This Sunday, we commemorate the feast of the Holy Prophet Elias. The season of the Apostles’ Fast carries us through the summer months, a time for reflection and repentance as we prepare for the feast of the Dormition of the Most-holy Theotokos in August. We keep Tone 5, and the Gospel reading is from Luke 10:25-37. This parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us of our responsibility to care for one another, to show compassion and kindness, especially to those who are marginalized or vulnerable.
The week ahead will bring a Liturgy on Friday evening, a Great Vespers on Saturday evening, and, as always, we invite you to join us in prayer. If you cannot be present with us in person, our services are streamed live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stnicholasjoliet) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@st.nicholasjoliet).
We welcome all who seek a spiritual home to worship with us, and we ask that you consider joining us for the evening Liturgy or Great Vespers. Your presence enriches our community, and your participation in the Divine Services nourishes your soul.
✦ About this Sunday
Today we celebrate the feast day commemorating the uncovering of the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, a revered spiritual guide and confessor of our Church. Ven. Seraphim’s life was marked by his devotion to prayer, fasting, and service to others, earning him the nickname "the Wonderworker." As we recall his example, may we be inspired to deepen our own spiritual lives through ascetic practice, heartfelt repentance, and loving care for those around us.
☩ Today — July 19th, 2026
✦ Uncovering of the Relics of Ven. Seraphim of Sarov (1903)
✦ Fathers of the 1st Six Ecumenical Councils
✦ St. Theodore of Edessa, Mesopotamia (848)
✦ Ven. Macrina, sister of St. Basil the Great (380)
✦ Ven. Dius, Abbot, of Antioch (ca. 430)
✦ Román, Prince of Riazan’ (1270)
✦ Ven. Paísii of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—14th c.)
✦ Bl. Stephen (1427), King of Serbia, and his mother, St. Militsa (1405)
✦ Services
9:10 am Third & Sixth Hours · Confession
9:30 am Divine Liturgy and Panikhida for Frank Grimaldi (17 July 2025)
11:10 am Fellowship Hour
☩ Week Ahead
Sat
Jul 25
Sun
Jul 26
5:00 pm
Vespers
9:30 am
Divine Liturgy
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Joliet IL, 1000 Barber Ln, Joliet, IL 60435, USA
11:30 am
Fellowship Hour
☩ Coming up in Orthodoxy
Mon, Jul 20 Holy Glorious Prophet Elijah
Wed, Jul 22 Holy Myrrhbearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene
Fri, Jul 24 Martyrs and Passion-Bearers Boris, in Holy Baptism Romanus and Gleb, in Holy Baptism David
Sat, Jul 25 The Dormition of the Righteous Anna, mother of the Most-holy Theotokos
Sun, Jul 26 Repose of St. Jacob (Netsvetov), Enlightener of the Peoples of Alaska
✦ Announcements
Many Thanks
Medrano Family for hosting todays fellowship hour.
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 to the CIF.
Blessing of Vehicles
In commemoration of the holy prophet Elijah (July 20) we will be offering the annual blessing of vehicles. Honoring his ascent to heaven in a fiery chariot, this custom asks for divine protection and assigns a guardian angel to keep passengers safe during their travels. While traditionally meant for automobiles, we welcome all wheeled transportation, including motorcycles, bicycles, and even skateboards.
Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils
1st Council of Nicaea (325). It condemned Arianism and formulated the first section of the Nicene Creed, affirming Christ’s full Divinity. 1st Council of Constantinople (381). It expanded the Creed to affirm the Divinity of the Holy Spirit and condemned the heresy of Macedonius. Council of Ephesus (431). This council condemned Nestorianism and affirmed Mary as the Theotokos (Mother of God). Council of Chalcedon (451). Condemned the Monophysite heresy, affirming that Christ is one Divine person with two distinct but unconfused natures (Divine and Human). 2nd Council of Constantinople (553). Clarified the definitions of Chalcedon and condemned the “Three Chapters” (writings accused of Nestorian leanings) as well as the teachings of Origen. 3rd Council of Constantinople (680–681). Condemned the Monothelite heresy by affirming that Christ possesses both a divine will and a human will.
Picnic at our neighboring parish
All Saints Greek Orthodox Church is holding their Greek Fest on July 18th & 19th, starting at noon. Pork Souvlaki, Greek Chicken, Gyros, Pastichio Spanakopitas, Tiropita as well as, Greek music, etc. The place: All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, 102 N Broadway St., Joliet.
✦ Parish Celebrations
✦ Many Years! ✦
Birthdays & Namedays: Happy Birthday to Israel Llamas on July 19th and Haley Rousonelos on July 25th
✦ Stewardship
$1,484.00
Stewardship Corner
Sunday, July 12th, 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 Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils. In the Ninth Article of the Nicea-Constantinople Symbol of Faith proclaimed by the holy Fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils, we confess our faith in “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”…
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov: The glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov (January 2), took place in 1903, seventy years after his repose. On July 3, 1903 Metropolitan Anthony of Saint Petersburg, assisted by Bishop Nazarius of Nizhni-Novgorod and Bishop…
Venerable Macrina, sister of Saint Basil the Great
Saint Macrina was the sister of the holy hierarchs Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, and was born in Cappadocia at the beginning of the fourth century. Her mother, Emilia, saw an angel in a dream, naming her unborn child Thekla, in honor of the holy Protomartyr Thekla. Saint Emilia (January 1)…
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Venerable Dius, Abbot of Antioch
Saint Dius was born in Antioch, Syria towards the end of the fourth century into a pious Christian family. From his youth he was noted for his temperance. He ate food in small quantities, but not every day, and his flesh was humbled by vigil and unceasing prayer. For these deeds the Lord granted…
Right-believing Prince Roman of Ryazan
The Holy Prince Roman Olegovich of Ryazan was from a line of princes, who during the time of the Tatar (Mongol) Yoke won glory as defenders of the Christian Faith and of their Fatherland. Both his grandfathers perished for the Fatherland in the struggle with Batu. Raised to love the holy faith…
Venerable Paisius of the Kiev Far Caves
Saint Paisius of the Caves was a monk of the Kiev Caves monastery. From the Canon to the Kiev Caves monks, venerated in the Far Caves, it is known that he was connected by oneness of mind and brotherly love with Saint Mercurius (November 24). Both saints were inseparable, they lived in the same…
Blessed Stephen, King of Serbia
Saint Stephen was the son of prince Saint Lazar of Serbia (June 15). In the terrible times of the Turkish Yoke Saint Stephen became the great benefactor of his enslaved countrymen. He built up the city, constructed churches and expended his treasury on the help of the needy. Saint Stephen exceeded…
Holy Right-believing Princess Militsa of Serbia
Saint Militsa (Milica) was born in 1335, the daughter of Prince Vratko Nemanjić. In Holy Baptism she was named Euphrosynē. Later, she married the Holy Prince Lazarus (Lazar), who was killed during the great Battle of Kosovo (June 15, 1389), which was fought to defend the Holy Church against the…
Saint Theodore of Edessa, Mesopotamia
The Saint’s father was named Symeon, and his mother’s name was Maria. He received a good education and was distinguished for his philosophical knowledge, as well as for rhetoric. At the age of ten he was left as an orphan and gave half of his parents’ wealth to his sister, and…
✠ Reflection on Matthew 9:27-35
As we behold Jesus’ compassionate heart, we are reminded that faith is not merely a mental assent, but a lived experience of trust in His power. The blind men’s cry for mercy and their simple yet sincere confession of faith were enough to awaken Christ’s healing touch, demonstrating that it is our inner disposition that matters most to Him. In this passage, we see the extraordinary gift of sight restored not only to physical eyes, but also to spiritual perception: the multitudes marveled at Jesus’ works, while the Pharisees saw only what they wanted to see – the external, not the inner truth. May our own faith be strengthened by beholding Christ’s mercy and power.
☩ Troparia & Kontakia
Fathers of the First Six Councils
Troparion — Tone 8
You are most glorious, O Christ our God, / You have established the Fathers as lights upon the earth, / and through them, You have guided all of us to the true Faith! / O greatly compassionate one, glory to You.
Kontakion — Tone 8
(Podoben: “As the first fruits…”) The preaching of the Apostles and the dogmas of the Fathers have confirmed one faith for the Church; / and She, clad in the garment of truth woven from heavenly theology, / teaches aright and glorifies the great mystery of piety.
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
Troparion — Tone 4
You loved Christ from your youth, O blessed one, / and longing to work for Him alone you struggled in the wilderness in constant prayer and labor. / With penitent heart and great love for Christ you were favored by the Mother of God. / Therefore we cry to you: / “Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.”
Kontakion — Tone 2
Forsaking the beauty as well as the corruption of this world, you settled in the monastery of Sarov, O Saint. / There you lived an angelic life, / becoming for many the way to salvation. / Therefore, Christ has glorified you, Father Seraphim, enriching you with abundant healing and miracles. / So we cry to you: “Save us by your prayers, venerable Seraphim, our father.”
Venerable Macrina, sister of Saint Basil the Great
Troparion — Tone 8
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Mother, / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, / but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore your spirit, O Holy Mother Macrina, rejoices with the Angels!
Venerable Dius, Abbot of Antioch
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Dius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Paisius of the Kiev Far Caves
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Paisius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Saint Theodore of Edessa, Mesopotamia
Troparion — Tone 4
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Theodore, / entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
▶ In Case You Missed It
Father reflected on the Sunday Gospel reading, where four men brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus in an effort to heal him. He noted that despite the physical barriers they faced, these determined individuals found a way to bring their loved one to Christ, who ultimately healed the man.
The heart of Father’s message was about perseverance and faith in seeking healing and guidance from God, as well as the importance of community support and care for one another in our spiritual journeys. He also reminded the parishioners of upcoming events, including a parish board meeting and catechumen lessons next Sunday.
▶ Watch last Sunday’s sermon — Sermon — Divine Liturgy, July 12, 2026
epiklesis — During the Eucharistic Prayer in the Divine Liturgy, the priest invokes God’s Holy Spirit upon the gifts of bread and wine, saying "Send down Your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these Gifts." This is called the Epiklesis, a powerful moment when the Church asks for God’s divine presence to transform the bread and wine into the very Body and Blood of Christ. Through the Epiklesis, we acknowledge that it is God alone who makes possible our participation in the Eucharist.
Bulletin Sponsor: Ju ly — Smith Family for the health of Adriana
