Orthodox Observer - May 2001

VOL. 67 NO. 1181

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

MAY 2001

Church’s Financial Picture Dramatically Improved BROOKLINE, Mass. Archdiocesan Council members received welcome news at their April 19-20 spring meeting that the Archdiocese has experienced an $843,000 increase in total commitment income and finished the year 2000 with a $200,000 surplus. byJim Golding

Orthodox Observer Archives

P.J. Gazouleas Dies from Heart Attack byJim Golding

Panayiotis Takis Gazouleas, the retired publisher of the Orthodox Observer who made it a successful communications vehicle and vital link to the Church for its faithful, died Sunday, May 6, at his home in Southold, N.Y., of a heart attack following complications from cancer surgery.

Mr. Gazouleas began producing the Observer in its current newspaper format in October 1971, serving as general manager, then as publisher beginning in 1976 until July 1995. He also was editor in chief until 1989.

Over the years, he had several other

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The amount is part of a turnaround from 1999 s net loss of $3 million that has put Archdiocese operations in the black, according to Department of Finance figures presented at the gathering, held for the first time at Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology.

A major reason for the financial turnaround has been the Challenge Campaign that garnered $3.2 million in unrestricted contributions, combined with a reduction in operating expenses at the Archdiocese of more than $1.2 million.

We are now in a position to state that the big burden of debt is almost over, Archbishop Demetrios told the opening joint session of Archdiocesan Council and National Philoptochos Board members.

He called it a tremendous spiritual achievement adding, it s one thing to give for a charitable cause, but it s another thing to give for the eradication of a debt, even anonymously.

His Eminence also called for a strong endowment for the Church, in conjunction

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ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS addresses the Archdiocesan Council.Metropolitans Iakovos and Methodios are to his right and Mr. Michael Jaharis, vice-chairman of the Archdiocesan Council to his left.

with the newly planned development office.

One initiative in particular that Church officials hope to pursue through the creation of a development office is the creation of an endowment fund, similar to that of Leadership 100, whose purpose would be to help sustain Archdiocese operations. Leadership 100 funds can only be used for the National Ministries and for

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Bishops Affirm Witness on Spiritual, Moral Issues STATEMENT To our Beloved, The Faithful Clergy and Laity of the Holy Orthodox Church throughout North America, We greet you in the name of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ: Christ is Risen!

ARCHBISHOP S EASTER ENCYCLICAL u 11 Archdiocese News u 2 - 4, 8, 12 Books u 21 Challenge u 27 Classified ads u 2 8 Diocese News u 24 Diocese of Chicago u 25 Ecum. Patriarchate u 6-7, 17 Greek section u 15-19 HC/HC Report u 23 In Memoriam u 29 Interfaith Marriage u 5 Opinions u 10 Orthodoxy Worldwide u 26 Pascha 2001 u 32 Parish Profile u 22 People u 22 Relating to the Faith u 13 Religious Education u 14 Scholarships u 21 Voice of Philoptochos u 30

new program start-ups.

At another point in the meeting, Archdiocesan Council Vice Chairman Michael Jaharis underscored the Archbishop s statement. For this Church to exist, it must have an endowment, he said. Over the years, budgets were made

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Name Day of our Ecumenical Patriarch

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Archbishop Demetrios with Metropolitan Theodosius (OCA) and Metropolitan Christopher (Serbian Orthodox Church) at the press conference which concluded their three-day meetings.

WASHINGTON The largest gathering ever of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas concluded a three-day Conference May 3 by issuing an official statement calling for coordinated action on, and witness to, the mission of Orthodoxy to have a decisive voice in matters of the spiritual, social and human needs of 21st century America.

The theme of the Conference, organized by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), aimed at working on the

implications, theological and pastoral, of the SCOBA Encyclical on the occasion of the Third Christian Millennium which was released on Dec. 14, 2000, titled, And the Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us. The Conference started Tuesday evening, May 1, at the Omni Shoreham hotel.

The final session was held Thursday, May 3, at St. Nicholas Cathedral when the 34 hierarchs present approved unanimously, and enthusiastically, the following statement:

O

n June 11, our Church celebrates the feast day of the Apostle Bartholomew, patron saint of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. In celebration of his name day, as well as throughout the year, Greek Orthodox Christians in America and the staff of the Orthodox Observer, in spirit and thought, join the Ecumenical Patriarch in prayer that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will grant him good health and long life to serve in peace and guide the faithful to salvation, along with our best wishes, love and respect.

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

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A R C H D I O C E S E

MAY 2001

N E W S

Church Finances Put on Positive Footing u page 1 and pledges were made, but the money didn t come through.

He added that eventually each ministry should have its own endowment. We hope people across the country will strive to make a strong commitment.

Making progress nationally Giving an overview of the Church s progress over the past year, Archbishop Demetrios noted movement on several fronts, including the existence of building programs in many parishes. There is very intense building activity churches, halls, school halls, or improving, modifying or restoring existing facilities, he said, and that, this year, seven churches have scheduled consecrations. It shows the vitality of the Church has spread all over the country, and that the proliferation of these projects demonstrates a sense of urgency of mission, he said, comparing it to Christ s mission in the world and charging his disciples to continue that mission, citing John 20:21: As the Father sent me, I also send you. (Jn. 20:21) His Eminence also noted the remarkable achievement of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund s tremendous increase in members and financial contributions.

In fact, during several reports given during the two-day sessions, it was evident that Leadership 100 has shown strong support for the National Ministries of the Church through its numerous grants.

Former Leadership 100 Chairman and co-founder George Kokalis remarked at a later point in the meetings that almost every report mentioned Leadership (100).

I hope the message gets out to help bring additional members so we can do more than we are doing.

This year, Leadership 100 has earmarked nearly $1.7 million in approved and pending grants for 12 new programs and activities. These include an Archdiocesan Development Office, management training seminars, home mission parishes, web site development, a quarterly news video program, youth ministry teen video series, development of an archival process to record His Eminence s sermons and visits, a youth ministry resource center, a Department of Camping Ministry, public service announcements, video archives onto DVD media, and the Ionian Village Scholarship Program.

Leadership 100 has financed the entire Department of Family and Marriage.

It does not require additional funds at this point, the Archbishop said, noting the department is on the verge of producing its first guide on interfaith marriages and that perhaps some day we can have a center for the care of the family.

Care for the youth and improving their religious education, and reaching the 20-35-year-old age group are also priorities His Eminence said require attention.

He also warned of the growing problem of the shortage of priests, stating the

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ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL members listen attentively to reports at their April 19 meeting.

Church needs double or triple the number and that support for Holy Cross School of Theology and Hellenic College is tremendously vital. If we don t have the proper priests, we are doomed, he declared, but expressed optimism with the number of seminarians this year who said they plan to proceed at ordination.

The Archbishop also stressed the importance that the college become a center for Hellenic studies, culture and language, the best in the United States.

Charter discussion A lengthy discussion took place on the proposed new charter for the Archdiocese in which Archbishop Demetrios explained the process that has been under way since 1996. It was submitted to

the Patriarchate in June 2000 and is still in the on-going work phase.

The 30-member Charter Committee held its first joint meeting at the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Dec. 1, followed by the second meeting Feb. 20-21.

His Eminence said the February meeting was characterized by an atmosphere of frank expression, during which time officials at the Patriarchate agreed to continue the discussions in May. Our participation there was very dignified, frank and sincere, he emphasized.

He said the feeling is to make the charter issue of progress and a tightening of the unity of the Church and not to become a divisive issue.

His Eminence added that the rationale

Orthodox Observer

ANNUAL GATHERING Children of Archdiocese staff members gather for a photo with Archbishop Demetrios following the Holy Thursday morning Divine Liturgy attended by staff members and their families. Also in the picture are the Very Rev. Savas Zembillas, chancellor, and Michael Jaharis, vice president of the Archdiocesan Council, and Mrs. Jaharis.

DIRECTOR & MANAGING EDITOR: Stavros H. Papagermanos EDITOR: Jim Golding (Chryssoulis) PRODUCTION MANAGER: Nikos Katsanevakis ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Soula Podaras CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Nicholas Manginas Elizabeth Economou

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behind not releasing the text of the charter prior to the meetings was based on our decision and had to do with canonical issues. It involved a serious document that was not a final version. There would be modifications.

He also said there would be no problem in sharing the information after the long process has stabilized.

Normally, a mother church unilaterally grants a charter, His Eminence explained. But the fact that we had input is indicative of the good will on the part of the Patriarchate.

I trust your Eminence, the metropolitans, priests and laity who have worked hard on this the last few years, said Dr. John Collias of Cleveland. I would like to show support for the proposed charter.

Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, who served on previous charter committees in the 1970s, said the proposed charter stays within the faith and strengthens the Church and the Patriarchate.

Other reports In other business during the two-day session, Council members heard reports on Hellenic College-Holy Cross, the Legal Committee, administration, information technology, strategic planning, youth ministry and clergy benefits.

Jerry Dimitriou, executive director of administration for the Archdiocese, in his report to the Council presented the goals of the Archdiocese for 2001 which include establishment of a development office and the organization of a permanent endowment fund to supplement income from parishes and direct support for the Church s programs, reorganization of departments and staff, and increased service and communications to the parishes.

Emmanuel Demos, counsel for the Archdiocese, reported that the Archdiocese will formally implement a sexual misconduct policy required of institutions by state law and insurance carriers.

Fr. Mark Leondis, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, announced that a full time representative of the Orthodox Campus Ministry Commission would be appointed and that the organization would be headquartered in Berkeley, Calif.

Clergy Benefits Committee Chairman Fr. James Moulketis discussed issues pertaining to retired clergy, including increased health costs and problems relating to taxation.

Vicki Pappas, chairman of the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, announced the publication of a guide on starting a parish youth music program, funded by a grant from the Leadership 100 endowment fund.

Strategic long-term goals of the Archdiocese discussed by Strategic Planning Committee Chairman George Behrakis include increasing the Church s membership and revenue, and targeting programs for family ministry, youth, missions, education, charitable work and institutions. The Council approved a motion to establish a Department of Family Ministries by Sept. 1.

Upcoming events Archbishop Demetrios also briefed the gathering of his participation in the National Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North America, held May 1-3 in Washington, emphasizing that it was not administrative, but an opportunity to declare the Orthodox faith in a positive way, as a witness in the Nation s capital. The following week he would attend the meeting of the charter committee at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

A R C H D I O C E S E

National Philoptochos Board Convenes at HC-HC Campus

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N E W S

Announcement from the Committee for the Revision of the Charter of the Holy Archdiocese of America New York The Committee for the revision of the Charter of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened at the Phanar on May 9 10 and released the following announcement.

ANNOUNCEMENT

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS speaks to National Philoptochos Board members

BROOKLINE, Mass. The National Ladies Philoptochos Society Board convened at Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology on April 20-21, in conjunction with the Archdiocesan Council meeting.

After Archbishop Demetrios keynote address April 20 to a joint gathering of both organizations, National Philo ptochos President Eve Condakes opened the day s meeting.

President Condakes began her address by highlighting the fact that the board members were meeting in the Archbishop Iakovos Library, to which the Philoptochos Society donated more than $100,000.

Remarking on the Seminary s presence in Boston, Mrs. Condakes said, We New Englanders take great pride in the capital of our region, with its cultural and diverse attractions; it is truly the Athens of America, and home itself to our beloved school, Hellenic College Holy Cross.

It is a fitting metaphor for Holy Cross and Hellenic College. To paraphrase our Lord Jesus Christ, the School is like that city that stands out in the dark night of despair and gives guidance to all.

For all that it represents, our School is the jewel in the crown that adorns the entire Archdiocese; reflecting the light of the Lord in every direction from every facet of its being.

Mrs. Condakes also stated that, as members of the National Board we have the responsibility to let people know what we as an organization accomplished and to attend chapter meetings and to speak about the mission and the activities of the National Board.

She stated that all the diocese presidents and chapter members should be commended for their overwhelming dedication and support of all the Philoptochos drives.

Treasurer Aphrodite Skeadas rendered her report and informed the mem-

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bers that the Executive Board voted to donate more than $160,000 to current commitments and that about $61,000 was raised and will be donated for the El Salvador and India Earthquake relief funds.

Mrs. Skeadas also announced that the 5th International Art Exhibition hosted by the National Philoptochos would take place No. 1-4, at Holy Trinity Cathedral Center in New York City, under the direction of renowned artist Yannis Amoryanos.

The diocese presidents reported on the status of their dioceses Philoptochos programs and their upcoming conferences. Business sessions reconvened after a luncheon with Archbishop Deme trios, Metropolitans Methodios and Iakovos, Bishop Nicholas, and the Arch diocesan Council.

Committee reports were presented on St. Basil Academy, Aging, AIDS, Social Services and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Susan Regos, national board secretary and children s medical fund general chairman, updated the Board on plans for the upcoming Children s Medical Fund Luncheon, scheduled for Oakbrook, Ill., on Nov. 10.

In the evening, Metropolitan Metho dios and the Diocese of Boston Philo ptochos Board hosted a reception for the National Board members at the Diocese Center.

The two-day sessions continued the following morning with the completion of committee reports and a membership question-and-answer forum.

Archbishop Demetrios thanked the Philoptochos women for their dedication and hard work.

Philoptochos members joined the hierarchs and Archdiocesan Council for a luncheon, which was followed by a campus tour, including the Archbishop Iakovos Library, which was highlighted by the exhibit of his personal religious artifacts.

DOLLY DEMETRIS gives a report to the National Board

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The Committee for the revision of the Charter of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened, as previously agreed, at the Phanar under the chairmanship of Their Eminences Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Ephesus and Archbishop Demetrios of America. The Committee worked on May 9 10, in the spirit of brotherly love and mutual understanding. Fully aware of the responsibility placed upon them, they reviewed provisions for the proposed Charter from a combined text of both the Archdiocese and the Mother Church.

The first 13 articles of the joint draft were carefully evaluated and discussed.

Agreement was reached following a full exchange of views and concurrence of opinion.

In particular, they discussed the subjects of the election of the Archbishop of America in the event of a vacancy; the elevation of the Dioceses to Metropolises within the Archdiocese; the method of election of the Metropolitans; and the elevation of the present Bishops to Metropolitans. Both sides reached agreement on these subjects, with the exception of one practical point, to wit: one of the qualifications of a candidate for the office of Archbishop. This will be further discussed together with the remaining articles at the next and final phase of the work of the Committees. This meeting will reconvene at the Phanar, June 20 21.

The parties expressed their satisfaction with the agreement reached and for the work that, by the grace of the Risen Lord, has been accomplished. This work is directed toward the ongoing stability and progress of the Archdiocese, the further preservation and consolidation of the unity of this foremost Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne, as well as the strengthening of the indissoluble bonds between these two institutions, the Mother Church and the Archdiocese of America.

At the Patriarchate, May 10, 2001 ÿ Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Ephesus

ÿ Archbishop Demetrios of America

Archbishop Appoints Director of Greek Education NEW YORK Archbishop Demetrios has named Professor George Pilitsis as director of the Archdiocese Department of the Greek Education.

Professor Pilitsis, who retains his position at Hellenic College, will assume his new duties on May 1, 2001.

The Archbishop offered enthusiastic comments on the occasion of this appointment: Professor George Pilitsis, he said, brings to the department the high qualities of an expert in matters of Greek language, classics, and education. An excellent academic teacher for many years, perfectly bilingual, he has a vast experience both in theoretical issues related to education and in practical ways of successfully teaching languages. He is a person of unwavering dedication to the ideals of Orthodoxy and Hellenism. I am sure that with the help of God, Professor Pilitsis will contribute decisively and creatively to the accomplishment of the great objectives of the Department of Greek Education .

Dr. George Pilitsis was born in Serres in Macedonia, in Northern Greece, where he received his primary and secondary education. Soon after, he came to the United States where he completed his studies. Professor Pilitsis holds a degree in English and a Masters and Ph.D. degree in classics from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Dr. Pilitsis is an associate professor of Classics and Modern Greek Studies at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he has been teaching since 1988.

Prior to Hellenic College/Holy Cross, Professor Pilitsis taught at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and Rutgers, where he established and directed programs in Modern Greek Stud-

Prof. GEORGE PILITSIS

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ies for a number of years.

Professor Pilitsis has also taught as a visiting professor at Princeton University.

Professor Pilitsis scholarly interests and areas of research concentrate in the social and cultural history of Greece from antiquity to the present. He has also developed a special interest in the literary accomplishments of modern Greece. His publications include articles on classical mythology and modern Greek folklore as well as critical studies in modern Greek poetry.

His well-known translations and critical evaluations of the works of major Greek poets such as Dionysios Solomos, Yannis Ritsos, Nikiforos Vrettakos, and Nikos Gatsos were published in various scholarly journals in the U.S. and Greece.

Professor Pilitsis also is the editor and major contributor to a book on Greek Proverbs and Other Popular Sayings, a collection of more than 1,000 proverbs published in 1997.

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P.J. Gazouleas Dies from Heart Attack

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responsibilities at the Archdiocese special assistant to the Archbishop, Greek press officer, executive director of the Department of Communications in the mid-1990s, and published the Archdiocese yearbook for many years.

After retiring from the Archdiocese, he continued his journalistic career as a columnist for the daily Greek language newspaper, the National Herald.

Mr. Gazouleas was born in 1927 in Thessaloniki, Greece, to a prominent family from Athens. His father, Yiannis, had been a general in the Greek army.

As a teen-ager during World War II, he experienced the occupation of Greece by the Axis powers, one of the harshest, most tragic periods in Greek history.

After the war, he attended and graduated from the University of Athens where he studied political science and economics. In 1950, he became an officer in the Greek army.

In the mid-1950s, he freelanced

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some time wanted to provide a regular means of communication between the Archdiocese and the faithful, named a publishing board to establish a bi-weekly newspaper.

With the encouragement of Costa Hayden, the photographer who for decades was a fixture at major Church and community events, Mr. Gazouleas met with the Archbishop and board members and was hired as executive editor and general manager, joining Dimitrios Couchell, a graduate of Yale and Holy Cross School of Theology, who had been hired earlier as the English editor.

At the wake held May 9 at Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral, the former editor, now Bishop Dimitrios, reflected on Mr. Gazouleas devotion to the Church and his family, and the journalistic expertise that he imparted. He and Bishop Philotheos of Meloa, a close friend, conducted the trisagion service.

The new publication succeeded the former Orthodox Observer, a monthly, small magazine format periodical founded

A Tribute

leader, a fiercely devoted loyal aide, a taskmaster, a friend, a wit, a mentor, a mover and shaker, an opponent, an ally, a husband and father.

Takis Gazouleas was many things to many people and he will be greatly missed.

He was one of those people who would qualify for the My Most Unforgettable Character section in the Reader s Digest.

He had a dignified, commanding presence and poise, traits he acquired from his Greek army general father. He could move among Greek and American circles with equal ease and sophistication.

And his sense of humor, whether he was telling a joke in English or in Greek, could be spontaneous, witty and highly sophisticated.

For nearly three decades, Mr. Gazouleas provided the strong leadership required of a publisher to nurture the Orthodox Observer from its beginnings to the important link to the entire briefly as a tour guide for the Greek National Tourist Organization, along with a future co-worker at the Archdiocese, Rula Pantazopoulos.

He was very much beloved by everyone, recalled Ms. Pantazopoulos, who immigrated to the United States in 1956 and worked at the Archdiocese from 1957 until retiring in 1995. He was very well educated and had a very good background, she said. He was one of the best guides we ever had.

In 1956, he married Patricia Tuttle of Michigan in Athens.

They came to the U.S. in 1957, and Mr. Gazouleas entered Hunter College of the City University of New York, in Manhattan, where he earned a B.A. degree in classical studies and a master s in Soviet affairs. He also studied journalism at New York University. Mrs. Gazouleas taught anthropology as a professor at local universities.

He joined the staff of the Greek-language daily newspaper Atlantis, covering the United Nations, and became editor in chief in 1961. He also edited the English-language Atlantis Monthly Illustrated magazine.

Joins Observer In 1971, Archbishop Iakovos, who for

Church for Greek Orthodox Christians that it has become.

He was also one of Archbishop Iakovos most loyal supporters and advisors, never far from his side wherever His Eminence traveled, sometimes for weeks at a time. He had a strong sense of mission and cared deeply for the Church.

He was also loyal to his friends.

Mr. Gazouleas could be a hard taskmaster, always demanding the best from his staff. He did not suffer uncooperativeness, slothfulness or incompetence patiently. He set the example for hard work and productivity, oftentimes working late into the night and weekends. He stayed on top of situations.

Perhaps the unsung heroine and heroes are his wife, Pat, and children, who had to endure his long absences over the years. Theirs was an unselfish sacrifice. We extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to them.

May his memory be eternal.

by Archbishop Athenagoras in 1934.

The newspaper soon became a highly informative publication that carried news from throughout the Archdiocese, theological and spiritual articles, and reported on Archbishop Iakovos activities and work of the National Ministries. Mr. Gazouleas also helped establish the paper on a sound business footing, building a strong advertising base that brought in substantial revenue to help defray its production and mailing costs.

As the Greek press officer of the Archdiocese, and as communications director in the mid-1990s, he developed a wide range of contacts and cultivated a close working relationship between the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America and journalists and news organizations in Greece and the Greek American press.

His counterpart for the American news media, News and Information Director Presbytera Nikki Stephanopoulos, called him an excellent journalist and an excellent colleague. He will be very much missed by his colleagues.

From his home on the eastern Long Island village on Southold Bay where he loved to go fishing on his boat, he would

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MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

I N T E R F A I T H

T

his article details more of the unique challenges that inter married couples may face when their children begin maturing. The observations included in this section come from 376 participants involved in the Interfaith

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

Research Project (IRP) our Archdiocese sponsored. This information is offered as a way to facilitate intermarried couples efforts to help their children develop a strong and healthy religious and cultural identity.

Regular Attendance As children mature, a couple s focus will shift from a preoccupation with their own relationship to a greater focus on their children s needs. Many couples previously nominally interested in religion show an increased interest in religious matters.

These couples generally report being interested in their children s religious well being. The following comments reinforce these observations. Before the kids, we bounced around from my church to his church, and sometimes even visited other churches. We even omitted church attendance altogether for long periods of time.

The rules changed when our children arrived and began to mature. About a year after our first child was born we realized that if we wanted our children to have a religious background we had to start attending regularly. That s when we started going to liturgy on a weekly basis. Since then, you might say we ve been regulars.

One Church, Consistently Many couples that were part of the IRP indicated that the transition from sporadic to regular attendance is not always quite that smooth. They repeatedly stated that their religious differences had a po-

Marriage

When Children Begin Maturing tentially detrimental effect on their children s efforts to develop a religious identity. In their eagerness to be respectful to both partners religious backgrounds, many observed they had not understood that children need time to bond to a specific faith to develop a religious identity.

Participants stated that when parents fail to provide their children with a consistent experience in one church, this could prevent them from developing a strong religious identity. Striking a balance between their desire to help their children develop a keen respect for both parents religious traditions, while also helping them bond to one faith tradition, can be tricky.

If I could offer newlyweds one piece of advice, one participant stated, I d tell them their children need to attend one church consistently. The simple truth is that parents want it all. They want to raise their children to have respect for both parents religious backgrounds, and they also want them to become religious. As far as I can see, one parent has to make some concessions and realize that the children need to go to the same church consistently. If they don t, they will run the risk of making the same mistake we did.

Our children never ended up bonding with a church because we never brought them to one church consistently.

Children s Questions As children mature, they ask questions in an effort to piece their world together.

As they observe their parent s different religious habits, they will naturally ask questions. Sometimes these questions can present real challenges to the parents.

Typical questions may be: Why doesn t

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Mom receive communion with us? or, Why does Dad go to a different church and doesn t come to church with us? or Why does Dad do his cross differently?

When parents are presented with these questions, they may not be familiar enough with their own faith tradition or their partner s faith tradition to offer an adequate answer. In these instances, the answer is not to ignore their questions.

Results from the IRP clearly indicate that parents must prayerfully seek age appropriate answers.

Feelings of Regret, Loss and Guilt The parent who has agreed to baptize his or her children in their partner s faith tradition can end up feeling some distance between himself/herself and the children in this area of their developing lives. This is especially the case when the parent has a moderate to strong religious attachment.

This parent might also feel some degree of loss as a result of their decision to baptize the children in his or her partner s church. I sometimes lament the fact that I can t receive communion with my son.

It makes me feel like there is some separation between us, stated one father with some sadness. But I guess that s what we signed up for when we chose to get intermarried. Anyways, it s the best that we can do right now.

Spouses who have had their children baptized in their church can end up feeling some guilt when they become aware of their partner s feelings. In these instances, ongoing discussion is necessary to ensure that these negative feelings do not impact couple and family religious and spiritual well-being.

I know that Jill still has some regrets related to our decision to baptize the children in the Greek Church. We talk about this from time to time, and remind ourselves that because of extenuating family circumstances this is the best we can do.

This seems to help for a while, but the misgivings reoccur.

Extended Family Extended family pressures are of minimal concern at this point in the family life cycle. Most couples have generally managed to develop healthy boundaries between themselves and their respective families. Nevertheless, some couples might experience lingering extended family challenges related to their decisions to baptize and, raise their children Greek Orthodox. In these cases it is important to identify the source of the problem and remedy it without placing blame.

Sometimes clear boundaries have not been drawn and a couple must establish them. At other times, boundaries must be respectfully redrawn.

Couples should be aware that some extended family members might challenge existing boundaries. They should remember that even though grandparents may be well-meaning, they need to stand together, and respectfully remind extended family that they, as parents, will their children s religious development.

Concluding Thoughts Couples should remember that when intermarried families experience these challenges, most report working through them and emerging unscathed. Results from the IRP clearly indicate that prayer, pastoral guidance from clergy and Christian understanding go a long way toward helping couples reach a healthy resolution to these and other challenges. ¿

So enter, all of you, into the joy of our Lord. First and last, receive Your reward together.No one need weep for their sins, for forgiveness has risen from the grave. No one need fear death, for the Savior s death has freed us.

St. John Chrysostom

Christos Anesti to all, The Gift that Keeps on Giving

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 6

ECUMENICAL

MAY 2001

PATRIARCHATE Patriarch Bartholomew Accepts Honorary Chairmanship of Ahepa Forest Project

THOUSANDS of faithful from around the world came this year to Constantinople to celebrate Pascha at the Center of Orthodoxy. His All Holiness Ecumenical Partiarch Bartholomew presided over the Resurection Divine Liturgy at St. George Cathedral.

Congressmen Urge Reopening of Halki School ISTANBUL Eight U.S. Congressmen visited Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew April 10 and urged the reopening of the Halki theological school.

We discussed the treatment of minorities in Turkey and the Greek Orthodox Church as a religious minority in Turkey, said one of the congressmen after a one-hour meeting, Tennessee Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., in a story published in the Knoxville NewsSentinel.

Rep. Duncan also said the congressmen had instructed the (U.S.) ambassador to make the school a matter of top priority and underscored the very strong American belief in the freedom of religion.

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At a private dinner reception hosted by the AHEPA delegation, His All Holiness encouraged AHEPA to continue its lead on the following issues: seeking a just and peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem, playing an integral role in the rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, and the reopening of the Theological School of Halki.

In his closing remarks, His All Holiness described the AHEPA family as a powerful Greek-American organization.

I look forward to seeing and hosting the AHEPA family for many more years on its annual excursion, said Patriarch Bartholomew.

The 40-member AHEPA family delegation attended church services at the Zoodochos Peghe, one of the most famous shrines of Constantinople, and received a tour of the Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, containing superb pieces of mosaics and frescoes, and also toured Hagia Sophia church.

The AHEPA family consists of four organizations: AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope, Sons of Pericles and Maids of Athena.

Its mission is to promote the ideals of Hellenism, education, philanthropy, civic responsibility and family and individual excellence.

For more information about AHEPA, or how to join the AHEPA family, contact AHEPA headquarters, 202/232-6300, or visit www.ahepa.org.

His All Holiness Participates in 1,700th Anniversary of Armenian Church Recognition

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with Rep. Duncan

MARKOS

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew accepted the honorary chairmanship of the AHEPA Forest project during the official visit of the AHEPA family delegation April 29, announced Johnny N. Economy, supreme president of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).

The announcement followed a luncheon at the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the delegation, which is on its annual excursion to the Phanar, Greece and Cyprus.

The AHEPA is deeply touched and honored that His All Holiness has agreed to be our honorary chairman for this most important project, said Mr. Economy.

We feel there is no one more suited in our community to champion the cause of the environment than our own Ecumenical Patriarch.

Over the years, His All Holiness had demonstrated a commitment to the environment by calling pollution a sin, earning him the distinction of being called The Green Patriarch.

I thank you for the honor, His All Holiness said. It is a recognition of the ecological commitment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The AHEPA Forest is a project reaffirming the organization s commitment to the reforestation of Greece and to the country s aesthetic beauty as well. It will begin with a pilot project on Mount Hymettus, a site that overlooks Athens.

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Patriarch Mesrob II of the Armenians in Turkey and the Religious Council of the Armenian Patriarchate invited Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to attend the celebration marking the 1,700th anniversary of the official recognition of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The celebration was held at the Holy Mother of God Patriarchal Church in Kumkapi, Istanbul on Saturday, March 31.

Also present were representatives of the other Christian Churches of Istanbul.

Similar celebrations are scheduled for the other sees of the Armenian Church in Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia, and in Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon.

Accompanying His All Holiness were Metropolitan Iakovos of Laodiceia, Bishop Emmanuel of Reghion and the Very Rev. Grand Archdeacon Tarasios.

Following is the full text of the Patriarch s greeting.

[Translation from the Greek original] Your Beatitude, Patriarch Mesrob II of the Armenians in Turkey, much beloved and dear brother in Christ God: Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be with You. We should like to express to your beloved Beatitude and through You to all the Armenians who are faithful to Christ our spiritual participation in the joy of the Christ-loving Armenian people upon the 1,700th anniversary, rightfully and festally celebrated, of the mass reception by the Armenian Nation of the faith in Jesus Christ the Son and Logos of God. Sharing with all our soul in the celebration of this joyful and historic event, we congratulate you wholeheartedly on this notable and historic anniversary and

pray for You and the beloved Armenian people that the celebration of this anniversary may become an opportunity for each person-member of your historic people to draw closer to Christ.

For in this way the participation of each individual in Your celebration of this anniversary will become everyone s personal sharing and experience of the faith in Christ as perfect God-man and Savior, and thus a sincere and concrete re-actualization of the celebrated event, which, of course, is the final and essential purpose of every ecclesiastical celebration.

It can otherwise be said that each believer s union with Christ constitutes both the unique way of union of all the believers with one another and the restoration of full unity among the Churches.

For every other cooperation between Churches, however desirable and praiseworthy it may be, is a stage in the journey towards unity among them, and only the union of all with Christ substantially renders the unity of the Churches as a complete event.

Addressing these things to you and to Your beloved flock on the occasion of your Patriarchate s celebration of this historic anniversary, we extend the heartfelt greeting of our Church and our warm congratulations to all Armenian faithful throughout the earth, and we invoke upon all the grace and rich mercy of our Holy Triune God. Amen.

March 26, 2001 Your Beatitude s Beloved brother in Christ ÿ Bartholomew of Constantinople

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

ecumenical patriarchate

PATRIARCHAL PROCLAMATION ON THE HOLY PASCHA í BARTHOLOMEW

By The Grace Of God Archbishop Of Constantinople, New Rome, And Ecumenical Patriarch, To The Plenitude Of The Church, Grace, Peace And Mercy From Christ The Savior, Risen In Glory Christ is Risen!

Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so that we too might walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).

T

he triumphant exclamation, Christ is Risen, the victory cry against Death and Hades, is joyfully repeated today by myriads of faithful Christians around the world. The Church, shedding her mournful attire, clothes herself in a white and radiant garment, which shines as if reflecting the brightness of the Angel who rolled away the stone from the tomb, wrote Alexandros Papadiamantis, that most pious story-teller of Skiathos, the 150th anniversary of whose birth and 90th of his passing we commemorate this year.

The Church of Christ celebrates, as the mouths of the faithful, filled with joy, cry aloud, The Lord is risen! For we know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him (Rom. 6:9). And what is more, we believe and we know that, since we have been buried with Christ by baptism, we will live with Him in eternity. This is the meaning of salvation, this is the cause of our joy and the reason for our Paschal festivities. The new life in Christ is already a reality. The life of the faithful after the Resurrection of Christ is not the same as life before it. The Holy Spirit has already descended and has made the Church its dwelling. Our life already is enriched by the Divine Grace, and is being brought to perfection by the uncreated energies of the Godhead, which benefit and renew us in many and varied ways.

This great gift of God to us, however, calls for a response on our part, an expression of our gratitude and love toward Him; namely, the reception of this gift, the acceptance of the resurrected life offered to us, by means of living a life worthy of our calling, by walking in newness of life. For the Resurrection of Christ will become a reality for each of us personally only if we identify with Christ and are buried with Him in a death, like His, to sin; thus we may live with Him in God, being reborn in the Holy Spirit and continuously cleansed by Him, having Him dwelling within us.

This newness of life, the new life into which the Resurrection of Christ leads us, is a life lived in accordance with Divine Grace, a life led, with our consent and cooperation, by the Holy Spirit.

The world has opened up for us. Its borders are no longer those of material reality. Our interests are not confined to created nature. We aspire to a life beyond bodily restrictions. We prepare ourselves for eternity.

When seen from the perspective of the Resurrection, the events of this world take on new dimensions. The sorrows with which we are confronted are shown to be transitory in nature. The burden of human mishaps becomes lighter when seen through the eyes of hope. The God-given joys of this life are sanctified and experienced as a foretaste of that eternal joy which no one can take away from us. Our whole life is transformed into something new, a life different from that lived by people far from God. The joy and certainty of the Resurrection prevail within us, and arm us with courage, with optimism, with concern and love for our fellow human beings and for all creation.

Beloved children in Christ, The Resurrection is a reality that does not leave our life unaffected. It is the foundation of hope, of creativity, of love, of our concern for all and for everything, and of our joy in Christ, which cannot be taken from us.

With paternal love we pray that all experience the joy of the Resurrection in its fullness and live in newness of life, guided and consecrated by the Divine Grace, which heals the sick and makes up for what is lacking.

To Christ our true God, Who rose from the dead and granted us new life, are due thanksgiving, glory and honor to the ages. Amen.

Holy Pascha 2001 Your fervent supplicant before the Risen Lord

í Bartholomew of Constantinople

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PAGE 8

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

MAY 2001

D. Panagos

ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS who visited parishes in the Metropolitan area during Holy Week, was warmly welcomed at St. Nicholas Church in Flushing, NY by members of GOYA, Fr. Paul Palesty, other parish priests and parish council president Andrew Tsiolas.

Philanthropists Give St. Michael’s Home $150,000 YONKERS, N.Y. Noted philanthropists Mary and Michael Jaharis recently fulfilled a matching gift challenge of $150,000 they had made to St. Michael s Home last year in memory of their parents.

In acknowledging the gift to the Jaharis family, the director of the home, Fr. Andonios Paropoulos, noted: throughout the years both Mr. And Mrs. Jaharis have shown keen interest in the well-being of the facility and this very generous contribution is a manifestation of their love and concern not only for St. Michael s but, more importantly, for the elderly residents who have been entrusted to our care.

Cognizant of the financial difficulties the Home experienced in the mid-1990s, Mr. and Mrs. Jaharis stipulated their contribution be added to the endowment fund of the home. Their desire to assure that St. Michael s will always be able to maintain the quality of life it offers the elderly of the Greek American community.

Fr. Andonios continued, From 1994 through 1997 especially, St. Michael s went through very difficult times and was forced to borrow close to $500,000 not only to complete the renovation/expansion project but also to meet its operating expenses. There were some very dark moments and I don t think it an exaggeration to say that the Home almost came close to closing.

Thanks to the generosity of our steadfast friends, the Home has slowly recovered from this crisis and, last year, we were able to pay off the last of our debts.

We are now trying to assure this will never happen again and one way is the establishment of an Endowment Fund that will assure a steady source of income.

Thanks to the generosity of people like Mary and Michael Jaharis, and Peter and Marjorie Allen who recently contributed $40,000 in memory of their parents, we are slowly building up this fund.

Of course, we have a long way to go, but I am confident that, as more people in our community develop and appreciation for the unique ministry the Home fulfills, others will step forward to follow the magnanimous example of Mr. and Mrs. Jaharis, and Dr. and Mrs. Allen by making generous contributions to the Home s Endowment Fund.

The Endowment Fund consists of a segregated fund established and maintained to assure the quality of care in the future. Contributions to the Fund are added to the principal, which remains intact.

Only income generated is used to underwrite programs that enhance the residents daily lives. Contributions of $5,000 and above will be listed on the Home s Donor Board.

St. Basil Alumnae Visit Archbishop Iakovos GARRISON, N.Y. Four members of the St. Basil Academy Teachers College Alumnae Association board: Sandra Canaras, Bess Efstathiou, Phyllis Koumbourlis, and Stavroula Panas, visited Archbishop Iakovos at his home March 31.

The afternoon was spiritually rewarding and enlightening. There were extensive discussions on the issues of Greek education in the United States. Two of the concerns discussed were the lack of certified Greek School teachers to replace the now retiring graduates of the Teachers

College that closed its doors in 1973 and, secondly, the significant differences between the programs of the afternoon Greek school in metropolitan areas and the programs of the Greek school in suburbia. On the lighter side, the alumnae reminisced of the Archbishop s visits to the Academy of St. Basil and recalled the times he participated in the volleyball games.

The hospitality was exceptional and the afternoon concluded with the Archbishop presenting each board member with a silver commemorative plate. ¿

Archbishop, Fr. Leondis, Guests on Orthodox Christian Radio Program Archbishop Demetrios, discussed the great feast of Pascha with Fr. Christopher Metropulos on the Come Receive the Light radio program April 11 on the Orthodox Christian Network.

His Eminence, who has been a guest on the program in the past, reflected on the significance of Easter being celebrated on the same date by all Christians. He also addressed fasting and

preparation for receiving Holy Communion.

Fr. Mark Leondis, director of the Archdiocese Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, appeared on the same program and addressed issues facing today s youth. This marks the start of ongoing youth-oriented programming from the National Youth Office in cooperation with Come Receive the Light.

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Who Will Comfort Them?

Recent school shootings in Santee and El Cajon, Calif., have given rise to the same old question: Why? With all due respect to those pondering this question, the answer is quite simple.

by Fr. Angelo Artemas

Ever since the beginning of recorded history, and even before the ability to record history, human beings have been killing each other especially young men and teen-age boys.

The first murder occurring in the Bible is among boys, brothers even. Human beings in every generation and from every culture have demonstrated that they can kill other human beings.

Do guns increase murder? David Attias killed four students in Santa Barbara, Calif., with some alcohol, marijuana and a car. Will there be 15-day waiting periods for buying a drink or a car?

Are more gun laws necessary? The FBI reports that in over 80 percent of crimes involving minors and guns, the guns came right from the home. Every single schoolshooting incident that has been reported in the national media over the last 10 years has involved a white shooter and occurred in a middle-class neighborhood. Are poor neighborhoods safer, or do potential shooters refrain out of fear that others will shoot back?

Despite these well-publicized incidents, FBI statistics show that it is far safer going to school than walking in downtown San Diego. Including the two San Diego County incidents, the 2000-2001 school year shootings in the United States represent a 10-year low.

Even so, one incident or one death is one too many. Post-shooting reports indicate that most student shooters were being made fun of by other students. Students making fun of other students is a way of life.

First graders make fun of kindergarten students even though just a few months prior they were in kindergarten themselves. Adults are great at making fun of other people.

Many adults make fun of other people in front of their kids. Children probably learn how to make fun from observing their parents.

The 99.9999 percent of children who get teased do not proceed to shoot up their school. Why do the other .0001 percent snap? It s not that they don t know the difference between right and wrong, they boldly choose wrong.

Imagine for a moment that a particular child goes to school at 8 a.m. and is relentlessly teased until 3 p.m. That child comes home and mom or dad ask what s

wrong. The child spills his or her pain and mom or dad proceed to comfort the child.

Some moms may even cradle the child.

Imagine another child teased all day, coming home to an empty house, only to be berated further when mom or dad come home at night. Who comforts these children?

This is a cruel world, a fallen world.

From an early age human beings will hurt each other. Boys will beat each other and girls will drive each other to eating disorders.

Will parents put their own needs above their children s need for security and comfort? Lest anyone be fooled, even teen-agers are comforted by the presence and attention they get from parents, even though they seem ungrateful.

Parents who talk to, hug, kiss, reassure and comfort their kids are preventing violence. Parents who teach by example how to honor and respect other human beings are preventing violence.

When parents abdicate their responsibilities, teachers must never underestimate their power to comfort and reassure students.

For as long as there has been formal education, teachers have not only been teaching kids, they have been inspiring them and changing their lives.

Every time a teacher smiles at a student, greets them by name, asks them how they re doing, takes an interest in them or advises them to ignore a bully, the teacher is preventing violence.

One particular teacher was fond of telling the so-called nerds the following: What do the cool kids call the nerds 10 years after high school? Boss!

Teachers are vital in helping students get past difficult years. Even though parents tell children that school years are the best time in life, reality dictates otherwise.

When their parents do not comfort children, it is difficult for them to have a relationship with God. Many children can only perceive of God in and through their relationship with their father. Why do kids snap? When they are not comforted by their parents, God is not nearly as significant.

While prosecutors debate trying children as adults or not, killers should be tried as killers. Absence of parenting does not excuse violent children. In need of comfort, many children turn away from anger and revenge, and turn to God for comfort.

Most human beings will suffer something during this lifetime, and comfort from loved ones will help them immensely. But there, where human efforts fail to comfort, those who turn to God will find a safe haven. ¿

PAGE 9

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PAGE 10

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

MAY 2001

uuu

When the Roman pope, the original Equal Among Equals started demanding supreme authority, the other churches were alarmed. The disciples, the apostles, had been united in their love for, (and) belief in Christ.

The Roman pope did not like the Byzantium questioning his authority.

The Orthodox have a collective memory. The burden of history is on our side. The Church, as it existed, before we all had divided our names, our practices, our politics, exists not only in Greece, but also in Orthodox churches around the world. We keep the Faith, we follow the Way. Yes, we have a collective memory. If we didn t, who would?

Maria Katsaros-Molzahn Oregon, Wisconsin.

EDITORIAL

A Vision and a Goal for All

Archbishop Demetrios has once again set among the highest priorities for our Holy Archdiocese the care, development and progress of Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology.

His Eminence as a distinguished academic teacher and having served as professor at HC/HC for a number of years has of course a unique vantage point.

In his keynote address to the joint session of the Archdiocesan Council and the National Philoptochos Board last month, which was held at HC/HC in Brookline, specifically stressed that Hellenic College must become the best center for Hellenic Studies in the U.S. and that the other vital leg of this institution, Holy Cross School of Theology, must attain not only high numbers of students in attendance but also the quality of the student body necessary to sustain the needs of our Church in the future. He further said that without any progress on both of these goals we are doomed.

This is a pivotal assessment and a determinative vision, and the Archbishop repeats it in one form or another every chance he gets.

Our Church, our Holy Archdiocese is really blessed to have a dual academic institution such as Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology. It took vision, devotion, hard work and persistence over many years and by many people for HC/HC to be where and what it is today. New horizons should now be pursued.

As for Hellenic College, the foundation, the prospects and the potential is there. Is there a need? We believe there is. It can and it should become the preeminent center for Hellenic Studies in America. A college for which not only our young high-school graduates, but candidates from around the world would compete to be accepted in. Do we really need to enumerate the potential benefits of such an academic institution? Anyone who has applied for acceptance into higher education in America, or has kids who have or are

u Answer the Call t Editor, At the recent Archdiocesan Council meeting at Hellenic College-Holy Cross Seminary, President Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou spoke about the need for more men to attend the seminary with the intent to join the priesthood. Those present were urged to speak about the seminary in their home parishes and to encourage anyone who might be considering such a vocation.

I was reminded of a conversation that took place a few years ago with a young man in his senior year of high school who asked me during a Sunday school class, How do you know if you are called to become a priest? It is not an easy question to answer.

In the past, you ran a series on young men at Holy Cross who were studying for the priesthood. As I remember, they were a very diverse group in age and in background, but, somehow, God had called all in some particular way.

about to enter higher education can certainly appreciate the value and the prestige associated with college choice.

Our faithful and our community value high quality education in general. This is self-evident. Why can t we reflect that in our own institution?

Holy Cross School of Theology, the seminary, is of vital importance to the existence and the future of our Archdiocese. It is really a very plain fact.

It is a fact that every one of us should understand and then act upon. Holy Cross educates, prepares, molds, in one word provides our Church with priests and priests we don t have enough. And without priests there can be no Church.

In order for our Holy Archdiocese to grow and proclaim the gospel of our Lord to as many people as possible, the number that would satisfy the shortage of priests we now have is not enough. Many of our parishes around the country have the potential to serve many more people that are currently attending Sunday Liturgy. There is a need, which is also an obligation. We must ensure that we have the priests to satisfy this need.

Will it then be enough if applicants and students all of a sudden flood the seminary? Archbishop Demetrios is clear and categorical on this when he speaks of quality. Our seminary should enroll and graduate only the best; the best in the faith, the best in education, the best in Christian Orthodox ethos, driven to serve the Lord and its people.

Priesthood should not be anyone s second or third choice. His Eminence recently, addressing the parents of a priest, commended them, saying that it is not an easy task for any parent or any family to produce a priest. How true?

It is upon every member of the church to support and promote Hellenic College/Holy Cross and the role, which is called to play. The ways and the means are many. The vision should become everyone s goal and the subject of our daily care.

Perhaps you might consider again doing an occasional profile of a seminarian or recently ordained Holy Cross graduate, which could highlight how they viewed the Lord s call to them. I know I found the pervious series very interesting and it might serve to illustrate that few are called with the drama of St. Paul on the road to Damascus. Most find their way more slowly, but with equally transforming results. I suspect there are many who are being called to the priesthood but are failing to recognize it.

Catherine J. Lingas Portland, Oregon

u Involvement in Education t Editor, Education is becoming a main feature in our daily newspapers, as perhaps it should.

Even the President of the United States has made education a top priority.

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After all, in this day and age, it is a must that citizens be the best-educated if only for the sake of survival. We have heard talk of a return to the basics, or discipline, better teachers, vouchers and merit pay. Certainly in retrospect, these things are of value. Education, which at one time was the privilege of a few, is now the concern of all.

If one were to take time and evaluate the problems of education, he would find that myriad problems perplex the educational system, especially the public system: students not wanting to be there, the use of drugs and alcohol and, in some schools, the breakdown in discipline.

It will be no easy task to overhaul and educational system for positive results when the system must compete with television, rock music and distractions our society has to offer.

Education will only improve when our schools are supported by parents and the public becomes fully committed to changing education so that more students upon graduation will be literate.

Improvements in education will require that parents insist their youngsters be in school every day with their work completed. Education will improve when parents limit the amount of time they allow their children to spend watching useless television shows and talking countless hours on the phone time that could be devoted to study and the improvement of the mind.

Finally, education will only improve if parents are cognizant that schools can only do so much. We can improve our educational system not only with more dollars but also with greater concern by parents and all involved in the drive to excel in education.

John A. Micklos Baltimore

u Pope’s visit to Greece t Editor, We have a long collective memory, the news reporter speaking about the Greek s anger at the visit by the Pope explained. It was hard to decide by the tone of her voice if this was a compliment or a slight. A long, collective memory, yes, the Greeks do have this. But this is not about Greeks, this is about Christianity.

Before there were Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Ana-Baptists, Penta costals, Methodists, Lutherans, etc., etc., etc., there were Christians. Before there were Christians, there were the disciples and the apostles. They were the founders who were believers in the Truth and in Jesus Christ, Son of God, and God s manifestation on earth.

Those disciples were directed by the Resurrected Christ to go out and spread the Word. Peter, (in Greek Petros the rock) was to be the foundation, but all the disciples were to spread the Word.

When for religious reasons, the emperor Constantine (St. Constantine) moved the seat of the Roman Empire from Italy to Constantinople did this not to start a new church, but to preserve the church and the Roman Empire. The Byzantium flourished, the Roman Empire, like any empire built on fear, was starting to loose ground. The Church was the Church. It was the Christian Church.

...

u Guatemala orphanage t Editor, I read with great interest the article

by Elizabeth M. Economou about the Hogar Raphael Ayau in Guatemala City and was deeply moved by the words of Lia Prodromitis who, with her husband, Dean, are waiting to finalize four adoptions from the orphanage.

Along with the fact that OCMC sends two short-term mission teams to the orphanage, it should also be mentioned that many volunteers from across our Archdiocese go to the orphanage to help the devoted nuns care for the children.

It is truly a labor of love.

The parish of St. Mary s in Minneapolis has participated in the past by sending teams to the Hogar and a team of seven will depart March 26 for a week s stay to help.

The Philoptochos of St. Mary s has undertaken to raise funds to help an Orthodox deacon and his wife in a western state to adopt a girl, 8 years of age from the hogar, since the cost of adoption is substantial.

Fr. Theodore C. Filandrinos(ret.)

Burasville, Minn.

u More youth subjects t Editor,, Christos Anesti.

I am writing to tell you to start writing more about Goya conventions or Goya Tournaments. As you know we young Orthodox are the future of this great and holy religion. I have realized that not enough of our youth are reading your newspaper. Maybe in your newspaper you could start including basketball tournament scores or little articles on churches. Our youth knows nothing about other churches. At my home town church, Annunciation Cathedral of Norfolk, we only know about two or three churches close by. Our youth needs to be united so we can stay in our faith and not wonder off into another. I am suggesting that you include in your newspapers one page of Goya. There is so much to put in, put in information on the basketball tournaments held each month, the retreats we have taken, an article on a certain accomplishment of someone.

Putting a Goya page in your newspapers would bond more young Orthodox together. Just try to put more Youth related articles in your newspaper.

Gregory Manuel Student, 13 years old Virginia Beach, VA

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Archiepiscopal Encyclical

PAGE 11

Ionian Village

Holy Pascha 2001

Christ is Risen!

Go quickly and tell his disciples that Christ is risen from the dead (Matthew 28:7)

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 in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

A

Christ is Risen!

s we offer to the Risen Lord the triumphant hymn of the victory over death, we vividly recall the superb resurrection scene from the Gospels: After the Sab bath, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matthew 28:1) visit the tomb of the crucified Jesus bringing with them spices and ointments (Luke 24:1).

To their utter amazement, they find the heavy stone that had closed the entrance to the tomb removed, and the tomb empty. Instead of the body of the dead Christ they encounter a radiant angel of God announcing to them that Christ is not there because he is risen.

The angel, moreover, says to them: Go quickly and tell his disciples that He is risen from the dead (Matthew 28:7).

Go quickly and tell his disciples that Christ is risen from the dead!

This commandment given to the women, the first witnesses of the resurrection, is repeated today to all of us who constitute the body of the Greek Orthodox believers here in America.

For it is not sufficient to limit ourselves only to the joyous celebration of the Pascha. It is not enough to sing Christos Anesti and to fully enjoy the great day of the Resurrection that the Lord has made for us in order to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 111:24).

We must go quickly to the people and declare that Christ is risen.

We must become the messengers of His Resurrection.

As the women of the Gospel were entrusted with the transmission of the life-giving Pascha message, so, too, are we. We are the carriers of the abundant life, the unsetting light, and the invincible power of Christ s resurrection.

People in pain and despair wait for us. People facing terminal illnesses wait for us. People rejected, tormented, oppressed and humiliated wait for us, as messengers of the good news of Christ s resurrection.

Let us go quickly and meet them and tell them that pain, and guilt, and evil, and death are not the final reality. Resurrection and its invincible power is the ultimate reality.

Life and forgiveness and healing are the ultimate reality from the moment that the crucified and buried Lord rose from the dead and established His Kingdom of Love and Life.

Beloved brothers and sisters, This is the day that the Lord has made: The day of the Resurrection, the Great and Holy Pascha. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. But let us also go quickly and convey to the people who are far or near (Eph. 2:17) the most astonishing and joyous message ever heard on Earth:

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

With paternal love in the Crucified and Risen Lord, With love in the Risen Christ,

ÿDEMETRIOS Archbishop of America

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

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 12

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N E W S

Teen and Acolyte Curriculum Committees

by Presbytera Haidee Marangos

The Department of Religious Education (DRE) has begun developing a comprehensive curriculum to focus on the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual formation of teen-agers in the Archdiocese.

Based on the needs assessment data from the Religious Education Climate Survey (RECS), which canvassed churches throughout the Archdiocese in March 2000, the development of resources and a delivery model of religious education for teens are strongly needed.

The data further indicates a basic desire to provide meaningful instructional experiences that introduce students to an integrated understanding of the liturgical, scriptural, patristic, and ethical content of the Orthodox Church.

The newly appointed Curriculum Committee, comprised of Orthodox clergy, writers, editors, and curriculum design experts will be responsible for developing teen-age material to accomplish this task.

The Scope and Sequence Chart designed and developed by the Archdiocesan Department of Religious Education, called Living the Orthodox Faith, will serve as the learning objectives guideline to develop the teen-age curriculum.

With the spiritual blessings of Archbishop Demetrios, the committee will consist of four specific teams (one team for each grade level) for 9th through 12th grades. A separate team will develop instructional resources for parish acolytes.

Currently, each team includes about 25 clergymen and five lay representatives.

Two co-directors will lead each team.

More than 120 individuals participate in both the Teen-age Curriculum and Acolyte Curriculum Programs. Several Holy Synod members have agreed to provide spiritual oversight and theological preci-

sion to their respective teams.

Plans are under way for Curriculum Development Committee executive members to meet at Hellenic College/Holy Cross on June 28 June 30 in conjunction with the Department of Religious Education Summer Institute.

This will afford the many religious educators attending the Summer Institute an excellent opportunity to interact with committee members. After this initial meeting of executive members, each teams will meet separately via team workshops to compose and develop their respective age group s goals and objectives.

Hierarchs and co-directors of teams are: Grade 12: Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Kyriacou (Annunciation Cathedral, San Francisco), and John Kalinoglou (religious educator); Grade 11: Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh, Fr. Steven Tsichlis (St. Paul, Irvine, Calif.), and Eve Tibbs (San Francisco Diocese Religious Education director); Grade 10: Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, Fr. Nicholas Manousakis (St. Demetrios, Daytona Beach, Fla.) , and Dr. Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis (adult educator); Grade 9: Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, Fr. George Economou (Assumption, Pawtucket, R.I.), and Dr. Anton Vrame (HC/HC adjunct professor of religious education); Acolyte Team: Bishop Nicholas of Detroit and the Very Rev. Archimandrite Nicholas Graff (St. John the Divine, Jacksonville, Fla.).

The Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, DRE director, assisted by Dr. Michael Billys, program and curriculum coordinator, will direct all initiatives concerning curriculum theory, design, research, and development of the teen-age curriculum.

For more information, contact the Department of Religious Education (617) 850 1218.

12 Great Feast Days: Theme of Summer Program Continuing a tradition of promoting excellence in catechetical education, the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America will host its Annual Religious Education Institute on the campus of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology on Thursday, June 28 to Saturday, June 30.

Theme of the educational institute will be The Great Feast Days of the Orthodox Church: A Liturgical Catechesis. The institute topic coincides with the fourth educational focus of the department s fiveyear strategic plan.

According to the Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, director of the DRE, more than 150 adult participants from across the United States attended the previous Institute in 1999. This year s institute will provide numerous workshops and lectures on the 12 great feast days of the Orthodox liturgical tradition. Participants will be given the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the scriptural, patristic, theological and ethical components of Orthodox liturgical life. In short, the workshops and lectures will provide students the opportunity to reflect more deeply upon the holy teachings of Orthodoxy.

The Institute will offer 12 workshops that correspond to the 12 Great Feast Days: (1) Nativity of the Theotokos, (2) Elevation of the Cross, (3) Presentation of the Theotokos, (4) Nativity of Jesus Christ,

(5) Epiphany, (6) Presentation of Christ, (7) Annunciation, (8) Palm Sunday, (9) Ascension, (10) Pentecost, (11) Transfiguration, and (12) the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.

The Institute will also include a DOXA meeting and Liturgical celebrations for the feasts of Ss. Peter and Paul as well as the Twelve Apostles. Dynamic clergymen and educators from throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America will conduct the workshops.

The Institute will begin on Thursday evening with Great Vespers at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The introduction and the first workshop will begin at 7:30 pm at the Maliotis Cultural Center on the Holy Cross campus.

Last year s Religious Education Institute was held in conjunction with the Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Philadelphia, and focused on the theme of the Holy Fathers. Videotapes of the 1998 and 1999 Institute s workshops and lectures can be purchased from the Department of Religious Education.

The videos are an excellent instructional tool for the classroom and/or for personal home use. A complete list of the available Religious Education Institute Workshops videos is available from the DRE. For further information and to obtain a registration packet, please contact the Department of Religious Education at (800-566-1088).

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

RELATING TO THE

Faith

The Significance of the Empty Tomb “He Is Risen! He Is Not Here!” “He Is Risen! He Is Not Here!”

Prior to saying the prayer of consecration, the sublime moment of the Divine Liturgy, the priest says in a low voice this prayer: Remembering, therefore, this command of the Savior, and all that came

by Rev. Dr Dumitru Macaila

to pass for our sake, the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand of the Father, and the second glorious coming.

While remembering all the required steps taken by the Savior in order for Him to bring us salvation, we cannot forget one dark step taken by the unsetting Light: the tomb, the empty tomb.

When the Myrrh-bearers went to the tomb to anoint Christ s body, they found a young man, that is, an angel, who said to them: Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. It was in the tomb that Christ, Who is the Life that cannot be contained by the ages, rendered our corruptible body incorruptible, since by emptying the tomb of His glorified human body, He opened the door for our own glorification, for our own deification. It was in the darkness of the tomb that Christ re-created our human nature and brought it to its original beauty, reopening for us the door to immortality.

The empty tomb! said the renowned Orthodox theologian Fr. Georges Floro vsky: Life put to death, Life Divine sentenced to death by men this is the mystery of the Crucifixion. Once more God has acted. Once more Life came out of the grave. Christ is risen; He came forth out of His grave, as a Bridegroom out of His chamber. And with Him the whole human race, all men indeed, was raised. Life laid down in the grave, Life shining forth out of the grave. The faithful are called to contemplate and to adore this mystery of Life-bearing and Life-bringing tomb.

It is a tomb turned into a fountain full of Christ, since through the Eucharist that is celebrated here, the faithful mystically and actually partake in the Death and Resurrection of Christ. In emptying His tomb, Christ fills it with eternal life that stems from His deified body.

Said William Barclay, a well-known Protestant theologian: By far the best proof of the Resurrection is the existence of the Christian Church. Nothing else could have changed sad and despairing men and women into people radiant with joy and flaming with courage. The Resurrection is the central fact of the whole Christian faith.

Three of the four evangelists, Matthew, Luke, and John attest explicitly to the reality of the empty tomb, while St. Mark attests to it implicitly. The nonessential variations in the Gospel accounts actually bear witness to their own authenticity, and they are one more proof that the empty tomb s story pertains to the most ancient Christian tradition.

The Church did not try to harmonize the accounts, but instead faithfully transmitted the traditions that were received.

Prior to emptying His tomb of His glorified body, Jesus Christ, being God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He

humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:6-8).

Christ s obedience is the obedience of love. Love is the eternal relationship between the Three Persons of the Trinity.

So, Christ, both God and Man, voluntarily accepted a lessening, a self-emptying of His Divinity. It was the only way He could possibly take in order for Him to save us, to bring us back to the Father.

Now, He emptied His tomb of His deified body that He might fill all things, that is, as the Redeemer of the world, He is to reign over the fulfillment, the renewal of His creation.

We have to try to live a Christly life.

This is possible only if we obey Christ s new commandment. Shortly before His Passion, Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection, Christ told His Apostles: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I loved you, that you also love one another.

Many a time we lose sight of the fact that the final form of the commandment to love is not You shall love your neighbor as yourself, but Love one another as I have loved you! So, the way we are supposed to love is patterned by Christ s sacrificial love displayed in the Cross. Any other loves depend on agape for their genesis and genuineness.

There is no way for our hearts to become empty tombs to be filled by Christ s deified body, if we do not display Christ-like love.

It is true that none of the Myrrh-bearing women saw Christ coming out of the tomb, but none of Christ s foes ever disputed that the tomb was empty. They hurriedly and desperately bribed the guards, who witnessed the Resurrection as apathetic outsiders, since they could in no way grasp its significance.

It would actually have been much easier to contest the fact of the Resurrection by showing a closed tomb than by trying to find an explanation for an empty one Here is what one of the holy Fathers, St. John Chrysostom, has to say about the contrivance that Christ s disciples came and stole His body while the soldiers were sleeping: How did they steal Him? O most foolish of all men! For because of the clearness and conspicuousness of the truth, they are not even able to make up a falsehood. For how, I ask, did the disciples steal Him, men poor and unlearned, and not venturing so much as to show themselves? What? Was not a seal put upon it? What? Were there not so many watchmen, and soldiers, and Jews stationed around it? And why, moreover, did they steal it? So they might feign the doctrine of the Resurrection? How should it enter their minds to feign such a thing, men who were well content to be hidden and to live? And, moreover, when they saw Him seized, all rushed away from Him. Indeed even this establishes the Resurrection, the fact I mean of their saying that the disciples stole Him. For this is the language of men confessing that the body was not there.

When, therefore, they confess that the body was not there, the stealing of it is shown to be false and incredible:The proof of the Resurrection from these things appears incontrovertible.

The question is: If Christ tasted death to give us life, why are we so reluctant to put to death our mortal body and let Christ arise in our hearts to give us immortality? Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!

Christos~ anesti!

PAGE 13

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MAY 2001

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION The Orthodox Catechist: A Steward of the Vine They have no wine (John 2:3)! These are the words of our Lord s Mother spoken during a wedding reception that occurred in a small insignificant village in Galilee located about three hours journey from Nazareth.

These words mark the introduction of Jesus public ministry and what St. John the Evangelist refers to as the by the Rev. Dr. Frank Maragos

first of His signs (John 2:11).

While at first reticent to accept the tacit directive of His mother, Jesus uses the depletion of wine as an opportunity to disclose the Mystery of His identity.

The miracle of Cana is one of seven signs or miracles that magnify the identity of Jesus as the Son of God. These signs help to create the underlying presuppositions of the Gospel of John.

The miracles performed by Jesus signal His identity as the Christ of God. The New Testament Theological Lexicon refers to the basic meaning of the Greek word for sign (semeion) as something by which one recognizes a particular person or thing, a confirmatory, corroborative, authenticating mark or token.

In general, it denotes a miracle worked by the divine. Through these signs Jesus reveals His glory. What is significant is that the miracles as signs have the power of revelation only for those whose eyes God Himself opens.

The testimony of Jesus signs (mira cles) in the fourth gospel is to the glory of the Word made flesh (John 1:14). It is a testimony that many were unwilling to accept (John 3:11).

The first sign signals the mastery of the new covenant over the old. The miracle at Cana is a powerful testimony of God s love and power, a blending of the sacred with the secular, of the water of purification with the fragrant wine of the Kingdom.

Our catechetical initiatives would benefit from a structure that would follow such a scheme by placing the glory of God squarely in the center of each!

The wedding in Cana is the setting for the first of the seven signs (miracles) performed by Jesus in the Gospel of Saint John. The seven signs of the Gospel of John point to something beyond themselves, namely, the mystery of the Incarnate God at work in His mighty and saving acts, the Kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus.

The signs are a means by which Jesus disciples and others come to recognize His Glory. His divine power reveals that He comes from the Father.

Consequently, the signs further strengthen faith in Him. According to Cyril of Alexandria and Ephrem the Cyrian, wine symbolizes the supreme revelation given

by God to humanity. The water become wine is a powerful sign given by Jesus that manifests His superiority.

While good, the revelation communicated through the Old Testament prophets and the law is inferior to the testimony given by Jesus (John 1:17).

Symbolic meaning The setting of this miracle is significant as in the Old Testament marriage symbolizes the union of God with His Bride, Israel.

It is interesting to note that Moses began his tenure by turning the water of the Nile into blood. Jesus, on the other hand, begins His ministry by turning water into wine, a symbol of salvation (Is. 25:6) and an indication of the joy of His Kingdom being spread to all of the world.

By this sign, Jesus likewise declares marriage to be holy and honorable (Heb. 13:4).

However, apart from reading this pericope at the Orthodox sacrament of Holy Marriage it is also read on the Monday after the Sunday of St. Thomas, a season of intense instruction in the early church for Christians who were baptized and chrismated during Pascha. Its selection in the latter is due to the story s liturgical and rich sacramental context.

The directive spoken to Jesus by His Mother indicates that she was interested in averting a calamity at the wedding that she, her Son and His disciples had been invited to attend.

According to Jewish custom, it was the responsibility of the wedding couple to make the necessary arrangements to properly accommodate the needs of their invited guests.

As most marriage festivities lasted for many days, the need for precise logistics was important. The provision of wine may have become depleted by the unexpected large group of guests that was caused by the arrival of Jesus and His five disciples.

The problem may have been further compounded by the modest circumstances of the bride and groom.

In Palestine, wedding feasts often occupied a space of seven to 14 days (Gen. 29:27; Judges 14:15). The marriage feast to which Jesus was invited might have been advanced, and may provide some explanation for the exhaustion of the supply of wine.

It is significant and commonly accepted that the day that Jesus and his assemblage arrived at the wedding feast was the seventh day and thus corresponded with the solemn week of Passover (John 2:13).

Wine is an essential element at a Jewish feast. Without wine, write the rabbis, there is no joy. Since hospitality in the East was a sacred duty, any failure to extend an ample supply of provisions especially at a wedding feast would be a terrible humiliation for the bride and the bridegroom.

The best wine was customarily provided to guests when their senses were at their keenest. When the climax of the gathering had past, then the weaker, poorer and less fragrant wine was produced.

Water, on the other hand, would have been used at the wedding reception for purifying purposes. According to ceremonial law, water was used to clean the feet on entry into a house, and required for hand washing.

Strict Jewish custom required hand washing before

as well as between each course. It was for this foot washing and hand washing that these stone jars were found in the house.

In an effort to maintain cleanliness, water pots were usually made of stone. In this fashion the ritual purity that was advocated by rabbinical teaching was protected.

Significant numbers According to Jewish tradition, seven is a number that symbolizes completeness and perfection. On the other hand, six is a number that symbolizes something unfinished or imperfect.

The six water pots used by Jesus to perform His first sign therefore symbolize the imperfections of the Jewish law. The number of water pots is often interpreted in terms of the Leviticus Law (Lev. 11:29-38). The number six is one less than the number seven which typifies perfection and thus symbolizes the old dispensation.

In order to complete and perfect this law Jesus manifests the new Wine of His Grace. By transforming such a large quantity of water into wine John is informing his readers that in Jesus grace is perfect, limitless, and sufficient for every need.

It is extremely possible the five disciples who accompanied Jesus and His mother to the wedding feast were themselves the unnamed servants who were instructed to fill these six water pots with water.

In all likelihood, the disciples, as deacons (ministers) and stewards of the mysteries (1 Cor. 4:1), were the ones to whom Mary directed her advice to do whatever he tells you. At Jesus command, therefore, the five newly called disciples filled and then provided the chief steward of the feast, with a cup of water now turned wine. The master of the table was more than a typical wine steward. He was the chief steward, the symposiarch who presided over the arrangements of the entire feast.

Clement of Alexandria suggests that Christ turned

water into wine at the marriage of Cana in order to infuse life into the water of a lukewarm heart. Understood in this fashion, the miracle of Cana is not a miracle of luxury. It is, rather, a miracle of enlightenment, of wisdom. It is a divine sign that provides a pattern that every steward responsible for the disclosure of the economy of salvation would do well to emulate!

In other words, the very best vintage is realized in Christ and in the Church that he has inaugurated for this present age. He is the choicest Wine!

The precious words spoken by our Lord s Mother should not be considered as merely historical context for her son s first miracle.

Contemporary symposiarch For the Orthodox religious educator, the contemporary symposiarch, Her words should form the invocation of our catechetical ministry, namely, the stewardship of vine!

The educational gatherings that take place in many contemporary parishes may easily be compared to the marriage at Cana. While many religious educators may desire to quench the spiritual thirst of their students, our techniques and methods have often left them wanting.

While the Bridegroom s guests have come desiring to taste of the very best from the Church s educational vine, many depart with the indecorous conclusion that they have no wine!

The miracle of Cana provides catechists with welcome news. If we provide opportunities for our Lord to be at the center of our teaching/learning environments, a new quality will characterize our pedagogical initiatives.

It will be like turning water into wine.

Without Christ as our primary focus, means, and end, our teaching will remain dull, stale and flat. When we properly integrate the Grace that resides in all of the Church s Sacred Tradition our teaching will most certainly be transformed from drab and thrill-less events into the most vivid and aromatic of experiences.

For the most part, the practice of Orthodox religious education has been preoccupied with cognitive objectives. Adult as well as Sunday school educators have structured their course of study around the dissemination of measurable facts.

While such subject-centered teaching methods are important and useful, they are nonetheless incapable of producing faith. Such class- room centered teaching is merely an extension of how out-dated curriculum models that stress teacher-to-student, one-way pedagogy have diverted attention from our experientially based liturgical tradition to that of repetition, rote and overly rationalistic learning. The unfortunate consequence of such a methodology is an inferior watered-down version of Orthodoxy.

The miracle of Cana may be further used to illustrate how our educational resources are slender and soon exhausted when offered without the transformative presence of Christ.

Follow first sign As symposiarchs of the Wine of Sacred Tradition, it is important that our pedagogical methods follow the process implicit in Jesus first sign.

Today, the Church, like Mary, continues to direct our attention to the commands of her Son. Divine manifestation is always associated with serving need in love. Effective teachers are servants who understand their ministry as primarily the stewardship of the vine. They are servants that hearken to the direction of Mary and obediently do whatever the Lord commands.

Obedient to our Lord s Word as expressed through Sacred Tradition, religious educators should employ every effort to provide catechetical opportunities for the Holy Spirit to extend wisdom, illumination, and most importantly, love.

The most valuable gift that was offered to the wedding couple at the marriage at Cana was the One provided by the Theotokos. By contributing the Gift of her Son, Mary provides the Sacred Marriage-Feast of the Church the greatest Dowry one could ever receive.

Jesus is the Wine of Life that every symposiarch of Sacred Tradition, every teacher throughout history, should strive to offer the guests of the Bridegroom.

This, in the final analysis, is the sacred trust of every teacher. If we truly desire to honor the guests who are invited to attend the contemporary marriage feast of the Church the contemporary religious educator would do well to make certain that he/she provide the good wine first.

Fr. Marangos is director of the Archdiocese Department of Religious Education. frfrank@omaccess.com

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ÁÑÉÈÌÏÓ 1181

Óõíåäñßáóå óôç Âïóôþíç ôï Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêü Óõìâïýëéï

ÐÁÔÑÉÁÑ×ÉÊÇ Óõíå÷Þò ç áðïóôïëÞ êáé ç áðïóôïëéêÞ äñÜóç, ôï ìÞíõìá ôï Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ÁÐÏÄÅÉÎÉÓ ÅÐÉ Ô~~Ù ÁÃÉ~Ù ÐÁÓ×Á ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ.- Ôï Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêü Óõìâïýëéï ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò óõíÞëèå óôçí åáñéíÞ ôïõ óõíåäñßáóç õðü ôçí ðñïåäñßá ôïõ Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ÁìåñéêÞò ê. Äçìçôñßïõ óôéò 20 êáé 21 Áðñéëßïõ.

ÿ ÂÁÑÈÏËÏÌÁÉÏÓ ÅËÅ~Ù ÈÅÏÕ ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÏÓ ÊÙÍÓÔÁÍÔÉÍÏÕÐÏËÅÙÓ, ÍÅÁÓ ÑÙÌÇÓ ÊÁÉ ÏÉÊÏÕÌÅÍÉÊÏÓ ÐÁÔÑÉÁÑ×ÇÓ ÐÁÍÔÉ Ô~Ù ÐËÇÑÙÌÁÔÉ ÔÇÓ ÅÊÊËÇÓÉÁÓ ×ÁÑÉÍ, ÅÉÑÇÍÇÍ ÊÁÉ ÅËÅÏÓ ÐÁÑÁ ÔÏÕ ÅÍÄÏÎÙÓ ÁÍÁÓÔÁÍÔÏÓ ÓÙÔÇÑÏÓ ×ÑÉÓÔÏÕ

ôïõ Óôáýñïõ Ç. Ðáðáãåñìáíïý

Ïé äéÞìåñåò óõíåäñéÜóåéò ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ ðñáãìáôïðïéÞèçêáí ðáñÜëëçëá ìå ôéò åñãáóßåò ôïõ Åèíéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ ôçò Öéëïðôþ÷ïõ Áäåëöüôçôïò óôï Åëëçíéêü ÊïëëÝãéï êáé ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý óôï Ìðñïýêëáúí ôçò Ìáóóá÷ïõóÝôçò óôçí Âïóôþíç. Ðñéí ôçí Ýíáñîç ôùí åñãáóéþí ôï ðñùß ôçò ÐáñáóêåõÞò 20 Áðñéëßïõ, åïñôÞ ôçò Ðáíáãßáò Æùïäü÷ïõ ÐçãÞò êáé áìÝóùò ìåôÜ ôçí Èåßá Ëåéôïõñãßá óôï ðáñåêêëÞóéï ôçò Ó÷ïëÞò, ôï Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêü Óõìâïýëéï êáé ôï Åèíéêü Óõìâïýëéï ôçò Öéëïðôþ÷ïõ óõíÞëèáí áñ÷éêÜ óå êïéíÞ óõíåäñßáóç ãéá ôçí åéóáãùãéêÞ ïìéëßá ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ. Êáô áñ÷Þí, ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò ìåôÝöåñå óå üëïõò ôïõò ðáñåõñéóêüìåíïõò ôéò Ðáôñéáñ÷éêÝò êáé ðáôñéêÝò åõ÷Ýò êáé åõëïãßåò ôïõ ÐáíáãéïôÜôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý ÐáôñéÜñ÷ïõ ê. Âáñèïëïìáßïõ ìå ôïí ïðïßï, üðùò åßðå, åß÷å ðñüóöáôç ôçëåöùíéêÞ åðéêïéíùíßá.

Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêÞ ïìéëßá

«Åßìáóôå êáé èá óõíå÷ßóïõìå íá åßìáóôå óå êáôÜóôáóç óõíå÷ïýò áðï-

×ñéóôüò [ ÁíÝóôç! «} Éíá }ùóðåñ [çãÝñèç ×ñéóôüò [åê íåêñ`ùí äéÜ ô`çò äüîçò ôï`õ Ðáôñüò, ï}õôù êáß ]çìå¡éò [åí êáéíüôçôé æù`çò ðåñéðáôÞóùìåí» (Ñùì. 6,4)

Ä. ÐáíÜãïò

Óôï Ìáëåéþôåéï ÊÝíôñï, óôç ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý ðñáãìáôïðïéÞèçêáí ïé óõíåäñéÜóåéò ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ.

óôïëÞò» ôüíéóå ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéïò ìå áöïñìÞ ôçí åõáããåëéêÞ ðñïôñïðÞ ôïõ ×ñéóôïý ðñïò ôïõò ìáèçôÝò ôïõ: «êáèþò áðÝóôáëêÝ ìå ï ðáôÞñ, êáãþ ðÝìðù õìÜò» (Éùáííç.20:21), óôçí ïðïßá êáèþò åîÞãçóå ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò, ï Êýñéïò çìþí Éçóïýò ×ñéóôüò ðáñáëëçëßæåé ôçí äéêÞ ìáò

áðïóôïëÞ ìå ôçí áðïóôïëÞ ôïõ Èåáíèñþðïõ óôç ãç. Ìå âÜóç áõôÞ ôçí åõáããåëéêÞ ðáñáêáôáèÞêç ãéá óõíå÷Ýò áðïóôïëéêü Ýñãï êáé åãñÞãïñóç ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò óçìåßùóå ïñéóìÝíá âáóéêÜ ãåãïíüôá êáé åðéôåý-

] Ç èñéáìâéêÞ [áíáöþíçóéò «×ñéóôüò á [ íÝóôç», ï ] íéêçôÞñéïò êáôÜ ôï`õ ÈáíÜôïõ êáß ôï` õ } ~ Á äïõ ðáéÜí, ÷áñìïóýíùò [åðáíáëáìâÜíåôáé óÞìåñïí ]õðü ìõñéÜäùí ðéóô`ùí ÷ñéóôéáí`ùí å éò }ïëïí ôüí êüóìïí. «] Ç [ Åêêëçóßá, á [ ðïâÜëëïõóá ôÞí ðÝíèéìïí ðåñéâïëÞí, [åíäýåôáé ëåõêÞí êáß öåããïâüëëïí óôïëÞí, ]ùò {áí [áíôáíáêë~`á [åð á[õô`çò ]ç ëåõêüôçò êáß ]ç ëÜìøéò ôï`õ [ ÁããÝëïõ, ôï`õ [áðïêõëßóáíôïò ôüí ëßèïí ôï` õ ìíçìåßïõ», ãñÜöåé ] ï ðéóôüôáôïò Óêéáèßôçò äéçãçìáôïãñÜöïò [ ÁëÝîáíäñïò ÐáðáäéáìÜíôçò, ôï` õ ] ï ðïßïõ [ å öÝôïò å] ïñôÜæïìåí ôÞí å] êáôïóôÞí ðåíôçêïóôÞí

u óåë. 18

u óåë. 17

ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÉÊÇ ÅÃÊÕÊËÉÏÓ ÅÐÉ Ô~ Ù ÁÃÉ~ Ù ÐÁÓ×Á ÐÜó÷á 2001

«Ôá÷ý ðïñåõèåßóáé åßðáôå ôïéò ìáèçôáßò áõôïý üôé ×ñéóôüò çãÝñèç áðü ôùí íåêñþí (Ìáôè. 28:7)

Ðñïò ôïõò ÓåâáóìéùôÜôïõò êáé ÈåïöéëåóôÜôïõò Áñ÷éåñåßò, ôïõò EõëáâåóôÜôïõò Éåñåßò êáé Äéáêüíïõò, ôïõò Ìïíá÷ïýò êáé Ìïíá÷Ýò, ôïõò ÐñïÝäñïõò êáé ÌÝëç ôùí Êïéíïôéêùí Óõìâïõëßùí, ôéò Öéëïðôþ÷ïõò Áäåëöüôçôåò, ôá ÇìåñÞóéá êáé ÁðïãåõìáôéíÜ Ó÷ïëåßá, ôçí Íåïëáßá, ôéò Åëëçíïñèüäïîåò Ïñãáíþóåéò êáé ïëüêëçñï ôï ×ñéóôåðþíõìïí ðëÞñùìá ôçò ÉåñÜò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò Ðñïóöéëåßò ìïõ áäåëöïß êáß áäåëöÝò, ×ñéóôüò ÁíÝóôç! Êáèþò ðñïóöÝñïõìå óôüí ÁíáóôÜíôá Êýñéïí ôïí èñéáìâåõôéêü ýìíï ôçò íßêçò åðß ôïõ èáíÜôïõ, åíèõìïýìåèá æùçñüôáôá ôÞí õðÝñï÷ç óêçíÞ ôçò ÁíáóôÜóåùò üðùò ìáò ôçí ðåñéãñÜöïõí ôá åõáããÝëéá: ÌåôÜ ôü ÓÜââáôï, êáôÜ ôçí áõãÞ ôçò ðñþôçò çìÝñáò ôçò åâäïìÜäïò, ç «Ìáñßá ç ÌáãäáëçíÞ êáé ç Üëëç Ìáñßá» (Ìáôè.

28:1) åðéóêÝðôïíôáé ôïí ôÜöï ôïõ åóôáõñùìÝíïõ Éçóïý, «öÝñïõóáé Ü çôïßìáóáí áñþìáôá» (ËïõêÜ 24:1). Ðñïò ìåãßóôç ôùí êáôÜðëçîç, âëÝðïõí üôé ï âáñýò ëßèïò ðïõ Ýêëåéíå ôïí ôÜöï Ý÷åé ìåôáêéíçèåß êáé üôé ï ôÜöïò åßíáé êåíüò. Áíôß ôïõ óþìáôïò ôïõ íåêñïý Éçóïý, áíôéêñýæïõí Ýíá öùôåéíü êáé áêôéíïâüëï Üããåëï ôïõ Èåïý, ï ïðïßïò ôïõò áíáããÝëëåé üôé ï ×ñéóôüò äåí åõñßóêåôáé åêåß äéüôé áíÝóôç, êáèþò ðñïåßðåí. Åðß ðëÝïí, ï Üããåëïò ëÝãåé óôéò Ýêðëçêôåò ãõíáßêåò: «Ôá÷ý ðïñåõèåßóáé åßðáôå ôïéò ìáèçôáßò áõôïý üôé áíÝóôç áðü ôùí íåêñþí» (Ìáôè. 28:7). Ôá÷ý ðïñåõèåßóáé åßðáôå ôïéò ìáèçôáßò üôé ×ñéóôüò áíÝóôç áðü ôùí íåêñþí. Ç åíôïëÞ áõôÞ ôïõ áããÝëïõ ðïõ äüèçêå óôéò ãõíáßêåò ðïõ õðÞñîáí ïé ðñþôïé ìÜñôõñåò ôçò áíáóôÜóåùò, åðáíáëáìâÜíåôáé êáé óå üëïõò åìÜò óÞìåñá ðïõ áðïôåëïýìå ôï óþìá ôùí Åëëçíïñèïäüîùí ðéóôþí åäþ óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ. Äéüôé äåí åßíáé áñêåôü íá ðåñéïñéóèïýìå ìüíï óôïí ÷áñïýìåíï åïñôáóìü ôïõ ÐÜó÷á. ÄÝí åßíáé áñêåôü íÜ øÜëëïõìå åõöñüóõíá ôü «×ñéóôüò ÁíÝóôç» êáé íá ÷áñïýìå ôçí ìåãÜëç çìÝñá ôçò ÁíáóôÜóåùò çí åðïßçóåí ï Êýñéïò éíÜ «áãáëëéáóþìåèá êáé åõöñáíèþìåí åí áõôÞ»

(Øáëì. 117:24). ÐñÝðåé íá ðïñåõèïýìå ãñÞãïñá ðñïò ôïõò áäåëöïýò ìáò êáé íá äéáêçñýîïõìå üôé áíÝóôç ×ñéóôüò! ÐñÝðåé íá ãßíïõìå ïé Üíèñùðïé, ïé ïðïßïé «ôá÷ý ðïñåõèÝíôåò», èÜ áðïôåëÝóïõìå ôïõò áããåëéáöüñïõò ôçò ÁíáóôÜóåþò Ôïõ. ¼ðùò ïé ãõíáßêåò ôïõ Åõáããåëßïõ, åßìåèá ïé Üíèñùðïé óôïõò ïðïßïõò ï Èåüò Ý÷åé åìðéóôåõèåß ôçí ìåôÜäïóç ôïõ æùïðïéïý ðáó÷áëéíïý ìçíýìáôïò. Åßìåèá ïé öïñåßò ôçò áöèüíïõ æùÞò, ôïõ áäýôïõ öùôüò êáé ôçò áíßêçôçò äõíÜìåùò ôçò áíáóôÜóåùò ôïõ ×ñéóôïý. Ïé Üíèñùðïé ðïõ âñßóêïíôáé óå êáôáóôÜóåéò ðüíïõ êáé áðåëðéóßáò ìáò ðåñéìÝíïõí. Ïé Üíèñùðïé ïé ïðïßïé áíôéìåôùðßæïõí èáíáôçöüñåò áóèÝíåéåò ìáò ðåñéìÝíïõí. Ïé Üíèñùðïé ïé âáóáíéóìÝíïé, ïé áðïäéùãìÝíïé, ïé êáôáðéåóìÝíïé êáé ïé ôáðåéíùìÝíïé ìáò ðåñéìÝíïõí ùò öïñåßò ôïõ åõáããåëßïõ ôçò áíáóôÜóåùò ôïõ ×ñéóôïý. Áò ðïñåõèïýìå ìå âÞìá ôá÷ý ãéá íá ôïõò óõíáíôÞóïõìå êáé íá ôïõò åéðïýìå üôé ï ðüíïò, ç åíï÷Þ, ôï êáêü êáé ï èÜíáôïò äåí åßíáé ç ôåëéêÞ ðñáãìáôéêüôçôá. Ç áíÜóôáóç êáé ç áêáôáíßêçôç äýíáìÞ ôçò åßíáé ç ôåëéêÞ, ç áðùôÜôç ðñáãìáôéêüôçôá. Ç æùÞ, ç óõããíþìç êáß ç ßáóç áðïôåëïýí ôçí åó÷Üôç ðñáãìáôéêüôçôá áðü ôçí óôéãìÞ êáôÜ ôçí ïðïßá ï óôáõñùèåßò êáé ôáöåßò Êýñéïò áíÝóôç êáé åãêáèßäñõóå ôï âáóßëåéï ôçò áãÜðçò êáé ôçò æùÞò. Ðñïóöéëåßò áäåëöïß êáé áäåëöÝò, «Áýôç ç çìÝñá Þí åðïßçóåí ï Êýñéïò^ áãáëëéáóþìåèá êáß åõöñáíèþìåí åí áõôÞ» (Øáëì. 117:24). ÐáñÜëëçëá êáß ôáõôü÷ñïíá üìùò áò ðïñåõèïýìå ãïñãÜ êáé áò ìåôáöÝñïõìå óôïõò áíèñþðïõò ôïõò ìáêñÜí êáé ôïõò åããýò ( Åöåó. 2:17) ôï ðéü èáõìáóôü êáé ÷áñïðïéü ìÞíõìá ðïõ áêïýóèçêå åðß ãçò: ×ñéóôüò ÁíÝóôç! Áëçèþò ÁíÝóôç! ÌåôÜ ðáôñéêÞò áãÜðçò åí ×ñéóôþ óôáõñùèÝíôé êáé áíáóôÜíôé,

ÿ ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ÄçìÞôñéïò

ÓÅËÉÄÁ 16

ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ

Áðåâßùóå óå çëßêßá 73 åôþí ï Ðáíáãéþôçò ÃáæïõëÝáò

ðñþçí åêäüôçò êáé äéåõèõíôÞò ôïõ Ïñèüäïîïõ ÐáñáôçñçôÞ NEA ÕÏÑÊÇ- Áðåâßùóå ôçí ÊõñéáêÞ 6 Ìáßïõ 2001, óôï Ëüíãê Áúëáíô ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò, ï Ðáíáãéþôçò ÃáæïõëÝáò, åðß óåéñÜ åôþí åêäüôçò êáé äéåõèõíôÞò ôïõ Ïñèüäïîïõ ÐáñáôçñçôÞ, ìåôÜ áðü êáñäéáêÞ ðñïóâïëÞ êáé åðéðëïêÝò ôçò åðÜñáôïõ.

O Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéïò, ðëçñïöïñçèåßò ôïí èÜíáôü ôïõ äÞëùóå: «Ï ÔÜêçò ÃáæïõëÝáò åñãÜóèçêå ãéá ðïëëÜ ÷ñüíéá óôçí É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ óôïí ôïìÝá ôïõ Ôýðïõ, ùò åêäüôçò ôïõ Ïñèüäïîïõ Ðáñáôçñçôïý. ÕðçñÝôçóå ðéóôÜ ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÉÜêùâï êáé ôçí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ, ðñïóöÝñïíôáò ãåííáéüäùñá ôéò éêáíüôçôÝò ôïõ ãéá ôçí ðñïþèçóç ôùí éäáíéêþí ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò êáé ôïõ Åëëçíéóìïý. Ðñïóåõ÷üìåèá åê âÜèïõò êáñäßáò üðùò ç ìíÞìç ôïõ åßíáé áéùíßá». Ï Ðáíáãéþôçò ÃáæïõëÝáò õðÞñîå åêäüôçò êáé äéåõèõíôÞò ôçò åöçìåñßäáò «Ïñèüäïîïò ÐáñáôçñçôÞò» áðü ôçí ðñþôç ÝêäïóÞ ôïõ ùò åöçìåñßäá ôï 1971. ÕðçñÝôçóå áðü ôçí èÝóç áõôÞ Ýùò ôï 1995, üôáí ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÉÜêùâïò ôïí äéüñéóå äéåõèõíôÞ åðéêïéíùíéþí êáé åéäéêü óýìâïõëï ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ. ÓõíôáîéïäïôÞèçêå êáé áðï÷þñçóå áðü ôçí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ ôïí Éïýëéï ôïõ 1996, ìáæß ìå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÉÜêùâï. Ðñéí ôçí èçôåßá ôïõ óôçí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ äéåôÝëåóå áñ÷éóõíôÜêôçò ôçò ïìïãåíåéáêÞò åöçìåñßäáò «Áôëáíôßò» êáé ìåôÜ ôçí óõíôáîéïäüôçóÞ ôïõ áðü ôçí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ áñèñïãñáöïýóå óôçí ïìïãåíåéáêÞ åöçìåñßäá Åèíéêüò ÊÞñõî ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò. Ï Ð. ÃáæïõëÝáò ãåííÞèçêå óôçí ÅëëÜäá êáé ìåôáíÜóôåõóå óôéò ÇÐÁ ôï 1957. Óðïýäáóå ÐïëéôéêÝò êáé ÏéêïíïìéêÝò åðéóôÞìåò óôçí ÁèÞíá êáé åñ÷üìåíïò óôéò ÇÐÁ óðïýäáóå äçìïóéïãñáößá óôï ÐáíåðéóôÞìéï ôçò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò êáé Ýëáâå ðôõ÷ßï Â.Á. óôéò êëáóóéêÝò óðïõäÝò áðü ôï ÊïëëÝãéï Hunter. Áðü ôï ßäéï êïëëÝãéï áñãüôåñá, Ýëáâå ðôõ÷ßï ÌÜóôåñò Óïâéå-

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öÝôïò, 44 ÷ñüíéá ðïõ ôï ÷Ýñé ìïõ êñáôÜ ìéÜ öëüãá åíüò óôïëéóìÝíïõ ìå ðïéêéëü÷ñùìåò êïñäÝëëåò êåñéïý ìÝóá óôï ðõêíïóêüôáäï ôïõ ÌåãÜëïõ ÓáââÜôïõ îçìåñþìáôá ðïõ áñ÷ßæïõí ôá ìåóÜíõ÷ôá ôçò çìÝñáò ðïõ ôçí ëÝìå ËáìðñÞ. Åßíáé êáéñüò ðéá íá óôáìáôÞóù, ãéá íá åîåôÜóù ôï áíåîÝôáóôï áõôü Öùò. Ôï ðñïóöÝñù ôüóï ãñÞãïñá. Öåýãåé óáí áóôñáðÞ. Áñ÷ßæåé áðü ôçí Áêïßìçôç ÊáíôÞëá óôçí Áãßá ÔñÜðåæá êáé áíáæùïãïíåß ôá ðñüóùðá. ÓðÜæåé ôï óêïôÜäé ôïõ êüóìïõ ôïýôïõ. Æùãñáößæåé ÷ñþìáôá êáé öáíåñþíåé äéáóôÜóåéò. Óõìâïëßæåé ôçí áðáñ÷Þ ôçò íÝáò æùÞò. Åîïõäåôåñþíåé ôïí èÜíáôï. Áíôéðñïóùðåýåé Ôïí ÁíáóôÜíôá ×ñéóôü. ÎõðíÜ ôçí íáñêùìÝíç áíèñùðüôçôá. Óå êÜíåé íÝï, ãéáôß üëá ôá ðáëáéÜ ôùí çìåñþí ãêñåìßæïíôáé óôï ðÝñáóìÜ ôïõ. Åßíáé êé áõôü ìÝñïò ôçò ðáñáêáôáèÞêçò ðïõ Üöçóå ï Ìåóóßáò óôï ÉäñõìÜ Ôïõ, óôçí ÊëçñïíïìéÜ ðïõ ìå ôç öùôïèýåëÜ Ôïõ èá ôáîéäÝøåé óôçí Áéùíéüôçôá. Áíïßãù ôçí ÐáëáéÜ ÄéáèÞêç êáé âñßóêù ðùò ðïëëÜ ÷ùñßá ìáñôõñïýí ôï ôáõôüóçìï ôïõ «ÁíåóðÝñïõ Öùôüò» ìå ôï Èåü, ôçí Óïößá Ôïõ, ôç ÄýíáìÞ Ôïõ, ìá êáé ôï ðñþôï êáôáóêåýáóìá ôçò äçìéïõñãßá Ôïõ (Ãåí. É, 3 - 4). Åßíáé ôï ðñþôï äþñï ôïõ Äçìéïõñãïý óôçí ÏéêïõìÝíç. Ï Èåüò æåé ìÝóá óôï Öùò (¸îïäïò 24, 10), åßíáé íôõìÝíïò óôï Öùò (Øáëì. 104, 2), ôá ëüãéá ôïõ Èåïý åßíáé öùò (Ðáñïéì. 6, 23), êáé ìüíï ìÝóá óôï Öùò Ôïõ ìðïñïýìå êé åìåßò íá äïýìå ìå

ôéêþí Óðïõäþí. Ç íåêñþóéìç áêïëïõèßá åøÜëëåé óôïí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêü Êáèåäñéêü Íáü ôçò Áãßáò ÔñéÜäïò óôï Ìáí÷Üôáí ôçí ÐÝìðôç 10 Ìáúïõ, ðñïåîÜñ÷ïíôïò ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ Éáêþâïõ ìå ôçí óõììåôï÷Þ 15 éåñÝùí ôçò ìçôñïðïëéôéêÞò ðåñéï÷Þò ÍÝáò Õüñêçò êáé ðáñïõóßá ðëÞèïõò êüóìïõ, ðñþçí óõíåñãáôþí êáé óõíáäÝëöùí ôïõ. Ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ðñþçí ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÉÜêùâïò, öáíåñÜ óõãêéíçìÝíïò îåêßíçóå ôïí áðï÷áéñåôéóôÞñéï ëüãï ôïõ ðñïò ôïí åðß ðïëëÜ Ýôç ößëï êáé óõíåñãÜôç ôïõ, ìå ôá åðßêáéñá üðùò åßðå ëüãéá ôïõ Áðïóôüëïõ Ðáýëïõ: «ÐÜíôïôå ÷áßñåôå, áäéáëåßðôùò ðñïóåý÷åóèå». Áñãüôåñá áíáöåñüìåíïò óôçí õðçñåóßá ôïõ åêëéðüíôïò óôçí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ åßðå: «Óôï äéÜóôçìá ðïõ äéçýèõíåò ôç óýíôáîç êáé Ýêäïóç ôïõ «Ïñèüäïîïõ ÐáñáôçñçôÞ», ðïõ ôïí áíÝäåéîåò óáí åêêëçóéáóôéêü üñãáíï ðïéüôçôáò, ðñüóöåñåò óôçí ÅëëçíïáìåñéêáíéêÞ êïéíüôçôá ôç äõíáôüôçôá íá ãíùñßóåé ôá åêêëçóéáóôéêÜ ðñÜãìáôá êáé íá ìïñöþóåé ôç óùóôÞ èåþñçóç åíüò Üîéïõ äçìïóéïãñáöéêïý ïñãÜíïõ. ÓõíÝäåóåò ôï üíïìÜ óïõ ðéóôÜ, ìå ôçí åíôïëÞ ôïõ Áðïóôüëïõ Ðáýëïõ: «ðëçñïöüñçóïí ôçí äéáêïíßáí óïõ». Ìå ôï ìÝôùðï øçëÜ ðÜíôïôå êáé ìå ôï Þèïò øçëüôåñï áêüìá ðÝñáóåò áíÜìåóá áðü ôçí ïìïãÝíåéá ÷ùñßò íá óêýøåéò ôï êåöÜëé óïõ óôéò ðéêñßåò êáé äõóêïëßåò ôïõ äçìïóéïãñáöéêïý óïõ ÷ñÝïõò». Êáé áñãüôåñá êáôÝëçîå: «Ôþñá êïßôáîå, éäïý, åßíáé åìðñüò óïõ Åêåßíïò, ôïõ Ïðïßïõ ôçí ÁíÜóôáóç áéóèáíüìáóôå âáèéÜ ìÝóá óôçí øõ÷Þ ìáò óáí ðñüêëçóç áð ôï èÜíáôï óôç æùÞ êáé óáí ìåôÜâáóç áðü ôç ãç óôïí ïõñáíü. ÁíáðÜõïõ ìåó óôï öùò, ðïõ åßíáé ï ×ñéóôüò». Ï åêëéðþí áðïëåßðåé ôçí óýæõãü ôïõ Ðáôñéêßá, ôñßá ðáéäéÜ ôïí ÉùÜííç, ÅäïõÜñäï êáé Åëßæáìðåè êáèþò êáé äýï åããüíéá óôéò ÇíùìÝíåò Ðïëéôåßåò êáé äýï áäÝëöéá óôçí ÅëëÜäá.

Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò äéüñéóå ôïí êáè. Ãåþñãéï Ðçëßôóç ÄéåõèõíôÞ ÅëëçíéêÞò Ðáéäåßáò

ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ. Ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ÄçìÞôñéïò äéüñéóå ôïí êáèçãçôÞ ôïõ Åëëçíéêïý Êïëåãßïõ êáé ôçò ÈåïëïãéêÞò Ó÷ïëÞò ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý óôï Brookline ôçò Ìáóá÷ïõóÝôçò, ê. Ãåþñãéï Ðçëßôóç ÄéåõèõíôÞ ôïõ ôìÞìáôïò ÅëëçíéêÞò Ðáéäåßáò ôçò ÅëëçíéêÞò Ïñèïäüîïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò. Ï êáèçãçôÞò ê. Ðçëßôóçò, ðïõ äéáôçñåß ôçí èÝóç ôïõ ùò êáèçãçôÞò óôï Åëëçíéêü ÊïëëÝãéï Äçì. ÐáíÜãïò áíÝëáâå ôá íÝá ôïõ êáèÞ- Ï êáè. Ãåþñãéïò Ðçëßôóçò ìå ôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðï ÄçìÞôñéï. êïíôá ôçí 1ç Ìáßïõ. Ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. óôçìéáêÝò ôïõ óðïõäÝò. Ï ê. Ðçëßôóçò ÄçìÞôñéïò ìßëçóå ìå åíèïõóéáóìü ãéá ôïí Ýëáâå ôá ðôõ÷ßá ôùí Â.Á óôçí áããëéêÞ äéïñéóìü ôïõ ê. Ðçëßôóç: «ï êáèçãçôÞò öéëïëïãßá, Ì.Á. êáé Ph.D. óôéò êëáóéêÝò Ãåþñãéïò Ðçëßôóçò, åßðå, öÝñåé ôéò õøçëÝò óðïõäÝò áðü ôï ÐáíåðéóôÞìéï Rutgers áñåôÝò ôïõ åéäéêïý óå èÝìáôá ÅëëçíéêÞò ôçò ÍÝáò ÉåñóÝçò. ãëþóóáò, êëáóóéêþí óðïõäþí êáé åêðáßÁí êáé ôï äéäáêôïñéêü ôïõ åßíáé óôéò äåõóçò. Åßíáé Ýíáò Üñéóôïò áêáäçìáúêüò ÊëáóéêÝò ÓðïõäÝò, ï Äñ. Ðçëßôóçò Ý÷åé äéäÜóêáëïò ãéá ðïëëÜ ÷ñüíéá, ðëÞñùò åíäéáôñßøåé êáé óå íåþôåñåò ðåñéüäïõò ôçò äßãëùóóïò, Ý÷åé ìåãÜëç åìðåéñßá êáé óå éóôïñßáò êáé ôïõ ðïëéôéóìïý ìáò. Ïé èåùñçôéêÜ èÝìáôá ó÷åôéæüìåíá ìå ôçí äçìïóéåýóåéò êáé ÝñåõíÜ ôïõ ðåñéëáìðáéäåßá áëëÜ êáé óå ðñáêôéêïýò ôñüðïõò âÜíïõí, ìåôáîý Üëëùí, ôçí ìåëÝôç ôçò åðéôõ÷ïýò äéäáóêáëßáò ãëùóóþí. Åßíáé óõíÝ÷åéáò êáé äéá÷ñïíéêüôçôáò ôùí Üíèñùðïò ìå áêëüíçôç áöïóßùóç óôá áñ÷áßùí åëëçíéêþí çèþí êáé åèßìùí êáé éäáíéêÜ ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò êáé ôïõ Åëëçíé- ôç äéÜóùóç êáé äéÜäïóç áõôþí ìÝóù ôçò óìïý. Åßìáé âÝâáéïò üôé ìå ôçí âïÞèåéá ôïõ ëáïãñáößáò ìáò. Èåïý ï êáèçãçôÞò ê. Ðçëßôóçò èá óõìÏ Äñ. Ðçëßôóçò áó÷ïëåßôáé åðßóçò êáé âÜëëåé áðïöáóéóôéêÜ êáé äçìéïõñãéêÜ ìå ôçí ÍåïåëëçíéêÞ ëïãïôå÷íßá êáé ðïßçóç, óôçí åðßôåõîç ôùí ìåãÜëùí óêïðþí ôïõ Ý÷åé äå áðïäþóåé óôçí áããëéêÞ äéÜöïñá ÔìÞìáôïò ÅëëçíéêÞò Ðáéäåßáò». ðïéÞìáôá óõã÷ñüíùí ðïéçôþí ìáò. Ï Äñ. Ãåþñãéïò Ðçëßôóçò, åßíáé Áðü áêáäçìáúêÞò ðëåõñÜò, ï Äñ. êáèçãçôÞò êëáóéêÞò öéëïëïãßáò, êáé Ðçëßôóçò Ý÷åé äéäÜîåé óôï ÐáíåðéóôÞìéï ôçò ÍåïëëçíéêÞò ãëþóóáò êáé ëïãïôå÷íßáò óôï Íüôéáò Êáëéöüñíéáò óôï Ëïò Áíôæåëåò, üðïõ Åëëçíéêü ÊïëëÝãéï êáé ôç ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ïñãÜíùóå ôï åêåß Ðñüãñáììá Íåïåëëçíéêþí ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý óôçí Âïóôþíç, üðïõ Óðïõäþí êáé åí óõíå÷åßá óôï ÐáíåðéóôÞìéï äéáôåëåß ôáêôéêü ìÝëïò ôïõ äéäáêôéêïý Rutgers ôçò ÍÝáò ÉåñóÝçò, üðïõ ãéá ðÝíôå ðñïóùðéêïý áðü ôï 1988. ÷ñüíéá õðÞñîå äéåõèõíôÞò ôïõ ÔìÞìáôïò Ï Äñ. Ðçëßôóçò åðåñÜôùóå ôéò Íåïåëëçíéêþí Óðïõäþí ôï ïðïßï êáé ÃõìíáóéêÝò ôïõ óðïõäÝò óôçí ÅëëÜäá. ßäñõóå. Åðßóçò ï Äñ. Ðçëßôóçò äéåôÝëåóå ÌåôÜ ôçí áðïöïßôçóÞ ôïõ áðü ôï ´ êáèçãçôÞò êáé óôï ÐáíåðéóôÞìéï Princeton ÃõìíÜóéï ÁññÝíùí Óåññþí áíå÷þñçóå ãéá üðïõ åäßäáîå ìáèÞìáôá ÅëëçíéêÞò ãëþóóáò ôéò ÇÐÁ üðïõ åðåñÜôùóå ôéò Ðáíåðé- êáé ëïãïôå÷íßáò.

ÔÏ ÁÍÅÓÐÅÑÏ ÖÙÓ ÔÇÓ ÁÍÁÓÔÁÓÇÓ ôïõ ÐñùôïðñåóâõôÝñïõ Äçìçôñßïõ Óô. ÊáââÜäá

ôá áíèñþðéíá ìÜôéá ôï Öùò ( Øáëì. 36, 9 ). Âõèßæïìáé óôéò óåëßäåò ôçò ÊáéíÞò ÄéáèÞêçò. Èáìðþíïõí ôá ìÜôéá ôçò øõ÷Þò ìïõ ïôáí îáöíéêÜ áíáêáëýðôù ðéï áðïêáëõðôéêÜ ôçí Üìåóï ó÷Ýóç ôïõ Öùôüò ìå ôïí Üíèñùðï. ÊáíÝíáò äåí åßðå ðñéí Þ ìåôÜ áðü Åêåßíïí : «Åãþ åéìß ôï öùò ôïõ êüóìïõ». Ï «Ãéüò ôçò ÂñïíôÞò», ï ¢ãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï Èåïëüãïò, ôï ìáñôýñçóå ðùò ï ×ñéóôüò åßíáé ôï Öùò ( Éù. É, 7 - 18 ) êáé ðùò æùÞ äåí ìðïñåß íá õðÜñîåé ìÝóá óôï óêïôÜäé - êÜôé ðïõ ç ÅðéóôÞìç ôï åðéâåâáßùóå óáí ôïí ðñþôï íüìï ôçò Öýóåùò. «Äåýôå ëÜâåôå öùò, åê ôïõ ÁíåóðÝñïõ Öùôüò. Êáé äïîÜóáôå ×ñéóôüí, Ôïí ÁíáóôÜíôá åê íåêñþí». Áõôü ëÝãåé óôç öýóç ôùí ÷ñéóôéáíþí ç ÌÜíá ÐáñÜäïóç. Íá ðÜñïõìå ôï Öùò Ôïõ êé åìåßò ãéá í áóôñÜøïõí ôá ðñüóùðÜ ìáò, íá öùôéóôïýí ïé ðñÜîåéò ìáò ðïõ ßóùò Ý÷ïõí óêïôåéíéÜóåé, íá ìáò äåßîåé ôï ìïíïðÜôé ðïõ èá ìáò âãÜëåé ìÝóá áðü ôá öïâéóìÝíá ÷áëÜóìáôá ôùí áãñßùí èçñßùí ôïõ äÜóïõò. Ôï ÁíÝóðåñï Öùò èá öùôáãùãÞóåé ôçí ðüëç ðïõ êåßôåôáé êïéìéóìÝíç ðÜíù óôï âñÜ÷ï, ìïõ÷ëéáóìÝíç êáé ôüóåò ðïëëÝò öïñÝò íåêñÞ. Äåí ìðïñåß ðéá íá êñõöôåß ôþñá ðïõ ôï Öùò èá ðÝóåé åðÜíù ôçò. Êé ç óêïôåéíéáóìÝíç áíèñùðüôçôá äåí ìðïñåß íá ðåé øÝìáôá ðéá üôáí ôçí ðåñéëïýóåé ôï Öùò ôçò ÁëÞèåéáò.

ÌÁÉÏÓ 2001

«Ìçí óêéÜæåóôå óôá óêüôç. Ç ËåõôåñéÜ, óáí ôçò ÁõãÞò ôï öåããïâüëï áóôÝñé, ôçò íý÷ôáò ôï îçìÝñùìá èá öÝñåé». Á÷, áõôÝò ïé áíôáýãéåò ôçò êéèÜñáò ôïõ ðïéçôÞ ãéá ôç ëåõôåñéÜ áêïýóôçêáí ôüóåò öïñÝò ôþñá ôåëåõôáßá ðïõ íüìéóáí ïé ñáãéÜäåò ðùò èá ôïõò óþóåé áðü ôï óêïôÜäé êáé áðü ôá êáôá÷èüíéá ôçò áõôïöõëáêÞò ôïõ ðáñáíïúêïý åãùúóìïý ôïõò. Êé Ýñ÷åôáé ôï ÁíÝóðåñï Öùò ãéá íá ôïõò ðåé: Öýãåôå ìÝóá óôç íý÷ôá. Ç öýóç ôïõ Öùôüò ôïýôïõ åßíáé íá åîïõäåôåñþíåé êáé ôá ðéï ìéêñÜ ß÷íç ôçò óêïôåéíéÜò. ÖÝñíåé ôçí åîïõèÝíùóç óôïí õðåñÞöáíï ößëï ôïõ ÓáôáíÜ êáé ôïí áíáóôáßíåé óôïõò çëéüëïõóôïõò êüóìïõò ôçò ÷áñÜò. Åôóé ôá äéáìÜíôéá ëÜìðïõí. Ô áóôÝñéá êïõâåíôéÜæïáõí ìå ôéò ìáñìáñéãÝò ôïõò ãéá Ôïí ¹ëéï ðïõ ôá öùôßæåé. Áêüìá êé ç ðïëýôå÷íç ÅðéóôÞìç ãïíáôßæåé ìðñïóôÜ ó áõôü ôï Öùò. Ïìïëïãåß ôïí Üðåéñï èáõìáóìü ôïõ ï ÁúíóôÜúí ãéá ôéò «éäéüôçôåò ôïõ öùôüò». Ãéá ôçí ôá÷ýôçôÜ ôïõ (186,000 ìßëéá ôï äåõôåñüëåðôï). Ãéá ôçí ìõóôÞñéá «åíÝñãåéá» ôïõ. Ãéá ôï ãåãïíüò üôé äåí ìðïñåß íá õðÜñîåé æùÞ åêåß ðïõ äåí õðÜñ÷åé öùò. Ôé ëáìðåñüò ðïõ èá Þôáí ï êüóìïò åÜí êÜèå Üíèñùðïò ôçò ãçò êñáôïýóå óõíå÷þò Ýíá êåñÜêé áíáììÝíï! Óáí ôï êåñß ôçò ëáìðñÞò, èá Ýäéíå óïößá óôçí Üãíïéá, èá óêïñðïýóå áãÜðç ìÝóá óôéò ìáõñé-

óìÝíåò êáñäéÝò ôïõ öáíáôéóìïý êáé ôïõ åãùêåíôñéóìïý, èá îåäéÜëõíå ôéò ìðåñäåìÝíåò óïöéóôßåò ôùí äïêçóéóüöùí êáé èá åîïõäåôÝñùíå ôá ðõêíÜ óýííåöá ôïõ ìßóïõò, ôçò æÞëéáò, ôçò õëïðïßçóçò ôïõ öéëïóïöéêïý ëïãéóìïý êáé ôçò óé÷áìåñÞò áõôïðñïâïëÞò ðïõ êÜíåé áíáóôÞìáôá íá óôÝêïíôáé ìðñïóôÜ óôï öùò ãéá íá öáíåß ðéï äõíáôÜ ....ç óêéÜ ôïõò. Ãé áõôü, ôï áéþíéï ó÷Ýäéï ôïõ ÁíåóðÝñïõ Öùôüò åßíáé êáôáðÜôçóç ôùí óêéþí, ç íÜñêùóç ôçò êáêßáò, ç áíáãÝííçóç ìéáò áãíÞò öùôüëïõóôçò æùÞò åí ×ñéóôþ. «ÐÜñåôå ôï öùò ìïõ óôá óðßôéá óáò», ìáò ëÝãåé êÜèå ÁíÜóôáóç ôï Öùò ðïõ öáíôáóìáãïñéêÜ îåðñïâÜëëåé ìÝóá áðü ôï Éåñü. «Êñáôåßóôå ôï êáíôçëÜêé áíáììÝíï üëï ôï ÷ñüíï, ãéá íá ìçí ìåßíïõí óêïôåéíÝò ïé åéêüíåò». Áõôü ôï ôñåììÜìåíï Öùò ôïõ êáíôçëéïý ôïõ Åëëçíïñèüäïîïõ óðéôéïý èá ðñÝðåé íá æåóôáßíåé ôá óðßôéá êáé ôéò êáñäéÝò, ôïí íïõ êáé ôá ðáãüâïõíá ðïõ öÝñíåé ç ìáãåýôñá áìáñôßá ôïõ ôåëéêÜ óêïôþíåé ìéÜ ìáýñç íåáíéêÞ øõ÷Þ. ÌõóôéêÜ èá óéãïøÜëëåé ôï «×ñéóôüò ÁíÝóôç» êÜèå öïñÜ ðïõ ç ìïíáîéÜ, ç áðåëðéóßá êáé ïé êåñáõíïß èá Ýñ÷ïíôáé ðéï êïíôÜ ìáò íá ìáò ôñïìÜæïõí. Ìá ãéáôß íá öïâçèïýìå ôç íý÷ôá; Íßêçóå ãéá ðÜíôá ôï ÁíÝóðåñï Öùò ôïõ ÁíáóôÜíôïò ×ñéóôïý!! «ÁËÇÈÙÓ ÁÍÅÓÔÇ» öùôéóìÝíïé áäåëöïß!! Ï ðñùôïðñåóâýôåñïò Äçì. ÊáââÜäáò åßíáé éåñáôéêþò ðñïúóôÜìåíïò ôçò ÊïéìÞóåùò ôçò Èåïôüêïõ, St. Clair Shores, Michigan.

ÌÁÉÏÓ 2001

ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ

ÓÅËÉÄÁ 17

ÐÁÔÑÉÁÑ×ÉÊÇ ÁÐÏÄÅÉÎÉÓ ÅÐÉ Ô~ ~ Ù ÁÃÉ~ Ù ÐÁÓ×Á u óåë. 15 [åðÝôåéïí ô`çò ãåííÞóåùò êáß ôÞí ÝíåíçêïóôÞí ô`çò êïéìÞóåùò. Ðáíçãõñßæåé ç ] [ Åêêëçóßá ôï`õ ×ñéóôï`õ êáß ðëçñï`õôáé ôü óôüìá ô`ùí ðéóô`ùí ÷áñ`áò [åí ô~`ù ëÝãåéí «[ ÁíÝóôç ]ï Êýñéïò». Äéüôé ãíùñßæïìåí ï } ôé «×ñéóôüò å[ ãåñèåßò å[ ê íåêñ` ù í ï[ õ êÝôé [ á ðïèíÞóêåé, èÜíáôïò á[õôï`õ ï[õêÝôé êõñéåýåé» (Ñùì. 6,9). Êáß å[ ðß ðëÝïí ðéóôåýïìåí êáß ãíùñßæïìåí ï } ôé å[ ö }ïóïí óõíåôÜöçìåí ìåôÜ ôï`õ ×ñéóôï`õ äéÜ ôï`õ âáðôßóìáôïò, èá óõæÞóùìåí ìåô Á[õôï`õ å éò ôÞí á[éùíéüôçôá. ÁõôÞ å®éíáé ]ç óùôçñßá, á[õôÞ å®éíáé êáß ç ] á éôßá ô`çò ÷áñ`áò ]çì`ùí êáß ô`çò ]åïñôáóôéê`çò Ðáó÷áëßïõ ðáíçãýñåùò. ] Ç íÝá [åí ×ñéóô~`ù æùÞ å®éíáé ðëÝïí ãåãïíüòðñáãìáôéêüí. ] Ç æùÞ ôï`õ ðéóôï`õ ìåôÜ ôÞí [ ÁíÜóôáóéí ôï`õ ×ñéóôï`õ äÝí å®éíáé ðëÝïí ]ùò \çôï ðñü á[õô`çò. [ Çäç [å÷åé êáôÝëèåé ôü } Áãéïí Ðíå`õìá êáß [å÷åé óêçíþóåé [åí ô~`ç [ Åêêëçóß~á, å éò ôñüðïí }ùóôå ]ç æùÞ ìáò äéáíýåôáé ðëÝïí [åíôüò ô`çò Èåßáò ×Üñéôïò, [åíôüò ô`ùí [áêôßóôùí [ å íåñãåé` ù í ô` ç ò Èåüôçôïò, á é ] ï ðï¡ é áé ðïéêéëïôñüðùò ì`áò å[õñãåôï`õí êáß ì`áò [áíáêáéíßæïõí. Á[õôÞ ï } ìùò ç ] ìåãÜëç äùñåÜ ôï`õ Èåï`õ ðñüò ]çì`áò óõíåðÜãåôáé ôü [åî å[õãíùìïóýíçò êáß [áãÜðçò ðñüò Á[õôüí ÷ñÝïò ìáò íÜ [áðïäå÷è`ùìåí ôü ä`ùñïí, íÜ ï éêåéùè`ùìåí ôÞí ðñïóöåñïìÝíçí á [ íáóôÜóéìïí æùÞí, íÜ æÞóùìåí á [ îßùò ô`çò êëÞóåùò êáß íÜ ðåñéðáôÞóùìåí [åí êáéíüôçôé æù`çò. Äéüôé ]ç [ ÁíÜóôáóéò ôï`õ ×ñéóôï`õ èÜ å®éíáé ãåãïíüò [ á öïñ` ù í êáß ôü ðñüóùðïí å] êÜóôïõ ç ] ì`ùí ìüíïí ï } ôáí óõíôáõèéóè`ùìåí ìåôÜ ôï`õ ×ñéóôï`õ êáß ãßíùìåí óýìöõôïé ðñüò ôü ï ] ìïßùìá ôï`õ èáíÜôïõ Á[õôï`õ äéÜ ôÞí ]áìáñôßáí, }ùóôå íÜ óõæÞóùìåí ìåô Á[õôï`õ [åí Èå~`ù, [áíáãåííçìÝíïé [åí Ðíåýìáôé ] Áãß~ù êáé êáèáéñüìåíïé óõíå÷`ùò, }ùóôå íÜ ðáñáìÝíùìåí êáôïéêçôÞñéïí Á[õôï`õ. Á[õôÞ ç ] êáéíüôçò ô`çò æù`çò, ç ] íÝá æùÞ å éò ôÞí ]ïðïßáí ì`áò å éóÜãåé ]ç [ ÁíÜóôáóéò ôï`õ ×ñéóôï`õ, å®éíáé æùÞ [åíôüò ô`çò Èåßáò ×Üñéôïò, æùÞ ] ç ] ï ðïßá êáôåõèýíåôáé, óõíáéíïýíôùí ]çì`ùí êáß óõíåõäïêïýíôùí, ]õðü ôï`õ ] Áãßïõ Ðíåýìáôïò. ] Ï êüóìïò äé ]çì`áò [å÷åé äéåõñõíè`ç. ÔÜ }ïñéá á[õôï`õ äÝí å[õñßóêïíôáé å éò ôÞí ] õ ëéêÞí ðñáãìáôéêüôçôá. ÔÜ [ å íäéáöÝñïíôÜ ìáò äÝí ðåñéïñßæïíôáé å éò ôÜ }ïñéá ô`çò êôéóô`çò öýóåùò. [ ÁðïâëÝðïìåí êáß å éò ôÞí æùÞí [åðÝêåéíá ôï`õ óþìáôïò êáß ðñïåôïéìáæüìåèá äéÜ ôÞí á éùíéüôçôá. [ Åíôüò á[ õ ô` ç ò ô` ç ò [ á íáóôáóßìïõ ðñïïðôéê` ç ò ôÜ óõìâáßíïíôá å é ò ôüí êüóìïí ôï`õôïí ëáâÜíïõí {áëëçí äéÜóôáóéí, Á é èëßøåéò [ á íôéìåôùðßæïíôáé ] ù ò ðáñïäéêáß êáôÜ ôÞí [áëçè`ç öýóéí áõô`ùí. Ôü âÜñïò ô` ù í [ á íèñùðßíùí äåéí` ù í [åëáöñýíåôáé äéÜ ô`çò [åëðßäïò, á é èåüóäïôïé ÷áñáß êáèáãéÜæïíôáé êáß âéþíïíôáé ]ùò ðñüãåõóéò ô`çò á éùíßïõ ÷áñ`áò, ôÞí ]ïðïßáí ï[õäåßò äýíáôáé íÜ [áöáéñÝó~ç [áðü ]çì`áò. ] Ïëüêëçñïò ]ç æùÞ ìáò ìåôáâÜë-

ëåôáé å éò íÝáí, äéáöïñåôéêÞí áðü ôÞí æùÞí ô`ùí ìáêñÜí ôï`õ ×ñéóôï`õ [áíèñþðùí. [ Åðéêñáôå¡é ðëÝïí [åíôüò ]çì`ùí ]ç [ á íáóôÜóéìïò ÷áñÜ êáß âåâáéüôçò, ] ç ]ïðïßá ì`áò ]ïðëßæåé ìÝ èÜññïò, ìÝ á éóéïäïîßáí, ìÝ [åíäéáöÝñïí êáß [áãÜðçí äéÜ ôüí óõíÜíèñùðïí êáß äéÜ ôÞí êôßóéí }ïëçí. ÔÝêíá [åí Êõñß~ù [áãáðçôÜ, ] Ç [ ÁíÜóôáóéò äÝí å®éíáé å} í ãåãïíüò ôü ï ] ðï¡éïí á [ öÞíåé á [ íåðçñÝáóôïí ôÞí æùÞí ìáò. Å®éíáé ôü èåìÝëéïí ô`çò á éóéïäïîßáò, ô`çò äçìéïõñãéêüôçôïò, ô`çò á [ ãÜðçò, ôï`õ å[ íäéáöÝñïíôïò ç ] ì`ùí äé ï } ëïõò êáß äé ï } ëá êáß ô`çò á [ íáöáéñÝôïõ ÷áñ`áò ç ] ì`ùí å[ í ×ñéóô~ù ` . ÌåôÜ ðáôñéê`çò á [ ãÜðçò å[õ÷üìåèá å éò } ï ëïõò íÜ æÞóåôå [ å í ðëçñüôçôé ôÞí [áíáóôÜóéìïí ÷áñÜí êáß íÜ ðåñéðáô`çôå [åö ]åî`çò «[åí êáéíüôçôé æù`çò», êáôåõèõíüìåíïé êáß åîáãéáæüìåíïé ]õðü ô`çò Èåßáò ×Üñéôïò, ]ç ]ïðïßá èåñáðåýåé ôÜ [áóèåí`ç êáß [áíáðëçñï¡é ôÜ [åëëåßðïíôá. Ô~ ` ù äÝ [ å ê íåêñ` ù í [ á íáóôÜíôé êáß ÷áñéóáìÝí~ù ]çì¡éí ôÞí íÝáí æùÞí ×ñéóô~`ù, ô~ù ` á [ ëçèéí~ù ` Èå~ù ` ç ] ì`ùí, å[õ÷áñéóôßá, äüîá êáß ôéìÞ å éò ôïýò á é`ùíáò. [ ÁìÞí. } Áãéïí ÐÜó÷á 2001

ÿ ] Ï Êùíóôáíôéíïõðüëåùò äéÜðõñïò ðñüò ×ñéóôüí [ ÁíáóôÜíôá å[õ÷Ýôçò ðÜíôùí ]õì`ùí^

Åõ÷Ýò ôïõ ÐáíáãéïôÜôïõ ðñïò ôï åí ÁìåñéêÞ ðëÞñùìá Éåñþôáôïí Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïí Áìåñéê`çò êýñéïí ÄçìÞôñéïí, Å éò ÍÝáí ] Õüñêçí.

×ñéóôüò [ ÁíÝóôç! ÔåëÝóáíôåò [åí ôñéóáñ÷éåñáôéê`~ç Èåß~á Ëåéôïõñãß~á ðáíÞãõñéí ÐáíóÝðôïõ Ðáôñéáñ÷éêïý ç ] ì`ùí Íáï`õ ðñïóçõ÷Þèçìåí é äéáéôÝñùò å[ í ô`ç ~ ôåëÝóåé ô`çò Èåßáò Å[õ÷áñéóôßáò êáß å[ í é åñ`á ~` á [ ñôïêëáóß~á ðñüò ôüí [ ÁíáóôÜíôá Êýñéïí ç ] ì`ùí õ ] ðÝñ ô`ùí å[ í [ Áìåñéê`ç ~` êáß ô`ùí á ] ðáíôá÷ï`õ ô`çò äåóðïôåßáò Á[õôï`õ ðñïóöéë`ùí ôÝêíùí ô`çò Ìçôñüò [ Åêêëçóßáò, óõã÷áßñïìåí äÝ õ ] ìåôÝñ~á á [ ãáðçô~ç ` ] Éåñüôçôé êáß á[õôüèé ðåñéïõóß~ù êëÞñ~ù êáß ëá~ù ` ,á [ óðáæüìåèá õ ] ì`áò á [ äåëöéê`ùò êáß å[õëïãï`õìåí á [ ðü ìÝóçò Ðáôñéáñ÷éê`çò êáñäßáò ðÜíôáò, äåüìåíïé ôï`õ å[ í ÔñéÜäé ðñïóêõíçôï`õ Èåï`õ ï } ðùò, ôá¡éò ðñåóâåßáéò ôï`õ Ôñïðáéïöüñïõ Á[õôï`õ ] Áãßïõ êáß ôá¡éò å[õ÷á¡éò ôï`õ ðáíéÝñïõ Ï éêïõìåíéêï`õ Èñüíïõ, óêÝð~ç, öñïõñï¡é, öõëÜôô~ç êáß á ] ãéÜæ~ç ðÜíôáò õ ] ì`áò, ôçñ`ùí õ ] ì`áò å[ í ô~ç ` ] Åáõôï`õ á [ ãÜð~ç. [ Áäåëöéê`ùò å[ í Êõñß~ù ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò Âáñèïëïìá¡éïò ÖáíÜñéïí, 23 [ Áðñéëßïõ 2001

ÐÁÓ×Á ÓÔÏ ÖÁÍÁÑÉ

×éëéÜäåò ðéóôïß áðü ôçí ÅëëÜäá êáé áðü ðïëëÜ Üëëá ìÝñç ôïõ êüóìïõ ôáîßäåøáí öÝôïò óôçí Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëç ãéá íá íïéþóïõí ôç ìåãáëïðñÝðåéá ôïõ ÐÜó÷á óôï ÖáíÜñé, óôï ÊÝíôñï ôçò Ïñèïäïîßáò. Ï Ïéêïõìåíéêüò ÐáôñéÜñ÷çò ê. Âáñèïëïìáßïò ðñïåîÞñ÷å ôçò ÁíáóôÜóéìçò Èåßáò Ëåéôïõñãßáò óôïí Ðáôñéáñ÷éêü Íáü ôïõ Áãßïõ Ãåùñãßïõ.

Óõíåäñßáóå óôï ÖáíÜñé ç ÅðéôñïðÞ ÁíáèåùñÞóåùò Êáôáóôáôéêïý ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ. Ç êïéíÞ ÅðéôñïðÞ ÁíáèåùñÞóåùò ôïõ ÓõíôÜãìáôïò ôçò ÉåñÜò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÁìåñéêÞò ðïõ óõíåäñßáóå óôï ÖáíÜñé óôéò 9 êáé 10 ÌáÀïõ, åîÝäùóå ôï áêüëïõèï áíáêïéíùèÝí.

ÁÍÁÊÏÉÍÙÈÅÍ

] Ç [ ÅðéôñïðÞ [áíáèåùñÞóåùò ôï``õ ÓõíôÜãìáôïò ôçò ] Éåñ``áò [ Áñ÷éåðéóêïð``çò [ Áìåñéê``çò óõí``çëèåí [åí Öáíáñß~ù, êáôÜ ôÜ ðñïáðïöáóéóèÝíôá, ]õðü ôÞí ðñïåäñåßáí ô` ` ù í ÓåâáóìéùôÜôùí Ìçôñïðïëßôïõ ÃÝñïíôïò [ ÅöÝóïõ ê. ×ñõóïóôüìïõ êáß [ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ [ Áìåñéê``çò ê. Äçìçôñßïõ, êáß åªéñãÜóèç êáè }ïëçí ôÞí äéÜñêåéáí ôï``õ äéçìÝñïõ 9 êáß 10 Ìáúïõ å[ .{å. å[ í ðíåýìáôé á [ äåëöéê`ç ` òá [ ãÜðçò êáß á [ ëëçëïêáôáíïÞóåùò, [åí ]õøçë``~ù äÝ áªéóèÞìáôé å[õèýíçò [åìåëÝôçóå ôü ó÷Ýäéïí ÓõíôÜãìáôïò ô``çò ] Éåñ``áò [ Áñ÷éåðéóêïð``çò, ôü ðñïåëèüí [åê ô``çò óõã÷ùíåýóåùò ô``ùí êáôáñôéóèÝíôùí êåéìÝíùí ]õðü ô``çò [åí [ Áìåñéê``~ç [åðáñ÷ßáò ôï``õ Ϫéêïõìåíéêï``õ Èñüíïõ êáß ]õðü ô``çò Ìçôñüò [ Åêêëçóßáò. [ ÅìåëåôÞèçóáí êáß [åèåùñÞèçóáí [åðéóôáìÝíùò êáôÜ ôü äéÞìåñïí ôï``õôï ôÜ 13 ðñ``ùôá {áñèñá ôï``õ ]åíéáßïõ ó÷åäßïõ, [åðß ô``ùí ]ïðïßùí [áíôçëëÜãçóáí [áðüøåéò, äéåðéóôþèç äÝ ðëÞñçò óýìðôùóéò ãíùì``ùí êáß èÝóåùí êáß [åðåôåý÷èç óõìöùíßá [åðß ôï``õ ðåñéå÷ïìÝíïõ á[õô``ùí. Ūéäéêþôåñïí, [åîçôÜóèçóáí ôÜ èÝìáôá ô``çò [åêëïã``çò [ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ [ Áìåñéê``çò [åí ðåñéðôþóåé ÷çñåßáò ô``çò ] Éåñ``áò [ Áñ÷éåðéóêïð``çò^ ô``çò [áíáâáèìßóåùò ô``ùí ] Éåñ``ùí [ Åðéóêïð``ùí á[õô``çò åªéò Ìçôñïðüëåéò ôï``õ ðáíéÝñïõ Ϫéêïõìåíéêï``õ Èñüíïõ^ êáß ôï``õ ôñüðïõ [åêëïã``çò ô``ùí Ìçôñïðïëéô``ùí ô``ùí ï]õôùóß [áíõøïõìÝíùí åªéò Ìçôñïðüëåéò [ Åðéóêïð``ùí. [ Åðß ô``ùí èåìÜôùí ôïýôùí á é äýï ðëåõñáß êáôÝëçîáí åªéò óõìöùíßáí, å[ êôüò å] íüò ðñáêôéêï`õ ` óçìåßïõ, á [ öïñ`ù ` íôïò åªéò å} í å[ ê ô`ù ` í ðåñéãñáöïìÝíùí ðñïóüíôùí ôï` ` õ [ å êëåãçóïìÝíïõ [ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ, ôü ] ï ðï¡ é ïí êáß èÜ óõæçôçè` ` ~ ç ìåôÜ ô` ` ù í ]õðïëïéðïìÝíùí {áñèñùí êáôÜ ôÞí ðñïóå÷``ç ôåëåõôáßáí öÜóéí ô``çò óõíåñãáóßáò ô``ùí äýï [ Åðéôñïð``ùí, }çôéò èÜ ðñáãìáôïðïéçè``~ç êáß ðÜëéí [åí Öáíáñß~ù êáôÜ ôü ÷ñïíéêüí äéÜóôçìá 20-21 ðñïóå÷ï``õò [ Éïõíßïõ. [ Áìöüôåñáé á é ðëåõñáß å[ êöñÜæïõí ôÞí é êáíïðïßçóéí á[õô`ù ` í äéÜ ôÞí å[ ðéôåõ÷èå¡éóáí óõìöùíßáí êáß [åí ãÝíåé äéÜ ôü [åðéôåëåóèÝí, ô``~ç ÷Üñéôé ôï``õ[ ÁíáóôÜíôïò Êõñßïõ, {åñãïí, ôü ]ïðï¡éïí [áðïâëÝðåé åªéò ôÞí å[õóôÜèåéáí êáß ðñüïäïí [åðß ì``áëëïí êáß ì``áëëïí ô``çò ] Éåñ`á ` ò [ Áñ÷éåðéóêïð`ç ` ò^ åªéò ôÞí äéáôÞñçóéí êáß óýóöéãîéí å{ ôé ðåñáéôÝñù ô`ç ` ò å] íüôçôïò êáè ]åáõôÞí ô``çò [åðéêáßñïõ [åðáñ÷ßáò ôáýôçò ôï``õ Ϫéêïõìåíéêï``õ Èñüíïõ êáß åªéò ôÞí [åíßó÷õóéí ô``ùí [áêáôáëýôùí äåóì``ùí ìåôáîý ô``ùí äýï èåóì``ùí, {çôïé ô``çò Ìçôñüò [ Åêêëçóßáò êáß ô``çò ] Éåñ``áò [ Áñ÷éåðéóêïð``çò [ Áìåñéê``çò. [ Åí ôï¡éò Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïéò, ô``~ç 10~ç ÌáÀïõ 2001 ÿ Ï ÅÖÅÓÏÕ ×ÑÕÓÏÓÔÏÌÏÓ

ÿ Ï ÁÌÅÑÉÊÇÓ ÄÇÌÇÔÑÉÏÓ

ÓÅËÉÄÁ 18

ÏÑÈÏÄÏÎÏÓ ÐÁÑÁÔÇÑÇÔÇÓ

ÌÁÉÏÓ 2001

Óõíå÷Þò ç áðïóôïëÞ êáé ç áðïóôïëéêÞ äñÜóç, ôï ìÞíõìá ôï Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ óôï Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêü Óõìâïýëéï u óåë. 15 ãìáôá ðïõ óõíôåëÝóôçêáí óôï äéÜóôçìá ìåôÜ ôçí ôåëåõôáßá öèéíïðùñéíÞ óõíåäñßáóç ôùí óùìÜôùí. ÓôÜèçêå éäéáßôåñá óôçí Ðáôñéáñ÷éêÞ ðïéìáíôïñéêÞ åðßóêåøç ôïí ðåñáóìÝíï ÍïÝìâñéï óôçí ÅðéóêïðÞ Íôçôñüéô êáé óôç ÍÝá Õüñêç, óôçí ÊëçñéêïëáéêÞ ÓõíÝëåõóç ðïõ ðñáãìáôïðïéÞèçêå óôçí Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëç óôá ôÝëç Íïåìâñßïõ 2000, óôçí åíôõðùóéáêÞ ðñüïäï ôçò Çãåóßáò ôùí 100 ðïõ îåðÝñáóå êÜèå ðñïçãïýìåíï åããñáöÞò íÝùí ìåëþí, óôéò åîåëßîåéò êáé äéåñãáóßåò åðß ôïõ õðü áíáèåþñçóç êáôáóôáôéêïý ÷Üñôç, óôéò éäéáßôåñåò åðáöÝò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò êáé ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ìå ôç íÝá áìåñéêáíéêÞ êõâÝñíçóç êáé ôïí Ëåõêü Ïßêï êáé åðß ôç åõêáéñßá ôçò ïñêùìïóßáò ôïõ ðñïÝäñïõ Ìðïõò áëëÜ êáé êáôÜ ôç äéÜñêåéá ôùí åïñôáóôéêþí åêäçëþóåùí ãéá ôçí 25ç Ìáñôßïõ.

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åõñýôåñç êïéíùíßá, ðñïâÜëëïíôáò ìéá äçìüóéá ðáñïõóßá êáé ìáñôõñßá óôç äçìüóéá æùÞ ôçò ÷þñáò, ü÷é âÝâáéá ìå ôçí Ýííïéá ôçò áõôïðñïâïëÞò, áëëÜ ùò ìÝñïò ôçò åí ×ñéóôþ éåñÞò áðïóôïëÞò ìáò. Êáé êáôÝëçîå ìå ôçí ðñïôñïðÞ ôïõ ×ñéóôïý áðü ôï ôÝëïò ôïõ êáôÜ Ìáôèáßïí Åõáããåëßïõ: «ðïñåõèÝíôåò ïýí ìáèçôåýóáôå ðÜíôá ôá Ýèíç...».

Ïé åñãáóßåò ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ

ÌåôÜ ôçí ïìéëßá ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ, ôï Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêü Óõìâïýëéï óõíÞëèå óå óþìá ìå óõíôïíéóôÞ ôùí åñãáóéþí ôçò óõíåäñßáóçò ôïí ê. Áíôþíéï ÓôåöÜíïõ êáé áöïý äéáðéóôþèçêå áðáñôßá, ï áíôéðñüåäñïò ôïõ óþìáôïò ê. Ìé÷áÞë Ôæá÷Üñçò

ÄñáìáôéêÞ ðñüïäïò óôá ïéêïíïìéêÜ Áðáëåßöèçêå ôï âáñý ÷ñÝïò

Ï Êáôáóôáôéêüò ×Üñôçò

ÁíÜãêç ãéá äçìüóéá êáé åõñåßá ìáñôõñßá óôçí áìåñéêáíéêÞ êïéíùíßá ÐÑÏÔÅÑÁÉÏÔÇÔÅÓ Öñïíôßäá u ãéá ôçí ÏéêïãÝíåéá u ãéá ôçí Íåïëáßá u ãéá ôï Åëëçíéêü ÊïëëÝãéï êáé ôç ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ u áõîçìÝíï öéëáíèñùðéêü Ýñãï Óôï Ëïò ¢íôæåëåò ç 36ç ÊëçñéêïëáúêÞ ôïõ 2000 Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò Ýêáíå éäéáßôåñç áíáöïñÜ óôçí Ýíôïíç ïéêïäïìéêÞ äñáóôçñéüôçôá ðïõ ðáñáôçñåßôáé óôéò êïéíüôçôåò êáé åíïñßåò ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò óå üëç ôçí åðéêñÜôåéá, ìå ôçí áíÝãåñóç É. Íáþí, êïéíïôéêþí êÝíôñùí êáé âïçèçôéêþí ÷þñùí. Óçìåßùóå ÷áñáêôçñéóôéêÜ ôïí êáèáãéáóìü åðôÜ íáþí ìÝóá óôï 2001 êáé ðïëëþí Üëëùí ðïõ Ý÷ïõí ðñïãñáììáôéóèåß êáé Ýðïíôáé. «Ìðïñïýìå íá ðïýìå óÞìåñá üôé ôï ìÝãá âÜñïò ôïõ ïéêïíïìéêïý ÷ñÝïõò Ý÷åé ó÷åäüí áðáëåéöèåß», åßðå ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò áíáöåñüìåíïò óôç ðñüïäï ôùí ïéêïíïìéêþí êáé åõ÷áñéóôþíôáò üëïõò üóïõò, åðþíõìïõò êáé áíþíõìïõò, óõíÝâáëáí óôçí áðÜëëåéøç ôïõ ÷ñÝïõò. Ôüíéóå åðßóçò üôé ðïôÝ ðéÜ ç Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ äåí ðñÝðåé íá âñåèåß óå ðáñüìïéá êáôÜóôáóç ÷ñÝïõò. Áíáêïßíùóå áêüìç ôçí ðñüèåóç ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò íá ðñï÷ùñÞóåé óôç äçìéïõñãßá åíüò áðïèåìáôéêïý ôáìåßïõ ãéá ôç äéáóöÜëéóç ôçò áðñüóêïðôçò ëåéôïõñãßáò ôùí åèíéêþí äéáêïíéþí ôçò Åêêëçóßáò óôï ìÝëëïí.

Áôåíßæïíôáò ôï ìÝëëïí

Åîåéäéêåýïíôáò ïñéóìÝíá óçìåßá ôçò éåñÜò áðïóôïëÞò üëùí ìáò, ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò óçìåßùóå üôé äåí ðñÝðåé íá áíáìÝíïíôáé èåáìáôéêÝò åíÝñãåéåò åíôõðùóéáóìïý äéüôé äåí áñìüæïõí óôçí Åêêëçóßá êáé ôüíéóå ùò éäéáßôåñá óçìáíôéêÜ ðåäßá äñÜóçò ôá åîÞò: á) ôçí öñïíôßäá, ðñïóï÷Þ êáé óôÞñéîç ôçò ÏéêïãÝíåéáò ìå ôçí Üìåóç ëåéôïõñãßá ôïõ íåïíáããåëèÝíôïò ôìÞìáôïò ãéá ôï óêïðü áõôü, ðïõ ÷ñçìáôïäïôåßôáé

ïéêïíïìéêÞ åêóôñáôåßá Challenge Campaign óõãêÝíôñùóå ðïóü ó÷åäüí 3,2 åêáô. äïëáñßùí, ðïóü ðïõ ìÝ÷ñé ôïí Áðñßëéï ôïõ 2001 Ýöôáóå ôá 4,2 åêáô. äïëÜñéá. Ôá ÷ñÞìáôá áõôÜ ÷ñçóéìïðïéÞèçêáí ãéá ôçí áðïðëçñùìÞ ðñïûðÜñ÷ïíôïò ÷ñÝïõò áíåîüöëçôïõ áðü ôï 1998 êáé 1999. Ôá ìÝëç ôïõ Á.Ó. åîÝöñáóáí ôçí éêáíïðïßçóÞ ôïõò ãéá ôïí õðåýèõíï ÷åéñéóìü êáé ôçí ðëçñüôçôá ôçò åéêüíáò ðïõ ðáñïõóéÜóôçêå. Ìå Ýêäçëï êáé åéëéêñéíÝò åíäéáöÝñïí åîÝèåóáí ìéá óåéñÜ áðüøåùí, ðñïôÜóåùí êáé ðáñáôçñÞóåùí ðïõ áöïñïýóáí ôñüðïõò êáé äéáäéêáóßåò áýîçóçò ôïõ ýøïõò ðñïûðïëïãéóìïý ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò óôï Üìåóï ìÝëëïí, áöïý êáôÜ ãåíéêÞ ïìïëïãßá êáé ðáñáäï÷Þ ï ôñÝ÷ùí ðñïûðïëïãéóìüò äåí áñìüæåé óôï ìÝãåèïò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò ìáò, äåí åßíáé áíÜëïãïò ôïõ ïéêïíïìéêïý ìåãÝèïõò êáé ôùí äõíáôïôÞôùí ôùí ìåëþí ðïõ áðáñôßæïõí ôçí Åêêëçóßá ìáò êáé äåí åðáñêåß ãéá ôçí åðßôåõîç ôùí óôü÷ùí ðïõ Ý÷ïõí ôåèåß êáé ôçí åí ãÝíåé áíÜðôõîç êáé ðñáãìÜôùóç ôïõ Ýñãïõ êáé ôçò äéáêïíßáò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò.

Äçì. ÐáíÜãïò

Ï ð. Íéêüëáïò Ôñéáíôáöýëëïõ, ðñüåäñïò ôïõ Åëëçíéêïý Êïëëåãßïõ êáé ôçò ÈåïëïãéêÞò Ó÷ïëÞò ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý êáëùóïñßæåé ôá ìÝëç ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ.

óðïõäþí óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ. Ãéá ôçí ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ðïõ áðïôåëåß ôï äåýôåñï æùôéêü óêÝëïò, ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò ôüíéóå éäáßôåñá ôçí áíÜãêç ãéá ôçí áýîçóç ü÷é ìüíï ôïõ áñéèìïý áëëÜ êáé Üíïäï ôçò ðïéüôçôïò ôùí öïéôçôþí êáé êáô åðÝêôáóç ôùí áðïöïßôùí êáé ìåëëïíôéêþí êëçñéêþí. ä) ôçí áíÜãêç ãéá áõîçìÝíç ðñïóöïñÜ ôçò Åêêëçóßáò óôïí öéëáíèñùðéêü ôïìÝá óå óõíäõáóìü êáé óõíåñãáóßá ìå ôéò äñáóôçñéüôçôåò ôçò Öéëïðôþ÷ïõ. Ôçí äçìéïõñãßá åð áõôïý éäéáßôåñïõ ôìÞìáôïò ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ìå áíôéêåßìåíï ôï öéëáíèñùðéêü Ýñãï êáé ôá åõáãÞ éäñýìáôá ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò. Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò áíÝèåóå óôïí Áñ÷éìáíäñßôç Áíôþíéï Ðáñüðïõëï, äéåèõíôÞ ôïõ Ïßêïõ Åõãçñßáò ¢ãéïò Ìé÷áÞë, ôçí êáôÜñôéóç ìåëÝôçò ãéá ôéò áíÜãêåò êáé ôïí ìåëëïíôéêü óõíôïíéóìü ôïõ öéëáíèñùðéêïý Ýñãïõ. ÅîÜëëïõ êáôÜ ôçí äéÜñêåéá ôçò ïìéëßáò ôïõ ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò áíåêïßíùóå üôé ç 36ç ÊëçñéêïëáúêÞ ÓõíÝëåõóç èá ðñáãìáôïðïéçèåß óôï Ëïò ¢íôæåëåò ìåôáîý 30 Éïõíßïõ êáé 4 Éïõëßïõ ôïõ 2002. Áíåêïßíùóå áêüìç ôçí óýíáîç üëùí ôùí Êáíïíéêþí Ïñèïäüîùí Åðéóêüðùí óôçí ÁìåñéêÞ (43 ôïí áñéèìü) ìåôáîý 1-3 Ìáúïõ 2001 óôçí ÏõÜóéíãêôïí, þóôå íá äéáêçñýîïõí ôçí ïñèüäïîç ìáñôõñßá óôçí ðñùôåýïõóá ôçò ÁìåñéêÞò. ÅíçìÝñùóå åðßóçò ôï Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêü Óõìâïýëéï ãéá ôçí óýóôáóç ÓõìâïõëåõôéêÞò ÅðéôñïðÞò åî åéäéêþí åðéóôçìüíùí åðß èåìÜôùí âéïçèéêÞò, éáôñéêÞò, ðåñéâÜëëïíôïò êáé Üëëùí åðéóôçìïíéêþí åîåëßîåùí. ÔÝëïò, ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò äéáðéóôþíïíôáò ôçí áõîçìÝíç ðñïóÝëåõóç êáé áöïóßùóç ôïõ ëáïý ðñüò ôçí Åêêëçóßá, éäéáßôåñá üðùò áõôÞ öÜíçêå ðñüóöáôá óå üëåò ó÷åäüí ôéò åíïñßåò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò êáôÜ ôç äéÜñêåéá ôçò ÌåãÜëçò ÅâäïìÜäïò, ôüíéóå ðùò åßíáé áíÜãêç íá äéáêçñýîïõìå áõôÞ ôçí áëÞèåéá ðñïò ôçí

Ýêáíå ìéá óýíôïìç áíáöïñÜ óôá ðåðñáãìÝíá ôùí ôåëåõôáßùí ìçíþí. ÓôÜèçêå éäéáßôåñá óôçí áíÜãêç ãéá óõíôïíéóìÝíç êáé «ãåíéêÞ áíÜðôõîç êáé ðñüïäï» þóôå íá êáôáóôåß äõíáôÞ ç ðñáãìÜôùóç ôùí óêïðþí êáé ôùí óôü÷ùí ðïõ Ý÷ïõí ôåèåß. Ðñïò ôçí êáôåýèõíóç áõôÞ ìåôáîý Üëëùí õðïóôÞñéîå ôçí äçìéïõñãßá áðïèåìáôéêïý ôáìåßïõ (ðñïéêïäïôÞìáôïò) ðïõ èá ëåéôïõñãåß åðéêïõñéêÜ ãéá ôïí ðñïûðïëïãéóìü ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò, áëëÜ êáé Üëëùí åðß ìÝñïõò åîéäéêåõìÝíùí ôáìåßùí ãéá ôçí ÷ñçìáôïäüôçóç óõãêåêñéìÝíùí óêïðþí, ðñïãñáììÜôùí, éäñõìÜôùí êáé Üëëùí äéáêïíéþí. Ï äéåõèõíôÞò ôïõ ôìÞìáôïò Ïéêïíïìéêþí ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ê. John Barbagallo êáé ï õðåýèõíïò ôçò ïéêïíïìéêÞò åðéôñïðÞò ê. John Papajohn ðáñïõóßáóáí ìéá åìðåñéóôáôùìÝíç óõãêñéôéêÞ Ýêèåóç ôçò ïéêïíïìéêÞò êáôÜóôáóçò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò êáé ôùí åíåñãåéþí ðïõ Ýãéíáí ìå óêïðü ôçí áðÜëåéøç ôïõ ïéêïíïìéêïý åëëåßììáôïò êáé ôç ìåßùóç ôïõ ôñÝ÷ïíôïò ÷ñÝïõò, ðïõ Ýãéíå äåêôÞ ìå éêáíïðïßçóç êáé åíèïõóéáóìü áðü ôï óýíïëï ôùí ìåëþí ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ. Óôçí Ýêèåóç áõôÞ áíáöÝñåôáé üôé: á) ç Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ ìåßùóå ôá ëåéôïõñãéêÜ ôçò Ýîïäá ãéá ôï 2000 êáôÜ ðåñßðïõ 1,2 åêáô. äïëëÜñéá êáé ôï óõíïëéêü ïéêïíïìéêü Ýëëåéììá áðáëåßöèçêå. â) Ãéá ôï ïéêïíïìéêü Ýôïò 2000 ç Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ ðáñïõóßáóå êáèáñü åéóüäçìá 200 ÷éë. ðåñßðïõ äïëëáñßùí ó÷åôéêÜ ìå ôï Ýëëåéììá 3 åêáô. äïëáñßùí ôï 1999 ã) åíüóù äéïéêçôéêÝò áëëáãÝò óõíÝâáëëáí óôçí ìåßùóç ôùí åîüäùí ç Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ êáôÝãñáøå åéóüäçìá 9,9 åêáô. äïëëáñßùí áðü ôéò åéóöïñÝò ôùí êïéíïôÞôùí, ðïóü ðïõ îåðÝñáóå êÜèå ðñïçãïýìåíï êáé ðïõ áðïôåëåß áýîçóç ýøïõò 830 ÷éë. äïëëáñßùí óå ó÷Ýóç ìå ðñïçãïýìåíá ÷ñüíéá. ÅðéðñïóèÝôùò ôùí êáíïíéêþí ëåéôïõñãéêþí åóüäùí, ï ê. Barbagallo óçìåßùóå üôé êáôÜ ôï ôÝëïò ôïõ 2000, ç åéäéêÞ

Ï Óåâ. Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò ÁìåñéêÞò ê. ÄçìÞôñéïò Ýêáíå ìéá éóôïñéêÞ áíáäñïìÞ ôùí äéåñãáóéþí ãéá ôçí áíáèåþñçóç ôïõ Êáôáóôáôéêïý ×Üñôç ôçò É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò áðü ôçí åíèñüíéóÞ ôïõ êáé ìåôÜ öôÜíïíôáò ìÝ÷ñé êáé ôçí äåýôåñç óõíÜíôçóç ôçò áíôéðñïóùðåßáò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ìå ôçí åðéôñïðÞ ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ ôïí ðåñáóìÝíï ÖåâñïõÜñéï. Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò óçìåßùóå éäéáßôåñá ôçí óïâáñÞ ðñïóÝããéóç ðïõ áñìüæåé óå Ýíá èÝìá ôÝôïéáò âáñýôçôïò êáé óçìáóßáò. Ôüíéóå ôçí êïéíÞ ðåðïßèçóç üôé ç äéáäéêáóßá áíáèåþñçóçò ôïõ êáôáóôáôéêïý ðñÝðåé íá áðïôåëåß óçìåßï êáé áöïñìÞ ðñïüäïõ êáé óýóöéîçò ôùí äåóìþí êáé ü÷é óçìåßï äé÷üíïéáò. ÁíáöÝñèçêå óå ôñßá óçìåßá ôïõ õðü áíáèåþñçóç êáôáóôáôéêïý óôá ïðïßá õðÜñ÷ïõí äééóôÜìåíåò áðüøåéò: á) ôçí áíýøùóç ôùí åðéóêïðþí óå ìçôñïðüëåéò, â) ôçí åêëïãÞ ôùí åðéóêüðùí êáé ã) ôçí åêëïãÞ áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ. Ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò óçìåßùóå áêüìç üôé ôá èÝìáôá êáé ôá óçìåßá ôïõ êáôáóôáôéêïý ðáñáìÝíïõí áíïé÷ôÜ óå óõæÞôçóç êáé áíôáëëáãÞ áðüøåùí êáé ç åêôßìçóç åßíáé üôé õðÜñ÷åé ÷þñïò ãéá ðåñáéôÝñù óõíåííüçóç ãéá üëá ôá èÝìáôá. ÄåäïìÝíùí ôùí üóùí åîÝèåóå ï Óåâáóìéþôáôïò ç åî ÁìåñéêÞò áíôéðñïóùðåßá èá ìåôáâåß óôçí Êùíóôíôéíïýðïëç óôéò 9-10 Ìáúïõ ãéá ôç óõíÝ÷éóç ôùí óõæçôÞóåùí. ÌÝóá óôá ðëáßóéá êáé ôï ýöïò óïâáñüôçôïò êáé óåâáóìïý ðïõ Ýèåóå óôçí ðáñïõóßáóÞ ôïõ ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò êéíÞèçêáí êáôÜ ôï ðëåßóôïí ïé åñùôÞóåéò, ïé ôïðïèåôÞóåéò êáé ï äéÜëïãïò ðïõ áêïëïýèçóå. Ôá ìÝëç ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ áíôÜëëáîáí áðüøåéò ðïõ áí êáé äéáöïñïðïéïýíôáí óôïí ôñüðï ðñïóÝããéóçò óõíÝðéðôáí óôçí Ýêöñáóç óåâáóìïý êáé ôéìÞò ðñïò ôï Ïéêïõìåíéêü Ðáôñéáñ÷åßï êáé åìðéóôïóýíçò óôï ðñüóùðï êáé óôïõò ÷åéñéóìïýò ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ. ÅêöñÜóôçêå ç áíÜãêç ãéá åõåëéîßá êáé áíïé÷ôÞ ðñïóÝããéóç, ôïíßóôçêå üôé ï äéÜëïãïò ðñÝðåé íá óõíå÷éóôåß ãéá üóï äéÜóôçìá ÷ñåéáóôåß êáé üôé ç õðïìïíÞ åßíáé áðáñáßôçôç óå ôÝôïéá èÝìáôá. «ÐñÝðåé íá óõíå÷ßóïõìå óå áõôÞ ôç äéáäéêáóßá ÷ùñßò íá ïñéïèåôïýìå ôéò åîåëßîåéò... áò ìçí áöÞóïõìå ôï èÝìá áõôü íá ìáò ïðéóèïäñïìÞóåé êáé íá äçìéïõñãÞóåé äé÷üíïéá. Ìðïñïýìå íá âáäßóïõìå ìðñïóôÜ áó÷Ýôùò ìå ôçí åîÝëéîç åðß ôïõ êáôáóôáôéêïý», åßðå ÷áñáêôçñéóôéêÜ ìÝëïò ôïõ óõìâïõëßïõ.

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ÓÅËÉÄÁ 19

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éåñüò õìíùäüò ôçò Åêêëçóßáò ìáò, êáëåß üëïõò ìáò íá ãéïñôÜóïõìå «ôçí åïñôÞ ôùí åïñôþí», íá «ëáìðñõíèþìåí» ìå ôçí ÷áñÜ ôçò ÁíáóôÜóåùò, íá êáèáñßóïõìå ôéò áéóèÞóåéò êáé ôéò øõ÷Ýò ìáò, ãéá íá óõíáíôÞóïõìå ôïí ÁíáóôÜíôá ×ñéóôü, ðñüóùðï ìå ðñüóùðï, áíáöùíïýíôåò «Áëçèþò áíÝóôç ï Êýñéïò». ôïõ êáè. Ãåùñãßïõ ÌðåìðÞ

Ðüóï ðçãáßá êáé ðüóï åéëéêñéíÞò êáé âáèåéÜ åßíáé ç óõãêßíçóÞ ìáò êáé ç èëßøç ìáò, ç ÷áñÜ, ï ðüíïò ìáò êáé ç åõôõ÷ßá ìáò ôéò çìÝñåò ôçò ÌåãÜëçò ÅâäïìÜäïò. ÓõììåôÝ÷ïõìå óôá óåðôÜ ðÜèç ôïõ Êõñßïõ êáé ìå äÜêñõá óôá ìÜôéá Ôïí âëÝðïõìå êáé Ôïí áíôéêñýæïõìå íá öÝñåé ôï áêÜíèéíï óôåöÜíé êáé íá ïäçãåßôáé óôïí ïäõíçñü êáé áôéìùôéêü èÜíáôï ôïõ Óôáõñïý. Íïéþèïõìå ôç äßøá Ôïõ, óõìðÜó÷ïõìå óôïí Üöáôï ðüíï ôùí êáñöéþí Ôïõ, áêïýìå ôï åðþäõíï êáé ðÝíèéìï «ÔåôÝëåóôáé». Êáôüðéí èñçíïýìå ìåôÜ ôçò áãßáò ÐáñèÝíïõ Ìáñßáò, åðÜíù óôïí ëüöï ôïõ ÃïëãïèÜ êáé óõíïäïéðïñïýìå ìå ôéò Ìõñïöüñåò ãõíáßêåò óôïí ôÜöï ôïõ ÄéäáóêÜëïõ... Êáé Ýðåéôá; Ï öüâïò êáé ç êáôÞöåéá êáé ç áðåëðéóéÜ ìåôáôñÝðïíôáé óå ðñïóäïêßá, ÷áñÜ, ãéá ôçí ðáíåõöñüóõíç åßäçóç: « ÁíÝóôç ï Êýñéïò... Öùôßæïõ, öùôßæïõ ç íÝá ÉåñïõóáëÞì,... ç äüîá ôïõ Êõñßïõ áíÝôåéëå ó üëï ôïí êüóìï». Ôé ãéïñôÜæïõìå; ÃéïñôÜæïõìå ôç íÝêñùóç ôïõ èáíÜôïõ, ôçí êáèáßñåóç ôïõ ¢äç, ôïí äéáóêïñðéóìü êáé ôçí Þôôá ôùí å÷èñþí ôïõ Êõñßïõ, ôçí ðôþóç ôùí äáéìüíùí, ôçí ïñéóôéêÞ êáôÜñãçóç ôçò öèïñÜò, ôçò ðëÜíçò êáé ôçò áäéêßáò. Ðüóï ìåãÜëïò åßíáé ï Èåüò,

øÜëëïõìå êáôÜ ôïí Åóðåñéíü ôïõ ÐÜó÷á, ðüóï ìåãÜëïò åßíáé ï Êýñéïò, ï Ìüíïò, ï Ïðïßïò Ý÷åé ôçí äýíáìç íá ðïéåß èáýìáôá, íá êáôáñãåß ôçí äýíáìç êáé ôçí óêéÜ ôïõ èáíÜôïõ, íá ðåñéïñßæåé ôçí åðéññïÞ ôïõ áíèñþðéíïõ Íüìïõ, íá íåêñþíåé ôá ðÜèç êáé íá ëýíåé ôá äåóìÜ ôçò áìáñôßáò. Ï óõããñáöÝáò åíüò êçñõãìáôéêïý êåéìÝíïõ, ôï ïðïßï áðïäßäåôáé óôïí Áã. ÅðéöÜíéï ôçò Êùíóôáíôßáò ôçò Êýðñïõ, ôïí 5ï áéþíá ëÝåé üôé ìå ôçí ÁíÜóôáóç ôïõ Êõñßïõ ôï ðÝíèïò ôùí íåêñþí åîåäéþ÷èçêå, êáé ôï öÝããïò ôçò ÁíáóôÜóåùò åðåêñÜôçóå. Ï Üãéïò ÌÜîéìïò ï ÏìïëïãçôÞò ôïíßæåé üôé ôï áíáóôÜóéìï ÐÜó÷á ôïõ Êõñßïõ åßíáé ïõóéáóôéêÜ, «...ç Ýëåõóç ôïõ Ëüãïõ ðñïò ôïí áíèñþðéíï íïõ, êáôÜ ôçí ïðïßáí åñ÷üìåíïò ìå ôñüðï ìõóôéêüí ï ëüãïò ôïõ Èåïý, ÷áñßæåé ôçí ðëçñüôçôá óå üëïõò ôïõò áîßïõò, ìå ôçí ðñïóöïñÜ ôçò ìåôï÷Þò óôá ïéêåßá ôïõ áãáèÜ...» Êáé ï Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï Äáìáóêçíüò (8ïò áéþíáò) óôï ðåñßöçìï Ýñãï ôïõ «¸êäïóéò áêñéâÞò ôçò Ïñèïäüîïõ ðßóôåùò (êåö. ô, 72) ãñÜöåé üôé «...êáé åéò ôï éäéêüí ìáò óþìá å÷Üñéóåí ï Êýñéïò ùò äþñïí ìå ôï éäéêüí ôïõ óþìá, ôçí áíÜóôáóéí êáé ôçí áöèáñóßáí ðïõ ôçí áêïëïõèåß, ìå ôï íá ãßíåé ï ßäéïò ðñïò ÷Üñéí ìáò áðáñ÷Þ ôçò áíáóôÜóåùò êáé ôçò áöèáñóßáò êáé ôçò áðáèåßáò...» (ìåôÜöñáóç Ð. ×ñÞóôïõ, Ðáôåñéêáß Åêäüóåéò, «Ãñçãüñéïò ÐáëáìÜò» É. Äáìáóêçíïý ¸ñãá, ô.1ïò ó. 417). O Üãéïò ÉùÜííçò ï ×ñõóüóôïìïò ó÷ïëéÜæïíôáò ôï áãéïãñáöéêü ÷ùñßï «Å÷Üñçóáí äå ïé ìáèçôáß éäüíôåò ôïí Êýñéïí » (Éùí.16, 22) ëÝãåé: «âëÝðåôáé ðïõ ïé ëüãïé ãßíïíôáé Ýñãá; Äéüôé åêåßíï ðïõ Ýëåãå ðñï ôïõ Óôáõñïý, üôé ðÜëéí èá óáò éäþ êáé èá ÷áñåß ç êáñäéÜ óáò êáé ôçí ÷áñÜí óáò

êáíåßò äåí èá óáò ôçí áöáéñÝóåé, áõôü ôï åðñáãìáôïðïßçóåí. Ïëá áõôÜ äå ïäÞãçóáí ôïõò ìáèçôÜò åéò ðëÞñç ðßóôéí... ( ìåôÜöñáóç Ð. ×ñÞóôïõ, Ðáôåñéêáß Åêäüóåéò «Ãñçãüñéïò ÐáëáìÜò», ¸ñãá É. ×ñõóïóôüìïõ, ô.14, ó.707-709). ÔÝëïò ï Áã. Óõìåþí, ï Áñ÷éåðßóêïðïò Èåóóáëïíßêçò ôïí 15ï áéþíá åêöñÜæåé ôçí ÷áñÜ ôçò Åêêëçóßáò ãéá ôçí Ýíäïîç ÁíÜóôáóç ôïõ ×ñéóôïý: «...ãé áõôü, üôáí êáôáíôÞóáìå èíçôïß, áíÝëáâå ï áèÜíáôïò Õéüò íá ìáò áíïñèþóåé, êáé ëáìâÜíïíôáò èíçôü óþìá, êáé êÜíïíôÜò ôï áèÜíáôï ìå ôçí ÈåüôçôÜ Ôïõ, ìáò Ýêáíå üëïõò áèÜíáôïõò. Êáé üðùò áêñéâþò ï Ëüãïò ðïõ óáñêþèçêå áíáóôÞèçêå êáôÜ ôï óþìá, êáé åìåßò áíáóôçèÞêáìå ìÝóù Áõôïý. Êáé üôáí êáôáñãçèåß ïëïêëçñùôéêÜ áðü ôïí êüóìï, ç öèïñÜ, ôüôå êáé åìåßò èá æÞóïõìå êáé èá åßìáóôå ìáæß ìå ôïí æùíôáíü ×ñéóôü...». Ï Ìçôñïðïëßôçò ðñþçí Öëùñßíçò Áõãïõóôßíïò óõìðëçñþíåé: « Ç áíÜóôáóéò ôïõ Êõñßïõ ôïí ïõñáíüí, ï ïðïßïò ðñéí Þôáí Üâáôïò ãéá ôçí áìáñôùëÞ êáé Ýíï÷ç áíèñùðüôçôá, åðïßçóåí âáôüí... ¢íïéîå äñüìï ðñïò ôïí ÐáñÜäåéóï, áðï ôïí ïðïßï åß÷å áðïêëåéóèåß ï Üíèñùðïò...êáé Üíïéîå ôçí êåêëåéóìÝíçí èýñáí ôçò ÅäÝì...» (Åðéóêüðïõ Áõãïõóôßíïõ Í. Êáíôéþôç, Ìçôñïðïëßôç Öëùñßíçò, ÐÜó÷á, ÁèÞíáé 1988, ó. 222-223). Áò äïîÜæïõìå åê âÜèïõò êáñäéÜò ôçí æùïðïéü êáé óùôÞñéï Ýãåñóç ôïõ Êõñßïõ óõììåôÝ÷ïíôåò óôï íÝïí ÐÜó÷á, óôï ìõóôéêü ÐÜó÷á, óôï ôåñðíü êáé ðáíóåâÜóìéï ÐÜó÷á, ôï ÐÜó÷á ôçò áðïëõôñþóåùò êáé ôçò áöèáñóßáò. Ï ê. Ãåþñãéïò Ó. ÌðåìðÞò åßíáé êáèçãçôÞò Ðáôñïëïãßáò, óôçí É. ÈåïëïãéêÞ Ó÷ïëÞ ôïõ Ôéìßïõ Óôáõñïý.

ÁÑ×ÉÅÐÉÓÊÏÐÉÊÏ ÓÕÌÂÏÕËÉÏ Áðü Üëëïõò ðÜëé åêöñÜóôçêå ç åðéèõìßá ãéá äõíáìéêÞ ðáñïõóßáóç èÝóåùí êáé áéôçìÜôùí, üðùò ç ùñßìáíóç êáé åíçëéêßùóç ôçò åí ÁìåñéêÞ Åêêëçóßáò.

Ç äåýôåñç ìÝñá

Ç äåýôåñç ìÝñá ôùí åñãáóéþí ôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðéêïý Óõìâïõëßïõ Üñ÷éóå ìå ôçí ðáñïõóßáóç ôùí åêèÝóåùí ôùí åðß ìÝñïõò åðéôñïðþí. ÅðéôñïðÞ Íïìéêþí ÈåìÜôùí: Ï íïìéêüò óýìâïõëïò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ê. ÅììáíïõÞë ÄÞìïò ðáñïõóßáóå ôç ìåëÝôç ãéá ôïí êáíïíéóìü åðéëÞøçìïõ çèéêÞò óõìåñéöïñÜò, ôïí ïðïßï ç É. Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ ÁìåñéêÞò õðï÷ñåïýôáé áðü ôçí íïìïèåóßá êáé ôéò áóöáëéóôéêÝò åôáéñåßåò íá èÝóåé óå åöáñìïãÞ, óå åðßðåäï êïéíïôÞôùí, åðéóêïðþí, áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò êáé éäñõìÜôùí. Ï ê. ÄÞìïò ôüíéóå üôé äåí õðÜñ÷åé óõãêåêñéìÝíï èÝìá áëëÜ åßíáé êÜôé ðïõ ðñÝðåé íá åöáñìïóèåß ùò êáíïíéóìüò ãéá ôçí íïìéêÞ ðñïöýëáîç ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò. ÁíáöÝñèçêå åðßóçò óå Üëëá èÝìáôá íïìéêÞò öýóåùò êáé Ýäùóå äéåõêñéíßóåéò êáé áðáíôÞóåéò óôç óõæÞôçóç ðïõ áêïëïýèçóå. ÅðéôñïðÞ Äéïéêçôéêþí ÈåìÜôùí: Ôçí Ýêèåóç ðáñïõóßáóå ï äéåõèõíôÞò äéïßêçóçò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ÔæÝñé Äçìçôñßïõ. Óôçí ðñïöïñéêÞ ôïõ áíáöïñÜ óçìåßùóå ôéò ðñïóðÜèåéåò êáé åíÝñãåéåò ôïõ ãñáöåßïõ ãéá ôçí ìåßùóç ôùí åîüäùí ëåéôïõñãßáò ôùí ôìçìÜôùí ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò ðïõ ôï 2000 Þôáí êáôÜ $1.2 åêáôïìýñéá ëéãüôåñá áðü ôï 1999. Áõôü åðéôåý÷èçêå üðùò åßðå ìå ôï ðåñéïñéóìü ôïõ ðñïóùðéêïý (êáôá 14 õðáëëÞëïõò) êáé ôçí áíáäéïñãÜíùóç ëåéôïõñãßáò ôùí ôìçìÜôùí. ÁíáöÝñèçêå åðé ðëÝïí óôéò åðéôõ÷åßò åíÝñãåéåò ãéá ôçí áðÜëåéøç ôïõ ïéêïíïìéêïý ÷ñÝïõò êáé ôéò ÷ïñçãßåò ðñïãñáììÜôùí áðü ôçí «Çãåóßá ôùí

100», ôïíßæïíôáò üôé óôï ìÝëëïí èá ðñÝðåé íá äïèåß Ýìöáóç óôçí áíÜðôõîç êáé ðåñáéôÝñù ðñïóöïñÜ õðçñåóéþí ðñïò ôéò êïéíüôçôåò ðïõ áðáñôßæïõí ôçí Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ. ÅðéôñïðÞ Ìåéêôþí ÃÜìùí: Ï õðåýèõíïò ôçò åðéôñïðÞò ÄçìÞôñçò Ìüó÷ïò óçìåßùóå ùò áíçóõ÷çôéêü óôïé÷åßï ôçí ìåßùóç ôùí âáðôßóåùí êáé ðñüôåéíå ïñéóìÝíá óçìåßá ãéá ôçí ðñïþèçóç ôïõ Ýùò ôþñá Ýñãïõ åðß ôùí ìåéêôþí ãÜìùí, ðïõ áöïñïýí ôçí Ýãêáéñç äçìéïõñãßá ôïõ ôìÞìáôïò öñïíôßäáò ãéá ôçí ÏéêïãÝíåéá êáé ôçí åíáó÷üëçóÞ ôïõ ìå ôï èÝìá ôùí ìåéêôþí ãÜìùí ùò ðñþôç ðñïôåñáéüôçôá, ôçí ìåëÝôç ôïõ èÝìáôïò ôïõ áðïêëåéóìïý áðü ôç ìõóôçñéáêÞ æùÞ ôçò Åêêëçóßáò üóùí Ý÷ïõí ôåëÝóåé ãÜìïõò åêôüò Åêêëçóßáò ìå ìç ÷ñéóôéáíïýò óõæýãïõò êáé ôÝëïò ôçí Üìåóç äéÜèåóç ïéêïíïìéêþí ðüñùí ãéá ôç óõíÝ÷éóç ôçò Ýñåõíáò åðß ôùí ìåéêôþí ãÜìùí ðïõ âñßóêåôáé åí åîåëßîåé. ÅðéôñïðÞ Íåïëáßáò: Ôçí Ýêèåóç ðáñïõóßáóå ï äéåèõíôÞò ôïõ Ãñáöåßïõ Íåïëáßáò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò, ð. ÌÜñêïò ËåïíôÞò, ðïõ ìåôáîý Üëëùí áíáöÝñèçêå óôï ðñüãñáììá äéáêïíßáò óôá êïëëÝãéá êáé ðáíåðéóôÞìéá ìå ôç óõììåôï÷Þ üëùí ôùí ïñèïäüîùí äéêáéïäïóéþí ôçò SCOBA, ôçí ðáñáãùãÞ êáé ðñïþèçóç åêðáéäåõôéêþí-äéáöùôéóôéêþí âßíôåï åðß èåìÜôùí ðïõ áðáó÷ïëïýí ôçí íåïëáßá, êáé ôçí êáèéÝñùóç ðñïãñÜììáôïò åíáëëáêôéêþí äéáêïðþí ðñïóöïñÜò êáé ÷ñéóôéáíéêÞò äéáêïíßáò ãéá ôïõò íÝïõò. Áíåêïßíùóå áêüìç ôç äçìéïõñãßá êáôáóêçíùôéêïý ðñïãñÜììáôïò ôçò Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞò åíôüò ôçò ÁìåñéêÞò, õðü ôçí åðßâëåøç ôïõ Ãñáöåßïõ Íåïëáßáò. ÅêèÝóåéò ðáñïõóßáóáí êáé ïé åðéôñïðÝò ÅëëçíéêÞò Ðáéäåßáò, ðñüíïéáò êáé åõåñãåôçìÜôùí (Benefits), êáé ÐëçñïöïñéêÞò Ôå÷íïëïãßáò.

NEA YÏÑÊÇ. ÂïìâéóôéêÞ åðßèåóç õðÝóôçóáí ôá ãñáöåßá ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ óôçí ÁèÞíá óôéò 22 Áðñéëßïõ,ðïõ åõôõ÷þò ðñïêÜëåóå ìüíï õëéêÝò æçìéÝò. Ôçí åõèýíç ãéá ôçí Ýêñçîç áíÝëáâå ìå ôçëåöþíçìá óôçí åöçìåñßäá «Åëåõèåñïôõðßá» ç ïñãÜíùóç ÁíôéåîïõóéáóôéêÞ ÐÜëç. Ç ÉåñÜ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ ÁìåñéêÞò ìüëéò åðëçñïöïñÞèç ìå ïäõíçñÞ êáôÜðëçîç ôçí áíßåñç âïìâéóôéêÞ åíÝñãåéá êáôÜ ôùí ãñáöåßùí ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ óôçí ÁèÞíá, êáôåäßêáóå åíôüíùò ôçí åíÝñãåéáí áõôÞ ùò óôñåöïìÝíçí êáôÜ ôùí éåñþí êáé ïóßùí ôïõ ÃÝíïõò ìáò. ÅîÝöñáóå äå, äéá ôïõ ÓåâáóìéùôÜôïõ Áñ÷éåðéóêüðïõ ê. Äçìçôñßïõ, ôçí áìÝñéóôç êáé ïëüèåñìç óõìðáñÜóôáóÞ ôçò ðñïò ôçí ÌçôÝñá Åêêëçóßá, ôï Ïéêïõìåíéêü ìáò Ðáôñéáñ÷åßï êáôÜ ôçí þñá ìéáò áêüìç ðéêñÞò äïêéìáóßáò. ÅîÜëëïõ ôçí åðßèåóç êáôáäßêáóå êáôçãïñçìáôéêÜ êáé ç Åêêëçóßá ôçò ÅëëÜäïò, åíþ ï êõâåñíçôéêüò åêðñüóùðïò ÄçìÞôñçò ÑÝððáò äÞëùóå: «ÊáôáäéêÜæïõìå ìå áðïôñïðéáóìü ôçí ôñïìïêñáôéêÞ åðßèåóç óôá ãñáöåßá åêðñïóþðçóçò ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ, óôçí ÁèÞíá. ÁõôÞ ç áðå÷èÞò åíÝñãåéá óôñÝöåôáé åíáíôßïí ôïõ Åëëçíéóìïý, óôï óýíïëü ôïõ, ãéá ôïí ïðïßï ôï Ðáôñéáñ÷åßï ôçò Êùíóôáíôéíïýðïëçò áðïôåëåß ìéá ðíåõìáôéêÞ êïñõöÞ».

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Ç ÉåñÜ Áñ÷éåðéóêïðÞ êáôáäßêáóå ôçí âïìâéóôéêÞ åðßèåóç åíáíôßïí ôùí ãñáöåßùí ôïõ Ïéêïõìåíéêïý Ðáôñéáñ÷åßïõ óôçí ÁèÞíá

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ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 20

of

MAY 2001

Special Interest

Bereavement Group Finds Imitators

us abulo F e h T

Grecian Keys

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The 2001 YEARBOOK

For those who have lost a loved one or someone close to them, the pain and gutwrenching emotions they suffer as a result of the person s death can be overwhelming.

At that moment, the bereaved need the consolation and nurturing sympathy from someone they can turn to.

Over the years, some Greek Orthodox communities, recognizing this need, have developed a special ministry to deal with those in mourning.

One such program began at St. Paul Cathedral in Hempstead, N.Y., in 1994.

A parishioner, Kay Pamas, conceived of the idea after suffering the devastating loss of two children. In her quest for solace, she attended support groups in the general community and realized that her own parish would benefit from a similar program.

Mrs. Pamas suffered the loss of her 6year-old daughter to cancer several years earlier. Then, 10 years after that, her 25year-old son was killed in an auto accident in which he was a passenger.

With support from her priest, Fr. Nicholas Magoulias, the parish council and council member Bill Kallinikos who gave her professional advice, the Grief and Bereavement Support Group was born. Fifty persons attended the first meeting.

The organization meets twice a month throughout the year. Members share a common bond and reach out to each other by providing assistance in the process of resolving the feeling of bereavement, grief and loss.

In expressing their thoughts, revelation of the effect of their loss helps them face each day with a little less pain and

more hope.

Mrs. Pamas wish has been that similar Orthodox ministries for the bereaved be established throughout the U.S. In the past few years, that wish has begun to come true.

In 1996, at the Clergy-Laity Congress in New York, Mrs. Pamas and Presbytera Garnette Vasilakis, widow of Fr. Emanuel Z. Vasilakis, late dean of the Greek Orthodox cathedral in Birmingham, Ala., met and discussed their common sorrows and interests.

In June 2000, Presbytera Vasilakis, a noted motivational speaker who over the years has given presentations on the grieving process, founded the Grief Support Group of Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Cathedral, which is modeled closely after the Hempstead program.

Other similar programs have taken root in other states, including Arizona and Florida (Tarpon Springs).

In 1998, the St. Paul Cathedral program has also started a custom at Christmas time of placing a tree in the church so parishioners can bring a favorite ornament associated with their departed loved one to place on the tree. The ceremony is preceded by a liturgy and memorial service.

Birmingham adopted the idea this past Christmas and more than 100 parishioners attended the event, officiated by Frs. Paul Costopoulos and Soterios Rousakis.

For any parish wanting to create a similar program in their community, more information is available from St. Paul Cathedral, (516) 483-5700, or (e-mail: stpaul@I2000.com, or from the Cathedral of Birmingham: AgiaTrias@aol.com

SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships Available at U. of Alabama-Huntsville

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

YEARBOOK 2001

o YES! Please send me _____ copy/copies of the YEARBOOK 2001 $18.00 each x ______(# of copies) = $_______ + $3.00 (S & H) per Book = Total $___________OR: (check one) o VISA o MasterCard o AmEx o Discover

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. A Greek family from New York has endowed a graduate fellowship in biological sciences at the University of Alabama in Huntsvulle in honor of a brother who had a life-long interest in the environment.

The fellowship offers free tuition and an academic year stipend of between $10,500 and $11,000.

For more information, contact Dr. Campbell, Chair of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Department of Biological Sciences, Wilson Hall, Room 142, Huntsville, AL 35899. Tel. (256) 824-6261; fax (256) 824-6305; e-mail: campbep@uah.edu.

For information about the university and department: www.uah.edu/biology.

Professor Offers Engineering Fellowships TUCSON, Ariz. Dimitri B. Kececioglu, P.E., professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona, is making available several graduate fellowships and research assistantships in engineering to students of Greek parentage.

The fellowships offer as much as $11,000 and the assistantships, up to $17,250 per academic year.

Dr. Kececioglu has 45 years teaching experience, is the author of 13

books, the recipient of nearly 100 awards, has conducted nearly 400 training seminars and serves as a consultant to some 95 companies.

For more information contact Dr. Dimitri B. Kececioglu, P.E.; Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering; The University of Arizona; PO Box 210119; Tucson, AZ 85721-0119; Tel.: (520) 621-6121; fax: (520) 297-2679; email: dimitri @u.arizona.edu; or www.u.arizona.edu;/~dimitri/

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ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 21

B O O K S

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offered to Communities, Organizations, Church festivals and all other functions.

Sickness or Sin?: Spiritual Discernment and Differential Diagnosis In the middle of an increasingly secularized, technologically and medically advanced society, questions of health and well-being are as important as ever.

by Alexandra Price

As medicine and scientific inquiry combine to improve the quality of our everyday lives, religion and spirituality have, until recently, been frequently pushed aside, upstaged by rational empirical disciplines that rests our livelihood in the mechanics of natural science.

A recently published book by the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion (OCAMPR), Sickness or Sin?: Spiritual Discernment and Differential Diagnosis, edited by Dr. John Chirban, focuses a collection of articles around the issue of understanding in the therapeutic encounter.

According to Dr. David G. Benner, distinguished professor at the Psychological Studies Institute in Atlanta, the contributors to this volume draw on the richness of the Orthodox Christian tradition to identify rich resources to aid in the proves of therapeutic discernment. The result is a book that should be recognized for its value not only to Orthodox Christians, but to all Christians, he said in a review.

Presenters effectively refute the culture biases that have led practitioners and clergy alike to separate medical sciences from deeper underpinnings of faith, highlighting the contribution of faith to one s well being.

A ground-breaking work that promises to lay the foundations for further research, Sickness or Sin? examines crucial moments when science, psychology and spirituality converge.

In this compilation of essays and case studies, experts in the field of care-giving invite a wider, more comprehensive dialogue regarding health and faith, looking specifically within the parameters of Orthodox Christianity.

Accessible to both the seasoned professional and fervent believer, these essays speak to one another through the auspices of a shared belief, initiating a discussion that has been hailed by the president of Holy Cross-Hellenic College, the Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou as a mosaic of responsible counsel. It represents the highest degree of spiritual archery as each writer sails his or her bow to the very center of the envisioned target.

Dr. Merle R. Jordan, emeritus professor of pastoral psychology at Boston University writes: The volume creatively brings into the new millennium insightful perspectives on the encounter between Orthodox Christianity and the healing arts.

Spiritual discernment, the way in which we all faith to guide, shape and

enrich our lives, lies at the heart of this sensitive and multivalent volume.

In its greater effort to align the complimentary goals of medical and ecclesiastical caregivers, Sickness or Sin? explores the complex relationship between patient and provider, introducing empathy and compassion into discussions of treatment.

The positive and salutary effects of integrating faith and medicine will serve as a clarion call to any reader interested in the enrichment of his or her daily life.

Contributors to this work represent a broad spectrum of medical, clerical and academic backgrounds, exemplifying, in their own practices, the concordant, holistic vision of Orthodox Christianity.

The logical organization and progression of these essays carries the reader from the Holy Scriptures to the modern-day patient, Orthodox anthropology to its practical applications.

Firmly rooted in both the richness of the Gospel and the immediacy of patient history, this compilation of ideas paints a vivid picture of holistic care its origins, its triumphs and its emergent possibilities.

The subjects of this volume include: The Path of Growth and Development in Eastern Orthodox (Christianity); Discernment and Diagnosis in Human Development: An Orthodox Perspective; Your Faith is Making You Well; Psychotherapy in an Orthodox Christian Context; Sickness or Sin? Restoring the Healing Effect of the Patient/Physician Relationship; Sexuality and the Church; in addition to several case studies.

Contributors include the Rev. Philatheos Faros, director of the Archdiocese of Youth Center in Athens, Greece; J. Stephen Muse, Ph.D., senior staff psychotherapist at the Pastoral Institute, Columbus, Ga.; Demetrios Oreopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Dialysis Program and Kidney Stone Clinic at the University of Toronto; and the Rev. Theodore Stylianopoulos, professor of New Testament at Holy Cross School of Theology.

John T. Chirban, editor of this volume, is a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and professor of psychology at Hellenic College-Holy Cross.

In conjunction with his teaching and research, he serves as a psychologist in the Behavioral Medicine Program at the Cambridge Hospital and has a private practice.

His many books and editorial contributions include Interviewing in Depth: The Interactive-Relational Approach; Personhood: Orthodox Christianity and the Connection between Mind, Body and Soul; and Healing.

To order Sickness or Sin? and to receive information about other OCAMPR publications: send a check for $19.95, plus $3 shipping and handling to: OCAMPR. PO Box 958, Cambridge, MA 02238.

missions

2001 OCMC Missions Calendar Available ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The Orthodox Christian Mission Center s 2001 wall calendar is now available for sale at half-price.

Better yet, the calendar s reduced price of just $5 includes all shipping and handling fees.

In the spirit of Christ s Great Commission, OCMC has created for the first time a 12-month calendar dedicated solely to the work of Orthodox missions world-

wide. Featuring special dates and anniversaries from mission churches around the world, the 2001 Missions Calendar also includes dozens of inspiring full-color pictures and a complete lectionary.

To order the 2001 Missions Calendar using your Visa or MasterCard, please call OCMC at (904) 829-5132. You may also send a check made payable to OCMC to P.O. Box 4319, St. Augustine, FL 32085.

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PEOPLE

u Heart award recipient

The American Heart Association presented Constantine Papadakis, president of Drexel and MCP Hahnemann universities, with its Heart of Philadelphia Award, bestowed annually to an individual whose leadership and dedication best exemplify Philadelphia s giving spirit.

u Receives humanitarian award

A. Jack Georgalas, an Archon and member of Leadership 100, received the Humanitarian Award from the Peninsula Chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice ( NCCJ) on Feb. 22. Mr, and Mrs. Georgalas are members of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Newport News, Va.

u Scholar fellowship nominee

Stephanie Nikolopoulos of Closter, N.J., recently was nominated and accepted as a Junior Scholar Fellow at the Humanities Institute at Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., a program that supports interdisciplinary research and discussion.

She participated in the Ancient Worlds fellowship, in which she attended conferences and plays concerning issues of gender, sexuality and race in Greece and Rome. Ms. Nikolopoulos undertook a semester long research project and wrote Dancing Through the Ages, a study of ancient military tactics found in Greek folk dance still performed today.

u Radio program exec.

The daily Greek public radio program in New York on WNYE, HPR-Cosmos FM, recently named long-time talk show host Eleni Daniels as director. She has been an independent producer for the program for seven years. Ms. Daniels also was a former associate editor for the Orthodox Observer, and currently serves as president of the women s organization Elpides. Hellenic Public Radio - COSMOS FM (HPR) is the flagship radio service of the Greek American Educational Public Information System (GAEPIS, Inc). Founded in 1987, it reaches nearly 200,000 listeners each week.

u Arts award recipient

The Newington-Cropsey Foundation Cultural Studies Center in Hastings-onHudson, N.Y., presented its award for Excellence in the Arts to Georgetown University professor Dr. Diane ApostolosCappadona for her significant contribution to the arts and society. She is adjunct professor in the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, and adjunct professor in religion, art and gender studies at the university. Dr. Cappadona is the author of several books on religion and art.

She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Apostolos of Deal, N.J.

u Retires from statehouse

Helen Dudash, a lifetime member of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, in Cheyenne, Wyo., recently retired from the Wyoming State Legislature after serving as House staff supervisor for the House of Representatives. The Legislature honored her 23 years service by presenting her with a crystal bowl, engraved with the seal of the State of Wyoming, and granting her recognition on the House floor.

MAY 2001

Community Makes Transition from Mission to Parish EUGENE, Oregon The rapid success and progress achieved by St. George parish in a relatively short period serves as a positive example of a mission s successful transition to parish status.

It began in the 1970s through the efforts of a handful of persons with strong support from the Diocese and Oregon s largest parish, Holy Trinity in Portland.

The members of St. George, who are mostly American-born from lived in cities before moving to Eugene, have nurtured what this satellite community into a fully functioning church with a number of ministries and programs for its faithful.

PARISH

Most parishioners work in white-collar occupations, with many affiliated with the University of Oregon, one of three institutions of higher learning in this college town of about 130,000 founded in 1846.

There are several Orthodox students as well as faculty and staff. The other schools are Northwest Christian College and a community college.

Eugene also is home to major plants of the Korean carmaker Hundai and SONY, where some parishioners work.

Fr. Stephanopoulos, who died in 1994 and his assistant priests served the tiny St. George community and had a significant part in helping it achieve parish status. In the initial stages, they held monthly services on a Saturday at various

Archbishop Iakovos issued the community its charter.

The Opening of the Doors for the hall took place in May 1994 and a bell tower was erected in 1997.

Women s organization Several women in the community formed an organization called Philia in October 1980 to support the parish s mission effort. The group sponsored discussion groups on the Bible and Church history, organized support activities such as baby showers, receptions, luncheons and folk dancing classes, and donated for icons and altar candle holders.

They decorate the Epitaphios at

profile

Name: St. George Greek Orthodox Church Location: Eugene, Oregon Diocese: San Francisco Size: about 65 Families Founded: 1977 Clergy: Fr. Anthony Evangelatos (Holy Cross 95) Noteworthy: parish is a harmonious blend of Orthodox-born and converts.

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH According to a community history outline, in the mid-1970s, a group of five families and some Greek Orthodox college students attending the University of Oregon discussed forming an organized church community with Bishop Anthony of San Francisco, who gave his full support to their efforts.

In February 1977, they met at a local Episcopal church for a salutations service offered by Fr. Elias Stephanopoulos, pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Portland. He celebrated the first liturgy in March of that Eugene year in a student center at the university.

Until that time, Holy Trinity was Oregon s only Greek Orthodox parish, and also served southern Washington.

At present, St. George s parishioners live mostly in Eugene and the surrounding area. Other members live on the Pacific coast, some 60 miles to the west across the Coastal Range mountains, to as far east as Bend, in central of Oregon, and south on Interstate 5 to Medford and Ashland, a few miles north of the California border.

Fr. Evangelatos describes his community as Pan Orthodox, with about 50 percent being American-born of Greek background, many in interchurch marriages, along with Orthodox of Serbian, Arab, Russian and other backgrounds, and some converts. We re not strongly ethnic in any one direction, said Fr. Evangelatos, who added that he uses about 98 percent English in the services.

local churches, including Lutheran, Episcopalian, Baptist, and at the University of Oregon s Newman Center.

Also during this time, several Orthodox priests from other jurisdictions, including St. George Antiochian Church in Portland, officiated at various services, Greek Orthodox priests from elsewhere in the diocese, came during Holy Week.

Before receiving its current, official name, the community began as the Greek Orthodox Community of Eugene in 1977, the Greek Orthodox Mission of Eugene in October 1986, the Greek Orthodox Church of Eugene in May 1992, andSt. George in December 1993.

The Rev. Fr. Evangelatos, who has served the parish since July 1997, is only the second permanent full-time priest in the community. His predecessor was Fr. John Hondros, who had served from September 1991.

Ten years after its founding, the community purchased its present five-acre site on the northeast corner of the city, an area of newer developments.

Groundbreaking for a multi-purpose hall took place May 10, 1992, with Bishop Anthony of San Francisco, Fr. Stephanopoulos, and Fr. Hondros present. The hall currently houses the sanctuary and altar area where services take place, and also serves as a social gathering and function site.

Sixteen days later, St. George was incorporated as the Greek Orthodox Church of Eugene. Four years later, May 19, 1996,

Pascha and one member bakes the annual Vasilopita auctioned to support St. Basil Academy.

Parallel to this, a Philoptochos chapter was founded in 1986. The St. Katherine s chapter has subsequently supported national and diocesan fundraising efforts for Holy Cross-Hellenic College, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, St. Basil Academy, Kids and Cancer, St. John the Forerunner Monastery and others.

Locally, they prepare Pascha baskets, sponsor bereavement receptions and the annual St. George Feast Day luncheon, and Christmas charitable projects.

Youth programs St. George Church has several youth organizations and programs, including JOY and GOYA, vacation Bible school, and Camp Angelos, a one-week summer camp.

The parish also has a variety of community-building events aimed at fostering a greater cohesiveness among parishioners. These include the church picnic held at a local park, the Pascha Dinner, which has been held at various locations over the years, including a Catholic church parish center, Lutheran fellowship Hall and at a university community center.

An out-of-the-ordinary custom practiced in the parish is congregational singing during the Divine Liturgy, since there is no formal choir. However, there is a small, informal Orthodox chorale that sings on certain occasions.

There also is a Sunday school comprised of 35 children, and an immigrant parishioner has just started a Greek

u page 21

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 23

HC/HC REPORT Alumni Reunion Events Set May 16-19 BROOKLINE, Mass. Alumni Week festivities for celebrating reunion classes will be held on the campus of Hellenic College/Holy Cross beginning Wednesday, May 16.

The Class of 1951 celebrates its 50th anniversary of graduation along with the 25th anniversary Classes of 1976 for both Hellenic College and Holy Cross.

Continuing a tradition that began last year, the following classes are also being asked to join in the celebration of Alumni reunion week: 1-Year, Class of 2000; 5Year, Class of 1996; 10-Year, Class of 1991; 15-Year, Class of 1986; 20-Year, Class of 1981; 30-Year, Class of 1971; and 40-Year, Class of 1961.

The week s schedule of events is as follows:

ALUMNI / GRADUATION WEEK

Wednesday, May 16: Noon - Alumni Association Board of Directors Meeting; 2 p.m. awards ceremony; 5 p.m. - Great Vespers - Offikia (Crosses -25th Reunion Class of Holy Cross); 6:30 p.m. - Bus to dinner; 7:30 p.m. President s Dinner in honor of 25th

and 50th reunion classes. His Eminence to give the blessing. Presentation of Alumni Reunion gifts to the 25th and 50th reunion classes; Class reflection remembrances offered by one member of each honored class.

Thursday, May 17: 7 a.m. - Orthros; 8 a.m. - Divine Liturgy (sermon, memorial service); 10 a.m. - Continental breakfast at the Maliotis Center; 10:30 a.m. - Alumni Association General Assembly meeting; 12:30 p.m. - HC/HC Family Texas BBQ, hosted by the Alumni Association - all alumni, trustees, students and their families, faculty, and administration are invited; 5 p.m. - Small Vespers; Evening HC/HC Student Government Association boat cruise and dinner.

Friday, May 18; Free Day for all reunion classes Saturday, May 19; Participation in graduation procession For further information, contact the Alumni Office of Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology at 617-850-1277 or by email at alumni@hchc.edu.

Counseling Skills Presented at HC/HC Parish Seminars BROOKLINE, Mass. Six informative and practical seminars were offered through April at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology to better prepare future parish leaders in facing personal problems affecting people.

Michael Kallas, a licensed marriage and family therapist, led the seminars, which began in March.

Each hour-long seminar consistedof a presentation followed by a question-andanswer session.

Participants received handouts outlining skills that can of use in a parish setting. They also learned to handle some of these problems and how to use appropriate community resources to help those needing more intensive or longer-term help. Topics and schedule consisted of the following: 03/19 The Counseling Process - A Three-Stage Guide 03/26 Counseling Couples - Some So-

lution-Focused Strategies 04/02 Family Violence - Child Abuse & Spouse Abuse 04/18 [Wed.] Drug & Alcohol Problems in the Parish - How to Help 04/23 Crisis Intervention 04/30 When You Can t Do It All - Making Referrals Each seminar took place Monday from 7-8 p.m. except the Drug & Alcohol Problems, which is Wednesday, April 16.

Mr. Kallas, from the San Francisco Diocese, is a graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (M. Div., 00) and is continuing his studies at Holy Cross in the Master of Theology (Th. M.) program working on a thesis in the area of marriage in Scripture. Prior to attending seminary, Michael worked as a counselor in California. He has also taught a variety of counseling and psychology courses as an adjunct instructor in California and at Hellenic College. ¿

PARISH PROFILE u page 20

school for 12 children and adults that meets Sundays after the coffee hour.

Post-missionary The priests describes his community as post-missionary, but that he s still trying to create in people s minds the idea of a viable parish. We re here to stay, he said. This is ours and we need to take care of it. We re the stewards.

They ve really done a lot in the short years we ve been here, added Fr. Evangelatos, who also noted that a major problem the community faces is turnover.

There s a lot of turnover (among members), he said, attributing it to the transitional nature of being associated with a major university. Just when you start gaining, you start losing. Growth has been a little bit difficult.

Fund-raising Stewardship has been the primary revenue source for St. George Church since its inception.

Special fund-raisers and pledge drives were held in the early 1990s for the building fund and considerable financial assistance has come from Holy Trinity in Portland. Holy Trinity has been very supportive, said Fr. Evangelatos. These efforts enabled the parish to pay off the mortgage on its center in 1999.

Given the current small number of members, the Greek festival was discontinued in 1998 in favor of holding other, small, less labor-intensive events.

With its major debt paid off, the community has begun thinking about phase two of its building program the construction of a church building, but the project could be a long way off.

We re starting to think about building a permanent temple, but there s nothing definite yet, said Fr. Evangelatos. compiled by Jim Golding

Orthodox Observer

During their orientation visit to the Archdiocese in New York in mid-March, seniors from Holy Cross School of Theology receive a briefing from Helen Lavorata, director of the National Philoptochos Office, and Paulette Geanakopoulos, social worker, on the various philanthropic activities of the organization.

Seminarians Receive Orientation to Archdiocese NEW YORK Graduating members of HC/HC s Class of 2001 took part in an annual rite of passage in mid-March with an orientation visit to Archdiocese headquarters, and other nearby Church institutions.

The 13 seniors arrived at St. Michael s Home in Yonkers on Monday, March 19, where they received a tour of the facility from the Very Rev. Andonios Paropoulos, followed by a paraklesis in the chapel.

Later they toured the General Theological Seminary in Manhattan.

They arrived at the Archdiocese on Tuesday and began their day with a Lenten Orthros service.

Following a meeting with Chancellor Fr. Savas Zembillas and Assistant Chancellor Fr. Michael Kontogiorgis, the students heard a series of briefings by department representatives, including Registry (Fr. Evangelos Kourounis); Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Fr. Mark Leondis; Camping Ministry and Ionian Village (Michael Pappas); Greek Education (Katerina Papahartofili); Sisterhood of Presvyteres, Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos.

They also had lunch with Archbishop Demetrios.

The seminarians attended evening vespers at St. Demetrios Church in Jamaica, Queens.

Wednesday s visit began with the PreSanctified Gifts Service and briefings from Finance (John Barbagallo); Stewardship/ Total Commitment (Fr. Gabriel Karambis; Clergy Benefits (Kathy Peters); Information Technologies and Internet Ministries (Theo Nikolakis); Missions and Ecumenical Relations (Bishop Demetrios of Xanthos); News & Information (Presbytera Nikki Stephanopoulos); GOTelecom (Marissa Cotsidis); and the Orthodox Observer (Stavros Papagermanos).

Afterward, the group walked to the nearby Metropolitan Museum for a tour of the Jaharis Galleries.

They wrapped up their visit to the Archdiocese on March 22, hearing presentations from the Archives (Niki Calle); the Archons (Chris Daphnides); Leadership 100 (George Schira), before heading to

Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral for a tour by Fr. Robert Stephanopoulos, dean, who discussed the cathedral s history.

Afterward, the group headed to National Philoptochos headquarters for a briefing on the organization s philanthropic work by Helen Lavorata, office director, and social worker Paulette Giannakopoulos.

They went on to St. Vladimir s Orthodox Seminary in Crestwood, N.Y. for a brief tour, then paid a visit to Archbishop Iakovos at his residence in Rye. The Seminarians spent the night at St. Basil Academy in Garrison and attended chapel and toured the facility the following morning before departing for Brookline.

Students said they were highly pleased with their visit.

It was very informative and helpful, said Peter Polychroni of Detroit.

It gave us an opportunity to learn more about our Archdiocese, said Deacon Adam Metropoulos from northern Maine. It was a blessing to thave time to spend with His Eminence and I enjoyed Bishop Dimitrios talk on missions.

It was nice to be initiated into the Archdiocese and meet the people behind the departments, said Nick Halkias of Pittsburgh.

Julie Tziolas of Niles, Ill., a master of divinity student, said it was nice to get acquainted with the Archdiocese. She especially liked the luncheon with Archbishop Demetrios.

The facilities were excellent and it was nice to see the organization, said Peter Zougras of Staten Island.

The Registry was one of the most informative presentations, said Taso Douglas of Charlotte, N.C.

Seniors participating in Archdiocesan Seminar - 2001 Deacon Adam Metropoulos, Tasos Douglas, Peter Polychroni, Peter Zougras, William Adams, James Theos, Harry Theodore, Nicholas Paleologos, John Vlahos, Nicholas Halkias, Julie Tziolas, Francisco Galindo (missionary student from Chile), and Laney Ross (CarpathoRussian Diocese).

CLERGY U P D A T E Assignments: Rev. Presbyter Nicholas Andrews Annunciation Cathedral,Houston, (assistant) 1/01/01 Rev. Hieromonk Polycarp Steve St. Demetrios Church, Rocky River, Ohio (assistant) 3/01/01 Rev. Presbyter Constantine Photos

St. George Church, Rock Island, Ill. 4/01/01 Rev. Deacon Mark Spero Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Boulder, Colo.

Offikia: The Office of Economos was bestowed upon Father Milton Mangos by His Grace, Bishop Alexios 1/21/01

PAGE 24

DIOCESE

Door-Opening at Myrtle Beach Church MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. St. John the Baptist Church recently held its Thyranexia service (opening of the doors) with Bishop Alexios of Atlanta officiating.

Renovations to the 11-year-old church were completed after faulty construction caused severe water damage throughout the building.

Bishop Alexios was assisted by Fr. George S. Zervos, parish priest, and retired priest the Very Rev. James Mihalakis of Florence, S.C. The aghiasmos service took place after the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, attended by more than 300 parishioners.

The original church was established in 1975 and services were held in a converted Christian church building.

news

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

MAY 2001

Goyans Win Pan Orthodox Celebration at Washington Mission Georgian 1st Place in Dance Events

KENMORE, Wash. Twelve priests and five deacons led a large congregation from several Puget Sound area parishes in celebration of Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers at the Greek Orthodox mission here.

Fr. Michael Johnson, pastor, and Deacon Tom Tsagalakis hosted members of the Washington Orthodox Clergy Association for the first in a series of joint Lenten Sunday evening Vesper services.

Fr. Nicholas Kime, pastor of St. Herman s Church in Port Townsend, Wash., preached the sermon.

Clergy serving included: Frs. John Angelis and Joseph Velez, St. Demetrios Church, Seattle; Adam Pogrebniak, St. Spiridon Cathedral (OCA), Seattle; Dane Popovic, St. Sava Church (Serbian), Issa quah; John Hondros, Assumption Church, Seattle; John Pierce, Holy Resurrection (OCA), Tacoma; James Bernstein and Thomas Davis, Sts. Paul s (Antiochian), Brier; David Hovik, St. Andrew s (Antiochian), Arlington; and Anthony Tomaras (retired), Gig Harbor; and Deacons Perry Angelos, Jerry Markopoulos, Brad Jensen and Joseph Kerns.

Virginia Cathedral Children Support Missions Program RICHMOND, Va. Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral children recently focused on helping charities through Orthodox missions.

They sent toys, care packages and funds to the Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala.

The previous year, they sent artwork and gospels to St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage through Project Mexico.

TRANSFIGURATION CHURCH Goyans proudly display their first-place trophies taken recently in Alabama. (Front row) Andrew Miltiades. (middle row) Christy Macris, Katina Dunkerly, Joann Vlahiotis. (back row) Eleni Bafas, Dorian Bafas and Melina Burke. (Below) The dance group in full garb.

Illinois School Benefit PALOS HILLS, Ill. Nearly 500 parents, supporters, students and friends of Koraes School recently attended a dinner dance in support of the parochial school of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church.

Among those attending were Metropolitan Iakovos of Krinis, Frs. Byron Papanikolau, Nicholas Jonas and Haralambos Kladis; parish council President Peter G. Lagen; pastoral assistances Tom De Medeiros and Chris Avramopoulos; Koraes Principal Kaliope (Kelly) Flaskos and teachers of the school.

Banquet to Honor Scientists, Engineers, Entrepreneurs LOS ANGELES The Friends of Hellenic Studies and the Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies at Loyola Marymount University will honor six Greek Americans in science and technology at a banquet on May 12.

The six honorees are: James Demetriades, CEO of SeeBeyond Technology Corp.;Harry Halamandaris, executive vice president, Litton Industries; Chrysostomos L. (Max) Nikias Ph.D., associate dean of engineering and director of Integrated Media Systems Center at the University of Southern Calif.; Kyriakos Nikolaou Ph.D., chairman, Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research Institute and professor of chemical biology at the University of CaliforniaSan Diego; Gregory M. Papadopoulos Ph.D., senior vice president and chief technology officer at Sun Microsystems; and Peter M. Retzepis Ph.D., University of California Presidential Chair, professor of chemistry and electrical and computer engineering, and director of the Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology.

PARTICIPATING CLERGY after the traditional Procession of the Holy Icons at Kenmore’s mission parish.

Orthodox Institute Sponsors Summer Program on Evangelism BERKELY, Calif. Patriarch Athe nagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI), in conjunction with the Graduate Theological Union Cooperative Summer Session, announces a summer program, Evangelism and the Orthodox Parish, July 1620, in Berkeley.

Featured instructors will be Frs. Peter Gillquist and Constantine Sitaras.

The program was designed as a way for Orthodox Christian clergy and lay leaders to interact, share ideas and explore practical ways of enhancing the evangelical dimension of their parish ministries.

In addition to daily seminars by Frs. Gillquist and Sitaras, the schedule will include morning and evening services in the institute s St. Demetrios Chapel, some community meals, and evening presentations by Bay-area professionals

with expertise in parish ministry.

Participants can earn academic credit for $265 (two continuing education units) or $365 (1.5 semester hours of graduate credit). Housing is available on a limited basis for $320 to $380.

Fr. Gillquist, chairman of the Department of Missions and Evangelism for the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is publisher of AGAIN magazine and served as project director of the Orthodox Study Bible.

Fr. Sitaras, former director of Ionian Village summer camp and director of Stewardship Ministry for the Archdiocese, is currently director of St. Basil Academy, in Garrison, N.Y. For more information regarding registration, contact PAOI at 510-649-2450 or e-mail at summersession@ orthodoxinstitute.org.

Pennsylvania Church Consecration Set in May READING, Pa. Consecration services for Sts. Constantine and Helen Church will take place May 20, with Metropolitan Maximos officiating.

Assisting will be Frs. Thomas L. Pappalas, pastor, and Anthony Ugolnik, associate pastor.

Activities begin Saturday, May 19 with a Great Vespers and the placement of the holy relics on the altar.

Dinner will follow in the hall.

On Sunday, Orthros begins at 7:30

a.m.. The procession around the church starts at 9 a.m., followed by the consecration at 10 a.m.

The Hierarchical Liturgy begins at 11 a.m. and will conclude about 1 p.m.

A lunch will follow in the hall.

A reception and Grand Banquet will be held later in the day, beginning at 4:30.

On May 21, the church s feast day, a second Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on the newly consecrated altar followed by a luncheon in the hall.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. Holy Transfiguration Church s GOYA dance troupe recently won two first-place awards at competitions in Mobile, Ala., and Asheville, N.C. At the recent Hellenic Dance Festival in Mobile, they placed first among youth groups from several parishes. Bishop Alexios of Atlanta developed this festival as a means of promoting Greek culture among the diocese youth.

The Goyans also placed first at a contemporary Greek dance competition at a winter youth rally in Asheville that also drew teams from Alabama and North Carolina.

They will next perform at the annual Marietta Greek Festival, May 18-20.

Troupe members are Katina Dunkerly, Christy Macris, Joann Vlahiotis, Dorian Bafas, Eleni Bafas, Melina Burke and Andrew Miltiades.

Choir Federation Produces Golden Anniversary Album DETROIT The Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, which includes choirs from the Detroit and Pittsburgh dioceses, completed its Golden Anniversary Commemorative Album.

The album, edited by George S. Raptis, includes scores of photographs taken since the Federation began in 1948 as the Tri-State District Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Choirs, an extensive history, special articles and congratulatory messages, and a section dedicated to notable Federation leaders and their accomplishments throughout the 50-year history.

Copies of the 320-page volume are still available, at a cost of $35 plus $3.75 for packaging and mailing.

Checks should be payable to MEFGOX50 th and sent to: George S. Raptis, 17516 Fairfield St., Detroit, MI 48221-2741.

MAY 2001

DIOCESE OF CHICAGO ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 25

Illinois Church Completes Illinois Parish to Honor Fr. Gordon’s 25th Anniversary Byzantine Iconography Project GLENVIEW, Ill. Capping a yearlong celebration of its 40th anniversary, Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church recently completed the extensive Byzantine iconography installation in its dome.

The icons of Christ the holder of the universe, or Pantocrator in Greek, and the procession of the Divine Liturgy were painted after prototypes at the Monastery of Stavronikita on Mount Athos.

Below a ring of windows in the dome of the Glenview church, 16 medallion icons of saints dating from the time before Christ to the 20th century also are represented. The parish s late spiritual father, the Rev. George J. Scoulas, who died in October 2000, selected the saints.

The entire icon project is a testament to his legacy of more than 26 years of service as the church s head pastor.

The glory of Byzantine iconography is captured in many forms, but especially in the domes of Orthodox churches, said George Filippakis, the New York-based iconographer of the project. This particular work is significant because of its rarity. Just one other Orthodox church in the U.S. has the procession of the Divine Liturgy icon accompanying the Pantocrator.

Christ the Pantocrator icon at Sts. Peter and Paul rests at the apex of the 40-ft. diameter dome while the procession of the Divine Liturgy icon circles the lower dome.

The Orthodox Church has a prescribed order in the placement of icons. The divine world is represented throughout the church edifice, but especially in the dome.

Added the Rev. Evagoras Consta ntinides, the parish s acting pastor: Icons are an integral part of the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church, for they are prototypes of the saints who have gone before

us. The saints are worshipping the Holy Trinity together with us, and they are reminders that the Kingdom of God is Christ s body, the Church.

To remind the faithful of this understanding, Fr. Scoulas, the church s late pastor, selected the saints represented in the 16 medallion icons as spiritual examples with whom the Orthodox faithful and others could identify. Hence, the saints come from both the Old Testament and the New Testament in the Bible, as well as from various backgrounds, occupations and countries.

Among the saints included are Patriarch Abraham and the Righteous Sarah from the book of Genesis, St. Stephen the Protomartyr from the Acts of the Apostles, Sts. Cyril and Methodios, missionaries to Slavic peoples in the 10th century, St. Anastasia of the fourth century, St. Nectarios, a 20th century Greek bishop canonized in 1961, and St Herman of Alaska, a Russian missionary canonized in 1970.

Filippakis painted all the icons in egg tempera and 23 karat gold leaf.

The Woodbury, N.Y., iconographer, who has been painting Byzantine icons for 35 years, started working on the Sts. Peter and Paul project in September 2000 after the church submitted final specifications.

He arrived in Glenview March 8 with associates John Kriaras and Austin Kachek to begin installation.

The project was scheduled for official completion with the removal of scaffolding before Palm Sunday.

Funds for the $300,000 iconography project were raised over an 18-month period and included contributions from more than 500 parishioners and friends of the parish.

Chicago Diocese to Welcome Oratorical Festival Finalists

by Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos

Final plans for the 2001 Saint John Chrysostom Archdiocese Oratorical Festival are under way. Host coordinator the V. Rev. Fr. Timothy Bakakos of St. Nicholas Church in Oak Lawn, Ill., has announced the weekend schedule, beginning Friday, June 8.

Following the arrival of the 18 diocese finalists, the festivities will begin with Vespers, an orientation and a welcome reception at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Palos Hills, hosted by the Revs. Byron Papanikolaou and the Nicholas Jonas.

The Festival will take place at St. Nicholas Church in Oak Lawn on June 9, beginning at 10 a.m.

Special guests will be Archbishop Demetrios, Metropolitan Iakovos of Krinis, presiding hierarch of the Diocese of Chicago and the Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, director of the Department of Religious Education, which sponsors the Oratorical Festival.

Festival results will be announced immediately after the Awards Luncheon at St. Nicholas Church. The top speaker in each division will receive a $2,000 college scholarship; second place speakers will receive $1,500 college scholarships and the speakers who receive third place recognition will each be awarded a $1,000 college scholarship.

The other diocese finalists will receive Honorable Mention and a $500 U.S. Savings Bond.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Oratorical Festival Foundation, which makes these scholarships possible, may contact the Religious Education Department at (800) 566-1088.

Following the luncheon, the finalists and their families will depart for Chicago s famous Navy Pier for a tour and a dinner cruise and fireworks display on Lake Michigan. This activity is being coordinated by Fr. John Kalomas from Holy Cross Church in Joliet, Ill. The weekend concludes with a farewell luncheon after the hierarchical liturgy at St. Nicholas Church in Oak Lawn.

Theme for the 2001 Oratorical Festival is The Holy Fathers and includes topics about St. John of Damascus, St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Romanos Melodus and St. Mark of Ephesus.

The hundreds of speakers throughout the Archdiocese who participated in this event learned about the contributions these Holy Fathers, and many others, made to our Holy Orthodox Church.

It is hoped that you had the opportunity to hear them speak at your parish, district, anddiocese festival and if you can, to come hear the diocese finalists on June 9.

CHICAGO Ascension of Our Lord Church in Lincolnshire, Ill., will honor Fr. James Gordon for the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood at a commemorative dinner May 27.

Fr. Gordon recently became pastor of the Chicago diocese s newest parish after serving for 10 years as director of the diocese youth and young adult ministries and previously as executive director of St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in the San Francisco Diocese.

He has also edited and contributed to several religious publications.

Fr. Gordon competed his undergraduate degree at H/C and his master s degree with honors at Holy Cross School of Theology.

He and his presbytera, Nasia, have two grown children, Scott and Joanne.

The event will take place at Concord Banquets in Kildeer, Ill. For details and reservations, call (847) 520-3981.

Fr. James Gordon

A Memorable Weekend For Holy Apostles Parishioners WESTCHESTER, Ill. A refreshing spirit of hope and joy swept through the Parish of Holy Apostles March 10-11, with the visit of Archbishop Demetrios. The occasion for this historic visit was the 18th year in celebrating the Festival of Books.

His Eminence arrived on March 10th and was greeted at the airport by Frs. William Chiganos and Petros Spiro along with Philoptochos members and young people.

The children welcomed His Eminence with two flower arrangements and received kisses and blessings from the Archbishop.

Following the evening vespers assisted by 30 priests and two deacons from the Chicago parishes and the presence of Metropolitan Iakovos of Krinis, The Archbishop delivered an insightful and challenging presentation, Communications with God, authenticity and wholeness.

The cogent message elicited several questions from the extremely large listening audience. A reception given in his honor was provided by the Philoptochos. This year s exhibit of books included in excess

of 2200 volumes of Orthodox literature and a variety of holy icons.

On Sunday, Archbishop Demetrios celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and offered the homily.

After the Liturgy, Fr. Chiganos presented His Eminence with a mosaic icon of St. Demetrios designed and completed

by Sirio Tonelli, who also attended the Liturgy.

A Lenten luncheon honoring the Archbishop followed. Some of the gifted children provided a musical program along with the Holy Apostles Choir. His Eminence s visit will remain a memorable experience for everyone in the parish for a long time.

The memories we treasure in our hearts will allow us to truly experience the paschal season with a renewed and rekindled faith, said Fr. Chiganos of the Archbishop s visit. His words of wisdom and direction will be kept within the chamber of our hearts. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore.

Chicago Diocese Junior Olympics Set for Memorial Day Weekend CHICAGO Planning has begun for the 20th annual Chicago Diocese Junior Olympics taking place Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27.

Sts. Constantine and Helen community in Palos Hills will host the event. More than 2,100 young people ages 7-18 from 30 parishes in the six-state diocese are expected to participate.

This year s program will include swimming, track and field, soccer, softball, basketball, volleyball, 10K run, bowling, tennis, chess, checkers, table tennis and other

events commemorating the anniversary.

Several collegiate scholarships totaling $2,000 will be awarded to athletes showing a strong spiritual life, academic record, community involvement and writing skills.

Venues will include the church complex, A.A. Stagg High School and Moraine Valley Community College, all in Palos Hills.

General chairman is Fr. Nicholas Jonas, Tom De Medeiros is director of publicity and volunteers and Chris Avramopoulos is director of registration.

Waukegan Youth Raise Funds to Help Kidney Patient WAUKEGAN, Ill. Members of St. Demetrios Church Young Adult League, along with GOYA and Junior GOYA members, recently held a fundraiser to benefit a 19-year-old girl from Greece who came to the United States

for a kidney transplant.

The young adults: Tom Jikomes, Andy Roiniotis and Pete Petropoulos, with the support of the parish priest, Fr. J. Sardis, organized a benefit dinner that raised nearly $10,000.

PAGE 26

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

MAY 2001

Pope Visits Greece, Apologizes for Past Offenses

P

ope John Paul II concluded a trip to Greece and to other Mediterranean lands on May 9 as part of a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Several thousand protestors, monks from Mt. Athos and others, marched against the Pope s presence.

Arriving in Athens on May 4, the Pope spoke at a welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace where he expressed deep regret and apologized for offenses against Orthodox Christians by Roman Catholics, including the sacking of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204 For occasions past and present, when sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have sinned by action or omission against their Orthodox brothers and sisters, may the Lord grant us the forgiveness we beg of him, the pope said.

Speaking on the influence of Greek civilization, the Pope said, My wish is in some way to recognize the great debt which we all owe to Greece; in fact no one can be unaware of the enduring influence that her unique history and culture have had on European civilization and indeed on that of the entire world. He continued, Now it is to Greece that I come as a pilgrim, in the footsteps of Saint Paul, whose mighty figure towers over the two millennia of Christian history and whose memory is etched for ever in the soil of Greece. It was here in Athens that Paul founded one of the first communities of his voyages in the West and of his mission on the European continent. Here he worked tirelessly to make Christ known; here he suffered for the proclamation of the Gospel. And how could we not recall that it was here in the city of Athens that there began the dialogue between the Christian message and Hellenistic culture, a dialogue that would decisively shape European civilization?

We are in a decisive period of European history, and I hope most fervently that the Europe now emerging will rediscover this long tradition of encounter between Greek culture and Christianity in fresh and imaginative ways.

Meets with Christodoulos Later in the day, the Pope met with Archbishop Christodoulos and the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, greeting them with Christos Anesti!, and expressed his regret for past injustices against the Orthodox. He also stated, To God alone belongs judgment, and therefore we entrust the heavy burden of the past to his endless mercy, imploring him to heal the wounds which still cause suffering to the spirit of the Greek people.

Together we must work for this healing if the Europe now emerging is to be true to its identity, which is inseparable from the Christian humanism shared by East and West Certainly, we are burdened by past and present controversies and by enduring misunderstandings. But in a spirit of mutual charity these can and must be overcome, for that is what the Lord asks of us.

Clearly there is a need for a liberating process of purification of memory.

Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece kissed the pope after his comments and spoke with other Vatican officials accompanying John Paul, who turns 81 on May 18.

POPE JOHN PAUL II gets applauded by Archbishop Christodoulos and Orthodox and Catholic Bishops alike who attended his speech at the Archdiocese in Athens.

the name of religion.

Their statement read: We, Pope John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, and Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, standing before the bema of the Areopagus, from which St. Paul, the Great Apostle to the Nations, called to be an Apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God (Rom 1:1), preached to the Athenians the One True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and called them unto faith and repentance, do hereby declare: 1. We give thanks to the Lord for our meeting and communication with one another, here in the illustrious City of Athens, the Primatial See of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of Greece.

2. We repeat with one voice and one heart the words of the Apostle to the Nations: I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no schisms among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment (1 Cor 1:10). We pray that the whole Christian world will heed this exhortation, so that peace may come unto all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:2). We condemn all recourse to violence, proselytism and fanaticism in the name of religion. We especially maintain that relations between Christians, in all their manifestations, should be

characterized by honesty, prudence and knowledge of the matters in question.

3. We observe that man s social and scientific evolution has not been accompanied by a deeper delving into the meaning and value of life, which in every instance is a gift of God, nor by an analogous appreciation of man s unique dignity, as being created according to the Creator s image and likeness. Moreover, economic and technological development does not belong equally to all mankind but belongs only to a very small portion of it. Furthermore, the improvement of living standards has not brought about the opening of men s hearts to their neighbors who suffer hunger and are naked. We are called to work together for the prevailing of justice, for the relief of the needy and for the ministry unto those who suffer, ever keeping in mind the words of St. Paul: the kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17).

4. We are anguished to see that wars, massacres, torture and martyrdom constitute a terrible daily reality for millions of our brothers. We commit ourselves to struggle for the prevailing of peace throughout the whole world, for the respect of life and human dignity, and for solidarity towards all who are in need. We are pleased to add our voice to the many

Meets Orthodox in Syria

Joint Statement at Areopagus In their Common Declaration before the bema of St. Paul, the Apostle to the Nations where he preached in A.D. 51, the Pope and Archbishop condemned violence, proselytism and fanaticism in

voices around the world which have expressed the hope that, on the occasion of the Olympic Games to be held in Greece in 2004, the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce will be revived, according to which all wars had to stop, and terrorism and violence had to cease.

5. We follow carefully and with unease what is referred to as globalization. We hope that it will bear good fruit. However, we wish to point out that its fruits will be harmful if what could be termed the globalization of brotherhood in Christ is not achieved in all sincerity and efficacy.

6. We rejoice at the success and progress of the European Union. The union of the European world in one civil entity, without her people losing their national self-awareness, traditions and identity, has been the vision of its pioneers. However, the emerging tendency to transform certain European countries into secular states without any reference to religion constitutes a retraction and a denial of their spiritual legacy. We are called to intensify our efforts so that the unification of Europe may be accomplished. We shall do everything in our power, so that the Christian roots of Europe and its Christian soul may be preserved inviolate.

With this Common Statement, we, Pope John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, and Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, wish that our God and Father and our Lord Jesus direct our way, so that we may increase and abound in love towards one another and towards all men and establish the hearts of all unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his saints (Cf. 1 Thess 3:11-13) Amen.

While in Greece, the head of the Roman Catholic Church also visited Corinth, and other sites of Paul s ministry.

POPE JOHN PAUL II and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos during a ceremony at Areopagus, just under the Acropolis in Athens, where St. Paul preached in A.D. 51.

The other stops on his six-day trip included Syria and Malta.

He departed Athens for Syria on May 5, meeting with Syria s president, Bashar al Assad. Part of his visit included meetings with Orthodox leaders. He also delivered a prayer for peace at the Greek Orthodox church in Quneitra, a city in the Golan Heights captured by Israel in the 1967 war and destroyed before it was returned to Syria in 1974.

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Youth Ministry

challenge

Pare nt s Voice Preparing for Camp

by Presbytera Donna Pappas

A priest once explained church camp like this: Children s spiritual lives are often like a little model train making its way along the track that has been laid out for it. Everything goes smoothly for a while, but every so often it becomes slightly derailed; it needs a helping hand to guide it back onto the track. A good church camp program should be that helping hand that helps to guide our children back onto the track. If you are considering a church camp program for your child, here are tips to help you as you consider the possibilities: First, take a good look at the available camps. Considering your own personal situation, you might opt for a local or diocesan camp, a camp in another diocese, or an overseas camp program. A good resource for a list of existing church camp programs would be your parish priest and/or your diocesan youth office.

Once you have narrowed your list, begin to contact the various camps on your list.

How is the camp program structured? How is the Orthodox faith integrated into the program? What extra-curricular activities are offered? Are you looking for a camp with the traditional mountain wilderness experience, or are you open to other possibilities? Some camps are more conducive to certain extra-curricular programs: cultural, sports, wilderness, arts and crafts, horseback riding, waterfront, boating, etc. Does your child have any special needs? Can this camp accommodate those needs? If you have more than one child attending, is there a price break for additional campers?

Next, take a look at the camp staff. Who is the director? What are his/her qualifications? Have they had past experience with church camp programs? Is there a clergyman serving as an advisor to the program? Who are the counselors (college grads? students? parents?), and what selection process was used to obtain them? What is the camper-to-counselor ratio? Will there be a priest and/or seminarian on site for the duration of your camper s stay? Contact a priest in the local area is this a camp he would send his own children to?

If this is a first-time camp experience for your camper, there are some things you can do to make this a positive experience. Talk about it! Keep a positive attitude if you have happy camp memories, share them with your child. If the camp you ve selected has a website, visit it with your camper. Sometimes it softens the separation if an older sibling is going at the same time (just be aware that many camps assign cabins by age, and so your children may not wind up in the same cabin). If there are no older siblings, is there a friend, god-brother or god-sister that might be interested in going?

Summer Camps ARCHDIOCESAN DISTRICT Camp Good Shepard; Garrison, New York

George Hazalaris, 212-774-0296, haz@goarch.org July 15th to 21st GOYA - July 22nd to 26th JOY

ATLANTA DIOCESE St Stephen Camp; Henderson, N.C. Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis, 828-253-3754 July 22nd to 28th GOYA Website: www.atlanta.goarch.org/camp00/ summer%20camp%202000.htm Cathedral of Atlanta; Atlanta, Georgia Fr. Michael Eaccarino, 404-633-5870, cathedraloffice@atlgoc.org Dates: TBA BOSTON DIOCESE Boston Diocese Camp; Contoocook, N.H. Philippe Mousis, 617-277-4742, youthministry@bostondiocese.org Website: www.bostondiocese.org 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 27

July 9th to August 12th (5 sessions) CHICAGO DIOCESE Camp Fanari; Westchester, Illinois; Fr. William Chiganos, 708-562-2744 June 17th to June 31st (2 sessions) St Mary s Church Camp; McGraw, Minnesota, Doria Saros, 612-825-9595 June 17th to 23rd DENVER DIOCESE Camp Emmanuel; Harriman, Wyoming Paul Zaharas, 303-333-7794 dioceseyouth@aol.com July 15th to 21st - Ages11-14 July 22nd to 28th Ages15-18 Website: www.godenverdiocese.org/youth/ ocyc/live/ Eastern Orthodox Youth Camp; Holt, Missouri, Stacie Sampson, 816-942-9100 July 22nd to 28th DETROIT DIOCESE Diocese Summer Camp Rose City, Michigan Perry Koulouras & James Bakalis, 248-2699130 July 8th to August 11th (5 sessions) Website: www.detroit.goarch.org/ddsc St Timothy s Summer Camp; Rochester, New York, Fr. George Savas, 716-244-1976,

What s Up

Email: youthoffice@goarch.org

with Summer Camp

by Phil Moussis

Have you ever gotten out of bed in mid-summer and asked yourself what am I going to do today?

This is a dilemma that you face during summer vacation. Now, many socalled grownups think this is not much of a difficult situation, but I beg to differ.

During the summer break many of you must fill the void of empty time so as not to fall prey to that terrible word named boredom. You might find ways to occupy yourself by finding a job, hanging out with friends, shopping at the mall, playing sports or even taking an occasional trip to some place you have never been before. Personally, I dreaded going over to my Aunt Mary s house since her idea of fun was filling up the jar with M&M s and watching game shows but I ran out of excuses of not seeing her.

There is still one more thing which you can do in the summer and actually have a great time. You can go to summer

camp! Just think about it for a moment.

Think of a place with lakes, pools, basketball courts, beach volleyball, tennis, archery, canoes, kayaks, campfires, soccer fields, drama, music, Olympics, races, talent shows, beach parties, carnivals, dancing and much more! Think of a place where workers labor year round so that they may provide you with the best time of your life. Think of the opportunity to meet other Orthodox children and create friendships lasting for a lifetime. Think of learning about your Orthodox faith and Greek heritage with all of their traditions and customs. Think of enjoying beautiful weather on the beach or eating smores by a night campfire. Think of watching movies on a large screen TV outdoors and under the stars. Just think, all this can be yours simply by going! I will leave you with one last thought. If thousands and thousands of children are attending camp every year, shouldn t one of them be you?

Camp Etiquette for parents Feel free to write your camper. Emphasize your excitement and how much you are looking forward to hearing all about it.

This is not the time to mention that the goldfish died or that you ve cleaned out their closet and given away their old toys they don t play with any more. Please mention the new litter of kittens or the something funny that happened to you at the grocery store.

Find out ahead of time what the camp s policy is on care packages , emails, and phone calls. My personal preference is against phone calls (especially for first time campers); it tends to keep them homesick and detached from fellow campers (not to mention that it cuts into their free time).

If you are a first time camp parent, you might consider slipping some pre-addressed, pre-stamped postcards into your camper s suitcase those notes home are

often a treasure in themselves.

One last piece of advice, if you happen to be one of the few parents who has the schedule flexibility to serve as a parent volunteer at the camp you have selected for your child, try to remember that this is a chance for your child to develop some all important skills in personal responsibility and independence please resist the temptation to supervise their meal choices, rearrange the contents of their luggage, or critique their chapel behavior trust their counselors to handle it. Happy trails!

Presbytera is the mother of two happy campers, Constantine and Chrysanthe, ages 7 1/2 and 9, and a camper-in-training, Evangelia, 3. Fr.Jim and Presbytera. Donna serve as advisors to (and participate in) the summer camp program at the St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. Fr. Jim is the parish priest of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno, CA

fgholyspirit@yahoo.com July 29th to August 4th Website: www.goholyspirit.org DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY Camp Good Shepard; Garrison, New York Fr Bill Gikas 908-898-0988, frbill@bellatlantic.net July 15th to 21st GOYA July 22nd to 26th JOY CYC Summer Camp; Hartford County, Maryland, George Maistros, 410-319-9752 August 19th to 24th www.goannun.org St Nektarios WOC Summer Camp Wilmington, Delaware, Mark Brown, 302453-9761,mbrown8579@aol.com June 29th to July 4th Website: www.greece.org/trinity/camp.htm DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH Camp Nazareth ´Mercer, Pennsylvania Vasie-Leigh Chames, 412-621-8543 youth@odpgh.com Website: www.odpgh.com June 17th to 31st - JOY (2 sessions) uly 1st to July 14th - GOYA (2 sessions) DIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO St. Nicholas Ranch; Dunlap, California George Ketrenos, 559-338-2103

stnicks@c4.com Website www.sf.goarch.org/ stnicks July 8th t0 28th (3 sessions) St. Sophia Camp; San Bernardino, California, Fr. Paul Paris, 323-737-2424, frparis@stsophia.org Website: www.stsophia.org/camp July 14th to August 11th (4 sessions) Annunciation Cathedral Camp San Francisco, California Ari Stratakis, 415-864-8000 Ascension Cathedral Camp Garberville, California Dave Holland & Tom Banis 510-531-3400 June 16th to 24th Camp Angelos Portland, Oregon George Psihogios 503-636-3037 Ellen Belesiu 503-639-6464 Website: www.holytrinitycamp.org August 12th to 17th All Saints Camp Gig Harbor, Washington Paul Plumis, 206-784-5936 July 5th to 8th High School July 8th to 14th Junior High July 15th to 21st Elementary

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 28

LEGAL SERVICES

MAY 2001

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ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 29

In Memoriam Fr. Theodore Baglaneas

P.J. Gazouleas

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. Fr. George Baglaneas, 73. former longtime pastor of Church of Our Savior in Rye, N.Y., died April 7.

Fr. Baglaneas also served Assumption Church in Pawtucket, R.I. He had retired in July 1996.

He was born July 10, 1927 in Athens, Greece, where he completed high school, and came to the United States in January 1947.

He entered Holy Cross School of Theology that year and graduated in 1951.

u page 4

He was ordained a deacon Jan. 30, 1956 in Boston by Bishop Athenagoras Kokkinakis, and as a priest on Feb. 12 that year at St. Demetrios Church, Biddeford, Maine. He later was bestowed the offikia of sakellarios (March 1957), and oiko nomos (April 1958), all by Bishop Athena goras Kokkinakis, and protopresbyter (May 1978) by Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios.

He married Mary Joakim of Hyannis, Mass., in February 1952. They had two children, John and Anna.

Presbytera Jean Vasilas DULUTH, Ga. Presbytera Jean Vasilas, 80, died March 12. She was the widow of Fr. Andrew Vasilas, former pastor of St. George Church in Greenville, S.C., who died June 15, 1976.

Presbytera Vasilas was born in Murray, Utah, July 15, 1920, to Philip Tapenos of Kalavryta, Greece, and Elaine Athana sopoulos Tapenos of Patras, Greece.

Most of her siblings died at an early age, except for her younger sisters, George and Bessie.

Her entire family moved to New York while she was in her early teens. She met Fr. Andrew while living in New York and they married in 1945.

Survivors include her children, Bill

Vasilas and Peter Vasilas, both of Duluth, Ga., Elaine Vasilas of Doraville, Ga., Fay Luksteid of St. Cloud, Fla., and Philip Vasilas of Anderson, S.C. Also surviving are her sister, Georgia Pappas, of Randolph, N.J., six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Her sister Bessie Koukoulis of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and a grandson, Philip Vasilas Jr., preceded her in death, of Greenville.

A prayer service was officiated March 14 by Frs. Michael Eaccarino and Homer Goumenis in Decatur, Ga. Funeral service was officiated by Fr. George Alexson at Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, March 15. Interment was at Greenville, S.C. Fr. Thomas Pistolis of Greenville officiated at the service.

Christine Pavlakis DENVER Christine Pavlakis, former first vice president of the National Philoptochos, died recently.

She was a dedicated worker for the church in Denver and served as president and vice president of the Assumption Ca-

Effie Geanakoplos HAMDEN, Conn. Effie Geanakoplos, 79, wife of Archon Deno Geanakoplos, professor emeritus at Yale, died March 3.

She was a psychiatric social worker at Yale and also had a private practice.

In addition to her husband, survivors include a daughter, Constance Geanakoplos of New York; a son, John Geanakoplos of New Haven, Conn.; and two grandchildren.

Milton H. Sioles PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. Milton H. Sioles, 80, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and member of the Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, died peacefully April 12.

He was born in Peekskill, N.Y., and attended Yale University. He served in World War II and retired as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

His successful business career spanned 55 years. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Interwest Distributing Corporation of Tempe, Ariz.

Evangeline J. Zoukis HAVERHILL, Mass. Evangeline J. (Kostas) Zoukis, 88, a long-time Philoptochos and choir member at Holy Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Haverhill, died in April.

She was born in Haverhill Aug. 20, 1912 to the late James and Angela (Zervoglos) Kostas.

She and her husband, John Zoukis who

thedral chapter.

Mrs. Pavlakis was a Philoptochos member more than 40 years, and taught Sunday school, sang in the church choir and served as chairman of many special events.

In 1964, she participated in the Clergy Laity Congress held in Denver, and served as chairman of the National Philoptochos Biennial Convention in 1992.

She was married to Emmanuel Pavla kis. They were parents of six children. Several grandchildren also survive.

Mrs. Pavlakis and her husband worked in real estate and investments.

She was a member of many Hellenic fraternal organizations, including the PanCretan Association. Her activities also included participation in the Miss Colorado Pageant, parent-teacher associations and school activities.

Mr. Sioles also was active in many organizations in addition to the Archons and the executive committee of Leadership 100, serving on the board of the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation Board.

He was active for many years at St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles and St. Nicholas Church in Northridge, Calif.

Survivors include his wife, Harriet; children Robert Sioles and Elyse Sioles Denniston; and a sister, Katherine Boles of Glendale, Calif. He was predeceased by another son, Dean.

Services took place at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix.

died in 1987, owned a business in the Bradford section of Haverhill for many years.

Mrs. Zoukis was preceded in death by a daughter, Cleopatra Zoukis Ploussios.

Survivors include a son, John Zoukis Jr., of Bradford; two brothers and sistersin-law, George J. and Angeline P. Kostas of Houston, and Constantine and Pauline Kostas of Mitchellville, Md.; a grandson, Gregory Ploussios of Boston; and other relatives.

commute more than two hours to Archbishop Iakovos home in Rye once a week to spend the day visiting, discussing Church issues, or playing scrabble, a favorite pastime of the Archbishop.

He was always loyal to the Archbishop, said Paulette Poulos, His Emi nence s administrative assistant. He wanted to keep that bond and the special love he had. It was like that of a father and son. He did not want to lose the bond. I think it s admirable that he would drive all that distance just to come and see him.

Praise from archbishops The funeral service took place May 10 at the Cathedral with Archbishop Iakovos officiating.

Archbishop Demetrios could not attend as he was taking part in discussion on the Archdiocesan charter at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but he sent a letter of condolence to the family, which Bishop Dimitrios read to the congregation.

The news was his business and passion, the Archbishop wrote. For more than a quarter century, he spread the joyous message of salvation through the news of Orthodoxy, the news of the Church in America. He offered selflessly his talents, serving his beloved spiritual leader Archbishop Iakovos and, through the Orthodox Observer, contributed vitally to the growth and progress of the Church.

In his homily, Archbishop Iakovos said, in part, During the time that you served as editor of the Orthodox Observer, an ecclesiastical medium which you raised to a level of high quality, you contributed to the Greek American community the possibility to be amply informed about ecclesiastical affairs and to formulate a sound vision derived from a worthy journalistic organ. You linked your name faithfully to the charge of St. Paul: Fulfill your ministry. (2 Tim. 4:5) Also taking part in the service were Bishop Philotheos of Meloa, the Rev. Archimandrites Evangelos Kourounis,

Nektarios Cottros and Alexander Kile; Cathedral Dean Fr. Robert Stephanopoulos, and the Revs. Nicholas Triantafilou, George Poulos, Emmanuel Clapsis, Peter Orfanakos, Elias Villis, James Karalexis, Angelo Gavalas, and Peter Kyriakos.

Others in attendance included the Rev. Archimandrite Andonios Paropoulos, and Frs. Nicholas Anctil and George Economou, several former co-workers from the Archdiocese and many close, personal friends.

A former colleague, Dr. Nicholas Kladopoulos, retired director of the Archdiocese Greek education department, and fellow journalist Theodore Kalmoukos, served as chanters.

Fond remembrances Three of Mr. Gazouleas close associates, Ms. Poulos, and Sophia Lahana, his secretary of more than 25 years, and Christine Athanasopoulos of the Office of the Archbishop, reflected on his passing.

We had a good working relationship, said Ms. Poulos. He was a devoted, caring, conscientious and courageous person. He was never one to hold back his feelings or opinions, and the good thing with Taki was you always knew where you stood.

He was always there when I needed him, said Mrs. Lahana, who also was his neighbor in the nearby village of Mattituck.

He was a good friend and we worked very well together.

Mr. Gazouleas was very devoted to Archbishop Iakovos, a hard worker, always running, but he never stopped smiling, said Mrs. Athanasopoulos. He was a pleasant person with a sense of humor.

In addition to Mrs. Gazouleas, survivors include two sons, John, an executive with Texaco in Houston; Edward, a violinist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra; a daughter, Beth Dutton, a computer software engineer in Southborough, Mass.; two grandchildren; a sister, Mary; and a brother, Stephen, both of Athens.

Burial was at Southold with Fr. Karalexis, pastor of Transfiguration Church in Mattituck, officiating.

Michael Faklis STOCKTON, Calif. Michael Faklis, 73, a former special assistant to San Diego Chargers head coach Don Coryell and long-time employee of A.G. Spanos Companies, died May 8.

Mr. Faklis was born in Tarpon Springs, Fla., to Despina and Nikitas Papafaklis from the island of Simi, Greece.

He lived in Tarpon Springs until moving to Stockton in 1967.

During his high school years, he excelled in basketball and football at Tarpon High School, where he became starting quarterback for the Spongers. Noted for his speed and quickness, he earned the nickname Mando (short for commando).

After his military service, he attended the University of Florida where he earned a degree in education.

For the next 15 years, Mr. Faklis taught math at Hillsborough High School, then at Tarpon High, where he also coached baseball, football and basketball, guiding his teams to winning seasons.

When his sister, Faye, married Alex Spanos and moved to Stockton, Mr. Faklis and his family followed.

Initially, he continued teaching at Lodi and Manteca schools, but changed his career and joined A.G. Spanos Construction, where he eventually became vice president in charge of leasing. During this time, he

earned a master s in physical education from the University of the Pacific.

When Alex Spanos bought the Chargers in 1984, he joined the team as special assistant to Coach Coryell, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Mr. Faklis is survived by his wife, Corina; two children, Nick and Kia and their spouses, Holly and Tom; four grandchildren; sister, Faye Spanos; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.

Services took place at St. Basil Church in Stockton with Archbishop Demetrios officiating.

Carolyn Korbos Lischett FLOSSMOOR, Ill. Carolyn Korbos Lischett, a former vice president of the Philoptochos chapter at Holy Cross Church in Justice, Ill., and a Sunday school teacher, Daughters of Penelope and Sunshine Visiting Club, died recently.

Survivors include her husband, Andrew Lischett; mother, Mary Korbos; brothers Theodore and Frank Korbos; sisters Steffanie Korbos and Pauline Dixon; and several nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

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The Voice of

MAY 2001

Philoptochos

National Donations Approach Nearly $1 Million for 2000 Pacific NW Camp Ready for Another Season NEW YORK The National Philoptochos has given about $1 million in the past year in donations to various ministries, charities and other worthy causes, according to end-of-the-year totals.

Beginning in January 2000, the organization gave $20,000 to UNICEF. In May, $125,000 was donated to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and nearly $12,000 to the Patriarchal Earthquake Relief Fund.

St. Basil Academy was the recipient of $300,000 for the National Philoptochos Vasilopita Drive, nearly $4,900 for appliances and children s Christmas gifts, $500 in graduation awards to five students who graduated in June, and $2,310 from Zoe Cavalaris to private tutors for children.

The Philoptochos Department of Social Services gave $155,500 to 70 individuals for various purposes, including those in the cardiac program, cancer fund, and children s medical fund.

Hellenic College/Holy Cross received $50,000 for its scholarship fund and $5,250 for special merit awards. Another $45,000 was raised for the school through the Philoptochos Lenten event.

The Chicago Children s Memorial Hospital received $40,000 through the Hellenic Heart Program.

The Children s Medical Fund donated $25,000 to the Children s Hospital in Philadelphia.

Other donations from Philoptochos

D.Panagos

National Philoptochos Board Members attending the meetings at Hellenic College/Holy Cross

went to the following: St. Photios Shrine, $10,000; International Orthodox Christian Charities, $4,000; Archdiocesan Missions Center, $30,000, and $2,400 to the Support-a-Mission Priest Exchange; Athens Earthquake Relief Fund, $10,662; World Council of Hellenes Aboard Medical Relief Fund, $8,244 for medical equipment and supplies.

The Philoptochos office acts like a clearing house for the checks we receive

from the chapters across the country for the various monthly commitments, Helen Lavorata, National Office director, told the Observer. It usually on the average about a million because we can only give out what we receive. That s why it is so important for the priests to publicize and promote the chapters in their church.....we will receive more funds....which in turn leads to more assistance with the Archdiocese institutions as well as our social work.

Spiritual Retreat Sponsored in Chicago

by Rose Dalianis

CHICAGO The Diocese Philoptochos Board sponsored its 19th annual Lenten retreat March 17 under the spiritual guidance of Metropolitan Iakovos with the theme: The Orthodox Christian Life: A Balanced Life, based on Luke 10:41-42.

Fr. George Massouras, pastor of Assumption Church, the host parish, welcomed the members in attendance. The community recently celebrated its 75th anniversary with a series of special events.

The Very Rev. Demetri Kantzavelos served as retreat master and held a prayer service. Frs. John Artemis and George Konstantopoulos conducted the sessions in Greek, and Fred Chapekis and Elefteria Kahagias held the English session.

The Philoptochos of Assumption Church, who hosted the retreat, is the newest chapter in the diocese. They served a continental breakfast and Lenten luncheon. Diocese Board President Mary Ann Bissias thanked those who attended. The retreat ended with a Vespers service.

Illinois Chapter Helps Restore Food Pantry WAUKEGAN, Ill. St. Demetrios chapter members held a benefit dinner Feb. 18 to assist Faith Tabernacle Church in Zion to restock their Pantry, which burned in December. The Pantry serves local hungry people on a daily basis.

The Philoptochos raised nearly $1,500 for their effort.

PORTLAND, Ore. Each summer, in the pristine woods of the Pacific Northwest, a little bit of heaven comes to earth.

Families briefly escape the world of hospitals and chemotherapy that has engulfed their children s lives and plunge into a week of fun and games: swimming, art projects, fishing, campfires, archery, candle making, face painting, dancing and many other activities.

Last August marked the sixth annual Camp Agape Kids N Cancer Camp spearheaded by the Philoptochos chapter of Holy Trinity Church in Portland.

This year, a speakers forum was introduced to address issues unique to families with children suffering from cancer.

Each summer, friendships are nourished and families share ideas, supporting each other through difficult stages of their diagnosis, illness and recovery.

An environment of love and encouragement envelops them as they travel through their journey.

The Buddy Program, which provides families with a young community volunteer to relieve the parents and interact with their children each afternoon, was once again a favorite of the families.

Activities and meals continue to be planned around a different theme each day. Last year, themes included Oregon, Past and Present, Fun with the Arts, Olympics 2000, Greek Day and Recognition and Farewell Day. This spring, more than 60 volunteers are preparing for this year s camp. Committee members are planning for the provision of lodging, meal preparation, activities, presenters, medical support staff and volunteer staffing.

Camp Agape is provided at no cost to participants. All funds come from donations. The seventh annual Camp Agape will take place Aug. 4-9. Any Orthodox family having a child with cancer is invited to attend. For inquiries or to register, contact: Camp Agape, 3131 N.E. Glisan St., Portland, OR97232, phone (503) 234-0468.

Chicago Diocese Holds AIDS Quilt-a-thon

by Rose Dalianis

PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERS recognized by Mrs. Ryan are (l. to r.): JoAnn Stubbings, Francine Anastopoulos, chapter President Chrisy Banakis, Mrs. Ryan, Tessie Andreakis, Ann Lampros and Anna Eriotes.

Philanthropic Projects Receive Recognition

by JoAnn Stubbings

CHICAGO Lura Lynn Ryan, wife of Illinois Gov. George Ryan, recognized the philanthropic efforts of Holy Apostles Philoptochos in January when she invited the chapter s executive officers to her Chicago office.

They told Mrs. Ryan about their welfare projects at the local, state and national levels, and that they would donated the proceeds from their Godparents Sunday raffle to her favorite charity, the Lura Lynn Ryan Prevention Research Library.

With branches in Chicago and Springfield, Ill., the library provides information to the public on the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and collateral issues such as domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, gangs and teen pregnancy.

Philoptochos members also collected

more than $2,000 for their recent Needy Children s Drive, organized by Ann Eriotes and Dolly Panton. Among the top donors was the Elmhurst Rotary with a $1,000 gift.

Parishioner Don Alexander. Most of the money was used to purchase toys for the Holiday Shop, sponsored by the DuPage Family Shelter.

George Alex and Jim Bobis delivered two vans full of toys to Lucent Technologies, where the shop is located. Nearly 200 women were able to shop for gifts for their children.

Presbytera Dana organized the preparation of baskets for needy families from the Hellenic family and Community Services and from the church. Philoptochos also purchased 29 McDonalds gift certificates for the children of St. Basil Academy.

Sts. Peter and Paul Church was transformed into a quilting factory March 24 when more than 80 women took part in the second annual Quilt-a-thon.

Sponsored by the Bishop s Talk Force on AIDS and Chicago Diocese Philoptochos, the members and friends made the quilts for distribution to the Children s Memorial Hospital and The Children s Place, for infants and toddlers affected by HIV/AIDS. Many of these children have been abandoned and have lived much of their young lives either in hospitals or foster care.

Co-chairs were Georgia Barris and Tiana Cocallas. Ms. Barris coordinated the event, while Tiana purchased the materials and organized the preliminary work for making the quilts. The ladies cut, ironed, sewed assembled and quilted ninety colorful quilts.

The Very Rev. Demetri Kantzavelos, diocese chancellor, and director of the Task Force attended and expressed his appreciation to the ladies for being part of the project.

Sts. Peter and Paul Philoptochos, whose president in Athie Panarites, served a Lenten luncheon following the quilt-a-thon.

MAY 2001

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

PAGE 31

Bishops Affirm Need for Public Witness on Spiritual, Moral Issues u page 1 At the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios and the other Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), we have gathered together in Washington, D.C. for the past three days to discuss issues of concern for the entire Orthodox Church in North America. Numbering thirty-four Hierarchs we represent every canonical Orthodox Diocese, Archdiocese, and Church that our good and loving Lord has planted here in North America. It has been an historic meeting, only the second time we have gathered in such a forum. Mindful of the presence of our Lord, we have prayed together; we have engaged in theological reflection; we have come to know each other better; and here in our nation s capital we have given witness to our Orthodox Christian faith.

As we came together, we were heartened by words of encouragement and prayer from the heads of our Holy Orthodox Churches. His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople said, the spiritual unity of the Orthodox Church and the harmonious collaboration among her Hierarchs, clergy, and people [must] be demonstrated, so that the existing organizational status not be interpreted as dissonance in faith and unity. His Holiness Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria greeted us with brotherly love and the belief that you will labor with endeavors worthy of praise for the benefit of Holy Orthodoxy. His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist of Romania pointed to our gathering here as a foretaste of whatever will fully occur with the help of God and by ways only known by Him for achieving the full unity of the Church of Christ on the American continent.

The Millennium Pastoral Letter of the SCOBA Hierarchs And the Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us formed the framework for our discussions and conclusions. This was extremely appropriate because that Letter is first and foremost a missionary document. It is the proclamation of the Gospel that brings us together even as it enlivens the Church. As the Letter says, Our intention is to make the Gospel of our Lord and God the Savior Jesus Christ known and embraced by more and more people in this land to which God has called us. [5] In his opening presentation Archbishop Demetrios immediately drew our attention to the challenges facing us in North America both as Church and society at this dawn of the 21st century. He highlighted six areas for our reflection: the area of bio-ethics and bio-medical engineering; the challenges facing the institution of marriage and the family; the increasing relativization of everything where truth has become a matter of opinion; the developments in information technologies and the ways in which the Church might make use of these; the challenges affecting society and the environment; and lastly, the challenge of offering our society the gift of our Orthodox spirituality.

Bishop Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese offered us reflections on the important themes of the Millennium Pastoral Letter. He highlighted the need for us to get back to basics in theology by presenting to our faithful and to our society the overarching vision of the divine economy as it has been outlined in our Orthodox tradition. He said that we need to look back to the sources of our Faith, but only to allow us to face forward again toward our future with a renewed sense of who we are as the Body of Christ.

He urged us to take up the Church s missionary imperative to unite the world into

ORTHODOX Canonical Bishops in the U.S. after the vespers service at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington DC.

this baptismal faith, recapitulating it into the unity of Christ while pointing to the artificial jurisdictional boundaries in North America that hamper this mission.

Bishop Seraphim of the Orthodox Church in America offered us pastoral and spiritual reflections on the practical application of our faith. In emphasizing the importance of the virtues of humility and simplicity, he pointed to the perceived gap between what we profess and what we actually do. He said that we must in particular direct our work with the poor and underprivileged and homeless. In emphasizing our own role as archpastors he reminded us that we must be examples of forgiveness and reconciliation, and merciful dispensers of canonical medicines.

One of the greatest challenges before us remains the imperative need for strengthening the unity of the Orthodox Church on the North American continent.

The question is how to perfect the unity that is given to us as a gift from God. [143]. It is clear to all of us that the future of our Church lies in our willingness to work together. [145] We affirm the value of the present structure of the Standing Conference as the preeminent vehicle for our cooperation and as a sign of unity that our Lord wills for our Holy Orthodox Church here in North America. We are encouraged by the fact that the SCOBA Hierarchs meet on a regular basis to strengthen our common witness. This vital work of SCOBA needs to be communicated better to all of the Hierarchs here and abroad. Based upon this blessed experience of gathering here, we affirm the importance of all of the bishops meeting on a yearly basis.

We also affirm the importance of the working commissions of SCOBA for our common ministry and encourage greater engagement by members of the hierarchy in the activity of the commissions. We also have a number of practical suggestions that seem to us within our power to accomplish and are necessary ways of strengthening and perfecting the unity we share.

The first is to strengthen and expand the current SCOBA commissions. Each of these either provides or has the potential to provide a rich opportunity to deepen our witness here. Some work very well; others need our genuine attention. For example, the International Orthodox

Christian Charities (IOCC) and the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), both organizations chartered by and responsible to SCOBA, provide a service to the Church not only here in North America, but also worldwide. The various dialogues that the Orthodox Church here in North America has with fellow Christians, the Roman Catholics, the Lutherans, and the Episcopalians, have always come under the coordinated supervision of SCOBA. The Orthodox Christian Education commission, one of the oldest SCOBA commissions, has coordinated religious education, produced religious education materials, and provided a forum for all Orthodox Christian religious educators. The Orthodox Theological Society in America (OTSA) has provided a forum for our theologians to gather and reflect upon the important theological concerns confronting the Church today. The same is true of the military mhaplaincy mommission that over the years has provided military chaplains for all Orthodox Christians serving our nation s armed forces. Each of these has worked extremely well and has broad representation and participation from the SCOBA jurisdictions. More recently, the commissions on Scouting, Campus and Youth Work, and Contemporary Social and Moral Issues have been reorganized.

We clearly recognize that if this work is to be done fruitfully, we must commit ourselves to providing sufficient staff and resources.

As shepherds of one flock of Christ in this land, we realize that we participate in the same ministry and that we face the same challenges as pastors and teachers of the faith. We affirm the need to bear public witness together on matters of spiritual and moral concern. We have the profound obligation to address the crying needs of the society in which we live. We must reach out. These are issues of vital concern to the future of humanity and the planet. There are people suffering from economic and political injustice. Many in our society are morally adrift. We cannot remain silent. The oneness of our voice will help to provide spiritual direction not only to our own faithful, but will also offer a witness of the truth of the Gospel to those around us.

We rejoice in the fact that in many

D. Panagos

places there are positive expressions of Orthodox cooperation and witness. We see in this the Body of Christ in action. In these places, jurisdictional distinctions have not inhibited the witness to the unity of the Church. In fact, in our discussions we have come to see this kind of common testimony to the Gospel of Christ grow and take ever more practical forms. We give thanks to God who has enabled us to join together not only for prayer, but also for common ministry in service to the poor, in nurturing the young, and in encouraging all in their life in Christ. We affirm this activity, and we commit ourselves to encouraging, strengthening, and regularizing this sort of cooperation throughout the land.

We give thanks to our good and loving Lord for His having given us this time together. The prayers of our beloved clergy and faithful all across America also strengthened us. Many of them were generous benefactors for this event. We are also grateful to the Washington area parishes, and especially the cathedral parishes of St. Sophia and St. Nicholas for their hospitality.

As we closed our work here we gathered together for the Holy Eucharist. Each of us partook of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. There can be no more perfect sign of our unity. Our experience of the Divine Liturgy renews us and reminds us that every good and perfect gift is from above, from him who is the Father of lights.

We are deeply conscious of the fact that we are bearers of the Tradition. It is the Tradition of the Gospel of Christ that unites us to the Apostles themselves. This is for us both a profound burden and a source of joy, for we know that we are servants of God s people. The Church is not a museum, and we are not Her curators. The Church is a living and breathing community, the Body of Christ. [136] In this land we are strengthened by the witness of countless saints in every place and every time who proclaim the Gospel of Christ in word and deed.

Glory to God who offers us this opportunity to witness to Him! Glory to Him who rose from the dead! Glory to Him who breathes life into all that is!

Christ Is Risen!

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MAY 2001

Celebrating Holy Pascha 2001

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1 1. Service of the Bridegroom in St. Catherine’s Church in Astoria.

2. Venerating the Epitaphios at Holy Trinity in Hicksville, NY 3. His Eminence presides over Divine Liturgy at St. Spyridon’s in Washington Heights on Saturday of Lazarus.

4. Young girls with rose petals surround the Epitaphios at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity, NYC. 5. Archbishop Demetrios distributes palm crosses on Palm Sunday in St. Paul’s Cathedral; Hempstead, LI 6. Children receive the sacrement of Holy Unction at Holy Trinity in Hicksville, LI 7. A solemn and flower decorated epitaphios stands in the middle of the Solea 4 at St. Demetrios in Merrick, LI 8. Consuls General of Greece and Cyprus lead the procession with the Epitaphios following the Apokathilosis in Holy Trinity Cathedral, NYC. 9. “Come Receive the Light”, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral.

10. “Christ is Risen” reverberated in the heart of NYC, as thousands of faithful attended the service of the Ressurection. (D. Panagos photos)

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