VOL. 64 NO. 1163
http://www.goarch.org/goa/observer E-mail: observer@goarch.org
JULY 1999
The Cyprus Tragedy: 25 Years Later Remembering an Event with Profound Impact on Greek Americans u page 8
by Jim Golding
J ULY marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, an event that brought death, pain and suffering to hundreds of thousands of Cypriots and which resulted in the island s partition that continues to the present. In this issue, the Orthodox Observer includes a special section in remembrance of this tragic event.
Foreign Minister Makes First Official Visit to Archdiocese
SCOBA Expresses Full Support for Archbishop SYOSSET, N.Y. Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA), expressed full support for Archbishop Spyridon and for the Serbian Orthodox Church at their recent spring meeting. The June 23 gathering took place at Orthodox Church in America headquarters in Syosset at the invitation of Metropolitan Theodosius, OCA primate. Archbishop Spyridon, exarch of the Ecumenical Throne and SCOBA chairman, opened the meeting with prayer and remarks. The extensive meeting agenda including the following motion by Metropolitan Joseph of the Bulgarian Church made at the conclusion, a fraternal affirmation of Archbishop Spyridon s leadership: It is regrettable that some laymen, influenced by the politics of their corporate board rooms, have brought to the Church and to His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon, our Chairman of SCOBA, a secular and unecclesial mindset.
u page 19
u page 2
Patriarchal Communiqué
D. Panagos
HIERARCHS MEET – Archbishop Spyridon with other hierarchs of Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America, (from left) Metropolitan Nicholas (Carpatho-Russian), Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian), Archbishop Peter (OCA), Metropolitan Theodosius (OCA), Archbishop Victorin (Romanian), Bishop Antoun (Antiochian), Metropolitan Constantine (Ukrainian), and Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Archdiocese Inter-Orthodox Relations officer.
Archdiocese News u 2-3, 24
Orthodoxy Worldwide u 23
Challenge u21
Parish Profile u 27
Classified ads u26
People u 27
Cyprus Anniversary u 8-12
Religious Education u 22
Greek Language Report u 4
Retired Clergy u18
Greek section u 13-17
St. Basil Academy u28
Interfaith Marriage u 7
Women and Orthodoxy u 24
Opinions u 6
NEW YORK Greece s Foreign Minister George Papandreou made his first official visit to the Archdiocese headquarters June 30, where he met with Archbishop Spyridon.
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Voice of Philoptochos u 5
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As the Observer was going to press, the Office of the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod issued the following communique upon the conclusion of Archbishop Spyridon s visit to the Phanar. During the last several days, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, presided over by His All Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, separately received, for the purpose of working together, His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon of America, representatives from the hierarchy in America, namely their eminences Metropolitan Iakovos of Krini and Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Chicago; Metropolitan Anthony of the Dardanelles and Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of San Francisco; and Metropolitan Maximos of Ainos and Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, as well as the vice president of the Archdiocesan Council, Mr. John Catsimatidis. During this cooperative effort the issues facing the Church and the Homogenia of America were thoroughly discussed. The Ecumenical Patriarchate shall definitively assess all that has been presented until now as well as all the stated viewpoints. The Ecumenical Patriarchate, with deep sorrow and paternal love, takes this opportunity to repudiate all that has recently been published with regard to the alleged application of pressure and the supposed influence by powerful economic forces from the Homogenia of America upon the Ecumenical Patriarchate in its attempt to pacify the condition of the Church there. The criteria and motives of the Mother Church have always been loftier, unselfish and clearly ecclesiastical, and its contribution has been sacrificial. Moreover, during its decision-making process and the realization of these decisions, it only looks for the true welfare of its children everywhere. At the Patriarchate, July 13, 1999 From the Office of the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
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ORTHODOX OBSERVER
A R C H D I O C E S E
JULY 1999
N E W S
For Humanitarian Relief
Archbishop Presents IOCC with Gift NEW YORK Archbishop Spyridon on June 13 presented representatives of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) with an $85,000 gift for humanitarian relief in Yugoslavia. During the presentation, His Eminence praised the IOCC for its efforts to serve those who are suffering and gave his blessing for future endeavors. This gift represents the fruits of our invitation during Holy Week to assist the Serbian Orthodox Church and is good reason for multiplying efforts in the future. May God assist you to make the most of this gift. The Archbishop also urged IOCC to remain committed to helping those in Serbia because of the enormous damage that has been done there. The bulk of the monies were collected during Holy Week and reflect an out-pouring of love and concern from Orthodox Christians of America who have Orthodox Observer responded to all calls for relief since the ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON presents donation to Fr. James Kyriakakis, IOCC director outset of the crisis in Kosovo. IOCC was created in 1992 and serves of development. Attending the presentation is Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, as the official humanitarian aid agency of Archdiocese ecumenical officer, and George Djurasovic, IOCC board member. the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bish- $50,000 donation representing collections from the ops (SCOBA). IOCC is committed to the call of our Lord faithful during Holy Week. and Savior Jesus Christ: to minister to those who suffer Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthou hand-carried the gift and to those who are in need. to Belgrade when he accompanied the NCC delegation Separately, in May the Archbishop had conveyed to that gained the release of three American servicemen Patriarch Pavle of the Orthodox Church in Serbia a held as POWs.
Ecumenical Patriarch Hosts Philoptochos National President
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew received a visit in June from National Philoptochos President Eve Condakes and her husband, Leo, and hosted them on a cruise on the Patriarchal yacht. Every year, the Condakeses are special guests on the boat which they donated to the Ecumenical Patriarch in 1993, along with underwriting all the yearly maintenance costs annually. The Condakes made the generous donation in 1993 after seeing the plight of His All Holiness, who had to travel on pastoral visits to the Greek Orthodox communities on the Princes Islands and Halki in the Sea of Marmara on unreliable and dilapidated public ferries. The Turks have virtually obliterated what once were thriving Greek communities on the islands. Only a few families remain. The Condakes ended their visit with a reception for Patriarch Bartholomew and other hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Foreign Minister Makes First Official Visit to Archdiocese u page 1
sion on Greek Language and Hellenic Culture, commonly During this meeting, His Eminence conveyed to Mr. referred to as the Rassias Report, titled The Future of Papandreou the Archdiocese s full support for the Greek the Greek Language and Culture in the United States: Surgovernment s extensive efforts in the Balkans and informed vival in The Diaspora. The Foreign Minister who formerly served as the eduhim of the Archdiocese s significant financial contributions to the Orthodox Church of Serbia which, to date, exceed cation minister stated his satisfaction with the report and said it appears promising and meaningful. $130,000. The Archdiocese also plans to distribute this report The Archbishop and the Foreign Minister also discussed the Church s leadership in providing the forum throughout the English-speaking Greek Diaspora (AustraHALO (Hellenic American Leaders and Organizations) to lia, Great Britain, and South Africa) and Greece so that promote and enhance the shared interests of Greek-Ameri- those communities also have an opportunity to explore the Commission s methodology. cans and Cypriot-Americans. The Archbishop also expressed his continued support for Cyprus: Now that the situation in Kosovo is MANAGING EDITOR: being slowly resolved the Cyprus issue Stavros H. Papagermanos must once again become a priority for the EDITOR: Jim Golding (Chryssoulis) USPS 412340 ISSN 0731-2547 international community, he said. After PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Published by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of 25 years of illegal occupation in northern America. Semi-monthly in March, April, May, June, Zoe Gnesoulis Cyprus by the Turkish army, the American October and November, and monthly in January, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: interest must be exercised as President February, July, August, September and December. Irene Kyritsis Clinton has repeatedly promised. From our Editorial and Business Office: side we are doing everything possible to CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021. solve the Cyprus issue. Nicholas Manginas TEL.: (212) 570-3555, 774-0235. Finally, Archbishop Spyridon comEleni Daniels FAX (212) 774-0239. mented on the report from the Commis-
CONGRESSWOMAN MALONEY Makes First Official Visit
NEW YORK Archbishop Spyridon welcomed U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on July 9 on her first official visit to the Archdiocese. During their meeting, Archbishop Spyridon and Congresswoman Maloney discussed issues of mutual interests to the Greek Orthodox community. This included a proposed congressional delegation visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for a first-hand understanding of issues the Patriarchate faces, and to promote its religious freedom and on-going efforts to re-open the Halki Theological School. Archbishop Spyridon also urged Congresswoman Maloney to ask the State Department to pursue a formal inquiry into the Serbian Orthodox Church s integrity and holy sites in Kosovo. Other issues discussed included Archdiocese-sponsored activities marking the 25th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the island s continuing occupation, stability in the Balkans, and Greece s territorial integrity. Congresswoman Maloney represents the 14th district in New York City and serves on the House Banking and Financial Services Committee, among others. She is the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues and has advocated peace on Cyprus and enhanced relations between the United States and Greece. Others attending the meeting included John A. Catsimatidis, Archdiocesan Council vice president; Anita Kartalopoulos, National Phioptochos Board legal advisor; and Marc Abrams, executive director for The Maloney Committee.
Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY 10001 and at additional mailing offices. The Orthodox Observer is produced entirely inhouse. Past issues can be found on the Internet, at http:// www.goarch.org/goa/observer. E-mail: observer@goarch.org Articles do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which are expressed in official statements so labeled. Subscription rates are $5.50 per year. Canada $25.00. Overseas Air Mail, $55.00 per year. $1.50 per copy. Subscriptions for the membership of the Greek Orthodox Church in America are paid through their contribution to the Archdiocese. Of this contribution, $3.00 is forwarded to the Orthodox Observer. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ORTHODOX OBSERVER, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
A R C H D I O C E S E
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N E W S
Archdiocese to Commemorate Invasion Anniversary NEW YORK Archbishop Spyridon will hold memorial services for the first president of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, and for victims of the Turkish invasion July 18 at Holy Trinity Cathedral. Sponsors re the Cypurs Federation of America, the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyrpus (PSEKA), and the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York. Archbishop Spyridon also met recently with participants of HALO (Hellenic American Leaders and Organizations) to discuss joint initiatives commemorating the 25th anniversary of Turkey s invasion of Cyprus. Other activities include a peace march and human chain around the Capitol on July 20 in Washington, beginning at 3 p.m. A peace vigil near the White House will follow at 5 p.m. HIS EMINENCE met on June 24 with members of Hellenic College-Holy Cross Executive Board
Archbishop Urges Aid for Yugoslavia Reconstruction NEW YORK -- Archbishop Spyridon has written a private letter to President Clinton asking him to support the reconstruction of Yugoslavia and the efforts of the Serbian Orthodox Church to bring peace and security for all parties in the region. In his letter to President Clinton, Archbishop Spyridon wrote: The issue of a just and lasting peace in the region can only be resolved by insuring the rights of all parties. The protection of the Serbian minority in Kosovo, the guarantee of security and safety for the hundreds of monasteries and religious sites of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and a commitment to the reconstruction of the which should be ignored. One cannot interpret their silence during the relentless bombardment of their country as complicity or complacency. In fact, had the role of the Church not been dismissed in years past, perhaps the situation as it stands today would be much different. It is for this reason that I authorized direct financial assistance from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese devastated infrastructure of Yugoslavia must be held in the same regard as the repatriation of the refugees. Mr. President, the moral authority in Yugoslavia is the Serbian Orthodox Church. Their recent call for the Milosevic government to step down is a manifestation of that authority of America to the Serbian Church, and why even now, the Archdiocese is supporting the efforts of IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) with financial support for all parties in Yugoslavia now. Reports that Serbian Orthodox reli-
gious sites may be in danger, as well as concerns over the safety of the Serbian minority in Kosovo are now appearing in the press.
Assures Yugoslav Patriarch of Support Archbishop Spyridon sent a letter June 23 to Patriarch Pavle of Belgrade and All Serbia, assuring him of the support and good will of Orthodox Christians in America for the people of Yugoslavia. In his letter to His Beatitude Pavle, The Archbishop wrote: I have written to President Clinton asking that the government of the United States of America offer financial support to the people of Yugoslavia as they seek to heal and rebuild their land, along with protection for the Serbian minority in Kosovo and for the holy sites and sacred monasteries of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Indeed, in the strongest terms possible we shall continue to advocate on behalf of the Serbian people for these guarantees. Moreover, I want to communicate the news that the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), the charitable arm of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA), has established a special relief fund for the suffering people of Yugoslavia. IOCC has received $85,000 for humanitarian aid that the faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of America have given out of love for their brothers and sisters. On behalf of them and in all joy and humility, I am pleased to make this gift known to you.
CLERGY UPDATE Ordinations To Priesthood: Rev. Presbyter Vasile Mihai, Bishop Alexios of Atlanta - St. George, Greenville, SC - 6/6/99 To Diakonate: Rev. Deacon Nektarios Morrow, Metropolitan Isaiah of Proikonisos-St. Nicholas, Waco, TX - 6/13/99 Assignments: Rev. Presbyter Gregory Koo- Assumption, Denver, CO - 5/16/99 (Assistant) Rev. Presbyter Vasile Mihai- Dormition of the Theotokos, Greensboro, NC - 6/1/99 Rev. Protopresbyter Athanasios L. Demos- St. George, Bethesda, MD - 6/15/99
Rev. Economos Paul P. Panos- St. Athanasios, Paramus, NJ - 7/1/99 Retired: Rev. Protopresbyter George X. Gallas- St. Athanasios, Paramus, NJ 6/1/99 Rev. Economos Anastasios Diacovasilis- St. Nicholas, Flushing, NY 7/1/99 V. Rev. Archimandrite Phillip Sakellson- St. Nicholas, Newburgh, NY 7/1/99 Offikia: The office of ECONOMOS was bestowed upon Father Theodore Tsitsilianos, St. Nicholas, Waco, TX-Metropolitan Isaiah of Proikonisos - 6/13/99
Annual Golf Classic for HC/HC a Sell-Out
BROOKLINE, Mass. Hellenic College-Holy Cross President V. Rev. Damaskinos V. Ganas, and George E. Safiol, chairman of the seventh annual Golf Classic to benefit the school, have announced that this year s tournament is a sell-out. There is also a large waiting list of alternate golfers. Proceeds from the day s event will fund the school s essential needs in its important mission of preparing clergy and laity for serving parishes throughout the country. Additional sponsorship opportunities to share in the success and support of this special fund-raising program are still available. Interested individuals and organizations are encouraged to contact Leon Zaimes at (617) 850-1222. The capacity roster of golfers will
take to the greens at the Kernwood Country Club in historic Salem, Mass., on Monday, July 19. The tournament program includes practice sessions, a brunch, an 11:30 a.m. tee-off time and an evening cocktail party followed by a lobster dinner, accompanied by live music. Prizes for many categories will be awarded throughout the day. The committee responsible for the success of this year s event includes cochairman Michael Krone, and George D. Behrakis, George Chryssis, John Gianakouras, George Kalambokis, Sally Kaloyanides, Dr. Monthe Kofos, Peter Kostopoulos, Arthur Koumantzelis, James Lemonias, Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, John Panagako, Ernest Sofis, Angelo Stamoulis, Luke Tsokanis and Leon Zaimes.
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ORTHODOX OBSERVER
PAGE 4
JULY 1999
The Future of the Greek Language and Culture in the United States Survival In The Diaspora
A REPORT FROM THE ARCHBISHOP S COMMISION ON GREEK LANGUAGE AND HELLENIC CULTURE, DELIVERED TO ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON, PRIMATE OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
Beginning with this issue and over the next few months, the Orthodox Observer will reprint the report from the Archbishop s Commission on Greek Language and Hellenic culture, in its entirety. Copies of the report in booklet form can be obtained from the Archdiocese Office of Print and Digital Media by calling toll-free (877) 774-0217.
Chapter 1.
MORALE: Successes and Shortcomings The Commission found many reasons for optimism. The speakers in our hearings were all sincere in their determination to maintain the Greek heritage. There was frequent applause for the many testimonies about pride in teaching for the glory of Hellenism. We were heartened as well by many stories about success in language instruction and about supportive parents who believed in the quality of their schools. We were impressed by the warm, caring environment created by the faculty and administration in some of the schools we visited, by the excellent rapport between students and teachers, by the exceptionally good behavior of the children, and by the intelligent answers given to our questions in most cases. Good morale is achieved when all elements in a given parish - the priest, the teachers, and the parents work in harmony. In such cases, the effect on students is predictably positive. For example, when a parish holds an open house, students are given the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned and to bask in the approval of their parents and other community members. There can be few recruiting devices more effective than seeing excited children demonstrating their learning and their pride in their accomplishment. As one principal reported to the Commission, These students have a positive ethnic self-image - they know who they are. On the other hand, the Commission found many reasons for concern. We encountered a pervasive feeling that, historically, the Archdiocese has not always given high enough priority to its educational mission. Furthermore, we were told that some priests do not believe in Greek language education and sometimes do not even speak Greek very well themselves. Whenever the local priest is genuinely interested in Hellenic culture and is competent in the Greek language, he can generate the resources and create the needed programs to promote their instruction. Conversely, priests who cannot effectively use Greek in worship, sermons, and general conversation, and who are adversely predisposed to Hellenic culture, produce the opposite effect: They can divide the community along linguistic lines, with the result that the importance of the Greek language and culture in the parish rapidly declines. Teachers ardently desire more moral support from the Church and more recognition for their services. In many instances, they feel discouraged by the mix of Greek-speaking and non-Greek-speaking children in the classroom. In all instances, they feel scandalously un-
derpaid. They are equally distressed by the paucity of hours of instruction allowed, by the lack of adequate materials, and by what they perceive as parental indifference. The Commission, too, is discouraged to hear teachers and priests decry the indifference of the great majority of Greek-American parents, who do not send their children to Greek school and who apparently do not believe in the value of Greek language education. It was even reported in one hearing that converts are often more devoted to Greek than are Greek-Americans. A further cause for concern is the general lack of self-esteem on the part of Greek-American students unable to compete with Greek-speaking students newly arrived from Greece. In an attempt to assess why student motivation was low, we examined the reactions of high school students to issues related to their education and the Greek language. In one school, the students remained silent, having no answers to any of our questions. We fear that this demonstrates a lack of true motivation in the students themselves, which in turn indicates this school s failure to communicate to its students convincing reasons for the study of Greek. Taken together, the above problems add up to skepticism, and even to demo-ralization. Recommendations: National 1.1 The Archdiocese should consider how best to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the teaching of the Greek language and Hellenic culture. 1.2 Seminarians should be required to take intensive courses in the Greek language during the early part of their studies, and if possible to assist in some parish in Greece during or immediately after their education. 1.3 The Archdiocese should establish a central location where those who teach Greek can be prepared and where other relevant training for specific purposes can take place. 1.4 In order to enhance students self-esteem and the credibility of the teaching program, the Archdiocese should award a diplomato children who finish the eighth grade and pass a proficiency examination. 1.5 The Orthodox Observer should run a page devoted to education as frequently as possible on which it prints examples of writing and/or art work by students from different grades. Local 1.6 At the start of the school year, each school should hold an open house, inviting parents to meet with teachers and some past students in order to learn about the school s program. At this time, past students should demonstrate their competence through recitations, shorts plays, skits, or other means. 1.7 Schools should involve parents in recruiting along the lines of Each-one-reach-one. 1.8 Throughout the school year, each school should hold programs in which role models from various professions and vocations speak about how the knowledge of Greek has enriched their lives. Such talks could also be broadcast on Greek radio stations and TV programs. 1.9 Use radio announcements and advertisements in local newspapers as ways of bringing the schools to the public s attention. Chapter 2.
PARENTS: A Crucial Role
Language is best mastered at school if the home environment is supportive either through parents who speak Greek or non-Greek-speaking parents who encourage their children s efforts. Unfortunately, the Commission heard consistent testimony that the schools problems are caused in large measure by uncooperative or indifferent parents who do nothing at home to encourage their children to speak or understand Greek. An extremely small percentage of Greek-American children are sent to Greek school. There are several reasons. We were told that in some mixed marriages Greek schooling is opposed out of deference to the nonGreek spouse, if not out of apathy or antagonism. Some
Parental Involvement If parents do not value the study of the Greek language or Hellenic culture, their feelings will be passed along to their children and there will be little reason for the children to embark on a difficult path. Schools cannot operate successfully in a vacuum; without parental support they are guaranteed to fail. The problems are threefold: how to involve children in Greek education in the first place, how to teach them effectively once they are there, and how to celebrate their accomplishments so that the cycle will continue. parents object to driving considerable distances to deliver their children to school; others say that they cannot afford the tuition, especially when more than one child is involved. Also, in cases where children are sent, all too often the Greek school is used primarily as a baby-sitting facility. Even when parents are cooperative, they find it difficult to maintain the Greek language at home. Children have so many competing interests: television, sports, clubs, and all sorts of other distractions that youngsters conjure up to avoid studying. Furthermore, parents all too often permit their children to be absent from class for inadequate reasons. This detracts from the seriousness of the enterprise, discouraging both teachers and assiduous students. Given such difficulties, one must be thoughtful and considerate when reaching out to parents who do not send their children to Greek school. In cases where the marriage is mixed (a very common situation, indeed true of 80% of the marriages performed in one of the populous parishes we visited), advocates of Hellenic education must be particularly alert not to offend the non-Greek spouse. The wrong approach would be the supernationalistic one. Parents who do not speak Greek need to be sensitized so that they will become partners in the teaching endeavor. They need to recognize the advantages (and also the problems) of bilingualism. Recommendations: National 2.1 Prepare a handbook for parents on how they can help their children at home; include information about resources on the Internet. 2.2 Design courses in Greek culture for nonGreek-speaking parents, taught in English. Local 2.3 Offer effective language courses to non-Greekspeaking parents as well as to their children. 2.4 Encourage Greek-Orthodox parents to become involved in Church affairs in order to acquire a more complete experience of Greek culture. 2.5 Encourage all parents, especially those of younger children, to remain in the classroom whenever possible. 2.6 Encourage Greek-speaking parents to serve as teaching aides in the classroom. 2.7 Reward cooperative parents with reduced tuition fees - for instance, those who participate actively in the Each-one-reach-one program. (Judicious means will be needed to do this fairly.) 2.8 Vigorously discourage absenteeism. 2.9 In each parish, form a cadre of satisfied parents eager to contact families that do not send their children to Greek school, to serve as a welcoming committee for newcomers to the parish, and to contact parents of younger children early on in order to help establish a positive attitude.
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
The Voice of
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Philoptochos
Westchester Chapters Tea Held for St. Michael s Home YONKERS, N.Y. Westchester chapters of the Ladies Philoptochos held a Tea Dance for the benefit of St. Michael s Home. Dignitaries attending included Archbishop Spyridon, Bishop Vikentios, the Very Rev. Evangelos Kourounis, the Very Rev. Andonios Paropoulos, Archdiocesan Council Chairman John Catsimatides, Metropolitan Diocese Philoptochos President Stella Capiris, and National Philoptochos First Vice President Kassandra Romas. Many St. Michael s residents also participated and celebrated Elisabeth Panouraki s birthday. The event was chaired by the three chapters headed by their presidents: Diane Hatzis, Kristine Baker and Bessie Kalivas. The function was considered a great success in particular due to His Eminence s active participation and humor. All funds collected will be donated for the needs of St. Michael s. Holy Trinity Church s chapter continues to accept donations while allowing individuals unable to attend to fulfill their pledges for this event.
Illinois Chapter Awards Scholarships u
OAK LAWN, Ill. St. Nicholas Chapter presented annual scholarships to college students of the parish. Recipients were Georgeanne Kamberos, Eleni Iliopoulos and Tina Paramboukas. Eligible applicants include spouses or children of St. Nicholas Church and Philoptochos who must submit an essay on an assigned subject relating to philanthropy.
By-Laws Update Now Under Way
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The National Philoptochos Office is reviewing the Bylaws and Procedural Manual that will include the 34th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress resolutions approved by Archbishop Spyridon that will affect the Bylaws. Any Philoptochos chapter members having questions, recommendations or suggestions on items for clarification, may send their concerns to the National Office for review by regular mail or fax (212) 861-1956
Archdiocese Cathedral Chapter Holds Spring Event
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NEW YORK Archdiocesan Cathedral Philoptochos recently held its Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Cathedral Center in support of the Children s Cancer Fund. President Helen Daphnides said 187 guests attended the event, chaired by Mary Christy, Maria Marinakis and Carol Contos. According to Mrs. Daphnides, our very devoted Board of Trustees also recently approved a $5,000 donation to the Ronald McDonald House in New York where many children from Greece stay with their families during their cancer treatment. The Center was decorated like a garden with pink plants and beautiful sprays of tall flowers along the mirrored wall panels. Fashions were by designer Chryssoula whose models presented her original collection of spring and summer fashions.
ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON joins members of Westchester Philoptochos chapters and the Very Rev. Andonios Paropoulos at fund-raiser for St. Michael’s Home.
Florida Chapter Sponsors Oratorical Festival MELBOURNE, Fla. Over the past nine years, St. Katherine Philoptochos Society has sponsored the local St. John Chrysostom Oratorical and Arts Festival in support and encouragement of local church youth. This year s event coordinators were Donna Gatidis and Theresa Roman. First, second and third place senior group winners were: Rita Perakis, Manny Montouvalos and Yianni Triantafilou. Junior Group winners were: Kathy Perakis, first; Anastasia Hawkins, second, and Steven Roman, third. Dino Triantafilou received honorable mention. Rita Perakis and Manny Montouvalos placed second and third at the District Fes-
tival in Jacksonville and Manny went on to the Diocese Festival in Miami. Rita could not attend because she was taking her SAT s. Kay Koines, chapter historian, said, It is a pleasure to hear our young people express their feelings about their faith and their Church in such great and eloquent speeches. It s also a wonderful opportunity for them to gain confidence and selfesteem. We congratulate them on a job well done. Following the speeches, the Philoptochos hosted a luncheon at the church in the speakers honor with proceeds from the fund-raiser used for prizes for the winning children and to send them to the District and National festivals.
Denver Diocese Ladies Meet by Billie Zumo
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Philoptochos held their biennial conference recently in conjunction with the Diocese Clergy Laity Conference in May. At the opening session, participants collected $3,000 for the recent Columbine High School shooting tragedy in Colorado. Among those attending was National Philoptochos President Eva Condakes, who spoke at one of the meetings. At the evening banquet, Metropolitan Isaiah introduced the National President who gave a short speech. She was also presented with a gift. In their deliberations, Philoptochos members added youth ministries as a Diocese project and presented a $1,000 donation for youth ministries to Metropolitan Isaiah. At its inception, the Bishop Anthimos
METROPOLITAN ISAIAH with Mrs. Condakes
GARRISON, N.Y. More than 100 New Jersey Diocese Philoptochos, led by their president, Aspasia Melis, recently attended a retreat at St. Basil Academy. They represented the parishes of Sts. Constantine and Helen, Annapolis, Md.; St. George, Asbury Park, N.J.; St. Nicholas, Atlantic City, N.J.; St. Luke, Broomall, Pa.; Ascension, Fairview, N.J.; St. Demetrios, Jersey City, N.J.; St. George, Media, Pa.; Sts. Constantine and Helen, Orange, N.J.; St. George, Philadelphia, Pa.; Cathedral of St. John, Tenafly, N.J.: and St. George, Trenton, N.J. Academy Executive Director Fr. Constantine Sitaras celebrated Liturgy at the chapel. Also taking part was the children s choir. Mary Papageorge (St. George, Asbury Park, N.J.), retreat chairman, prepared kolyva for a memorial service for departed chapter presidents. After coffee hour, Fr. Sitaras discussed the day s topic: Women and Charity. He mentioned Lydia, a merchant, who sold porphyri material and was noted for her good works; Hermione, the daughter of Apostle Philip, a physician and prophet in her own right; St. Helen, an archaeologist, who with her son retrieved the Holy Cross; Santa Jolitta, a 4th century landowner and merchant, remembered for her charitable work; St. Theodora the Empress, who in the 9th century was responsible for restoring the icons to the Church; and finally Mrs. Argyro, a present-day woman, who cares for a homeless individual by providing him with food for several years. The audience not only learned about the lives of these outstanding, pious women but Fr. Sitaras also inspired the retreatants to emulate them. Following a luncheon, he discussed day-to-day activities at the Academy. After a question-and-answer session, the women then toured the facilities with some of the older resident children serving as guides. The retreat was successful educationally and spiritually. The women departed with a better understanding for what is being accomplished at the Academy and felt encouraged to redouble their efforts on its behalf. Event co-chair was Alice A. Nicas (St. George, Asbury Park, N.J.).
Scholarship Fund was intended to be a $100,000 self-perpetuating endowment fund. At the conference, the amount exceeded the $100,000 mark. The Metropolitan also accepted a $2,000 check for the Diocese Building Fund. Billie Zumo is Diocese Philoptochos president.
Une Affaire Francaise BELMONT, Calif. Holy Cross chapter members recently held a fashion show titled Une Affaire Francaise, chaired by Pari Spallas, Dolores Theodore and Gracia Bovis. National President Eve Condakes and Diocese President Loula Anaston attended. A luncheon was prepared by
Marika Tsardoulias and Fr. Peter Salmas offered the prayer. Proceeds go to graduating seniors qualifying for the Church and Community Service Award. A coffee hour chaired by Celia Maniates also was held to benefit the Kids N Cancer Fund.
HONORED FOR SERVICE: National Board member Elaine Kevgas, pictured with Mr. Tom Cavalares, recently won election as second vice president of the board and also received the Medal of St. Andrew from Archbishop Spyridon.
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
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EDITORIAL
The Continuing Cyprus Tragedy
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or 25 years the island of Cyprus has remained divided, more than 200,000 people have been displaced, others are missing, and both sides continue to talk. In that 25-year period, through the efforts of the Church and several private organizations, the Greek Orthodox community in this country has provided unwavering and generous support to the suffering victims of the invasion. These efforts have resulted in the clothing, feeding and educating the refugess and their children. Unprecedented amounts of money, clothing, drugs, food and donated blood have been sent for this purpose. Without the tireless efforts of organizations such as PSEKA, the Cyprus Childrens Fund, National Philoptochos and many parishes and individuals too numerous to mention, the refugees plight would indeed have been far more tragic than it has been. The Church has continuously worked to help heal the wounds of the tragedy. But without a political solution to the problem, as we have seen in Serbia-Kosovo, the injustice and human rights violations will continue. Miracles do happen. The Berlin Wall no longer exists; nor does the Iron Curtain. Someday the Green Line that divides the northern 37 percent of Cyprus from the rest of the island will also cease to exist as well. Hopefully, it will happen long before we will need to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.
u Preserving heritage t Editor, As an educator and first-generation American I felt compelled to address the statement regarding the feasibility of maintaining our heritage if the language is lost. Language in and of itself does not make a heritage and our heritage more than ever needs to be maintained, fostered and revitalized. Greece, ancient and modern, had provided the world with a string of accomplishments that have had few rivals. Whether studying philosophy, science, art or religion, Greek thoughts and ideas serve not only as a foundation but as a constant dialogue. What our ancestors accomplished needs to be continuously reexamined. Its vitality and validity is only now, with the advent of technology, being proved. It distress me to no end how little educators know about Greece and what an integral role Greek thought played when the founding fathers formed this truly magnificent nation. It saddens me to no end to discover that what we have as a college elective (Greek philosophy) European schools teach to middle school students. It breaks my heart when dear friends associate our heritage with koulourakia and kourabiedes. The fact that the original New Testament was written in Greek is not a chance of fate. The Romans looked to Greece for knowledge. Let us not forget who we are, there are many who are trying to claim our heritage as theirs. Maria Katsaros-Molzahn Oregon, Wis.
u About GOAL t Editor, The April issue of the Orthodox Observer for the first time dealt at length with the problem that is rocking the Greek Orthodox Church in America, i.e. the G.O.A.L. faction of the faithful. This was long overdue. The faithful on either side of this issue and those who do not wish to take sides want to hear the Church s view. I was disappointed that the May issue of the Observer had nothing further to say about that. The June issue had a report on the accreditation of our school of theology but not in the context of the GOAL assertions. For the first time, on May 16; I attended a G.O.A.L. sponsored meeting in the Washington, DC suburbs to hear first hand what their argument is. I heard speaker after speaker present canned arguments about Archbishop Spyridon personally, his chancellor, and his administration. These people have been on the speaking circuit for a long time and they have their argument and their spin well polished, and they are influencing people. The archdiocese, like it or not, will have to answer these well spinned accusations and selective references to history both recent and ancient, again and again so that the faithful will understand. The Orthodox Observer will have to deal with this issue openly and invite the members to have their voice heard and bring about a dialogue to end this awful division.
Besides the personal attacks on the Archbishop and his administration, the assault is also on the status of the Greek Orthodox Church in America as an institution governed by the Patriarchate. On this part I feel that three things are very true and very important to keep in mind all the time. First, our forefathers who built this church in America with sacrifice, did so as much for the preservation of the faith as for the culture. G.O.A.L. s lip service to the culture is not convincing to me. Second, the members of our church, by and large, as Americans are influenced by our democratic approach to all things and see things with an eye to democracy. Third, again as Americans, we have a shallow view of history. All of these factors do not work in favor of the status quo. If the Archdiocese remains silent because it hopes the problem will go away, we all are in for a disappointment. A dialogue has to be initiated and harmony restored, or we will suffer a set back that will move us back to the beginning of this ending century. George Kouroupas Bethesda, Md.
u Remember Greek martyrs t Editor, I would like to bring to your attention a serious subject that seems to me to be long overlooked and long overdue. On Sunday, Sept. 7, 1997, I had the opportunity to attend the 75th anniversary of the Smyrna Holocaust at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. One of the speakers was Father George Alexson of St. Katherine s Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, Va. The memorial program was to commemorate the genocide of 3.5 million Orthodox Christians who were brutally murdered in the Asia Minor holocaust. Of the 3.5 million who were martyred for their faith, 1.2 were Greeks. Although I have extreme empathy for the Armenia genocide, I find it somewhat puzzling and disturbing that the extermination of the Greek population during the Asia Minor massacre is virtually ignored by the media and even by politicians. Many Congressmen have spoken eloquently on the floor of the House of the genocide of the Armenians, but I have never heard included the holocaust of the Greek population. It is as though the genocide of the Greek myrters is less important than the genocide of the Armenian martyrs. The question then arises, is this omission deliberate? Especially moving is the account of the mutilation of Metropolitan Chrysostomos. According to eyewitness testimony from G. Mylonas, of the Academy of Athens, and as narrated in Smyrna, the mob fell upon Chrysostomos. They uprooted his eyes and, while he was bleeding, dragged him by his beard through the streets of the Turkish quarters. He was beaten and kicked, and pieces of his skin cut off. All the while, Chrysostomos, his pale face covered with blood, had his face turned upwards, continuously praying, Holy Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. Every now and then, when he had the strength to do so, he would raise his right hand and bless his persecutors.
JULY 1999
A Turk realized what Chrysostomos was doing, and got so furious that he cut off the Metropolitan s hand with his sword. Metropolitan Chrysostomos fell to the ground, and was hacked to pieces by the angry mob. I believe every effort should be made by the Greek communities to approach our Greek representatives in Congress and the Senate to include the genocide of the Greek population along with the Armenians as presented on the floor of the House. To do less would be a betrayal of our Greek martyrs. Stella L. Jatras Sterling, Va.
u Let Our Children Pray t Editor, Perhaps there can be no better way to celebrate the Millennium than to see to it that the right to pray openly is returned to our public schools. The majority of the public seems to favor this. Further, this nation has since its beginning placed its trust in God. That is the same God we refuse to let our children pray to. No one is advocating forcing students or anyone else to pray, but that right should be there for those who wish to do so. Our schools would be better places for all if Americans could pray openly to the God this country has historically trusted. There are those who claim that it s impossible to return prayer to our schools. This is false. We can accomplish this is all of us truly wish is and are willing to work toward this goal. Although the Civil Liberties Union and perhaps other organizations are opposed to prayer, the fact is that these organizations can do little if the citizens wish to bring about a change. As for the Supreme Court, even that institution may one day be forced to change its mind. John A. Micklos Baltimore Mr. Micklos is a retired history teacher.
u Baltimore Philoxenia House t Editor, In an attempt to give credit where credit is due, I would like to include information, which was inadvertently omitted, and thus clarify the article pertaining to the Philoxenia House appearing in The Voice of the Philoptochos (Orthodox Observer, May 20, 1999). The idea of creating the Baltimore House of Philoxenia was the brainchild of President Rosa Cornias; who was inspired when attending the Philoptochos Convention in New York City during the Clergy Laity Congress, when many valuable ideas were exchanged. Her determination and untiring efforts along with those of her diligent committee have brought this project to fruition. Additionally, church board member Mr. Pete Saliaris, role model extraordinaire, has graciously been assisting Mrs. Cornias with all the planning and legal details. The Philoptochos envisions the Philoxenia to be a home away from home for those receiving medical care in the Baltimore Metropolitan area (and welcome donations for the completion of the renovations). Eve Lallas Kingsville, Md.
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
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Interfaith Marriage When Interfaith Couples Are Not Particularly Religious by Fr. Charles Joanides, PhD
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esults from the Interfaith Research Project (IRP) have clearly indicated that interfaith couples are at once similar and dissimilar. One chief reason is because interfaith spouses /couples religious and/or ethnic connections vary from spouse-to-spouse and couple-to-couple. In this article you will briefly meet a couple with nominal religious connections to their faith traditions. It should also be emphasized that while this couple is fictional. Observations and descriptions that follow are typical of interfaith couples like this one. While reading the contexts that follow, keep in mind they are offered to help us become more sensitive to the complex nature of the interfaith marriage challenge, and assist us in our efforts to reach out more effectively to these couples and families.
Meet Gus and Susan Gus (41) and Susan (38) have been married for 15 years and are the parents of two pre-teens. Gus is a successful attorney, and Susan is a stay-at-home mom who has a small but growing home-based business. They live in an upper-middle class bedroom community outside of a large southern city. Gus was born and raised in this city, while Susan is originally from another part of the country. When asked to describe their religious and ethnic background, Gus states that he is a Greek-Orthodox American, while Susan states that she is Roman Catholic from a decidedly Americanized family. Both state that they attend St. John the Baptist Greek-Orthodox Church about once or twice a month. When Susan s parents are in town, however, she indicates that my parents, the children, and I will attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Asked if Gus attends, both smile at one another and Susan politely states, he just stays home, or works. When the couple is prompted to explain why they decided to attend the Greek Orthodox Church, Gus offers the following information. I m not what you might consider very religious. I attend because it s my family s church, and I like the people. Elsewhere during this discussion Gus will also infer that he attends St. John s because, I am proud of being Greek American, and want my children to be exposed to the good things that Greek culture has contributed to my development. Susan also says that I knew that attending the Greek Church was important to Gus. And since my family lives in another part of the country and we were going to live near Gus family, attending the Greek Church seemed like the logical choice. She also adds, but I never really thought about converting. When Susan is asked to elaborate upon her last statement, she states, religion has never been really priority number one to us, if you follow what I m saying. Going through the effort of converting never seemed very cost effective to me. When the couple is asked if they have encountered any challenges related to
their religious and ethnic differences, Gus begins. Things have been fairly easy for us, but I don t believe things would have been quite so smooth if Susan was insistent on being an active Roman Catholic. Susan agrees with this last statement, and adds, the fact that Gus family is in town and they know almost half of the community has made things pretty easy for me After we got married everyone came up to me and made me feel at home. She then pauses and remarks, I like the cultural side, but I still don t feel very close to the religion. The liturgy just doesn t speak to me. And since Gus is usually unable or unwilling to answer my questions, I haven t grown very close to the religion... But I do worry about the kids religious needs, because I don t know if they have much of a Christian foundation, and I want them to be Christian. That s true, Gus says while nodding his head in agreement. You know, as I get older, time has a way of making us rethink what s really important. When I was younger, religion didn t seem very important, but as my kids have grown, and we age, I m starting to wonder if I haven t missed the boat on this issue. Really? states Susan with some surprise. I didn t know that. Then she adds, but he never talks about things like that... I don t know, maybe its because were too busy, or because Gus thinks that religion is a private matter, or maybe its because of some other reason... I don t know. Then she turns to Gus and follows up on her initial remark. I didn t know you ve been having these thoughts honey. Gus just smiles: as if to say, let s continue this conversation later.
Some observations While there is a great deal that could be stated in response to the contents of this brief interview, because of space limitations, let us consider the following few points. 1. According to Diocesan statistics (where they are available), in some regions there are more Greek Orthodox/ Roman Catholic marriages being conducted in our churches vis-á-vis single faith Greek Orthodox marriages. This means that Greek Orthodox/Catholic marriages are more the norm and less the exception in many parts of our country. 2. Like some single-faith Orthodox couples that attend our churches, some interfaith couples attend for reasons that may be unrelated to their religious and spiritual needs. For example, some of the primary reasons that compelled Gus and Susan to attend were: (a) Gus had strong ethnic connections, (b) Gus family lived nearby, (c) Gus wanted his children to be enriched by the same Greek-American culture that positively impacted his development, and (d) neither spouse had a particularly strong religious identity. 3. Couples like Gus and Susan often have little incentive to become a single faith couple because religion is of marginal concern to them. As such, Susan is content to simply come to liturgy, but is not convinced that the time she must expend to convert will be cost effective to either her, her marriage, or family. This indifference toward religion and/or conversion may not, however, be permanent. Life cycle changes may prompt these types of spouses/couples to re-evaluate
u page 25
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ORTHODOX OBSERVER
PAGE 8
To Remember Cyprus To the Reverend Clergy, the Monks and Nuns, the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Greek Day and Afternoon Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Greek Organizations and Societies, the Youth, and all devout Christians of the Holy Archdiocese of America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, How long, O God, shall the enemy utter reproaches? Shall the adversary blaspheme Your Name forever? Psalm 73:10
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or twenty-five years, Cyprus has waited. She has waited to see the faces of her missing sons and daughters reappear once again. She has waited to worship once more in the holy churches and chapels that evil men have desecrated. She has waited for her people to return and reclaim their plundered homes and villages. She has waited for the world to acknowledge her loss and vindicate her claims. She has waited for the day of justice and restoration. Twenty-five years ago this month, Cyprus was invaded by a foreign aggressor in a brutal campaign of terror that resulted in the domination and occupation of the northern third of the island. Tens of thousands of Greek Cypriots were uprooted from their homes and made to flee as refugees. Many thousands were killed, maimed, and raped in the brutish onslaught. Thousands of other Greek Cypriots were made to disappear by the Turkish army, of whom some 1619 are still unaccounted for. The ensuing reign of terror in the occupied territory has brought forth a continual stream of atrocities and human-rights abuses, to which the Western world has largely turned a blind eye. But this heartless and senseless campaign of violence is surpassed, if possible, by the strategy of absolute negation on the part of the oppressors. For twenty-five years they have engaged in a calculated effort to erase every trace of the Cypriot Hellenic heritage from the occupied territory. They have systematically dismantled and defiled the Christian heritage that Cyprus has known for two thousand years. They have sought to remove every vestige of the Hellenic civilization that has inhabited Cyprus for the last nine thousand years. The occupiers would persuade the very land itself, as it were, to forget the nation and the people who inhabited and cultivated it for countless centuries. But Cyprus will not forget. The land, the mountains, the rivers, and the cities will not forget the rightful names which have lately been denied to them. The churches and shrines of the saints will not forget the holiness which the Spirit of God has bestowed upon them. The people of Cyprus will not forget the homes and farms which have been stolen from them. The mothers and fathers of Cyprus will not forget the 1619 children who have been taken from their arms. The faithful of Cyprus will not forget the memory of those whose lives were lost in the battle against the invading hordes. Above all, the Lord of heaven and earth will not forget His suffering people, but will yet arise and have pity on them and take up their cause. My beloved Spiritual Children, We too must not forget. We must remember the tragedy of our brothers and sisters of Cyprus. We must watch and pray with them through this dark night of grief and suffering. We must raise our voices and cry out for peace and justice. We must demand on their behalf an accounting of the fate of the disappeared. We must call for an end to the desecration of churches and shrines and the shameful and illegal merchandising of sacred vessels and icons. For how can we not raise our voices in grief when we hear that the Church of the Holy Virgin Chryseleousa has been converted into a mosque, that the Church of the Archangel Michael has been left open to despoilment by looters, that the Church of Saint Auxentios has been pillaged and stripped of its interior iconography? How can we not cry out to heaven, How long, O God? Shall the adversary blaspheme Your Name forever? We must therefore call for the world to shake off its indifference and selfinterest, to find a truly peaceful solution in place of the non-solution of partition. We have seen in recent months the world s might brought to bear in Yugoslavia. What about Cyprus? Let us pray that the world might finally recognize the betrayal of Cyprus s rights and come together at last on her behalf for justice and peace after these twenty-five long years of waiting. I ask all of you to join me in prayer and fasting, seeking the help and intervention of Almighty God for our brothers and sisters in Cyprus. I therefore paternally exhort all parishes of our Holy Archdiocese of America to commemorate the solemn anniversary of the invasion of Cyprus with a special Memorial Service to be held on Sunday, July 18, 1999. With paternal love in Christ,
Archbishop of America
JULY 1999
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
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THE CYPRUS TRAGEDY REVISITED - 25th Anniversary of Turkish Invasion u page 1 ore than any other issue or event since World War II, the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 20, 1974, served as a watershed for Greek Orthodox Chris tians in the United States and Canada, unifying and galvanizing the community into taking action on a national scale to seek justice for the island s hundreds of thousands of victims. The tragedy dominated the public life of Greek Americans for the remainder of the year, and spilled across the pages of the Orthodox Observer. In its Aug. 7 issue, the Observer reported that, following the invasion, in many cities of the United States and Canada, people rushed to give blood and money for the suffering Cypriotes. Archbishop Iakovos mobilized the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America and the presidents of Greek federations and societies to plan and coordinate efforts to help the people of Cyprus. Representatives were also appointed to oversee local efforts to aid Cyprus in all 50 states and Canada through the Archdiocese Cyprus Relief Fund. The Greek community there also sponsored a record setting blood drive for the Canadian Red Cross. On another level, special meetings of the Archdiocesan Council, National Philoptochos, National GOYA Council and the American Hellenic Society took place the first two weeks in September to develop a united long-range plan for dealing with the crisis. Similar meetings took place at the diocese and parish levels. The meetings also served to increase efforts by Greek Americans to organize themselves and promote important issues beyond that of Cyprus; efforts that continue to this day. Another meeting held in New York on Sept. 20 of representatives from all Greek American organizations across the nation gave birth to the United Hellenic Council composed of all national Greek American fraternities, federations, associations and societies in the United States and Canada to advance the general welfare of people of Hellenic descent to work for justice in behalf of Hellenic causes and to promote understanding of Hellenic culture, ideals and traditions. On Sept. 22, at a memorial service at Holy Trinity Cathedral for victims of the Turks, Archbishop Iakovos offered the first fruits of the Archdiocese s Cyprus Relief Fund drive to aid Cyprus. He presented a $100,000 donation designated for the resettlement of refugees to Spyridon Kyprianou, then a representative of the Cyprus government. Concurrently, the Archdiocesan Council set a goal at its fall meeting to raise $2.5 million by the end of October, with each diocese assessed a minimum contribution. In October, the chairmen appointed in August in each state reported extensively on their committees activities, which included extensive letter writing campaigns, fund-raisers and public relations campaigns. Some noteworthy examples: In New Mexico, the Albuquerque Tribune published an editorial written by Editor Harry Moskos against the aggression. He also appeared on local television to discuss the issue. In Illinois, through the efforts of Andrew Athens, the Chicago City Council passed a resolution that was sent to President Ford and Secretary Kissinger. A rally also was organized during the President s visit to the city. The committee in Missouri arranged for John Cardinal Carberry of St. Louis to serve as honorary chairman of the Humanitarian Committee Cyprus Relief Fund. Protestant and Jewish community representatives also were invited to participate. North American Hellenes weren t the only ones active in Cyprus aid. Greek Orthodox faithful in Latin America also responded in solidarity with the invasion victims. In the Argentine congress, Anthony Makris introduced a resolution calling on the nation s government representatives to support the UN resolution on Cyprus. Fund-raisers also took place throughout the region to aid the refugees. At the annual nameday dinner in New York for Archbishop Iakovos on Oct. 20, Congressman John Brademas served as toastmaster and Sen. Edward Kennedy was the main speaker. Among those in attendance was Archbishop Makarios, the island s former leader, who received a check for $150,000 for the refugees from Archbishop Iakovos. Other humanitarian efforts under way at the time included the National Philoptochos Canister Fund Raising Drive held the week of Nov. 17-24. In mid-November, on another visit to the United States, Archbishop Makarios received an additional $250,000 from the Archdiocese Relief Fund, bringing the total donations given to Cypriot officials to $500,000. By early December, the Cyprus Refugee Relief Fund donations grew to more than $850,000. In mid-December, Archbishop Iakovos established the Foster Parent Plan to aid thousands of homeless and orphaned Cypriot children. For $20 a month, individu-
M
als or groups could sponsor a child in Cyprus. The program was administered by the National Philoptochos. On Dec. 17, the Archbishop testified before Sen. Kennedy s subcommittee on behalf of the 200,000 refugees. The Archbishop said, in part, The graveness of the situation does not lie so much in the intolerable conditions under which they live, not even in the fact that they are being sustained with basic, yet very costly foodstuffs, but in the fact that they feel abandoned, even betrayed by their friends. In an age when we speak and strive for human and civil rights, for social justice, for equal opportunities and for a new society wherein righteousness dwells, we, the very same persons, keep silent on a highly humanitarian problem. By year s end, the U.S. government resumed its aid to Turkey, which had been suspended for several weeks following passage of Congressional bills, with the provision that serious negotiations take place for a Cyprus settlement. A postscript: Serious negotiations and efforts on behalf of Cyprus and the hundreds of thousands of refugees and victims of the Turkish invasion did not end at the end of 1974, but have continued over the past 25 years to the present day. Since then, an entire generation of Cypriots has come of age with little or no memory or personal experience of the horrible nightmare their parents ordeal in July 1974. But they know through their parents sad recounting of that tragic event and by the existence of an artificial barrier known as the Green Line, that their island home is not what it once was.
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JULY 1999
THE CYPRUS TRAGEDY REVISITED
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E. Noland ruled that the mosaics were the property of the Church of Cyprus and that Goldberg must return them, a decision hailed at the time as opening the way for recovering stolen archaeological treasures world-wide. The mosaics were eventually repatriated. Ms Goldberg had bought the mosaics from a Turk living in Germany, Aydin Dikmen, who claimed he was a former archaeologist for the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Dikmen is believed to have been selling stolen artifacts from Cyprus on the black market for years and the Cyprus government has been keeping an eye on his activities for a long time.
he destruction of Cyprus 9.000-yearold civilization constitutes one of the tragic and unfortunately irreversible consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation of the island. Ever since the Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 percent of Cyprus territory, archaeological sites, religious treasures and many private collections situated in the occupied area, were left at the mercy of the invaders. Churches, constituting the most obvious and recognizable symbols of the cultural identity of a region, have been subjected to the most violent and systematic destruction. Dr. Athanasios Papageorgiou, a former director of the Cyprus Antiquities Department, now serving as Byzantine expert to the Cyprus Church, has said that all but five of the 500 churches in the north have been looted. The five are displayed to visitors. Ten have been demolished, the rest are used as toilets, storehouses, clubs and cinemas. . . all have been desecrated. Silver and gold are sold as metal. Only the hand remains of a mosaic of the Archangel Gabriel. UNESCO has done nothing. . . A mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe paid a three-day visit several years ago but it only went to a few of the most well-known churches. Even its report did nothing to stop the trade in looted art.
Recovery of Cypriot mosaics, frescoes and icons
Premeditated policy UNESCO s 1970 convention on the means for prohibiting and preventing the illegal importation and transport of ownership of cultural property has been
Destruction of Cultural Heritage treated contemptuously by Turkey who continues its systematic destruction of Cyprus cultural heritage. The methodical destruction of archaeological sites, cultural monuments, churches, historical artifacts, are part of a premeditated policy of eradicating every trace of Cypriot history and culture and transforming the occupied region into yet another Turkish province in an attempt to make it totally Turkish. British journalist J.Fielding had ascertained as early as 1976, after a visit to the occupied area, that: The vandalism and desecration are so methodical and so widespread that they amount to institutionalized obliteration of everything sacred to a Greek. ( The Rape of Northern Cyprus, The Guardian 6.5.1976). This is further corroborated by both the arbitrary replacement of ancient Greek place names with Turkish ones that are entirely unrelated to the history of the land, as well as the settlement in the occupied area of over 80.000 Turks from the mainland. Over the years information has emerged that historic and religious monuments in various regions in the occupied area are being destroyed, looted and vandalized. Illegal excavations have been carried out and artifacts have been stolen from museums, archaeological sites and private collections, smuggled out and sold abroad.
The Kanakaria mosaics One of the most widely publicized cases of examples of Cypriot art treasures being stolen and sold on the international black art market was that of the Kanakaria mosaics. It occurred in 1989 when the government of Cyprus took an American art dealer to court for the re-
turn of four rare 6th century Byzantine mosaics. The mosaics, each measuring about two square feet and composed of hundreds of jewel-like bits of glass, marble and stone, are unique specimen that survived an edict by the emperor of Byzantium, imposing the destruction of all images of sacred figures. They depict Christ as a young boy, the apostles Matthew and James and an archangel and are part of a larger mosaic from the apse of the
church of Panayia Kanakaria in the village of Lythrangomi. Cyprus discovered the fate of the mosaics 10 years after they were ripped from the apse of the church in around 1976, when an Indianapolis art dealer, Peg Goldberg, offered them to the J. Paul Getty museum in Malibu, Calif., for $20 million. The museum s curator contacted the authorities in Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus and the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus sued Goldberg and her art dealer, to recover the mosaics. The trial, which began on May 30, 1989, attracted widespread international attention. Cyprus won the case. U.S. District Judge James
In October 1997 Dikmen was finally arrested in Germany in a police raid that was the culmination of an eight month operation in collaboration with Cypriot security forces. Several boxes and suitcases filled with stolen Cypriot works of art were found hidden in fake walls, ceilings and floors of two Munich apartments belonging to Dikmen. The stash consisted of mosaics, frescoes and icons dating back to the 6th, 12th and 15th centuries worth over $50 million. The mosaics, depicting Sts. Thaddeus and Thomas, are two more sections from the apse of the Kanakaria Church, while the frescoes, including the Last Judgment and the Tree of Jesse, were taken off the north and south walls of the Monastery of Antiphonitis, built between the 12th and 15th centuries. Dikmen was also responsible for selling frescoes stolen from the chapel of Ayios Themonianos in the village of Lysi, to a wealthy American patron of the arts, Ms Dominique de Menil. After an agreement was reached with the Church of Cyprus, Ms de Menil was allowed to keep the frescoes on loan, although ownership of them was turned over to the Church. She had them restored and housed in a specially-built chapel museum in Houston, where they will be displayed for a period of time as their original chapel is under Turkish occupation. Dr. Papageorgiou said that Mr. Dikmen supplied galleries in Britain, Germany, Holland, Austria and Switzerland with stolen art from round the world. The Cypriot artifacts he handled were looted soon after the Turkish invasion and stored in Kyrenia castle from where they were shipped to Munich for sale - with the collusion of the archaeologists responsible and the authorities. ...There is only one entrance to the castle which is under Turkish army control. ... All those who co-operated with Dikmen became millionaires, observed Dr. Papageorghiou. Unfortunately the most important icons have not been found. They have been sold and are now in private collections where they cannot be traced and recovered. . . For Cyprus these cases are just two instances among many in its fight to recover the many archaeological and cultural treasures that have disappeared from the occupied part of Cyprus, ever since Turkey invaded the island in 1974. On the rare occasions that these have resurfaced as stolen goods on the international market in antiquities, the Cyprus government has found itself on numerous occasions in the position of having to buy back its own national heritage.
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
PAGE 11
25 Anniversary of the Turkish Invasion th
Missing Persons A
direct consequence of the Turkish invasion and occupation has been the disappearance of some 1,620 people in 1974. Like modern-day Penelopes, wives and mothers of the missing have been waiting for news of their loved ones, often living a life in a state of limbo. Both military personnel as well as civilians, including women and children, were captured by the invading Turkish armed forces during July and August 1974 or disappeared after the cessation of hostilities in the areas under the control of the Turkish army. They were listed as prisoners of war by the International Red Cross but have not been heard from since. Television footage taken by a BBC crew in Turkish jails in Adana in September 1974 shows at least two people identified as missing. Other POWs released after the invasion have stated they were held in prison with people who never came back to Cyprus. In 1981 a Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) was established as a result of the persistent efforts of the government of Cyprus and of the relatives of the missing persons and following relevant UN General Assembly resolutions. The humanitarian mandate of the Committee, which operates under the auspices and with the participation of the United Nations, is to investigate and determine the fate of the missing persons in Cyprus. However, due to its restrictive terms of reference, whereby inquiries were limited to Cyprus alone and not to Turkey, where there is proof some of the missing were sent after their arrest, for many years no case was solved. This unsatisfactory situation in the work of the Committee brought about the intervention of the U.N Secretary-General. As a result, during 1995, additional rules governing the work of the Committee on Missing Persons were agreed upon and the submission of the cases to be investigated within the framework of the Committee was completed. In this respect 1,493 out of the 1,619 cases of missing Greek Cypriots were submitted. Recent efforts to bring an end to this humanitarian issue resulted in an agreement to exchange information about the missing being reached between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in July 1997. The two leaders agreed that the problem of the missing persons in Cyprus is a purely humanitarian issue and that no political exploitation should be made by either side. In this context each side would designate a person who will exchange information about the missing and make the necessary arrangements for the return of the remains of the missing persons. The fate of one missing person was finally traced, when it was announced (March 9, 1998) that an American citizen of Greek-Cypriot origin was confirmed dead. One of five Greek Cypriots with American citizenship missing since the Turkish invasion, Andreas Kassapis, who was 16 when he died in 1974, was identified through DNA tests. At the same time additional progress in the missing persons issue resulted in the appointment of a Swiss diplomat Jean Pierre Ritter as the third person on the UN Investigatory Committee on Missing Persons (CMP), which deals with the process of establishing the identity of persons missing in Cyprus, Greek and Turkish Cypriots. This case is just the first of many more to come. Appeals are made to all who have evidence about the fate of any missing person to submit it to the CMP for proper evaluation and examination. In this context the goodwill and co-operation of Turkey is essential, necessary and overdue.
I
n occupying the north of the island, Turkey forcibly expelled the Greek Cypriots living there. Some 200.000 people, one third of the island s entire population, fleeing from the Turkish invading forces, streamed into the government-controlled area, homeless and destitute. Most had to sleep in the open for several weeks before they were given shelter in tented camps. With the passage of time, and thanks to international aid, the refugees housing problem was overcome. However, their demand for their basic human rights to be respected and for them to be allowed to return to their homes remains unrequited. The European Commission of Human Rights of the Council of Europe in its report adopted on July 10, 1976, found Turkey responsible for the eviction of the Greek Cypriots from their homes, for its refusal to allow their return to their homes and for the looting and deprivation of their possessions. More recently in July 1989, a Kyrenia refugee, Titina Loizidou, brought a case before the European Court of Human Rights against Turkey alleging violation of her right to peacefully enjoy her property in Kyrenia, which is situated in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. She claimed that Turkey violated Article 8 and Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Article 1 provides that every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions and Article 8 stipulates that everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life.
On Dec. 18, 1996, the Court ruled by 11 votes to six that Turkey had violated Titina Loizidou s property rights by denying her access to plots of land in Kyrenia. It dismissed Turkey s argument that the European Human Rights Convention did not apply to its occupation of the northern half of the island since it occurred before Ankara accepted its jurisdiction. The Court found Turkey responsible for continuing violation of human rights in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus
The Refugees and, refused, moreover to accept the legitimacy of the breakaway regime subsequently set up in occupied Cyprus, stating that the Republic of Cyprus remains the sole legitimate government on the island. Furthermore, the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations as well as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and other international organizations demanded the urgent return of the refugees to their homes in safety and called for the full restoration of all human rights of the population of Cyprus. The Cyprus government has urged Turkey to comply with these resolutions and to recognize that the island s citizens have the right to freedom of movement, freedom of settlement and the right to enjoy their own property throughout Cyprus.
PAGE 12
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
JULY 1999
THE CYPRUS TRAGEDY REVISITED - 25th Anniversary of Turkish Invasion part of the island. When one reads the report, adopted on July 10, 1976, after months of investigation by the European Commission of Human Rights, one understands why thousands of Greek Cypriots fled their homes at the approach of the Turkish army. The Commission accepted that there were very strong indications of killings committed on a substantial scale. The atrocities of the Turkish army included wholesale and repeated rapes of women of all ages, systematic torture, savage and humiliating treatment of hundreds of people, including children, women and pensioners during their detention by the Turkish forces, as well as looting and robbery on an extensive scale, by Turkish troops and Turkish Cypriots. Thousands of GreekCypriots lost their lives, 1619 are still missing (Bill H.R. 2826 on missing persons since the Turkish invasion in Cyprus, 200,000 Cypriots fled their homes leaving behind their belongings (the 200,000 refugees in terms of percentage to the population of Cyprus correspond to 110 million in the United States). As if all this were not enough, the Turkish-Cypriots later declared the occupied part of the island a Federated Turkish State . The reaction of the international community is strongly negative. The UN Security Council in Resolution 367/1975 regrets the unilateral decision of Feb. 13, 1975 declaring a part of the Republic of Cyprus would become a Federated Turkish State. Turkey, once again showing its respect to international law and order, is the only country in the whole world that has recognized this pseudo-state! It is important to realize that Turkey has always planned the invasion of Cyprus and events prior to 1974 just served as a pretext. Taxim, (partition in Turkish) of the island was always in Turkey s plans. In 1956 the Turkish Cypriot leader F. Kutchuck submitted on a map Taxim proposals dividing Cyprus to North and South (Hitchens Cyprus: Hostage to History ). In 1974 the Turkish troops divided the island to north and south deviating from the 1956 plan only in minor details. It is therefore clear that the 1974 invasion was a part of a plan and not the result of any actions of the Greek-Cypriots in the sixties. The current Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash agreed when he stated: Even if the Turkish-Cypriots did not exist, Turkey would not have left Cyprus to Greece (Turkish newspaper Milliyet 7/23/1985). Currently, 22 years later, 30,000 Turkish troops are stationed on the occupied part of the island making it one of the most highly militarized areas in the world , according to the June 1994 report of the UN Secretary General to the Security Council. The island is thus still divided, the refugees still away from their homes, the whereabouts of the missing still unknown. The Turkish-Cypriots are also victims of this invasion and imposed separation. More than 110,000 Turkish settlers have been transported to the occupied areas, in an attempt to change the demographic character of the island. These settlers, while Turks, they are completely different culturally from the Turkish-Cypriots whose culture is very similar to their Greek counterparts. The Turkish-Cypriots are becoming a minority in the occupied areas and are migrating to other western countries. On the other hand their leaders, under Turkey s direction, continue to bring the negotiations in the UN to a deadlock. The reason is simple: they are satisfied with the status quo. The goal of the reunification of the island is the only acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem by the international community. The UN Security Council in Resolution 939/1994 clearly reiterates that the maintenance of the status quo is unacceptable and reaffirms its position that a Cyprus settlement must be based on a State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and international personality and a single citizenship. It recommends that this state should comprise two politically equal communities in a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, and such a settlement must exclude union in whole or in part with any other country or any form of partition or secession.
Speaking of Ethnic Cleansing: AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM YPRUS is a small island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. It has about the same size as the state of Connecticut with 660,000 inhabitants. The population of the island, according to the State Department consists of: Greek-Cypriots (78 percent), Turkish-Cypriots (18 percent), Armenian, Maronite and Latin-Cypriots (4 percent). Turkish and Greek Cypriots lived together on the island for almost five centuries. They were dispersed all over the island, mosques and churches can still be found side by side and members of one community worked in the business of the other. Turkey invaded Cyprus on July 20, 1974. As an explanation to this brutal act, Turkey offered the restoration of the constitutional structure of the Republic of Cyprus that was damaged by a coup d etat, and the protection of an 18 percent Turkish-Cypriot minority on the island. Just like the Nazis in 1939 when they invaded Czechoslovakia, proclaiming themselves protectors of the oppressed German minority. The international community strongly condemned the military invasion and rejected Turkey s explanations. In Resolution 353 that was adopted on the day of the invasion, the United Nations (UN) Security Council equally concerned about the necessity to restore the constitutional structure of the Republic of Cyprus calls upon all States to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus and demands an immediate end to foreign military intervention in the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey not only ignored the international community but launched a second offensive in August 1974 and managed to seize more than one third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Moreover the Turkish army in order to protect the Turkish-Cypriot minority on the island, employed deliberate means of terror and indiscriminate cruelty against the Greek-Cypriots. The goal was the ethnic-cleansing, 17 years before the term was even coined, of the occupied northern
C
ÅÔÏÓ 64
ÉÏÕËÉÏÓ 1999
ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÉÊÇ ÅÃÊÕÊËÉÏÓ ÃÉÁ ÔÇÍ ÅÐÅÔÅÉÏ ÔÇÓ ÊÕÐÑÉÁÊÇÓ ÔÑÁÃÙÄÉÁÓ
ÌÞ îå÷íÜôå ôÞí Êýðñï Ðñïò ôïõò óåâáóìßïõò Éåñáôéêþò ÐñïúóôáìÝíïõò, ôïõò åõëáâåóôÜôïõò Ìïíá÷ïýò êáé Ìïíá÷Ýò, ôá ÅíïñéáêÜ Óõìâïýëéá ôùí Åëëçíïñèïäüîùí ÊïéíïôÞôùí, ôá ÅëëçíéêÜ ÇìåñÞóéá êáé ÁðïãåõìáôéíÜ Ó÷ïëåßá, ôéò Öéëüðôù÷åò Áäåëöüôçôåò, ôïõò åëëçíéêïýò Óõëëüãïõò êáé Ïñãáíþóåéò, ôïõò ÍÝïõò êáé ÍåÜíéäåò êáé üëïõò ôïõò åõóåâåßò ×ñéóôéáíïýò ôçò ÉåñÜò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò. ÐñïóöéëÝóôáôá ôÝêíá åí Êõñßù, <} Åùò ðüôå, ]ï Èåüò, [ïíåéäéå¡é ]ï [å÷èñüò, ðáñïîõíå¡é ï ] õ ] ðåíáíôßïò ôü ï { íïìÜ óïõ å[éò ôÝëïò;> Øáëìüò 73,10 ÅéêïóéðÝíôå ÷ñüíéá ôþñá ðåñéìÝíåé ç Êýðñïò. ÐåñéìÝíåé íá îáíáäåß ôá ðñüóùðá ôùí áãíïïõìÝíùí õéþí êáé èõãáôÝñùí ôçò. ÐåñéìÝíåé íá îáíáëáôñåýóåé ôï Èåü ôçò óôïõò éåñïýò íáïýò êáé ôá ðáñåêêëÞóéá ôçò ðïõ óõëÞèçêáí ìå ôñüðï ôüóï áíßåñï. ÐåñéìÝíåé íá åðáíÝëèåé ï ëáüò ôçò êáé íá äéåêäéêÞóåé ôá ëåçëáôçìÝíá ÷ùñéÜ êáé ôá óðßôéá ôïõ. ÐåñéìÝíåé ç Êýðñïò íá áíáãíùñßóåé ï êüóìïò ôéò ôñïìáêôéêÝò áðþëåéÝò ôçò êáé íá äéêáéþóåé ôçí éóôïñéêÞ ôçò áðáßôçóç ãéá äéêáéïóýíç êáé áðïêáôÜóôáóÞ ôçò. Áõôüí ôïí ìÞíá óõìðëçñþíïíôáé åéêïóéðÝíôå ïëüêëçñá ÷ñüíéá áðü ôüôå ðïõ ï âÜíáõóïò êáôáêôçôÞò åéóÝâáëå óôçí Êýðñï, ðñáãìáôïðïéþíôáò ìéá åêóôñáôåßá âßáò êáé ôñüìïõ ðïõ åß÷å ùò áðïôÝëåóìá ôçí êáôÜëçøç êáé êáôï÷Þ ôïõ åíüò ôñßôïõ ôçò ÌåãáëïíÞóïõ. ÄåêÜäåò ÷éëéÜäåò Åëëçíïêõðñßùí îåñéæþèçêáí áðü ôéò ðáôñïãïíéêÝò ôïõò åóôßåò êáé Ýãéíáí ðñüóöõãåò. ¢ëëïé, ÷éëéÜäåò áõôïß, Ý÷áóáí ôç æùÞ ôïõò, Üëëïé áêñùôçñéÜóèçêáí êáé Üëëïé ðÜëé âéÜóèçêáí êáôÜ ôç óêáéÜ áõôÞ åéóâïëÞ. Ï óôñáôüò êáôï÷Þò áöÜíéóå ÷éëéÜäåò Üëëùí Åëëçíïêõðñßùí, áðü ôïõò ïðïßïõò 1619 öÝñïíôáé áêüìá ùò <áãíïïýìåíïé>. Ç êõñéáñ÷ßá ôïõ ôñüìïõ ðïõ åêäçëþèçêå óôá êáôå÷üìåíá åäÜöç åß÷å ùò áðïôÝëåóìá ôéò ãíùóôÝò öñéêáëåüôçôåò êáé óõíå÷åßò ðáñáâéÜóåéò ôùí áíèñùðßíùí äéêáéùìÜôùí, ãéá ôéò ïðïßåò ï äõôéêüò êüóìïò åðÝäåéîå, óå ìåãÜëï âáèìü, ðëÞñç áäéáöïñßá. ÁëëÜ ôçí áðÜíèñùðç áõôÞ åêóôñáôåßá ôçò âßáò êáé ôïõ ôñüìïõ îåðÝñáóå - áí åßíáé ðïôÝ äõíáôü! ç Üëïãç ôáêôéêÞ ôçò ðëÞñïõò êáôáóôñåðôéêüôçôáò ðïõ õéïèÝôçóáí ïé åéóâïëåßò. Óôá êáôå÷üìåíá åäÜöç êáé ãéá åéêïóéðÝíôå óõíáðôÜ Ýôç êáôáâëÞèçêå ìéÜ ðñùôïöáíÞò ðñïìåëåôçìÝíç ðñïóðÜèåéá ôåëåßáò áëëïôñßùóçò ôçò åëëçíïêõðñéáêÞò êëçñïíïìéÜò. Ïé êáôáêôçôÝò ðñïÝâçêáí óå óõóôçìáôéêÞ óýëçóç êáé êáôáóôñïöÞ ôçò ÷ñéóôéáíéêÞò êëçñïíïìéÜò ðïõ ÷áñáêôÞñéæå ôçí Êýðñï êáôÜ ôéò ôåëåõôáßåò äýï ÷éëéåôßåò. ÐñïóðÜèçóáí íá åîáëåßøïõí êÜèå åëëçíéêü ìíçìåßï, êÜèå ß÷íïò åëëçíéêïý ðïëéôéóìïý, áõôïý ðïõ ìåãáëïýñãçóå óôá éåñÜ åêåßíá ÷þìáôá åäþ êáé åííéÜ ÷éëéÜäåò ÷ñüíéá. Ïé êáôáêôçôÝò èá Þèåëáí áóöáëþò, áí ôï ìðïñïýóáí êé áõôü, íá êÜíïõí ôï ßäéï ôï ÷þìá íá îå÷Üóåé ôï Ýèíïò êáé ôïí ëáü ðïõ ôçí êáôïßêçóå êáé ôçí êáëëéÝñãçóå ãéá áìÝôñçôïõò áéþíåò. Ç Êýðñïò üìùò äåí îå÷íÜ. Ç ãç, ôá âïõíÜ, ïé ðïôáìïß êáé ïé ðüëåéò ôçò èá èõìïýíôáé ðÜíôá ôá íüìéìá éóôïñéêÜ ïíüìáôÜ ôïõò, åêåßíá ðïõ ðñüóöáôá ôïõò óôÝñçóáí ïé êáôáêôçôÝò. Ïé íáïß êáé ôá ðñïóêõíÞìáôá ôùí Áãßùí äåí èá ëçóìïíÞóïõí ôçí áãéüôçôá, ìå ôçí ïðïßá ðñïéêßóèçêáí áðü ôï Ðíåýìá ôï ¢ãéï. Ïé ìçôÝñåò êáé ïé ðáôÝñåò ôçò Êýðñïõ äåí èá îå÷Üóïõí ðïôÝ ôá 1619 ðáéäéÜ ðïõ ôïõò Üñðáîáí ìÝóá áð ôçí áãêáëéÜ. Ïé ðéóôïß ôçò Êýðñïõ èá ôéìïýí ðÜíôá ôç ìíÞìç üóùí èõóßáóáí ôç æùÞ ôïõò, ðïëåìþíôáò ì áõôïèõóßá ôéò ïñäÝò ôùí êáôáêôçôþí. Ðñü ðÜíôùí, ï Êýñéïò ôïõ ïõñáíïý êáé ôçò ãçò äåí èá îå÷Üóåé ôá äåéíÜ
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ÁÑÉÈÌÏÓ 1163
Åðßóêåøç ôïõ Õð. Åîùôåñéêþí Ãéþñãïõ ÐáðáíäñÝïõ óôïí Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Óðõñßäùíá
Ó
ôá ðëáßóéá ôçò åðßóêåøçò êáé ôùí åðáöþí ôïõ óôá ÇíùìÝíá ¸èíç, ï Õðïõñãüò Åîùôåñéêþí ôçò ÅëëÜäáò ê. Ãéþñãïò ÐáðáíäñÝïõ åðéóêÝöèçêå ôïí Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Óðõñßäùíá óôçí Ýäñá ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò, óôç ÍÝá Õüñêç óôéò 30 Éïõíßïõ. ÊáôÜ ôçí åðßóêåøÞ ôïõ, ðïõ Þôáí ç ðñþôç ìåôÜ ôçí áíÜëçøç ôùí êáèçêüíôùí ôïõ ùò Õðïõñãïý Åîùôåñéêþí, ï ê. ÐáðáíäñÝïõ åíçìÝñùóå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ãéá ôï áíôéêåßìåíï ôùí óõíáíôÞóåþí ôïõ óôïí ÏÇÅ êáé áêïëïýèçóå áíôáëëáãÞ áðüøåùí. Äçì. ÐáíÜãïò
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óåë. 14
Ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï êáé ôïí Õðïõñãü Åîùôåñéêþí ðåñéóôïé÷ßæïõí ï ðñÝóâçò ôçò ÅëëÜäïò óôéò ÇÐÁ ê. ÁëÝîáíäñïò Ößëùí êáé ï ãåíéêüò ðñüîåíïò ê. ×áñ. ÌÜíåóçò
52ç ÔåëåôÞ Áðïöïßôçóçò ôçò Áêáäçìßáò ôïõ Áãßïõ Âáóéëåßïõ ôçò ÑåâÝêêáò Ðáðáäïðïýëïõ
Ç
ñèá óôçí Áêáäçìßá ðñéí 10 ÷ñüíéá, üôáí Þìïõí ôåóóÜñùí åôþí. Äå èõìÜìáé ðùò âñÝèçêá åäþ êáé ãéáôß. Ôþñá óôá 14 ìïõ ÷ñüíéá, èÝëù íá ðù ðùò åßìáé åõ÷áñéóôçìÝíïò ðïõ âñÝèçêá óôçí Áêáäçìßá êáé Ýæçóá óå Ýíá åëëçíïñèüäïîï ðåñéâÜëëïí. Åäþ Ýìáèá íá åßìáé õðåñÞöáíïò ãéá ôçí åëëçíéêÞ êáôáãùãÞ ìïõ. Åõ÷áñéóôþ ôïõò äáóêÜëïõò ìïõ. Èá ôïõò èõìÜìáé ðÜíôá>. Ôá ëüãéá áõôÜ ôïõ íåáñïý ÅììáíïõÞë ÐáðáäÜêç óêüñðéóáí ôç óõãêßíçóç óå üóïõò âñÝèçêáí óôçí Áêáäçìßá ôïõ Áãßïõ Âáóéëåßïõ óôï ÃêÜñéóïí ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò, ãéá íá ðáñáêïëïõèÞóïõí ôçí 52ç ôåëåôÞ áðïöïßôçóçò. Ôï ÓÜââáôï 20 Éïõíßïõ, Þôáí ìéá îå÷ùñéóôÞ ìÝñá ãéá ôïõò áðïöïéôïýíôåò ïéêüôñïöïõò ìáèçôÝò ôçò Áêáäçìßáò ðïõ ìå ðåñçöÜíåéá Ýëáâáí ôá äéðëþìáôá ôïõò áðü ôá ÷Ýñéá ôïõ Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Óðõñßäùíá.
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Åðß ôïõ Ðéåóôçñßïõ...
Ëßãç ìüëéò þñá ðñéí ï Ïñèüäïîïò ÐáñáôçñçôÞò öôÜóåé óôï ðéåóôÞñéï ëÜâáìå ôï áêüëïõèï áíáêïéíùèÝí ôçò Áñ÷éãñáììáôåßáò ôçò Áãßáò êáé ÉåñÜò Óõíüäïõ ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ ðïõ åîÝäùóå ìåôÜ ôçí ïëïêëÞñùóç ôçò åðßóêåøçò ôïõ Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Óðõñßäùíá óôï ÖáíÜñé. ÏÉÊÏÕÌÅÍÉÊÏN ÐÁÔÑÉÁÑ×ÅÉÏÍ ÁÍÁÊÏÉÍÙÈÅÍ ] Ç ] Áãßá êáß] ÉåñÜ Óýíïäïò ôï`õ Ï éêïõìåíéêï`õ Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ ]õðü ôÞí ðñïåäñßáí ô`çò Á. È. Ðáíáãéüôçôïò, ôï`õ Ï éêïõìåíéêï`õ ÐáôñéÜñ÷ïõ ê.ê. Âáñèïëïìáßïõ, ôÜò ]çìÝñáò á[õôÜò [åäÝ÷èç êå÷ùñéóìÝíùò å éò óõíåñãáóßáí ôüí Óåâ.[ Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïí [ Áìåñéê`çò ê. Óðõñßäùíá, [ Áíôéðñïóùðåßáí ô` ç ò [ å í [ Áìåñéê~ ` ç ] Éåñáñ÷ßáò [åê ô`ùí Óåâ. Ìçôñïðïëéô`ùí ÊñÞíçò êáß ÐñïÝäñïõ ÓéêÜãïõ ê.[ Éáêþâïõ, Äáñäáíåëßùí êáß ÐñïÝäñïõ] Áãßïõ Öñáãêßóêïõ ê. [ Áíôùíßïõ êáß Áªéíïõ êáß ÐñïÝäñïõ Ðéôóâïýñãïõ ê. Ìáîßìïõ, ]ùò êáß ôüí [ Áíôéðñüåäñïí ôï`õ [ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêï`õ Óõìâïõëßïõ [ Åíôéìïë. ê.[ ÉùÜííçí Êáôóéìáôßäçí. ÊáôÜ ôÜò óõíåñãáóßáò á[õôÜò óõíåæçôÞèçóáí
Äçì. ÐáíÜãïò
Ç Íéêüë ÍÜé, ìéá ðáëéÜ áðüöïéôïò ôçò Áêáäçìßáò êáé óÞìåñá ìéá ðåôõ÷çìÝíç äéêçãüñïò, ìßëçóå ìå óõãêßíçóç ãéá ôá åöüäéá ðïõ áðïêüìçóå áðü ôçí Áêáäçìßá.
äéåîïäéê`ùò èÝìáôá ô`çò [ Åêêëçóßáò êáß ô`çò ] Ïìïãåíåßáò ô`çò[ Áìåñéê`çò, ôü äÝ Ï éêïõìåíéêüí Ðáôñéáñ÷å¡éïí èÜ óõíåêôéìÞó~ç êáß èÜ [áîéïëïãÞó~ç ]ïñéóôéê`ùò }ïëá ôÜ ìÝ÷ñé ôï` õ äå äåäïìÝíá êáß } ï ëáò ôÜò [ å êôåèåßóáò [áðüøåéò. [ Åðß ô~`ç å[õêáéñß~á, ôü Ï êïõìåíéêüí Ðáôñéáñ÷å¡éïí ìÝ âáèå¡éáí ëýðçí êáß ðáôñéêÞí á [ ãÜðçí äéáøåýäåé ï } ëá ôÜ [åó÷Üôùò äçìïóéåõüìåíá ðåñß ä`çèåí [áóêÞóåùò ðéÝóåùí å[ ð[ á[õôï`õ ç { ðåñß ä`çèåí å[ ðçñåáóìï`õ ôïõ õ ] ðü ï éêïíïìéê`ùò éó÷õñ`ùí ðáñáãüíôùí ô`çò [åí[ Áìåñéê~`ç ] Ïìïãåíåßáò, å éò ôÞí ðñïóðÜèåéÜí ôïõ íÜ ]ïìáëïðïéÞó~ç ôÞí [åêå¡é [åêêëçóéáóôéêÞí êáôÜóôáóéí. ÔÜ êñéôÞñéá êáß ôÜ êßíçôñá ô`çò Ìçôñüò [ Åêêëçóßáò ]õð`çñîáí ðÜíôïôå [áíþôåñá, [áíéäéïôåë`ç êáß êáèáñ`ùò [åêêëçóéáóôéêÜ êáß ]ç ðñïóöïñÜ ôçò èõóéáóôéêÞ, êáôÜ äÝ ôÞí ë`çøéí ô`ùí [áðïöÜóåùí êáß ôÞí ðñáãìáôïðïßçóéí ô`ùí [åíåñãåé`ùí ôçò [áðïâëÝðåé ìüíïí å éò ôü ðñáãìáôéêüí óõìöÝñïí ô`ùí ]áðáíôá÷ï`õ ôÝêíùí ôçò. [ Åí ôï¡éò Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïéò, ô~`ç 13~ç [ Éïõëßïõ 1999. [ Åê ô`çò [ Áñ÷éãñáììáôåßáò ô`çò ] Áãßáò êáß ] Éåñ`áò Óõíüäïõ
ÓÅËÉÄÁ 14
ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ
ÉÏÕËÉÏÓ 1999
ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÉÊÇ ÅÃÊÕÊËÉÏÓ ÃÉÁ ÔÇÍ ÅÐÅÔÅÉÏ ÔÇÓ ÊÕÐÑÉÁÊÇÓ ÔÑÁÃÙÄÉÁÓ u óåë. 13
ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ.- Ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Óðõñßäùí èá ôåëÝóåé åðéìíçìüóõíç äÝçóç óôïí Êáèåäñéêü Íáü ôçò Áãßáò ÔñéÜäáò óôï Ìáí÷Üôáí, ôçí ÊõñéáêÞ 18 Éïõëßïõ, ãéá ôïí ðñþôï ðñüåäñï ôçò ÊõðñéáêÞò Äçìïêñáôßáò, Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÌáêÜñéï êáé õðÝñ ôùí ðåóüíôùí êáôÜ ôç äéÜñêåéá ôçò ÔïõñêéêÞò åéóâïëÞò óôçí Êýðñï, óôéò 20 Éïõëßïõ 1974. ÅîÜëïõ, ãéá ôçí 25ç åðÝôåéï ôçò ÔïõñêéêÞò åéóâïëÞò êáé êáôï÷Þò ôçò Êýðñïõ, äéïñãáíþíåôáé ìåãÜëç åêäÞëùóç äéáìáñôõñßáò óôçí ÁìåñéêáíéêÞ ðñùôåýïõóá, ôçí Ôñßôç 20 Éïõëßïõ. Ïé äéáäçëùôÝò èá ó÷çìáôßóïõí áíèñþðéíç áëõóßäá ãýñù áðü ôï Êáðéôþëéï áðü ôéò 1 ìÝ÷ñé ôéò 3 ì.ì. êáé óôçí óõíÝ÷åéá èá ðñï÷ùñÞóïõí óôï ðÜñêï ËáöáãéÝô êáé óôï Ëåõêü Ïßêï. Èá äéáôåèïýí äùñåÜí ëåùöïñåßá áðü ôç ÍÝá Õüñêç, ÍÝá ÉåñóÝç êáé ÊïíÝêôéêáô. Ãéá ðëçñïöïñßåò ïé åíäéáöåñüìåíïé ìðïñïýí íá åðéêïéíùíÞóïõí ìå ôçí ÐÓÅÊÁ óôï (718) 545-3533 Þ ìå ôçí ÊõðñéáêÞ Ïìïóðïíäßá óôï (732) 531-3100.
ôïõ ëáïý Ôïõ, áëëÜ èá åãåñèåß îáíÜ êáé èá ôïí åëåÞóåé êáé èá äéêáéþóåé êÜðïôå ôïõò áãþíåò ôïõ. Áäåëöïß ðïëõáãáðçìÝíïé, Ïýôå åìåßò ðñÝðåé íÜ îå÷íÜìå. ÐñÝðåé íá èõìüìáóôå ôçí ôñáãùäßá ôùí áäåëöþí ìáò Êõðñßùí. ÐñÝðåé íá áãñõðíÞóïõìå êé åìåßò êáé íá ðñïóåõ÷çèïýìå ìáæß ôïõò óôç äéÜñêåéá ôçò óêïôåéíÞò áõôÞò íý÷ôáò ôçò ïäýíçò êáé ôùí âáóÜíùí ôïõò. Ôþñá, ðåñéóóüôåñï áðü ðïôÝ, ðñÝðåé íá õøþóïõìå êé åìåßò ôç öùíÞ êáé íá áðáéôÞóïõìå åéñÞíç êáé äéêáéïóýíç. ÐñÝðåé, íá áîéþóïõìå íá ìáò äïèåß ëïãïäïóßá ãéá ôçí ôý÷ç ôùí <áãíïïõìÝíùí>. ÐñÝðåé íá áðáéôÞóïõìå íá óôáìáôÞóåé ç âåâÞëùóç ôùí íáþí êáé ðñïóêõíçìÜôùí ìáò, êáèþò êáé ôï åîåõôåëéóôéêü êáé ðáñÜíïìï åìðüñéï ôùí éåñþí óêåõþí êáé åéêüíùí. Ðþò íá ìçí õøþóïõìå ôá öùíÞ ìáò ìå ðüíï, üôáí áêïýìå üôé, ï ðåñéêáëëÞò íáüò ôçò Ðáíáãßáò ôçò ×ñõóåëåïýóáò Ý÷åé ìåôáôñáðåß óå ôæáìß, ï ðåñßëáìðñïò íáüò ôïõ Áñ÷áããÝëïõ Ìé÷áÞë Ý÷åé áöåèåß íá óõëçèåß, ï ðåñßêïìøïò íáüò ôïõ Áãßïõ Áõîåíôßïõ Ý÷åé ëåçëáôçèåß êáé ïé åéêïíïãñáößåò ôïõ Ý÷ïõí áöáéñåèåß; Ðþò íá ìçí õøþóïõìå ôç öùíÞ ðñïò ôïí ïõñáíü, êñáõãÜæïíôáò: <}åùò ðüôå, ]ï Èåüò, [ïíåéäéå¡é ]ï [å÷èñüò, ðáñïîõíå¡é ]ï ]õðåíáíôßïò ôü {ïíïìÜ óïõ å[éò ôÝëïò;> Ãé áõôü êáé ðñÝðåé íá êáëÝóïõìå ôç äéåèíÞ êïéíüôçôá íá åãêáôáëåßøåé ôç óôÜóç áäéáöïñßáò êáé ôçí éäéïôÝëåéÜ ôçò, þóôå íá âñåèåß ìéÜ ðñáãìáôéêÜ åéñçíéêÞ ëýóç êáé íá ôåèåß ôÝñìá óôï áäéÝîïäï ôïõ äéá÷ùñéóìïý. ÊáôÜ ôïõò ôåëåõôáßïõò ìÞíåò åßäáìå ôçí ðõãìÞ ôçò éó÷ýïò ôïõ êüóìïõ íá åêäçëþíåôáé óôç Ãéïõãêïóëáâßá. ÁëëÜ, ôé Ý÷åé ãßíåé ìÝ÷ñé ôþñá ãéá ôçí Êýðñï; Ôßðïôå áðïëýôùò. Áò åõ÷çèïýìå íá áíáãíùñßóåé åðéôÝëïõò ï êüóìïò ôçí ðñïäïóßá ôùí äéêáéùìÜôùí ôçò Êýðñïõ êáé í áíôáðïêñéèåß óôï áßôçìÜ ôçò ãéá äéêáéïóýíç êáé åéñÞíç ìåôÜ áðü ôüóá ìáêñÜ Ýôç áíáìïíÞò. Êáëþ üëïõò íá æçôÞóïõìå ìáæß ôçí ðáñÝìâáóç êáé áñùãÞ ôïõ Ðáíôïäýíáìïõ Èåïý ãéá ôïõò áäåëöïýò ìáò ôçò Êýðñïõ. Ãé áõôü êáé ðñïôñÝðù ðáôñéêÜ üëåò ôéò êïéíüôçôåò ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò íá ôéìÞóïõí ìå åõëÜâåéá ôç èëéâåñÞ åðÝôåéï ôçò óêáéÜò åéóâïëÞò ôçò Êýðñïõ, ôåëþíôáò åéäéêÞ åðéìíçìüóõíç äÝçóç ôçí ÊõñéáêÞ, 18ç Éïõëßïõ 1999. Ìå ðïëëÞ ðáôñéêÞ åí Êù áãÜðç,
TOP PROPERTIE S
GEORGIOS S. PIPINOS ÃÅÙÑÃÉÏÓ Ó. ÐÉÐÉÍÏÓ REAL ESTATE AGENT MEMBER OF F.I.A.B.C.I. Ïäüò ÊÝííåíôõ 38, ÑÏÄÏÓ 85100 38 Kennedy St., RHODES GR85100 GREECE
TEL.: (0241) 23895 FAX: (0241) 20883 TOP PROPERTIES is a private concern and Mr. George S. Pipinos, its owner, has earned, over the years, a reputation for integrity and excellence in the world of Real Estate in the Dodecanese. At Top Properties we try hard to attract important and selective investors: high caliber businessmen/women and discerning professional people, both Greek and foreign, who wish to acquire substantial and valuable property on Rhodes. We offer our expertise and advice privately, discreetly and in strict confidence. We keep a comprehensive list of real estate of the highest specification: a. A´ and B´ class hotels (600, 500, 350, 300 beds capacity). b. Centrally situated office buildings and other business premises. c. Seaside land, ideal for development (hotels, holiday resorts, etc.), of 150.000, 100.000, 70.000, 50.000, 36.000 sq.m. d. Luxury apartments, maisonettes, detached, semi-detached and terraced houses. Our aim is to give our clients the opportunity to acquire value for money, first class real estate on Rhodes. Our 25-year-old experience in Real Estate is our warranty. Our motto is: Invest in Rhodes. Invest in property. It stands the test of time. TOP PROPERTIES and George S. Pipinos Because we know better! Ä Ä Ä
Ç TOP PROPERTIES åßíáé áôïìéêÞ åðé÷åßñçóç êáé áíÞêåé åî ïëïêëÞñïõ óôïí ê. Ãåþñãéï Ó. Ðéðßíï, ðïõ áðü ôï 1971 áó÷ïëåßôáé áðïêëåéóôéêÜ êáé ìüíï ìå åðåíäýóåéò êáé REAL ESTATE, óôï íçóß ôçò Ñüäïõ, êáèþò êáé óôçí åõñýôåñç ðåñéï÷Þ ôçò ÄùäåêáíÞóïõ. ÁÐÅÕÈÕÍÏÌÁÓÔÅ: Óôïõò óïâáñïýò, áðáéôçôéêïýò êáé åðéëåêôéêïýò åðåíäõôÝòåðé÷åéñçìáôßåò- åëåýèåñïõò åðáããåëìáôßåò, ¸ëëçíåò êáé îÝíïõò, õøçëïý åéóïäçìáôéêïý åðéðÝäïõ, ðïõ åíäéáöÝñïíôáé íá êÜíïõí ìéá óïâáñÞ åðÝíäõóç ðñïâïëÞò óôï íçóß ôçò Ñüäïõ. ÐÑÏÓÖÅÑÏÕÌÅ: Á) Õðçñåóßåò êáé ðëçñïöïñßåò ðïõ ãßíïíôáé óå ðñïóùðéêü åðßðåäï ìå å÷åìýèåéá, äéáêñéôéêüôçôá êáé óïâáñüôçôá. Â) ÌåãÜëç ãêÜìá õøçëÞò ðïéüôçôáò áêéíÞôùí, üðùò: 1) Îåíïäï÷åßá Á êáé  êáôçãïñßáò ôùí 600-500-350-300 êëéíþí 2) ÊåíôñéêÜ áóôéêÜ áêßíçôá êáôÜëëçëá ãéá ÔñÜðåæåò êáôáóôÞìáôá-ãñáöåßá 3) ÐáñáëéáêÝò åêôÜóåéò, êáôÜëëçëåò ãéá ôïõñéóôéêÝò åðåíäýóåéò ôùí 150.000-100.000-70.000-50.000-36.000 ô.ì. êáé 4) Äéáìåñßóìáôá êáé ìåæïíÝôåò ðñïâïëÞò. ÓÔÏ×ÏÓ ÌÁÓ ÅÉÍÁÉ: Íá ðñïóöÝñïõìå óôï áãïñáóôéêü ìáò êïéíü õøçëÞò ðïéüôçôáò áêßíçôá êáé åõêáéñßåò óôï íçóß ôçò Ñüäïõ. Ç åéêïóéðåíôáåôÞò êáé ðëÝïí ðåßñá ìáò óôïí ôïìÝá áõôü áðïôåëåß åããýçóç. ÓÕÍÈÇÌÁ ÌÁÓ ÅÉÍÁÉ: Åðåíäýóôå óôç ÑÏÄÏ ÔÙÑÁ, óå áêßíçôá ðïõ ÁÍÔÅ×ÏÕÍ ÓÔÏ ×ÑÏÍÏ
Ãåþñãéïò Ó. Ðéðßíïò ÌÅÓÉÔÇÓ ÁÓÔÉÊÙÍ ÓÕÌÂÁÓÅÙÍ Ãéáôß åìåßò ãíùñßæïõìå êáëýôåñá!
Ï Õð. Åîùôåñéêþí óôçí É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ u óåë. 13 ÌåôÜ ôç óõíÜíôçóç, ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò êáé ï ¸ëëçíáò Õðïõñãüò Åîùôåñéêþí Ýêáíáí äçëþóåéò óôïõò åêðñïóþðïõò ôùí ÌÝóùí ÌáæéêÞò ÅíçìÝñùóçò. Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ðñïÝâç óôçí åîÞò äÞëùóç: <Ðñþôá, ðñþôá èá Þèåëá íá åêöñÜóù ôç ÷áñÜ ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ìáò êáé ôç äéêÞ ìïõ ðñïóùðéêÜ ãéá ôç óçìåñéíÞ õøçëÞ åðßóêåøç ôïõ Õðïõñãïý ôùí Åîùôåñéêþí ôçò ÅëëÜäáò ê. Ãåùñãßïõ ÐáðáíäñÝïõ. >ÅîÝöñáóá óôïí ößëï Õðïõñãü ôá èåñìüôåñá óõã÷áñçôÞñéÜ ìïõ ãéá ôçí ðñïóùðéêÞ ôïõ óõìâïëÞ óôçí ìÝ÷ñé ôþñá áíôéìåôþðéóç ôïõ êáõôïý êáé áíçóõ÷çôéêïý èÝìáôïò ôïõ Êïóóõöïðåäßïõ. >ÅîÝöñáóá åðßóçò óôïí ê. Õðïõñãü ôá áéóèÞìáôá õðåñçöÜíåéáò êáé éêáíïðïéÞóåùò ôçò ÏìïãÝíåéÜò ìáò åäþ óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ ãéá ôç óôÜóç ðïõ åôÞñçóå ç ÅëëçíéêÞ ÊõâÝñíçóç ó üëç ôçí ðåñßïäï ôçò ïîåßáò êñßóåùò ôïõ èÝìáôïò ôïõ Êïóóõöïðåäßïõ. >Äéåâåâáßùóá ôïí ê. Õðïõñãü ãéá ôçí ðëÞñç óõìðáñÜóôáóç ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò ðñïò ôçí ÅëëçíéêÞ ÊõâÝñíçóç óôç ìåãÜëç ðñïóðÜèåéá áíáóõãêñïôÞóåùò ôçò ðåñéï÷Þò ôùí Âáëêáíßùí, åíçìåñþíïíôÜò ôïí óõã÷ñüíùò ãéá ôçí ïéêïíïìéêÞ åíßó÷õóç ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ìáò ðñïò ôçí ÓåñâéêÞ Åêêëçóßá, åíßó÷õóç ðïõ õðåñâáßíåé Þäç ôéò 135.000 äïëÜñéá>. ÐáñÜëëçëá Ýãéíå êáôÜ ôç óõæÞôçóç áíáöïñÜ óôï Êõðñéáêü. ÅêöñÜóèçêå áðü ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ç Üðïøç, üôé <ôþñá ðïõ ç êáôÜóôáóç óôï ÊïóóõöïðÝäéï åîïìáëýíåôáé óéãÜ óéãÜ, ôï Êõðñéáêü ðñÝðåé íá åðáíáêôÞóåé ôçí ðñïôåñáéüôçôá ðïõ ôïõ áíÞêåé êáé íá êáôáöáíåß ç óçìáóßá ðïõ áðïäßäåé ó áõôü ç äéåèíÞò êïéíüôçôá. ÌåôÜ áðü 25 ÷ñüíéá ôåëåßùò ðáñÜíïìçò êáôï÷Þò ôçò Âïñåßïõ Êýðñïõ áð ôá ôïõñêéêÜ óôñáôåýìáôá ðñÝðåé íá êáôáäåé÷èåß åìðñÜêôùò ôï áìåñéêáíéêü åíäéáöÝñïí, üðùò Üëëùóôå ï ðñüåäñïò
Êëßíôïí Ý÷åé åðáíåéëçììÝíùò õðïó÷åèåß, ìå ôçí åðáíáöïñÜ ôçò ôïõñêéêÞò ðëåõñÜò óôçí ôñÜðåæá ôùí äéáðñáãìáôåýóåùí êáé ôçí áðï÷þñçóç ôùí ôïõñêéêþí êáôï÷éêþí óôñáôåõìÜôùí>. <Áð ôçí ðëåõñÜ ìáò, üðùò äéáâåâáßùóá ôïí ê. Õðïõñãü, ðñÜôôïõìå êé åäþ óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ ü,ôé åßíáé äõíáôü ãéá ôçí ðñïþèçóç ôïõ èÝìáôïò ôïõ Êõðñéáêïý êáé ôùí Üëëùí åèíéêþí ìáò èåìÜôùí. ÌÝóù ôïõ HALO, ìéáò ïñãÜíùóçò ðïõ ßäñõóå ðÝñõóé ç Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ, óõóðåéñþíïíôáé üëï êáé ðåñéóóüôåñï ïé åëëçíïáìåñéêáíéêÝò ìáò äõíÜìåéò êáé ãéá ðñþôç öïñÜ åöÝôïò üëïé ïé åëëçíïáìåñéêáíéêïß ïñãáíéóìïß, ìå ôçí óõíôïíéóôéêÞ âïÞèåéá ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò, èá ðñïâïýí óå êïéíü äéÜâçìá ðñïò ôïí ðñüåäñï ôùí ÇÐÁ ãéá ôï Êõðñéáêü. >Åðßóçò åíçìåñþèçêå õðåýèõíá ï ê. Õðïõñãüò ãéá ôïõò áãáèïýò êáñðïýò ôùí ðñïóðáèåéþí ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ãéá ôçí áíáâßùóç ôùí Åëëçíéêþí ÃñáììÜôùí óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ êáé óõãêåêñéìÝíá ãéá ôï áîéÝðáéíï Ýñãï ôçò ÅðéôñïðÞò ÑáóóéÜ>. Ìå ôç óåéñÜ ôïõ ï Õðïõñãüò Åîùôåñéêþí ôçò ÅëëÜäáò ê. ÐáðáíäñÝïõ äÞëùóå: <Åß÷áìå ôçí åõêáéñßá Ýóôù êáé áðñïóäüêçôá ëüãù ôçò Ýêôáêôçò åðßóêåøÞò ìïõ åäþ óôç ÍÝá Õüñêç, íá áíôáëëÜîïõìå áðüøåéò ãéá ðïëëÜ êáé óïâáñÜ æçôÞìáôá. >Åß÷á ôçí åõêáéñßá íá åíçìåñþóù ôïí Óåâáóìéüôáôï ãéá ôéò óõæçôÞóåéò ðïõ êÜíáìå óôïí ÏÇÅ ãéá ôï Êüóïâï êáé ãéá ôç óõæÞôçóç ðïõ êÜíáìå ìå ôïí ïìüëïãü ìïõ ôïí Ôïýñêï ê. ÔæÝì, åîçãþíôáò üôé åßíáé Ýíá ðñþôï âÞìá ðïõ åëðßæïõìå íá áðïäþóåé êÜðïéïõò êáñðïýò óôç óõíÝ÷åéá>. Áíáöåñüìåíïò óôï åêðáéäåõôéêü Ýñãï ôçò áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêÞò åðéôñïðÞò <ÑáóóéÜ>, åîÝöñáóå ôçí éêáíïðïßçóÞ ôïõ ãéá ôçí óïâáñÞ áõôÞ ìåëÝôç ðïõ èá åßíáé ÷ñÞóéìç êáé ãéá ôï Õðïõñãåßï Åîùôåñéêþí ôçò ÅëëÜäïò. Áðáíôþíôáò óå ó÷åôéêÞ åñþôçóç äçìïóéïãñÜöïõ, êáôÝëçîå ëÝãïíôáò ÷áñáêôçñéóôéêÜ, üôé <Ý÷ïõìå áãáóôÞ óõíåñãáóßá ìå ôçí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ>.
ÉÏÕËÉÏÓ 1999
ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ
ÓÅËÉÄÁ 15
Áðïöïßôçóç óôçí Áêáäçìßá ôïõ Áã. Âáóéëåßïõ u óåë. 13 <Ç óçìåñéíÞ ìÝñá öÝñíåé óôï íïõ ìïõ ôá ëüãéá ôïõ Áðïóôüëïõ Ðáýëïõ ðïõ ÷áñáêôÞñéóå ôá áãáðçìÝíá ðíåõìáôéêÜ ôïõ ðáéäéÜ, ôç ÷áñÜ êáé ôï óôÝììá ôïõ . Êáé ìéëþíôáò åê ìÝñïõò ïëüêëçñçò ôçò ïéêïãÝíåéáò ôïõ Áãßïõ Âáóéëåßïõ, ôïõ ðñïóùðéêïý êáé ôùí äáóêÜëùí, ôùí åöüñùí êáé ôùí õðïóôçñéêôþí ôçò áðü ïëüêëçñç ôç ÷þñá, èÝëù íá ðù óôïõò áðüöïéôïõò áõôÞò ôçò ÷ñïíéÜò üôé ôïõò Ý÷ïõìå óôçí êáñäéÜ ìáò, óáí ôç ÷áñÜ êáé ôï óôÝììá ìáò. >Ôá åðéôåýãìáôÜ ôïõò ìáò ãåìßæïõí üëïõò ìå õðåñçöÜíåéá êáé åõãíùìïóýíç óôï Èåü ãéá ôï äþñï ôçò æùÞò êáé ôïí åíèïõóéáóìü ðïõ ôïõò Ý÷åé äþóåé>, õðïãñÜììéóå ìéëþíôáò ãéá ôïõò ìéêñïýò áðüöïéôïõò ôçò Áêáäçìßáò ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò. Áðåõèõíüìåíïò óôï äéåõèõíôÞ ôçò Áêáäçìßáò, ð. Êùíóôáíôßíï ÓéôáñÜ, ï Óåâáóìéüôáôïò åîÞñå ôçí ðñïóöïñÜ ôïõ êáôÜ ôç äéÜñêåéá ôçò ðåñáóìÝíçò ÷ñïíéÜò, õðïãñáììßæïíôáò üôé ç õðçñåóßá ôïõ åßíáé Ýíá óçìáíôéêü ìÝñïò ôïõ ðùò ïñáìáôßæåôáé ç Åêêëçóßá ôçí Áêáäçìßá ôïõ Áãßïõ Âáóéëåßïõ. <Õðü ôç äéêÞ óáò äéåýèõíóç, ãíùñßæù üôé áõôÞ ç Áêáäçìßá èá óõíå÷ßóåé íá áíáðôýóóåôáé ãéá ôï êáëü ôùí ðáéäéþí ìáò>, êáôÝëçîå. <Åßìáóôå ðïëý õðåñÞöáíïé ãéá üëïõò ôïõò ìáèçôÝò ìáò, éäéáßôåñá äå ãéá ôïõò áðïöïßôïõò>, ôüíéóå ï äéåõèõíôÞò ôçò Áêáäçìßáò, ð. Êùíóôáíôßíïò ÓéôáñÜò, åíþ ôéò åìðåéñßåò ôçò, áëëÜ êáé ôéò áíáìíÞóåéò
ôçò áðü ôç æùÞ óôçí Áêáäçìßá èÝëçóå íá ìïéñáóôåß ìå ôïõò ðáñåõñéóêïìÝíïõò, ç Íéêüë ÍÜé, ìéá ðáëéÜ áðüöïéôïò, ç ïðïßá Þôáí êáé ç âáóéêÞ ïìéëÞôñéá ôçò ôåëåôÞò. Ôïõò ðáñåõñéóêïìÝíïõò êáëùóüñéóå ï ðñüåäñïò ôçò Åöïñåßáò ôçò Áêáäçìßáò, ÓôÞâ ÃïõíáñäÞò, ï ïðïßïò áíáöÝñèçêå åêôåíþò óôç ëåéôïõñãßá ôçò Áêáäçìßáò. Ôç óõìðáñÜóôáóÞ ôïõò óôçí Áêáäçìßá ôïõ Áãßïõ Âáóéëåßïõ åîÝöñáóáí ôüóï ç ÅèíéêÞ Öéëüðôù÷ïò Áäåëöüôçôá ÁìåñéêÞò, äéÜ ôçò åêðñïóþðïõ ôçò ÅëÝíçò ÊåâãÜ, üóï êáé ç Á×ÅÐÁ, äéÜ ôïõ åêðñïóþðïõ ôçò ÔæÝçìò Ðïë. Åêðñüóùðïé öéëïðôþ÷ùí, áöéëïêåñäþí ïñãáíéóìþí, áëëÜ êáé éäéþôåò åíßó÷õóáí ü÷é ìüíï ìå ôçí ðáñïõóßá ôïõò áëëÜ êáé ìå ôéò ïéêïíïìéêÝò ðñïóöïñÝò ôïõò ôçí Áêáäçìßá ãéá íá óõíå÷ßóåé ôï ðïëýôéìï Ýñãï ôçò. Ðñéí ôçí ôåëåôÞ áðïöïßôçóçò, Ýãéíå ï áãéáóìüò ôïõ áíáêáéíéóìÝíïõ éáôñåßïõ-ïäïíôéáôñåßïõ ôçò Áêáäçìßáò, ôï ïðïßï ãßíåôáé ðñáãìáôéêüôçôá ìå ôçí äùñåÜ 65.000 äïëáñßùí ôïõ ê. Äçìçôñßïõ ÊáëïåéäÞ êáé ôçò óõæýãïõ ôïõ Ãåùñãßáò, ðñïêåéìÝíïõ íá áãïñáóôåß ï áðáñáßôçôïò åîïðëéóìüò êáé íá óõíôçñçèåß ôï êôßñéï. Ç Áêáäçìßá ôïõ Áãßïõ Âáóéëåßïõ åßíáé ôï ìïíáäéêü óðßôé êáé ïéêïãÝíåéá óôï ïðïßï âñÞêáí èáëðùñÞ êé áãÜðç üëá ôá ðáéäéÜ ðïõ ðÝñáóáí áðü åêåß üðùò êáé öåôåéíïß áðüöïéôïé, ï ÅììáíïõÞë ÐáðáäÜêçò, ðïõ áðïöïßôçóå áðü ôï ãõìíÜóéï, ï ÉÜêùâïò ÌðñÜïõí êáé ï ÊéÝñáí Ãêßìðóïí áðü ôï íçðéáãùãåßï êáé ç ×ñéóôßíá ËïõêÜêç áðü ôï ðñïíçðéáãùãåßï.
ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ - ÁÈÇÍÁ ÊÁÔ ÅÕÈÅÉÁÍ ÐÔÇÓÅÉÓ ×ÙÑÉÓ ÓÔÁÈÌÏ ÌÅ ÊÁÍÏÍÉÊÁ ÄÑÏÌÏËÏÃÉÁ
AÍÏÉÎÇ-ÖÈÉÍÏÐÙÑÏ
$
ÊÁËÏÊÁÉÑÉ
699 799 $
+Tax
+Tax
1 Áðñéëßïõ-10 Éïõíßïõ 1 Óåðôåìâñßïõ-31 Ïêôùâñßïõ
ÁÍÏÉÎÇ-ÖÈÉÍÏÐÙÑÏ $690 Boston $795 Philadelphia $738 Baltimore $750 Washington $756 Cleveland/Pittsburgh $769 Atlanta/Detroit $785 Chicago $802 Ft. Lauderdale/Miami $802 Dallas/Houston $837 Raleigh/Durham/Orlando/Tampa $851 Charlotte $853 W. Palm Beach/New Orleans $867 Denver $887 Salt Lake City $892 L.Á./San Francisco/San Diego/Seattle $925 Phoenix/Portland
11 Éïõíßïõ-31 Áõãïýóôïõ
ÊÁËÏÊÁÉÑÉ Boston $860 Philadelphia $885 Pittsburgh $940 Baltimore/Washington/Detroit $953 Cleveland $963 Chicago/Raleigh/Durham $956 Richmond/Norfolk/ Charlotte $990 $1,000 Ft. Lauderdale/Miami/Orlando $1,010 Tampa $1,020 Houston/Minneapolis/St. Louis $1,032 Denver/Oklahoma City $1,042 Salt Lake City $1,050 W. Palm Beach $1,080 L.A./San Francisco/Seattle/San Diego $1,120 Phoenix
ÅÉÄÉÊÅÓ ÔÉÌÅÓ ÊÁÉ ÁÐÏ ÁËËÅÓ ÐÏËÅÉÓ ÐÁÉÄÉÁ 2-11 ÅÔÙÍ ÐËÇÑÙÍÏÕÍ 25% ËÉÃÏÔÅÑÏ
Áðï÷þñçóå áðü ôç Ìüíéìç Áíôéðñïóùðåßá ôïõ Ïéê. Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ óôï ÐÓÅ, ï Ì. Ðñùôïðñåóâýôåñïò ð. Ãåþñãéïò ÔóÝôóçò ÃÅÍÅÕÇ. Óýìöùíá ìå ôçí åëâåôéêÞ íïìïèåóßá êáé ôïí åóùôåñéêü Êáíïíéóìü Ëåéôïõñãßáò ôïõ Ðáãêüóìéïõ Óõìâïõëßïõ Åêêëçóéþí (ÐÓÅ), Ýðåéôá äå áðü ôñéáêïíôáðåíôáåôÞ èçôåßá óôï ïéêïõìåíéêü ðñïóêÞíéï, ï ÌÝãáò Ðñùôïðñåóâýôåñïò Ãåþñãéïò ÔóÝôóçò, áðå÷þñçóå, óôéò 30 Éïõíßïõ 1999, ëüãù ïñßïõ çëéêßáò, áðü ôç Äéåýèõíóç ôçò Ìïíßìïõ Áíôéðñïóùðåßáò ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ óôçí Ýäñá ôïõ áíùôÝñù Ïñãáíéóìïý. Ç èçôåßá ôïõ ð. ÔóÝôóç óôïí ïéêïõìåíéóôéêü ÷þñï Üñ÷éóå ôï 1965, üôáí ðñùôïäéïñßóôçêå óôï ÐÓÅ ùò Åêôåëåóôéêüò ÃñáììáôÝáò ãéá ôç ÌÝóç ÁíáôïëÞ. Óôç óõíÝ÷åéá, áðü ôï 1978 Ýùò ôï ôÝëïò ôïõ 1984, äéåôÝëåóå ÁíáðëçñùôÞò ÄéåõèõíôÞò ôçò ÅðéôñïðÞò ÄéååêëçóéáóôéêÞò ÂïÞèåéáò ôïõ Ïñãáíéóìïý áõôïý, Ý÷ïíôáò ôçí åõèýíç óõíôïíéóìïý ôùí êïéíùíéêþí êáé áíáðôõîéáêþí ðñïãñáììÜôùí ôïõ ÐÓÅ. Ôïí ÉáíïõÜñéï ôïõ 1985, ìå áðüöáóç ôçò Áãßáò êáé ÉåñÜò Óõíüäïõ ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ, äéáäÝ÷èçêå ôïí Ìçôñïðïëßôç Óçëõâñßáò Áéìéëéáíü, óôçí èÝóç ôïõ Ìïíßìïõ Áíôéðñïóþðïõ ôçò Åêêëçóßáò Êùíóôáíôéíïõðüëåùò óôï ÐÓÅ. Ï ð. Ãåþñãéïò ÔóÝôóçò åßíáé áðüöïéôïò ôçò ÈåïëïãéêÞò Ó÷ïëÞò ôçò ×Üëêçò, ðïëõãñáöþôáôïò, éäéáßôåñá óå èÝìáôá ïéêïõìåíéêþí ó÷Ýóåùí êáé ëÜôñçò ôçò ïñèüäïîçò ðáñÜäïóçò êáé ôçò ÂõæáíôéíÞò ÌïõóéêÞò. ÌÝóá áðü ôçí áðëüôçôá ôïõ ÷áñáêôÞñá ôïõ åêðñïóþðçóå ôï Ïéêïõìåíéêü Ðáôñéáñ÷åßï Êùíóôáíôéíïõðüëåùò êáé êáô åðÝêôáóç ôçí Ïñèïäïîßá, ìå Þèïò êáé áîéïðñÝðåéá áëëÜ êáé ìå ôçí ðñÝðïõóá ðÜíôá ìåãáëïðñÝðåéá. ÅîÜëëïõ ï ð. ÔóÝôóçò åêäßäåé áðü ôï 1985 ôï Äåëôßï ÏéêïõìåíéêÞò Åíçìåñüôçôïò ôçò Ìüíéìçò Áíôéðñïóùðåßáò ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ óôï ÐÓÅ, <ÅÍÇÌÅÑÙÓÉÓ>. Óôï ôåëåõôáßï ôåý÷ïò ôïõ äåëôßïõ áðï÷áéñåôþíôáò ôï áíáãíùóôéêü ôïõ êïéíü óçìåéþíåé ìåôáîý Üëëùí: <Åõ÷áñéóôþ èåñìÜ åêåßíïõò ðïõ êáôÜ êáéñïýò åîÝöñáóáí éêáíïðïßçóç êáé åõáñÝóêåéá ãéá ôï ðåñéå÷üìåíï, Þèïò êáé
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Áðü Âïóôþíç, ÍÝá Õüñêç ãéá ÁèÞíá Þ Èåóóáëïíßêç êáé Êýðñï ÅéäéêÝò ôéìÝò áðü 71 ðüëåéò ôçò ÁìåñéêÞò ÅéäéêÝò ôéìÝò ãéá ôï åóùôåñéêü äßêôõï ôçò ÅëëÜäïò Åêðôþóåéò ãéá ðáéäéÜ êÜôù ôùí 12 åôþí ÌéêñÞ åðéâÜñõíóç ãéá åðéóôñïöÝò áðü 15 Áõãïýóôïõ Ýùò 15 Óåðôåìâñßïõ Éó÷ýïõí ðåñéïñéóìïß / ÈÝóåéò ðåñéïñéóìÝíåò
Áðïôáèåßôå ôþñá óôïí ôáîéäéùôéêü óáò ðñÜêôïñá Þ óôçí ÏëõìðéáêÞ Áåñïðïñßá. . .êáé êåñäßóôå!
Ç ÄÉÊÇ ÓÁÓ ÁÅÑÏÐÏÑÉÊÇ ÅÔÁÉÑÅÉÁ
ÓÅËÉÄÁ 16
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Ï É Ê Ï Õ Ì Å Í É Ê Ï
ÉÏÕËÉÏÓ 1999
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Ï Óõíäåôéêüò êñßêïò êáé ç ÓåðôÞ ÊïñõöÞ ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò ôïõ Íéêüëáïõ Ìáããßíá
Ìå áéóèÞìáôá éäéáßôåñïõ óåâáóìïý áãÜðçò êáé áöïóßùóçò ï åõëáâÞò åëëçíéêüò ëáüò õðïäÝ÷èçêå ôïí Ïéêïõìåíéêü ÐáôñéÜñ÷ç Âáñèïëïìáßï êáôÜ ôçí äåêáåðôÜ çìåñþí éóôïñéêÞ åðßóêåøç ôïõ óôçí ÁèÞíá, ôïí ÐåéñáéÜ, ôá ÌÝãáñá, ôç ×áëêßäá êáèþò êáé óôç Âüñåéï ÅëëÜäá, óå Ìçôñïðüëåéò ôçò ðíåõìáôéêÞò äéêáéïäïóßáò ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ. ÊáôÜ ôçí ðëçèþñá ôùí ôéìçôéêþí åêäçëþóåùí Ýãéíáí ðåñßðïõ 150 ðñïóöùíÞóåéò êáé ïìéëßåò áðü ôïí ÐáôñéÜñ÷ç Âáñèïëïìáßï, ïé ïðïßïé åß÷áí ëüãï êçñõêôéêü, áãÜðçò êáé ôüíéæáí ôï åíäéáöÝñïí ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ ãéá ôçí óýã÷ñïíç æùÞ.
Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò Áèçíþí
ÊáôÜ ôçí Äïîïëïãßá ðïõ ôåëÝóèçêå óôïí Êáèåäñéêü Íáü ôùí Áèçíþí ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò Áèçíþí êáé ÐÜóçò ÅëëÜäïò ×ñéóôüäïõëïò ðñïóöùíþíôáò ôïí ÐáôñéÜñ÷ç åßðå ìåôáîý Üëëùí: <Ðáíáãéüôáôå, Ç Åêêëçóßá ôçò ÅëëÜäïò õðïäÝ÷åôáé ôçí ÕìåôÝñáí ÈåéïôÜôçí Ðáíáãéüôçôá ìåôÜ âáèõôÜôçò ôéìÞò êáé åí ×ñéóôþ åîáéñÝôïõ áãÜðçò. Ï éåñüò èåóìüò, ôïí ïðïßïí åðáîßùò ôéìÜôå ðñïêáèÞìåíïò ôïõ Éåñïý Óõíèñüíïõ ôçò Ìçôñüò Åêêëçóßáò ôçò Êùíóôáíôéíïõðüëåùò, êáôÜ ôïí áïßäéìïí ÐñïêÜôï÷ïí çìþí êáé óðïõäáßïí éóôïñéêüí ×ñõóüóôïìïí Ðáðáäüðïõëïí, åßíáé êáé äé çìÜò Üíùèåí êáèçãéáóìÝíïò åí ôç êáèüëïõ Ïñèïäüîù Åêêëçóßá êáé ðåñéâåâëçìÝíïò ìå äüîáí äÝêá êáé åî (16) áéþíùí, æþóáò äéáóþæùí ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò ôçò äéäáóêáëßáí êáé ôáò ðáñáäüóåéò êáé ùò åê ôïýôïõ áðïôåëåß ðåñßëáìðñïí ðíåõìáôéêüí öÜñïí, êáôáãéÜæïíôá ôçí ïéêïõìÝíçí. Ï Ïéêïõìåíéêüò ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò åßíáé ðáôÞñ ðáôÝñùí ðÜíôùí ôùí Ïñèïäüîùí, ï óõíäåôéêüò êñßêïò ôùí åðß ìÝñïõò Ïñèïäüîùí Åêêëçóéþí, ç óåðôÞ áõôþí êïñõöÞ>. (åðÜíù äåîéÜ) Ï Ðáíáãéüôáôïò óôç ÂïõëÞ ôùí ÅëëÞíùí. (åðÜíù) Ï Ïéêïõìåíéêüò ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò ê. Âáñèïëïìáßïò óõíïìéëåß ìå ôïí ðñùèõðïõñãü ôçò ÅëëÜäïò ê. Êþóôá Óçìßôç. (áñéóôåñÜ) Ïäü ÐáôñéÜñ÷ïõ Âáñèïëïìáßïõ áöéÝñùóáí ïé Ìåãáñßôåò óôïí ÐñïêáèÞìåíï ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò. (öùôïãñáößåò Íéê. Ìáããßíá)
Ç Ïñèïäïîßá äåí êÜíåé äéáêñßóåéò Ðñïóöõãéêü êáôáõëéóìü ÊïóïâÜñùí ðïõ Ý÷ïõí åãêáôáóôáèåß óôçí ðåñéï÷Þ ÓáñÜíôá Åêêëçóéþí ôçò ÁíáôïëéêÞò ÈñÜêçò (Ôïõñêßá), ðïõ ôþñá ëÝãåôáé <ÊéñêëáñÝëé>, åðéóêÝöèçêå ï Ïéêïõìåíéêüò ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò Âáñèïëïìáßïò. Ïé ìïõóïõëìÜíïé ðñüóöõãåò ôùí âïìâáñäéóìþí, ãýñù óôéò 8 ÷éëéÜäåò, Üíïéîáí ôéò ðüñôåò ôùí áíôéóêÞíùí êáé ôùí ïéêçìÜôùí üðïõ æïõí êáé ÷áéñÝôçóáí ôïí ÐáôñéÜñ÷ç. Ï ÐñïêáèÞìåíïò ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò ôïõò åõ÷Þèçêå <êáëÞ åðéóôñïöÞ óôá óðßôéá ôïõò>, ôïíßæïíôáò üôé ï áíèñþðéíïò ðüíïò åßíáé êïéíüò ãéá üëá ôá èñçóêåýìáôá êáé ôéò åèíüôçôåò êáé ç äõóôõ÷ßá åíþíåé ôïõò áíèñþðïõò, åðéóçìáßíïíôáò üôé, ç Ïñèïäïîßá äåí êÜíåé äéáêñßóåéò. Óôïí âïçèü íïìÜñ÷ç, õðåýèõíï ôïõ êáôáõëéóìïý ï ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò Ýäùóå óõìâïëéêü
ðïóü ãéá ôéò áíÜãêåò ôùí ðñïóöýãùí. Ç åðßóêåøç óôïí êáôáõëéóìü Ýãéíå êáôÜ ôçí åðéóôñïöÞ óôçí Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëç, áðü ôçí áõèçìåñüí åðßóêåøç ðïõ ðñáãìáôïðïßçóå ï ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò óôçí Ìçôñüðïëç Äéäõìïôåß÷ïõ êáé ÏñåóôéÜäïò, óôïí áêñéôéêü ¸âñï.
Óôç ÂïõëÞ
Ìå ôéìÝò áñ÷çãïý êñÜôïõò, ç ÂïõëÞ ôùí ÅëëÞíùí õðïäÝ÷èçêå ôïí ÐñïêáèÞìåíï ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò, ï ïðïßïò óôçí ïìéëßá ôïõ, áðü ôï âÞìá ôçò, åîÞñå ìå èåñìÜ ëüãéá ôçí <Ýíôéìç óôÜóç> ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò Ðïëéôåßáò êáé ôïõ Ïñèüäïîïõ Ýèíïõò ôçò, ôïíßæïíôáò üôé Ý÷ïõí ôç äéåèíÞ ðñùôïðïñåßá óôçí ðñïóðÜèåéá åöáñìïãÞò ôùí áñ÷þí ôçò åéñçíéêÞò óõíõðÜñîåùò êáé ôçò åðùöåëïýò óõíåñãáóßáò ìåôáîý ôùí áíèñþðùí êáèþò êáé óôçí åîåýñåóç åéñçíéêþí ëýóåùí óôá äõó÷åñÞ ðñïâëÞìáôá ôçò äéåèíïýò êïéíùíßáò. Ï ðñüåäñïò ôçò ÂïõëÞò Áðüóôïëïò ÊáêëáìÜíçò ôüíéóå üôé óôï ðñüóùðï ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý ÐáôñéÜñ÷ç ïé ¸ëëçíåò âëÝðïõí ü÷é ìüíï ôï óõíåêôéêü äåóìü ìåôáîý ôùí áðáíôá÷ïý ôçò ãçò Ïñèïäüîùí ÷ñéóôéáíþí, áëëÜ êáé ôï óõíäåôéêü êñßêï ìáò ìå ôá åêáôïììýñéá ôùí ïìïãåíþí ìáò óå ïëüêëçñç ôç ãç. Óôçí óçìáíôéêÞ ïìéëßá ôïõ ï ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò Âáñèïëïìáßïò ðáñïõóßá ôïõ ÌáêáñéïôÜôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ Áèçíþí êáé ÐÜóçò ÅëëÜäïò ê. ×ñéóôüäïõëïõ, Éåñáñ÷þí, ôïõ ðñïÝäñïõ ôçò Äçìïêñáôßáò ÊùóôÞ Óôåöáíüðïõëïõ, ôïõ Ðñùèõðïõñãïý Êþóôá Óçìßôç, Õðïõñãþí, Âïõëåõôþí êáé Üëëùí åðéóÞìùí, åßðå ìåôáîý Üëëùí: <Ç Ïñèüäïîïò Åêêëçóßá êáé ïé ðïäçãåôïýíôåò áõôÞí äåí áãíïïýí ôï åí ôù êüóìù êáêüí, ïõäÝ èåùñïýí ðÜíôá ôá åéò ôïí êüóìïí áðüâëçôá. Äéáêñßíåé ç Åêêëçóßá ìåôáîý áõôþí êáé áðïäÝ÷åôáé ôçí äçìéïõñãßáí ôïõ Èåïý ùò êáëÞí ëßáí êáé óõíéóôÜ áñ÷áéüèåí ôïí óåâáóìüí ðñïò áõôÞí êáé ôçí Ýëëïãïí ìåô åõ÷áñéóôßáò ÷ñÞóéí áõôÞò, óôÜóéí ðñïò ôçí ïðïßáí ç áíèñùðüôçò ìüëéò ðñïóöÜôùò Þñ÷éóåí åõáéóèçôïðïéçìÝíç, üôå ï êßíäõíïò ïéêïëïãéêÞò êáôáóôñïöÞò åê ôçò ðáñá÷ñÞóåùò êáé ôçò êáôá÷ñÞóåùò ôçò öýóåùò áíåöÜíç. Äéáêñßíåé åðßóçò üôé üëïé ïé Üíèñùðïé äåí åßíáé äéáôåèåéìÝíïé íá áêïëïõèÞóïõí ôïí äñüìïí ôïõ êáëïý, ôçò áãÜðçò, ôïõ óåâáóìïý êáé ôçò óõããíþìçò, êáé áíáãíùñßæåé ùò åê ôïýôïõ ôçí áíáãêáéüôçôá êáé ÷ñçóéìüôçôá ôçò êïóìéêÞò åîïõóßáò äéÜ ôçí óõãêñÜôçóéí ôùí êáêþí ÷áñáêôçñßæïõóá áõôÞí <Èåïý äéÜêïíïí åéò ôï áãáèüí> (Ñùì. 13, 4). Ç Ïñèüäïîïò çìþí Åêêëçóßá êáé åéäéêþôåñïí ôï Ïéêïõìåíéêüí Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïí ïõäÝðïôå õðÝêõøåí åéò ôïí ðåéñáóìüí ôçò áðïêôÞóåùò õð áõôÞò êïóìéêÞò åîïõóßáò ðñïò äçìéïõñãßáí ôïõ ïõôïðéêïý êñÜôïõò ôïõ Èåïý åðß ôçò ãçò.
ÅðéöõëÜóóåé åéò åáõôÞí ìüíïí ôï Ýñãïí ôçò êçñýîåùò ôçò ÷ñéóôéáíéêÞò áëçèåßáò êáé ôçò ðñïò üëïõò ðñïóêëÞóåùò äé åêïõóßáí áðïäï÷Þí áõôÞò, óåâïìÝíç êáé áãáðþóá áäéáêñßôùò ðéóôïýò êáé ìç, ùò ï áãáèüò Èåüò âñÝ÷åé åðß ðïíçñïýò êáé áãáèïýò êáé áíáôÝëëåé ôïí Þëéïí Áõôïý åðß äéêáßïõò êáé áäßêïõò. Ùò åê ôïýôïõ ç Ïñèüäïîïò Åêêëçóßá êáé åéäéêþôåñïí ôï Ïéêïõìåíéêüí Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïí áðïóêïðåß åéò ôçí ìåôáìüñöùóéí ôïõ êüóìïõ ìüíïí äéÜ ôçò åêïõóßáò áëëáãÞò ôïõ åóùôåñéêïý ôïõ áíèñþðïõ, ôïõ ïðïßïõ áðáýãáóìá åßíáé ç åîùôåñéêÞ óõìðåñéöïñÜ áõôïý êáé ç ìïñöÞ ôùí êïéíùíéþí. ¸ñãïí âñáäý ùò ç åðåíÝñãåéá ôçò æýìçò, áëëÜ óôáèåñüí êáé áðáñáßôçôïí, ðñïò áëëáãÞí ôùí êïéíùíéþí, ùò êáé ï Èïõêõäßäçò ðñï çìþí äéåêÞñõîåí. Åßíáé ðñïöáíÝò üôé ïé êñáôéêïß íüìïé åßíáé áðáñáßôçôïé äéÜ ôçí åõñõèìßáí ôçò êïéíùíéêÞò æùÞò. Áëë åî ßóïõ ðñïöáíÝò åßíáé üôé ç êáëëéÝñãåéá ôçò åóùôåñéêÞò äéáèÝóåùò ðñïò óõììüñöùóéí ðñïò áõôïýò åßíáé ôï áðáñáßôçôïí äåýôåñïí óêÝëïò äéÜ ôçí áðïôåëåóìáôéêüôçôá áõôþí. Ç Åêêëçóßá åñãÜæåôáé åéò ôïí äåýôåñïí ôïýôïí ôïìÝá äñáóôçñßùò êáé óõíåñãÜæåôáé åõ÷áñßóôùò ìåôÜ ôùí ëïéðþí äñáóôçñéïðïéïõìÝíùí åéò áõôüí. Ëáîåýåé ôïõò èåßïõò íüìïõò åðß ôùí øõ÷þí, ùò ï íïìïèÝôçò Ëõêïýñãïò åëÜîåõåí ôïõò áíèñùðßíïõò, êñßíïõóá åí óõìöùíßá ìåô áõôïý üôé ïëéãþôåñïí ÷ñÞóéìïò åßíáé ç ëÜîåõóéò áõôþí åðß óôçëþí ëéèßíùí, êáßôïé âåâáßùò ðáíôá÷ïý ôçò ãçò êáôáóðåßñåé êåßìåíá, ôïí èåßïí íüìïí ðåñéÝ÷ïíôá. Ïýôù äçìéïõñãåß åðéóôïëÜò ×ñéóôïý åããåãñáììÝíáò åí êáñäßáéò óáñêßíáéò êáé ïõ÷ß åí ðëáîßí ëéèßíáéò, êáôÜ ôïí ëüãïí ôïõ Áðïóôüëïõ Ðáýëïõ, üí óÞìåñïí äéåäÝ÷èçìåí åéò ôï âÞìá ôïýôï (´ Êïñ. 3, 3). Åí ôïýôù åßíáé ðïëõôéìüôáôïò óõíåñãüò ôçò Ðïëéôåßáò, ùò ðÜíôåò õìåßò ãíùñßæåôå, äéüôé óõíåñãåß åéò ôçí äéÜðëáóéí ðïëéôþí öéëïíüìùí, åñãáôéêþí, ôéìßùí, öéëáëëÞëùí, åéñçíéêþí, öéëáíèñþðùí, öéëïðáôñßäùí êáé ðñïò üëïõò ðñïóçíþí êáé ôïõò ðÜíôáò óåâïìÝíùí êáé áãáðþíôùí. Ç ðñïëçðôéêÞ áýîçóéò äéÜ ôçò ïñèïäüîïõ áãùãÞò ôùí êáëþí ðïëéôþí áðïôåëåß ôçí áóöáëåóôÝñáí êáé ïéêïíïìéêùôÝñáí áíôéìåôþðéóéí ôùí äéáöüñùí êïéíùíéêþí åêôñïðþí, äéÜ ôçí èåñáðåßáí ôùí ïðïßùí ôåñÜóôéáé êáôáâÜëëïíôáé ðñïóðÜèåéáé êáé óçìáíôéêÜ äáðáíþíôáé ðïóÜ ìåôÜ ìåôñßùí áðïôåëåóìÜôùí>.
ÉÏÕËÉÏÓ 1999
ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ
ÓÅËÉÄÁ 17
Ï ¢ãéïò Çëßáò ï ÐñïöÞôçò: Ï <ÏõñÜíéïò Üíèñùðïò> ôçò ðñïöçôåßáò ôïõ êáè. Ãåùñãßïõ ÌðåìðÞ
<Ï
õñÜíéï Üíèñùðï> êáé <åðßãåéï Üããåëï> áðïêáëåß, ï éåñüò õìíùäüò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò ôïí Üãéï êáé èáõìáóôü ðñïöÞôç ôçò ÐáëáéÜò ÄéáèÞêçò ôïí <èåïìáêÜñéóôïí> Çëßá. Ç Åêêëçóßá ìáò ôéìÜ ôïí ðñïöÞôç Çëßá, ãéáôß óôï óåìíü ðñüóùðü ôïõ âëÝðåé ôçí áðüëõôç õðáêïÞ óôï ðáíÜãéï èÝëçìá ôïõ Èåïý, èáõìÜæåé ôá áîéïèáýìáóôá èáýìáôá, ôá ïðïßá åðïßçóå ìå ôçí ÷Üñç ôïõ Èåïý áëëÜ êáé óõììåôÝ÷åé óôçí ïëüöùôç ðáñïõóßá ôïõ Êõñßïõ çìþí Éçóïý ×ñéóôïý êáôÜ ôçí ÌåôáìüñöùóÞ Ôïõ óôï ðïëõèñýëçôï üñïò Èáâþñ. ÊáôÜ ðÜóá ðéèáíüôçôá ï ðñïöÞôçò Çëßáò ãåííÞèçêå óôçí ðüëç ÈÝóâç ôçò ðåñéï÷Þò ÃáëáÜä, áóöáëþò ðÝñá áðü ôïí ÉïñäÜíç ðïôáìü. Ãé áõôü êáé ïíïìÜæåôáé êáé <Èåóâßôçò>. Ï ðáôÝñáò ôïõ ï ÓùäÜê åßäå üíåéñï, óôï ïðïßï ðñïÝâëåðå ôï Ýíäïîï ìÝëëïí ôïõ ãéïõ ôïõ. ÐñÜãìáôé ï ðñïöÞôçò Çëßáò Ýäñáóå èåïðñåðþò åðß ôçò âáóéëåßáò ôùí âáóéëÝùí Á÷áÜâ êáé Ï÷ïæßïõ êáôÜ ôïí 9ï áéþíá ð.×. Áò óçìåéùèåß üôé ïé ðëçñïöïñßåò ãéá ôçí æùÞ ôïõ ðñïÝñ÷ïíôáé áðü ôï ôñßôï êáé ôÝôáñôï âéâëßï ôùí Âáóéëåéþí ôçò ÐáëáéÜò ÄéáèÞêçò. ÏõóéáóôéêÜ, ç æùÞ ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Çëßá Þôáí Ýíáò åìðíåõóìÝíïò áãþíáò ãéá ôçí áëçèéíÞ èñçóêåßá ôïõ Ãéá÷âÝ, ôïõ áëçèéíïý Èåïý ôïõ ÉóñáÞë. Óôï éåñü ðñüóùðï ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Çëßá äéáâëÝðïõìå ôçí ðÜëç ôïõ ìïíïèåúóìïý åíÜíôéá óôçí åéäùëïëáôñßá êáé ôïõ èñçóêåõôéêïý óõãêñçôéóìïý, ôïí ïðïßï åéóÞãáãå, êõñßùò ç âáóßëéóóá ÉåæÜâåë, ç óýæõãïò ôïõ âáóéëéÜ Á÷áÜâ. Ç ÐáëáéÜ ÄéáèÞêç ðåñéãñÜöåé ðáñáóôáôéêÜ ôç óýãêñïõóç ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Çëßá ìå ôïõò ôåôñáêüóéïõò éåñåßò ôïõ ôç ÂáÜë. Ðñïóåõ÷Þèçêå óôïí Èåü ôïõò íá êÜøåé ôçí ðñïóöïñÜ ôïõò óôïí åéäùëïëáôñéêü âùìü ôïõò êáé áðÝôõ÷áí. Ï Çëßáò êáôáóêåýáóå äéêü ôïõ èõóéáóôÞñéï êáé ôïðïèÝôçóå åðÜíù ôá îýëá êáé ôç èõóßá ôïõ. Êé áöïý êáôÜâñåîå ôï èõóéáóôÞñéï ôñåéò öïñÝò, ðñïóåõ÷Þèçêå èåñìÜ óôïí áëçèéíü Èåü ôïõ ÁâñáÜì, ÉóáÜê êáé Éáêþâ íá óôåßëåé öùôéÜ íá êÜøåé ôçí ðñïóöïñÜ ôïõ, ãéá íá ðåéóèåß ï ëáüò ôïõ ÉóñáÞë, üôé
õðÜñ÷åé ìüíï Ýíáò Êýñéïò êáé Èåüò ôïõ ÉóñáÞë. Ôï èáýìá Þôáí üíôùò êáôáðëçêôéêü. ÖùôéÜ åî ïõñáíïý êáôÝêáõóå ôá ðÜíôá ðÜíù óôï èõóéáóôÞñéï êáé ãýñù áðü áõôü. ¼ëïò ï ëáüò ôïõ ÉóñáÞë Ýðåóå óôá ãüíáôá ðñïóêõíþíôáò êáé äéáêçñýóóïíôáò ìå ìéá öùíÞ, <Áëçèþò Êýñéïò ï Èåüò, áõôüò Ýóôéí ï Èåüò>. (ô Âáó. 18, 39). Êáé ìüíï áõôü ôï áíåðáíÜëçðôï èáýìá, ìðïñïýóå íá ôïí êáôáóôÞóåé ðáíÝíäïîï óôçí éåñÞ éóôïñßá ôïõ ÉóñáÞë. Âåâáßùò, ï ðñïöÞôçò Çëßáò Ýêáíå êé Üëëá èáýìáôá. Ìå ôçí ðñïóåõ÷Þ ôïõ Ýöåñå âñï÷Þ óôç äéøáóìÝíç ãç, áíÝóôçóå åê íåêñþí ôïí ãéü ôçò ÷Þñáò, ç ïðïßá ôïí öéëïîÝíçóå, êáé ìå ôçí ðñïöçôéêÞ ôïõ äýíáìç ðñïöÞôåõóå ôï ïéêôñü ôÝëïò ôùí âáóéëÝùí, ðïõ ðïëåìïýóáí ôïí Èåü ôïõ ÉóñáÞë. Ôï óðïõäáéüôåñï ãåãïíüò ôçò æùÞò ôïõ, ßóùò åßíáé ç èåïðôßá ðïõ ï ðñïöÞôçò Çëßáò áîéþèçêå íá æÞóåé óôï üñïò ×ùñÞâ. ¹ôáí ìéá óõãêëïíéóôéêÞ åìðåéñßá ãéáôß ï Êýñéïò ðáñïõóéÜóôçêå ùò <ëåðôÞ áýñá> êáé ìå ôçí öùíÞ Ôïõ, ôïõ Ýäùóå ïäçãßåò ãéá ôçí åîÜóêçóç ôïõ Ýñãïõ ôïõ. (ô Âáó. 19, 9-18).
Ó
ôï äåýôåñï êåöÜëáéï ôïõ ÔÝôáñôïõ âéâëßïõ ôùí Âáóéëåéþí ðåñéãñÜöåôáé ôï ðÝñáóìá ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Çëßá ìå ôïí ìáèçôÞ ôïõ Åëéóóáßï ìÝóù ôïõ ÉïñäÜíç ðïôáìïý, ï ïðïßïò ó÷ßóèçêå óôá äýï, ãéá íá äéáâïýí ðåæïß ïé äýï ðñïöÞôåò. Åðßóçò ðåñéãñÜöåôáé ç áíÜëçøç ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Çëßá óôïõò ïõñáíïýò ìå Üñìá êáé Üëïãá öùôéÜò êáé åí ìÝóù óåéóìïý, åíþ ç ìçëùôÞ (ï ìáíäýáò) ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Ýðåöôå óôá ÷Ýñéá ôïõ Åëéóóáßïõ. Ï Åëéóóáßïò ÷ñéóìÝíïò áðü ôïí ðñïöÞôç Çëßá ùò ðñïöÞôçò ôïõ Êõñßïõ, ôïí äéáäÝ÷èçêå óôï éåñü Ýñãï ôçò ðñïöçôåßáò êáé ôçò åí ãÝíåé äéáêïíßáò ôïõ ëáïý ôïõ ÉóñáÞë. Åêôüò áðü ôçí èáõìáôïõñãéêÞ äñÜóç ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Çëßá, ï ðÜíáãíïò áõôüò ðñïöÞôçò ìáò Üöçóå ôï ðáñÜäåéãìá ôçò áãéüôçôáò ôïõ âßïõ, ôçò õðáêïÞò óôï èÝëçìá ôïõ Èåïý êáé ôçò áîéïèáýìáóôçò áóêçôéêÞò æùÞò ôïõ. Æïýóå ôçí æùÞ ôçò åñÞìïõ, íôõìÝíïò ìå âáñéÜ åíäýìáôá, íÞóôåõå êáé ðñïóåõ÷üôáí ìå ôáðåéíïóýíç êáé áãÜðç ðñïò ôïí Èåü. Ï óõããñáöÝáò ôçò Óïößáò ÓåéñÜ÷, (êåö. 42) åîõìíåß ôïí ðñïöÞôç Çëßá áðïêáëþíôáò ôïí öùôéÜ êáé ëáìðÜäá êáé áíáöùíåß <ðüóïí
åäïîÜóèçò Çëßá ìå ôá èáýìáôÜ óïõ... ìáêÜñéïé åßíáé åêåßíïé ðïõ óå åßäáí åéò ôçí æùÞí ôùí...> Ïé ÐáôÝñåò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò ôïí ôßìçóáí êáé åîýìíçóáí ôéò Üãéåò áñåôÝò ôïõ. Ï Üãéïò Êýñéëëïò ï Éåñïóïëýìùí áðïêáëåß ôïí ðñïöÞôç Çëßá êáé ôïí ìáèçôÞ ôïõ, ðñïöÞôç Åëéóóáßï, <ðíåõìáôïöüñïõò êáé èáõìáôïõñãïýò>, <ãåìÜôïõò áðü Ðíåýìá Üãéï>. (Êáôç÷. 16, 28). Ï Üãéïò ÌÜîéìïò ï ÏìïëïãçôÞò áðïêáëåß ôïí ðñïöÞôç Çëßá <ìÝãá> êáé óôïí ìáíäýá ôïí ïðïßï Üöçóå óôïí Åëéóóáßï äéáâëÝðåé ôï ðáñÜäåéãìá ôçò íÝêñùóçò ôçò óÜñêáò êáé ôçí <çèéêÞ êïóìéüôçôá>. (Åñìçí. Ëüãùí Êõñßïõ, Migne, ô. 90, 888-889). Ï Üãéïò Ãñçãüñéïò ï Èåïëüãïò áöéåñþíåé ïëüêëçñï ðïßçìá óôá èáýìáôá ôïõ Çëßá êáé ôïõ Åëéóóáßïõ (Åéò ôá ¸ðç ÄïãìáôéêÜ). Ï Üãéïò Ãñçãüñéïò ï Íýóóçò ôïí óõãêñßíåé ìå ôïí Üãéï ÉùÜííç ôïí Ðñüäñïìï, ôïí áðïêáëåß <ìÝãá> êáé ðñïóèÝôåé, üôé õøþèçêå óå ìåãÜëï <ìÝãåèïò ôùí èåßùí ÷áñéóìÜôùí> êáé Ýãéíå <äéá÷åéñéóôÞò ôùí äùñåþí ôïõ Èåïý>. (Ðåñß Ðáñèåíßáò, êåö. 6ï). Óôçí åñìçíåßá óôï ¢óìá ÁóìÜôùí ãñÜöåé, üôé ïé äéáâéïýíôåò ôçí æùÞ ôçò Åêêëçóßáò, ìéìïýíôáé ôçí <ìåãáëïóýíç> ôïõ ðñïöÞôç êáé ãßíïíôáé <äüîá ôçò Åêêëçóßáò êé áíåâáßíïõí ðñïò ôçí ïõñÜíéá ÷Üñç ìáæß ìå ôïí åñçìßôç ôïõ ÃáëáÜä>. (Ëüãïò 15ïò). Ï Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï ×ñõóüóôïìïò áðïêáëåß ôïí ðñïöÞôç Çëßá <ìÝãáí> (Ïìéë. Åéò Ìáôèáßïí ê.4) êáé ï Üãéïò Êýñéëëïò ï Áëåîáíäñåßá ó÷ïëéÜæåé óôçí 51ç ïìéëßá ôïõ, ôçí Ìåôáìüñöùóç ôïõ ÓùôÞñïò êáé åîáßñåé ôçí ðáñïõóßá ôïõ Çëßá êáé ôïõ ÌùõóÞ êáé áðïêáëåß ôïí Çëßá ôïí ðëÝïí äéáêåêñéìÝíï áðü ôïõò ðñïöÞôåò.
Ï
Ïñèüäïîïò ëáüò ìáò ôßìçóå êáé ôéìÜ ôïí ðñïöÞôç Çëßá ìå ðïëëÜ ðáñåêêëÞóéá ôá ïðïßá ïéêïäüìçóå êáé ïéêïäïìåß óôéò øçëÝò êïñõöÝò ôùí âïõíþí, ãéáôß ï ðñïöÞôçò Çëßáò åßíáé ï ðñïóôÜôçò ôùí ïõñáíþí. Êáé ç Åêêëçóßá ìáò ôéìÜ ôçí ìíÞìç ôïõò åðÜîéá óôéò 20 Éïõëßïõ. Áò ðñïóðáèïýìå íá ãßíïõìå êáé åìåßò, äéÜ ðñåóâåéþí ôïõ ðñïöÞôç Çëßá, <Ýíóáñêïé Üããåëïé> ðñïò äüîá ôïõ ðáíÜãéïõ ïíüìáôïò ôïõ Èåïý. Ï ê. Ãåþñãéïò Ó. ÌðåìðÞò åßíáé êáèçãçôÞò Ðáôñïëïãßáò,óôçí ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý, ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò.
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
PAGE 18
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JULY 1999
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A
n old pastor went on vacation. His young associate gave the Sunday sermon. When the pastor returned, he asked a parishioner how the young priest had done. It was a very poor homily - not much to it - his delivery was all right - but no substance to the sermon, the member replied. When the old priest asked his associate how he felt about his preaching that previous Sunday, the young priest said, Very good. I didn t have time to prepare a sermon, but I found one of your old sermons. So, I gave it! The following are excerpts from four different sermons. I am plagiarizing, I know. Sometimes I do it without realizing it, always without shame. I often embrace the thoughts of others as if they are my own. However, I am not seeking credit (or blame) but rather sharing information, in this instance, with our Observer readers. What is said in this column might interest not only senior citizens but perhaps other age groups also. So, here goes. The first thing to be said is that only developed societies have the luxury of a piece of life called retirement. As improvements in health care have brought more individuals to this point in life, some find themselves uncertain about what to do with new-found spare time.
Purpose and Goal of Retirement For everything there is a season, and the retirement years have their own purpose and possibilities. I see these years as a time of summing up, of bringing into unity what has gone before, of seeing life s details in relation to the whole. I see these years as a time of letting go on non-essentials, a time for focusing attention on what lies yet ahead. These years offer a time for finding within myself the reservoir of strength and ingenuity needed to meet new kinds of challenges. This is a time for measuring myself against the ideals of wholeness and maturity by which I have - perhaps unconsciously - judged others. Perhaps most of all I see these years as a time of gratitude for the conviction I have that a benevolent God not only sustains us but also intends for us a life that never ends, a new life beyond this one that will be the answer to the ever-nagging question: Why am I here? What s it all about?
Making up for lost time Retirement gives us time to grow into our best selves. It lets us make up for time lost earlier to less beneficial pursuits. Freed of pressing obligations, we have the enviable opportunity to explore ways to enrich our lives and possibly to enrich the lives of others as well. Time need never be long for the individual who sets goals to achieve. Indeed, time will seem too short for the person who, with Robert Frost, has promises to keep and miles to go before he sleeps. Viewed as an opportunity, the mature years can be the best years of all! We say this not boastfully, but gratefully.
We are now wise enough to love Age has not just added years and aches and pains. Age has outfitted us with greater wisdom and maturity than we have been able to claim earlier. Seeing life with more mature eyes, we can sift out the important from the unimportant. Better than we could have understood earlier, we see the challenge to love as both a responsibility to bear and a privilege to strive for, alongside Jesus Who is truly the Way. When we attempt to meet this challenge in our personal living, we rightly do what our greater age demands of us: We respond to the call to greater maturity. The gift of added years is our invitation from God to continue moving out of our tiny world of youthful selfcenteredness and into the wider world of loving relationships with others.
Aging is a Process No one period of life, of course, has a monopoly on either joys or sorrows. The media sometimes characterize the elderly as if all are poor, needy, and neglected, or as if most are wealthy, pampered, and comfortable. Neither picture is realistic, for the aging process touches each individual, whatever his or her economic or social status. Of course, it is true that material security can alleviate some of the problems age brings. Even the wealthy, however, are not exempt from some of age s commonly experienced problems. Rich or poor, we feel the effects of our accumulated years. Rich or poor, we yet can choose what shall be the quality of our days during this stage of our lives. Write to Fr Nicholas L. Vieron, RCA Epistle editor, pastor emeritus of The Annunciation Church, 573 N. Highland Memphis, TN 38122 - (901) 323-9530 E-mail: nlvieron@ixlmemphis.com.
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
PAGE 19
SCOBA Expresses Full Support for Archbishop u page 1 Therefore I would like to make a motion that we in SCOBA support Your Eminence Archbishop Spyridon in all your endeavors to build the Church as the Body of Christ, because we know you very well and we see your blessed work as Archbishop and the good shepherd of the flock who hears the voices and concerns of the clergy and laity who comprise the Body of Christ, and you are faithful to Holy Tradition. The SCOBA members ask all Orthodox Faithful in the USA and Canada not to resort to such groups to have their voices heard. We must solve our problems within the Church. The motion passed unanimously and was followed by another motion congratulating Archbishop Spyridon on the recognition he has received from the U.S. State Department for his leadership and work in human rights and religious freedom. The meeting was chaired by the Archbishop and attended by the following member Hierarchs (listed by office in SCOBA, host, seniority, and proxy): Metropolitan Joseph of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church (Secretary of SCOBA), Metropolitan Nicholas of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church (Ecumenical Patriarchate and Treasurer of SCOBA), Metropolitan Theodosius of the OCA (the host for today s meeting), Archbishop Victorin of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada, Metropolitan Constantine of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Bishop Antoun who represented Metropolitan Philip (Vice Chairman) of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, and Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthou who directs InterOrthodox Relations for SCOBA, and is the executive director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Ecumenical Office. Archbishop Peter, the OCA bishop of New York also attended the meeting. During the course of the meeting, the hierarchs of SCOBA unanimously approved the following statement on Kosovo and the Balkans: STATEMENT ON KOSOVO AND THE BALKANS The large-scale violence and atrocities in Kosovo as well as the bombing of Yugoslavia have come to an end. Many Albanian refugees and expellees are returning to Kosovo. Many Serbs of Kosovo are now fleeing. In a courageous pastoral act, Patriarch Pavle has moved to Pec in Kosovo, the ancient patriarchal see of the Church of Serbia, to emphasize his appeal to the Serbs of Kosovo to stay in their ancestral land, relying on the international force which has entered Kosovo to protect the Serbs and Albanians of Kosovo alike. We express our support of Patriarch Pavle and of Bishop Artemije, the Serbian Orthodox Church s Bishop of Kosovo s see of Raska-Prizren, in their appeal for intercommunal peace and in their commitment to the continuing and historic presence of Serbs in Kosovo. We commend and support the policy of the international force in Kosovo (KFOR) defending the right of Serbs and Albanians alike in Kosovo to live at peace in their land. While war appears to have ended in Kosovo, the peace has not been won. What lies ahead is the painful and difficult work of conflict-resolution and reconciliation, rebuilding and reconstruction in Kosovo, in Yugoslavia as a whole,
and in the whole of southeastern Europe. The religious communities of the region must take a full and active part in the work of building a peaceful and just present and future for all the peoples of the region. If peace is to be won for all of southeastern Europe, it is particularly important that the Orthodox Churches of the region assume an active and constructive regional role in spiritual renewal, economic reconstruction, and humanitarian responsibility. It is critically important that the Serbian Orthodox Church be given quick and strong affirmation as a key participant in the process of regional reconstruction, and that this involvement of the Church of Serbia be understood as an important starting point for the civil and democratic renewal of Yugoslavia. Finally, we affirm and endorse the on-going work of the humanitarian agency of the Orthodox Christians in the United States and Canada, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in Yugoslavia and southeastern Europe. IOCC has had a strong presence in the Balkans for seven years, and is now engaged in an effort to build on this foundation by establishing a regional response to the Balkan crisis a response which would include Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, and Greece. We commend IOCC and its work to Orthodox faithful and parishes, and urge our Orthodox people to give their strong financial and moral support to IOCC. We also commend IOCC to the various governments, to international and regional organizations, and to humanitarian agencies as an Orthodox humanitarian agency fully committed to humanitarian help for people of all ethnic and religious groups in the spirit of reconciliation. During the five hour meeting, the SCOBA hierarchs discussed various issues concerning deposed clergy and non-canonical churches. They also heard reports from the executive director of IOCC, Dean Triantafilou, who had just returned from Belgrade, on the IOCC s humanitarian work in the region. Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthou gave an update on ecumenical affairs, including the last two meetings of Orthodox/Roman Catholic dialogues and the Orthodox/ Lutheran dialogues. It was also decided to reinstate the Orthodox/Episcopalian dialogue, beginning in November. Archbishop Spyridon has worked for the past two years with SCOBA hierarchs and the leadership of the Episcopal Church to re-start this dialogue. Metropolitan Maximos of Aenou, presiding hierarch of the Pittsburgh Diocese will head the Orthodox delegation on behalf of SCOBA. Written reports from OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) and the SCOBA Scouting Commission also were received. SCOBA members also heard reports for the Millennium observance and designated the Sunday of Orthodoxy, 2000, as its official observance with a special service at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York. There will also be a major SCOBA encyclical issued for the occasion and a joint press statement. Regional events, including youth events and special joint choral concerts will highlight the year. In other business, Metropolitan Nicholas of the Carpatho-Russian Church agreed to serve as chairman of the SCOBA Study and Planning Commission.
699
649
869
379-519
$
JULY
549
869
339-399
$
AUGUST
669
299-399
$
SEPTEMBER
PAGE 20
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
JULY 1999
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
Youth Ministry
The Challenge needs YOU!
challenge
What’s in a Name?
T
by Bill Tragus
HROUGHOUT my life, I have heard many people comment, either seriously or in jest, that it was a woman, Eve, who first ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, it was because of a woman that sin was allowed to enter our world. It s interesting to me that I rarely hear from people I know or from the world around me that it was also through a woman that Salvation came to the world, in the name of Jesus Christ. The woman that I am speaking of is the Virgin Mary. The virgin Mary is the one that the Orthodox Church holds first among the saints. Hence, the church has given her the name Theotokos (Godbearer or Mother of God) and Panayia (All Holy). The Theotokos was chosen by God because she was pure, both physically, in mind and in heart. When the angel told her at the Annunciation what was about to take place, she accepted the will of God, responding: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to thy word. The Theotokos has always been an inspiration to me. Like many other people, I am continuously evaluating what type of Christian I am. It seems to me that when I am not listening to the things that God requires from me, it is then that I fall short of the Christian life I wish to live. During these moments i have often felt it was just too difficult to be obedient to God s word. In times like these, I remind myself of the Theotokos and look upon her as a role model for my Christian life. We live in a world of role models. We all have them. The reason we have
PAGE 21
role models is because we are attracted to people who have risen above obstacles in their lives and succeeded in their field. And, because we have goals ourselves which are very similar to our role models goals, we try to emulate these people with the hope of attaining some kind of success close to or equivalent to that which they have attained. We even give them nicknames, such as the Mail Man for Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, because when he is on the basketball court, he delivers. We put a great deal of emphasis on names in today s society. Think about it. We wear only certain name brands because we know that name means quality or style. We give each other nicknames based on a persons character or our relation to one another. We even name our children in the Orthodox Church after saints or names found in the Bible. As we approach the 15th of August, we should reflect on the names the church has given the Virgin Mary. Because of her purity and willingness to obey God s will, the virgin Mary has interceded for all our lives so that we can know our God and Saviour. This is why she has been given the names Theotokos and Panayia. She is a model for all Christians. As Christians, we are faced with many worldly obstacles that cause us to sin and turn us away from God s teaching. This can be very disheartening for anyone who takes their faith seriously. Yet, we can always look to the Theotokos as the one who was so pure in body, mind and soul, that she was used as the vessel of God. She directs us always towards Christ, who alone is the Saviour of the world.
Email: youthoffice@goarch.org
SAINTS AND FEASTS St. Panteleimon- July 27
ST. PANTELEIMON was born in 275 AD in Nicomedia, Asia Minor of a pagan father and a Christian mother. As a young man he studied medicine under the Empire s most famous physician. St. Panteleimon s intelligence, dedication and great skills brought him to the attention of Emperor Maximillian, who befriended him and supported the young doctor s career. St. Panteleimon worked all the time and traveled far and wide in helping people with their ailments. On one such journey, St. Panteleimon met an old monk, Ermolaos, who reminded him where the real power of healing came from. After spending time with the holy man, St. Panteleimon came to fully realize, just as his mother had once taught him, the importance and vitality of his life and work dedicated to Christ, the greatest healer of all. The young doctor began to apply his faith and Christian love to his work in helping others. He once met a blind man whom many doctors had tried to cure unsuccessfully. St. Panteleimon knew his own physician s skills were limited, but that the Lord s love and grace were infinite, so he kneeled before the blind man and prayed to God with all his might for a cure for his patient. The Lord blessed them with a miracle: the blind man could see! News of this miracle spread everywhere very quickly and many believers converted to the faith as a result. Many of the local doctors were quite jealous of St. Panteleimon s success and they conspired to denounce him as a Christian to the pagan emperor, knowing that then his glory days would be over. The emperor was very angry with his young doctor s betrayal. Before his great friend and patron, St. Panteleimon declared his faith in Christ, and even miraculously cured a man of his paralysis in front of him. This miracle brought more people to Christianity. The emperor condemned St. Panteleimon to torture and death. St. Panteleimon endured a variety of barbaric tortures which included being thrown into a fiery pit, a dungeon with wild animals, and a river with a heavy stone tied to him, but he survived each one by the grace of God. In the end, they finally decided to cut off his head, but the executioner s sword broke when he tried. St. Panteleimon knelt in his final prayers to the Lord and then gave the executioner permission to strike. Milk, not blood, flowed from the fatal wound. This great healer, whose name means all-merciful gave his life to God in his ultimate act of dedication on July 27th.
Challenging Fill in the Blank Using the clues below, fill in the blanks above to discover the hidden word
It s Summer, What do I do? u Go to a park, zoo or a botanical garden. u Visit a home for the elderly u Visit a Homeless Shelter with your Church Youth Group
(don t wait until Thanksgiving) u Read (maybe the Bible - the Gospel of John is great!) u Go to Church (don t forget the feast of the Falling Asleep of the Theotokos on August 15) u Spend more time with your family, maybe on a vacation u Visit the home-bound (clean their house, mow their lawn, bring them groceries, etc.) u If on vacation, write postcards to your youth group friends or to your priest. u Fly a kite or play baseball or volleyball, or go for a swim or take a hike, but get outdoors and enjoy God s magnificent creation!
CELEBRATE THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM! Pan-Orthodox Youth Workers Conference November 19-21, 1999 Antiochian Village Retreat Center Ligonier, PA
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) College and Young Adult Conference December 18-22, 1999 Antiochian Village Retreat Center Ligonier, PA
For more information on both youth events, call your Diocese Youth Office or the National Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries @ 212-570-3560.
&
1. The icon traditionally placed in the apse above the altar 2. Zachariah s wife/John the Baptist s mother 3. The angel who proclaimed the Good News to the Virgin Mary 4. He was Betrothed to the Virgin Mary 5. The Panagia s birth is celebrated in this month
6. This Greek monastic peninsula is dedicated to and protected by the Virgin Mary 7. Hymn sung on Fridays of Great Lent 8. Parents of the Virgin Mary 9. Service of Supplication traditionally chanted to the Virgin Mary from August 1st - 15th
FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS TO US Hear this, ye fathers, bring your children up with great, great care in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Youth is wild, and requires many governors, teachers, directors, attendants, and tutors; and after all these, it is a happiness if it be restrained. For as a horse is not broken in, or a wild beast untamed, such is youth. But if from the beginning, from the earliest age, we fix in it good rules, much pains will not be required afterwards; for good habits formed will be for them as a law. Let us not suffer them to do anything that is agreeable but injurious; nor let us indulge them as being but children . . . Let us admonish them. Let us employ sometimes advice, sometimes warning, sometimes threatening. In chil-
dren we have a great charge committed to us. Let us bestow great care upon them, and do everything that the Evil One may not rob us of them. - St. John Chrysostom Challenge is the youth supplement to the Orthodox Observer a service of the Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministries.
Articles reflect the opinion of the writers. Write to: Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; 8 East 79th Street,New York, N.Y. 10021
Contributors for this issue Fr. Anastasios Bourantas Natalie Kulukundis Bill Tragus
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
PAGE 22
JULY 1999
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1999 Diocese finalists in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival join Metropolitan Methodios, the Very Rev. Damaskinos Ganas, HC/HC president; the Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, Religious Education Department director; Fr. John and Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos, festival co-chairmen; and Fr. Andrew George, host committee chairman.
16th Chrysostom Festival Held at HC/HC
BROOKLINE, Mass. The 16th annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Finals took place June 12 at the Hellenic College/Holy Cross Chapel. Theme of the 1999 Festival, sponsored by the Department of Religious Education, was The Liturgical Year. Metropolitan Methodios and the Diocese Host Committee provided a weekend of memorable events. The 18 finalists, two from each Diocese representing the Junior and Senior Divisions, along with their family members, arrived from all corners of the Archdiocese on Friday afternoon. The weekend events began with Vespers and dinner at the St. Nicholas Church in the historic city of Lexington. The evening continued with the introduction of each Oratorical finalist. Many friendships were formed as the finalists got to know each other through an ice breaker and social following the delicious meal. The weekend event was higlighted on Saturday by the presentation of the oratorical speeches. The program began with an opening prayer given by His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston assisted by the Very Reverand Archimandrite Damaskinos Ganas, president of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology. Prior to the beginning of the Festival, the Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, Director of the Department of Religious Education for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, extended a warm welcome to the finalists and commended their families for the encouragement and support they have given their children. The 18 finalists from the nine dioceses of the Archdiocese spoke before a capacity audience in Holy Cross Chapel. Introducing each speaker by number and topic were previous Boston Diocese finalists. Focusing on the Department of Religious Education s theme of the The Liturgical Year some of the topics for the 1999 Festival included: Why is the Cross the greatest symbol of our faith and an integral part of our Orthodox worship? and Grant me Your Servant the spirit of moderation, humility, patience and love.: Acknowledging the fact that our society emphasizes self-gratification, how can we adhere to these words from the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian. Results of the judges were announced at the Awards Ceremony in the chapel. Top three Junior Division winners were: Christina Krommydas, St. Demetrios Church, Weston, Mass., first place;
Anastasia Rogers, St. George Church, Asbury Park, N.J., second; and Elena Legeros, St. Demetrios Church, Seattle, third. Top three Senior Division speakers were Maria Varmazis, Transfiguration of Our Savior Church, Lowell, Mass., first place; Alice Shukla, Holy Cross Church, Farmington Hills, Mich., second place; and Evangelos Kostaris, St. Theodore Church, Lanham, Md., third place. The three top three honorees received college scholarships. Junior Division finalists received scholarships for $850, $600 and $400 respectively. Senior Division top three speakers received college scholarships of $1,000, $750, and $500 respectively. Each remaining speaker received honorable mention and a $200 United States Savings Bond. Junior Division speakers receiving honorable mention were: Archdiocesan District-Andrea Xenophon-St. Demetrios Church, Merrick, N.Y.; Atlanta DioceseNicholas Nimey-St. Barbara ChurchSarasota, Fla.; Chicago Diocese-Louis Costa-St. John the Baptist Church-Des Plaines, Ill; Danielle Holbeck-Prophet Elias Church-Salt Lake City; Detroit Diocese-Michelle Flevotomas-Annunciation Cathedral-Detroit; Pittsburgh DioceseJonathan Gromek, Annunciation ChurchCleveland. The Senior Division speakers receiving Honorable Mention are: Archdiocesan District- Peter Zimmar-Church of Our Savior, Rye, N.Y.; Atlanta Diocese-Leah Zissimopoulos-St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Chicago DioceseJohn Franck-Sts. Constantine & Helen Church-Palos Hills, Ill.;Denver DioceseDomina Holbeck-Prophet Elias ChurchSalt Lake City; Pittsburgh DiocesePriscilla Callos-Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral, Cleveland; San Francisco Diocese-Joseph Whitely-Annunciation Church, Modesto, Calif. In addition to the aforementioned awards, everyone received a beautiful plaque recognizing his/her achievements, as well as a certificate signed by Archbishop Spyridon, Fr. Frank Marangos, Fr. John and Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos, Archdiocese Oratorical Festival co-chairmen. Following the awards ceremony, a luncheon was held in the school dining hall followed by a campus tour. Finalists and their families then took
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JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
PAGE 23
Metropolitan Nikitas Visits U.S.
u
Fr. George Tsetses, WCC Representative, Retires
Metropolitan Nikitas received an invitation from OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) to visit various parishes in the United States and speak to the Orthodox faithful about the mission work in Asia. Some fund-raising dinners have been organized as well. Metropolitan Nikitas also participated in many liturgical services and other functions.
Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ 2000
G
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The first activity of the Millennium event series organized by the Hong Kong Christian Council took place on May 3. The Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia sponsored a week-long exhibition titled The Image of Christ in China. A priest of the Metropolitanate, Fr. George, represented the Orthodox Metropolitanate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. A calligraphy scroll with the four Chinese characters which say Emmanuel was given by the artist as appreciation for sponsoring the exhibition.
10th Anniversary of Estonia s Council of Churches
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TALLINN, Estonia The 10th anniversary gathering of the Council of Churches in Estonia took place May 22 at the Piukhtitsy Convent of the Dormition. Among those attending were Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia who, then the administrator of the Tallinn and Estonia diocese, was among those who founded this forum in 1989. The Patriarch expressed the wish that the Council of Churches in Estonia may do what it can to help consolidate peace, mutual understanding and authentic civil society in Estonia, in which the cultural, religious and linguistic identity of all people living in Estonia should be respected.
Progress Noted in Indonesia
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MEDAN, Indonesia Fr. Chrysostomos Manalu on May 14 blessed the foundation of the St. Evdokia Church in H. Sada. The building will be completed in three months. In August the St. Sophia s Kindergarten will open in Medan. In June more than 52 catechumens will be baptized Orthodox Christians at the St. Evdokia Church.
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Serb Priest Killed
Fr. Milivoje Ciric of Varvarin, Serbia, was killed by NATO bombs in the courtyard of his church about 1 p.m. on Pentecost Sunday, according to reports. NATO bombs rained down on this agricultural village, killing nine civilians and wounding 28. Most were crossing a bridge by foot and in cars.
Metropolitan of Japan Dies
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Metropolitan Theodosios the Primate of the Orthodox Church in Japan died in early May. On May 12, a Trisagion service was held at the Metropolitanate office chapel for the repose of his soul.
BISHOP Dimitrios with Syndesmos Anniversary participants
Bishop Dimitrios Attends Syndesmos Youth Workers Golden Anniversary Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos recently participated in the 50th anniversary of SYNDESMOS Consultation of Orthodox Youth workers. Syndesmos, presently headquartered in Bialystok, Poland, is the worldwide fellowship of Orthodox youth. Representatives of 19 nations attended. His Grace is the only North Ameri-
can to have served as the organization s president (1977-80). The consultation was held at the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland, site of the first Orthodox Youth Workers Consultation in 1949. Two of the original participants attended, Dr. Ioannis Lappas of Greece and Velizar Gajic of France.
NCC Praises Serbian Church s Call for Milosevic s Resignation by Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbel
Our colleagues in the Serbian Orthodox Church in Yugoslavia, Patriarch Pavle and the Holy Synod, have taken the brave and risky step of calling for the resignation of Slobodan Milosevic in the interest of the people and their salvation. These faith partners need our strongest support in these difficult times. Their concern is religious and humanitarian rather than political, just as was our recent U.S. religious mission to Belgrade. We believe it is imperative that we stand with our associates in support of their concern for all of God s children. Our U.S. and worldwide religious communities already are doing this. We will call upon President Clinton to join us in this advocacy. The U.S. government holds the key to enabling the Serbian Orthodox Church to gain strength in promoting a climate where a just and lasting peace can be created. There are some tangible ways in which President Clinton could be helpful: U.S. forces can give special attention to protecting Bishop Artemije of Kosovo
and the many priests and nuns who have fled from their churches and monasteries to his Episcopal Headquarters in Prizren. In February, it was Bishop Artemije who called on Mr. Milosevic to introduce democracy in Serbia. Bishop Artemije now says that his residence is surrounded by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). All there fear for their lives. Our U.S. government can be forthright in expressing appreciation for the position statement of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Critical attention should be given to protecting the Serbian Orthodox Church personnel as well as the art treasures, holy places and sacred spaces in Kosovo. The church is concerned that these holy sites, especially the ancient seat of the Serbian church in the town of Pec, will be vandalized now that Yugoslav troops are withdrawing. The peacekeeping forces can ensure that all are protected in Kosovo-ethnic Albanians and Serbs alike.
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Leader of Armenian Apostolic Church Dies at 66 Karekin I, the leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, whose title was Catholicos, died June 29 after a bout with cancer. The 66-year-old head of one of the world s oldest Christian faiths had suffered from a heavy illness, the church stated. The white-bearded, bespectacled Karekin had worked to promote Armenia and its church abroad, Reuters reported. He often called for a peaceful solution to an 11-year-old dispute with Azerbaijan, a neighboring Muslim republic, over the majority Armenian Karabakh region. On a visit to the United States in early October 1997, Karekin came to Archdiocese headquarters and met with Archbishop Spyridon at Archdiocese headquarters and participated in a doxology in the chapel. The Armenian Apostolic Church is 1,700 years old and is one of the Ancient Churches of the East that split away from Byzantine Christianity before the Great Schism of 1054, which divided the Eastern and Western churches. Karekin, who was born in Syria and educated at Oxford University, became the leader of the church in 1995, four years after Armenia won independence from the Soviet Union.
reat Protopresbyter George Tsetses, per manent representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches in Geneva, retired June 30 after reaching the mandatory retirement age under Swiss law and WCC regulations. He will continue to represent the Ecumenical Patriarchate on the WCC s Central Committee. Fr. Tsetses served at the WCC in various positions for 35 years. He was first assigned in 1965 as executive secretary for Middle Eastern issues. In January 1985, he succeeded Metropolitan Emilianos of Silibria as permanent representative, a position first held by Archbishop Iakovos in the 1950s. Fr. Tsetses also served as archdeacon of the Princes Islands Diocese in Istanbul from 1961-64. In 1988, he received a doctorate of theology from the University of Thessaloniki and has published more than 70 articles on theological, liturgical and ecumenical issues in Greek, English and French.
ACT/Albanian Orthodox Church to Build 2 More Camps
TIRANA, Albania After the first camp for Kosovo refugees successfully opened in May through the joint effort of Action by Churches Together (ACT) and Diaconia Agapes of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, the ACT/DA Team has announced that work is under way on two new camps. One of the new sites is located in the commune of Gose in the Kavaja district southwest of Tirana. The other site is in Luz i Vogel, also in Kavaja. Each camp will initially host 3,000 refugees. Plans call for establishing camps for as many as 15,000 refugees. A national host family program also is under way. In Shkodra, ACT/ DA has set up a warehouse and recruited local staff to distribute monthly family food parcels to refugees living with host families. About 2,460 food parcels (each parcel weighs 18 kilos comprised of white beans, soya oil, sugar, pasta, milk powder, corn beef, dry yeast, flour and rice) and 180 family hygienic parcels (comprised of laundry detergent, soap, towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, combs and hairbrushes) recently arrived in Albania. The team plans to distribute the parcels and new clothing sets and shoes to 6,000 families (36,000 beneficiaries) in six prefectures throughout Albania.
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ORTHODOX OBSERVER
archDIOCESE NEWS
JULY 1999
WOMEN & ORTHODOXY
Archdiocese Clergy-Laity Assembly One Woman s Life Story Approves Resolutions at Annual Meeting Touched by an Angel, Saved by a Cow NEW YORK Delegates to the Archdiocese District Clergy Laity Assembly approved five resolutions and heard several reports on the Church s major programs and projects at their June 26 conference. Archbishop Spyridon gave the keynote address to the delegates, who greeted him with a standing ovation at St. Demetrios Church in Jamaica, Queens. His Eminence spoke of the Church as many voices with one message, drawing a comparison between Pentecost and the Tower of Babel event of the Old Testament as representing the world outside the Church.
with in the Tradition and Ecclesiology of the Church and to uphold the sacred relationship between laity, clergymen and their Archbishop. (submitted by Queens Clergy Fellowship Syndesmos, Fr. Paul Palesty, president) that all delegates to the 35th ClergyLaity Congress keep the Church s teachings in mind as they prepare to deliberate on legislative matters of the Archdiocese. (submitted by Holy Cross Church-Brooklyn). and that the Congress be requested to adopt the Rassias Report as a national model and implement its findings and recommendations throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. (submitted by the District Council). Delegates rejected an attempt to introduce a sixth resolution by a parishioner of Holy Trinity Church in New Rochelle that called for endorsing the Metropolitan s report on the state of the Church that was submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in January. Later in the meeting, the New Rochelle church s treasurer repudiated the action by the parishioner and said neither his parish nor its board endorsed the action. The district assembly also heard reports on several ArchARCHBISHOP Spyridon opens the Archdiocese district diocese departments and programs, including stewardship, Clergy-Laity conference with a prayer. St. Basil Academy, Interfaith As the Body of Christ, we are made Marriages, Print & Digital Media, Finance up of many different members, each one and Youth. Finance Director George Chelpon with its own function and perspective and contribution to the life of the whole, the reported on numerous changes in ArchArchbishop said. By the Spirit of God Who diocese financial operations that have reunites us and empowers us, we work to- sulted in the most stringent controls in gether as a single organism, for a single Archdiocese history. Mr. Chelpon also noted that the budpurpose, preaching the one message of get deficit has been cut significantly since salvation. The purpose of God for the is not 1996 when it was $1.1 million. The estiuniformity, but unity in Christ, the Arch- mate for 1998 is $290,000. District Youth bishop continued. we are not called to Director George Hazlaris discussed the become carbon copies of one another in importance of instilling the faith in children our appearance or our attitudes or our and reported on efforts to establish an Oropinions. We are called rather to be one thodox Christian Fellowship Program at with each other in faith, in love, and in Columbia and New York universities. Print and Digital Media Department service to our Lord and Savior. His Eminence then discussed the Director Fr. Philemon Sevastiades said he Church s efforts in addressing the Greek is working with the Holy Cross library ofOrthodox community s diversity, includ- ficials to create a central data base. He is ing the Internet Ministries, the Rassias also in the process of redesigning the ArchCommission on Greek Language and Cul- diocese Internet website, which contains ture and Inter-Church and Inter-Faith 21,000 pages. Fr. Sevastiades also reported on the Marriages. Delegates then discussed several newly established presses and the approvitems for inclusion on the Biennial Cler- al of a licensing agreement with Holy Cross gy-Laity Congress agenda for next July, Press to distribute its books in commercial book stores and other outlets. approving the following resolutions: Fr. Gabriel Karambis, head of the that the Archdiocesan Council be requested to draft and submit a proposed Stewardship department, discussed the set of clearer and more systematic proce- importance of parishes staying current in dures to be discussed and voted on for their contributions on a monthly basis. adoption at the 35th Congress. (submitted According to a total commitment payment report, 19 parishes in the district are in by St. Nicholas Church-Flushing). that the District Assembly exhort arrears as of June 14. In other business, the Assembly electArchbishop Spyridon to continue to stand firmly for the Holy Scriptures, Holy Tradi- ed representatives to the District Council tion and Holy Canons of the Archdiocese, and heard a suggestion from the Very Rev. and to ask Ecumenical Patriarch Barth- Archimandrite Pavlos Papalexiou that olomew and the Great and Holy Synod of Archbishop Michael of Blessed Memory be the Patriarchate to continue to extend commemorated with a statue. Before adjourning, delegates also blessings to the Archbishop of America and all Orthodox faithful. (submitted by St. gave outgoing Chancellor Fr. George Passias a standing ovation for his service to Demetrios-Astoria) that the Assembly resolve to stay the Archdiocese.
by Eleni Daniels
in her life. But what followed was a perpetual battle with this dread disease. Yet Georgia has emerged as a triumphant survivor. She went through 19 cancer-related surgeries, 120 radiation treatments, brain surgery and, most recently, heart bypass and valve replacement surgery. Despite the enormous adversities, she celebrates life and retains her optimism. She feels she is truly blessed. I believe I have been touched by an angel and saved by a cow. I have enormous faith in God, great friends and family, she said. She attributes her quality of life to being touched by an angel. But saved by a cow? It is by no means a teaser. She has had heart valve replacement using a bovine valve.
In January 1998, this column began with the story of a well-known GreekAmerican woman from Chicago. A woman who is among the persons that have debunked the myth that people living with cancer are unable to lead a meaningful life and be part of society. She is living proof that cancer survivors are in fact, an active, productive part of the community s population. This article revisits her incredible life story. All it takes is one conversation and a few moments of laughter with this courageous cancer survivor to realize how strong her will to live really is. Her optiFaith in God mism and her keen During her batsense of humor raditle with cancer, ate from within. RecGeorgia promised ognized as a leader God, first and foreamong the survimost that in return vors, Georgia Phofor the gift of life; she topulos of Northwould devote herbrook, Ill., is an inself to helping othspiration to all the ers afflicted with this lives she touches. disease. It all had to She and husdo with her faith in band, Bud Photopulos, a distinguished “AXIOS” & “AXIA” Award recipients Georgia and God and St. Nectariretired broadcast husband Bud Photopulos conferred by the os, the patron saint of cancer patients in journalist with the Hellenic Cultural Association, Salt Lake City. the Greek Orthodox ABC Network spantradition. ning nearly four decades, and a devoted I vowed that if I lived, I would help husband and father, have been through every sick and dying person that came my the best and the worst of times. Together they have been recognized for their ex- way for the rest of my life, she said. She ceptional service in civic, church and phil- believes St. Nectarios gives her the strength to make it through and in return, anthropic activities. In May, they were conferred the com- she keeps her promise. Since then, Georgia has had many bined AXIOS & AXIA Achievement Award from the Hellenic Cultural Associ- recurrences of cancer. Despite intense complications, she has survived. What is ation of Salt Lake City. The event commemorated the sev- it that keeps her going? Her incredible enth annual Founder s Day banquet in fervor to live. Over the years, she has become a nahonor of the official dedication of the Hellenic Cultural Museum created by the tional spokesperson and a pioneer of supassociation. This museum is acknowl- port systems for cancer patients. She edged as the first authentic Greek ethnic founded Cancer Call PAC (People Against museum in America and the only ethnic Cancer), the nation s first 24-hour support phone service of the American Canmuseum in Utah. I think they are the two greatest peo- cer Society. It became a prototype for ple I have ever met. They spoke on how other hot lines like one for the National a family can cope with cancer by not Cancer Institute and HOPENET of the dwelling on the physical adversities. It Hope Cancer Care Network of Chicago. She leads a cancer support group was presented with considerable humor and an enthusiastic crowd applauded and a cancer ministry at Sts. Peter and with standing ovation, said Chris S. Me- Paul Church in Glenview despite cardiac bypass rehab three times a week, meditos, president of the HCA. Georgia is a specialist in cancer com- cations and a strict diet regime. In honor of cancer survivors like Geormunications and a syndicated columnist with the Greek Star weekly. She writes gia, the first Sunday in June has been dedon issues related to cancer, and responds icated to National Survivor s Day. Recogto readers queries. She and her husband nizing the nation s more than 8 million Bud have co-authored the best seller, Of cancer survivors, their families and friends, Tears and Triumphs: One Family s Cou- for their extraordinary courage and deterrageous Fight against Cancer, a dramatic mination. A day that celebrates life! The tragedy of life always is that you account of survival against all odds. Some say our trials bring us closer somehow need to be jolted every once together. They miss the point. It s our in a while to recognize how wonderful closeness that brings us through trials. and how lucky you are. So count your We ve written this book because we know blessings. Georgia s life story is one of persewhat it s like to live with cancer. In learning how to cope, we learned to give life verance and triumph. The unique thing meaning. In seeking comfort for our- about this cancer survivor is not that she selves, we learned how to comfort oth- is just alive, but that she is alive with her ers, write Georgia and Bud Photopulos. Orthodox faith inspiring the rest of us On their 10th wedding anniversary, with her courage, her determination, and Georgia was diagnosed with breast can- her extraordinary ability to not let the cer. At the time she was a mother of two terror, the anger and the shock of cancer children at 2 and 5 years of age. She re- overwhelm her. She is truly a role model calls how everything was going so well to us all.
JULY 1999
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
NCC PRAISES u page 23 The Serbian residents of Kosovo must be encouraged to remain and not to flee. The Serbian Orthodox Church statement urges Kosovo s Serbs to remain on their ancient homesteads and not abandon their shrines, convinced of the trust in Christ s words: Salvation shall come to the steadfast. Our U.S. government can do all it can to ensure that a massive exodus of Serbs from Kosovo does not happen. When our U.S. interfaith delegation went to Belgrade to meet with our Yugoslav counterparts, our intention was to honor their bold stand in denouncing the violence being experienced by all people in their region. Over the years Patriarch Pavle has clearly and unequivocally spoken out for democracy in his country and, more recently, pronounced what has been happening in Kosovo as evil. Indeed, on many occasions the Patriarch, who formerly was the Bishop of Kosovo, has gone personally to inspect sites of reported atrocities and has spoken bluntly about the need to stop the
INTERFAITH COUPLES u page 7
the role that religion and spirituality should play in their lives. 4. When and if these couples have a change of heart regarding religion, this can potentially create some marital and family instability. This may especially be the case if only one of the two spouses determines that religion must play a more
PAGE 25
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION tragic violence. These same religious leaders provided crucial assistance in gaining the release of the three American soldiers at the beginning of May. The clear call of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities was pivotal in the success of our religious mission to Belgrade. We know the Yugoslav religious communities help to shape the attitudes of their society. Support for the Serbian Orthodox Church call for the resignation of Slobodan Milosevic will strengthen them and, ultimately, help to build a just and lasting peace. We are urging the religious community around the world to rally behind the bold Serbian Orthodox Church, just as happened when Archbishop Tutu was supported in his struggle against the evil effects of apartheid. These brave partners have put their very safety on the line for the right cause. We are stepping forward to offer our support to them and we pray that our U.S. government will join us. Dr. Campbell is General Secretary, National Council of Churches
prominent role in his/her life. It is thus important that the Church be there to assist these couples in their efforts to meet their individual, couple, and family religious needs and challenges. Furthermore, if the Church is not responsive, then some of these spouses, couples, and families may look elsewhere to fulfill these needs and remedy this new challenge in their lives.
u page 22 the famous Duck Tour of historic Boston and concluded the evening with dinner at a local restaurant. Before departing Boston on Sunday, everyone attended a hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Taxiarchae Church in Watertown with Metropolitan Methodios presiding, followed by a farewell luncheon. None of the events of the Festival weekend could have taken place without the cooperation and hospitality extended to everyone by Metropolitan Methodios and the Boston Diocese Host Committee under the direction of the host committee coordinator, Rev. Andrew George from the Annunciation Church in Cranston, R.I.; Rev. Nicholas Krommydas, Boston Dio-
cese chancellor; Rev. Constantine Newman of St. Nicholas Church, Lexington, Mass., and many others. A beautiful spiral-bound compendium containing the oratorical speeches of all the finalists and a video of the Ortatorical Festival Finals is available for purchase through the Department of Religious Education. The Theme of the 2000 Ortatorical Festival is: Holy Tradition. Parents and religious educators will find a list of the senior and junior division topics, topic tips, related articles and an extensive bibliography in the 2nd annual Resource Companion (ARC) available from the Department of Religious Education beginning Aug. 1.
THE FUTURE OF THE GREEK LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES Survival In The Diaspora
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CORRECTION In the story on Fr. Elias Villis ordination in the June issue, the priest identified as Fr. Baglaneas should have read Fr. Basil Gregory.
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JULY 1999
PEOPLE PSEKA Conference honors four
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WASHINGTON, D.C. President Bill Clinton s Chief of Staff, John Podesta, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, Marc Grossman, prominent Greek-American businessman John Catsimatidis and one of President Clinton s closest friends since childhood, David Leopoulos, were honored at the 10th Annual PSEKA Cyprus Conference Banquet in Washington recently. Over 100 of the most prominent and active Greek-American leaders from across the country, and Cypriots attended Podesta was the recipient of the George Paraskevaides award. This award is given each year to that individual who, like George Paraskevaides, has utilized ancient Hellenic values to contribute to the nation and people of Cyprus and America. Others in attendance on this evening included: Greek Orthodox Archbishop Spyridon; the Ambassadors of Greece, Alexander Philon, and Cyprus, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis; Sen. Paul Sarbanes; Cyprus Presidential Commissioner of Overseas Cypriots Manolis Christofides; Canadian Senator Shirley Maheu; Special Cyprus Coordinator Tom Miller, former U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Robert Keeley, and other top government officials.
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
Promoting the Orthodox Faith through Teamwork
F
rom basketball to Bible study, Holy Trinity parish brings together its sister pan Orthodox communities in a spirit of fellowship throughout the year. According to Fr. Recachinas, pastor since 1983, faithful from the state s many parishes and jurisdictions also take part in several other activities at the pan Orthodox level. These include a well-organized women s group, a choir, and the Fellowship of Orthodox Churches of Connecticut (FORCC), with some 20 member-communities. A very active athletic league offers basketball and volleyball and brings out hundreds of youth in a spirit of close cooperation. The parish complex includes a regulation-size gymnasium housed in its own building, detached from the church and fellowship hall. The basketball team competes against other youth in the Connecticut Eastern Orthodox
PARISH
Name: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Location: Bridgeport, Conn., Founded: 1913 Diocese: Archdiocese District Size: 1,500 families Clergy: Fr. Demetrios A. Recachinas (Holy Cross 75) Noteworthy: Parish takes a leadership role in bringing together fellow Orthodox Christians throughout Connecticut.
Eagle scout
Dean J. Caravoulias of Hatfield, Pa., recently became an Eagle Scout in a ceremony at St. Sophia Church in Valley Forge where he is head altar boy. He received an icon from his parish priest, Fr. John A. Limberakis.
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New officers
Estia-Pindus AHEPA Chapter No. 326, Flushing, N.Y., recently elected the following new officers: Michael Capous, president; Harry Caplanson, vice-president; Dean Moskos, secretary; and Peter Kokkoris, treasurer. Also, the chapter s chairman, James Kola, was elected district athletic director at the district convention held in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
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Law school grad
James Constantine Mallios of Flushing, N.Y., recently graduated from Fordham Law School with honors. He is also a graduate of Cornell University, Bronx High School of Science and William Spyropoulos School. He is the son of Costas and Elaine Mallios of Flushing.
Celebrate anniversary
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Elias and Annetta Neofytides of Astoria recently celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Large facility The new complex includes the church, community center with classroom space, offices and an archive room, and the youth center containing the gymnasium. The first service in the new church took place Nov. 6, 1966, with Bishop Silas (later Metropolitan) officiating. Consecration took place in 1979. Today, the community is more diversified, with about 40 percent being immigrants and the rest American born, including a number of converts. More than 15 groups offer fellowship and activities for members of all ages, especially the youth. The Sunday School
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
Many Orthodox jurisdictions
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location on the city s North Side, was selected in 1960. Archbishop Iakovos officiated at a groundbreaking ceremony.
profile
Basketball League. Hundreds of trophies line the walls, attesting to the talent of the community s teams. Fr. Demetrios also holds a weekly Bible study from September to June that attracts many participants from area churches.
DEAN CARAVOULIAS with Fr. Limberakis
PAGE 27
Southwestern Connecticut has many thousands of Orthodox Christians consisting of Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian, Albanian and Carpatho-Russian groups, in addition to Greeks, who are concentrated in a string of cities along Long Island Sound and inland. The history of Greek Orthodox settlement in Bridgeport began about 1896 when the first two known Greek Orthodox families arrived. By 1910, some 50 families lived in the city, then a heavily industrial and manufacturing center. Most of the first immigrants came from the area of Katerini in northern Greece and from the island of Andros. Both groups have been very supBRIDGEPORT portive of the community, said Fr. Recachinas, himself a native of the island of Leukada who came to America at a young age and grew up in Silver Spring, Md. The immigrants formed a pan-Hellenic union that eventually became the nucleus of the parish. They formally organized Holy Trinity Church in 1913 and the first parish priest, Fr. Dionysios Papadatos, celebrated Divine Liturgy on Nov. 21 at the YMCA. Parishioners soon launched a building drive and, in July 1915, purchased a building in downtown Bridgeport that served their needs until 1937, when they built a new church. Many of the parish s current organizations were established during and after World War II. One of these, the Mothers Club, evolved into the Philoptochos and took an active part in Greek War Relief and numerous other humanitarian causes over the years. In 1959, the state of Connecticut announced plans to relocate a highway in downtown Bridgeport, with the route taking in the parish s church. A building fund committee soon formed and, under the guidance of Fr. William S. Kehayes, a new site, the present
has an enrollment of 300. About 100 children are enrolled in the Greek school, which meets twice a week and there also are three Greek dance groups. Fr. Recachinas led efforts to revitalize the church s festival, now known as the Olympiad, soon after he arrived in the parish. In 1986, he oversaw the $1.3 million renovation of the complex. His ministry to the community includes outreach to college students at nearby Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University and the University of Bridgeport. In addition, Fr. Recachinas represents the Orthodox faith in the Greater Bridgeport Clergy Association and serves as president of the Bridgeport-area Orthodox Clergy group. Holy Trinity Church received the honor of a visit by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in May 1998. His All Holiness, who received an honorary degree from Yale University in nearby New Haven, celebrated Divine Liturgy at the parish and attended a reception in his honor.
Reach-out to interfaith couples Fr. Recachinas observed that a major challenge he faces in his ministry is making inter-faith couples feel they are part of the parish. I always try to make sure that guests feel welcome. Religious education is another priority. He especially wants to ensure that the youth absorb and learn the basics of the faith. Except for vacation in July, Fr. Recachinas keeps a very active schedule in what is a very busy parish. Everyday there is something going on, he said about parish life. We try to keep everyone very active, very involved. Among the most active groups is the Philoptochos, which in recent years has undertaken to cook and serve the makaria as a service to parishioners after funerals and memorials. Another project has involved feeding the homeless at local shelters. Recently, the Philoptochos renovated the community center, which has been renamed the Aegean Room because of its blue motif. The women s organization has also undertaken sponsorship of a child at St. Basil Academy, providing tuition and living expenses on an annual basis. As for characterizing his ministry in Bridgeport, he describes it as very spiritually fulfilling and gratifying. compiled by Jim Golding
PAGE 28
ORTHODOX OBSERVER
JULY 1999
St. Basil Academy’s 52nd Commencement Draws Large Turnout GARRISON, N.Y. St. Basil Academy s 52 nd annual commencement on June 19 not only recognized the four students moving up to the next level in their educational careers, but also served to showcase the great strides and improvements accomplished in recent months. The day began with Archbishop Spyridon presiding at Divine Liturgy. Attendance was standing-room-only. Following the service, His Eminence conducted an aghiasmo service at the newly opened dental clinic made possible through a $65,000 gift from Demetrios and Georgia Kaloidis. The clinic is fully operational with new furnishings and equipment. The Archbishop then held an aghiasmo in the administration building to commemorate the recent bequest of $300,000 from the Adam and Yiota Thanos family of Chicago. Representing the family was their attorney Perry Callos and his wife. The gift has been used to fund extensive renovations to the second floor of the former mansion. Several unused rooms have been turned into functioning offices, meeting rooms and bedrooms as part of plans to transform the building into a major conference center. In a departure from past graduations held in the Academy s gymnasium, this year s event took place outdoors under canopies at the mansion s entrance. A sweeping view of the Catskills and West Point Military Academy could be seen in the distance. Irene Philip served as mistress of ceremonies. Several individuals offered greetings, including Dr. Steven Gournardes, St. Basil Academy Board president; Elaine Kevgas of the National Philoptochos Board; and James A. Poll of AHEPA. Later in the program, Archbishop Spyridon presented diplomas to eighth grader Emanuel Papadakis, Kindergarten students Jacob Brown and Kieran Gipson and nursery school graduate Christina Loukakis. In his remarks, the Archbishop said that the children s youthful zeal inspires all of us. We hold them in our hears and as or joy. His Eminence also praised the work of Fr. Constantine Sitaras, the Academy director for the progress made in recent months. An alumna of the Academy, Nicole Nye, delivered an emotional commencement address, reminiscing about her time at St. Basil s and giving encouragement to the children. Ms. Nye graduated in 1984 and went on to become a successful attorney in Philadelphia. Several representatives of Philoptochos chapters in the region presented financial gifts to the children and to the Academy. Other organizations making presentations included the Messinian Youth Association and the Young Adult League. The program also included a musical presentation by the school choir and a performance by singer Jimmy Santis, who sang a song he composed especially for the Academy children. Also attending the commencement were Bishop Philotheos of Meloa, Bishop Vikentios of Apameia, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Fr. Demetrios Recachinas of Bridgeport, Conn., and Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos president of the National Sisterhood of Presvyteres. A luncheon followed the program, with live music performed by a Greek band.