ST.

NICHOLAS ALBANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

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

Cheese fare Sunday

(Forgiveness Sunday)
February 26th, 2017
 Epistle Reading
St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14;
14:1-4
Prokeimenon Mode Plagal 4.
Psalm 75.11,1
Make your vows to the Lord our
God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.
Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than
when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is
at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and
put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves
becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and
Gospel Reading
The Gospel according to Matthew 6:14-21
The Lord said, "If you forgive
men their trespasses, your heavenly
Father also will forgive you; but if you
do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses.
"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the
hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their
fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they
drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not
in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its
desires.
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome
him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he
may eat anything, while the weak man eats only
vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who
abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment
on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are
you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is
before his own master that he stands or falls. And he
will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand..
have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint
your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not
be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and
your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust consume and where thieves break
in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and
where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Fotinia Foti
Sereni Timotheu
Leoni Visarioni
 MESSAGES FROM Fr. KOSTANDIN
Cheese Fare Sunday: Today, Feb 26, on the final day
before Great Lent, the Gospel teaches us the importance of
reconciliation with one another, of mutual forgiveness. We
sing about the Garden of Paradise, which we lost through the
Fall of Adam and Eve. Again, this reminds us that in this world
we are exiles, that our true home is in the Eternal Paradise,
the Heavenly Kingdom, and that the Paschal Pilgrimage leads
us toward our eternal homeland.
This Sunday is also called Cheese-Fare Sunday, because
according to the traditional rules of fasting, this is the last day
when dairy products may be eaten.
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.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Family and relatives commemorate 40 days from departure of
our beloved parishioner Sotir (Sam) Sutter.
In memory of a life so beautifully lived and a heart so deeply loved
T lidhurit e Djathit: Sot, m 26 Shkurt, nj dit
perpara Javs s Kreshmeve t Medhaja, Kisha na mson
rndesin e faljes s mrive dhe pajtimin. I falemi Kopshtit
t parajses q humbm me mbarimin e Evs dhe Adamit, gj
q ka kujton se n kt bot jemi kalimtar, dhe se vendi yn
I vrtet sht n Parajs dhe se piligrimazhi I Pashks na hap
rrugen pr n at vend t prjetshm.
Kjo e Djel quhet edhe e Djela e lidhjes s djathit, sepse
sipas tradits s kreshms, kjo sht e Djela e fundit q
bulmetrat mund t prdoren.
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 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
 Domnina. Saint Photina converted both Domnina and all her
ST. PHOTINE servants to Christ.
Commemorated on Feb. 26th
Three years passed, and Nero messengers reported to him
The Holy Martyr Photine, was the
that Saints Sebastian, Photinus and Joses, who had been
Samaritan Woman, with whom the Savior
blinded, had completely recovered, and that people were
conversed at Jacobs Well (John. 4:5-42).
visiting them to hear their preaching, and indeed the whole
During the time of the emperor Nero (54-
prison had been transformed into a bright and fragrant place
68), who displayed excessive cruelty
where God was glorified. Nero then gave orders to crucify the
against Christians, Saint Photina lived in Carthage with her
saints, and to beat their naked bodies with straps. On the
younger son Joses and fearlessly preached the Gospel there.
fourth day the emperor sent servants to see whether the
Her eldest son Victor fought bravely in the Roman army
martyrs were still alive. But, approaching the place of the
against barbarians, and was appointed military commander
tortures, the servants fell blind. An angel of the Lord freed
in the city of Attalia (Asia Minor). Later, Nero called him to
the martyrs from their crosses and healed them. The saints
Italy to arrest and punish Christians.
took pity on the blinded servants, and restored their sight by
Sebastian, an official in Italy, said to Saint Victor, I know that
their prayers to the Lord. Those who were healed came to
you, your mother and your brother, are followers of Christ.
believe in Christ and were soon baptized.
As a friend I advise you to submit to the will of the emperor.
In an impotent rage Nero gave orders to flay the skin from
If you inform on any Christians, you will receive their wealth.
Saint Photina and to throw the martyr down a well.
I shall write to your mother and brother, asking them not to
Sebastian, Photinus and Joses had their legs cut off, and they
preach Christ in public. Let them practice their faith in
were thrown to dogs, and then had their skin flayed off. The
secret. Saint Victor replied, I want to be a preacher of
sisters of Saint Photina also suffered terrible torments. Nero
Christianity like my mother and brother. Sebastian said, O
gave orders to cut off their breasts and then to flay their skin.
Victor, we all know what woes await you, your mother and
An expert in cruelty, the emperor readied the fiercest
brother. Then Sebastian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his
execution for Saint Photis: they tied him by the feet to the
eyes. He was dumbfounded, and his face was somber. For
tops of two bent-over trees. When the ropes were cut the
three days he lay there blind, without uttering a word. On the
trees sprang upright and tore the martyr apart. The emperor
fourth day he declared, The God of the Christians is the only
ordered the others beheaded. Saint Photina was removed
true God. Saint Victor asked why Sebastian had suddenly
from the well and locked up in prison for twenty days.
changed his mind. Sebastian replied, Because Christ is
After this Nero had her brought to him and asked if she would
calling me. Soon he was baptized, and immediately regained
now relent and offer sacrifice to the idols. Saint Photina spit
his sight. Saint Sebastians servants, after witnessing the
in the face of the emperor, and laughing at him, said, O most
miracle, were also baptized.
impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you
Reports of this reached Nero, and he commanded that the
think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my
Christians be brought to him at Rome. Then the Lord Himself
Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as
appeared to the confessors and said, Fear not, for I am with
you?
you. Nero, and all who serve him, will be vanquished. The
Hearing such words, Nero gave orders to again throw the
Lord said to Saint Victor, From this day forward, your name
martyr down the well, where she surrendered her soul to
will be Photinus, because through you, many will be
God (+ ca. 66).
enlightened and will believe in Me.
At this time Saint Photina left Carthage and joined the
confessors in Rome. At Rome the emperor ordered the saints
to be brought before him and he asked them whether they
truly believed in Christ. All the confessors refused to
renounce the Savior. After torturing them, Nero ordered that
Saints Sebastian, Photinus and Joses be blinded and locked
up in prison, and Saint Photina and her five sisters Anatola,
Phota, Photis, Paraskeva and Kyriake were sent to the
imperial court under the supervision of Neros daughter