Orthodox Observer - March/April 2001

VOL. 67 NO. 1180

http://www.observer.goarch.org E-mail: observer@goarch.org

MARCH-APRIL 2001

PRESIDENT BUSH WELCOMES ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS Presents His Eminence with Greek Independence Day Proclamation WASHINGTON Archbishop Demetrios led a delegation of Greek-American leaders to Washington on March 22 23 to commemorate Greek Independence Day. In a ceremony conducted on March 23 in the Indian Treaty Room, President George W. Bush presented the Archbishop with the official Proclamation declaring March 25, 2001 to be Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 2001.

In his opening comments, Archbishop Demetrios said to President Bush, With this proclamation, which you so graciously signed and personally offered to us, you honor the country and the people of Greece for their superb and sacrificial contribution to the ideals of democracy, freedom, justice, human rights and human dignity throughout three continuous millennia.

President Bush, in warmly welcoming all those in attendance, responded, When I became President, I inherited the responsibility to safeguard one of America s oldest and most sacred friendships that of the government and people of

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D. Panagos

President Bush presents Archbishop Demetrios with the proclamation on Greek Independence Day.

Athenagoras Human Rights Award to Archbishop Anastasios ARCHBISHOP S ENCYCLICALS

byJim Golding

NEW YORK Members of the Order of St. Andrew/Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate awarded the organization s Patriarch Athenagoras Human Rights Award to Archbishop Anastasios, head of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, at their Feb. 18 banquet.

The humble hierarch received the honor for his widespread achievements in propagating the Orthodox Christian faith through his years of missionary work in East Africa and, for the last 10 years, literally resurrecting the faith in Albania.

The Archbishop joins a venerable list of recipients since the award s inception in 1986, including Archbishop Iakovos, President Jimmy Carter, Mother Teresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Andrew Athens, and Elie Wiesel.

Under Archbishop Anastasios leadership nearly 75 new churches have been built, 65 ruined churches have been restored, an Orthodox seminary opened its doors and 120 seminarians have become priests, five monasteries have opened, several youth centers have been established, thousands of impoverished Albanians and refugee Kosovars fleeing their war-torn homes have been fed and sheltered, and the Orthodox Christian faith has been re-

D. Panagos

AWARD RECIPIENT – Archbishop Demetrios presents the Athenagoras Humanitarian Award to Archbishop Anastasios, with Archbishop Iakovos and Archons National Commander Anthony Limberakis participating.

kindled and witnessed to millions of persons who previously lived under an officially atheistic culture for decades.

Early efforts

As a young theologian, Anastasios Yannoulatos helped to establish Go Ye,

a movement aimed at rekindling the missionary conscience of the Orthodox Church.

Following his ordination in 1964, Fr. Anastasios set out for East Africa and cel-

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Archdiocese News u 2-3, 5-7, 31-32 Books u 25 Challenge u 29 Contemporary Issues u 6 Classified Ads u 28 Diocese News u 24 Ecum. Patriarchate u 4, 17 Greek section u 15-19 Interfaith Marriage u 8 In Memoriam u 27 Of Special Interest u 13-14 Opinions u 10 Orthodox Airwaves u 12 Orthodoxy Worldwide u 26 Parish Profile u 20 People u 20 Relating to the Faith u 9, 27 Retired Clergy u 21 Scholarships u 23 Voice of Philoptochos u 30

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A R C H D I O C E S E

MARCH-APRIL 2001

N E W S

President Presents Archbishop Demetrios with Proclamation u page 1 the United States with the government and people of Greece. We must keep that relationship vibrant, as it has been for 180 years.

Attending the ceremonies were some 50 people, including a Greek government delegation led by Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Grigorios Niotis; Ambassador of Greece to the United States, Alexander Philon; and members of Parliament Vasilios Geranidis and Panagiotis Skandalakis. Representing the Republic of Cyprus was Ambassador to the United States, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis.

Also in attendance were Director of the CIA, George Tenet; Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL); Andrew A. Athens, World President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad; Johnny Economy, Supreme President of AHEPA; Andrew

Manatos, President of the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes; Archdiocesan Council members Michael Jaharis (ViceChairman), Nicholas Bouras (Secretary), John Catsimatidis and John Payiavlas; Alex Spanos, major Greek-American supporter of President Bush; Dr. Louis Roussalis of Casper Wyo., personal physician to VicePresident Cheney; Eugene Rossides, Founding Chairman of the American Hellenic Institute; Arthur Anton, Chairman of Leadership 100; Dr. Anthony Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of St. Andrew; Former Ambassador to Greece from the United States, Michael Sotirhos; and Barbara Spyridon Pope, highest-ranking Greek-American in the former Bush administration.

In addition to the Proclamation Ceremony, other Greek Independence Day activities included a meeting with Majority Leader Trent Lott; a dinner with top D. Panagos

HIS EMINENCE with Senate Republican leader Trent Lott of Mississippi; Mr. Gregory Niotis, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Greece (center) and Greek Ambassador to the US Alexander Philon.

Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 2001 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation

Congressional advocates for Hellenic issues, including Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) and Chairman Emeritus of the House International Relations Committee, Congressman Ben Gilman (R-NY).

On Friday noon, a luncheon was held at the historic Blair House, hosted by Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, former senator from Michigan and an Orthodox Christian, who spoke warmly of his association with the Greek-American community in Michigan and throughout the

United States. Among those at the luncheon in addition to the above mentioned were: Tom Korologos, assistant to President Nixon for senate liaison; Senior Policy Advisor for International Affairs for the Secretary of Energy Ronda Fahmy-Hudome; Michael Huffington, assistant secretary of Defense in the former Bush administration and former member of Congress; and major philanthropists and activists Steve Yeonas of McLean, Va. and Dennis Mehiel of New York.

Our democratic system of government traces its earliest roots back to ancient Greece. The leaders of the Revolution and the Framers of the Constitution often drew inspiration from Athenian lawgivers and philosophers and called the Greek example to mind as they sought to build the new nation on the foundations of representative government and free political discourse. The Greeks of 1821 drew inspiration, in turn, from the ideals and institutions of the fledgling United States as they waged their own struggle for liberty. In 2001, a vibrant Greek democracy serves once again as an inspiration to its neighbors and the world.

Our two countries have stood together as friends and allies from the time America embraced modern Greece s struggle for independence 180 years ago. We fought together in every major war of the last century: World War I through the Persian Gulf. For more than 50 years, we have worked together in NATO: first to keep the peace in Europe and now to built peace and stability in the Balkans. We look forward to continued cooperation as we celebrate the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad together in Athens in 2004. Our alliance with Greece remains strong, and its future is promising.

Greek and Americans share a love of freedom, liberty, and individual rights. The friendship between our two nations is based on mutual respect, a commitment to common goals, and the sharing of fundamental values.

Ties of blood and kinship also unite us: the modern community of approximately 3 million Greek Americans has established a natural and enduring bridge between our nations. Today, we take special note of those citizens and thank them for their innumerable contributions to our Nation s cultural, economic, and political heritage.

NOW,THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2001, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy. I call upon all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty - fifth.

D. Panagos

SECRETARY of Energy Spencer Abraham welcomes Archbishop Demetrios in Blair House.

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A R C H D I O C E S E

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N E W S THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary March 23, 2001

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE CELEBRATION OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY The Indian Treaty Room

D. Panagos

ATTENDEES at the White House proclamation signing. (l to r) Alex Spanos, members of the Greek Parliament Panagiotis Skandalakis and Vasilios Geranidis, CIA director George Tenet, Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL); Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Gregory Niotis and Ambassadors Alexander Philon and Erato Kozakou-Marcouli.

ADDRESS OF HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS OF AMERICA TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Mr. GEORGE W. BUSH

ON THE OCCASION OF THE SIGNING OF THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY INDIAN TREATY ROOM WASHNGTON, DC March 23, 2001

Mr. President, On behalf of the Greek Orthodox Community of America, which I have the great honor to represent and also on behalf of the Greek people everywhere, I should like to express to you our deep gratitude for honoring us today with this special proclamation on the solemn occasion of Greek Independence Day. With this proclamation which you so graciously signed and personally offered to us, you honor the country and the people of Greece for their superb and sacrificial contribution to the ideals of democracy, freedom, justice, human rights and human dignity throughout three continuous millennia.

We are immensely thankful for the honor, coming from a highly esteemed president and leader of America, the country, which is the champion, and the staunch defender of the above mentioned ideals in the contemporary world.

As we started marching in the 21st Century and the new millennium, we look expectantly to you Mr. President, for a creative and dynamic continuation of an effective leadership in the areas of human freedom, human rights and human dignity wherever and whenever these supreme values are being threatened or violated.

We are particularly concerned about issues of freedom, peace, justice and friendship in sensitive areas like the Balkans, Cyprus and the Middle East.

We are, however, not limiting ourselves to noble expectations and high hopes.

On this day of celebration of Greek Independence, we pray; and we pray fervently to God, the Almighty creator and protector of life and freedom for all of His sons and daughters, the inhabitants of His planet Earth.

We humbly but persistently ask Him to grant you abundant health and strength so that you will lead this blessed country of ours to a relentless and uncompromising effort and fight for whatever enhances freedom, quality of life, peace and justice for both individuals and nations.

We are convinced about the outcome of our prayers, because we know that we are addressing the God of peace, the Lord of justice and the creator of freedom.

Thank you again, Mr. President.

Your Eminence, thank you very much, sir. It s always an honor to be in your presence. I think the last time we were together was at the church service right after I had the honor of being sworn in as the President. And I appreciate so very much you being there.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Niotis; Ambassador Philon; Ambassador Marcoullis; Director Tenet; distinguished guests from Greece, as well as from America, welcome. It s a beautiful room to hold an important ceremony.

I want to thank you all for coming. I particularly want to thank Congressman Mike Bilirakis, as well as Senator Olympia Snowe, who is not with us today. I know where she is because I flew her up to Maine earlier. I want to thank you both for organizing the events. And it s interesting to note that I have been in your state and her state within the last week. All is well.

When I became President I inherited the responsibility to safeguard one of America s oldest and most sacred friendships that of the government and people of the United States with the government and people of Greece. We must keep that relationship vibrant, as it has been for 180 years.

It was 180 years ago that Greece proclaimed its independence, yet another example of Greece s contribution to the cause of human liberty. Few nations in the history of the world have done more to contribute to democratic self-government. A Chinese scholar, hoping to foster an appreciation of Western thought in his country, recently translated the works of Homer into Chinese. He mastered ancient Greek in order to produce the most accurate translation possible, and explained it this way: If one wants to understand Western civilization, one has to search back to its roots. And the roots lead to ancient Greece.

Greek ideals had an enormous influence on the American founders. James Madison, the father of the Constitution, wrote this: Among the confederacies of antiquity, the most considerable was that of the Grecian republics.

We respect the ancient influence of Greece, and we value its modern friendships.

Greece and America have been allies in the great 20th century struggles against Nazism, Soviet Communism, and Iraqi aggression. Our two nations are bound by history, by trade, by mutual respect, by common ideals, and one of the world s most important alliances.

We in the United States consider Greece to be a friend, a strong ally, and a powerful force for good in the world. And all the world will see this in vivid display when Athens hosts the Olympics of 2004. We re all looking forward to the great event.

I m very pleased with the strong and expanding relationship between the United States and Greece. Our trade has increased by 16 percent in the last year. Tourism and high-level contacts between the United States and Greece have also increased.

I want you to know that the United States stands ready to help Greece and Turkey as they work to improve their relations. I m also committed to a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus dispute. My administration fully supports the U.N. Secretary General s efforts to bring peace and prosperity to all Cypriots. Our goal is an early resumption of the U.N. process.

The greatest gifts of Greece, however, to this country are the emigrants it s sent, men and women who enrich our nation with their spirit. They re the models of community and enterprise, of family, of education and public service. And we honor Greek independence. And as we honor Greek independence, I also want to honor the Greek contribution to our national character.

So it s my pleasure to welcome you, Your Eminence, our distinguished guests, to this celebration of Greek Independence Day. God bless.

p NICHOLAS BOURAS, who sponsored the luncheon at the p CIA DIRECTOR George Tenet with Archbishop Demetrios.

Blair House, receives a gift from Archbishop Demetrios as Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham looks on.

PRESIDENT BUSH as he greets John Payiavlas, Andrew Manatos and Andrew Athens among other leaders of the Greek-American community. u t SENATE MAJORITY Leader Trent Lott welcomed His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and other Greek American leaders in his office at the Capitol D. Panagos Building.

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MARCH-APRIL 2001

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE Sunday of Orthodoxy Celebrated with Splendor at the Phanar CONSTANTINOPLE Sunday of Orthodoxy was celebrated with Byzantine splendor at the center of Orthodoxy, in the Patriarchal Church of St. George in Phanar. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated Divine Liturgy together with Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne and the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

by Nicholas Manginas

After the liturgy His All Holiness holding an icon depicting the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Synod which restored the Icons, led a procession of all present hierarchs and clergy around the patriarchal precinct and from the balcony of the Patriarchate offered his blessing to the faithful in attendance.

Metropolitan Athanasios of Elioupolis and Thyron offered the panegyric of the day on the subject of New theories on Icon-theology. He spoke at length about the works of well-known painters and iconographers of the 19th and the 20th centuries. He said that iconography deals with the world as a creation of God which bears a beauty superceding this world. Thus, painters and iconographers

ECUMENICAL Patriarch Bartholomew in the precession of the holy icons.

N. Manginas

ORTHODOX Hierarchs from around the world concelebrated Divine Liturgy at the Phanar.

should be saint-like, spiritual individuals. According to Pavel Florenskij, (a theologian, priest, mathematician and a philosopher of the Orthodox rituals and universal symbolism 1982-1937) he continued, only saints would be able to paint icons but in the absence of saints there are really two criteria for the iconographer: the spiritual experience and the adherence to the rules of iconography as they are described in the appropriate manuals. In these rules the spiritual experience of humanity through the ages has been imprinted and those who follow them partake of this experience.

That Sunday afternoon Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew held a reception on the occasion of Sunday of Orthodoxy, which was attended by hierarchs, diplomats

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N. Manginas

dignitaries, the representative of the Vatican, the Council General of Greece, many Archons of the Patriarchate and many other faithful from the Omogeneia and Greece.

His All Holiness welcomed the guests to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which he said is an ancient institution of sixteen centuries with the purpose of bringing man closer to God but also bringing people closer together.

Contrary to the pre-socratic Greek philosopher of Ephesus, Heraclitus, who believed that war is the father of all things, the Patriarch said, we believe that peace is the good mother of all good things.

At some other point referring to the feast of the day and Byzantine iconography he pointed out the dimension of the deep internal peace, [evident in Byzantine iconography] which springs from Divine Grace and from faith to God, the unswerving certainty for the love of God.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Denounces Continued Closing of Halki

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Front view of Halki Theological School main building.

T

his year marks the 30-year sad anniversary since the suspension of the operations of the theological school of Halki, in 1971.

On the feast day of St. Photios, founder of the Monastery of Holy Trinity which is the site of the theological school of Halki, officiated at the Divine Liturgy in the monastery s chapel and in his homily made austere comments about the prolonged and unjust closing of Halki.

Celebrating today the feast of St. Photios, we remember another sad and ill fated day, which is the 30-year anniversary

from the suspension of the operation of our theological school in this monastery.

This suspension and its prolongation for three decades now is a disgrace for democracy, for human rights, for minority rights, for religious freedom.

We will not cease to denounce locally and internationally this injustice done to us, until the officials of this country decide to provide the owed and always expected permission for the operation again of this hotbed of theological letters, own renown and radiant theological school of Halki.

MARCH-APRIL 2001

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The Very Rev. Savas Zembillas, chancellor, receives a plaque from Archbishop Demetrios and officials of St. Demetrios Church in Merrick, N.Y., for his nearly three years’ service as pastor of the community, at a testimonial dinner held Feb. 9.Also shown are parish council President Peter Louca and dinner co-chairman Maria Karagiannis. Fr. Savas, named chancellor in December 1999, continued to serve the parish another six months on a part-time basis. His Eminence, current pastor Fr. Constantine Constantinou, and others spoke in tribute to Fr. Savas.

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SCOBA Adopts Inter-Orthodox Campus Ministry NEW YORK The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) at its Dec. 14 meeting officially adopted the Orthodox Christian Fellowship movement (OCF) as its official campus ministry program.

A proposal on the action, submitted by the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and Orthodox Church in America, won unanimously.

The first visible result of this decision has been the opening of a North American OCF office, offering support, resources and coordination for the existing 150 campus-based OCFs. Initially, the office is being housed at the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI), University of California-Berkeley. Operations began in early February.

The Institute has received a three-year grant from Leadership 100 to create and develop inter-Orthodox resources for national campus ministry.

Major responsibilities of the OCF office will include: Coordinating and supporting the established OCF chapters.

Helping to establish new OCF chapters where local interest, support and re-

sources are present.

Facilitating inter-campus interaction through regional and North American conferences, retreats, as well as philanthropic and social activities.

Maintaining the OCF mailing list, publishing an official newsletter and maintaining and updating a website.

The development of long-term funding through foundations, private donations and support from OCF alumni.

SCOBA will oversee OCF through the re-establishment of the Campus Commission, comprised of representatives from each jurisdiction. The Campus Commission last met in the early 1970 s.

It s been years since we ve seen this degree of cooperation between all canonical jurisdictions in the area of youth ministry, said the Rev.Mark Leondis, director of the Archdiocese Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. This could have a huge impact on our young people who are struggling to keep their faith in the spiritually challenging environment of the modern day college campus. It s an incredibly exciting time and we re thrilled with the level of support we ve received from our hierarchs.

NEW GOTELECOM PRODUCTION New York, NY Visions of Victory, a video that gives a tour of the Annunciation Church in Modesto, California is now available through Greek Orthodox Telecommunications (GOTelecom). In this one-hour video, icons depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ are explained.

Also described in detail is the importance of Byzantine Iconography and its order and placement in the church.

Hosted and narrated by Rev. Fr. Jon Magoulias, the video sells for $19.95 plus $6 shipping and handling. Sponsors of the program are Gus & Despina Pallios Family, John & Argery Pallios Family and George & Sophie Pallios Family.

For more information or to purchase a copy of this program please contact GOTelecom at 212-570-3588 or write to GOTelecom, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021. ¿

Archdiocese District Olympics Planning Under Way Preparations for the annual Archdiocese District Olympics set for Memorial Day Weekend at the State University of New York-Stony Brook, Long Island, are in progress, organizers report.

Each year the event draws about 1,000 participants from most of the 63 parishes in the district that compete in the JOY and GOYA groups.

The Executive Committee held its

first general meeting on March 1 and plans to hold its next meeting April 3.

Church registration fees and forms will be due at that meeting.

Executive committee members are: Alex Constantinou (chairman and Olympics co-founder), Demi Brountzas, James Hartofilis, Demi Pambouris, Nikie Panagiotakis, Irene Papazicos, Helen Polychronakis, Ernie Pourakis and Gary Sideris. ¿

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MARCH-APRIL 2001

New St. Michael’s Home Board Installed New members of the 2001-02 St. Michael s Home Board of Trustees received the blessings of Archbishop Demetios in a special service at the Archdiocesan Chapel of St. Paul on Feb. 7 and also their first meeting of the year.

Board members include: President Nikitas Drakotos, Vice-President Maria Logus, Treasurer George Marinos, Assistant Treasurer Steven Kyriakos, Secretary Stella Capiris, Assistant Secretary Demi Brountzas and Director Very Rev. Andonios Paropoulos.

Other members are: the Rev. Nicholas Anctil, the Rev. Dennis Strouzas, Helen Bender, Andre Gregory, Lilly Katos, Ronnie Kyritsis, Peter Lagios, Aspasia Melis, Pauline O Neal, Cornelia Pappas, Harry Raptakis, George Tsandikos, Cathy Boffides Walsh and Karlene Williams.

The membership includes individuals representing all areas of the Greater New York Metropolitan area as well as the Philoptochos Presidents of the Archdiocesan District and the New Jersey Diocese.

Following introduction of the membership, Fr. Paropoulos reminded those in attendance that St. Michael s is not simply an adult home, but is a unique ministry of the Church providing the elderly with exemplary quality care in a Greek Orthodox environment.

His Eminence applauded the Board for its efforts in the past that have made the Home an institution of which the Archdiocese and all members of the community can be most proud and also commented that the on the letterhead of the Home quality care for the elderly is not merely a slogan but a reality!

St. Michael s, a non-profit facility in 1958, is the only Greek Orthodox Adult Home in the United States, functioning under the aegis of the Archdiocese and licensed by the New York State Department of Health. It does not receive subsidies from either the Archdiocese or the government but has always been self-sufficient. With an annual operating budget of more than $1,100,000, its only sources of income are the boarding fees, which the residents are able to offer and donations that cover more than one-third of its expenses.

While most residents are from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, a number have come from Indiana, Colorado, South Carolina and Florida. Because of the great demand for the high level of care the Home provides, and to meet the increasing needs of the growing number of elderly in the Greek-American community, St. Michael s vigorously pursues a program that will include increased capacity and expansion into a nursing home. ¿

A Husband and Father – What’s that?

by Fr. Angelo Artemas

There she goes again, Madonna has reinvented herself. Just five years ago she popularized having babies without a husband when she gave birth to her daughter, Lourdes.

She was cutting edge at that time, but Jodie Foster, Rosie O Donnell, Linda Ronstadt, Sandra Bernhard, Camryn Manheim and Calista Flockhart followed suit.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 32 percent of the children born in America in 1999 were born to single mothers. Not willing to be part of the mainstream, Madonna went out on a limb and got married. What a bold an innovative move!

Whether Madonna has started a new trend remains to be seen, but the old trend is disturbing. Camryn Manheim, awardwinning actress

Cloning allows for the possibility of creating life with DNA and eggs alone, without seed. If perfected, such a possibility would eliminate the need for men in procreation.

come stale precisely because spouses continue to expect their marriage to feel good for them, rather than attempting to make the other feel good.

The miracle of birth is such a euphoric experience, and infants are so precious.

But when some parents realize what kind of effort and energy it takes to care for infants, they can t wait to go back to work, and go to the movies on weekends.

Ironically, now that some researchers and potential parents are considering cloning human beings, there is an outcry that these potential parents are utterly selfish for wanting to recreate themselves. A good number of parents are already trying to fashion their children according to their own desires and aspirations. Most children have felt like proteges at some point in their lives. Due to a 98 percent failure rate in implanting cloned eggs in animal experiments, we ll just have to put up with conventional selfish parenting for now.

Cloning allows for the possibility of creating life with DNA and eggs alone, without seed. If perfected, such a possibility would eliminate the need for men in procreation, which many believe is not such a bad idea. But all single mothers at present have obtained seed from somewhere, as even adopted children have a biological source.

Perhaps the most selfish act of all is that a man would give up his seed, allow children to be conceived, and never have to take any further responsibility for them. Except for those who have adopted (which is a noble and honorable life-time commitment), single mothers would not be able to have children without the willing donor.

While critics and skeptics continue to question the intentions of single mothers, the sperm donors need to be held accountable. They are the most selfish human beings alive; all the benefits of passing on genes without any noticeable responsibility or change in quality of life.

In the animal kingdom, the very possibility that some male animals have passed on their genes causes them to invest resources and energy into protecting their offspring.

From a biblical point of view, fatherhood and lineage are associated with honor or dishonor. God-fearing patriarchs were blessed with abundant seed and honorable sons and daughters. Spilling one s seed without purpose or responsibility was dishonorable. God-fearing fathers were instructed to teach their children in the Lord s ways, and to pass on to them God s promise and covenant. The modern-day human male is an anomaly.

It is far too easy to bash women who have given up on men and decide to raise children on their own. It is much more appropriate to hold men responsible for their selfish fathering ways; whether married, fooling around or donating to banks.

Fatherhood has been a damaged institution for quite some time. But whether or not it becomes obsolete is up to men. ¿

Orthodox Observer

NEW BOARD members (l. to r.): Fr. Nicholas Anctil, Fr. Dennis Strouzas, George Tsandikos, Helen Bender, Lilly Katos, George Marinos, Nikitas Drakotos, Andre Gregory, His Eminence, Demi Brountzas, Fr. Andonios Paropoulos, Stella Capiris, Maria Logus, Steve Kyriakos, Ronnie Kyritsis, Karlene Williams and Cornelia Pappas. Missing: Aspasia Melis, Pauline O’Neal, Harry Raptakis and Cathy Walsh.

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from The Practice, is expecting a son in April, and chooses not to discuss the father.

In an interview at the Golden Globes she commented: It makes me feel so happy.

It is the way of the future, so people better start opening up their minds. I have received congratulations from 99 percent of my fans and I feel sorry for the other 1 percent that they can t celebrate such beauty.

Such comments are insulting to moms who are raising children on their own due to broken relationships or death, and confirms that these stars are having children because it makes them feel good.

Though their intentions may be good, and though these children won t necessarily be doomed, children would prefer to be raised by a married mother and father if asked.

No family is perfect, but a married mom and dad provide an inherent stability and security that is invaluable to children. A mother and father raising children is a celebration of beauty.

Lest anyone believe that choosing to raise children alone is the only problem, too many married couples have children for selfish reasons. In fact, too many couples get married for selfish reasons.

Paul Reiser, comedian and author of Couplehood, offers this definition of marriage: an elaborate institution designed to make two basically selfish people periodically believe that they re not. Marriages be-

Home Delivery of the Orthodox Observer to subscribe e-mail us at

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MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 7

St.Basil Board Begins New Year Ionian Village

Orthodox Observer

Trustees for the 2001-02 St. Basil Academy Board of Trustees recently held their first meeting of the year and took the oath of office at Archdiocese headquarters.

Archbishop Demetrios held a brief prayer service before the group convened.

Board members are: Stella Capiris, Westport, Conn.; Nicholas Chahales, Mahopac, N.Y.; Nicholas Chatzopoulos, Resell Park, N.J.; William Chirgotis, Springfield, N.J.; Eve Condakes, Swampscott, Mass.; Carol Contos (secretary), New York; Nick Germanakos, Mount Kisko, N.Y.; Dr. Steven Gounardes (president), Brooklyn, N.Y.; Peter Kakoyiannis, New York; Georgia Kaloidis, Upper Brookville,

N.Y.; Dr. H.S. Kostakopoulos (treasurer), New York; Fr. Michael Kourmetis, Manchester, N.H.; Aspasia Melis, Cliffside Park, N.J.; Terry Mitchell, Niantic, Conn.; Fr. Consta ntine Moralis, Baltimore; Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos, Wayne, N.J.; Panicos Papanicolaou, Brooklyn, N.Y.; John Poniros, White Plains, N.Y. Fr. Demetrios Recachinas, Bridgeport, Conn.; Kalliope Tsisipas, Huntington, Conn.; Dr. Dean Vafiadis (vice president), New York; and Lea Zervoulias, Atlanta.

Ex officio members are Betty Benjou of Aurora, Colo., and Johnny Economy, Atlanta. ¿

HC-HC Scholar to Lead Southampton Church Retreat SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. The Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, author of numerous books and articles on the Church and spirituality, will be the guest retreat master at the second annual Sophocles N. and Louisa S. Zoullas Memorial Retreat at the church of the Hamptons, Kimisis Tis Theotokou, March 30-April 11.

Dr. Chryssavgis, who was born in Australia, received his degree in theology from the University of Athens and his doctorate from the University of Oxford. He is currently professor of theology at Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., and the author of such books on spirituality as Fire and Light (1987), Repentance and Confession (1988), Ascent to Heaven (1989), and Soul Mending: The Art of Spiritual Direction (2000).

He also is the author of Love, Sexuality and Marriage (1996), a recent book on Orthodox perspectives on the environment, Beyond the Shattered Image (1999) and a children s book written with his wife, Sophie, titled The World My Church (1990).

The second annual Sophocles N. and Louisa S. Zoullas Memorial Retreat is titled Repentance, Healing and Resurrection and begins Friday, March 30 at 6 p.m. at the church, 111 St. Andrew s Road, in Southampton. It will conclude with the Divine Liturgy Sunday April 1, from 10 11:30 a.m.

The Sophocles N. and Louisa S. Zoullas Memorial Lectures were established in memory of parishioner Nicholas Zoullas parents.

Fr. Alex Karloutsos, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Ham ptons Kimisis Tis Theotokou, said the retreat is an opportunity for members of the parish and the South Fork community to reflect on their faith, their lives, and their relationships. For those of us in the Orthodox faith, the Great Lent is a time of healing and healing implies a return to God, our primary relationship, who makes us whole; it is great because it prepares us for the great joy of the Resurrection of Christ which offers us release from sin and death, said Fr. Karloutsos. ¿

Dr.Vryonis Speaks on Hellenism and Orthodoxy at GSU Georgia State University s Center for Hellenic Studies recently hosted Professor Speros Vryonis Jr., of the Speros Basil Vryonis Center on Hellenism in Sacramento, Calif., as part of its Greek Heritage Week observances.

Dr. Vryonis spoke on Hellenism and Orthodoxy, emphasizing the significance of knowing and understanding the reciprocal relationship of Hellenism and Orthodoxy influences on the development of Greek consciousness and Western Civilization.

He also focused on the interdependence of Hellenism and Orthodoxy in building and maintaining a Greek American community and identity.

Professor Vryonis also urged his listeners to invest in higher education, not

only professional and technical training, but in education in the classical Greek sense that leads to happiness and a high quality of life. He stressed the importance of the Greek Orthodox Church in reinforcing a Hellenic identity among its parishioners.

He said the early Church Fathers relied on the Greek language and culture to develop and advance Orthodox Christianity and that, today, Church fathers must recognize the role of Orthodox Christianity in developing and advancing Greek education and culture among Greeks in the diaspora.

The event was sponsored by the American Foundation for Hellenic Studies in Atlanta and the Center for Hellenic Studies at Georgia State University.¿

Join us in Greece this this summer! summer Please check the program you are interested in: ____ Summer Travel Camp, Ages 12-15 July 2-20, 2001 ____ Byzantine Venture, Ages 16-18 July 26 - August 13, 2001 ____ Spiritual Odyssey, Young Adults 19 and older July 15-30 2001 Name ______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ City, State, Zip ______________________________________________ Phone _______________________________ E-Mail ________________ Parish Priest/Community ________________________________________ Mail this form to: Ionian Village, 8-10 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021.

Or contact us at: Tel.: (212) 570-3534 Fax: (212) 570-3569 E-mail ionianvillage@goarch.org Web page: www.ionianvillage.org Ionian Village is a program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

The 2001 YEARBOOK of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ORDER NOW and pay only $18 an incredibly valuable resource offering up-to-date information for Orthodox Christians on the following: 3Descriptions & contact information for all Archdiocesan departments and Dioceses 3Complete listings and contact information for all Archdiocese parishes & clergy 3 2001 monthly calendar with Orthodox Saints & Feast days 3Contact & website information for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew plus the Holy Synod, Metropolitanates and monasteries of the Ecumenical Patriarchate 3Listings of over 160 web sites of special interest to Orthodox Christians 3Contact information for other jurisdictions of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America 3Special Resource Section which includes u Pastoral guidelines for fasting, weddings, baptisms, funerals & memorials u Listings of press, radio & television programs of special interest to Orthodox Christians u Contact information for cultural, educational and ethnic federations & organizations u Listings of Byzantine, Classics & Modern Greek Studies college & university programs

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PAGE 8

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

MARCH-APRIL 2001

INTERFAITH

Marriage

Costa’s and Teresa’s Dilemma: When Children Mature

by Rev. Fr. Charles Joanides, Ph.D./LMFT

The next two articles of this column will describe some challenges intermarried couples face as their children mature. This information is offered to assist these parents in helping their children develop a strong and healthy religious and cultural identity.

As children mature, the pace of life dramatically increases. During this stage in the family life cycle, parents typically struggle to balance their needs and those of their children, family and extended family, with an increased workload.

However, many important needs and concerns are thus inadvertently neglected, sometimes for years. These lingering needs and concerns often relate to children s religious development. This is especially true of intermarried couples and families.

Along with the usual family life cycle changes and challenges single faith couples and families face as their children grow, intermarried couples that participated in the Interfaith Research Project (IRP) described many other challenges related to their religious and cultural differences.

Moreover, in many instances these challenges frequently were ignored and, in consequence, negatively impacted family well being, along with their children s religious development.

Meet Costa and Teresa

Costa (35) and Teresa (34) have been married for 10 years. Costa is a third-generation Greek Orthodox Christian and Teresa comes from an Italian Roman Catholic background.

They are both professionals and admit to certain lingering marital and family disagreements associated with their different religious backgrounds. They have three children, John (8), Sophia (6), and Thomas (4).

Teresa began. When it comes to our children s religious training, I don t know, it s been kind of frustrating for me over the years. She pauses for a moment, visibly upset, then continues. To please Costa and his parents, I relented to baptizing the children in the Greek Church.

But I m often very sorry that I gave in and agreed to this.

Costa interrupts his wife. That s not entirely true, honey. It had very little to do with me. Well, what I mean, is that I didn t care nearly as much as my parents about where the kids would be baptized.

They re the ones that applied the pressure.

So to keep the peace in the family, I remember asking if you wouldn t mind if we baptized them in the Greek Church.

Well that s not exactly how I remember things. But anyway, be that as it may, I agreed, and we decided to baptize them Greek Orthodox. She paused again to collect herself, and then proceeded. And maybe I wouldn t feel so upset and resentful if Costa took an interest in their religious training, but he hasn t. Don t get me wrong, he s a good man and a great father, but he s not really a very religious person.

He doesn t really know his religion, and he hardly ever goes to church. So the responsibility to bring them up in the Greek Church has fallen on my shoulders.

But I don t know the Greek Church like I know my church, so the end result is that

they have grown up without much religious training.

I know that Teresa is right, Costa stated with some regret. But I ve got work commitments that keep me busy all week, and when Sundays roll around, I need to unwind. To be honest, church has never done much for me. I simply don t understand it. I respect it and value religion, but I don t get anything out of it. So, I guess I ve chosen other ways of using my time to unwind on Sundays.

We ve had this conversation over and over again, Teresa stated with some frustration and then addressed Costa. The remedy might have been for us to have chosen to attend the Catholic Church. But I rather doubt that also, because I think our kids religious training requires the involvement of both parents . Teresa paused for a moment, then continued in a slightly different direction. I m not Greek Orthodox, so I don t really know the services, and can t participate in communion. It was okay when the children were younger, but now that they re growing older, they ask me questions that I don t know how to answer. So because Costa isn t interested in going to church, we don t go very often maybe we might go on Christmas and Easter.

Costa remained quiet, so Teresa continued. And do you know what really hurts these days? As the kids matured, I would have liked them to experience their first communion and confirmation in the Catholic Church as I did. Those were really special times for me, and I regret the fact that they will not have these experiences.

At this juncture, Costa appeared very serious and genuinely moved by what his wife stated, then offered the following comments. I didn t know you felt this strongly about this. I guess it s because religion has been such an insignificant factor in our lives. Maybe we need to discuss this more when we get home. Maybe it s time for me to make some changes? Maybe I ve been really selfish?

Yes, maybe you have Costa. Maybe we both have. I hope we can resolve this before they get much older, and it s too late. I hope it s not too late now . I guess I m really glad we had this conversation.

Concluding Observations

A central finding to emerge from the study is couples like Costa and Teresa enter marriage assuming their religious and cultural differences will not offer them many serious challenges.

However, as children arrive and begin maturing, participants reported encountering a higher number of challenges than they first anticipated - many of which had the potential to generate high levels of marital and family conflict.

Participants also said the fast pace that typically characterizes this stage in the family life cycle made it more difficult to address and negotiate these challenges.

Rather than seek closure and resolution, many opted to simply ignore them.

Moreover, as results suggest, the unfortunate effect is their children s religious development suffered.

For more information: log on to the Interfaith Marriage Website at www.interfaith.goarch.org. ¿

Write to the Ortodox Observer

observer@goarch.org

MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 9

Faith

R R E E L L A AT T II N N G G T TO O T T H H E E Taking Up the Cross - The Way to Deification

A

nd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:14-15).

by Rev. Dr Dumitru Macaila

Yes, this is what Christ taught us, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. But what does it mean to have eternal life?

It means to live with God eternally, or as theologians expressed it, it means to be deified, to attain to deification, theosis.

In fact, this was the very goal of our ancestors, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, to attain to God s likeness. We cannot say that they have not tried to attain that goal. But they took the wrong way, since they tried to become like God by themselves. What they obtained was the opposite of what they wanted, because they gained the estrangement from God. The One Who regained for us, as Adam and Eve s descendants made in God s image, the pristine way to eternal life was Christ, the Son of God. Through Him, God came to us, and when we open our minds and hearts to His presence, something beyond our human understanding occurs.

There occurs an ineffable intimacy between us and God that answers Job s puzzling questions: What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, so that I am a burden to myself? (Job 7:20).

Job sinned through our ancestors, but from the very moment of their Fall, every human became God s target. It was God Who decided to regain for Himself every human being through His Son s Incarnation.

This is understood from God s words to the serpent: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel (Genesis 3:15).

Why was it necessary for the Son of God to be incarnate? Why not an angel or another human being?

An angel couldn t have redeemed the world because angels are incorporeal beings brought into existence by God as such, and they are not free from falling.

That is exactly why an angel couldn t have assumed the whole gamut of tribulations related to Calvary.

Moreover, his participation in the tribulations would have been apparent, not real, because an angel couldn t have become incarnate.

It was equally impossible for a human being to bring salvation, because a human couldn t have assumed the crucible of Crucifixion either, because no one is without sin. The only sinless one is Christ, both God and Man. If Jesus had been only a man His death on the Cross would have brought us no more than the death of the many prophets and heroes who died in the service of humanity (The Living God, p. 190). For if by the one man s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of

grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).

Regarding our ancestors state in Paradise, some theologians have coined this terse Latin sentence: Non posse mori, posse non mori, which means, Not that they couldn t die, but they could have not died.

Tragically, they chose to die. And from then on, all human beings have sinned.

No one can stop sinning just by deciding that he will no longer sin. Even though one became perfect by his own efforts, he would risk becoming estranged from God and complacent in his virtue. Proud of his victory over his human body, he would be overcome by the sin of pride.

Humility is key

Only a humble heart continuously open to God s grace, to His uncreated energy He freely gives to us, can make us like God. This is God s way of targeting us, diametrically opposed to our ancestors way, the way of rebelliousness, of giving up God s grace to become gods by themselves.

Now, we can choose to live eternally, to be with God in His Kingdom.

Christ showed us the way: Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me (Mark 8:34).

This was the way Christ Himself used to bring us salvation. This is our way to deification, the way of taking up the cross.

Christ came as the Suffering Servant as He was extremely accurately described by

Isaiah the Prophet, the Old Testament s evangelist: He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and

by His stripes we are healed (53: 3-5).

The way of following Christ is the way of self-denial, the way of carrying one s cross, the way of complete obedience to Christ. Christ Himself, perfect God and perfect Man, was not spared the worst temptation.

He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. The devil knew that the One Who was at the zenith of physical weakness was the Son of God, yet he dared to ask Christ to worship him. The devil tried against Christ a much more shameless deception than the one he successfully tried in Paradise against our ancestors.

Fatal mistake

However, this time he made a fatal mistake, he completely disregarded the fact that the One he set as his target is both Man and God. So, he was rejected by Christ: Away with you Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve (Mat. 4:10; Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Josh. 24:14). Satan thought that he would succeed in leading the Suffering Servant from the path of suf-

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u page 27

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 10

MARCH-APRIL 2001

...

EDITORIAL

Experience Life from the Empty Tomb

W

hen we consider Jesus last days on earth from a chronological perspective the denial, the flogging, the thorny crown, the Crucifixion, the lancing of His side and, finally, His death upon the cross we are stunned by these events that take on the dimension of a terrible, indescribable crime and unacceptable reality.

Yet, if we allow ourselves to experience all of these things from inside the empty Tomb of Christ, they take on a new dimension, a new meaning. They become transformed surrounded by a bright light and are hidden by the splendor of the Light of His Resurrection.

And, those terrible events that plagued the last days of Christ and seemed to resemble such an unjust tragedy, take on a new, joyous form.

They represent triumph, the triumphant Victory of Life over Death.

St. Paul the Apostle experienced the journey of the Savior on earth in a different way than we experience today, or at least different that most of us.

Because we are accustomed to viewing events from a historical perspective, we tend to focus on a chronological succession of facts: from the empty Tomb to the Cross-and not from the Cross-to the empty Tomb, as did the Apostle Paul.

The fact is that Paul did not know Jesus personally before His Resurrection. Yet he had the vigor to preach a joyous sermon, the sermon of triumphant love.

If Christ had not been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe, (St. Paul s Corinthians I, 15:14) But Christ is risen and the stone of the Tomb was rolled away. The removal of the stone was, of course, not neces-

u Priest Shortage t Editor, I agree with William Andrews in his letter in the February issue that we have a shortage of Greek Orthodox priests. He indicates the reason for the shortage may be that we are living in a very secular and materialistic culture. Another reason for the shortage may be the notion you have to be Greek to be Greek Orthodox. Might we be better off praying that more Orthodox men have a calling to the priesthood than limiting ourselves to just Greek men?

I am a devout Greek Orthodox Christian of non-Greek descent married to a non-Greek. We have five devout Greek Orthodox children, two of whom are sons.

I would like to think if either of them was to have a calling to the priesthood they would be deserving of the same prayers as the Greek men that are referred to by Mr. Andrews in his letter.

Fortunately for my family we are members of a Greek Orthodox community where Orthodoxy comes before ethnicity. Hopefully our type of community is the norm not the exception.

Mary Julius Rochester, N.Y.

sary for the resurrected Christ to emerge from the tomb, for its physical composition could not have prevented him.

Rather, the reason the stone was removed by angels was so His disciples and the Myrrh-bearing Women could enter the empty Tomb and witness the miracle of life and victory over death.

Only there, inside the empty tomb of Christ, did everyone understand.

In the Tomb, they conceived the true meaning of the life of the Savior, who was sacrificed upon the Cross and who died a martyr s death to conquer Death itself and give to us life everlasting.

Today, all of us must view this from inside the empty Tomb also, in order to understand the life of Christ.

Or do we understand it?

Each year, we are invited to make it our personal duty to understand the true concept of the Resurrection of Christ. We are called upon to make the concept of the Resurrection and offering of love to others, both in words and deeds of our steadfast faith.

Our Church calls for a resurrection within ourselves, our dormant Orthodox Christian way of life, and urges us to reestablish our entire life upon the rock that was rolled away from the Tomb of Christ.

In just a few weeks, following our climb to Golgotha with Christ, we will celebrate His triumphant Resurrection and we shall once again proclaim, Christ is Risen.

Let us experience this year the life of Christ from inside the empty tomb, as did His disciples and the Myrrh-bearing Women.

Let us greet the gift of God that emerges from the empty tomb, understanding the meaning of the Divine Sacrifice and reestablish our entire life upon the rock that was rolled away from the Tomb of Christ. ¿

u The majesty of law?t Editor, I am very disturbed by the uncritical attitude expressed by John A. Miklos in the February issue concerning the majesty of the law.

In a democracy where governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed, the law is not majestic as under a king. We got rid of kings in that great process which went on from 1775 through 1789 so there is no earthly majesty here.

Our laws are imperfect and should be treated with critical awareness and freedom-loving activism.

Let us look at some examples. Archbishop Iakovos and his vicar, Rev. George Bacopulos, marched in Selma, Ala., in March 1965, in the Civil Rights movement against the majesty of the segregation laws. These were some of the imperfect laws.

Our clergy leaders were on the cover of Life magazine on March 26, 1965, for all to see our activism.

uuu

uuu

u View Point by Fr. Artemas t

A generation earlier, millions of Americans disobeyed the laws by imbibing during Prohibition. They were exercising their natural rights against the majesty of this law which was, indeed, a constitutional amendment.

Anyone who has ever tasted Mavrodaphne or Retsina or Ouzo or Metaxa knows that Prohibition should never have been passed in the first place under the influence of the Radical Right religious fanatics such as Carrie Nation.

Luckily, our government process does not treat such laws as having majesgty and has methodologies for righting itself. We got rid of the Prohibition amendment with another amendment repealing Prohibition.

Our system is so flexible and so imperfect aht we were able to declare that a constitutional amendment had been unconstitutional.

I would prefer to live under this imperfect system than under any royalty where the law has majesty. I certainly do not attribute majesty to any law or even to The Law in a democracy.

Everyone should look at every law with a critical gaze, be prepared to undertake remedial action against unjust laws, and support people unjustly prosecuted.

Emmanuel P. Papadakis New Holland, Pa.

u Soul Pollution t Editor, I strongly agree with Fr. Artemas article, Soul Pollution, in the February issue.

You re absolutely right about Pop music being sexually charged and suggestive.

I feel it s important to bring to your attention an entire category of music that was not mentioned in your article, namely Contemporary Christian music.

Christian stations are cropping up all over the country which play the contemporary music that kids want to hear, and the bonus is this: This music has God centered lyrics, always. As a parent, I can trust the content of these songs, and there are SO MANY talented Christian artists right now singing in all the genres you mentioned in your article.

Parents (and kids) should know there is an incredible alternative out there...we don t need to accept (and financially support) the artists who are undermining our kids spiritual well being with vulgar lyrics and denigrating attitudes.

Mrs. Ginny Mamatas Herndon, Va.

u A misunderstanding t Editor, This is to correct an error in the February issue of the Orthodox Observer in which I was misquoted.

My statement was that Archbishop Demetrios was inspiring and that his explanations at the Bible class were a good way to reach our young adults.

It should also be noted that we are long standing members of Leadership 100, not new members, and that our parish is blessed with a wonderful, energetic and inspiring priest.

Mary Sotos Greenwich, Conn.

Editor, Married With Children, Melrose Place, Alley McBeal, and all the other low morality television shows, are only to make dollars, not to educate young people. Today no one cares what the public views as long as they make the big bucks.

While I agree with most of the comments about these television shows, we must first remember, who allows these young people not only to act in these so called films and movies on TV, but for our children who are at home (under parents supervision) to watch such trash in their homes?

A child will only do what he s allowed to do, when he has proper supervision.

Today, parents not only allow these children to watch such garbage, but some parents actually sit and watch with them.

Many children are allowed to have television and CD players in their own rooms, where no one knows or cares what they view, as long as they are out of their parents hair. This is no way to raise loving, caring responsible children.

Children need guidance and if we fail to guide them, then we will continue to have unruly, disrespectful children, who will grow up to do the same to their children. Thus one generation becomes worse than the last.

Things have got to turn around and parents have got to take back control of the home and the children that were entrusted to them by our Heavenly Father. To do less is to ignore God and His teachings.

We can t accept the corruption of the world and honor God at the same time.

We have to take a stand and be responsible for the children we brought into this world. They don t ask to be born, but if we choose to be parents, then we should do the very best job we can in bringing those children up in a loving and caring home, where they learn respect for their bodies and their minds as well.

Fran Glaros, Clearwater, Fla.

u Only one truth t Editor, Fr. Dumitru Macaila s article was a real eye-opener. The Christian faith is about saving souls through His message, not tolerating competing philosophies.

Perhaps the Jain organizer made a valid statement (subconsciously), We will recognize there is not just one absolute truth (oxymoron), but there is truth in every tradition.

Jesus said, You search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, but they are which speak of me. (Jn. 5:39) Jesus meant the scriptures of all traditions. So, yes, all traditions contain some truth, but those truths point to the one absolute truth, Who is Jesus the Christ.

And next time Ted Turner makes an ignorant statement in an ecumenical meeting that Christianity is intolerant because it taught we were the only ones going to Heaven, one should quote to him Psalm 11:4, Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Gus Langis Northport, N.Y.

MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 11

Archiepiscopal Encyclicals On the Feast of the Annunciation Today is the quintessence of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery from eternity.

The Son of God becomes the Virgin s Son, and Gabriel announces the Good News of grace.

(From the Dismissal Hymn of the Feast)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In the Feast of the Annunciation we hear once more with renewed admiration the great declaration of the Theotokos: ÃÝííïéôü ìïé êáôÜ ôï ñ`çìá óïõ. Be it done unto me according to your word. How beautifully this one sentence expresses the power of God s grace in our lives! With this saying, Panagia accepted the announcement of the Archangel Gabriel that the Lord had chosen her to be the Mother of God and to give birth to our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

But this saying Be it done unto me according to your word indicates more than just a declaration of her great faith, more even than an understanding of her most exalted calling as the Mother of God. These words mark the moment when the Theotokos became the first person to receive the Good News, the first person to experience an intimate union and inseparable fellowship with the Lord. These words also mark the conception of the Church, the beginning of a new humanity perpetually connected with God in body and soul, a society of men and women who renounce their individualistic selfexistence and pursue a common life of love according to the will of God alone.

At the same time, these words of the Most Holy Virgin strike a deathblow to the self-seeking, egotistical mode of being which our human race inherited from our first parents.

Annunciation by the hand of Athanasios Clark, courtesy DRE For in Paradise, our mother, Eve, chose death through self-will, self-love, and self-sufficiency. Eve received the beguiling words of the serpent, that if they transgress the commandment of God they shall be as gods (Gen. 3:5), and so introduced the rebellion of self-existence into the heart of humanity. But at the Annunciation, the Mother of God chose life - life in communion with God, life in cooperation with God, life in conformity with the will of God. In accepting the message of the Angel, Panagia renounced every demand for her individual rights and ambitions and self-fulfillment.

The legacy of Eve and Adam to their children is the story their will for individual survival; it is the story of blaming one another and hating one another, even to the point of killing one another, as in the case of Cain and Abel.

The legacy of the Theotokos is the restoration of humanity to its original mode of existence, in a life of loving dependence upon God for all things. Panagia s words of absolute trust in God contain the whole of the story of Jesus Christ s victory over both death and the fear of death (cf. Hebrews 2:15).

They contain the story of the reunion of the human family as a community, a community whose members freely love and freely serve one another, even to the point of freely dying for one another.

Be it done unto me according to your word.

These words of faith and unselfish commitment contain also the story of Greek Independence. For in the history of 1821, we find at work the same spirit of bold surrender to the will of God, the same spirit of absolute trust in the power of the Almighty.

Once again, among the enslaved people of Greece, a rebirth and transformation took place; a genuine reunion occurred. The fractured population of Hellas, divided and oppressed for four centuries, came together again as one people, one nation, and one family under the protection of the Holy Mother of God. As a people, they renounced their individual needs and concerns for self-preservation and individual success or survival. And for the sake of one another - for the sake of their entire people - they offered themselves up, even unto death, in the cause of freedom.

For the sake of a new mode of existence as a nation, they chose to surrender themselves completely to the will of God, stepping forward in faith and in hope.

And God rewarded their selfless sacrifice. Once again He regarded the humble estate of His servants (Luke 1:48). Once again He put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree (Luke 1:52), granting to the noble fighters of 1821 the invaluable gifts of freedom and independence.

The preservation of this invaluable freedom and independence will always depend on our will to overcome any selfish, self-centered attitude as individuals and as a nation, to be ready for any sacrifice for the common good, as did the heroes of 1821, and to gladly submit ourselves to the grace and will of God, as did our Panagia. Through her intercessions, may our celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation and of the Day of Greek Independence be blessed with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

With paternal love in Christ,

ÿ Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

Greek Independence Day Message To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day and Afternoon Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family of America Prosfileis Omogeneis,

A

s brothers and sisters in Christ we joyfully anticipate once again the cel ebration of the Feast of the Annunciation and the Day of Greek Indepen dence. On this day, Sunday the Twenty-Fifth of March, we will gather in worship of the Triune God, in remembrance of our sacred heritage, and in public affirmation of our inheritance as Orthodox Christians and Greek-Americans through our participation in annual Greek Independence Day parades.

Assuredly, these annual events are a witness to the intrinsic influence of Hellenism and Orthodoxy upon our identity. They are also a visible manifestation of the power of a substantive legacy and a living faith that not only enabled the preservation of religious expression, language, and a national distinctiveness through centuries of oppression, but also enabled our forbearers to embrace the struggle for freedom and to accept the challenges of independence. Thus to us, as the inheritors of the sacred and immeasurable wealth of Christian Hellenism, our Greek Independence Day Parades demonstrate the value of our faith and heritage in addressing the struggles and challenges of our contemporary world.

Let us join together in a spirit of unity, love, and joy as we prepare for this year s Parades and other activities that will mark our commemoration of Greek Independence. On this day we will give thanks to God for His abundant blessings, we will honor and seek the intercessions of the Most Holy Theotokos, and through our participation in the celebration of Greek Independence Day we will annunciate the necessity of true faith, of universal Hellenic ideals, and of our role as faithful stewards of our Greek heritage and our Orthodox faith.

With paternal love in Christ,

DEMETRIOS, Archbishop of America

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PAGE 12

Come Receive the Light Premier

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Experience an Orthodox Christian talk show that explains, describes, entertains and leaves you feeling good and alive in the love of Jesus Christ TO PI CS :

x Inter-Faith Marriages x Prison Ministries x Confession x Ethics and Morality x Orthodox Unity x Women in the Church x O.C.M.C

PAST GUESTS INCLUDE

Archbishop Archbishop Bishop DEMETRIOS ANASTASIOS ALEXIOS Bishop Kallistos Ware, Fr. Michel Najim, Fr. David Ogan, Rev. Dr. Stanley Harakas, Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos

Call to find out how you can help sponsor this radio ministry and bring it to your area.

BOSTON

Congatulations on Leading this national ministry. Tune in to WEZE 590 AM for the Premiere Broadcast of Come Receive the Light starting May 5, 2001 at 3:00 pm.

Toll Free: (1-877) 2RECEIV 1-954-522-5567 or FAX us at 1-954-467-0212

www.RECEIVE.org Log on to listen to past shows find out about upcoming guests and find out how to bring this ministry to your local area.

Public Service Announcement Airs on Odyssey NEW YORK The hand with the delicate paintbrush is firm as the artist adds color to the eye of the Virgin Mary.

I have painted a thousand sacred icons, says George Filippakis, the eyes of Mary, the hands of the infant Jesus.

The brush dips into the paint in this new public service announcement for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on Odyssey Network, a 24-hour cable television channel that provides high-quality family entertainment programming to a national audience of nearly 28 million subscribers.

You think I get bored? asks the artist, knowing full well the answer. The camera lovingly caresses his work.

These icons are a window to heaven, and a window through which heaven blesses me. How could I ever tire of that? he muses.

The spot is part of a national identity project by Faith & Values Media called Discover Our Family of Faiths PSA Campaign to showcase America s Christian and Jewish faith groups to a mass audience. Faith & Values Media produces television programming on Odyssey for its 29 faith group members.

The Archdiocese is a founding member of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, an organization of 70 Christian and Jewish Faith groups, which launched the network in 1988 as VISN (Vision Interfaith Satellite Network).

Archbishop Demetrios and Nikki Stephanopoulos, news and information/

public affairs officer of the Archdiocese, serve on the 15-member board.

We are thrilled with this opportunity to open the window to the spiritually-uplifting iconography which is unique to the Orthodox Christian Church, said Marissa P. Costidis, managing director of Greek Orthodox Telecommunications and member of the NICC Operations Board.

This is an important way our members can reach a potential audience in the millions, notes William Spencer Reilly, Faith & Values Media s executive producer. This PSA identity campaign is just right for a cable network like Odyssey with nearly 28 million subscribers and an audience seeking substantial values programming, he says. Currently, there are 10 spots from as many faiths groups airing with more spots to come.

The goal is to have one or more spots for each member over two years.

All of these messages close with the tag line, Discover our family of faiths on Odyssey. The benefits to the faith groups are considerable. Commercial advertisers spend tens of thousands of dollars to create a single 30-second message and additional thousands more to buy air time.

Yet, as a service to its members Faith & Values Media assumes all the costs of production, and Odyssey airs the spots free as public service announcements. The faith group gets to keep the spot to use any way it wishes.

MARCH-APRIL 2001

Orthodox Radio Program Spreads Across the Nation

by Fr. Christopher Metropoulos

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Come Receive The Light, a production of the Orthodox Christian Network, is a radio ministry serving faithful across the United States.

Its mission is to spread joy, hope and salvation in Jesus Christ, while exploring Orthodox Christianity in contemporary society.

The program was born of the need to reach those faithful who were homebound or who were searching for a spiritual supplement to their weekly Sunday worship.

In its first three years, Come Receive The Light became a joint effort in which all Orthodox Christian parishes of the South Florida Conference were able to participate.

Now in its sixth year, it can be heard via satellite throughout the United States and Canada. From the beginning, listeners have responded with enthusiasm to its programs.

Listeners tune in each week to Come Receive The Light to explore their own spirituality, learning from clergymen and lay theologians alike as they discuss contemporary, moral and religious issues that touch our everyday lives.

This year s programming will discuss issues such as gender and its meaning in the Resurrection, missions around the world, raising children as a single/divorced parent, interfaith marriages, divorce in the Church, Orthodox unity in America, A Christian approach to business ethics, and dealing with the loss of a child.

Guests have included Archbishop Demetrios and former Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis. Invitations will also be extended to such wellknown Orthodox Christians as actor Tom Hanks and author Harry Mark Petrakis.

The faithful can also call the studio during the program toll free at 1-877-2RECEIVE for feedback to questions they may have, or on whatever topics they want to discuss.

To help fund this ministry, we request donations from parishioners and friends throughout the year. We also seek 50 Givers of Light donors to donate $100 a month to finance production costs.

Program History

Come Receive The Light sprang from one South Florida church s desire to bring the Greek Orthodox faith to the homebound and to supplement the weekly worship of the faithful.

In just four years, it has become much more: a weekly ministry that brings its listeners food for the soul.

Along the way, the program has exploded in popularity and listeners. Starting Dec. 4, 1996, a modest program that began as a parish ministry now sends its signal to Orthodox Christians of all nationalities across the southeastern United States.

The Fort Lauderdale-based radio show is now the farthest reaching program of its kind in the United States, offering spiritual enlightenment to listeners tuning in and callers phoning in as clergymen and lay theologians discuss contemporary, moral and religious issues that touch our everyday lives.

In the Beginning

From its humble beginnings in a tiny, borrowed studio in South Florida, Come Receive The Light emerged as a spiritual outreach project that sought to bring the word of God into the homes of parishioners from St. Demetrios Church.

Fr. Christopher, St. Demetrios priest, and the parish council under the presidency of Vincent Hogan, sought to establish an Orthodox Christian radio program.

They reached out into their own parish to a young mother of two who had received her education in radio broadcasting.

It was then that Emmy Louvaris joined a team of individuals and began to make a major contribution to the success of this venture.

So in the fall of 1996, they developed a program that began airing live on Tuesday afternoons from a small AM radio station that broadcast to only a portion of South Florida.

Emmy juggled responsibilities as host and equipment specialist, while Father Christopher guided the discussions. Prerecordings and various musical CDs supplemented the hour-long program, and it was not unusual in those early days for a CD to suddenly stop working or a heavy rain to dampen the show s electrical capacity. Talk about baptism by fire, Emmy now says with a laugh.

A faithful following

But the effort worked. By the end of the first year, the program had a faithful following. One listener, James Pihos, was so impressed that he became a major benefactor, enabling the program to reach even more listeners.

In February 1997, Mr. Pihos generosity made it possible to begin building and equipping a broadcast studio at St. Demetrios Church.

At the Fr. Christopher s invitation, the local Greek Orthodox parish councils and the Ladies Philoptochos chapters became monthly supporters.

Those parishes include St. Catherine in West Palm Beach, St. Mark in Boca Raton, St. George in Hollywood, Annunciation in North Miami, St. Sophia Cathedral in Miami and St. Andrews in Kendall.

The priests from these parishes prerecorded sermons to expand the pool of talent already developed.

After several months, parishes of other Orthodox jurisdictions also joined in to support and appear on the program. They include the Orthodox Church in America, and the Antiochian and Romanian archdioceses.

Ron Spiegel, an active St. Demetrios member, was especially instrumental in gathering a group of volunteers that, over a 12-month period, built the studio with their own hands.

These individuals included many St. Demetrios Parish Council members. Ron, an audio-video expert, also brought muchneeded sophistication to the show s programming, as did Vinny Hogan, who had a background in motion picture editing.

The new studio required architectural drawings, which Lou Kallinosis of St. Andrews Church in Kendall provided voluntarily.

Another young couple from St. Demetrios, Garry and Diane Paxinos, assisted in developing the program s web site. Later, they would contribute Trinity broadcast equipment, allowing the program to be seen and heard over the Internet and on television.

Schedule of topics

Come Receive The Light Diocese Radio Ministries began its 2000-01 season Oct. 7. Each week the staff brings to its listening audience contemporary topics.

The hour-long program is aired in the same time slot, every Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time), on WLVJ 640 AM. For those not in South Florida the current listening area, our program can be heard throughout the United States and on the Web @ http://www.receive.org.

It can also be heard at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese site www.goarch.org.

You can assist the ministry by calling the radio office in Ft. Lauderdale at (954) 522-5567, and working with an ever-expanding national team of individuals to bring the program live to your area or to seek national sponsors for this new and innovative program.

Special Interest

MARCH-APRIL 2001

of

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

The Restoration of the Orthodox Church Of Albania (1991-2000) Following is the text of a lecture (first of two parts) by His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania on the progress of the Church presented at the Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral Center on Feb. 11. The event was co-sponsored by the Cathedral Fellowship and the local office of the International Orthodox Christian Charities.

I

n the course of the 20th century, the Orthodox Church in Abania underwent a succession of try ing ordeals, experiencing a profound turn of events, the kind of which

litical conditions.

After the death of Paisios on March 3, 1966, Damianos, a former member of the resistance, occupied the archbishop s throne. But he withdrew in 1967 and retired to his home in Pogradec, where he later died on Oct. 18, 1973.

During this period, the Church of Albania included the archdiocese, three dioceses presided over by bishops, twelve districts headed by high-ranking priests, 330 parishes, and 25 monasteries.

Two distinctive features of the Orthodox Church stood out: first, the multiethnic background of Orthodox worship-

PAGE 13

ÆÇÔÙ ÔÏ ÅÈÍÏÓ!

ÆÇÔÙ Ç 25ç ÌÁÑÔÉÏÕ 1821!

The Community of HELLENIC COLLEGE and HOLY CROSS GREEK ORTHODOX SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY wishes to all Hellenes a Happy and Proud Greek Independence Day

Hellenic College and Holly Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology offers a number of full scholarships to qualified students.

For more information contact the Admissions Office: 617-731-3500 x 1260 - www.hchc.edu Email: admissions@hchc.edu St. George in Fier was destroyed in 1968. The new building now stands tall in this small town.

the Psalms describe: The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish (Ps 116:3).

The culmination of all these hardships was the ruthless, atheistic persecution during the communist regime of Enver Hoxha.

The constraints in Albania during his first 23 years were similar to those imposed by communist parties in Russia and other Balkan countries.

However, on Oct. 22, 1967, in its desire to promote itself as an innovator in world history, the Hoxha regime constitutionally proclaimed itself the first and only atheist state in the world.

The persecutions that followed this preemptive decision were among the most severe ever endured by any local Church. The State closed all churches, destroying many while converting others into warehouses, cinemas, machine shops and stables.

They defrocked the clergy, and confiscated all church property, including land, sacred vessels and utensils, and archives.

They punished the slightest resistance by imprisonment, exile, or death. Such relentless terrorism continued for 23 years.

Church leader arrested

The State removed Archbishop Christophoros from his post on Oct. 25, 1948, and placed him under house arrest.

According to official announcement, he died on June 6, 1958, from a heart attack; but rumors said they poisoned him.

To fill the vacancy, Paisios Voditsas, a widower and former bishop of Korçe, was appointed primate of the Church.

At that time, his son Iosif served as minister of the interior, responsible for the secret service.

In February 1950, a clergy-laity assembly of the Orthodox Church convened in Tirana to vote on a new constitution that would better suit the new social and po-

WHY DID SHE CRY

pers (Albanian, Greek, Slav, and Vlach); and, second, the fact that Orthodox believers did not constitute a majority of the population, as they did in other Balkan countries.

According to Italian statistics, the Orthodox constituted 20.7 percent of the population before the beginning of religious persecution.

In a conversation between Hoxha and Stalin on March 23, 1949, Hoxha estimated the Orthodox at 30 to 35 percent.

By Fr. George Papadeas

Written on the 40th Anniversary of the Weeping Icons enshrined in St. Paul s Cathedral.

- Indeed a different kind of Book. Its 208 pages are sure to hold the interest of all.

- Hundrends of thousands were eye-witnesses. Countless millions world-wide read in their Newspapers or saw it over TV. - These Manifestations declared a Divine Sign by Patriarch Athenagoras are still vivid in the hearts and minds of countless people.

- The major N.Y. Newspapers witnessed the tearing and seeing the back of the Icon prints bone dry were astounded.

- God s mysterious ways affirmed the mystery after chemical lab tested the tears, having an oily substance of element unknown!

- New York Newsday, Oct. 11, 1990 wrote: The Weeping Icons have been included as one of the most memorable Events of the past 50 years!

- Pro. Nicholas Kontarides of the Univ. of Fla. stated that this Book belongs in every household.

A Church in ruins

By 1991, the Albanian communist regime finally relented under the pressure of international events. The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, however, lay in utter ruin, unable to recover on its own.

Repeated political changes and internal church conflicts, combined with the absence of such spiritual activity as sermons or other sustenance for the Orthodox fold, left the local Church a vast wasteland, like a landscape devastated by fire.

Nevertheless, the hardy seeds of Orthodox piety laid dormant in thousands of souls, waiting for the proper conditions to allow them to germinate and grow once again.

The total disaster of the Orthodox administrative structure left little hope for internal recovery. No Albanian bishop anywhere in the world could be found to undertake the responsibility of restoring the local Church.

Not even any Albanian clergyman or layman could respond to this very difficult mission. The 12 priests and three deacons who survived the long persecution were old and ill.

Patriarchate takes initiative

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, through a series of bold actions, finally took the

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ORTHODOX OBSERVER

MARCH-APRIL 2001

The Restoration of the Orthodox Church Of Albania (1991-2000) u page 13 initiative in reestablishing the Church of Albania.

In January 1991, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios and the Holy Synod selected Athens University professor Bishop Anastasios of Androusa to act as Patriarchal Exarch.

At that time, Bishop Anastasios also served as general director for the office of Apostolic Services (Apostoliki Diakonia) for the Church of Greece, and acting Archbishop for the Diocese of Irinoupolis, East Africa.

Following months of opposition to this selection by the Albanian government, the Patriarchal Exarch finally arrived in Tirana on July 17, 1991. During his tour of the country, he was able to see for himself the incredible devastation the relentless persecution caused.

His first act as Patriarchal Exarch was to organize a rudimentary organizational structure able to represent the local Church. With this purpose in mind, he convened a General Clergy-Laity meeting on Aug. 1-2, 1991, attended by 15 clerics and 30 lay participants from the ecclesiastical districts of Albania.

This body examined the current postcommunist situation, considered prospects for the future, and elected four vicars committees and a General Ecclesiastical Counsel composed of 13 clerical and lay members.

Our main effort was to search for competent persons of Albanian citizenship who could be ordained bishops. We especially wanted to find a candidate, even from the ranks of educated, unmarried laymen, for the office of Archbishop.

Unfortunately, this was impossible.

Everyone accepted the fact that the reestablishment of the local Church was impossible on its own accord.

In May 1992, the Patriarchal Exarch was preparing to return to his duties at the university. It was then that the clergy and laity of Albania, irrespective of their origin, insisted that he remain in the country and under take the work of reorganizing the bloodstained Church.

From June 5-8, 1992, a delegation from the Church of Albania visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the first time since the beginning of the communist persecution, and requested that the Patriarchal Exarch be chosen as Primate of the Church of Albania.

On June 24, 1992, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected Bishop Anastasios, who in the interim had been elevated Metropolitan of Androussa, as Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania.

The Holy Synod also elected Christodoulos Moustakas as Metropolitan of Korce, Alexandros Kalpakides as Metropolitan of Gjirokaster and Ignatios Triantes as Metropolitan of Berat, Vlore, and Kanine.

The Albanian government strongly opposed these appointments, citing the imposition of external Greek control over one of the country s three religious communities.

President Sali Berisha did agree to accept the installation of Archbishop Anastasios, but would not allow, under any circumstances, the four Orthodox hierarchs of Albania to be of Greek origin.

New archbishop enthroned

On July 12, 1992, the new Archbishop

accepted his appointment by giving the Great Message to the Phanar. He was later enthroned in the Annunciation Cathedral of Tirana on Aug. 2, 1992, in the presence of all clergy and lay representatives from the provinces of Albania.

The new archbishop faced a clearly difficult, uncertain and strenuous task.

First of all, little Church infrastructure existed. More difficult, however, was the suspicious climate cultivated by various circles, mostly outside the Orthodox community, due to the Greek origin of the archbishop.

The Orthodox community was a nonhomogeneous ethnic group, left in total disarray from many years of persecution.

Ethnic concerns provoked opposition.

Furthermore, the archbishop had to function without an even elementary organizational foundation, no basic economic resources, and very few people to help him. Even the task of learning a new language at an advanced age was an obstacle. Clearly, conditions and barriers were difficult and many.

Despite the President of the Republic s acceptance of the new archbishop, certain Albanian circles took a series of actions, including drawing up legislation, where they attempted to expel him on grounds of his Greek descent.

At a special Assembly of Clergy and Laity in Durres on Jan. 21, 1993, the Orthodox delegates all together declared that they would not tolerate such measures. A final attempt to remove the archbishop was made in the autumn of 1993, with the drafting of the constitution. In the end, however, this measure was defeated in the referendum of Nov. 6, 1994.

On another side as well, the Ecumeni-

cal Patriarchate, with insufficient knowledge of the social-political climate and conditions of Albania, made several hasty decisions. In July 1996, without any further communication with the Albanian side, the formerly elected metropolitans were ordained in Constantinople.

Dealing with distrust

Painful days followed for the archbishop, who was dealing with a climate of distrust from both sides. He tried to repeatedly explain that it was impossible to reach a just solution through one-sided actions. A consensus should be built, with the exclusive purpose of helping the progress of the Church of Albania.

This question of the Holy Synod s composition was finally settled, following persistent negotiations by representatives from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Albania, and the Albanian authorities from November 1997 to July 1998.

In the end, all sides agreed that the Holy Synod would consist of two highranking clergymen of Greek descent and two of Albanian descent. Metropolitan Ignatios of Berat subsequently took his throne while Metropolitans Alexandros of Gjirokaster and Christodoulos of Korce submitted their resignations. Archimandrite John Pelushi was chosen as Metropolitan of Korce and Fr. (Economos) Kozma Qirio was chosen as Bishop of Apollonia.

In February 1999, the two metropolitans who resigned requested and received discharge from their titles in order to be reinstated in the Church of Greece. Thus, the critical problem of the Holy Synod s establishment came to a close. (continued next issue)

ÅÔÏÓ 67

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Ï ðñüåäñïò Ìðïõò êáëùóüñéóå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÄçìÞôñéï

ÔÉÌÇ ÊÁÉ ÐÅÑÇÖÁÍÅÉÁ ÃÉÁ ÔÇÍ ÏÌÏÃÅÍÅÉÁ ÏÉ ÅÏÑÔÁÓÔÉÊÅÓ ÅÊÄÇËÙÓÅÉÓ ÃÉÁ ÔÇÍ ÅÐÅÔÅÉÏ ÔÇÓ ÅÈÍÉÊÇÓ ÐÁËÉÃÃÅÍÅÓÉÁÓ ÏÕÁÓÉÍÃÊÔÏÍ. Ç ÅëëçíïáìåñéêáíéêÞ ÏìïãÝíåéá ãéüñôáóå ìå ëáìðñüôçôá êáé ðåñçöÜíåéá ôçí åðÝôåéï ôçò ÅèíéêÞò ìáò Ðáéëéããåíåóßáò, ôçò 25 çò Ìáñôßïõ, óôçí ÏõÜóéíãêôïí õðü ôçí çãåóßá ôïõ Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Äçìçôñßïõ êáé ôç óõììåôï÷Þ ðïëëþí áìåñéêáíþí ãåñïõóéáóôþí êáé âïõëåõôþí, áíôéðñïóþðùí ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò ÊõâÝñíçóçò êáé ðïëëþí äéáêåêñéìÝíùí ïìåãåíþí. ôïõ Óôáýñïõ Ç. Ðáðáãåñìáíïý

Ï Ðñüåäñïò ôùí ÇíùìÝíùí Ðïëéôåéþí ê. Ôæüñôæ Ìðïõò õðïäÝ÷èçêå ôïí Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÁìåñéêÞò óå éäéáßôåñç êáô éäßáí óõíÜíôçóç ðïõ äéÞñêåóå 15 ðåñßðïõ ëåðôÜ. Ï ðñüåäñïò õðÝãñáøå êáé ðáñÝäùóå óôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï äéáêÞñõîç ìå ôçí ïðïßá áíáêçñýóåôáé ç 25ç Ìáñôßïõ 2001 ùò ÇìÝñá ÅëëçíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò êáé ÅëëçíïáìåñéêáíéêÞò Öéëßáò. Áêïëïýèçóå ôåëåôÞ óôï Indian Treaty Room óôçí ïðïßá ðáñåõñÝèçêáí 50 ðåñßðïõ ðñïóêåêëçìÝíïé ôïõ Ëåõêïý Ïßêïõ êáèþò êáé ï Õöõðïõñãüò Åîùôåñéêþí ôçò ÅëëÜäïò ê. Ãñçãüñçò Íéþôçò, áíôéðñïóùðåßá ôïõ Åëëçíéêïý Êïéíïâïõëßïõ êáé ïé äéðëùìáôéêÝò áñ÷Ýò ôçò ÅëëÜäïò êáé ôçò Êýðñïõ. Ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéïò ðñïóöùíþíôáò ôïí ðñüåäñï Ìðïýò ìßëçóå ãéá ôçí ðñïóöïñÜ êáé óõìâïëÞ ôïõ ëáïý ôçò ÅëëÜäïò óôá éäåþäç ôçò åëåõèåñßáò êáé ôçò äéêáéïóýíçò. (âë. ðñïóöþíçóç óåë. 16)

ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÉÊÇ ÅÃÊÕÊËÉÏÓ

Äçì. ÐáíÜãïò

Ï ðñüåäñïò Ôæïñôæ Ìðïõò áíôáðïêñéíüìåíïò óôçí ðñïóöþíçóç ôïõ Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Äçìçôñßïõ, Ýðëåîå ôï åãêþìéï ôçò ÅëëÜäïò êáé ôïõ Åëëçíéóìïý ôçò ÁìåñéêÞò.

Óôç óýíôïìç áíôéöþíçóÞ ôïõ ï ðñüåäñïò ôùí ÇÐÁ ìßëçóå ãéá ôçí ÅëëÜäá ùò êïéôßäá ôïõ äõôéêïý ðïëéôéóìïý êáé ãéá ôçí óõìâïëÞ ôçò óôçí áíÜðôõîç ôïõ ðíåýìáôïò êáé ôçò äçìïêñáôßáò. Ôüíéóå åðßóçò üôé ç ÇÐÁ ôéìïýí áõôÞ ôçí áðü áéþíùí ðñïóöïñÜ áëëÜ êáé ôçí óçìåñéíÞ öéëßá ôïõò ìå ôçí ÅëëÜäá. Ïé äéÞìåñåò åïñôáóôéêÝò åêäçëþóåéò

Üñ÷éóáí ôçí ðñïçãïõìÝíç ÐÝìðôç 22 Ìáñôßïõ, ìå äåëéðíï ðïõ ðáñÝèåóå ï ãíùóôüò ïìïãåíÞò åðé÷åéñçìáôßáò êáé ìÝëïò ôçò ÅêôåëåóôéêÞò ÅðéôñïðÞò ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ, áðü ôï Ãïõüñåí ôïõ Ï÷áúï, ê. Ôæüí Ðáãéáýëáò óôï îåíïäï÷åßï Ritz Carlton, ðñïò ôéìÞí ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ Äçìçôñßïõ ðáñïõóßá åðéöáíþí ïìïãåíþí áðü üëç ôç ÷þñá, åêðñïóþðùí ôïõ Áìåñéêáíéêïý ðïëéôé-

u óåë. 16

25ç Ìáñôßïõ 2001: ÇìÝñá ÅèíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò

Ðñïò ôïõò ÓåâáóìéùôÜôïõò êáé ÈåïöéëåóôÜôïõò Áñ÷éåñåßò, ôïõò ÅõëáâåóôÜôïõò Éåñåßò êáé Äéáêüíïõò, ôïõò Ìïíá÷ïýò êáé Ìïíá÷Ýò, ôïõò ÐñïÝäñïõò êáé ÌÝëç ôùí Ïñèïäüîùí Åëëçíéêþí ÊïéíïôÞôùí, ôá ÇìåñÞóéá êáé ÁðïãåõìáôéíÜ Ó÷ïëåßá, ôéò Öéëïðôþ÷ïõò Áäåëöüôçôåò, ôçí Íåïëáßá, ôéò Åëëçíïñèüäïîåò Ïñãáíþóåéò êáé ïëüêëçñï ôï ×ñéóôåðþíõìïí ðëÞñùìá ôçò ÁìåñéêÞò.

ôçò êëçñïíïìéÜò ìáò ìå ôéò ïðïßåò áíôéìåôùðßæïõìå ôéò äõóêïëßåò êáé ðñïêëÞóåéò ôïõ óõã÷ñüíïõ êüóìïõ ìáò. Áò æÞóïõìå ëïéðüí üëïé ìå ðíåýìá åíüôçôïò, áãÜðçò êáé ÷áñÜò, êáèþò ðñïåôïéìáæüìåèá ãéá ôéò öåôéíÝò ìáò ðáñåëÜóåéò êáé ôéò Üëëåò åêäçëþóåéò ïé ïðïßåò èá óçìáäåýóïõí ôïí åïñôáóìü ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò. Ôçí çìÝñá áõôÞ èá åõ÷áñéóôÞóïõìå ôïí Èåü ãéá ôéò ðëïýóéåò åõëïãßåò Ôïõ, èá ôéìÞóïõìå êáé èá éêåôåýóïõìå ôçí Õðåñáãßá Èåïôüêï ãéá ôçí ìåóéôåßá ôçò, êáé ìÝóù ôçò óõììåôï÷Þò ìáò óôçí ÐáñÝëáóç ôçò ÅèíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò èá äéáêçñýîïõìå ôçí áíáãêáéüôçôá ôçò áëçèéíÞò ðßóôåùò, ôùí ðáãêïóìßùí Åëëçíéêþí éäáíéêþí, êáé ôïõ ñüëïõ ìáò ùò ðéóôþí äéá÷åéñéóôþí ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò êëçñïíïìéÜò êáé ôçò Ïñèïäüîïõ ðßóôåþò ìáò.

Ðñïóöéëåßò Ïìïãåíåßò, Ùò áäåëöïß åí ×ñéóôþ áíáìÝíïõìå êáé ðÜëé ìå ÷áñÜ ôïí åïñôáóìü ôïõ Åõáããåëéóìïý ôçò Èåïôüêïõ êáé ôçí ÇìÝñá ôçò ÅèíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò. Ôçí çìÝñá áõôÞ, ÊõñéáêÞ 25ç Ìáñôßïõ, èá óõãêåíôñùèïýìå ãéá íá ëáôñåýóïõìå ôïí Ôñéáäéêü Èåü, ìíçìïíåýïíôáò ôçí éåñÜ ðáñáêáôáèÞêç ìáò, êáé äéáêçñýóóïíôáò äçìïóßùò ìÝóù ôçò óõììåôï÷Þò ìáò óôéò åôÞóéåò ÐáñåëÜóåéò ôçò ÅèíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò ôçí êëçñïíïìéÜ ðïõ Ý÷ïõìå ùò ×ñéóôéáíïß Ïñèüäïîïé êáé ùò Åëëçíï-Áìåñéêáíïß. Âåâáéüôáôá, áõôÜ ôá åôÞóéá ãåãïíüôá áðïôåëïýí ìáñôõñßá ôçò ïõóéáóôéêÞò åðéäñÜóåùò ôïõ Åëëçíéóìïý êáé ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò åðß ôçò ôáõôüôçôüò ìáò. Áðïôåëïýí åðßóçò ïñáôÜ äåßãìáôá

êïý êüóìïõ, äéðëùìáôéêþí áñ÷þí êáé åêðñïóþðùí ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò ÊõâåñíÞóåùò êáé ôïõ Åëëçíéêïý Êïéíïâïõëßïõ. ÊáôÜ ôç äéÜñêåéá ôùí ðñïóöùíÞóåùí äéáðéóôþèçêå ç åíüôçôá êáé ç ïìïøõ÷ßá ìåôáîý üëùí ôùí ðáñáãüíôùí ôçò ÏìïãÝíåéáò, ïé ïðïßïé åîÝöñáóáí ôçí ðåðïßèçóç üôé õðü ôçí çãåóßá êáé êáèïäÞãçóç ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Äçìçôñßïõ èá óõíå÷ßóïõí íá õðïóôçñßæïõí ôá èÝìáôá ðïõ áöïñïýí ôçí ÏìïãÝíåéá, ôçí Åëëçíïñèüäïîç Åêêëçóßá áëëÜ êáé ôçí ÅëëÜäá êáé ôï Ïéêïõìåíéêü Ðáôñéáñ÷åßï. Ôï ðñùß ôçò åðïìÝíçò ÐáñáóêåõÞò 23 Ìáñôßïõ, ï çãÝôçò ôçò ðëåéïøçößáò ôçò ÁìåñéêáíéêÞò Ãåñïõóßáò, ñåìðïõðëéêáíüò ãåñïõóéáóôÞò áðü ôï Ìéóéóéðß Trent Lott, õðïäÝ÷èçêå öéëüîåíá êáé ìå ðïëý óåâáóìü êáé êáëùóýíç ôïí Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéï, ôïí Õöõðïõñãü Åîùôåñéêþí ôçò ÅëëÜäïò ê. Ãñçãüñç Íéþôç êáé Üëëïõò åêðñïóþðïõò ôçò ÏìïãÝíåéáò êáé ôïõ Åëëçíéêïý Êïéíïâïõëßïõ óôï ãñáöåßï ôïõ óôï Êáðéôþëéï. Ï Áìåñéêáíüò ãåñïõóéáóôÞò åîÞãçóå óôïõò ðñïóêåêëçìÝíïõò ôïõ ïñéóìÝíá éóôïñéêÜ óôïé÷åßá ó÷åôéêÜ ìå ôïí ÷þñï õðïäï÷Þò êáé ôï ãñáöåßï ôïõ, áíáöÝñèçêå ìå èÝñìç óôçí äõíáìéêÞ ðáñïõóßá ôïõ åëëçíéóìïý ôçò ðïëéôåßáò ôïõ êáé áíôÜëëáîå áðüøåéò ìå ôïí Óåâáóìéþôáôï ãéá ìéá óåéñÜ èåìÜôùí. Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ôüíéóå ôçí ðñïóöïñÜ ôçò Åëëçíïñèüäïîçò êïéíüôçôïò óôçí ÁìåñéêáíéêÞ êïéíùíßá êáé ôçí óçìáóßá ôçò Åëëçíïáìå-

ÓõìâïëéêÞ áíáðáñÜóôáóç ôçò áñ÷Þò ôçò åðáíáóôÜóåùò ôïõ 21. Ï åðßóêïðïò Ãåñìáíüò åõëïãåß ôïí îåóçêùìü ôïõ ÃÝíïõò. Èåüäùñïò ÂñõóÜêçò - ÅèíéêÞ ÐéíáêïèÞêç Áèçíþí.

ôçò äõíÜìåùò åíüò óçìáíôéêïý êëçñïäïôÞìáôïò êáé ìéáò æùíôáíÞò ðßóôåùò, ðñÜãìáôá ôá ïðïßá ü÷é ìüíï óõíÝäñáìáí óôç äéáôÞñçóç ôçò èñçóêåõôéêÞò æùÞò, ôçò ãëþóóçò, êáé ôïõ åèíéêïý ÷áñáêôÞñïò, êáôÜ ôç äéÜñêåéá áéþíùí êáôáðéÝóåùò, áëëÜ åðßóçò éêÜíùóáí ôïõò ðñïãüíïõò

ìáò íá ñé÷èïýí óôç ìÜ÷ç ãéá ôçí åëåõèåñßá êáé íá áðïäå÷èïýí ôéò ðñïêëÞóåéò ôçò áíåîáñôçóßáò. ¸ôóé, ùò êëçñïíüìïé ôïõ éåñïý êáé áìÝôñçôïõ ðëïýôïõ ôïõ ×ñéóôéáíéêïý Åëëçíéóìïý, âëÝðïõìå ôéò ðáñåëÜóåéò ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò ÇìÝñáò Áíåîáñôçóßáò ùò áðüäåéîç ôçò áîßáò ôçò ðßóôåùò êáé

Ìå ðáôñéêÞ åí ×ñéóôþ áãÜðç,

ÿ ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ÄÇÌÇÔÑÉÏÓ

ÓÅËÉÄÁ 16

ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ

ÌÁÑÔÉÏÓ-ÁÐÑÉËÉÏÓ 2001

ÔÉÌÇ ÊÁÉ ÐÅÑÇÖÁÍÅÉÁ ÃÉÁ ÔÇÍ ÏÌÏÃÅÍÅÉÁ ÏÉ ÅÏÑÔÁÓÔÉÊÅÓ ÅÊÄÇËÙÓÅÉÓ ÃÉÁ ÔÇÍ ÅÐÅÔÅÉÏ ÔÇÓ ÅÈÍÉÊÇÓ ÐÁËÉÃÃÅÍÅÓÉÁÓ u óåë. 15

ÐÑÏÓÖÙÍÇÓÇ ÔÏÕ ÓÅÂÁÓÌÉÙÔÁÔÏÕ ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÏÕ ÁÌÅÑÉÊÇÓ ê. ÄÇÌÇÔÑÉÏÕ ÐÑÏÓ ÔÏÍ ÐÑÏÅÄÑÏ ÔÙÍ ÇÍÙÌÅÍÙÍ ÐÏËÉÔÅÉÙÍ ÁÌÅÑÉÊÇÓ ê. GEORGE W. BUSH ÅÐÉ ÔÇ ÅÕÊÁÉÑÉÁ ÔÇÓ ÕÐÏÃÑÁÖÇÓ ÊÁÉ ÐÁÑÁÄÏÓÅÙÓ ÔÇÓ ÄÉÁÊÇÑÕÎÇÓ ÃÉÁ ÔÇÍ ÇÌÅÑÁ ÔÇÓ ÅËËÇÍÉÊÇÓ ÁÍÅÎÁÑÔÇÓÉÁÓ

Ä. ÐáíÜãïò

ñéêáíéêÞò öéëßáò. ÔÝëïò, ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò åõ÷áñßóôçóå ôïí áìåñéêáíü ãåñïõóéáóôÞ ãéá ôçí öéëïîåíßá ôïõ êáé ôçí ðñïóï÷Þ ôïõ åðß èåìÜôùí ðïõ åíäéáöÝñïõí éäéáßôåñá ôçí åëëçíïáìåñéêáíéêÞ êïéíüôçôá. Ôï ìåóçìÝñé ôçò ßäéáò ìÝñáò ï ðñÝóâçò ôçò ÅëëÜäïò óôçí ÏõÜóéíãêôïí ê. ÁëÝîáíäñïò Ößëùí êáëùóüñéóå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï, ïìïãåÄ. ÐáíÜãïò íåßò ðñïóêåêëçìÝíïõò áð üëç ôçí ÁìåñéêÞ Éäéáßôåñç ðñïóï÷Þ öáßíåôáé íá äåß÷íåé ï ðñüåäñïò Ìðïýò áëëÜ êáé ôïõò åêðñï- óôá ëüãéá ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ Äçìçôñßïõ. óþðïõò ôçò ÅëëÜäïò óå äåîßùóç ðïõ ðáñÝèåóå ðñïò ôéìÞí ôïõ ÓåâáóìéùðáñÝèåóå óôçí ÅëëçíéêÞ Ðñåóâåßá, ôÜôïõ óôï éóôïñéêü Ìðëáßñ ×Üïõæ (Blair äßíïíôáò ôçí åõêáéñßá óå üëïõò íá House) ðïõ áðïôåëåß ôïí ðñïåäñéêü ïßêï ãíùñéóôïýí êáëýôåñá ìåôáîý ôïõò, öéëïîåíßáò îÝíùí áñ÷çãþí êñáôþí. Ï í áíôáëëÜîïõí áðüøåéò êáé åõ÷Ýò ãéá ôçí õðïõñãüò Abraham ðïõ õðçñÝôçóå óôï ðáñåëèüí êáé ùò ãåñïõóéáóôÞò, ôñÝöåé ÅèíéêÞ åðÝôåéï. Ëßãï áñãüôåñá ï áìåñéêáíüò õðïõñ- öéëåëëçíéêÜ áéóèÞìáôá êáé Ý÷åé óôï ãüò ÅíÝñãåéáò ê. Spencer Abraham, ï ðáñåëèüí õðïóôçñßîåé áíÜëïãåò èÝóåéò. Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò åõ÷áñßóôçóå èåñïðïßïò åßíáé ËéâáíéêÞò êáôáãùãÞò êáé ÷ñéóôéáíüò ïñèüäïîïò ôï èñÞóêåõìá, ìÜ ôïí áìåñéêáíü õðïõñãü ãéá ôçí êáëùóüñéóå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï êáé ôïõò öéëïîåíßá ôïõ êáèþò êáé ôïí ê. Íéêüëáï ëïéðïýò ðñïóêåêëçìÝíïõò óå ãåýìá ðïõ Ìðïýñá, ïìïãåíÞ áðü ôçí ÍÝá ÉåñóÝç

Ï ðñüåäñïò Ìðïõò åß÷å ôçí åõêáéñßá íá ÷áéñåôßóåé éäéáßôåñá ôá ìÝëç ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò áíôéðñïóùðåßáò. Óôçí öùôïãñáößá ìå ôïí ê. Ãñçãüñç Íéþôç, ôïõò âïõëåõôÝò ê. Âáóßëåéï Ãåñáíßäç êáé Ðáíáãéþôç ÓêáíäáëÜêç. ÁñéóôåñÜ äéáêñßíïíôáé ï ðñüåäñïò ôçò Á×ÅÐÁ ê. Ôæüíé Åêüíïìé êáé ï äéïéêçôÞò ôïõ ÔÜãìáôïò ôùí Áñ÷üíôùí ê. Áíôþíéïò ËõìðåñÜêçò.

êáé ãñáììáôÝá ôçò ÅêôåëåóôéêÞò ÅðéôñïðÞò ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ ãéá ôçí åõãåíÞ ÷ïñçãßá ôïõ åïñôáóôéêïý ãåýìáôïò. Óôç óõíÝ÷åéá áíáöåñüìåíïò óôçí Ýííïéá ôçò åëåõèåñßáò óå óõíäõáóìü ìå ôï áãáèü ôçò åéñÞíçò ôüíéóå üôé åßíáé áíÜãêç íá õðåñáóðéóèïýìå êáé íá

ðñïùèÞóïõìå ôéò ìåãÜëåò áîßåò ôçò åëåõèåñßáò, ôçò åéñÞíçò êáé ôçò äéêáéïóýíçò óå üëï ôïí êüóìï áëëÜ éäéáßôåñá óå èÝìáôá êáé ðåñéï÷Ýò ãéá ôéò ïðïßåò Ý÷ïõìå éäéáßôåñåò åõáéóèçóßåò üðùò ôá ÂáëêÜíéá, ç Êýðñïò êáé ïé ÅëëçíïôïõñêéêÝò ó÷Ýóåéò.

Ï ãåñïõóéáóôÞò Ðïë ÓáñìðÜíçò ìå ôïí ê. Ôæïí Ðáãéáýëá êáé ôïí äñ. Ë. Ñïýóáëëç

ËÅÕÊÏÓ ÏÉÊÏÓ INDIAN TREATY ROOM WASHINGTON, D.C. 23 ÌÁÑÔÉÏÕ 2001 Êýñéå Ðñüåäñå, Åî ïíüìáôïò ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò Ïñèïäüîïõ Êïéíüôçôïò ôçò ÁìåñéêÞò, ôçí ïðïßá Ý÷ù ôçí ìåãÜëç ôéìÞ íá åêðñïóùðþ êáèþò åðßóçò êáé åî ïíüìáôïò ôùí áðáíôá÷ïý ÅëëÞíùí, èá Þèåëá íá óáò åêöñÜóù ôçí âáèåßáí åõãíùìïóýíç ìáò äéüôé ìáò ôéìÜôå óÞìåñá ìå áõôÞí ôçí åéäéêÞ äéáêÞñõîç åðß ôç åðéóÞìù åõêáéñßá ôçò ÇìÝñáò ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò. Ìå ôçí äéáêÞñõîç áõôÞ, ôçí ïðïßá åß÷áôå ôçí ðïëëÞ êáëùóýíç íá õðïãñÜøåôå êáé íá ðáñáäþóåôå áõôïðñïóþðùò óôá ÷Ýñéá ìáò, ôéìÜôå ôçí ÷þñá êáé ôïí ëáü ôçò ÅëëÜäïò ãéá ôçí õðÝñï÷ç êáé ðëÞñç èõóéþí óõìâïëÞ ôïõò óôá éäåþäç ôçò äçìïêñáôßáò, ôçò åëåõèåñßáò, ôçò äéêáéïóýíçò, ôùí áíèñùðßíùí äéêáéùìÜôùí êáé áíèñùðßíçò áîéïðñÝðåéáò åðß ôñåéò óõíå÷åßò ÷éëéåôßåò. Åßìåèá âáèýôáôá åõãíþìïíåò ãéá ôçí ôéìÞ áõôÞ, ç ïðïßá ðñïÝñ÷åôáé áðü Ýíá õøçëÞò åêôéìÞóåùò Ðñüåäñï êáé çãÝôç ôçò ÁìåñéêÞò, ôçò ÷þñáò ç ïðïßá áðïôåëåß ôïí ðñùôáãùíéóôÞ êáé ðéóôüí õðåñáóðéóôÞ ôùí áíùôÝñù éäåùäþí ìÝóá óôïí óýã÷ñïíï êüóìï. Êáèþò áñ÷ßóáìå ôçí ðïñåßá ìáò åíôüò ôïõ åéêïóôïý ðñþôïõ áéþíïò êáé ôçò ôñßôçò ÷éëéåôßáò, óôñåöüìåèá ìå ðñïóäïêßåò ðñïò ôï ðñüóùðü óáò, Êýñéå Ðñüåäñå, åí áíáìïíÞ ìéáò äçìéïõñãéêÞò êáé äõíáìéêÞò çãåóßáò óôéò ðåñéï÷Ýò ôçò áíèñùðßíçò åëåõèåñßáò, ôùí áíèñùðßíùí äéêáéùìÜôùí êáé ôçò áíèñùðßíçò áîéïðñÝðåéáò, óå ïðïéïíäÞðïôå ÷ñüíï Þ ôüðï áõôÝò ïé õðÝñôáôåò áîßåò áðåéëïýíôáé Þ ðáñáâéÜæïíôáé. Áíçóõ÷ïýìå éäéáéôÝñùò ãéá èÝìáôá åëåõèåñßáò, åéñÞíçò, äéáêáéïóýíçò êáé öéëßáò óå åõáßóèçôåò ðåñéï÷Ýò üðùò åßíáé ôá ÂáëêÜíéá, ç Êýðñïò êáé ç ÌÝóç ÁíáôïëÞ. ÐáñÜ ôáýôá, äåí ðåñéïñéæüìåèá ìüíïí óå åõãåíåßò ðñïóäïêßåò êáé éó÷õñÝò åëðßäåò. ÊáôÜ ôçí çìÝñá áõôÞ ôïõ åïñôáóìïý ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò Áíåîáñôçóßáò ðñïóåõ÷üìåèá, êáé ðñïóåõ÷üìåèá åíôüíùò ðñïò ôïí Èåüí, ôïí ðáíôïäýíáìï äçìéïõñãü êáé ðñïóôÜôç ôçò æùÞò êáé ôçò åëåõèåñßáò üëùí ôùí ðáéäéþí Ôïõ, ôùí êáôïßêùí ôïõ ðëáíÞôïõ Ôïõ Ãç. Ìå ôáðåßíùóç áëëÜ êáé ìå åðéìïíÞ, Ôïí ðáñáêáëïýìå íá óáò ÷áñßæåé Üöèïíç õãåßá êáé ðåñéóóÞ äýíáìç þóôå íá ïäçãÞôå áõôÞ ôçí åõëïãçìÝíç ÷þñá ìáò óå ìéÜí áíõðï÷þñçôç êáé ìç äåêôéêÞ óõìâéâáóìþí ðñïóðÜèåéá êáé ðÜëç ãéá ïôéäÞðïôå ðñïÜãåé ôçí åëåõèåñßá, ôçí ðïéüôçôá æùÞò, ôçí åéñÞíç êáé ôç äéáêéïóýíç ôüóï ôùí áôüìùí üóï êáé ôùí åèíþí. Åßìåèá ðåðåéóìÝíïé ãéá ôï áðïôÝëåóìá ôùí ðñïóåõ÷þí ìáò, äéüôé ãíùñßæïõìå üôé áðåõèõíüìåèá óôï Èåüí ôçò åéñÞíçò, ôïí Êýñéïí ôçò äéêáéïóýíçò êáé ôïí Äçìéïõñãüí ôçò åëåõèåñßáò. Êáé ðÜëéí åõ÷áñéóôïýìå, Êýñéå Ðñüåäñå.

p Ï çãÝôçò ôçò ðëåéïøçößáò ñåðïõìðëéêáíüò ãåñïõóéáóôÞò Ôñåíô Ëïô ìå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÄçìÞôñéï óôï ãñáöåßï ôïõ. t Ï ãåñïõóéáóôÞò Ðïë ÓáñìðÜíçò ÷áéñåôßæåé ôïõò åêðñïóþðïõò ôçò ÏìïãÝíåéáò êáôÜ ôç äéÜñêåéá åïñôáóôéêïý äåßðíïõ.

ÐÁÔÑÉÁÑ×ÇÓ ÂÁÑÈÏËÏÌÁÉÏÓ: «¼íåéäïò äéá ôçí Äçìïêñáôßáí» ç áíáóôïëÞ ëåéôïõñãßáò ôçò ÈåïëïãéêÞò Ó÷ïëÞò ×Üëêçò ÊÙÍÓÔÁÍÔÉÍÏÕÐÏËÇ ÖÝôïò óõìðëçñþíïíôáé 30 ÷ñüíéá áðü ôçí áíáóôïëÞ ôçò ÈåïëïãéêÞò Ó÷ïëÞò ôçò ×Üëêçò ôï 1971. Ôçí çìÝñá ìíÞìçò ôïõ Éåñïý Öùôßïõ, éäñõôïý ôçò É. ÌïíÞò Áãßáò ÔñéÜäïò, üðïõ âñßóêåôáé ç ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôçò ×Üëêçò, ï ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò Âáñèïëïìáßïò ÷ïñïóôÜôçóå óôï ðáñåêêëÞóéï ôçò ÌïíÞò, åíþ óå ïìéëßá ôïõ ôüíéóå ìåôáîý Üëëùí ôá åîÞò: «ÅïñôÜæïíôåò ôçí åðÝôåéïí ìíÞìçí ôïõ ÐáôñéÜñ÷ïõ Öùôßïõ, åíèõìïýìåèá êáé ìßáí Üëëçí åðÝôåéïí, èëéâåñÜí êáé áðïöñÜäá áõôÞí, Þôïé ôçí óõìðëÞñùóéí åöÝôïò 30 åôþí áðü ôçò áíáóôïëÞò ôçò ëåéôïõñãßáò ôçò åí ôç ÌïíÞ ôáýôç ÈåïëïãéêÞò

çìþí Ó÷ïëÞò, Þôéò áíáóôïëÞ êáé Þôéò ðáñÜôáóéò áõôÞò åðß ôñåéò Þäç äåêáåôßåò áðïôåëåß üíåéäïò äéá ôçí äçìïêñáôßáí, äéá ôá áíèñþðéíá äéêáéþìáôá, äéá ôá ìåéïíïôéêÜ äéêáéþìáôá, äéá ôáò èñçóêåõôéêÜò åëåõèåñßáò. Êáé äåí èá ðáýóùìåí íá êáôáããÝëùìåí, ôïðéêþò êáé äéåèíþò, ôçí ãåíïìÝíçí åéò çìÜò áäéêßáí ôáýôçí, Ýùò üôïõ ï Êýñéïò ëáëÞóç áãáèÜ åí ôáéò êáñäßáéò ôùí éèõíüíôùí ôçí ÷þñáí ôáýôçí êáé áðïöáóßóïõí íá ÷ïñçãÞóïõí ôçí ïöåéëïìÝíçí êáé ðÜíôïôå áíáìåíïìÝíçí Üäåéáí åðáíáëåéôïõñãßáò åíüò öõôùñßïõ ôùí èåïëïãéêþí ãñáììÜôùí ôçò öÞìçò êáé ôçò áêôéíïâïëßáò ôçò êáè çìÜò ÈåïëïãéêÞò Ó÷ïëÞò ».

ÌÁÑÔÉÏÓ-ÁÐÑÉËÉÏÓ 2001

ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ

ÓÅËÉÄÁ 17

ÊÕÑÉÁÊÇ ÔÇÓ ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÉÁÓ ÓÔÏ ÖÁÍÁÑÉ:

Ç ÈåïëïãéêÞ äéÜóôáóç ôçò áíáóôÞëùóçò ôùí åéêüíùí

M

å éåñïðñÝðåéá êáé ëáìðñüôçôá åïñôÜóèçêå ç ÊõñéáêÞ ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò óôïí Ðáôñéáñ÷éêü Íáü ôïõ Áãßïõ Ãåùñãßïõ óôï ÖáíÜñé ìå Èåßá Ëåéôïõñãßá óôçí ïðïßá ðñïåîÞñ÷å ï Ïéêïõìåíéêüò ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò Âáñèïëïìáßïò ðëáéóéùìÝíïò áðü ÉåñÜñ÷åò ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Èñüíïõ êáé ôïõ Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ Áëåîáíäñåßáò. ôïõ Íéêüëáïõ Ìáããßíá

Óôï ôÝëïò ôçò Èåßáò Ëåéôïõñãßáò ï Ïéêïõìåíéêüò ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò ê. Âáñèïëïìáßïò êñáôþíôáò ôçí åéêüíá ôùí ÐáôÝñùí ôçò ÏéêïõìåíéêÞò Óõíüäïõ, ìáæß ìå ôïõò Üëëïõò ÉåñÜñ÷åò ëéôÜíåõóáí ôéò åéêüíåò óôïí ðåñßâïëï ôïõ íáïý êáé áíÝâçêáí óôïí åîþóôç ôïõ ðáôñéáñ÷éêïý ïßêïõ áð üðïõ ï Ðáíáãéüôáôïò åõëüãçóå ôï ðéóôü åêêëçóßáóìá. Óôçí äéÜñêåéá ôçò È. Ëåéôïõñãßáò ôïí ðáíçãõñéêü ôçò çìÝñáò åêöþíçóå ï Ìçôñïðïëßôçò Çëéïõðüëåùò êáé Èåßñùí ÁèáíÜóéïò ìå èÝìá: «Nåüôåñåò èåùñßåò ðåñß ôçò åéêïíïèåïëïãßáò».

Íéê. Ìáããßíáò

Óôçí ïìéëßá ôïõ ï Ìçôñïðïëßôçò Çëéïõðüëåùò áíáöÝñèçêå óôéò áðüøåéò óõããñáöÝùí áëëÜ êáé óå Ýñãá ìåãÜëùí æùãñÜöùí êáé áãéïãñÜöùí ôïõ 19ïõ êáé 20ïõ áéþíá áëëÜ êáé åõñýôåñá óôçí èåïëïãßá ôçò åéêïíïãñáößáò ôïíßæïíôáò ìåôáîý Üëëùí:

«H åéêïíïãñáößá äåí åíäéáöÝñåôáé äéá ôï ôõ÷áßïí. Ôï áíôéêåßìåíü ôçò åßíáé ç ðñáãìáôéêÞ öýóç ôùí ðñáãìÜôùí «ï èåüèåí äçìéïõñãçèåßò êüóìïò åí ôç õðåñêïóìßá ôïõ ùñáéüôçôé». Äéü êáé äåí õðÜñ÷åé óôçí åéêïíïãñáöéêÞ ðáñÜóôáóç êáíÝíá ôõ÷áßïí óôïé÷åßïí Þ ôïõëÜ÷éóôïí äåí ðñÝðåé íá õðÜñ÷åé êáíÝíá. Ç åéêüíá åßíáé «ìßá åéêþí ôïõ ìÝëëïíôïò áéþíïò». Ðüèåí üìùò êáôåõèýíïíôáé ïé åéêïíïãñÜöïé êáôÜ ôï «Üíïéãìá ôùí ðáñáèýñùí» ðñïò ôïí ïõñÜíéïí êüóìïí; Ðñïò ôïýôï õðÜñ÷ïõí äýï êñéôÞñéá: ç ðíåõìáôéêÞ åìðåéñßá êáé ï êáíþí ôçò åéêïíïãñáößáò, ï ïðïßïò åìðåñéÝ÷åôáé ìÝóá óôá åéêïíïãñáöéêÜ åã÷åéñßäéá (Podlinnik). ÂáóéêÜ êáôÜ ôïí Florenskij, Ñþóóï öéëüóïöï êáé èåïëüãï ôùí áñ÷þí ôïõ 20ïý áéþíá, åéêüíåò èá çìðïñïýóáí íá æùãñáößóïõí ìüíïí ¢ãéïé. Åö üóïí üìùò ôïýôï åßíáé óðÜíéïí ïé åéêïíïãñÜöïé áöÞíïõí íá êáôåõèýíïíôáé åê ôùí Áãßùí áíäñþí, ïé ïðïßïé êáßôïé ìç æùãñÜöïé, êáôÝ÷ïõí ôçí áðáéôïõìÝíçí ðíåõìáôéêÞí åìðåéñßáí. Óôïõò êáíüíåò áõôïýò ôçò áãéïãñáößáò Ý÷åé áðïôáìéåõèåß äéá ìÝóïõ ôùí áéþíùí ðíåõìáôéêÞ åìðåéñßá ôçò áíèñùðüôçôïò, êáé Ýíáò æùãñÜöïò, ï ïðïßïò ôïõò áêïëïõèåß óõììåôÝ÷åé óôçí åìðåéñßá áõôÞ». Áöïý áíáöÝñèçêå óå ðëÞèïò Üëëùí óçìáíôéêþí ðáñáôçñÞóåùí êáôÝëçîå ëÝãïíôáò: «Çìðïñïýìå ëïéðüí íá åßðùìåí, üôé óôï ðñþôï ôñßôï êõñßùò ôïõ 20ïõ áéþíá, Ý÷ïõí ãñáöåß ìåñéêÝò áðü ôéò ôåëåõôáßåò, áëëÜ êáé ßóùò ôéò ðëáóôéêüôåñåò êáé óçìáíôéêüôåñåò óåëßäåò ôçò éóôïñßáò ôçò Ïñèïäüîïõ Èåïëïãßáò êáé ôçò áéóèçôéêÞò ôçò åéêüíïò. »Êáé ôïýôï áóöáëþò ìáñôõñåß ôçí ðïëõðïßêéëïí êáé ïõóéþäç óõìâïëÞí ôùí Ïñèïäüîùí ëáþí óôç äçìéïõñãßá ôïõ èåïëïãéêïý, êáëëéôå÷íéêïý êáé ðïëéôéóìéêïý ðëïýôïõ ôçò Ïñèïäüîïõ Åêêëçóßáò». Óôç Èåßá Ëåéôïõñãßá óôï ÖáíÜñé ðáñÝóôçóáí ÉåñÜñ÷åò êáé êëçñéêïß áðü ôçí Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëç êáé áðü ôï åîùôåñéêü. Åðßóçò ðáñÝóôçóáí ï Íïýíôóéïò ôïõ Âáôéêáíïý óôçí ¢ãêõñá, ï åðßóêïðïò ôùí åí ôç Ðüëç Êáèïëéêþí, ï ðñÝóâçò ôçò ÅëëÜäïò êáé Üëëïé ðñÝóâåéò êáèþò êáé ï Ãåí. Ðñüîåíïò ôçò ÅëëÜäïò êáé Üëëùí ÷ùñþí, Áñ÷ïíôåò ÏööéêéÜëïé ôïõ Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ êáé ðëÞèïò ðéóôþí áðü ôçí Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëç êáé ôçí ÅëëÜäá. Ôï áðüãåõìá ôçò ßäéáò çìÝñáò ï ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò Âáñèïëïìáßïò ìå ôçí åõêáéñßá ôçò ÊõñéáêÞò ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò äÝ÷èçêå óå åðßóçìç äåîßùóç óôïí Ðáôñéáñ÷éêü

Ç ÕÐ. ÅÎÙÔÅÑÉÊÙÍ ÔÇÓ ÁÕÓÔÑÉÁÓ ÓÔÏ ÖÁÍÁÑÉ

Íéê. Ìáããßíáò

Ï Ïéê. ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò ê. Âáñèïëïìáßïò åõëïãåß ôïõò ðéóôïýò áðü ôïí åîþóôç ôïõ Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ.

Ïßêï, ðñÝóâåéò êáé ãåí. ðñïîÝíïõò êáèþò êáé ôïõò åêðñïóþðïõò ôùí Üëëùí äïãìÜôùí ðëáéóéùìÝíïò áðü ÉåñÜñ÷åò ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Èñüíïõ. Áðåõèõíüìåíïò óôïõò ðñÝóâåéò êáé óôïõò Üëëïõò ðáñéóôáìÝíïõò ï Ïéêïõìåíéêüò ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò ìßëçóå ãéá ôçí óçìáóßá ôçò çìÝñáò êáé ôï ìÞíõìá ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò: «ÌåôÜ ðïëëÞò ôçò ôéìÞò êáé ôçò ÷áñÜò óáò õðïäå÷üìåèá óÞìåñïí åéò ôï Ïéêïõìåíéêüí Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïí, ôï ïðïßïí åßíáé åéò ðáíÜñ÷áéïò èåóìüò, çëéêßáò 16 áéþíùí, êáèáñþò èñçóêåõôéêüò, ìå áðïóôïëÞí ôçí êáôáëëáãÞí êáé óõìöéëßùóéí áíèñþðùí êáé Èåïý êáé áíèñþðùí ìåôáîý ôùí. Åí áíôéèÝóåé ðñïò ôïí áñ÷áßïí ÇñÜêëåéôïí, ï ïðïßïò åßðå ôï ãíùóôüí «Ðüëåìïò ðÜíôùí ðáôÞñ» çìåßò êçñýóóïìåí ôçí åéñÞíçí ùò ôçí ðÜíôùí ôùí êáëþí ìçôÝñá. Åáí âåâáßùò åéò ôçí

ëÝîéí ðüëåìïò äþóùìåí ôçí Ýííïéáí ôçò ðÜëçò, ôïõ áãþíïò, ôçò ðñïóðáèåßáò, ôüôå óõìöùíïýìåí ìå ôïí ÇñÜêëåéôïí üôé ç ðñïóðÜèåéá ç äçìéïõñãéêÞ, åí åéñÞíç õëéêÞ êáé ðíåõìáôéêÞ áðïôåëåß ôçí ðçãÞí ðáíôüò êáëïý åðéôåýãìáôïò êáé üôé ç åóùôåñéêÞ åíôüò ôçò øõ÷Þò ôïõ áíèñþðïõ ðÜëç ôïõ êáëïý ðñïò ôï êáêüí äýíáôáé ìå ôçí âïÞèåéáí ôïõ Èåïý íá ïäçãÞóåé åéò íßêçí ôïõ êáëïý, äéüôé Üíåõ áãþíïò ïõäåìßá áñåôÞ êáôáêôÜôáé». Ìéëþíôáò åîÜëëïõ ãéá ôçí óçìáóßá ôçò çìÝñáò ðñïóÝäùóå ìéá åðéðëÝïí äéÜóôáóç óôçí åéêïíïãñáößá êáé äç óôçí ÂõæáíôéíÞ åðéóçìáßíïíôáò: «Åßíáé ç äéÜóôáóéò ôçò âáèõôÜôçò åóùôåñéêÞò åéñÞíçò, ç ïðïßá ðçãÜæåé áðü ôçí Èåßáí ×Üñéí êáé ôçí åéò Èåüí ðßóôéí, Þôïé ôçí áêëüíçôïí âåâáéüôçôá ôçò áãÜðçò ôïõ Èåïý».

ÅÉÄÉÊÅÓ ÐÑÏÓÖÏÑÅÓ ÅËËÁÄÁ & ÊÕÐÑÏÓ

ÁÍÏÉÎÇ ÊÁÉ ÊÁËÏÊÁÉÑÉ ÌÅÔ ÅÐÉÓÔÑÏÖÇÓ

ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ/ÂÏÓÔÙÍÇ - ÁÈÇÍÁ/ÈÅÓ/ÍÉÊÇ

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ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ/ÂÏÓÔÙÍÇ - ËÁÑÍÁÊÁ

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ÁãïñÜæïíôáò ôþñá êáé ìÝ÷ñé ôçí 8ç Áðñéëßïõ 2001 ôá åéóéôÞñéá óáò ìðïñåßôå íá êÜíåôå ôéò äéáêïðÝò óáò ôçí Üíïéîç êáé ôï êáëïêáßñé óôçí ðáôñßäá, Üíåôá êáé öèçíÜ, êåñäßæïíôáò åêáôïíôÜäåò äïëÜñéá áðü ôéò éó÷ýïõóåò ôéìÝò. ÁãïñÜæïíôáò ôþñá ôá åéóéôÞñéá óáò áðïöåýãåôå ïðïéáäÞðïôå áýîçóç ôéìþí ãßíåé áñãüôåñá. ÄéáëÝãåôå êáé åîáóöáëßæåôå áðü ôþñá ôéò çìåñïìçíßåò ðïõ óáò ôáéñéÜæïõí. Áêüìç Ýêðôùóç 200 äïëáñßùí áðü ôéò ðáñáðÜíù ôéìÝò ìÝ÷ñé 12 åôþí.

ÍÝá Õüñêç Þ Âïóôþíç 1 Áðñéëßïõ Ýùò 31 Ìáßïõ êáé 1 Óåðôåìâñßïõ Ýùò 31 Ïêôùâñßïõ 2001: $798 ãéá ÁèÞíá Þ Èåóóáëïíßêç ÃÉÁ ÔÁÎÉÄÉÁ ÐÏÕ ÁÑ×ÉÆÏÕÍ 15 Éïõëßïõ Ýùò 31 Áõãïýóôïõ 2001: $958 ÍÝá Õüñêç Þ Âïóôþíç 1 Áðñéëßïõ Ýùò 31 Ìáßïõ êáé 1 Óåðôåìâñßïõ Ýùò 31 Ïêôùâñßïõ 2001: $848 ãéá ËÜñíáêá ÃÉÁ ÔÁÎÉÄÉÁ ÐÏÕ ÁÑ×ÉÆÏÕÍ 15 Éïõëßïõ Ýùò 31 Áõãïýóôïõ 2001: $1058 Éó÷ýïõí ðåñéïñéóìïß - Ïé èÝóåéò åßíáé ðåñéïñéóìÝíåò

Íéê. Ìáããßíáò

Ôïí Ïéêïõìåíéêü ÐáôñéÜñ÷ç Âáñèïëïìáßï åðéóêÝöèçêå ç Õðïõñãüò Åîùôåñéêþí ôçò Áõóôñßáò Benita Ferrero-Waldner óôï ÖáíÜñé êáôÜ ôçí åðßóçìç åðßóêåøÞ ôçò óôçí Ôïõñêßá. Óôéò äçëþóåéò ôçò ç Õðïõñãüò, åîÝöñáóå ôçí ìåãÜëç ÷áñÜ êáé ôéìÞ ãéá óõíÜíôçóÞ ôçò ìå ôïí ÐáôñéÜñ÷ç êé Ýäåéîå æùçñü åíäéáöÝñïí ãéá ôá ðñïâëÞìáôá ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ êáé ôçò EëëçíéêÞò ìåéïíüôçôïò.

© ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Ãéá ðåñéóóüôåñåò ðëçñïöïñßåò áðïôáèåßôå óôïí ôáîéäéùôéêü óáò ðñÜêôïñá Þ óôçí ÏëõìðéáêÞ Áåñïðïñßá

1-800-223-1226

www.olympic-airways.gr ÏËÕÌÐÉÁÊÇ ÁÅÑÏÐÏÑÉÁ Ç ÄÉÊÇ ÓÏÕ ÅÔÁÉÑÉÁ

ÓÅËÉÄÁ 18

ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ

ÌÁÑÔÉÏÓ-ÁÐÑÉËÉÏÓ 2001

ÄÉÁËÅÎÇ ÔÏÕ ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÏÕ ÄÇÌÇÔÑÉÏÕ ÓÔÏ ÐÁÍÅÐÉÓÔÇÌÉÏ COLUMBIA ÔÇÓ ÍÅÁÓ ÕÏÑÊÇÓ «ÅëèÝ êáé ãåíïý Üíèñùðïò»: Ôï ðáãêüóìéï ìÞíõìá ôïõ ÉùÜííïõ ôïõ ×ñõóïóôüìïõ ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ. Óôç êáôÜìåóôç áßèïõóá ôçò âéâëéïèÞêçò ôïõ Ðáíåðéóôçìßïõ Êïëïýìðéá ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéïò, ðñïóêåêëçìÝíïò ôïõ Ðáíåðéóôçìßïõ Ýäùóå äéÜëåîç ìå èÝìá «¢ãéïò ÉùÜííçò, ï ×ñõóüóôïìïò: Ìéá áíèñùðïëïãéêÞ áíôßëçøç ãéá ôçí åðï÷Þ ìáò». Ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ðñïëüãçóå ï ðñüåäñïò ôïõ Êïëïýìðéá Äñ. Ôæüñôæ Ñáð, ðïõ üðùò åßðå åß÷å ôçí åõêáéñßá íá ãíùñßóåé ôïí Óåâáóìéþôáôï üôáí Þôáí êáé ïé äõü õðïøÞöéïé äéäáêôïñéêïý äéðëþìáôïò óôï ÐáíåðéóôÞìéï ×Üñâáñíô. Óçìåßùóå ìÜëéóôá ðüóï åíôõðùóéáóìÝíïò Þôáí ôüôå ï ßäéïò áëëÜ êáé ïé êáèçãçôÝò ôïõ ×Üñâáñíô áðü ôçí äéäáêôïñéêÞ äéáôñéâÞ ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ.

Ç äéÜëåîç ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ Ýãéíå äåêôÞ ìå êáèïëéêÞ éêáíïðïßçóç áðü ôï áêñïáôÞñéï ðïõ áðïôåëïýíôáí áðü êáèçãçôÝò êáé öïéôçôÝò ôïõ Ðáíåðéóôçìßïõ áëëÜ êáé áðü ðïëëïýò ïìïãåíåßò áêáäçìáúêïýò êáé åðéóôÞìïíåò, ìÝëç ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ êáé ôïõò ãåíéêïýò ðñïîÝíïõò óôç ÍÝá Õüñêç ôçò ÅëëÜäïò êáé ôçò Êýðñïõ. Ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò óôçí ïìéëßá ôïõ óôÜèçêå óôç êëÞóç ôïõ Áã. ÉùÜííïõ ôïõ ×ñõóïóôüìïõ, «ÅëèÝ êáé ãåííïý Üíèñùðïò» ùò èåìåëéþäåò óçìåßï áíáöïñÜò ôçò áãÜðçò ôïõ ãéá ôïí «Üíèñùðï» êáé ôçò èåïêåíôñéêÞò áíèñùðïëïãéêÞò ôïõ èåþñçóçò. Ôüíéóå åðßóçò ôçí «áéóèçôéêÞ» ðïõ ðñïêýðôåé áðü ìéá ôÝôïéá áíèñùðï-

Óõíåäñßáóå ç ÉåñÜ Åðáñ÷éáêÞ Óýíïäïò ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ - Ìå ôç óõììåôï÷Þ üëùí ôùí Éåñáñ÷þí ôçò óõíÞëèå óôéò 13 êáé 14 Ìáñôßïõ ç ÉåñÜ Åðáñ÷éáêÞ Óýíïäïò ôçò ÉåñÜò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò ãéá ôçí ôáêôéêÞ åáñéíÞ óõíåäñßá ôçò. ÊáôÜ ôçí äéÜñêåéá ôùí å[ ñãáóéþí ïé ïðïßåò äéåîÞ÷èçóáí óå ðíåýìá å] íüôçôáò, äçìéïõñãéêüôçôáò êáé åãêÜñäéáò óõíåñãáóßáò óõæçôÞèçêáí ôá èÝìáôá ôçò çìåñçóßáò äéáôÜîåùò ðïõ ðåñéåëÜìâáíáí ôá åîÞò: ÄéïéêçôéêÝò ñõèìßóåéò, ÊëçñéêïëáúêÞ ÓõíÝëåõóç ôïõ 2002, ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý êáé Åëëçíéêü ÊïëÝãéï, èÝìáôá ÅëëçíéêÞò Ðáéäåßáò, ëåéôïõñãéêÜ èÝìáôá, áíáèåþñéóç ôïõ ÓõíôÜãìáôïò, æçôÞìáôá ìïíá÷éóìïý, ïéêïíïìéêÜ èÝìáôá, íïìéêÜ èÝìáôá, èÝìáôá ìåñßìíçò ôïõ êëÞñïõ êáé èÝìáôá ìåñßìíçò ïéêïãÝíåéáò êáé éäéáéôÝñùò ìåéêôþí ãÜìùí. ÊáôÜ ôçí äéÜñêåéá ôùí óõíåäñéÜóåùí áíáêïéíþèçêå ç ßäñõóç äõü íÝùí ôìçìÜôùí ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò: ôïõ ÔìÞìáôïò Ìåñßìíçò ÏéêïãÝíåéáò êáé ÔìÞìáôïò Åõáãþí ÉäñõìÜôùí êáé Öéëáíèñùðéêïý ¸ñãïõ ôçò Åêêëçóßáò. Åðßóçò áíáêïéíþèçêå ç ßäñõóç åéäéêÞò åî åðéóôçìüíùí åðéôñïðÞò ç ïðïßá èá Ý÷åé óõìâïõëåõôéêü ñüëï óå èÝìáôá Åêêëçóßáò êáé åðéóôÞìçò êáé åéäéêþôåñá óå èÝìáôá âéïçèéêÞò, ôå÷íïëïãßáò êáé ðëçñïöïñéêÞò, ïéêïíïìßáò, ðåñéâÜëëïíôïò, êïóìïëïãßáò êáß éáôñéêÞò. Ç ÉåñÜ Åðáñ÷éáêÞ Óýíïäïò ïñéóôéêïðïßçóå åðßóçò ôçí ðñüôáóç üðùò ç åðüìåíç ÊëçñéêïëáúêÞ ÓõíÝëåõóç ôïõ 2002 ðñáãìáôïðïéçèåß óôçí ðåñéï÷Þ ôçò ÅðéóêïðÞò Áãßïõ Öñáãêßóêïõ.

ëïãéêÞ èåþñçóç êáé ðñïâÜëåé ôçí ùñáéüôçôá ôïõ áíèñþðïõ, ùò öõóéêÞ ïìïñöéÜ áëëÜ êáé ùò ùñáéüôçôá ôçò øõ÷Þò, ùñáéüôçôá ðïõ êéíäõíåýåé ìüíï áðü ôçí áðåéëÞ ôçò áìáñôßáò êáé ôïõ êáêïý. ¸íá Üëëï óçìáíôéêü óçìåßï ôçò áíèñùðïëïãéêÞò èåþñçóçò ôïõ ×ñõóïóôüìïõ, ôï ïðïßï ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò áíÝëõóå äéåîïäéêÜ, Þôáí ôï áíèñþðéíï ÷áñáêôçñéóôéêü ôçò «ðñïáßñåóçò». Ç ðñïáßñåóç, åßðå, üðùò óõíáíôÜôáé óôïí Áã. ÉùÜííç ôïí ×ñõóüóôïìï, Ý÷åé ôçí Ýííïéá ôçò åëåýèåñçò êáé åê ðñïèÝóåùò âïýëçóçò êáé åðéëïãÞò êáé åìðåñéÝ÷åé âïõëçôéêÝò äéáíïçôéêÝò êáé óõíáéóèçìáôéêÝò ëåéôïõñãßåò ôÝôïéåò, þóôå íá áðïôåëåß óôïé÷åßï êáé ðáñÜãïíôá ìåáôáìüñöùóçò, éêáíü íá õðåñâåß áêüìç êáé ôçí ßäéá ôçí áíèñþðéíç öýóç êáé íá ìåôáâÜëëåé áäõíáìßåò êáé åëëåßøåéò ôçò öýóåùò. Óôç óõíÝ÷åéá áíÝëõóå ôñßá áíèñùðïëïãéêÜ ðáñáäåßãìáôá üðùò ôá ðáñïõóéÜæåé ï Áã. ÉùÜííçò ï ×ñõóüóôïìïò: ôïõ ÁâñÜáì, ôïõ éåñÝùò (ãåíéêÜ ùò éäéüôçôá) êáé ôïõ Áðïóôüëïõ Ðáýëïõ. Ç äéÜëåîç áðåôÝëåóå ôçí 33ç ôçò óåéñÜò äéáëÝîåùí Bampton óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ, ðïõ áêïëïõèïýí ôï ìïíôÝëï ôçò óåéñÜò äéáëÝîåùí Bampton ôïõ Ðáíåðéóôçìßïõ ôçò Ïîöüñäçò, ðñïò ôéìÞí ôïõ éäñõôÞ ôïõ

Ðáíåðéóôçìßïõ John Bampton. Ç óåéñÜ ôùí äéáëÝîåùí áõôþí óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ êáèéåñþèçêå êáôüðéí äùñåÜò ôçò Ada Byron Bampton Tremaine êáé ôçí ðñþôç äéÜëåîç ôçò óåéñÜò ðáñïõóßáóå ï ãíùóôüò éóôïñéêüò Arnold J. Toynbee, ôï 1948.

ÔéìÝò êáé óôç ÍÝá Õüñêç ãéá ôçí 25ç Ìáñôßïõ

Ä. ÐáíÜãïò

Ï ÄÞìáñ÷ïò ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò ê. ÔæïõëéÜíé áðåõèýíåé ÷áéñåôéóìü óôçí ÏìïãÝíåéá óôçí åêäÞëùóç óôç äçìáñ÷éáêÞ êáôïéêßá.

ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ. Ï ÄÞìáñ÷ïò ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò ê. Ñïýíôïëö ÔæïõëéÜíé õðïäÝ÷èçêå êáé äåîéþèçêå ôïí Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéï óôçí äçìáñ÷éáêÞ êáôïéêßá Gracie Mansion ôï åóðÝñáò ôçò Ôñßôçò 20 Ìáñôßïõ åð åõêáéñßá ôùí åïñôáóôéêþí ãéá ôçí åðÝôåéï ôçò ÅèíéêÞò Ðáëéãåííåóßáò, ôçò 25çò Ìáñôßïõ. Óå äçìüóéá åêäÞëùóç ðïõ áêïëïýèçóå ôçí äåîßùóç êáé ðáñïõóßá ðëÞèïõò Ïñèüäïîïò ÐáñáôçñçôÞò ðñïóêåêëçìÝíùí ïìïãåíþí ï ê. ÔæïõëéÜíé åðÝäùóå Ï ðñüåäñïò ôïõ Äçì. Óõìâïõëßïõ ê. Ðßôåñ Âáëüí êáé ï ê. óôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï äéáêÞ- ÍôÝíéò ÌÝ÷éåë ìå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï óôï ãñáöåßï ôïõ. ñõîç ôïõ ÄÞìïõ ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò ìå ôçí Õüñêçò êáé õðïøÞöéï äÞìáñ÷ï óôéò åðüïðïßá áíáêçñý÷èçêå åðßóçìá ç 25ç ìåíåò äçìáñ÷éáêÝò åêëïãÝò ê. Peter Vallone. Ìáñôßïõ 2001 ÇìÝñá ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò Ï ê. Vallone óõíå÷Üñåé ôïí Áñ÷éåðßÁíåîáñôçóßáò. óêïðï ãéá ôçí åðÝôåéï êáé ôïõ æÞôçóå íá ìåôáöÝñåé óôçí ÅëëçíïáìåñéêáíéêÞ êïéíüÅðßóêåøç Peter Vallone ÅîÜëëïõ, óôá ðëáßóéá ôùí åïñôá- ôçôá ôéò èåñìüôåñåò åõ÷Ýò êáé ôá åéëéêñéíÜ óôéêþí åêäçëþóåùí ãéá ôçí ÅëëçíéêÞ Áíå- ôïõ óõã÷áñçôÞñéá. Óôç óõæÞôçóç ôïíßîáñôçóßá, ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò êáëùóüñéóå óôçêå ï óçìáíôéêüò ñüëïò ôçò åëëçíïóôç Ýäñá ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ôïí ðñüå- áìåñéêáíéêÞò êïéíüôçôáò óôç æùÞ êáé óôçí äñï ôïõ Äçìïôéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ ôçò ÍÝáò ðñüïäï ôçò ðüëçò ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò.

ÌÁÑÔÉÏÓ-ÁÐÑÉËÉÏÓ 2001

ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ

ÊïíôÜ óôá êáñêéíïðáèÞ ðáéäéÜ

Ôçò ìåôáíïßáò Üíïéîïí ìïé ðýëáò æùïäüôá... Ô çí ðåñßïäï ôçò ÉåñÜò êáé ÌåãÜëçò ÔåóóáñáêïóôÞò, ç êáñäéÜ ìáò êáé ç øõ÷Þ ìáò ðëçììõñßæïõí áðü ôï áßóèçìá êáé öñüíçìá ôçò ôáðåéíþóåùò êáé ìåôÜíïéáò êáé ôá ÷åßëç ìáò ìå êáôÜíõîç øÜëëïõí ôïõò õðÝñï÷ïõò ýìíïõò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò ìáò, ïé ïðïßïé êáôáäåéêíýïõí ôçí áíÜãêç ôçò ìåôáíïßáò, ôçò áëëáãÞò óôçí ðñïóùðéêÞ ðíåõìáôéêÞ ìáò æùÞ. ôïõ êáè. Ãåùñãßïõ ÌðåìðÞ

Ïñèüäïîïò ÐáñáôçñçôÞò

Ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéïò ìå ôçí ê. ÓéäÝñç êé Ýíá ìéêñü áóèåíÞ Ýîù áðü ôï Ronald McDonald House

NEA YÏÑÊÇ. Eð åõêáéñßá ôçò äéðëÞò åïñôÞò ôçò 25 çò Ìáñôßïõ o Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéïò åðéóêÝöèçêå ôï Ronald McDonald House üðïõ äéáìÝíïõí êáñêéíïðáèÞ ðáéäéÜ áðü ôçí ÅëëÜäá ðïõ íïóçëåýïíôáé óôï íïóïêïìåßï Memorial ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò. Ç õðåýèõíç ôïõ åëëçíéêïý ôìÞìáôïò ôïõ Ronald McDonald House ê. ÓéäÝñç êáèþò êáé ïé êïéíùíéêïß ëåéôïõñãïß ôçò Öéëïðôþ÷ïõ Áäåëöüôçôïò êáé ôïõ Íïóïêïìåßïõ õðïäÝ÷ôçêáí ôïí Óåâáóìéþôáôï ï ïðïßïò óõíáíôÞèçêå ìå ôá Üññùóôá ðáéäéÜ êáé ôéò ïéêïãÝíåéÝò ôïõò. ÊáôÜ ôçí äéÜñêåéá ôçò óõíáíôÞóåùò ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò åß÷å ôçí åõêáéñßá íá ãíùñßóåé áðü êïíôÜ ôá ðáéäéÜ, ôï êáèÝíá îå÷ùñéóôÜ, óå ïéêïãåíåéáêÞ êáé ãåìÜôç æåóôáóéÜ áôìüóöáéñá. Ïé ãïíåßò åîÝöñáóáí ôçí ÷áñÜ ôïõò ãéá ôçí ðáñïõóßá ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ êáé ôï åíäéáöÝñïí ôïõ áëëÜ êáé ôçí åõãíùìïóýíç ôïõò ðñïò ôçí ïìïãÝíåéá êáé éäéáßôåñá åêåßíïõò üóïõò Ýìðñáêôá óõìðáñáóôÝêïíôáé êáé âïçèïýí ôéò ïéêïãÝíåéåò áõôÝò ðïõ äïêéìÜæïíôáé ü÷é ìüíï áðü ôçí áóèÝíåéá ôùí ðáéäéþí ôïõò áëëÜ êáé áðü ôï ãåãïíüò üôé âñßóêïíôáé ðïëý ìáêñéÜ áðü ôçí ðáôñßäá ôïõò, ôá óðßôéá ôïõò êáé ôïí óõããåíéêü êáé êïéíùíéêü ôïõò ðåñßãõñï. ×áñáêôçñéóôéêÞ Þôáí ç åéëéêñßíåéá ôçò Ýêêëçóçò åíüò ðáôÝñá ìéêñïý ðáéäéïý, ðïõ åêåßíç ôçí óôéãìÞ âñéóêüôáí óôï Íïóïêïìåßï êáé ðïõ Ý÷åé áíÜãêç ðïëëþí ÷éëéÜäùí äïëáñßùí ãéá ôá Ýîïäá íïóçëåßáò ôïõ ðáéäéïý ôïõ åðåéäÞ äåí êáëýðôåôáé áðü êáíÝíá áóöáëéóôéêü ôáìåßï. «¹ñèá åäþ, åßðå, ãéá íá óþóù ôçí æùÞ ôïõ ðáéäéïý ìïõ, èá âñù ôñüðïõò ãéá ôá äéêÜ ìïõ Ýîïäá äéáìïíÞò êáé äéáâßùóçò, áëëÜ ôá Ýîïäá íïóçëåßáò åßíáé áóôñïíïìéêÜ. ÈÝëù íá äéáâåâáéþóù ôïõò ðÜíôåò üôé üðïéï ðïóü óõãêåíôñùèåß èá ÷ñçóéìïðïéçèåß ìüíï ãéá ôá íïóçëåõôéêÜ Ýîïäá, êáé üôé ðåñéóóÝøåé èá äéáôåèåß ãéá ôçí íïóçëåßá êÜðïéïõ Üëëïõ ðáéäéïý». ÌåôÜ ôï ôÝëïò ôçò óõæÞôçóçò ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò áíÝðåìøå äÝçóç õðÝñ õãåßáò êáé ðëÞñïõò áðïèåñáðåßáò üëùí ôùí ðáéäéþí êáé äþñçóå ùò öõëá÷ôü óå üëá ôá ðáéäéÜ áðü ìéá áóçìÝíéá åéêïíßôóá ôïõ ×ñéóôïý êáé ôçò Ðáíáãßáò. Áðï÷ùñþíôáò, ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò äÞëùóå ó÷åôéêÜ ìå ôçí åðßóêåøç: «¹ôáí ìéá äõíáôüôçôá íá âñåèïýìå ó Ýíá åéäéêü ÷þñï ìáæß ìå ðáéäéÜ êáé åöÞâïõò Ýùò êáé 21 åôþí ðïõ âñßóêïíôáé åäþ ãéá èåñáðåßá ðïëý óïâáñþí ðåñéðôþóåùí... åßíáé ìáæß ôïõò ìÝëç ôùí ïéêïãåíåéþí ôïõò êáé ðåñíïýí ìéá ôåñÜóôéá äïêéìáóßá áíôéìåôùðßæïíôáò ðñïïðôéêÝò ðïõ äåí åßíáé ðÜíôïôå ïé êáëýôåñåò. »Óõíïìéëþíôáò êáíåßò ìáæß ôïõò äéáðéóôþíåé Ýíá Üñéóôï äåßãìá áíèñþðéíçò áíôï÷Þò, äéáèÝóåùò ãéá æùÞ êáé èåëÞóåùò ãéá åðéâßùóç. ÁëëÜ ôáõôü÷ñïíá Ý÷ïõìå êé Ýíá èáõìÜóéï äåßãìá áìïéâáßáò áãÜðçò êáé äçìéïõñãßáò äåóìþí... Ïé ãïíåßò ôùí ðáéäéþí áõôþí ìéëïýóáí óõíå÷þò ãéá áõôÞ ôçí áôìüóöáéñá áãÜðçò ðïõ âñÞêáí åäþ êáé ôïõò êÜíåé íá áéóèÜíïíôáé üôé ðáñüôé äåí Ý÷ïõí êáíÝíá öõóéêü óõããåíÞ, áéóèÜíïíôáé üëïõò ôïõò áíèñþðïõò ðïõ ôïõò óõìðáñáóôÝêïíôáé ùò óõããåíåßò ôïõò. ¸ôóé ëïéðüí áõôÞ ç äïêéìáóßá áö åíüò ìåí áíáäéêíýåé Ýíá óôïé÷åßï øõ÷éêÞò ðïéüôçôïò êáé áíôï÷Þò áëëÜ óõ÷ñüíùò êé Ýíá ùñáéüôáôï óôïé÷åßï áëëçëåããýçò êáé áãÜðçò. Åßíáé Ýíá Ýñãï ôï ïðïßï áîßæåé íá åßíáé ðÜíôïôå óôçí ðñïóï÷Þ ìáò êáé óôçí ðñïóåõ÷Þ ìáò». Ãéá üóïõò åíäéáöÝñïíôáé ãéá ðåñéóóüôåñåò ðëçñïöïñßåò ãéá ôï Ýñãï ðïõ åðéôåëåßôáé óôï Ronald McDonald House ìðïñïýí íá Ýñèïõí óå åðáöÞ ìå ôçí êïéíùíéêÞ ëåéôïõñãü óôï ãñáöåßï ôçò Öéëïðôþ÷ïõ Áäåëöüôçôïò, (212) 744-4774 Þ óôçí çëåêôñïíéêÞ äéåýèõíóç: GrkOrthSocialWrk@aol.com

ÓÅËÉÄÁ 19

Ï éåñüò õìíùäüò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò ìáò ðåñéãñÜöåé ìå éåñü åíèïõóéáóìü áëëÜ êáé ìå óõíôñéâÞ êáñäßáò, ôá áéóèÞìáôá ìåôáíïßáò, áëëáãÞò, ôáðåéíþóåùò, éêåóßáò êáé áõôáðáñíÞóåùò ðïõ êáôáðëçììõñßæïõí ôá âÜèç ôçò øõ÷Þò ìáò. ÐåñéãñÜöåé ìå äñáìáôéêÝò åêöñÜóåéò ôçí ðñïóåõ÷çôéêÞ óôÜóç êÜèå ÷ñéóôéáíéêÞò øõ÷Þò ðïõ æåß ôçí ðñïðáñáóêåõáóôéêÞ ðåñßïäï ðñï ôçò åëåýóåùò ôçò ÌåãÜëçò ÅâäïìÜäïò êáé ôçò åíäüîïõ ÁíáóôÜóåùò ôïõ Êõñßïõ. Ìå ôáðåßíùóç, áëëÜ êáé ìå ðáññçóßá ï ÷ñéóôéáíüò éêåôåýåé ôïí Êýñéï íá áíïßîåé äéÜðëáôá, ôçí ðýëç ôçò ìåôáíïßáò, Ýôóé þóôå ôï ðíåýìá êáé ôï óþìá ôïõ íá êáèáñéóôïýí áðü êÜèå «óðßëïí», áðü êÜèå êçëßäá. Ï ÷ñéóôéáíüò ðáñáêáëåß ôçí Èåïôüêï Ìáñßá íá êáôåõèýíåé ôá âÞìáôÜ ôïõ ðñïò ôéò «ôñßâïõò ôçò óùôçñßáò» äéüôé ïìïëïãåß üôé êáôåññýðùóå ìå ñáèõìßá, áìáñôßá, áéó÷ñüôçôá, áêáèáñóßá, üëï ôïí âßï ôïõ êáé üëï ôïí åáõôü ôïõ. ôïí «¼ñèñïí ôïõ Ôñéùäßïõ», ï éåñüò ðïéçôÞò áíáãíùñßæåé «ôá ðëÞèç ôùí ðåðñáãìÝíùí äåéíþí», äçëáäÞ üëá ôá áìáñôÞìáôá êÜèå áíèñþðïõ, ï ïðïßïò «ôñÝìåé ôçí öïâåñÜí çìÝñáí ôçò êñßóåùò» áëëÜ Ý÷åé ôï èÜññïò êáé ôçí ðßóôç óôï Ýëåïò êáé ôçí åõóðëá÷íßá ôïõ Êõñßïõ êáé ìáæß ìå ôïí Äáõßä áíáöùíåß «ÅëÝçóüí ìå ï Èåüò êáôÜ ôï ìÝãá óïõ Ýëåïò». Âåâáßùò, ïé éåñïß õìíïãñÜöïé ôçò Åêêëçóßáò, ïóÜêéò ïìéëïýí êáé åîõìíïýí ôçí áñåôÞ ôçò Ìåôáíïßáò ãíùñßæïõí ðïëý êáëÜ üôé ç ÌåôÜíïéá åßíáé áñåôÞ êé ïé ñßæåò ôçò âñßóêïíôáé ìÝóá óôéò óåëßäåò ôçò Áãßáò ÃñáöÞò, ôçò ÐáëáéÜò êáé ôçò ÊáéíÞò ÄéáèÞêçò. Åßíáé ãíùóôü ôï Üãéï ðáñÜäåéãìá ôùí Ðñïöçôþí ðïõ äéåêÞñõîáí ôçí ìåôÜíïéá ùò Ýííïéá êáé ðñÜîç æùÞò. Åßíáé åðßóçò ãíùóôü ôï ðáñÜäåéãìá ôïõ Äáõßä, ï ïðïßïò óôïí óõãêëïíéóôéêü 56ï Øáëìü êáôÝóôçóå ôç ìåôÜíïéá êáèçìåñéíü ìÞíõìá æùÞò. Ôï êÞñõãìá ôçò Ìåôáíïßáò áðïôåëåß ôï åíáñêôÞñéï ìÞíõìá êÜèå ðíåõìáôéêÞò áíáðëÜóåùò êáé øõ÷éêÞò áíáíåþóåùò. Äåí åßíáé ëïéðüí ðáñÜäïîï üôé ï Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï ÂáðôéóôÞò êáé Ðñüäñïìïò Üñ÷éóå ôï êÞñõãìá ôïõ ìå ôçí êëÞóç «Ìåôáíïåßôáé, ðïéÞóáôå êáñðüí Üîéïí Ìåôáíïßáò» (Ìáôè. ÉÁ´ 11). ÁëëÜ êáé ï ßäéïò ï Êýñéïò çìþí Éçóïýò ×ñéóôüò Üñ÷éóå ôï óùôçñéþäåò êÞñõãìá Ôïõ óôïí êüóìï ìå ôç öñÜóç «Ìåôáíïåßôáé êáé ðéóôåýåôå ôù Åõáããåëßù...» (Ìáôè. Ä´ 17 êáé Ìáñê. É´ 15). Áêüìç ç ðáñáâïëÞ ôïõ Áóþôïõ Õéïý ôïíßæåé ôçí áíÜãêç êáé ôçí áðáñÜìéëëç áîßá ôçò Ìåôáíïßáò. Ãé áõôü ëÝãåôáé, üôé êáé ìüíï åÜí åß÷å äéáóùèåß ç ðáñáâïëÞ ôïõ Áóþôïõ åî üëùí ôùí ðáñáâïëþí ôïõ Êõñßïõ, èá êáôåäåßêíõå áõôÞ ôçí ìåãáëåéþäç áîßá ôïõ Åõáããåëéêïý êçñýãìáôïò. Óôéò ÐñÜîåéò ôùí Áðïóôüëùí, ï Áðüóôïëïò ÐÝôñïò áñ÷ßæåé ôï ðñþôï êÞñõãìá ôïõ ðñïò ôïõ Éïõäáßïõò ôçò ÉåñïõóáëÞì êáôÜ ôçí çìÝñá ôçò ÐåíôçêïóôÞò ìå ôï ìÞíõìá «ÌåôáíïÞóáôå...» (´. 37). Ï äå Áðüóôïëïò Ðáýëïò óõíå÷þò äéäÜóêåé êáé ãñÜöåé ðåñß ôçò åí ×ñéóôþ Ìåôáíïßáò. Ïìéëåß, Üëëùóôå ðåñß ôçò äéêÞò ôïõ ðñïóùðéêÞò Ìåôáíïßáò, åíþðéïí ôïõ ÂáóéëÝùò Áãñßððá êáé ôïõ çãåìüíïò ÖÞóôïõ ëÝãïíôáò üôé áðü äéþêôçò ôïõ Íáæùñáßïõ åãÝíåôï Áðüóôïëïò Áõôïý êáé óõíéóôþíôáò óôïõò óõìðáôñéþôåò ôïõ «...ìåôáíïåßí êáé åðéóôñÝöåéí åðß ôïí Èåüí, Üîéá ôçò ìåôáíïßáò Ýñãá ðñÜóóïíôáò...» (Ðñáî. 26, 20 ê. åî.). é Üãéïé êáé èåüðíåõóôïé ÐáôÝñåò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò áó÷ïëÞèçêáí åðéóôáìÝíùò ìå ôçí èåßá ÌåôÜíïéá. ÓçìåéùôÝïí, üôé ç ÌåôÜíïéá óõíäõÜóèçêå ìå ôçí äçìïóßáí êáé ôçí êáô éäßáí Åîïìïëüãçóç. Óôï ìåôÝ÷ìéï ôïõ ðñþôïõ êáé äåýôåñïõ áéþíá ôï ðåñßöçìï âéâëéÜñéïí «Ç Äéäá÷Þ ôùí Äþäåêá Áðïóôüëùí ôïéò ¸èíåóéí», ïìéëåß ðåñß äçìïóßáò ÅîïìïëïãÞóåùò (êåö. 14) êáé ðåñß ôá ìÝóá ôïõ äåýôåñïõ áéþíá ïëüêëçñï âéâëßï õðü ôïí ôßôëï ï «ÐïéìÞí» õðü ôïõ ÅñìÜ ïìéëåß ðåñß Ìåôáíïßáò êáé ÅîïìïëïãÞóåùò óôçí åí ×ñéóôþ æùÞ. ÁëëÜ êáé ïé ÌåãÜëïé ÐáôÝñåò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò áó÷ïëÞèçêáí ìå ôçí ÌåôÜíïéá êáé ìÜëéóôá ï ÌÝãáò Âáóßëåéïò ðéèáíþò óõíÝãñáøå êáé åéäéêÞ ïìéëßá ðåñß Ìåôáíïßáò (Migne, P.G. vol. 31, 1217). Ï Êýñéëëïò Éåñïóïëýìùí êáé ï Ãñçãüñéïò ï Èåïëüãïò, áëëÜ êáé ï Ãñçãüñéïò ï Íýóóçò, áêüìá äå êáé ï Üãéïò Ãñçãüñéïò

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ÐáëáìÜò ôïí 14ï áéþíá óõíÝãñáøáí ïìéëßåò êáé áó÷ïëÞèçêáí ìå ôçí áãßá êáé öùôéóìÝíç áñåôÞ ôçò Ìåôáíïßáò. Åêåßíïò üìùò ï ïðïßïò áó÷ïëÞèçêå éäéáßôåñá ìå ôçí ÌåôÜíïéá åßíáé ï Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï ×ñõóüóôïìïò ôïí 4ï áéþíá. ÕðÜñ÷ïõí åííÝá Ïìéëßåò ôïõ Ðåñß Ìåôáíïßáò , ïé ïðïßåò åîåäüèçóáí ôï 1958 óôçí ÁèÞíá áðü ôïí èåïëüãï Ðáíáãéþôç Ã. ÓôÜìïõ, óå óýã÷ñïíç ÍåïåëëçíéêÞ ìåôÜöñáóç. ÅéäéêÞ ìåëÝôç êáé äéáôñéâÞ ãéá ôï ÌÜóôåñò óõíÝãñáøå óôçí ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý ï Äñ. ÁèáíÜóéïò ÌåëéóóÜñçò êáé ï áðüöïéôïò ôçò Ó÷ïëÞò ìáò éåñåýò Gus George Christo ìåôÜöñáóå ôéò åííÝá áõôÝò ðåñß Ìåôáíïßáò ïìéëßåò ôïõ ÉùÜííç ôïõ ×ñõóïóôüìïõ óôçí ÁããëéêÞ ãëþóóá ìå ôßôëï The Father of the Church The Catholic University of America Press; Washington, D.C. 1998. åâáßùò åßíáé äýóêïëï íá ðáñáèÝóïõìå åí óõíôïìßá üëá üóá ãñÜöåé ï Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï ×ñõóüóôïìïò ãéá ôçí ÌåôÜíïéá. ÃñÜöåé ìåôáîý Üëëùí ï éåñüò ÐáôÞñ: «Áò äå÷èïýìå ëïéðüí ôçí ÌåôÜíïéáí áäåëöïß ùò öÜñìáêïí ðñïò óùôçñßá. Áò ôçí äå÷èïýìå ùò öÜñìáêïí, ðïõ åîáëåßöåé ôá ðôáßóìáôÜ ìáò. ÌåôÜíïéá äå, åßíáé ü÷é ç äéÜ ôïõ ëüãïõ êçñõôôïìÝíç, áëëÜ õðü ôùí ðñáãìÜôùí âåâáéïõìÝíç. Åêåßíç ç ÌåôÜíïéá ç ïðïßá åîáëåßöåé áð áõôÞí ôçí êáñäéÜ ôïí ñýðïí ôçò áìáñôßáò...» (Ïìéë. 7ç). Êáé áëëïý ãñÜöåé: «ÄéÜ ôïýôï óõíå÷þò ðåñß Ìåôáíïßáò óáò ïìéëþ. Äéüôé ç ìåôÜíïéá, áí êáé åßíáé äåéíÞ êáé öïâåñÜ åéò ôïí áìáñôùëüí, åßíáé öÜñìáêïí ôùí ðëçììåëçìÜôùí, åîáöÜíéóéò ôùí ðáñáíïìéþí, åîÜíôëçóéò ôùí äáêñýùí, ðáññçóßá ðñïò ôïí Èåüí, üðëï êáôÜ ôïõ äéáâüëïõ, ìÜ÷áéñáí ôçí êåöáëÞí áõôïý êüðôïõóá, óùôçñßáò åëðßò, áðåëðéóßáò áöáßñåóéò. Áýôç ôïí ïõñáíü áíïßãåé, áýôç åéò ôïí ðáñÜäåéóïí åéóÜãåé, áýôç ôïí äéÜâïëïí íéêÜ...» (Ïìéë.

8ç). Ï Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï ×ñõóüóôïìïò ãíùñßæåé ðþò íá ðåßèåé ôïõò áêñïáôÝò ôïõ êáé ãíùñßæåé üôé ç ìåôÜíïéá åßíáé êáñðüò ðïëëþí ðíåõìáôéêþí áãþíùí êáé áðïôåëåß èõóßá êáé ðñïóöïñÜ ðñïò ôïí Èåü. Êáé åðéëÝãåé: «Äéüôé èá Ýëèåé þñá êáôÜ ôçí ïðïßáí ôï èÝáôñïí ôïõ êüóìïõ ôïýôïõ èá äéáëõèåß êáé ôüôå äåí èá åßíáé äõíáôüí ðëÝïí íá áãùíéæüìåèá... Ïýôïò ï êáéñüò åßíáé êáéñüò ìåôáíïßáò, åêåßíïò êñßóåùò. Ïýôïò ï êáéñüò, åßíáé êáéñüò áãþíùí, åêåßíïò ôùí óôåöÜíùí. Ïýôïò åßíáé êáéñüò êüðïõ, åêåßíïò áíÝóåùò. Ïýôïò êáéñüò åñãáóßáò, åêåßíïò êáéñüò áíôáðïäüóåùò» (Ïìéë. 9ç). ëëÜ åêôüò áðü ôïí Üãéï ÉùÜííç ôïí ×ñõóüóôïìï, ôïí êáô åîï÷Þí ÐáôÝñá ôçò Ìåôáíïßáò êáé ï Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ôçò Êëßìáêïò ôïí 6ï áéþíá óôï áîéïèáýìáóôï Ýñãï ôïõ «Êëßìáî» áöéåñþíåé ïëüêëçñï ôï ðÝìðôï êåöÜëáéï óôçí áñåôÞ ôçò Ìåôáíïßáò. «ÌåôÜíïéá óçìáßíåé áíáíÝùóéò ôïõ Âáðôßóìáôïò. ÌåôÜíïéá óçìáßíåé óõìöùíßá ìå ôïí Èåüí... ÌåôÜíïéá óçìáßíåé óêÝøéò áõôïêáôáêñßóåùò... ÌåôÜíïéá óçìáßíåé èõãáôÝñá ôçò åëðßäïò... óõìöéëßùóéò ìå ôïí Êýñéïí, ìå Ýñãá áñåôÞò...» Êáé ï Üãéïò ÉóáÜê ï Óýñïò ôïí 7ï áéþíá ãñÜöåé üôé åéêïóéôÝóóåñåéò þñåò ôï åéêïóéôåôñÜùñï Ý÷ïõìå áíÜãêç ìåôáíïßáò. Ç äå Ýííïéá ôçò ëÝîåùò ÌåôÜíïéá óçìáßíåé óõíå÷Þ äÝçóç ðñïò ôïí Èåü, êáôÜ ðÜóá þñá, ìå ðñïóåõ÷Þ, ìå ðïëëÞ êáôÜíõîç õðÝñ áöÝóåùò ôùí áìáñôéþí... êáé ëýðç êáé ðñïöýëáîç áðü ôá ìåëëïíôéêÜ áìáñôÞìáôá. Óõìðëçñþíåé äå ï Üãéïò ÉóáÜê üôé «ç ÌåôÜíïéá åßíáé ç õøçëüôåñç áðü üëåò ôéò áñåôÝò êáé ôï Ýñãïí ôçò äåí ìðïñåß íá ôåëåéþóåé, ðáñÜ ìüíïí ôçí þñá ôïõ èáíÜôïõ...» (êåö. 60 êáé 61. åêä. Ð.Ì. ÓùôÞñ÷ïõ, «Ï Ýìïò Öéëüóïöïò», Åêäüóåéò Áêñßôá, ÁèÞíáé, 1998). ÔÝëïò, ï Üãéïò Íéêüäçìïò ï Áãéïñåßôçò óôï âéâëßï ôïõ «ÅîïìïëïãçôÜñéïí» áöéåñþíåé ïëüêëçñï êåöÜëáéï óôçí áñåôÞ ôçò Ìåôáíïßáò ãñÜöïíôáò: «ÄéÜ ôïýôï áãáðçôïß ìïõ åí ×ñéóôþ áäåëöïß åéò ôçí ÌåôÜíïéáí, åéò ôçí ìåôÜíïéáí óáò ðñïóêáëþ ìå ôïí ðáñüíôá Ëüãïí üëïõò ìéêñïýò êáé ìåãÜëïõò, éåñùìÝíïõò êáé ëáúêïýò... äéüôé Üëëç áñåôÞ äåí äýíáôáé íá ìáò öéëéþóåé ìå ôïí Èåüí çìÜò üëïõò... Áò áãùíéóèþìåí äéÜ íá Ý÷ùìåí ðÜíôïôå åéò ôçí êáñäéÜí ìáò êáé ôï óõóôáôéêüí ôçò áëçèéíÞò Ìåôáíïßáò ðüíïí äéÜ ôáò áìáñôßáò ìáò». Êáé óõíéóôÜ «áõôïìåìøßáí», «ìíÞìç áìáñôéþí», «ôáðåéíüí öñüíçìá», «ìíÞìç Èåïý» êáé «óõíôñéâÞí êáñäßáò» (Ïäçãüò Ïñèïäïîßáò, Êåßìåíá ôïõ áãßïõ ÍéêïäÞìïõ ôïõ Áãéïñåßôïõ. Åðéì. Ð. ÓùôÞñ÷ïõ, ÁèÞíáé, ó. 38 ê. åî.).

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Ï ê. Ãåþñãéïò Ó. ÌðåìðÞò åßíáé êáèçãçôÞò Ðáôñïëïãßáò, óôçí É. ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý.

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

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PEOPLE T

MARCH-APRIL 2001

St. Barbara’s Maintains a Mind-Boggling Myriad of Ministries

uWins communicator award

James D. Speros, national director of external communications at professional services firm Ernst & Young LLP in New York, was named the Communicator of the Year Feb. 21 by the Business Marketing Association of New York at a luncheon ceremony at the St. Regis Hotel. The Communicator of the Year Award recognizes one company for its outstanding communications and marketing campaign. Under Speros leadership, Ernst & Young has received several awards for its integrated marketing efforts. He is also highly active with the Church, as a member of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, and as a member of Holy Trinity Church in Westfield, N.J.

uNamed to post

California Gov. Gray Davis recently named his legal affairs secretary and chief counsel, Demetrios A. Boutris, to the post of California Corporations Commissioner and Special Counsel to the Governor. The position requires Senate confirmation. Mr. Boutris, 39, of Sacramento has served as legal affairs secretary and chief counsel since Dec. 10, 1998. Previously, he served as vice president and special counsel to the chairman of MacAndrews &Forbes Holdings. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

uPontian survivor honored

New York Gov. George E. Pataki honored a 90-year-old woman who is the subject of a memoir detailing the tragedy of the Pontian Genocide at a March 8 ceremony honoring six recipients of his 2001 Women s History Month Award of Excellence presentation. Sano Themia Halo, whose life was documented by her daughter Thea Halo in the book Not Even My Name, received the award from the governor at his New York City office in Manhattan. At the age of 10, Mrs. Halo and 700,000 other Pontic Greeks whose ancestors lived in communities along northern Turkey near the Black Sea for three millennia, endured immeasurable cruelty during a Turkish government-sanctioned campaign to displace them. An estimated 300,000 Pontic Greeks died while being forcibly marched without provisions across the Anatolian plains to the Syrian border.

uComptroller honors Greeks

New York City Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi, a candidate for mayor next November, honored seven local Greek Americans in Greek Heritage ceremonies at City Hall March 8. Honorees were New York Chian Federation Past President Alex Doulis, police Detective John Grizopoulos, Cornell Medical Center assistant professor of pediatrics Dr. Miranda Koffinas, NBC Today Show Producer Dorie Klissas, Elpides founder and former President Georgia Post, Community School District 20 Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Director Christina Tettonis and U.S. Court of International Trade Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas.

o a motorist traveling between New York and Hartford or Boston, Orange (population about 13,000 and eight miles west of New Haven) is one of those places off the Wilbur Cross Parkway not visible from the road and accessible only by taking an exit near a quaint stone overpass.

Don t blink or you ll miss it.

But if you venture off the parkway and head south on a local main road for three miles, you can t miss the St. Barbara Church complex occupying a nine-acre site just north of downtown.

The large Byzantine-style edifice, the parish s third church in its history, is 15 years old. The complex also includes a former Roman Catholic convent, Holy Infant Convent, which the

PARISH

Michael s Home, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, UNICEF, St. Photios National Shrine, children s cardiac program, Cooley s Anemia and the Red Cross. But it doesn t end there.

The committee also focuses St. Barbara parish s public involvement, charitable and philanthropic efforts on worthy programs in the greater New Haven area including an AIDS project, a rape crisis center, a battered women s shelter and area soup kitchens. Its outreach extends far beyond the U.S., with parish groups sending clothing to St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Orphanage in Romania, and books to a school in Guatemala.

Goyans participate in the annual Souper Bowl, a national program that raises money for soup kitchens, and a

Kalogiannes was the first permanent priest, who served for a year in 1915.

A ladies organization, the forerunner to the Philoptochos chapter, also was founded. This resulted in the founding of St. Barbara community in 1919. Services took place in local halls and churches until 1922, when the community purchased the Second Advent Christian Church in New Haven.

Fire destroyed this first building in 1940 and services took place at Christ Church and St. Thomas Episcopal Church. During the period the first Sunday school and choir were established.

Meanwhile, plans were made to build a new church and, a year later in 1941, the cornerstone was laid for a new building in New Haven, which was to

profile

Name: St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church Location: Orange, Conn.

Diocese: Archdiocese District Size: 675 Families Founded: 1919 Clergy: Fr. Peter Orfanakos (Holy Cross 92) Noteworthy: community is characterized by strong fellowship among its members and abundance of ministries and program ST. BARBARA GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH community purchased in 1993 and now rents to a private day care center.

Under the guidance of Fr. Orfanakos, the parish offers a wide range of ministries and programs.

They include Greek language schools for children and adults, an Orthodox study group, book and icon store, a highly active youth ministry comprised of JOY and GOYA and athletic teams in the sports of basketball and volleyball; a summer day camp on the church grounds, and Young Adult League.

The music ministry includes a choir, chanters, children s choir and Byzantine music class.

Perhaps its most leading edge ministry is communications. The church has its own web site (www. saintbarbara.org), and a specially appointed committee tasked with upgradORANGE ing and updating the site.

An estimated 1,500 visitors a week contact the web site from more than 80 countries including Australia, Greece, Singapore, Israel, Taiwan, Poland and many others.

Near future plans call for transmitting all religious over the Internet. We re getting very close to doing that, said Fr. Peter.

A public relations committee and a monthly newsletter (also displayed on the web site) round out the communications ministry.

Through its outreach ministry, including the Philoptochos chapter, the community provides support to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Hellenic College-Holy Cross, St. Basil Academy, St.

yearly toy drive for a local pediatric hematology and oncology center.

As if this wasn t enough, Fr. Peter has an active hospital and shut-in visitation program to many area hospitals and a prison ministry.

The parish also is a member of the Fellowship of Orthodox Churches in Connecticut, a pan Orthodox endeavor of all canonical Orthodox Churches in the state that holds fellowship events and religious programs throughout the year.

And the list continues.

Then there are the standard parish and cultural organizations along with several standing committees that oversee all aspects of the church s mission and one can deduce this is one busy parish, practically 24/7.

Presently, the community is experiencing growing pains and has developed an $800,000 master plan that includes building an 11,500-squarefoot social hall and education center with 500-person theater seating capacity, full commercial kitchen, 10 classrooms, library and a 9,000-square foot gymnasium.

In the beginning

The community of St. Barbara had humble beginnings like most of its sister parishes in the early 1900s.

According to information from the parish, the first immigrants came to New Haven in 1895, mostly from Greece. SMost of came from Permata, Asia Minor.The community took root.

They established a Pan Hellenic Union in 1900 and invited priests to conduct services on a regular basis. Fr. George

serve as the community s church until the 1970s. It was the first Greek Orthodox church building constructed in Connecticut and was completed and consecrated in 1943.

The parish continued to progress over the next several decades. In 1970, a building committee was formed to address the community s future needs.

The property on Racebrook Road in Orange, the present site, was purchased in 1977 and plans took shape to build a new church.

A major festival

In the 1980s, to help raise funds for the new construction project, the community s first cultural festival, known as the Odyssey Festival, was established in 1981 under the pastorship of Fr. George Kerames, the parish s longest serving priest (1951-82).

The event was first held at a large park in East Haven, then at the Yale University athletic field for a year before moving to the parish grounds in Orange. It became a major New Haven area cultural event and, at one time, was considered the largest Greek festival on the East Coast. Is held place over Labor Day Weekend.

Ground breaking for the new building took place in 1984, under the ministry of Fr. William Kehayes, and the cornerstone was laid in 1986.

The ribbon cutting and first Liturgy at the new church were held in 1987 and Archbishop Iakovos consecrated the edifice in 1994, in observance of the parish s 75th anniversary.

Contemporary membership encompasses the fourth generation of Americans of Greek background, though there also are many immigrants. Quite a few parish-

u page 21

MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

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R ETIRED CLERGY Fr. Anastasius Bandy, at 80, Continues Teaching, Translating

by Fr. Nicholas L. Vieron

T

wo senior couples are walk ing along, wives in front, and husbands in back. George says to John, We ate at a wonderful new restaurant last night - had a delicious meal.

The prices were good, too.

John says, Well, we like to eat out, also. What was the name of the restaurant.

George says, You re going to have to help me out a bit here, John. What s the name of that pretty flower, smells sweet, sometimes grows on a thorny bush?

You mean a rose? John responds.

Yes, yes, that s it, cries George, then calls ahead to his wife, Rose, hey, Rose, what was the name of that restaurant we ate at last night?

Fr Anastasius Constantine Bandy (MpenthS), Class of 1945, is a scholar one of our great literary minds. Although in retirement, he is working on translations for the prestigious Loeb Series of Harvard.

Collaborating with him - typing, making changes, corrections, proofreading - is his Presbytera Anastasia, nee Kertiles, of Springfield, Mass. They make a great team!

Fr Bandy graduated from our Holy Cross Seminary in Pomfret and was ordained in 1945 by his mentors, Bishop Athenagoras Cavadas and Bishop Germanos Polizoidis. He served parishes at San Antonio, Jacksonville, Fla., and Philadelphia.

He earned an A.B. degree from La Salle College in 1951, an A.M. in Greek from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, and a Ph.D. in Greek and Latin from the University of Pennsylvania in 1961.

His doctoral dissertation was on Early Christian Inscriptions of Crete.

In 1984 Archbishop Iakovos bestowed on him the honored title of Protopresbyter.

Fr. Bandy has written several books and published many articles. He is a member of the National German honorary fraternity Delta Phi Alpha, the National French honor society Pi Delta Phi, and professional societies, such as The American Philological Association, Christian Archaeological Society at Athens, and the U.S. National Committee for Byzantine Studies. He has received numerous awards, including the Dumbarton Oaks

Visiting Fellowship, the Edwin Isaac Hyneman Fellowship in Classical Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, the Fulbright Student Scholarship to the American School of Classical Studies, Athens, Greece.

In 1981, Fr Bandy retired from the University of California as professor emeritus and returned to his birthplace in Philadelphia to be near his and presbytera s families.

While in Philadelphia he finished preparing his work on the De Magistra tibus (On Offices of Power) of Ioannes Lydus, a 6th century antiquarian/historian during Justinian s reign. The American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia published it in 1983.

Around the same time, Fr Bandy received a part-time appointment in the Classics Department of Villanova University.

He taught Greek and Latin there for 10 years. All this, in retirement, mind you!

Presently, Fr Bandy, at age 80 (he was born Aug 9, 1920), is preparing all three of the works of Ioannes Lydus. He has been working on this project for about eight years.

The three works or books will have a critical Greek text, an English translation, and full indices.

It should be completed by the end of this year and will be published by the Harvard University Press in the series of Greek authors of the most honored Loeb Classical Library. Again, all this in...retirement!

As if this is not enough, Fr Anastasius has been responding to the Church s needs, replacing priests - filling-in - at local Philadelphia churches and other environs including New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.

One reason we share all this with our readers is because Fr Bandy s accomplishments reflect on all of us. not only retired priests, but all of us in the autumn of our years. His success is our success. His joy is our joy!

We wish Fr Bandy and his Presbytera polla akomi dimiourgika hronia me eegeia kai hara.

Write to Fr Nicholas L. Vieron, RCA Epistle editor Pastor Emeritus Annunciation Church. 573 N. Highland - Memphis, TN 38122 - (901) 323-9530 or E-mail: nlvieron@ixlmemphis.com

PARISH PROFILE u page 20

ioners are part of the educational communities of the area s major universities and colleges, including Yale, the University of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State and Fairfield universities, and Quinnipiac College.

Higher education isn t the only major area of the region s economy in which parishioners participate. Fr. Peter noted that many work for some of the nation s major corporations headquartered there, including Bic, Schick and Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

This community is made up of very faithful, hardworking individuals that work together as a family, Fr. Orfanakos said of his congregants. It s a very family oriented parish. It s nice to see both young and old interact.

The priest, who is completing his fifth year at the church, previously served as Archbishop Iakovos last deacon before his retirement in 1996.

In addition to the annual festival, the

community relies on the stewardship program for most of its revenue, which is also supplemented by rental income from the day care center.

In 1957, the community established an endowment fund which earns interest to support four programs of the parish: the clergy advancement fund for the personal and spiritual development of the priest; the Parent-Teachers Organization for supplies trips and events for the Sunday school, Greek school and athletic program; the community development fund for lectures, retreats, seminars and other cultural, spiritual, social and community activities, and the college scholarship fund.

In reflecting on his service to the St. Barbara community, Fr. Peter describes his ministry as absolutely wonderful and very fulfilling. You feel like you re part of one big family. compiled by Jim Golding

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PAGE 22

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

MARCH-APRIL 2001

MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

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SCHOLARSHIPS Vamvas Scholarships for California Students ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, Calif.

Hellenic American Medical and Dental Society of Southern California announces the annual S. James Vamvas Scholarships of medical and dental students of Greek descent.

To be eligible, a student must be enrolled at an accredited California medical or dental school.

Qualified students should contact George Emmanouilides, M.D., Scholarship Committee chairman, HAMDS, 4619 Browndeer Lane, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90275, or telephone: (310) 377-6643, (310) 222-4000.

Application deadline is June 30.

The S. James Vamvas Scholarship Fund was established in 1988. ¿

Applications Available for Gioles Scholarships Applications for the George and Naouma (Gioule) Gioles Scholarship Fund are now available from the Office of the Archdiocesan Chancellor.

Applications should be delivered or mailed to: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, c/o George and Naouma (Gioule) Gioles Scholarship Fund, 8 East 74th St., New York, NY 10021. They should be received no later than May 30. At least three $1,500 scholarships are awarded annually based on the following criteria: Greek Orthodox faith (with preference to those of Greek descent), must be high school seniors at time of application, or full-time matriculated students committed to serious study in an undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university.

Recipients must plan to attend, or plan on continuing their studies at the college or university of their choice in the next academic year.

Recipients must provide required evidence by the Scholarship Committee of

scholastic standing, including transcript records with a grade level of at least a B or 85 percent, or a 3.0 average.

Recipients who are high school seniors must have achieved and must provide proof of a combined SAT score of 1,000 minimum. If the SAT is not administered, another measure used by the academic community shall be substituted.

Recipients must submit an application to the Scholarship Committee, and be interviewed at the committee s discretion either in person or by telephone.

Recipients must provide evidence of financial need. Preference shall be given to candidates who are orphans and to those who are undertaking studies in the sciences, business and the arts, with one scholarships reserved for a candidate who has chosen to study journalism or another course of study to be designated by the Archbishop.

To request an application, call the Chancellor s office: (212) 570-3513. ¿

Hellenic University Club Offers Scholarships PHILADELPHIA Hellenic University Club announces the availability of university and college scholarships for students of Greek descent for the 2001-02 academic year.

Applicants also must be U.S. citizens and residents of the seven-county Greater

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PAGE 24

news

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

DIOCESE

MARCH-APRIL 2001

Connecticut Faithful Honor Rev. John Kamelakis

PROCESSION WITH RELICS – Archbishop Demetrios leads the process with the holy relics around Holy Trinity Cathedral. Also shown are Consecration Chairmen Charles and Helen Malachias, Maria Ktistakis, representing her parents, the church godparents Capt. And Mrs. Lucas Ktistakis; Ilya Malachias, Deacon Nektarios Morrow and Archdeacon Gerasimos Michaleas.

New Orleans Cathedral Consecrated Feb. 4 NEW ORLEANS Holy Trinity Cathedral parish, the oldest Greek Orthodox community in the nation, celebrated its most historic day with the consecration service celebrated by Archbishop Demetrios on Feb. 4. It was the Archbishop s first visit to the parish.

More than 500 persons attended as His Eminence officiated at the nearly sixhour event, the baptism of the church.

He was assisted by Bishop Alexios of Atlanta, and Bishop John of Amorion.

Concelebrating with the hierarchs were Cathedral dean the Rev. Anthony Stratis, and past deans Frs. William G. Gaines (1955-72), Demetrios S. Katerlis (197277), Nicholas Pastrikos (1982-92), and Nicholas W. Jonas (1992-94), along with Archdeacon Gerasimos Michaleas, Deacon Nektarios Morrow, Archimandrite Constantine Mersinas, pastor of Sts. Markella and Demetrios Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Fr. Teodore Bita, pastor of Holy Trinity-St. John the Theologian Church in Jackson, Miss.

The cathedral, located on Robert E. Lee Boulevard at Bayou St. John, was built in 1985 .The original church was established in 1864 at 1222 N. Dorgenois St., but no longer stands.

The consecration weekend included a Saturday memorial service in memory of deceased former Holy Trinity clergy, and for Louis Benachi, the consul of Greece responsible for establishing the New Orleans church.

A luncheon at the Benachi house preceded the Trisagion service.

Afterward, Archbishop Demetrios met with youth of the parish and held a Great Vespers that evening.

On Sunday, the consecration service followed the Orthros. His Eminence placed the relics of several saint-martyrs into the altar, including St. George, St. Demetrios, the Holy Fathers martyred in Raitho, Egypt (celebrated Jan. 14), and the relics of martyrs from the original church, but whose names are unknown because the records no longer exist. ¿

Greek Letters Week Observance Includes Essay CHICAGO The Diocese of Chicago recently expanded its traditional Greek Letters Week observance with an educationally focused parish- based program.

Metropolitan Iakovos and parish teaching staffs, with the educational attache of the Consulate of Greece in Chicago, worked together to ensure the program s success.

It brought together more than 70 of the area s brightest Greek school students for an essay competition that elicited their language and cultural learning strengths.

Seven of the students received scholarships at an awards luncheon dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Fotios Litsas, University of Illinois Greek studies professor. ¿

Foundation Gives $10.000 to Children’s Fund The George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation has donated $10,000 to the Cyprus Children s Fund, Peter J. Pappas, the fund s national chairman and president, said recently. The donation will further enhance the Cyprus Children s Fund Scholarship Endowment.

The Paraskevaideses have been aiding Cyprus philanthropically for many years. Mr. Paraskevaides was born in Athens while his father studied medicine at the University of Athens and was educated in Cyprus and at the Milan Polytechnic, where he studied architecture. He is currently chairman of the leading building and civil engineering contracting companies in the region, employing more than 20,000 persons.

He also serves on the boards of many

organizations, companies and banks, and is a founding member of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation, and of the Cyprus Contractors Association.

Over the years, the George and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation has provided, and continues to provide, financial aid for medical treatment and for the support of various institutions.

They have actively promoted sports and established the International Sports Center in Cyprus.

Mr. Paraskevaides also is the founder of the Cyprus Kidney Association, the Surgical and Transplant Foundation, and the Cyprus Heart Association.

Many Cypriots with serious health problems have benefited from the Paraskevaides Foundation. ¿

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. A man for all seasons was how Fr. Demetrios A. Recachinas described Fr. John Kamelakis, who was honored recently by his daughter Phoebe, her family, and the entire Holy Trinity parish.

Father Kamelakis celebrated his 90th birthday, 60 years of which he has spent as a priest of the Archdiocese.

Fr. John reveals that the secret of longevity is prayer, humor and laughter, which Father John shares to the very day with everyone.

Fr. Kamelakis born in Crete, Greece, and came to the United States with his family when he was 3 years old.

His father, Stavros Kamelakis, was the first Greek immigrant in the Boston area importing Greek goods into the United States.

The Kamelakis Store became very popular in both the Greek and non-Greek community. Fr. Kamelakis was ordained a deacon in Chicago in 1942 and then was ordained into the priesthood in Schenectady, N.Y., the following year. He married Andromache Economides, whose father, the Rev. George Economides, also a priest and theologian, established one of the nation s first Greek communities, in

Peabody, Mass.

Rev. Kamelakis has served parishes in Schenectady and Syracuse, N.Y.; Pittsburgh, Detroit, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Vallejo, Calif.; Enfield, Conn.; Louisville, Ky., and, most recently, New Haven, Conn., from which he retired in 1998.

He has been instrumental in growing these communities, providing spiritual and cultural guidance, instituting new programs for young and old alike, introducing Greek festivals that attracted thousands of people from surrounding communities, increasing membership and participation, and building new places of worship for the expanding parishes.

He has also been active in organizations such as AHEPA, Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary International in which he has been designated a Paul Harris Fellow.

Until recently, Rev. Kamelakis has lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Phoebe and Mac Leask, in Fairfield. Currently he resides at Cambridge Manor in Fairfield. He has four grandchildren: Peter and Andrew Rizos, Joanna and David Bogardus, and Jay Leask. He is also proud great-grandfather of Christopher and Rose Bogardus. ¿

Eastern Choir Federation Holds Annual Conference BETHESDA, Md. More than 115 singers from throughout the New Jersey Diocese attended the 21st annual Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Choirs Conference held at St. George Church.

Highlight of the three-day event was the Divine Liturgy held in Presbytera Maria Grand Hall with choir members singing arrangements by Steven Cardiasmenos.

Guest conductor Ann Marie Koukios of Cincinnati conducted the joint choirs and led them through workshops and re-

hearsals. Fotini Nichols, organist at Annunciation Cathedral in Baltimore, served as the organist.

The conference was dedicated to the late Bishop George who for many years served as St. George Church s priest.

The host choir provided entertainment following an evening banquet, with soloists and choral ensembles singing Greek folk songs, Broadway tunes and selections from operettas, all on the theme Revolution. Nicholas Granias produced the show.¿

EOCS Plans Spring Events FREEPORT, N.Y. The next major events sponsored by the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting (EOCS) will be the 30th annual Boy Scout Camporee at St. Basil Academy, Garrison, N.Y., April 21, and the third annual Girl Scout Camporee at Camp Sacajawea, Farmin gdale, N.J., which also will be held in the spring.

For information on the EOCS and their events, contact Chairman George N. Boulukos, 862 Guy Lombardo Ave., Freeport, N.Y., 11520.

The EOCS is responsible for creating, expanding, and enhancing Eastern Orthodoxy among the Boy and Girl Scouts.

EOCS was created in 1960 by the Standing Conference of Eastern Orthodox Bishops of America (SCOBA) and is responsible for providing scouting religious activities for youth on a national level.

EOCS recently held its 40th annual religious retreat at Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass.

The retreat officially opened with a welcoming prayer by V. Rev. Gerasimos Makris, director of Student Life, host for the weekend.

Seminarians and other students developed and directed the program and clergy staff members volunteered their time to hear confessions from the Scouts. They provided a spiritual experience for the Scouts and training for the seminarians.

The Boy Scouts camped on the

school s front lawn overlooking the city of Boston, while the Girl Scouts camped in the classrooms.

After a lenten dinner, Scouts and their leaders were treated to a huge campfire directed by the seminarians, who led the group in songs and stories. Several of the students entertained the Scouts with a string quartet that ended up being the highlight of the evening.

The day s activities ended with rap sessions, divided into age groups, led by the seminarians.

More than 100 Scouts attending traveled four to five hours to participate, and represented 12 units around the New York area. The success of the retreat was mainly attributed to Fr. Gerasimos, whose leadership and enthusiasm produced a marvelous program and in recruiting 25 seminarians and students to attend and assist in this spiritual weekend.

Sunday brought the retreat to a close with the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Cross College with most of the Scouts partaken in Communion. After church services the retreat concluded with the final assembly in the church, where recognitions and thank you were given.

Retreat Chairman Tony Triant of New Jersey was recognized for his many years of retreat chairmanship and a number of Scouts were honored with the Alpha Omega Religious Scout Award. ¿

MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

B O O K S Bishop Kallistos, Fr. Harakas Featured at Book Festival FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. St. Demetrios Church sponsored its second annual Festival of Orthodox Christian Books on March 10-11, and offered a program that included a well-known Greek Orthodox recording artist and songwriter, an Orthodox convert from England who has become a bishop in the faith, and an electrical engineer from Georgia who plays in an Irish band and writes widely published pieces on God s love.

The two-day event presented many Orthodox-related works of authors, songwriters and other artists for sale to the public.

Bishop Kallistos Ware, an Orthodox convert who was consecrated Bishop of Diokleia in 1982 and is scholar on liturgical and spiritual texts, and who has written popular books introducing Orthodox faith and practice, spoke on the topic Our

Orthodox Vocation in the West.

Bishop Kallistos also celebrated vesper services at St. Demetrios on March 10 and led the hierarchical Divine Liturgy on March 11.

The Rev. Dr. Stanley S. Harakas, professor emeritus of Christian ethics, a former dean of the Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology, and a prolific author, discussed five of his books.

Another speaker was Dennis E. Engleman, an electrical engineer with a Swedish computer company, who discussed his widely published writings on the eternal mysteries of God s cosmos.

The day also featured a concert by Andrew Anthony, a lay assistant and youth director who took up classical piano at the age of 14 and later included vocals and the guitar in a repertoire that led to his success in Australia and the U.S.

Author Delves into Spirit of Hellenism in Macedonia

by Catherine Fagan

Siatista-Macedonia: The Spirit of Hellenism, by James Siotas Today s tensions in the Balkans extend further back than current history in the making. As is, historical circumstance, had it unfolded differently, could have eliminated such tensions - a subject James Siotas tackles in his new historical jewel Siatista-Macedonia: The Spirit of Hellenism (Pentland Press, $16.95).

In this authentic work, Siotas describes Siatista s virtues and traditions, researched and presented through valuable historical detail, which delineates how the spirit of Hellenism and its conclusive circumstances have affected culture to date.

Based on the author s own research, Siatista-Macedonia: The Spirit of Hellenism revolutionizes our understanding of Hellenism and conditions existing in the Balkans 300 years ago. Hellenism is defined by the author as the constant effort to improve humanity through education, research and trade, which has at times been marked historically by brutal and savage wars.

Siotas delves deep into the persona and the culture that surrounds Hellenism, including Kapodistria, the first

president of Free Greece, the matter of suggestion, and his urging of the czar of Russia to work for a system of government for the Balkans similar to our own U.S. democracy.

Such circumstances, he claims, had they differed could have altered the path for the Balkan s today.

James Siotas prides himself on the well-substantiated basis of his life work Siatista-Macedonia, thus providing a tale of Hellenism that will grace our vision for the first time. Readers from all cultural backgrounds will recognize the historical content and appreciate its candor. Ultimately, Siotas has done an excellent job researching and presenting such a fascinating, yet difficult topic.

A trove of information about Siatista, raves AHEPA magazine about the book. The historically inclined will find Siotas book a treasure!

About the Author: James C. Siotas lived for a number of years in the Elmira and central New York state area upon emigrating from Siatista, where he had been self-employed in the retail fur business. Later he returned to Greece and was employed by the U.S. government. Siotas now releases this innovative work of literature as a resident of Athens, Greece. ¿

PAGE 25

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ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 26

MARCH-APRIL 2001

Church of Ghana Celebrates 19 Years of Orthodoxy

T

he Holy Diocese of Ghana, under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, and under the tutelage of His Grace Bishop Panteleimon, celebrated recently its nineteenth year as a canonical member of the Orthodox Faith.

The four-day feast, which began on January 25th, takes place every year during the last week of the month as thanksgiving to God that Orthodoxy has been accepted by the Ghanaian people and that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa received the Ghanaian faithful into the fold back in the early 1980 s.

The village of Gomoa Fomena in the Central Region of Ghana was the site of this year s festivities. Highlights of the fourday gathering included the ordination of three new priests and one deacon, by Bishop Panteleimon.

On January 26th, Bishop Panteleimon ordained deacon Samuel Akumah to the Holy Priesthood. Sub-deacon Francis Nkrumah received the name Anastasios after being ordained to the Diaconate.

The following day, Deacon Paul Odoom was ordained a priest and SubDeacon Albert Bruce was ordained to the Diaconate, taking the name Vasilios.

During a subsequent all night vigil on Sun-

and every man who will approach you and ask for forgiveness of their sins Meanwhile, Rev. Fr. Joseph Labi, who is serving a four-year post with the World Council of Churches as the executive secretary for Community and Justice in Mission and Evangelism in Geneva, Switzerland, was also in attendance.

New church opens its doors

His Grace Bishop Panteleimon with young members of his flock

day January 28th, the newly ordained Deacon Anastasios Francis Nkrumah was ordained a priest.

Bishop Panteleimon also celebrated Great Vespers, and the Blessing of the Waters with members of his flock. Preaching with zeal, His Grace exhorted the faithful to repent and to live a virtuous life in Christ.

The four-day gathering concluded by anointing the faithful with the Sacrament of Holy Unction.

Earlier in the month, the ordination of Rev. Fr. John Arthur took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration in Accra, Ghana s capital city. His Grace Bishop Panteleimon who celebrated the Holy Sacrament, conveyed the paternal and patriarchal blessings of His Beatitude Petros VII, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.

The priest, said His Grace, is called to face many difficulties and to solve many problems. As a priest, you must become the kind and caring father, who in all times of your life must embrace each

The Orthodox faithful in Ghana witnessed the opening of the new Church at Odina Oguaa. On January 13th, 2001, The Nativity of the Theotokos, located in the Central Region, welcomed the faithful for the first time as they celebrated the service of the Opening the of the Doors.

After sanctifying the church, Bishop Panteleimon thanked God for the new house of worship, dedicated in honor of the Holy Mother of God. The project was made possible through donations given

by Mr. and Mrs. Panagiotes Mallis, a Cypriot family. It was their wish that the new church be dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos as a reminder of an ancient church in their hometown village of Sisi, Cyprus. Other donors include the family of Mr. and Mrs. Vassilios Barekas.

Today, there are upwards of 3,000 practicing Orthodox in Ghana, West Africa. Located on the coast of Guinea, Ghana is wedged between the Ivory Coast to the west and Togo to the east. In 1957, Ghana was the first Black African colony to gain independence from a colonial power.

Compiled by Elizabeth M. Economou

Orthodox Church Consecrated in Greater Calcutta BAKESWAR, India (OCMC) Metropolitan Nikitas of Hong Kong consecrated a church at an Orthodox Christian Mission Center-supported girls orphanage near Calcutta on Feb. 3.

Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kythera, Greece joined His Eminence in celebrating the beautiful consecration service.

Both hierarchs praised the noble efforts of Fr. Ignatios Sennis, whose acts of love and charity have made him known Bishop Panteleimon celebrates the Divine Liturgy with Orthodox clergy from Ghana.

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throughout the Orthodox world and have helped make the orphanage a reality.

Clergy from Greece, including The Thomades Brotherhood of Mount Athos, celebrated alongside the native Indian Orthodox clergy, showing the unity and diversity of the Faith.

Orthodox Christians from around the world, including Greece, the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and Hong Kong, experienced the service. ¿

Orthodoxy Takes Root in Muleba, Tanzania

by Bishop Jeronymous of Bukoba Orthodox Church in Tanzania

BUKOBA, Tanzania (OCMC) - The town of Muleba is vital for the growth and expansion of the Orthodox mission surrounding the city of Ihangiro, for it is a [cultural] center as well as an entrance to Ihangiro.

Our predecessors knew this well and in their plans to capture Ihangiro, Muleba was always treated as a strategic base. Having this in mind they wanted to have a plot and a Church of Panagia (AllHoly Mother) in Muleba.

From 1989 until 1999, though there were always Orthodox faithful in Muleba, there was no church building. All the time this weakened the effort to capture Ihangiro.

It is true the Town Council of Muleba had given our Church a plot. But this plot was always a spot of disputes that frustrated the plan to construct a church building. In African missionary experiences, a community without a church building is vulnerable.

In 1999 God answered our prayers through the intercession of the Panagia,

whose church we wanted to construct in Muleba. We got a new plot measuring 160 meters by 125 meters (525 feet by 410 feet).

On Sept. 11, 2000, work on the construction of the Church of the Panagia began.

On Oct. 6, walling and roofing had been completed; affixing the doors and windows was in progress while the painter was waiting his turn.

Construction of the Church of Panagia in Muleba was a relief and a hope.

Since 1998, i.e. the past two years, we have seen Church buildings mushrooming in [the] Bukoba Diocese: Holy Cross in Kakerere, St. George in Makongora, St. Andrew in Rukuraijo, St. Anastasios in Kikagati, St. Demitrios in Nyakajo, and Panagia in Muleba.

Wherever Church construction was undertaken, Orthodoxy was strengthened. That is why one faithful said, Muleba is now firm and strong for our launching into Ihangiro, for Orthodoxy has taken root.

A brief history of the Orthodox Church in Tanzania appears on the Orthodox Christian Mission Center web site: http://www.ocmc.org/countries/tanzania/

MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 27

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Rev. George Peter Diamant priest a year later. He was assigned as assistant pastor at St. John s Church, and then moved to Bellingham in 1989 to serve as pastor at St. Sophia Church until 1994.

His hobbies included real estate and photography.

In addition to his presbytera, survivors include a daughter, Stephania Diamant, and a son, Aristides Diamont, both of Bellingham; and sisters Patricia Allen of Antioch and Sandra Jouthas of Pleasanton, Calif.

Memorials may be made to the Trust Fund for Fr. George s Children, c/o Whatcom Educational Credit Union, PO Box 9750, Bellingham, WA 98227. ¿

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County Commission for Women for her outstanding contributions to the community, and was also recognized by the Greek American Restaurant Association.

Mrs. Sarbanes is survived by two sons and daughters in law, U.S. Sen. Paul and Christine Sarbanes of Baltimore, and Anthony, an educator and retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserve, and Billye of Salisbury; a daughter and son in law, Zoe and Dean Pappas of Salem, N.J.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and one brother, Vasili Chigounis of Athens, Greece. She was preceded in death by three other brothers and a sister.

Services took place at St. George Church on Feb. 24.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Spyros P. and Matina S. Sarbanes Memorial Foundation, c/o Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, PO Box 152, Salisbury, MD 21803-0152, where a scholarship will be established for a student member of St. George Church. ¿

RELATING TO THE FAITH u page 9

fering and death, and tried to make Him deny His divinity.

If Christ, the Son of God, was tempted by our eternal Adversary, how could we hope to be spared unwanted temptation if we want to take up our cross and follow Christ?

Temptation is unavoidable! St. James the Apostle says: Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).

While St. Paul points out: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (I Cor. 10:13).

Wasn t It Christ Who said: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing? (John 15:5).

United to the divine

When one abides in Christ, He sends

the grace of the Holy Spirit on him, and Christ bestows him the very life of God. Human life is united to the divine.

God took the first step because His Son became part of our fallen humanity, without sin. Now we are to take the second step, to participate in the divine through the gift of God given by Christ to those who believe in Him. Christ brought God to man.

Now man can become by grace what God is by nature. St. Peter emphasizes that through Christ s divine power given to us, we may be partakers of divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (II Peter 1:4).

When one participates in God s divine energy, after taking up his cross, he is aflame with divine fire that neither destroys nor annihilates.

It is the miracle of the uncreated fire of the burning bush that is perpetuated in every human being who abides in Christ.

We must not lose sight of this ultimate, essential aspect of our way to deification, that is, it is the way of taking up the cross, not the way of godless, secular happiness that is apotheosized by today s spiritually desiccated world! ¿

Corrections A photo in the February issue taken at the St. Photios Shrine misidentified the priest at the right. He is Fr. Anargyros Stavropoulos, not Fr. Theodosian.

Information in a photo of Nicholas Royce accepting an award for GOTelecom should have read that actress Margaret O Brien presented the award to Mr. Royce.

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MARCH-APRIL 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Youth Ministry

What s Up

challenge

Setting the Example

by Melissa Bazos

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Y

es, you read it right; you are being called to be an example. This call is not for your mother, father, yiayia, papou or even your priest. It s for you! You ve heard people say to you; Oh, you re to young to know better, or even Young people are the church of tomorrow. These people are wrong!

You are not the Church of tomorrow; you are the Church of today. You are equal to all the adult members in the eyes of Christ. And do you know when you be came a full member?

Was it when you turned 16 and got your drivers license? Nope. You became a full and equal member of the Orthodox Church on the day you were Baptized and Chrismated. Through this baptism you were given this responsibility to, be an example to the believers.

You might ask, how can I be and example after all I m still so young? An example is simply a model of how to do something. Remember in elementary should when there was an art project, the teacher often times had an example that was already completed for you to look at.

This example stood as a reminder of what you were trying to accomplish. To be an example of our faith, we need to strive to be better Orthodox Christians looking to Christ and all the saints as our examples. We must become icons of His love to all that we encounter.

I know what you re thinking; this sounds hard. Well, I m not going to candy coat this; it is hard. But consider this, to get a good result in anything you do you must work hard. If you play sports, to be any good you must train hard. To plan an activity for your school, you spend many hours, days, weeks and possibly months before hand preparing. If you don t train for your sport or prepare for the activity the end result would not be very good.

As Orthodox Christians, we too must train. We can do this through prayer, fasting, reading the bible, and partaking of the sacraments of the church. To set up your training plan, talk with your parish priest. He can be your coach!

Remember you will have off days, but the important thing is to get back up and keep going. As we train, we can look to the saints to for how to be an example of the faith.

It has been said that a saint is not someone who never falls but rather someone who falls and then gets back up and tries not to make the same mistake again.

As Orthodox Christians, we are all called to become saints. God doesn t look down and say I want that one because he is smart and that one because she is Challenge is the Youth & Young Adult Ministries supplement to the Orthodox Observer.

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 or email: youthoffice@goarch.org

PAGE 29

beautiful. He does not say oh, not that one he is too young. Many saints of the church were young people who because of their example brought other people closer to Christ.

On Holy Saturday morning, we celebrate the faith of three young saints who served as an example of the faith to others. These saints are known as the Threes Youths and are written about in the Old Testament book of Daniel. Their real names are Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego.

At the time they lived, King Nebuchadnezzar made a law that said everyone in the land was to bow down and worship his golden idols. If the people chose not to, they would be thrown into a furnace where they would be burned to death. So, people from all over bowed down and worshiped the king s idols.

It came to the attention of the King that three young people were refusing to worship these idols. Enraged the king had the young people brought to him and he said, Now if you are ready fall down and worship the image which I have made but if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into the fiery furnace; and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?

The youths steadfast in their faith replied, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, o king.

But if not, be it known to you, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.

What amazing faith! So do you want to know what happened? Well, their declaration of faith enraged the king and he had the fire made even hotter than it was.

The youths were cast into the fire.

God sent an angel into the furnace with the youths and the angel cooled the flames. The youths danced and sang praises to God. The king, seeing that they had not been harmed, declared their God the true God. Today in America being an example of the faith does not require us to risk our lives (in most instances). But few of us strive to be the icon these saints were.

Sometimes it is even difficult for us to simply do our Cross before we eat with our non-Orthodox friends. Do we take time to help others? Do we stick up for someone who is being teased? Do we try to use appropriate language? Do we begin and end our day with prayer and ask God to guide us throughout the day? Are we striving to be better Orthodox Christians?

On Holy Saturday morning before we celebrate there Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, go to church and sing the praises to God with the three youths, Praise be to God and exalt him to all ages.

Just remember that as you sing this you stand safely in your church and not a furnace surrounded by flames. Because of the faith of the three youths, we can worship God without persecution. So, this Holy Saturday when you enter the church, light a candle and pray that the faith of these young people may be lit in your heart so that you like them can be a shining example to other believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Email: youthoffice@goarch.org

Young people and the Church Orthodox Christians believe that bread and wine are consecrated into the Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we hear in the Liturgy of the PreSanctified Gifts, Now the Powers of Heaven are invisibly present. For behold, the King of Glory has entered.

If Jesus Christ our King is invisibly present among us, how can we justify not being present and actively participating in the Divine Liturgy? How can we possibly be doing anything else besides worshipping along with the Saints and Angels in the midst of the Heavenly Kingdom?

With God s blessings, I have had the opportunity to visit many parishes throughout our Archdiocese. One practice I have observed is parishes holding Sunday School and youth group during the Divine Liturgy.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven . Children, like adults, are given equal opportunity to live in the Kingdom.

When someone is baptized, they immediately have joined and become full members of the Body of Christ, regardless of their age or maturity. And members of the Church are given the opportunity to fully participate in the life of the Church.

Children, like adults, should fully participate in the Sacramental life of the Church.

To deprive them of this is sinful!

Many times in our parishes, we view our children as half Christians. We don t take them seriously! We don t give them a voice. The Church is not about rules but rather, each one of us realizing the fullness of our Faith, the Faith given to us by Jesus Christ.

I have often seen the role of young people in the Church reduced to cleaning and picking up garbage at the annual festival. Each member of the Church has a role.

St. Paul reminds us of this in his first Epistle to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 12). All members of the Church are called to service. Remember Christ Himself was a King but came to serve .

It is true, we don t always accept our youth as full members of the Church. We look at them and ask ourselves, What can they do for the Church?

We forget to ask them, How they can use their God given talents and gifts for the Glory of God? For gifts and talents to be developed, they must be used.

Don t be afraid to let your young people take a more active role in the life of the Church. Let them truly experience the Faith, as full members.

I think you ll be surprised on what our young people can offer the Church and what they can offer our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ¿

Remember Christ Himself was a King, but came to serve.

Music Review

by Paul Zaharas

For many years now, the group U2 has been creating popular, thought provoking music. A number of their songs address social issues. Sunday Bloody Sunday speaks out against a massacre, which in occurred their home country of Ireland. In addition, many U2 songs have religious themes. In fact, their song 40 is taken word for word from the first verses of Psalm 40.

2001 Honoree

In one of its latest offerings, U2 has combined both social and religious aspects in Beautiful Day on their new album All That You Can t Leave Behind.

In this song they identify some characteristics of the society that surrounds us.

Among other things, they recognize the global community and environmental concerns.

Concert By

PAGE 30

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

The Voice of

MARCH-APRIL 2001

Philoptochos

California Chapter Ministers to Boys from Orphanage

by Michelle Argyropoulos

IRVINE, Calif. St. Paul s Philo ptochos chapter recently hosted the boys of St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage of Tijuana, Mexico, to the enchantment of Disneyland.

Giggles and laughter...brilliant smiles...sheer joy...unparalleled exci tement...a barrel of fun...Ahhh!

A child s first visit to Disneyland is certainly full of all these things...a day of magic firsts!!

Yet, imagine how much more intense these emotions are for a little boy named Daniel, a child from a Mexican orphanage, who is experiencing this thrill.

Just a few months before, he was living in an abusive situation. Now, with God s love and mercy and a loving new home, he is squealing with delight as he rides the log barrel down Splash Mountain having the time of his life and the carefree day of 9-year-old boy. God does work His miracles.

Thanks to the immense love and generosity of the Ladies Philoptochos Society and the Rev. Steven Tsichlis, presbyter of St. Paul Church in Irvine, Daniel and all 16 boys of St. Innocent Orphanage spent a glorious October day enjoying all the

magic and wonder of Disneyland.

The boys spent Saturday night with their Philoptochos host families Cynthia and George Kateyiannis and Andie and Len Loukaides.

At the invitation of Fr. Steven, who serves vice-president of Project Mexico s board of directors, the boys attended Sunday School and served in the altar for Divine Liturgy.

They met other Orthodox youth and teens, interacting with them and the entire St. Paul s family.

Margaret Yova (associate director and orphanage co-founder) and Mary Danakas (development director) discussed their ministry, detailing the transformation taking place in the lives of these boys who were once abused and abandoned.

Philoptochos also passed a special tray at the service, raising more than $2,100.

The weekend was blessed with fellowship, God s teaching, an experience that will not soon be forgotten and a great deal of fun and laughter for the boys of St. Innocent Orphanage.

For more information about St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage, contact Michelle Argyropoulos, director of Public Relations and Annual Giving, (619) 426-4610. ext. 103. ¿

U.N. Report on Hurricane Mitch Donation The National Office of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society has received a formal accounting of the $32,000 donation given to the United Nations to assist victims of Hurricane Mitch.

The devastating hurricane, one of the most powerful in decades, struck Central America in late October, 1998.

Philptochos chapters around the nation immediately began raising funds to help almost one million victims.

In Nicaragua alone, almost 4,000 people lost their lives, and 50,000 homes were utterly destroyed. According to the official UN report, over 90,000 Nicaraguans were affected by the hurricane.

With extreme gratitude, Gerhard Putman-Cramer of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, recently wrote to Philoptochos National President Eve Condakes detailing how the donation was used.

Most of the money was directed into housing programs, with 42 houses built in El Durrumbado and La Colonia.

According to the report, 252 men, women, and children were able to take up residence in these homes. Following a common self-construction plan, much of the labor on these homes was completed by the families who were to live in them.

The balance of the donation was used to purchase seeds for the next planting cycle. Since most of the food consumed in Nicaragua is home grown, those who lost their homes to rock- and mudslides also lost their primary food source.

The seeds enabled the hurricane victims to return to the path of selfsufficiency as soon as possible.

All those who participated in the various fundraising efforts for the victims of Hurricane Mitch should be proud of their substantial accomplishment.

Assisting these fellow human beings in their extreme need fulfills not only the mission of the Philoptochos Society, but also the commandments of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¿

Michigan Chapter Helps Nine Charities LANSING, Mich. The Holy Trinity Philoptochos chapter held its 51st annual Athenian Luncheon and Bake Sale on Nov. 8.

A favorite event in the Lansing area since 1949, more than 2,000 persons came to event held at the church hall.

The luncheon was augmented by a bake sale with eight different types of pastry prepared by the Philoptochos Society members. In addition to the months of planning and baking that went into the event, a gift shop and jewelry booth rounded out the offerings.

The profit of $12,000 was used to support both the Diocese and local charities, including the Rose City Camp (Diocese of Detroit), Hospice of Lansing, Loaves and

Fishes Shelter, Local Crippled Children s Chapter, the City Rescue Mission, the Council Against Domestic Abuse, the Capital Area Center for Independent Living, and the Holy Dormition Monastery.

Chapter President and Luncheon CoChair Nancy Malvetis worked with CoChair Koula Tzoumakas to organize the many aspects of the event.

Virtually every member of the chapter was involved in baking the pastry.

Other committee chairs were: Rhea Arvanitis, Dorothy Petroff, and Ina Samra, gift shop; Stella Economy, staffing; Harea Bates, inventory/ordering, Frances Katsiris and Delores Vosovic, graphics/support; Cassie Heos, jewelry; and Irene Kontis and Goldie Heos, raffle. ¿

Participants in the Diocese of Boston Philoptochos President’s Leadership Forum.

Boston Diocese Board Holds Presidents’ Leadership Forum BOSTON Metropolitan Methodios led the gathering at the Presidents Leadership Forum in the Opening Prayer followed by the singing of the hymn of Sts. Cosmas and Damianos, patron saints of Philoptochos. Diocese President Christine Karavites welcome the assembly and Forum Chairman Evelyn Pavloglou offered introductions.

Fr. Constantine Sitaras, director of St. Basil, was the speaker.

He presented a view of life at the Academy as he described St. Basil Academy A Treasure Chest of Opportunity to the Diocese of Boston gathering.

Representatives from the Diocese heard of the positive changes and multitude of activities taking place at the Academy.

Fr. Sitaras described the varied experiences for the children in their academic pursuits, religious education and worship, their socialization and family bonding.

The Diocese Philoptochos women

also viewed the new St. Basil Academy video showing the children in all aspects of life at St. Basil and they returned to their chapters with a renewed motivation to support the national commitment to St. Basil Academy.

A donation was presented to Fr. Sitaras for St. Basil Academy on behalf of all Diocese chapters.

Representatives then participated in three interactive mini workshops. The workshops were led by Christine Karavi tes, diocese president; on commitments; Olivia Sintros, 2nd vice president, on outreach to new members; and Diane Miminos, assistant treasurer, on successful projects.

At the conclusion of the Forum, a check for $12,000 was presented to Metropolitan Methodios for Philoxenia House.

This is the second donation for Philoxenia House from the Diocese of Boston chapters for the Year 2000 drive. ¿

Nevada Chapter Supports Food Bank LAS VEGAS Members of Panagia Chapter at St. John Church recently voted to continue assisting the Sartini Senior Center Food Bank with a $1,000 donation and plans to spearhead a food drive.

According to information from local Philoptochos board member Pearl Osborn, most of the senior citizens living at Sartini Plaza are on welfare. They are allotted a minimum of $10,000 in food stamps and rely on the efforts of orga nizations such as the local Philoptochos to assist in receiving basic food requirements.

Throughout Lent, the Panagia Chapter members have collected nonperishable food items to stock the new food bank and to provide continuous assistance in this crisis situation.

The members also donated 150 children s books to the Jump Start Library and delivered 111 tins of unsold Christmas pastries to the Howard Cannon Se-

nior Center. They have also adopted Trinity Foster Care as part of their social services program, and donated gift baskets and gift certificates to 39 children in 17 foster families.

Metropolitan Diocese Chapter Sponsors Lunch NEW YORK The Metropolitan Diocese Philoptochos chapter sponsored a lunch that followed the recent celebration on the the Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs and in honor of Greek Letters and Culture at the Cathedral Center of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York.

The lunch was attended by some 300 Parochial school children and their teachers and was chaired by the chapters president Stella Capiris.

Illinois Chapter Raises $1,400 for Academy LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. Ascension Church chapter recently held several events including a Vasilopita cutting that raised $1,400 for St. Basil Academy.

Chapter President Lia Elisseou recently presented a check for the amount to Metropolitan Iakovos of Krinis for the Academy at the Chicago Diocese

Vasilopita celebration.

The Philoptochos members also viewed the new video on St. Basil s produced by the National Philoptochos.

Guest speaker was a former child resident of the Academy, Maria Svos, who spoke of her experiences growing up in that environment. ¿

MARCH-APRIL 2001

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Holy Synod Holds Productive Sessions NEW YORK With the full participation of all the Hierarchs, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese convened its regular spring session on March 13 and 14, 2001.

The deliberations were conducted in a spirit of unity, creativity and congeniality The following topics were discussed: Administration, Clergy/Laity of 2002, Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, Greek Education, Liturgical matters, revision of the Charter, monasticism, financial matters, legal matters, clergy benefits, family and mixed marriages.

The establishment of two new Departments at the Archdiocese was announced

at the meeting, namely the Department of Family Ministry and the Department of Charitable Institutions and Philanthropic Ministry of the Church.

In addition, the formation of an advisory committee of scientists was announced whose purpose will be to offer advice to the Archdiocese on matters relating to the Church and Sciences, specifically on bioethics, technology and information technology, economy, environment, cosmology and medicine.

The Holy Eparchial Synod also finalized the proposal by which the next Clergy-Laity Congress of 2002 will take place in the Diocese of San Francisco.

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SCOBA HIERARCHS at Sunday of Orthodoxy service at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York with Archbishop Demetrios (center), who presided at the Liturgy.

The Standing Conference

of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

Sunday of Orthodoxy Message Leaping up with joy, let us and all the faithful cry aloud today; How marvelous are your works, O Christ! How great is your might! For you have made us of one mind and brought about our agreement. (From the First Ode of Matins) To all the Clergy and the Laity of the Holy Orthodox Church in the Americas Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With the tone of unity in Christ sounded by this hymn of our Holy Church we greet you on this Sunday of Orthodoxy. Truly, this is a day upon which we celebrate the triumph of our Orthodox faith over the forces that have sought to diminish it. It is also a day upon which we affirm our unity in tradition, worship, and faith and our oneness of mind as the Body of Christ.

We do this as a witness of true unity in a world that is constantly divided by geographical, social, economic, racial, cultural, and religious barriers that are often the result of hatred, prejudice, greed, and ignorance.

As the Church, the Ekklesia, those who are called and who gather in the name of our Lord, our task is to reveal the true, eternal unity that is built upon faith, love, and the peace of God. We manifest this unity through the essential elements of our Holy Tradition that have been revealed through the Holy Scriptures and confirmed through the Ecumenical Councils, the holy lives of the Saints and Martyrs, the writings of the Fathers, and through the diakonia of the Church to a world in need of guidance and truth.

Specifically, on this day we celebrate the restoration of the use of icons in our worship and affirm the proper theological understanding of their role in the life and faith of the people. This shared use of icons, along with all of the elements of our Holy Tradition used in both our communal and personal prayer, confirms the unity we are accorded as God s chosen ones (Colossians 3:12).

In speaking about God s chosen ones , the Apostle Paul offers precisely the basis of true unity. While it may be visible in our Holy Tradition let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and in our worship sing songs and hymns and spiritual odes with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Colossians 3:16) ultimately our unity is rooted in the faith that seeks the things that are above, where Christ is , and thinks the things that are above (Colossians 3:1-2). Such faith transforms our lives and renews us in the image of Him who created us as we put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony, and as we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, to which indeed we were called in the one body (Colossians 3:14-15).

As we observe this season of Holy Lent in prayer and fasting, as we anticipate its culmination in the joyous light of Pascha, and as we affirm unity in our tradition, worship, and faith, we exhort you, the faithful, following the God-inspired words of Saint Paul, to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and forgiving each other (Colossians 3:12). For it is in the victory of our Lord over death, it is in the triumph of our faith over sin and evil, it is in the prevalence of truth over falsehood and evil, it is in the power manifested in the renewal of our lives that true and eternal unity with God and one another is made visible.

May we love one another so that in one mind we may confess the unity that flows from the Holy Trinity, one in essence and inseparable.

With paternal blessings and love in Christ, Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Metropolitan JOSEPH, Secretary Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, Treasurer American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA Metropolitan THEODOSIUS Orthodox Church in America Archbishop VICTORIN Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada Metropolitan CONSTANTINE Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

HOLY SYNOD members at Archdiocese headquarters Synod room.

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Archbishop Offers Bampton Lecture at Columbia NEW YORK Archbishop Demetrios delivered the 33rd Bampton Lecture in America at Columbia University on March 8 on the topic: St. John Chrysostom: Anthropological Insights for Our Times.

The Bampton Lectures in America, modeled after the Bampton Lectures of Oxford University, founded by John Bampton, Canon of Salisbury, were established by the bequest of the will of Ada Byron Bampton Tremaine of Rockport,

of Chrysostom s teachings as viewed in an anthropological view in theology, and noted three human examples: Abraham, the priest, and St. Paul.

Abraham was a model for faith as fidelity, the Archbishop said. The priest is a model for human possibility. The honor and awesome authority granted the priest transcends the limits of human nature. And St. Paul represents the wholeness and perfection of the human being.

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The Archbishop’s lecture was attended by Columbia faculty and students, several New York Greek Americans and alumni who filled the hall to capacity.

Maine. The first lecture in the series was by the noted historian Arnold J. Toynbee in 1948.

The Archbishop s lecture was attended by more than 100 persons, including Columbia faculty and students, several New York and Greek Americans, including alumni of the school.

In his lecture, he discussed aspects

Archbishop Demetrios, a graduate of the University of Athens School of Theology, received a Ph.D. from Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. For 10 years he was Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and was a Visiting Professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School. ¿

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Archons’ Patriarch Athenagoras Human Rights Award to Archbishop Anastasios ebrated his first Divine Liturgy in Uganda.

But he contracted malaria shortly afterward and returned to Greece where he took up teaching duties at the University of Athens School of Theology.

Consecrated Bishop of Androussa by the Church of Greece in 1972, Bishop Anastasios returned to East Africa in 1980.

He created a strong Orthodox Church by training native leaders and, in 1982, officially opened the Archbishop Makarios III Orthodox Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 1991 after establishing a firm foundation for Orthodoxy in East Africa, the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected him Archbishop of Tirana, Durce and All Albania to revive the Autocephalous Church of Albania, which was described as being on the brink of collapse. Perhaps more than any in any other nation under communism, the Orthodox Church became nearly extinct under the atheistic regime of Enver

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THE ARCHON CLASS of 2001

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Athenagoras Human Rights Award , and expressed special thanks to Archons National Commander Dr. Anthony Limbera kis for his kind words about my ecclesiastical and social diakonia.

His Beatitude noted that his friendship with Archbishop Demetrios goes back more than 50 years and that it was out of the common experience of living through the German occupation of Greece during World War II that we were convinced that the only powers that could bring about something essentially new in the world were freedom and love. And only Christ, within the Church, offered these in their most authentic expression.

Archbishop Anastasios went on to discuss three characteristics imperative for the Church and individual Orthodox Christians: ecumenical awareness, apostolic responsibility and endeavors for human rights. (see text of speech, page ??).

Nicholas J. Bouras, the banquet underwriter.

At the next morning s Liturgy, Archbishop Demetrios presided over the impressive Ceremony of Investiture for the 45 distinguished laymen nominated as new Archons. Led by National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis, they committed themselves to upholding and defending the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Established in 1986, the Athenagoras Human Rights Award is given in honor Patriarch Athenagoras who served as Archbishop of the Americas for 18 years before his election in 1948 as Ecumenical Patriarch. He was universally acknowledged as a visionary leader of Orthodoxy, who worked for peace among Churches and people throughout his life.

Members of the Archon Class of 2001 inducted into the Order are: Harry Angelo Jr., Miami; Daniel Anthony, San Antonio; George Argerakis, Fort Lee, N.J.; Bob Kakalis, Brooklyn, N.Y.; John Bober, Warren, N.J.; Chris Brous, Stanford, Conn.; Emil Bzdil, Drifton, Pa. Chris Caras, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.; George Chacopoulos, Newport, Calif.; Stephen Cherpelis, Douglaston, N.Y.; Frank Cockinos, Charlotte, N.C.; Dale Cosgrove, Monongahela, Pa. George Dariotis, Alexandria, Va.; Michael Demetriou, Garden City, N.Y.; Louis Dolhy, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Robert Doumakes, Los Angeles.

Christopher Fekos, Pittsburgh; Alexander Giannaras, Libertyville, Ill.; John Gidicsin, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Peter Holdanick, Binghamton, N.Y.; George Husar Jr., Binghamton, N.Y. Nicholas Kalinin, Longview, Wash.; George Kappos, Pepper Pike, Ohio; Andrew Kartalis, Beachwood, Ohio; Harry Kolendrianos, Danville, Va.; John Kost, Drifton, Pa.

ARCHBISHOPS ANASTASIOS and Demetrios applaud Archbishop Iakovos following his comments at the Archons Banquet.

Hoxha, until the fall of communism in 1990.

His Beatitude has been the major force in the miraculous resurrection of the Albanian Orthodox Church. In addition to the previously accoplishments, 130 churches repaired by using local architects, engineers, iconographers and other craftsmen. Presently, the Orthodox Church is one of the largest organizations in the country, promoting economic development and creating hundreds of jobs.

Archbishop Anastasios established the Diaconia Agapes (Service of Love) in 1992 to serve as the Church s social, developmental and relief office that responds to the profound spiritual and economic crisis that resulted from the years of communist domination.

Diakonia Agapes in conjunction with ACT (Action Churches Together) Network provides emergency assistance to all in need. In 1999 Diakonia Agapes with ACT assisted more than 18,000 Kosovo displaced persons with an $8.5 million Emergency Program. Diakonia Agapes also set up an operational refugee camp in Ndroq, Albania to care for 1,300 refugees a month.

At the end of his visit to Albania in November 1999, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew commented, for all those who do not believe in miracles at the end of the 20th century, let them come to Albania and see for themselves what has been done here.

Kudos from dignitaries

At the banquet, several dignitaries offered their congratulations to His Beatitude, including Archbishop Iakovos,

Council of Hellenes Aboard (SAE) World President and Archon Andrew Athens, Consul General of Greece in New York Dimitris Platis, Ambassador of Cyprus to the U.S. Erato Kozakou-Markoulis, Peter Marudas representing U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes, and author Nicholas Gage.

Archbishop Iakovos said Archbishop Anastasios will always be a defender of the faith, not only through words but through deeds. He is a man who has projected himself through his mission work in East Africa and throughout the world.

Mr. Athens, whose own organization has established a medical center in southern Albania, described the dramatic improvements he witnessed on a recent trip to the country. I saw many new schools, churches, concern and practical care for the elderly and training facilities for jobs, he said.

Archons National Commander Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis noted, The entire Order of St. Andrew, said, is humbled by the opportunity to recognize this modern Orthodox missionary and humanitarian.

In addition, the Very Rev. Savas Zembillas, the archdiocese chancellor, read a letter of congratulations from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

In his acknowledgement of the human rights award, the self-effacing hierarch called the honor too much.

He said that it was with great astonishment that I was informed by my beloved brother, His Eminence Demetrios, Archbishop of America, that the Order of St. Andrew had bestowed upon me the

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ARCHONS AND ARCHBISHOPS: (l to r) Michael Jaharis, Archbishops Anastasios, Iakovos and Demetrios, and Nick Bouras.

In his closing response, Archbishop Demetrios spoke of the evening s event as being the will of God, and reminisced that, 50 years ago, he and his friend would never have imagined they would be together in New York City on the same dais.

It happened because it was the will of God prevailing in a most beautiful, sensitive way, His Eminence said.

He also said that Archbishop Anastasios life exemplifies the will of God with the will of human beings being a will to love.

New archons introduced

The evening included the introduction of the Archon Class of 2001 members who were to be invested Feb. 18 at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral, and a surprise presentation to outstanding Archon

Paul Lillios, Northbrook, Ill.; William Marianes, Tucker, Ga.; Charles Marangoudakis, Maspeth, N.Y.; John Mehos, Jersey City, N.J. George Omiros, Uniontown, Pa.; Christos Panopoulos, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Constantine Papadakis, Wayne, Pa.; John Pappajohn, Des Moines, Iowa; Louis Pappan, Beaver Falls, Pa.; John N. Pappas, Jacksonville, Fla.; Joseph Parimucha, Alexandria, Va. Edward Sedor, Johnson City, N.Y.; John Schwika, White Haven, Pa.; Robert Skarlis, Pittsburgh; Peter Stavrianidis, Somerset, N.J.; Ernest Tidick, Endwell, N.Y.; Andreas Touzos, Virginia Beach, Va.; Nicholas Vidalakis, Seattle; Peter Vlachos, New York, and Thomas Vlahos, Bronx, N.Y.