Photo gallery from Pascha 2019

Service Schedule

Photo gallery from the services of Holy Week 2019

Photos from the prayer service and dinner

Photos from the annual dinner in Little Village

New windows installed on the west side.

With the success of the restoration of the north stained glass window, the parish approved at our annual meeting in September to move forward with the restoration of the west window as well.

Kenneth Clevenger was tonsured a reader at the vigil for our temple feast of the holy mandylion.

The Arbogast Family was received into Christ's Holy Church at our parish on July, 21, 2018. May God grant them many years!

Photos from the baptism

Photos from the service and celebration

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Photos from the Marriage Sacrament of Korrine & Jonathan York

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

See photos and read the thank-you letter for this year's dinner.

Photos

Photos

Photos from the water-filled afternoon for the Sunday School students.

Photos from the services of Holy Week

Photos

PHOTO GALLERY

Following Sunday School, children at the parish decorated our Christmas tree and received St. Nicholas gifts from Matushka Stefanie.

Beginning Thursday, October 6, 11:30 AM, Fr. John will facilitate a Reading Group for ladies only. This will be an informal group for ladies interested in learning more about our Orthodox Christian Faith and having fellowship with others from church.

Announcement and photos

On our parish feast, Fr. John Baker was elevated to Archpriest by His Grace Bishop Paul (gallery).

Our church bell was featured in a WBEZ story on bells in Chicago still rung manually, not automatically or by playing a recording.

CTS was honored to host the ordination of Rowley John Kennerk by His Grace Bishop Paul; who also tonsured Andrew Bender as a reader.

For the 2nd year in a row, Christ the Savior supported Grupo Consuelo's Christmas party.

This year Christ the Savior supported two vital ministries in Little Village, a community situated on the southwest side of Chicago.

A workshop on reader and choir preparation will be offered at Christ the Savior Church from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2015. All interested Chicago-area faithful are cordially invited to attend.

In anticipation of our Lord's Nativity in the flesh, please consider attending the discussion group led by Father Deacon Theophan Warren.

Christ the Savior is a young and exciting parish home in the heart of the City of Chicago. We strive for a serious liturgical schedule and continual growth through receiving new converts and welcoming people who move here from all over. Our singing tradition is mostly four-part Russian-style, but all in the English language. Our weekly Sunday Liturgy, and certain other (mainly Clean Week and Holy Week) services are broadcast live on Ancient Faith Radio.

The ideal candidate for Choir Director would be a degreed music professional with experience directing the All-night Vigil, Divine Liturgy, and Presanctified Liturgy. He or she would be proficient at preparing the services, giving the pitch, reading, singing, running rehearsals, and conducting the choir. He or she would be able to commit to 4 services a week. (However, services are all scheduled outside normal business hours. In other words, the individual would still be free to hold down additional full-time employment outside the church.)

If you are interested, even if you only meet some of these qualifications, please contact Father John Baker at (312) 202-0423 or fjbchicago@gmail.com to discuss stipend (depends on availability and ability) and other particulars.

On Friday, October 23rd, the Feast of St James, Father John welcomed a group of 4th and 5th grade children along with their chaperons from Guardian Angel Day School in Des Plaines. The children were visiting Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral to sing the responses during the Liturgy of St James. As Father John explained some of the iconography in the temple, the children treated us by chanting hymns to St Demitrios and the Bodiless Powers of Heaven.

On Friday, October 16, we were blessed to be visited by His Grace, Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin Russia. His Grace was greeted by Father John and several of the faithful from the parish and welcomed by His Grace, Bishop Paul to the Diocesan Chancery. Accompanying Bishop Mstislav was Archpriest Sergi Garklavs, Dean Emeritus of Holy Trinity Cathedral who now resides in Tikhvin.

Several faithful members received gestures of recognition from His Grace Bishop Paul.

See photos from the Retreat weekend at St. Iakovos, WI.

See photos from the activity-filled week.

On Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4 we will be blessed to have in our presence the miracle working icon of St Anna, the Mother of Theotokos. The icon currently resides at the Monastery of St Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan Pennsylvania. Father Sergius, Abbott of St. Tikhon's Monastery will be bringing the icon for veneration and presenting a series of talks over the weekend.

We have announced a partnership with Ancient Faith Radio to broadcast live Divine Liturgies from our parish. The first step is the installation of the equipment and it will be starting soon. We will keep you posted as this project develops. Read more at the AFR blog.

On Friday evening, March 21, parishioners and friends of Christ the Savior gathered with families and youth from the Little Village neighborhood to share a meal and an evening of fun games. The parishioners and families got to know one another over chili and chips and veggies, and were able to laugh together while playing games such as Minute to Win It and Uno. The parish hopes to continue events of this kind, and further build relationships with the Little Village community.

The Family Game Night that we are hosting for families in Little Village is fast approaching (yay!), and we are looking for additional volunteers. There are opportunities to be involved prior to the event, so if you can't make it that night, never fear--we could still use your help.

Family Game Night, March 21 (Friday evening)
At the Rauner YMCA: 2700 S. Western, Chicago IL 60623

Take a look at the task lists, and email Meg to let her know what you can help with. 

Check our expanded list of ideas and suggestions for Lent.

Monday, December 23

6:30pm Royal Hours of the Nativity of Christ

Tuesday, December 24

8:30am Vesperal Liturgy
4:00pm Vigil for the Feast of the Nativity (75 min.)

Wednesday, December 25

8:30am Divine Liturgy followed by the singing of Christmas Carols

Sunday, January 5

9:30am Divine Liturgy followed by Great Vespers and Blessing of Water

6:30pm Vigil

Monday, January 6

6:30am Divine Liturgy

6:30pm Great Vespers w/ Lytia

News of the upcoming family night on Friday, March 21, 2014, and of the one from last year are featured on the Midwest Diocese site:

November 27, 2013 — the eve of Thanksgiving Day — Father John Baker and a group of faithful from Christ the Savior Parish, Chicago IL, gathered at the parish hall of Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church in the Little Village neighborhood to serve a Thanksgiving day dinner to 120 residents of the neighborhood, many of whom had lost loved ones to the gang violence that plagues the area.

From July 31 to August 6, Fr. John and a group from our parish participated in Project Mexico.  Please see the article written by Fr John's daughter, Scout  posted at 

http://midwestdiocese.org/news_130828_2.html

On Sunday, August 18 Christy Panoff was welcomed back with prayers for her and her new daughter Elizabeth Panoff. Congratulations to Tom and Christy!

A Taqueria Fundraiser for Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage, to support Christ the Savior's homebuilding mission trip to Project Mexico this summer, will be held at CtS on May 18th, 12:00pm - 5:00pm.  

Christ the Savior will be transforming the residence courtyard into an authentic Mexican taqueria!  Come enjoy carne asada and spicy chicken tacos.  $10 minimum suggested donation.  Pleae RSVP to karenhilberg@msn.com

Sunday, May 12th, 11am - 2pm

Make plans to save some lives Sunday, May 12th!
Click HERE to schedule your appointment to donate blood at:
Christ The Savior Orthodox Church
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Please be sure to EAT a good meal and DRINK plenty of water prior to your donation.
Photo ID required.
Questions regarding donation eligibility?  Click HERE or call 1-800-7-TO-GIVE.

Join St. Raphael of Brooklyn Orthodox Church in Detroit, MI, for a unique opportunity to participate in missions in an urban setting.  Please visit the this website for more details or download this brochure.

The 5th Annual Christ the Savior Parish Men's Outing will be held Monday, September 10th at US Cellular Field as we gather to watch the Chicago White Sox take on the Detroit Tigers.  Seats are located directly behind home plate, 10th row in the upper bowl of the stadium. Suggested donation for the tickets is $40. All proceeds benefit the church school program.  Tickets are still available.  Invite a friend and enjoy fellowship while rooting on the Division Leaders and helping raise funds for the coming church school year. Please email Father John if you are interested in attending.

Christ the Savior will host the 2012 Vacation Church School August 7-10 for children ages 2-12.  This year's theme is Behold the Light: The Twelve Great Feasts, the Life and Ministry of Christ.  Click here to download the registration form.

Christ the Savior Church will host a blood drive on February 4, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Please click here for more information and instructions.

A link has been added on the "Links" page to liturgical texts in Braille.

There will be a workday at the church and diocesan center this Saturday, September 10, from 1-4 pm.  Vespers will follow at 4:30 pm.

Two new blogs have been added to the links section.

Lost Innocents - Practical helps for miscarriage from an Orthodox Christian perspective

Orthodox Marathon Runners - Orthodox runner Robert Kliner invites all Orthodox runners preparing to run in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 9, 201, to participate in fellowship and carb-loading the day before at Christ the Savior Church. 

The liturgical calendar for Great Lent is now available for viewing under the "Service Schedule" tab to the left.  Select either March or April, and click "view month."

CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] -- With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Peter, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the 700-year-old Wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God will visit Christ the Savior Church, Chicago, on the evening of December 1, 2010.

Christ the Savior Church is located next to the Midwest Diocesan Center at 927-933 North LaSalle Boulevard.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah will preside at the celebration of the Akathistos Hymn before the icon at 6:35 p.m.

Tradition holds that a hunter discovered the Kursk-Root Icon lying face down by the root of a tree outside the town of Kursk Russia on September 8, 1259. When the hunter retrieved the icon, at which point he discovered that it was similar in style to the Novgorod Icon of the Mother of God "Of the Sign," a spring of pure water gushed forth. Deciding not to leave the icon in the forest, the hunter placed it in a small, ancient chapel.

The icon was transferred to the city of Ryl'a and placed in a new church erected in honor of the Nativity of the Theotokos. Soon, however, the icon disappeared, miraculously returning to the place in which it first appeared. The people of Ryl'a made several attempts to return the icon to their city, but it repeatedly returned to its former place. Everyone then realized that the Theotokos preferred the place of the icon's appearance.

The special help granted by the Theotokos through this icon is associated with many important events in Russian history. The icon was brought to America at the time of the Russian Revolution, where it continued to be the source of numerous healing miracles throughout the last century.

Priest John Baker, rector of Christ the Savior Church, and the entire parish community invite the faithful of the greater Chicago area to join them in the celebration of the Akathistos Hymn, to venerate the icon, and to be inspired and blessed by its truly miraculous presence.

For those driving into Chicago, unmetered curbside parking becomes available on LaSalle Blvd. at 6:30 p.m. [Prior to that time, the far-right lane is open to traffic]. Additional parking is available for $5.00 after validation at the nearby garage at Dave & Buster's, 1030 North Clark Street.

The Chicago Marathon will be held on Sunday morning, October, 10.  As is our tradition at Christ the Savior, we will cheer on the runners and hand them bottles of water as they pass by the church. 

The wheelchairs will start at 7:20, and the runners at 7:30.  LaSalle St. and Wells will be closed for the event, so parking will be found best at Dave & Busters.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.

An Afternoon of Conversation

with Fr. Joseph Huneycutt

Come join us at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, Saturday October 23, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. for an afternoon of conversation about the Orthodox Faith. Our featured speaker is Fr. Joseph Huneycutt.

Fr. Joseph is best known for his popular web-log, Orthodixie.  His newest book, published by Conciliar Press, is entitled, We Came, We Saw, We Converted, presenting a humorous look at the pluses, minuses, joys, pitfalls, and struggles of perpetual conversion within an Orthodox Christian worldview. Fr. Huneycutt is the new pastor of St. Joseph Orthodox Church in Houston, Texas.

Fr. Joseph has featured podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio at: http://ancientfaith.com/

A light lunch will be served at noon, followed by a tour of the church and our conversation led by Fr. Joseph.  All are invited to join us for Vespers at the end of the program at 4:30. Christ the Savior Church is completing an Iconography project, come and see the beautiful artwork.

Fr. Theodore Jurewicz returns July, 15, to begin further work on fresco icons throughout the nave and altar areas of the church.  He will be working at Christ the Savior along with his son for about a month.  If you would like to donate toward the iconography, please contact Fr. John Baker at the telephone number listed at the side of the web page under the menu buttons.

Christ the Savior is signed up to provide volunteers to serve dinner
at Deborah's Place on Tuesday, December 8th and Monday, December 14th. If you would like to volunteer for either of those dates, please contact Meg Haak.

Fr. John Wehling of St. Matthew Orthodox Church in Greenbay, WI, will be leading a pre-Nativity retreat on December 4-5 exploring the theme, Cave and Cross: The Hymns of the Nativity in the Light of Holy Week. 

December 4: 6:30 pm Vespers followed by refreshments and the 1st session

December 5: Divine Liturgy at 8:00 am followed by a continental breakfast and the second session. Lunch break at noon followed by a third session.

Thanks to everyone who participated with our Parish Workday on Saturday, September 20th.
Our next Parish Work Day will be Saturday, December 12th at 2:00pm. Mark your calendars!

Christ the Savior Orthodox Church
Patronal Feast

Greek Islands Restaurant
200 S Halsted, Chicago, IL
Complimentary Valet Parking

Sunday August 16, 2009 at 12pm

 
Menu: served family style
 
Appetiser: Saganaki (flaming cheese), Gyros, Skordalia (potatoe spread)

Salad: Athenenian Salad

Main Course: Roasted Lamb, Mousaka, Chicken Riganati, Pastichio (pasta dish)

Side: Potatoes

Dessert & Coffee: Baklava, Lemon Custard, Walnut Cake
 
Soft drinks & Wine/bar drinks are not included
 
 
Tickets: $35 adult, $15 kids 
 
We will also have a Silent Auction/Raffle
 
Please contact Alina Gansca if you have any questions.

1530 N Sedgewick - upcoming dates: May 6, 11 & 29.  Please contact Alina Gansca, email alinamarinca@hotmail.com; cell 847-445-5270, to volunteer to serve dinner on any of these dates.  More helpers would be greatly appreciated. 

On May 10, 2009 after Liturgy, Silviu Gansca is organizing a children's outing at Redefined Fitness, located at 1211 Washington Ave, Wilmette.  Please contact Silviu if your children will attend.

Matushka Stephanie will teach a Prosphora Baking Workshop on May 9, 2009 at 3 p.m. at the residence.  Please contact Julie Baron if you will attend.

 If anyone has any books they would like to donate, please see Fr. John or Gabriel Sanchez. If there are duplicate copies, CTS will have a book sale.

A special meeting will be held regarding the parish tithing policy on May 31, 2009 after Liturgy.  Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend. (Please note, this is a change from the previously scheduled May 3, 2009 meeting.)

4/8 Palm Sunday

9:10 am Hours
9:30 am Divine Liturgy
6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins at Holy Trinity

4/9 Great and Holy Monday

9:00 am Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins

4/10 Great and Holy Tuesday

9:00 am Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins

4/11 Great and Holy Wednesday

9:00 am Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
6:30 pm Bridegroom Matins

4/12 Great and Holy Thursday

11:00 pm Vesperal Liturgy
6:30 pm Matins with Passion Gospels

4/13 Great and Holy Friday

8:00 am Royal Hours
3:00 pm Vespers with placeing of the Plashchanitsa
6:30 pm Lamentations with Procession

4/14 Great and Holy Saturday

10:00 am Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil
11:30 pm The Holy Pascha of Our Lord Jesus Christ

4/15 The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

1:00 pm Agape Vespers followed by egg hunt for the children

Parishioners of Christ the Savior Church now have the option to park at a discounted rate at the Dave and Busters Parking Garage located on the 1000 block of Clark st. The parking garage is located just north east of the church on Clark between Oak and Maple directly across from Perillo BMW.  Tickets will be sold in groups of 10 for $50 and each ticket is good for three hours of parking. Please see the greeter or Tom Panoff if you are interested.

Please join us as we welcome back to our parish

St. Tikhon’s Seminary Mission Choir

singing the responses for Great Vespers

When: 6:30 pm, Saturday, May 2^nd

St. Tikhon's Mission Choir is a choral group from St. Tikhon's Seminary/Monastery dedicated to God through the Church's primary evangelistic and teaching tool: Her Liturgical worship; striving to bring life, invigoration, and inspiration to the parishes which are visited throughout the year. Not only do parishioners interact and see Seminarians who are attempting to follow the calling of God (and are often outgoing and even funny), but also, this interaction puts a real human face with an institution that has been providing the Church in America with Her priests for almost 70 years. The Mission Choir raises funds for the work of St. Tikhon's Seminary which primarily relies on donations from the Church and Her faithful to continue its work for the Church in America.

The prosphora workshop has been canceled until further notice.

A new section has been created on the website where parishioners of Christ the Savior may find important information.

Currently, parishioners may find current schedules for readers, greeters, fellowship hosts, and temple cleaners, Notes from Fr. John, and a summary of the minutes from the latest parish council meeting.

Please note these dates (or at least one of them!) on your calendar and help keep your church beautiful. Workdays in 2009 are the following Saturdays, all starting a 2:00 p.m.: April 4th, June 6th, August 8th, October 17th, and December 19th.

There is a current schedule of coffee hour hosts, greeters, readers, and temple cleaners available under the 'Ministry Schedule' page located on the sidebar.  If you need to make any changes to the schedule, please contact the webmaster.

For those of you who use an RSS reader, you can now get news and announcements from Christ the Savior via RSS. 

The feed is http://xcthesavior.org/news

Check back for further information and instructions on adding an RSS feed.  If you have questions, please ask the webmaster.

Saturday, February 28 at Holy Resurrection Church in Palatine - 10:00 am until 3:00 pm

The workshop will provide guidance on responding to, preventing, and intervening in domestic violence.  The presenters are Fr. Deacon Timothy and Matushka Beatrice Jones.  Materials to be used were developed and prepared by the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network specifically for the faith-based workshops like this.  The cost is $10 with lunch provided.  Please register by February 14.  The registration form was sent out in CTS emailings. See Fr. John if you need a copy.

Upcoming Dates:  2/12, 2/23, 3/12, 3/17

Please contact Alina Gansca to volunteer  to serve dinner on any of these dates.  More helpers would be greatly appreciated - just try it once and make a difference in someone's day.

A second outing of our newly formed women's group is planned for February 19, 7:00 pm, at

O'Shaughnessy's
4557 N Ravenswood
Chicago, IL 60640

Please let Toni Dorosh know if you can attend.

On Wednesday, January 16, 2008, Christ the Savior launched its new website.

Once again, we are collecting new books and DVD's for Children's Memorial Hospital in memory of John Robert Koncel.

Oct 28, 2014—In a recent article for the Greek Star, Father John gave thoughts concerning the homosexual Christian within the church.

 If anyone would like to make automatic monthly contributions to CTS from their bank accounts or paychecks, please see David Wilson.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Photos from this joyous event.

Congratulations to Father Deacon Theophan Warren who graduated from St Tikhon's seminary May 2015 with a Masters of Theology. Deacon Theophan will be returning to Chicago and Christ the Savior Church in August. We look forward to having he and his wife as part of our parish family. May God grant Deacon Theophan and Matushka Miriam  many fruitful years of service to Christ's Holy Church!

Indoor procession with icons and blessing of the new parish council

Our Sunday school students perfromed a short but touching Nativity program in the beautifully decorated church after Liturgy .

The students from our Sunday school did a beautiful job decorating the tree

The cookie exchange is now a cherished Christmas tradition for the Ladies Group at CTS.  It is very special and we appreciate all the yummy cookies everyone worked so hard on.

Faithful from Christ the Savior provided a meal for over 160 people in the Little Village neighborhood. This is the second year that we were blessed to be involved in this ministry building bridges between our two communities. Thank you to all who helped and especially to Fr Tom and the faithful from St Agnes Church in the Little Village neighborhood.

Bishop Matthias, retired Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest returned to our parish on Saturday. We had a record for attendance that evening and are grateful to God to have had Bishop Matthias with us for the evening.

In a recent article for the Greek Star, Father John gave thoughts concerning the homosexual Christian within the church.

The inaugural live stream of our liturgy started on October 12th. You can tune in to AF Live on Sundays at 9:30am Central.

CTS Parishioners cheered on the atlethes of the 2014 Chicago Marathon, while distributing cold water and warm wishes.

We'll transform the church courtyard into a Mexican Taqueria to beneft the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala.

Angela Doll Carlson, author of Nearly Orthodox: On Being a Modern Woman in an Ancient
Tradition, and Paul Kuritz, author of Theater and Film: A Christian Perspective.

Master Iconographer, Father Theodore Jurewicz returned to Christ the Savior Parish on September 2nd to continue the iconography in the temple. The ongoing project was originally initiated by Archbishop Job with the first icon being written in November 2008.

Fr Theodore is currently working on the icon of Our Lord's descent into Hades. Funds for this particular icon were donated by generous stewards throughout the diocese in memory of Archbishop Job. It is possible that the entire church could be completed by Pascha 2015.

Children ages 2-11 participated in Vacation Church School at Christ the Savior Church, Chicago. The theme was "Traveling the Ark of Salvation."