WHAT IS THE PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY?

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 WHAT IS THE PRESANCTIFIED LITURGY? Our Church has established for another Liturgy to be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays of Great Lent, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. During this Liturgy there is no Sacrifice performed, that is, there is no change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. The Honorable Gifts, the bread and wine, are ready, having been pre-sanctified (which is why the Liturgy is called Presanctified Gifts ) during the previous Sunday Divine Liturgy. It is now the Body and Blood of Christ, and it is simply offered for the communion of the people. Every Sunday the priest cuts from the prosphoron (offering bread) the square piece from the seal that says ΙΣ-ΧΣ ΝΙ-ΚΑ (Jesus Christ Conquers), which is called the Amnos (the Lamb ), and he places it on the Sacred Diskos. Then, during the chanting of We hymn You, this piece of bread will change by the grace of the Holy Spirit into the Body of the Lord, and the wine, which is in the Sacred Chalice, will change into the Blood of the Lord. But when we are in the mourning period of Great Lent, the Priest, during the Sunday Divine Liturgy, will not only cut one Amnos from the seal of the prosphoron, as we explained above, but more, depending on the number of Presanctified Liturgies he will perform during the week. These Amnos sections (which are each cut from separate prosphora) will be blessed at the time they should be and they will change into the Body of Christ. From these one will be used for the Divine Eucharist of that day (Sunday) and the others will be immersed in the Sacred Chalice in which is the Blood of the Lord, and then will be stored in a special container for the Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts that will take place within the week. During these Liturgies the Priest will offer to the faithful Holy Communion from these Presanctified Gifts. The Presanctified Liturgy is intertwined with Vespers, that is, it is an evening service. This is in place because the Christians of old during the days of Great Lent would be without food (fasted) until the evening hours. In the evening hours they could attend church and receive Holy Communion. Today the Presanctified Liturgy is still performed in the evening, but sometimes it is performed in the morning hours. This Liturgy does not have the celebratory and triumphant tone of the other Liturgies, but it is dominated by a mournful and solemn element. The Presanctified Liturgy is performed every Wednesday and Fridays (at some parishes) during Great Lent. During Holy Week, it can be performed Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning. It is also performed on festive days that land within the period of Great Lent. The Priest, even if he keeps names, will not commemorate them at the Prothesis, but will leave them for the Liturgy of Saturday or Sunday. Also, memorials are not done during the Presanctified Liturgy. Written by Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos

News and Reminders The St. Haralambos Outreach Committee invites you to join us at today s Coffee Hour after the Divine Liturgy! PROSPHORA We thank Mrs. Loretta Hughes/Polites, Mrs. Susan Barron and the Asimacopoulos Family, who have offered today s prosphora. Next week, the prosphora will be offered by Mrs. Mrs. Voula Andrews, the Loomos Family, Mrs. Tasia Farsalas, the Kanelos Family and Mrs. Zoi Govis (Sun, Mar 19). MEMORIAL SERVICES 40 days Olga Zaharias 6 months Demetrios Daskalopoulos 1 year Christitsa Ioannitis 3 years Anastasia Spear 3 years Sophia Politis 16 years John Politis 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. Customarily, 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! ABOUT KNEELING, STAND- ING and SITTING 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. PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND AND MOSCOW St Haralambos is planning to sponsor a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and to Moscow, September 17-30. Details will be available soon!

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! ANNOUNCEMENTS 2017 HOLY APOSTLES CELEBRATION OF BOOKS (2501 S. Wolf Rd, Westchester, IL) March 12 REV. DR. EUGENE PENTIUC Topic: Understanding the Old Testament 6:30 pm-vespers 8pm-Presentation March 14 DR. ALEXIS TORRANCE Topic: Hearing and Keeping the Word of God 6:30 pm-compline 8 pm-presentation March 16 DR. BRUCE BECK Topic: Reading Scriptures with the Orthodox Church 6:30-pm Compline 8 pm-presentation 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 the 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!). QUESTIONS AND 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!) 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. 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 α 10 - β 3 Κατ ἀρχάς Κύριε τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί αὐτοὶ ἀπολοῦνται σὺ δὲ διαμένεις καὶ πάντες ὡς ἱμάτιον παλαιωθήσονται καὶ ὡσεὶ περιβόλαιον ἑλίξεις αὐτούς ὡς ἱμάτιον καὶ ἀλλαγήσονται σὺ δὲ ὁ αὐτὸς εἶ καὶ τὰ ἔτη σου οὐκ ἐκλείψουσιν. Πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου; οὐχὶ πάντες εἰσὶν λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν; Διὰ τοῦτο δεῖ περισσοτέρως προσέχειν ἡμᾶς τοῖς ἀκουσθεῖσιν μήποτε παραρυῶμεν. Εἰ γὰρ ὁ δι ἀγγέλων λαληθεὶς λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος καὶ πᾶσα παράβασις καὶ παρακοὴ ἔλαβεν ἔνδικον μισθαποδοσίαν πῶς ἡμεῖς ἐκφευξόμεθα τηλικαύτης ἀμελήσαντες σωτηρίας; ἥτις ἀρχὴν λαβοῦσα λαλεῖσθαι διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ὑπὸ τῶν ἀκουσάντων εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐβεβαιώθη. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον β 1-12 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Καπερναοὺμ καὶ ἠκούσθη ὅτι εἰς οἴκον ἐστι. Καὶ συνήχθησαν πολλοὶ ὥστε μηκέτι χωρεῖν μηδὲ τὰ πρὸς τὴν θύραν καὶ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὸν λόγον. Καὶ ἔρχονται φέροντες πρὸς αὐτὸν παραλυτικὸν αἰρόμενον ὑπὸ τεσσάρων. Καὶ μὴ δυνάμενοι προσενέγκαι αὐτῷ διὰ τὸν ὄχλον ἀπεστέγασαν τὴν στέγην ὅπου ἦν καὶ ἐξορύξαντες χαλῶσι τὸν κράβαττον ὅπου ὁ παραλυτικὸς κατέκειτο. Καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ Τέκνον ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι. Ἦσαν δέ τινες τῶν γραμματέων ἐκεῖ καθήμενοι καὶ διαλογιζόμενοι ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν Τί οὗτος οὕτως λαλεῖ; βλασφημεῖ τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ Θεός; καὶ εὐθὺς ἐπιγνοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ πνεύματι αὐτοῦ ὅτι οὕτως διαλογίζονται ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λέγει αὐτοῖς Τί ταῦτα διαλογίζεσθε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν; τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ Ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ἢ εἰπεῖν Ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ἵνα δὲ εἰδῆτε ὅτι ἐξουσίαν ἔχει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ Σοὶ λέγω ἔγειρε, ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου. Καὶ ἠγέρθη καὶ εὐθὺς ἄρας τὸν κράβαττον ἐξῆλθεν ἔμπροσθεν πάντων ὥστε ἐξίστασθαι πάντας καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν λέγοντας ὅτι Οὕτως οὐδέποτε εἴδομεν.

Epistle and Gospel Readings for Today EPISTLE Hebrews 1:10-2:3 "IN THE BEGINNING, you O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him. GOSPEL READΙΝG Mark 2:1-12 At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"i say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

YOUTH MINISTRY Little Angels (Ages 4 and under) Tues, March 14-11:30am 1 pm Family Night (Families & youth in Pre-k 5th grade) Mon, March 20 5:30 pm 7 pm Jr. GOYA (6th 8th grades) Monday, March 13 6 pm 7:45 pm Great Compline & Potluck Sr. GOYA (High School) Saturday March 18 2 pm 4 pm Feed My Starving Children (1072 National Parkway, Schaumburg) & then go to Fr. George s House afterwards (4:30 pm 7:30 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. 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: Mon, Mar 13 Great Compline.. 6:00 pm Jr. GOYA.. 6:00 pm Tues, Mar 14 Little Angels. 11:30 am Afternoon Greek School........ 4:30 pm Inreach Committee... 6:30 pm Wed, Mar 15 Presanctified Liturgy... 6:00 pm Parish Council.. 8:00 pm Thurs, Mar 16 Boy Scouts.. 7:00 pm Bible Study. 7:30 pm Fri, Mar 17 Afternoon Greek School........ 4:30 pm Salutations to the Theotokos (3 )... 7:00 pm Sat, Mar 18 Greek Independence Day Celebration-Saturday Greek School. 10:30 am Greek Independence Day Celebration-Afternoon Greek School. 4:00 pm Σας παρακαλούμε όπως κρατάτε κλειστά τα κινητά σας τηλέφωνα.

TODAY S ECCLESIASTICAL CALENDAR Sunday, March 12, 2017 SECOND SUNDAY OF GREAT LENT - ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ B ΝΗΣΤΕΙΩΝ St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki. Τῶν ἐν Ἁγίοις Πατέρων ἡμῶν Γρηγορίου Παλαμά, Αρχ/που Θεσσαλονίκης. St. Theofanes the Confessor Tοῦ Ὁσίου Πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Ὁμολογητοῦ Θεοφάνους τῆς Σιγγριανῆς. DISMISSAL HYMNS OF THE DAY Apolytikion of the First Plagal Tone Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτι ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῶ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. The beginningless Word, with the Father and the Spirit, who was born of a Virgin for our salvation, let us the faithful praise and worship; for he willed in the flesh to be lifted up on the Cross, and to endure death, and to raise up the dead, by His glorious Resurrection. Apolytikion of St. Gregory Palamas Ὀρθοδοξίας ὁ φωστὴρ, Ἐκκλησίας τὸ στήριγμα καὶ διδάσκαλε τῶν μοναστῶν, ἡ καλλονὴ τῶν θεολόγων, ὑπέρμαχος ἀπροσμάχητος Γρηγόριε θαυματουργὲ, Θεσσαλονίκης τὸ καύχημα, κῆρυξ τῆς χάριτος, ἱκέτευε διὰ παντός, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Light of Orthodoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, adornment of monastics, invincible champion of theologians, O Gregory, wonderworker, boast of Thessalonica, herald of grace: ever pray that our souls be saved. 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.