Welcome to St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church in Chicago!  Please join us on Sundays for Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.  Miresevini ne kishen Orthodokse te Shen Kollit ne Chicago!  Ju lutemi beni te mundur pjesmarrjen tuaj cdo te Diele ne Liturgjine Hyjnore ne oren 10.00 a.m.

Our parish was founded in 1944 by Albanians from the southeastern part of the country, near the city of Korca. The current church building was built in 1961 and the beautiful interior is filled with wonderful icons, including the miraculous Icon of the Blessed Virgin, whose story is found here.  Read the full history of our parish here. 

Good Afternoon my Sisters, Brothers and Dear Friends,

As you gather today with your families in celebration of Thanksgiving, I ask that everyone in your own way and to the best of your ability pray and give thanks to God.  As St. John Chrysostom said, "Glory to God for all things”.  And so, today we should be thanking God for all the things we have in our lives and rejoice in his name, as St. Paul says “Rejoice in God always. Again, I say rejoice"  Because we have a love for God and one another, He instructs us, on this day, to not complain but to pray for Him to forgive our sins and to protect us, our families and the whole world during these difficult times.  We should express our gratitude and thank God for everything He has given us and for everything beautiful around us. 

As we express our love and gratitude to God we should also humbly express our gratitude to every person who has done something for us, big or small. To everyone who has extended the hand of kindness to us in the long and difficult path of our lives.  Let us not be embarrassed or shy to express respect, love and gratitude at any moment, especially on this day.  Gratitude is one of the highest virtues of man before the eyes of God.

And today I bow before all of you with gratitude and thanks for everything you do for the well-being of our church.  I bow with reverence in memory of those who created this church, of all those men and women who in 78 years of the existence of our church have contributed and continue to contribute with love and humility.  With gratitude I will want to express my sincere appreciation.

Although we can’t all be together today on this day of thanks, rest assured you are in my prayers thanking God for you and everything He has given us.

With deep love and gratitude in Jesus Christ, our Lord,

Miredita te dashur motra dhe vellezer te mi,miq te dashur,

Te gjithe jeni mbledhur ne familjet tuaja ne keto caste dhe gjithesecili sipas menyres se tij dhe mundesive te tij feston ne lutje te nxehta dhe falenderim te thelle tek Perendia.  Shën Joan Gojearti,ka thene“Lavdi Zotit për të gjithë gjërat ”.Keshtu te themi dhe ne sot ne kete dite Faleminderit Zotit per te gjitha gjerat qe kemi dhe te gezojme ashtu sic Shen Pavli thote  “Gëzohuni në Zotin gjithmonë. Përsëri, unë them gëzohu". Duke patur dashurine per Perendine dhe per njeri tjetrin ashtu sic Ai na porosit ne kete dite te mos ankohemi e te renkojme,por,te lutemi panderprere qe Ai te na fale fajet tona e te na ruaj ne keto dite veten tone,familjet tona,familjaret tane ,e te gjithe boten.  Te shprehim mirenjohjen tone ndaj Perendise per cdo gje, e ne radhe te pare per jeten tone e per cdo gje te bukur rreth nesh.

Sot pa asnje ndrojtje te shprehim mirenjohjen tone per cdo njeri i cili ka bere sado pak per ne e te shfaqim shprehjen e dashurise e mirenjohjes per keta njerez.  Te mos kemi turp te shprehim respekt e mirenjohje ne asnje moment e aq me shume ne kete dite.  FalenderimZotit ne radhe te pare e cdo njeriu qe ne rrugen e gjate e te veshtire te jetes sone ka zgjatur doren e miresise e te dashamiresise per ne.  Mirenjohja eshte nje nder virtytet me te larta te njeriut dhe perpara syve te Perendise njeriu mirenjohes dhe falenderues ka vlera te larta.Dhe une sot perulem perpara te gjitheve juve me mirenjohje e falenderim per cdo gje qe ju beni per mbarevajtjen e kishes sone. Perulem me nderim perpara kujtimit te atyre qe e krijuan kete kishe,te gjithe atyre burrave e grave qe ne gjithe keto vite,ne 78 vite te kishes sone kane kontribuar e vazhdojne te kontribuojne me dashuri e me perulesi,me dashuri,me urtesi,me mirenjohje do te dua te shpreh vleresimin tim.  Te gjithe ju jeni ne lutjen time e deshiroj te jemi keshtu te gjithe sebashku sot ne kete dite te FALENDERIMEVE.

Falënderoj Zotin per jeten tone.Me dashuri dhe mirënjohje të thellë në Jezu Krishtin, Zotin tone

+ Fr Kostandin

His Excellency Metropolitan Ilia Katre of Philomelion fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, October 6, 2022. He was a beloved spiritual father, hierarch, and friend. Full article (English and Shqip)

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Metropolitan Ilia’s memory be sent to one of the following parishes:

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Las Vegas, NV (Building Fund)
St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, Chicago, IL
Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox Church, South Boston, MA
St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Sault St. Marie, MI

May his memory be eternal.

Reminder: Church membership dues for the year 2022 are due now. Please show support for our church . Current members can also review yearly dues HERE. New members can fill out the membership FORM alongside with the dues payment and mail it to the church. Current members may fill the form with any changes and return it to St. Nicholas with payment. Forms will also be available at the Church for your convenience.  

Build a Brick foundation

St Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church invites you to become a permanent part of out parish's legacy by purchasing a commemorative brick.

Please click HERE for more info.

Christmas Card Collection

We are glad to announce a new innitiative that we will start this year and to carry for years to come:

St Nicholas Albanian orthodox Church Christmass Card. For more info please click HERE.

ALBANIAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL - SHKOLLA SHQIPE

Grupi Arberia