Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church 733 South Ashland Ave Chicago, Illinois 60607 info@stbasilchicago.org Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos Telephone: (312) 243-3738 Office Fax: Fax (312) 243-7691 www.stbasilchicago.org Parish Council President: Ms. Jayme Schenk Saints and Feasts: Thomas Sunday Irene the Great Martyr Sunday, May 5, 2019 Neophytos, Gaius, & Caianus the Monkmartyrs For though the Apostles themselves modestly ascribe it all to this cause, declaring that they did these things in the name of Christ, yet at the same time the life and noble conduct of the men helped to produce this effect. "And believers were more added unto the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." Observe, how he now no longer tells the number of them that believe; at such a rate was the faith making way even to an immense multitude, and so widely was the Resurrection proclaimed. So then "the people magnified them:" but they were now no longer lightly to be despised as once they were: for in a little moment, at a single turn of the scale, such have been the effects produced by the fisherman and by the publican! Earth was become a heaven, for manner of life, for boldness of speech, for wonders, for all besides; like Angels were they looked upon with wonder: St. John Chrysostom Homily 12 on Acts IV, 4th Century For great is the dignity of the priests.... And hold them very exceedingly in honor; for you indeed care about your own affairs, and if you order them well, you give no account for others;... St. John Chrysostom Homily 86, 4th Century Narthex Duty: John Billiris & Jayme Schenk Welcoming Ministry: Phyllis Koumantos Orthros Reader: Marina Arvanitis Potluck Luncheon : Hosted by The Rohrman Family 40 Day Memorial: Vasilios Sideris May His Memory Be Eternal GREEK PARADE TODAY 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.
THE EPISTLE / Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 5:12-20 Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, διὰ δὲ τῶν χειρῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετοb σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ λαῷ πολλά καὶ ἦσαν ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἅπαντες ἐν τῇ στοᾷ Σολομῶντος. Τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν οὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα κολλᾶσθαι αὐτοῖς, ἀλλʼ ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς ὁ λαός μᾶλλον δὲ προσετίθεντο πιστεύοντες τῷ κυρίῳ, πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν ὥστε κατὰ τὰς πλατείας ἐκφέρειν τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς, καὶ τιθέναι ἐπὶ κλινῶν καὶ κραββάτων, ἵνα ἐρχομένου Πέτρου κἂν ἡ σκιὰ ἐπισκιάσῃ τινὶ αὐτῶν. Συνήρχετο δὲ καὶ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν πέριξ πόλεων εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, φέροντες ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ὀχλουμένους ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων, οἵτινες ἐθεραπεύοντο ἅπαντες. Ἀναστὰς δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ - ἡ οὖσα αἵρεσις τῶν Σαδδουκαίων - ἐπλήσθησαν ζήλου, καὶ ἐπέβαλον τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀποστόλους, καὶ ἔθεντο αὐτοὺς ἐν τηρήσει δημοσίᾳ. Ἄγγελος δὲ κυρίου διὰ τῆς νυκτὸς ἤνοιξεν τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, ἐξαγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἶπεν, Πορεύεσθε, καὶ σταθέντες λαλεῖτε ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τῷ λαῷ πάντα τὰ ῥήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης. The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20 In those days, many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."
THE HOLY GOSPEL / ΤΟ ΘΕΙΟΝ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ John 20:19-31 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν Ὁ Ιησοῦς εἰς Βηθανίαν, ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὁ τεθνηκώς, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν τῶν ἀνακειμένων σὺν αὐτῷ. ἡ οὖν Μαρία, λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου, ἤλειψε τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ιησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξε ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου. λέγει οὖν εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Ιούδας Σίμωνος Ισκαριώτης, ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι διατί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχε καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ιησοῦς ἄφες αὐτήν, εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ μου τετήρηκεν αὐτό. τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε μεθ ἑαυτῶν, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε. Εγνω οὖν ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν Ιουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι, καὶ ἦλθον οὐ διὰ τὸν Ιησοῦν μόνον, ἀλλ ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἴδωσιν ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐβουλεύσαντο δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ δι αὐτὸν ὑπῆγον τῶν Ιουδαίων καὶ ἐπίστευον εἰς τὸν Ιησοῦν. Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται Ιησοῦς εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα, ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔκραζον ὡσαννά, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ισραήλ. εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ αὐτό, καθώς ἐστι γεγραμμένον μὴ φοβοῦ, θύγατερ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου. Ταῦτα δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη ὁ Ιησοῦς, τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα, καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ. Εμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, ὅτι ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον. The Gospel According to John 20:19-31 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name..
Sunday of St. Thomas Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas, "Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man (Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29). This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not "in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.
St. Irene the Greatmartyr Saint Irene was the daughter of a princelet called Licinius; named Penelope by her parents, through a divine revelation she was brought to faith in Christ and at Baptism was renamed Irene. In her zeal for piety she broke in pieces all the idols of her father, who commanded that she be trampled underfoot by horses. But while she remained unharmed, one of the horses rose up and cast down her father, killing him. By her prayer she raised him to life again, and he believed and was baptized. Afterwards, in many journeyings, Saint Irene suffered torments and punishments for her faith, but was preserved by the power of God, while working dread miracles and converting many thousands of souls. At last she came to Ephesus, where she fell asleep in peace, in the first half of the fourth century. Two days after her death, her gravestone was found lifted off, and her grave empty. At least two churches were dedicated to Saint Irene in Constantinople, and she is also the patroness of the Aegean island of Thera, which is commonly called Santorin (or Santorini), a corruption of "Saint Irene." 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
Upcoming Church Events
Calendar for the Week Ahead - Monday, May 6, 7:00pm - Parish Council Meeting - Tuesday, May 7, 7:00pm - Teacher meeting - final for 2019 - Wednesday, May 8, 11:00am - Bible Study - Wednesday, May 8, 6:00pm - Paraklesis (Supplication Service) to the Virgin Mary - Thursday, May 9, 6:30pm - Divine Liturgy for the Prophet Isaiah and St. Christopher - Sunday, May 12, 8:15am - Orthros and Divine Liturgy Parish News and Events We need your help - You Might be Missing Out We have started a weekly St. Basil E-Bulletin - which goes out early each week and for some of you, this email 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 button you can push to stop it's going into trash/spam. Or, enter stbasilchicago@comcast.net into your email contacts list. Thanks! Stewardship - Have You Become A Steward For 2019? 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 multiply 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). St. John the Almsgiver Ministry We offer Survival Packs to our neighbors in need. Each pack includes the following items: 1 Jewel gift card ($10), 1 CTA single-transit ticket, 1 white t-shirt, 1 pair of white tube socks, 1 toothbrush, 1 travel-sized toothpaste, 1 comb, 6 Band-aids, 3 Wet Ones pocket-size singles hand wipes, 1 granola bar, and 1 bottle of water. Please ask Fr. Dimitri, Nick Katsoulis, and Pat and Steve Cole about the rewarding experiences they ve had distributing the packs! If you would like to contribute to these efforts by distributing packs, please see Vicky Crosby in the church office. If you would like to contribute money or items to create more packs, please speak to Vicky Crosby or Marina Arvanitis. Books for Prisoners - Many inmates with whom we correspond through the prison ministry request books to read. Topics include self-help, vocational training, orthodoxy, history, and fiction. If you can make a small donation to defray the cost of purchasing and sending books, please see Vicky in the church office. Any size donation is appreciated.
St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church May 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 Pastoral Day for 3 4 Fr. Dimitri 9:30 am Orthros & Liturgy of the Lifegiving Spring at the SIRC 12:00 pm HSA OCF PARAK- LISIS 5 Cinco de Mayo 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 6 7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting 7 8 7:00 pm Teacher meeting - 11:00 am Bible Study final for 2019 6:00 pm Paraklesis (Supplication Service) to the Virgin Mary 9 Pastoral Day for Fr. Dimitri 6:30 am Divine Liturgy for the Prophet Isaiah and St. Christopher 10 11 Speaker for Prison Ministry 12 Mother's Day Girls Ministry to Serve for Mothers Day 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 13 14 Clergy Retreat 15 Clergy Retreat 16 Pastoral Day for Fr. Dimitri Clergy Retreat 17 18 19 Sunday School Family Sunday 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 26 JUNIOR OLYM- PICS 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 20 7:00 pm "Great Vespers for Ss. Constantine & Helen (at Palos Hills parish)" 21 6:30 am Divine Liturgy or SS. Constantine & Helen at St. Basil 8:30 am "Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Ss. Constantine & Helen 22 6:30 am Divine Liturgy of Midpentecost 11:00 am Bible Study 6:00 pm Paraklesis (Supplication Service) to the Virgin Mary 27 Memorial Day 28 29 11:00 am Bible Study 23 Pastoral Day for Fr. Dimitri 30 Pastoral Day for Fr. Dimitri 24 JUNIOR OLYM- 31 PICS 25 JUNIOR OLYM- PICS
Matthew 25:35-36 - The Last Judgment 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, Anthony, Aphrodite I was in prison, and you came unto me: Please pray for: Robert, Choice, Centrell, Maurice, Tyree, Clarence, Pierre, Anthony, Angelina, Anthony, Antonio, Antwon, Arthur, Bemall, Bryan, Bryant, Bryant, Carl, Choice, Clarence, Clifford, Clinton, Damien, Darnell, Darron, Deshaun, Devon, Dolen, Donald, Donald, Donte, Eddie, Eddie, Emmanuel, Eugene, Ezell, Freddie, Henry, Jamal, James, James, John, Jonathan, Karl, Kerwinn, Lakeisha, Marcus, Mark, Michael, Michael, Monte, Nasie, Pablo, Parrish, Patrice, Patrick Michael, Michael, Robert, Robert, Ryan, Seneca, Stevenson, Sukrani, Terrell, Theron, Timothy, Timothy White, Trindquett, Willie 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. If You are not receiving the Observer, please contact the Church Office. STEWARDSHIP CORNER St. Basil Stewardship Facts: State of the Parish 2019 Operational Expenses 2019 Stewards Pledged at St. Basil $338,833 ($928 per day) 153 of goal of 190 Dollar Amount Pledged Dollar Amount Collected Average Pledge $203,179 $100,509 $1,327.97 Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 REFLECTION I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that everywhere, wherever you may be, the least plant may bring to you the clear remembrance of the Creator. If you see the grass of the fields, think of human nature, and remember the comparison of the wise Isaiah. All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. - St. Basil the Great