Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church 7560 South Archer Road, Justice, Illinois 60458 (708) 594-2040, fax (708) 594-8362 www.holycrossil.org office@holycrossil.org Rev. Fr. Demetrios Kounavis Parish Priest Sunday, April 3, 2016 Sunday of the Holy Cross With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast. Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Tone Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world. Apolytikion of Sun. of the Holy Cross in the First Tone Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting our rulers to prevail over adversaries, and protecting Your commonwealth by Your Cross. Welcome Metropolitan Iakovos!
ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 4:14-16, 5:1-6 Προκείμενον. Ἦχος πλ β. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1 Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου. 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. EPISTLE READING FOR THE DAY St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6 Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 2. Psalm 27.9,1 O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. 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."
ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 8:34-38, 9:1 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 ἐν δυνάμει. GOSPEL READING FOR THE DAY The Gospel according to Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 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." Our religion is founded on spiritual experience, seen and heard as sure as any physical fact in this world. Not theory, not philosophy, not human emotions, but experience. ~St. Nikolai Velimirovic
Lenten and Holy Week Needs 2016 Flowers for the Panagia Icon (4 Salutations Services) - $200.00 each, $300 Donated Flowers for the Panagia Icon (Akathist Hymn Service) - $200.00 Flowers for the Sunday of the Holy Cross (Iconostasis Icon) - $325.00 Flowers for Sunday of the Holy Cross (Processional Icon) - $150.00 Daffodils for Sunday of the Holy Cross - $425.00 Dikerotrikera Candles for Sunday of the Holy Cross - $50.00 Lambathes for Vespers of the Holy Cross - $140.00 Palms and Bay Leaves for Palm Sunday - $900.00 Flowers for the Nymphios Icon - $200.00 Flowers for the Last Supper Icon - $200.00 Wreath for the Cross of Christ - $200.00
Candles for the 12 Gospels - $125.00 Flowers for the Crucifixion Icon - $200.00 Flowers for the Kouvouklion (Christ s Tomb) - $2100.00 Rose Petals for Myrophores - $150.00 remaining: $1300 Rose Water - $50.00 Gardenias for the Epitaphio - $200.00 Priest Paschal Candle - $250.00 Flowers for the Lavaron - $300.00 Easter Lilies - $550.00 12 Altar Candles - $120.00 Anastasi Icon - $250.00 Thank you for helping us bring the proper dignity to our services during this holy season. Ευχαριστούμε δια την υποστήριξή σας και ιερά προσφορά σας ώστε να καλυπτούν οι ανάγκες προς τις Άγιες αυτές ημέρες της Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστής και Άγιον Πάσχα.
FELLOWSHIP Today s luncheon is sponsored by our Greek School. Lunch for adults is $15 and $6 for children under 12. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship and to watch our Greek School s Independence Day Program. 2016 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 2016. Our beloved parish requires approximately $930 per day to operate. As always, we remain appreciative for all that you lovingly give. Any kind of work is God s work. Every task should be performed from the heart, for it is not for people that we are laboring, but for God. ~Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica Philoptochos Easter Bake Sale Bake sale is on April 22-24 DONATIONS FOR EASTER BAKE SALES ARE GLADLY ACCEPTED FROM NOW UNTIL APRIL 17th. Flour, Sugar, Walnuts, Honey, Eggs Please see one of the Philoptochos members. Your support is greatly appreciated! Thank you, Holy Cross Philoptochos DATES TO REMEMBER April 5 - Christianiki Philoxenia at St. Spyridon, Palos Heights April 10 - Loukoumades Sale April 16 - Church Cleaning April 17 - Greek Parade on Halsted Street April 21 - HOPE Group April 22-24 - Philoptochos Bake Sale April 23 - Children s Lenten Retreat April 24 - Palm Sunday Luncheon May 6 - Bright Friday Feast
Today Greek School Program Stavroproskinisis Luncheon sponsored by our Greek School 7pm - Solemn Vespers, Ascension of our Lord, Lincolnshire Tuesday, April 5 9:30am - Christianiki Philoxenia, St. Spyridon, Palos Heights 6pm - Great Compline 7pm - Philoptochos Meeting Wednesday, April 6 6pm - Presanctified Divine Liturgy and Orthodox Life in Greek with a Potluck Thursday, April 7 6pm - Great Compline Friday, April 8 9am - Presanctified Divine Liturgy 6:30pm - 4th Salutations Saturday, April 9 10am - Greek School WEEKLY EVENTS ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Σήμερα Πρόγραμμα 25ης Μαρτίου Γεύμα Ελληνικού Σχολείου δια τον εορτασμόν της Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως 7.00μ.μ. - Κατανυκτικός Εσπερινός στον Ι.Ν. Αναλήψεως, Lincolnshire Τρίτη, 5 Απριλίου 9.30π.μ. - Χριστιανική Φιλοξενία, Ι.Ν. Αγ. Σπυρίδωνος, Palos Heights 6.00μ.μ. - Μέγα Απόδειπνον 7.00μ.μ. - Συνεδρίαση Φιλοπτώχου Τετάρτη, 6 Απριλίου 6.00μ.μ. - Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία, Μάθημα και δείπνο νηστίσιμο Πέμπτη, 7 Απριλίου 6.00μ.μ. - Μέγα Απόδειπνον Παρασκευή, 8 Απριλίου 9.00π.μ. - Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 6.30μ.μ. - Δ Χαιρετισμοί Σάββατο, 9 Απριλίου 10.00π.μ. Ελληνικό Σχολείο ΙΕΡΑ ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΣIΣ HOLY CONFESSION During this period of Great Lent, it is important to participate with repentance in the Sacrament of Holy Confession. Please call the church office to make an appointment with Fr. Demetri. Η προετοιμασία μας για το Άγιον Πάσχα συμπεριλαμβάνει νηστεία, προσευχή, ελεημοσύνη, και το Μυστήριο της Ιεράς Εξομολογήσεως. Να επικοινωνήσετε με το γραφείο της εκκλησίας να κλείσετε ραντεβού.