Events Are In Sequence - Please Scroll Down

January 2012

Events Are In Sequence - Please Scroll Down

Sanctity Of Life Sunday

At the end of the Liturgy after the final blessing on Sanctity of Life Sunday, a representative from PASS spoke briefly about the activities of the PASS program. She described how they help pregnant young women avoid the practice of abortion and bring their child to term and help with adoption if necessary. She also described the abstinence program which is taught in local area schools. St. Luke has been a long time supporter of the PASS ministry.

The Sanctity of Life Sunday prayer service sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Chicago was held at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester.

Bishop Dimity, Chancellor of the Chicago Metropolitanate of the Greek Archdiocese spoke against the death penalty. Through his efforts, the death penalty has been temporally put on hold in Illinois. Our Bishop Matthias was one of the attending bishops.

After the service all joined for fellowship and chance the view and obtain literature for Sanctity of Life Sunday from our local Orthodox Christians for Life ministry. They are sponsoring a future program which will be modeled after St. Mary & Martha House in Southern California.

The Great Blessing Of Water

On one of the warmest Januarys days in the Chicago area, the great blessing of water was held in our new prayer shrine which was constructed over St. Luke's well.

Fr. Andrew reading while Sub deacon John holds the Gospel. The reading is from Mark 1: 9-11 which discribes the baptism of Christ.

During the prayers after the Gospel reading, Fr. Andrew blesses the water with the sign of the cross.

A wooden cross was then placed into the water and then retrieved by Maximus. This was the same cross Father Andrew placed into the Jordan river last July when he visited the Holy Land on pilgrimage.

The dismissal prayers were chanted, the cross venerated and all attending received a blessing with Holy Water from the consecrated well.

"As Many As Have Been Baptised Into Christ"

Rebecca is baptised as Godparents Caye and Steve and family look on. Congradulations to Rebecca and "God Grant Her Many Years".

Garden Center Visit For January

Fr. Andrew blessing the St. Basil's Sweet Bread, deliciously baked by Stea. Wishing to distribute money to the poor, St. Basil commissioned some women to bake sweetened bread, in which he placed gold coins.

Keeping up with this most joyful traditional celebration, Fr. Andrew passes out the bread, as the residents each hope to find the coin.

Gerald found the coin and is considered to be the blessed one for the year. Stea put the coin in a keepsake case for him which included a explanation of the tradition.

Surprise visit from Fr. Herman, Andrew, Ella and John Adamovich.

New Year's And St. Basil's Bread

At the conclusion of the Feast day Liturgy the cutting of the St. Basil's bread is celebrated. This is primarily a Greek Orthodox custom which is called Vasilopita. Fr. Andrew is blessing the loaf with holy water with the words. This bread is blessed and sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The bread is then cut by the priest and slices are distributed to those present at the service. Baked into the loaf is a gold coin which symbolizes the charitable activities of St. Basil. The person who receives the coin will have a prosperous year so they to can be generous to the poor.

Father Andrew and parishioner holding the coin.