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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020
NAME DAY
ԵԿԵՂԵՑՒՈՅ ՈՒԽՏԻ ՕՐ
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Morning Service at 9:00 AM
Holy Badarak at 10:00 AM
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Bible Readings:
Isaiah 38:1-8; Hebrews 1:1-14:
Luke 17:1-10
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CANDLELIGHT HOKEHANKISD
FOR THE SOULS OF THE CLERGY, FOUNDERS AND ALL PARISHIONERS OF ST. JAMES
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COMMEMORATION OF SAINTS JAMES THE PATRIARCH [BISHOP] OF NISIBIS,
MARUKE THE HERMIT AND MELITUS THE BISHOP
 Pontiff St. James of Nisibis, the patron saint of our church, is one of the most authoritative and most beloved saints of the Universal Church. He is a prominent saint not only in the Armenian Church but also in the Syriac Church. He was born, raised, worked and died in Nisibis, which today is known as the city of Nusbyien in Southeastern Turkey.
St. James deserves the epithet Thaumaturge (Wonderworker) for the numerous miracles attributed to him. According to hagiographical sources, St. James was from the Parthian dynasty and the nephew of St. Gregory the Enlightener. When the family members of Anak the Parthian were killed, nurses secretly fled to Caesaria, taking with them the infant brothers Suren and James. In Caesaria, they were educated in the Christian faith. When they were still children, James and his sister Sakden were taken to Persia and lived for a time in the royal palace. However, when a young man, James rejected his safe and well-to-do life and became a hermit. In his young adulthood he withdrew to the desert to live and pray as an ascetic. He eventually left for Nisibis where he became a disciple of the hermit St. Maruke, famous for leading a life befitting saints. In turn, St. James became the teacher of Ephraem the great patristic Syrian priest and writer.
St. James learned from St. Maruke that many people despite their conversion to the true faith were skeptical about the existence of Noah’s Ark. The hermit told James that, “The ark rested here on the nearby Cordoyenes Mountains known to the Armenians as Ararat.” Thus, St. James decided to climb the mountain in order to see the Ark himself and bring back a piece of it in order to put to rest people’s doubts. Despite his unshakable willpower, St. James could not reach the peak of Mount Ararat. However, while taking a short nap to recover from his struggles, an angel visited him in his dreams and put a piece of the Ark under his head. James took the relic with great joy and brought it to Maruke, who upon seeing it was filled with great joy. According to tradition, in the place where St. James had lain down there appeared a cold stream with healing and miraculous qualities. In the future a church bearing the Saint’s name would be built nearby the stream. The relic of the Ark given to St. James by one of God’s angels is currently in the museum of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
After the death of the Bishop of Nisibis, two candidates emerged from two conflicting groups. However, God appeared to St. Maruke and told him that St. James was the most worthy and deserving candidate to become the next Bishop of Nisbis. On the advice of the hermit, everyone switched their focus to St. James and summoned him from the desert. He was ordained bishop in 320 A.D. in Amida.
St. James participated in the Council of Nicaea in 325 at which he enjoyed great respect from the Emperor Constantine and the other attendees. He became one of the great champions of the orthodoxy of the Christian Church against Arius and Arianism, which were condemned at the Council. Two or three times he saved Nisbis from Persian invasions with his prayers.
Although subjected to persecutions and tortures prior to becoming a cleric during the persecution of Maximianos, he nevertheless died peacefully at an old age in 338 A.D. His many relics were taken to Constantinople in 970 A.D. and became the subject of great honor in the imperial city.
Bishop St. Mielitus was born in Melitene, Armenia Minor. In 358 he became the Bishop of Sebastia. In 360 he ascended the throne of Antioch and continued St. James’ struggle against the Arians. In 381 he presided over the Second Ecumenical Council convened in Constantinople but unfortunately passed away before its conclusion.
Click here to read an article about St .James of Nisibis from Frequently Asked Questions About The Armenian Church, by Very Rev. Fr. Krikor Maksoudian
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FEASTS AND FASTS
Monday, December 14
Commemoration of the Holy Fathers Ignatius [Bisop of Antioch] and Addai, and Maruthas the Bishop of Marv
Tuesday, December 15 Commemoration of Bishop Sts. Theopomps the Bishop, Theonas the Marty and Four Soldiers, Basus, Eusebe, Eutyche and Basilides
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Wednesday, December 16
Fast Day
Thursday, December 17
Commemoration of Sts. Virgins Indos and Domna, Glericus the Priest and twenty thousand martyred in the Church of Nicomidia
Friday, December 18
Fast Day
Saturday, December 19
Commemoration of Saint Apkar the Witness and the First Christian King
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NAME DAY CELEBRATIONS
Whenever you know a friend or loved one whose Name Day/Feast Day is soon to be celebrated, honor the person by presenting them with a lit candle saying, "Anoonovut abrees" or "Anoonovut dzeranas" ("May you grow old with your name"). Or you can simply say, “Happy Name Day!”
NAME DAYS celebrated this week: James, Hagop (December 12), Ignat (December 14), Apkar, Abgar (December 19).
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Dear Parishioners in addition to Holy Badarak on Sundays now you can sing up and attend various worship services offered during the week at St. James Armenian Church.
Click here to read the General Guidelines and Policies for Phase 2.
Click here to read about the steps taken for your safe participation.
We are looking forward to worship with you in the Holy Sanctuary of St. James in Evanston.
Please choose below the service you would like to attend and sign up.
Sunday, December 13 – Holy Badarak at 10 AM
Please note that Cook County issued stay-at-home advisory. CLICK HERE to read more.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL CONTINUES
WITH 1 PM ZOOM CONNECTION
Click here for more details
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Your Sunday School teachers hope you can join us and your classmates for a Zoom connection this Sunday. As the school year unfolds, our No. 1 priority is to keep you and your families safe and healthy. For our 14th session of the 2020-21 school year, please join us on Zoom at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13, for a half-hour virtual get-together to talk about ADVENT and keep each other up to date on how things are going in these challenging times! Please remember to ask your parents about Der Hovhan’s invitation for families to visit St. James during this special season.
Meeting Link, ID and Passcode
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 851 8798 7251
Passcode: shyL92
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Dear St. James Parishioners,
This has been a year like none other. The difficulties of the coronavirus and, now, the war in Artsakh, cannot adequately be described on paper.
And yet in 2020, our parish has persevered and accomplished so much. Our on-line spiritual offerings began in March and include Holy Badarak as well as Prayers for Healing and Intercession to the Holy Martyrs. In July, we safely began limited re-opening of St. James and in-person services. Our young parishioners attended a much-praised “virtual Hye Camp,” and our Sunday School, Bell Choir and youth Zoom sessions are going strong, with socially distanced lakefront gatherings as weather permits. We even staged our first-ever Virtual Street Fair! Despite our physical separation, we remain united in spirit.
Click here to read recent letter from Der Hovhan and St. James' Parish Council.
Click here for the Membership Form.
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INTERCESSORY PRAYER
ԲԱՐԵԽՕՍՈՒԹԵԱՆ ԱՂՕԹՔ
Every third Wednesday of the month
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
8:00 PM
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DEACONS DEDICATION SERVICE
on the Feast of St. Stephen
Sunday, December 27, 2020
after Badarak
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SCHEDULE OF WORSHIP SERVICES IN DECEMBER
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Sunday, December 20
Morning Service and Badarak
Sunday, December 27
Morning Service and Holy Badarak
Commemorating St. Steven the Protodeacon
Deacons Dedication Service
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MONTHLY YOUTH MEETING
via ZOOM
Sunday, December 13 at 2 PM
Click here to join us.
Meeting ID: 938 614 7474
Questions? Want to participate?
Contact Youth Director
Ms. Irina Petrosyan at (630) 843-1304
or e-mail.
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YOUTH BIBLE STUDY
via ZOOM
Thursday, December 17 at 8 PM
Click here to join us.
Meeting ID: 938 614 7474
Questions? Want to participate?
Contact Youth Director
Ms. Irina Petrosyan at (630) 843-1304
or e-mail.
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CHILDREN AT CHURCH
Click here to read the message.
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VOCAL HEALTH FOR SINGERS
The Eastern Diocese’s Sacred Music Council will hold an online lecture aimed at choir members, deacons, and altar servers. Dr. Norman Dertad Hogikyan will speak on “Your Voice, Vocal Health, and the Pandemic,” on Wednesday, December 16, at 7 p.m. EST, on the Zoom conference platform.
Click on the following links to view a flyer with information, and to register in advance.
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Our Sunday Badarak and well the daily prayer services are being livestremed on our Facebook page.
You can watch them even if you do not have Facebook account. All livestreams are available through our mobile app DESILK.
St. James official mobile app, DESILK, is now available for both Adroid and Apple users
 Anroid users can download the app from Google Play store or simply using this link.
Apple users can download it using this link.
Contact church office if you have any questions or need an assistance.
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STEEPLE REPAIR PROJECT
 Our spiritual home is in dire need of your help. St. James has stood watch over the Armenian Community since 1944. The building has stood as a testament to God since 1896 and has deteriorated to the point that urgent repairs are required.
The brick facade of the steeple is separating from the wall; the mortar has crumbled and the windows are leaking into the vestibule of the church. Significant work is required to restore the structural integrity of the front of the building within and under the steeple.
These repairs need to be under way as soon as possible. Our community has always been protected by the shadow of the Holy Church. This is OUR opportunity to meet the church in her moment of need as she has been there for every one of our life events.
Make your secure donation here.
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STAINED GLASS WINDOW RESTORATION PROJECT
 St. James Armenian Church is in the process of restoring all the stained glass windows due to various issues; including individual stained glass pieces falling out, rotted exterior window wood, and glass pieces that are broken or were previously replaced with mismatched pieces. These windows are original to the church.
We encourage as many parishioners as possible to participate, at any level your family wishes, so that you, your family and the entire parish can share in the legacy of this historic project.
Each parishioner or family donating towards the altar windows will be recognized on a large group plaque. The designations for the donor levels are: Cherub ($1,000 to $3,999); Archangel ($500 to $999); Angel ($1 to $499).
We thank all of those that have donated and we thank you in advance for your future donations. If you have any questions, please call the church office at (847) 864-6263.
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SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THIS WEEK
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Monday:
Wisdom 5:1-8; Jeremiah 6:16-21;
1 Corinthians 4:9-16; Mark 9:32-36
Tuesday:
Proverbs 24:1-12; Jeremiah 15:19-20;
Hebrews 12:1-7; Matthews 10:26-33
Wednesday:
Hebrews 2:1-10; Luke 17:11-19
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Thursday:
Wisdom 3:1-8; Jeremiah 30:18-22;
1 Peter 4:12-19; John 15:17-25
Friday:
Hebrews 3:12-4:10; Luke 18:1-8
Saturday:
Wisdom 6:1-9; Isaiah 45:1-3;
1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 7:1-10
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DIOCESAN E-NEWSLETTER
Click here to read the latest eNewsletter of the Eastern Diocese
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St. James Armenian Apostolic Church