The MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS · 60714 PHONE (847) 647-8880 WWW.SAINTHARALAMBOSGOC.ORG “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18) NOVEMBER 2019 THE CHURCH’S BELIEF IN GUARDIAN ANGELS The Church's belief in the ministry of the Guardian Angels is amply The journey on which Raphael proposed to lead Tobias, from Ni- supported by our Lord's warning, "Take heed that you do not des- neveh to Rages, was a fairly long one, about 200 miles, and much pise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their of it uphill. Yet, in the oldest extant manuscript containing the angels always see the face of My Father who is in heav- Book of Tobit (Codex Sinaiticus), a copyist's hand inserted the re- en" (Matthew 18:10). Luke, likewise, in referring to Peter's angel, mark that their trip required only two days! Recalling that the swift testifies to that belief among the early Christians (Acts 12:15). army of Alexander needed ten days to march the same distance (cf. These references indicate that the Guardian Angels were already Plutarch, *Lives* "Alexander" 42), one is prompted to reflect on well known to the readers of the Matthew and Luke; the idea re- the hitherto unsuspected advantages of traveling with an angelic quired no explanation. companion. As in other instances of Christian belief (the efficacy of prayer for They also brought along the family dog, so we see Tobias traveling the dead comes to mind), it was originally from the Jews that the with both an angelic and an animal companion, representing the Church inherited this belief in the ministry of the Guardian Angels. twin worlds of spirit and biology, those two realms of experience in The Psalmist had declared, "The angel of the Lord encamps all which man travels through this world. around those who fear Him, and delivers them" (Psalms 34 [33]:7). And again, "He will give His angels charge over you, to keep you St. Jerome, who tells us that he translated the Book of Tobit from in all your ways" (91 [90]:11). Greek into Latin in the course of a single night, was intrigued by that dog. Although he must have been pretty tired as he came to the The clearest illustration of Jewish belief in the Guardian Angels is end of his candlelight labor during the morning hours of that night, found in the Book of Tobit, preserved in the Septuagint. It is the Jerome was still sufficiently alert to do something rather imagina- story of an exiled Israelite family living in Mesopotamia during the tive with Tobias's dog. He actually altered the text of the Book of late eighth century before Christ, and the central core of the account Tobit, a thing he felt free to do, since he did not believe the book to concerns the long journey that the young man, Tobias, makes on be canonical (a distinctly eccentric view among the Latin Fathers, behalf of his recently blinded father, Tobit. In this narrative the be it noted). Jerome inserted a detailor, more accurately, a *tail*in original purpose of Tobias's trip to collect a debt in order to pre- the Vulgate's description of Tobias's return: "Then the dog, which serve the family from destitution is transcended and enriched in a had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if it had variety of ways, not the least of which is the young man's discovery brought the news, showed his joy by fawning and wagging his tail." of a godly wife. That wagging is not in the Septuagint text, nor even is the tail. Je- rome made it up. Prior to setting out on this journey, however, Tobias and his par- ents are visited by a stranger who offers to guide him along the It is not difficult to discern why the prankish Jerome engaged in this way, and at the story's end the stranger is identified as Raphael, little witticism. Struck by the story's resemblance to Homer's "one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the *Odyssey*, which also tells of a man's journey back to the home of saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy his father, Jerome remembered Argus, the dog of Odysseus, the first One" (Tobit 12:15; cf.Revelation 1:4). friend to recognize that ancient traveler on his return to Ithaca. The old and weakened Argus, Homer wrote, when he recognized his This revelation does not take place until the end of the book, how- master's voice, "endeavored to wag his tail" (*Odyssey* 17.302). ever, when the journey is over. Thus, Tobit and his family, like Abraham in Genesis 18, Gideon in Judges 6, and the parents of There was more than a joke involved here, however. Jerome cor- Samson in Judges 13, receive an angel "unawares"(Hebrews 13:2) rectly regarded the trip of Tobias, like the travels of Odysseus, as a Even unaware of Raphael's true identity, nonetheless, Tobit twice symbol of man's journey through this world, returning to the pater- makes ironic reference to a "good angel" who will accompany his nal home. Jerome saw that Tobias takes his place with Gilgamesh, son on the journey (Tobit 5:16,21). Likewise, when the trip was Theseus, Jason and the Argonauts, Aeneas, and the other great trav- over, but before he learns Raphael's identity, Tobit blesses God's elers of literature. It is the Bible's teaching that we do not make this "holy angels"(11:14). Tobias had traveled in company with the an- lifelong trip alone. We are accompanied by "an angel of peace, a gel even without knowing it. faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies." By: Fr. Patrick Reardon WORSHIP SCHEDULE SACRAMENTS AND BLESSINGS MINISTRY TO PERSONS WHO ARE SICKWe urge Orthodox Schedule of Services Christians who would like to receive Holy Sacraments but are unable to November attend church (hospitalized or at home) to contact the church office so Holy Sacraments can be administered to them. Friday, November 1NSaints Cosmas and Damianos If your loved one is hospitalized please call us, even if the illness is 8:30 amNOrthros and Divine Liturgy not serious! In a wholistic approach to healing and wellbeing, a Sunday, November 3 (GODPARENT SUNDAY) visit from the priest can be very positive. Most hospitals do not 8:15 amNOrthros inform us when they receive patients from our parish. We depend 9:30 amNDivine Liturgy on you! No Sunday SchoolNFAMILY WORSHIP BLESSINGS OF INFANTSNForty days after birth, a child and its GODPARENT SUNDAY LUNCHEON AFTER LITURGY mother come to church to receive a 40 Day Blessing, imitating Christ who was presented in the Temple 40 days after He was born. Please call Thursday evening, November 7Vespers of the Holy the church office to arrange this blessing. Taxiarhai 7:00 pmNGreat Vespers BAPTISMSNPlease call the church office to schedule Baptisms. Plan ahead!Nthere are some days when Baptisms are not performed. Keep Friday, November 8NThe Holy Taxiarhai Archangels in mind that there should be only one Godparent and that a child is sup- Michael and Gabriel posed to be given one name when he or she is baptized. 8:30 amNOrthros and Divine Liturgy WEDDINGSNPlease arrange an appointment with Fr. Dean at least Sunday, November 10 (Parish Appreciation Luncheon) eight months before the proposed wedding date to allow time for all 8:15 amNOrthros necessary marriage preparation. 9:30 amNSunday School CONFESSIONNConfessions are arranged by appointment. Please 9:30 amNDivine Liturgy call the church office to schedule Confession. Parish Appreciation Luncheon after Divine Liturgy MEMORIAL SERVICESNMemorial Services are offered for the Wednesday, November 13NSaint John Chrysostom eternal rest of persons who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Customarily, 8:30 amNOrthros and Divine Liturgy these services are offered at 40 days, at 6 months, at 1 year and at 3 years. When three years have passed, the departed are more properly Sunday, November 17 remembered on the Saturdays of the Souls. 8:15 amNOrthros END OF LIFE ISSUES 9:30 amNSunday School 9:30 amNDivine Liturgy 1 A Proper Funeral Conveys Divine Grace to Our Loved One For an Orthodox Christian, a church funeral is a necessity. As we Thursday, Nov 21NThe Entrance of the Theotokos pray, the funeral service brings divine Grace to those who have fallen asleep, for their forgiveness and eternal rest. We should not consider a 8:30 amNOrthros and Divine Liturgy church funeral to be an inconvenience, out of love, it is our duty. What Sunday, November 24 good reason can there be to deny our loved ones from God’s saving 8:15 amNOrthros Grace and the honor they deserve? Let us honor our parents and rela- 9:30 amNSunday School tives with the respect they deserve! 9:30 amNDivine Liturgy 2 About Cremation Orthodox Christians believe that in the General Resurrection, our Monday, November 25NSaint Katherine bodies and souls will be restored to each other. Cremation is the delib- 8:30 amNOrthros and Divine Liturgy erate desecration and destruction of what God has made, and is viewed as the denial of the Resurrection. OUR SISTER CHURCH OF ST. NECTARIOS in Pal- In cases where there is intention for the body of a deceased person atine, IL, invites you to Great Vespers on Friday evening, to be cremated, thus choosing to disregard our understanding of the November 8 and Liturgy on Saturday, Nov.