7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS 60714 -- PHONE (847) 647-8880 Web: SaintHaralambosGOC.org Fr. Constantine P. Botsis, Proistamenos Fr. George Lamberis, Synefemerios Deacon John G. Suhayda Nick Harisiadis, Protopsaltis SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ON THE HOLY CROSS The Cross of the Lord is unpleasant and sorrowful to the ear, but it consists of joy and gladness. It is the originator not so much of suffering as much as of passionlessness. For Jews the Cross is temptation, for pagans it is madness, but for us believers it reminds us of our salvation. When in church one reads about the Cross and one is reminded of the sufferings on the Cross, the faithful are indignant at the Cross and let out a plaintive wail and murmur not at the Cross but at the crucifiers and unbelievers. For the Cross is the salvation of the Church, the Cross is the praise of those who hope on it. The Cross has released us from the evil that possessed us and is the beginning of the blessings received by us. The Cross is the reconcilement of His enemies with God, the promise of sinners to Christ. For by the Cross we were freed from enmity and through the Cross we have become amiable to God. The Cross delivered us from the authority of the devil, the Cross saved us from death and destruction. The Cross changed human nature to the angelic, having released it from all that is corruptible, and have found lives worthy of immortality. How great is the power of the Cross! How great is the change made by it in the human race! How from the deep darkness it has led us to the boundless light, from death it has restored us to eternal life, from corruption it has transferred us to incorruption. What good is not accomplished for us by means of the Cross? Through the Cross we learned piety and learned the properties of the Divine essence. Through the Cross we learn the truth about God, through the Cross we who were far from Him are united to Christ, and we become worthy of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Through the Cross we learn the power of love and we are taught to die for others. Through the Cross we are scorned and all what we do is not temporal, we search the blessings of the future and we accept the invisible as if seen. The Cross is preached, and faith in God is confessed, His truth is spread throughout the universe. The Cross is preached, and faith in the resurrection, the light and the kingdom of heaven is made without a doubt. What is more precious than the Cross and what is more saving for the soul? The Cross is the triumph over demons, the armor against sin and the sword with which the Lord has struck the snake. The Cross is the will of the Father, the glory of the Only-begotten, the joy of the Holy Spirit, the ornament of angels, the protection of the Church, the praise of Saint Paul, the protection of the Saints, the lamp of all the world. See, however desired and deservedly amiable the Cross is made today, it was the most terrible and shameful sign of the cruelest execution in antiquity! And the Cross makes the best ornament on the imperial crown, the most precious in all the world. The image of the Cross is now found on YOU, both masters and servants, both wives and husbands, both maidens and married, both slaves and free. All place the sign of the Cross on the noblest part of their body, daily carrying this sign on their forehead, as on a depicted pillar. It SHINES on a sacred meal, on the clothes of the priest and together with the Lord s body at the mystical supper. You see it lifted everywhere: on houses, in marketplaces, in the deserts, on the paths, on mountains and hills, on the sea, on ships, on islands, on boxes, on clothes, on armor, in the halls, on golden and silver vessels, in pictures, on the bodies of sick animals, on the bodies of demon-possessed, in war, in the world, in the afternoon, at night, in festival assemblies and in the cells of the ascetics. Already no one is ashamed and does not blush at the thought that the Cross is a sign of a shameful death. To the contrary, all of us honor this as an adornment for ourselves, which has surpassed crowns and diadems and precious stones. Let us not run, let us not be frightened, but let us kiss and honor it as an invaluable treasure.
News and Reminders The St. Haralambos Pre-School PTA invites you for LOUKOUMATHES at today s our Coffee Fellowship Hour after church services. PROSPHORA We thank Mrs. Voula Andrews, the Loomos Family, Mrs. Tasia Farsalas, the Kanelos Family and Mrs. Zoi Govis, who have offered today s prosphora. Next week, the prosphora will be offered by Mrs. Athena Demeros and Mrs. Sophia Paschos (Sat. March 25) and by Mrs. Maria Megremis, Mrs. Koula Karamaniolas and Presvytera Diana (Sun, Mar 26). NO MEMORIAL SERVICES ARE SCHEDULED TODAY 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. PHASE 3 EXPANSION 100%! We need everyone s support to build our new project! 100%! We only ask everyone to make special sacrifices for special projects rarely; but this is it! The time has come and we need a three-year expression of enthusiasm and support from EVERY steward and friend 100% of us! Do you realize that only $75 a month over 3 years can make this possible? Compare this to your phone bill or cable TV. Compare this to the value of the programs and ministries that provide hope and guidance for us and future generations! Please pledge now! 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 why Orthodox Christians do not receive sacraments in non-orthodox churches. ROW BY ROW When you come forward to receive Holy Communion, please wait for the ushers to direct you. Because many people receive the Holy Eucharistic every Sunday, the ushers will ask you to approach the Holy Chalice row by row in order to have a more peaceful and spirit-filled experience. We thank you for your cooperation! SOLEMN VESPERS (ΚΑΤΑ ΝΥΚΤΙΚΟΣ ΕΣΠΕΡΙΝΟΣ) is a special Vespers service sung only during the Sunday nights of Great Lent. The Metropolis of Chicago schedules this service through the Chicago area, and His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos has scheduled tonight s service to take place at 7:00 pm at St. Haralambos. The homilist will be Fr. Cosmas Kalis. Plan to come and pray with us! HOLY CONFESSION It is customary to receive the Sacrament of Holy Confession during Lent. This can be done by appointment with Fr. Dean. We urge you to schedule your confession as soon as possible; please do not wait until Holy Week! Q U E S T I O N S A N D ANSWERS We would like to create a Question and Answer section in our monthly newsletter. Do you have a question that you would like to send us? Please do! (We can t have the feature without your questions!)
ANNOUNCEMENTS OUR ST HARALAMBOS INREACH COMMITTEE..announces the second in a series of talks about our faith in the home and guidance on faithfully raising our children in these modern times. You are cordially invited to hear Dr. Philip Mamalakis, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care at Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA, at 7:00 pm on Tuesday evening, March 28 in our Community Center! He has written many articles on marriage, family and parenting, and will speak on Raising our Children in the Faith.. Plan to attend! 2017 Stewardship DISCOVER THE LIGHT! We remind you to please submit your 2017 Stewardship Card to our church. Stewardship is the foundation for all of our financial and spiritual goals. Our Church and its many ministries are possible because of the love and support of you, our Stewards. SANCTUARY is a TV program produced in Chicago, shown at noon on Sundays on ABC- Channel 7. Every Sunday of March, Sanctuary is presenting a series on Modern Christian Martyrs, focusing on the genocide of Christians, including our Orthodox sisters and brothers in the Middle East. Please set your VCR to record this series at 12:00 noon, Channel 7 (don t miss church!). PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND AND MOS- COW St Haralambos is planning to sponsor a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and to Moscow, September 17-30. Details will be available soon! DATES TO REMEMBER: Tues, March 28 7:00 pm - Inreach Committee presents Dr. Phillip Mamalakis DEAR FRIENDS AND VISITORS: We are happy that you have come to worship with us, and hope that you have had a prayerful and uplifting experience. If you are visiting St. Haralambos or are new to our community, please seek out our Committee members (wearing welcome! badges) if you have any questions. ABOUT KNEELING, STANDING and SIT- TING As an expression of awe and respect, 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. 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. 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 SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE DURING CHURCH SERVICES!
Ἀπόστολος καὶ Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς Ἡμέρας ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Πρός Εβραίους δ 14 - ε 6 Ἀδελφοί, ἔχοντες Ἀρχιερέα μέγαν, διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν Υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ, κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας. Οὐ γὰρ ἔχομεν Ἀρχιερέα, μὴ δυνάμενον συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν, πεπειρασμένον δὲ κατὰ πάντα καθ ὁμοιότητα, χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας. Προσερχώμεθα οὖν μετὰ παῤῥησίας τῷ θρόνῳ τῆς χάριτος, ἵνα λάβωμεν ἔλεον, καὶ χάριν εὕρωμεν εἰς εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν. Πᾶς γὰρ Ἀρχιερεὺς ἐξ ἀνθρώπων λαμβανόμενος, ὑπὲρ ἀνθρώπων καθίσταται τὰ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, ἵνα προσφέρῃ δῶρά τε καὶ θυσίας ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσι καὶ πλανωμένοις, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς περίκειται, ἀσθένειαν, καὶ διὰ ταύτην ὀφείλει, καθὼς περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ, οὕτω καὶ περὶ ἑαυτοῦ προσφέρειν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτῷ τις λαμβάνει τὴν τιμήν, ἀλλ' ὁ καλούμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ καθάπερ καὶ ὁ Ἀαρών. Οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστός, οὐχ ἑαυτὸν ἐδόξασε γενηθῆναι Ἀρχιερέα, ἀλλ' ὁ λαλήσας πρὸς αὐτόν Υἱός μου εἶ σὺ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε. Καθὼς καὶ ἐν ἑτέρῳ λέγει. Σὺ Ἱερεύς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον η 34-θ 1 Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος Ὅστις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι. Ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι ἀπολέσει αὐτήν ὃς δ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου σώσει αὐτήν. Τί γὰρ ὠφελείσει ἄνθρωπον ἐὰν κερδήσῃ τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, καὶ ζημιωθῇ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ; ἢ τί δώσει ἄνθρωπος ἀντάλλαγμα τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ; ὃς γὰρ ἂν 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 εἰσίν τινες τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, οἵτινες οὐ μὴ γεύσονται θανάτου, ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐληλυθυῖαν ἐν δυνάμει.
Epistle and Gospel Readings for Today EPISTLE Hebrews 4:14-5:6 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." GOSPEL READΙΝG Mark 8:34-9:1 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."
YOUTH MINISTRY Little Angels (Ages 4 and under) Tues, March 21-11:30am 1 pm Family Night (Families & youth in Pre-k 5th grade) Mon, March 20 Dinner & Great Compline 5:30 pm 7 pm Jr. GOYA (6th 8th grades) Monday, March 27 7 pm 8:30 pm Confession Night Sr. GOYA (High School) Monday, March 20 7 pm 7:40 pm Outreach trip meeting followed by Sr. GOYA from 7:30 pm 9 pm
Ανακοινώσεις 2017 Stewardship DISCOVER THE LIGHT! Ο Χριστός, που είναι το Φως του Κόσμου, μας είπε «Εσείς είσαστε το φως του Κόσμου, αφίστε το φως σας να λάμψει μπροστἀ από τους ἀλλους.» Stewardship είναι η ανακάλυψη του δικού μας φωτός χρησιμοποιώντας τα ταλέντα μας και τα δώρα που ο Θεός μας έχει χαρίσει. Πληροφορίες για το Stewardship του 2017 έχουν ήδη σταλεί σε όλους. Σας παρακαλούμε να συμπληρώνετε την κάρτα προσφοράς σας για το 2017 προσεκτικά και να απαντάτε σε ΟΛΕΣ τις ερωτήσεις. Οι εθελοντικές υπηρεσίες που σας ενδιαφέρουν αντανακλούν τα ταλέντα και τα δώρα σας απ το Θεό το φως που υπάρχει μέσα σας! ΠΟΙΟΙ ΔΥΝΑΝΤΑΙ ΝΑ ΛΑΒΟΥΝ ΘΕΙΑΝ ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑΝ - Όταν λαμβάνομεν Θείαν Κοινωνίαν η οποιοδήποτε από τα άλλα Μυστήρια εκφράζομεν 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 λαμβάνουμε μέρος σε Μυστήρια σε μη Ορθόδοξες εκκλησίες. Διά οποιεσδήποτε απορίες σας, παρακαλούμε να συζητήσετε με τον ιερέα σας. ΤΟ ΜΥΣΤΗΡIΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΣΕΩΣ H Μεγάλη Σαρακοστή άρχισε και συvηθίζεται vα γίvονται εξoμoλογήσεις κατά τηv διάρκειαv της Μ. Σαρακoστής. Δια να κανονίσετε συνάντηση με τον π. Κωνσταντίνο, παρακαλούμε όπως τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας. Σας παροτρύνουμε να κανονίσετε ημερομηνία εξομολογήσεως το συντομότερον δυνατόν και παρακαλούμε να μηv περιμέvετε vα εξoμoλoγηθείτε την Μεγάλη Εβδομάδα! ΠΟΤΕ ΝΑ ΓΟΝΑΤΙΖΟΥΜΕ, ΝΑ ΣΤΕΚΟ- ΜΑΣΤΕ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΚΑΘΟΜΑΣΤΕ Στην Επίκλησι («Σε Υμνούμεν»), όσοι δεν γονατίζουν για διάφορες αιτίες, παρακαλούνται να παραμένουν όρθιοι εις ένδειξιν σεβασμού. Στην Επίκλησιν, δεν είναι αρμόζον να καθόμεθα (εκτός δια λόγους ασθενείας). 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. SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND EVENTS THIS WEEK: TONIGHT SOLEMN VESPERS.. 7:00 pm Mon, Mar 20 Family Night. 5:30 pm Great Compline.. 6:00 pm Sr. GOYA Outrach trip meeting.. 7:00 pm Sr. GOYA.. 7:30 pm Tues, Mar 21 Little Angels. 11:30 am Afternoon Greek School........ 4:30 pm Wed, Mar 22 Presanctified Liturgy... 6:00 pm Greek Food Fest Committee..... 7:45 pm Thurs, Mar 23 Bible Study. 7:30 pm Fri, Mar 24 Pre-School Program for March 25.. 10:30 am Afternoon Greek School........ 4:30 pm Sat, Mar 25 Vespers/Salutations to the Theotokos (4 )... 7:00 pm Orthros and Divine Liturgy (The Annunciation). 8:30 am Σας παρακαλούμε όπως κρατάτε κλειστά τα κινητά σας τηλέφωνα.
TODAY S ECCLESIASTICAL CALENDAR Sunday, March 19, 2017 THIRD SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ Γ ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ (ΤΗΣ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΗΣΕΩΣ) The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthos and Dareia. Tῶν Ἁγίων Μαρτύρων Χρυσάνθου καὶ Δαρείας ἐξ Ἀθηνῶν. Apolytikion of the Precious and Life-giving Holy Cross Σῶσον, Κύριε, τὸν λαόν σου, καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος, καὶ τὸ σὸν φυλάττων, διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου πολίτευμα. Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance, granting victories to the faithful against enemies, and protecting your domain by the power of Your Cross. 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 Holy Taxiarchs Supreme Commanders of the heavenly armies, we the unworthy 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: Deliver us from dangers, 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 Τῇ ὑπερμάχῳ στρατηγῷ τὰ νικητήρια, ὡς λυτρωθεῖσα τῶν δεινῶν, εὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου, Θεοτόκε, ἀλλ' ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον, ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ἐλευθέρωσον ἵνα κράζω σοι, Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. To the triumphant leader, victory; to the deliverer from sufferings, thanksgiving, I your city, attribute to you, Theotokos. But as having invincible power, from all kinds of dangers free me to cry out to you: Rejoice, Bride unwedded. (Αντί το «Ἃγιος ὁ Θεός»: ) Τὸν Σταυρὸν σου προσκυνούμεν, Δέσποτα, καὶ τὴν ἁγίαν σου Ἀνάστασιν δοξάζομεν. (In place of Holy God :) Your Cross we venerate, O Master, and your holy Resurrection we glorify.