Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Chicago
"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." — Romans 15:7
Paschal Message from Fr Nephon Tsimalis
Beloved faithful of Annunciation Cathedral,
Christ is Risen!
As we draw near to Pascha, I have been holding you in prayer and looking forward to celebrating these holy days with you at our Cathedral of the Annunciation. This feast is the center of the Church's life. We have followed the Lord to the Cross, and now we stand before the empty tomb and hear the word that renews the world: Christ is risen, death has been overthrown, and life has been opened to us.
Pascha is more than the remembrance of something that took place long ago. In the life of the Church, it becomes present to us now. In the services of Holy Week and in the Divine Liturgy of Pascha, the Risen Lord gathers us to Himself and feeds us with His very life. He comes to meet us in our weakness. He restores the heart. He teaches us again that the Church is where we encounter Him, where we learn forgiveness, and where we begin to live as His people.
For that reason, I thank God for the gift of Annunciation Cathedral. This sacred church is more than a beautiful building and more than a cherished history. It is a living home of prayer in the heart of Chicago. Within these walls, generations of faithful have been baptized into Christ, have stood before the holy altar in times of joy and sorrow, and have learned that the Church is the place where God remains close to His people. Our Cathedral has a special calling: to gather the faithful and to bear visible witness, in the middle of city life, that the worship of God is the deepest truth of man.
How fitting it is that our Cathedral bears the name of the Annunciation. In the humble yes of the Panagia, our salvation begins to unfold. At Pascha, we behold that same mystery in its fullness. The Son of God who took flesh from her entered death for our sake, and He rose in glory. The message of the Annunciation and the joy of Pascha belong together. Our Cathedral lives under both lights: the obedience of the Mother of God and the victory of the Risen Christ.
My prayer is that this Pascha draws us more deeply into the life of the Church. I pray for those who come with joy, and also for those who arrive carrying fatigue, grief, or quiet distance in the heart. May the light of the Resurrection reach them. May it bring peace to their homes and awaken hope where hope has grown faint.
I also pray that our love for Annunciation Cathedral grows in a real and lasting way. Love for the Church grows through worship. It grows when we return again and again to stand before God together. It grows when we carry one another with patience and when we remember that parish life is holy ground. Annunciation becomes truly beloved when its people seek Christ here with sincerity, gratitude, and faithfulness.
As we prepare to greet one another with the Paschal proclamation, may we come with open hearts and with thanksgiving. May the Risen Lord bless every family of our Cathedral community, and may this holy season deepen our life in Him.
With love in the Risen Lord,
† Archimandrite Nephon Tsimalis
Dean
Schedule of Services
© 2026. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral
1017 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610-2604 | (312) 664-5485 | https://www.annunciationcathedralchicago.org/
V. Rev. Archimandrite Nephon Tsimalis, Dean