Dear Parishioners, Χριστός Ανέστη!!! Christ is Risen!!!

Agape News May 2010

PARISH LIFE

PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, Χριστός Ανέστη!!! Christ is Risen!!! Together we celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ s victory over death! His crucifixion and resurrection have freed us from the consequences of our fallen human nature and He is among us now as we approach the Blessed Great and Holy Feast of Pentecost! Going forward in life we must realize that the greatest of all debts has been lifted from our shoulders: the generational debt that could not be repaid except through Christ s victory over death. He has loosened us from our bonds; He has given us true pursuit of eternal happiness; He has given us life and hope! Let these Holy days not be routine. Let us not accept the status quo. Each of us must examine our life in the context of what He has given us, and in return offer back to him the appropriate gifts of thanksgiving and love which is nothing less than our whole life! May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God the Father and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!!! Worshipping His 3rd Day Blessed Resurrection, I remain, In His Service, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Spiritual Arrows All children with cumulative attendance of 80% or better have hit the mark and will be listed monthly in the Agape News! Congratulations to our Spiritual Arrows!!! Vasilia Boukis Shebah Chirackal Penny Constantinou Elianna Lovejoy Naina Biju Ninan Naveen Biju Ninan Peter Stopoulos Tony Stopoulos Stephanie Theofilis Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Have you offered your 2010 Dues? It s that time of year again. Please offer your 2010 dues ($20 per member) to the Philoptochos so that we may support the national ministries. It is important that we have as many members as possible so that our witness at the national level is as bright as possible. Urgent - We would like to have our cookbook available for sale at the 2010 Festival - please submit your recipes to Helen Haney today!!! Next Philoptochos Meeting - Sunday, May 2 nd, following Divine Liturgy Contact: Litsa Gregory (309)755-0164

GREEK CULTURAL FESTIVAL The Festival is Home Again!!! New for 2010!!! New Weekend June 18 th and 19 th Pastitsio Dinners on Both Nights! 4 New Combination Platters! Expanded Church Tours! New Food Items Once Again Sponsored by: Please join us SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON Special Fellowship Luncheon to benefit the Kathy Petaros Stamatis Scholarship Fund The Assumption Philoptochos Society invites you to this special annual event on Sunday, May 16th, following the Divine Liturgy Come to lunch and show your love and support for our youth in their pursuit of secondary education. $10 for adults / $5 for kids under 12

SSS. CONSTANTINE & HELEN. Celebrated May 21 This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius, and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him. As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age.

PENTECOST Celebrated May 23 rd Such, therefore, are the reasons for the feast of Pentecost: the coming of the All-holy Spirit into the world, the completion of the Lord Jesus Christ's promise, and the fulfillment of the hope of the sacred disciples, which we celebrate today. This is the final feast of the great mystery and dispensation of God's incarnation. On this last, and great, and saving day of Pentecost, the Apostles of the Savior, who were unlearned fishermen, made wise now of a sudden by the Holy Spirit, clearly and with divine authority spoke the heavenly doctrines. They became heralds of the truth and teachers of the whole world. On this day they were ordained and began their apostleship, of which the salvation of those three thousand souls in one day was the comely and marvelous first fruit. That which came to pass at Pentecost, then, was the ordination of the Apostles, the commencement of the apostolic preaching to the nations, and the inauguration of the priesthood of the new Israel. Therefore, together with the baptism of the Holy Spirit which came upon them who were present in the upper chamber, which the Lord had foretold as recorded in the Acts, "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence" (Acts 1:5), the Apostles were also appointed and raised to the high priestly rank, according to Saint John Chrysostom. On this day commenced the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by which we become "partakers of the Divine Nature" (II Peter 1:4). For before Pentecost, it is said of the Apostles and disciples only that they abode in "prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:14); it is only after the coming of the Holy Spirit that they persevered in the "breaking of bread," that is, the communion of the Holy Mysteries- "and in prayer" (Acts 2:42).

Haline Akulow Orest Akulow Derek and Sophia Anderson John and Katie Andrios Kulla Anggeloplos John Arvanitis Michael and Nancy Avgenackis George Bagatelas Theodore and Karen Bagatelas Fr. Jon and Presbytera Doreece Boukis Ludmilla Cherevko Victor and Judy Cherevko Abraham and Molly Chirackal George and Nancy Coin Stan and Kay Coin Dr. Costas and Yvonne Constantinou Miltos and Cathy Diakogeorgiou Harikleia Diakogeorgiou Angie Dokolas Lee Dokolas Anne Driscoll George and Georgia Eleftheropoulos Nicholas Fotiadis Susan Fotiadis Gus and Toula Fotos Paris Fotos Mary Giovanis STEWARDSHIP 2010 Stewardship Pledges received as of April 28, 2010 Michael and Elizabeth Gorman Elizabeth Gregory Tom Gregory Pete and Arlene Gust John Haney Mike and Helen Haney Christina Iskos-Reed Jim Jannes Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Francis Kandis Mike and Terri Kandis Dr. George and Sherry Kontos Terry and Maria Kotrogiannis Helen Kouris Georgiana and Patricia Kutrumanes Alex and Diane Lamacki Judy Larson Robert and Bessie Lemen Thomas Lingris Georgia and Roger Lovejoy Celia Lubbers Georgia Maess-Photiades Christ and Susan Mekus Demos Mekus Dale and Erica Melchin Lambros and Lisa Mihalopoulos Sophia Mihalopoulos Bill and Linda Minas Deno and Barbara Minas Michael and Roseann Monn Gust Moraetes Katherine Moraetes Don and Deana Olvera- Mundt Biju and Sholly Ninan Angela Olvera Daphne Olvera Victoria Olvera Bill Panouses Chris Panouses Helen Panouses Katherine Panouses Dimitri Papageorgiou Dean Papanikolaou Fr. Basil Papanikolaou Spiros and Carol Pappaspiros Nicholas and Daryn Passini Christ and Helen Petaros George Polios Louis and Toula Poulimas Steve Pyevich Colette Spurgetis Frank Spurgetis Soc Spurgetis Nick and Barbara Staken Paraskevi Stamatoukos Anthony and Joan Stopoulos Jim and Kristel Stopoulos Bill and Tracey Theofilis Kostas Theofilis John and Tricia Thodos Frank Vretis AS OF APRIL 28 TH, 88 PLEDGE CARDS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FOR A TOTAL PLEDGED AMOUNT OF $105,550.

SERVICE SCHEDULE May 2 Sunday Sunday of the Samaritan Woman 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 9 Sunday Sunday of the Blind Man 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 12 Wednesday The Leave Taking of the Feast of Pascha 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 13 Thursday The Great Feast of the Ascension 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 16 Sunday Sunday of the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 21 Friday Feast of Saints Constantine and Helen 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 22 Saturday Saturday of the Souls 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 23 Sunday Sunday of Holy Pentecost 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy May 30 Sunday Sunday of All Saints 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

M CHURCH. Sunday Monday Tuesday Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Philoptochos Meeting Sunday School (All Levels) Coffee Hour 2 3 4 Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center A Y 2 0 1 0 Sunday of the Blind Man Mothers Day Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School (All Levels) Ionian Village Meeting Coffee Hour Sunday of Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Scholarship Luncheon Attendance Awards 9 16 23 Sunday of Holy Pentecost Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Kneeling Service of Pentecost Family Worship Coffee Hour Sunday of All Saints Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 30 Memorial Day Riverside Cemetery (10:00 am) Moline Memorial (12:00 Noon) 10 11 17 18 24 31 Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center 25

CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5 6 7 8 Souvlaki Preparation 5:00pm 12 Apodosis of Pascha Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am 13 Great Feast of the Ascension Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am 14 15 19 20 21 22 6:30pm - Parish Council Meeting Feast of Saints Constantine & Helen Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Saturday of the Souls Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am 26 27 28 29 Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 2 Μαϊου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ε της Σαμαρείτιδος 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 9 Μαϊου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΣΤ του Τυφλού 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 12 Μαϊου Τετάρτη Απόδοσις του Πάσχα 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 13 Μαϊου Πέμπτη Ανάληψις του Χριστού 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 16 Μαϊου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ζ των Αγίων Πατέρων (Α Οίκ. Ζυν.) 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 21 Μαϊου Παρασκευή Των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 22 Μαϊου Σάββατο Ψυχοσάββατο 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 23 Μαϊου Κυριακή Κυριακή Η της Πεντηκοστής 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 30 Μαϊου Κυριακή Κυριακή των Αγίων Πατέρων 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία

Prosforo Schedule May 2 Elaine Eleftheropoulos May 9 Kathy Panouses May 16 Toula Fotos May 23 Maria Georgiadis May 30 Georgia Eleftheropoulos DIAKONIA Coffee Hour Parish Council Ushering Teams & Schedule St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John 9:15 Celia Lubbers Cathy Diakogeorgiou Steve Arvanitis Bill Theofilis 9:40 Nick Passini Michael Haney John Thodos Deno Kandis 9:55 Diane Lamacki Abraham Chirackal John Stopoulos Georgia Lovejoy May 2 St. Luke May 9 St. John May 16 St. Matthew May 23 St. Mark May 30 St. Luke May 2 Lamacki & Minas Families May 9 Litsa Gregory May 16 Scholarship Luncheon May 23 Not Yet Requested May 30 Helen Panouses & Olvera Family Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings May 2 Gospel John 4:5-42 Epistle Hebrews 13:7-16 May 9 Gospel John 9:1-38 Epistle Acts 16:16-34 May 16 Gospel John 17:1-13 Epistle Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 May 23 Gospel John 7:37-52, 8:12 Epistle Acts 2:1-11 May 30 Gospel Mt 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30 Epistle Hebrews 11:33-40, 12:1-2

ΑΓΙΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ 21 Μαϊου Ο Μέγας Κωνσταντίνος γεννήθηκε το 274 μ.χ. Πατέρας του ήταν ο Κωνστάντιος ο Α ο Χλωρός και μητέρα του η Ελένη, απο το Δρέπανο της Βιθυνίας. Ο Κωνσταντίνος απο 18 χρονών έγινε στρατιωτικός και, χάρη στην ανδρεία του, τιμήθηκε με τα ανώτερα αξιώματα του στρατού. Ήταν αυτός, που με το χριστιανικό σταυροειδές λάβαρο με το ελληνόγραμμα "εν τούτω νίκα", κατατρόπωσε τα στρατεύματα του Μαξεντίου και έπειτα του Λικινίου. Επίσης, ήταν ο πρώτος αυτοκράτωρ που ευνόησε την Εκκλησία, μετά απο τρείς αιώνες ανελέητου διωγμού. Μετέφερε την πρωτεύουσα του κράτος του στο αρχαίο βυζάντιο, και εκεί έκτισε τη βασίλισσα των πόλεων, την Κωνσταντινούπολη. Στο τέλος, ο Κωνσταντίνος αξιώθηκε και του Αγίου Βαπτίσματος, και αμέσως μετά είπε: "Νύν αληθεί λόγω μακάριον οίδ εμαυτόν, νύν της αθανάτου ζωής πεφάναι άξιον, νύν του θείου μετειληφέναι φωτός πεπίστευκα". Τώρα, δηλαδή, σύμφωνα με το λόγο της αλήθειας, ξέρω ότι είμαι μακάριος, τώρα έχω γίνει άξιος της αθανάτου ζωής, τώρα έχω πιστέψει πώς έλαβα το θείο φώς. Ο Μέγας Κωνσταντίνος πέθανε σε ηλικία 63 ετών (21 Μαΐου 337). Η δε μητέρα του Ελένη, που συνεορτάζεται με το γιό της, ήταν αυτή που βρήκε τον Τίμιο Σταυρό στους Αγίους Τόπους και έδωσε στο Μέγα Κωνσταντίνο την πρέπουσα διαπαιδαγώγηση. Άλλωστε, και ο ίδιος την τίμησε, όταν στη μεγάλη πλατεία της Κωνσταντινούπολης έκτισε δύο στήλες, μία δική του και μία της Ελένης, που έφερε την επιγραφή: "Είς Άγιος είς Κύριος Ιησούς Χριστός, είς δόξαν Θεού Πατρός, Αμήν".

ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΠΕΝΤΗΚΟΣΤΗΣ 23 Μαϊου Μετά την Ανάληψη του Κυρίου στους ουρανούς, οι Απόστολοι και οι υπόλοιποι μαθητές του, καθώς και οι γυναίκες που απο την αρχή τον είχαν ακολουθήσει, η Παναγία Παρθένος Μαρία η Μητέρα του και τα αδέλφια του, περίπου όλοι μαζί 120 άτομα, γύρισαν απο το όρος των Ελαιών στην Ιερουσαλήμ και, μπαίνοντας στο σπίτι όπου έμεναν, ανέβηκαν στο υπερώο, δηλαδή στον πάνω όροφο του σπιτιού και εκεί, περίμεναν με προσευχή την επιφοίτηση του Αγίου Πνεύματος, σύμφωνα με την υπόσχεση του Σωτήρα Χριστού. Στο μεταξή εκεί, εξέλεξαν και τον Ματθία και τον συναρίθμησαν με τους ένδεκα Αποστόλους. ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΠΑΝΤΩΝ 30 Μαϊου Τον κάθε ένα απο τους γνωστούς Αγίους, τιμούμε ειδικά σε κάποια μέρα του χρόνου. Επειδή όμως πολλοί μας είναι άγνωστοι και ο αριθμός τους πολλαπλασιάστηκε κατά καιρούς, γι αυτό η Εκκλησία όρισε, μια συγκεκριμένη γιορτή. Έτσι λοιπόν την ημέρα αυτή, τιμάμε με ευλάβεια όλους τους Δικαίους, Προφήτες, Όσιους, άνδρες και γυναίκες μαζί, γνωστούς και άγνωστους, όσους απο τον Αδάμ μέχρι τώρα απεβίωσαν με ευσέβεις και με τα καλά τους έργα δόξασαν τον Θεό. Αυτούς όλους και αυτές επίσης τις στρατιές των Αγγέλων, πρίν απ αυτούς δε και μαζί με όλους την Παναγία Θεοτόκο και αειπάρθενο Μαρία, τιμάμε σήμερα με την παρούσα γιορτή, προβάλλοντας τη ζωή της σαν παράδειγμα αρετής. Και παρακαλούμε όλους αυτούς τους Αγίους να πρεσβεύουν στον Θεό για μας προκειμένου η χάρη και το άπειρο έλεός Του να είναι μαζί με όλους μας.

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING The 4th Annual Greek Cultural Festival Golf Tournament Monday, June 14, 2010 at the TPC at Deere Run 9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start $100 per golfer includes Greens Fees, Practice Range, Cart, Locker Room and Shower Facilities, On Course Soft Drinks, Continental Breakfast, Casual Lunch, On Course Events Sponsorship Opportunities: Lunch Sponsor ($1000) Hole Sponsor ($200) Breakfast Sponsor ($300) Beverage Cart Sponsor ($400) Cart Sponsor ($500)

GOLF OUTING REGISTRATION Name: Company: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone: Email: I am reserving a Foursome w/hole sponsorship, attached is a check(s) For foursome(s) x $500 = (A $100 discount!) I am organizing a Foursome, attached is a check(s) For foursome(s) x $400 = (with 2 or more Foursomes you receive a free Hole Sponsorship!) I am golfing as an individual; please place me in a foursome or with: Attached is my $100 payment. I can t golf, but wish to sponsor a hole for $200. Company/Individual Name: I can t golf, but please accept my donation of $ Please Make Check Payable To: Greek Cultural Festival And Return Prior To Friday, May 28 th, 2010 Golfer #2 Golfer #3 Golfer #4 Additional Golfers for Foursome Reservations

Agape News SPONSORS The Agape News is made possible by the generous support of the following parishioners: Fr. Jon, Presbytera Doreece and Vasilia Boukis Fr. Basil Papanikolaou Dr. Steve, Aimee, Nick and Zoe Arvanitis Michael and Nancy Avgenackis George Bagatelas Paul and Christine Bagatelas Family Theodore and Karen Bagatelas In Memory of Jimmy Boukis Steve, Vaso and Lynn Boukis Kleo Caras Victor and Judy Cherevko Marcus and Barbara Paraskevi Gerogiadis Couch Miltos and Cathy Diakogeorgiou The Fotiadis George and Maria Georgiadis Mary Giovanis Litsa Gregory Tom P. Gregory Pete and Arlene Gust Mike and Helen Haney Michael Evangelos Karfaridis Helen Kouris Christina Iskos Reed James Jannes Frank and Ellen Kaldis Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Family Mike and Terri Kandis Mr. and Mrs George J. Kontos Sherry and George Kontos Joyce Coughlin and JoAnn Kontos Alex, Diane and Jim Lamacki Tom Lingris and Judy Larson Bob and Bessie Lemen Peter and Sue Lingris Roger, Georgia and Elianna Lovejoy Roger, Celia, Alex and Kristin Sophia Mihalopoulos Michael and Roseanne Monn Ninan Family George and Nancy Polios Mrs. Helen Panouses and the Olvera Family Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros Steve and Nancy Pyevich St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Congregation In Memory of Nickolaus, Halina, Andrei and Nickolaus Jim and Kristel Stopoulos Tony and Joan Stopoulos Bill and Tracey Theofilis and Family Rick and Maria Krakos Thompson John and Mary Velon For an annual donation of $25, your name could appear as a supporter of this invaluable ministry. Support is offered for the Ecclesiastical Year (beginning and ending September 1st).

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Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 4900 Kennedy Drive East Moline, Illinois 61244 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID E. Moline, IL. Permit No. 153