Weekday Service: START OF GREAT LENT
Monday, February 27th
5:30pm – Great Compline Service
Kathra Deftera (Clean Monday)
Lenten Dinner (following Worship Services)

Wednesday, February 29th
6:00 pm – Presanctified Liturgy

Friday, March 2nd
7:00 pm – 1st Salutations

Saturday, March 3rd
3rd Saturday of the Souls
8:30am – Orthros
9:30am – Divine Liturgy


Memorial: 40 Days ~ Terry Kokas, Left, Rows 1 - 2
40 Days ~ Chris (Christos) Lageotakis, Right, Rows 1 - 2
3 Years ~ Peter (Panagioti) Mestousis, Right, Rows 3 - 4
5 Years ~ George Sepsis, Left, Rows 3 - 4
5 Years ~ Nick (Nickolaos) Levaditis, Right, Rows 5 - 6


Fellowship: Today’s Coffee Fellowship is sponsored by the Sepsis Family in memory of George Sepsis.

Sacrament: The son of Nicholas and Michelle Kanel will be Baptized today and given the name of Demetrios by his Godparents, Basil and Mata Spyropoulos.

Stewardship Message: A PLACE OF LOVE Green Book

Time before time, when the world was young, two brothers shared a field and a mill, each night dividing evenly the grain they had ground together during the day. One brother lived alone; the other had a wife and a large family. Now the single brother thought to himself one day, "It isn't really fair that we divide the grain evenly. I have only myself to care for, but my brother has children to feed." So each night he secretly took some of his grain to his brother's granary to see that he was never without. But the married brother said to himself one day, "It isn't really fair that we divide the grain evenly, because I have children to provide for me in my old age, but my brother has no one. What will he do when he is old?" So every night he secretly took some of his grain to his brother's granary. As a result, both of them always found their supply of grain mysteriously replenished each morning.

Then one night they met each other halfway between their two houses, suddenly realized what had been happening, and embraced each other in love. The legend is that God witnessed their meeting and proclaimed, "This is a holy place, a place of love, and here it is that my temple shall be built." And so it was. (An ancient Jewish story)


2012 Stewardship: We thank and are appreciative to all stewards who have pledged to our beloved Parish of Panagia. Through your continued and loving support, the Parish Council has been able to serve as caretakers and deal with the needs and priorities that face our Church. We ask that you complete the Stewardship Pledge card and return it to the church office as soon as possible. In addition, any remaining balances of 2011 Pledges are also due.

Dates to Remember: Monday, February 27th
Start of Great Lent
5:30pm – Great Compline Service
7:00pm Kathra Deftera (Clean Monday) Lenten Dinner (following Worship Services)

Wednesday, February 29th
6:00 pm – Presanctified Liturgy

Friday, March 2nd
7:00 pm – 1st Salutations

Saturday, March 3rd - 3rd Saturday of the Souls – Divine Liturgy
8:30am – Orthros
9:30am – Divine Liturgy

Sunday, March 4th - 6:30pm – Pan Orthodox Vespers at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Oak Lawn

Monday, March 5th Adult Bible Study at 7:00 pm St. Catherine’s Meeting Room

Saturday, March 10th
Annual Youth Lenten Retreat
In Plato Hall
9:00 am to 1:30 pm

Sunday, March 11th – 18th Annual Orthodox Celebration of Books at Holy Apostles in Westchester

Saturday, March 17th Annual Family Synaxis Lenten Retreat hosted by St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Heights, IL

Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed: Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday? You might want to celebrate a family event, a memorial, or just want to share time with the Church family. The following dates are available:

March 11
April 1
April 22
April 29
May 13
May 27
June 3
June 10
June 17
July 1
July 8
July 15
July 22
July 29
August 12
August 19
September 9

Please call the Church Office (773.626.3114) to book a date and for more information.


Annual Orthodox Celebration of Books, March 11th - 18th The Metropolis of Chicago Religious Education department is excited to announce the annual Celebration of Books that will be taking place from March 11th - March 18th this year.

"These Things We Believe In" is this year's theme. A flyer is enclosed in this bulletin for your perusal.

Metropolis of Chicago Annual Family Synaxis Lenten Retreat Lenten Family Retreat: Join other Orthodox families at St. Spyridon Church in Palos Heights, on Saturday, March 17 for a one-day Lenten Retreat titled "On Marriage and Family Life: Sixteen centuries later, St. John Chrysostom`s words still ring true." Workshops for adults and children, as well as child-care for babies! Find more information and register online at www.GOCFamilySynaxis.org or email Chicago.Family.Synaxis@gmail.com.

Pictures Needed: The St. Catherine’s Consecration Committee would like to get pictures of what our Chapel looked liked before it became a Chapel. If you were married or baptized your child at Panagia’s and held your reception here and have any pictures, please bring them to the church office so that we could make copies of them for the day of the Consecration on May 6, 2012. All pictures will be return to you. We ask that you place them into an envelope with you name and address.

Prosfora Bakers Needed: One of the blessings of Stewardship that we are given is the ability to serve our Church in a number of ways. Our Church is in need of individuals who can offer the weekly Prosforo (Bread) for the Divine Liturgy. Should you be able to offer your service, please inform the Church office or see either Fr. Timothy or Mrs. Demetra Spyropoulos. With the help of each steward/member, we come together as a Church family to better offer our thanks to our Lord.



Second Tray: Collections from the second tray each Sunday benefit various specific ministries, as determined by the Clergy and Parish Council. Until noted, collections from the second tray each Sunday will continue to be earmarked for the benefit of Youth Ministry in this Parish.

Volunteer Opportunity: Our Parish of Panagia has a new volunteer opportunity related to coordinating the production of the Assumption Church Newsletter. The Newsletter is produced six times a year. Computer knowledge is a requisite, and requires coordination for the submission of articles, layout of the newsletter in Microsoft Publisher (a standard Microsoft application), and submission to the printer via email. If you are a steward looking for a way to increase your involvement in our Church Community and would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Tina Sarantos, (708) 660-0154.

Orthodox Adult Bible Study the New Testament: The next Adult Bible Study class will be on Monday, Marh 5th, at 7:00 pm in St. Catherine’s meeting room. We will next study St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. The class is open to all and it is hoped that you will avail yourself the opportunity to study the Bible in-depth. All you need to bring is your Bible. For further information and/or questions, please see Father Timothy.

Assumption Annual Youth Lenten Retreat: The Annual Lenten Retreat will be held Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm in Plato Hall. There will be crafts, fun and fellowship. Lunch will be provided. Please call the church office by March 6th to reserve a place for your children.

$5,000 Scholarship Opportunity for Greek American Graduate/Undergraduate Journalism/Communications Majors The Peter Agris Memorial Journalism Scholarships are kicking off their 20th year of providing critical support to young Greek American students studying journalism or communications at the graduate or undergraduate level.

Six $5,000 scholarships are given annually in memory of Peter Agris, the late founder and publisher of The Hellenic Chronicle, for fifty years the premier national English-language weekly newspaper for Americans of Greek descent. Agris, who died in 1989, was also an Archon of the Greek Orthodox Church; a trustee of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, Anatolia College and The American College of Greece; and an Ahepan.

Interested candidates may visit the scholarship’s Facebook page, download an application at www.alphaomegacouncil.com or write to: The Peter Agris Memorial Scholarships Committee, c/o Nancy Agris Savage, 9 Nonesuch Drive, Natick, MA 01760. Applications, transcripts, the required essay and any published work that might enhance the application must be returned by email to nancyasavage@gmail.com, or by mail to the above address no later than March 1, 2012. Questions may be directed to nancyasavage@gmail.com.


13th District AHEPA Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Applications are available for the Order of AHEPA’s 13th District Scholarships for the year 2012. Eligible students must be a high school senior, have a minimum four year cumulative grade point average of B, and be either of Greek heritage or have a parent that is an active member of the AHEPA family. Detained eligibility requirements are listed on page one of the application, under Guidelines. Note that special provisions apply to students attending the Seminary and those that can demonstrate a financial need. Applications may be obtained by going to the District’s webpage at www.ahepa.org and follow the prompts to District 13, Application for Scholarship. The deadline for submitting applications is March 15, 2012.

Proper Church Etiquette: Worship Services are vital instruments and components to our prayer development. In order to help us achieve this, we need to be cognizant of our fellow parishioners and all those around us. Therefore, please make sure that cell phones are completely turned off during Services. In addition, while we most welcome children to participate in the liturgical life of the Church, it remains the responsibility of parents to make sure that children do not become a distraction to those around them. Therefore, if a child is crying, or in some way in need of attention, please feel free to take him/her to the Narthex or Cry Room. You are most welcome to enter and exit the Church proper as many times as necessary. By doing this, all who are in attendance will be afforded the opportunity to worship and pray together. (Please keep in mind that we are also privileged to have a complete Sunday School Liturgy celebrated in Saint Catherine’s Chapel each week for your use as well). We ask for your cooperation. Ushers will be available to help you, if needed.

Holy Communion Announcement: While we pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all the world's Christians, the reality remains that there is still no intercommunion between our Orthodox Churches and the Churches of the West. This means that only baptized, chrismated, and observant Orthodox faithful are allowed to receive Holy Communion in our churches. At the same time, we warmly welcome all non-Orthodox to join us in prayer and celebration, and humbly offer to all present the Antidoro bread of fellowship at the end of the worship service. We offer this important symbol 'instead of the Gifts', in the words of the Apostle Paul, 'Till we all come to the unity of the Faith' (Eph. 4.13).

We Need Your E-mail Address: Are you receiving the weekly bulletin online in your e-mail mailbox each week? How about our Assumption Church’s Newsletter and the Saint Catherine’s Newsletter? If not, please give the Church Office your e-mail address so that you can stay informed about the schedule of religious services, events, and news of our Community.

Website News www.assumptionchicago.org Did you know that you can find Articles and Resources for the Orthodox Church on our web site. They include the history of Orthodoxy, special Services and Blessings, Spirituality, Teachings of the Orthodox Church, how to become a member of the Orthodox Church, the meaning and celebration of The Holy Eucahrist, the form and characteristics of Orthodox worship, the Sacrament of Confession, Holy Week Meditation and Study Guide, Fasting, and many others. Just go to our website and click on the heading Faith, read, learn, and enjoy. The latest editions of the Assumption Newsletter and the St. Catherine Newsletter are now available online.

Ushers: George Arvanites, Diane Berbas, Jack Woods, John Vassiliades, Dean Sarantos