Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. JUNIOR OLYMPICS TRY OUTS TODAY: 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 26th- 28th) 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 TODAY 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 12th at 4:00 p.m. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Our Adult Religious Education classes will begin again this 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. 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. STEWARDSHIP NOTE: If you have pledged for 2017 thank you. However, there are still many in our community, who have not made their financial commitment to the Church. Remember church membership begins in January not when we paid last. Like everything in life, our Church requires a steady cash flow to meet all its obligations. YOUR CHURCH NEEDS YOU please pledge and pay your 2017 stewardship today! SAVE THE DATE: 90 th Anniversary of Saint Nicholas Parish: St. Nicholas 90 th Anniversary Dinner Dance is September 24 th, 2017 at Tuscany Falls in Mokena. 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, May 7 th, 2017 Sunday of The Paralytic Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem Commemoration of the Cross in the Sky over Jerusalem 351 A.D. Readings: Epistle: Acts 9: 32-42 Gospel: John 5: 1-15 Epistle Reader: Georgia Christakes Coffee Fellowship Hour immediately follows the Divine Liturgy and is sponsored today by the Chronos and Perakis Families in loving memory of Maria Perakis, Vasilios Perakis and Eleni Bouscio; Nick and Lori DiNovo in loving memory of Chrysoula Double and the Galanes Family in loving memory of Dr. Mary Kamberos and Catherine Vlachos JUNIOR OLYMPIC TRYOUTS TODAY IN THE GYM Memorials: Dr. Mary Dochios Kamberos 40 days Thomas Gialamas 40 Days Eleni Bouscio 40 Days Catherine Vlachos 5 Months Chrysoula Double 3 Years Maria Perakis 18 Years Vasilios Perakis 50 years May Their Memory be Eternal THIS WEEK AT SAINT NICHOLAS GREAT AND HOLY WEEK 2017 Monday, May 8 th, 2017 Saint John the Theologian 8:30 a.m. Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 4:30 p.m. Greek School 6:30 p.m. Parish Council Meeting Tuesday, May 9 th, 2017 9:30 a.m. Philoptochos Baking Day Wednesday, May 10 th, 2017 Strict Fast Mid-Pentecost 8:30 a.m. Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy 11:00 a.m. Adult Religious Education 4:30 p.m. Greek School 6:30 p.m. Adult Religious Education 6:30 p.m. Junior Dance Troupe Thursday, May 11 th, 2017 7:00 p.m. Adult Greek Dance Group at Saint Spyridon s Friday, May 12 th, 2017 Strict Fast 4:00 p.m. Deadline For Philoptochos Scholarship Essays Saturday, May13 th 2017 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers SPECIAL TRAY FOR JUNIOR DANCE TROUPE: As we exit the church today our Jr. Dance group will be holding a special Tray to help them buy new dance outfits. Our dance group has grown and we no longer have enough for all the kids. Please give generously. God Bless δὲ ἤνοιξεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῆς καὶ ἰδοῦσα τὸν Πέτρον, ἀνεκάθισεν. Δοὺς δὲ αὐτῇ χεῖρα, ἀνέστησεν αὐτήν φωνήσας δὲ τοὺς ἁγίους καὶ τὰς χήρας, παρέστησεν αὐτὴν ζῶσαν. Γνωστὸν δὲ ἐγένετο καθʼ ὅλης τῆς Ἰόππης, καὶ πολλοὶ ἐπίστευσαν ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον. Acts of the Apostles 9: 32-42 IN THOSE DAYS, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Εκ του κάτα Ἰωάννην 5: 1-15 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀνέβη ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. Ἔστι δὲ ἐν τοῖς Ιεροσολύμοις ἐπὶ τῇ προβατικῇ κολυμβήθρα, ἡ ἐπιλεγομένη Ἑβραϊστὶ Βηθεσδά, πέντε στοὰς ἔχουσα. ἐν ταύταις κατέκειτο πλῆθος πολὺ τῶν ἀσθενούντων, τυφλῶν, χωλῶν, ξηρῶν, ἐκδεχομένων τὴν τοῦ ὕδατος κίνησιν. ἄγγελος γὰρ κατὰ καιρὸν κατέβαινεν ἐν τῇ κολυμβήθρᾳ, καὶ ἐταράσσετο τὸ ὕδωρ ὁ οὖν πρῶτος ἐμβὰς μετὰ τὴν ταραχὴν τοῦ ὕδατος ὑγιὴς ἐγίνετο ᾧ δήποτε κατείχετο νοσήματι. ἦν δέ τις ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖ τριάκοντα καὶ ὀκτὼ ἔτη ἔχων ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ αὐτοῦ. τοῦτον ἰδὼν ὁ Ιησοῦς κατακείμενον, καὶ γνοὺς ὅτι πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἔχει, λέγει αὐτῷ θέλεις ὑγιὴς γενέσθαι; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ ἀσθενῶν Κύριε, ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἔχω, ἵνα ὅταν ταραχθῇ τὸ ὕδωρ, βάλῃ με εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθραν ἐν ᾧ δὲ ἔρχομαι ἐγώ, ἄλλος πρὸ ἐμοῦ καταβαίνει. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ιησοῦς ἔγειρε, ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει. καὶ εὐθέως ἐγένετο ὑγιὴς ὁ ἄνθρωπος, καὶ ἦρε τὸν κράβαττον αὐτοῦ καὶ περιεπάτει. ἦν δὲ σάββατον ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ. ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Ιουδαῖοι τῷ τεθεραπευμένῳ σάββατόν ἐστιν οὐκ ἔξεστί σοι ἆραι τὸν κράβαττον. ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς ὁ ποιήσας με ὑγιῆ, ἐκεῖνός μοι εἶπεν ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει. ἠρώτησαν οὖν αὐτόν τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εἰπών σοι, ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν σου καὶ περιπάτει; ὁ δὲ ἰαθεὶς οὐκ ᾔδει τίς ἐστιν ὁ γὰρ Ιησοῦς ἐξένευσεν ὄχλου ὄντος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ. μετὰ ταῦτα εὑρίσκει αὐτὸν ὁ Ιησοῦς ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἴδε ὑγιὴς γέγονας μηκέτι ἁμάρτανε, ἵνα μὴ χεῖρόν σοί τι γένηται. ἀπῆλθεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ ἀνήγγειλε τοῖς Ιουδαίοις ὅτι Ιησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ ποιήσας αὐτὸν ὑγιῆ. Gospel According to John 5: 1-15 At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight

Resurrectional Apolotikion Ἦχος γ Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡµᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Third Mode Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. He trampled death under foot by means of death; and He became the firstborn from the dead. From the maw of Hades He delivered us; and He granted the world His great mercy. 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. Memorial Hymn Μνήσθητι, Κύριε, ὡς ἀγαθὸς τῶν δούλων σου, καὶ ὅσα ἐν βίῳ ἥμαρτον, συγχώρησον οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀναμάρτητος, εἰμὴ σὺ ὁ δυνάμενος, καὶ τοῖς μεταστᾶσι δοῦναι τήν ἀνάπαυσιν. 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. Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 9:32-42 Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο Πέτρον διερχόμενον διὰ πάντων κατελθεῖν καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἁγίους τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Λύδδαν. Εὗρεν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπόν τινα Αἰνέαν ὀνόματι, ἐξ ἐτῶν ὀκτὼ κατακείμενον ἐπὶ κραββάτῳ, ὃς ἦν παραλελυμένος. Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος, Αἰνέα, ἰᾶταί σε Ἰησοῦς ὁ Χριστός ἀνάστηθι καὶ στρῶσον σεαυτῷ. Καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἶδον αὐτὸν πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες Λύδδαν καὶ τὸν Ἀσσάρωνα, οἵτινες ἐπέστρεψαν ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον. Ἐν Ἰόππῃ δέ τις ἦν μαθήτρια ὀνόματι Ταβηθά, ἣ διερμηνευομένη λέγεται Δορκάς αὕτη ἦν πλήρης ἀγαθῶν ἔργων καὶ ἐλεημοσυνῶν ὧν ἐποίει. Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἀσθενήσασαν αὐτὴν ἀποθανεῖν λούσαντες δὲ αὐτὴν ἔθηκαν ἐν ὑπερῴῳ. Ἐγγὺς δὲ οὔσης Λύδδης τῇ Ἰόππῃ, οἱ μαθηταὶ ἀκούσαντες ὅτι Πέτρος ἐστὶν ἐν αὐτῇ, ἀπέστειλαν πρὸς αὐτόν, παρακαλοῦντες μὴ ὀκνῆσαι διελθεῖν ἕως αὐτῶν. Ἀναστὰς δὲ Πέτρος συνῆλθεν αὐτοῖς ὃν παραγενόμενον ἀνήγαγον εἰς τὸ ὑπερῷον, καὶ παρέστησαν αὐτῷ πᾶσαι αἱ χῆραι κλαίουσαι καὶ ἐπιδεικνύμεναι χιτῶνας καὶ ἱμάτια ὅσα ἐποίει μετʼ αὐτῶν οὖσα ἡ Δορκάς. Ἐκβαλὼν δὲ ἔξω πάντας ὁ Πέτρος θεὶς τὰ γόνατα προσηύξατο καὶ ἐπιστρέψας πρὸς τὸ σῶμα, εἶπεν, Ταβηθά, ἀνάστηθι. Ἡ SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC MAN: The Church is in the midst of the glorious Resurrection season. We still sing out the inspiring hymns telling of the Lord s victory over death. Why, then, does the Gospel for today speak of the healing of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethzatha? Is there any connection between this incident and the Resurrection? The Fathers of the Church have pointed out that in the person of the Paralytic man raised from his bed; we have a foreshadowing of our own resurrection from the grave. In a Vesper hymn the paralytic is spoken of as like unto a dead man, unburied. He speaks of his bed becoming his grave. But then Jesus comes to raise him. Just as then an Angel come to trouble the waters of the pool to make possible resurrection from illness, so in the last day an Angel shall come and trouble the dust of the earth and the dead in Christ shall rise. The Kontakion Hymn of the day speaks of an individual being completely paralyzed by many sins and all kinds of wickedness, who can then be raised from this spiritual disease to new life and virtue by the might and love of God. The Epistle lesson also tells of restoration and resurrection. Peter the Apostle comes to Lydda and there tells a sick man, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed. Thus Aeneas was restored. A short distance away was Joppa, where a pious and charitable woman, Tabitha, (in Greek Dorcas) had died. Peter was summoned there and kneeling down in prayer, brought the dead woman to life. 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. 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. 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 th (Mothers Day) during the Coffee Hour. The prize is $1,000! And your ticket goes back in for the Fest Drawing. Thank You!! 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.

CHOIR BOOK FUNDRAISER: The choir is still collecting used books for their ongoing fundraiser. Please bring your books on Sundays or to the Church Office during the week. Thanks for your donations! PLEASE don t leave your weekly bulletin in the pew. Take it home with you and share the message and announcements, written here, with your family and friends. Thank You!