St. Catherine’s

Newsletter December, 2015

Assumption Greek

Orthodox Church

Acts of Kindness

The True Spirit of Christmas By Ella Haas

Recently, the Sunday School students completed the last of the 90 Acts of Kindness as a celebration of 90 years of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago. Great job and congratulations for all those who participated! Now, students continue spreading Christ's love for all during the holiday season with a new project: Each class focuses on an individual charity organization to work with. Kindergartners and Pre-K students will be working with Sunny Patch, while second graders have chosen to cooperate with the Greek American nursing home. Third grade keeps the "Christ" in "Christmas" this holiday season by partnering up with retired priests who have served as Proistamenos, along with fourth grade, who has chosen Plato Learning Academy as their good cause. The fifth graders take one of the most popular charities with the local animal shelter, sixth graders work with Phil's Friends and the Ronald McDonald house charity, 7th/8th grade chooses Hephzibah Home and Night Ministry, and ninth and tenth grade are working with the NIKA house. Grades 1 and 11/12 are still undecided. Even if you aren't in any of the Sunday School classes, it's important to remember that Christmas season is not only a time to be happy and to buy gifts, but to spread God's love and mercy through our own kind acts. Please keep in mind that not everyone has a roof over their head or food in their stomach during the cold winter, and, whether organized or spontaneous, all acts of kindness, even the smallest, matter in the eyes of those who need them. Merry Christmas to all members of the Assumption Church!

GREAT Weekend at Assumption! We wrapped over 120 presents for the children of the Austin community, packed food baskets for 12 needy fam-ilies and will be making deliveries to 5 area shelters with our excess food do-nations. We also welcomed Santa and decorated our hall. Thank you Assump-tion families, as always you generously gave and lovingly supported ALL our Christmas collections!!!

ST. CATHERINE’S NEWSLETTER

Red Ribbon 2015 By Thalia Holguin

Playing on a team with my friends is great. Even though we are off to a rocky start, I know we will get better at working together as a team. Our coach Mr. Demos has us running a motion offense and a zone defense. Our first two games were so close, losing the first game by one basket and the second game by one point. The players on the team are: Teddy D, John D, William G, Christopher G, Andrew K, Max K, Jimmy K, Kevin L, Billy P, Foti T, Konstantina T and Petroula T.

All the parents have been enthusiastic supporters, loudly cheering us on at both games. Now the team is working hard to turn things around and end the season with a winning record. GO ASSUMPTION!!

Assumption Assumption

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by Billy Panosby Billy Panos

Red Ribbon Week is when we raise awareness for prevention of alcohol, violence, tobacco, and other drug abuse. Fr. Dimitrios gathered the 7th grade through high school students to talk about the im-portance of our bodies and how they are gifts from God and not to abuse them. He said when you abuse your body it is like a slap in the face to God. After the discus-sion, we all went outside with red balloons, said a prayer and let them go together to show our support for red rib-bon week.

I love the icons of our Orthodox faith because not only are they beautiful but because they teach us so much about the people and events that are so important to our Faith. Each icon is written – not drawn – in a specific way to

teach us the precious traditions of our Church.

The icon of the Nativity – the birth of Christ, Christ-mas – is one of the most interesting, dynamic, and educational icons we have. All of the events surrounding Christ’s birth are contained in one icon that shows us all the different truths

revealed to us in the story of Christmas we read in the Bible.

In the center of the icon is the Virgin Mary. She is much larger than the other characters in the icon because she is the central character of the story. It was the Panagia, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, who agreed to be the mother of Jesus. It was the Panagia who carried Him for nine months. It was the Panagia who gave birth to Him and gave

Him as God’s gift for the entire world.

Behind Mary is the newborn Jesus lying in a cave. Many times, we thing of Christ being born in a stable or man-ger, but our Church holds that it was in a cave that Mary gave birth. The cave is part of a larger mountain shape. In the Bible, mountains are often a place of God’s revelation to humanity. In this icon, the mystery of God becoming a man is revealed to

the world.

Christ is lying in a bed that looks like a grave or tomb. This tells us the true purpose for Christ’s birth: He will die, de-scend to Hades and Resurrect for the salvation of mankind. In the cave are two animals, which represent the created world com-

ing to worship Christ, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah (Is 1:3).

Above the cave is the star and the angels, guiding the shepherds and the magi to the newborn King. The Angels deliver the news of the Christ’s birth with a special added message: “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). This declaration of peace is not a promise to stop all wars or fighting among people. Rather, this peace is the new peace between God and man brought by Jesus Christ. Before Christ’s coming, man and God were separated due to Adam

and Eve’s sin. Now, through His birth, God and man are reunited.

On the right of the icon are the shepherds, who represent the nation of Israel accepting the news of the Messiah. The Jewish shepherds were not chosen by accident but because of their humility and simplicity of heart. We are all called to be humble

like shepherds if we wish to meet the Good Shepherd, Christ.

On the left are the three wise men or magi. Though the magi are not Jewish, they come to worship Christ because of their inner wisdom and knowledge that Jesus was God. They bring their gifts: gold, a gift proper for a king; incense, a gift for a

priest (Christ is the true Priest); and myrrh, a gift for one who is to be buried.

On the bottom of the icon are two interesting scenes. In the bottom left corner, Joseph – Mary’s betrothed – is speaking to an old man with a cane. This old man is the devil who comes to tempt Joseph to leave the Virgin Mary and Jesus with protec-tion or care. In the ancient world, this would have meant death. God sent an angel to visit Joseph in a dream, telling him not to lose faith but to help Mary raise the child. In the bottom right, two women wash the newborn Jesus. This shows us that even Jesus

had to go through all the steps of a human birth, and that He is a true human being.

How many important truths are contained in just one icon! May God enlighten each of us and place in our hearts a desire

to learn about Him and His Church. Merry Christmas to all, and a happy new year!

ASSUMPTION GREEK ORT HODOX CHURCH Page 3

“Today salvation has come to all the world”

Taking a closer look at the Nativity icon

by Fr. Dimitrios Burikas

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The St. Catherine’s Newsletter was created in 2007

by a Sunday School student. It serves to inform,

educate, and entertain the children of the Assump-

tion Greek Orthodox Church community. All are

welcome and encouraged to contribute to the news-

letter. If you are interested in writing an article,

sending in a self written piece of work, or just for

more information… PLEASE CONTACT:

Very Rev. Fr. Timothy Bakakos —

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Phone: 773-626-3113

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COMING UP…..

Dive for the Cross

Jan. 9, 2016

Godparents Sunday

Feb. 14, 2016

CHRIST IS BORN!

GLORIFY HIM! July 26-July 27, 2014