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 of Orthodoxy
February 25th, 2018

Epistle Reading
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40
Prokeimenon. Mode 4.
Daniel 3.26,27
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
Brethren, by faith Moses, when he was grown
up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment
with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon,
Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets --
who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received
promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire,
Gospel Reading
The Gospel According to John 1:43-51
At that time, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And
he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of
Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and
he said to him, "We have found him of whom
Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth,
the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good
come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus
SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY
For more than one hundred years the Church of Christ was troubled by
the persecution of the Iconoclasts of evil belief, beginning in the reign of
Leo the Isaurian (717-741) and ending in the reign of Theophilus (829-
842). After Theophilus's death, his widow the Empress Theodora
(celebrated Feb. 11), together with the Patriarch Methodius (June 14),
established Orthodoxy anew. This ever-memorable Queen venerated the
icon of the Mother of God in the presence of the Patriarch Methodius
and the other confessors and righteous men, and openly cried out these
holy words: "If anyone does not offer relative worship to the holy icons,
not adoring them as though they were gods, but venerating them out of
love as images of the archetype, let him be anathema." Then with
common prayer and fasting during the whole first week of the
Forty-day Fast, she asked God's forgiveness for her husband. After this,
on the first Sunday of the Fast, she and her son, Michael the Emperor,
made a procession with all the clergy and people and restored the holy
icons, and again adorned the Church of Christ with them. This is the holy
deed that all we the Orthodox commemorate today, and we call this
radiant and venerable day the Sunday of Orthodoxy, that is, the triumph
of true doctrine over heresy.
escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness,
became mighty in war, put foreign enemies to flight. Women
received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing
to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others
suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and
imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were
killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats,
destitute, afflicted, ill-treated -- of whom the world was not worthy
-- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of
the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive
what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for
us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect..
saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite
indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael said to him, "How do you
know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when
you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus
answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree,
do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." And he
said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened,
and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of
man."
THEODHOR ∙ ARKIPI ∙ FILOTHEA,LEON
VISARIONI ∙ AGATHONI ∙ TIMOTHEU
EFSTATHI ∙ MAKSIMIANI ∙ EVGJENIA
– E DJELA E ORTHODHOKSISË
E Diela e Orthodhoksisë përkujton luftën e egër, që zgjati më shumë se
120 vjet brenda gjirit të Kishës, ndërmjet kundërshtarëve të ikonave dhe
përkrahësve të tyre. Ndodhën shkatërrime në masë të kishave të shenjta,
persekutime, internime e deri martirizime. Por dita e sotme na kujton
vitin 843 kur pas një periudhe të gjatë kundërshtimesh, debatesh e
persekutimesh, perandoresha Theodhora shpalli një herë e mirë rikthimin
e Ikonave të shenjta brenda në Kishë duke i dhënë fund edhe këtij debati
shumëvjeçar. Ne të krishterët orthodhoksë mbajmë në kishat tona, në
shtëpitë tona madje dhe në zyra, në makinë etj., ikonat e Zotit Krisht, të
Hyjlindëses së shenjtë, të shenjtorëve të ndryshëm. Në e Zanafillë ështe
shkruar se Perëndia tha: “Ta bëjmë njeriun sipas shëmbëlltyrës sonë dhe
në ngjasim me ne, dhe të ushtrojë sundimin e tij mbi peshqit e detit, mbi
zogjtë e qiellit, mbi kafshët dhe mbi gjithë tokën” (Zan. 1:26).
Siç paraqitet edhe në këtë varg të Biblës, ikona më e mirë e Perëndisë
nuk është bërë prej druri, as nuk është afresk i pikturuar në një faqe muri
sipas një stili të artit të pikturës. Kjo ikonë është pikërisht njeriu, i cili
është krijuar sipas ikonës dhe ngjashmërisë së Perëndisë. Çdo njeri është
ikonë e gjallë e Perëndisë.
 MESSAGES FROM †Fr. KOSTANDIN’s OFFICE
Would like to thank all parishioners for attending Sunday’s mass and Fasting in this lent period.
Our tradition, Orthodoxy isn’t a philosophic without insolence and being wise, bows the
system or religion that forces us to suffer knee before God, and within the Church. He
hardships, to be disciplined, or that has a list of encounters Christ, and Christ is revealed to him, speaks to his
requirements. The point is to find that which is Christ, to be soul. Such a person will spontaneously confess: “My Christ,
united with Christ—with the true Christ—for Christ to live in you are my God; you are my Lord; you are everything. This is
you and you to live in Christ, for you to find true life and to what I have been seeking my whole life, this is the truth, this
become a true human being. This is Orthodoxy. An Orthodox is what every human being seeks: and I thank you that I found
person is someone who humbly, innocently, guilelessly, it”.

Ka filluar viti i ri kalendarik FUNDRAIZING EVENT

2018. Ju lutemi të gjithë The Rozafa Mothers of St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church are
besimtarëve orthodoksë në sponsoring their annual fundraising event to benefit Shkolla
Chicago të bëjnë antarësimin Shqipe and Grupi Arberia, ministries of our church. Two special
në kishën tone. Në saje të dashurisë dhe bujarisë tuaj dhe brezave days will be commemorated: Teacher’s Day, celebrated in Albania
të mëparshëm përgjatë viteve të shkuara Kisha e Shën Kollit, kjo on March 7 and International Women’s Day, celebrated all over
dhuratë e Perëndisë i ka shërbyer komunitetit shqiptar the world on March 8. This event will raise money to help support
orthodhoks në Chicago për afro tetë dekada. the activities of our Albanian language school and dance troupe
Ekzistenca dhe vazdimësia e kishës sonë whose main purpose is to pass on the Albanian traditions, culture
buron dhe mbështetet në bashkëpunimin and language to our children in America. Please join us in
dhe dashamirësinë tuaj. Vetëm kështu ne supporting our ministries as we celebrate these two special days.
mund tëgarantojmë mbarëvajtjen e të gjitha This event is always popular and sells out fast. So please purchase
shërbimeve dhe ministrive të kishës sone. your tickets soon. Hope to see you there!
OUR PRAYERS FOR FLORIDA’S SCHOOL VICTIMS
Dear Heavenly Father,
We pray for the parents of the children killed. God, you love us enough to send your son to die for us, but
none of those parents sent their children to school to die today. Be with those parents as they cry out to you
for help.

BLESSING OF HOMES trouble. Sometimes the blessing takes the form of hanging a
It is an annual custom in the framed picture of Christ with a prayer printed on it.
Epiphany Season (Epiphany is Traditionally house blessings is done on Epiphany (January 6)
Friday, January 6) to bless our to commemorate the Magi visiting Jesus and bringing Him
homes with the Agiasmos of gifts (Matthew 2:11).
Epiphany. This is an ancient If you would like to have your home blessed by the priest,
tradition performed by a religious leader with the intention please call the church office (773-889-4282) or directly (312-
of protecting those who live in the house from hardships and 686-3114 frkostandin@gmail.com

KRESHMON? TREGOJE ME VEPRA! FAST? SHOW IT ACTIONS!

Kreshmoj nuk do të thotë vetëm “nuk ha”!
Nëse sheh të varfër ndihmoje. Nëse takon
një armikun tënd,pajtohu. Nëse shikon një
grua të bukur, mos e vështro dhe bjer ne
ngasje.Le të mos kreshmoj vetëm goja por
edhe sytë, edhe veshët, edhe këmbët dhe
gjithë pjesët e trupit. Të kreshmojnë duart
nga rrëmbimi me lakmi. Të kreshmojnë
këmbët nga rrugët që të drejtojnë në mëkat.
Të kreshmojnë sytë duke mos parë me grykësi fytyrat dhe trupat e
bukur. Kur nuk ha mish, të mos hanë sytë mëkate. Dëgjimi yt të mos
pranoj fjalë të të ligut. Goja le të kreshmoj edhe nga fjalët e këqija.
Përderisa nuk jemi si kafshët përse duhet të kafshojmë vëllezërit
tanë? “.
Fasting does not mean simply “not eating”! It
involves much more than that. It is acting properly.
If you see a poor, you help him. If you see your
enemy, forgive him. If you see an attractive woman
don’t be tempted to have sex with her. It is not
about only the mouth fasting, but eyes, ears, feet,
hands and any other part of our body too. Hands let
fast from despoiling out of greed. Let feet fast by
not carrying us toward the sin. Let your eyes fast by
not watching avidly good-looking faces and bodies. Henceforth one
don’t eat meat, he may sin by his eyes. Your hearing let not concede
the words of evil. Let mouth fast from bad words. Since we are not
animals why we should bite our brothers”.
 GREATMARTYR THEODORE THE TYRO Later on, fifty years after the death of Saint Theodore, the emperor
Julian the Apostate (361-363), wanting to commit an outrage upon
Commemorated on February 17th
the Christians, commanded the city-commander of Constantinople
The Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit (Tyro)
during the first week of Great Lent to sprinkle all the food provisions
was a soldier in the city of Alasium of the Pontine
in the marketplaces with the blood offered to idols. Saint Theodore
district (northeast province of Asia Minor,
appeared in a dream to Archbishop Eudoxius, ordering him to
stretching along the coast of the Euxine, i.e. the
inform all the Christians that no one should buy anything at the
Black Sea), under the command of a certain
marketplaces, but rather to eat cooked wheat with honey (kolyva).
Brincus. They commanded him to offer sacrifice to idols. Saint
In memory of this occurrence, the Orthodox Church annually
Theodore firmly confessed his faith in Christ the Savior in a loud
celebrates the holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit on the first
voice. The commander gave him several days to think it over, during
Saturday of Great Lent. On Friday evening, at the Divine Liturgy of
which time Saint Theodore prayed.
the Presanctified Gifts following the prayer at the ambo, the Canon
They charged him with setting a pagan temple on fire, and threw
to the holy Great Martyr Theodore, composed by Saint John of
him into prison to be starved to death. The Lord Jesus Christ
Damascus, is sung. After this, kolyva is blessed and distributed to the
appeared to him there, comforting and encouraging him. Brought
faithful. The celebration of the Great Martyr Theodore on the first
to the governor, Saint Theodore boldly and fearlessly confessed his
Saturday of Great Lent was set by the Patriarch Nectarius of
faith, for which he was subjected to new torments and condemned
Constantinople (381-397).
to burning. The martyr Theodore climbed onto the fire without
The Troparion to Saint Theodore is quite similar to the Troparion for
hesitation, and with prayer and gave up his holy soul to God.
the Prophet Daniel and the Three Holy Youths (December 17,
This occurred in about the year 306 under the Roman emperor
Sunday Before Nativity). The Kontakion to Saint Theodore, who
Galerius (305-311). Unharmed by the fire, the body of Saint
suffered martyrdom by fire, reminds us that he also had faith as his
Theodore was buried in the city of Euchaita, not far from Amasium.
breastplate (see I Thessalonians 5:8).
His relics were afterwards transferred to Constantinople, to a
We pray to Saint Theodore for the recovery of stolen articles.
church dedicated to him. His head is in Italy, in the city of Gaeto.
Source OCA.

with St. Nicholas Parish upcoming events

March 4, Rozafa Mothers annual • †March 31, Lazarus Saturday
fundraising event celebrating • †April 1, Palm Sunday, Luncheon at Church Hall
International Woman’s Day and • †April 8, Great Holy Pascha (Easter)
Albanian Teacher’s Day Feast. • †June 4, Holy Pentecost
General Assembly Meeting (March, 2018)
We want to remind anyone that WELCOME TO ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH
generosity of your donations and
membership dues allows us to continue BE PART OF OUR ALBANIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
to provide our unique services and
operational 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

LUTJE NË KOHË NEVOJE Bëj që kjo provë të më sjellë më

pranë Teje, sepse Ti je mbrojtësi im
Perëndi i Tërëfuqishëm, Atë i
dhe streha ime, ngushëllimtari im
mëshirave dhe i çdo ngushëllimi, eja
dhe shpresa ime, kënaqësia dhe
ndihmomë dhe çliromë nga kjo
gëzimi im.
vështirësi, që më shqetëson.
Te dashuria dhe dhembshuria Jote
Besoj, o Zot, se të gjitha provat e
vë shpresën e besimit tim.
jetës janë nën kujdesin Tënd dhe se
gjithçka punon për të mirën e atyre që Të duan. Se i bekuar është emri Yt, i Atit, i
Birit edhe i Shpirtit të Shenjtë, tani e përherë e në jetë
Largo prej meje frikën, ankthin dhe hidhërimin.
të jetëve.
Ndihmomë t’i përballoj vështirësitë e mia me besim, †Amin.
kurajëdhe me urtësi.