Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, April 1, 2018 Palm Sunday

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Sunday, April 1, 2018 Palm Sunday Palm Sunday On Sunday, five days before the Passover of the Law, the Lord came from Bethany to Jerusalem. Sending two of His disciples to bring Him a foal of a donkey, He sat thereon and entered into the city. When the multitude there heard that Jesus was coming, they straightway took up the branches of palm trees in their hands, and went forth to meet Him. Others spread their garments on the ground, and yet others cut branches from the trees and strewed them in the way that Jesus was to pass; and all of them together, especially the children, went before and after Him, crying out: "Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord, the King of Israel" (John 12:13). This is the radiant and glorious festival of our Lord's entry into Jerusalem that we celebrate today. The branches of the palm trees symbolize Christ's victory over the devil and death. The word Hosanna means "Save, I pray," or "Save, now." The foal of a donkey, and Jesus' sitting thereon, and the fact that this animal was untamed and considered unclean according to the Law, signified the former uncleanness and wildness of the nations, and their subjection thereafter to the holy Law of the Gospel. Apolytikion: As by baptism we were buried with Thee, O Christ our God, so by Thy Resurrection we were deemed worthy of immortal life; and praising Thee, we cry: Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Nothing in this life is stable by Elder Philotheos Zervakos In this world, and in this present temporary life, nothing is stable; all things undergo change and alteration. Fortunate is the person who - during this life - through patience and the other virtues, builds a home in the heavens. After death, he will dwell there, where there is no pain, suffering, sorrow, danger, fear, or war, but perfect and certain fortune and bliss. 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, χαίρετε ἐν κυρίῳ πάντοτε πάλιν ἐρῶ, χαίρετε. Τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. Ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. Μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν. Καὶ ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ θεοῦ ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν, φρουρήσει τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Τὸ λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα, εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος, ταῦτα λογίζεσθε. Ἃ καὶ ἐμάθετε καὶ παρελάβετε καὶ ἠκούσατε καὶ εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοί, ταῦτα πράσσετε καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθʼ ὑμῶν. EPISTLE READING FOR THE DAY BRETHREN, rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΜΕΡΑΣ Πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα ἦλθεν Ὁ Ιησοῦς εἰς Βηθανίαν, ὅπου ἦν Λάζαρος ὁ τεθνηκώς, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐποίησαν οὖν αὐτῷ δεῖπνον ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἡ Μάρθα διηκόνει ὁ δὲ Λάζαρος εἷς ἦν τῶν ἀνακειμένων σὺν αὐτῷ. ἡ οὖν Μαρία, λαβοῦσα λίτραν μύρου νάρδου πιστικῆς πολυτίμου, ἤλειψε τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ιησοῦ καὶ ἐξέμαξε ταῖς θριξὶν αὐτῆς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ἡ δὲ οἰκία ἐπληρώθη ἐκ τῆς ὀσμῆς τοῦ μύρου. λέγει οὖν εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Ιούδας Σίμωνος Ισκαριώτης, ὁ μέλλων αὐτὸν παραδιδόναι διατί τοῦτο τὸ μύρον οὐκ ἐπράθη τριακοσίων δηναρίων καὶ ἐδόθη πτωχοῖς; εἶπε δὲ τοῦτο οὐχ ὅτι περὶ τῶν πτωχῶν ἔμελεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλ ὅτι κλέπτης ἦν, καὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχε καὶ τὰ βαλλόμενα ἐβάσταζεν. εἶπεν οὖν ὁ Ιησοῦς ἄφες αὐτήν, εἰς τὴν ἡμέραν τοῦ ἐνταφιασμοῦ μου τετήρηκεν αὐτό. τοὺς πτωχοὺς γὰρ πάντοτε ἔχετε μεθ ἑαυτῶν, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ πάντοτε ἔχετε. Εγνω οὖν ὄχλος πολὺς ἐκ τῶν Ιουδαίων ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐστι, καὶ ἦλθον οὐ διὰ τὸν Ιησοῦν μόνον, ἀλλ ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἴδωσιν ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ νεκρῶν. ἐβουλεύσαντο δὲ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἵνα καὶ τὸν Λάζαρον ἀποκτείνωσιν, ὅτι πολλοὶ δι αὐτὸν ὑπῆγον τῶν Ιουδαίων καὶ ἐπίστευον εἰς τὸν Ιησοῦν. Τῇ ἐπαύριον ὄχλος πολὺς ὁ ἐλθὼν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἔρχεται Ιησοῦς εἰς Ιεροσόλυμα, ἔλαβον τὰ βαΐα τῶν φοινίκων καὶ ἐξῆλθον εἰς ὑπάντησιν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔκραζον ὡσαννά, εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου, ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ Ισραήλ. εὑρὼν δὲ ὁ Ιησοῦς ὀνάριον ἐκάθισεν ἐπ αὐτό, καθώς ἐστι γεγραμμένον μὴ φοβοῦ, θύγατερ Σιών ἰδοὺ ὁ βασιλεύς σου ἔρχεται καθήμενος ἐπὶ πῶλον ὄνου. Ταῦτα δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ πρῶτον, ἀλλ ὅτε ἐδοξάσθη ὁ Ιησοῦς, τότε ἐμνήσθησαν ὅτι ταῦτα ἦν ἐπ αὐτῷ γεγραμμένα, καὶ ταῦτα ἐποίησαν αὐτῷ. Εμαρτύρει οὖν ὁ ὄχλος ὁ ὢν μετ αὐτοῦ ὅτε τὸν Λάζαρον ἐφώνησεν ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου καὶ ἤγειρεν αὐτὸν ἐκ νεκρῶν. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ὄχλος, ὅτι ἤκουσαν τοῦτο αὐτὸν πεποιηκέναι τὸ σημεῖον.

GOSPEL READING FOR THE DAY Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazaros was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazaros was one of those at table with him. Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazaros, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazaros also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. The next day a great crowd who had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!" And Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it; as it is written, "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that this had been written of him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazaros out of the tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. What Pascha Isn t and What Pascha Is Pascha isn't the lamb, nor the red egg, nor the tsoureki bread, nor the candle, nor the new clothes, nor is it our presence in the church ten minutes before the "Christ is Risen!" and a minute after. Pascha is not the worship of food, the festival, nor dance and drink. Pascha is not the spits in the street, nor the exchange of greetings, nor returning to the village. Or at least, that's not all it is. Pascha is above all the taste of the Kingdom of God, the voice of heaven within us that comes when we receive at the Divine Liturgy. Then our soul, albeit briefly, is transformed, is calm, it feels something of forgiveness and love that rises from within the tomb. Then we feel we are brothers with the world, because we partake of the cup of Life together. Pascha is our change of life, our resurrection from our passions and vices which scar us. It is not worth saying that Pascha came and we were not reconciled with God, our fellow man, neighbor, ourselves, and that we feel more free from the bondage of evil and death. Pascha is also the defeat of the last enemy of human nature, that is death: He has trampled death by death... Pascha is the occasion for unity, unity between peoples and societies. We can not say that we celebrate the Resurrection while war and discord prevails in our souls. We can not say that we believe in the messages of Christ and to invoke this capacity to crush our people, reputations, conscience, fellows, neighbor, our brothers. We can not do Pascha with malice for others, whoever they are, what they have done us!

Η χαρά της Αναστάσεως ξεπερνά κάθε χαρά... Με την Ανάσταση μιας μονάχα ύπαρξης του ανθρώπου Χρίστου ό χρόνος, πού ξετυλίγεται, μέσα στα σκοτάδια της επανάληψης της σύνθεσης και της χωρίς νόημα αποσύνθεσης, έγινε χρόνος, πού οδεύει προς την ανάσταση και την αιώνια ζωή το φως πού έφερε στην ανθρωπότητα ό Χριστός δείχνει τον στόχο, προς τον όποιο ό χρόνος οδηγεί όλα όσα ζουν μέσα στο χρόνο. Ολόκληρος ό χρόνος κι ολόκληρος ό κόσμος δεν φαντάζουν πια σαν αδιάκοπη ροή ανάμεσα στις γεννήσεις και στους θανάτους, αλλά σαν μια πραγματικότητα φωτισμένη από νόημα, σαν μια οδός προς την ανακεφαλαίωση των πάντων μέσα στην Α- νάσταση και την αιώνια και πλήρη ζωή, σαν παραμονές της μεγάλης δίχως τέλος γιορτής. "Όλες οι μέρες του χρόνου, της χρονιάς ο- λόκληρης αποτελούν γιορτές ή σταθμούς μιας πορείας πού φέρνει προοδευτικά στη μεγάλη γιορτή, την τελική και αιώνια. Το φως της αιώνιας γιορτής ρίχνει τίς ακτίνες του σ' όλες τίς μέρες. "Η μ' άλλα λόγια, όλες οι μέρες του χρόνου αποτελούν προεόρτια, πού μας προετοιμάζουν προοδευτικά για την έσχατη Κυριακή, για την αιώνια ζωή μέσα στο φως, πού αποκαλύφθηκε με την Ανάσταση, έτσι. όπως οι μέρες της εβδομάδας, οι μέρες οι αφιερωμένες στους αγίους, αποτελούν προπαρασκευαστικές γιορτές για τη συνάντηση με τον Χριστό, πού συμβολίζει και προεικονίζει ή Κυριακή ημέρα. "Έτσι, όπως ή χαρά της Ανάστασης ξεπερνά κάθε χαρά και σκεπάζει κάθε λύπη, το φως της ξεπερνά όλα τα φώτα, πού γεννά ή σκέψη και ή φυσική φαντασία του ανθρώπου, δηλαδή όλες οι φιλοσοφικές εξηγήσεις για την ύπαρξη και όλες οι ομορφιές, πού ανακαλύπτει μέσα της ή καλλιτεχνική φαντασία. Μα ξεπερνά ακόμη και τα ατελή φώτα της Αποκάλυψης της Παλαιάς Διαθήκης. Στην Παλαιά Διαθήκη μια πύρινη στήλη οδηγούσε από την επίγεια σκλαβιά σε μια επίγεια εξωτερική ελευθερία και ό Μωϋσής γνωστοποιούσε τίς βουλές του Θεού, πού έμενε κρυμμένος μέσα στο γνόφο. Με την Ανάσταση ό ίδιος ό "Ηλιος της ύπαρξης φανερώθηκε ολόλαμπρος και φώτισε άπλετα τη δημιουργία ολόκληρη, οδηγώντας ήδη από τούτη την επίγεια ζωή στο ξεπέρασμα της, στην πληρότητα της ζωής. «Αντί στύλου πυρός, δικαιοσύνης άνέτειλεν "Ηλιος αντί Μωϋσέως Χριστός ή σωτηρία των ψυχών ημών» (Θεοτοκίον Κυριακής του Πάσχα). π. Δ. Στανιλοάε - ''Στο φως του Σταυρού και της Αναστάσεως''

Join us for the Agape Vespers on Pascha starting at 10:30am. After the service, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt for all the children to enjoy. If you would like to donate any candy, please see Chrisanthe Litsogiannis for more details. SAVE THE DATE April 8: PASCHA April 11: Christianiki Philoxenia at St. Nicholas Church in Oak Lawn, IL April 13: Bright Friday Feast April 16: Greek Fest 2018 Meeting April 27-28: Parish Women s Retreat April 29: Greek Independence Day Parade, Greektown, Chicago May 6: Celebration of St. Sophia Kleisoura May 6: St. Valentine s Couples Ministry, Briki Café in Addison May 19: Parish Retreat, St. Iakovos Retreat Center, Kansasville, Wisconsin May 20: St. Anna Women s Group Lunch, Xando Café, Hickory Hills May 22: Family Movie Night May 25-27: Metropolis of Chicago Jr. Olympics Weekend June 10: Graduate Sunday June 22-24: GREEK FEST 2018 CALLING ALL READERS Any parishioners who are able to read a foreign language and would enjoy reading the Gospel at the AGAPE Vespers on Pascha, April 8th, please contact the Church office. Today s coffee fellowship is hosted by our Philoptochos Society. Everyone is invited to our community hall to enjoy fellowship. Please don t forget to fill out your 2018 Stewardship pledge card before you leave today. Thank you!

Lenten and Holy Week Needs 2018 Dikerotrikera Candles for Sunday of the Holy Cross - $50.00 Flowers for the Kouvouklion (Christ s Tomb) - $2100.00 $975 donated so far Easter Lilies - $550.00 25 cases of white candles - $50 per case 13 cases donated so far Flowers for the Panagia Icon (3 Salutations Services) - $225.00 each Flowers for the Panagia Icon (Akathist Hymn Service) - $225.00 Flowers for the Sunday of the Holy Cross (Iconostasi Icon) - $350.00 Flowers for Sunday of the Holy Cross (Processional Icon) - $225.00 Daffodils for Sunday of the Holy Cross - $425.00 Lambathes for Vespers of the Holy Cross - $140.00 Flowers for the Palm Sunday Icon - $225.00 Palm Sunday Arch for Church - $525.00 Palms and Bay Leaves for Palm Sunday - $1050.00 Flowers for the Nymphios Icon - $225.00 Flowers for the Last Supper Icon - $200.00 Flowers for the Crucifixion 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 Flowers for the Lavaron - $300.00 12 Altar Candles - $120.00 Anastasi Icon - $225.00 1000 red cups for Good Friday - $250 1000 white cups for Anastasi - $250 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 Palm Sunday Plaki Luncheon 11am-2pm - Philoptochos Bake Sale 7pm - Nymphios Service Monday, April 2 7pm - Nymphios Service Tuesday, April 3 7pm - Nymphios Service Wednesday, April 4 3pm - Holy Unction 7pm - Matins of Holy Thursday Thursday, April 5 9am - D. Liturgy of the Mystical Supper 7pm - The Twelve Gospel Readings Friday, April 6 9am - Royal Hours 3pm - Vespers of the Unnailing from Cross 7pm - Service of the Lamentations Saturday, April 7 9am - First Resurrection 10:45pm - Vigil for the Holy Resurrection Sunday, April 8 Easter Sunday 12am - Resurrection Service 12:30 a.m. - Τhe Paschal Liturgy - Paschal Meal following Divine Liturgy 10:30 a.m. - Αgape Vespers Service and Easter Egg Hunt ΗΜΕΡΟΛΟΓΙΟ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ Γεύμα Κυριακής των Βαΐων 11π.μ.-2μ.μ. - Philoptochos Bake Sale 7μ.μ. - Ακολουθία του Νυμφίου Δευτέρα, 2 Απριλίου 7μ.μ. - Ακολουθία του Νυμφίου Τρίτη, 3 Απριλίου 7μ.μ. - Ακολουθία του Νυμφίου Τετάρτη, 4 Απριλίου 3μ.μ. - Το Μυστήριον του Αγ. Ευχελαίου 7μ.μ. - Όρθρος Μεγάλης Πέμπτης Πέμπτη, 5 Απριλίου 9π.μ. - Θ. Λειτουργία: Μυστικός Δείπνος 7μ.μ. - Τα Δώδεκα Ευαγγέλια Παρασκευή, 6 Απριλίου 9π.μ. - Ακολουθία των Βασιλικών Ώρων 3μ.μ. - Η Αποκαθήλωσις 7μ.μ. - Ο Επιτάφιος Θρήνος Σάββατο, 7 Απριλίου 9π.μ. - Θ. Λειτουργία του Μ. Βασιλείου 10.45μ.μ. - Μέγα Σάββατον Εσπέρας Κυριακή, 8 Απριλίου Άγιον Πάσχα 12π.μ. - Η Ανάστασις 12.30π.μ. - Θ. Λειτουργία, Κατηχητικός Λόγος Αγ. Χρυσοστόμου, Πασχαλινό Γεύμα 10.30π.μ. - Ο Εσπερινός της Αγάπης και Easter Egg Hunt