Join us this 10th Sunday After Pentecost — Afterfeast of the Transfiguration on August 9th, 2026 at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Joliet, IL. Download the full bulletin below for service times, scripture readings, and parish announcements.
✦ About this Sunday
Today we continue to bask in the glory of the Transfiguration, a moment when our Lord revealed His divine nature to three devoted apostles. As we reflect on this awe-inspiring event, we are reminded that Christ’s transfigured form is not just a glimpse of His heavenly glory, but also a promise of our own transformation through faith and prayer. May this glorious feast inspire us to seek the light of Christ in all aspects of our lives, and may His radiant presence guide us ever closer to Himself.
☩ Today — August 9th, 2026
✦ Afterfeast of the Transfiguration
✦ Glorification of Ven. Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America (1970)
✦ Hieromartyr Euthymios of Rhodes (16th c.)
✦ Apostle Matthias (ca. 63)
✦ Martyr Anthony of Alexandria
✦ Ven. Psoï of Egypt (4th c.)
✦ Martyrs Julian, Marcian, John, James, Alexius, Demetrius, Photius (Phocas), Peter, Leontius, and Mary, of Constantinople (730)
✦ Services
9:10 am Third & Sixth Hours · Confession
9:30 am Divine Liturgy and Memorial – Ouchakov’s Grandparents Nadezhda, Nina, Ivan, Stepan, and Mikhail Utschuwatov; Jeanie Haug and Serge Verhovskoy
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
11:10 am Fellowship Hour
☩ Week Ahead
Sat
Aug 15
Sun
Aug 16
5:00 pm
Vespers
9:30 am
Divine Liturgy & Catechumen Session
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Joliet IL, 1000 Barber Ln, Joliet, IL 60435, USA
11:30 am
Fellowship Hour
☩ Coming up in Orthodoxy
Mon, Aug 10 Afterfeast of the Transfiguration
Tue, Aug 11 Afterfeast of the Transfiguration
Wed, Aug 12 Afterfeast of the Transfiguration
Thu, Aug 13 St. Tikhon, Bishop of Vorónezh, Wonderworker of Zadónsk and All Russia
Fri, Aug 14 Translation of the Relics of Ven. Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
Sat, Aug 15 The Dormition (“Falling Asleep”) of our Most Holy Lady, Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
Sun, Aug 16 Afterfeast of the Dormition
✦ Announcements
Backpack Blessing
Students and educators are encouraged to bring their backpacks and briefcases to church on August 16TH to be blessed! Also, on that day we will have a Ice Cream Social. All participants will receive an icon card to keep in their backpacks or their icon corner.
Upcoming Projects
We are preparing to begin the replacement of the flat roof on our church building, a much needed project with an estimated cost of over $30,000. Your generous gifts to the Capital Improvement Fund (CIF) make projects like this possible and help preserve our parish for future generations. We humbly ask for your continued prayerful support of the CIF.
Many Thanks To:
Foster and Ouchakov Family for hosting todays fellowship hour.
119TH ANNIVERSARY
Save the Date! On the weekend of September 27TH we will celebrate the 119TH Anniversary of our Parish and our Annual Picnic. Please, invite your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers to join us and share the joy of the Parish Feast.
THE DORMITION FAST
August 14TH marks the conclusion of the Dormition Fast.
Glorification of Ven. Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of all America
Canonization of St. Herman (†1837) took place on August 9TH, 1970. He is celebrated as the first formally canonized saint of the Orthodox Church in North America. Blessed Father Herman of Alaska entered the ranks of Saints who are interceding on behalf of American Orthodoxy.
The Blessing of Flowers
As part of our celebration of Dormition we bless flowers and fragrant herbs – and the faithful traditionally keep them in their homes. The herbs, used as natural medicine, are blessed in commemoration of the numerous healings and the extraordinary grace bestowed on the pilgrims at the blessed tomb of the Mother of God. During times of family strife or illness, it is a pious custom to place the flower petals in the house censer, together with the incense, and cense the whole house with it. Hang the flowers to dry, then place them in front of your icons in your icon corner. If you choose some edible flowers, include them in your feast day meals.
Don’t throw out blessed flowers! Make sure if you are disposing of them, that you either burn or bury them! This goes for any blessed object.
✦ Parish Celebrations
✦ Many Years! ✦
Birthdays & Namedays: Happy Birthday to Nancy Jovanovich on August 10TH and John Elle on August 13th.
✦ Stewardship
$3,689.01
Stewardship Corner
Sunday, July 26TH, 2026
Thank you for your generous stewardship
☩ Please Remember in Your Prayers
We lift up the following in prayer, that God may grant them healing and grace:
The Church’s hymns today invite us to “ascend the holy mountain” and “with the eyes of faith,” to “behold the radiant Transfiguration of the Lord.” Christ has transformed our fallen human nature and restored its original beauty “by the burning…
Glorification of Venerable Herman of Alaska, Wonderworker of All America
A spiritual mission was organized in 1793, made up of monks of the Valaam Monastery. They were sent to preach the Word of God to the native inhabitants of northwestern America, who only ten years before had come under the sovereignty of Russia. Saint Herman was among the members of this Mission.…
Apostle Matthias of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Matthias was born at Bethlehem of the Tribe of Judah. From his early childhood he studied the Law of God under the guidance of Saint Simeon the God-Receiver (February 3). When the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself to the world, Saint Matthias believed in Him as the Messiah,…
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Martyr Anthony of Alexandria
The Martyr Anthony, a native of the city of Alexandria, was a Christian. For his confession of faith they tied him to a tree and tore at his body with iron hooks, and then sentenced him to burning. Standing in the fire, he calmly exhorted those standing about to toil not for the body but for the…
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Venerable Psoi of Egypt
Saint Psoi was the disciple of Saint Pachomios the Great (May 15), and lived during the IV century in the desert of Skḗtis (Σκήτις), also known as Wadi El-Natroun. Saint Psoi was born in the Egyptian village of Shansa early in the IV century, and his father died when the boy was young. He…
Martyr Julian of Constantinople and those with him
The Martyrs Julian, Marcian, John, James, Alexius, Demetrius, Photius, Peter, Leontius, Maria the Patrician, the Protospatharios (“Sword-Captain”) Gregory and Others suffered for holy icons in the year 730 under the Iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian (717-741). The emperor deposed the…
Synaxis of the Saints of Solovki Monastery
No information available at this time.
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Saint Macarius of Oredezhsk
Venerable Makarios of Oredezh was a disciple of Saint Alexander of Svir (+ August 30, 1533). He contested on the Oredezha River near Lake Ladoga, where he founded a Monastery. He reposed in 1532. Saint Makarios is commemorated at the Synaxis of the Karelian Saints (the Saturday between October 31…
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Restoration of the Temple of the 40 Martyrs
The Restoration of the Temple of the 40 Martyrs (March 9) is celebrated on this day. There were two churches dedicated to them at Constantinople: one, built by the emperor Anastasius I (491-518), and the other, by the emperor Tiberius (578-582). There is a service for this Feastday in a Greek…
Holy New Martyr Ignatius (Bazyluk)
The holy New Martyr Ignatius (Bazyluk) was born in Poland sometime in 1860s, and received the name Jacob at his Baptism. Very little is known of his early life or where he was born, but in the period between the First and the Second World Wars he was a monk at Saint Onuphrios Monastery in…
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Hieromartyr Euthymios of Rhodes
The glorious Hieromartyr Euthymios was elected as the Metropolitan of Rhodes, when the Ottomans occupied the island in 1523. During those difficult years, Saint Euthymios shepherded his flock in a God-pleasing manner. In 1529, he was arrested as the leader of a conspiracy against the Turks and was…
✠ Reflection on Matthew 17:14-23
In the passage from Matthew 17, we see the Lord’s patience and compassion towards those who are struggling with faith. Despite the disciples’ failure to heal the child, Jesus does not rebuke them in anger, but rather seeks to heal the boy himself. This teaches us that true power and authority lie not with human effort or ritual, but with a humble and trusting heart. In responding to the boy’s affliction, Christ demonstrates the boundless mercy of God towards those who cry out for help.
▶ In Case You Missed It
Father reflected on St. Paul’s letter, specifically focusing on the first four chapters and the third chapter where he addressed problems within the church. He emphasized how God views our actions and the importance of building on a solid foundation – Jesus Christ. Father encouraged the congregation to examine their own lives and consider whether they are using "gold" or "wood" in their relationship with God, reminding them that only what is built on Christ’s foundation will endure through trials and fires.
▶ Watch last Sunday’s sermon — Sermon — Divine Liturgy & Catechumen Session, August 2, 2026
fasting (xerophagy) — Fasting, also known as xerophagy, is a practice of abstaining from food and drink for spiritual purposes, typically before receiving Holy Communion. It allows individuals to focus on their relationship with God, reflect on their sins, and cultivate self-control through voluntary limitation of physical needs. Fasting can be done in various forms, such as abstaining from certain foods or eating only at specific times, and is an essential aspect of Orthodox Christian spiritual life.
Bulletin Sponsor: August 0 Smith Family for the health of Nemo
