Saint Basil Greek Orthodox

733 South Ashland Ave Telephone: (312) 243-3738 Chicago, Illinois 60607 Office Fax: Fax (312) 243-7691 [email protected] www.stbasilchicago.org Rev. Fr. Dimitri Tobias, Proistamenos Parish Council President: Ms. Jayme Schenk

AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLE OUR CHURCH IS WHEELCHAIR

DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM CHURCH ACCESSIBLE

Saints and Feasts: Sunday, February 23, 2019  Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)  Gorgonia the Righteous, sister of Gregory the  Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna Theologian  Proterios, Archbishop of Alexandria

He indicates the dispositions of each, calling the one kids, the other sheep, that He might indicate the unfruitfulness of the one, for no fruit will come from kids; and the great profit from the other, for indeed from sheep great is the profit, as well from the milk, as from the wool, and from the young, of all which things the kid is destitute. St. Homily on Matt. XXV, 4th Century

For when one has pity on the poor, he lends to God; and he who gives to the least gives to God--sacrifices spiritually to God an odour of a sweet smell. St. Cyprian of Carthage The Lord's Prayer, 33. B#41, p.102, 3rd century poor, sacrifice, giving

Narthex Duty: Anthony Rouches & Harry Michas Welcoming Ministry: Anthony Rouches : Johnathan Ramirez Coffee Hour: Hosted by St. Basil Philoptochos

Communion Guidelines: As a reminder, only Baptized and Chrismated Orthodox Christians may receive Holy . Follow the Ushers row by row and please exit towards the outside aisles.

Hymns of the Day After the Small Resurrectional Apolytikion Ἀπολυτίκιον Ἀναστάσιμον 3rd Tone Ήχος γ΄ Come rejoice all ye Heavens and be glad all Εὐφραινέσθω τὰ οὐράνια, ἀγαλλιάσθω τὰ ye on earth. For by His power the Lord ἐπίγεια, ὅτι ἐποίησε κράτος, ἐν βραχίονι created might, by His death He conquered αὐτοῦ, ὁ Κύριος, ἐπάτησε τῷ θανάτῳ τὸν death. For He became the first-born of the θάνατον, πρωτότοκος τῶν νεκρῶν ἐγένετο, ἐκ dead. From the depths of Hades He delivered κοιλίας ᾅδου ἐρρύσατο ἡμᾶς, καὶ παρέσχε τῷ us, and He granted to mankind His great κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος. mercy.

Apolytikion for the Church Απολυτίκιον τοῦ Ναοῦ 1st Tone Ήχος α' Your proclamation went forth into all Εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν ἐξῆλθεν ὁ φθόγγος the earth, for it accepted your word, σου, ὡς δεξαμένην τὸν λόγον σου, δι' οὗ through which you taught the dogmas θεοπρεπῶς ἐδογμάτισας, τὴν φύσιν τῶν befitting God, you expounded on the ὄντων ἐτράνωσας, τὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων nature of all that is, and you arranged ἤθη κατεκόσμησας, Βασίλειον the morals of society. A royal Ἱεράτευμα, Πάτερ Ὅσιε, Χριστὸν τὸν priesthood! Devout father Basil, Θεὸν ἱκέτευε, δωρήσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα intercede with Christ our God, to grant ἔλεος. us His great mercy.

Kontakion Κοντάκιον 1st Tone Ήχος a' O Father, foolishly I ran away from Ὅταν ἔλθῃς ὁ Θεός, ἐπὶ γῆς μετὰ Your glory, and in sin, squandered the δόξης, καὶ τρέμωσι τὰ σύμπαντα, riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry ποταμὸς δὲ τοῦ πυρὸς πρὸ τοῦ Βήματος out to You with the voice of the ἕλκῃ, καὶ βίβλοι ἀνοίγωνται, καὶ τὰ Prodigal, "I have sinned before You κρυπτὰ δημοσιεύωνται, τότε ῥῦσαί με, Compassionate Father. Receive me in ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς τοῦ ἀσβέστου, καὶ repentance and take me as one of Your ἀξίωσον, ἐκ δεξιῶν σου μὲ στῆναι, hired servants." Κριτὰ δικαιότατε.

Ο ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΣ / THE

Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 8:8-13, 9:1-2 τὸ The reading is from St. Paul's First ἀνάγνωσμα Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2

Ἀδελφοί, βρῶμα ἡμᾶς οὐ παρίστησιν Brethren, food will not commend us to τῷ θεῷ· οὔτε γὰρ ἐὰν φάγωμεν God. We are no worse off if we do not περισσεύομεν, οὔτε ἐὰν μὴ φάγωμεν eat, and no better off if we do. Only take ὑστερούμεθα. Βλέπετε δὲ μήπως ἡ care lest this liberty of yours somehow ἐξουσία ὑμῶν αὕτη πρόσκομμα γένηται become a stumbling block to the weak. τοῖς ἀσθενοῦσιν. Ἐὰν γάρ τις ἴδῃ σε τὸν For if any one sees you, a man of ἔχοντα γνῶσιν ἐν εἰδωλείῳ knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, κατακείμενον, οὐχὶ ἡ συνείδησις αὐτοῦ might he not be encouraged, if his ἀσθενοῦς ὄντος οἰκοδομηθήσεται εἰς τὸ conscience is weak, to eat food offered τὰ εἰδωλόθυτα ἐσθίειν; Καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ to idols? And so by your knowledge this ἀσθενῶν ἀδελφὸς ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ γνώσει, διʼ weak man is destroyed, the brother for ὃν Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν; Οὕτως δὲ whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against ἁμαρτάνοντες εἰς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, καὶ your brethren and wounding their τύπτοντες αὐτῶν τὴν συνείδησιν conscience when it is weak, you sin ἀσθενοῦσαν, εἰς Χριστὸν ἁμαρτάνετε. against Christ. Therefore, if food is a Διόπερ εἰ βρῶμα σκανδαλίζει τὸν cause of my brother's falling, I will ἀδελφόν μου, οὐ μὴ φάγω κρέα εἰς τὸν never eat meat, lest I cause my brother αἰῶνα, ἵνα μὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν μου to fall. σκανδαλίσω. Οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος; Οὐκ Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος; Οὐχὶ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν ἑώρακα; Οὐ τὸ ἔργον you my workmanship in the Lord? If to μου ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ; Εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ others I am not an apostle, at least I am εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ to you; for you are the seal of my γὰρ σφραγὶς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς apostleship in the Lord. ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ. ΤΟ ΘΕΙΟΝ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ /

THE HOLY GOSPEL Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:31-46 The Gospel According to Matthew Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα 25:31-46

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in ἀνθρώπου ἐν τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he ἄγγελοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, τότε καθίσει ἐπὶ θρόνου will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be δόξης αὐτοῦ, καὶ συναχθήσεται ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ gathered all the nations, and he will separate them πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ ἀφοριεῖ αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾿ ἀλλήλων one from another as a shepherd separates the ὥσπερ ὁ ποιμὴν ἀφορίζει τὰ πρόβατα ἀπὸ τῶν sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep ἐρίφων, καὶ στήσει τὰ μὲν πρόβατα ἐκ δεξιῶν at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the αὐτοῦ, τὰ δὲ ἐρίφια ἐξ εὐωνύμων. τότε ἐρεῖ ὁ king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O βασιλεὺς τοῖς ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ· δεῦτε οἱ blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε prepared for you from the foundation of the τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I κόσμου. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a ἐδίψησα, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος ἤμην, καὶ stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ περιεβάλετέ με, you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I ἠσθένησα, καὶ ἐπεσκέψασθέ με, ἐν φυλακῇ ἤμην, was in prison and you came to me.' Then the καὶ ἤλθετε πρός με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ οἱ righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see δίκαιοι λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you πεινῶντα καὶ ἐθρέψαμεν, ἢ διψῶντα καὶ drink? And when did we see you a stranger and ἐποτίσαμεν; πότε δέ σε εἴδομεν ξένον καὶ welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And συνηγάγομεν, ἢ γυμνὸν καὶ περιεβάλομεν; πότε when did we see you sick or in prison and visit δέ σε εἴδομεν ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ ἤλθομεν you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say πρός σε; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐρεῖ αὐτοῖς· to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you ἐποιήσατε. τότε ἐρεῖ καὶ τοῖς ἐξ εὐωνύμων· cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil πορεύεσθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ οἱ κατηραμένοι εἰς τὸ πῦρ τὸ and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me αἰώνιον τὸ ἡτοιμασμένον τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ τοῖς no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ. ἐπείνασα γάρ, καὶ οὐκ ἐδώκατέ was a stranger and you did not welcome me, μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψησα, καὶ οὐκ ἐποτίσατέ με, ξένος naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in ἤμην, καὶ οὐ συνηγάγετέ με, γυμνός, καὶ οὐ prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also περιεβάλετέ με, ἀσθενὴς καὶ ἐν φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐκ will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry ἐπεσκέψασθέ με. τότε ἀποκριθήσονται αὐτῷ καὶ or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in αὐτοὶ λέγοντες· κύριε, πότε σε εἴδομεν πεινῶντα prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will ἢ διψῶντα ἢ ξένον ἢ γυμνὸν ἢ ἀσθενῆ ἢ ἐν answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not φυλακῇ, καὶ οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; τότε to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' ἀποκριθήσεται αὐτοῖς λέγων· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, And they will go away into eternal punishment, ἐφ᾿ ὅσον οὐκ ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν but the righteous into eternal life." ἐλαχίστων, οὐδὲ ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. καὶ ἀπελεύσονται οὗτοι εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, οἱ δὲ δίκαιοι εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον.

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday) The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds. It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end. All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday..

Do you work in the city of Chicago? Would you like to attend Weekday Liturgies but cannot because of Work? Join us at St. Basil.

February

8: St. Theodore the Commander 26: St. Photini

Patronal Feasts for the Chicago parishes will not be celebrated at St. Basil Please check the St. Basil website calendar for updates to above schedule Liturgies are

PUSH TO STEWARDSHIP APPRECIATION SUNDAY Let’s work together! Our Push Goal is to have 125 Stewards Pledged by March 1st. Our goal for the year is 190. Let us start the year off right with a solid push!

Goal: 125 Stewards Current 91 Stewards % of Goal 72.8%

STEWARDS PLEDGED STEWARDSHIP

Goal: $200,000 Current 144,955.00 Goal: 190 Stewards % of Goal 72.48% Current 91 Stewards % of Goal 47.89% As of February 20, 2020 10:00 a.m.

As a thank you to our Stewards who make the Ministries of St. Basil possible, the Steward- ship Committee will offer a delicious Luncheon! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Sunday, March 1, 2020 Following the

Calendar for the Week Ahead

- Sunday, February 23, 11:00am - Sunday School - Wednesday, February 26, 6:30am - Divine Liturgy for St. Photini - Wednesday, February 26, 6:00pm - (Supplication Service) to the Virgin Mary - Saturday, February 29, 8:30am - Orthros & Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Souls - Saturday, February 29, 10:00am to 2pm - Philoptochos Baking - Sunday, March 1, 8:15am - Orthros and Divine Liturgy Parish News and Events

We need your help - You Might be Missing Out Environmental initiative. Thanks to the generous donation of We have started a weekly St. Basil E-Bulletin - which goes out a parishioner, our church is currently using biodegradable early each week and for some of you, this email is going into tableware rather than Styrofoam during coffee hour. We hope "spam" or "trash". Please take a look at your spam and trash to continue doing so, with the financial support of other files and if you see it there, with most servers there's a button parishioners. In addition to your regular coffee hour donation, you can push to stop it's going into trash/spam. Or, enter please put a little something extra into the basket on the serving [email protected] into your email contacts table labeled “biodegradable fund.” Also please use the list. Thanks! designated recycling cans in the hall.

Stewardship - Have You Become A Steward For 2020? ST. BASIL’S GO RED FOR WOMEN SUNDAY, If not, know that everything we have is God's and we are just FEBRUARY 23 managers during this brief life. Become a steward today. "He February is designated as American Heart Month. Heart disease who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply is still the number 1 killer of women, more than all cancers and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your combined. One in three women will die from heart disease. Of righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great course heart disease does not just affect women - it affects generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to everyone. Take action for your health! Go to your doctor at least God" (2 Cor. 9:10-11). once a year to have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Eat heart healthy foods. Don’t smoke - and if you do smoke, now is the time to quit! Try to get some exercise, walk Books for Prisoners - Many inmates with whom we and yes, try to watch your weight. Let’s care of ourselves. correspond through the prison ministry request books to read. Wear your favorite red clothes or accessory on Sunday, February Topics include self-help, vocational training, , history, 23 to show your support for GO RED FOR WOMEN and the fight and fiction. If you can make a small donation to defray the cost against heart disease. of purchasing and sending books, please see Vicky in the church office. Any size donation is appreciated. Feed My Starving Children Meal Packing Event - Help save

starving children at our sixth annual meal packing event. These St. John the Almsgiver Ministry meals are specially formulated for malnourished children and We offer Survival Packs to our neighbors in need. Each pack are sent to impoverished countries around the world to be used includes the following items: 1 Jewel gift card ($10), 1 CTA in orphanages, schools, clinics and feeding programs to break single-transit ticket, 1 white t-shirt, 1 pair of white tube socks, 1 the cycle of poverty. They are also given to starving mothers so toothbrush, 1 travel-sized toothpaste, 1 comb, 6 Band-aids, 3 they can produce enough breast milk to feed their babies. The ‘Wet Ones’ pocket-size singles hand wipes, 1 granola bar, and 1 St. Basil Church family has packed a total of 34,000 meals at our bottle of water. last five events. They were sent to Ethiopia, Cambodia, Guatemala and other countries. Last year alone, we packed Please ask Fr. Dimitri, Nick Katsoulis, and Pat and Steve Cole enough meals to feed 37 children for one year. Sit down jobs about the rewarding experiences they’ve had distributing the are available. Make it a family event - minimum age is five. packs! If you would like to contribute to these efforts by (Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.) Saturday, March distributing packs, please see Vicky Crosby in the church office. If 14, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Feed My Starving Children; 740 you would like to contribute money or items to create more Wiley Farm Ct., Schaumburg, IL Please RSVP by Wednesday, packs, please speak to Vicky Crosby or Marina Arvanitis. March 11 to the Church office at [email protected] or 312-243-3738. Or use the sign up sheet in the Church office. St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church February 2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 Pastoral Day for Fr. 8 8:15 am Orthros and Divine 7:00 pm Parish Council Meet- Dimitri 6:30 am Orthros & Divine Liturgy ing Liturgy for St. Theo- 5:00 pm Super Bash Billy Goat dore the Commander on Madison

9 Girls Ministry to 10 11 12 13 14 Pastoral Day for Fr. 15 Make Cards for Sack 8:30 am Orthros and Divine 6:00 pm Paraklesis Dimitri Lunches Liturgy for St. Har- (Supplication Service) Valentine's Day 8:15 am Orthros and Divine alambos (at St. Nile to the Virgin Mary Liturgy parish) 7:00 pm Philoptochos Meeting 7:00 pm Great for St. Haralambos (at Niles parish)

16 17 Presidents' Day 18 19 20 21 Pastoral Day for Fr. 22 8:15 am Orthros and Divine (regional holiday) 6:00 pm Paraklesis Dimitri 8:30 am Orthros & Divine Liturgy (Supplication Service) Liturgy for Saturday of to the Virgin Mary Souls 6:00 pm Apokreatiko Glendi

23 Judgement Sunday 24 25 26 27 28 Pastoral Day for Fr. 29 (Meatfare Sunday) 6:30 am Divine Liturgy for St. Dimitri 8:30 am Orthros & Divine 8:15 am Orthros and Divine Photini Liturgy for Saturday of Liturgy 6:00 pm Paraklesis Souls (Supplication Service) to the Virgin Mary Matthew 25:35-36 - The Last Judgment 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, Anthony, Aphrodite

I was in prison, and you came unto me: Please pray for: Alan, Alfredo, Andrew, Anthony, Arthur, Bryant, Calvin, Choice, Clarence, Coery, Darron, David, Deshaun, Devon, Dolen, Donald, Eddie, Eddie, Edwin, Eugene, Freddie, Henry, James, James, Jerry, Jerry, John, Jose, Joseph, Karl, Kerwinn, Lakeisha, Lendie, Mario, Michael, Michael, Monte, Parrish, Patrice, Ralph, Robert, Robert, Roberto, Ryan, Scott, Patrick Michael, Seneca, Shawn, Terrell, Timothy, Wendell, Willie 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. STEWARDSHIP CORNER

St. Basil Stewardship Facts: State of the Parish

Operational Expenses Stewards Pledged at St. Basil $344,100 ($943 per day 2020) 91 of goal of 190 (2020)

Dollar Amount Pledged Dollar Amount Collected Average Pledge $144,955.00 $41,889.00 $1,592.91

Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not re- luctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

As a service to our parishioners who are unable to physically attend Divine Services at St. Basil, a Live Stream of the Services can be found on the Church Facebook Page.

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