to the village. Meanwhile people died unread (no services), others had relationships and children without marriage vows, the children and adults alike were unbaptized. Then one day, outside of the Church a car pulled up and stopped and out stepped a priest shouting. The village was astonished. The villagers went to the church to welcome him and asked him, "How did you come to the village after our Patriarch had said that he doesn't have a priest to send us?" The priest answered, "Isn't that what you wished for? You wished for a priest? Now one has come." All the villagers were glad in the presence of the new priest. The priest began immediately working. He went to all the graves and read the [funeral] prayers. He baptized and married everyone in the village and administered Holy Communion. One day he invited all the villagers to church and told them, "I must leave now, my mission work is done." The villagers were saddened and confused by his announcement and asked, "Now that you came, you are leaving?" However, the priest didn't change his mind and proceeded with his decision. When the villagers realized that there wasn't anything they could do, they thanked him. After days, the villagers went to Patriarch and they thanked him for sending them a priest and to let him know that they would kindly appreciate it if he could send them another priest soon, but the Patriarch didn't know anything. He said to them I didn't send a priest because I don't have one, however let me check with the [Chancellor] to see if he had sent a priest to you to serve your needs. He phoned the [Chancellor] but he too didn't send anyone. The Patriarch inquired, "What did this priest do for you?" The villagers answered, "He married us, baptized us, performed funerals for our parents, he did what any other priest would have performed for us." Then the Patriarch asked if he gave them any papers or logged the mysteries. "Of course," said the villagers, "he gave us papers and he wrote them in the Church's books." "Then did anyone see what he wrote? And with what name he signed?" "All the documents were written in Romanian and we are not well educated and the signature he signed in a language we have not seen before." The Patriarch requested they go bring the books in order to see who was this clergyman. When they returned with the book the Patriarch remained speechless. He couldn't believe his eyes. Indeed, all the documents were written in Romanian while his name was written in Greek with the name of his signature, Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis."
Θέλει να Του μιλάμε ο Χριστός μας Γερόντισσα Μακρίνα Πορταριάς Ήταν μία κοπέλα, μου τηλεφώνησε προχθές και μου λέει ότι πέρσι ήταν κατάκοιτη. Ούτε από δω γυρνούσε ούτε από κει, είχε πάθει εγκεφαλικό. Αλλά την ευχούλα δεν την άφηνε «Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ ελέησόν με» και «Υπεραγία Θεοτόκε βοήθει μοι», στο κεφάλι δεν είχε πάθει τίποτε. Και λοιπόν μετά παρουσιάστηκε η Παναγία τόσο λαμπρή, τόσο όμορφη, τόσο ωραία, πού ήταν ένα ανάστημα που δεν μπορεί να το φανταστεί κανείς και πίσω της ήταν τάγμα αγγέλων. Είχε μία σκέπη και σκέπαζε όλο τον κόσμο και της λέει: -Τι θέλεις να σου κάνω; Λέει: -Θέλω να γυρίσω από το ένα πλευρό και από το άλλο γιατί είμαι παράλυτη. Η πλάτη μου κουράστηκε και να σωθώ, τη σωτηρία μου θέλω. -Αυτά θα στα δώσω, αλλά όμως αυτό που θα σου πω να κάνεις να με φωνάζεις, γιατί εγώ θέλω να με φωνάζετε. Λοιπόν, της Παναγία μας να της λέμε λογάκια, να της λέμε το ένα, το άλλο. Θέλω να φωνάζεις της λέει. Αυτά θα σ τα κάνω. Πλημμύρισε το δωμάτιο όλο άρωμα και τέτοιο φως μέσα στο σπίτι της, πού έλαμπε το προσωπάκι της, τόσο πολύ χάρη είχε και κατόπιν άρχισε και σηκωνότανε από το ένα πλευρό, από το άλλο και γύριζε από το ένα μέρος και το άλλο. Γι αυτό ό Χριστός μας θέλει να Τον φωνάζουμε, θέλει να Τον ζητάμε. Είναι εραστής μας. Ο Χριστός θέλει όλη την αγάπη μας να την δώσουμε σ Εκείνον και ύστερα Αυτός τα οικονομάει όλα. Today s coffee fellowship is hosted by our Philoptochos Society. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. 2018 STEWARDSHIP Stewardship pledge cards can be picked up at the church office; we ask that you prayerfully consider what you will offer to our beloved parish of Holy Cross in 2018. Our beloved parish requires approximately $753 per day to operate or an annual pledge average of $1375 per family. As always, we remain appreciative for all that you lovingly give.
WEEKLY EVENTS TODAY General Assembly after Church Tuesday, November 6 7:00pm - Parish Council Meeting 7:00pm - Philoptochos Meeting Thursday, November 8 8:30am - Synaxis of the Archangels 11:00am - Orthodoxi Zoe Friday, November 9 8:30am - Feast of St. Nectarios Saturday, November 10 10:00am - Greek School 10:00am - Prosforo Workshop Sunday, November 11 Church School Staff meeting after Church 5:30pm - Grand Raffle Banquet ΣΗΜΕΡΑ Γενική Συνεδρίαση ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Τρίτη, 6 Νοεμβρίου 7.00μ.μ. - Συνεδρίαση Δ. Συμβουλίου 7.00μ.μ. - Συνεδρίαση Φιλοπτώχου Πέμπτη, 8 Νοεμβρίου 8.30π.μ. - Σύναξις Ταξιαρχών 11.00πμ. - Ορθόδοξη Ζωή Παρασκευή, 9 Νοεμβρίου 8.30π.μ. - Αγίου Νεκταρίου Σάββατο, 10 Νοεμβρίου 10.00π.μ. - Ελληνικό Σχολείο 10.00π.μ. - Μάθημα για πρόσφορο Κυριακή, 11 Νοεμβρίου Συνεδ. Δασκάλων Κατηχητικού Σχολείου 5.30μ.μ. - Grand Raffle Banquet November 12: 4:30pm - Bus will leave from St. Spyridon Church for St. John Chrysostom Monastery vespers November 13: Parish Thanksgiving Feast November 15: 40 Day Liturgies begin and H.O.P.E. Group November 18: Parish Brookfield Zoo Tree Decorating after church November 20: Holy Unction December 2: St. Valentine s Couples Ministry December 8: Greek American Nursing Home visit SAVE THE DATE December 15: Church Cleaning at 10am December 15-16: Philoptochos Christmas Bake Sale December 16: Youth Christmas Pageant December 19: Holy Unction December 31: New Year s Eve Celebration January 6: Youth Dive for the Cross at Argo High School, Summit January 13: Godparent Sunday January 20: Stewardship Sunday and Parish Council Elections