ST.

NICHOLAS ALBANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE
SHRINEOFTHEHOLY VIRGIN MARY
2701 NORTH NARRAGANSETT AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60639 773-889-4282
stnicholasalbanianchicago.org

Sunday of St. John Climacus

March 26th, 2017
 Epistle Reading
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 6:13-20
Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God,
bring to the Lord honor and glory..
BRETHREN, when God made a
promise to Abraham, since he had
no one greater by whom to swear, he swore to himself,
saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And
thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the
promise. Men indeed swear by a greater than
themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for
Gospel Reading
The Gospel According to Mark 9:17-31
At that time, a man came to
Jesus kneeling and saying: "Teacher, I
brought my son to you, for he has a
dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes
him it dashes him down; and he
foams and grinds his teeth and
becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out,
and they were not able." And he answered them, "O
faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How
long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they
brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him,
immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the
ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And
Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And
he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into
the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you
can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus
confirmation. So when God desired to show more
convincingly to the heirs of the promise the
unchangeable character of his purpose, he interposed
with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things,
in which it is impossible that God should prove false, we
who have fled for refuge might have strong
encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We
have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a
hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the
curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our
behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the
order of Melchizedek
said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him
who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried
out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" And when
Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he
rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and
deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never
enter him again." And after crying out and convulsing
him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse;
so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took
him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And
when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him
privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said
to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but
prayer and fasting." They went on from there and
passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one
know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to
them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands
of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after
three days he will rise."
Vangjel - Vangjelia
Joan - Gavriil
Artemoni - Grigori
Jakovi Nikoni
Aleksandria - Klaudia
 MESSAGES FROM Fr. KOSTANDINs OFFICE
Great Lenten: Starts on Monday, Feb 27. The Church
teaches us how to re-ceive Him by using the two great means
of repentance prayer and fasting. The word fast means
not eating all or certain foods. As Orthodox Faithful, we can
fast completely at certain times of great importance, and
especially each time before receiv-ing Holy Communion.
Usually, fasting means limiting the number of meals and/or
the type of food eaten. The purpose of fasting is to remind us
of the Scriptural teaching, Man does not live by bread
alone. The needs of the body are nothing compared to the
needs of the soul. Above all else, we need God, Who provides
everything for both the body and the soul. Fasting teaches us
to depend on God more fully.
Kreshma e Madhe: fillon t Hnn, m 27 Shkurt. Kisha
na mson se si ta mirpresim At nprmjet faljeve dhe
Keshs. Si besimtar Othodhoks t devotshm, ne mund t
mbajme kreshme t plot n periudha t rndsishme, dhe
veanrisht prpara Kungimit. Zakonisht kreshma nnkupton
kufizimin e numrit t vakteve dhe/ose llojin e ushqimit q
prdoret. Qllimi I kreshmes sht q t kujtojm duke e
jetuar drejtprdrejt me eksperienc t gjalle msimin e t
shenjtave se Njeriu nuk ushqehet vetm me buk. Nevojat
fizike t trupit nuk jab asgj prpara neThe needs of the
body are novojave t shpirtit. Mbi t gjitha ne na nevojitet
Zoti, Ai q na fal gjithshka q na nevojitet t ushqejm si
trupin ashtu eshe shpirtin. Kreshma na mson se si t kemi
forcojm besimin tek Zoti.

Your donations and membership

dues allows us to continue to
provide our unique services and
operational upkeep. Donations to
our church are vital to support and
to keep our mission strong (and are
tax-deductible). 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

APRIL 9 PALM SUNDAY

APRIL 14 HOLY FRIDAY
APRIL 16 GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA
All parishioners should attend our Holy Week processions
For any questions or inquiries feel free to contact directly

Fr. Kostandin Tuda 312-730-3337 frkostandin@gmail.com

With blessing and guidance of Fr. Tuda, both Ladies auxiliary and Parish Council are joining
efforts in these two important future events for our parish. Please make plans to participate
CELEBRATION OF 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF 80TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR VERY OWN
WEEPING MARY. HIS GRACE, BISHOP ILIA
This event does not have to be a celebration with food and on July 23, 2017. Some of the initial planning and reservation
music. The goal of the joint committee and Father Tuda is to of the venue have already been determined as timing was
brainstorm what is appropriate and feasible to accomplish very crucial for the event. The committee will determine all
this. Bishop Ilia will be here on March 26 so we hope to have the other aspects of the event like entertainment,
something by then. advertisement, gift/s and so on.
UNGJILLZIMI I HYJLINDSES (VANGJELIZMOI)
Festohet m 25 Mars
Festa e Ungjillzimit t Virgjreshs Mari sht nnt muaj para
Krishtlindjes. , engjlli Gabriel u drgua nga Perndia n nj
qytet t Galiles, q quhej Nazaret, te nj e virgjr, q ishte fejuar
me nj njeri q quhej Josif, nga shtpia e Davidit; dhe emri i
Virgjreshs ishte Maria. Dhe engjlli hyri te ajo dhe tha: "Gzohu,
o hirplote, Zoti sht bashk me ty; e bekuar je ti n mes t grave".
Por, ajo kur e pa u turbullua nga fjalt e tij dhe pyeste vetveten
far kuptimi mund t kishte nj prshndetje e till. Dhe engjlli i
tha: "Mos ki frik, Mari, sepse ke gjetur hir para Perndis. Dhe ja,
ti do t mbetesh shtatzn dhe do t lindsh nj djal dhe do tia
vesh emrin Jisu. Ai do t jet i madh dhe do t quhet Biri i Shum
t Lartit; dhe Zoti Perndi do ti jap fronin e Davidit, atit t tij; dhe
do t mbretroj mbi shtpin e Jakovit prjet, edhe mbretria e
tij nuk do t ket kurr mbarim". Dhe Maria i tha engjllit: "Si do t
ndodh kjo, prderisa un nuk njoh burr?" Dhe engjlli, duke u
prgjigjur, i tha: "Fryma e Shenjt do t vij mbi ty dhe pushteti i
Shum t Lartit do t t mbuloj me hijen e vet; prandaj edhe
foshnja e shenjt q do t lind prej teje, do t quhet Bir i
Perndis. Dhe ja, Elisabeta, far e fisi yt, edhe ajo, n pleqrin e
saj, mbeti shtatzn me nj djal; dhe ky sht muaji i gjasht pr
at, q e quanin shterp, sepse me Perndin asgj ssht e
pamundshme". Ather Maria tha: "Ja shr-btorja e Zotit; le t m
ndodh sipas fjals sate". Dhe engjlli u largua prej saj (Lluka 1:26-
38).
Nj tipar i veant i ksaj feste sht Kanoni Mngjesor, i cili ka
karakterin e nj dialogu ndrmjet Kryengjllit Gabriel dhe
Virgjreshs Mari. Gjithashtu, ndrmjet elementve m popullor
t fests sht Madhrimi, i cili ka formn e prshndetjes ton
ndaj nns virgjresh me fjalt e Kryengjllit: Me zrin e
kryengjllit le t thrrasim te ty, o virgjresh e kulluar: Gzohu o
Hirplote, Zoti sht bashk me ty! (Madhrimi). Kremtimi i
Ungjillzimit sht festa e Meqense festa e Ungjillzimit bie
normalisht n periudhn e
Kreshms s Madhe, mnyra e
kremtimit ndryshon nga viti n vit,
duke u varur se n ciln dit bie.
Nse festa bie n nj dit jave t
Kreshms, gj q ka m shum
mundsi, Mesha Hyjnore e fests
bhet n mbrmje me
Mbrmsoren dhe kshtu,
kremtohet mbas nj dite agjrimi
t plot. Kur ndodh kjo, ndiqen
rregullat e agjrimit t Meshs s
Dhuratave t Parashenjtruara.
Mesha Hyjnore e Ungjillzimit,
sht e vetmja Mesh e Shn Joan
Gojartit q lejohet n nj dit jave,
gjat Kreshms s Madhe.
ANNUNCIATION OF THE THEOTOKOS
Commemorated March 25th
The Feast of the Annunciation commemorates the announcement
by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would become incarnate and
enter into this world through her womb. The biblical story is found
in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke (1:26-39). The Archangel
Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, in Nazareth, and said to her,
Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you. The angel told her not
to be afraid, for she had found favor with God. He said, You will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name
Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his
kingdom there will be no end. Mary responded to the angel by
asking how this could happen since she had no husband. The angel
told her that the Holy Spirit and the power of God would come
upon her, and that the child to be born of her would be called holy,
the Son of God. The angel then proceeded to tell the Virgin Mary
that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age (John
the Baptist), and affirmed that with God nothing is impossible.
In faith and obedience to the will of God, Mary replied to the angel,
Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be according to your
word. Upon her response, the angel departed.
Mary could have refused, for she was not a passive
instrument, but an active participant with a free and positive part
to play in Gods plan for our salvation. Thus, when on this and other
feasts the Orthodox Church honors the Theotokos, the Mother of
God, it is not just because God chose her but also because she
herself chose to follow His will. The icon of the Annunciation is one
that presents the joy of the announcement of the coming of Christ.
It is an icon of bright colors, depicting the Archangel Gabriel, who
has descended from heaven, and the Virgin Mary, who has been
chosen to be the Mother of God. The Archangel is shown with his
feet spread apart as if he is running to share the good news with
Mary. In his left hand is a staff, the symbol of a messenger. His right
hand is extended toward Mary as he delivers the message and
announces the blessing bestowed upon her by God. On the right
side of the icon the Virgin sits on an elevated seat, indicating that
as the Mother of God she is greater in honor than the
cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the
seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God
the Word. In her left hand she holds a spindle of
scarlet yarn which depicts the task she was assigned of
preparing the purple and scarlet material to be used in
making the veil for the Temple in Jerusalem. Her right
hand is raised in a gesture of acceptance in response to
Gabriels message. Her posture expresses willing
cooperation with Gods plan of salvation. The three
stars on her garments represent that she was a Virgin
before, during, and after the birth of Christ. Her left
hand holds a spindle of crimson yarn depicting the task
that she had of making the veil of the Temple in
Jerusalem. At the top of the icon the segment of a
circle represents the divine realm, from which three
rays emerge. This demonstrates the action of the Holy
Spirit coming upon her.