733 South Ashland Ave Chicago, Illinois 60607 Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos stbasilchicago@comcast.net Saints and Feasts: Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church Sunday before Epiphany Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ Sunday, December 31, 2017 Telephone: (312) 243-3738 Office Fax: Fax (312) 243-7691 www.stbasilchicago.org Parish Council President: Ms. Jayme Schenk Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome The Martyr and Presbyter Zoticus of Rome, Patron of Orphans For in a contest there is much labor needed--and after the contest victory falls to some, to others disgrace. Is the palm ever given or the crown granted before the course is finished?... Therefore no one can receive a reward, unless he has striven lawfully; nor is the victory a glorious one, unless the contest also has been toilsome. St. Ambrose of Milan Chapter 15, Three Books on the Duties of the Clergy, 4th century It is the sole and peculiar property of the Substance that transcends all, to be able to bestow on men the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and make those that draw near unto It partakers of the divine nature. St. Cyril of Alexandria Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke, Homily 10., 4th Century Narthex Duty: Welcoming Ministry: Orthros Reader: Coffee Hour: Pat Cole & George Tziahanis Maria Mader & Nick Mader Steve Cole Philoptochos Before The Creed When the Priest says: The Congregation responds: Christ is in our midst. He is and always will be, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Communion Guidelines: As a reminder, only Baptized and Chrismated Orthodox Christians who are in good standing may receive Holy Communion. Follow the Ushers row by row and please exit towards the outside aisles.
Saint Basil, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the Great Saint Basil the Great was born about the end of the year 329 in Caesarea of Cappadocia, to a family renowned for their learning and holiness. His parents' names were Basil and Emily. His mother Emily (commemorated July 19) and his grandmother Macrina (Jan. 14) are Saints of the Church, together with all his brothers and sisters: Macrina, his elder sister (July 19), Gregory of Nyssa (Jan. to), Peter of Sebastia (Jan. 9), and Naucratius. Basil studied in Constantnople under the sophist Libanius, then in Athens, where also he formed a friendship with the young Gregory, a fellow Cappadocian, later called "the Theologian." Through the good influence of his sister Macrina (see July 19), he chose to embrace the ascetical life, abandoning his worldly career. He visited the monks in Egypt, in Palestine, in Syria, and in Mesopotamia, and upon returning to Caesarea, he departed to a hermitage on the Iris River in Pontus, not far from Annesi, where his mother and his sister Macrina were already treading the path of the ascetical life; here he also wrote his ascetical homilies. About the year 370, when the bishop of his country reposed, he was elected to succeed to his throne and was entrusted with the Church of Christ, which he tended for eight years, living in voluntary poverty and strict asceticism, having no other care than to defend holy Orthodoxy as a worthy successor of the Apostles. The Emperor Valens, and Modestus, the Eparch of the East, who were of one mind with the Arians, tried with threats of exile and of torments to bend the Saint to their own confession, because he was the bastion of Orthodoxy in all Cappadocia, and preserved it from heresy when Arianism was at its strongest. But he set all their malice at nought, and in his willingness to give himself up to every suffering for the sake of the Faith, showed himself to be a martyr by volition. Modestus, amazed at Basil's fearlessness in his presence, said that no one had ever so spoken to him. "Perhaps," answered the Saint, "you have never met a bishop before." The Emperor Valens himself was almost won over by Basil's dignity and wisdom. When Valens' son fell gravely sick, he asked Saint Basil to pray for him. The Saint promised that his son would be restated if Valens agreed to have him baptized by the Orthodox; Valens agreed, Basil prayed, and the son was restored. But afterwards the Emperor had him baptized by Arians, and the child died soon after. Later, Valens, persuaded by his counsellors, decided to send the Saint into exile because he would not accept the Arians into communion; but his pen broke when he was signing the edict of banishment. He tried a second time and a third, but the same thing happened, so that the Emperor was filled with dread, and tore up the document, and Basil was not banished. The truly great Basil, spent with extreme ascetical practices and continual labours, at the helm of the church, departed to the Lord on the 1st of January, in 379. at the age of forty-nine. His writings are replete with wisdom and erudition, and rich are these gifts he set forth the doctrines concerning the mysteries both of the creation (see his Hexaemeron) and of the Holy Trinity (see On the Holy Spirit). Because of the majesty and keenness of his eloquence, he is honoured as "the revealer of heavenly things" and "the Great."
Hymns of the Day After the Small Entrance Resurrectional Apolytikion Plagal of the 1 st Tone Eternal with the Father and the Spirit is the Word, Who was begotten of the Virgin for our salvation. As the faithful, we both praise and worship Him; for He consented to ascend the cross in the flesh and to endure death. Thus He raised the dead unto life through His all glorious resurrection. Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον Ήχος πλ. α Τὸν συνάναρχον Λόγον Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι, τὸν ἐκ Παρθένου τεχθέντα εἰς σωτηρίαν ἡμῶν, ἀνυμνήσωμεν πιστοὶ καὶ προσκυνήσωμεν, ὅτ ηὐδόκησε σαρκί, ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ, καὶ θάνατον ὑπομεῖναι, καὶ ἐγεῖραι τοὺς τεθνεῶτας, ἐν τῇ ἐνδόξῳ Ἀναστάσει αὐτοῦ. Apolytikion for Apodosis of Nativity 4 th Tone Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee. Apolytikion for Sun. after Nativity 2 nd Tone O Joseph, proclaim the wonders to David, the ancestor of God. Thou hast seen a Virgin great with child; thou hast given glory with the shepherds; thou hast worshipped with the Magi; and thou hast been instructed through an Angel. Entreat Christ God to save our souls. Apolytikion for the Church 1 st Tone Your proclamation went forth into all the earth, for it accepted your word, through which you taught the dogmas befitting God, you expounded on the nature of all that is, and you arranged the morals of society. A royal priesthood! Devout father Basil, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy. Kontakion 3 rd Tone On this day the Virgin gives * birth to the Superessential. * To the Unapproachable, * earth is providing the grotto. * Angels sing and with the shepherds offer up glory. * Following a star the Magi are still proceeding. * He was born for our salvation, a newborn Child, the pre-eternal God. Απολυτίκιον Ήχος δ Ἡ γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἀνέτειλε τῶ κόσμω, τὸ φῶς τὸ τῆς γνώσεως, ἐν αὐτῇ γὰρ οἱ τοὶς ἄστροις λατρεύοντες, ὑπὸ ἀστέρος ἐδιδάσκοντο, σὲ προσκυνεῖν, τὸν Ἥλιον τῆς δικαιοσύνης, καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν ἐξ ὕψους ἀνατολήν, Κύριε δόξα σοί. Απολυτίκιον Ήχος β Εὐαγγελίζου Ἰωσήφ, τῷ Δαυῒδ τὰ θαύματα τῷ Θεοπάτορι Παρθένον εἶδες κυοφορήσασαν, μετὰ Mάγων προσεκύνησας, μετὰ Ποιμένων ἐδοξολόγησας, δι' Ἀγγέλου χρηματισθείς. Ἱκέτευε Χριστὸν τὸν Θεόν, σωθῆναι τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν. Απολυτίκιον τοῦ Ναοῦ Ήχος α' Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος σου, ὡς δεξαμένην τὸν λόγον σου, δι' οὗ θεοπρεπῶς ἐδογμάτισας, τὴν φύσιν τῶν ὄντων ἐτράνωσας, τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἤθη κατεκόσμησας, Βασίλειον Ἱεράτευμα, Πάτερ Ὅσιε, Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. Κοντάκιον Ήχος γ ' Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ ἡ γῆ τὸ Σπήλαιον, τῶ ἀπροσίτω προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι μετὰ Ποιμένων δοξολογοῦσι. Μάγοι δὲ μετὰ ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι. δι' ἡμᾶς γὰρ ἐγεννήθη, Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων Θεός.
THE EPISTLE / Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 2. Psalm 27.9,1 O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God. The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8 TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. Προκείμενον. Ήχος πλ. β'. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1 Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου. Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8 Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.
THE HOLY GOSPEL / ΤΟ ΘΕΙΟΝ ΕΥΑΓ- ΓΕΛΙΟΝ The Gospel According to Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι Αγίῳ.
Feast Day of St. Basil the Great Sunday, December 31 st, 2017 Great Vespers of St. Basil the Great (Cutting of Vasilopita to follow in church hall) 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 1, 2018 Orthros & Divine Liturgy of St. Basil (Cutting of Vasilopita to follow in church hall) 8:15a.m. Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Friday, January 5 th, 2018 Royal Hours of Epiphany 9:00 a.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy and Lesser Blessing of the Waters 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 6 th, 2018 Orthros & Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of the Waters 8:00 a.m. Feast of the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist Saturday, January 6 th, 2018 Great Vespers of the Synaxis of the Forerunner (at St. John the Baptist in Des Plaines, IL) 7:00p.m. Sunday, January 8 th, 2017 Orthros and Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m.
Liturgical Items We Need Please consider donating for the following Antidoron Standing Basket $400 This Basket will be used by the Altar Boys for Communion, Artoklasia Services, Unction(Ευχέλαιόν) Services, etc. Conversion of Altar Boy Candles from glass jars to Perfin Candles $400 for the set of 6 Candles (ALREADY DONATED) These candles will provide a cleaner burn, a more economical use of fuel, and more variety to our worship. Bishop Throne for the Holy Altar $450 This seat is placed in the Holy Altar for visiting Hierarchs and Clergy to use during Services Donations Needed for Decorating Icons $100 per icon St. Basil he Great The Circumcision of our Lord The Reliquary of St. Basil The Three Hierarchs
Calendar for the Week Ahead - Sunday, December 31, 10:30am No Sunday School Class Today - Sunday, December 31, 7:00pm - Great Vespers for St. Basil the Great - Monday, January 1, 8:30am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy for St. Basil, followed by Doxology for the New Year - Friday, January 5, 6:00pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy and Lesser Blessing of the Waters - Saturday, January 6, 8:00am Orthros & Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of the Waters of Theophany - Saturday, January 6, 7:00pm Great Vespers for St. John the Baptist (Des Plaines Parish) - Sunday, January 7, 8:00am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy for Synaxis of St. John the Baptist (Des Plaines Parish) - Sunday, January 7, 8:15am - Orthros and Divine Liturgy St. Basil Super Bash - Sunday, February 4, 2018 SAVE THE DATE: We are pleased to announce the return of the St. Basil Super Bash! Stay tuned for details! We need your help - You Might be Missing Out We have started a new weekly St. Basil E-Bulletin - which goes out early each week - and, for some of you, this email is going into "spam" or "trash". Please take a look at your spam and trash files and if you see it there, with most servers there's a button you can push to stop it's going into trash/spam. Or you can enter stbasilchicago@comcast.net into your email contacts list. Thanks! We need your help - You Might be Missing Out We have started a new weekly St. Basil E-Bulletin - which goes out early each week - and, for some of you, this email is going into "spam" or "trash". Please take a look at your spam and trash files and if you see it there, with most servers there's a button you can push to stop it's going into trash/spam. Or you can enter stbasilchicago@comcast.net into your email contacts list. Thanks! Greek man looking for stem cell donor match For more information visit - https://bethematch.org/ support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/ Parish News and Events Stewardship - Have You Become A Steward For 2018? If not, know that everything we have is God's and we are just managers during this brief life. Become a steward today. "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God" (2 Cor. 9:10-11). Ladies Philoptochos Thank you for your donations to the November food drive for Chicago s Lakeview Pantry. The donation table was overflowing with food that the homeless can heat up in shelters. Finding food is a daily struggle for the homeless. You eased that burden for many of the city s poorest of the poor. A Year End Charitable Giving Tip - If you have benefited from the significant gains in the stock market this year, you can do well as you do good. Consider making a gift of appreciated stock to St. Basil, the Church you love. Consult your financial advisor and ask about the potential tax benefits of a gift of stock to St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church. You may be surprised how generous you can be thanks to a bull market. House/Business Blessings - It is customary to bless homes and businesses right after the feast of Epiphany. Please contact Fr. Dimitri Tobias if you would like to have your home or business blessed (312-243-3738).
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 NO BAPTISMS OR WEDDINGS PERMIT- TED TODAY No Fasting NO FASTING 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for St. Basil, followed by Doxology for the New Year" 2 NO BAPTISMS OR WEDDINGS PERMIT- TED TODAY NO FASTING No Fasting 3 NO BAPTISMS OR WEDDINGS PERMIT- TED TODAY NO FASTING No Fasting 4 NO BAPTISMS OR NO FASTING No Fasting 5 Fasting Day 6 Memorials Not Permitted 6:00 pm Vesperal Divine Liturgy and Lesser Blessing of the Waters Liturgy and Great 8:00 am Orthros & Divine Blessing of the Waters of Theophany 7:00 pm Great Vespers for St. John the Baptist (at Des Plaines Parish) 7 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" 11:30 am Parish Vasilopita 11:30 am Prison Ministry New Year's card writing to inmates 8 9 OCF FIELD TRIP TO WEEPING ICON 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" 11:45 am Philoptochos Meeting 7:00 pm Great Vespers for St. Anthony the Great at Metropolis Chapel 17 18 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for St. Anthony at Metropolis Chapel 7:00 pm Great Vespers for Ss. Athanasios and Cyril (at Aurora parish) 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Ss. Athanasios & Cyril 19 20 21 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" 28 No Fasting 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy 10:30 am "Sunday School meets" 22 23 24 25 26 27 11:30 am St. Basil Parish Trip to Feed my Starving Children 29 No Fasting 7:00 pm Great Vespers for Three Hierarchs 30 No Fasting 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy for Synaxis of the Three Hierarch: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom 31 No Fasting St
Matthew 25:35-36 - The Last Judgement For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: Please donate food for the needy. I was a stranger, and you took me in: Please welcome our Catechumens and Guests Naked, and you clothed me: Please consider donating clothes to the local shelter. I was sick, and you visited me: Please pray for the speedy recovery of: Nicholas I was in prison, and you came unto me: Please pray for and consider visiting our shut-ins. Please also see Pat Cole to see about writing Letters to those Incarcerated through our prison ministry. It means the world to them to receive love. VISITATION POLICY If you would like Fr. Dimitri to visit you in the hospital, please call him or have a family member call. Fr. Dimitri will not go unless he is asked by the family. This is in compliance with both HIPAA and patient privacy. If You are not receiving the Observer, please contact the Church Office. Reflection How wisely holy men and women knew how to handle their wealth! How skillfully they purchased the eternal goods of heaven with their earthly goods. Oh, how little they valued earthly goods in themselves-as dust and smoke! When St. Melania visited the holy desert fathers in Egypt with the intention of giving them some financial help, she was astonished at seeing their extreme abhorrence of goods and riches. Thus, she visited one hermit, Ephestion, and saw nothing in his cell but mats, a bowl for water, a little dry bread, and a salt pot. Knowing beforehand that the elder would not take any gold from her, she seized the opportunity and placed several gold pieces in the salt pot. However, when she was on her way back, she heard the elder running after her, and at the top of his voice he was calling to her to stop. She stopped. The elder held the gold pieces in the palm of his hand and, handing them to Melania, said: ``I do not need this, take what is yours!'' Melania said to him: ``If you do not need it, give it to someone else.'' He replied: ``No one in this place has any use for it.'' When Melania refused to accept the gold, the elder swung his arm and threw the gold pieces into the river and then returned to his cell. During an outbreak of plague in Constantinople, Emperor Constantius ordered that everyone infected be immediately thrown into the sea. St. Zoticus ransomed those who were infected and brought them to his home, and there he cared for them. When his money ran out, he went to the emperor and asked for money to purchase precious pearls for him. The emperor gave him money, and with this money Zoticus continued his work of ransoming the contagious ones and caring for them. One day, the emperor asked Zoticus for the promised pearls, and Zoticus brought him and showed him the infected men in his home, saying: ``These, O Emperor, are the living pearls that I acquired with labor and money for your salvation.'' The enraged emperor condemned Zoticus to death, but Zoticus entered into eternal life, and