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 EXPLAINING THE ICON OF THE DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS The Icon of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos shows her on her deathbed surrounded by the Apostles. Christ is standing in the center looking at His mother. He is holding a small child clothed in white, representing the soul of the Virgin Mary. With His golden garments, the angels above His head, and the mandorla surrounding Him, Christ is depicted in His divine glory. The posture of the Apostles direct attention toward the Theotokos. On the right Saint Peter censes the body of the Theotokos. On the left Saint Paul bows low in honor of her. Together with the Apostles are several bishops and women. The bishops traditionally represented are James, the brother of the Lord, Timothy, Ierotheos, and Dionysios the Areopagite. They are shown wearing episcopal vestments. The women are members of the church in Jerusalem. In front of the bed of the Theotokos is a candle that helps to form a central axis in the icon. Above the candle is the body of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Standing over His mother is Christ holding her most pure soul. Above Christ the gates of heaven stand open, ready to receive the Mother of God. This great Feast of the Church and the icon celebrates a fundamental teaching of our faith the Resurrection of the body. In the case of the Theotokos, this has been accomplished by the divine will of God. Thus, this Feast is a feast of hope, hope in Resurrection and life eternal. Like those who gathered around the body of the Virgin Mary, we gather around our departed loved ones and commend their souls into the hands of Christ. As we remember those who have reposed in the faith before us and have passed on into the communion of the Saints, we prepare ourselves to one day be received into the new life of the age to come. We also affirm through this Feast as we journey toward our heavenly abode that the Mother of God intercedes for us. Through Christ she has become the mother of all of the children of God, embracing us with divine love. (from goarch.org)

ANNOUNCEMENTS The Philoptochos of St. Haralambos invites you to join us at our Coffee Fellowship Hour after church services. PROSPHORA We thank Mrs. Georgia Vasilopoulos and Mrs. Zoi Govis, who have offered today s prosphora. Next week, the prosphora will be offered by Mrs. Lilly Kretsos and Mrs. Loretta Hughes/ Politis ( Sunday, Aug 14) MEMORIAL SERVICES 1 year Sophia Skoulidas 1 year Ekaterini Xydis 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. 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! OUR OUTREACH COMMITTEE offers a meal every month at a local food kitchen. We encourage you to help with the food kitchen or to become a member of the Outreach Committee! 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!

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! THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE has placed a donation box in the narthex to raise money to help people in need. We have been able to help many people THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY! The committee is always seeking more volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels, Bessie s Table (soup kitchen) and other outreach opportunities! 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. 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! ANNOUNCEMENTS Something to think about in the Dormition Fast When you are about to pray to our Lady the Holy Virgin, be firmly assured, before praying, that you will not depart from her without having received mercy. To think thus and to have confidence in her is meet and right. She is, the All-Merciful Mother of the All-Merciful God, the Word, and her mercies, incalculably great and innumerable, have been declared from all ages by all Christian Churches; she is, indeed, an abyss of mercies and bounties. Saint John of Kronstadt from My Life in Christ Come and offer your prayers to the Theotokos at the Paraclesis Services between August 1 and August 15! 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. Please teach your children to dress modestly. Shoulders and midriffs should be covered, and discretion used concerning skirt lengths and excessive makeup and jewelry. 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. In consideration of others, if you wear lipstick, please do not leave smudges when reverencing the holy icons or receiving Holy Communion. Please turn off cell-phones and video games during Church services. Phone conversations are not allowed in church!

Ἀπόστολος καὶ Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς Ἡμέρας ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Ρωμ. ιε 1-7 Ἀδελφοί, ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσαν ἐπ ἐμέ. Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν ἐγράφη ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. Ὁ δὲ Θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν Θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς εἰς δόξαν τοῦ Θεοῦ. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Ἐκ τοῦ κατὰ Ματθαῖον θ 27-35 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγοντι ἐκεῖθεν τῷ Ιησοῦ, ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ δύο τυφλοὶ κράζοντες καὶ λέγοντες, Ελέησον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Δαυίδ. Ἐλθόντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ τυφλοί, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς, Πιστεύετε ὅτι δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Ναί, Kύριε. Τότε ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν λέγων, Κατὰ τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν γενηθήτω ὑμῖν. Καὶ ἠνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί. Καὶ ἐνεβριμήθη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ιησοῦς λέγων, Ορᾶτε μηδεὶς γινωσκέτω. Οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες διεφήμισαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ. Αὐτῶν δὲ ἐξερχομένων ἰδοὺ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον καὶ ἐκβληθέντος τοῦ δαιμονίου ἐλάλησεν ὁ κωφός. Καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ὄχλοι λέγοντες, Οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ Ισραήλ. Οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον, Εν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια. Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ Ιησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας, διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

Epistle and Gospel Readings for Today EPISTLE READING Romans 15: 1-7 BRETHREN, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. GOSPEL READING Matthew 9: 27-35 At that time, as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of Demons." And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

FAMILY SYNAXIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2016 RETREAT Theme: Sacred Space, Sacred Time: Cultivating Orthodox Families Workshop Leader: Fr. Andrew Kearns, Priest, Chaplain, Pastoral Care Specialist and Father of Four Dates: Friday September 2 at 7pm Sunday, September 4 at 4 pm Location: Saint Iakovos Retreat Center For the second time, our Metropolis of Chicago Family Synaxis Labor Day Retreat will be held at the new Saint Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, Wisconsin! The facilities are beautiful as are the gorgeous views from both the front AND the back of the building! It s a short drive over the Wisconsin border, so it will be much easier for families to travel there. This weekend retreat for Orthodox Christians will include worship, workshops & discussion groups for both adults and children, fun outdoor activities including nature walks, hayrides, farm animals, athletics, and fellowship with other families. Please register by August 17 for a reduced registration cost. August 24 is the last day to register for the retreat. St. Macrina Orthodox Insitiute Presents Diakonia and the Liturgy of Good Works in the World Featured Speaker: Matushka Vera Proctor Topic: The Myrrhbearers great boldness in the faith in Jesus Christ : as He is, so are we in this world. Date: August 12 at 10 am August 13 at 12 pm at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center Registration fee: $180 (retreat, lodging and food This conference will have talks that explain the connection between liturgical practice and the living out of the revealed and sacramentally experienced power of God s love in works done in the world. ST HARALAMBOS GOLF OUTING! THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 OLD ORCHARD COUNTRY CLUB 7000 W. Rand Rd, Mount Prospect, IL Hole and Pin Sponsorships are welcomed! MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Shotgun start at 11am! $125 per golfer Golf with Cart Lunch Dinner For more information, please contact the church office at nilesgoc@aol.com

STEWARDSHIP 2016 To Stewardship είναι το οξυγόνο της εκκλησίας μας, και πρέπει να είναι μια έκφραση της αξάπης και υποστήριξης δια την Εκκλησία μας και τον Θεόν. Σας παροτρύνουμε όπως η εφετεινή προσφορά σας είναι μία προσφορά πίστεως, αγάπης και θάρρους! Προς το παρόν, μόνον το 45% του εισοδήματος της ενορίας μας προέρχεται από το Stewardship. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι δια να καλύψουμε το υπόλοιπο 55% των αναγκών της εκκλησίας μας πρέπει να βασιστούμε σε ξένες πηγές. Η εκκλησία μας δεν ανήκει σε ξένους ανθρώπους! Μπορείτε να μας βοηθήσετε να καταφέρουμε να συντηρήσουμε το 100% των αναγκών μας μέσω του Stewardship ; 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. Ανακοινώσεις 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. SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK: Mon, Aug 8 Paraclesis to the Theotokos... 7:00 pm Wed, Aug 10 Paraclesis to the Theotokos.. 7:00 pm Fri, Aug 12 Paraclesis to the Theotokos... 7:00 pm Σας παρακαλούμε όπως κρατάτε κλειστά τα κινητά σας τηλέφωνα.

TODAY S ECCLESIASTICAL CALENDAR Sunday, August 7, 2016 Seventh Sunday of Matthew Kυριακὴ Z Ματθαίου The Holy Martyr Dometios the Persian Tοῦ Ἁγίου Ὁσιομάρτυρος Δομετίου. ΑΠΟΛΥΤΙΚΙA ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ DISMISSAL HYMNS OF THE DAY.Apolytikion of the Second Plagal Tone Ἀγγελικαὶ δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾅδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι. The Angelic powers stood around Your tomb, and the guards became as dead; and Mary stood in the Sepulcher, seeking Your immaculate Body. You despoiled Hades and were not corrupted by it; You did meet the Virgin, granting life. Risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to You. Apolytikion of The Transfiguration Μετεμορφώθης ἐν τῷ ὄρει, Χριστέ ὁ Θεός, δείξας τοῖς Μαθηταῖς σου τήν δόξαν σου, καθώς ἠδύναντο. Λάμψον καί ἡμῖν τοῖς ἀμαρτωλοῖς, τό φῶς σου τό ἀΐδιον, πρεσβείαις τῆς Θεοτόκου Φωτοδότα, δόξα σοι. You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ our God, showing Your disciples Your glory as each one could endure. Shine forth on us, who are sinners, Your never-ending light, through the prayers of the Theotokos, Giver of Light, glory to You. Apolytikion of the Holy Taxiarchs 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 Ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους μετεμορφώθης, καὶ ὡς ἐχώρουν οἱ Μαθηταί σου τὴν δόξαν σου, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἐθεάσαντο, ἵνα ὅταν σὲ ἴδωσι σταυρούμενον, τὸ μὲν πάθος νοήσωσιν ἑκούσιον, τῷ δὲ κόσμῳ κηρύξωσιν, ὅτι σὺ ὑπάρχεις ἀληθῶς, τοῦ Πατρὸς τὸ ἀπαύγασμα. On the mount You were transfigured, and Your disciples, as much as they could bear, beheld Your glory, O Christ our God; that when they should see You crucified, they would know Your Passion to be voluntary, and would preach to the world that, in truth, You are the Radiance of the Father.