Orthodox Observer - March/April 2010 by Orthodox Marketplace

MARCH – APRIL 2010 • Vol. 75 • No. 1256

www.observer.goarch.org • e-mail: observer@goarch.org

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ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

HOLY PASCHA

The Feast of Feasts

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6) To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the 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, Christ is Risen! Χριστός Ἀνέστη! In the joy and light of the glorious Resurrection of our Lord we gather on this Holy and Great Feast of Pascha to celebrate the life-giving presence and power of Christ. On this day, we give the highest praise to God for His love. On this feast, our thankfulness is unceasing, as we contemplate our restoration from death to life. Today, we offer the brightest witness throughout the world as we proclaim our faith in our Savior. On this day, our hearts are enlivened with the victory of the ages. Christ is risen. Death has been defeated, and we will live forever in blessed communion with God. On this Feast of Feasts we recognize that the Resurrection of Christ and our salvation is absolutely the work of God. In His great love for us, He fulfilled His divine promise of redemption. This love brought us into existence. His love endured even through our disobedience. In this great love, He established a means by which we would be reconciled to Him, the bondage of sin and death would be broken, and we could have and experience life as He intended it to be. This we could not accomplish on our own. It is God, and God alone who commands the light to shine out of the darkness, who in the midst of death, brings life. The beautiful and unwaning light of Pascha shines in our hearts, illuminating our souls with the power of the Resurrection and giving us a glimpse of our eternal salvation. God in His great wisdom directs this light into our hearts, our souls, our very

being, permeating our entire person with truth and grace. This light resonates with who we are and what we were created to be. In the light of Pascha we know that we were not made for sin and death. We have been created for a blessed and unending life. We

have been formed in His image for genuine and loving relationships with God and one another. This is not knowledge that comes from great intellectual quests or that can be acquired with wealth or status. It is a divine knowledge offered to all, and on this day we

are all called to come and receive this light so that we might forever be illumined in truth and transformed in love. This transformation and the joy that

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A RCHDIOCESE N E WS

Bishop Savas to Lead Young Adult Pilgrimage to Holy Land NEW YORK.– The Archdiocese Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries will sponsor its 5th National Young Adult Pilgrimage, which is planned for the Christian sites in Israel and Egypt from May 15 to 24. Bishop Savas of Troas, director of the Archdiocese Office of Church and Society, will again lead the pilgrimage. Young Adults will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Lord, re-tracing and re-living His life and ministry. The group will also visit and assist at a shelter for abandoned Palestinian Orthodox children. The Pilgrimage will depart from New York and travel to Tel Aviv. The itinerary includes Jerusalem, Nazareth, Cana, Mount of Olives, the Sea of Galilee and Gethsemane. From there participants will travel to Sinai and visit St. Catherine’s Monastery and its famous collection of icons, the burning bush, and Mount Horeb (where Moses received the Ten Commandments). Returning to Jerusalem, they will have a private audience with Theophilos III, and visit other historic churches and sites. “These pilgrimages are offered for young adults to give them the opportunity to grow in their Faith and to travel with other young adults to have a first-hand experience of our historic Church,” stated Fr. Mark Leondis, the Archdiocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Full details and registration for this pilgrimage is available at www.youngadult.goarch.org. Space is limited to 30 young adults and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Redefining Young Adult Ministry NEW YORK – In an effort to revitalize young adult ministry in the Archdiocese, the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries will launch a 2010 National Awareness Campaign for Young Adults with the theme: “Find them, Greet them, Love them.” In conjunction with Metropolis Youth Offices, the campaign will encourage parish leadership to bring young adults into the Church. It is the hope that parishes will embrace this vision of inclusiveness and welcome young adults utilizing the following programs: “10 for 10” in 2010, a program offering 10 service projects throughout the Archdiocese; social networking and enhanced websites; 10 Parish Visitation: each Metropolis director will visit 10 parishes and assist them in starting one or revitalizing a young adult ministry; create an avenue for networking this vision, sharing the successes and failures. “Our hope is to bring these young adults back into parish life by re-defining and re-evaluating successful local ministries, and assisting local communities with new initiatives that will better service the needs of their young adults,” stated Fr. Mark A. Leondis, national director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. For more information contact your local Metropolis Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries or the Archdiocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries; 646.519.6180 or youthoffice@goarch.org.

ISSN 0731–2547

In 2010, published bi–monthly except for May and December by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Editorial and Business Ofﬁce: 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 TEL.: (212) 570–3555 FAX (212) 774–0239

GOTelecom, Observer Win Awards

Orthodox Observer photo

The Most Rev. William Murphy, bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., head of the Roman Catholic community of Long Island, visits with Archbishop Demetrios on Feb. 18 for the taping of the bishop’s cable television program. The Archbishop discussed the Greek Orthodox Church and Orthodox Christianity for two 30-minute segments that will air in April on the local Catholic cable channel.

NYC to Host National Oratorical Festival by Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos

The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival of the Archdiocese will return this year to New York City, site of the first event in 1984. The 27th annual festival will take place at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral June 4-6 weekend. Host co-chairpersons are the Rev. Dr. Frank and Presbytera Haidee Marangos. Archdiocese national co-chairpersons, Fr. John and Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos, recently met with the committee members who are organizing and hosting the event. The Oratorical Festival has become one of the most challenging and inspiring program that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese offers its youth. It encourages them to research a topic, to write and to deliver their homily to the congregation. Each time they participate, they learn basic skills of public speaking, as well as how to inspire their audience. Many past participants have expressed how the program has meant so much to them in their growth and development. We encourage you to attend an oratorical festival; many parish, district and metropolis-level oratorical festivals are being held during these weeks of Great Lent and following Pascha. Only two finalists from each metropolis will advance to the Archdiocese Oratorical Festival in New York; but that does not mean that each and every participant at each and every parish oratorical festival has not met with success. Just having participated in the oratorical festival is a wonderful accomplishment and deserves praise. The 2010 Oratorical Festival topics cover a vast array of subjects; one ad-

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

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MARCH – APRIL 2010

PRODUCTION & ADVERTISING Eleftherios Pissalidis GRAPHIC ARTIST Abel Montoya ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Soula Podaras BUSINESS MANAGER Marissa P. Costidis

CONTRIBUTING CORRESPONDENT & PHOTOGRAPHER: Nicholas Manginas

dresses the environment by asking, “His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew is a champion of the environment. Present some teachings of the Orthodox Church that support environmental protection and explain how it should be practiced today”. Another seeks information about iconography, “Icons bring to life the teachings of the Orthodox Faith. In the icon of the Resurrection, Christ is portrayed as lifting up Adam and Eve. Explain the meaning of this representation.” One of the Senior Division topics addresses the popularity of sites such as “Facebook” with this question: “In Proverbs 12:26, we read, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. What is the Christian understanding of friendship and how do social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace help or hinder true friendship?” It is always of interest to learn where past Diocese or Metropolis Oratorical Festival finalists live now and what career they have chosen to pursue. One highlight of the Archdiocese Oratorical Festival is to invite these past finalists to introduce the new metropolis finalists in presenting their speeches. A questionnaire and invitation was sent to all past finalists within the Direct Archdiocese District but, because the list of addresses goes back to 1984, most have relocated. Past finalists who may have moved to the New York City area are invited to respond. To request a questionnaire and respond to the invitation to participate, e-mail Yannis Paulus, the host committee reunion chairperson, at yannis. paulus @gmail.com.

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NEW YORK– The Religious Communications Council recently honored Greek Orthodox Telecommunications (GOTelecom) and the Orthodox Observer with its DeRose Hinkhouse Memorial Awards. The DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards are given each year to active RCC members who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations. The awards will be presented at the RCC annual conference in April. Greek Orthodox Telecommunications, the television ministry of the Archdiocese, received the highest award, “Best of Class,” in the category Non-broadcast Audio/Video Program for Apostle of Love, Hope and Reconciliation that was produced in cooperation with the Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Produced by Nicholas J. Furris and Marissa P. Costidis, the video honors Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who serves as a gentle but firm advocate for many of today’s critical issues, among them the environment, unity among Orthodox Christians worldwide, peace, love and reconciliation between all faiths and as a defender of our Mother Church. The program received a standing ovation during the Archon’s Athenagoras Human Rights Award Banquet in October 2009. This DVD’s cover design also received a Certificate of Merit in the Graphic Design/Art and Photography Cover Design which was produced by John Mindala. An Award of Excellence was received in Writing/Broadcast Script by Fr. John Chryssavgis for the GOTelecom production Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ. This program also received a Certificate of Merit for Broadcast Audio/Video. The Orthodox Observer, also received a Certificate of Merit in the category of Periodicals/Newspapers-National. The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing, and public relations. Established in 1929, it is the oldest association of religion communicators in America serving to promote excellence in the communication of religious faith and values as well as understanding among diverse faith groups. For a complete list of winners visit www.religioncommunicators.org/mc/ page.do?sitePageId=105262

To Contact Us For questions about the Orthodox Observer and submitting information, Jim Golding, 212.570.3557, jim@goarch.org. For advertising and the Greek section, Lefteris Pissalidis, 212.570.3555, lefteris@goarch.org.

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Upcoming deadline Deadline for submitting information, articles and photos for consideration in May–June issue: Friday, May7, 2010 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.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Archbishop Expands Congress Theme

A RCHDIOCESE N E WS

by Jim Golding

Building upon the theme of the 39th Clergy-Laity Congress in Washington in 2008, Archbishop Demetrios has taken the concept of “Gather My People to My Home” to the next level for the upcoming Congress in Atlanta this July. Speaking at the Archdiocese District Clergy Laity Assembly in New Rochelle, N.Y., on March 1, His Eminence emphasized the main points relating to the extended theme of Come and See. which is derived from the episode in the Gospel of John in which John the Baptist points out Jesus to two of his disciples. (vv. 35-39) “Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi’… ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where He was staying and remained with him that day…” “It has to be very substantive and something that has to continue,”the Archbishop explained, adding that, “while the main clause Gather My People points to the direction of activity to draw the people, Come and See refers to what people will see when they are gathered to the home – the living God, the living Church.” He said the theme will include this important aspect; not simply to gather, but to prepare for what people will see once they come. This, in turn, impacts directly on efforts to draw in those of the younger generation, mostly in their 20s, known as the “Milleniums.” The Archbishop referred to a study by Bishop Savas showing that this group is “less religious than older people but fairly traditional in other ways,” He continued, “They are not a lost cause.” In terms of their prayer life, they are “not much different from older generations,” he said. “They are praying almost

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CLERGY UPDATE Ordination to the Priesthood Deacon Sokratis Dimitriadis – Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta – Holy Trinity, Charleston, S.C., 01/31/10 Dn. Christopher Moody – Metropolitan Methodios of Boston – Sts. Constantine & Helen Church, Cambridge, Mass., 01/31/10 Assignments Fr. Sokratis Dimitriadis – Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Orleans, 02/14/10 Fr. George Ioannou – Holy Trinity Church, St. Augustine, Fla., 03/01/10 Offikia Fr. Michael Constantinides – Office of Economos, bestowed by Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, 09/14/09 Fr. John Johns – Office of Economos, bestowed by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, 01/31/10 Suspensions Fr. Spiro Kehayes, 01/28/10 Dn. George Bithos, 02/23/10

Photos by D. PANAGOS

President Obama Welcomes Archbishop Demetrios, Greek PM George Papandreou to White House Event by Stavros H. Papagermanos

WASHINGTON – The White House hosted the annual Greek Independence Day Celebration for the 24th consecutive year honoring the 189th anniversary of the Greek War for Independence. This year’s celebration took place March 9, rather than March 25, because the President will be traveling to Asia after March 18. The celebration also coincided with Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou’s official visit to Washington. Prior to the public reception and program, President Barack Obama met privately with Archbishop Demetrios and Prime Minister Papandreou. For the first time in the history of this celebration, first lady Michelle Obama attended the gathering. Mr. Papandreou, who earlier in the day had an official meeting with President Obama, was the first to address the more than 350 guests in the East Room of the White House. The Prime Minister praised Archbishop Demetrios “for his commitment and his very important work as the spiritual leader of the Greek Americans.” Mr. Papandreou also acknowledged the contributions of the Omogeneia: “The Greek American community is a lasting link between our two countries. We are proud, and I am part of this community, we are proud of their accomplishments in academia, in business, in culture and politics. They contribute much to the United States and they are always a source of innovation and strength as they bring their ideas and aspirations to Greece when they visit our country.” Archbishop Demetrios thanked President Obama for his “commitment to pursue what St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians describes as whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is gracious (Phil. 4:8),” and said that it was in the spirit of those words of St. Paul that we experience this celebration. The Archbishop asked the President’s assistance on the issues of interest to the

Greek Orthodox community and said: “We are gratefully aware of and we are with you in your persistence and commitment to promote globally those absolute values, especially in the sensitive areas of the Far, the Middle and the Near East Asia. We thankfully noted that in the first year of your presidency, you have repeatedly shown your specific advocacy of the same values in the case of our Ecumenical Patriarchate, strongly defending its Godgiven right to religious freedom. ..” (full text of Archbishop’s remarks, www.goarch.org/ news/adremarksatwhitehouse-0309-2010.) President Barack Obama, sounding warm and upbeat, highlighted comments made by the previous speakers and repeated an earlier announcement from the Department of Homeland Security that Greece has been designated as a member of the Visa Waiver Program. Greece’s VWP designation represents a major step forward in the continued and long-standing economic and security partnership between the United States and Greece—reflecting more than two years of coordination between the two countries on Greece’s entry into VWP. The President also noted how fitting it was to have Mr. Papandreou present at this year’s Greek Independence Day celebration, thanked and praised Archbishop Demetrios, and acknowledged the contri-

butions of the Greek American community and its leaders. (For a transcript of the President’s Remarks go to:www.goarch.org. news/presidentobamaremarks-03-09-2010.) After the program President Obama greeted many of the attendees including Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Methodios of Boston, Evangelos of New Jersey, Bishop Savas of Troas, AHEPA Supreme President Nicholas A. Karacostas and representatives of other Greek American organizations, members of the Greek government, diplomats, numerous members of Congress and Alexi Giannoulias, a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. Later in the evening Archbishop Demetrios along with Prime Minister Papandreou attended a working dinner with the participation of other Greek government ministers and a small number of Greek American business leaders. A series of opinions and ideas were exchanged about resolving the present financial crisis in Greece and creating the proper conditions for investment in Greece by Greek American businesses. The previous night the Chief of Protocol of the United States Ambassador Capricia Penavic Marshall hosted a dinner at the historic Blair House in honor of Archbishop Demetrios and the anniversary of Greek Independence Day.

Prime Minister Papandreou greets Greek American leader Andrew A. Athens of Chicago at the Blair House reception.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Archbishop’s Encyclical on Clergy–Laity Congress Expanded Theme To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the 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, With great joy in our hearts we anticipate our gathering in Atlanta this summer for the 40th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of our Holy Archdiocese. This occasion will have historical significance as a milestone in the growth and accomplishments of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. It will also be a time for a renewed commitment to our sacred mission in this world. The theme of our previous Congress in Washington, DC, “Gather My People to My Home,” has been a source of inspiration and guidance in our ministry over the past two years. We have been challenged by this divine call to reach out to all people and bring them into the Church, into God’s home, God’s embrace. This theme, because of its importance, will continue to inspire and guide us. However, as is already known, in our upcoming Biennial Congress the very same theme will receive renewed emphasis. This emphasis is the simple yet profound exhortation from the Gospel of John, Come and see (John 1:46). Thus, the theme for our Biennial Congress in Atlanta will be: “Gather My People to My Home: Come and See”. It is certainly worth looking at the context of the invitation Come and See, that was offered by Philip to Nathanael (John 1:46). Philip was among the first disciples of Christ. When Jesus said to him, Follow me, Philip wholeheartedly answered the call to become His disciple. Encountering Jesus and being with him, Philip became fully convinced that Jesus of Nazareth was in fact the Messiah whom the people of Israel eagerly expected. Yet, Philip did not keep his precious discovery for himself alone. He ran to his friend Nathanael and enthusiastically shared the astonishing news: We have found him of whom Moses and the Law and also the prophets wrote ... (John 1:45). Nathanael was not so easily persuaded. He bluntly asked: Can anything good come out of Nazareth? (John 1:46).

Philip immediately answered with his powerful invitation: Come and see (John 1:46). Philip’s invitation, Come and See, revealed his faith in Christ. In faith he had answered the call of the Lord, and in faith he found his friend Nathanael and proclaimed the good news that the One foretold in the Scriptures was in their midst. Philip had no doubt that when Nathanael would meet Jesus, he certainly would follow Him as well. And this is exactly what happened. After his encounter with Christ, Nathanael declared to Him, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! (John 1:49) The example of Philip is a powerful model to follow. As we gather people to God’s home, our invitation to all should always be Come and See. Our calling is to gather the distant, the unchurched, the lapsed, those who struggle with faith or even deny the existence of God, and those in need of healing and salvation. Do we believe, as Philip did, that when we invite those with such needs to our Church they will find God’s home as a place of worship, community, healing and love? Do we have Philip’s confidence that they will encounter Christ and recognize Him as Savior and Lord? In the coming months as we prepare for our 40th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, we will reflect more on this invitation Come and See, and our theme, examining how it relates to our lives and ministry. In fulfilling our mission to gather people to God’s home, let us answer the call ourselves daily and as we follow Christ, reach out in love and compassion to all who are in need of a spiritual home, all who are in need of a loving community and the transforming power of our holy liturgical life. The invitation Come and See, if followed, will surely change, by the grace of God, their lives forever. With paternal love in Christ,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Archbishop Expands Congress Theme   page 3 on the same level.” “This is the number one issue;” Archbishop Demetrios said. “We would like to have some numbers showing results of gathering people,” specifically an increase in membership numbers as a result of applying the theme to the life of the Church.” Expounding on the theme on the second day of the assembly, the Archbishop said it was not “a political campaign” or a “big gathering of the unchurched. It has to be done on a person to person level, one-on-one. “Imagine a parish assembly dealing with a list of people not connected to the parish;” he continued, explaining that their purpose would be not to discuss church business, but “to see who in the assembly is taking care of particular person” on the list.”It cannot be done otherwise. This is central,” he said. Bishops’ Assembly A second issue of special importance to the Church will be the Assembly of all canonical bishops of the United States, Canada and Central America slated to take place the last week in May in New York. Archbishop Demetrios explained that the heads of all autocephalous Orthodox Churches made the descision at a meeting at the Ecumenical Patriarchate last year to authorize regional meetings of all canonical bishops, including North America. He said the main idea behind the regional meetings is “to continue with preparation for an Orthodox Council” of all the Orthodox Churches to take place sometime in the future. His Eminence further noted that a pan Orthodox meeting held in Chambesy, Switzerland, last summer the agenda included a discussion of the Diaspora in countries where the Orthodox Church is not a majority, including the U.S. and Canada. The regional assemblies that were proposed for these areas would meet annually and be attended by the heads of all local Orthodox jurisdictions. The North American region includes 55 canonical bishops and would be presided over by Archbishop Demetrios as the senior bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in this region. “This will mean a natural absorption of SCOBA,” His Eminence said. It will also mean a new system of dealing with the various SCOBA agencies, including the OCMC, OCF and IOCC.

Oath of Oﬃce

Multiple events The Archbishop also called for an increase in the events organized by more than one parish, such as summer camps, Olympics programs, children’s choirs, pilgrimages and similar programs. His Eminence said this is needed “to overcome limiting and asphyxiating conditions” that affect the Church. He said the faithful should “think of the existence of the whole of the Orthodox Church, which starts at the local level. “We are the stewards assigned with the duty to take care of those entrusted to us for the benefit of our community and for the benefit of our Church in general,” he said. Atlanta Congress Archdiocesan Council Administration Committee member Anthony Stefanis, also a member of the host Atlanta Metropolis parish, gave a report on the upcoming Clergy-Laity Congress set for July 4–7 in Atlanta. Mr. Stefanis said the focus of the Congress will be to ”present a program that is different from local assemblies.” He said that the local metropolis assemblies “have matured as more and more ministries have been included” and that a “strategic view of the Church” will be the emphasis of the Archdiocese–level Congress. Traditionally, the national Clergy– Laity Congress offered workshops for each of the ministries, but the emphasis now will be on providing delegates with information and materials to share with their local parishes “to inform them about things they may not be familiar with.” He said that ministries now will provide a “strategic view of where they are going, to give a two–year view of what they propose to do with monies they have, not a wish list.” Mr. Stefanis added, “The idea is to make it very interactive.” He also noted that this year’s program has been shortened by one day with an eye toward keeping down costs. “We have to be very mindful of costs for local parishes,” he said. At the same time, Church officials seek to encourage an increase in parish and delegate participation. As in the past, the Congress will end with a banquet, that will take place on Wednesday, July 7, with the traditional clergy breakfast on Thursday morning. The article on reports and discussions of the Archdiocesan District Clergy–Laity Assembly will be presented in the next issue of the Observer.

Members of the Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral Board with Archbishop Demetrios who administred the Oath of Oﬃce to them at the Archdiocese headquarters in February.

Pascha: P ascha: The Resur ection of Christ

MARCH – APRIL 2010

The Voice of Philoptochos National President’s Paschal Message

Dear National Board Members, Chapter Presidents and Members of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, We celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord with loved ones and friends at midnight on Holy Saturday as we “Come and receive the Light,” the radiant expression of God declaring triumphant victory over death. The Resurrection gives us the hope that we will live forever in the presence of the Lord, the very same hope which Saint Paul addresses in his letter to the Thessalonians (1:4.13): “We do not grieve like those who have no hope.” We enter the second decade of the third millennium pondering the developments of an era of constant change, when scientific breakthroughs and technological advances bring to our everyday living once unimaginable improvements, instant gratification and the ramifications of these changes. What has not changed in 2,000 years is the example of the life of the incarnate Son of God, the message of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Great and Holy Lenten period provides us with the most sacred opportunity for deep prayer, forgiveness, self-

reflection, fasting, retreat and charitable acts. This is a time to affirm and strengthen our relationship with our Lord. This Lenten season marks an appropriate period to renew our commitment of agape and compassion. The women of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society offer their love and demonstrate their faith through service to those in need. The women of the Society are believers and doers living the Resurrection and practicing Orthodoxy by the way they live their lives and not only with their words. Philoptochos women are and always will be a people of action. As the myrrh–bearing women went so faithfully and with great risk to anoint the precious body of our Lord, we too must continue to anoint the body of the Lord through our love for all humanity. When we light our candle, we must always remember that our responsibility is to share this light with those around us so the darkness that may be present will be pierced with the light of Life! Kali Anastasi. With love and admiration in the Resurrected Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Aphrodite Skeadas

National Convention July 4 – 7 in Atlanta Excitement is in the air as the National Philoptochos prepares for the Biennial National Convention which convenes in conjunction with the Archdiocese Clergy-Laity Congress from July 4-7 in Atlanta. National Philoptochos President Aphrodite Skeadas announced the following Convention chairmen: Helen Ballerano, Diane Tseckares and Georgia Vlitas along with Evangeline Mekras Scurtis, Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos president, who serves as the host convention chairman. Philoptochos is blessed with the tremendous opportunity to fulfill its mission of meeting the needs of fellow Orthodox Christians, local communities and national causes. The Convention Committee seeks to engage more delegates and visitors to this important gathering to better address this important responsibility. The committee is placing great emphasis on programs that highlight the importance of leadership, volunteerism and membership in this outstanding philanthropic organization. The convention will feature inspirational speakers as well as interactive forums so that Philoptochos Chapters initiate a major Membership Drive each January to continue to expand their membership and engage members in Philoptochos’ philanthropic work. National President Aphrodite Skeadas issued a call to the chapters and stated, “The dawn of a new decade gives all of us an opportunity to evaluate our past accomplishments and more importantly allows us to reenergize our determination to build on those accomplishments. The challenges that Philoptochos has encountered due to the economic downturn have been great. With the perseverance of our dedicated members and the generos-

all members may participate fully in the program and gain relevant information to return to their chapters with renewed energy and vision to encourage full participation in Philoptochos and its important philanthropic mission. Atlanta is a city filled with charm, culture, and especially, southern hospitality. The convention committee extends to the delegates their faithful service and their affectionate love promising an exciting and wonderful conference. Every Philoptochos chapter is urged to be represented by sending a delegation to the National Convention. The input and participation of each chapter will ensure not only a successful Convention but also the continued success of the beloved Ladies Philoptochos Society. Delegates should return the completed registration forms as soon as possible with the $550 registration fee which remains unchanged from previous conventions. Take a leap of faith and volunteer to represent your Philoptochos chapter as a delegate. We look forward to seeing there.

Dionisia Ferraro 1926 –2010

Former National Philoptochos President Dionisa Klitses Ferraro died Feb. 18. A native of New York City, Mrs. Ferraro was born Jan. 26, 1926 and grew up in Hempstead, Long Island, attending St. Paul Cathedral. She earned degrees in business administration, retailing and public relations and worked as a manager and buyer for a gourmet shop for 19 years. She married Alex Ferraro, a design engineer and construction firm proprietor, , and she relocated to Huntington, N.Y., where she became active at St. Paraskevi Church in Greenlawn. She served as president and vice president of her Philoptochos chapter and represented it at the diocesan and archdiocesan level. She was a member of the metropolitan board for 12 years, serving four years each as vice president and treasurer. Mrs. Ferraro also served as parish council vice president and president for six terms, through 2000, taught Sunday school and was a GOYA advisor. Archbishop Iakovos had appointed Mrs. Ferraro as National President from 1986-1990. The Archbishop presented Mrs. Ferraro with the prestigious Medal of St. Paul, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a layperson of the faith. In addition, Mrs. Ferraro had received the St. Andrew Medal of Honor, the Silver Cross of St. Andrew the Apostle and the Patriarchal Cross from Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios. She also had been a board member of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley. In a message to all Philoptochos members, current National President Aphrodite Skeadas stated, “As President of the National Philoptochos Society, Mrs. Ferraro had been an inspiration to each and every Philoptochos member. She had offered an inestimable life of unparalleled service to her family, her Church, and the community at large. Under the leadership of Mrs. Ferraro, a true visionary, the Philoptochos Society not only continued and expanded its philanthropic outreach, but embarked on several innovative programs designed to make the Society a vehicle for all Greek Orthodox women to meet the challenges of the 21st century. “Mrs. Ferraro had served with a loving spirit and a passion for excellence, along with a deep commitment and devotion to the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. May her memory

Reaching Out to New Members ity of our communities, we have met these challenges and continue to help countless women, men and children.” “It is our tradition of philanthropy, our living and practicing our Orthodox faith that allows us to reach out to so many in need. It is now the time for each of us to reach out to those women in our community who are not members and invite them to offer their talents to the

mission of Philoptochos. It is now the time to embrace their ideas of compassion for their fellow man. Finally, it is now the time to involve them, allowing them to offer their talents and ideas for the betterment of their community.“ In keeping with the membership theme: “One woman asking another woman to care”, it is important for all members to reach out and encourage new membership to help perpetuate

be eternal.” Mrs. Ferraro traveled extensively across the United States, Canada and Europe during her terms as National Philoptochos President and also represented Philoptochos in Asia and South America. Philoptochos experienced significant membership growth during her tenure as new chapters were organized and older chapters were revitalized. One of the most significant accomplishments of her presidency was the establishment of the Philoptochos Social Work office and a social worker position. The Social Welfare Services program offered tremendous emotional and financial support to aid the fight against domestic violence, pornography, suicide and substance abuse. Additional programs were originated to aid the homeless, aged, mentally ill and disabled as well as AIDS, cardiac and cancer patients. Mrs. Ferraro was honored by the Town of Huntington in recognition of her dedication and commitment to the Philoptochos. She also was recognized for her efforts in obtaining jobs for high school students. She served as president of the Merchants Association of the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington and served as chairman of the fund-raising dinner to restore the home of the 19th century American poet. She was an honorary member of the Archdiocesan Cathedral Philoptochos, the Archdiocesan Council and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Mrs. Ferraro was predeceased by her husband about 25 years ago and her three children, Diane in 2005, Anthony in 2006 and John in 2007. Funeral services took place Feb. 23 with Archbishop Demetrios officiating, assisted by Frs. Demetrios Moraitis and Louis Nicholas of Sts. Paraskevi. the Philoptochos legacy passed down through generations. National Membership Chairmen Diane Tseckares and Kathy Gabriel remind chapters that membership must be reported by April 30 to ensure delegates are eligible to be seated at the National Convention. The chairmen encourage newer members to be Convention delegates. “This convention is your convention. Be part of it, share ideas with women across the country and bring back to your Chapter a renewed sense of Philoptochos and the many meaningful ways that our membership and recruitment of stewards makes a difference in so many lives.”

Commentaries and Reflections

Thanks for the Memories by Fr. Nicholas L. Vieron*

After 17–plus years as editor of the Epistle, the monthly newsletter of the Retired Clergy Association, the time came for me to retire from the most enjoyable assignment I’ve been blessed with in all my 20 retirement years. I express my gratitude to our first president, the late Fr John Zanetos, who in July of 1992, at the New Orleans Clergy–Laity Congress, asked me to edit a newsletter for our retirees. (There was no list of “widowed presbyteres” then). I am also grateful to the RCA presidents who followed – Fr. William Gaines, Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, Fr. Constantine Raptis and Fr Nicholas Soteropoulos – for allowing me to continue as editor, lo, these many years. The main reason I retired is for the benefit of our Retired Clergy Association, for I feel that because of health issues at 84, I am not able to offer the “upgraded” effort the Epistle deserves. However, I envision a bright future; perhaps a glossy publication is in the horizon for our newsletter which we have often referred to as “a love letter from one old-timer to another.” I have two complete sets of the 209 issues I have edited. I will retain one for my personal perusal until “that time” comes when one of my two sons will mail the one set to the Pomfret Room at HC/HC. The issues are filled with a plethora of memories - some are sad, others exciting, informative, beneficial - all are interesting, thanks to the readers who submitted them. Retiree Fr Dean Gigicos, RCA VicePresident, is preserving the issues in a more permanent form. I concluded my last issue as editor with a couple of old corny jokes. I’ve often been told that some of the readers always looked first for the “Smiles!” I recall a

 60 Minutes  What a wonderful article by 60 Minutes Producer Magalie-LaguerreWilkinson. She accurately captured the pathos that the Orthodox Church endures in repressive Turkey. Both my Mother and Father were among the 2 million Orthodox Greeks that were thrown out of Turkey in the 20’s. Ms. Wilkinson as a non- Orthodox articulated the situation in a most candid and impressive manner. She courageously reported on the outrageous religious discrimination that still exists in most of the Muslin Nations of the world, which the politically correct media fails to acknowledge. Thank you for publishing the article. Eli Dalabakis St Petersburg, Fla.

 Commitment to Troops  Editor, Needless to say, I was surprised by the idea of the Philoptochos (Feb. Bulletin) recommitting to the troops care packages. I had no idea that the troops project had been dropped and was now being reinstated. With the permission of Fr. James Rousakis and our Holy Trinity Philoptochos, we have been sending care packages to our troops since 2007, and we never stopped. The members donate the items, and most of the money for postage. It’s so heart-warming to see how our Philop-

questionnaire I sent out many years ago, asking which aspect of the Epistle was mostly enjoyed. Archbishop Iakovos did not hesitate, “the corny jokes!” Paulette Poulos often reminds me of that. Someone suggested I publish all the jokes that have appeared in the Epistle; that it would make a nice “anthology” of Corny Epistle Jokes. I hope I’ll be remembered for a little while at least (only God’s love is forever) for designing our RCA emblem - Ιερεύς Εις Τον Αιώνα! – A Priest Forever. Bess Vieron likes to recaIl how one night she woke up at 2 o’clock in the morning and found me at the kitchen table drawing circles. The year was 1993, and the design has since been embraced as our official RCA Emblem. I shall always enjoy hearing from the readers of the Epistle in a personal way. And if someone should share something of interest with me I will be delighted, with their permission of course, to forward it to our new editor, Presbytera Nikki Stephanopoulos, who is the most qualified person in our Archdiocese to continue any and all editorial endeavors. God willing, I plan to occasionally submit an article or two to the Epistle. To each and every one of you - Epistle readers, fellow retirees, sponsors, Memphis helpers, and especially “my beloved widowed presbyteres” - thank you for the beautiful memories. Fr. Vieron is a 1947 graduate of Pomfret Holy Cross Theological Seminary. He received a Master’s degree in history from Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. in 1954 and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Memphis University School of Law in 1970. Since his 1991 retirement, he has served as pastor emeritus of Annunciation Church, Memphis, Tenn.

tochos members as well as our church members have stepped up to the plate and truly committed themselves to keep this project going as long as necessary. When we started, we vowed to keep it going until all our troops are home safe and sound. We have never stopped. To date, we have mailed over 620 packages. This past December, a local grade school (through a teacher who is a member) volunteered to help collect items for the troops. We were able to pack and send 47 boxes two weeks before Christmas. We were hoping for 20-25 boxes by Christmas, so we were overwhelmed with what those young students did. They also wrote many, many letters which we included in the boxes. I have already mailed two boxes this week and have started packing two more for mailing. As we continue to say, “we don’t agree with this war, but as long as our men and women are there fighting for our freedom, we will continue sending them the items they need and want.” This is all done with our church and our members, and no others involved. We want to know that what we send will get to the ones we send it to. We have at least 20-30 addresses. and we encourage members to give us names and addresses when they have a loved one over there. It’s a privilege to be able to do this for them. Fran Glaros-Sharp Clearwater, Fla.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Archpastoral Reflections Reaching Out to Non-Believers

In our previous reflections, we have focused on the theme “Gather My People to My Home,” as it relates to our calling to reach out to all people and invite them to come and see the power and beauty of faith and experience the love of God within our communities.

by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America As we have examined, this calling is to reach out to those who have become disassociated from their Orthodox faith, to the unchurched, and to others who are struggling to find answers to the questions of life. Another group of people that we need to engage with the truth and love of the Gospel consists of those who openly profess that they do not believe in God. An initial response to people in this group may be to avoid them altogether or to dismiss their claims. In either case, however, we are facing a real challenge. How do we meet this challenge and provide a faithful and loving witness to those who deny the existence of God? First, we have to ask if such a position can be a firm one. The goal here is not to enter into great philosophical disputes over the existence of God. While this has its place in applying intellectual principles to the question, such exercises are often far removed from the realities of our human condition and needs. Our approach in gathering people to the Church should be from our own experience of the divine, the transforming presence of Christ in our lives, and the strength, joy and peace we find in communion with Him and one another. We also need to recognize that statements of disbelief often mask deep struggles and insecurities, tremendous questions about the purpose and meaning of life, or even challenging experiences of the past. When we have this awareness of the underlying issues that may have led someone to express disbelief in God, we can equip ourselves for a ministry of compassion that is a witness of God’s love. Souls in this state probably will not find Christ through arguments over truth and faith. The proof of God’s existence will be love. This is the love that our Lord revealed and taught. This love, Christ’s love that is in us, is revealed when we are ready and willing to reach out to anyone in need. For a brother or sister in Christ, we may act with no hesitation. Our challenge and our calling is to give to and love those who deny the existence of God. This represents true faith in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring truth and grace into the life of any person. Second, in our ministry of compassion and witness of faith to those who do not believe in God, we need to be confident in our own faith and relationship with Him. In the face of adversity this can be challenging. But we have to be strong, even bold. This is not a boldness that is directed at another person in hostility, but it is the characteristic fruits of the Holy Spirit, i.e., love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the attributes that should also characterize our relationships with those who do not believe in God. Through our bold and constant witness of faith and love in friendship and in response to crisis or needs, the souls of those who deny the existence of God may be illumined with the light of truth. A third aspect of our calling to gather unbelievers into God’s home is that this is a ministry of prayer and patience. Regular prayer for those who deny the existence of God is necessary as we seek His guidance and as we keep our hearts and minds prepared for every opportunity to show His love. He will hear our petitions for the soul of another and will ensure that a witness of His presence and love will be revealed. Our life of prayer will also nurture patience. Souls filled with disbelief are not always brought to faith through miraculous events. For many it is the careful nurturing through our witness that will lead a person to abandon his or her denial and open their heart to the mercy and blessings of God. Our efforts to bring unbelievers to God are decisively facilitated by the display of our unity as believers and as community. Our Lord prayed that the believers may all be one, even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You; that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me (John 17:21). We are bound together in Christ, brothers and sisters of faith, gathering to God’s home, to worship Him, receive His grace, and proclaim the Gospel of salvation. All of this unites us in a beautiful and blessed way. In our witness to all, and especially to unbelievers, it is our unity of love and mission that will affirm the presence and power of God. As parishes of love and faith, we live and serve in this world as the embodiment of true communities that reveal the peace and unity of the kingdom of God. May our good and gracious God make us worthy to be strong witnesses to unbelievers, and lovingly lead them to Him and to the ineffable joy of life and truth granted by Him.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

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Fillo Kataifi Delicious, traditional products made   page 1 comes through the light of the knowledge of the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:6) is very real and powerful to us because Christ is in our midst. All of this has and continues to be accomplished through Him. Through His Incarnation He shared in our humanity, and through His power as the Son of God He overcame sin and death. It is His glory that shines in our hearts revealing the purpose and potential of our lives. In His face we see what we are called to be. We see the deep and enduring love of God. We see the willing sacrifice for our redemption. We see a tender invitation to return to communion with God. In our painful experience of the wounded world in which we live, of conditions of blinding darkness and utter confusion that surrounds our contemporary humanity, we see our Risen Lord in triumphant honor and glory, calling all to come to Him and receive the light of life. On this day we celebrate that wonderful knowledge of His glory: Christ is in our midst, and He always shall be. May this light of divine truth that shines in our hearts be ever brighter on this great and glorious Feast of Pascha. May our joy be so immense and the love that we share so complete that each and every person and all of creation will hear our hymn and know that Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

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MARCH – APRIL 2010

Feast of the Annunciation - Day of Greek Independence To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the 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, We celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary chanting these words, “Today is the crowning of our salvation and the revelation of the mystery that is from all ages.” In the Announcement of the Archangel Gabriel to the Theotokos, God offered His divine plan for our salvation. In the same event the nature and purpose of the message of the Gospel was made known. God’s grace and the means of salvation were revealed, the good news was proclaimed by His messenger, and the hearer and receiver of the Word of God responded in faith. The event of the Annunciation was foundational for the Gospel, a message of God’s love that would be carried to the ends of the earth. The means for our salvation through the Incarnation of the Son of God had been established before all ages. The time of the revelation had come, and God chose the recipient of this divine blessing and sent the heavenly messenger to her so that all humanity would know of His grace. This act of God towards us and for our salvation defines the Gospel. The Gospel is the Ευαγγελισµός, the annunciation of the “good news” of God’s love and the path of restoration to life and eternal communion with Him. The will of God was joyfully announced by the Archangel Gabriel. The role of the messenger presents us with a second aspect of the Gospel that is celebrated in this Feast of Evangelismos. The Gospel is and must be proclaimed. It is shared by those who are sent to offer to all the saving message of God. Jesus proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of the message of salvation (Luke 4:19). The Apostles were commissioned to go to all the nations and to preach the Gospel and teach what Christ had taught them (Matthew 28:18-20). All who receive the Holy Spirit are called to be witnesses of Christ throughout the entire world (Acts 1:8). For the Gospel to

be received it must be heard. For it to be heard it must be proclaimed. For it to be proclaimed, we must be willing to share the Gospel through both word and deed. The Feast of the Annunciation is a significant day in our spiritual heritage. This is also a day upon which we observe an important commemoration of our cultural heritage, the Day of Greek Independence, in honoring the Greek Revolution of March 25. As both our spiritual and cultural heritage are joined together in our Hellenic identity, so this great feast of the Annunciation and this day of remembrance and celebration of the National Independence are linked in a very unique way. The Gospel of salvation revealed in the Annunciation to the Theotokos is the message of our spiritual freedom in Christ. This ultimate freedom from sin and death is essential to any understanding of the freedom and self–determination that is enshrined in the establishment of modern democracies. We were created by God to be free to live in fellowship with Him and free from all that injures and destroys life. We were also created to live in relationship with one another, using our freedom to establish societies that are free from oppression, exploitation, and tyranny. These were the aims of our fathers and mothers who in 1821 offered their lives and property so that the people of Greece might be free, and this is a freedom that we still have and cherish. On this day may we remember and be grateful for the freedom we have inherited, both in Greece and in America. May we use this freedom, not to satisfy personal desires, but for the well–being of all. May we use it to proclaim a Gospel of salvation and freedom that will not only bless and guide us through our ephemeral sojourn in this world, but will also lead us into eternal life in the kingdom of God. With paternal love in Christ,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Leadership 100 Extends Support of Holy Cross Scholarships by George Schira

CORONADO, Calif. – The 19th annual Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund Conference held in early February increased its commitment to providing a minimum of $1 million a year for scholarships through 2018 for seminarians at Holy Cross School of Theology through its “The Spirit of Giving” program. The scholarships are provided to those preparing for the priesthood, designated as “Leadership 100 Scholars.” The action by the Executive Committee, as reported by outgoing Chairman Stephen G. Yeonas, and with the endorsement of Archbishop Demetrios, made the scholarship program at Holy Cross School of Theology the top priority of the more than 25-year-old organization. The scholarships would provide full tuition for seminarians in need of financial assistance who maintain a high grade point average and demonstrate exemplary character. The increase of the scholarship program will significantly advance the number of candidates for the priesthood. Leadership 100 has provided more than $11 million in scholarship aid to Holy Cross in the past decade. More than 300 members of Leadership 100 and their guests attended a full three-day program at the conference with the theme “The Torchbearers of Our Faith and Hellenic Heritage: The New Generation of Leaders.” Conference speakers included former U.S. Ambassador to Spain, real estate investor and philanthropist George Argyros; award-winning author, film and television producer George Pelecanos; Dr. Nicholas Yphantides, a motivational speaker focusing on the issue of obesity. Deborah Szekely, co-founder of the modern-day health and fitness movement, and Harry

Stephen G. Yeonas, left, passes the torch of the Leadership 100 chairmanship to Constantine G. Caras.

C. Cordellos, a world-class athlete who overcame childhood visual challenges, also addressed the conference. George Stephanopoulos, the new cohost of “Good Morning America” made a video appearance. Argyros honored Ambassador Argyros was the recipient of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Principality of Andorra from November 2001 to November 2004. During an extraordinary period in Spain’s history, Ambassador Argyros’ diplomatic accomplishments included forging a close alliance with King Juan Carlos and former President Jose Maria Aznar that resulted in Spain’s support and participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom

and Enduring Freedom, guiding the U.S. response to the tragic terrorist bombings in 2003 and implementing new initiatives to assist and promote U.S. trade and investment in Spain. He is currently chairman and CEO of Arnel & Affiliates, a West Coast diversified investment company. He is also a general partner in Westar Capital, a private investment company. From 1981 to 1987, he was co-owner of AirCal, which was sold to American Airlines and owned the Seattle Mariners baseball club in the American League from 1981-1989. Ambassador Argyros formerly served as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations for the U.S. Trade Representative until 1990, when President G. W. Bush appointed him to the board of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Fred-

die Mac). He completed his term on the Freddie Mac Board in March 1993. Born in Detroit and raised in Pasadena, California, Ambassador Argyros graduated from Chapman University in 1959 with a major in Business and Economics. New chairman elected In other business, the Board of Trustees elected Constantine G. Caras of Wilmington, Del. as chairman; Charles H Cotros of Memphis, Tenn. as vice-chairman; and George S. Tsandikos of Greenwich, Conn., as treasurer. Kassandra L. Romas of Short Hills, N.J. continues to serve as secretary. The Board also elected Tsandikos along with John A. Catsimatidis and Peter J. Pappas of New York to the Executive Committee and seven new members to the Board of Trustees: Maria Allwin of Connecticut, Drake G. Behrakis of Massachusetts, Eleni Bousis of Illinois, Tarsi Georgas of Florida, Patsy Kouvas of Ohio, Mike A. Manatos of Maryland and Adam M. Tzagournis, also of Ohio. Membership increases In the past two years, over the course of the 25th Anniversary Campaign, Leadership 100 has increased its membership by 100 for a total membership of 836. Fulfilled memberships of $100,000 each now number more than half of total memberships. The investment portfolio, which saw a downturn in 2008, is now above $62.2 million. In 2009, Leadership 100 distributed $1,694,860 in grants with $1.3 million going to Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology; $388,260 to the National Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and $6,600 to the Retired Clergy in Need. Since the inception of Leadership 100, total grant distributions stand at $28,549,636. The cumulative total of all grants over the history of the organization is expected to reach $30 million in 2010, an average of $1.5 million a year.

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May the Love, Peace and Joy of the Resurrection live in our hearts now and forever more.

Christos Anesti Constantine G. Caras, Chairman Charles H. Kotros, Vice Chairman, George S. Tsandikos, Treasurer Kassandra L. Romas, Secretary Paulette Poulos, Acting Executive Director Advancing Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Metropolis of Chicago Honors Students at Hellenic Letters Celebration CHICAGO -- Celebrating the contributions of Greek literature throughout the ages and its ongoing worldwide appeal, this year’s annual Hellenic Letters observances offered a series of spiritual and cultural programs. Celebration events included the annual Aristeion literary competition for youth in early January, held simultaneously in all parish Greek schools. The participants were challenged by a single topic on which to write and that was revealed on the day of the competition. An “All-School Celebration” gathered students from the various Metropolis Greek Schools, on Saturday, Jan. 23 at St. Nectarios Church in Palatine, Ill. This program highlighted the importance of Hellenic education through various art forms, including poetry, music, dance and drama. St. George parish in DePaul hosted a memorial service on Jan. 24, offered by Metropolitan Iakovos for departed educators, broadcasters and journalists who tirelessly worked to preserve Greek fluency and literacy amid the waves of assimilation that often marginalized immigrant cultures and languages. A highlight of the week was “A Special Presentation in Celebration of Hellenic Letters” at St. John the Baptist Church in Des Plaines on Jan. 27. Guest speakers included, Rev. Elder Maximos, of the Holy Monastery of Iviron on Mt. Athos, and Professor Konstantinos Niarchos, professor of ancient philosophy at the University of Athens. They enlightened attendees with presentations regarding the expression of Orthodoxy through Hellenic culture and ideals. Additionally the renowned vocalist Vasilios Gaitanos with his wife, Demetra, entertained the audience with a selection of traditional Greek folk and popular

songs that highlighted the Hellenic spirit. Liturgical celebrations for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs – all Christian transformers of Hellenistic culture in their early Byzantine world – began with great vespers (Jan. 27) at Sts. Constantine and Helen in Palos Hills, led by Metropolitan Iakovos. On the morning of Jan. 28, Chicago’s Metropolitan presided at the Feast’s Divine Liturgy at the northwest side parish of Holy Trinity. Both services were followed by programs presented by the parish’s respective Orthodox elementary schools. Joined by Elder Maximos, Metropolitan Iakovos, along with Bishop Demetrios, con-celebrated the Sunday Divine Liturgy on Jan. 31 at St. Demetrios Church in Chicago. The week’s celebrations culminated in the annual Hellenic Letters luncheon that followed the liturgy, an event uniquely honoring pre-eminent educator Fotis Litsas, and awarding winners of the Aristeion. A distinguished feature of the afternoon included the singing of traditional Byzantine hymns offered by the children of the Metropolis of Chicago School of Byzantine Music under the direction of Frs. Tilemahos Alikakos and Sotirios Malamis. A highlight of this year’s celebration was the participation of its keynote speakers, Elder Maximos, and Professor Niarchos. Their compelling presentations witnessed to the true universality of the Orthodox faith, and the classical consciousness that the ‘letters’ of the ancient Greeks are indeed a heritage and an inspiration for and belonging to all the world’s peoples. + Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos

Winners of the Fotio Litsas Agrafon Award with Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago.

Professor Konstantinos Niarchos, professor of ancient philosophy at the University of Athens, and Ambassador Anastasios Petrovas.

Members of the Byzantine Music School with instructor Fr. Sotirios Malamis.

Second-Annual Sanctity of Life Prayer Service Draws 200 CICERO, Ill. – The Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Greater Chicago (OCCA) sponsored the second-annual Pan-Orthodox Sanctity of Life Prayer Service and Presentation, attended by nearly 200 faithful from the Chicago area, including Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, and many area clergy. The event took place Jan. 24 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. “We couldn’t be happier with the turn-out this year – nearly double what we had last year. Hopefully this trend

will continue,” noted Nicholas Cavaligos, president of Orthodox Christians for LifeChicago. “This is a very significant and timely issue in America today, and if we truly believe in what we confess, then our first obligation is to offer it up to God. And that’s what this evening is about.” After the prayer service, the St. George community hosted a fellowship for all those in attendance which was highlighted by a presentation, given by Khouria Frederica Mathewes-Green, the well-known author, speaker and commentator. She

Metropolitan Iakovos presents the Agrafon Award to one of the winners.

spoke on the reality of life in the unborn child and spoke of her own experience turning from a very stanch pro-abortion stance to, now, a very outspoken critic of abortion. “Both this evening’s presentation by Frederica and the prayer service that we offered up to God this evening are important witnesses to what we believe,”

observed Mr. Cavaligos. “We pray that God will continue to strengthen and grow the pro-life cause in America in the years ahead. If the success of tonight’s event is any indication, we have reason to hope that some day – dare I say soon – we will see the beginning of an America that is, indeed, pro-life.”

MARCH – APRIL 2010

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ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN N

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MARCH – APRIL 2010

I n

M e m o r i a m

George Chimples CLEVELAND – George K. Chimples, 91, a Founding Member of Leadership 100 and long–time former member of the Archdiocesan Council and its Executive Committee, died March 13.For many years, he served as chairman of the Finance Committee of the council and in other positions. He also was a founder of LOGOS (League of Greek Orthodox Stewards) and was an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He was born in Chios in 1918. As a leader in the Greek Community in Greater Cleveland, he was a great benefactor of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland Heights, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a founder of the Kardamylian Foundation, member of the Chios Society of America, member of the AHEPA, an officer in the Royal Greek Navy in WWII, founder and former CEO of AMAC Enterprises Inc., Dean Land Company and a founding director of Commerce Exchange Bank. During World War II, while on convoy

duty, his ship was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. While clinging to a raft, he dedicated his life to God. He also served as a interpreter on a ship of the British Royal Navy and escorted American personnel carriers through sea–mine fields in the English Channel during the D-Day invasion. Mr. Chimples was honored Sept. 26 in Cleveland at a luncheon for Leadership 100 members and prospects in recognition of his long-time leadership and for his 90th birthday, which he celebrated on Oct. 23. John A. Payiavlas, National Membership co-chairman and chairman emeritus organized and hosted the event as a tribute to Chimples for his dedication to philanthropy and to the Greek Orthodox Church. Funeral services took place March 16, at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral with Archbishop Demetrios officiating, assisted by local clergy. Survivors include his widow, Janet W. (nee Shields) Chimples; children Evgenia (George) Hasiotis, Constantine (Kathleen) Chimples, Christine (Peter) Anzo and Thomas (Theresa) Chimples. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and other relatives. Memorial contributions may be made to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral Endowment Fund or the George K. Chimples Scholarship Fund, c/o Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary, 50 Goddard Ave., Brookline, MA.

Archons lead Religious Freedom Mission NEW YORK - With the blessings of Archbishop Demetrios,. exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a delegation from the Order of St. Andrew, led by Archon Ambassador George L. Argyros and National Commander Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, participated in a Religious Freedom Mission to the European Union in pursuit of human rights and religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate from Jan. 26-Feb..7. The delegation traveled to Madrid, Spain, which currently holds the EU presidency; Brussels, Belgium, the headquarters of the EU and ended in Athens, Greece where they joined Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. They were guided by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, director of the Liaison Office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the European Union. Together with Archons Argyros and Limberakis, the delegation also included Archon Christopher Stratakis, Legal Counselor; Fr. Alex Karloutsos, Archon spiritual advisor; and Robert Lapsely, former assistant secretary of state for California. Prior to their departure on Dec.17, the Archon Leadership met with Assistant

Secretary of State Philip H. Gordon at the State Department in Washington to review the religious freedom issues regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to seek the guidance and full support of the United States government for the Archon Religious Freedom Mission. Secretary Gordon was most forthcoming in his support for the religious freedom goals of the Mission. In preparation for the Mission, the Archon leadership consulted and met with Vassilis Kaskarelis, ambassador of Greece to the United States. Ambassador Kaskarelis prior to his post in the United States served with great distinction as Greece’s ambassador to the European Union and is well known and respected in the EU community as one of its finest diplomats. Ambassador Kaskarelis facilitated a number of critical meetings throughout the Archon Religious Freedom Mission and for which The Order is most grateful. The delegation had substantive meetings with government and religious officials which were reported during the mission utilizing the social networking tool “Twitter” for the first time.

Cathedral to Observe Anniversaries HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – St. Paul’s Cathedral has launched a multiple celebration in 2010 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the church in 1945, the 50th anniversary of the ordination and assignment to the community of Fr. Nicholas J. Magoulias, and 50 years since the Icon of the “Lamenting Mother of God” was seen to tear in the home of parishioners who brought it to the Church. The Ecumenical Patriarchate proclaimed it to be a “Sign of Divine Providence” and the icon remains permanently enshrined in the Cathedral. St. Paul’s was the very first Greek Orthodox Church in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. It is the result of the dedicated work of many individuals including Fr. George Papadeas, whose vision and fortitude helped create it. Even in his retirement, Fr. Magoulias continues to actively serve the community. “How fortunate we are to have him with us still participating in the religious and

festive observations of our community,” said George Papazicos, Parish Council president, who announced that the parish also will recognize St. Anna’s Philoptochos, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary and continues, through all its wonderful work, to promote benevolent and philanthropic outreach to all those in need and to assist the national ministries of the church. To celebrate these anniversaries and to honor Fr. Nick and Fr. George, the community will have a luncheon on Sunday, May 2, at the Garden City Hotel. This Anniversary Celebration Luncheon will take place after the Divine Liturgy, which will be celebrated by Archbishop Demetrios, assisted by Fr. Papadeas, Fr. Magoulias and the current clergy, Fr. Luke Melackrinos and Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas. At age 95, Fr. George Papadeas currently serves the Greek Orthodox Mission of Greater Ocala, Fla., which recently had a ground-breaking for its new church.

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MARCH – APRIL 2010

Στον Παναγιώτατο Οικουμενικό μας Πατριάρχη κ. Βαρθολομαίο Στον Σεβασμιώτατο Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριο Στους Ιεράρχες της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής Συνόδου Στον Ιερό Κλήρο Στο Τάγμα των Αρχόντων του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου Στην Ηγεσία των 100 Στους εκπαιδευτικούς και τη μαθητιώσα νεολαία Σε όλη την Ομογένεια της Αμερικής και στον απανταχού Ελληνισμό

ΚΑΛΟ ΠΑΣΧΑ Είθε το Ανέσπερο Φως της Αναστάσεως να φωτίζει τις καρδιές μας και να χαρίζει Ειρήνη σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο Οικογενειακώς,

Στέφανος Τσερπέλης

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ–ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟΣ 2010

ΕΤΟΣ 75 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1256

Α ΡΧΙΕΠΙ ΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ Ε ΓΚΥ Κ ΛΙΟΣ

Ἅγιον Πάσχα Ἑορτή τῶν Ἑορτῶν Ὅτι ὁ Θεός ὁ εἰπών ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάµψαι, ὅς ἔλαµψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡµῶν πρός φωτισµόν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ

(Β’Κορ. 4:6)

Πρός τούς Σεβασµιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβε-στάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, 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 µου ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ,

Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Στή χαρά καί στό φῶς τῆς ἐνδόξου Ἀναστάσεως τοῦ Κυρίου µας, συγκεντρωνόµεθα αὐτή τήν Ἁγία καί Μεγάλη Ἑορτή τοῦ Πάσχα γιά νά ἑορτάσουµε τήν ζωοποιό παρουσία καί δύναµη τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Τήν ἡµέρα αὐτή, προσφέρουµε τήν ὑπέρτατη δοξολογία στόν Θεό γιά τήν ἀγάπη Του. Στήν ἑορτή αὐτή, αἰσθανόµεθα ἀπέραντη εὐγνωµοσύνη καθώς ἀναλογιζόµεθα τήν ἀποκατάστασή µας ἀπό τόν θάνατο στή ζωή. Σήµερα, προσφέρουµε τήν πιό λαµπρή µαρτυρία σ’ ὁλόκληρο τόν κόσµο καθώς διακηρύσσουµε τήν πίστη µας στόν Σωτήρα µας. Τήν ἡµέρα αὐτή, οἱ καρ-

 óåë. 19

Εορτασμός της 189ης Επετείου της Ελληνικής Επαναστάσεως στο Λευκό Οίκο από τον Πρόεδρο Μπαράκ Ομπάμα, παρουσία του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής Δημητρίου και του Ελληνα πρωθυπουργού Γιώργου Παπανδρέου  óåë. 18

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ–ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟΣ 2010

Εορτασμός της Ιστορικής Επετείου του 1821 στο Λευκό Οίκο

Ο Aμερικανός πρόεδρος διαβεβαιώνει τους Ελληνες πως σε κάθε εύκολη ή δύσκολη στιγμή θα έχουν ένα φίλο και εταίρο, τις ΗΠΑ Επιμέλεια: ΛΕΥΤΕΡΗΣ ΠΙΣΣΑΛΙΔΗΣ

ΟΥΑΣΙΓΚΤΟΝ.– Κατά τη διάρκεια του ετήσιου εορτασμού που λαμβάνει χώρα στο Λευκό Οίκο για την επέτειο της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης του 1821, η οποία φέτος τελέσθηκε για πρώτη φορά με παρουσία Έλληνα πρωθυπουργού, του Γιώργου Παπανδρέου, ο πρόεδρος των ΗΠΑ Μπαράκ Ομπάμα διαβεβαίωσε τους Έλληνες ότι σε κάθε εύκολη ή κάθε δύσκολη στιγμή θα έχουν έναν φίλο και εταίρο, τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Τη διαβεβαίωση αυτή έδωσε ο αμερικανός πρόεδρος παρουσία του ΣεβασμιωτάτουΑρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής Δημητρίου. Η εκδήλωση τελέσθηκε φέτος λίγες ημέρες νωρίτερα από την καθιερωμένη ημερομηνία, λόγω ανειλημμένων υποχρεώσεων του αμερικανού προέδρου, ο οποίος, όπως τόνισε στους παρευρισκόμενους, την εποχή εκείνη θα βρίσκεται σε περιοδεία στην Ασία. Ο Ελληνας πρωθυπουργός, Γιώργος Παπανδρέου, μιλώντας στην εκδήλωση, απευθυνόμενος προς τον πρόεδρο Ομπάμα, τόνισε πως «μαζί, γιορτάζουμε με περηφάνια τη λαμπρή κληρονομιά των Ελληνοαμερικανών. Μαζί, αναγνωρίζουμε τη μακρόχρονη φιλία μεταξύ ΗΠΑ και Ελλάδας και, μαζί επαναβεβαιώνουμε τις κοινές μας αξίες και αρχές, την κοινή μας επιθυμία για ελευθερία, Δημοκρατία, ειρήνη, σταθερότητα, προάσπιση των δικαιωμάτων του ανθρώπου και του κράτους Δικαίου σε όλη την υφήλιο. «Κύριε Πρόεδρε, παρόλο που η Δημοκρατία γεννήθηκε στην Ελλάδα, δεν έχουμε διεκδικήσει, ούτε επιθυμούμε να διεκδικήσουμε την αποκλειστικότητά της. Η έννοια της Δημοκρατίας συγκαταλέγεται στην παγκόσμια κληρονομιά, στον κοινό πλούτο που μοιράζεται όλη η ανθρωπότητα. Ωστόσο, μπορούμε να είμαστε, και πράγματι είμαστε, ιδιαίτερα περήφανοι, όταν η Δημοκρατία ευημερεί. H χώρα σας, εσείς προσωπικά, έχετε εμπνεύσει, έχετε δώσει νέα πνοή στην έννοια της Δημοκρατίας στο σημερινό κόσμο». Ο κ. Παπανδρέου κατά τη διάρκεια του χαιρετισμού του, απευθυνόμενος προς τον Σεβασμιώτατο Αρχιεπίσκοπο Αμερικής Δημήτριο, τον χαρακτήρισε ως τον πνευματικό ηγέτη της ελληνοαμερικανικής κοινότητας, της οποίας, όπως είπε, είναι και ο ίδιος μέλος. «Θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω, σε αυτή την επίσημη εκδήλωση, την Αυτού Αγιότητα, τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο, για τη δική του δέσμευση στη δική του αποστολή και για το έργο του, ως πνευματικού ηγέτη των Ελληνοαμερικανών. Ηγείται με επιτυχία της Ελληνοαμερικανικής κοινότητας, συμβάλλοντας στην ευημερία αυτού του μεγάλου έθνους. Στη διάρκεια της θητείας του αυτά τα χρόνια, ο Προκαθήμενος της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας στην Αμερική κατόρθωσε να γαλουχήσει στη χριστιανική πίστη την Ελληνοαμερικανική κοινότητα, κηρύσσοντας την αγάπη και τη δικαιοσύνη», συμπλήρωσε ο κ. Παπανδρέου. Στη συνέχεια προσκάλεσε τον Πρόεδρο Ομπάμα να επισκεφθεί την Ελλάδα, ενώ αναφέρθηκε και στη επιθυμία του να συνεργαστεί με την Ενωμένη Ευρώπη, με σκοπό την πιο αποτελεσματική ρύθμιση του παγκόσμιου οικονομικού συστήματος. Ο Ελληνας πρωθυπουργός αναφέρθηκε και στις πρόσφατες προσπάθειες της κυβέρνησης και του ελληνικού λαού, για την ανάταξη της οικονομίας και την προώθηση θεσμικών αλλαγών. Κλείνοντας τον σύντομο χαιρετισμό

ΔΗΜ. ΠΑΝΑΓΟΣ

Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Δημήτριος, ο Πρόεδρος των ΗΠΑ, Μπαράκ Ομπάμα, ο Ελληνας Πρωθυπουργός Γιώργος Παπανδρέου και πλήθος ομογενών κατά τη διάρκεια της τελετής εορτασμού των 189 χρόνων της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας στο Λευκό Οίκο.

του, ο κ. Παπανδρέου τόνισε ότι «η Ελλάδα θα εξακολουθεί να στέκεται στο πλευρό των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών, στην κοινή μας αναζήτηση της δικαιοσύνης, έναντι κάθε μορφής τυραννίας και καταπίεσης, φροντίζοντας ο κόσμος μας να είναι ένα βιώσιμο μέρος». Ομιλία Μπαράκ Ομπάμα Από την πλευρά του ο κ. Ομπάμα τόνισε ότι ο Έλληνας Πρωθυπουργός κλήθηκε να κυβερνήσει την Ελλάδα σε μια εξαιρετικά δύσκολη περίοδο, όπως, προηγουμένως έπραξαν ο πατέρας του και ο παππούς του. Πρόσθεσε δε, ότι δεν υπάρχει καλύτερος τρόπος εορτασμού της επετείου της 25ης Μαρτίου στην Ουάσιγκτον από τη φετεινή παρουσία του Έλληνα Πρωθυπουργού. Ο Αμερικανός Πρόεδρος κατά τη διάρκεια της ομιλίας του έκανε πολλές αναφορές στη λέξη "φιλότιμο", την οποία ταύτισε με τον Έλληνα, δίνοντας ταυτόχρονα και την αρχαία ελληνική ετυμολογία της, λέγοντας ότι σημαίνει ‘αγάπη για την τιμή’, αλλά και τη συνειδητοποίηση ότι έχουμε υποχρεώσεις απέναντι στον συνάνθρωπο, άρα χρειάζεται συλλογική δράση. Ο πρόεδρος Ομπάμα έκανε επίσης αναφορά στη συμβολή της Ελλάδας κατά το Β΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, ενώ ευχαρίστησε την ελληνική κυβέρνηση και τον κ. Παπανδρέου προσωπικά, «για τις προσπάθειες επίλυσης του Κυπριακού, τις προσπάθειες ενσωμάτωσης των Δυτικών Βαλκανίων στην Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και τις προσπάθειες προσέγγισης με την Τουρκία». Τόνισε επίσης, ότι η Ελλάδα συμβάλλει στην εμπέδωση της σταθερότητας και της ειρήνης στον κόσμο, ως σύμμαχος και μέλος του ΝΑΤΟ. Αναφερόμενος τέλος στην κατάργηση της βίζας για τους Ελληνες πολίτες, ο κ. Ομπάμα τόνισε πως με τον τρόπο αυτό θα ενισχυθούν οι οικονομικοί, πολιτικοί και κοινωνικοί δεσμοί των δύο λαών. Ομιλία του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου Κατά τη διάρκερια του χαιρετισμού του, ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Δημήτριος αναφέρθηκε στη σημασία της ελληνικής επανάστασης, τονίζοντας ότι αυτή πέτυχε το ακατόρθωτο, χάρη στην ψυχή, την καρδιά και το μυαλό των επαναστατών. Το παράδειγμά τους, πρόσθεσε, μας παρακινεί να εντείνουμε τις προσπάθειές μας για την εμπέδωση της Δημοκρατίας, της ελευθερίας και της ειρήνης στον κόσμο.

Τόνισε επίσης, ότι από την πλευρά της, η ελληνοαμερικανική κοινότητα στηρίζει τις προσπάθειες του αμερικανού προέδρου για την προώθηση αυτών των αξιών. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αμερικής αναφέρθηκε επίσης στη στήριξη που παρέχει ο πρόεδρος Ομπάμα στο Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο και στο πρόσωπο του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίου: «Κύριε Πρόεδρε, Για μια ακόμη φορά ως Ελληνοαμερικανική Ορθόδοξος κοινότης έχουμε την εξαιρετική τιμή και το προνόμιο να βρισκόμαστε προσκεκλημένοι στον Λευκό Οίκο, με την ευκαιρία του ετήσιου εορτασμού της Ημέρας της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας. Είμαστε βαθιά ευγνώμονες για την καλοσύνη σας και για την προσήλωση σας στα λόγια του Αποστόλου Παύλου στην Προς Φιλιππησίους επιστολή του στην οποία περιγράφει: «ὅσα ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ, ὅσα σεμνά, ὅσα δίκαια, ὅσα ἁγνά, ὅσα προσφιλῆ, ὅσα εὔφημα...» Με αυτό ακριβώς το πνεύμα των λόγων του Αποστόλου Παύλου μετέχουμε σε αυτόν το εορτασμό σήμερα στο Λευκό Οίκο. Είμαστε επίσης ευτυχείς που έχουμε ανάμεσά μας τον Πρωθυπουργό της Ελλάδος τον Εξοχώτατο κ. Γεώργιο Παπανδρέου και την σύζυγο του κυρία Άντα Παπανδρέου, καθώς συμμετέχουν σε μια ιδιαίτερα σημαντική εκδήλωση για την Ελληνομαερικανική Ορθόδοξη κοινότητα. Είναι η πρώτη φορά Κύριε Πρόεδρε που ο Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδος παρευρίσκεται στον Εορτασμό της Ημέρας της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας στον Λευκό Οίκο. Επιπλέον, η παρουσία σήμερα για πρώτη φορά της Πρώτης Κυρίας Michelle Obama προσθέτει ιδιαίτερη χαρά. Η Ελληνική Επανάσταση και ο αγώνας για την ανεξαρτησία ο οποίος άρχισε στις 25 Μαρτίου 1821, θεωρείτο σύμφωνα με όλα τα δεδομένα ως μια χαμένη υπόθεση. Οι λόγοι για μια τέτοια πρόβλεψη είναι γνωστοί: οι τέσσερις αιώνες υπό την κατοχή της παντοδύναμης και αδίστακτης Οθωμανικής αυτοκρατορίας, οι ελλιπώς οργανωμένοι επαναστάτες που βρέθηκαν αντιμέτωποι με υπεράριθμο και καλά οργανωμένο στρατό, ο περιορισμένος οπλισμός και πυρομαχικά και μια εχθρική αντίδραση από ορισμένες Ευρωπαϊκές χώρες. Κι’ όμως, παρ’ όλες τις αντιξοότητες και απαισιόδοξες προβλέψεις οι ηρωϊκοί αγωνιστές του 1821 κατόρθωσαν το ακατόρθωτο. Και απέβησαν νικητές. Νίκησαν μια παντοδύναμη αυτοκρατορία και ίδρυσαν μετά από

τέσσερις αιώνες ξένης κατοχής, ένα ελεύθερο και ανεξάρτητο Ελληνικό κράτος. Το αξιοθαύμαστο αυτό κατόρθωμα οφείλεται πρώτον στην ψυχή των αγωνιστών στην οποία κυριαρχούσε η πίστη στο Θεό και η πίστη στο πεπρωμένο να ζουν ελεύθεροι και ανεξάρτητοι. Δεύτερον, οφείλεται στην καρδιά των αγωνιστών, μια καρδιά πλημμυρισμένη με ασυνήθη γενναιότητα και καταπληκτικό θάρρος εν’ όψει ανυπόφορων δεινών και θανάτου. Και τρίτον, οφείλεται στο νου των ηρώων του 1821, έναν πανέξυπνο νου που μετέτρεψε απλούς ανθρώπους σε εξαιρετικούς στρατιωτικούς που κατόρθωσαν να παραπλανήσουν τους έμπειρους Οθωμανούς στρατιωτικούς. Ψυχές μεστές με ατράνταχτη πίστη, καρδιές γεμάτες με τεράστιο θάρρος και με νου απαστράπτοντα και ευφυή έκαναν τα αδύνατα δυνατά στο Έπος του Ελληνικού Αγώνα του 1821 για την ανεξαρτησία. Σήμερα αποτίουμε φόρο τιμής στους ηρωικούς αγωνιστές του 1821 και στην παγκόσμια παρακαταθήκη ελευθερίας, δημοκρατίας και ανεξαρτησίας που μας άφησαν. Έχοντες την μεγάλη τιμή να είμαστε απόγονοι τους και το ιδιαίτερο προνόμιο να ζούμε σ’ αυτή τη χώρα, όπου η ελευθερία και η ανεξαρτησία είναι απόλυτες αξίες, αισθανόμεθα την ανάγκη να εντείνουμε τις προσπάθειες μας για τη στήριξη του έργου της εξάπλωσης της ελευθερίας, της δημοκρατίας και την επικράτηση της δικαιοσύνης για όλους και σε όλα τα μήκη και τα πλάτη της γης. Κύριε Πρόεδρε, Είμαστε στο πλευρό σας και γνωρίζουμε με ευγνωμοσύνη την επιμονή και προσήλωση σας στην προώθηση παγκοσμίως των απολύτων αυτών αξιών, ειδικά στις ευαίσθητες περιοχές της Άπω, Μέσης και Εγγύς Ανατολής. Με ευχαρίστηση σημειώνουμε ότι κατά το πρώτο έτος της Προεδρίας σας έχετε εκφράσει επανειλημμένως την υποστήριξη σας για τις αξίες αυτές στην περίπτωση του Οικουμενικού μας Πατριαρχείου υπερασπιζόμενος σθεναρά το θεόδωτο δικαίωμα του για θρησκευτική ελευθερία. Βασιζόμεθα στην συνεχή και δυναμική υποστήριξη σας έως ότου με την βοήθεια του Παντοδύναμου Θεού επιτευχθούν τα αναμενόμενα αγαθά αποτελέσματα. Επαναλαμβάνουμε επίσης όπως και πέρυσι την έκκληση μας για την αναγκαία παρέμβαση σας στα εκκρεμή ζητήματα της επανένωσης της Κύπρου και της καταλλήλου ονομασίας της ΠΓΔΜ. Η έκκληση μας για τα ζητήματα αυτά συνοδεύεται από τις θερμές προσευχές μας για τους ηγέτες και το λαό της Ελλάδος της γης που γέννησε τη Δημοκρατία και έδωσε τις παγκόσμιες αυτές αξίες στον κόσμο. Κύριε Πρόεδρε, Με την ευκαιρία του σημερινού επισήμου εορτασμού της Ημέρας της Ελληνικής Ανεξαρτησίας στο Λευκό Οίκο δηλώνουμε απεριφράστως ότι υπολογίζουμε στη σθεναρή συμπαράσταση σας. Σας διαβεβαιώνουμε επίσης ότι δύνασθε να βασίζεστε στη δική μας συμπαράσταση, στις ευγενείς προσπάθειες σας για την προώθηση της ελευθερίας, της δικαιοσύνης και ειρήνης σε όλες τις περιοχές του πλανήτη μας που υποφέρουν. Και μπορείτε ασφαλώς να βασίζεστε στις προσευχές μας για Σας και την προσφιλή οικογένεια σας και για την ευλογημένη αυτή χώρα της Αμερικής, υπερασπιστή της δημοκρατίας. Ευχαριστώ πολύ, κύριε Πρόεδρε».

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ–ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟΣ 2010

EΟΡΤΗ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΙΕΡΑΡΧΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΩΝ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΩΝ Στα πλαίσια των εκδηλώσεων για την Εορτή των Τριών Ιεραρχών και των Ελληνικών Γραμμάτων, το Γραφείο Παιδείας της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής, υπό την αιγίδα του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου κ. Δημητρίου και σε συνεργασία με το Σύλλογο Ελλήνων Εκπαιδευτικών «Προμηθεύς» και την Ομοσπονδία Ελλήνων Εκπαιδευτικών πραγματοποίησε εκδήλωση, το Σάββατο 31 Ιανουαρίου 2010, στην αίθουσα δεξιώσεων του Καθεδρικού Ναού της Αγίας Τριάδος στο Μανχάταν. Η εκδήλωση άρχισε με προσευχή του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου κ. Δημητρίου και με ψαλμό της Βυζαντινής χορωδίας από τη Θεσσαλονίκη. Κύριος ομιλητής της εκδήλωσης ήταν ο Διευθυντής του Γραφείου Ελληνικής Παιδείας της Αρχιεπισκοπής Δρ. Ι. Ευθυμιόπουλος με θέμα: «Η πνευματικότητα των Τριών Ιεραρχών ως σταθμός μετάπλασης Παιδείας και Πολιτισμού». Την εκδήλωση παρακολούθησαν οι Γενικοί Πρόξενοι Ελλάδας και Κύπρου, εκπρόσωποι των ελληνικών Αρχών στη Νέα Υόρκη και στα Ηνωμένα Έθνη, ως και εκπρόσωποι επιστημονικών συλλόγων. Συμμετείχαν δε πάνω από 250 δάσκαλοι. Ακολούθησε δείπνο, προσφορά του Συλλόγου των Εκπαιδευτικών και στη συνέχεια ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος κ. Δημήτριος, ο οποίος και έκλεισε την εκδήλωση έκοψε τη Βασιλόπιτα του Γραφείου Παιδείας της Αρχιεπισκοπής προς τιμή των Εκπαιδευτικών. «Οι Τρεις Ιεράρχες έχουν καθιερωθεί στη συνείδηση των ανθρώπων και στην ιστορία ως φωτεινές προσωπικότητες, οι οποίες έπαιξαν καθοριστικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση ενός παγκοσμίου πολιτισμού», ανέφερε ο Δρ. Ιωάννης Ευθυμιόπουλος. «Διέσωσαν ό,τι πολύτιμο έχει δημιουργήσει η ανθρώπινη διάνοια ως τότε, κυρίως των Ελλήνων, μέσα σε ένα πνεύμα φωτός, ελευθερίας και αγάπης. «Έζησαν σε μια μεταβατική περίοδο εντόνων πνευματικών συγκρούσεων και τριβών. Κράτησαν ωστόσο συνετή στάση και συνέβαλαν θετικά στη ροή των ιστορικών πραγμάτων μπροστά στις βαρβαρότητες του εθνισμού προτρέποντας τον φανατικό αυτοκράτορα Ιουλιανό να μελετήσει καλύτερα τον Ελληνισμό, ώστε να διδαχτεί μέσα από αυτόν, ότι δεν δικαιολογούνται διωγμοί και κακουργίες στο όνομα αυτού. «Το Ελληνίζειν εστί πολυσήμαντον», τόνιζε ο Ιωάννης ο Χρυσόστομος. Κατόρθωσαν να μεταπλάσουν πολλά στοιχεία του αρχαίου Ελληνισμού και να εναρμονίσουν με την χριστιανική πίστη και να δημιουργήσουν μια νέα ιστορική πραγματικότητα αυτή που ονομάζουμε ελληνοχριστιανική παιδεία. «Κατά την αντίληψη των Πατέρων, παιδεία είναι η πράξη εκείνη με την οποία ο άνθρωπος καθοδηγείται στο να ανακαλύψει τον εαυτόν του, το νόημα και την ομορφιά της ζωής και να ζήσει σύμφωνα με τις πρωταρχικές αξίες. «Νομίζω», αναφέρει ο Γρηγόριος ο Θεολόγος στο έργο ‘Επιτάφιος εις το Μέγα Βασίλειο’, «ότι όλοι όσοι είναι μυαλωμένοι ομολογούν ότι η παιδεία είναι το πρώτιστο αγαθό μας. Και δεν εννοώ μόνο την ευγενέστερη δική μας παιδεία, δηλαδή τη χριστιανική, αλλά και την εθνική, την οποία πολλοί από τους χριστιανούς, κακώς γνωρίζοντες τα πράγματα, απορρίπτουν ως επίβουλη και εσφαλμένη και απομακρύνουσα από τον Θεό. «Οι Καππαδόκες Πατέρες γνωρίζουν να χειρίζονται άριστα τη γλώσσα και να την προσαρμόζουν στην εποχή τους, αλλά παράλληλα γνωρίζουν και εκτιμούν τις ιδέες και την ομορφιά των αρχαίων κειμένων. Επιζητούν ο λόγος τους να έχει μια

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ORTHODOX OBSERVER

«ηθική», δηλαδή θέλουν τη χρήση της γλώσσας να ταιριάζει στο ήθος ενός χριστιανού. Όταν εκφυλίζεται η γλώσσα, χάνει την αξία της, τη λειτουργία της ως φορέας νοημάτων και ως μέσον επικοινωνίας. Ακούγεται σαν θόρυβος, ένα άγγιμα φτηνό, κακόγουστο, που μας ωθεί σε μια πνευματική κατάπτωση για να καταλήξει σε ένα γλωσσικό εκφυλισμό. «Ποιος θα μας προφυλάξει από τη γλωσσική ακράτεια, από την αμετροέπεια, από τα δεινά που αυτή επιφέρει;», τόνισε ο Δρ. Ευθυμιόπουλος. «Οι λόγοι των Πατέρων (Γρηγόριος) έχουν το ίδιο συνειδησιακό υπόβαθρο με εκείνο του πατροκοσμά του Αιτωλού, που εκήρυττε την ανάγκη της Ελληνικής γλώσσας στο υπόδουλο Γένος. «Η Εκκλησία μας», έλεγε, «είναι στην ελληνική, και αν δεν σπουδάσεις τα Ελληνικά, δεν μπορείς να καταλάβεις εκείνα που ομολογεί η Εκκλησία μας». Μια Εκκλησία που παραμένει Εκκλησία, μητέρα των ανθρώπων και μητρίδα των λαών αποτελεί τον καλύτερο δάσκαλο. Είναι σχολή ήθους και παράγοντας αγωγής, συγκεκριμένη στάση ζωής: η ζωή ως μάθηση. «Οι τρεις Καππαδόκες θεωρούσαν την κλασική παιδεία ως το αναγκαίο προπαιδευτικό στάδιο το οποίο μας οδηγεί στην καλύτερη κατανόηση των χριστιανικών αληθειών. Εκτιμούσαν την τέχνη και την παιδεία ως φανέρωση αυθεντικότητας της ζωής και του ανθρώπου. Συνέβαλαν καθοριστικά με την ελληνική παιδεία τους στην αφομοίωση των στοιχείων του Ελληνιστικού περιβάλλοντος από τον Χριστιανισμό με αποτέλεσμα τη δημιουργία του λαμπρού κόσμου της Ορθοδοξίας. «Δεμένος ισχυρά με την Ορθοδοξία ο Ελληνισμός συνέθεσε νέες μορφές πολιτισμού και πνευματικότητας και επέδρασε δημιουργικά και αποτελεσματικά σ’ ολόκληρη την οικουμένη όχι με φυλετικά, αλλά με πολιτιστικά και παιδευτικά κριτήρια. Μπορεί να είσαι φυλετικά αλλοεθνής, αλλά πολιτιστικά να είσαι Έλλην σύμφωνα με τη ρήση του Ισοκράτη ή και αντίστροφα φυλετικά να είσαι Έλλην, πολιτιστικά όμως βάρβαρος. Ο Ελληνισμός συντηρήθηκε, γιατί έθετε πάντοτε τη φύλαξη και την ενίσχυση των πνευματικών του συνόρων, δεμένος ισχυρά με το παρελθόν, με τις ρίζες του, με την Ορθοδοξία συνθέτοντας νέες μορφές πολιτισμού και πνευματικότητας, επιδρώντας δημιουργικά και αποτελεσματικά σ’ ολόκληρη την οικουμένη. Ο Ελληνικός πολιτισμός, η ελληνική γλώσσα και η ελληνική ιδιοφυΐα στις τέχνες θα είχαν πεθάνει αν στην Ανατολή δεν είχαν προσληφθεί και αφομοιωθεί κατά ρωμαλαίο τρόπο από τον Χριστιανισμό. Και οι Τρεις Ιεράρχες συνέβαλαν καθοριστικά με την ελληνική παιδεία τους στην αφομοίωση των στοιχείων του ελληνιστικού περιβάλλοντος από τον Χριστιανισμό με αποτέλεσμα τη δημιουργία του θαυμάσιου κόσμου της Ορθοδοξίας. Πήραν τη σοφία της Αρχαίας Ελλάδος και την καλλιέργησαν μέσα στην πίστηΈνωσαν την κλασική παιδεία με το χριστιανικό ιδεώδες. Οι ειδικοί λέγουν ότι η ένωση αυτή αποτέλεσε τον μεγαλύτερο ίσως σταθμό στην ιστορία του πνεύματος και του πολιτισμού. Τα Ελληνικά Γράμματα δεν διατρανώθηκαν σαν στενός φυλετικός σωβινισμός, αλλά σαν μια πλατύτερη πνευματική προσφορά και καταξίωση που συντελέστηκε μέσα στο στοχασμό και το μόχθο του Έλληνα διανοητή και δασκάλου. Η προσφορά των Τριών Ιεραρχών και η πνευματικότητά Τους ας αποτελέσει για όλους μας σταθμό μετάπλασης παιδείας και πολιτισμού», τόνισε ο Δρ. Ευθυμιόπουλος.

ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ Ἅγιον Πάσχα: Ἑορτή τῶν Ἑορτῶν  óåë. 17 διές µας ἀναζωογονοῦνται µέ τόν θρίαµβο ὅλων τῶν αἰώνων. Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Ὁ θάνατος νικήθηκε καί θά ζήσουµε γιά πάντα σέ εὐλογηµένη κοινωνία µέ τόν Θεό. Σ’ αὐτή τήν Ἑορτή τῶν Ἑορτῶν ἀναγνωρίζουµε ὅτι ἡ Ἀνάσταση τοῦ Χριστοῦ καί ἡ σωτηρία µας εἶναι ἀπολύτως τό ἔργο τοῦ Θεοῦ. Λόγῳ τῆς µεγάλης ἀγάπης Του γιά µᾶς, ἐξεπλήρωσε τήν θεϊκή ὑπόσχεσή Του γιά λύτρωση. Σ’ αὐτή τήν ἀγάπη ὀφείλουµε τή ζωή µας. Ἡ ἀγάπη Του παρά τήν ἀνυπακοή µας δέν µᾶς ἐγκατέλειψε. Σ’ αὐτή τήν µεγάλη ἀγάπη, θεµελίωσε τόν τρόπο µέ τόν ὁποῖο θά συµφιλιωνόµασταν µαζί Του, ἐνῶ τά δεσµά τῆς ἁµαρτίας καί τοῦ θανάτου θά ἔσπαζαν, καί θά εἴµασταν σέ θέση νά βιώσουµε τή ζωή ὅπως Ἐκεῖνος τήν ἤθελε. Αὐτό δέν µπορούσαµε νά τό ἐπιτύχουµε µόνοι µας. Εἶναι ὁ Θεός καί µόνον ὁ Θεός ὁ Ὁποῖος δίνει ἐντολή στό φῶς νά λάµψῃ µέσα στό σκοτάδι, ὁ Ὁποῖος µέσα στόν θάνατο φέρνει ζωή. Τό ὡραῖο καί ἄσβεστο φῶς τοῦ Πάσχα λάµπει στίς καρδιές µας, φωτίζοντας τίς ψυχές µας µέ τήν δύναµη τῆς Ἀναστάσεως καί δίδοντάς µας µία ἰδέα τῆς αἰωνίου λυτρώσεώς µας. Ὁ Θεός ἐν τῇ µεγάλῃ σοφία Του κατευθύνει αὐτό τό φῶς στίς καρδιές, στίς ψυχές καί στήν ἴδια τήν ὕπαρξή µας, διαποτίζοντας ὁλόκληρο τόν ἑαυτό µας µέ ἀλήθεια καί χάρη. Αὐτό τό φῶς συντονίζεται µέ αὐτό πού εἴµεθα καί µέ αὐτό γιά τό ὁποῖο δηµιουργη-θήκαµε. Μέσα στό φῶς τοῦ Πάσχα, γνωρίζουµε ὅτι δέν δηµιουργηθήκαµε γιά τήν ἁµαρτία καί τόν θάνατο. Ἔχουµε δηµιουργηθεῖ γιά µία εὐλογηµένη ζωή, µιά ζωή χωρίς τέλος. Ἔχουµε πλασθεῖ κατ’ εἰκόνα Θεοῦ γιά νά ἔχουµε γνήσια καί ἀγαπητική σχέση µέ τόν Θεό καί µεταξύ τῶν συνανθρώπων µας. Ἐδῶ, δέν πρόκειται γιά γνώση ἡ ὁποία προέρχεται ἀπό µεγάλες διανοητικές ἀναζητήσεις ἤ µπορεῖ ν’ ἀποκτηθῇ µέσῳ πλούτου ἤ κοινωνικῆς θέσεως. Πρόκειται µᾶλλον γιά θεϊκή γνώση ἡ ὁποία προσφέρεται σέ ὅλους, καί τήν µεγάλη αὐτή ἡµέρα τοῦ Πάσχα καλούµεθα ὅλοι νά ἔλθουµε καί νά λάβουµε τό φῶς ἔτσι ὥστε νά εἴµεθα πάντοτε φωτισµένοι ἀπό τήν ἀλήθεια καί µεταµορφωµένοι ἀπό τήν ἀγάπη. Ἡ µεταµόρφωση αὐτή καί ἡ χαρά ἡ ὁποία προέρχεται ἀπό τό φῶς τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ Θεοῦ (Β’Κορ. 4:6) εἶναι πολύ ἀληθινή καί δυνατή γιά µᾶς διότι ὁ Χριστός εἶναι ἀνάµεσά µας. Ὅλα αὐτά ἔχουν ἐπιτευχθεῖ καί ἐξακολουθοῦν νά ἐπιτυγχάνονται µέσῳ Ἐκείνου. Διά τῆς Σαρκώσεώς Του µετέσχε τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης οὐσίας µας, καί διά τῆς δυνάµεώς Του ὡς Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑπερνίκησε τήν ἁµαρτία καί τόν θάνατο. Ἡ δόξα Του λάµπει στίς καρδιές µας ἀποκαλύπτοντας τόν σκοπό καί τίς δυνατότητες τῆς ζωῆς µας. Στό πρόσωπό Του βλέπουµε αὐτό τό ὁποῖο καλούµεθα νά γίνουµε. Βλέπουµε τήν βαθειά καί παντοτινή ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ. Βλέπουµε τήν ἐκούσια θυσία γιά τή σωτηρία µας. Βλέπουµε τήν τρυφερή πρόσκληση γιά τήν ἐπιστροφή µας στήν κοινωνία µέ τόν Θεό. Στήν ἐπώδυνη ἐµπειρία µας τοῦ τραυµατισµένου κόσµου µέσα στόν ὁποῖον ζοῦµε, ὅπου ἐπικρατοῦν συνθῆκες τυφλώσεως, σκότους καί πλήρους συγχύσεως ἡ ὁποία χαρακτηρίζει τή σύγχρονη ἀνθρωπότητά µας, βλέπουµε τόν Ἀναστάντα Κύριο σέ θρίαµβο καί δόξα, νά µᾶς καλεῖ ὅλους νά ἔλθουµε σ’ Ἐκεῖνον καί νά λάβουµε τό φῶς τῆς ζωῆς. Τήν ἡµέρα αὐτή ἑορτάζουµε τήν ὑπέροχη γνώση τῆς δόξας Του. Ὁ Χριστός εἶναι ἀνάµεσά µας, καί θά εἶναι πάντοτε. Εἴθε αὐτό τό φῶς τῆς θεϊκῆς ἀλήθειας τό ὁποῖο λάµπει στίς καρδιές µας νά εἶναι ἀκόµη λαµπρότερο σ’ αὐτή τήν µεγάλη καί ἔνδοξη Ἑορτή τοῦ Πάσχα. Εἴθε ἡ χαρά µας νά εἶναι τόσο µεγάλη καί ἡ ἀγάπη τήν ὁποία µοιραζόµεθα τόσο πλήρης ὥστε κάθε ἄνθρωπος καί ὁλόκληρη ἡ κτίση νά ἀκούσῃ τόν ὕµνο µας καί νά γνωρίσῃ ὅτι Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς Ἀνέστη! Μετά τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπης,

† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος Για ερωτήματα σχετικά με τον Κανονισμό για θέματα επιλήψιμης σεξουαλικής συμπεριφοράς κληρικών της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής ή για σχετικές καταγγελίες καλέστε χωρίς χρέωση τον ειδικό αριθμό (877) 554-3382 Όλες οι καταγγελίες θα ληφθούν σοβαρά υπ’ όψιν και θα διερευνηθούν πλήρως και με απόλυτη αμεροληψία. Μπορείτε να μιλήσετε Αγγλικά ή Ελληνικά σε εθελοντή ή εθελόντρια.

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ–ΑΠΡΙΛΙΟΣ 2010

ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ

Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισµοῦ τῆς Θεοτόκου καί Ἡµέρα Ἐθνικῆς Ἀνεξαρτησίας

Θέµα 40ης Κληρικολαϊκής Συνελεύσεως

Πρός τούς Σεβασµιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, 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.

Πρός τούς Σεβασμιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συμβουλίων, τά Ἡμερήσια καί Ἀπογευματινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώ-χους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυμο πλήρωμα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀμερικῆς.

Ἀγαπητοί µου ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Ἑορτάζουµε τήν Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισµοῦ τῆς Παναγίας µας, Θεοτόκου καί Ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας, ψάλλοντας «Σήµερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡµῶν τό Κεφάλαιον καί τοῦ ἀπ’ αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις». Στήν ἀναγγελία τοῦ Ἀρχαγγέλου Γαβριήλ στήν Θεοτόκο, ὁ Θεός προσέφερε τό θεϊκό σχέδιό Του γιά τή σωτηρία µας. Στό ἴδιο γεγονός ἀποκαλύπτεται ἡ φύση καί ὁ σκοπός τοῦ µηνύµατος τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου. Ἡ χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ καί τά µέσα τῆς σωτηρίας ἀποκαλύφθησαν, τό Εὐαγγέλιο διακηρύχθηκε ἀπό τόν ἀγγελιαφόρο Του, καί Ἐκείνη πού ἄκουσε καί δέχθηκε τόν Λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνταποκρίθηκε µέ πίστη. Τό γεγονός τοῦ Εὐαγγελισµοῦ ἦταν θεµελιῶδες γιά τό Εὐαγγέλιο, ἦταν τό µήνυµα τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Θεοῦ τό ὁποῖο θά διεδίδετο στά πέρατα τοῦ κόσµου. Τό σχέδιο τῆς σωτηρίας µας διά τῆς Σαρκώσεως τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ εἶχε καταστρωθεῖ πρό πάντων τῶν αἰώνων. Ἡ ὥρα τῆς ἀποκαλύψεως εἶχε φθάσει, καί ὁ Θεός ἐπέλεξε τήν ἀποδέκτρια αὐτῆς τῆς θεϊκῆς εὐλογίας καί ἀπέστειλε τόν οὐράνιο ἀγγελιαφόρο σ’ ἐκείνη οὕτως ὥστε ὁλόκληρη ἡ ἀνθρωπότητα νά γνωρίσῃ τήν χάρη Του. Αὐτή ἡ πράξη τοῦ Θεοῦ γιά χάρη µας, γιά τή σωτηρία µας, καθορίζει τό Εὐαγγέλιο. Τό Εὐαγγέλιο εἶναι ὁ Εὐαγγελισµός, ἡ ἀναγγελία τῆς «καλῆς εἰδήσεως» τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Θεοῦ καί ἡ ὁδός τῆς ἀποκαταστάσεως τῆς ζωῆς καί τῆς αἰωνίας κοινωνίας µαζί Του. Τό θέληµα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀναγγέλθηκε χαρµόσυνα ἀπό τόν Ἀρχάγγελο Γαβριήλ. Ὁ ρόλος τοῦ ἀγγελιαφόρου µᾶς προσφέρει µία δεύτερη ἄποψη γιά τό Εὐαγγέλιο ἡ ὁποία προβάλλεται στήν Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισµοῦ. Κι’ αὐτή εἶναι τό γεγονός ὅτι τό Εὐαγγέλιο κηρύσσεται καί πρέπει νά κηρυχθῇ. Τό Εὐαγγέλιο συνδέεται µέ ἐκείνους οἱ ὁποῖοι ἀποστέλλονται γιά νά προσφέρουν σέ ὅλους τό λυτρωτικό µήνυµα τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ Ἰησοῦς διεκήρυξε ὅτι ὁ ἴδιος ἀποτελεῖ τήν ἐκπλήρωση τοῦ µηνύµατος τῆς σωτηρίας (Λουκ. 4:19). Οἱ Ἀπόστολοι ἔλαβαν ἐντολή νά πορευθοῦν εἰς πάντα τά ἔθνη, νά κηρύξουν τό Εὐαγγέλιο καί νά διδάξουν ὅλα ὅσα ὁ Χριστός τούς ἐδίδαξε (Ματθ. 28: 18-20). Ὅλοι ὅσοι λαµβάνουν τό Ἅγιον Πνεῦµα καλοῦνται νά προσφέρουν τήν µαρτυρία τοῦ Χριστοῦ στά πέρατα τοῦ κόσµου (Πράξεις 1:8). Γιά νά δοθῇ τό Εὐαγγέλιο, πρέπει ν’ ἀκουσθῇ. Γιά ν’ ἀκουσθῇ, πρέπει νά κηρυχθῇ. Γιά νά κηρυχθῇ, πρέπει νά εἴµεθα διατεθειµένοι νά τό διαδώσουµε µέ λόγια καί µέ ἔργα. Ἡ Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισµοῦ ἀποτελεῖ σπουδαία ἡµέρα τῆς πνευµατικῆς κληρονοµίας µας. Εἶναι, ἐπίσης, καί ἡµέρα κατά τήν ὁποία ἑορτάζουµε ἕνα σηµαντικό γεγονός τῆς πολιτισµικῆς κληρονοµίας µας, τήν Ἡµέρα τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Ἀνεξαρτησίας µέ τήν ὁποία τιµοῦµε τήν Ἑλληνική Ἐπανάσταση τῆς 25ης Μαρτίου 1821. Ὅπως ἀµφότερες οἱ πνευµατικές καί πολιτισµικές κληρονοµίες µας ἑνώνονται στήν Ἑλληνική ταυτότητά µας, ἔτσι καί ἡ µεγάλη ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισµοῦ καί ἡ ἡµέρα µνήµεως καί ἑορτασµοῦ τῆς ἐθνικῆς ἀνεξαρτησίας συνδέονται µέ πολύ ἰδιαίτερο τρόπο. Τό Εὐαγγέλιο τῆς σωτηρίας τό ὁποῖο ἀποκαλύφθηκε στή Θεοτόκο εἶναι τό µήνυµα τῆς πνευµατικῆς ἐλευθερίας µας ἐν Χριστῷ. Αὐτή ἡ ἀπόλυτη ἐλευθερία ἀπό τήν ἁµαρτία καί τό θάνατο εἶναι σηµαντική γιά τήν κατανόηση τῆς ἐλευθερίας καί αὐτοδιαθέσεως ἡ ὁποία τηρεῖται εὐλαβικά ὡς ὅρος στή θεµελίωση τῶν συγχρόνων δηµοκρατιῶν. Πλασθήκαµε ἀπό τόν Θεό γιά νά εἴµεθα ἐλεύθεροι νά ζοῦµε σέ κοινωνία µαζί Του, ἐλεύθεροι ἀπό ὅλα ὅσα τραυµατίζουν καί καταστρέφουν τή ζωή. Πλασθήκαµε, ἐπίσης, γιά νά ζοῦµε συνδεδεµένοι ὁ ἕνας µέ τόν ἄλλον, κάνοντας χρήση τῆς ἐλευθερίας µας γιά νά ἑδραιώσουµε κοινωνίες ἐλεύθερες ἀπό καταπίεση, ἐκµετάλλευση καί τυραννία. Αὐτοί ἦταν οἱ στόχοι τῶν πατέρων καί µητέρων µας οἱ ὁποῖοι τό 1821 προσέφεραν τή ζωή καί τά ὑλικά ἀγαθά τους ἔτσι ὥστε οἱ Ἕλληνες νά εἶναι ἐλεύθεροι, καί αὐτή εἶναι ἡ ἐλευθερία τήν ὁποία µέχρι σήµερα ἔχουµε καί ἀπολαµβάνουµε. Τήν ἡµέρα αὐτή ἄς θυµηθοῦµε καί ἄς εἴµεθα εὐγνώµονες γιά τήν ἐλευθερία τήν ὁποία κληρονοµήσαµε, στήν Ἑλλάδα καί στήν Ἀµερική. Ἄς χρησιµοποιήσουµε αὐτή τήν ἐλευθερία ὄχι γιά νά ἱκανοποιήσουµε προσωπικές ἐπιθυµίες, ἀλλά γιά τήν εὐηµερία ὅλων. Εἴθε νά τήν χρησιµοποιήσουµε γιά νά κηρύξουµε ἕνα Εὐαγγέλιο σωτηρίας καί ἐλευθερίας τό ὁποῖο θά µᾶς καθοδηγήσῃ ὄχι µόνο στό ἐφήµερο πέρασµά µας ἀπ’ αὐτόν τόν κόσµο, ἀλλά θά µᾶς φέρῃ, ἐπίσης, στήν αἰώνια ζωή καί τή βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ

Προσφιλεῖς Ἀδελφοί καί Ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Μέ καρδιές γεμάτες χαρά προσδοκοῦμε τήν συνάντησή μας στήν Ἀτλάντα αὐτό τό καλοκαίρι γιά τήν 40ή διετή Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση τῆς Ἱερᾶς μας Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς. Ἡ εὐκαιρία αὐτή θά ἒχῃ ἱστορική σημασία, ὡς ὁρόσημο στήν ἀνάπτυξη καί τά ἐπιτεύγματα τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας στήν Ἀμερική. Θά εἶναι ἐπίσης μιά εὐκαιρία γιά ἀνανέωση τῆς ἀφιερώσεώς μας στήν ἱερή μας ἀποστολή στόν κόσμο πού ζοῦμε. Τό θέμα τῆς προηγουμένης Κληρικολαϊκῆς μας Συνελεύσεως στήν Οὐάσιγκτον, Συναγάγετε τόν λαό μου στόν οἶκο μου, ὑπῆρξε πηγή ἐμπνεύσεως καί καθοδηγήσεως στό ἒργο μας στά περασμένα δύο χρόνια. Αὐτή ἡ θεία ἐντολή μᾶς κάλεσε νά ἀπευθυνθοῦμε σέ ὃλους τούς ἀνθρώπους καί νά τούς φέρουμε στήν Ἐκκλησία, στόν οἶκο τοῦ Θεοῦ, στήν ἀγκάλη τοῦ Θεοῦ. Τό θέμα αὐτό τῆς Κληρικολαϊκῆς τῆς Οὐάσιγκτον, λόγῳ τῆς σπουδαιό-τητός του θά ἐξακολουθήσῃ νά μᾶς ἐμπνέῃ καί νά μᾶς καθοδηγῇ. Ἐν τούτοις, ὃπως εἶναι ἢδη γνωστό, κατά τήν προσεχῆ 40ή Κληρικολαϊκή μας Συνέλευση, τό ἲδιο αὐτό θέμα θά ἀποκτήσῃ μιά νέα ἒμφαση. Ἡ ἒμφαση εἶναι ἡ ἁπλή, ἀλλά καί βαθύτατη προτροπή ἀπό τό κατά Ἰωάννη Εὐαγγέλιο Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε (Ἰωάν. 1, 46). Ἒτσι τό θέμα τῆς Κληρικολαϊκῆς τῆς Ἀτλάντας θά εἶναι Συναγάγετε τό λαό μου στόν οἶκο μου: Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε. Ὂντως, ἀξίζει νά δοῦμε τό πλαίσιο τῆς προσκλήσεως Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε, ἡ ὁποία ἀπευ-θύνθηκε ἀπό τόν Φίλιππο στόν Ναθαναήλ. Ὁ Φίλιππος, ἦτο μεταξύ τῶν πρώτων μαθητῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὃταν ὁ Χριστός τοῦ εἶπε Ἀκολούθει μοι, ὁ Φίλιππος μέ ὃλη του τήν καρδιά ἐδέχθηκε τήν κλήση νά γίνῃ μαθητής Του. Συναντώντας τόν Ἰησοῦ, καί συναναστρεφό-μενος μαζύ Του, ὁ Φίλιππος ἐπείσθηκε ἀπολύτως ὃτι ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὁ ἀπό Ναζαρέτ, ἦτο στήν πραγματικότητα ὁ Μεσσίας τόν Ὁποῖο ὁ λαός τοῦ Ἰσραήλ ἀνέμενε ἐναγωνίως. Ἐν τούτοις, ὁ Φίλιππος δέν κράτησε τήν πολύτιμη ἀνακάλυψή του μόνο γιά τόν ἑαυτό του. Ἒτρεξε στόν φίλο του Ναθαναήλ, καί μέ ἐνθουσιασμό μοιράστηκε μαζί του τήν ἐκπληκτική εἲδηση: Ὃν ἒγραψε Μωϋσῆς ἐν τῷ νόμῳ καί οἱ προφῆται, εὑρήκαμεν (Ἰωάν. 1, 45). Ὁ Ναθαναήλ δέν πείσθηκε τόσο εὒκολα. Χωρίς δισταγμό ρώτησε: ἐκ Ναζαρέτ δύναταί τι ἀγαθόν εἶναι; (Ἰωάν. 1, 46). Ὁ Φίλιππος ἀμέσως ἀπάντησε μέ αὐτή τήν πολύ δυνατή πρόσκληση: Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε -Ἒλα νά Ἰδῇς (Ἰωάν. 1, 46). Ἡ πρόσκληση τοῦ Φιλίππου Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε ἀποκαλύπτει τήν πίστη του στό Χριστό. Ἐν πίστει ἀπήντησε στήν κλήση τοῦ Κυρίου, καί ἐν πίστει εὑρῆκε τόν φίλο του Ναθαναήλ καί τοῦ ἀνήγγειλε τήν σπουδαία εἲδηση ὃτι, Ἐκεῖνος τόν Ὁποῖο προανήγγειλε ἡ Ἁγία Γραφή εὑρίσκετο ἀνάμεσά τους. Ὁ Φίλιπποος δέν εἶχε ἀμφιβολία ὃτι ὃταν ὁ Ναθαναήλ θά συναντοῦσε τόν Ἰησοῦ, ἀσφαλῶς θά τόν ἀκολουθοῦσε ὃπως ὁ ἲδιος. Καί αὐτό ἀκριβῶς συνέβη. Μετά τήν συνάντησή του μέ τόν Χριστό, ὁ Ναθαναήλ ἒκανε την ὁμολογία σ’ Αὐτόν Σύ εἶ ὁ υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ, σύ εἶ ὁ βασιλεύς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ (Ἰωάν.1,49). Τό παράδειγμα τοῦ Φιλίππου εἶναι ἓνα ἰσχυρό πρότυπο τό ὁποῖο πρέπει νά ἀκολου-θήσουμε. Καθώς συνάγουμε τούς ἀνθρώπους στόν οἶκο τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἡ πρόσκλησή μας πρός ὃλους πρέπει πάντοτε νά εἶναι Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε. Ἡ κλήση μας ἒγκειται στό νά συναγάγουμε τούς ἀποστασιοποιημένους, τούς ἀνεκκλησίαστους, τούς πεπτωκότες, ἐκείνους πού ἀγωνίζονται νά βροῦν τήν πίστη ἢ ἀρνοῦνται τήν ὓπαρξη τοῦ Θεοῦ, καί ἐκείνους πού εἶναι σέ κατάσταση ἀνάγκης, ἰάσεως καί σωτηρίας. Ἂραγε πιστεύουμε, ὃπως ὁ Φίλιππος, ὃτι ὃταν προσκαλοῦμε στήν Ἐκκλησία μας τούς ἀνθρώπους μέ τίς παραπάνω ἀνάγκες, θά βροῦν τόν οἶκο τοῦ Θεοῦ ὡς ἓνα χῶρο λατρείας, ἀδελφωσύνης, ἰάσεως καί ἀγάπης; Ἂραγε, ἒχουμε τήν ἐμπιστοσύνη πού εἶχε ὁ Φίλιππος ὃτι, αὐτούς τούς ὁποίους καλοῦμε θά συναντήσουν ὂντως τόν Χριστό καί θά τόν ἀναγνωρίσουν ὡς Σωτήρα καί Κύριο; Στούς μῆνες πού ἒρχονται καθώς προετοιμαζόμαστε γιά τήν 40ή διετή Κληρικολαϊκή μας Συνέλευση στήν Ἀτλάντα, θά ἒχουμε τήν εὐκαιρία νά μελετήσουμε περισσότερο τήν πρόσκληση Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε καί τό θέμα μας, ἐξετάζοντας τόν τρόπο μέ τόν ὁποῖο τό θέμα αὐτό συνδέεται μέ τήν ζωή καί τό ἒργο μας. Δεχόμενοι τήν κλήση μας νά συναγάγουμε τούς ἀνθρώπους στόν οἶκο τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἂς ἀπαντήσουμε στήν κλήση αὐτή σέ καθημερινή βάση, καί ἂς ἀκολουθήσουμε τό Χριστό ἐκτείνοντας τήν ἀγάπη καί τήν συμπάθειά μας πρός ὃλους ἐκείνους πού χρειάζονται ἓνα πνευματικό σπίτι, σέ ὃλους ἐκείνους πού χρειάζονται μιά κοινότητα ἀγάπης, καί σέ ὃλους ὃσοι ἀναζητοῦν τήν μεταμορφωτική δύναμη τῆς ἱερῆς λειτουργικῆς μας ζωῆς. Ἡ πρόσκληση Ἒρχου καί Ἲδε, ὃταν πραγμα-τοποιηθῆ ἀσφαλῶς, μέ τήν χάρι τοῦ Θεοῦ, θά ἀλλάξῃ τήν ζωή τους γιά πάντα. Μέ πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη,

Με πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη,

† ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος

MARCH – APRIL 2010

PEOPLE A Thriving Church in a Former U.S. Capital Honorary Georgian Andrew A. Athens of Chicago, former Archdiocesan Council president, and a founder of International Orthodox Christian Charities and of Leadership 100, recently was named an honorary citizen of Tsalka, Republic of Georgia. It was in Tsalka that Mr. Athens first learned of the plight of Hellenes living in the former Soviet republics during his first trip to Georgia in January 1997. Upon witnessing the deplorable living conditions and lack of medical care, he established hellenicare as a humanitarian organization for Hellenes in the Diaspora. From his first trip in 1997 to his most recent trip in October 2009, Andrew Athens has dedicated himself to helping the “forgotten” Hellenes of the former Soviet Republics. In recognition of his dedication and devotion, the governor of the Tsalka Prefecture made him an “Esteemed Citizen of Tsalka” and renamed the main street of Komkavshiri “Andrew A. Athens Street.” In 2001, Mr. Athens received Georgia’s highest civilian medal the “Order of Honor” from former President Eduard Schevernadze.

Greek Orthodox athlete American figure skater Evan Frank Lysacek, 2010 Winter Olympics Men’s Champion and the 2009 World Champion, is of part Italian descent and is a Greek Orthodox Christian. He recently stated that one of his most prized possessions in his Orthodox Cross. (See Challenge - Page 35.)

Oscar winner Louie Psihoyos, an American photographer and documentary film director known for his still photography and contributions to National Geographic, won the Academy Award in the Best Documentary Feature category for ‘The Cove.’ Psihoyos, a licensed scuba-diver, has become increasingly concerned with bringing awareness to underwater life. He was born in Dubuque, Iowa in 1957, the son of a Greek immigrant who fled communist occupation of the Peloponnesos region near Sparta after World War II. Psihoyos took an interest in photography at the age of 14. He attended the University of Missouri, majoring in photojournalism. In 1980, at the age of 23, Psihoyos was hired by National Geographic and remained with the magazine for 17 years.

Literary Luncheon St. George Church in Bethesda, Md., sponsored a Literary Luncheon in February that featured talks by four authors: former Wall Street Journal reporter Stefan Fatsis, bestselling crime novelist and producer for HBO’s ‘The Wire’ George Pelecanos, former CIA chief George Tenet, and award winning children’s book author of the Loukoumi series Nick Katsoris. The event was emceed by FOX News White House Correspondent Mike Emanuel and was attended by more than 400 people.

Eagle Scout Emmanuel A. Demenagas of Brooklyn, N.Y., earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2009. Emmanuel is Assistant Scout Master with Boy Scout Troop 715, Holy Cross Church in Brooklyn. His Eagle project was to organize “An Afternoon to Remember,” at St. Michael’s Home in Yonkers, N.Y. Emmanuel brought in 25 Boy Scouts from Troop 715 and the Greek Dance Troop of Holy Cross to entertain the residents with dancing and conversation.

P A R I S H

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Name: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Location: York, Pa. Metropolis of Pittsburgh Size: about 200 families Founded: 1922 Clergy: Fr. Andre Tsikitas (Holy Cross ’04) E-mail: annunciationyork@verizon.net Web: www.annunciation.pa.goarch.org Noteworthy: Young people are a strong presence in the community. ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

YORK, Pa. – Greek Orthodox Christians first settled in this agricultural and industrial community in southern Pennsylvania, about 100 miles west of Philadelphia, in the late 19th century, about 100 years after the town served as the fourth capital of the United States (Sept. 30, 1777June 27, 1778), where the Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted. They consisted of young men who came to find work and help improve their families’ economic situations back in Greece, according to a parish history. A few families began arriving about 1910. Fr. Andrew, the parish priest since 2005, said that these first immigrants came from the village of Neohori near Nafpaktos in Central Greece. They came to work in some of the industries including the York Motor Car Co. that built a six-wheeled automobile called the Pullman from 1905 to 1917. York also was the location of a large pottery manufacturer, Pfaltzgraff, which operated from 1895 to 2005. The Greek settlers soon established their own businesses. In 1918, the need for a burial plot led to the formal organization of the community, the parish history noted. The York County Court issued the formal charter to the “Virgin Mary Greek Community of York” in 1922, coincidentally the year of the formal organization of the Archdiocese. The first church services took place only at Christmas and Easter in rented rooms in the downtown area, with priests visiting from Philadelphia or other cities, while weddings and funerals would take place in family homes throughout the year. Stability achieved By the 1930s, the community became stabilized with several young married couples with children becoming members. A Greek school was established in 1932 and the community purchased a building in 1937 for use as a school and social hall. A full-time priest was hired who also served as the Greek school teacher. Also in the 1930s, a ladies soci-

ety, “Omonia,” the forerunner to the Philoptochos chapter, was organized. It evolved into the local Philoptochos chapter in 1944 and has maintained a very active presence in the community since then. The community built its first church building in 1951. From 1950 to 1980, three trends marked the parish’s progress – as the first settlers began to age, the children of these pre-World War II families became young adults and married other Greek Orthodox spouses. They became educated and moved into professions and skilled trades, though some continued in the businesses of their parents, including restaurants. A large influx of young families increased the size of the parish during this period and the community began playing a significant role in the greater York community. Also in the 1950s, the AHEPA chapter sponsored a basketball team for the youth that competed in a league of other AHEPA teams from central and eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. The GOYA chapter established in the 1950s also was highly active in conferences and visits with other chapters. The Goyans continue to have basketball league team that plays other parishes in the region. Many Goyans organized a Young Adult League chapter in the late 1990s and have been meeting regularly at least once a month. Three young adults were elected to the parish council. By 1981, the parish grew to more than 200 members and the need arose for a larger church. New church Construction began in 1979 and the first services took place in October 1981. The $900,000 debt was retired in about 10 years. Financially, in its early years, the church’s needs were supported by a dues system, individual contributions and special fund-raisers such as spaghetti dinners. The Greek festival was established in 1965 and has evolved into four “mini-festivals” taking place throughout the year – about one per season. Revenue helps to meet church expenses and the budget. Recently, the parish switched to

the stewardship system, which has proven successful. Fr. Andrew describes his ministry in the parish as being in a “transitional stage” with more young people over the past few years as more young families settled in the area. The present membership is about half American-born and half immigrant. While most parishioners live in and around York, some live as far as the Maryland border and West towards Gettysburg. Several Ministries Ministries include the Sunday school with about 65 students; a weekly Bible study, and twice –a-year catechism sessions open to people from the general community wishing to learn more about Orthodoxy and for Orthodox Christians to become reacquainted with their faith. HOPE and JOY groups also are very active. Through the Sunday school program, activities include religious education seminars, Lenten retreats, Godparents Sunday, Forgiveness Vespers at the start of Great Lent and the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. Sunday school students take part in the Camp Nazareth essay and art contests during the summer as well as Vacation Church School. There are programs to benefit the greater York community including providing Thanksgivng baskets to needy families, a “mitten Christmas tree,” also for needy families, and Daffodil Sunday to raise money for cancer research. There is a Greek school, with about 40 students and a Greek dance troupe that performs at the festivals and other venues. Parishioners are in the professions, in business, or in skilled trades. Some parishioners are employed at the Harley-Davidson motorcycle company’s large factory. Looking to the future, Fr. Andrew noted that among the projects planned is the upgrading of the social hall and other improvements to the building.

— Compiled by Jim Golding

MARCH – APRIL 2010

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What Does Avatar Say to Us? by Fr. Angelo Artemas

James Cameron’s Avatar has reached the level of number one movie of all time. And much like other top grossing movies, it has struck a subtle but deep spiritual nerve with viewers. Titanic took moviegoers on a voyage from opulent materialism to destruction and death; save for those who remained above the murky waters (Israelites and the Red Sea, Christian Baptism?). E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial allowed viewers to receive a being from above, who lived among human beings, died, came back to life, and returned to the heavens above - leaving the message “I’ll be right here” and “be good” (Christian undertones?). Star Wars took fans to a battle between good and evil “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” (the fall of Satan and his angels?). While the movie’s definition of avatar is “embodiment” or taking on a new body, the original Sanskrit Avatara in Hinduism means the deliberate descent from heaven to earth of a deity, and is mostly translated into English as “incarnation,” “appearance,” or “manifestation.” The title of the movie inherently establishes spiritual themes. The superb special effects literally take viewers to a new cinematic world, and to the fictional Pandora - a moon that exudes peace and serenity (Eden?). The aerial tour of this

paradise is reward enough for $10, and is like a mini-pilgrimage. While some critics are preoccupied with perceived political undertones, the movie is a simple tale of human transcendence over limitations and frailty. A paralyzed soldier takes on a new bodily form/avatar - taller, stronger and superior to his own. This new chance to walk catapults him into a new life. A “fallen” soldier taking on a “perfect” body and crossing over into a beautiful world seems to be the opposite of the Hindu meaning of avatar, since human beings rise to the divine. Yet anti-avatar resembles the Christian teaching that God became man so that human beings can become God. Perhaps in this world of wrinkle treatments, liposuction, botox, plastic surgery and a host of age-related illnesses, human beings crave perfection. Christianity teaches that human nature will be transfigured, and that new life will be granted to human beings through Christ. In this world where funerals are seen as an end, and where closed caskets conceal the decaying human form, perhaps humanity needs to envision new beginnings with spectacular new forms and vitality - humanity needs to envision abundant life. In these times of recession, war and natural disaster, maybe humanity craves the superhuman ability to soar like an eagle to new heights - to new worlds - to new beginnings. Perhaps humanity craves God.

AVATAR: a Young Person’s View by Tina Janulis

How could strange, blue aliens from the faraway planet of Pandora have any connection to the Christian law of being a good neighbor here on earth, light years away? Both things have several similarities, despite their glaring differences. St. Anthony the Great once said, “Life and death depend on our neighbor.” I never really understood what that was supposed to mean. I was better able to interpret this statement after viewing Avatar on my 13th birthday. This epic science fiction film, opens on a scene where the main character, Jake Sully, cremates the remains of his dead brother’s body. I think this fire represents Jake’s new feeling of emptiness, engulfing and disintegrating any feeling of hope or happiness—essentially creating a new neighbor of despair. Selfishness and greed also join Jake as neighbors after he takes his brother’s place in earth’s corporate military. This group travels to Pandora with the goal of obliterating the Na’vi civilization and then mining for unobtainium, a precious stone unique to Pandora. Jake’s ruthless aims change when Neytiri, princess of the Omaticaya (a tribe of the Na’vi civilization), spares him from being attacked by a group of panther-like creatures on the Na’vi land. Jake is stunned. Not only is this his first positive encounter with the Na’vi, but this woman has also saved him from being mauled by these beasts. After interacting with him more and more, Neytiri begins to teach Jake the ways of the Omaticaya—respecting the flow of energy living in every organism, sharing with one another, and most importantly, the concept of prayer. These teachings make Jake realize that money, material possessions, and the goal of destroying an entire civilization are not what should fill the void

left by his brother’s death. Respecting everyone as his neighbor and praying to God are the real keys to fulfillment. As Jake grows closer to the Omaticaya, he no longer sees the blue-skinned natives as experimental subjects. He embraces the Na’vi as his neighbors and treats them as he would any human. However, Jake grows nervous about the impending military attack on the Omaticaya civilization. For the first time in his life, Jake turns to prayer and neighbors with God. Kneeling by the sacred Tree of Voices, he pleads to God that he and the Na’vi emerge victorious over the powerful military. With the whole clan banding together, and help from the polychromatic beasts roaming the land, Jake’s prayer is answered—the Na’vi win. This unexpected victory strengthens Jake’s faith, and validates his choice to join the Na’vi and adopt their standards. He feels so strongly about staying with the Omaticaya that he permanently converts his human body into Na’vi form, which he would be in for his whole life. This is just as the Bible states in Colossians 3:5-12, he takes off his old self, and puts on a new self. “…You must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. This is the new being, which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in His own image, in order to bring you a full knowledge of Himself. As a result, any distinction between Gentiles and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians, savages, slaves, and free men, but Christ is all.” Comrade or pacifist, as Jake finally portrayed himself, each person in that military group had the potential to exist in peace fully with the Na’vi tribe, just as in the real world we all can become better neighbors. Tina is a seventh grader and a member of St. George Church in Clifton, N.J.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

S.F. Clergy-Laity Assembly Sets Goals for Next 5 Years by Kristen Bruskas

abundance of information and resources on religious education, reminding the Nearly 175 clergy and lay delegates delegates their goal should not just be gathered for two days of meetings at the on educating children, but that religious Metropolis of San Francisco Clergy Laity education should include everyone in Assembly, Feb.8 – 9 at St. Nicholas Ranch the parish. and Retreat Center. Presentations and Dr. Vrame distributed the “Zine” workshops focused on the theme, “Build- publications from his department and ing Up the House of God.” Dr. Tibbs offered information on various In his keynote address, Metropolitan resources available within the Metropolis, Gerasimos stressed the importance of sys- including a web teleconference held the tematically and thoughtfully “building up” weekend following the Assembly, and the the Church’s ministries to better respond launch of an Orthodox Online Book Study to people’s needs through meaningful Club during Great Lent. programs and resources. George Vourvoulias and George MatAs part of His Eminence’s approach thews, the Archdiocesan Council’s Finance to the next five years, he laid out a plan Committee co-chairmen made a special for building up the communities in the presentation on the National Ministries Metropolis with a specific theme for each Commitment program. year. The Metropolis of San Francisco has This first year will be devoted to min- substantially increased its giving to the istries of the Family. Year two will focus Archdiocese over the past two years, and on Worship. the faithful of the Metropolis welcomed The third year will be dedicated to this presentation and the valuable inforFellowship. mation provided to underscore the imporService will be the theme of the tance of the National Ministries Commitfourth year, and the fifth year will center ment and its vital role in supporting the on Witness. Archdiocese and Metropolis. These five themes were selected beLiturgical services during the Clergycause they form the core of the Church’s Laity Assembly were held at the Monastery life. This five-year plan also intends to of the Theotokos the Life Giving Spring, build on the work of the 2008 Archdiocese and included daily Orthros, Divine Liturgy Clergy-Laity Congress theme, “Gather My and Vespers. A five-year memorial service People to My Home.” for Metropolitan Anthony, of blessed Guest speakers included two direc- memory, was also prayed at the conclutors from the National Ministries of the sion of the Divine Liturgy. Archdiocese – Fr. James Kordaris, from the The Assembly approved a $1 million Department of Stewardship, Evangelism budget for the Metropolis that not only and Outreach; and Dr. Anton Vrame, of provides for the daily operational needs, the Department of Religious Education. but also supports Youth Ministry, ReliFr. Kordaris’ presentation addressed gious Education, Stewardship and Greek the critical role of parish leadership in Education and Culture. Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism. Results of the 2010-12 Metropolis He offered practical and applicable ways Council elections were: Frs. John Asimaparishes could use stewardship as out- copoulos, John Bakas, Andrew Barakos, reach, enhance their personal and collec- Theodore Dorrance, James Retelas, Peter tive leadership skills, and work as a family Salmas, Anthony Savas, and laypersons toward unity in Christ. Peter Stratos, John Buzas, Catherine LinDr. Vrame was joined in his presen- gas, Theodore Laliotis, Chris Pallis, George tation by Dr. Eve Tibbs, chair of the Me- Psihogios, Anthony Saris, Paul Sogotis and tropolis Christian Formation and Religious Eve Tibbs. Education Committee. Prior to the start of their new term Dr. Vrame and Dr. Tibbs presented an after the Clergy-Laity Congress, Metropolitan Gerasimos will appoint an additional eight members, both clergy and lay, to the Metropolis Council. Elected to the Archdiocesan Council were: Fr Jon Magoulias, Isidoros Garifalakis and Valerie Roumeliotes. During the Assembly, the Metropolitan was honored for the eighth anniversary of his consecration as a bishop, and fifth anniversary as Metropolitan of San Francisco. Metropolis Council Vice President Fanis Economidis, on behalf of the Metropolis Council, Metropolis Philoptochos, Clergy Syndesmos and Presvyteres Sisterhood, presented His Eminence with an Engolpion of Christ surrounded by the twelve prophets to comMetropolitan Gerasimos oﬃciates at a five-year memorial service for memorate this occasion. Metropolitan Anthony, of blessed memory.

Photos by Cliff Argue

Guest speakers at the Assembly: Fr. James Kordaris, Dr. Anton Vrame, Dr. Eve Tibbs, Metropolitan Gerasimos, George Vourvoulias, George Matthews and Fanis Economidis.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Denver Metropolis Basketball Tournament Draws Teams from Louisiana to Utah DALLAS. – Holy Trinity Church hosted the Metropolis of Denver Basketball Tournament over Martin Luther King weekend. This annual event attracted a record number of participants, more than 900 registrants. They included over 500 Goyans from 18 parishes across the Metropolis. The base for the tournament was the Hotel Intercontinental located in Addison, near North Dallas, where the Goyans especially enjoyed an area created with them in mind. Among the various activities, an oldfashioned barbeque and country western dance was held on Saturday night, Jan. 14, complete with a live, picture-ready longhorn and armadillo races. The group was also entertained by the Wranglers of Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, a competitive country western dance team. Metropolitan Isaiah presided over the Divine Liturgy on Jan. 15, assisted by 15 priests. More than 1,400 Orthodox faithful attended the Liturgy. More than 90 games were played over the course of the weekend in a state-of-the-art Field House USA which contains 12 full-size basketball courts. Two games stood above the action and exemplified this year’s tournament philanthropy Project, the Special Olympics. The teams for each boys and girls game consisted of both Special Olympians and Goyans together, and displayed the tournament’s theme: “Celebration of Achievement.” All activity at the gym ceased for everyone to witness and cheer at the games. At the awards dinner on Sunday evening, the tournament presented the Special Olympics organization with a check for $10,000. A Special Olympics athlete, Patrick Rooney, offered his thoughts on the organization and the impact it has had on his life. There was also a tribute to all of the graduating GOYA seniors within the Metropolis. As their names were announced, each was presented an icon from the Dallas GOYA. As yet another demonstration of achievement against the odds, Spud Webb, the shortest player in NBA history to win the Slam Dunk competition, presented the all-star, MVP and Orthodox Fellowship awards to the recipients. Preparations are underway for the 2011 GOYA Basketball Tournament, to be hosted by St. George parish in Oklahoma City. Participating parishes: Sts. Con-

FLEMINGTON, N.J. -- Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey on Jan. 31 issued a permanent charter for the community previously known as the Greek Orthodox Parish of Hunterdon County, N.J., and now named St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church. (St. Anna is the Mother of the Virgin Mary and this name was chosen in honor of the deceased wife of the parish’s primary benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.) The Very Rev. Archimandrite George Nikas, interim pastor of St. Anna Church and chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey commented, “His Eminence has once again blessed our young parish by honoring us with the name of St. Anna, a most beloved saint of the Orthodox Church.

Photos: Harry Yianitsas

Prayer time – Two teams in the junior girls division take time to pray before their game. More than 40 teams participated in the various divisions.

stantine and Helen, Cheyenne, Wyo; Prophet Elias, Holladay, Utah; Holy Trinity, Salt Lake City; Transfiguration, Ogden, Utah; St. George, Albuquerque, N.M.; Assumption, Denver; St. Catherine, Greenwood Village, Colo.; Archangel Michael, Colorado Springs; Annunciation, Kansas City, Mo.; St. George, Oklahoma City; Holy Trinity, Tulsa, Okla.; Annunciation, Little Rock, Ark.; St. George, Shreveport, La.; and the Texas parishes of Transfiguration, Austin, Holy Trinity, Dallas, St. John, Euless, St. Demetrios, Fort Worth, Annunciation, Houston, St. Basil, Houston, St. Sophia, San Antonio, and St. John, Webster. Check presentation – (At right) Joanna and Mike Spahis, philanthropy co-chairs, present a check to Special Olympics Texas Representative Sandra Risk and Patrick Rooney, Special Olympian.

NJ Parish Receives Charter, Name “The naming of our church and granting of the permanent charter has infused renewed enthusiasm and determination into the community. “Now more than ever, our devout faithful are inspired to build our church and community center, which shall be a blessing and welcome addition to the residents of Hunterdon County.” In October of last year, the community celebrated the purchase of a 12-acre property in Raritan Township on which to build the parish’s church and community center. The Metropolitan will visit the parish in the spring to personally bless the

faithful and place the “Future Home of St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church” sign at the site. Last June, the Raritan Township Planning Board approved the two-phase site plan for the church complex to include multi-functional spaces in which to conduct religious, educational, social, and recreational activities. The first phase will include construction of a small church, administrative offices, classrooms for the Greek language school and Sunday School, and a community hall for social gatherings and adaptable for basketball or volleyball use.

The second phase will include construction of the main Byzantine-style church, with seating for about 300 and additional administrative and educational spaces. Formed in 2002, with about a dozen or so families, the young parish serves the Greek Orthodox faithful of Hunterdon County, New Jersey and the surrounding areas (including Bucks County, Pa.) and offers a full-range of spiritual, educational and cultural programs. St. Anna Church now has about 100 steward families and this number is projected to grow. Since 2006, the parish has been holding weekly services at Allerton United Methodist Church in Annandale, N.J. For more information visit www. go-church.org

MARCH – APRIL 2010

FOS Holds Outreach Event by Daniel Padovano

Chaplians at the OCF Conference, from left, Frs. Mark Leondis, George Gartelos, Nicholas Hadzellis, Martin Kraus, Alex Micich, Kevin Scherer, James Coles, Michael Ellis, Peter Paproski, Anthony Salzman, Deacon Paul Zaharas and subdeacon John Mahfouz.

OCF Forms Regional Chaplains’ Network TEMPE, Ariz. – On February 4-5th, 2010, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) convened a conference of board members and priests from five SCOBA jurisdictions, to form the first OCF Regional Chaplaincy Network. To meet the pastoral needs of the 270 local OCF chapters throughout the United States and Canada, OCF has divided the country into nine regions. A regional chaplain and a student regional representative will represent each of these regions.Together these roles will assist with the development of new and existing OCF chapters. “Identifying a group of talented and committed spiritual leaders to help build this network is a critical step in helping OCF create a spiritual safety net for our students as they leave home for college,” remarked Fr. James Coles, the OCF North American chaplain. Besides the organizational administration of this new network, the group discussed ideas and plans for chaplain training and resources. Fr. Kevin Scherer, the OCF executive director said, “It’s our

hope that this new network will not only help grow new OCF chapters, but resource those that are struggling to develop and stay connected to other Orthodox students across the country.” A complete list of the regions, the regional chaplains and their regional student counterparts can be found at www.ocf.net. About OCF Orthodox Christian Fellowship is the official collegiate campus ministry program under SCOBA. Its mission is to support fellowships on college campuses, whose members experience and witness to the Orthodox Christian Church through community life, prayer, service to others and study of the Faith. Headquarters is in Indianapolis. It also provides a variety of programming, including regional training, annual conferences, and domestic and international service learning programs. For additional information contact: Presvytera Shyla Hadzellis, development director, OCF, shyla@ocf.net, Website: www.ocf.net

NEW YORK - A new FOS (Forum on Orthodox Spirituality) session, entitled Greeks Bearing Gifts: “Mount Olympus Meets Manhattan” began in January. This spring FOS will examine the influence on the world and religion. The venue of comparing and contrasting the religion and belief system of ancient Greece will be Greek mythology, the Olympic gods and the heroes of preclassical Greece and the Aegean. The “kickoff” began with a viewing of “The Origins of El Greco: Icon Painting In Venetian Crete” at the Onassis Cultural Center on East 51st Street. The exhibit included icons painted by Deminikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco), Michael Dramaskenos, Nikolaos Tzafouris among others. The icons were painted (or in theological terms “written”) during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the period immediately following the Ottoman conquest. It was during this time, that the Renaissance reached its height in Europe. Crete, which, the time, was under Venetian control and became fertile ground for a mixing and synthesis of western and Byzantine art styles and forms. Among the western influences seen in the icons’ influences were the use of blue skies and a more three dimensional look to the persons represented in the icons. Most of the icons we saw are from Crete; others from were from Venice and Toledo. The importance of these iconographers and their icons was that their styles combined both Byzantine and Western artistic styles. Those imaged on the icons are depicted in flat Byzantine style and also in the more flowing and here dimensional form more prevalent in western art. An icon of the Anastasi shows Jesus as the Gardener appearing to Mary. Another icon depicting the Last Supper was memorable as Jesus faces the viewer with a smile and open eyes that convey compassion and peacefulness to the viewer. Although he is in the middle of supper with the disciples, his Byzantine appearance sets Him apart from most of the disciples as they are depicted in a more western style and pose. Unique to this icon were glass jars

and wine glasses. In most depictions of the Last Supper, these vessels are either made of metal or wood. The most unique icon was a doublesided triptych depicting the second coming on one side and themes related to Mount Sinai on the second side. The triptych was not large, maybe a foot and half in height. The side with the Second Coming had several rows showing Jesus’ return, the saints, church elders and the faithful awaiting Him. Towards the bottom were the sinners being swallowed by hell. After viewing the icons Fr. Frank Marangos commented on the upcoming session of FOS. The introductory commentary began with a review of Jason’s quest to find the Golden Fleece. Fr. Frank used this tale to illustrate how Jason’s quest and journey is a representation of our spiritual journey through life. Hollywood will release two movies this spring based on Greek mythology: “Lightening Thief” and a remake of 1980’s “Clash of the Titans”. Jason sails from Greece to Colchis (modern day Georgia) in search of the Golden Fleece. He does so by sailing on the Argos, a ship made of mythic wood and manned by fifty oarsmen, heroes such as Hercules. Fr. Frank then made the analogy that the wood of the boat represents the church and that we (the crew) sail through life’s journey in the boat – the church. The church in turn is built on the wood of the cross. Jesus as head of the church is represented by Jason, the captain of the Argos. Fr. Frank explained that in the ancient times, fleece was used to filter gold from rivers. Fleece was the skin of a sheep or ram. FOS–Forum on Orthodox Spirituality–is a ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Conducted by Rev. Frank Marangos, D.Min, Ed.D, FOS was created in response to the need voiced by New York-area professional men and women for deeper spiritual illumination and nourishment. FOS aims to transform lives by drawing attendees into a fuller understanding of Orthodox faith and worship, all in the context of contemporary society. FOS also seeks to build strong relationships and a sense of community.

OCMC Agape Grants to Assist Ministries in 7 Countries For more than 20 years, the Agape Canister Program of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), through its support of philanthropic ministries such as orphanages, feeding programs, and healthcare programs, has helped the Church to meet the needs of children, families, and communities in a loving witness to the Orthodox faith in mission countries. The OCMC has announced the ministries that will receive support from the program in 2010. They include 10 projects in seven countries: a youth camp and the

Chorale Plans Spring Concert The Metropolitan Greek Chorale, the longest-performing Greek musical group in the Greater Metropolitan New York area, is celebrating its 45th Anniversary with a spring concert at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, Goodman House, on Saturday, May 15. For additional information, contact Sarajeane Campbell via email or cell 917.406.8904.

Fellowship of Love soup kitchen in Albania; the Protection of the Theotokos Family Center, the St. Dimitrie Program and a youth camp in Romania; the St. Thomas House Orphanage in Indonesia; a feeding ministry in Kenya; youth day camps in Kosovo; medical supplies in Uganda; and a youth camp in Guatemala. OCMC missionaries, mission priests, and mission teams will administer the projects. More than 200 active Agape Canister Partners oversee about 1,000 plastic Agape canisters in offices, restaurants, parishes, and businesses throughout the United States and Canada. These canisters raise an average of $129,000 per year for philanthropic ministries. New Agape partners are always needed to take responsibility for one or more canisters in their community. The past two years have seen decreasing revenues which has limited the ability to distribute grants to both new and renewing Agape projects. For information about international Orthodox missions or to become involved in the Agape Canister Program, call or email agape@ocmc.org.

Student representatives share their projects at the all-school assembly.

Houston’s Annunciation School Program Helps IOCC, Others HOUSTON -- Annunciation Orthodox School students took to give back to others by participating in a campus-wide community-service program on Valentine’s Day, “AOS Has a Heart Day”. Each grade level worked on projects benefiting different charities. Representatives from the charities spoke to our students, educating them about their missions. Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten students wrapped over 50 gifts to be donated to the House of Tiny Treasures Kindergarten and 7th Grade students

worked with IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) to prepare over 100 school kits and cards to be distributed to children in need in Haiti; Grades 1, 3 and 5 prepared over 200 toiletry bags for homeless children to be donated to the Star of Hope Program; 2nd graders made over 50 fleece blankets for the children of Project Linus; The 4th grade made 40 birthday boxes full of toys and cake mix for children in the BEAR (Be a Resource) program. The 6th graders sang and passed out handmade Valentines to over 60 elderly.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Origins of the Akathist Hymn by Fr. Chris Margaritis

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The question is often asked, for what reason do the Orthodox offer regular hymns and prayers to the Virgin Mary, and dedicate entire prayer services to her such as the Lenten Akathist and the Paraclesis? The answer is buried in the toil and restlessness of history. The 4th century saw the rise of a devastating debate challenging the divinity of Christ, started by the great Alexandrian heretic Arius. On its heels in the 5th century followed a bitter argument on whether to call the Virgin Mary “Theotokos” (mother of God) or “Christotokos” (mother of Christ). Though subtle, the intent was again seen as an attempt to undermine the Divinity of Christ, so the Church in the 4th Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon agreed on her title as “Theotokos” This is greatly misunderstood today by our Protestant friends on two counts. First, they don’t recall the controversy or need for the term “Theotokos” in their post reformation Christian history, and second, they don’t see any difference between prayer and worship. They don’t understand how or why anyone would pray to the “Theotokos,” and misinterpret those prayers as worship. However, prayer means “supplicate,” while worship is something dedicated to God alone. We can communicate to the Theotokos, or each other for that matter without invoking worship to anyone but God. Why argue such things when our faith is far more about experience in witnessing to the events and very interaction of Christ Himself among us throughout history? Prayers are not “theologically designed,” but are a spiritual outpouring of dialogue to God in response to the real trials and tribulations of life, as we seek His countenance. Such things have a defining meaning. Constantinople was the first city founded in the name of the Christian faith. It was centered at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, controlling its major land and sea routes. As such, it was often threatened and attacked, so it was natural for its citizens to pray for the protection of the Theotokos. Why seems simple enough. In times of crisis and war, it is easy for endangered people to think they have succumbed to sin and brought on themselves the wrath of God. It is also natural in such situations to reach out for some extra assistance, and who better than Jesus’ Mother? It is hardly a theological purist’s prayer, but undoubtedly a heart–driven act of desperation, launched in fear and selfconviction; more cried than prayed, from the edge of mortal danger and dire need. While it might have been natural in Christianity to pray for deliverance, to its foes the answer to these prayers became far famed as supernatural. Over the years, Constantinople was threatened by Goths, Huns, Bulgars, Persians, Avars, Slavs, Arabs, Russians, Crusaders, Turks and more. For nearly a thousand years its residents prayed to the Theotokos and continued to find their enemies confounded and their homes safe. They were the keepers of the true faith, the protectors of Christianity’s greatest relics. It’s difficult to argue theological subtleties against the sustained belief of millions across a millennium over the successful salvation of their city. Repeatedly, the enemies of Constantinople

were humbled and became fearful of the Christian God that so fiercely defended its great walls. Many of the great armies and navies of the world were foiled in the shadow of those walls, while Constantinopolitans sang loving thanks in chapels to God and the Virgin. To this day even Turkish Muslims respectfully pay honor to the Theotokos. The Akathist is believed to have originated in 626 when Constantinople was besieged by the Avars, but saved when a sudden tempest destroyed the enemy fleet on the shores near the Church of the Theotokos at Blachermae in Constantinople. Some argue that the service is older and no doubt honors many such saving occasions, as the service cites no historical specifics, filled instead only with poetic gratitude owed to the Theotokos by an eternally grateful people. Even as Christ traveled with some of His disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection, it was clear that His followers struggled to grasp the deeper meanings of His ministry on Earth. The Church needed time in hindsight to develop its theology and understanding of the great mystery of God. Much of it required the touch of the Holy Spirit through events that give witness to the actual intervention of God in history; a growing relationship between God’s love and protection, and his people perpetually contemplating it in loving thanksgiving. If a city prays to the Theotokos for salvation, and literally gets just that for a over a thousand years, recognized even by conquering hordes, there is no argument, only the stuff of legendary prayer, which precisely defines the Akathist. Its hymnology is powerfully moving and spiritually lofty. Its unique poetry in Greek and spine tingling melodies are in a class of their own, leaving one with the feeling that history continues to pour the breath of salvation through the power of its haunting verses, even as Constantinople is no more and much of this story is long forgotten in today’s world. Still, actions always speak louder than words, even from the dust of ancient past. Prayer remains a call to deeds in words eternal. The Akathist, a prayer still recited continually for nearly 14 centuries, abides in that mystical crossing between the worldly and the spiritual. No other prayer ever accomplished as much, or proved how closely God actually listens. Rev. Margaritis is pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Omaha, Neb.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Infertility and the Intercessions of Sts. Joachim & Anna by Rev. Dr. Christopher Flesoras

On the Feast of the Dormition of St. Anna in 2005, our parish, dedicated to and seeking the intercessions of St. Anna, the maternal grandmother of Christ, received a Holy Relic from the dikaios (superintendent) of the Skete of Saint Anna on Mount Athos, Archimandrite Cherubim Apostolou. Then on the Feast day of Joachim and Anna in 2007, the parish was further blessed to receive additional holy relics of Joachim and Anna from the Theophileon Brotherhood of the Skete. The initial gifting was met with a media storm; the latter gifting was celebrated with over 2,000 Christians venerating their Holy Relics at both the Roman Catholic Cathedral and our parish. These saints, spiritually and now physically present with us, remain intercessors who soften hearts, gladden souls, and hear the prayers of all those who desire a sincere relationship with Christ. In 2007, as the Metropolis of San Francisco founded the Family Wellness Center, Metropolitan Gerasimos dedicated the parish as a Metropolis shrine, with this prayer: “Most merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God…You also came to Cana-in-Galilee and blessed the marriage there, to show that lawful marriage and the bearing of children is Your will. Being mindful of the need to preserve the sanctity of the home, made firm through the prayers of grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, and kin, we beseech You to hear our prayer. “Cast aside every trial, the temptation, and the tribulation that besets the members of our Christian family—young and old alike, those who persevere in virginity, those who are married, those who are widowed, and those who are divorced. “Strengthen, preserve, and sanctify us in Your peace, the estate of marriage, and the nurturing of children through the dedication of this Shrine, which shall seek the intercessions of Saints Joachim and Anna, spiritually and physically ever present in her midst.”

Family Connections This distinction as a Shrine dedicated to the sanctity of marriage and family through their prayers is unique. Through the Grace of God, the Shrine is addressing real needs as numerous individuals continue to seek the intercessions of the Saints through prayer requests and parish visitations. The most common petition is for those couples who struggle with infertility. Although there are other saints who are petitioned for childlessness, Joachim and Anna retain a special standing because their story is so familiar. Joachim and Anna did everything right. They were faithful to God and the Temple; they prayed, fasted, gave alms in excess of what was expected, studied the Law, and labored in virtue, yet they remained childless. Like other couples in such a circumstance, they were troubled and perplexed by their inability to conceive. Weeping over his infertility, Joachim went to a shepherd’s field and prayed. With inconsolable tears, Anna lamented her childlessness. Only after recounting God’s blessings upon Sarah and Hannah, Anna lifted her tear-filled eyes to heaven and prayed. After nearly 50 years of marriage and unwavering faith, Joachim and Anna were granted a daughter, Mary, the everVirgin mother of our Lord. Having a special affinity for the plight of Joachim and Anna, and recognizing not only their faithfulness but also the powerful manner by which the Lord responded to their prayers, Christians in like circumstances have sought their intercessions for nearly two millennia. Since the time the Skete of St. Anna was entrusted with a relic of their matron, couples everywhere began writing, asking for her intercession. To this day, it is not uncommon for husbands to travel and climb the 5,000 steps to the church to venerate her relic and pray before her icon. The Skete has therefore included a unique petition in their services to formally petition Saint Anna on behalf of infertile couples: “Again we pray for health, salvation, and fertility for the servants of God (names) and for their deliverance from sterility or barrenness.” It must however be noted that the gift of children is but one of the many blessings we seek from God when He “makes the two one”; the bearing of children is neither automatic nor guaranteed. Though the gift of procreation can

never be trivialized within Christian marriage, in like manner neither should childbearing be considered the sole function or focus of marriage. The inability to have a child in no way undermines the presence of God’s grace and blessing. After all, there are countless wonderful married couples who offer many prayers, read the Scriptures, attend services, keep the fasts, give alms, frequently receive the sacraments, venerate relics, and follow prescribed disciplines of a monastery or parish, who nevertheless remain unable to have their own child. This couple is as loved by God, His Church, and His people as anyone else. Involuntary childlessness should never be equated with a curse, sin, shame, or faithlessness. The Church as an instrument of God’s Grace does everything she can to assist these couples, but at the same time she prays that should a couple exhaust all efforts and realize that such a gift is not a part of God’s plan for them, that they welcome other ways to exhibit and share the love generated by their marriage. Hence while praying for these couples, the Church also encourages couples to discover the gift of adoption and thereby embrace the blessed example of St. Joseph the Betrothed, the adoptive father of Jesus. It is also hoped that couples discover the great privilege and profound responsibility of spiritual adoption by serving as godparents through Baptism

27 or Chrismation; a relationship that according to canonical tradition is equal to blood relatives. In any instance, it’s with great devotion to the saints as well as a true sense of awe and humble obligation that our community, the only parish of our Archdiocese of America formally commemorating St. Anna and possessing holy relics of both ancestors of Christ, now also offers special prayers for those couples who struggle with infertility (names of couples are also forwarded to the Theophileon Brotherhood at the Skete for inclusion in their devotionals). Whether it be the veneration of their Relics, the devotion to items blessed over their relics, the anointing with oil from the vigil light, fervent prayers, commemoration in services, or the prayers of the faithful and the brotherhood, by God’s Grace and with the intercessions of Sts. Joachim and Anna, many couples who once struggled with infertility have since been blessed with children. May these ancestors of Christ ever intercede on our behalf! Rev. Dr. Christopher Flesoras is pastor of St. Anna Church in Roseville, Calif. He received his M.Div. from Holy Cross, an M.S. in development and counseling from Northeastern University, and a Ph.D. in Christian Formation and the Foundations of Education from the University of California, Davis.

A Prayer of Supplication To Christ’s ancestors let us cry out most piously, All we who keep sacred feast, Asking for their intercessions; For they have received at God’s throne Boldness and true grace divine To have mercy upon us; For they gave birth wondrously To the pure Ever-virgin; Therefore, deliver our souls from every grief, Blessed Joachim and wise Anna, true Saints of God.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Archbishop Demetrios of AmericA the first DecADe 1999-2009

his beautifully produced book presents a full spectrum of the activities in the life of the Greek Orthodox Church in America from the years 1999-2009, the first ten years of Archiepiscopal Ministry of Archbishop Demetrios of America. The 368-page hard cover book contains 537 photographs, all taken by the Official Photographer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Dimitrios Panagos, and masterfully compiled & edited by Revekka Papadopoulou. Chapters include: Biography, Enthronement, Archpastoral Ministry, Education & Youth, Ecumenical Patriarchate, Official trips, Welcoming Visitors, At the Nation’s Capital, Omogeneia & Cultural Events, September 11-2001, Ecumenical Relations & SCOBA, 40th Anniversary of Episcopacy, and Honors & Degrees.

“A must for every Greek Orthodox parish & home in America.” To order your copy of this book ($75 per copy + $10 S&H) please call 212-774-0244, or email gotel@goarch.org, or complete this order form and mail it to GOTelecom, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075.

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I n M e m o r i a m More than 200 people gathered at the Fr. James Moskovites church for his funeral on Feb. 1, which

NEW YORK – Fr. James Moskovites, 64, pastor of Annunciation Church in New York and prominent at many levels of the Church, died March 2 following a heart attack. He was born Dec. 19, 1945 in Peabody, Mass. and was educated in the public schools there. He enrolled at Hellenic College and earned a B.A. degree in 1967, then went on to Holy Cross and earned an M.Div. in 1970. He also attended the University of Oklahoma where he worked toward a doctorate in philosophy and St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary for two years. He married Diana Lalooses of Boston in 1969. The couple had a daughter, Helen. He was ordained a deacon in April 1970 in Peabody, and to the priesthood in July 1970 in Manchester, Mass., both times by Bishop Demetrios of Olympos His first assignment was St. George Church in Oklahoma City from September 1970 to September 1975, followed by Holy Trinity in Fort Wayne, Ind., (September 1975 to 1977), Assumption in Pocatello, Idaho (assigned 1983), St. Demetrios in Merrick, N.Y (February 1988 to October 1989) before arriving at Annunciation in November 1992. From 1977 to mid-1983, Fr. Moskovites lived in New Orleans where he earned a professional degree in drug and alcohol counseling and worked as a counselor. From late 1989 to November 1992, before he was assigned to Annunciation, he served as the director of HANAC in Long Island City/Astoria. He was bestowed the offikia of confessor by Bishop Anthimos of Denver in June 1985, and protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in April 1995. Fr. Moskovites also served the Archdiocese in other capacities, including as a member of the spiritual court and the Archdiocesan Council. In addition to Presbytera Diane of Wantagh, N.Y., survivors include their daughter, Presbytera Helen Kehagias and son-in-law, Fr. Demetrios Kehagias. A trisagion service took place March 5 at Annunciation Church officiated by Bishop Savas of Troas, assisted by Fr. Robert Stephanopoulos, Fr. Kehagias and Fr. Mark Leondis. Funeral service was held the following morning with Archbishop Demetrios officiating, assisted by Bishops Savas of Troas, Andonios of Phasiane and Philotheos of Meloa, and attended by about 40 priests.

Fr. Peter H. Makris NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Fr. Peter N. Makris, 76, pastor of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church since 1969, died Jan. 31. He was born Sept. 8, 1933 in Lowell, Mass. and graduated from Lowell High School. He enrolled in Holy Cross School of Theology, graduating in 1957. He married Mary Lask in July 1959. He was ordained a deacon in January 1960 in Stamford, Conn., and to the priesthood in Lowell, Mass., by Bishop Athenagoras Kokkinakis on both occasions. He was assigned to Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Great Falls, Mont., from March 1960 to August 1963, then to All Saints Church in Canonsburg, Pa., from 1963 to August 1969, before his assignment to Newport News. During his tenure, the church and its Hellenic Center were built and dedicated. Fr. Makris was predeceased by his presbytera. Survivors include three children, Harry George, Christina Louise and Anastasia Maria. A fourth child, Gregory Peter, died in 1970.

was officiated by Fr. Ambrose Bitziadis of Annunciation Cathedral in Norfolk, representing Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, assisted by Fr. Frank Marangos, Fr. Makris’ first cousin.

Peter T. Kourides NEW YORK – Peter T. Kourides, who for 60 years served the Archdiocese as its legal counsel, died Feb. 16. He was 99. Mr. Kourides spanned the era from Archbishop Athenagoras in the 1930s to Archbishop Iakovos in the mid-1990s. He also served as personal counsel to Athenagoras as Ecumenical Patriarch. He helped to steer the Church in America on its legal course and saw it mature from its immigrant days to its development as one of the major recognized faiths in the mainstream of society. He practiced law for about 70 years until very recently as a partner in the firm of Seward, Raphael and Kourides. Kourides was born in Constantinople in 1910 and came to the United States with his parents in 1912. He was raised in Manchester, N.H., where he attended public schools. He went on to attend Columbia College and graduated from the Columbia University Law School in 1933. He also served as a vice president of the National Council of Church in Christ, authored books about the Church, including “The Evolution of the Greek Orthodox Church in America and Its Current Problems” in 1959, and presided at meetings of the Archdiocesan Council and Clergy-Laity Congresses for 40 years. Kourides also was a member of the Commission of International Affairs of the World Council of Churches and participated in three general assemblies of that body. In 1967, in recognition of his work for the Church, King Constantine II of Greece presented him with the Gold Cross of the Order of Phoenix. Kourides became the general counsel of the Archdiocese in 1935, serving pro bono, and counsel and trustee of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity since 1938. He accompanied Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras to Constantinople in 1949. He had also served as counsel and trustee of St. Basil Academy since 1945, was a member of the Archdiocesan Council since 1950, chairman of the 1958 Clergy-Laity Congress in Salt Lake City, commander of the AHEPA, vice commander of the Archdiocese excursion for Mount Athos and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1960, an executive committee member of the Greek War Relief Association from 1940-46, president of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, 1949-50, and a director since 1951, president of the Pnyx Society of Columbia University (193233), Hellenic University Club president (1938), vice president of the Greek American Lawyers Association (1959), member of American Bar and New York State Bar Associations. As a member of AHEPA, he also served as Supreme Secretary (1940-41) and Supreme Vice President (1956-57). His honorary titles included Grand Keeper of the Law (Megas Nomophilax) conferred by the Ecumenical Patriarch in 1960, and Grand Commander of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, bestowed by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in 1961. Survivors include a son, P. Nicholas Kourides; daughter Dr. Ione A. Kourides; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Anne, in 1974. Funeral services took place Feb. 22 with Archbishop Demetrios officiating.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Holy Pascha: Defeating the Dragons of Death “Christ is Risen from the dead . . . trampling down death by death! by Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos

A popular story written by the author C.S. Lewis chronicles the sea journey of a crew of children who land on a mysterious island for the purpose of repairing their vessel. Rather than offer his assistance to the others, one child named Eustace sets off by himself in search of personal fortune. During his exploration, the selfish boy discovers a large cave filled with magnificent gems and costly artifacts. He quickly realizes that he has located the secret lair of a dragon. While fearful of the monster’s return, the boy is unable to resist the lure of the cave’s treasure and, unfortunately, falls asleep atop the jewelry. A few hours later Eustace awakens to find the dragon sleeping beside him. Frightened, he carefully lifts his leg to escape but notices the creature imitating his every movement. Fearful that the foul-smelling serpent may rouse at any moment, the lad dashes from the cave to the valley below. It is here, while gazing at his image in the waters of a small pound, that the boy realizes the horrible truth. A dragon had not been sleeping next to him! Rather, he had been looking at his own beastly reflection in a mirror. Try as he will, however, Eustace is unable to peal away his newly formed scaly skin. Exhausted and discouraged he weeps. He has become what he fears the most ...

an ugly dragon! Pascha, the liturgical celebration of our Lord’s glorious Resurrection, centers on the defeat of dragons. In fact, it concerns creation’s opportunity to have the scaly skin of its monstrous distortions successfully pealed away. “With his hissing,” insists a hymn of the Triodion, “the hateful serpent deceived us, and stripped us of the blessings we had received.” While Satan insists that humanity was and remains all to willing to replace “skin for skin,” (Job 2:4), good for evil, the Feast of the Resurrection exchanges the dark ugly robe of death with the bright complexion of Christ’s holiness. Numerous prayers and hymns of the Orthodox Church describe Pascha as God’s victory over a dragon-like serpent that lies, steals, and constantly seeks to disfigure all of creation. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that an important prayer of the Presanctified Liturgy requested that God grant the faithful the strength to successfully complete the course of the Great Fast by “crushing the heads” of our respective “invisible dragons” through the cultivation of selfless virtues. Great Lent was, therefore, our opportunity to evaluate the condition of our spiritual image in the clear liturgical mirror of the Church wherein Scriptural stories are masterfully woven to teach important spiritual lessons gleaned from the lives of

Old Testament personalities. Some, like the self-centered Eustace in Lewis’ parable, were tragically transformed into detestable individuals. Advocating self-centered agendas, the sinful exchanged “skin for skin” and become “dragonesque.” Fortunately, through fasting, almsgiving, repentance, and prayer, the faithful are portrayed as those who “put on” Christ much like the prodigal son was clothed with his father’s royal robes. Individuals such as these are portrayed as the true heirs of Christ’s victory over the serpent’s dangerous craftiness. Pascha is the Great Feast of the Eucharistic community whose Agape Meal replaces the rupture of betrayal with the bond of peace and forgiveness! “Let us love all that have wronged us,” exhorts Saint John Chrysostom in his Paschal message, “for Forgiveness has Risen from the grave!” Satan is intent on using such vises to deform the image and likeness of God in man. From the very beginning of creation, evil relentlessly pursues the embezzlement of personhood, the most valuable of birthrights. “Long ago,” insists a hymn of the Lenten season, “the crafty serpent envied my honor and whispered deceit in the ear of Eve.” Apart from His victory over death, Christ is therefore described as the One who “reclothes” humanity in the nobility of His “garments of light and incorruption.” De-

A D V E R T I S I N G

scribed as one of Hercules’ Twelve Labors, the severing of each of the hydra’s heads has long been understood as a harbinger of Christ’s actual liberation of humanity’s spiritual personhood. As such, the Resurrection releases “prisoners” and heals “every part” of mankind’s inner disfigurement. In his parable about children for adults, Lewis describes the painful yet futile attempts of Eustace to desperately remove the skin of the dragon from his youthful limbs. In the end, he must submit to a Lion named Aslan who, as an image of Christ, removes the serpentine skin with his sharp claws. “The very first tear was so deep,” the boy exclaims, “that I thought that it had gone right into my heart! It hurt more than anything I had ever felt. The only thing that made it bearable was the pleasure of feeling like a boy again!” Unable to shed his dragon skin himself, Eustace submits to the fierce claws of Aslan and is reborn! Pascha, the celebration of the holy Resurrection, commemorates the Lordship of a Lion who came to defeat the dragons of death so that we may be released from the bondage of sin! Indeed, by faithfully submitting to Jesus’ loving authority we are healed, liberated, re-imaged, and restored to our comrades! We are, in a word ... reborn! Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos is dean of Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York City. He is also an adjunct assistant professor at St. John’s University (NY). Visit www.thecathedral.goarch.org to view the on-line sermon that inspired this article.

S P E C I A L

National Hellenic Society Partners with American College to Oﬀer First-time Visits to Greece for Greek American Youth In a little over a year, the National Hellenic Society has emerged as an important Greek American organization whose mission is to preserve Greek American heritage in the United States through the support and development of programs that especially target the next generation such as a state-of-art, social networking website for young Greek American professionals--under way and set to launch this spring. One of the most important programs sponsored by the National Hellenic Society is the inauguration of its Heritage Greece Program that supports programs in Greece for the young generation. Theophanis Economidis, National Hellenic Society Program Committee chairman, states, “the National Hellenic Society’s approach is two-fold: to actively support existing programs such as the AHEPA Journey to Greece Program, and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s, Ionian Village Program in Greece; and, develop new programs such as the Heritage Greece Program designed to be a grant—a gift from the National Hellenic Society to promising young Greek Americans that want to experience Greece for the first time.” According to Timothy Maniatis, National Hellenic Society executive director, “What every Greek American organization shares is a desire for the next generation to have a strong sense of Greek identity, to cherish and pass on our heritage, our culture, the values and spirit of Hellenism. This is an investment we must make individually and collectively, and one the National Hellenic Society is now undertaking with great pride.” The Heritage Greece program is made possible in cooperation with DEREE - The American College of Greece, Europe’s largest and most historic Amer-

ican institution of higher education, which will host the visiting students. The new Heritage Greece Program will provide talented young Greek Americans their first opportunity to study and travel in Greece, strengthening their ties to their ancestral land as well as relations between Greece and the United States. Eligibility for the program is open to undergraduate college or university students of Hellenic ancestry between the ages of 18-26 who have never visited Greece. Students must have a G.P.A. of 3.5 or better, be of Greek descent and will be paired with a peer group of young participants in Greece. Those elected will participate in the program for free, the only cost they bear is travel to and from New York where the participants will meet and leave together as a group. The National Hellenic Society is funding the entire trip as a grant and gift to these qualified young Greek American participants. Participants will visit Greece for two weeks leaving on June 10, for an immersion program designed to fortify their respective knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Greek language, culture, and history. Participating students will be hosted at residences provided by DEREE-ACG which are close to the College’s main 60acre, ultra-modern campus and facilities in Aghia Paraskevi (just six miles from the Acropolis and major archaeological sites and museums in Athens). The Heritage Greece program lasts from June 11-25 and applications will be accepted until April 15. For information, contact the appropriate office at The American College of Greece at heritagegreece@acg.edu or visit “http://www.acg.edu” www. acg.edu.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Boston Metropolis Holds First Family Winter Camp by Sophia Nibi

Contoocook, N.H.– More than 35 families participated in the first Family Winter Camp program during the last weekend in February at the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center, which was filled to capacity in its first year. Participants enjoyed various discussions, activities, fellowship, and the exceptional facility which is located in the quaint little town of Contoocook in the Granite State, an hour-and-a-half drive from Boston. Families that participated in this program can be considered “pioneers” in the family camp and were also the first group from the Metropolis of Boston to stay in the newly completed Retreat House located on the waterfront of the largest lake in the property. The weekend featured spiritual growth and learning as well as family fun. The keynote speaker was Dr. Phillip Mamalakis, assistant professor of pastoral care at Holy Cross School of Theology. Dr.

Mamalakis also led sessions for parents that focused on the Orthodox tradition of image and likeness in family and parenting. This camp was embraced by the town of Contoocook as well, through two special events. Families were invited by the local community to attend an ice fishing derby and scholarship fundraising event that

took place on the Faith & Heritage beach. They enjoyed a spaghetti dinner later in the evening that was prepared and served by families of the local snow mobile club. Other highlights of the Family Winter Camp Program included the snow sculpting contest, and a bonfire complete with campfire songs that were led by a mix of both staff and the youngest campers. This weekend program enabled par-

ents and children to enjoy fellowship with each other, and to make new friends with families in the Metropolis. Metropolitan Methodios has announced that the Faith & Heritage Center is planning another family camp during the first session of the summer camping program. He said he hopes this unique ministry will continue to grow and reach out to the many families from throughout the Metropolis.

Boston Clergy Attend Lenten Retreat at Center

Boca Walk–a–Thon

St. Mark Church in Boca Raton, Fla., recently sponsored its annual St. Jude Walk-aThon that drew 145 participants. Parishioner Gus Constantinou, who lost his daughter to cancer, has coordinated the event for the past seven years. Thus far the Walk-A-Thon has raised over $133,000 and more than 350 persons attended the event and supported a barbeque that followed. AHEPA Chapter 487 provided volunteers and support for this event. In the photo above, participants gather with Fr. Robert Archon, pastor.

CONTOOCOOK, N.H. – Metropolitan Methodios hosted a two-day Lenten retreat for the clergy of the Metropolis at the newly constructed Retreat House on the scenic grounds of the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center in Contoocook on March 1-2. This retreat was a historic event as it marked the first gathering of Metropolis clergy at the Retreat House. In prior years these annual retreats were held at other centers. Now the faithful of New England—clergy and laity, young and old alike—have their own “home away from home” at our 300-acre facility nestled in the woods between two lakes in picturesque Contoocook, NH. During this two-day retreat, the clergy enjoyed prayer, fellowship, and on-going education led by three priest-professors from Holy Cross School of Theology. The first day centered on the theme of “Celebrating Holy Week” during which Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas led several hours of discussion on various pastoral, liturgical, and teleturgical aspects of the celebration of the week of our Lord’s Holy Passion. His Eminence and the clergy engaged in a meaningful dialogue about this most sacred and holy week of our liturgical year. The second day focused on the themes of “Ecumenical and Inter-Orthodox Dialogues.” Fr. Emmanuel Clapsis began the discussion with a detailed report on the ecumenical dialogue titled, “Why the Orthodox Church Participates in the Ecumenical Movement.” Fr. George Dragas continued the theme focusing on Inter-Orthodox rela-

tions, with special focus on the Pan-Orthodox discussions in the United States. In between the sessions, the clergy enjoyed fellowship with one another, and were strengthened and renewed in their ministry. Metropolitan Methodios addressed the brotherhood on several occasions, and met separately with the clergy. His Eminence encouraged all the priests to use this Retreat Center as a place of spiritual renewal and refreshment for themselves, and also for their parish families. The Metropolitan said he desires that each of the 63 communities in New England schedule parish retreats at the Faith and Heritage Center at least once each year. This Clergy Retreat followed the first ever three-day “Family Camp” held in the new Retreat House during which over 150 family members gathered for a weekend of renewal focusing on Faith, Family, Fellowship, and Fun. On the weekend of March 12-14, a retreat took place for young professionals titled “Avatars of Spirituality: Rediscovering the Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Fr. Frank Marangos, dean of the Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral, and more than 50 young adult professionals from the New York area joined others from New England for this inspiring weekend retreat. Over the next several months, more than 15 over-night programs are scheduled at the Retreat House. Those interested in scheduling an event at the St. Methodios Faith and Heritage Center should contact the director, Michael Sintros, at 603.746.4400, or at mbcamp@tds.net

MARCH – APRIL 2010

New Jersey Goyans Show Skills in Arts, Crafts and Talent Event The competition includes “sights” in categories including literature, painting, photography, woodwork, and posters – and “sounds” including Religious, American and Greek singing, Greek and American plays, individual instrumental and singing and of course Greek Dance. “This day is all about the kids – it is an opportunity for all of the members of our youth groups to get involved!” said Gene Gentile, Members of the Greek Dance Group of Kimisis Tis The- who with his wife, Pam, served as otokou Church,Holmdel, NJ await their turn to perform. chairpeople this year. “We’ve gathered together in by Marissa P. Costidis healthy competition to showcase our talented youth and in so doing, have WESTFIELD N.J.– Hundreds of inspired feelings of camaraderie, love, pieces of artwork and music and faith and hope while simultaneously laughter from hundreds of young nurturing the ability to fulfill dreams,” people filled the hallways and rooms said Pam Gentile. of Bouras Hall and Community Center “We wish to commend you, the of Holy Trinity Church for the 39th youth, for the effort and courage exannual Sights and Sounds Festival – a hibited today. Performing in front of competition hosted by the community others is not easy and requires focus, for Goyans around the state. determination and humility. Although every participant will not leave with a trophy, know that each entered sight and performance is valued and worthy of our praise!” Together with more than 100 dedicated volunteers from the community, they ran a truly remarkable day, filled with warmth, love, fellowship and pride in all things Orthodox and Hellenic. Among the goals of Sights & Sounds is to teach youth about the benefits of teamwork, fair play and competition Religious singers from Holy Trinity, Westfield, NJ while in a loving Christian environawait their turn in front of the judges. ment. Win or lose, lessons are learned that assist in the development of traits such as humility, selflessness and working together for a common goal. When teams win and when they lose they must learn to accept their defeat and also become gracious winners. Allyssa Gentile, daughter of Gino and Pam, and a past participant in Sights and Sounds who came back to lend a helping hand in the day said, “Sights and Sounds builds great church Singers from St. Athanasios Church, Paramus, NJ. camaraderie and is a place where we can meet others who have the Greek Orthodox faith in common.” She continued, “We should be so proud of all the kids here, whether or not they receive a trophy. They are displaying the gifts that God has given them.” GOYA chapters from the following 16 churches participated: St. George, Asbury Park; St. George, Clifton; Ascension, Fairview; St. Anna, Flemington; Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Holmdel; Sts. Participants from St. George Church, Piscataway Nicholas, Constantine & Helen, Orperformed in the Greek Play category. ange/Newark; St. Athanasios, Paramus; St. Demetrios, Perth Amboy; St. George, Piscataway. St. Andrew, Randolph; St. John the Theologian Cathedral, Tenafly; St. Barbara, Toms River; St. George, Trenton; St. Demetrios, Union; Holy Trinity, Westfield; and St. Nicholas, Wyckoff. For a complete list of awards log on to www.goarch.org/special/sightsounds2010 GOYANs from St. Demetrios Church, Union, NJ, participate in the Greek Play category.

Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey with Fr. Peter Delvizis, priest of Holy Trinity, (from right) CoChair of Sights & Sounds Gene Gentile, past Chair of Sights & Sounds Anita Kartalopoulos, Co-Chair Pam Gentile, Notis Kotsolios and participants.

Photos by Marissa P. Costidis The Greek Dancers of Ascension Church, Fairview, NJ.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Building project

Photo credit: Emmanuel Daskalos

Holy Transfiguration Church in Anchorage, Alaska, has embarked on a new church building project that will begin after the spring thaw. Shown are building committee members receiving a special blessing at a recent Vasilopita cutting ceremony including Fr. Leo Schefe, pastor, Building Committee President Maria Baskous, parish council President Diane Primis and other members. Metropolitan Gerasimos will travel to Alaska this summer to lay the cornerstone. Fundraising efforts continue and preparations have begun for the major fundraiser, the Greek Festival, on Aug. 20-22.

Illinois Church Celebrating 50 Years GLENVIEW, Ill. – Sts. Peter and Paul Church held the second in a yearlong series of events commemorating its 50th anniversary on Feb. 14. More than 500 parishioners, children, godparents and grandparents enjoyed an afternoon of bowling, bocce and a delicious brunch at Pinstripes in Northbrook. Designated “Godparent Sunday,” children were encouraged to invite their godparents to the outing to celebrate the day together. A

balloon artist and face painter also helped entertain the younger children. The church is marking 50 years since receiving its charter from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America in 1960. The yearlong celebration of this milestone kicked off with a talent show, featuring members of the parish, late last fall and will include an outdoor summer event before culminating with a dinner dance on Oct. 10.

NBC to Air Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ NEW YORK – The video presentation of “Pascha: The Resurrection of Christ,” a program highlighting Orthodox Christian Pascha, or Easter, will broadcast on NBC affiliates nationwide this April. The program, produced by Greek Orthodox Telecommunications and sponsored by FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, highlights Holy

and Great Week, focusing on the deeply moving and ancient services that recount the Gospel narrative leading to the Death and Resurrection of Christ. Archbishop Demetrios leads a procession of the faithful around the church and outside where, following the reading of the Gospel of the Resurrection, they proclaim the joyous hymn “Christ is Risen!”

National Forum Oﬀers New Lenten Music Resource The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians has produced a newly-revised, 2010 edition of its popular publication, “A Holy Friday Retreat: A Parish Handbook for Planning and Conducting a Lenten Retreat.” The Handbook provides Church Schools, day schools, and parishes a valuable resource for helping young people

Correction In the coverage of the San Francisco Folk Dance and Choral Festival in the previous issue, the picture of the dance group above the cutline for the sweepstakes winner was of the Enomenoi from Holy Cross in Belmont, a senior dance group, not the sweepstakes winner. It was misidentified as the advanced senior group Menmosyne, the actual sweepstakes winner.

learn about the Orthodox faith through its theology, hymnology, and iconography. As in the first edition, the practical 2010 Handbook provides ready-to-use information, materials, icons, and Orthodox hymns for putting on the Retreat. However, this 2010 edition also adds many variations and alternative ideas, plus more music, which is especially useful when parishes conduct a Retreat for multiple years. These variations and new ideas have been requested by the many parishes across our Archdiocese who have instituted successful Holy Friday Retreats as ongoing features of their Lenten programming. The Handbook may be obtained by emailing pappas@indiana.edu. The cost of the Handbook is $15 plus shipping and handling. Once ordered, you will be sent the copies you wish, along with an invoice and payment information.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Detroit’s Cathedral Begins 100th Year Celebration DETROIT – Annunciation Cathedral has begun its observance of its centennial with celebrations, services and family reunions. “Imagine Detroit’s landscape in 1910 and our precious Greek immigrants who traveled to America for a better life, a brighter future and a safe haven for their families,” said Fr. Athanas (Tom) George, dean of the Cathedral. “Because we are now embarking on our 100th year, we are looking for descendents of those persons who chose to establish and attend the Annunciation Cathedral. This is a sentimental Greek family reunion, a coming together in history with a special emphasis on our founding fathers’ vision, courage and commitment to their Greek Orthodox faith.” “The church was and is the center of life for the Orthodox faithful. It is the place of serenity, celebration and family unity,” continued Fr. George. “We are looking forward to welcom-

ing our parishioners, their children, their grandchildren, their great grandchildren and extended family members during this year that will mark a 100 year journey back into time.” For more information concerning events and ways to contribute to the historic documents being developed, contact Olga Mihas at 313.965.2988. Photos and other pieces of history will be scanned and returned to original owners. Events honoring the Cathedral’s pioneers, married couples, women’s organizations, youth groups, altar boys, choirs, boards of directors, clergy and parishioners are being planned, and all are encouraged to attend and celebrate with current groups in the church and the Detroit Metropolis that encompasses all or parts of seven states including Michigan, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, western New York, western Ohio, and central and western Tennessee.

Scouting Awards

Photo Credit: Mark Kiryluk

Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver recently awarded the Prophet Elias Scouting Medals to deserving candidates who have served their respective Orthodox Boy Scout troops and Cub packs for a minimum of eight years each. The Scoutmasters awarded include Mark Deno Terry; Christine Vlamis Skogen; and George C. McCoy and Kirk Skogen. Assumption Cathedral of Denver and St. Catherine Church of Greenwood Village sponsor the Scout groups. Frs. Louis J. Christopulos, Paul Fedec, and. Dino Sinos also participated in the award service. The Prophet Elias Scouting Medal is given to those adults who provide exceptional service in promoting and supporting the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, and Camp Fire USA.

Church School Students Greet Soldiers at Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport EULESS, Texas – Church school students of St. John the Baptist Church, a small parish between Dallas and Fort Worth, undertook a project for Valentine’s Day to greet U.S. soldiers who were returning to Iraq from their leave in the States. The approximately 40 students and their teachers and parents went to nearby DFW Airport, only 10 minutes

from the church, where many American troops leave and return on their missions to Iraq and Afghanistan. They distributed snacks and toiletries and greeted the soldiers waiting for their departing flights. “We thought it would be a great experience for the kids, their parents and our teachers,” said Harriet Louros Blake, one of the teachers. St. John the Baptist Church

is a small parish established in 1980 with about 200 families with about 75 children in the church school. Fr. Vasile Tudora is the priest. Ms. Blake noted that many church and school groups from the Dallas-Fort Worth area participate in this program organized by the USO, which encourages groups to show their support for the men and

women serving our country. “The kids (ages 5 to 15) and their parents got a chance to shake hands with these soldiers and I believe it made an impression on all of us,” she said. “The soldiers seemed to enjoy seeing the kids too.” GOYA chapter members also went to the airport a few days later.

Florida Church Honors Fr. Ernest Blougouras on 50th Anniversary Byzantine Music Conference Held NAPLES, Fla. -- St. Katherine Church recently honored the Very Rev. Archimandrite Ernest “Fr. Ernie” Blougouras on the 50th anniversary of his ordination. Hundreds gathered to pay tribute and express their gratitude for his pastoral care and service to the Greek Orthodox Church – serving two cathedrals - Annunciation in Detroit and St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, N.J., and to the parishes of St. Demetrios in Westin, Mass.; Holy Trinity, Grand Island, Neb.; and Assumption, Flint, Mich.. He currently offered 10 years of assistance in retirement at St. Katherine.

Fr. Constantine Mersinas reminisced about his days as altar boy under Fr. Ernest in Flint. Fr. Ernest pointed out jokingly that the roles are now reversed as Fr. Mersinas is proistamenos at St. Katherine. Fr. Robert Stephanopoulos shared the genesis of their friendship when then-Ernie Blougouras befriended a new freshman underclassman, Bob Stephanopoulos. The paths of former schoolmates Fr. Ernest, Fr. Peter Atsales and Fr. William Kehayes of blessed memory intersected, when he led the faithful of St. Katherine for 10 years. Presbytera Christine Kehayes, choir

director of St. Katherine, shared cherished moments of Fr. Bill and Fr. Ernest. A native of Dover, N.H., Father Ernest graduated from Holy Cross School of Theology in 1956. After attaining the Bachelor of Theology Degree he went on to Greece and received a scholarship to the University of Athens. Three years later he was awarded a Master of Sacred Theology degree. Returning to the United States in 1959, he was ordained to the diaconate on Nov. 19 and to the priesthood on Nov. 29 by Bishop Athenagoras of Boston (later Archbishop of London).

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y – The Axion Estin Foundation recently held its 3rd Conference on Byzantine Music Education with the theme “Mostly Orthros Byzantine Chant and Greek Folk Music Festival.” A combination of lectures and chanting workshops was offered. A “Chanting Orthros” workshop was offered by Nancy Takis (English texts – western notation) and teachers Christos Chalkias and Eleftherios Eleftheriadis of Thessalonica (Greek texts – Byzantine notation). Other events included a book signing by Dr. Romanou, a Byzantine Chant & Folk Music Concert, Vespers at St. Nicholas Church in Flushing, a lecture by Dr. Romanou, a Sunday Orthros and the Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church.

MARCH–APRIL 2010

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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 ___________________________________________

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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. 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.

MARCH – APRIL 2010

Courage and Character: The 2010 Winter Olympics Christ Is Risen! Truly He Is Risen! by Eva Kokinos

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 In February of this year, many Americans throughout the U.S. watched the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Every four years, the Olympics bring us stories of hard-work, dedication, struggle, triumph, and even failure. Competitors train long and hard for that one moment to shine; to be rewarded for all of that hard-work and discipline with the ultimate recognition… the Gold Medal. The 2010 Winter Olympics were no exception. Evan Lysacek, U.S. Men’s figure skater and Orthodox Christian, skated a beautiful performance that led to a Gold medal. And we saw tragedy strike, even before the games as Nodar Kumaritashvili from the country of Georgia was fatally injured during a training run in the Men’s Luge. The mother of Joannie Rochette from Team Canada died two days before her competition. But Rochette pushed through the grief and pain of losing her mother, giving the performance of her life and winning Bronze in Women’s Figure Skating. We saw Apolo Anton Ohno earn a recordbreading 8 medals in one Winter Olympics… the most medals earned by any American in a Winter Olympics. Olympic athletes are known for giving all of themselves to their sport. These individuals train intensely, sometimes for years, with faith and hope that their hard work will be recognized. It can be discouraging or down-right

Young Adult Ministries:

Find them, Greet Them, Love Them!

devastating to have worked so hard but fall short of the medal stand. But, these athletes kept going! In fact, many work even harder to attend the next Olympics in that never-ending pursuit of gold. Imagine standing on the podium and hearing the beautiful National Anthem of your country after all the training, all the work, and all of the sacrifice. It is a moment that brings many to tears, athletes and spectators alike. We are blessed to have just celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At the end of Great and Holy Lent, we stand and sing our own anthem of glory and hope. We all sang “Christ is Risen” with strong and joyful voices, after our 40day Lenten journey of fasting, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines. In the lives of Orthodox Christians, the Resurrection of Christ is the ultimate example of faith, sacrifice, dedication, obedience, and love. Jesus Christ, despite hardships and criticism, continued to press forward and followed the will of His Father. Even when those around challenged Him,

GOYA and Young Adult Ministries on FACEBOOK!! Are you on FACEBOOK? If you are a member of Facebook, you can visit us on our GOYA and Young Adult Ministries fan pages! These fan pages have information about GOYA and Young Adult Ministries events from throughout the Archdiocese.

Also, fans are connecting and talking about different issues regarding faith and life! Just search for GOYA – Greek Orthodox Youth of America or Greek Orthodox National Young Adult Ministries and BECOME A FAN TODAY!!

doubted Him, and even mocked Him, Christ continued forward with courage, strength, and resolve. As Christians, we are called to the same challenge. We are called to dedicate everything we have in the pursuit of God’s will… to be reunited with Him. Our preparation is much like the preparation of an athlete. First, we make the choice to follow a certain path, following Christ’s footsteps. Then we must take deliberate steps to prepare and train our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls for the fierce competition against temptations. So if this is our goal, to stand at the feet of our Lord and enter into His Kingdom, how do we achieve it? There are many ways we can become stronger in Christ. • Make prayer a significant part of each day. It’s a connection no iPod or Blackberry can replace! • Read of the Holy Scriptures, studying God’s word and His teachings. • Regular participation in the Holy Sacraments… the living expression of God of which we can partake. • Study and learning about the Church’s Holy Traditions and practices to fully understand who we are and what we believe. • Spend our time serving others in a spirit of love and charity, following the Greatest Commandment to love God and to love our neighbor. Just as we took the Paschal light into our homes and into our hearts, let us always keep our Christian anthem of hope strong in our hearts. Christ is TRULY risen! So live each day working toward the ultimate gold medal for Christians around the world … eternal life with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Eva Kokinos serves as the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Metropolis of Detroit. She is a 2003 graduate of Holy Cross School of Theology.

Parishes throughout the U.S. ask the same question… where are the young adults of our communities? On the other hand, young adults all over the country are asking a similar question…what ministries are out there that are geared toward my generation? This year, the Department of Young and Young Adult Ministries has developed a 2010 National Awareness Campaign to help answer these questions and help revitalize young adult ministries The “Find Them, Greet Them, Love Them” Campaign has been developed in an effort to reconnect parishes and young adults. Parishes take an in-depth and comprehensive look at their own young adult ministries. In addition, young adults are encouraged to get out there and be a part of the movement. For example, parishes are encouraged to utilize the theme of this campaign to adopt this three-step evaluation. First, parishes must “FIND” or identify the young adults of their communities. Next, it is important to “GREET” or welcome these young adults into the community through different programs and events. Finally, “LOVE” them by offering tools and ministry according to the specific needs of the young adults in the community. Rather than applying a “cookie-cutter” structure, parishes can truly address the particular needs of their parishioners. One aspect of this campaign is the “10 in 10” Movement. Young adults can join the movement and donate their time and talents to a service project near them! Projects are scheduled across the country in every Metropolis so that everyone has an opportunity to serve nearby. If there isn’t an event in the area, young adults are encouraged to take initiative and plan a day of service at their own parish. For more information, please contact the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at 646-519-6180 or visit www.youngadult.goarch.org.

Five Wonderful Things about Pascha 5. Fasting… we made it! Now, on to the feast! - 4. Sharing this special feast with family and friends!- 3. The Church is so beautiful to see with all the candles and flowers! 2. Hearing the Gospel read in different languages at the Agape Paschal Vespers! 1. Proclaiming “CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!” with all the Orthodox Christians around the world.

MARCH – APRIL 2010