Orthodox Observer - October 2009

OCTOBER 2009 • Vol. 74 • No. 1252

Archdiocese Website Dedicated to Ecumenical Patriarch’s Visit NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios has announced the launch of the web site dedicated to the U.S. Visit of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at http://www.usvisit2009.org The web site, which was built by the Archdiocese’s Department of Internet Ministries, features content that will be continually updated and expanded throughout the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, known as, “The Green Patriarch,” (a name coined by former Vice President Al Gore and adopted widely in the international media) is making an official visit to the United States from Oct. 20 to Nov. 6, to preside over the annual Religion, Science, and Environment Symposium and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Archbishop Demetrios’ enthronement.

During the visit of His All Holiness, the web site will feature live audio and video broadcasts from event venues, a running Twitter feed for real-time updates of the visit, daily blogs, audio and video podcasts, a dedicated YouTube channel, photogalleries, and opportunities for visitors to share their local communities’ questions, thoughts, ideas, and initiatives on the protection of the environment.

USvisit2009.org has an extensive focus on the Green Patriarch’s environmental ministry.

Visitors to the site are able to engage His All Holiness’ uniquely spiritual position on the environment to learn about his environmental initiatives with a wide range of content including lectures, fulllength videos, and games focusing on the Orthodox Church’s environmental theology and work.

Online visitors may tour the Ecumenical Patriarchate using the virtual reality component of the site while learning about the apostolic ministry and history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

A schedule of events will enable users to find information about the upcoming environmental symposium and visit of His All Holiness.

Facebook groups will enable users to share expertise, experience and ideas on greening local parishes, homes and communities.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal (1997), and was also awarded the Sophie prize in 2002, a prestigious international award for achievement in environmental conservation and sustainability.

He has been named in Time magazine’s top 100 list of Leaders and Revolutionaries and was recently named as the top Green Spiritual Leader by Beliefnet because of his tireless work to raise awareness about the environmental crisis and encourage green initiatives among policy makers, communities and individuals.

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$1.00

Welcome Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Archbishop’s 10 Anniversary: Highlights of a Decade th

Part 2 In his characteristically humble manner, at recent doxology services in honor of his 10th anniversary, Archbishop Demetrios downplayed the personal significance of the event and, instead, pointed to the Church’s progress over the past decade. He noted as examples the numerous churches that have been built and the ongoing building programs now under way.

The Archbishop cited the new charter of the Archdiocese and the new rules and procedures governing monasticism and affecting the clergy as positive developments affecting the administrative function of the Archdiocese.

His Eminence also pointed to the increasing enrollment at Hellenic CollegeHoly Cross School of Theology in cultivating a new generation of priests to meet the growing needs of the faithful.

The September issue of the Observer highlighted Archbishop Demetrios’ first two years during a turbulent time in the nation’s history.

This issue covers the progress of his ministry and that of the Archdiocese from 2002 to the present.

2002 Jan. 9-20 – A photographic exhibit at Grand Central Station in New York by Life magazine photographer Joe McNally, “Faces of Ground Zero: A Tribute to America’s Heroes,” includes a life-size photograph of Archbishop Demetrios, honoring his role in the humanitarian efforts toward victims of the Sept. 11th tragedy. The exhibit later tours the United States.

Jan. 12-18 – Archbishop Demetrios makes his first official visit to Greece.

Jan. 31 – St. Vladimir’s Orthodox

Seminary in Crestwood, N.Y., bestows an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree upon the Archbishop.

Feb. 1-4 – His Eminence attends the World Economic Forum held in New York.

Feb. 2 – Bishop Savas is ordained at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York.

Feb. 9 – Bishop Gerasimos is ordained at Annunciation Cathedral in Boston.

Feb. 23 – Bishop Andonios is ordained at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York.

March 4-10 Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew makes his fourth visit to the United States, meeting with President

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Highlights of a Decade of Accomplishments

  page 1 George Bush at the White House, with Orthodox and Roman Catholic hierarchs in Washington, attending an Archons banquet honoring former President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush in New York, visiting Ground Zero, and Holy Cross-Hellenic College.

March 25 – Archbishop Demetrios visits President Bush in the White House to commemorate the celebration of Greek Independence Day. April – The Archdiocese publishes its policy on sexual misconduct by clergy.

Archbishop Demetrios names Deacon Nektarios Morrow as director of Communications for the Archdiocese.

April 18 – Archbishop Demetrios attends the 10th anniversary celebration in Baltimore for the International Orthodox Christian Charities.

April 20 – The Archbishop meets with members of St. Nicholas Church, which was destroyed on Sept. 11th, to encourage them in their efforts to maintain cohesiveness.

April 28-30 – His Eminence travels to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to participate in the consecration of the Holy Myrrh, which is produced once every 10 years.

May 10 – Archdiocesan Council meets in Chicago to discuss upcoming congress, proposed charter.

May 18 – The Alpha Omega Council of Boston presents Archbishop Demetrios with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

At the Holy Cross-Hellenic College Commencement, E*Trade Group CEO Christos M. Cristakos gives $1 million to the schools.

May 23 – American College of Thessaloniki bestows an honorary doctorate upon the Archbishop at a ceremony in New York.

July – The Archdiocese launches its new web site.

June 30-July 5 – The 36th Clergy-Laity Congress takes place in Los Angeles; focuses on increasing awareness of the Faith and its expanding role in society.

Discussions included a lengthy session on the proposed charter and recommendations, which would be forwarded for final approval to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

July 9 – President Bush hosts a meeting at the White House with Archbishop Demetrios and other hierarchs of SCOBA to share their concerns and discuss efforts to promote peace, compassion and

care for the needs of others.

Aug. 29-30 – Archbishop attends a European Conference on the religious and social consequences of the Sept. 11 th attacks, in Bucharest, Romania.

Sept. 1 – His Eminence is among many Orthodox hierarchs from around the world gathered at the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Indiction and beginning of the new ecclesiastical year.

Sept. 11-14 – Archbishop Demetrios participates in memorials for the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks, including an evening service with Archbishop Iakovos on the 14th. Parishes nationwide also hold services.

Sept. 27 – The Archdiocesan Council begins its two-year term following the Clergy-Laity Congress. The Archbishop names Georgia Skeadas of Broomall, Pa., as the new National Philoptochos Society president.

Sept. 29 - The Archbishop dedicates the Peace Memorial Gymnasium at the Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, N.J. Oct. 12 – Archbishop Demetrios makes his first visit to St. Spyridon Church in San Diego, which celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Oct. 19 – The newly created Archdiocesan Advisory Committee on Science and Technology holds its first plenary session at Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology.

Oct. 30-Nov. 1 – His Eminence visits Denver for the dedication of the new Denver Diocese Center.

Nov. 19 – The Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki bestows an honorary Doctor of Theology degree upon His Eminence.

Nov. 30-Dec. 1 – The Archbishop makes his first visit to Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Richmond, Va. Dec. 17 – SCOBA hierarchs, recognizing the need for a unified Orthodox voice in the nation’s capital, vote at their meeting to establish an advocacy office in Washington.

Dec. 20 – Archbishop Demetrios announces that the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has

EDITOR IN CHIEF Jim Golding (Chryssoulis) GREEK SECTION EDITOR Eleftherios Pissalidis

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granted the Archdiocese the new charter. He also announced the Ecumenical Patriarchate has elevated the dioceses of the Archdiocese to Metropolises and the hierarchs of the former dioceses to Metropolitans.

2003 January – The Archdiocese introduces its seventh logo.

Jan. 13 – Fr. James Kordaris assumes duties as director of the newly created Department of Parish Renewal, Outreach and Evangelism.

Feb. 1 – Upon hearing of the tragic loss of the space shuttle Columbia, Archbishop Demetrios expresses his condolences to President Bush and issues an encyclical to all parishes.

Feb. 2 – Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa is keynote speaker at the St. Photios National Shrine Day luncheon.

Feb. 9 – Archbishop Demetrios dedicates new community center at St. Katherine Church in Falls Church, Va. Feb. 19-24 – During a very active trip to Florida, His Eminence attends the Leadership 100 Endowment Fund annual conference at Amelia Island, makes a pastoral visit to St. John the Divine Church in Jacksonville, and visits the Orthodox Christian Mission Center and St. Photios National Shrine in St. Augustine.

April 4 – Archbishop Demetrios presides at the Archdiocesan Council’s spring meeting in Washington, meets with President Bush at the White House and, a day earlier, meets with Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman to discuss efforts toward the recognition of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem by the government of Israel.

April 12 – The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elects

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the Very Rev. Archimandrite Evangelos Kourounis as Metropolitan of New Jersey.

April 29 – Archbishop Demetrios delivers a lecture at Yale Divinity School on the essence and mission of the Orthodox Christian faith.

May 4 – His Eminence takes part in the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Church of the Resurrection in Brookville, N.Y. May 19 – Metropolitan Evangelos is ordained a Bishop at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York.

May 25 – Archbishop Demetrios consecrates St. George Church in Oklahoma City, with Metropolitan Isaiah as co-celebrant.

May 31 – The Archbishop attends the celebration of the Metropolis of Atlanta’s official elevation from a diocese.

June 17-20 – Archbishop Demetrios attends the Metropolis of Detroit ClergyLaity and Philoptochos Conference in Nashville. Vanderbilt University holds a reception in his honor on the 19th.

June 28-July 1 – His Eminence leads a Patriarchal delegation to the Vatican for a meeting with Pope John Paul II and the celebration of the Feast of Sts. Peter and

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CLERGY UPDATE Assignments Fr. Alexander Chetsas – St. Demetrios Church, Weston, Mass. 07/01/08 Fr. James J. Gardikes – St. Nicholas Cathedral, Pittsburgh 09/01/09 Fr. Jason (Ioannis) Krokos – Holy Trinity, Port Charlotte, Fla. 09/01/09 Fr. Thomas Zaferes – Ascension Cathedral, Oakland, Calif 09/01/09 Fr. Panteleimon Klostri – Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church, Somerville, Mass. 10/01/09 Fr. Kosta Petrogeorge – Holy Trinity Cathedral, Camp Hill, Pa. 10/01/09

Upcoming deadlines Deadlines for submitting information, articles and photos for the Orthodox Observer for consideration are as follows: November: Monday, Oct. 26; December (Christmas issue): Monday, Nov. 23; January, Monday, Jan. 4. Photos should be sent as a large format jpg attachment (300 dpi or greater). E-mail to: jim@goarch.org Regular mail – Editor, Orthodox Observer, 8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075.

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Fordham Symposium Focuses on Religious Freedom NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios, Archons National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis, members of the National Council together with Archons, scholars and legal experts gathered at New York’s Fordham University on Sept. 16 for a symposium that examined the core issues threatening the Mother Church of Constantinople from the perspective of international law. The conference “Religious Freedom in Turkey: The Case of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” featured discussion about efforts to end the persecution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

George Demacopoulos, Fordham University associate professor of theology and co-founding director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Program, spoke in depth of the seizure of property by the Turkish governments; the closure of Patriarchal seminaries while its prelates are taunted by extremists who demonstrate outside the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and His All Holiness, who is denied of his title as “Ecumenical Patriarch.” “... The (Ecumenical) title was embedded in Roman law as early as the sixth century because Christians throughout the world understood that the Patriarch of Constantinople played an international and transnational role in the leadership of the Christian community,” explained Demacopoulos.

Emanuel Demos, general counsel for the Archdiocese, briefly discussed some of the persecution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate throughout the years, such as the pogrom of 1955, riots driven

Let us not grow weary in doing what is good, for in due season we shall reap.

(Galatians 6:9)

(Photo by D. Panagos)

Archbishop Demetrios and members of the Archons listen to discussions on religious freedom issues at the Fordham University symposium.

primarily by Islamic fanaticism that targeted the Greek population of Istanbul with the intent of driving non-Muslims from Turkey, and the closing of the Orthodox Theological School of Halki in 1971 by Turkish authorities.

Mr. Demos also said Turkey’s 2005 application to the European Union (EU) could be a positive development for the Orthodox Christian community, as the country would have to adhere to the EU’s religious protections.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will visit Fordham in late October during his Apostolic visit to the United States.

Archbishop Demetrios attended the conference and thanked organizers for

“shedding light on a complex issue.”

The Archbishop recalled attempts

by Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to convince Turkish officials to reopen the Halki seminary.

Last April, President Barack Obama also urged the prime minister of Turkey to reopen the seminary.

“It was a nice meeting. It went so beautifully,” he said, “but then there was a unanimous decision against it, which, to me, indicates the unpredictability on the part of the Turkish government.”

The conference was sponsored by the Law School’s Institute on Religion, Law and Lawyer’s Work and Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Program.

Bishop Andonios Named Archdiocese Chancellor NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios, in consultation with the Holy Eparchial Synod, has appointed Bishop Andonios of Phasiane as the chancellor of the Archdiocese, effective as of Oct. 1.

On the occasion of this appointment, the Archbishop noted, “We are very glad to have His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane as the new chancellor of the Archdiocese. In all the positions that he has held within the Archdiocese, as a lay theologian, a deacon, a presbyter and a Bishop, His Grace has served with remarkable zeal and diligence.

We are confident that with the help of God and the blessings of our Holy Eparchial Synod Bishop Andonios will execute his new and responsible duties as chancellor with exemplary dedication, care and effectiveness.”

He was elected by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an auxiliary bishop on Dec. 11, 2001, and given the title Bishop of Phasiane, an ancient diocese in Pontos, the birthplace of his grandparents. His episcopal ordination

took place at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral on Feb.23, 2002.

Born and raised in Jersey City, N.J., the middle child of Steven and Despina Poulos (Paropoulos), he grew up in the local St. Demetrios parish. In 1976, he entered Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., graduating in 1979 receiving an M. Div. with Distinction and was president of the graduating class. After serving at various Archdiocesan institutions for five years in a lay capacity, he was ordained a deacon on August 18, 1985, at Holy Trinity Cathedral by Archbishop Iakovos. He served for almost 4½ years as deacon to the Archbishop until Dec. 3, 1989, when he was ordained to the priesthood. Following his ordination, he continued to serve in both the Office of the Archbishop and the Office of the Chancellery as assistant chancellor and personnel director of the Archdiocese.

On Feb. 24, 1991, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite. After a sabbatical in Greece from 1991-1992, he returned to the Archdiocese and was subsequently

assigned to the parish of Zoodohos Peghe in the Bronx until 1995.

At that time, he returned to the Archdiocese to assist with the retirement of Archbishop Iakovos and also assumed the position of coordinator for the 1996 ClergyLaity Congress held in New York.

In July of that year, he was appointed director of St. Michael’s Home in Yonkers, N.Y., where he continues to serve in that capacity. In June 2000, Archbishop Demetrios appointed him to the new position of director of the Archdiocesan Department of Philanthropy. In addition, he serves as the advisor to the National Board of the Ladies Philoptochos Society and to the Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Board. He will continue to serve in those positions.

Since 2007 he has been responsible for the Benevolence Fund of the Archdiocese for Retired Clergy and Widowed Presbyteres and, in spring 2008, organized and heads the committee that oversees the Direct Archdiocesan District’s Camp St. Paul.

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ARCHEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL National Leadership 100 Sunday

Cyprus’ First Lady Visits Saint Basil Academy Elsie Christofias is shown with Fr. Sitaras, Mrs. Skeadas, Dr. Gounardes and children of the Academy during her recent visit to Saint Basil’s. (Story on page 30)

To the Most Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In this new ecclesiastical year, I greet you with paternal love on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod in order to announce that in recognition of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, our supporting charitable organization, the Holy Synod has designated Sunday, October 18, 2009 as National Leadership 100 Sunday. This is the Sunday prior to the Feast of St. Iakovos and has been purposely selected as a tribute to Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory, the visionary Founder of Leadership 100.

Faced with difficult economic times and challenges to our faith and culture, our Greek Orthodox men and women leaders are continually asked to support many causes. While they have been the pillars of support of their communities and of educational, health-related and cultural institutions across our great nation, they have been imbued with the philanthropic spirit that has been passed down to them by past generations to put first and foremost their commitment to the National Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in order to perpetuate Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America.

They have become an example to us all of the words of St. Paul: God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Leadership 100 is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. While it has grown to 822 members in 167 of our parishes, in every Metropolis and in the Direct Archdiocesan District, its impact has been far wider and greater through $28.5 million in grants that have provided scholarships for seminarians studying for the priesthood, relieved active clergy of their student loan debts, assisted retired clergy and presbyteres, supported virtually every National Ministry, from youth and family ministries, Religious and Greek education, and Internet Ministry and Home Missions. Furthermore, Leadership 100 assisted the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and has given relief and comfort in national and international tragedies such as September 11, Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake and fires in Greece.

We ask all of you to be mindful of this important ministry on National Leadership 100 Sunday, and to provide to the Leadership 100 members who are amongst you an opportunity

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We are truly grateful for our spiritual leaders

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew &

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America Mary & Michael Jaharis

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Itinerary of Ecumenical Patriarch’s Visit Editor’s Note: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will make his sixth visit to the United States from Oct. 20 to Nov. 6. The following is his tentative schedule.

METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 Arrival in New Orleans to lead the Religion, Science and The Environment Symposium titled The Great Mississippi River: Restoring Balance from Oct. 21-25.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 10:00 a.m. Patriarchal Chorostasia, Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans.

Depart New Orleans for JFK International Airport, New York.

• Ecumenical Luncheon with New York-area religious leaders hosted by Archbishop Demetrios in the Archiepiscopal Dining Room at the Archdiocese of America.

• Blessing and greeting of Orthodox Christian students at Fordham University Museum of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art of the William D. Walsh Family Library. Arrival at the Office of Father Joseph McShane, president of Fordham University (41 East Fordham Road, Bronx, N.Y.).

• Convocation and presentation of honorary degree to His All Holiness at Fordham University Church.

• Departure from Atlanta Fulton County Airport to Teterboro Airport, New Jersey.

at Grand Doxology Service at the Sts. Constantine and Helen Church (2747 Riva Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 - Tel.: 410-573-2072).

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 • Private visit to the Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries for Byzantine and Medieval Europe Gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, New York).

• Meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, U.N. Headquarters, New York.

• Meeting with Jewish religious and lay leaders hosted by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation at the Park East Synagogue (164 East 68th Street, New York).

DIRECT ARCHDIOCESAN DISTRICT 6:15 p.m. Pictorial tribute in honor of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s prophetic and pioneering leadership for the environment hosted by the American Bible Society at MOBIA (Museum of Biblical Art) (1865 Broadway at 61 st Street, New York).

8:00 p.m. Tribute to Peacemakers Concert in honor of His All Holiness and Archbishop Demetrios on the occasion of his 10th Anniversary as Archbishop of America and Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at Alice Tully Hall–Lincoln Center with Manhattan Philharmonic Orchestra, Peter Tiboris, conductor, and the Metropolitan Youth Choir of the Archdiocese directed by Maria Koleva (1941 Broadway 65 th between Broadway and Amsterdam).

• General Reception and Dinner in celebration of the 18th Anniversary of His All Holiness’ Enthronement as Ecumenical Patriarch hosted by Metropolitan Evangelos, the clergy and lay leaders of the Metropolis of New Jersey and the parish of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Annapolis at the Sts. Constantine and Helen Church Auditorium and Fellowship Hall, 2747 Riva Road, Annapolis, Md.

DIRECT ARCHDIOCESAN DISTRICT Arrive JFK International Airport and leave immediately for Merrick, N.Y. 6:00 p.m. Patriarchal Chorostasia at Great Vespers for the Feast day of St. Demetrios the Myrrh–streamer, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (2421 Hewlett Avenue, Merrick, N.Y. 11566–Tel: 516-379-1368).

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 Demetrios the Myrrh–streamer 8:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Patriarchal Chorostasia at Divine Liturgy for the Feastday of St. Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer – St. Demetrios Cathedral (30-11 30th Drive, Astoria, New York 11102– Tel.: 718728-1718).

12:30 p.m. Community Agape Reception in the Ecumenical Patriarch’s honor.

He will meet with students of St. Demetrios Parochial School, and from other parochial schools of the Direct Archdiocesan District.

6:30 p.m. Ninth annual Orthodox Christian Prayer Service for the United Nations Community sponsored by the SCOBA/SCOOCH Joint Commission of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral (319 East 74 Street, New York, - Tel. 212-288-3215).

8:30 p.m. Dinner in honor of His All Holiness hosted by the Ambassador of Greece to the U.N. Anastasios Mitsialis.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 • Patriarchal Audience and Meeting with SCOBA Hierarchs in the Conference Room of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

• Private meeting with former President Bill Clinton at the Archdiocese.

• Archdiocesan Leadership Dinner in honor of His All Holiness hosted by Archbishop Demetrios with the Metropolitans, hierarchs, clergy, Leadership 100 Executive Committee, and other lay representatives of the Archdiocese.

METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 • Arrive Atlanta Fulton County Airport, and official welcome of His All Holiness by Metropolitan Alexios, clergy, Archons, Philoptochos, young people and civic leaders.

5:00 p.m. Patriarchal visit to Metropolis of Atlanta headquarters (2480 Clairmont Road, N.E., Atlanta).

5:30 p.m. Patriarchal Chorostasia Vespers Service at Annunciation Cathedral (2500 Clairmont Rd., N.E., Atlanta).

• Reception and dinner hosted

by Muhtar Kent, President and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company, World of Coca-Cola.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 • Visit to headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 • Patriarchal Exhortation to the Archdiocesan Council, Waldorf Astoria hotel (301 Park Avenue, New York).

• Private audience with National Philoptochos Executive Committee.

• Private Reception in honor of His All Holiness hosted by the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America in the West Foyer, Waldorf Astoria.

• Archons Banquet in honor of His All Holiness in the Grand Ballroom, Waldorf Astoria.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 8:30 a.m. Orthros/Matins, Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral.

10:00 a.m. Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Demetrios and members of the Holy Synod of the Archdiocese participating, followed by the Investiture of the 2009 Archon Class of the Order of Saint Andrew.

Depart for Washington • Official welcome of His All Holiness by the U.S. Chief of Protocol, Orthodox hierarchs, ambassadors, ecumenical leaders, senators, congressmen, clergy, lay leaders and young people at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2 • Luncheon in honor of His All Holiness hosted by Ambassador Vasilis Kaskarelis of Greece.

METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEY 6:00 p.m. Patriarchal Chorostasia

DIRECT ARCHDIOCESAN DISTRICT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 • Lecture co-sponsored by the Center for American Progress and Georgetown University at Gaston Hall, (37th and O Streets, NW, Washington).

• Luncheon in honor of His All Holiness hosted by Turkish Ambassador Nabi Sensoy at his residence.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 • Lecture at the Brookings Institution (1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington).

• Joint Luncheon in honor of His All Holiness hosted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, on Capitol Hill.

• Private meeting, reception and dinner in honor of His All Holiness hosted by Vice President Joseph Biden at the Vice Presidential residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 • Private Luncheon with the Archbishop and Hierarchs of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese.

• Dinner in honor of His All Holiness hosted by the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State Department, 2201 C Street NW, Washington.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Afternoon departure.

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Blessed is He that comes in the name of the

Lord.

photo by n. manginas

–John 12:13

The Order of Saint Andrew Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America welcome

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on his Apostolic visit to the United States

May God Grant Him Many Blessed Years!

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patriarchate.org

archons.org

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The Voice of Philoptochos An Orthodox Odyssey

by Aphrodite Skeadas

Unknown expectations, important concerns and meaningful dreams were the precursor to the historic Archon Pilgrimage to Cappadocia, the Holy Land and Mount Sinai. What evolved were relevant understandings, exquisite natural beauty and enhanced relationships.

The National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew/Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, Dr. Anthony Limberakis, along with Dr. Maria Limberakis, expertly led a diversified family of 75 pilgrims on this epic journey. The pilgrims were from all parts of the United States (and from Greece), of various professions and of the most varying ages. There was, though, one common denominator. Each pilgrim was committed to reaffirming his or her relationship with God. In Cappadocia, Kayseri, the pilgrim family was set amidst a landscape of camouflaged churches and underground cities which produced many of our great Saints and Holy Fathers and where they fortressed their foundation of religious freedom.

It was there in some of the remaining 4th century ruins of the Sts. Constantine and Helen Church that we were blessed with the supreme honor of worshipping with our spiritual leader, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who concelebrated with His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania. It was in more ruins at St. Theodore Church again with His All Holiness and with His Beatitude that the pilgrim family celebrated the Divine Liturgy. It is certain that each pilgrim departed with emotional

imprints and impressionable images evoking joy and sorrow in contemplation, in love and in faith of our Orthodoxy. No pilgrim will forget emanating from the dome of the church the sweet arias of the gliding sparrows or helidonia as which they were referred by His All Holiness, the flooding sunlight through the cross-shaped windows high above, the long faded iconography or the rusted link chains hanging from the destroyed ceilings and ending with no lighting.

Upon exiting the signless remains of the glorious St. Theodore Church, the most capable, protective and always visible Archon Sergeant-at-Arms Alexander Pritsos advised that we pilgrim defenders would next path downwards into earth eight or nine levels, as did our ancestors when seeking refuge, and witness the remains of courageous living, praying, nursing and sustaining in the underground city.

Leaving Cappadocia armed and strengthened, we entered with soaring anticipation the Holy Land. In Jerusalem and in Bethlehem we experienced holy and sacred sites, stepped in footprints of the holiest, wept and only imagined the sufferings, venerated icons and prayed for the ever present Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Clearly evident was the seriousness of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of His death and Resurrection, where the Lord sacrificed Himself for our salvation. The birthplace of the Holy

St. Louis Chapter Creates Program to Engage Younger Members The St. Nicholas Philoptochos of St. Louis established a special Junior Philoptochos Committee in 2005 to engage younger women in philanthropy. Christina Anastas, Carol Kamburis and Kim Tarlas spearhead the committee whose primary focus is to encourage younger women to become more involved in the parish by working on outreach projects in the parish and within the St. Louis area.

The mission is “to raise awareness, support, and finances for area not-forprofit organizations through our Christian concepts and faith while focusing on developing a stronger connection with younger women for the future of Philoptochos.”

Currently the committee is a team of 20 dynamic, energetic women and is rapidly gaining involvement and support.

Since its inception this cohesive team of women has achieved many accomplishments and launched numerous outreach activities: New Philoptochos Merchandise – Raise funds for outreach projects through sale of merchandise.

“Create-A-Meal” program – Committee prepares, assembles, and delivers frozen entrees to the St. Nicholas parishioners in need.

Philoptochos/IOCC “Hits the

Streets” HIV/AIDS Walkathon – Hosted the event with IOCC and raised $2,000 as part of the Metropolis of Chicago’s National Philoptochos commitment.

Annual “Night at the Ballpark” – To benefit SCORES - a literacy program for urban youth.

“Groovy Bowl” – Benefit for Life Skills organization assisting people with developmental disabilities to live and work with dignity in the community.

Fashion Show/Luncheon - Raised over $60,000 to benefit Autism Speaks, Life Skills, and Delta Gamma – a program for children with visual impairments.

Wine Tasting – Funds supported Angels’ Arms Adopt-A-Room Project to remodel a bathroom in the foster homes that focus on keeping sibling groups together.

“An Evening under the Stars” was held to raise awareness of this newly founded committee in the St. Nicholas community.

The committee has held numerous other events to assist the parish and its many outreach projects and was recognized at the 2006 National Philoptochos Convention in Nashville.

Congratulations to the Metropolis of Chicago and the St. Nicholas Philoptochos for creating a strategy to promote Philoptochos membership and outreach.

National Philoptochos New Office Location/Contact Information 7 West 55TH St., 7TH Floor, New York, N.Y. 10019, Phone: (212) 977-7770 • FAX: (212) 977-7784 • philosny@aol.com

Theotokos, the birthplace of the Lord, the prison of Christ, the place of crucifixion were all lessons in humility, piety and forgiveness. In this 4,000 year old Holy Land, we blessed pilgrims were afforded the exceptional honor of a private audience with His Beatitude Theofilos III in the majestic Throne Room of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Our pilgrimage arduously progressed through various uzi-armed checkpoints and passport controls en route to the Monastery of St. Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. The annotated commentary of Fr. Alex Karloutsos, spiritual advisor to the Archons, enlightened the weary travelers, especially those of us neighboring Fr. Alex in the back of Bus No.2, the second of the two–bus caravan.

The sixth century Orthodox monastic center where the Burning Bush flourishes with testimony and where housed is the most important library containing priceless manuscripts (second only to that of the Vatican) and the most impressive museum of icons (including what the NY Times most recently declared as the most beautiful depiction of Jesus anywhere) is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It was in the St. Catherine Monastery dining room where Archbishop Damianos, abbot of the Monastery, invited and met with the pilgrim family, sharing his spiritual sphere of existence while demonstrating his persistence, patience and faith.

During the hospitality session, His Em-

inence Archbishop Damianos expressed his affection and prayers for the women of Philoptochos.

I would truly be remiss if I did not declare a special expression of extreme gratitude to Dr. Anthony Limberakis, proud Philoptochos member Dr. Maria Limberakis, Alexander Pritsos and Archons’ spiritual advisor Fr. Karloutsos, all who offered countless courtesies to the National Philoptochos president.

Each presented unforgettable honors in the name of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society.

On the auspicious occasion of honoring Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the banquet in Cappadocia and upon invitation by the Archons, on behalf of Philoptochos I offered greetings. His All Holiness in his remarks expressed great satisfaction to the mission of Philoptochos, his warmest regards and blessings to the Philoptochos and his gratitude for support by the Philoptochos.

In Jerusalem where His Beatitude Theofilos III was honored at the banquet, again at the kind invitation by Commander Limberakis, on behalf of Philoptochos, I offered the toast to His Beatitude.

During the remarks by His Beatitude, Philoptochos was praised for their good deeds and their offering of love.

Our pilgrimage to these sacred and holy places was truly meaningful and significant for all Orthodox Christians. The attending members of Philoptochos fortified their bond with Our Lord and Savior and renewed their commitment to His ministry demonstrating the philanthropic scope and mission of the Society by truly being doers of the Word.

Do Not Miss the 12th Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas invites all Philoptochos chapters, members and friends of Philoptochos to the upcoming Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon on Nov. 14 at the Boca Raton Resort in Boca Raton, Fla. The host Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos, under the chairmanship of Metropolis President Evangeline Mekras Scurtis, has organized an inspiring weekend of fellowship as we come together to support the National Philoptochos Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon.

The Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon was established in 1989 and since its inception has raised approximately $2 million. This was accomplished through the generosity of the Philoptochos chapters and generous contributors. These funds support children dealing with lifethreatening illness; children’s hospitals and clinics throughout the country and in Ethiopia that provide medical assistance to critically ill children whose families are unable to afford appropriate and necessary treatment, and innovative research programs in pediatric hospitals throughout the United States.

A memorable luncheon program has been planned to enlighten, educate and entertain attendees. National Philoptochos members will gather from around the country to honor Archbishop Demetrios on the occasion of the 10-year Anniversary of

his enthronement as Archbishop of America.

Michael Emanuel, White House correspondent for Fox News Channel, will be the guest speaker and will share a heartwarming, personal story of faith, love and support in the face of his child’s critical medical needs. Mr. Emanuel narrated the recent documentary about Archbishop Demetrios. We are pleased that Mr. Emanuel will be present at the luncheon as National Philoptochos recognizes His Eminence for his many accomplishments as Archbishop of America.

Serving as Master of Ceremonies for the luncheon is Emmy award–winning journalist Cynthia Demos.

Ms. Demos is morning newscaster on the CBS-4 morning show in Miami and handles special projects. Ms. Demos is an active member of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Miami.

A special children’s program will be presented and National Philoptochos will recognize the Children’s Medical Fund hospital grant recipients. The luncheon donation is $125 per person and reservations to this upcoming Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon may be made by contacting Pat Sourlis at 561.483.8517. Hotel accommodations may be made at (888) 491-2622 or (561) 447-3000. Code: Philoptochos.

The Boca Raton Resort is offering a special rate of $95. Make your reservations while rooms are still available.

8

OCTOBER 2009

Commentaries and Opinions Archpastoral Reflections Using Technology with Discernment: Guidelines for Electronic Communication

by Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Franscisco

The speed of technological change in our world today amazes all of us. New technologies seem to appear almost daily.

In particular, and the purpose of my letter, communication technology has radically transformed our personal lives, the lives of our faithful, and the lives and ministries of our parishes, our Metropolises, and the Archdiocese.

The Church should take advantage of the positive dimensions of new communications technologies. They can enhance our proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the psalmist sings, “Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day” (Psalm 96.2). Just as St. Paul teaches us to “let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor. 14.26), we can use these new technologies to connect with our faithful in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.

Because “God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” (1 Timothy 2.4), our ministries can use these new technologies to reach out to those who have drifted away from the Orthodox Church as well as unchurched Christians in our society, “that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). These technologies are particularly effective with our youth and young adults, who increasingly rely upon them instead of other ways of communication.

These new media, though, have compressed space and time to the point where all communication should be seen as public and instantaneous. On the one hand, this has enhanced the lives of our communities. For example, a parish can easily inform all of its members about events and news.

Clergy can deliver a sermon in their parish, record it, and transmit it globally.

On the other hand, that same sermon, if poorly delivered or with erroneous information, once transmitted electronically can have unforeseen repercussions and cannot be retracted.

Because of these matters, I feel it is my responsibility to remind you of the following: Electronic communication technolo-

gies cannot replace the face-to-face ministry of the priest to his flock. “The sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them” (John 10:2). Posting a podcast of a sermon or streaming video of a worship service does not replace the incarnate and interpersonal ministry of the Church. “For nothing is so proper to our nature as to share our lives with each other and to need each other....” (St. Basil the Great, Long Rules, Q. 3.)

Remember that while you use electronic communication and social networking sites in the privacy of your home or office, these are public forms of communications. You should assume that the words you write and the photos you post will be seen by everyone and cannot be retracted or removed. In your group communication with young people, you should also include other adults to avoid any misunderstandings about the messages you are sending or to prevent anyone from making false assumptions about your ministry to young people. The Youth Protection Manual of our Archdiocese has very specific guidelines, especially on pages 8 - 9, on electronic communication with youth.

Before you post photos and videos on-line, use common sense about giving notice to the community and those in the pictures about how the images will be utilized. Secure any needed permissions to use people’s likenesses, especially minors, for publicity purposes.

Social networking sites (such as Face book) are wonderful tools to connect with family, friends, and your parish. Remember that you are a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church and as St. John Chrysostom writes, “How great is the honor with the grace of the Spirit has bestowed on priests” (On the Priesthood, III, 5.181).

The words you write and the images you post, especially for the public, should always respect the integrity of the Church and the dignity of the priesthood.

My beloved brothers, we serve the Lord in a most exciting age. The Gospel can be proclaimed “to the ends of the earth” from the most humble location, with just a little effort and a few clicks of a mouse.

These new technologies are a gift that we must use with wisdom and discernment.

Letters welcome The Observer welcomes Letters to the Editor on timely topics relevant to the Church and the Faith. Letters may be up to 500 words in length.

E-mail to: jim@goarch.org All letters must contain the writer’s name and city.

Next issue deadlines The deadline for articles/photos for consideration in the November issue is Monday, Oct 26. Photos should be sent as jpg attachments 300 dpi (500 KB) or greater.

E-mail to: jim@goarch.org or mail to: Editor, Orthodox Observer, 8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075.

Advertising deadline for November is Oct. 22nd Deadline for Christmas-related Ads and Greetings is November 16th.

Reaching Those Who Are Struggling with Life’s Purpose We continue our reflections on the theme “Gather My People to My Home” by focusing on the challenging task of gathering those who are struggling with deep and serious questions about life and God. In previous reflections we have addressed our calling to gather both “disconnected” Orthodox Christians and the unchurched.

This month we turn to the needs of persons whose spiritual well-being may be challenged by an unfulfilling quest for meaning or whose intellect or life experiences have

by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America raised tremendous questions or doubts regarding the purpose and direction of life.

Human beings have pondered questions about the meaning of life and the existence of God for millennia. In our own Hellenic tradition, we can examine the works of ancient philosophers, which reveal great efforts in the pursuit of knowledge, an inner desire for truth, and countless theories on origins, the nature and function of the universe, and the purpose of life. Others have arrived at the same questions and with the hope for answers through great tragedy and suffering. The eventuality of physical death, the upheaval created by war, the pain of disease and poverty, and the demoralizing injustices in human communities and relationships have led many to seek something “greater” that offers or leads to a blessed life, peace, comfort, and truth.

People continue to ask questions and struggle in pursuit of the answers. Did the world just happen, and are we a product of chance? What is my purpose in life? How can I be happy and have peace about who I am? Does God exist, and if so, does he really care about me and my inner conflicts? Why is there so much suffering in the world? Will all of this just end in death and destruction, or is there something better?

These and many more questions reflect both the breadth of our intellect and our quest to know, understand, and to find answers not just for the sake of knowledge, but for our well-being and ultimate destiny. As Orthodox Christians we have found many of the answers to life’s questions in our relationship with God and in our involvement in the Church. This is what makes the Church our home. Our lives in the kingdom of God and our participation in the community of believers connects us directly with the One who, with meaning and purpose, brought all things into existence, created us in His image and likeness and is guiding us toward fulfillment in life and being.

Further, it is through God’s loving presence in our lives and through the Holy Sacraments, the Holy Scriptures, the teachings, and traditions of the Church that we know, understand, and experience the truth about life and relationships, the effects of sin and evil, and the necessity of faith, hope, and love as genuine and true expressions of our humanity. It is also in our relationship with God that we find meaning and purpose in our transformation from death to life.

Certainly, He guides us in understanding our great potential for creativity, thought, virtue, and knowledge; but all of this is part of becoming what He created us to be: holy people living in loving and full communion with Him and each other.

Our challenge as Orthodox Christians is communicating the blessedness of this life and faith to those with serious questions about life and meaning or to those who are struggling spiritually with deep doubts about God and His role in their lives. How can we meet this challenge and overcome the barriers that are keeping souls from finding their home in the Church? How do we prepare to answer the serious questions that challenge the very being of many who are in need of the grace of God? First, we must love and not condemn. As stated above, questions about faith and our existence have been a part of our humanity from the beginning. We have been created with an ability to ask these questions and to seek answers. Thus, our task as Orthodox Christians is to help others find the answers that lead to life and fulfillment.

The Apostle Paul did not condemn the philosophers of Athens when he preached to them (Acts 17). He affirmed their intellectual and spiritual search for higher things and presented the Gospel in a manner that addressed many of their questions. Our Lord lovingly received Nicodemus and patiently answered his questions when he was seeking to understand Jesus’ teachings concerning spiritual rebirth and eternal life (John 3).

Second, in following the example of our Lord, we must be responsive and patient. We should not reject others if their questions are not answered or their crisis is unresolved. Many struggle with great questions about life and meaning for long periods of time.

Answers provided by our faith and relationship with God are not always readily accepted. The task of gathering people to God’s home in the Church will take time and sacrifice on our part. We must be willing to listen to their questions, concerns, and struggles, continuously offer prayers for their salvation and spiritual well-being, and rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit to lead them home.

Finally, we must also be aware of our strengths and limitations when offering faith and love to those seeking purpose and meaning. Often, our greatest strength is in friendship, acts of kindness, and ministry in the name of Christ when a need arises.

Through our words and actions we can show others that they are valued and loved

by God, even when they are in the midst of great struggles and doubt. We also need to know that there are other resources to assist us. These may include seeking the counsel of our parish priest, encouraging the person to visit with the priest, discussing serious questions in a parish Bible study or reading group, and engaging with our faith at deeper spiritual and intellectual levels through reading the lives and works of saints and theologians of the Church. In all of this, we must rely upon the guidance and grace of God to lead us in a manner that will help our fellow-men experience the presence of God and the ineffable joy of being gathered in God’s Home.

OCTOBER 2009

9

Some Realities About Reality TV

by Fr. Nikiforos Fakinos

“Great people are concerned about great things. Average people are concerned about the events. And mediocre people are concerned about others.” It is evident that the concern about the affairs of others has been a primary catapult in the recent entertainment industry.

The very concept of “entertainment industry” captures the gigantic effects of one’s concern about the life of someone else. As if the death of Princess Diana did not teach us anything, we are still chasing every opportunity to put our eyes through a keyhole and peak into someone else’s life.

Entire TV networks and channels devote excessive amounts of air time for air-head issues. Celebrity gossip has become The News! Reality shows are the 21st century embodiments of Gone with the Wind, Casablanca and Citizen Kane. People are more and more interested about the mundane, the irrelevant, the un-interesting.

Television was initially conceived to be a window into a magical world, a story-teller for the artist of the moving screen, but accessible to every home, an informer, an educator, an entertainer for all ages. The idealistic credo could not escape the violation of the profit-margin mechanisms.

Today’s television industry raises the following “scholastic” dilemmas: whom will the Bachelor give the flower to? Are these young people using only 5 words in their vocabulary? Is this crib really a crib? How many shoes does one need? And the eternal question: Are Paris and Nicole still friends?

The ratings prove that we love reality shows. They are an escape from our boredom. Or even our apathy to pick up a book. They certainly prove there is someone else out there with worst problems and issues than us; hopefully… If they are a mirror of our society, we certainly need a make-over.

The historian of the future will gather all evidence of the early 21st century to discover that people without a job (or a talent) can be famous and people without a prospect could get a high-paying contract because they ate bugs on TV. Scary! Even scarier than actually eating bugs is the fact that TV and internet feed this trash to our children earlier and earlier in their lives. Surely all of us are responsible parents and we always monitor their access to the media.

Or that is what we claim; because if you ask any priest or confessor, they will assure you that our youth has been exposed to much more than we hope they have been. After all, it is okay if we watch these shows, as long as they don’t; which means that sooner or later it is okay for them to watch too. And we all know about the temptations for children to grow up faster and with the least possible maturity.

There are serious issues related to our contemporary social ethics that reality shows project. The tem-

porary alliance before the betrayal is one such issue. Especially, when the “players” have to choose their friends with the understanding that one day they have to dispose of this friendship: this is how you win the game.

This is also how you get ahead in this type of social environment. We teach our youth to trust nobody. To keep their friends close and their enemies closer. To look out for themselves and themselves only. After all, the difference between the reality shows and us is that they are followed by a cameraman and we are not. The script is still the same.

It is not too long ago that the Osbournes were the model family and Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston were a celebrity couple in love. The merge of celebrities and reality shows is as enticing a business proposition as discovering plutonium in your backyard.

You get paid for doing nothing.

And being yourself pays well if you are a celebrity. We want to watch you as you are: with the foul language, the questions about the chicken of the sea, the smelly feet… We love celebrities who have weaknesses, because we have weaknesses too.

And in our microcosm, we are also somewhat of a celebrity. We strive for the praise of others and their recognition. We hate to be insulted and we require the red carpet treatment.

Celebrity news today is an exaggerated version of the lamented and much missed village gossip. It makes for great water cooler talk at the office. It also promotes celebrities themselves; there is no such thing as bad publicity, they say. What becomes more and more confusing is attempting to find the dividing line between celebrity news and actual news.

Who would watch the latter if it weren’t for the former. For TV ratings, bad news is good news: a dropped baby, a serious substance abuse, a divorce, a fight, maybe a murder! Tune in at 8 for more.

“Kids, go to your rooms, mom and dad are watching something.”

And off they go to watch the uncensored version via internet in the privacy of their own room.

Someone said that an 18-year-old has watched more crimes on television than the amount of crimes that have been committed by the criminals in an entire prison.

You remember those days when you had to read a book unsuitable for children to be exposed to corruption?

All it takes now is to move a computer mouse the wrong direction.

Back then, at least, you could improve your spelling skills.

But here I am, complaining about modern technology and modern society, while I enjoy air conditioning and typing at my computer.

I have to stop this negativity. I am running out of time anyway. It is almost 8 and the E channel is on!

Fr. Nikiforos Fakinos is the Religious Education Coordinator of the Direct Archdiocesan District.

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10

OCTOBER 2009

The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

SCOBA Hierarchs Convene for Special Session NEW YORK — A Special Session of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) met on Sept. 25 to focus on the documents related to the “Organization of Episcopal Assemblies” in the regions of the world that are outside the borders of the Autocephalous Churches.

Archbishop Demetrios, chairman of SCOBA, hosted the meeting at Archdiocese headquarters. These Episcopal Assemblies have been authorized by the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference that met at the Orthodox Center of Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Switzerland, from June 6-13.

It was decided unanimously by the Hierarchs to convene the first such Episcopal Assembly during the first week after Pentecost in 2010, which will fall in the last week of May. The likely days of the Assembly will be May 26-27.

There was also discussion about the location of the Assembly, with a specific venue to be decided after investigation

of locales and resources.

The Hierarchs also outlined an initial staging process, combining Hierarchs of SCOBA with sub-committees, which will formulate the outline of the form and agenda of the Assembly.

The session was attended by the following SCOBA members: Archbishop Demetrios, (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Philip, vicechairman (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Christopher, secretary (Serbian Orthodox Church), Archbishop Nicolae (Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese), Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Jonah (Orthodox Church in America) Archbishop Antony (proxy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church) and Archpriest Alexander Abramov (Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA).

Also present were the General Secretary and members of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission representing the SCOBA member Churches.

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OPA! Let the fun begin.

Join other Americans, Greeks, Friends and Family on our

4th Annual Greek Cultural Cruise

February 20 - 27, 2010

Aboard the Costa Atlantica Departs from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to: Key West, FL; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

G PRICE REAT VAL S STAR UE T AT O NLY

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Experience an Authentic Greek Festival at Sea! This is not your typical cruise...In addition to traditional cruise activities,casinos, shows & food,you’ll enjoy Greek Dances, Greek Singers, Comedians,Movies, Greek Food,Lectures & More! Enjoy the music of Nick Trivelas,as well as the “Night in Athens Trio” featuring George Antonopoulos & Joanna.Join us in song,dance and an occasional “OPA!” as you sail the Western Caribbean.

Please Note!

You must call and book with TravelGroup International to be eligible to attend any and all private Greek functions!

Sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Mission of Ocala, Father George Papadeas, Pastor

For reservations & information contact: TravelGroup International: 1.866.447.0750 or 561.447.0750 ext: 102 or 108 or opacruise@travelgroupint.com Fax: 561.447.0510 125 SE Mizner Blvd., #14, Boca Raton, FL 33432 www.opacruise.com

Welcome Your All Holiness Καλώς Ήλθατε Παναγιώτατε Many Years Your Eminence Εις Πολλά Έτη Δέσποτα Aphrodite & Peter Skeadas White Plains, New York

11

OCTOBER 2009

LEADERSHIP 100 WELCOMES HIS ALL HOLINESS ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW he Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund wishes to express its profound joy and deepest appreciation to His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Spiritual Leader of the world’s more than 250 million Orthodox Christians, for his visionary reign over 18 years upon his Apostolic and Patriarchal Visit to the United States in October of 2009 and to the Spiritual Leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, upon the 10th Anniversary of his Enthronement as Archbishop of America. The Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees and the entire membership of Leadership 100 joins all Orthodox Christians, faithful Christians and fellow citizens in celebrating this historic occasion.

His All Holiness has demonstrated to the world extraordinary leadership in faith and morals, interfaith and international understanding, especially and poignantly in his patronage of the Religion, Science and Environment Symposia around the world teaching all the world’s peoples to eschew violence in the name of religion and to take responsibility for God’s great creation.

The manifold purposes of His Apostolic and Patriarchal Visit are to lead a Symposium titled: “Restoring Balance: The Great Mississippi River”; to meet with the President and other leaders of the U.S. Government; to advance Orthodox unity and Interfaith relations; to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios; and to minster to the faithful from New Orleans to New York and from Washington, DC to Atlanta. All stand as a testimony to His broad vision, deep compassion and Ecumenical outreach.

Leadership 100 again affirms with deepest appreciation the historic role of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch and our Spiritual Leader in America, who has brought peace and stability to our beloved Church, breathing new life into its mission with wisdom and humility, and who over the past decade has given Leadership 100 new purpose and determination in its support of the National Ministries of our Church and in advancing Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America.

We stand as true beneficiaries in a Community of Orthodox Faith and Hellenic Heritage whose most cherished treasures have been passed on to us and future generations by His All Holiness and His Exarch in America and we pray that God may continue to Bless this extraordinary Ecumenical Patriarchal Ministry around the world and the Archiepiscopal Ministry in our beloved America into the future.

With deep Respect and Christian love, Stephen G. Yeonas, Chairman Constantine G. Caras, Vice Chairman George E. Safiol, Treasurer Kassandra L. Romas, Secretary Paulette Poulos, Acting Executive Director

12

OCTOBER 2009

WATCH

on the

to be broadcast

Sunday, Nov.1ST, 2009 7:00 am ET/PT On the occasion of the Visit of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to America, Greek Orthodox Telecommunications presents “ThE GrEEN PaTriarch” on the Hallmark Channel.

Produced by Becket Films, this program offers the viewer a portrait of the 270th successor to the Apostle Andrew and follows him from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul to the burning rainforests of the Amazon to the melting glaciers of the Arctic where he gathered representatives of the world’s religions in a silent prayer for the planet. **Copies of the program can be ordered at www.orthodoxmarketplace.com *For Channel number in your area please contact your local cable company.

New Church in Michigan Nears Completion GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. Work is progressing on a new home for Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, according to published reports.

The most recent addition is the church’s dome.

A factory in Minnesota built the dome and tested it for weight and strength.

It was then dismantled and sent to the building site. In mid-August, builders assembled the skeleton of the dome and covered it with plywood sheeting.

A rubber skin will be placed over the

sheeting, followed by the outer covering of dark copper.

Planning for the new building started four years ago after a local medical center purchased the current white-domed building in Flint.

Ground was broken for the new church, situated on 10 acres on East Baldwin Road in Grand Blanc Township, where most of its members live, in December 2008.

Fr. Angelo Maggos is the pastor. He came to the church Dec. 15, 2008.

Manhattan Church Holds Stewardship Event Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Manhattan held its annual Stewardship Gala Oct. 16.

“Evangelismos” Annunciation Church at 302 West 91st St., is one of the oldest Greek Orthodox communities in New York. Major renovations have been un-

dertaken to restore the Church to its full glory. The gala provides support for this restoration of the facilities and for the many activities of the parish, from the youngest members in Greek and Sunday Schools to faithful support of the Church’s longtime members.

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13

OCTOBER 2009

Retreat House Door Opening Ushers New Era for Metropolis of Boston It was a day that will remain etched in the minds of those who participated in the latest joyous and historic event in the Metropolis of Boston.

Metropolitan Methodios presented to Archbishop Demetrios and to the more than 1,300 faithful from throughout New England the newly constructed Retreat House on the grounds of the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH. Amidst the beauty of the New Hampshire woods, under blue skies and colorful foliage, Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Methodios assisted by benefactors, cut the ribbon and entered a magnificent structure which will greatly enhance the programs and ministries of the Metropolis of Boston.

The faithful of the entire Archdiocese will have a place to retreat, connect with our Orthodox Faith and Hellenic Culture, grow spiritually and relax in the pristine 268 acre facility which includes three lakes, the rustic Chapel of St. George, a state-of-the-art dining facility, and now a retreat house consisting of 40-double rooms, a library, a parlor with a fireplace, conference rooms, audio visual rooms and much more.

“We do not believe in human cloning,” Archbishop Demetrios told the large gathering in front of the Retreat House “but this building should be cloned!”

Following the Agiasmos Service, Metropolitan Methodios, on behalf of the entire Metropolis presented the Archbishop an engolpion to mark the 10th anniversary of his enthronement.

Metropolitan Methodios also announced that the library in the Retreat House will be named the Archbishop Demetrios Library. The Archbishop, as the spiritual leader of the Archdiocese, was visibly moved and pleased to see this facility, promising that he will talk about it everywhere he travels.

Consul General of Greece in Boston Constantine Orphanides, brought the best wishes of the Greek nation and expressed his personal admiration for the Retreat House and the entire Faith & Heritage Center, thanking Metropolitan Methodios for this great achievement of the Greek Orthodox Church in New England.

Also at the ceremony was the governor of New Hampshire, John Lynch, who related how as a youngster he was a camper in what was then known as Camp Merrimack.

He welcomed everyone and related his closeness with the Greek Orthodox Community of New Hampshire, sharing that he enjoyed visiting the Greek Festival at the St. George Cathedral in Manchester.

Gov. Lynch was accompanied by the New Hampshire Commissioner of Labor George Copadis, a personal friend of the governor, a steward at St. George Cathedral and an admirer and supporter of the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center complex.

The highlights of the day included a performance of Greek dancing by the Metropolis of Boston Dance Troop, directed

by Dr. John Pappas which has performed locally, nationally and internationally.

Metropolitan Methodios addressed the gathering, stating: “As I pondered upon the significance of today’s ceremony, the following thought penned by an unnamed author came to mind.

‘The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created first in

Photos: ARETI BRATSIS

Joining Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Methodios in the Retreat House were, left to right: Holy Cross Prof. Photios Ketsetzis who directed the Choir, Yervant and Florence Nahikian (architects of the project) Arthur C. Anton, Consul General Constantine Orphanides, George and Margo Behrakis, Magdalene Kantartzi, (Dir. of Press and Communication of the Greek Consulate), Charles L. Poulos and Mary and Christos Papoutsy.

the mind and will, created next in activity.

The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating.’

“Your Eminence, “Many years ago we began envisioning the future of Orthodoxy in New England. Indeed we knew the future had to be created first in our imagination and then in specific ministries which would embrace the people of God. “And so, in 1995, I appointed a Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Christos Papoutsy to locate property for a camp and heritage center where children and adults could enjoy fellowship, and learn about their Greek Orthodox faith and culture.

The Committee recommended what was then known as Camp Merrimack in the old village of Cloughville in Contoocook, N.H. “In September 1998, thanks to a most generous endowment gift from George and Margo Behrakis, the Metropolis of Boston purchased this beautiful property that consists of 191 acres.

“Two years later, in May of 2000, George and Margo retired the remaining mortgage bringing their total contribution to well over $1 million.

“This year, the Behrakis family purchased an additional 77 adjoining acres, bringing the total number to 268 acres.

We are grateful to them for their visionary faith and commitment to our Faith and Heritage.

“We are also thankful to our communities throughout New England, to our Clergy Syndesmos, to our Philoptochos Societies, to the Archons of our Church, to all Greek-American organizations and to faithful individuals who generously contributed over the years to renovate existing buildings including the Recreation Hall, the Chapel and the Dining Hall.

“We are grateful also to those who underwrote the construction of several new cabins for year-round use of our young

  page 30

The ribbon cutting ceremony from inside the building.

Metropolitan Methodios presents Archbishop Demetrios with an engolpio on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his enthronement as Archbishop of America.

14

OCTOBER 2009

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.”

–Isaiah 40:11 We welcome our Spiritual Shepherd.

Eis Polla Eti Despota!

–Drs. Anthony and Maria Limberakis

photo by n. manginas

ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2009

ΕΤΟΣ 74 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1252

Ο ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ ΒΑΡΘΟΛΟΜΑΙΟΣ ΣΤΙΣ ΗΠΑ

ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ – Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης κ. Βαρθολομαίος θα επισκεφθεί στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες από τις 20 Οκτωβρίου μέχρι τις 6 Νοεμβρίου με πρώτο σταθμό αφίξεως τη Νέα Ορλεάνη, για να συγκαλέσει και να προεδρεύσει του Όγδοου Περιβαλλοντολογικού Συμποσίου «Θρησκεία, Επιστήμη και Περιβάλλον». Το 8ο Περιβαλλοντολογικό Συμπόσιο εν πλώ, με θέμα: Ο Μέγας Ποταμός Μισσισσιππής: αποκατάσταση της ισορροπίας, που οργανώνεται από τον οργανισμό «Θρησκεία, Επιστήμη και Περιβάλλον» και το οποίο τελεί υπό την υψηλή προστασία και την καθοδήγηση του κ. Βαρθολομαίου, θα πραγματοποιηθεί στη Νέα Ορλεάνη και στον ποταμό Μισσισσιππή και θα συμπεριλάβει μεγάλο αριθμό επιστημόνων και διαμορφωτών πολιτικής, θεολόγων, περιβαλλοντολόγων, εκπροσώπων του επιχειρηματικού κόσμου και ΜΚΟ καθώς και εκπροσώπων των Μ.Μ.Ε. Μετά το συμπόσιο ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης θα μεταβεί στη Νέα Υόρκη και θα συμμετάσχει σε εορταστικές εκδηλώσεις για τη συμπλήρωση δεκαετίας από την ενθρόνιση του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου. Στις 25 Οκτωβρίου ο Παναγιώτατος θα τελέσει Μέγα πατριαρχικό εσπερινό στον Ιερό Ναό του Αγίου Δημητρίου στο Merrick του Λόνγκ Άϊλαντ Νέας Υόρκης. Την επομένη 26 Δεκεμβρίου, Εορτή του Αγίου Δημητρίου του Μυροβλήτου και ονομαστική εορτή του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου, ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης θα προεξάρχει της Αρχιερατικής Θείας Λειτουργίας στον Καθεδρικό ναό του Αγίου Δημητρίου στην Αστόρια της Νέας Υόρκης. Το εσπέρας της ίδιας ημέρας ο Πατριάρχης θα προστεί της 9ης Ετήσιας Προσευχής για τους Ορθοδόξους υπαλλήλους του Ο.Η.Ε., στον Αρχιεπισκοπικό Καθεδρικό Ναό της Αγίας Τριάδος στο Μανχάταν. Την Τρίτη 27 Οκτωβρίου, ο Παναγιώτατος θα συναντηθεί με τους ορδοδόξους ιεράρχες της

SCOBA και θα παρακαθίσει σε γεύμα με θρησκευτικούς ηγέτες. Το Πανεπιστήμιο Fordham θα απονείμει στον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη το απόγευμα της 27ης Οκτωβρίου Τιμητικό Διδακτορικό Δίπλωμα Νομικής εις αναγνώριση του ηγετικού ρόλου του στους τομείς του περιβάλλοντος και του διαθρησκειακού και διαπολιτισμικού διαλόγου. Το Πανεπιστήμιο θα παρουσιάσει επίσης τον πρώτο τόμο από σειρά τριών που πρόκειται να εκδώσει, με βαρυσήμαντες ομιλίες του Παναγιωτάτου. Κατά τη διάρκεια της επισκέψεως του Πατριάρχη στο Fordham θα υπάρξει και η ευκαιρία για τους ορθοδόξους φοιτητές να τον συναντήσουν και να λάβουν την πατριαρχική ευλογία. Την Τετάρτη 28 Οκτωβρίου, ο Παναγιώτατος θα συναντηθεί με τον Γενικό Γραμματέα των Ηνωμένων Εθνών Ban Kimoon και αργότερα, ως προσκεκλημένος του Rabbi Arthur Schneier, θα συναντηθεί με Εβραίους θρησκευτικούς ηγέτες. Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης θα μεταβεί στις 29 Οκτωβρίου στην Άτλαντα όπου και θα τελέσει Οικουμενική Δοξολογία στον Καθεδρικό Ναό της Μητροπόλεως Ατλάντα του Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου. Με την επιστροφή του στη Νέα Υόρκη την Παρασκευή 30 Οκτωβρίου ο Πατριάρχης θα παρευρεθεί σε δεξίωση που παραθέτει το Μουσείο Βιβλικής Τέχνης (Museum of Biblical Art - MOBIA), στο Μανχάταν το οποίο παρουσιάζει μια διαρκείας ενός μηνός έκθεση αφιερωμένη στον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο και τις πρωτοβουλίες του για το περιβάλλον. Το ίδιο βράδυ ο Παναγιώτατος θα παρακολουθήσει μουσική συναυλία στο Alice Tully Hall του Lincoln Center στο Μανχάταν που θα είναι αφιερωμένη στη παρουσία του Πατριάρχη στις Η.Π.Α και συγχρόνως φόρος τιμής στη δεκαετή διακονία του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου στην Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αμερικής. Ο μαέστρος Peter Tiboris θα διευθύνει την Φιλαρμονική Ορχήστρα του Μανχάταν και στο πρόγραμμα θα συμμετέχει η Αρχιεπισκοπική Μητροπολιτική Χορωδία Νέων και ο πιανίστας Βασίλης Βαρβαρέσος. Το Σάββατο 31 Οκτωβρίου ο Παναγιώτατος θα προσφωνήσει την ολομέλεια του Αρχιεπισκοπικού Συμβουλίου και θα συναντηθεί με το Συμβούλιο της Εθνικής Φιλόπτωχου Αδελφότητος. Το ίδιο βράδυ το Τάγμα του Αγίου Ανδρέα των Αρχόντων του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου διοργανώνει το ετήσιο επίσημο δείπνο του το οποίο θα είναι αφιερωμένο στον κ. Βαρθολομαίο. Ο κύριος ομιλητής της βραδιάς θα είναι Ρω-

 óåë. 19

ΕΟΡΤΑΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ 10ης ΕΠΕΤΕΙΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΕΝΘΡΟΝΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ 2ο Μέρος Συνέχεια από το προηγούμενο φύλλο του χρονοδιαγράμματος των 10 ετών του Αρχιεπισκόπου ∆ημητρίου στο θρόνο της Αμερικής.

1999 Oκτ. 22-23 - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος παρίσταται στην Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση της Νέας Ιερσέης στο Cherry Hill, N.J. 25 Οκτωβρίου - Η Μόνιμη Διάσκεψη των Κανονικών Ορθοδόξων Επισκόπων στην Αμερική (SCOBA) πραγματοποιεί την πρώτη συνεδρίασή της, υπό την προεδρία του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου στην έδρα της στο Bound Brook, N.J. 28 Οκτωβρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος πραγματοποιεί την πρώτη επίσημη επίσκεψή του στο γραφείο του Κυβερνήτη της Νέας Υόρκης George Pataki στο Μανχάταν.

29 Οκτωβρίου - Μετά από 38 χρόνια υπηρεσίας, ο Δρ. Νικόλαος Κλαδόπουλος, διευθυντής του Γραφείου της Ελληνικής Παιδείας της Αρχιεπισκοπής, συνταξιοδοτείται.

11 Νοεμβρίου - Η Eleni Huszagh γραμματέας και μέλος του Αρχιεπισκοπικού Συμβουλίου εκλέγεται πρόεδρος του Εθνικού Συμβουλίου των Εκκλησιών του Χριστού στις ΗΠΑ.

17 Νοεμ. - Ο Πρόεδρος Κλίντον ολοκληρώνει επίσημη επίσκεψη στο Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος καλωσορίζει τον Πρόεδρο και την κ. Κλίντον.

21 Νοεμβρίου - Ο Μητροπολίτης Γεώργιος της Νέας Ιερσέης ο οποίος είχε χειροτονηθεί στη θέση αυτή μόλις τον περασμένο Απρίλιο, πεθαίνει από βαρύτατο εγκεφαλικό επεισόδιο σε ηλικία 66 ετών κατά τη διάρκεια επίσκεψής του στη κοινότητά του στη Bethesda, Md. 1 Δεκ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος διορίζει τον Θεοφιλέστατο Επίσκοπο Τρωάδος Σάββα πρωτοσύγκέλλο της Αρχιεπισκοπής. Λίγες ημέρες αργότερα, διορίζει τον π. Αλέξανδρο Καρλούτσο εκτελεστικό διευθυντή του οργανισμού «Ηγεσία των 100» - «Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund» και ορίζει μια επιτροπή για να επιλέξει ένα νέο πρόεδρο για τη Θεολογική Σχολή του Τιμίου Σταυρού (Hellenic College-Holy Cross). Δεκ. 24-26 - Το τηλεοπτικό δίκτυο CBS στην ειδική τηλεοπτική εκπομπή «An American Christmas» αφιερώνει μέρος της στην Ορθοδοξία. Το πρόγραμμα περιλαμβάνει αφήγηση από τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο.

2000 1 Ιαν. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριοςδιορίζει τον πρώην διευθυντή των οικονομικών και διοίκησης της Αρχιεπισκοπής, Τζέρι Δημητρίου στη νεοσύστατη θέση του εκτελεστικού διοικητικού διευθυντή.

6 Ιαν. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος χοροστατεί

στον πρώτο του Εορτασμό της Ημέρας των Θεοφανίων στο Tarpon Springs, της Φλόριδας. Ιανουάριος - Το Ιονικό Χωριό (Ionian Village) αρχίζει τις προετοιμασίες για τον εορτασμό της 30ής επετείου από την ίδρυσή του. Ιαν. 20-21 - Κατά την πρώτη συνεδρίαση του νέου έτους, η Ιερά Επαρχιακή Σύνοδος μελετά την προτεινόμενη αναθεώρηση του Καταστατικού της Αρχιεπισκοπής.

22 Ιανουαρίου - Η εκτελεστική Επιτροπή και το Διοικητικό Συμβούλιο του «Αρχιεπίσκοπος Ιάκωβος Leadership 100 Endowment Fund» προσφέρουν 3,4 εκατομμύρια δολάρια για τις Εθνικές Διακονίες της Αρχιεπισκοπής.

15 Φεβ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος ανακοίνωσε επίσημα ότι η 35η Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση θα πραγματοποιηθεί στη Φιλαδέλφεια στις 2-7 Ιουλίου.

Mαρ. 3-4 - Συνέρχεται για πρώτη φορά το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο υπό την ηγεσία του νέου Αρχιεπισκόπου.

9 Μαρτίου - Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος συμμετέχει στη Σύνοδο Κορυφής των εκκλησιαστικών Ηγετών στο Λευκό Οίκο με θέμα: «A Call to Action: Ο Πρόεδρος της Αμερικής συναντάται με τους θρησκευτικούς ηγέτες».

30 Μαρτίου - Ο Πρόεδρος Κλίντον, κατά την επίσκεψή του στη Νέα Υόρκη, προσκαλεί τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο σε ιδιωτική συνάντηση για να παρουσιάσει την επίσημη διακήρυξη της 25ης Μαρτίου ως Ημέρας Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας: Μια Εθνική Ημέρα Εορτασμού της Ελληνικής και της Αμερικανικής Δημοκρατίας.

7 Απριλίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος τελεί τον αγιασμό κατά τη διάρκεια της τελετής της θεμελίωσης το Ελληνικό Κέντρο Τεχνών στο Florida Atlantic University σε Boca Raton.

3 Μαϊου - Το πιο πρόσφατο προσχέδιο του προτεινόμενου Καταστατικού Χάρτη επανεξετάζεται στην Αρχιεπισκοπή από τα μέλη της Επαρχιακής Επιτροπής Καταστατικού, από κληρικούς και λαϊκούς εκπροσώπους των Μητροπόλεων, υπό την προεδρία του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου.

12 Μαϊου - Η υπουργός Εξωτερικών Madeleine Albright προσφέρει επίσημο δείπνο προς τιμή του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου στο Στέιτ Ντιπάρτμεντ για να τον τιμήσει για την ηγετική του ικανότητα ως «παγκοσμίου φήμης μελετητή και πάστορα της Υπομονής, Δυνάμεως και Αγάπης».

11-14 Μαϊου - Κατά τη διάρκεια της Διασκέψεως του «Αρχιεπίσκοπος Ιάκωβος Leadership 100 Endowment Fund» ο πρόεδρος Γιώργος Κόκκαλης ανακοινώνει $10 εκατ. δολάρια επιχορήγηση για το Ελληνικό Κολέγιο και τη Θεολογκή Σχολή του Τιμίου Σταυρού κατά τα επόμενα 10 χρόνια.

1 Ιουνίου - Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιε-

 óåë. 16

16

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2009

ΕΟΡΤΑΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ 10ης ΕΠΕΤΕΙΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΕΝΘΡΟΝΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ  óåë. 15

πίσκοπος Αμερικής διορίζει τον π. Mark Α. Λεοντή, διευθυντή του γραφείου της Νεολαίας & της Διακονίας των Νέων της Αρχιεπισκοπής.

8-19 Ιουνίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος και ο Μητροπολίτης Βοστώνης Μεθόδιος συνεορτάζουν την 60ή επέτειο της χειροτονίας του Αρχιεπισκόπου Ιακώβου στην εκκλησία της Αγίας Τριάδος στο Λόουελ της Μασαχουσέτης, καθώς και της 100ης επετείου της Αγίας Τριάδος και την πρώτη επίσκεψη του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου» στην ενορία.

3-7 Ιουλίου -Η 35η Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση πραγματοποιείται στη Φιλαδέλφεια. Για πρώτη φορά, οι συνεδριάσεις της επιτροπής πραγματοποιούνται πρίν από τα εργαστήρια που έχουν θέματα θρησκευτικής εκπαίδευσης, όπως αυτές εφαρμόζονται στη δραστηριότητα της κάθε επιτροπής.

28 Ιουλίου - Ο π. Νικόλαος Τριανταφύλλου ονομάζεται πρόεδρος του Ελληνικού Κολλεγίου και της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού μετά από συνεδρίαση του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου.

2 Αυγούστου/10 - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος προσφέρει προσευχή στα συνέδρια του Ρεπουμπλικανικού και Δημοκρατικού Κόμματος αντίστοιχα.

17-20 Αυγ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος, ως έξαρχος του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου, ηγείται αντιπροσωπείας που εκπροσωπεί τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο στη Μόσχα κατά τη διάρκεια της τελετής θεμελίωσης του νέου Καθεδρικού Ναού του Σωτήρος Χριστού.

15 Σεπτ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος φτάνει στο Φοίνιξ για μια τριήμερη επίσκεψη στους ελληνορθόδοξους πιστούς και την κοινότητα της Αριζόνα που περιλαμβάνει ξενάγηση στο Grand Canyon και ταξίδι στο Μοναστήρι του Αγίου Αντωνίου. Συνοδεύεται από το Μητροπολίτη Αντώνιο του Σαν Φρανσίσκο.

23-24 Σεπτ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος παρευρίσκεται στην αφιέρωση των τριών νέων κτιριακών εγκαταστάσεων του συγκροτήματος του Ναού του Ευαγγελισμού στο Χιούστον: ένα εκκλησάκι με βυζαντινές τοιχογραφίες, ένα εκπαιδευτικό κέντρο και ένα αθλητικό κέντρο.

29-30 Σεπτ. - Το αρχιεπισκοπική Συμβούλιο πραγματοποιεί την πρώτη συνεδρίαση μετά την Κληρικολαϊκή ης Φιλαδελφείας. Ο Αρχειπίσκοπος διορίζει τον Michael Jaharis ως αντιπρόεδρο.

6 Οκτωβρίου - Ο π. Τριανταφύλλου αναλάμβάνει καθήκοντα του προέδρου του Κολεγίου και της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού κατά τη διάρκεια τελετής στο παρεκκλήσι του σχολείου.

26 Οκτωβρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Τιράνων και Πάσης Αλβανίας Αναστάσιος συνεορτάζει με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο την Ημέρα του Αγίου Δημητρίου στον Καθεδρικό ναό του Αγίου Δημητρίου στην Αστόρια. Το κοινοτικό σχολείο της Αστορίας συγκεντρώνει 1.000 δολάρια για να βοηθήσει την Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία στην Αλβανία.

Noεμ.. 10-12 - Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος πραγματοποιεί την πρώτη ποιμαντορική επίσκεψή του στη Μητρόπολη του Ντητρόιτ και το τρίτο ταξίδι του στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες από το 1997, το οποίο περιλαμβάνει, μια ημέρα διαμονής στη Νέα Υόρκη για να παραλάβει βραβείο για τις περιβαλλοντολογικές του προσπάθειές από την οργάνωση Scenic Hudson Inc, και να παραστεί στα εγκαίνια του νέου τμήματος Βυζαντινής Τέχνης στο Μητροπολιτικό Μουσείο Τέχνης υπό τη χορηγία του Michael Jaharis του οποίου φέρουν και το

όνομα.

25 Νοέμ.-Δεκ. 1 - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος ηγείται αντιπροσωπείας για την πρώτη Κληρικολαϊκή Διάσκεψη της Κωνσταντινούπολης την οποία διοργανώνει το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο.

12 Δεκεμβρίου - Ο Μητροπολίτης κυρός Σίλας, πρώην επίσκοπος της Νέας Ιερσέης και πρώην πρόεδρος του Ελληνικού Κολεγίου και της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού πεθαίνει σε ηλικία 80 ετών μετά από καρδιακή προσβολή.

2001 14 Ιανουαρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος και ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Ιάκωβος τελούν τα θυρανοίξια του Ιερού Ναού της Αγίας Αικατερίνης στη πόλη Νέιπλς της Φλόριδας.

20 Ιανουαρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος είναι επίσημος καλεσμένος στην τελετή ορκομωσίας του Προέδρου George W. Bush και συμμετέχει στην Εθνική Προσυεχή στον Καθεδρικό Ναό της Ουάσινγκτον.

11 Φεβρουαρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος παρίσταται για πρώτη φορά στις εορταστικές εκδηλώσεις της Εορτής του Αγίου Φωτίου στο ομώνυμο παρεκκλήσι του Αγίου, στην πόλη του Αγίου Αυγουστίνου της Φλόριδας.

8 Μαρτίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος παραδίδει την 33η ετήσια Διάλεξη του Μπάμπτον στο Πανεπιστήμιο Κολούμπια με θέμα: «Αγιος Ιωάννης ο Χρυσόστομος: Ανθρωπολογικές Ενοράσεις για την εποχή μας.»

23 Μαρτίου - Ο Πρόεδρος Μπους προσφέρει στο Σεβασμιώτατο Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο την επίσημη προεδρική διακήρυξη της 25ης Μαρτίου, «Ημέρα της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας: Μια Εθνική Ημέρα της Εορτασμού της Ελληνικής και της Αμερικανικής Δημοκρατίας».

1η Μαϊου - Μετά το διορισμό του από τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο, ο καθηγητής του Κολεγίου του Τιμίου Σταυρού και της Θεολογικής Σχολής Γεώργιος Πηλίτσης αναλαμβάνει τα καθήκοντα του διευθυντού Ελληνικής Παιδείας του Γραφείου Εκπαίδευσης της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής.

3 Μαϊου - Οι ιεράρχες της SCOBA πραγματοποιούν τη μεγαλύτερη συνάθροισή τους στην ιστορία στην Ουάσιγκτον και και αναγγέλουν μέσω επίσημης δήλωσης ζητώντας για συντονισμένη δράση και μαρτυρία, για την αποστολή της Ορθοδοξίας να παράσχει αποφασιστική φωνή στα θέματα των πνευματικών, κοινωνικών και ανθρωπιστικών αναγκών.

17 Ιουνίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος και ο Μητροπολίτης Αντώνιος του Σαν Φρανσίσκο καθαγιάζουν τον Ιερό Ναό των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης στο Ντελ Μαρ/Cardiff-by-the-Sea, της Καλιφόρνιας.

7-8 Ιουλίου- Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος παρευρίσκεται στο 19ο Ετήσιο Συνέδριο της YAL (Young Adult League) που πραγματοποιήθηκε στο Ντένβερ και χοροστατεί Θείας Λειτουργίας.

14 Ιουλίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος αντιπροσωπεύει τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο και την Αγία και Ιερά Σύνοδο του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου κατά την ενθρόνιση του Μητροπολίτου Ταράσιου του Μπουένος Άιρες.

11 Σεπτεμβρίου Η ημερομηνία αυτή αποτελεί ορόσημο για την αμερικανική κοινωνία, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της Ελληνικής Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας. Όπως και η 7η Δεκεμβρίου του 1941, με την αιφνιδιαστική επίθεση στο Περλ Χάρμπορ από τον αυτοκράτορα της Ιαπωνίας, η 11η Σεπτεμβρίου του 2001 θα είναι μια ημε-

ρομηνία για αυτή τη γενιά του 21ου αιώνα που θα «ζει σε ατιμία». Η εναέριος τρομοκρατική επίθεση στους Δίδυμους Πύργους του Παγκόσμιου Κέντρου Εμπορίου στη Νέα Υόρκη έχει αλλάξει για πάντα οχι μόνο την Αμερική, αλλά και τον κόσμο γενικότερα. Την ημέρα της επίθεσης, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος βρισκόταν στη Βοστώνη και είχε προγραμματιστεί να επιστρέψει στη Νέα Υόρκη το πρωί με πτήση της Delta Shuttle. Μετά από την γενική παύση της εναερίου κυκλοφορίας από Ομοσπονδιακή Υπηρεσία Πολιτικής Αεροπορίας επέστρεψε οδικώς. Καθ ‘οδόν προς τη Νέα Υόρκη εξέδωσε κατευθυντήρια δήλωση προς όλες τις ελληνικές ορθόδοξες εκκλησίες για τη τέλεση προσευχών για τη σωτηρία των ψυχών των αδικοχαμένων σε Νέα Υόρκη, Ουάσιγκτον και Πενσυλβανία. Η τρομοκρατική επίθεση της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου και τα επακόλουθά της κυριαρχούν τις σκέψεις του Αρχιεπισκόπου και καταλαμβάνουν το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του προγράμματός του για πολλούς μήνες, καθώς με προσωπική πρωτοβουλία ήρθε σε άμεση επαφή με τις οικογένειες των Ελληνορθοδόξων θυμάτων ή αυτών που επέζησαν από την τραυματική αυτή εμπειρία. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος επικέντρωσε επίσης την προσοχή του στις προσπάθειες για την ανοικοδόμηση του Ναού του Αγίου Νικολάου, της μοναδικής εκκλησίας που καταστράφηκε κατά τη διάρκεια της τρομοκρατικής επίθεσης. Η τραγωδία κινητοποιεί και άλλους Μητροπολίτες για την λήψη μέτρων, καταβάλλοντας προσπάθειες για την ενίσχυση των θυμάτων. Όσον αφορά την Αρχιεπισκοπή, η τραγωδία της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου είχε ως αποτέλεσμα τη δημιουργία του Τμήματος Φιλανθρωπίας, με επικεφαλής τον τότε Αρχιμανδρίτη Αντώνιο Παρόπουλο.

14 Σεπτεμβρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος επισκέπτεται το «Σημείο Μηδέν» (Ground Zero) με τον Πρόεδρο των ΗΠΑ Τζορτζ Μπους. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος διαβεβαιώνει τον Πρόεδρο, τον Κυβερνήτη της Νέας Υόρκης Τ. Πατάκι και το Δήμαρχο Ρ. Τζουλιάνι ότι η Αρχιεπισκοπή θα στηρίξει τις προσπάθειές τους για την αντιμετώπιση της κρίσης. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος συναντά επίσης τον Κυβερνήτη και το Δήμαρχο σε πολλές άλλες περιπτώσεις τους μήνες που ακολούθησαν την τραγωδία για να συζητήσουν τρόπους με τους οποίους η Εκκλησία μπορούσε να βοηθήσει, όπως και το μέλλον του Ναού του Αγίου Νικολάου το οποίο καταστάφηκε ολοσχερώς στο Σημείο Μηδέν.

20 Σεπτεμβρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος παρευρίσκεται μεταξύ των διαφόρων θρησκευτικών ηγετών που είχαν προσκληθεί σε συνάντηση με τον Πρόεδρο Μπους στο Λευκό Οίκο, προκειμένου να προσφέρει συμβουλές, πριν από την ομιλία του Προέδρου στο Κογκρέσο και το αμερικανικό έθνος.

18 Οκτωβρίου - Ο ιερός Ναός των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης στο Palos Hills, Ill., ξεκινά εορταστικές προετοιμασίες για την 100η επέτειο της κοινότητας.

19 Οκτωβρίου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος καθαγιάζει το Ναό των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης στην Ανάπολη, του Mέριλαντ.

27-28 Οκτ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήριος καθαγιάζει τον Ιερό Ναό της Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου στην Bayard, της Neb. 15 Νοέμ. - Η Eleni Huszagh γραμματέας και μέλος του Αρχιεπισκοπικού Συμβουλίου, διορίζεται η 21η Πρόεδρος του Εθνικού Συμβουλίου Εκκλησιών. Είναι η πρώτη Ελληνορθόδοξη χριστιανή επικεφαλής της οργάνωσης.

30 Νοεμ.-Δεκ. 1 - Το Αρχιεπισκοπικό

Συμβούλιο και η Εθνική Φιλόπτωχος πραγματοποιούν την πρώτη συνδρίασή τους μετά τα γεγονότα της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου. Επιπλέον συζητούν το προτεινόμενο Καταστατικό.

7 Δεκεμβρίου - Η Εκκλησία της Αγίας Τριάδος στο Bridgeport, του Κονέκτικατ γιορτάζει την 95η επέτειό της.

11 Δεκεμβρίου - Η Ιερά Σύνοδος του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου εκλέγει τρεις νέους Επισκόπους για την Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αμερικής: τους Θεοφυλεστάτους Αντώνιο, Γεράσιμο και Σάβα.

2002 9-20 Ιαν. – Εκθεση Φωτογραφίας στο σταθμό Grand Central Station στη Νέα Υόρκη από τον φωτογράφο του περιοδικού Life Joe McNally, με θέμα “Faces of Ground Zero: A Tribute to America’s Heroes,” η οποία συμπεριλαμβάνει μια φωτογραφία κανονικών διαστάσεων του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου, τιμώντας, έτσι το ρόλο του στις ανθρωπιστικές προσπάθειες προς τα θύματα της τραγωδίας της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου. Η έκθεση αργότερα περιοδεύει στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες.

12-18 Ιαν. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος κάνει την πρώτη επίσημη επίσκεψή του στην Ελλάδα.

31 Ιανουαρίου – Η Ορθόδοξη Θεολογική Σχολή του Αγίου Βλαδίμηρου, Crestwood, NY, απονέμει τιμητικό διδακτορικό δίπλωμα Θεολογίας στον Αρχιεπίσκοπο.

1-4 Φεβ. - Ο Σεβασμιώτατος παρακολουθεί το Παγκόσμιο Οικονομικό Φόρουμ που πραγματοποιήθηκε στη Νέα Υόρκη.

2 Φεβ. – Χειροτονία Επισκόπου Σάββα στον Αρχιεπισκοπικό Καθεδρικό Ναό Αγίας Τριάδας στη Νέα Υόρκη.

9 Φεβ. – Χειροτονία Επισκόπου Γερασίμου στον Καθεδρικό Ναό του Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου στη Βοστώνη.

23 Φεβ. – Χειροτονία Επισκόπου Αντωνίου στον Αρχιεπισκοπικό Καθεδρικό Ναό Αγίας Τριάδας στη Νέα Υόρκη.

4-10 Μαρ. – Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης κ.κ. Βαρθολομαίος επισκέπτεται για τέταρτη φορά τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες, στα πλαίσια της οποίας συναντά τον Πρόεδρο George Bush στο Λευκό Οίκο, Ορθοδόξους και Ρωμαιοκαθολικούς ιεράρχες στην Ουάσινγκτον, συμμετέχει σε δείπνο των Αρχόντων κατά το οποίο τιμώνται ο πρώην Αμερικανός Πρόεδρος και η κ. George H.W. Bush στη Νέα Υόρκη, επισκέπτεται το Ground Zero και την Θεολογική Σχολή Ελληνικό Κολλέγιο στο Brookline, Mass.

25 Μαρτίου - ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος επισκέπτεται τον Πρόεδρο Bush στο Λευκό Οίκο για να τιμήσουν από κοινού τον εορτασμό της Ημέρας της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας. Απρίλιος - Μάιος - Η Αρχιεπισκοπή δημοσιεύει την νέα νομοθεσία της σχετικά με σεξουαλικά παραπτώματα κληρικών. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος αναθέτει στον Διάκονο Νεκτάριο Μόροου τη διεύθυνση του Τμήματος Επικοινωνιών της Αρχιεπισκοπής.

18 Απρ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος παρακολουθεί το 10ο εορτασμό της επετείου της Διεθνούς Ορθόδοξης Χριστιανικής Φιλανθρωπίας στη Βαλτιμόρη.

20 Απρ - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος συναντιέται με μέλη της Ενορίας του Αγίου Νικολάου, η οποία καταστράφηκε στις 11 Σεπτεμβρίου, για να τους ενθαρρύνει στις προσπάθειές τους για τη διατήρηση της ενότητάς τους.

28-30 Απρ. - Ο Σεβ ταξιδεύει στο Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο για να συμμετάσχει

 óåë. 18

ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2009

17

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Θεμελίωση Ιερού Ναού Αγίας Μαρκέλλας, Γουάντα ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ Η κοινότητα της Αγίας Μαρκέλλας με περίπου 200 μέλη, κυρίως από το νησί της Χίου, και με μια 20χρονη ιστορία έχει ξεκινήσει ένα πρόγραμμα ανέγερσης που δε βασίζεται στους παραδοσιακούς τρόπους ανοικοδόμησης, αλλά στην ανέγερσή της σε ναό από ατσάλι, η οποία θα γίνει τμηματικά. Στο στιγμιότυπο ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερική ς Δημήτριος κατά τη διάρκεια της τελετής θεμελίωσης στις 10 Σεπτεμβρίου, που σηματοδότησε την έναρξη του έργου για την ανέγερση του νέου ναού στην ίδια τοποθεσία.

Κυριακή της Εθνικής Ηγεσίας των 100 Τό δέ καλόν ποιοῦντες μή ἐκκακῶμεν, καιρῷ γάρ ἰδίῳ θερίσομεν. (Πρός Γαλάτας 6:9) Πρός τούς Σεβασμιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί ∆ιακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συμβουλίων, τά Ἡμερήσια καί Ἀπογευματινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυμον πλήρωμα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀμερικῆς Ἀγαπητοί Ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Σ’ αὐτό τό νέο ἐκκλησιαστικό ἔτος, σᾶς χαιρετῶ με πατρική ἀγάπη ἐξ ὀνόματος τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἐπαρχιακῆς Συνόδου γιά νά σᾶς ἀνακοινώσω ὅτι σέ ἀναγνώριση τοῦ Κληροδοτήματος τῆς «Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100 τοῦ Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Ἰακώβου» (“Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund”), τοῦ ὑποστηρικτικοῦ φιλανθρωπικοῦ ὀργανισμοῦ μας, ἡ Ἱερά Σύνοδος καθορίζει τήν Κυριακή, 18 Ὀκτωβρίου 2009 ὡς Κυριακή τῆς Ἐθνικῆς Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100. Ἡ Κυριακή αὐτή προηγεῖται τῆς Ἑορτῆς τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἰακώβου καί ἔχει σκοπίμως ἐπιλεγεῖ ὡς φόρος τιμῆς πρός τόν μακαριστό Ἀρχιεπίσκοπο Ἰάκωβο, τόν ἐμπνευσμένο Ἱδρυτή τῆς «Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100». Ἀντιμετωπίζοντας δυσχερεῖς οἰκονομικές συγκυρίες καί προκλήσεις ἔναντι τῆς πίστεως καί τοῦ πολιτισμοῦ μας, οἱ Ἑλληνορθόδοξοι ἡγέτες μας, ἄνδρες καί γυναῖκες, καλοῦνται συνεχῶς νά ὑποστηρίξουν πολλούς σκοπούς. Ἔχουν ἀναδειχθεῖ σέ στυλοβάτες τῶν κοινοτήτων τους καθώς καί ἱδρυμάτων ἐκπαιδευτικῶν καί σχετικῶν μέ τήν ὑγεία καί τόν πολιτισμό σέ ὅλη τήν ἐπικράτεια τοῦ μεγάλου ἔθνους μας, διότι ἔχουν ἐμποτισθεῖ μέ τό φιλανθρωπικό πνεῦμα τό ὁποῖο τούς ἔχει κληροδοτηθεῖ ἀπό προηγούμενες γενεές. Ἕνα πνεῦμα τό ὁποῖο προτρέπει νά προτάσσεται ἡ προσφορά τους στίς Ἐθνικές Διακονίες τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς ὥστε νά διαιωνισθῇ ἡ Ὀρθοδοξία καί ὁ Ἑλληνισμός στήν Ἀμερική. Ἔχουν καταστεῖ ὑπόδειγμα γιά ὅλους μας ἐνστερνιζόμενοι τούς λόγους τοῦ Ἀπ. Παύλου ἱλαρόν γάρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ Θεός (Β΄ Κορινθίους 9:7). Ἡ «Ἡγεσία τῶν 100» ἑορτάζει ἐφέτος τήν 25η ἐπέτειο ἀπό τῆς ἱδρύσεώς της. Ἐνῶ ἔχει αὐξήσει τόν ἀριθμό μελῶν της σέ 822, τά ὁποῖα ἀνήκουν σέ 167 ἐνορίες μας σέ κάθε Μητρόπολη καί στήν Ἄμεση Ἀρχιεπισκοπική Περιφέρεια, ἡ ἐπιρροή της εἶναι πολύ εὐρύτερη καί μεγαλύτερη λόγῳ τῆς προσφορᾶς της τῶν $28,5 ἑκατομμυρίων δολλαρίων σέ δωρεές οἱ ὁποῖες μεταφράσθηκαν σέ ὑποτροφίες γιά φοιτητές θεολογίας ὑποψηφίους κληρικούς μας, σέ ἀπαλλαγή ἱερέων μας ἀπό φοιτητικά δάνεια, σέ βοηθήματα συνταξιούχων ἱερέων καί πρεσβυτερῶν, σέ στήριξη κάθε Ἐθνικῆς Διακονίας συμπεριλαμβανομένων τῶν διακονιῶν Νεολαίας καί Οἰκογενείας, Θρησκευτικῆς καί Ἑλληνικῆς Παιδείας, Διαδικτύου καί Ἐσωτερικῆς Ἱεραποστολῆς. Ἐπίσης, ἡ «Ἡγεσία τῶν 100» στάθηκε ἀρωγός τῆς Διεθνοῦς Ὀρθοδόξου Χριστιανικῆς Φιλανθρωπίας (IOCC), τοῦ Ὀρθοδόξου Κέντρου Χριστιανικῆς Ἱεραποστολῆς (OCMC) καί ἔχει προσφέρει ἀνακούφιση καί φροντίδα σέ περιπτώσεις ἐθνικῶν καί παγκοσμίων τραγωδιῶν ὅπως ἡ 11η Σεπτεμβρίου, ἡ θύελλα Κατρίνα, καί σεισμοί καί πυρκαϊές στήν Ἑλλάδα. Σᾶς παρακαλοῦμε νά ὑπολογίσετε ὅλες αὐτές τίς σημαντικές διακονίες τήν Κυριακή τῆς Ἐθνικῆς Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100, καί νά προσφέρετε στά μέλη τῆς Ἡγεσίας τῶν 100 τά ὁποῖα εὑρίσκονται ἀνάμεσά σας τή δυνατότητα νά μοιρασθοῦν τίς ἐμπειρίες των μέ ὅλους τούς πιστούς τῶν ἐνοριῶν. Ἐνθαρρύνουμε τήν στήριξη τοῦ ἔργου αὐτῆς τῆς ἐθνικῆς διακονίας πρός ὄφελος τῶν ἀνθρώπων καί δόξαν Θεοῦ. Μέ μεγάλη εὐγνωμοσύνη στόν Κύριό μας Ἰησοῦ Χριστό καί σ’ ὅλους αὐτούς οἱ ὁποῖοι ἐπωμίζονται αὐτή τή διακονία, προσευχόμαστε ὥστε ἡ Ἡγεσία τῶν 100 καί τά μέλη της νά ἀκολουθοῦν τή συμβουλή τοῦ Ἀποστόλου Παύλου στήν Ἐπιστολή πρός Τίτον ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες Θεῷ (Πρός Τίτον, 3:8). Μέ πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη,

† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος

18

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2009

ΕΟΡΤΑΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ 10ης ΕΠΕΤΕΙΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΕΝΘΡΟΝΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ  óåë. 16 στην τελετή παρασκευής του Αγίου Μύρου, το οποίο παράγεται μία φορά κάθε 10 χρόνια.

10 Μαΐου – Το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο συνεδριάζει στο Σικάγο για να συζητήσει την επερχόμενη Κληρικολαϊκή και τον προτεινόμενο Καταστατικό Χάρτη 18 Μαΐου – Το Συμβούλιο Αlpha Omega της Βοστώνης τιμά τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο με το Lifetime Achievement Award. Στην τελετή Εναρξης της Ελληνικού Κολλεγίου του Τιμίου Σταυρού, ο Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος του Ομίλου E* Trade Χρήστος Μ. Χριστάκος προσφέρει 1 εκατομμύρια δολάρια για τα σχολεία.

23 Μαΐου – Το Αμερικανικό Κολλέγιο της Θεσσαλονίκης απονέμει τον τίτλο του Επίτιμου Διδάκτορα στον Αρχιεπίσκοπο κατά τη διάρκεια τελετής στη Νέα Υόρκη. Ιούλιος - Η Αρχιεπισκοπή εγκαινιάζει το νέο διαδικτυακό της τόπο.

30 Ιουν.-5 Ιουλ. - Η 36η Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση πραγματοποιείται στο Λος Αντζελες και επικεντρώνεται στην αύξηση της συνειδητοποίησης της Πίστης και την επέκταση του ρόλου αυτής στην κοινωνία. Οι συζητήσεις περιλαμβάνουν μακρά συνεδρίαση σχετικά με το προτεινόμενο Καταστατικό και τις προτάσεις επ’ αυτού οι οποίες θα διαβιβάζονταν προς τελική έγκριση στο Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο.

9 Ιουλ. – Ο Πρόεδρος Bush φιλοξενεί μια συνάντηση στο Λευκό Οίκο με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο και άλλους ιεράρχες της SCOBA για να μοιρασθούν τις ανησυχίες τους και να συζητήσουν τις προσπάθειες για την προώθηση της ειρήνης, της κατανόησης και της φροντίδας για τις ανάγκες των ανθρώπων.

29-30 Αυγ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος παρακολουθεί την Ευρωπαϊκή Διάσκεψη για τις θρησκευτικές και κοινωνικές συνέπειες των τρομοκρατικών επιθέσεων της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου, στο Βουκουρέστι, Ρουμανία.

1 Σεπτ. – Ο Σεβασμιώτατος είναι μεταξύ πολλών Ορθόδοξων ιεραρχών από όλο τον κόσμο οι οποίοι συγκεντρώθηκαν για τον εορτασμό της Ημέρας της Ινδίκτου και την έναρξη του νέου εκκλησιαστικού έτους.

11-14 Σεπτ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος συμμετέχει στις εκδηλώσεις μνήμης για την επέτειο ενός έτους από τις επιθέσεις της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου, συμπεριλαμβανομένης και μιας βραδυνής λειτουργίας με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Ιάκωβο στις 14. Πανεθνικά, πολλές ενορίες τελούν Θεία Λειτουργία.

27 Σεπτ. - Το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο ξεκινά την διετή θητεία του μετά την Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος διορίζει την κ. Γεωργία Σκιαδά, Broomall, Pa, Πρόεδρο της Εθνικής Φιλοπτώχου.

29 Σεπτ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος αφιερώνει το Peace Memorial Gymnasium στον Καθεδρικό Ναό του Αγίου Ιωάννη του Θεολόγου στο Tenafly, N.J. 12 Οκτ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος κάνει την πρώτη επίσκεψή του στην Εκκλησία του Αγίου Σπυρίδωνα στο Σαν Ντιέγκο, η οποία εορτάζει την 75η επέτειό της.

19 Οκτ. - Η νεοσυσταθείσα Αρχιεπισκοπική Συμβουλευτική Επιτροπή για θέματα Επιστήμης και Τεχνολογίας συνεδριάζει στην ολομέλειά της για πρώτη φορά στο Ελληνικό Κολλέγιο-Θεολογική Σχολή του Τιμίου Σταυρού.

30 Οκτ.-1 Νοεμ. - Ο Σεβασμιώτατος επισκέπτεται το Ντένβερ για την αφιέρωση του νέου Επισκοπικού Κέντρου του.

19 Νοεμ. - Το Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης απονέμει τον τίτλο του Επίτιμου Διδάκτορα Θεολογίας στον Σεβασμιώτατο.

30 Νοεμ. -1 Δεκ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος κάνει την πρώτη επίσκεψή του στον καθεδρικό Ναό των Αγ. Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης στο Richmond, Va. 3 Δεκ. – Ο Κυβερνήτης της Νέας Ιερσέης James McGreevey κάνει δεξίωση προς τιμή του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου και αρκετών άλλων Ελλήνων κυβερνητικών αξιωματούχων στην Κυβερνητική Κατοικία.

17 Δεκ. – Οι ιεράρχες της SCOBA αναγνωρίζοντας την ανάγκη για μια ενιαία Ορθόδοξη φωνή στην πρωτεύουσα του έθνους, αποφασίζουν με την ψήφο τους την ίδρυση μιας υπηρεσίας στήριξης στην Ουάσιγκτον.

20 Δεκ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος ανακοινώνει ότι η Ιερά Σύνοδος του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου έχει χορηγήσει στην Αρχιεπισκοπή τον νέο Καταστατικό Χάρτη. Ανακοίνωσε επίσης ότι το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο προήγαγε τις Επισκοπές της Αρχιεπισκοπής σε Μητροπόλεις και τους ιεράρχες των πρώην Επισκοπών σε Μητροπολίτες.

2003 Ιανουάριος - Η Αρχιεπισκοπή παρουσιάζει το έβδομο λογότυπό της.

13 Ιαν. – Ο π. James Kordaris αναλαμβάνει καθήκοντα ως διευθυντής του νεοσύστατου Τμήματος Parish Renewal, Outreach and Evangelism 1 Φεβ. – Με την είδηση της τραγικής απώλειας του διαστημικού λεωφορείου Κολούμπια, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος εκφράζει τα συλλυπητήριά του προς τον Πρόεδρο Bush και εκδίδει εγκύκλιο σε όλες τις ενορίες.

2 Φεβ. - ΟΑρχιεπίσκοπος Desmond Tutu της Νότιας Αφρικής είναι κεντρικός ομιλητής σε γεύμα για την Εορτή του Εθνικού Προσκυνήματος του Αγίου Φωτίου 9 Φεβ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος αφιερώνει το νέο κέντρο της κοινότητας της Ενορίας της Αγίας Αικατερίνης στο Falls Church,Va. 19-24 Φεβ. - Κατά τη διάρκεια ενός πολυάσχολου ταξιδίου στη Φλόριδα, ο Σεβ. παρακολουθεί το ετήσιο συνέδριο του Κληροδοτήματος της Ηγεσίας των 100 στο νησί Amelia, κάνει ποιμαντική επίσκεψη στην Ενορία του Αγ. Ιωάννη του Θεολόγου, Jacksonville, και επισκέπτεται το Ορθόδοξο Χριστιανικό Ιεραποστολικό Κέντρο και το Εθνικό Προσκύνημα του Αγίου Φωτίου στο St. Augustine.

4 Απρ. - O Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος προεδρεύει του εαρινού συνεδρίου του Αρχιεπισκοπικού Συμβουλίου στην Ουάσιγκτον, συναντάται με τον Πρόεδρο Bush στον Λευκό Οίκο ενώ, μία ημέρα νωρίτερα, συναντάται με το Γερουσιαστή του Κοννέκτικατ Joseph Lieberman για να συζητήσουν τις προσπάθειες προς την κατεύθυνση της αναγνώρισης του Ελληνορθόδοξου Πατριάρχη Ιεροσολύμων από την κυβέρνηση του Ισραήλ.

12 Απρ. - Η Αγία και Ιερά Σύνοδος του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου εκλέγει τον Πανοσιολογιώτατο Αρχιμανδρίτη Ευάγγελο Κουρούνη ως Μητροπολίτη Νέας Ιερσέης.

29 Απρ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος δίνει διάλεξη στη Θεολογική Σχολή του Πανεπιστημίου Yale για την ουσία και την αποστολή της Ορθόδοξης Χριστιανικής Πίστης.

4 Μαΐου - Ο Σεβασμιώτατος παίρνει μέρος στην τελετή για την ίδρυση της νέας Εκκλησίας της Αναστάσεως Brookville, NY. 19 Μαΐου – Ο Μητροπολίτης Ευάγγελος χειροτονείται στον Καθεδρικό Ναό της Αγίας Τριάδας στη Νέα Υόρκη.

25 Μαΐου – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος καθαγιάζει την Εκκλησία του Αγίου Γεωργίου στην πόλη της Οκλαχόμα, μαζί με τον Μητροπολίτη Ησαΐα.

31 Μαΐου - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος συμμετέχει στον εορτασμό της επίσημης ανύψωσης της Επισκοπής Ατλάντας σε Μητρόπολη.

17-20 Ιουν. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος συμμετέχει στις Συνελεύσεις της Κληρικολαϊκής και της Φιλοπτώχου της Μητρόπολης του Ντητρόιτ στο Νashville. Το Πανεπιστήμιο Vanderbilt παραθέτει δεξίωση προς τιμήν του Αρχιεπισκόπου στις 19.

28 Ιουν. - 1 Ιουλ. – Ο Σεβασμιώτατος ηγείται Πατριαρχικής αντιπροσωπείας σε ταξίδι στο Βατικανό για συνάντηση με τον Πάπα Ιωάννη Παύλο ΙΙ και τον εορτασμό της εορτής των Αγίων Πέτρου και Παύλου.

3-7 Ιουλ. – Το Εθνικό Συνέδριο YAL πραγματοποιείται στη Βαλτιμόρη. Οι Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος και Μητροπολίτης Ευάγγελος τελούν Εσπερινό στις 3 Ιουλ. και Θεία Λειτουργία στις 6. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος μίλησε επίσης στους συμμετέχοντες στο Συνέδριο. Αύγουστος - Το επίσημο κείμενο του νέου Αρχιεπισκοπικού Χάρτη δημοσιεύεται στον Ορθόδοξο Παρατηρητή.

11 Σεπτ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος ανέπεμψε επιμνημόσυνη δέηση στο Ground Zero για να τιμήσει τα θύματα της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου 2001.

24-25 Σεπτ. - Η Ιερά Επαρχιακή Σύνοδος συνεδριάζει στη Νέα Υόρκη.

26-27 Σεπτ. - Το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο και το Συμβούλιο της Εθνικής Φιλοπτώχου συνεδριάζουν στη Νέα Υόρκη.

14 Νοεμ. - Η Ακαδημία Αθηνών εκλέγει ομόφωνα τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο ως Αντεπιστέλλον Μέλος στις 28 Νοεμβρίου 2002.

2004 16 Ιαν. - Αντιπροσωπεία από το Bari, Ιταλία, επισκέπτεται τη Νέα Υόρκη για να κάνει δωρεά ποσού 258.000 ευρώ για την ανοικοδόμηση του Αγίου Νικολάου στο Ground Zero, όπου συμμετείχαν στην επιμνημόσυνη δέηση του Αρχιεπισκόπου.

21-25 Ιαν. -Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος συνοδεύει τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη κ.κ. Βαρθολομαίο στην Αβάνα, Κούβα, για να συναντηθεί με τον Φιντέλ Κάστρο και τον αγιασμό του Καθεδρικού του Αγίου Νικολάου, Εκκλησία την οποία παραχώρησε ο Κάστρο στην Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία.

19 Φεβ. - Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης επιλέγει τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο ως μέλος της Αγίας και Ιεράς Συνόδου του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου, μετά από μια ιστορική αλλαγή στη σύνθεση του σώματος η οποία επιτρέπει πλέον μέλη μη τουρκικής ιθαγένειας.

13-19 Μαρτίου – Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος επισκέπτεται την Μητρόπολη της Νέας Ιερσέης και εγκαινιάζει την Εκθεση «Byzantium: Faith and Power» στο Μητροπολιτικό Μουσείο Τέχνης της Νέας Υόρκης.

2 Απρ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος συναντάται με τον Πρόεδρο Bush στην Ουάσιγκτον για να συζητήσουν το θέμα της Κύπρου και για την υπογραφή της Διακήρυξης της Ημέρας Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας.

24-25 Απρ. – Συνεδριάζει το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο στο Σικάγο.

15 Μαΐου – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος λαμβάνει το Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

5 Ιουν. – Ο Πρόεδρος της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας Τάσσος Παπαδόπουλος απονέμει το Μέγα Σταυρό του Τάγματος του Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ ‘, την υψηλότερη τιμητική διάκριση της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας στον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο σε δείπνο στο Μανχάταν το οποίο διοργά-

νωσε η Κυπριακή Ομοσπονδία Αμερικής.

7 Ιουν. – Ο Μητροπολίτης Αντώνιος του Αγίου Φραγκίσκου ανακοινώνει την απόσυρσή του στο τέλος του 2005.

16 Ιουν. - Η Ολυμπιακή Φλόγα φτάνει στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες στην πορεία της προς τους θερινούς Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες του 2004 στην Αθήνα.

25-30 Ιουλ. - Η 37η Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση και το Συνέδριο της Εθνικής Φιλοπτώχου διεξάγονται στη Νέα Υόρκη. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος ανακηρύσσει το 2005 «Έτος της Οικογένειας.

28 Ιουλ. – Ο Σεβασμιώτατος αναπέμπει δέηση στο Εθνικό Συνέδριο του Δημοκρατικού Κόμματος στη Βοστώνη. Αύγουστος - Τρεις τυφώνες χτυπούν τη Φλόριδα και άλλα μέρη του Νότου επί τέσσερις εβδομάδες, προκαλώντας μεγάλες ζημιές σε πολλές εκκλησίες. Ισχυρές βροχοπτώσεις από τις καταιγίδες προκαλούν μεγάλες πλημμύρες σε μέρη του Οχάιο, Πενσυλβάνιας, Δυτικής Βιρτζίνιας και Νέας Ιερσέης.

13 Αυγ. - ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος ορίζεται μέλος της Προεδρικής Αντιπροσωπείας για τους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες στην Ελλάδα και συνοδεύει τον πρώην Πρόεδρο George H.W. Bush στην τελετή έναρξης στην Αθήνα.

1 Σεπτ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος αναπέμπει δέηση στο Εθνικό Συνέδριο του Ρεπουμπλικανικού Κόμματος στη Νέα Υόρκη.

4 Σεπτ. – Ο Σεβασμιώτατος εκφράζει τη συμπάθειά του προς το λαό της Ρωσίας μετά τη σφαγή των 380 ατόμων από μουσουλμάνους τρομοκράτες στη νότια Ρωσσική πόλη Μπεσλάν.

11 Σεπτ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος συμμετέχει στην τρίτη επέτειο της τραγωδίας της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου.

18-19 Σεπτ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος αφιερώνει το νέο Frosene Education Building του Καθεδρικού Ναού της Αγίας Σοφίας στην Ουάσιγκτον.

28 Σεπτ. – Συνεδριάζουν οι ιεράρχες της SCOBA στο Syosset, NY 2-3 Οκτ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος ταξιδεύει στο Μilwaukee για τον εορτασμό της 100ής επετείου της Εκκλησίας του Ευαγγελισμού.

5-7 Οκτ. - Συνεδρίαση της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής Συνόδου στη Νέα Υόρκη.

15 Νοεμ. – Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος ηγείται αντιπροσωπείας διαφόρων Ελληνοαμερικανικών οργανώσεων σε επίσκεψη στο Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών για συνάντηση με τον Υπουργό Εξωτερικών Colin Powell για το θέμα της αναγνώρισης από τις ΗΠΑ της Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβικής Δημοκρατίας της Μακεδονίας ως Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας.

27 Νοεμ. - Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος μεταβαίνει στο Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο για να συμμετάσχει στις εκδηλώσεις γύρω από την επιστροφή των λειψάνων των Αγίων Ιωάννου του Χρυσοστόμου και Γρηγορίου του Θεολόγου από το Βατικανό, ένα σημαντικό βήμα προς τη συμφιλίωση και την ενότητα μεταξύ της Ορθόδοξης και Ρωμαιοκαθολικής Εκκλησίας.

10-11 Δεκ. – Το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο και η Φιλόπτωχος υπό νέες συνθέσεις πραγματοποιούν την πρώτη συνεδρίαση της διετούς θητείας τους στο Σικάγο.

25 Δεκ. - Ο Μητροπολίτης Αντώνιος του Αγίου Φραγκίσκου πεθαίνει μετά από σύντομη ασθένεια σε ηλικία 69 ετών. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος προέστη στην κηδεία του, στις 29 Δεκεμβρίου.

- Η συνέχεια και το τελευταίο μέρος στο φύλλο του Νοεμβρίου. Την ύλη συγκέντρωσε ο Jim Golding και επιμελήθηκε ο Λευτέρης Πισσαλίδης.

ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2009

19

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Ο ΝΕΟΣ ΠΡΩΘΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΣ Γ. ΠΑΠΑΝΔΡΕΟΥ ΣΤΟ ΦΑΝΑΡΙ ôïõ Íéêüëáïõ Ìáããßíá

Με θερμές ευχές για μια γόνιμη Πρωθυπουργία που θα συμβάλει στην περαιτέρω βελτίωση των ελληνοτουρκικών σχέσεων υποδέχθηκε τον Πρωθυπουργό της Ελλάδος Γιώργο Παπανδρέου, το μεσημέρι της Παρασκευής 9 Οκτωβρίου στο Φανάρι, ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος. «Να σας ευχαριστήσω, διότι από τις πρώτες ημέρες των υψηλών καθηκόντων σας ήρθατε στην Πόλη μας... εις το Οικουμενικόν Πατριαρχείον, πράγμα το οποίον αποδεικνύει την αγάπη σας για τον θεσμό, το ενδιαφέρον σας για τα προβλήματά του και την αγάπη σας, ευρύτερα, για την Ομογένεια της Πόλεως. Το εκτιμούμε πάρα πολύ», ήταν τα πρώτα λόγια του Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίου απευθυνόμενος στον Πρωθυπουργό Γ. Παπανδρέου. Από την πλευρά του ο Ελληνας Πρωθυπουργός αναφέρθηκε στην προσωπικότητα του Πατριάρχη καθώς και στην οικουμενικότητα του θεσμού που εκπροσωπεί. Ιδιαίτερα έδωσε έμφαση στις περιβαλλοντικές πρωτοβουλίες του Πατριάρχη αλλά και στις προσπάθειες του για την προώθηση του διαθρησκειακού διαλόγου. Αναφερόμενος στα προβλήματα Ελλάδας-Τουρκίας είπε ότι η Ελλάδα έχει την θέληση αυτά να διευθετηθούν με σεβασμό όμως στην εδαφική ακεραιότητα και τα σύνορα, με «τον απόλυτο σεβασμό στις θρησκευτικές ελευθερίες, που σας αφορά κι εσάς άμεσα, το Πατριαρχείο, τα ζητήματα, όπως της Χάλκης, μέσα στα πλαίσια των υποχρεώσεων της Τουρκίας στην πορεία της προς την Ε.Ε.». ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ ΒΑΡΘΟΛΟΜΑΙΟΣ «Kύριε Πρωθυπουργέ, θα ήθελα εκ μέρους της Εκκλησίας και προσωπικώς, ως παλαιός φίλος σας, να σας καλοσωρίσω εγκαρδιώτατα στο Οικουμενικόν Πατριαρχείον και να σας εκφράσω τα συγχαρητήρια όλων μας εδώ για την ανάληψη των πρωθυπουργικών καθηκόντων και να σας ευχαρι-

ÍÉÊ. ÌÁÃÃÉÍÁÓ

O Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος,o Γιώργος Παπανδρέου και ο αναπληρωτής Υπουργός Εξωτερικών Δημήτρης Δρούτσας κατά την επίσκεψη του Ελληνα πρωθυπουργού στο Φανάρι. στήσω, διότι από τις πρώτες ημέρες των υψηλών καθηκόντων σας ήρθατε στην Πόλη μας, και από το αεροδρόμιον κατ’ ευθείαν εις το Οικουμενικόν Πατριαρχείον, πράγμα το οποίον αποδεικνύει την αγάπη σας για τον θεσμό, το ενδιαφέρον σας για τα προβλήματά του και την αγάπη σας, ευρύτερα, για την Ομογένεια της Πόλεως. Το εκτιμούμε πάρα πολύ. Είπα προχθές στην Κρήτη, που είχα την ευκαιρία να επισκεφθώ για πολλοστή φορά, σε κάποια από τις πολλές ομιλίες μου ότι η Κυβέρνησις και η Αντιπολίτευσις, η συμπολίτευσις και η αντιπολίτευσις αποτελούν τους δύο πνεύμονας της Δημοκρατίας. Με αυτό το πνεύμα χαιρετίζουμε τις δημοκρατικές εκλογές που έγιναν στην Ελλάδα. Όλοι σεβόμεθα και αποδεχόμεθα τις επιλογές του Ελληνικού λαού – αυτό είναι η πραγματική Δημοκρατία- και εφ’ όσον ο Ελληνικός λαός έδωσε την ψήφον της

Ο ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ ΒΑΡΘΟΛΟΜΑΙΟΣ ΣΤΙΣ ΗΠΑ

 óåë. 15 μαιοκαθολικός Αρχιεπίσκοπος της Νέας Υόρκης Timothy Dolan. Την Κυριακή 1 Νοεμβρίου ο Παναγιώτατος θα προστεί Πατριαρχικής Θείας Λει-

τουργίας, συλλειτουργούντων του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου και των μελών της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής Συνόδου της Ελληνικής Ορθοδόξου Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής στο Αρχιεπισκοπικό Καθεδρικό ναό της Αγίας Τριάδος και θα τελέσει ο ίδιος την τελετή της χειροθεσίας των νέων αρχόντων του Τάγματος του Αποστόλου Ανδρέα. Το ίδιο βράδυ ο Πατριάρχης θα αναχωρήσει για την Ουάσιγκτον και την επομένη θα εορτάσει την 18η επέτειο της ενθρονίσεως του στον Πατριαρχικό Θρόνο στον Ιερό Ναό των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης στην πόλη Annapolis της πολιτείας Μέριλαντ. Τις επόμενες ημέρες ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης κ. Βαρθολομαίος θα συναντηθεί με την ανώτατη ηγεσία των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών, τον Πρόεδρο, τον Αντιπρόεδρο, την Πρόεδρο της Βουλής, την Υπουργό Εξωτερικών και τον ηγέτη της πλειοψηφίας στη Γερουσία. Ο αντιπρόεδρος κ. Τζο Μπάϊντεν και η υπουργός Εξωτερικών κυρία Χίλαρι Κλίντον θα παραθέσουν ξεχωριστά δείπνα προς τιμήν του Παναγιωτάτου. Επί πλέον ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης θα μιλήσει στο Πανεπιστήμιο Georgetown και στο Ιστιτούτο Brookings.

εμπιστοσύνης σ’ εσάς και στο ΠΑ.ΣΟ.Κ., δεν έχουμε παρά να σας συγχαρούμε ολόθερμα και να προσευχηθούμε και να ευχηθούμε από την Μητέρα Εκκλησία να έχετε πλήρη επιτυχία εις το πολυεύθυνον έργον, το οποίον αναλαμβάνετε και, μάλιστα, σε μία δυσχερή και δυσμενή παγκόσμια οικονομική συγκυρία. Είμεθα βέβαιοι ότι με την αγάπη σας προς την Ελλάδα, με τους καλούς και αξίους συνεργάτας που έχετε, με την συμπαράσταση όλων των συμμάχων, των γειτόνων, με την καλή σας θέληση, με την εγνωσμένη ικανότητά σας και σεμνότητά σας θα ανταπεξέλθετε εις τα δύσκολα καθήκοντα σας και θα έχετε μίαν λαμπράν επιτυχίαν και θα επιλύσετε όλα τα εκκρεμούντα θέματα. Χαιρόμεθα διότι, όπως το είπα προηγουμένως, από τις πρώτες μέρες της θητείας σας έρχεστε στην Τουρκία και αυτό δείχνει το ενδιαφέρον σας, την πρόθεσή σας να βελτιώσετε τις ελληνοτουρικές σχέσεις περισσότερο. Άλλωστε, είναι γνωστή η συμβολή σας από τους σεισμούς, από το 1999 κι εντεύθεν προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση. Εμείς, ως Οικουμενικόν Πατριαρχείον, πιστεύουμε ότι η Ελλάδα και η Τουρκία, σαν δύο σύμμαχες και γειτονικές χώρες, πρέπει να ζήσουν εν ειρήνη και δημιουργική συνεργασία. Και με αυτό το πνεύμα χαιρετίζουμε την παρουσία σας εδώ. Και πάλι σ’εσάς και στην Κυβέρνησή σας ευχόμεθα την άνωθεν ενίσχυσιν, τον φωτισμόν, την έμπνευσιν για το καλό του Ελληνικού λαού, για το καλόν της Εκκλησίας, της οποίας πιστόν τέκνον υπάρχετε, για την ευστάθειαν, την σταθερότητα, την πρόοδον, την ευημερίαν εις τα Βαλκάνια και για την ειρήνη του σύμπαντος κόσμου. Ο Θεός μαζί σας». Γ. ΠΑΠΑΝΔΡΕΟΥ «Παναγιώτατε, είναι ιδιαίτερη χαρά, και, θα έλεγα, προσωπική χαρά, που σας επισκέπτομαι σήμερα. Έχουμε, πέραν των επισήμων συναντήσεων και σχέσεων, αναπτύξει και μία προσωπική φιλία, πιστεύω, με την πολυετή θητεία μου και γνωριμία μαζί Σας. Αλλά, έρχομαι σήμερα, βεβαίως, με αφορμή την Διαβαλκανική Συνδιάσκεψη των Υπουργών Εξωτερικών, αλλά, όπως είπατε, η πρώτη μου επίσκεψη είναι σ’ Εσάς, στο Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο, στον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη της Κωνσταντινουπόλεως, ο οποίος, πέρα από αυτήν την προσωπική σχέση, είναι ένας άνθρωπος με τη σοφία του με τη δράση του που έχει αναδείξει την

Ορθοδοξία ανά τον κόσμο, ανοίγει ορίζοντες σε επίκαιρα και επίμαχα ζητήματα για την ανθρωπότητα, όπως είναι το θέμα της οικολογίας, το θέμα της πράσινης ανάπτυξης, που εδώ και πολλά χρόνια είσαστε πρωτοπόρος, όταν ήταν θέμα που είχε μικρή δημοσιότητα και ενδιαφέρον από την πολιτική και από την κοινωνία, είχατε δει ήδη αυτή τη μεγάλη πρόκληση της ανθρωπότητος. Όπως, βεβαίως, και η Οικουμενικότητα του Πατριαρχείου που δίνει την δυνατότητα να συνδιαλέγεσθε με όλες τις θρησκείες και να παίξετε έναν πολύ σημαντικό ρόλο στον Διάλογο μεταξύ Ορθοδοξίας και Ισλάμ. Όλα αυτά, βεβαίως, συμβάλλουν και στις διμερείς σχέσεις Ελλάδας-Τουρκίας. Θα έχω την ευκαιρία σε μήνυμά μου προς τον Τουρκικό λαό να πω ότι με γνωρίζουν πολύ καλά, γνωρίζουν τις προσπάθειές μου της προσέγγισης, όπως και, βεβαίως, και την ειλικρίνεια, με την οποία μιλώ, και για τα προβλήματα που υπάρχουν και που, δυστυχώς, δεν έχουν λυθεί. Ζητήματα που μας αφορούν, ζητήματα που μας πονάνε, ζητήματα, όπως το θέμα της επίλυσης του Κυπριακού, των διμερών μας σχέσεων που πρέπει να υπάρχει απόλυτος σεβασμός της εδαφικής ακεραιότητας και των συνόρων μας και, βεβαίως, τον απόλυτο σεβασμό στις θρησκευτικές ελευθερίες, που σας αφορά κι εσάς άμεσα, το Πατριαρχείο, τα ζητήματα, όπως της Χάλκης, μέσα στα πλαίσια των υποχρεώσεων της Τουρκίας στην πορεία της προς την Ε.Ε. Ακριβώς αυτό το μήνυμα είναι που θα ήθελα να δώσω στον Τουρκικό λαό, ότι με την ειλικρίνεια αυτή θέλω να αντιμετωπίσουμε τα προβλήματα, όχι για να τα κρύψουμε, ούτε να τα εκμετταλευτούμε, αλλά για να τα λύσουμε. Και πάλι, Σας ευχαριστώ, Παναγιώτατε, γι’αυτό το έργο το οποίο κάνετε, τους αγώνες που κάνετε για την Ορθοδοξία, αλλά και Σας ευχαριστώ και για τις ευχές, οι οποίες θα μου δώσουν και την δύναμη και την έμπνευση να συνεχίσω ένα δύσκολο, αλλά, πιστεύω και ελπίζω, σημαντικό έργο για την Πατρίδα μας».

OΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ «Ευχαριστώ πολύ κ. Πρωθυπουργέ, και να είστε βέβαιος κι εσείς και όλοι σας στην Κυβέρνηση, ότι οι προσευχές του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου θα είναι διαρκώς μαζί σας, για την επιτυχία του κυβερνητικού έργου, για το καλό του Ελληνικού λαού. Σας ευχαριστούμε και πάλι για την επίσκεψη». Στην συνέχεια ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης προσέφερε έναν ασημένιο δίσκο με εγχάραγκτη την υπογραφή του ενώ ο Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας δώρισε ένα ζευγάρι μανικετόκουμπα από την συλλογή του Μουσείου Μπενάκη της Αθήνας. Αμέσως μετά είχαν κατ΄ιδίαν 30λεπτη συνάντηση στο Πατριαρχικό Γραφείο. Να σημειωθεί ότι κατά την άφιξη του κ. Γιώργου Παπανδρέου στο Φανάρι τον καλωσόρισαν οι κληρικοί της Πατριαρχικής Αυλής ενώ οι καμπάνες ηχούσαν χαρμόσυνα κατά τό Πατριαρχικό τυπικό. Αμέσως κατευθύνθηκε στον Πατριαρχικό Ναό του Αγίου Γεωργίου, άναψε κερί και προσκύνησε με σεβασμό τις εικόνες. Στην αίθουσα του Θρόνου τον υποδέχθηκε ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος και Ιεράρχες του Θρόνου. Κατά τη διάρκεια της επισκέψεως του στο Πατριαρχείο, ο Πρωθυπουργός Γ. Παπανδρέου συνοδευόταν από τον Αναπληρωτή Υπουργό Εξωτερικών της Ελλάδας Δημήτρη Δρούτσα, στενούς συνεργάτες του, τον Πρέσβη της Ελλάδος στην Άγκυρα Φώτη Ξύδα,τον Έλληνα Γεν. Πρόξενο στην Πόλη μας Βασίλειο Μπορνόβα και τον Πρόξενο Νικόλαο Σιγάλα και υπηρεσιακούς παράγοντες.

20

ΟΡΘΟ∆ΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2009

O Καθεδρικός Ναός των Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης Μπρούκλυν, Σας εκφράζει Παναγιώτατε, το Καλώς Ήλθατε στη Νέα Υόρκη! Σεβασμιώτατε Αρχιεπίσκοπε Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριε, Εις Πολλά Έτη Δέσποτα.

Offering gratitude and thanks tO gOd fOr

his all hOliness ecumenical Patriarch BarthOlOmew

& his eminence archBishOP demetriOs Of america archOn nichOlas J. BOuras summit, nJ

OCTOBER 2009

PEOPLE

Congress run

Archdiocesan Council member George Demos, until recently an attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Manhattan, has announced plans to run for the U.S. House of Representatives from New York’s 1st Congressional District, which covers the eastern third of Long Island. After next year’s Republican primary, George will face the incumbent Democrat in the November general election. George is the son of Emanuel Demos, also a member of the Archdiocesan Council who has served as its legal counsel for many years. In the late 1980s and early ‘90s, George served as an acolyte at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral where his mother, Helen, was the Sunday school director.

Eagle Scouts Charles Peter Tsouvalas, a member of St. Anthony Church in Pasadena, Calif., where he is an altar boy, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 174 in Temple City, Calif. Serving as senior patrol leader, he recently completed four 10-day backpacking Sierra treks and received first through fourth place titles in an annual camporee competition. In high school, he has been student body president of Arcadia High.

Alexander Crist, son of Aris and Mary Crist of Greenwich, Conn., recently was awarded the rank Eagle Scout. He is a member of Troop 9 in Greenwich. To earn Scouting’s highest award, he earned 21 merit badges, served as a leader in his Troop, and completed a major community service project. His Eagle project was to restore hiking paths by removing invasive plant species at the Audubon Fairchild Wildflower Garden in Greenwich.

Choir scholarship winners Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh and Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit participated in the Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Musicians Memorial Scholarship presentation held at the recent choir conference in Michigan. Among the honorees were; Thespina Christulides, from Pittsburgh, who has been involved with the Holy Cross Church choir since age seven. She has also interned with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and apprenticed with the Pittsburgh Opera.

Thespina is attending Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio studying music. She is the recipient of the MEFGOX Memorial Scholarship award.

Andrew Wardner, from Ann Arbor, Mich., is a member of St. Nicholas Church of Ann Arbor choir. He not only sings at St. Nicholas, but also plays the piano, French horn, guitar, and ukulele. He has been an alter boy and is a tonsured reader. He will attend Wake Forest University in WinstonSalem, N.C. He is the recipient of the Mike Hadgis Memorial Scholarship award.

Marina Monoyios, from Grand Rapids, Mich., has been a member of Holy Trinity choir in Grand Rapids since about age 15. She also is a member of Junior Goya and school choral group. Marina will study nursing at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She is the recipient of the MEFGOX Memorial Scholarship award.

Mary Matzorkis of Westlake, Ohio is a member of St Demetrios choir in Rocky River, Ohio. She was a member of Junior GOYA and the parish dance group.

Mary also sings solos during the Lenten, paschal and Christmas services. She is studying special education at Cleveland State University in Cleveland. Mary is the recipient of the George Georgantas Memorial Scholarship award.

21

Highlights of a Decade of Accomplishments   page 2 Paul.

July 3-7 – The National YAL Conference takes place in Baltimore. Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Evangelos celebrate Vespers on July 3 and Divine Liturgy on the 6th. The Archbishop also speaks to the YAL participants.

August – The official text of the new Archdiocese Charter is published in the Orthodox Observer.

Sept. 11 – Archbishop Demetrios holds a prayer service at Ground Zero to commemorate the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Sept. 24-25 – The Holy Eparchial Synod holds its fall meeting in New York.

Sept. 26-27 – The Archdiocesan Council and National Philoptochos Board convene their fall meetings in New York.

Nov. 14 – The Academy of Athens inducts Archbishop Demetrios to its membership. He was unanimously elected on Nov. 28, 2002.

2004 Jan. 16 – A delegation from Bari, Italy, visits New York to make a donation of 258,000 euros toward the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church at Ground Zero. They attend a memorial service conducted by Archbishop Demetrios at the site.

Jan. 21-25 –The Archbishop accompanies Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Havana, Cuba, to meet with Fidel Castro and for the consecration of St. Nicholas Cathedral, which Castro gave to the Greek Orthodox Church.

Feb. 19 – The Ecumenical Patriarch names Archbishop Demetrios as a member of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, following a historic change in the composition of the body to allow members of non-Turkish nationality.

March 13-19 – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visits the Metropolis of New Jersey and inaugurates the “Byzantium: Faith and Power” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

April 2 – Archbishop Demetrios meets with President Bush in Washington to discuss the Cyprus issue and for the proclamation-signing honoring Greek Independence Day. April 24-25 – Archdiocesan Council holds spring meeting in Chicago.

May 15 – Archbishop Demetrios receives the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

June 5 – President Tassos Papadopoulos of Cyprus bestows the Great Cross of the Order of Archbishop Makarios III, the highest honor of the Republic of Cyprus, upon Archbishop Demetrios at a testimonial dinner in Manhattan hosted by the Cyprus Federation of America.

June 7 – Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco announces he will retire at the end of 2005.

June 16 – The Olympic Flame arrives in the United States on its way to the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

July 25-30 – The 37th Clergy-Laity Congress and National Philoptochos Convention take place in New York. Archbishop proclaims 2005 as the “Year of the Family.”

July 28 – His Eminence offers prayers at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

August – Three hurricanes batter Florida and other parts of the South over a four-week period, inflicting heavy damage to several churches. Heavy rains from the storms brought major flooding to parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey.

Aug. 13 – Archbishop Demetrios is designated as a member of the Presidential

Delegation to the Summer Olympics in Greece and joins former President George H.W. Bush at the opening ceremonies in Athens.

Sept. 1 – Archbishop Demetrios offers prayers at the Republican National Convention in New York.

Sept. 4 – His Eminence expresses sympathy to the people of Russia following the massacre of 380 persons by Muslim terrorists in the southern Russian town of Beslan.

Sept. 11 – The Archbishop takes part in the third observance of the 9/11 tragedy.

Sept. 18-19 – Archbishop Demetrios dedicates the new Frosene Education Building of St. Sophia Cathedral in Washington.

Sept. 28 – SCOBA hierarchs hold their fall meeting in Syosset, N.Y. Oct. 2-3 – The Archbishop travels to Milwaukee for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Annunciation Church.

Oct. 5-7 – Holy Eparchial Synod meets in New York.

Nov. 15 – Archbishop Demetrios leads a delegation from several Greek American organizations to the State Department to meet with Secretary of State Colin Powell over the issue of U.S. recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the “Republic of Macedonia.”

Nov. 27 – Archbishop Demetrios travels to the Ecumenical Patriarchate to participate in the events surrounding the return of the relics of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory the Theologian from the Vatican, a major step in the reconciliation and unity between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

Dec. 10-11 – New Archdiocesan Council and Philoptochos hold first meeting of their two-year term in Chicago.

Dec. 25 – Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco falls asleep in the Lord after a brief illness. He was 69. Archbishop Demetrios officiates at his funeral on Dec. 29.

2005 Jan. 5 – Dr. Ioannis Efthymiopoulos assumes the duties of national director of Greek Education at the Archdiocese.

Feb. 22 – The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elects Bishop Gerasimos of Krateia as the new metropolitan of San Francisco.

March 16 – Archbishop Demetrios leads a panel of religious leaders of various denominations to Washington to testify be-

fore the U.S. Helsinki Commission on Turkey’s efforts to undermine the Orthodox Church.

March 28 – Archbishop Demetrios travels to Washington for the celebration with President Bush of Greek Independence Day and American democracy at the White House.

April 2 – Metropolitan Gerasimos is enthroned at Annunciation Cathedral in Oakland, Calif.

April 10 – Archbishop Iakovos dies at age 93. Archbishop Demetrios officiates at his funeral on April 14. Among the many hierarchs and other dignitaries in attendance is Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece.

The Archbishop is interred near the chapel at Hellenic CollegeHoly Cross School of Theology.

May 13-14 – The Archdiocesan Council holds its spring meeting in New York. Major topics included fund-raising efforts and the $10 million deficit.

May 15 – Archbishop Demetrios officiates at the door-opening service for Resurrection Church in Brookville, N.Y., formerly located in Glen Cove.

May 26 – The Orthodox Christian Mission Center honors Archbishop Demetrios at its spring meeting at St. Katherine’s Church in Falls Church, Va. June 8 – The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens awards Archbishop Demetrios an honorary doctorate.

June 21 – SCOBA hierarchs hold their spring session and endorse statement on the environment.

July – Fr. Alex Karloutsos is named acting executive advisor of Faith: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism.

Aug. 29 – Hurricane Katrina hits Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast, inflicting extreme damage to New Orleans and other cities. Holy Trinity Cathedral sustains extensive flooding. A total of five Orthodox parishes are seriously affected.

In the aftermath of the storm, Archbishop Demetrios issues an appeal for aid to the storm victims, which generates several million dollars in aid.

Sept. 9 – His Eminence travels to Louisiana to visit areas devastated by the hurricane.

Sept. 25 – Archbishop Demetrios helps lay the foundation stone for a new Archangel Michael Church to be built in Port Washington, N.Y. The existing church is located in Roslyn.

October – SCOBA issues a statement on sexual misconduct in the Church.

Oct. 22 – Former premier of Russia Mikhail Gorbachev is named an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and is honored at the Archon banquet in New York.

Nov. 9 – Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., bestows an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Archbishop Demetrios.

2006 Jan. 4-8 – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew makes his fourth visit to the United States to preside at the 100th anniversary of the Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs, Fla., with Archbishop Demetrios in attendance.

Jan. 24-30 – The Archbishop makes his first official visit to Cyprus.

March 15-16 – The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese meets in New York.

  page 31

22

OCTOBER 2009

May God Bless

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on his Apostolic Visit to America &

Archbishop Demetrios on his 10 years of Archiepiscopal Ministry in America!

Elaine & Steven Jaharis Chicago, IL

23

OCTOBER 2009

Your Eminence Many Years! ΕΙΣ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΕΤΗ!

Plus fuel + taxes

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Bridgeport, Connecticut Rev. Fr. Demetrios A. Recachinas Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate George Mourizakis President Parish Council

Welcome Your All Holiness Καλώς Ήλθατε Παναγιώτατε Saint Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church St. Petersburg, FL

Welcome Your All Holiness to America Congratulations Your Eminence for your 10th Anniversary as Archbishop of America Archon Peter Vlachos & Family

Καλώς Ήλθατε Παναγιώτατε Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church Oakmont, PA

Εις Πολλά Έτη Δέσποτα Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church Oakmont, PA

24

OCTOBER 2009

by Fr. Patrick Tishel

1. Introduction Years ago I lived in a house that was undergoing renovations. The brunt of the work focused on creating more space, and by the end of the project the workers had enlarged many of the rooms, giving the house a seemingly new and improved flare. Yet, to their horror, as one of the workers bounded up the stairs to the second floor, the house began to sway back and forth. It so happened that they had taken down certain walls that bore the weight of the structure. Without these walls in place, the house lost its strong foundation and was affected by the slightest movement.

It is clear in all construction projects that all of the “finished” work must be done after the house has been founded upon strong, weight-bearing pillars.

The same must be true in a child’s formation. If the educational pillars are not in place, then all of the knowledge gained in specialized disciplines will be shaken by the slightest wind – whether it be from society, peers, or from powers and principalities. This principle applies from the very beginning stages.

Often parents assume that any school will suffice in the education and intellectual formation of their children. Yet just as the structure and foundation of a building upholds and affects the entire house, so too the educational structure should be wholly integrated with the rest of a child’s life. For this reason it is important to be mindful of the three weight-bearing pillars of a child’s education: The Church, the home and the school. Imagine the results, when these three spheres of influence are all working towards the same goal.

2. Educating the Whole Person The mission of an Orthodox Christian education must go beyond a technical transmission of skills and information. Education involves the whole person and the goal of education is holiness. The saints present an example of a complete education. Memorizing facts and data, and even learning skills, does not make wise men and women, it does not produce saints. With T.S. Eliot we are to ask: “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is all the knowledge we have lost in information?” The children need provisions for a holy life both in the world and also for

The Three Weight-Bearing Pillars of Education:

The Church, the Home and the School

their eternal existence with Christ and the saints in heaven. The three pillars of education give us a way to begin this process.

—The Church— The Church is the most prominent and foundational of the three pillars. St. Timothy calls it the pillar and ground of the Truth (I Tim 3:15). The home and the school must be based upon this foundation. When we are baptized in Christ, we become part of His Body-the Church-and are re-planted into new soil.

We must live out this reality consciously and actively. The children and parents need to know the fullness of the Faith.

It is good to know the specifics as well as the general concepts, to have a grasp of the dogmas as well as the practices.

The children should be familiar with the life of the Church. Being able to read the Psalms and actively participate in the daily prayers and services are some of the fruits of this experience. We must teach and encourage the children to inhale deeply the air of the Church to stand boldly upon its foundation.

—The Home— Family life is both precious and vital.

It compliments the life in the school and the Church. The family and the home are close to the heart of the Church and are meant to be the little Church, where the communal worship is extended and its fruits made manifest. The common life of a family acts as a garden in which we sow for a time and then perpetually harvest.

This is where the heart of a child is formed, the feeling for prayer, the zeal for the commandments and the love of God and neighbor. The love of God is nourished within the children while they stand before the icons during morning and evening prayers. Father and mother, brothers and sisters are the first neighbors we are required to love. The exalted life of Heaven dwells within this cave of Bethlehemthe home.

The children’s future longings,

loves and desires are formed here.

Children are commanded to honor their parents, and we teach and expect them to do so. But parents are commanded to raise their children in the “admonition of the Lord.” This means that they need to see the Orthodox Faith in action, within the context of their own home.

If our children are rich but not generous, if they are smart but arrogant, if they have learned how to be a doctor but have not learned humility, can we claim that they are educated? We should always keep our eye on the ultimate goal.

Parents are willing to make sacrifices for sports and social events, but not for feasts and vigils. The children miss out on the life of the Church and its importance is undermined. Parents need to instill in their children the significance of the spiritual life. We are inspired by the stories of someone who goes from rags to riches but how much more inspiring is it when the zeal for God is awakened.

Parents have a profound impact on their children; but what happens when their work in the home meets the locker room, the college dorm or the classroom, where their minds and hearts are challenged away from the Church? This is a problem of temptation, and their inability to defend their faith in their own minds against the contrary views being presented to them in the presence of their peers.

We need to teach them how to love their peers, explain their Faith and influence instead of being influenced.

This work is done at home and can be facilitated by an Orthodox school, the third pillar that helps them interpret the world through the Light of Christ.

—The School— The bridge between the home and the Church (and servant of both) is the school. We have become used to schools challenging and contradicting the faith of our children. An Orthodox curriculum, however, shows that the world exists in light of the Incarnation of Christ. If the school is able to present history, science, language arts and all of the subjects as expressions of this reality, then the children will be given the depth of understanding of the world that will allow them to live and flourish in any environment.

They will also be well equipped to walk in Truth in the midst of the world.

The school, therefore, will be a workshop for servants of Christ to enter into human society and make a difference.

They will learn to think, discern, and speak intelligently and convincingly in the context of the world-in a language that non-Christians can understand.

Just as a brain surgeon’s training must be thorough in their vital work, so too

our children must know their Faith thoroughly and with a firm understanding of its relationship with the world around them. Christian children must be prepared to be witnesses and apologists, defenders and promoters, students and teachers in this world.

An Orthodox school environment, or at least an awareness of the Orthodox approach towards education, is essential when talking about the final pillar of education.

3. Conclusion Our goal should be to make all our life dedicated to God. We often think about Church in this way. But considering the three pillars–the Church, the home and the school–means towards the same end, gives us a good perspective on the educational arenas for our children.

St. John Chrysostom exhorts us not to destroy the spiritual life of our children. We need to pay attention to these three arenas of life–the Church, home and school–in order to fulfill our Lord’s command to “suffer the little children to come unto Me.” This means that parents, godparents, educators and pastors need to labor to ensure that all three pillars are in order, and ready to support the edifice.

How awesome is the responsibility of the education of children! What a wonderful reward it is to see the next generation of children alive in Christ!

The Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Tishel is pastor of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Allston, Mass., of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A., Canada, & Australia. He is also the headmaster of the school and teacher at St. Herman of Alaska Christian School (grades K-8), an Orthodox Christian school founded in 1991, which was established based on the principle of the unity between the home, the school and the Church. (For more information visit www.sainthermanschool.org).

Fr. Patrick has been the representative for his diocese to SCOBA, and is the OCF chaplain at Boston University, and has been a presenter and speaker at various conferences. His wife Popadia Paula is a full time nurse and actively shares in the ministry of the parish. They have two children, Michael, 23 and Vera, 27.

Resources for Parents Children in the Church Today: An Orthodox Perspective by Sr. Magdalen-Directed to parents, young adults and teenagers, these reflections encompass many aspects of Christian life, such as Marriage and the Christian Family, The Christian Education of Children, and Liturgical and Spiritual Life, published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press.

On the Upbringing of Children

by Bishop Irenaius-comprised of 10 sermons to parents that address such topics as building the foundations of godliness in a child’s soul, overcoming the first signs of vices and encouraging the growth of virtues, published by St. Xenia Skete and available through the Dept. of Religious Education.

Where We Send Our Children to School. His Grace, the Right Rev. Thomas (Joseph), leads a discussion of this very important and often divisive issue that most families have to face.

Visit www.myocn.net and do a search for Where We Send Our Children to School.

25

OCTOBER 2009

Metropolitan Isaiah

with the Clergy, Monastics, and Laity of the Metropolis of Denver

Welcome Your All Holiness, Beseeching Your Patriarchal Blessings Upon us.

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ORTH DOX NEWS IOCC Responds to String of Disasters in Asia Pacific Region BALTIMORE – International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is responding to a string of disasters that are affecting millions of people in the Asia Pacific region and have already taken hundreds of lives.

Damaging floods and mudslides caused when Typhoon Ketsana struck the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, causing hundreds of deaths and displacing thousands of families on Sept. 26.

Meanwhile, whole villages in Samoa have been devastated by a tsunami that was triggered by a massive 8.0 earthquake on Sept. 29.

A second earthquake measuring a magnitude 7.6 on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has killed hundreds and injured thousands, and caused significant damage.

Two other typhoons moved towards the Philippines later that week and significant aftershocks were experienced in Indonesia.

IOCC has mobilized its disaster response team and is coordinating with our Orthodox and Ecumenical partners

to monitor and respond to the emerging needs.

“We pray for those who have perished, their families and those who have been affected by these disasters,” said IOCC Executive Director Constantine Triantafilou.

“We are working with our partners to provide emergency relief and the longterm care that will be necessary to restore the many countries and communities that have been affected.”

You can help the victims of disasters around the world, like the Asia Pacific Disasters, by making a financial gift to the IOCC International Emergency Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief as well as long-term support through the provision of emergency aid, recovery assistance and other support to help those in need. To make a gift please visit www. iocc.org, call toll free at 1-877-803-IOCC (4622), or mail a check or money order payable to IOCC, P.O. Box 630225, Baltimore, Md. 21263-0225.

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OCTOBER 2009

New Long Island Church to Have Steel Exterior

The current church of St. Markella will continue to function as work progresses.

WANTAGH, N.Y. – St. Markella Church, a 20-year-old community of about 200 members, mostly from the island of Chios, has embarked on a building program that is not the traditional bricks-and-mortar approach to constructing a church.

Archbishop Demetrios presided at a groundbreaking ceremony on Sept. 10 that marked the beginning of the project to erect a new church on the same site of the current structure – without first razing it.

Fr. Sarantis Loulakis, the pastor, explained that the present church will continue to serve the parish during the construction period and the new building will be constructed around and over it.

It will occupy about 7,000 square feet on the community’s 2-½ acre property in downtown Wantagh, a part of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, Long Island.

The new building will not be of brick construction, but of steel.

Fr. Loulakis said the church will be made of prefabricated steel currently being produced in Houston and will be transported to Wantagh in sections by truck. Total cost will be $1.6 million.

“It saves a lot of money,” he said of the decision to use steel, thanks to a large drop in steel prices, which will save the

community “about $400,000.

About half a million dollars worth of materials and labor are being donated by several contributors, so the actual cost to the parish will be close to $1.2 million.

Fr. Loulakis said the laying of the foundation begins this month.

By the start of February, exterior work and the assembly of the outer shell will begin. It will include the steel frame, roof, dome and two bell towers.

The priest said he hopes the construction on the exterior can be completed in time for the Feast Day of St. Markella on July 22.

After the building’s completion, about 90 percent of the existing church that by then will be entirely within the new structure, will be demolished.

Fr. Loulakis notes that the new church’s seating capacity will be about 350, 75 more than the existing building.

Benefits for the community will include a narthex, which the present church does not have, classrooms for the Greek afternoon school and a library for 3,000 books in Greek and English.

The current social hall, located in the basement of the church, will be enlarged and expanded.

The priest also noted that brick can eventually be added to the building’s exterior.

(Top) Children of the parish also take part in the groundbreaking.

Photos: DIMITRIOS PANAGOS Archbishop Demetrios officiates at the Divine Liturgy on Sept. 10 prior to the groundbreaking service.

The Archbishop lays the foundation stone for the new structure, as Fr. Sarantis Loulakis looks on.

The blessing service for the new church site drew hundreds of faithful and local government officials.

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OCTOBER 2009

With Joy We Welcome His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on his Apostolic & Patriarchal Visit to America and Express Our Gratitude for Archbishop Demetrios & his 10 years of Archiepiscopal Ministry to America

www.faithendowment.org

OCTOBER 2009

29

HC/HC NEWS

New School Year Begins with Feast Day of Holy Cross

Archbishop Demetrios with seminarians at the Holy Cross School of Theology Chapel on the Feast Day of the Holy Cross.

Photos: DIMITRIOS PANAGOS

His Eminence reads a prayer for the seminarians after the Divine Liturgy.

Each new seminarian received the cross of the school during the service.

(Top) Seniors of the seminary were presented with the rassa during the service. (Right) HC-HC President Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou carries the cross in the procession at the school chapel.

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OCTOBER 2009

Retreat House Door Opening Ushers New Era for Metropolis of Boston   page 13 people and the two families that are underwriting the construction of a new infirmary and a new camp office building.

“Early on, the Metropolis Council and Faith and Heritage Center Committee identified the need to build a facility to welcome adults so that they, too, may spend a few days in retreat to participate in workshops, conferences, and seminars addressing matters of our Faith and Heritage, and the critical issues with which modern man struggles in today’s world.

“That vision became a faith commitment. We broke ground and planted our seed of hope on Sept. 10, 2006. After overcoming some unexpected obstacles, we began construction in August 2008.

“Today that seed of hope has grown to become a tree of Faith. Today, we open the doors of this magnificent building, but more so, the embrace of our Church to one and all. We especially extend a warm welcome to all who have been prevented by various obstacles to draw near to Christ.

Prayerfully, here in this pristine environment, “the Son of man will come to seek and save the lost”. (Lk. 19) “We pray that this Retreat House be a Jacob’s Well where life’s sojourners may engage in dialogue with our Savior and quench their spiritual thirsts at the well of Orthodoxy.

“We pray that every tree on this property becomes the sycamore tree of the Gospel, so that today’s Zaccheus may climb to get a good view of Christ the Savior.

“May the waters in the beautiful lakes on this property receive the blessing of the Jordan where pilgrims may come to be spiritually renewed.

“Prayerfully, it is here where Almighty God will ‘pour out His Spirit on all who come so that our sons and daughters shall

Photos: Alex Mavradis

(Upper left) With Gov. Lynch; (Above) Exterior of the new center; (At left) Clergy from every Metropolis parish attended the dedication of the new St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center in Contoocook, NH.

prophecy, our young men will see visions and our old men will dream dreams.’ It is here where we all will have the opportunity to ‘call on the name of the Lord and be saved.’ (Joel 2,28-32) “It is here prayerfully, that God will make known to all ‘His ways of life and will make them full of joy in His Presence’, to quote the Psalmist David. (Psalm 16, 8-11) “As we are about to cut the ceremonial ribbon to make our entrance, I pray as we do during the Divine Liturgy, that Holy Angels will enter with us to celebrate and glorify the goodness of Almighty God. “I thank God for blessing us today. I thank Him for all those whose names are engraved on the leaves of our Donor’s Tree at the entrance of our building. I

First Lady of Cyprus Visits Saint Basil Saint Basil Academy Director Fr. Constantine Sitaras, National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas, Board President Evellyn Tsiadis and other trustees of the Academy welcomed Elsie Christofias, first lady of the Republic of Cyprus as a special visitor on Sept. 25.

St. Basil board member Panikos Papanicolaou said Mrs. Christofias was “absolutely delighted to take the time away”

from her frenetic schedule of meetings at the United Nations to visit the Academy.

Accompanying the first lady was Cyprus’ Consul General in New York Andreas Panayiotou, a frequent visitor.

In addition to National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas, also in attendance were trustees Dr. Stephen Gounardes, Kalliope Tsitsipas and Christine Karavites.

thank each of them who contributed generously---each according to their ability---to make this dream come true.

“I thank those of you that have not as yet made a contribution but are planning to in the future. Don’t worry there are plenty of leaves on the tree that await to bear your names.

“A sincere word of thanks to the Metropolis Council, the Metropolis Philoptochos Board and the Faith and Heritage Center Committee.

“A special word of thanks to our architects, Yervan and Florence Nahikian both of whom dedicated their lives to this project over the past two years.

“A special thanks to Mike Sintros, the director of our Faith and Heritage Center

whose tireless efforts are sincerely appreciated. A special word of thanks to Fr. Ted, Fr. Tsoukalas, and to the countless volunteers who are helping us today.

“We are thankful to God that we open the doors of this Retreat House during the month when we celebrate as an Archdiocese the 10th Anniversary of the Enthronement of Archbishop Demetrios.

As a sign of respect, we would like to offer two gifts, one that he can take with him, and one which will remain here at our Retreat House.

“Your Eminence, please accept this engolpio with our prayers that you wear it for many years as our Archbishop. The second gift will remain here. As we all know, His Eminence is a world renowned scholar and academician as well as a respected Churchman. In honor of his 10th anniversary, we have named the library in the Retreat house, “The Archbishop Demetrios Library.”

Walking among the crowds who, following the ceremony, enjoyed a delicious luncheon and admired the Retreat House during guided tours, one could hear remarks of satisfaction, admiration and appreciation for this magnificent facility.

Construction of the Retreat House progressed as more than 700 campers enjoyed the Camp Program. So many have been an integral part of this historic event in all its stages from the identification of the property in 1995, to its purchase, to the construction of the functional cabins and other structures, to the Door Opening festivities of the Retreat House on Sept. 26.

Under the leadership of Metropolitan Methodios many have worked harmoniously together with enthusiasm and dedication to make the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center a beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism not only in New England but in the entire country.

National Leadership 100 Sunday  page 3 to share their experiences with all the faithful in their parishes. We encourage support for the work of this national ministry for the good of the people and the glory of God. With great thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and to all those who share in this ministry, we pray that Leadership 100 and its members listen to the advice of St. Paul, in his Epistle to Titus that those who have believed in God should be leaders in performing good deeds (Titus 3:8).

With paternal love in Christ,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

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OCTOBER 2009

Highlights of a Decade of Accomplishments   page 21 March 17-18 – The Archdiocesan Council meets in New York to discuss new approaches to fund-raising.

March 24 – Archbishop Demetrios travels to the White House for the annual proclamation signing by President Bush honoring Greek Independence and American democracy.

March – The Archbishop appoints Fr. Frank Marangos as executive director of Communications.

April 28-May 1 – His Eminence travels to Houston to celebrate the silver anniversary of the Metropolis of Denver with Metropolitan Isaiah.

May 13-15 – Archbishop Demetrios makes a pastoral visit to two parishes in Charlotte, N.C. June 1 – The Very Rev. Archimandrite Sevastianos Skordallos, former dean of St Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Fla., is named as chief secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod.

June 22 – His Eminence officiates at a memorial service for Archbishop Iakovos at Holy Cross School of Theology and blesses the newly placed headstone.

July 16-21 – The 38th Clergy-Laity Congress takes place in Nashville, Tenn. The congress offers more spiritually related workshops, worship services and other programs than in the past.

August – Archbishop Demetrios makes his first visit to Ionian Village.

September – Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Cathedral in Birmingham, Ala., celebrates its centennial with Archbishop Demetrios attending the grand banquet.

Sept. 10 – The Archbishop commemorates the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11th tragedy.

Sept. 22-24 – His Eminence helps celebrate the 100th anniversary of Assumption Cathedral in Denver.

Sept. 29 – The Archbishop attends the 75th anniversary celebration of St. Nicholas parish in Portsmouth, N.H. Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Archbishop Demetrios makes his first visit to the Greek Orthodox community in the Bahamas.

Oct. 4-6 – SCOBA convenes its fall conference in Chicago.

Oct. 18-19 – The Holy Eparchial Synod holds its fall meetings.

Oct. 21 – The Archdiocesan Council holds its first meeting of the 2006-08 term.

Nov. 4-5 – His Eminence attends the 75th anniversary celebration of St. George Cathedral in Hartford, Conn.

Nov. 29-30 – Pope Benedict XVI travels to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the Feast Day of St. Andrew. Archbishop Demetrios joins Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the activities.

Dec. 9 – Archimandrite Demetrios Kantzavelos is ordained as Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos in Chicago.

2007 Jan. 1 – Dr. Anton C. Vrame receives appointment as director of the Archdiocese Department of Religious Education.

March 14-15 – Holy Eparchial Synod holds its spring meeting in New York.

March 22-25 – Archbishop Demetrios leads a group of Greek American leaders and Greek government officials to Washington for events that include a visit to the White House for the annual proclamation signing by President Bush honoring Greek and American independence. He also meets with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

April 26-27 – The Archdiocesan Council holds its spring meeting in New York.

April 28-29 – Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver take part in the 90 th anniversary activities for Annunciation Cathedral in Houston.

May 4-6 – The Archbishop travels to Portland, Oregon to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Holy Trinity Church.

May 23 – SCOBA hierarchs adopt statements on suicide and global warming at their spring meeting at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, N.Y. May – Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos retires after 40 years of service to the Archdiocese.

June 1 – Fr. Mark Arey assumes duties as director of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

June 11 – His Eminence receives the Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum Award for the Advancement of Inter-religious Understanding at ceremonies in New York.

June 14- Fordham University in New York bestows an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Archbishop Demetrios.

June 20 – The Archbishop marks the 40th anniversary of his elevation to the episcopacy.

June 30 – American College of Greece bestows an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon His Eminence at a commencement ceremony in Piraeus.

July 5 – Archbishop Demetrios inaugurates a new Teacher Training Seminar at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia.

July – His Eminence travels to Pittsburgh to commemorate the 100th anniversary of St. Nicholas Cathedral.

Sept. 15 – The Archdiocese celebrates the 40th anniversary at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral marking the beginning of Archbishop Demetrios’ hierarchical ministry.

October – Fr. Robert Stephanopoulos retires after 25 years as dean of Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral. Fr. Frank Marangos is named as his successor.

Oct. 15-19 – The Archbishop attends the Metropolis of Detroit Clergy-Laity Assembly in Memphis, Tenn.

Nov. 1-2 – Archdiocesan Council holds its fall meeting in Washington. The upcoming clergy-laity congress is a major topic of discussion.

Nov. 13 – Archbishop Demetrios and other hierarchs of SCOBA and SCOOCH (the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches) hold the annual UN Prayer Service.

Nov. 14 - Fairfield University in Connecticut bestows an honorary Doctor of Laws degree upon Archbishop Demetrios.

Nov. 16 – Hellenic College-Holy Cross bestows an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree upon the Archbishop.

Nov. – The Archbishop speaks on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.

Nov. 30 – Archbishop Demetrios attends a holiday dinner at the White House at the invitation of President Bush.

Dec. 3 – The American Sephardic Federation and the American Friends of the Jewish Museum of Greece award their inaugural “Damaskinos Award” for important work in constructive interfaith endeavors to His Eminence.

2008 Jan. 9 – At a luncheon of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, Archbishop Demetrios meets with Turkish President Abdullah Gol. March 25 – President Bush welcomes the Archbishop to the White House for the annual National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, commemorating Greek Independence Day. April 15-20 – Archbishop Demetrios leads the Orthodox delegation in connection with the visit to New York of Pope Benedict XVI. The American Jewish Committee presented its Isaiah Award to the Archbishop at its 102nd meeting for his efforts in interreligious understanding.

May 9-10 – The Archdiocesan Council holds its spring meeting in New York.

May 22-28 – His Eminence leads members of the Holy Eparchial Synod and other Archdiocese representatives on a visit to Moscow at the invitation of Patriarch Alexy II. June 7 – The Archbishop commemorates the 100th anniversary of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles.

June 9 – Archbishop Demetrios meets with Metropolitan Hilarion, the newly enthroned first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).

June 10 – U.S. Sen. John McCain, the Republican presumptive nominee for President, visits the Archdiocese.

June 18 – Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh celebrates 30 years as a hierarch, 50 as a clergyman.

June 27-29 – Archbishop Demetrios leads a Faith Endowment-sponsored delegation to Rome in conjunction with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s official visit to the Vatican.

July 1-6 – His Eminence travels to Greece where he receives the highest honor of the Hellenic Republic, the Great Cross of the Order of the Phoenix.

July 13-18 – The 3 9 th C l e r g y - L a i t y Congress takes place in Washington. Its

theme is “Gather My People to My Home.”

August – Presbytera Nikki Stephanopoulos retires as director of the Archdiocese Office of News and Information after 25 years service. Stavros H. Papagermanos is named as director of the Press Office, News and Media Relations.

Aug. 27 – His Eminence offers a prayer at the Democratic Party Convention in Denver.

Sept. 4 – The Archbishop delivers the invocation at the Republican Party Convention in Minneapolis.

Sept. 22 – A representative of the Patriarchate of Moscow, Bishop Mercurius, presents relics of a Russian Orthodox saint, Seraphim of Sarov to the Archdiocese.

Oct. 1-2 – Holy Eparchial Synod holds its fall session in New York.

Oct. 9-16 – Archbishop Demetrios participates in the Holy Synaxis of the heads of the Orthodox Churches at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and in the Pauline Symposium offered by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Primates of the Churches.

Nov. 1-2 – His Eminence consecrates the new Annunciation Church in Stamford, Conn.

Nov. 6-7 – Archdiocesan Council holds its first session of the 2008-10 term in Chicago. The Archbishop names Aphrodite Skeadas as the new National Philoptochos president.

Nov. 9 – St. Michael’s Home celebrates its 50th anniversary and presents the Archbishop with its Archangel Michael Award.

Nov. 13 – Loyola Marymount University, the preeminent Roman Catholic university in Los Angeles, bestows an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree upon Archbishop Demetrios.

Nov. 13-14 – The Archbishop speaks at the Metropolis of San Francisco Fall Clergy Institute.

Dec. 9 – Archbishop Demetrios attends the funeral of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who died Dec. 5 at age 79.

2009 January – Holy Trinity Church in Charleston, S.C., begins a year-long celebration of its centennial. Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Palos Hills, Ill., also marks its 100th anniversary this year.

Jan. 9 – New York Life presents a $1 million donation to Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology for the study of Hellenism in Pontus and Asia Minor.

Jan.20-21 – The Archbishop attends the inauguration of President Obama and events that include the National Prayer Service that includes the President.

Feb. 17 – Fordham University in the Bronx creates the Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture through a $2 million endowment from the Jaharis Family Foundation.

  page 36

32

OCTOBER 2009

We warmly welcome our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to America & Congratulate our Archbishop Demetrios on his 10th year as Archbishop of America Peter & Barbara Arbes Athena & Ariana Metropolis Philoptochos Board Affirmed

Εις Πολλά Έτη Δέσποτα

Photos: DIMITRIOS PANAGOS

Archbishop Demetrios administers the oath of affirmation to members of the Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Board in the Chapel of St. Paul at Archdiocese headquarters. (below) Philoptochos Board members with His Eminence and spiritual advisor Bishop Andonios prior to their Sept. 16 meeting.

Your Servants in Christ, Dr. Andrew Walsh & Mrs. Catherine Bouffides-Walsh We Welcome His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to America

&

Congratulate His Eminence on the 10th Anniversary of His Enthronement as Archbishop of America

Oratorical Festival discussion

Orthodox Observer photo

Bishop Savas of Troas presides at a meeting of the Direct Archdiocesan District Religious Education Committee in late September. Dr. Anton Vrame, director of the Archdiocese Department of Religious Education, and Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos, national chairman of the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, were on hand to discuss the topics and program for the coming year. Also attending was Fr. Nikiforos Fakinos, Direct Archdiocesan District Religious Education coordinator and several parish representatives.

Παναγιώτατε Καλώς Ήλθατε! ΕΙΣ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΕΤΗ!

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Bridgeport, Connecticut

Archon Ron Harb & Archon Gus Vratsinas

π. Δημήτριος Α. Ρεκατσίνας Πρωτοπρεσβύτερος Οικουμενικού Θρόνου Γεώργιος Μουριζάκης Πρόεδρος

33

OCTOBER 2009

Your All Holiness

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America May the light of truth and salvation continue to shine for many years through your sacred ministries of love and faith.

Your faithful servants in Christ, The Clergy and Staff of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

34

OCTOBER 2009

Καλώς Ήλθατε Παναγιώτατε Welcome Your All Holiness Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church Roslindale, MA

Welcome Your All Holiness

Welcome Your All Holiness to America

Καλώς Ήλθατε Παναγιώτατε Εις Πολλά Έτη Δέσποτα

Congratulations Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios for the 10th Anniversary of your Enthronement

Εις Πολλά Έτη Δέσποτα

Protopresbyter Fr. James G. Moskovites & the Parishioners of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation New York, New York 10024

Archon Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas G. Loutsion & Family

Welcome Your All Holiness ecumenicAl PAtriArcH BArtHolomeW to AmericA mAnY YeArs Your eminence ArcHBisHoP Demetrios of AmericA

Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church Westchester, IL

35

OCTOBER 2009

TALES FROM THE STOLÉ

A God Moment

by Fr. John S. Bakas

On a recent Sunday, two 40-day blessings were awaiting me and a few minutes of prayer for a parishioner going to the hospital the next day. By the time I finished, the parish fellowship hall was mostly empty and the coffee hour was over.

I was really hungry and in the mood for some chicken. In the St. Sophia Cathedral neighborhood the best chicken and fries can be found at Dino’s, a Greek owned fast food restaurant right in the heart of what is now officially and legally known as the “Byzantine—Latino Quarter of Los Angeles.”

In addition to our own significant Greek Orthodox presence, we share a geographic area made up mostly of Koreans and Latinos.

The Latinos mostly come from all parts of Central America and Mexico. We all peaceably co-exist in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious megalopolis.

I walked the five blocks down Pico Blvd. to Dino’s, greeting neighbors and business owners along the way and took my place in line at the outdoor order window. The employees and most customers are Spanish speaking. Since I speak Spanish I converse with them in their native language. They are friends and I have known most of them for years. Catching the counterman’s eye, I put in my order.

“Cesar, quiero mi plato de pollo regular”…. “Cesar, let me have my regular chicken order.” “Si como no Padre”….

“Of course Father,” Cesar responded with a smile.

I took a seat at an outside table by myself and waited. In quick fashion the chicken was brought to me and I began to dig into the juicy treat. Absolutely delicious! There’s chicken and then there’s chicken, as the expression says. There’s nothing better in LA fast food than Dino’s “secret spice recipe” chicken, lovingly nicknamed “Byzantine Red” or “Pollo Rojo”, because of its reddish broiled color. I took my first bite when my cell phone rang. Joyce, one of my parishioners called to tell me that her elderly immigrant father had a stroke early that morning and was doing reasonably well in the hospital ICU. “Can he speak?” I asked. “Yes, he can talk. Here say hello to him Father.”

“Christos Anesti, Petro mou.” “I enthusiastically proclaimed.

In Greek, we exchanged the words of paschal cheer, encouragement and prayer. Here was another God moment with the Holy Spirit being present as we called upon the name of the Lord. I told him I would be by as soon as I could for a visit. To close our conversation, I started singing the hymn of Pascha, to somehow bring the joy of the resurrection to Petro’s hospital bed.

“Christos Anesti Petro mou.” “Alithos Anesti Pater” was his loving yet weak voice reply. The other customers didn’t pay much attention to my unfamiliar words or to my singing. Now I could continue with my Sunday feast. Before I could swallow the fries I had put into my mouth, a skin head tattooed tough looking fellow wearing a soiled Metallica band with menacing skull design emblazoned t-shirt, walked up to my table and gave me a puzzled threatening look. My appetite was suddenly gone. I felt a tightening in my stomach. A gang member for sure, I thought. His left upper arm tattoo gave him away. MS-13 engraved in a twisted barbed wire motif. MS-13 is a notorious

Central American gang.

“En que idioma estabas cantando Padre?”….(”What language were you singing in, Father?”) he asked in an unexpectedly kind voice.

“Estaba hablando y cantando en Griego.”….(“I was speaking and singing in Greek”), I answered with a sigh of relief.

“Que clase de idioma es Griego?”… .”What kind of language is Greek?” he asked.

I didn’t know quite what to say as he now sat uninvited at my table. So I answered in a way to hopefully have him leave.

“Es el idioma de Dios….el idioma de la Biblia”…. (“It is the language of God, the language of the Bible.”)

My answer seemed to make a huge impression on him as he pulled out and showed me the silver cross he was wearing under his t-shirt.

“Donde hablan Griego?”….”Where do they speak Greek?” Oh boy, now how to answer this guy and get him to leave me alone so I could at least eat some of my meal and get back to the cathedral.

The fact that he was wearing a cross reassured me and calmed my anxiety. I had to answer him one way or another.

“Hablan Griego en el pais que se llama Grecia”….(“They speak Greek in a country called Greece.”)

Just then he took off his t-shirt and to my sheer shock and amazement, he had the entire map of planet earth tattooed on his chest, back, and sides. With his tshirt off, he looked like a walking globe.

The Western Hemisphere on his front and the Eastern on his back. I noticed a small inked in spot where El Salvador would be normally be on the map. A remembrance of home, I guessed.

“Muestra me Grecia, Padre”…. (“Show me where Greece is, Father?”), he insisted. I lifted up his left arm and taking his right forefinger, I placed it on the left lower side of his rib cage.

“Aqui esta. Un lugar chiquitito pero poderoso”…. (“Here it is. A small but powerful place”), I answered as he stretched his neck downward to have a look. He smiled and seemed pleased.

“Padre, mi nombre es Oscar. Por favor ruegue por mi ahora. Lo necesito.” (“Father, please say a prayer for me right now, I need it.”)

“Si como no. Lo quieres in Espanol?”….(”Yes, of course. Do you want it in Spanish?”) I asked, feeling humbled and moved by the request.

“No Padre, Lo quiero en Griego, el idioma de Dios”…(”No Father, I want it in Greek, the language of God.”) Before I could move or say anything, he knelt before me and literally grabbed my right hand and put it on top of his shaved head. Everyone outside the restaurant stood still and silent not understanding what was going on. I was choked with emotion. What a God moment this was for me. I stood up, swallowed several times to keep my voice from cracking, closed my eyes and prayed the Orthodox prayer to the Holy Spirit.

“Vasilef ouranie, paraklite to pnevma tis alithias”….” (“O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth”)…

I finished the prayer in a half trembling voice with a loud AMEN. Oscar stood up, gave me a hug and walked away, taking with him his own personal God moment. When I returned to my meal it was cold. But it was the best tasting chicken I had ever eaten at Dino’s.

Welcome Your All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Congratulations Your Eminence for 10 Years of Archiepiscopal Ministry

79 Saint Basil Road, Garrison, NY 10524 Voice: (845) 424-3500 • Fax: (845) 424-4172 Web: stbasil.goarch.org

36

Highlights of a Decade of Accomplishments and Progress

OCTOBER 2009

  page 31 March 2 – Bishop Savas of Troas assumes duties as director of the newly created Office of Church and Society.

March 25 – Archbishop Demetrios travels to the White House for the celebration of Greek Independence Day and American Democracy hosted by President Obama.

March 28 – His Eminence is honored at the Greek Independence Day Parade in Detroit.

April 8 – Metropolitan Methodios of Boston celebrates the 25th anniversary of his enthronement.

April – His Eminence names Fr. James Kordaris as director of the Office of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism. The office was previously known as Outreach and Evangelism.

April – ABC-TV network airs the GOTelecom production of “Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ” sponsored by FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism.

April 30-May 1 – The Archdiocesan Council meets in New York. The effect of the troubled U.S. economy on the Archdiocese is a major topic of discussion.

May 3 – Archbishop Demetrios celebrates the Liturgy for the 50th anniversary of Assumption Church in Port Jefferson, N.Y. May 6 – President Obama meets privately with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul with Archbishop Demetrios in attendance.

May 20-21 – His Eminence, along

with Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, dedicates the new Orthodox Christian Mission Center in St. Augustine, Fla. May 22 – The Archbishop travels to Washington to present a special award on behalf of a delegation representing the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He also participated in the 25th annual Cyprus and Hellenic Leadership Conference.

May 30-31 – Holy Trinity parish in Indianapolis opens its new church.

Archbishop Demetrios presides at the thyranoixia (door-opening) service.

June 25 – SCOBA hierarchs convene their semi-annual meeting at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA. July 5—The Archbishop presides at the Divine Liturgy at Archangels Church in Stamford, Conn., to mark the retirement of Fr. George Poulos,

Welcome Your All Holiness WitH greAt love & respect W

tHe trustees And Friends oF st. pHotios greek ortHodox nAtionAl sHrine st. Augustine, F loridA

the last active priest of the “Pomfret Brotherhood,”who officially retired on June 21. Fr. Poulos also was a cofounder of Ionian Village.

July 8 – The National Philoptochos Office relocates from the Cathedral Center on East 74th Street to 7 W. 55th Street in Manhattan.

July 22 – Archbishop Demetrios presents a $30,000 donation on behalf of all the Metropolises to the American Bible Society for its recent publication of the Orthodox Military Bible.

Sept. 18, 20 – His Eminence marks the 10 th anniversary of his enthronement at doxology services at the Chapel of St. Paul at Archdiocese headquarters and at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral with an Archieratical Divine Liturgy with Metropolitans of the Holy Synod and auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese.

Sept. 21-23 – The Holy Eparchial

Synod holds its fall meeting at Archdiocese headquarters.

Sept. 26 – His Eminence and Metropolitan Methodios of Boston hold the official opening of the Metropolis of Boston Retreat House at the Faith and Heritage Center in Contoocook, N.H. Sept. 27 – The Archbishop attends the50th Anniversary Dinner of the St. Spyridon Church’s T. Tsolainos and C. Goulandris Parochial School.

Oct. 1 – Bishop Andonios of Phasiane is named Chancellor of the Archdiocese.

Oct. 20-Nov. 6 – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is scheduled to make his sixth visit to the United States and is accompanied by Archbishop Demetrios to venues in New Orleans, New York, Atlanta, Annapolis, Md., and Washington.

— Compiled by Jim Golding

37

OCTOBER 2009

The Greek OrThOdOx Ladies PhiLOPTOchOs sOcieTy With great respect joyfully welcomes

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome On the 2009 Apostolic Visit to the United States of America And offers heartfelt congratulations to

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios On the blessed occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of His Enthronement as Archbishop of America “He shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.” Psalms 78.72

38

OCTOBER 2009

OCTOBER 2009

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ATTENTION! EXCELLENT NEWS - SOMETHING NEW! FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO PLEASE EVERYONE OF ALL AGE GROUPS FOR YOUR SOCIAL AFFAIR! A BEAUTIFUL SOLUTION AND MONEY SAVER! IN ADDITION TO OUR GREEK MUSIC, WHICH COVERS ALL THE REGIONS AND COLONIES OF GREECE WITH GREEK KLARINO, BOUZOUKIE & VOCALS AND AMERICAN/INTERNATIONAL MUSIC.WE NOW OFFER A PACKAGE DEAL WITH “LIVE MUSIC” AND A “DJ” WHICH SAVES MONEY - TOGETHER OR SINGULARLY! YOUR CHOICE!

CALL KENT 1-914-476-3020

or write: 118 Bolmer Ave., N.Yonkers, NY 10703-1637 Send for CD albums “Zorba” or “Athena” $16.99 for one, $26.99 for both (cassette $11.00 for one, $20 for both) to address above.

8 stremmata-2 deeded building lots.

Overlooking Ionian Sea cove.

7 nautical mil. off mainland Mytikas.

Build (2) 400m2 homes or 1 villa.

Call Harry Thomas (610) 348-6710.

E-mail: AnnMarieThomas@verizon.net

TOULA XISTRIS, CRB, GRI

(941) 468-0258 www.toula.biz toula@toula.biz

PHOTO SERVICES-VARIOUS

Dimitrios Photography & Video

To Purchase Photos from all events visit www.panagos.com You can find us on Facebook

VENICE and SARASOTA, FL.

New Homes and Resales and Foreclosures Greek spoken • 20 Years in Real Estate

RENT A CAR SERVICES

CALL NOW ( 516) 931-2333

••• ATTENTION •••

Collector wants established and old Greek (American) paintings.

Please call Tina at (718) 278-6368 or send photos to tinathegreek@hotmail.com

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING PHOTOGRAPHS 1) Conventional photographs: We accept Color or Black & White photos, printed on photographic paper. Photographs should be sharp and clear. Pictures printed on color printers, either Inkjet or Laser and photocopies or clippings of previously published photos are NOT accepted.

IF YOU ARE MOVING Mail this coupon to the Orthodox Observer 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 AND Ask your parish to forward your name and new address to the Observer in order for you to continue receiving the newspaper IF you move but your new home is located in the district of the same parish, then list your new address below: NAME ___________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________ CITY___________________ STATE ______ ZIP________

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR OLD LABEL

2) Digital photographs: We accept digital pictures if they conform to the following specifications: • Minimum resolution 1600 pixels wide x 1200 pixels high (approx. 2 mega pixels, digital cameras should be set to high resolution, high quality. If you scan a standard photograph -usually 4x6”- use a minimum of 300 dpi. We discourage scanning your own photos, send the actual photo.)

• File format JPEG or TIFF (JPEGs are smaller files and easier to e-mail, TIFFs are better quality) • Color mode RGB, color depth minimum 8-bit.

• Image files placed within any word-processing file or any other application are not accepted.

• Digital pictures can be submitted by e-mail, CDROM, Zip, Floppy Disk (Disks can not be returned).

• E-mail to: observer@goarch.org. In the subject line write only the word “photos” VERY IMPORTANT: Attach the image files and do not include them in the body of the e-mail or they will not be usable.

3) Please include information about the photo(s); place, time and event as well as the names of all persons shown, left to right.

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Spotlight on: Troy Polamalu

by Noah Papas

Troy Polamalu is my favorite football player ever. This is to not be understated.

My own son (if I some day have one) could become a professional football player and Troy would still rank above him. I have never met Mr. Polamalu, and I can only write this article as a fan of fall, the Steelers and the hardest hitting safety in the game. When he came into the league, it was easy to see he was special, working hard crushing offensive players, creating crazy interceptions, and flying over the offensive line to make seemingly impossible tackles. It was easy to want emulate his on-the-field intensity, passion and work ethic. Then the city of Pittsburgh began to know him as an individual off the field; meek, humble and soft spoken- almost the opposite of his on the field presence. He didn’t drive a fancy Escalade, but rather come to training camp in a fairly functional Toyota. When interviewed, he gave accolades to his teammates and coaches first, and thanked his wife, and marriage for helping him be a successful player.

Then he converted to Orthodoxy, through the influence of his wife, Theodora. Even more reason to look up to him! You can often see Polamalu crossing himself before plays and also on the sidelines. He rarely gives interviews but when he does he usually speaks about Orthodoxy and the role it plays in his life.

When asked by a reporter what his greatest

by Elisabeth Lourie

wish for his child would be, he responded by saying, “Without a question, my greatest wish would be for him to understand the spiritual struggle and to be a pious Orthodox Christian. That’s what I want for myself, as well. Sometimes parents want their children to be what they never were.

And that’s one thing that I am gracious for Paisios to have: that he’s able to grow up in the Orthodox Church around monastics and priests” (Pittsburghmagazine.com) He

What do you Think?

A new movie is premiering this month called The Invention of Lying.

The plot goes like this: a man lives in a world where no one ever lies. There are no lies at all; no white lies, no big liesNO LIES. In the movie, the main character (Ricky Gervais) discovers how to lie, and it drastically changes the course of his life and the lives of those around him.

Think about what it would be like to live in a world with no lying. Imagine opening up those socks that Grandma gave you for Christmas and saying, “Ooh I hate it,” because that’s the truth. Or when your mom asks you whether the dinner she cooked was good, you tell the truth whether it will hurt her feelings or not.

You could never lie about why you didn’t finish your homework or why you were late coming home. What would be the consequences of always telling the truth? And what if the whole world only told the truth? People’s feelings might get hurt, but at least you would always know exactly what people think and where they stand. What else would be good about never lying?

If you counted up how many times a day you told a lie, you’d probably be pretty surprised.

But are all lies bad? Is it OK to lie if it spares someone’s feelings or if it will save someone’s life? The Orthodox

Christian Sports Players in the News

Church recently made a man named Fr. Dimitri Klepinin a saint.

He helped Jews during WWII by falsifying documents like certificates of baptism in order to save them from being arrested by the Nazis.

He knew that this was not truthful, but he also knew that these papers could save people’s lives. He had to make a choice- do nothing, or lie and save lives.

He chose to lie and he continued to help and minister to the Jews even after being threatened.

He was arrested and ended up dying of pneumonia in a Nazi work camp.

In this case, the lies were used to save people’s lives that would otherwise die.

The Bible is pretty clear about lying: “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.” (Leviticus 19:11) and again “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but he who shows faithfulness is acceptable to Him.” (Proverbs 12:24) Is lying a lesser sin if it’s for the better good, or does God just overlook it? How can God condemn something and then allow it? Are there any cases where it might be OK to lie?

The premise of the movie makes you think about what role lying plays in our society and I give you these points to consider, even knowing that lying is a sin and something we as Christians should not do.

lives his live with his Orthodox faith as his No. 1 focus, his wife and son second, and hard work at his job (football) third. He is not shy about speaking about his spiritual father, his trips to Mount Athos, or his own spiritual struggle. He uses his fame and the fact that he’s in the public eye to reach out to people and share his story and his faith.

These are the reasons why I think that Troy is the best, and why I look up to him. Those reasons, plus I’m just jealous of his hair.

Up for Discussion

A girl in England won over $3 million when she was 16 years old. Now, at 22, she says that she’s spent almost all of it! She says she spent it on drugs, cars, vacations, and clothes. Now she’s saying that she shouldn’t have had access to the money until she was older. She’s been quoted as saying ‘I honestly wish I’d never won the lottery money - and knowing what I know now I should have just given it all back to them.” (www.dailymail.co.uk) What do you think? Should she have been allowed to spend the money? If you won the lottery right now, what would you spend your money on? Do you think you’d be responsible enough to spend it wisely?

Would you give any of it to charities or the Church?

In Next Month’s Issue: Read about His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to the USA! Our Ecumenical Patriarch, also known as the “Green Patriarch,” will be sharing his views on Orthodoxy and the environment and how he hopes we, as Orthodox Christians will be good stewards to the earth that has been given to us.

Recently five great basketball players were inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame, but two of their speeches have caused a bit of a stir. David Robinson and Michael Jordan each made acceptance speeches that have generated much discussion about the differences between the two.

The speeches created an interesting illustration of just how different these two successful players are, and how they have chosen to use their success.

David Robinson used his time on stage to thank all the people who have helped him through his life and specifically mentioned God several times. His speech was centered on humility and thankfulness.

At the end of his speech Robinson talked about the story of the ten lepers in the Gospel of Luke. In that story Jesus heals ten lepers but only one of them returns to thank Jesus for the healing.

In his speech Robinson says, “One of them (the lepers) came back and one of them fell on his knees before Him and said ‘thank you’ and honored Him and blessed Him and I just want to say ‘Thank you!’ God had followed me in my career and He has blessed me and He has strengthened me and He has encouraged me and anybody who knows me or anybody who has watched me you have seen His hand in my life.

And my prayer is that He will walk with you as He has walked with me all through my life.”

What an amazing example to the world! Everyone who heard his speech knew that his faith in God was what has guided him in his success and throughout his life.

Michael Jordan used his time to build himself up and remind everyone of how great he was. He addressed his old high school classmate who was chosen to stay on varsity over him as a sophomore and actually said to his old coach, “I wanted to make sure you understood: You made a mistake, dude.”

He said that he felt sorry for his kids for having to live in his shadow. He barely acknowledged his wife who he is now divorced from. Jordan chose to use this chance to address all his teammates, coaches and fans, not to thank others, but rather to thank him for being the greatest.

Although Michael Jordan may be the greatest basketball player to ever live, he may not be the best role model.

Questions to consider: If you were given the chance to address millions of viewers, what would you say?

Who would you thank? Would you thank anyone?

Do you think celebrities and famous sport figures have an obligation to be good role models? Should Christians who are famous help spread the gospel?

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The Clergy, Board of Trustees, Ladies Philoptochos Society, Schools & Parishioners of

the Archdiocesan Cathedr al of the Holy Trinity New York City

Extend a Warm Welcome to

HIS ALL HOLINESS, ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW We Congr atulate

HIS EMINENCE, ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS OF AMERICA on the 10 th Anniversary of His Enthronement and Wish Him Many More Years Rev. Dr. Fr ank M ar angos – Dean Rev. Fr. Vasilios Bassakyros – Assistant Mr. Nicholas Koutsomitis – President Mr. Stephen Cherpelis – 1st Vice President Mrs. Theodor a Vardis-Salusbury – 2nd Vice President Mr. Theodore P. Klingos – Treasurer Mr. Elias Fr antzis – Assistant Treasurer Mrs. Our ania Soumas – Secretary Mrs. Carol Contos – Assistant Secretary Dr. Macrene Alexiades-Armenak as Dr. Peter Allan Mr. Michael Beys Mr. Herbert Butler Mrs. Marilena Christodoulou Mr. Charles Connant Dr. George Dangas Mr. Emanuel Demos Dr. Ajax George

Dr. Antoine Harovas Mr. William Ioannides Mrs. Pauline Kotsilimbas Mr. George Koutsos Mr. James Pantelidis Mr. John Papachristos Mrs. Adamantia Polemis Ms. Dorothy Poli Mrs. Aspasia Smith Dr. Ioannis Zervoudakis

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