ST.

NICHOLAS ALBANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE
SHRINE OF THE HOLY VIRGIN MARY
2701 NORTH NARRAGANSETT AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60639 773-889-4282
stnicholasalbanianchicago.org

Sunday before the Holy Cross

September 10th, 2017
 Epistle Reading
St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18
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.
Brethren, see with what large letters I
am writing to you with my own hand. It
is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh
that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in
order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of
Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not
Gospel Reading
The Gospel According to John 3:13-17
The Lord said, "No one has
ascended into heaven but he who
descended from heaven, the Son
of man who is in heaven. And as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the
The Holy and Great Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
announced the new composition of the Synod for the period
Sept.1, 2017 to Feb. 2, 2018 under the chairmanship of His All-
Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The new members are:
Metropolitan Konstantinos Geron of Nikaia
Metropolitan Athanasios Geron of Chalcedon
Metropolitan Apostolos Geron of Derkon
themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you
circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be
it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for
anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace
and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the
Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I
bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that
whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but
have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world,
not to condemn the world, but that the world might be
saved through him."
MARIA JOAKIM ANA
MOISI HERMIONA
ZAHARIA KASIANI
Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America
Metropolitan Grigorios of Thyateira and Great Britain
Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh
Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selinou
Metropolitan Polycarpos of Spain and Portugal
Metropolitan Stephanos of Kalioupolis and Madytou
Metropolitan Elpidoforos of Proussa
Metropolitan Bartholomeos of Smyrna
Metropolitan Kyrillos of Ierapitnis and Siteia
 MESSAGES FROM Fr. KOSTANDINs OFFICE
PRAY AND SUPPORT THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE HARVEY
SHKOLLA E S DIELS
SHKOLLA SHQIPE GRUPI
ARBRIA
We are happy to announce Shkolla
Shqipe & Grupi Arberia, ministries
of St. Nicholas Church, are
beginning the first semester of the 2017-18 school year on
September 10. Registration will start this Sunday, September 3rd.
The registration forms are attached to this email. Hard copies are
available at the candle stand and can be downloaded from the
website. Please note that Shkolla Shqipe classes will continue to
be at 12:30 PM, the same time as last year. Grupi Arberia will
start at 1:30 PM, immediately following Shkolla Shqipe. Please
enroll your children today.
BLESSING STUDENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL
SCHOOL YEAR
September 10 is the first day of Sunday
School in the 2017-18 school year. Parents and
their children are expected to be in church together for the start
of Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM. Class meets in the educational
wing following Liturgy at 11:30 AM. A welcome party for the
children and parents has been planned for that day. If you have
not done so, please fill out the enrollment form today and bring
it with you to the first day of class. The forms are attached to
this email for your convenience. You can also find hard copies at
the candle stand or download them from the website. If you
have questions or need additional information please email Sofia
Panajoti at st.nickalbaniansundayschool@yahoo.com.

ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 - 125TH YEAR OF ORTHODOXY IN CHICAGO

Proclaiming 2017 as the 125th Year of Orthodox followed by an anniversary banquet at the Chicago Marriott
Christianity in Greater Chicago, the regions OHare, 8535 West Higgins Road, Chicago. St.
ruling bishops have endorsed a historic Nicholas is planning on renting a bus to transport
celebration to take place on Saturday, September our parishioners to each venue. Sign up
30, 2017. Sponsored by the Orthodox Christian information will be available shortly. If you would
Clergy Association [OCCA] of Greater Chicago, the like to place a listing in the commemorative
commemoration will include the celebration of a donor book or would like to reserve a seat at the
Pan-Orthodox Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Lane banquet, please fill out the attached form and
Tech Auditorium, 2501 West Addison, Chicago, follow directions for payment and mailing.

MIRNJOHJE Q DO T PRCILLET N BREZA

A new book published commemorating our own George Shamata, one of our Church Benefactors
M 15 Tetor 2017 do t promovohet Prve ndihmess s tij t shquar n kt drejtim, ndihmesa e tij
libri me titull MIRENJOHJE QE DO TE ka qen tejet e rndsishme n momentet m kritike t historis
PERCILLET NE BREZA, kushtuar jets dhe s Kishs s Shn Kollit n Chicago. Emri dhe kujtimi i tij do t
veprimtaris s biznesmenit t shquar mbetet t i prjetshm n panteonin e Benefaktorve t Kishs
shqiptar George Samatas. Nj libr i Shqiptare Orthodhokse t Shn Kollit.
prgatitur n shqip nga shkrimtari i njohur Ftojm t gjith besimtaret dhe dashamirs t tjer t
Kostaq Duka. Nj libr q duhet lexuar nga lexojn dhe t marrin pjes n ket veprimtari. Libri do t jet pr
ata q kan pasur fatin ta njohin dhe t shitje n St. Nicholas Book Store. T ardhurat nga shitja e librave
tjer, pr t njohur m mir George Shamatn dhe gjit at do ti dhurohen Kishs s Shn Kollit. Pr t porositur librin
plejad mrgimtarsh shqiptar dhe prpjekjet e tyre titanike pr kontaktoni z. Josif Kotemelo (thea@msn.com).
ruajtjen e traditave mbajtjen gjall t vlerave t komunitetit ton.

We want to remind anyone that generosity of your donations and WELCOME TO ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH
membership dues allows us to continue to
provide our unique services and operational BE PART OF OUR ALBANIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
upkeep. Donations to our church are vital to
support and to keep our mission strong.
We envision a community where individuals
with disabilities and their families have a
network that supports independence, Choice and personal
success. The services and activities we offer would not be possible
without the continued and generous support of our community.
All donations are tax deductible and MUCH APPRECIATED. Service in English and Albanian Flitet Shqip
 blessed with children, except him. This caused the aged saint
The holy and righteous
great grief, and he and his wife left with heavy hearts. Then the
Joachim and Anna two of them gave themselves to prayer to God that He would
Commemorated on September 9 work in them the wonder that He had worked in Abraham and
Sarah, and give them a child to comfort their old age.
The holy and righteous
St. Joachim took his flocks and went to a high mountain,
Joachim and Anna are the parents of
refusing to return home in shame. Meanwhile, St. Anna prayed in
the Theotokos, the grandparents of
her garden. God sent the Archangel Gabriel to each of them, who
Jesus Christ. St. Joachim was of the tribe of Judah, and a
gave them tidings of the birth of "a daughter most blessed, by
descendant of King David. St. Anna was the daughter of Matthan
whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed, and through
the priest, of the tribe of Levi as was Aaron the High Priest.
whom will come the salvation of the world." Each promised to
Matthan had three daughters: Mary, Zoia, and Anna. Mary was
have their child raised in the Temple as a holy vessel of God. The
married in Bethlehem and bore Salome; Zoia was also married in
archangel told St. Joachim to return home, where he would find
Bethlehem and bore Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the
his wife waiting for him in the city gate. St. Anna he told to wait at
Forerunner; and Anna was married in Nazareth to Joachim, and in
the gate. When they saw one another, they embraced, and this
old age gave birth to the Theotokos.
image is the traditional icon of their feast.
Sts. Joachim and Anna had been married for fifty years,
St. Anna conceived shortly thereafter, and in the ninth
and were barren. They lived devoutly and quietly, using only a
month gave birth to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Conception of
third of their income for themselves and giving a third to the poor
the Most Holy Mother of God is celebrated by the Church on
and a third to the Temple. Joachim had done this since he was 15-
December 9 and the Nativity of the Theotokos is celebrated on
years-old, and God multiplied his flocks, so the couple was well
September 8.
provided for. They longed for a child but remained childless into
Sts. Joachim and Anna took Mary, at the age of three, to
their old age. When they were in Jerusalem to offer sacrifice to
the temple to be dedicated to the service of the Lord, and
God, the High Priest, Issachar, upbraided Joachim, "You are not
presented her to the priest Zechariahs. The parents then, after
worthy to offer sacrifice with those childless hands." Others who
offering up her sacrifice (according to the custom of the time), left
had children jostled Joachim, thrusting him back as unworthy. In
the Virgin with other maidens in the apartments of the temple to
despair, he consulted the geneological records of the tribes of
be brought up therein. The Church commemorates the
Israel and discovered every righteous man in the nation had been
Presentation of the Theotokos on November 21..

A NEW YEAR, A NEW HARVEST: community would have enough food to survive another winter
RENEWAL THROUGH ORTHODOX together.
In many ways the harvest season can be compared to our
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
spiritual life. Over the past year we too have cast our spiritual
Why does the church celebrate the New Year in
seeds upon the earth of our soulsas the year comes to a close
September? In Roman times, the calendar year began on
we may find that our spiritual harvest is either bountiful or
September 1, and after the First Ecumenical Council, Christians
meager. No matter the outcome, the Ecclesiastical New Year
also began to observe September 1 as New Years Day.
provides us with an opportunity to begin again. The beauty of a
Throughout history, the completion of each year has taken place
new year is a clean slate and a fresh start. However, finding the
with the harvest and the gathering of crops. After a year of
inspiration to change is not always easy. As we watch as the
preparing the soil, sowing the seeds, and tending the crop with
leaves turn colors, breathe the crisp, clean air deep into our lungs,
ardent care, the fruit finally ripens. The crops are then harvested
and as the earth closes up summer in preparation for winter, feel
to prepare for the long winter ahead, wherein the cycle begins
the change in the air. Look to the natural world as a muse for
again with the sowing of seed in the earth for the production of
changing our hearts, and look to the people of the past as an
future crops (reading for September 1 from Holy Transfiguration
example for how we should cling to our Orthodox Christian
Monastery). The Church celebrates this day, asking God for fair
community for support in the coming year.
weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the
For most of us, January 1 serves as an inspiration to take
earth.
better care of our bodies in the new year. We are often inspired
Throughout the centuries, men and women have seen
to set new goals for overall health and fitness. In the same way,
the harvest season as a time of coming together in celebration for
September 1 should serve as the inspiration and reminder to take
the hard work that has finally finished. It was common for great
better care of our souls. Now is the time to shake yourself up!
feasts to be held and bonfires lit to celebrate the fact that the
Look in the mirror and decide if you are satisfied with the
Christian you see looking back.