Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. JUNIOR OLYMPICS: This year s Junior Olympics competition is fast approaching. The Olympics is for all the Orthodox youth in the Chicago Metropolis and offers many competitive track and field events as well as swimming and tennis. This event is held on Memorial Day weekend (May 26 th - 28 th ) at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills. Please consider participating in this year s events and proudly representing our community. For more information please contact Ted Cachampis. Try outs will be held on Sunday, May 7 th, following Liturgy. FESTIVAL DONATIONS: Please watch for Greek Fest 2017 Alerts. We will are collecting donations. You all made it such a great success last year! Every donation in any amount helps the Church. May is Wine & Pop month! Please see the enclosed flyer for details. PHILOPTOCHOS SCHOLARSHIPS: Every year our Ladies Philoptochos generously offers scholarships from $300 to $2,000 to Philoptochos members, their spouses and children who are pursuing post secondary education at a university, community college or trade school. Please contact Sharon Sinadinos at 708-429- 5642 for information and to get an application. Applications are also available in the Church Office. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 12 th at 4:00 p.m. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Our Adult Religious Education classes will begin again on Wednesday, May 10 th and classes will be offered at 11:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m., so that everyone who wants to partake can. It will also be in 6 week increments. We will be focusing on the Book of Acts this time around. So please join us as we journey through this wonderful book in the time following our Lord s Death and Resurrection. SAVE THE DATE: 90 th Anniversary of Saint Nicholas Parish: St. Nicholas 90 th Anniversary Dinner Dance is September 24th, 2017 at Tuscany Falls in Mokena. It is easily located right off of I-80 and LaGrange. Very accessible from I-355, 294 and I-57. Mark the date down and prepare for a wonderful evening of great memories and even better fellowship. Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Very Reverend Archimandrite Christodoulos Margellos frchristos@gmail.com 10301 S Kolmar Ave. Oak Lawn, IL 60453 (708)-636-5460 www.stnicholasil.org

Sunday, April 30 th, 2017 Sunday of Myrrhbearing Women Saint Iakovos the Apostle & brother of Saint John the Theologian Readings: Epistle: Acts 6: 1-7 Gospel: Mark 15: 43-47; 16: 1-8 Epistle Reader: Spiro Angelos FAREWELL AND BLESSINGS, FATHER NICK! Following the Divine Liturgy, please join us in the Community Center for a Luncheon honoring Father Nicholas Greanias. GREEK PARADE TODAY Bus Leaves at 1:00 p.m. THIS WEEK AT SAINT NICHOLAS GREAT AND HOLY WEEK 2017 Monday, May 1 st, 2017 4:30 p.m. Greek School 6:30 p.m. Youth Night Father Christodoulos leaves for a clergy retreat and will return on Thursday, May 4 th Wednesday, May 3 rd, 2017 Strict Fast 4:30 p.m. Greek School 6:30 p.m. Junior Dance Troupe Thursday, May 4 th, 2017 7:00 p.m. Adult Greek Dance Group at Saint Spyridon Saturday, May 6 th 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers FOLLOWING THE RESURRECTION LITURGY and every service for 40 days until the Ascension of our Lord, the priest turns to the congregation and exclaims: Glory to His Third-Day Resurrection! Δόξα τη Αυτού τριήμερω έγερσει! and the congregation responds by saying: We bow down to His Third-Day Resurrection! Προσκυνούμεν Αυτού την τριήμερον έγερσιν! Let us all remember these life-giving words at the conclusion of the Liturgy. Let us say them with feeling and strength for the 40-day period of the Resurrection as is the practice of our Holy Orthodox Church. OUT OF THE OFFICE: Fr. Christodoulos will be out of the office beginning on Monday, May 1 st and will return to the office on Friday, May 5 th. He will be attending the Metropolis of Chicago Clergy Syndesmos Retreat at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, WI. If any emergencies arise please call the office. Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 6: 1-7 Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, πληθυνόντων τῶν μαθητῶν, ἐγένετο γογγυσμὸς τῶν Ἑλληνιστῶν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑβραίους, ὅτι παρεθεωροῦντο ἐν τῇ διακονίᾳ τῇ καθημερινῇ αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν. Προσκαλεσάμενοι δὲ οἱ δώδεκα τὸ πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν, εἶπον, Οὐκ ἀρεστόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς, καταλείψαντας τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, διακονεῖν τραπέζαις. Ἐπισκέψασθε οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἄνδρας ἐξ ὑμῶν μαρτυρουμένους ἑπτά, πλήρεις πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ σοφίας, οὓς καταστήσωμεν ἐπὶ τῆς χρείας ταύτης. Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν. Καὶ ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ πλήθους καὶ ἐξελέξαντο Στέφανον, ἄνδρα πλήρης πίστεως καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ Φίλιππον, καὶ Πρόχορον, καὶ Νικάνορα, καὶ Τίμωνα, καὶ Παρμενᾶν, καὶ Νικόλαον προσήλυτον Ἀντιοχέα, οὓς ἔστησαν ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προσευξάμενοι ἐπέθηκαν αὐτοῖς τὰς χεῖρας. Καὶ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ηὔξανεν, καὶ ἐπληθύνετο ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν μαθητῶν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα, πολύς τε ὄχλος τῶν ἱερέων ὑπήκουον τῇ πίστει. Acts of the Apostles 6: 1-7 IN THOSE DAYS, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "it is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochoros, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaos, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Εκ του κάτα Μᾶρκον 15: 43-47, 16: 1-8 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθὼν Ιωσὴφ ὁ ἀπὸ Αριμαθαίας, εὐσχήμων βουλευτής, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν προσδεχόμενος τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, τολμήσας εἰσῆλθε πρὸς Πιλᾶτον καὶ ᾐτήσατο τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Ιησοῦ. ὁ δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἐθαύμασεν εἰ ἤδη τέθνηκε, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν κεντυρίωνα ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν εἰ πάλαι ἀπέθανε καὶ γνοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ κεντυρίωνος ἐδωρήσατο τὸ σῶμα τῷ Ιωσήφ. καὶ ἀγοράσας σινδόνα καὶ καθελὼν αὐτὸν ἐνείλησε τῇ σινδόνι καὶ κατέθηκεν αὐτὸν ἐν μνημείῳ, ὃ ἦν λελατομημένον ἐκ πέτρας, καὶ προσεκύλισε λίθον ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν τοῦ μνημείου. ἡ δὲ Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία Ιωσῆ ἐθεώρουν ποῦ τίθεται. Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ Ιακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε Ιησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. ἀλλ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ. Gospel According to Mark 15: 43-47; 16: 1-8 At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and

Resurrection Apolotikion Ἦχος β 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. Second Mode When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life, then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity. Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You. Hymns for the day Ἦχος β Ὁ εὐσχήµων Ἰωσήφ, ἀπὸ τοῦ ξύλου καθελών, τὸ ἄχραντόν σου Σῶµα, σινδόνι καθαρᾷ, εἰλήσας καὶ ἀρώµασιν, ἐν µνήµατι καινῷ, κηδεύσας ἀπέθετο ἀλλὰ τριήµερος ἀνέστης Κύριε, παρέχων τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος Second Mode When he took down Your immaculate Body from the Cross, the honorable Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen shroud with spices and laid it for burial in a new tomb. But on the third day You arose, O Lord, and granted the world Your great mercy. Ἦχος β Ταῖς µυροφόροις Γυναιξί, παρὰ τὸ µνῆµα ἐπιστάς, ὁ Ἄγγελος ἐβόα Τὰ µύρα τοῖς θνητοῖς ὑπάρχει ἁρµόδια, Χριστὸς δὲ διαφθορᾶς ἐδείχθη ἀλλότριος, ἀλλὰ κραυγάσατε Ἀνέστη ὁ Κύριος, παρέχων τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Second Mode The Angel standing at the sepulcher cried out and said to the ointment-bearing women: The ointments are appropriate for mortal men, but Christ has been shown to be a stranger to decay. So go and cry aloud, The Lord has risen and granted the world His great mercy. Hymn of Saint Nicholas Patron of our Parish Ἠχος δ Κανόνα πίστεως καί εικόνα πραότητος, εγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ανέδειξέ σε τή ποίμνη σου, η τών πραγμάτων αλήθεια, διά τούτο εκτήσω τή ταπεινώσει τά υψηλά, τή πτωχεία τά πλούσια, Πάτερ Ιεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών. Fourth Mode A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance. You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Nicholas, our father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls. Kontakion Ἠχος πλ δ Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναµιν καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάµενος, Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούµενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν. Mode Plagal of the Fourth Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out "Rejoice" to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. SUNDAY OF THE MYRRH-BEARING WOMEN: The actual moment of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead is not know since no human witnessed it. However, what is depicted in the Resurrection icons are the scenes provided by the Gospels and Holy Tradition. The Resurrection Icon in the Narthex is in keeping with the most ancient tradition of the Church. It is set in the burial cave where the body of the Lord was lain. An Angel of the Lord, in stark white with flaming wings arched up to the heavens, points to the empty sepulcher, empty, that is, of the body of Christ, but still containing the burial clothes in which Jesus had been wrapped. The pointing is for the benefit of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, bearing spices for anointing, who had come to the tomb of the Lord at dawn that day. It was the Angel who removed the stone from the entrance of the tomb, not to enable Christ to come out, but to make visible the empty tomb. He is not here; He is risen, was the angelic greeting to the faithful women. Christ rose from the sealed tomb. Just as He was born of a Virgin, preserving her virginity, so the resurrection occurred without breaking the seal of the grave. Jesus rose from the tomb, in spite of the seal, just as He entered the room where the Apostles had gathered, through the closed doors. Each year on this Sunday, the Church honors the Myrrh-Bearers. They knew the Lord and loved Him. Even in death, they ministered to Him. Their faithfulness and love was gloriously rewarded. HONORING FATHER NICHOLAS: As some of you may have heard, Fr. Nick Greanias will be leaving us as he has been assigned to the Parish of Annunciation in Kankakee, IL. His last Sunday here is Today. In honor of his 6 years of service here at Saint Nicholas, we will be hosting a special farewell luncheon following Divine Liturgy today. Please join with us as we say goodbye and many blessing on His new assignment. AXIOS! HOLY LAND MEETING & DINNER: On Thursday, May 25 th at 7:00 p.m. there will be one more meeting for those planning on or thinking about joining the Holy Land Pilgrimage. Tom Lambros Bornstein from the company organizing our tour will be here to give a presentation and answer any questions. Dinner will be provided for at the meeting. Please take advantage and join us on this trip. We all have a tendency to put things off and before we know it, it is too late to do all we dreamed of. Live in today and join us for this Once in a Life time Opportunity. EARLY BIRD FESTIVAL RAFFLE DRAWING: Run, don t walk, to your nearest Parish Council member or the Church Office to buy your Raffle Ticket for the Festival. Our Early Bird Drawing will take place on Sunday, May 14 (Mothers Day) during the Coffee Hour. The prize is $1,000! And your ticket goes back in for the Fest Drawing. Thank You!! GREEK PARADE TODAY: The Chicago Annual Greek Independence Day Parade will be held TODAY in Greek Town. Our Parish will once again have a float. There will be a bus leaving from the Church at 1:00 p.m. to go to Greek Town. The parade begins at 2:30 p.m. We hope many of our parishioners will join us for this fun day to celebrate our culture. GRADUTE/SCHOLARSHIP SUNDAY: Will be held on Sunday, June 4 th, 2017. So we are asking all our parents and children to inform us of the kids of Saint Nicholas who will be graduating High school & College this year. We would like to honor you and will have a special gift for all graduates. Please call the office 708-636-5460 to let us know of any graduates. Deadline to submit names is Tuesday, May 30 th, 2017.

HONORING FATHER NICHOLAS: TODAY FOLLOWING LITURGY As some of you may have heard, Fr. Nick Greanias will be leaving us as he has been assigned to minister to the congregation of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Kankakee, Illinois His last Sunday is TODAY! In honor of his 6 years of service here at Saint Nicholas, we will be hosting a special farewell luncheon following Divine Liturgy Please join with us as we say goodbye and wish him many blessings on His new assignment. AXIOS!