Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 31, 2019 Sunday of the Holy Cross SAINTS OF THE WEEK Virgin-Martyr Ferfoutha of Persia, along with her Sisters and Servants, April 4th Ferfoutha lived during the fourth-century reign of Persian emperor Sapor. Ferfoutha and her sister were servants to the empress. Ferfoutha was extraordinarily beautiful, and the empress suggested to her to enter marriage to gain a high position, but she refused since she had given a vow of virginity to God. When one of the king s sorcerers saw her beauty, he asked Ferfoutha to become his wife, and again she refused, saying that she was a Christian and a bride of Christ. When Shapur s wife fell ill, the offended sorcerer accused Ferfoutha, her sister, and the other servants of giving the empress poison. The women were taken to trial. They fearlessly defended themselves saying that as Christians they would not do such wickedness as they were accused, and they were prepared to accept death for Christ. The chief judge secretly sent his servant to the prison, offering Ferfoutha and the others freedom if she consented to marry him. Two other judges also made the same proposal, but Ferfoutha refused them all. After this, they were all condemned to death for sorcery and for being Christians. They were each tied to two pillars and sawn in two. Their bodies were thrown into a ditch, and Christians secretly gathered them, giving them burial. Welcome Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago! 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, ἔχοντες οὖν ἀρχιερέα μέγαν, διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας. Οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν ἀρχιερέα μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειραμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθʼ ὁμοιότητα, χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. Προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παρρησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεον, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεύς, ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσιν καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται ἀσθένειαν καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτως καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ, προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν, ἀλλὰ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, καθάπερ καὶ Ἀαρών. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασεν γενηθῆναι ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλʼ ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε. Καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει, Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ. BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek." Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. ὃς γὰρ ἂν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν ὃς δ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχὴν ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, οὗτος σώσει αὐτήν. τί γὰρ ὠφελήσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν ἐπαισχυνθῇ με καὶ τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους ἐν τῇ γενεᾷ ταύτῃ τῇ μοιχαλίδι καὶ ἁμαρτωλῷ, καὶ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπαισχυνθήσεται αὐτὸν ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐν τῇ δόξῃ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τῶν ἁγίων. Καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἰσί τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου ἕως ἂν ἴδωσι τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν δυνάμει. ἐν The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Δώστε στους φτωχούς Αγ. Χρυσοστόμου Ξέρω ότι πολλοί θα μας κατηγορήσουν, όταν μιλούμε γι αυτά και θα πουν - «Μη, σε παρακαλώ, μη γίνεσαι φρικτός και βαρετός στους ακροατές - άφησέ το στη συνείδηση του καθενός, άφησε το στην κρίση των ακροατών - έτσι τώρα μας ντροπιάζεις, μας κάνεις να κοκκινίζουμε!..» Αλλά όχι! Αυτά τα λόγια δεν τα ανέχομαι! Γιατί ούτε ο Παύλος ντρεπόταν να ενοχλεί συνέχεια για τέτοια πράγματα και να ζητά σαν ζητιάνος. Εάν έλεγα τούτο, δηλαδή δός μου, φέρε για το σπίτι μου, ίσως να ταν ντροπή. Αν και ούτε τότε θα ταν ντροπή. «Οι γαρ τω θυσιατηρίω προσεδρεύοντες, τω θυσιαστηρίω συμμερίζονται». (Α Κορινθ. 9,13) Πλην όμως πιθανόν να με κατηγορούσε κάποιος, ότι μιλώ για τον εαυτό μου - τώρα όμως παρακαλώ γι αυτούς που στερούνται, μάλλον όχι γι αυτούς που στερούνται, αλλά για σας που δίνετε - γι αυτό και μιλώ χωρίς να ντρέπομαι. Γιατί που είναι η ντροπή σαν πω, δώστε στον Κύριο που πεινά, ντύστε τον που γυρίζει γυμνός, φιλοξένησέ τον που είναι ξένος; Ο Δεσπότης σου δεν ντρέπεται μπροστά σε όλη την οικουμένη να λέγει «επείνασα και ουκ εδώκατέ με φαγείν» (Ματθ. 25, 42), ο ανενδεής εκείνος που δεν έχει ανάγκη από τίποτε και εγώ θα ντραπώ και θα διστάσω; Σε παρακαλώ, μακριά τέτοια πράγματα! Του διαβόλου είναι αυτή η ντροπή! Δεν θα ντραπώ, λοιπόν. Αντίθετα μάλιστα και με παρρησία θα πω - δώστε σ όσους έχουν ανάγκη, και θα φωνάζω πιο δυνατά απ αυτούς. Γιατί αν κάποιος έχει στοιχεία και μπορεί να μας κατηγορήσει, ότι αυτά τα λέμε για να σας παρασύρουμε προς όφελός μας, και με το πρόσχημα των φτωχών κερδίζουμε εμείς, τότε πράγματι αυτά δεν είναι μονάχα άξια ντροπής, αλλά και μυρίων κεραυνών, και ούτε αξίζει να ζουν όσοι κάνουν παρόμοια. Αλλά εάν, με την χάρη του Θεού, καθόλου δεν σας ενοχλούμε για τον εαυτό μας και κηρύττουμε αδάπανο το ευαγγέλιο, χωρίς βέβαια να κοπιάζουμε όπως ο Παύλος, αρκούμενοι πάντως στα δικά μας, με όλο το θάρρος θα σας λέγω, δώστε στους φτωχούς και δεν θα σταματήσω να το λέγω, και όταν δεν δίνετε θα σας είμαι σκληρός κατήγορος!
SAVE THE DATE 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 August 10: Feed My Starving Children, Schaumburg August 24: Sunday School Teacher Workshop at St. George, Chicago STEWARSHIP 2019 Stewardship cards can picked up in the church office. We ask that you prayerfully consider what you will offer to our beloved parish of Holy Cross in 2019. 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.
"On the veneration of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, at the middle week of the Fast" by St. John Chrysostom The auspicious and allhonored and light-bearing day has come to us, at the middle week of the Fast, as the thrice-joyous and lifegiving Cross of our Savior Jesus Christ is taken up, and placed for veneration, and those who venerate it with earnestness of heart and pure lips are sanctified, and therefore proceed on the road with greater care and more vigorously through the stadium of the Holy Fast. Today has been placed the day of the veneration of the Precious Cross, and come, O friends, let us kiss it with fear and fervor. For it reflects the rays of Christ's arising, enlightening all, and sanctifying through His grace. Therefore, let us embrace it and rejoice spiritually. Today there is joy in heaven and on earth, for the radiant and life-bearing Cross of Christ appears to the world, through which the demons flee, and illnesses are cast out, and the clouds of darkness are dissolved, and all the ends of the earth are enlightened. Today the Church of Christ is shown to be another Paradise, as the All-holy tree of the Precious Cross is placed within the center, and it celebrates the preceding pomp of the passion of Christ through the Cross, and the forefeast of His Resurrection. Today, the prophetic word is fulfilled, which says: For behold, let us worship at the place where were the feet of our God. Rejoice, therefore and exalt, O Church of Christ, and offer your children, controlling the passions and purified by fasting, and shining with divinely-shining virtues, and dance the inexpressible dance. For as those who formerly in the desert, who were bitten by serpents, were healed by gazing upon the bronze serpent, now, those who have passed halfway through the stadium of the Fast, who had been shown dead from the noetic serpent, have themselves been made immortal, and sharers of the passions of Christ through self-control, and sharers of His Resurrection. And not just this, but they go forth renewed, ascribing to God the victory. For the trophy-bearing and victorious weapon of the Cross of the Lord has been placed, an inconquerable weapon of Kings, and the boast of the Church, and the deposer of enemies, and the salvation of the faithful. And truly blessed are those and thrice-blessed are those who are made worthy to kiss it with pure lips and clean mouths. For it is truly a work to fulfill the word of the Lord: Whoever would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. And see how He unnecessarily says this, for He did not say: Whether or not you wish, you will suffer, but how? If you wish to follow me...i do not force, I do not compel, but I make each person the lord over his conscience. For I say: if you wish to follow me. For therefore I call well, not towards evil, nor towards temptation or torture, but towards the heavenly kingdom and the heavenly life. And therefore these things are sufficient to compel creation. If you would follow me, whether you be a man, a woman, a prince, a ruler, and wish to be saved, then follow the path. Three things are said: to deny yourself, to take up the cross, and to follow. But as we saw before, what is it to deny one's self? Let us learn what it is do deny someone else, and then we shall know what it is to deny one's self. What is it to deny someone else? He who denies someone else, be it a brother, a friend, a neighbor, a passerby, would not be scourged for him, nor be imprisoned for him, nor suffer anything for him. He would not bestow his possessions on him, nor help him, nor be broken for him, nor suffer for him. He is in all things a stranger to him. In the same way God desires the body to be treated by us, that we be not scourged on behalf of it, nor be tempted, nor be driven by it, nor do anything else; let us not spare it. This is to deny one's self: to not permit it, but to give it up towards danger, and struggles, as if another were suffering, nor to serve it Therefore I hymn Your forbearance and the incomparable economy of Your mystery, O Lord. I venerate Your precious and life-giving Cross, O Master. I embrace Your passion, I kiss the nails, and I embrace the piercings of Your members. With the Reed, the Spear, and the Sponge I am filled with thanksgiving. As a royal diadem, the Crown of Thorns is put forth, and as if adorned with shining gems, it shines throughout the world from the beatings You endured. And I confess You the true God, one of the Holy Trinity, Christ Jesus, Who suffered the passion for me, and was wrapped in a shroud, and became a reproach to the lawless Judeans, and in the end was buried, and arose on the third day, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. To You belongs the glory and the kingdom, together with the Father and the Your All-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
TODAY Sunday of the Holy Cross Tray for Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary Greek School Program and Luncheon 6:00pm - Solemn Vespers at Assumption Church, Homer Glen with reflection given by Fr. Tilemahos Monday, April 1 6:00pm - Great Compline Tuesday, April 2 7:00pm - Philoptochos Meeting Wednesday, April 3 5:30pm - Presanctified Liturgy 7:00pm - Orthodoxi Zoe with Lenten Meal Friday, April 5 6:30pm - 4th Salutations to the Theotokos Saturday, April 6 10:00am - Greek School WEEKLY EVENTS Sunday, April 7 Sunday of St. John Climacus 6:00pm - Solemn Vespers here with reflection given by Fr. Christodoulos ΣΗΜΕΡΑ Κυριακή της Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως Δίσκος Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary Πρόγραμμα/Γεύμα του Ελληνικού Σχολείου 6.00μ.μ. - Κατανυκτικός Εσπερινός Ι.Ν. Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου, Homer Glen, ομιλητής π. Τιλέμαχος Δευτέρα, 1 Απριλίου 6.00μ.μ. - Μέγα Απόδειπνον Τρίτη, 2 Απριλίου 7.00μ.μ. - Συνεδρίαση Φιλοπτώχου Τετάρτη, 3 Απριλίου 5.30μ.μ. - Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 7.00μ.μ. - Ορθόδοξη Ζωή/δείπνο Παρασκευή, 5 Απριλίου 6.30μ.μ. - Δ Χαιρετισμοί ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Σάββατο, 6 Απριλίου 10.00π.μ. - Ελληνικό Σχολείο Κυριακή, 7 Απριλίου Οσίου Πατρός ημών Ιωάννου της Κλίμακος 6.00μ.μ. - Κατανυκτικός Εσπερινός εδώ, ομιλητής π. Χριστόδουλος Lenten and Holy Week Needs 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 Rose Water Gardenias for the Epitaphio Priest Paschal Candle Flowers for the Lavaron - $350 Easter Lilies - $700 12 Altar Candles - $125 Anastasi Icon - $225 1000 white cups for Anastasi - $300 1000 red cups for Good Friday -$300 25 cases white candles - $60 per case 4 cases donated Thank you for your support during this holy season.