Today, the Church honors the Precious Chains of the Apostle Peter, commemorating his miraculous deliverance from prison during Nero’s reign. We keep Tone 6, and this feast day is a reminder that our faith is not just a personal conviction but also a bond that unites us with one another.
As we gather for worship today, may our prayers be lifted up in gratitude for the apostolic ministry of Peter and his unwavering commitment to the Lord. We continue to observe a strict fast during the week, and Vespers on Saturday evening will prepare us for the Lord’s Day.
The services are streamed live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stnicholasjoliet) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@st.nicholasjoliet). Come and pray with us.
✦ About this Sunday
Today we celebrate the Translation of the Relics of Righteous Great Prince St. Alexander Nevsky, a revered defender of Orthodoxy in medieval Russia. This feast reminds us of the saint’s unwavering commitment to the faith and his efforts to protect the Church from external threats. Through his life and martyrdom, St. Alexander inspires us to stand firm in our own devotion to Christ and His Church.
☩ Today — August 30th, 2026
✦ Translation of the Relics of Rt
✦ Great Prince St. Alexander Nevsky (†1724)
✦ Sts. Alexander (†340), John (†595), and Paul the New (†784), Patriarchs of Constantinople
✦ Repose of Ven. Alexander, Abbot of Svir (†1533)
✦ Uncovering of the Relics of St. Daniel, Prince of Moscow (1652)
✦ St. Christopher of Palestine (†6th c.)
✦ St. Fantinus of Calabria (†9th c.)
✦ Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs: Ss. Savva I (†1237), Arsenius I (†1266), Savva II (†1269), Eustathius I (†ca. 1285), James (†1292), Νikόdēmos (†1325), and Daniel (†1338), Archbishops
✦ Joannicus II (†1354), Spyridon (†1388), Ephraim II (after 1395), Macarius (†1574), Gabriel I (†1659), Patriarchs
✦ and Gregory, Bishop
✦ Services
9:10 am Third & Sixth Hours · Confession
9:30 am Divine Liturgy
11:00 am Catechumen Lesson
11:10 am Fellowship Hour
☩ Week Ahead
Sat
Sep 5
Sun
Sep 6
5:00 pm
Vespers
9:40 am
Third & Sixth Hours · Confession
10:00 am
Divine Liturgy
11:40 am
Fellowship Hour
☩ Coming up in Orthodoxy
Wed, Sep 2 Ven. Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev Caves
✦ Announcements
Many Thanks
Medrano Family for hosting Sunday’s fellowship hour.
Sunday School
Our Sunday School program will resume on Sunday, September 13TH. Together with their teachers, our students will explore Christ’s teachings, the truth of the Holy Scriptures, and the beautiful traditions of the Orthodox Church. We aim to nurture in their hearts a strong character, high moral values, and a deeper love and respect for their parents, families, and community.
Total cost: $38,000 Raised to date: $9,600 Still needed: $28,400
Thanks to the generosity of seven parish households, we have raised 25.25% of the amount needed for our roof project. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has already contributed. We prayerfully ask every parish household to participate according to its ability. Every gift, large or small, will help preserve our church building for worship, fellowship, and future generations. Donations may be made as a single contribution or in installments and may also be offered in memory or in honor of a loved one.
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, mark your calendars! We warmly invite you to bring your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to join us in sharing the joy of our Parish Feast.
✦ Parish Celebrations
✦ Many Years! ✦
Birthdays & Namedays: Nicholas Medrano (August 29th)
✦ Stewardship
$1,001.02
Stewardship Corner
Sunday, August 23rd, 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:
Saints Alexander, John and Paul, Patriarchs of Constantinople, lived at different times, but each of them happened to clash with the activities of heretics who sought to distort the teachings of the Church. Saint Alexander (325-340) was a vicar bishop during the time of Saint Metrophanes (June 4),…
Saint John, Patriarch of Constantinople
Saint John IV the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople (582-595), is famed in the Orthodox Church as the compiler of a penitential Nomokanon (i.e. rule for penances), which has come down to us in several distinct versions, but their foundation is one and the same. These are instructions for priests…
Saint Paul the New, Patriarch of Constantinople
Saint Paul, by birth a Cypriot, became Patriarch of Constantinople (780-784) during the reign of the Iconoclast Emperor Leo IV the Khazar (775-780), and was a virtuous and pious, but timid man. Seeing the martyrdom which the Orthodox endured for the holy icons, the saint concealed his Orthodoxy and…
Venerable Alexander, Abbot of Svir
Saint Alexander of Svir was born on July 15, 1448, on the Feast Day of the Prophet Amos, and was named for him in Baptism. Saint Alexander was a beacon of monasticism in the deep forests of the Russian North, living in asceticism, and so he received remarkable gifts by the All-Holy Spirit. His…
Translation of the relics of Saint Alexander Nevsky
The Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky (in monastic schema Alexis) died on the return journey from the Horde at Gorodtsa on the Volga, on November 14, 1263, and on November 23, 1263 he was buried in the Cathedral Church of the Nativity Monastery in the city of Vladimir.1 Veneration of the Prince began…
Uncovering of the relics of Saint Daniel, Prince of Moscow
The Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, who was the son of Saint Alexander Nevsky (November 23 & August 30), went to the Lord on March 4,1303. On August 30, 1652 his relics were uncovered and found to be incorrupt. Later, they were transferred to the church dedicated to the Holy Fathers of the Seventh…
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Saint Christopher of Palestine
Saint Christopher, a Roman, lived during the sixth century. He was tonsured into monasticism at the monastery of Saint Theodosius (January 11) in Palestine, near Jerusalem. The accounts of Abba Theodulus about Saint Christopher are contained in chapters 105 and 234 of the book The Spiritual Meadow…
Saint Fantinus of Calabria
Saint Fantinus the Wonderworker was born in Calabria (Italy) of parents George and Vriena. He was given over to a monastery, and from childhood he was accustomed to ascetic deeds. In his youth he wandered into the wilderness, remaining often without food or clothes for twenty days. The monk spent…
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Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs
The Synaxis of Serbian Hierarchs celebrates archpastors of the Serbian Church of the thirteenth—fourteenth centuries. The majority of them have individual days of celebration in addition to this general commemoration. Saint Archbishop Savva I, January 12. Saint Arsenius I, Archbishop of…
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Saint Spyridon, Patriarch of Serbia
Saint Spyridon, Patriarch of Serbia (1382-1388), was much concerned about the monastic communities during difficult years of civil and ecclesial unrest. He was consecrated by Saint Ephraim II, Patriarch of Serbia (1367-1382), who then withdrew to the Archangelsk monastery of the Dushan church.…
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Saint Macarius, Patriarch of Serbia
Saint Macarius, Patriarch of Serbia (1557-1574), toiled in particular for the spread of education in Serbia. Many church books were printed in his time. The brother of the saint was vizier under the sultan and assisted in the restoration of monasteries and churches despoiled by Moslem fanaticism,…
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Saint Gabriel I, Patriarch of Serbia
Saint Gabriel I, Patriarch of Serbia (family name Raicha), occupied the cathedra in the mid-seventeenth century, a time when the Moslem fanaticism had become intense. In the urgent need for both cathedral and country the saint went to collect alms at Walachia, and from there to Moscow. In Moscow in…
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Saint Gregory the Bishop
No information available at this time.
✠ Reflection on Matthew 21:33-42
As we ponder the parable of the vineyard, we are reminded that Christ Himself is the Son who was sent to those who rejected Him. The rejection of His servants foreshadows the ultimate rejection of the Master, culminating in the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. This passage reveals the gravity of sin and the depths to which humanity’s rebellion against God can descend. Yet, even in this darkness, we see the unwavering love and patience of the Father, who sends His Son despite knowing that He will be rejected.
▶ In Case You Missed It
Father reflected on the importance of making our parish home a spiritual home for all who seek to worship with us. He highlighted the upcoming Vespers service this Saturday and reminded everyone that next Sunday’s Divine Liturgy will be at 9:30am, after which we will switch back to the regular 10 o’clock time in September.
Father also emphasized the significance of Saint John the Baptist’s beheading as a day of remembrance for the importance of living a life free from sin. He connected this theme to the Gospel reading from St. Matthew, where Jesus is asked about eternal life and what it means to do good. Father encouraged us to reflect on how we use words like "good" in our daily lives and how they can be applied not just to external actions, but also to our inner character.
Finally, Father reminded us of the upcoming 119th anniversary celebration and annual picnic, inviting everyone to join in the festivities and invite their families and friends.
▶ Watch last Sunday’s sermon — Sermon — Divine Liturgy, August 23, 2026
sticheron — A sticheron is a type of hymn in Orthodox Christian worship, typically sung during Vespers (Evening Prayer) or Matins (Morning Prayer). It’s a short, poetic verse that expresses a specific theme or emotion related to the day’s liturgical celebration. Stichera often praise God’s glory, intercede for the community, or reflect on Scripture readings and feasts, providing an opportunity for spiritual reflection and prayerful connection with the divine.
Bulletin Sponsor: August – Smith Family for the health of Nemo
