4th Sunday of Pascha — May 3rd, 2026


Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church  ·  Joliet, Illinois

4th Sunday of Pascha

May 3rd, 2026
 ·  Tone 3
 ·  119th Year, Issue 18

Acts 9:32-42 (Epistle)
 · 
John 5:1-15 (Gospel)


As we gather for the Fourth Sunday of Pascha, let us give thanks for the gift of Christ’s resurrection and the opportunity to worship together. The Epistle reading from Acts reminds us that the early Christian community was a fellowship of believers who shared their resources with one another in times of need.

Today, we celebrate the memory of St. Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argolis, as well as Holy Great Martyr Xenia of Kalamata and other saints whose lives embody the witness of faith. May their examples inspire us to live out our own vocations in Christ.

Join us for Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am, followed by a Fellowship Hour at 11:40 am.


☩ Holy Baptism & Chrismation
James (Jim) Ferencak
May 3rd, 2026


Today — May 3rd, 2026



Ven. Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Caves Monastery and Founder of Cœnobitic Monasticism in Russia (1074)


Martyrs Timothy the Reader and his wife Maura of Antinoë in Egypt (ca. 286)


St. Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argolis (10th c.)


“Svena” Icon of the Mother of God (1288)


Holy Great Martyr Xenia of Kalamata (291)


Services


9:20 am
Third & Sixth Hours · Confession


9:30 am
Sacrament of Chrismation – James (Jim) Ferencak


10:00 am
Divine Liturgy


11:40 am
Fellowship Hour


Week Ahead

Mon
May 4

Fri
May 8

Sat
May 9

Sun
May 10

7:00 pm
Orthodox Bible Study

6:00 pm
Parish Board Meeting

5:00 pm
Vespers

9:20 am
Third & Sixth Hours · Confession

9:30 am
Scarament of Baptism and Chrismation – Nick Notson

10:00 am
Divine Liturgy

11:40 am
Fellowship Hour


Announcements

Exciting News for Graduating Seniors!
The St. Nicholas Scholarship is now open again, offering a
fantastic opportunity for students to pursue their academic dreams. Don’t miss this chance to apply and
secure support for your future endeavors.

Sunday School
Dear Parents -Thank you for bringing your children to our Sunday school classes, it has been so
wonderful to see so many happy children learning about our faith week to week. The Sunday School
classes will end on Sunday, May 24th for the Summer and will resume Sunday, September 13th.

Fellowship Hour
If wondering when to sign up, there is no wrong time. Great reasons to host include
birthdays, wedding anniversaries or memorial anniversaries. Hosting fellowship hour can be a great way
to multiply your happiness or divide your sorrow. Sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/2026-Fellowship-Hour

Help Needed- Cemetery Cleanup
We Need Everyone’s Help Old cemetery clean-up, Saturday May 16th at 10:00am. Please bring:
rakes; shovels; lawn work tools of all kind; gloves; lawn bags; water/refreshments for yourself; wear yard
work clothes; plan on getting dirty. St. Nicholas Old Cemetery At 350 Princeton Ave., Lockport, IL


Parish Celebrations

✦  Many Years!  ✦
Newly Illumined: James (Jim) Ferencak


Stewardship


$1,497.00
Stewardship Corner
Sunday, April 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:

Dn. David HannemanKathy HannemanMatushka Lilia LymarTom KompareNadia BilanykJoyce GallickStevan LunichTatiana MazurVladimir ShiltsevAlla LavrynenkoLily NelsonMike BakerJose FelixAlice PistilliRoman FilipovElena PavlovNicholas JermihovStevasti BergstromSevasti BergstromFr. Borys Zabrodskij


Today’s Saints


Sunday of the Paralytic

Sunday of the Paralytic
Many miracles in the Old Testament involve water. To name but a few, the water of the Nile turned to blood after Moses lifted his rod and struck the water before Pharaoh and His servants (Exodus 7:20). Not only was the Nile turned to blood, but also "their rivers, their canals, their ponds, and all…


Martyr Timothy the Reader and his wife, Maura, in Egypt

Martyr Timothy the Reader and his wife, Maura, in Egypt
Saints Timothy and Maura suffered for the faith during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Saint Timothy came from the village of Perapa (Egyptian Thebaid), and was the son of a priest named Pikolpossos. He was made a reader among the church clergy, and also a keeper and copyist…


Venerable Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves Monastery, and Founder of Coenobitic Monasticism in Russia

Venerable Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves Monastery, and Founder of Coenobitic Monasticism in Russia
Saint Theodosius of the Caves, was the Father of monasticism in Russia. He was born at Vasilevo, not far from Kiev. From his youth he felt an irresistible attraction for the ascetic life, and led an ascetic lifestyle while still in his parental home. He disdained childish games and attractions, and…


Saint Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argos

Saint Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argos
Saint Peter the Wonderworker, Bishop of Argos in the Peloponnesos, lived during the ninth and early tenth centuries, and was raised by pious parents. Saint Peter’s parents, and later his brothers Paul, Dionysius, Platon and Saint Peter himself, all became monks. Saint Peter zealously devoted…


“Svena” Icon of the Mother of God

“Svena” Icon of the Mother of God
The Svena Caves Icon of the Mother of God was painted by Saint Alypios of the Caves (August 17). In the Icon the Mother of God is depicted sitting upon a throne, and with the Divine Infant on her lap. Saint Theodosios is on the right side of the throne, and Saint Anthony of the Caves on the left.…


Translation of the Dormition Icon of the Mother of God from Constantinople to the Kiev Caves, Far Caves

Translation of the Dormition Icon of the Mother of God from Constantinople to the Kiev Caves, Far Caves
The Kiev Caves Icon of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most ancient icons in the Russian Orthodox Church. The Mother of God entrusted it to four Byzantine architects, who in 1073 brought the icon to Saints Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves. The architects arrived at the…


Saint Mamai, Catholicos of Georgia

Saint Mamai, Catholicos of Georgia
Saint Mamai served as chief shepherd of the Georgian faithful from 731 to 744. The information we have about his life is scarce, but it is known that Saint Mamai was abbot of Zedazeni Monastery and died a martyr for Christ. Outstanding in his achievements and endowed with profound spiritual wisdom,…


Saints Michael and Arsenius of Ulompo, Georgia

Saints Michael and Arsenius of Ulompo, Georgia
The biographies of Saints Michael and Arsenius the Georgians have unfortunately not been preserved. It is believed that at some point Arsenius moved from Khandzta Monastery to Palestine and labored there with a certain Macarius of Leteti. Afterward, Saint Arsenius founded a Georgian monastery on…


Saint Ekouménios, Wonderworker of Trikala

Saint Ekouménios, Wonderworker of Trikala
There is much disagreement about Saint Ekouménios (Οικουμένιος), concerning his identity and exactly when he lived. According to prevailing opinion, Saint Ekouménios lived in the late X century (ca. 995). He studied all the Fathers of the Church and became an excellent interpreter of…

Holy Great Martyr Xenia of Kalamata
Saint Xenia (Xenίa) was born at Kalamata (Kalamáta) in the Peloponnesos (Pelopónnēsos) in the year 291. Her parents were named Nicholas and Despina (Déspina), who were devout Christians from the eastern part of Italy. However, due to the continuous and harsh persecution against Christians…


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