Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 18, 2018 Sunday of St. John Climacus

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, March 18, 2018 Sunday of St. John Climacus St. John Climacus St. Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem The memory of this Saint is celebrated on March 30, where his biography may be found. He is celebrated today because his book, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, is a sure guide to the ascetic life, written by a great man of prayer experienced in all forms of the monastic polity; it teaches the seeker after salvation how to lay a sound foundation for his struggles, how to detect and war against each of the passions, how to avoid the snares laid by the demons, and how to rise from the rudimental virtues to the heights of Godlike love and humility. It is held in such high esteem that it is universally read in its entirety in monasteries during the Great Fast. This Saint was born in 315, and succeeded Maximus as Archbishop of Jerusalem in 350. He was zealous for the Orthodox Faith, and was a defender of the poor. He was exiled three times by the Arian Emperors Constantius and Valens. But after their death, he was recalled to his throne; he reposed in peace in 386. Of his writings, the most prominent are his catechetical lectures, which are considered the most ancient systematic summary of Christian teaching. Before Saint Cyril, there had been two dioceses, one of Jerusalem, and one of Holy Sion; under Saint Cyril, they were united into one bishopric. 7560 South Archer Road, Justice, Illinois 60458 (708) 594-2040, fax (708) 594-8362 Web: www.holycrossil.org; Email: office@holycrossil.org Rev. Fr. Demetrios Kounavis Parish Priest

ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ Ἀδελφοί, τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ θεός, ἐπεὶ κατʼ οὐδενὸς εἶχεν μείζονος ὀμόσαι, ὤμοσεν καθʼ ἑαυτοῦ, λέγων, Ἦ μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε, καὶ πληθύνων πληθυνῶ σε. Καὶ οὕτως μακροθυμήσας ἐπέτυχεν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας. Ἄνθρωποι μὲν γὰρ κατὰ τοῦ μείζονος ὀμνύουσιν, καὶ πάσης αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογίας πέρας εἰς βεβαίωσιν ὁ ὅρκος. Ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ, ἵνα διὰ δύο πραγμάτων ἀμεταθέτων, ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι θεόν, ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν ἔχωμεν οἱ καταφυγόντες κρατῆσαι τῆς προκειμένης ἐλπίδος ἣν ὡς ἄγκυραν ἔχομεν τῆς ψυχῆς ἀσφαλῆ τε καὶ βεβαίαν, καὶ εἰσερχομένην εἰς τὸ ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος ὅπου πρόδρομος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εἰσῆλθεν Ἰησοῦς, κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδὲκ ἀρχιερεὺς γενόμενος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. EPISTLE READING FOR THE DAY BRETHREN, when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἄνθρωπός τις προσῆλθε τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγων, διδάσκαλε, ἤνεγκα τὸν υἱόν μου πρός σε, ἔχοντα πνεῦμα ἄλαλον. καὶ ὅπου ἂν αὐτὸν καταλάβῃ, ῥήσσει αὐτόν, καὶ ἀφρίζει καὶ τρίζει τοὺς ὀδόντας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ξηραίνεται καὶ εἶπον τοῖς μαθηταῖς σου ἵνα αὐτὸ ἐκβάλωσι, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς αὐτῷ λέγει ὦ γενεὰ ἄπιστος, ἕως πότε πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔσομαι; ἕως πότε ἀνέξομαι ὑμῶν; φέρετε αὐτὸν πρός με. καὶ ἤνεγκαν αὐτὸν πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὸν εὐθέως τὸ πνεῦμα ἐσπάραξεν αὐτόν, καὶ πεσὼν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐκυλίετο ἀφρίζων. καὶ ἐπηρώτησε τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ πόσος χρόνος ἐστὶν ὡς τοῦτο γέγονεν αὐτῷ; ὁ δὲ εἶπε παιδιόθεν. καὶ πολλάκις αὐτὸν καὶ εἰς πῦρ ἔβαλε καὶ εἰς ὕδατα, ἵνα ἀπολέσῃ αὐτόν ἀλλ εἴ τι δύνασαι, βοήθησον ἡμῖν σπλαγχνισθεὶς ἐφ ἡμᾶς. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ εἰ δύνασαι πιστεῦσαι, πάντα δυνατὰ τῷ πιστεύοντι. καὶ εὐθέως κράξας ὁ πατὴρ τοῦ παιδίου μετὰ δακρύων ἔλεγε πιστεύω, κύριε βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ. ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ὅτι ἐπισυντρέχει ὄχλος, ἐπετίμησε τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ λέγων αὐτῷ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἄλαλον καὶ κωφόν, ἐγώ σοι ἐπιτάσσω, ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ καὶ μηκέτι εἰσέλθῃς εἰς αὐτόν. καὶ κράξαν καὶ πολλὰ σπαράξαν αὐτὸν ἐξῆλθε, καὶ ἐγένετο ὡσεὶ νεκρός, ὥστε πολλοὺς λέγειν ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. ὁ δὲ Ιησοῦς κρατήσας αὐτὸν τῆς χειρὸς ἤγειρεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀνέστη. Καὶ εἰσελθόντα αὐτὸν εἰς οἶκον οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν κατ ἰδίαν, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἠδυνήθημεν ἐκβαλεῖν αὐτό. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς τοῦτο τὸ γένος ἐν οὐδενὶ δύναται ἐξελθεῖν εἰ μὴ ἐν προσευχῇ καὶ νηστείᾳ. Καὶ ἐκεῖθεν ἐξελθόντες παρεπορεύοντο διὰ τῆς Γαλιλαίας, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ἵνα τις γνῷ ἐδίδασκε γὰρ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδίδοται εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσιν αὐτόν, καὶ ἀποκτανθεὶς τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστήσεται.

GOSPEL READING FOR THE DAY At that time, a man came to Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise." Elder Ambrose: Compline is Like an Umbrella Once he [Elder Ambrose of Dadiou] went with a certain spiritual child of his to hear a talk of a known clerical preacher, somewhere in Athens. Afterwards there was a discussion and a young man in the audience asked the priest the following question: "Father, I cannot read Compline or the Six Psalms, nor can I follow the Divine Liturgy. The only thing I can do is to say the 'Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me'. Will I be saved?" The priest did not give a clear answer. At that moment, however, the Elder turned to the spiritual child that accompanied him and whispered: "He should have told him: Yes, you will be saved." He would say that Compline is like an umbrella that opens and covers the entire family from evil spirits that exist at night, even repelling thieves and God shields you in your own home. Indeed, he insisted to a woman not only to do her morning prayers, after she had rested, but also at night, despite the fatigue of the day that passed. He stressed to her: "Try to say Compline every night with your children. And one of you should only always read, while the others accompany, and all will be involved in the end somehow. Or, if this is not possible, then let the whole family be together and let one person read." He was sympathetic towards others. So when the same woman asked him what she should do with her children, since because of their age or level of education they could not participate, he said: "The let each person do it on their own, lest it not be done at all. And if you cannot do all of Compline, then say the 50th Psalm of David ('Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy')." Source: From the book Ο πνευματικός της Μονής Δαδίου (The Spiritual Father of Dadiou Monastery). Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Για τον λόγο που ο Θεός γνωρίζει, σε δοκιμάζει π. Γεωργ. Δορμπαράκη (Μικρές στάσεις στην Κλίμακα του Αγ. Ιωάννου) «Αλλά και τούτο φαίνεται ότι κάνει πολλές φορές ο Θεός. Βλέποντας ανδρείες ψυχές, επιτρέπει τους πολέμους ευθύς εξ αρχής, με την επιθυμία να τις στεφανώσει σύντομα» (λόγ. α, 41). Είναι φορές που παραπονιέσαι ότι αντιμετωπίζεις στη ζωή σου δυσκολίες, δοκιμασίες, πειρασμούς, παραπάνω από τις δυνάμεις σου. Και μάλιστα εκ νεότητός σου. Μία δύσκολη αρρώστια προσωπική ή οικογενειακή, ένα ατύχημα, μία αποτυχία ενώ κάτι το ήθελες πάρα πολύ. Κι είναι οι στιγμές που νιώθεις ότι δεν αντέχεις, που πάει να κλονισθεί η πίστη σου γιατί ο Θεός σε εγκατέλειψε, όταν μάλιστα βλέπεις ότι η δοκιμασία διαρκεί. Μην πιστέψεις τον λογισμό αυτό. Είναι ψεύτικος. Είναι του εχθρού που θέλει ακριβώς να σε καταβάλει για να σε φέρει στα δικά του δίχτυα και να σε κάνει υποχείριό του. Στρέψου με ορμή στον Κύριο. Ζήτα του ενίσχυση και υπομονή. Έχοντας υπόψη σου ότι ποτέ ο Θεός δεν μας εγκαταλείπει, γιατί η αγάπη Του είναι άπειρη και η Πρόνοιά Του για όλον τον κόσμο, κυρίως δε για τον άνθρωπο και μάλιστα τον πιστό, δεδομένη. Ο Κύριος δεν μας βεβαίωσε ότι «και αι τρίχες της κεφαλής υμών πάσαι ηριθμημέναι εισί»; Ο απόστολός Του θεόπνευστα δεν διεκήρυξε ότι «δεν πρόκειται να μας αφήσει να δοκιμασθούμε παραπάνω από όσο μπορούμε, και μάλιστα μαζί με τη δοκιμασία θα φέρει και τη διέξοδο»; Άρα ό,τι μας συμβαίνει είναι μέσα στα πλαίσια του ιδιαίτερου ενδιαφέροντος για τον καθένα από εμάς: Εκείνος το επιτρέπει για το καλό μας. Και πέραν αυτού: αν πράγματι πολλές και μαζεμένες δοκιμασίες σού έρχονται, γνώριζέ το χωρίς αμφιβολία: πρώτον, ο Κύριος σου ετοιμάζει σύντομα στεφάνια, και δεύτερον, σου δίνει ευκαιρία αυτογνωσίας: να κατανοήσεις ότι έχεις ανδρεία ψυχή. Η γενναιότητα συνοδεύεται πάντοτε από τις προκλήσεις και τους πειρασμούς. «Για τον λόγο που ο Θεός γνωρίζει, σε δοκιμάζει. Μπορείς να κρατήσεις αυτή τη θλίψη; (λέγει ο Κύριος). Μπορώ! Θα σου δώσω Χάρη. Δεν μπορείς; Κι αυτό που σου έδωσα, θα το α- φαιρέσω. Εγώ δεν θέλω δειλούς ανθρώπους» (Γέρων Εφραίμ Κατουνακιώτης). *************************************** 'Βάστα την ψυχούλαν σου στερεά... Γέροντας Ιωσήφ ο ησυχαστής: ''Βάστα την ψυχούλαν σου στερεά, λογιζομένη ότι κουτσοί και λωβοί εις αυτά τα αγαθά δεν εισέρχονται. Δι αυτό μάς αφήνει τούς πειρασμούς ὁ Χριστός, να καθαριζώμεθα ἀπὸ τας προλήψεις. Αυτό είναι το σαπούνι και ὁ κόπανος όπου κτυπῶν μάς λευκαίνει. Και όσα ρούχα είναι στερεά χρησιμεύουν εις τον Νυμφίων. Όσα δεν υπομένουν τον κόπανον σχίζουν και ρίπτονται έξω στα άχρηστα. Δι αυτό ας βιασθούμε ολίγον εδώ, διότι εγγίζει ἡ ώρα. Να φυλάγεις τα γράμματα πού σού στέλνω, να τα έχεις όταν πειράζεσαι ἀπὸ θλίψεις..'' ***************************************

HOLY CROSS PHILOPTOCHOS Philoptochos Baking Items Needed: Our Philoptochos needs the following baking items: All Purpose Flour, Sugar, Honey, Powdered Sugar, Walnuts, Corn Oil, and Unsalted Butter. Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you! 2018 STEWARDSHIP Stewardship pledge cards can be picked up at the church office; we ask that you prayerfully consider what you will offer to our beloved parish of Holy Cross in 2018. Our beloved parish requires approximately $753 per day to operate or an annual pledge average of $1375 per family. As always, we remain appreciative for all that you lovingly give. SAVE THE DATE TODAY: Philoptochos Loukoumades Sale March 24: Enthronement of Metropolitan- Elect Nathanael at Annunciation Cathedral March 25: March 25th Fish Fry after Church March30-April 1: Philoptochos Easter Bake Sale March 31: Saturday of Lazarus Children s Retreat and the making of the palms April 1: Palm Sunday Plaki Luncheon April 8: PASCHA April 13: Bright Friday Feast April 27-28: Parish Women s Retreat May 6: Celebration of St. Sophia Kleisoura May 6: St. Valentine s Couples Ministry May 19: Parish Retreat, St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Kansasville, Wisconsin May 20: St. Anna Women s Group Lunch May 22: Family Movie Night June 10: Graduate Sunday June 22-24: GREEK FEST 2018 Sunday March 18 th LOUKOUMADES SALE $5 PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS GREECE AND CYPRUS AID HEART TO HEART CAMPAIGN

Lenten and Holy Week Needs 2018 Flowers for the Panagia Icon (3 Salutations Services) - $225.00 each $350 donated so far Flowers for Sunday of the Holy Cross (Processional Icon) - $225.00 Dikerotrikera Candles for Sunday of the Holy Cross - $50.00 Lambathes for Vespers of the Holy Cross - $140.00 Palms and Bay Leaves for Palm Sunday - $1050.00 Flowers for the Palm Sunday Icon - $225.00 $25 donated so far Palm Sunday Arch for Church - $525.00 Flowers for the Crucifixion Icon - $200.00 Flowers for the Kouvouklion (Christ s Tomb) - $2100.00 $375 donated so far Easter Lilies - $550.00 Anastasi Icon - $225.00 1000 white cups for Anastasi - $250 1000 red cups for Good Friday - $250 25 cases of white candles - $50 per case 3 cases donated so far Flowers for the Panagia Icon (Akathist Hymn Service) - $225.00 Flowers for the Sunday of the Holy Cross (Iconostasi Icon) - $350.00 Daffodils for Sunday of the Holy Cross - $425.00 Flowers for the Nymphios Icon - $225.00 Flowers for the Last Supper Icon - $200.00 Wreath for the Cross of Christ - $200.00 Candles for the 12 Gospels - $125.00 Rose Petals for Myrophores - $150.00 Rose Water - $50.00 Gardenias for the Epitaphio - $200.00 Priest Paschal Candle - $250.00 Flowers for the Lavaron - $300.00 12 Altar Candles - $120.00 Thank you for helping us bring the proper dignity to our services during this holy season. Ευχαριστούμε δια την υποστήριξή σας και ιερά προσφορά σας ώστε να καλυπτούν οι ανάγκες προς τις Άγιες αυτές ημέρες της Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστής και Άγιον Πάσχα.

WEEKLY EVENTS TODAY Philoptochos Loukoumades Sale Thursday, March 22 6pm - Great Canon of St. Andrew Friday, March 23 9am - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6pm - Akathist Hymn Saturday, March 24 10am - Greek School 11am - Enthronement of Metropolitan Nathanael at Annunciation Cathedral 7pm - Annunciation Vespers, Annunciation Cathedral Chicago ΣΗΜΕΡΑ Λουκουμάδες ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ Πέμπτη, 22 Μαρτίου 6.00μ.μ. - Μέγας Κανών Παρασκευή, 23 Μαρτίου 9.00π.μ. - Προηγιασμένη Θ. Λειτουργία 6.00μ.μ. - Ακάθιστος Ύμνος Σάββατο, 24 Μαρτίου 10.00π.μ. - Ελληνικό Σχολείο 11.00π.μ. - Ενθρόνιση του Μητροπολίτη Ναθαναήλ στον Καθεδρικό Ναό Σικάγου 7.00μ.μ. - Εσπερινός στον I.N. Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου Emmanuel Simeakis, 9 days, Right 2-3 Sofia Nikolopoulos, 40 days, Left 1-3 Steve Sideris, 40 days, Left 4-6 Odysseas Villies, 40 days, Right 4-8 Fotini Makris, 6 months, Left 7-10 Christos Zois, 6 months, Right 9-12 Vasiliki Zois, 1 year, Right 9-12 MEMORIALS May their memory be eternal! John Zois, 1 year, Right 9-12 Demetrios Sarolas, 1 year, Left 7-10 Georgia Kotsiovos, 3 years, Left 11-12 Peter Kotsiovos, 3 years, Left 11-12 Angelos Changas, 5 years, Left 11-12 Eugenia Milionis, 6 years, Left 11-12 Euthimios Milionis, 7 years, Left 11-12 Today s coffee fellowship is hosted by the Nikolopoulos, Makris, Sarolas, Changas and Kotsiovos families in memory of their loved ones. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. May their memory be eternal!