HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS 60714 -- PHONE (847) 647-8880 Web: SaintHaralambosGOC.org SEPTEMBER 1: THE ECCLESIASTICAL NEW YEAR September 1 is the beginning of the Orthodox ecclesiastical year. According to Tradition, it was on September 1 that our Lord and Savior entered the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth and was given to read a scroll from the prophet Isaiah. It was customary at that time for the Jewish male to read in the synagogue once he had reached his thirtieth year. It was not a coincidence that Christ read prophetic words which referred to Him personally. It was the will of God for Him to be revealed in this manner. When He stood to read these were the words He uttered: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord (Isaiah 61:1-2). St. Luke s Gospel tells us Christ then closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth (Luke 4:20-22). The Church, in her wisdom, decided the appropriate day to begin the Church year was the very day on which Christ began His ministry, the day He began to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Interestingly, the ecclesiastical year begins and ends with the Theotokos. On September 8 we celebrate her nativity, just one week into the new Church year. We celebrate her Dormition, or falling asleep, on August 15, two weeks before the end of the Church year. I don t think we can view this as a coincidence. Our salvation begins with her as she was the long-awaited one; without her Christ would not have been born. So her own nativity is a kind of beginning of our salvation (Troparion of the Nativity of Christ). Her falling asleep and being escorted by her Son to Paradise is the appropriate ending. Taking our cue from the Lady Theotokos an appropriate new year s resolution should be to die with Christ so that we can live with Him, to endure so that we too will reign. For if we have died with him, we will also live with him; and if we endure we shall also reign with him (2 Tim. 2:11). + From Lessons from A Monastery

ANNOUNCEMENTS The Philoptochos of St. Haralambos invites you to join us at our Coffee Fellowship Hour after church services. PROSPHORA We thank Mrs. Niki Maglaras and Mrs. Susan Barron who have offered today s prosphora. Next week, the prosphora will be offered by Mrs. Litsa Kalogeros (Thursday, Sept 8) and Mrs. Maria Megremis, Mrs. Koula Karamaniolas and Mrs. Eleni Sotos (Sunday, Sep 11). MEMORIAL SERVICES 40 days Georgios Katsoudas 1 year Nancy Koulogeorge 1 years Miroslava Rude and Laurie J. Smith 3 years Melpomeni Bairaktaris Memorial services are offered for the eternal rest of persons who have fallen asleep in the Lord. There are some days when Memorials are not permitted please call the church office before planning. Memorials take place at 40 days, at 6 months, at 1 year and at 3 years. After three years have passed, the departed are more properly remembered on the Saturdays of the Souls. Please also remember that we have discontinued the custom of placing candles in the kolyva. ARTOKLASIA is offered today by the Family of Theodoros Daskalopoulos, for their health and wellbeing and for the entire St. Haralambos community. SACRAMENTAL REGISTRY Congratulations to....mr. and Mrs. George Houpis on the Baptism of their daughter yesterday at St. Haralambos...Tammy Najjar and George Trakas on their wedding yesterday at our church. ΝΑ ΖΗΣΟΥΝ! WHO CAN RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION? Because receiving Holy Communion or any other Sacrament is an expression of our acceptance of the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Orthodox Faith, only Orthodox Christians (by baptism or chrismation) in good standing may participate. For this reason, persons who do not agree with these teachings, or not in good standing (for example, married outside the church, or unmarried but sexually active, or civilly divorced but not ecclesiastically divorced), must return to good standing in order to participate in Orthodox Sacraments such as Holy Communion and Unction. This is also the reason that Orthodox Christians do not receive sacraments in non-orthodox churches. ABOUT KNEELING, STANDING and SITTING From earliest times, the Church has taught that the proper position for prayer is to stand. (Until recently, most Orthodox Churches did not even have seating for the faithful! Traditionally, it was irregular to sit in church; seating only existed along the walls for the elderly.) As an expression of awe and respect, however, there are times when it is proper to kneel in church, especially at the time when the holy bread and wine are consecrated (called the Epiclesis ) into the precious Body and Blood of our Lord. At the Epiclesis, all the faithful are expected to kneel during weekday Liturgies; on Sundays, however, some may kneel and others may choose to stand. Those who are unable to kneel for various reasons are asked to remain standing. Sitting (except for health reasons) at the Epiclesis is not respectful. GREEK SCHOOL REGISTRATION has begun for all our school programs for the 2016-17 school year. Our Preschool program, for 3, 4 ands 5 year-olds is daily Mon-Fri from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Our Afternoon School is offered on Tuesdays and Fridays from 4:30 to 6:30, and our Saturday Greek School runs from 9:00 am to 12:30. Registration information is available in our church office (847-647-8880). SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS Sunday School begins on Sunday, September 11! Make sure to register your children in the most important program! Registration forms are available in the church office! September 11 will be Registration Sunday! Sunday School will begin at 9:30 don t be late!

ALTAR BOYS! A new Altar Boy schedule is being prepared. We invite any young men 8 years old and older to join our Altar Squad. If you are interested, please contact the church office before August 14! STEWARDSHIP 2016! If you have not yet made your 2016 commitments, please do so. There is no minimum, but true stewardship means we set a level of giving in proportion to our resources and income. Our stewardship level should be an amount that reflects our growing love of God and our appreciation for the blessings and benefits we derive from our Church! YOUR GENEROSITY We are grateful to the many persons who gifts in the donation box in the narthex! We have been able to help many people in need because of your kindness! Our Outreach Committee is always seeking more volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels, Bessie s Table (soup kitchen) and other outreach opportunities! Please call the church office if you would like to help! COFFEE HOUR Coffee Hour is offered almost every Sunday by our various church organizations in order to provide fellowship and the opportunity to get to know one another. Everyone is invited to take coffee and a few pastries or pieces of fruit. After enjoying refreshments, we kindly ask that you please pick up and dispose your plates and cups. AREA FESTIVALS Plan to visit and support the Greek Festivals of our sister churches: September 10-11 Ss. Peter and Paul, Glenview SAVE THE DATE!! SYNERGY SYMPOSIUM 2016 Synergy s Annual Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2016 at St. George Antiochian Church in Cicero. Father Alexii will present HOLINESS IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE. Please visit www.chicagosynergy.org for more information! WELCOME to all our friends, parishioners and visitors! We are happy that you have come to worship with us, and hope that you have had a prayerful and uplifting experience. We invite you to join the St. Haralambos family for worship, fellowship after church and other activities any time! SWEET AND KIND: Please understand that chewing gum in church is considered to be very discourteous and even vulgar. Your attention to this is greatly appreciated. In consideration of others, please r emove lipstick when reverencing the holy icons or receiving Holy Communion. Please teach your children that it is not proper to play video games, eat snacks, chew gum or cross their legs in church. ANNOUNCEMENTS If your child is distracting to others, do not be embarrassed; they are only children. If they continue to disturb, however, you are requested to take your child to our cry room. It is proper to remain standing while people are receiving Holy Communion. It is a sacred moment for our brothers and sisters; a time we should be praying for one another, rather than relaxing. Please be careful when you receive Holy Communion that you do not bump the Holy Chalice and cause it to spill! Please teach your children to dress modestly. Shoulders and midriffs should be covered, and discretion used concerning skirt lengths and excessive makeup and jewelry. Please turn off cell-phones and video games during Church services. Phone conversations are not allowed in church!

Ἀπόστολος καὶ Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς Ἡμέρας AΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Α Κορ. θ 2-12 Ἀδελφοί, ἡ σφραγίς μου τῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν Kυρίῳ. Η ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσίν ἐστιν αὕτη. Μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν; μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν ἀδελφὴν γυναῖκα περιάγειν, ὡς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Κηφᾶς; ἢ μόνος ἐγὼ καὶ Βαρναβᾶς οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν μὴ ἐργάζεσθαι; τίς στρατεύεται ἰδίοις ὀψωνίοις ποτέ; τίς φυτεύει ἀμπελῶνα καὶ τὸν καρπὸν αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐσθίει; ἢ τίς ποιμαίνει ποίμνην καὶ ἐκ τοῦ γάλακτος τῆς ποίμνης οὐκ ἐσθίει; Μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ, ἢ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα οὐ λέγει; ἐν γὰρ τῷ Μωϋσέως νόμῳ γέγραπται, Οὐ κημώσεις βοῦν ἀλοῶντα. Μὴ τῶν βοῶν μέλει τῷ Θεῷ; ἢ δι ἡμᾶς πάντως λέγει; δι ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγράφη, ὅτι ὀφείλει ἐπ ἐλπίδι ὁ ἀροτριῶν ἀροτριᾶν, καὶ ὁ ἀλοῶν ἐπ ἐλπίδι τοῦ μετέχειν. Εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῖν τὰ πνευματικὰ ἐσπείραμεν, μέγα εἰ ἡμεῖς ὑμῶν τὰ σαρκικὰ θερίσομεν; εἰ ἄλλοι τῆς ὑμῶν ἐξουσίας μετέχουσιν, οὐ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς; Αλλ οὐκ ἐχρησάμεθα τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ταύτῃ, ἀλλὰ πάντα στέγομεν ἵνα μή τινα ἐγκοπὴν δῶμεν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Ματθαῖον ιη 23-35 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην Ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ ὃς ἠθέλησεν συνᾶραι λόγον μετὰ τῶν δούλων αὐτοῦ. Ἀρξαμένου δὲ αὐτοῦ συναίρειν προσηνέχθη αὐτῷ εἷς ὀφειλέτης μυρίων ταλάντων. Μὴ ἔχοντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀποδοῦναι ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος πραθῆναι καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα καὶ τὰ τέκνα καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἔχει, καὶ ἀποδοθῆναι. Πεσὼν οὖν ὁ δοῦλος προσεκύνει αὐτῷ λέγων, Μακροθύμησον ἐπ ἐμοί, καὶ πάντα ἀποδώσω σοι. Σπλαγχνισθεὶς δὲ ὁ κύριος τοῦ δούλου ἐκείνου ἀπέλυσεν αὐτόν, καὶ τὸ δάνειον ἀφῆκεν αὐτῷ. Ἐξελθὼν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος ἐκεῖνος εὗρεν ἕνα τῶν συνδούλων αὐτοῦ ὃς ὤφειλεν αὐτῷ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, καὶ κρατήσας αὐτὸν ἔπνιγεν λέγων, Απόδος εἴ τι ὀφείλεις. Πεσὼν οὖν ὁ σύνδουλος αὐτοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν λέγων, Μακροθύμησον ἐπ ἐμοί, καὶ ἀποδώσω σοι. Ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἤθελεν, ἀλλὰ ἀπελθὼν ἔβαλεν αὐτὸν εἰς φυλακὴν ἕως ἀποδῷ τὸ ὀφειλόμενον. Ἰδόντες οὖν οἱ σύνδουλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ γενόμενα ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα, καὶ ἐλθόντες διεσάφησαν τῷ κυρίῳ ἑαυτῶν πάντα τὰ γενόμενα. Τότε προσκαλεσάμενος αὐτὸν ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ λέγει αὐτῷ, Δοῦλε πονηρέ, πᾶσαν τὴν ὀφειλὴν ἐκείνην ἀφῆκά σοι, ἐπεὶ παρεκάλεσάς με οὐκ ἔδει καὶ σὲ ἐλεῆσαι τὸν σύνδουλόν σου, ὡς κἀγὼ σὲ ἠλέησα; καὶ ὀργισθεὶς ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν τοῖς βασανισταῖς ἕως οὗ ἀποδῷ πᾶν τὸ ὀφειλόμενον. Οὕτως καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ οὐράνιος ποιήσει ὑμῖν ἐὰν μὴ ἀφῆτε ἕκαστος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν καρδιῶν ὑμῶν τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῷν.

Epistle and Gospel Readings for Today EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 9: 2-12 BRETHREN, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. GOSPEL Matthew 18: 23-35 The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailors, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to everyone of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

UPCOMING YOUTH MINISTRY DATES Please fill out a registration form in the Church Office. Little Angels (Ages 4 and under) September 20-11:30am 1 pm Family Night BBQ (Families & youth in Pre-k 5th grade) September 12 5:30 pm 7 pm Jr. GOYA Kick-off BBQ (6th 8th grades) September 19 6:30 pm 8 pm Sr. GOYA Kick-off BBQ (High School) September 12 7:15 pm 9 pm SR. GOYA Saturday, September 17 from 9am 2pm St. Haralambos Parking Lot Free-will Donation Proceeds will benefit Phase 3 and Sr. GOYA

Ανακοινώσεις STEWARDSHIP 2016 Εαν δεν έχετε συμπληρώσει την κάρτα προσφοράς σας για το 2016, παρακαλούμε όπως επιληφθείτε το συντομότερο. Δεν έχουμε θέσει όρια, αλλά αληθινό stewardship σημαί -νει να δίνoυμε ανάλογα των εισοδημάτων μας. Το επίπεδο προσφοράς του stewardship θα πρέπει να είναι ένα ποσό που θα αντιπροσωπεύει την αυξανόμενη αγάπη μας προς τον Θεό και την εκτίμησή μας δια τις ευλογίες και όλα τα καλά που μας προσφέρει η εκκλησία μας! ΠΟΙΟΙ ΔΥΝΑΝΤΑΙ ΝΑ ΛΑΒΟΥΝ ΘΕΙΑΝ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑΝ - Όταν λαμβάνομεν Θείαν Κοινω -νίαν η οποιοδήποτε από τα άλλα Μυστήρια εκφρά-ζομεν την αποδοχήν μας εις τα δογματικά και ηθικά διδάγματα της Ορθοδόξου μας Εκκλησίας. Διά τούτο, μόνον Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί οι οποίοι είναι εντάξει απέναντι της Εκκλησίας δύνανται να λάβουν μέρος εις τα Μυστήρια, όπως Θεία Κοινωνία και Ευχέλαιο, και δεν πρέπει να λαμβάνουν μέρος σε Μυστήρια σε μη Ορθόδοξες εκκλησίες. Διά οποιεσδήποτε απορίες σας, παρακαλούμε να συζητήσετε με τον ιερέα σας. ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΑ Επιμνημόσυνες δεήσεις γίνονται για την αιώνιον ανάπαυση των τεθνεώντων. Συνήθως, αυτές οι δεήσεις γίνονται κατά τις 40 ημέρες, τους 6 μήνες, τον 1 ον χρόνο και τον 3 ον χρόνο. Όταν έχουν περάσει τρία χρόνια, είναι πιο αρμόζον να μνημονεύουμε τους αποθανόντας κατά τα Ψυχοσάββατα. ΠΟΤΕ ΝΑ ΓΟΝΑΤΙΖΟΥΜΕ, ΝΑ ΣΤΕΚΟΜΑΣΤΕ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΚΑΘΟΜΑΣΤΕ Από τα πρώτα χρόνια, η Εκκλησία μας δίδαξε ότι η αρμόζουσα θέση για να προσευχόμεθα είναι να στεκόμεθα όρθιοι. (Μέχρι πρόσφατα, οι περισσότερες Ορθόδοξες εκκλησίες δεν είχαν καθόλου καθίσματα δια τους πιστούς! Tα καθίσματα υπήρχαν μόνον κατά μήκος των τοίχων δια τους ηλικιωμένους.) Ως έκφραση δέους και σεβασμού, υπάρχουν φορές που είθισται όμως να γονατίζουμε στην εκκλησία, ιδιαιτέρως κατά την ώρα της Επικλήσεως, όταν ο ιερός άρτος και οίνος μεταβάλλονται εις το τίμιο Σώμα και Αίμα του Χρηστού μας. Κατά την Επίκλησιν (Σε Υμνοῦμεν), στις καθημερινές λειτουργίες, αναμένεται να γονατίζουν όλοι οι πιστοί. Κάθε Κυριακή όμως, μερικοί διαλέγουν να γονατίζουν και άλλοι παραμένουν όρθιοι. Αυτοί που για διάφορες αιτίες δεν δύνανται να γονατίσουν, παρακαλούνται να παραμένουν όρθιοι εις ένδειξιν σεβασμού. Εκτός για λόγους υγείας, δεν είναι αρμόζον να κάθεται κανείς την ώρα της Επικλήσεως. Σύμφωνα με την Ορθόδοξη Χριστιανική παράδοση, το πρωί πριν ερχόμαστε στην εκκλησία προσπαθούμε να μη φάμε ή πιούμε τίποτε (ανεξαρτήτως εαν σχεδιάζουμε να κοινωνήσουμε ή όχι). Προφανώς, εξαιρούνται τα μικρά παιδιά, αλλά όταν φτάσουν την ηλικία των 6 και 7 ετών θα πρέπει να μάθουν κι αυτά να εφαρμόζουν την νηστεία αυτή. Βεβαίως, όποιος πρόκειται να μεταλάβει, θα πρέπει να ακολουθεί με πίστη την παράδοση αυτή. SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK: Mon, Sept 5 LABOR DAY -Office closed Wed. Sept 7 SYNERGY Meeting at St. Haralambos... 7:30 pm Thurs, Sept 8 Orthros and Divine Liturgy (Birth of the Theotokos)... 8:30 am Sat, Sept 10 Saturday Greek Schopol-Agiasmos and first day of classes). 9:00 am Σας παρακαλούμε όπως κρατάτε κλειστά τα κινητά σας τηλέφωνα.

TODAY S ECCLESIASTICAL CALENDAR Sunday, September 4, 2016 Eleventh Sunday of Matthew Kυριακὴ IA Ματθαίου The Holy Priestmartyr Vavylas. The Holy Prophet Moses. Tοῦ Ἁγίου Ἱερομάρτυρος Βαβύλα, Ἐπ. Ἀντιοχείας. Τοῦ Ἁγίου καὶ θεόπτου Μωϋσέως τοῦ Προφήτου. ΑΠΟΛΥΤΙΚΙA ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ DISMISSAL HYMNS OF THE DAY Apolytikion of the Second Tone Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον, Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι. When You descended unto death, O Life Immortal, then You slayed Hades with the lightning of Your Divinity. And when You also raised the dead out of the darkest depths, all the Powers of the Heavens cried out: O Giver of Life, Christ our God, Glory to You. Apolytikion of St. Vavylas Καὶ τρόπων μέτοχος, καὶ θρόνων διάδοχος, τῶν Ἀποστόλων γενόμενος, τὴν πρᾶξιν εὗρες Θεόπνευστε, εἰς θεωρίας ἐπίβασιν διὰ τοῦτο τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας ὀρθοτομῶν, καὶ τῇ πίστει ἐνήθλησας μέχρις αἵματος, Ἱερομάρτυς Κυπριανέ, πρέσβευε Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Apolytikion of the Holy Taxiarchs Τῶν οὐρανίων στρατιῶν Ἀρχιστράτηγοι, δυσωποῦμεν ὑμᾶς ἡμεῖς οἱ ἀνάξιοι, ἵνα ταῖς ὑμῶν δεήσεσι, τειχίσητε ἡμᾶς, σκέπῃ τῶν πτερύγων, τῆς ἀΰλου ὑμῶν δόξης, φρουροῦντες ἡμᾶς προσπίπτοντας, ἐκτενῶς καὶ βοῶντας Ἐκ τῶν κινδύνων λυτρώσασθε ἡμᾶς, ὡς Ταξιάρχαι τῶν ἄνω Δυνάμεων. Supreme Commanders of the heavenly armies, we the unworthy beseech and implore you, that by your supplications you encircle us under the cover of the wings of your ineffable glory; guarding us who bow down with fervor crying: From dangers deliver us, as Leaders of the Powers above. Apolytikion of St. Haralambos Ὡς στῦλος ἀκλόνητος, τῆς Ἐκκλησίας Χριστοῦ, καὶ λύχνος ἀείφωτος τῆς οἰκουμένης σοφέ, ἐδείχθης Χαράλαμπες, ἔλαμψας ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, διὰ τοῦ μαρτυρίου, ἔλυσας τῶν εἰδώλων, τὴν σκοτόμαιναν μάκαρ, διὸ ἐν παῤῥησίᾳ Χριστῷ, πρέσβευε σωθῆναι ἡμᾶς. As a pillar unshakable of the Church of Christ, and an ever-radiant lamp to the universe, were you, O wise Haralambos; you illumined the world through martyrdom; you dispelled the moonless night of the idols, o blessed one. Therefore with boldness before Christ, intercede that we may be saved. ΚΟΝΤΑΚΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ KONTAKION OF THE DAY Ἰωακεὶμ καὶ Ἄννα ὀνειδισμοῦ ἀτεκνίας, καὶ Ἀδὰμ καὶ Εὔα, ἐκ τῆς φθορᾶς τοῦ θανάτου, ἠλευθερώθησαν, Ἄχραντε, ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ γεννήσει σου, αὐτὴν ἑορτάζει καὶ ὁ λαός σου, ἐνοχῆς τῶν πταισμάτων, λυτρωθεὶς ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι. Ἡ στεῖρα τίκτει τὴν Θεοτόκον, καὶ τροφὸν τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν.