Orthodox Observer - September 2003 by Orthodox Marketplace

SEPTEMBER 2003 • Vol. 68 • No. 1203

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FOCUS ON

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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

Metropolis of Chicago

College Student Sunday

Pages 29-32

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ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS on Parish Ministry

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Issues Statement Hope Emerges from Ground Zero Prayer Services SCOBA on Same Sex Marriages

NEW YORK – Hours after the main observance at Ground Zero of the Sept. 11, 2001 catastrophe that drew nearly 12,000 persons from around the world, a smaller, but no less significant commemoration took place on the exact spot where tiny St. Nicholas Church once stood.

by Jim Golding

About 100 persons, including families of victims, Archdiocesan Council members, Greek and Cypriot government officials, joined Archbishop Demetrios, other hierarchs and priests at the site at 4 p.m. for three prayer services. His Eminence presided over a memorial for the 9/11 victims, another prayer service for the families, and a prayer for the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church.

D. PANAGOS

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS holds Sophia Mancini, daughter of a 9/11 victim as Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey looks on.

Archbishop Expresses Sympathy to UN Secretary General

D. PANAGOS

FR. PAUL Palesty, pastor of St. Nicholas Church, Flushing, holding an icon of the Life-Giving Fountain, recovered from the rubble of the demolished church.

Plastic orange traffic cones outlined the boundary of the original site of the church, with the Archbishop and other clergy gathered where the altar once stod. Among those present was Fr. John Romas, pastor of St. Nicholas, and Fr. Paul Palesty, head priest of St. Nicholas in Flushing, who held one of the damaged icons recovered from the rubble, the Zoodochos Peghe (Life-Giving Fountain). Following the prayer services, Archbishop Demetrios spoke of the generosity of many groups and individuals who have contributed money toward the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church. He told of his experience at the Tampa parish in January in connection

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August 27, 2003 s members of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), representing more than 5 million Orthodox Christians in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we are deeply concerned about recent developments regarding “same sex unions.” The Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, 2,000 years of church tradition, and canon law, holds that marriage consists in the conjugal union of a man and a woman, and that authentic marriage is blessed by God as a sacrament of the Church. Neither Scripture nor Holy Tradition blesses or sanctions such a union between persons of the same sex. Holy Scripture attests that God creates man and woman in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27-31) that those called to do so might enjoy a conjugal union that ideally leads to procreation. While not every marriage is blessed with the birth of children, every such union exists to create of a man and a woman a new reality of “one flesh.” This can only involve a relationship based on gender complementarity. “God made them male and female... So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8). The union between a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Marriage

NEW YORK – Following is the text of a letter Archbishop Demetrios of America sent to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in response to the bombing of the UN offices in Baghdad on Aug. 19, in which several UN employees died. New York, August 21, 2003 Your Excellency, It is with deep sympathy that I write this letter to you in order to express my personal heartfelt condolences as well as the condolences of the Greek Orthodox Church in America concerning the tragic events of Tuesday, August 19, at the UN headquarters in Baghdad. The men and women who lost their lives in this unwarranted and cowardly act of violence were ambassadors of goodwill, models of humanity who tirelessly labored to advance the well-being of the Iraqi people. In the heavy pain which follows this tragedy, I wish to reassure you, on behalf of all Greek Orthodox faithful in America,

of my steadfast prayers for the repose of their souls and for the comfort of their families and colleagues who mourn their loss. Please also be assured of our prayers for the continued safety of the UN staff in Baghdad and in offices worldwide, for their noble pursuit of peace in the face of conflict, and for your exemplary leadership during this challenging time. Finally, I join with others in praying that the peace of God may permeate our world, so that the nations may be led toward reconciliation, and all human beings may treat one another with dignity and love. May the work of the United Nations continue to advance also these ideals, and may the merciful hand of God guide you as you lead the United Nations in this sacred task. With love and esteem in the Lord God, † DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL HELD IN DENVER Archbishop’s Encyclicals Archdiocese News Archpastoral Reflections Challenge Classifieds Greek Section HC/HC Report Holy Scripture Readings Interfaith Marriage IOCC

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Metropolises’ News Mission News-OCMC OCF Opinions Outreach And Evangelism Parish Profile People Reflections SCOBA Voice of Philoptochos

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Prof. George Pilitsis Dies After Long Illness BROOKLINE, Mass. – Professor George Pilitsis passed away in Boston early in the morning of Sept. 4 at age 55 after a difficult two-year battle with cancer. Dr. Pilitsis was an associate professor of classics and Modern Greek studies at Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology since 1988 and was appointed director of the Greek Education Department on May 1, 2001. Archbishop Demetrios upon hearing of his passing stated: “A remarkable man and scholar departed from among us, a man who contributed greatly in the field of Greek education and language. He taught a multitude of students not only with his words and his very effective teaching, but also with his brilliant ethos and his deeply refined soul. He leaves behind a legacy

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ARC HDI O C E S E

N EWS

Archbishop Holds Prayer Services at Ground Zero u page 1

with his visit to Florida for the Epiphany celebration, where a 4-1⁄2 year-old boy presented him with $121.50 that he had collected, and of a parish of 150 members that on the average collects about $300 in its Sunday tray, but received $15,000 for the victims on Sept. 16, 2001 “If Sept. 11 has been a day of sorrow and evil,” said Archbishop Demetrios, “it has also been a day that brought to the surface the very wonderful element of our Church.”

to donate construction materials, furniture and iconography. The Archbishop stressed that the rebuilt church would be more than a parish church. It would serve as a beacon of Orthodoxy to America and the world. At the end of the services, Archbishop Demetrios greeted members of three of the 25 Greek Orthodox families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks. He held up 2-year-old Sophia Mancini, daughter of Anastasia and the late Francisco Mancini of Astoria, one of the

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS blesses the crowd at the memorial service, holding a cross made out of the WTC steel beams.

His Eminence also told of efforts under way to acquire additional land at the World Trade Center site on which to build a larger church. He noted that, at a meeting with state and local government officials and various organizations concerned with rebuilding at the WTC, he said to Gov. George Pataki “We need more space” if the church is to function as a shrine that will draw visitors to the site. “We’ll try to do that,” he said the governor responded to him. The Archbishop also said “we are at a very critical point” regarding final plans as to how the new church will be situated, whether on the present site or at another proposed location on the northeast corner of the 16-acre Ground Zero area. His Eminence said what will be placed next to the church site, whether a new office tower, or green space, would determine the siting of the church. He said after a recent conversation with a “very high” government official, the possibility of St. Nicholas getting more space is “in its final stage.” He said he had “a long talk” withDaniel Liebskind, as the main architect for the rebuilding of the WTC structures and that “by October the plans should be finished.” His Eminence also said that about $1.6 million has been collected to rebuild the church, and many people have offered

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PHOTOS D. PANAGOS

victims of the 9-11 attack. “One day she will be the pride of our community,” the Archbishop said. Other speakers at the service included Consul General of Greece in New York Dimitrios Platis, who noted the people of Greece, in their sympathy for the American people in the wake of the terrorist attacks, have been “here with you all along.” He recounted the visits of several leading government officials, including Prime Minister Costas Simitis who “came three months after the barbarous act; along with two visits by Foreign Minister, three by the deputy foreign minister, two by the speaker of the Parliament and two by the minister of defense. “That was our roll call,” Mr. Platis said, referring to the reading of the names of the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11, at the morning commemoration presided over by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Also speaking was the Consul General of Cyprus in New York, Martha Mavromati, who commented, “We will gather here every year until the little

SCOBA on Moral Crisis u page 1

A NEARBY flag flies at half-staff. One of the World Trade Center buildings that survived the attack is in the background.

Archbishop Demetrios holds services on the site of St. Nicholas Church.

SEPTEMBER 2003

reflects the union between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). As such, marriage is necessarily monogamous and heterosexual. Within this union, sexual relations between a husband and wife are to be cherished and protected as a sacred expression of their love that has been blessed by God. Such was God’s plan for His human creatures from the very beginning. Today, however, this divine purpose is increasingly questioned, challenged or denied, even within some faith communities, as social and political pressures work to normalize, legalize and even sanctify same-sex unions. The Orthodox Church cannot and will not bless same-sex unions. Whereas marriage between a man and a woman is a sacred institution ordained by God, homosexual union is not. Like adultery and fornication, homosexual acts are condemned by Scripture (Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Timothy 1:10). This being said, however, we must stress that persons with a homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ upon all of humanity. All persons are called by God to grow spiritually and morally toward holiness. As heads of the Orthodox Churches in America and members of SCOBA, we speak with one voice in expressing our deep concern over recent developments. And we pray fervently that our nation will honor and preserve the traditional form of marriage as an enduring and committed union only between a man and a woman. ÿ Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ÿ Metropolitan HERMAN Orthodox Church in America ÿ Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ÿ Archbishop NICOLAE Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada ÿ Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada ÿ Metropolitan JOSEPH Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ÿ Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA ÿ Metropolitan CONSTANTINE Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA ÿ Bishop ILIA of Philomelion Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

church can be built.” Adamantios Vassilakis, Greece’s ambassador to the United Nations, was also in attendance. Other clergy attending included: Fr. Anastasios Kousoulas, Frederick, Md.; Archimandrite Nektarios Kottros, Jamaica, N.Y.; Fr. Constantinos Kalogridis, Jamaica, N.Y., and Fr. Thomas Tsevas, Newark N.J.

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As the crowd dispersed after the service and began to leave the area where the little church stood, a gloomy feeling seemed to hover over the place, as reminders of the disaster were not far from view – the 16-acre pit where construction crews worked to rebuild the underground infrastructure that will serve as the foundation of the new WTC buildings being planned, hundreds of visitors milling around the perimeter of Ground Zero, still trying to comprehend what happened two years ago; and a wooden panel printed with the victims’ names, several of them circled by friends or family members they left behind. One name in particular stood out, underscoring the connection of the Greek Orthodox community to the tragedy, Danielle Kousoulis, perhaps a faceless name to most passersby, but a cherished memory to those she left behind.

SEPTEMBER 2003

Professor George Pilitsis Dies After Long Illness

ARC HDI O C E S E

N EWS

ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

The Universal Exaltation of The Precious and Life-Giving Cross September 14, 2003 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 Sisterhood, the Young Adults and Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

u page 1 of faith to God, devotion to Orthodoxy, love and nurturing for Greek Letters and unconditional giving to his students. He leaves behind the aroma of a man of decency and dignity.” George Pilitsis was born in Serres, in Macedonia, in northern Greece, where he received his primary and secondary education. He came to the United States where he completed his studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey and received a degree in English and masters and Ph.D. degrees in classics. Prior to joining the faculty at 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 studies for a number of years. Professor Pilitsis also taught as a visiting professor at Princeton University. His scholarly interests and areas of research concentrated in the social and cultural history of Greece from antiquity to the present. He 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 United States and in Greece. He was 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. Last March he was honored with the prize for the best translation into English for his book “Yannis Ritsos: Selected Poems (1935-1989)” at a ceremony organized by the Greek Society of Translators of Literature at City Hall in Athens, Greece. He leaves behind his wife, Catherine, and his three children: Lia, Lora and Gregory. Archbishop Demetrios officiated at funeral services at Holy Cross chapel on Sept. 6.

I greet you in the love of Christ our Lord on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, a major feast of our Orthodox Church. This day is important because it accords us the opportunity to ponder the sacred quality of sacrificial love as we exalt and venerate the precious Cross in the midst of our communities. Each time we see the figure of the Cross, we are immediately reminded of our ultimate Christian mission, the essence of which is endless love and service to others. As Orthodox Christians, we do not take lightly Jesus’ challenging words, “Whosoever would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). On the contrary, we recognize the tremendous weight of these words; we acknowledge the extraordinary travails which we must inevitably undergo in our approach toward an everlasting communion with God. In our contemporary society the challenge to take up one’s cross bears a special relevance, and raises critical questions concerning the nature and extent of our commitment to Christ. What are the crosses which we are called to carry today? How do the cumbersome burdens of a complex society such as ours impact our ability to follow Jesus Christ, the Crucified Lord? In considering these questions, one is drawn to a particularly dominant trend within our contemporary society, namely, the tendency for the quality of our relationships with others to decline in terms of the level of personal interaction. This tendency may be seen particularly in instances where communication with others takes place solely via electronic means, or in instances where society refers to the identity of a person by means of a number rather than a name. The declining of the personal dimension within human relationships represents yet one example of a contemporary cross which each of us must carry in our sacred task of preaching the Gospel, a task which is intrinsically personal and intimate. The psychological stresses that many of us experience in our daily lives also represent crosses that each of us must carry. This stress is seen in tensions that inevitably arise as we try to balance the conflicting demands of work and family. Financial difficulties and problems in our relationships with others also complicate our lives with considerable anxiety. These heavy crosses may at times be further weighted down by personal or family health concerns, or by problems with our children or loved ones who may be afflicted with addictions such as the abuse of alcohol or drugs. Despite such burdens, the beauty of the Feast which we celebrate today rests upon the comfort of knowing that the exaltation of the Cross signifies an overcoming of every handicap which inhibits our ability to attain an everlasting communion with God and with one another. The exaltation of the Cross invites us to consider the manner in which Christ has overcome our own burdens and struggles, the loving ways in which He has elevated us from a fallen state to a state of grace. It is an event which brings us to a closer comprehension of the reassuring words of St. Paul, “if we have been united with (Christ) in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His” (Romans 6:5).

Brothers and Sisters, As we consider the significance of this Feast for our personal lives and the lives of our families and communities, we also mark another significant occasion, the Name Day of our Holy Cross Theological School in Brookline, Massachusetts. The students of Holy Cross, by keeping themselves centered upon the symbol of the Cross, which is the hallmark of our Christian faith, develop keen sensitivities for God and others over a period of formation and study which lasts years. Many of them are studying for the Holy Priesthood and, God-willing, will be ordained into the ranks of the clergy in order to meet the growing needs of our parishes. All of them however--men and women from exceptionally diverse backgrounds with a deep love for God, His people, and the Church--are examples of persons who have demonstrated a contemporary response to the sacred call of our Lord to take up their cross and follow Him. I ask on this day that you offer a special prayer for all who labor, teach, study, and support this most sacred institution of our Archdiocese, that it may continue to flourish, provide spiritual nourishment for our communities in America, and edify the Body of Christ throughout the world. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who was crucified on the Cross for our salvation, be with you each and every day of your lives, and may the victory of the Cross alleviate your every burden, inspiring you and your loved ones toward the attainment of an everlasting communion with God and with one another.

With paternal love in Christ,

†Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

SEPTEMBER 2003

HC/HC REPORT Student Enrollment Up at Hellenic College and Holy Cross

Do you know that your ancient Greek ancestors excelled in every art and science? Do you know who these ancient Greeks were? Do you know what their accomplishments were?

BROOKLINE, Mass. – Enrollment at Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology has risen 14 percent from last year and 71 percent during the past three years, according to recent Office of Admissions figures. In addition to the overall increase in students, the number of seminarians, the School’s mainstay since its inception, is also up significantly. Fr. James Katinas and Sonia Daly, codirectors of Admissions and Records, said the number of seminarians has increased by 29 percent from last year, and 91 percent from three years ago. The number of Greek Orthodox seminarians, a statistic closely watched by church officials and local communities in need of priests, is also up dramatically. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese seminarians increased by 28 percent from last year and 91 percent from three years ago. “This increase is, indeed, a blessing for our Archdiocese and our School,” said the Rev. Nicholas Triantafilou, HC/HC president. “We are dedicated to increasing these numbers each year and we welcome interested and aspiring candidates to visit with us on campus during the academic year,” This fall, the School of Theology welcomes seminarians from other Orthodox Churches in the United States and abroad. These include Albanian, Antiochian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Serbian jurisdictions in America, and others from Canada, Great Britain, Greece, Ghana, Kenya, Panama, Peru, Romania and South Korea, who will study for the Orthodox priesthood at the School. “We are also understandably pleased that more and more seminarians from other Orthodox Christian jurisdictions are choosing Holy Cross for their theological education,” Fr. Triantafilou said. Both directors explained that, in addition to the higher enrollments at both schools, the academic quality of incoming classes has also improved. Both schools were more selective in their admissions criteria than in previous years.

Fr. Katinas said this year’s incoming classes received exceptionally high praise from ecclesiastical and academic officials. “These students are multi-talented and deeply faithful. They have commendable academic records,” he said. The average high school grade point average (GPA) of the Hellenic College Class of 2007 is 3.0. “We are proud to say that our entering class boasts a National Merit Scholar, a “Who’s Who Among American High School Students” and a magna cum laude graduate,” said Ms. Daly, noting that the majority of the Class of 2007 is also active in a variety of church and extracurricular activities. The first year School of Theology students have an average GPA of 3.3. “They have been remarkably successful in a variety of fields before pursuing their call to church service,” Fr. Katinas said. Among the entering class are three MD’s, a research scientist, a construction manager, a newspaper editor, an Army officer, a certified financial planner and a graphic designer for major publications. In addition, the average GPA of the incoming female students in the School of Theology is 3.6. “I am pleased at the increased number and high quality of the incoming classes at Hellenic College and the Holy Cross School of Theology. The hard work of the admissions officers, referrals from dedicated clergy and alumni, and the support of the entire community have led to this important success. I look forward to continued increases in our enrollments at both institutions. But most importantly, I want the entire Greek American community to take pride and ownership in what is happening here,” the president said. Fr. Triantafilou also expressed his support of the college faculty. “Our faculty continues to exercise faithful and engaging stewardship as they offer crucial avenues of learning to our students. We are all pleased to be a family of stewards respectful of the mission set before us,” he added.

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Internet Ministries Launches Network for Orthodox Web Developers NEW YORK – The Department of Internet Ministries has created an online collaborative network for Orthodox Christian web developers and webmasters. This “webmasters” network allows individuals who are developing parish web sites, involved in their organization’s web strategy, or who wish to interact with and learn from other Orthodox Christian Internet professionals the opportunity to communicate and collaborate. Individuals may join the webmasters discussion network online at: http://www.goarch.org/listserv. “The Department has developed this network to serve as a vital link for those who are engaged in developing Internet technologies for the Orthodox Church,” said Theo Nicolakis, director. “We have provided a forum for individuals to learn about emerging Internet technologies as well as how the manifold services offered by the Internet Ministries Department can be

leveraged to enhance local ministry and outreach.” Since its inception in 1994, the department has pioneered the use of the Internet, multimedia, and technology for the Orthodox Church. The department is charged with the development and expansion of the Archdiocese’s presence on the Internet, the creation of multimedia programs, as well as the development and integration of new technologies for Orthodox Christian ministry. To assist the Metropolises, parishes, organizations, and institutions of the Archdiocese further their outreach, Internet Ministries offers a plethora of services and programs such as free web site, email, and list server hosting as well as practical tools such as online calendars and message boards. Additional information about the Department of Internet Ministries and its offerings are available at: http: //www.internet.goarch.org .

SEPTEMBER 2003

National Sisterhood of Presvyteres Sets Goals

NATIONAL SISTERHOOD of Presvyteres Executive Committee members with Archbishop Demetrios and Bishop Savas, Archdiocese chancellor.

The National Sisterhood of Presvyteres met with Archbishop Demetrios on Sept. 16 to discuss its goals for the years. The sisterhood has developed a number of outreach programs to reach retired, widowed, caregiver and new presbyteres. These include: • Sister-2-Sister – a big sister program from presbyteres who are new to the Archdiocese grouped with a presbytera in her diocese. • The Listening Connection (TLC) – presbyteres who go through training courses to connect with each other via telephone to encourage each other in their lives as presbyteres. • NSP Website – everything you

wanted to know about the NSP.

www.nsp.goarch.org

• Widowed representative – a presbytera that keeps in contact with other widowed presbyteres for support and encouragement. • Retired representative – a presbytera whose husband is retired who supports other retired presbyteres with encouragement. We also read stories of their busy lives serving the church in “The Epistle.” • Historian – a presbytera who archives all of the memorabilia and photos throughout the years. On Oct. 10-13, the NSP will gather for their third Biennial Retreat at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pa.

Internet School of Orthodox Studies Schedule BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Department of Religious Education announced the fall 2003 schedule of classes for adults, families and parish educators over the Internet. The theme of the Internet School of Orthodox Studies (ISOS) fall semester classes is: An Introduction to Orthodox Theology. The series of 60-minute classes is intended to provide participants the opportunity to examine the basic theological elements of the Orthodox Church. The fall semester classes, scheduled to take place Tuesday evenings (September - December, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.) on the campus of Holy Cross School of Theology will be taught by the Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, Director of the Department of Religious Education and adjunct assistant professor of Religious Education and Homiletics for Holy Cross School of Theology; and Dr. George Bithos, the Hellenic College/Holy Cross registrar. In addition to those who can physically attend, the classes can be heard by anyone with a computer and Internet access. The classes are being made available by the Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries with broadcasts in real-time through the Archdiocese web server. This year’s presentations will also be provided in Streaming Video so that Web participants will be able to see the actual class presentations as they are being delivered. The ISOS web site address is: http: //www.isos.goarch.org. The presentations will also be archived so that students can listen to the classes when their schedule permits. A schedule and class syllabus is listed below and will be posted on the ISOS Internet Web Site. The classes are offered free to all Orthodox faithful in the Metropolis of Boston.

The first class will convene on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Participants are asked to please bring a notebook and to purchase the primary text for the course. Certificates of educational recognition will be provided to students who participate in the classes and teachers who are engaged in the Teacher Certification Program of the Department of Religious Education.

Internet School of Orthodox Studies (ISOS)

Fall Semester program Tuesday Evenings – 7:30pm – 8:30pm Theme: An Introduction to Orthodox Theology. Faculty: Rev. Frank Marangos D.Min., Ed.D., Director, Religious Education Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Dr. George Bithos Ph.D.; Registrar, Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Primary Text: Elements of Faith (1991) by Christos Yannaras. May be purchased from the Department of Religious Education ($29.95 + s/h). Schedule of classes September 30 -Introducing the Orthodox Church - Marangos October 7 - History of Orthodoxy -Bithos 14 - Faith of Orthodoxy - Marangos 21 - God as Trinity - Bithos 28 - The World - Marangos November 4 - Man (Part One)- Bithos 11 - Man (Part Two)- Marangos 18 - Jesus Christ (Part One)- Bithos 25 - Jesus Christ (Part Two)- Marangos December 2 - The Church - Bithos 8 - The Sacraments - Bithos 16 - Orthodoxy Today – Marangos.

SEPTEMBER 2003

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be donated to the parish. Later this year the community will conclude the process of choosing a name for their parish. Visit their website at www.orthodoxhernando countyfl.org. In the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, the by Fr. James W. Kordaris mission parish of St. Matthew in Reading, Pennsylvania is a parish in renewal. Thanks to the generous support of The seventy committed families of St. the Leadership 100 Home Missions Grant, Matthew reflect the vast mosaic of Orthosuch a program exists to support mission doxy – Greek, Romanian, Ethiopian, Copparishes throughout the Archdiocese in tic, Arabic and those who have come to embrace Orthodoxy their critical first from other religious years of existence. traditions. In special Now in the prosituations these cess of moving from funds may also the downtown area be applied to to a new location, parishes that the parish remains have declined but committed to mainare in a period of taining a presence renewal and outin the inner city of reach. Reading. The Home The St. MatMission Parish thew parish is a Program, under visible presence in direction of the the Reading comDepartment of munity, recognized Parish Renewal, Archbishop Demetrios for their prison Outreach and ministry, outreach Evangelism, takes of America to the poor, and into considerfor their work with ation the recommendation of the local Hierarch, and immigrants and refugees. Visit the St. Matprovides gradually declining support thew website at www.saintmatts.org. From these examples, it is clear that to mission parishes over a period of five Orthodoxy’s presence in America is growyears or less. Only parishes with a full-time priest ing and there are budding and thriving are considered and the support is distrib- parishes that would be struggling or nonuted to the priest through the Metropolis existent were it not for the Home Mission Parish Program. as a temporary supplement to his salary. Because of this program, priests are There are currently 14 mission parishes throughout the Archdiocese that are able to offer much-needed consistency receiving some level of support through in leadership during the critical stages of parish formation and renewal, increasing the Home Mission Parish Program. There are many other parishes desig- immensely the likelihood of a parish benated as mission parishes that receive no coming self-sufficient. The opportunities for the expansion support from this program but are allowed other benefits to assist them in the first of the Mission Parish Program are many. Preliminary findings of the new annual difficult years of existence. On the forefront of the effort to estab- Parish Report indicate that more than lish new mission parishes is the Commis- 20 communities in the Archdiocese have sion for Orthodox Missions and Evange- expressed an interest in establishing mislism (C.O.M.E.) in the Metropolis of San sion parishes. To address this critical issue, a new Francisco. This effort has established more Guide for the Establishment of Mission than 13 parishes since 1991. The Commission identifies areas Parishes will soon be available from the where mission parishes are needed, es- Department of Parish Renewal, Outreach & tablishes and nurtures their growth by Evangelism. Also soon to be published is a providing clergy on an occasional basis booklet entitled, Parish Renewal, Outreach and the guidance and assistance to mature and Evangelism: Some Practical Steps. The Department will also work to into self-sufficient parishes. One beacon of Orthodoxy shines expand home mission activity by seekfrom the renovated basement of a Portland ing funds from additional sources for the shopping center that contains the sanctu- support of the Home Mission Parish Proary, classrooms, bookstore, and fellowship gram, clearly an excellent investment in the future of the Greek Orthodox Church hall of St. John the Baptist Church. Descending the stairs and entering in America. In the words of Archbishop Demethe sanctuary, one senses the spirit of the early Church described in the second trios, “It is the Parish, it is the local comchapter of the Book of Acts. Visit their munity which has been, is, and will forever be the central, indispensable agent for website at www.stjohngoc.org. There are five parishes receiving offering our Orthodox Faith to contemsupport from the Leadership 100 Home porary America.” To support the Home Mission Parish Mission Grant within the Metropolis of Atlanta. One of these is the Hellenic Program, please send contributions to the Orthodox Mission of Hernando County Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, in Brooksville, Florida, under the lead- Department of Parish Renewal, Outreach ership of Father Stanley Harakas, which & Evangelism, 83 St. Basil Road, Garrison, has grown from 36 to 60 stewards in just NY 10524. For information on establishing a mission parish, please contact the eighteen months. This parish has been meeting and Department by mail at the address shown worshipping in the chapel of a local camp above, by email at parishrenewal@goarch facility, all 22 acres of which are soon to .org, or call 646/519-6160.

“It is the Parish, it is the local community which has been, is, and will forever be the central, indispensable agent for offering our Orthodox Faith to contemporary America.”

SEPTEMBER 2003

Ionian Village Completes Successful 2003 Program SPECIAL DISCOUNTS

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Fillo Kataifi A Q&A session and lively discussion under the moonlight at Ionian Village.

GARRISON, NY – On Aug. 9, the final group of campers of Ionian Village departed the village of Bartholomio, Greece, to conclude the 2003 camping season. Participants of the Ionian Village program traveled throughout the countryside of Greece visiting religious, historical and archeological sites, as well as islands and noteworthy holy places. The campers departed for their homes in the United States with a renewed understanding of their faith and culture, as well as a better understanding of themselves as Orthodox Christians. With the blessings of Archbishop Demetrios, this year’s camp session was planned with much detail and care by Deacon Constantine Lazarakis, the Ionian Village director and associate director of the Archdiocese Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. With more than 30 staff members from throughout the Archdiocese, the Ionian Village program continued its great tradition of offering faith and culture to our youth. The first session, Summer Travel Camp (Grades 7th through 9th), completed their session on July 17 in Athens, and returned to the United States. The second session, Byzantine Venture (Grades 10th through 12th), concluded on Aug. 9, with over 150 campers, staff and clergy participating. The participants from both sessions gave thanks to God for their many wonderful experiences in the

D. PANAGOS

Ionian Village program. Deacon Lazarakis commented with the words, “when you bring a group of young people together for an extended period of time at summer camp, and most especially at a program such as Ionian Village, you truly feel the Holy Spirit alive and dwelling among them.” Participants were able to understand the wonders of Ionian Village in Bartholomio, experience the newly renovated Archdiocesan camp-site, and participate fully in the Orthodox faith and Hellenic culture by visiting the relics of wonder-working Sts. Nektarios, Dionysios, Andrew, Alexios, the Righteous Loukas, as well as the various historic and archaeological sites of Delphi, Ancient Olympia, Sounion, and many more. Upon their return, comments such as “this was the greatest experience of my life” and “I thank God for this experience, I can’t wait to share it with my friends,” echoed through the terminal at JFK. Together, almost 200 young people experienced Ionian Village this summer and it has proven to be one of the greatest experiences in each of their lives. For pictures of this summer’s program, as well as detailed information on the program, visit us at the new web site at http: //www.ionianvillage.org . Deacon Lazarakis and his staff are already planning for Ionian Village 2004, continuing to make improvements to the campsite and program. Materials will be available this fall.

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SEPTEMBER 2003

Ahepa Elects A. Jack Georgalas Supreme President PHOENIX – The delegates of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) elected A. Jack Georgalas, of Seaford, Va., supreme president for 2003-04. Georgalas has held numerous elected offices and appointed positions during his AHEPA career at the chapter, district and national levels, including chairman of the Board, supreme vice president, and chairman of the Cyprus Hellenic Affairs Committee. He is a member of Woodrow Wilson Chapter No. 241, Newport News, Va., one of the strongest chapters in the AHEPA family. In the community, Georgalas served as parish council president of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, is a member of Leadership 100 and the Archons-Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. The supreme president is the CEO of Tri-Cities Beverage Corp., and was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marines Corps. Georgalas graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1952. He is married to his childhood sweetheart, Mary, and has four children and seven grandchildren.

Supreme Lodge & Board of Directors Elections

The balance of the Supreme Lodge is a blend of veteran leadership combined with newcomers. They are: Canadian President Lazarus Kalipolidis, Supreme Vice President Franklin Manios, Supreme Secretary Chris Economides, Jr., Supreme Treasurer Tom Owens, Supreme Counselor Dean Selimos, and Supreme Athletic Director Dr. Monthe N. Kofos. The eight supreme governors are: Tassos Chronis, Anthony Drakos, Nick Matthews, Cosmos Marandos, Chris Pep-

A. JACK GEORGALAS

pas, George Scarveles, George Sinadinos, and Steve G Trent (Triantafel). Nicholas Karacostas, Alex Katsafanas, and E.P. Terry Mitchell were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Directors. Lee G. Rallis of Denver was re-elected Board chairman. Gus J. James and Manuel Scarmoutsos were elected vice chairman and secretary, respectively, and James Broomas was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Auditors.

AHEPA Family Elections

The remaining organizations that comprise the AHEPA family also held elections. Angela Kavounas was elected grand president of the Daughters of Penelope, Dino Mitsios was elected supreme president of the Sons of Pericles, and Alana “Beba” Gavrilis was elected grand president of the Maids of Athena.

Archons Receive AHEPA Medal of Freedom PHOENIX – The Order of St. Andrew/ Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was honored with the AHEPA Medal of Freedom on July 31 at the 81st annual convention of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis received the award on behalf of the Archons from Dr. James Dimitriou, supreme president of the Order of AHEPA. Acknowledging the significance of the award Dr. Limberakis stated, “The Order of St. Andrew is deeply honored to receive the AHEPA Medal of Freedom. It is an honor that acknowledges the sacred mission of the Archons to protect and defend the Holy Mother Church and to strengthen the ties of the Church in America and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. As Archons, we look forward to working together with AHEPA, side by side, to serve as ‘Defenders of the

Faith’ seeking religious freedom and the vitality of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.” AHEPA was founded in 1922 and has as its mission the promotion of education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, individual and family excellence, and the ideals of Hellenism. More information on the convention and the award can be found on the AHEPA web site at http: //www.ahepa.org. The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle is the U.S. organization of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, an international group of church laymen recognized for outstanding service, dedication and loyalty to the Church. The primary mission of the Order is to promote and defend the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. There are more than 800 current members of the Order in the United States.

Organization for Mentally Disabled Meets at Monastery

NEW YORK – YASA is an Astoria, Queens-based organization of Greek American parents of individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities. Board members of YASA received formal training June 17 about governing the organization provided by the New York state. State representatives along with directors of local organizations supported by the Office for Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities visited YASA’s offices for the training sessions. Metropolitan Paisios of Tyana at the St. Irene’s Chrysovalantou Sacred Patriarchal Monastery provided YASA’s offices. YASA’s board consists of parents, members of YASA along with volunteers who are professionals in the health re-

lated and other fields. The New York state recognition and the most recent approval for offering case management services to the community made YASA the pioneer organization of its kind in the Greek American community. The parents who founded YASA are excited that for the first time they can express their anxieties, fears and requests for services to case managers, coordinators and social workers that speak their language and understand their culture. The excitement is heightened because this first step may lead to the main expectation of the parents. The big dream is a residential facility that can serve as a day habilitation center as well as housing. Hopefully their dream will be realized.

SEPTEMBER 2003

‘The Other Holy Land’ to Air on Hallmark Channel

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D. PANAGOS

DIGNITARIES at the New York premiere screening at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of Holy Trinity (l to r) Consul General of Greece Dimitris Platis, Mary and Frank Frost, Turkish Consul Gulcan Karagog, Michael Jaharis, Archbishop Demetrios, Fr. Stephanopoulos and Robert Shaw.

NEW YORK – The Other Holy Land, a newly produced program that features the role of four geographical areas – Constantinople, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Smyrna – in the development of Christianity, will premiere on the Hallmark Channel, Sept. 28 at 7 a.m. ET/PT (6 a.m. CT) and will repeat at noon ET/PT (11 a.m.CT). Please check your local TV listing or call your cable or satellite provider for satellite and channel number. The program clearly demonstrates the history of Christianity in The Other Holy Land is also the history of the Greek Orthodox Church. The program also includes interviews with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Bishop Kallistos Ware, and other noted theologians and historians. Produced by Frank Frost Productions in cooperation with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Office of News and Information and GOTelecom, the documentary was funded by the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund, The Aegean Free Trade Zone and Faith & Values Media. Participants, in addition to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Demetrios and Bishop Kallistos, include: the Rev. Dr. Robert G. Stephanopoulos, dean of Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral; the Rev. Dr. Demetrios Constantelos, professor emeritus of history and religion at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey; and other scholars. The Archdiocesan Cathedral Cultural Committee and Cathedral Fel-

lowship hosted the premiere New York premiere on Sept. 10, which was attended by Archbishop Demetrios, Fr. Stephanopoulos, Consul General of Greece and Mrs. Dimitris Platis, Turkish Consul Karagog, Archdiocesan Council Vice Chairman and Mrs. Michael Jaharis, Frank and Mary Frost, producers of The Other Holy Land; Edward Murray, president and CEO of Faith & Values Media; Dr. Helen Evans, curator for Early Christian Art and Byzantine Art; Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dennis Droushiotis, Cyprus trade commissioner. The Washington screening was held Sept. 14, the opening day of the Faith Communicators Forum, a four-day meeting of Faith & Values Media, the Communications Commission of the National Council of Churches, Religion Communicators Council and the United Church of Christ. Ambassador of Greece George Savvaidis attended the event and reception hosted by the Archdiocese. The religious communicators, representing all the major jurisdictions in the United States, hailed the film as a serious and most informative introduction to Orthodox Christianity and asked to make the film available to their faithful. Videotape copies of this program are available for purchase at $19.99 each, plus $6 shipping. Tapes will be shipped in midNovember 2003. To order call GOTelecom at 1-800-888-6835. For more information and to find Hallmark stations in your area log on to: www.goarch.org or www.hallmarkchannel.com.

March of Dimes Honors Fr. Kavadas ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. – The well-known Organization of the March of Dimes offered its Man of the Year 2003 award to Fr. Demetrios Kavadas, pastor emeritus of the Assumption Church of St. Clair Shores. Following its tradition since the days of President Franklin Roosevelt, March of Dimes declared that Fr. Kavadas is the first clergyman of all religious traditions and the first of Greek heritage to receive such a distinction. Mitch Kehetian, editorial page editor of the Macomb Daily wrote Aug. 10: “My friend, the Rev. Demetrios Kavadas will be best remembered for his services to the Greek Orthodox faith, his guidance of youth and

his devotion to helping the mentally ill.” Fr. Kavadas started out in Manchester’s St. George Cathedral at the age of 25 and came to the Assumption of St. Clair Shores in 1962 from where he retired two years ago. He has received numerous awards from the state, the cities and other organizations for services rendered. He has received the highest honor of a protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, he is the president of the Holy Cross Alumni Association, and holds many other positions of leadership in Church, Social, Medical and philanthropic groups. He is married to Rodothea Palaiologou and they have four children and four grandchildren.

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SEPTEMBER 2003

E DITORIAL

A Goal Within Sight

he second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center has come and gone. Ironically, on each of the days on which the infamous date has fallen the weather has been sunny and pleasant, in marked contrast to the emotional turmoil of those still trying to comprehend why this heinous act happened. Meanwhile, the new plan for the site continues to develop, with government officials, developers, and community leaders wrangling over how the land will be developed and what form the final version of any memorial will take. Part of that consideration has to include St. Nicholas Church, the tiny house of worship crushed under the tons of debris of what was the South Tower. Archbishop Demetrios has said the new church will have a function beyond that of a mere parish church. It will be a shrine where countless future visitors to the site will be able to find solace for the loss of loved ones, to light a candle in their memory and to reflect on the tragedy. Within a few weeks it should be known how much space will be available on which to rebuild, and where the location will be, either on the existing lot, or in another part of the 16-acre Ground Zero area under

development. With some $1.6 million already pledged, along with promises of free materials and services, the Church is poised to get a good start in building a new St. Nicholas. The parishioners of the church have been without a spiritual home for more than two years. Many have been attending services at churches in Brooklyn and elsewhere. They will hopefully not have to wait much longer before they can again worship in their own church. Their dream and goal appears to be within sight. It has been with the aid of many thousands of persons who have contributed of their resources, no matter how large or small, their time and talents that has made it possible to pursue the dream of rebuilding St. Nicholas Church. For two years now, Archbishop Demetrios has officiated at memorial services at the site, which brings back memories of that awful day when terrorists crashed two airliners into the two 110-story buildings. We all look forward to the day when His Eminence and the small family of parishioners of St. Nicholas can experience the joyful event of dedicating a new church building that will serve as a powerful witness to the resilient faith that is Orthodox Christianity.

ARCHBISHOP’S ENCYCLICAL ON SEPTEMBER 11 ANNIVERSARY September 11, 2003 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 in Christ,

n this day we reach the two-year anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Certainly, the memory of what happened, of our experiences, and of the images of that day will always be with us as individuals and as a nation. This is due first and foremost to our prayerful remembrance of those who lost their lives - the innocent victims and those who offered their lives attempting to save others. As people of faith and hope, we continue to remember them, offering our prayers, love, and ministry for their families. September 11 altered our world in inconceivable ways, adding considerable stress to our daily lives, which are now placed under conditions of varying degrees of threat related alertness. We remember this day in the midst of these conditions, and, thus, we pray that all humanity and we may be filled with the peace of Almighty God, our refuge and fortress (Psalm 31:3), and that these horrendous acts may never be repeated. As Greek Orthodox faithful in America, we also mark this day by remembering St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was sadly destroyed in the terrorist attacks. In the wake of tragedy, God has blessed us with the reassurance that this house of worship will be rebuilt, and that it will occupy a prominent location within the rebuilding plans for Ground Zero. St. Nicholas will become once again a place of prayer and faith, honoring the memory of September 11 by linking a site of destruction and death with the promise of an eternal abode with God. May the God of mercy and life shine His countenance upon our world and grant us peace as we keep the memory of the innocent victims of September 11, 2001. May their memory be eternal, and may our memorials lead us to even greater acts of love and service, for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. With paternal love in Christ,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

Archpastoral Reflections

by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America

The Ministry of the Parish

There is a special joy that follows from serving others, a gladness that may be seen in the faces of those who participate in ministry (diakonia), which is the principle work of the parish. The parish is a community of faith, a place of love, worship, and growth in Christ--a fellowship (koinonia) of believers who are each called to partake in “the joy and the fellowship of ministry” (2 Corinthians 8:4). Ministry is not a task that belongs solely to one individual or to one particular group of persons; it is a communal act, a sacred endeavor that summons the collective efforts of all of us, clergy and laity alike, who comprise the parish. Recognizing and utilizing the diverse and unique contributions of each of the members of our community is a significant aspect of our apostolic legacy as Orthodox Christians. Here, we are mindful of St. Paul’s words: “For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5). Thus, it must be affirmed that ministry is a sacred calling issued by God Himself to each member of our parishes. Through a deep commitment to serving the physical and spiritual needs of others, each person will grow in faith and in the wisdom and grace of God. In addition, through ministry, together we will build communities of faith and love, where Orthodox Christians united in Christ will bear witness to His transforming presence. In light of this divine call to service, it is important to reflect continuously upon the quality and comprehensiveness of our parish ministry programs. The fundamental needs of parish ministry require our sustained investment in the quality of our teachers, youth workers, administrative support staff, and pastoral assistants. Significant attention must be paid to their ongoing education and spiritual development as effective ministers of God’s Word. As we minister to our Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters in our parishes, our efforts should reflect heightened sensitivity to those who come from exceptionally diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and, thus, have particular and varying needs. Additionally, as we clarify the immediate needs of impoverished neighborhoods in our midst, we must also strive to expand the outreach ministries of our parishes accordingly and diligently. Ministries that promote literacy, programs that teach basic skills to those in need, efforts to provide resources to the poor and unemployed, and ministries to those who are in prison are each powerful examples of ways in which we can share the transforming message of Christ’s Gospel with others in our contemporary society. Further, ministry must be offered to families, to people with physical and mental health needs, to children and youth, and senior adults. Where financial resources allow, communities should invest in the hiring of professional, theologically trained graduates of Orthodox theological seminaries such as our own Holy Cross School of Theology in order to meet these and other needs. As we strive to offer our Orthodox faith to contemporary America, we are called to intensify our ministries in a corresponding manner, in terms of both quality and comprehensiveness. In faithfulness to this call of our Incarnate God, who day and night proclaimed the Gospel of truth and redemption to all the peoples of the Earth, we must be the constant voices of the Gospel. In faithfulness to our loving Lord who had compassion upon the downtrodden and unwanted persons of our world, we must seek out those in need, we must offer the resources necessary to sustain and transform lives, and we must never cease to give honor and glory to God for the work that is accomplished through us. Through our ministry, our sacred diakonia, we will not only build communities of faith and love, but we will also bring Jesus Christ to souls that are crying out for compassion, healing, fellowship, and salvation.

HOLY SCRIPTURE READINGS

OCTOBER . . . . . . . .

1 .............. W - Acts 9:10-18; Lk 5:33-39 2 ........... Th - 1 Tim 1:12-17; Lk 6:12-19 3 ............. F - Acts 17:16-34; Lk 6:17-23 4 ........... S - 1 Cor 10:23-28; Lk 5:17-26 5 ......... SUN - 2 Cor 6:1-10; Lk 6:31-36 6 ............ M - 1 Cor 4:9-16; Jn 20:19-31 7 .............. T - Eph 2:19-3:7; Lk 6:37-45 8 ............. W - Eph 3:18-21; Lk 6:46-7:1 9 .......... Th -1 Cor. 4:9-16; Mt 9:36-10:8 10 ............. F - Eph 4:17-25; Lk 7:31-35 11.............. S -Acts 8:36-39; Lk 5:24-32 12 ........... SUN - Titus 3:8-15; Lk 8:5-15 13 ............ M - Eph 4:25-32; Lk 7:36-50 14 ................ T -Eph 5:20-26; Lk 8:1-13 15 ............ W - Eph 5:25-33; Lk 8:22-25 16 ........ Th - Eph 5:33-6:1; Mt 27:33-54

17 ............ F - Rom 9:18-33; Lk 9:12-18 18 ... S - Col 4:5-11, 14-18; Lk 10:16-21 19 ........ SUN - 2 Cor 9:6-11; Lk 7:11-16 20 ................. M - Phil 1:1-7; Lk 9:18-22 21 ............. T - 2 Cor 9:6-11; Lk 9:23-27 22 ............ W - Phil 1:12-20; Lk 9:44-50 23 .......... Th - Gal 1:11-19; Mt 13:54-58 24 ............. F - Phil 1:27-2:4; Lk 10:1-15 25 ............. S - 1 Cor 1:12-20; Lk 7:1-10 26 ....... SUN - 2 Tim 2:1-10; Lk 8:27-39 27 ........... M - Phil 2:12-16; Lk 10:22-24 28 ..T - Heb 9:1-7; Lk 10:38-42, 11:27-28 29 ............. W - Phil 2:24-30; Lk 11:9-13 30 .............. Th - Phil 3:1-8; Lk 11:14-23 31 .......... F - Rom 16:1-16; Lk 11:23-26

SEPTEMBER 2003

Archiepiscopal Encyclical

Beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year September 1, 2003 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 Sisterhood, the Young Adults and Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ - ÁÈÇÍÁ ÊÁÔ’ ÅÕÈÅÉÁÍ ÐÔÇÓÅÉÓ ×ÙÑÉÓ ÓÔÁÈÌÏ ÌÅ ÊÁÍÏÍÉÊÁ ÄÑÏÌÏËÏÃÉÁ ÖÈÉÍÏÐÙÑÏ

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The commencement of the Ecclesiastical New Year on September 1 is a welcome occasion for us to consider the abundant blessings of God in our daily lives. In the liturgical calendar of the Orthodox Church this day inaugurates an annual cycle of worship, which complements our lives with order and structure, and reflects and informs the teaching of the Church concerning the relationship of humanity to God, our Creator, and to the natural world. Our relationship with God and the natural world is at once a physical and spiritual dynamic. It is both an earthly and a sacred reality that communicates that we are an integral part of the Creation; and, thus, we bear a special responsibility to its protection, care and wholesome cultivation. Appropriately in this regard, September 1 also coincides with the beginning of the cycle of the agrarian harvest, a physical process with a tremendous spiritual application, as reflected by the highly suggestive saying of the Apostle Paul, Whatever a man sows that he will also reap (Galatians 6:7). Our act of sowing seeds of spiritual growth is an intense exercise, a deeply personal and all-encompassing labor of love that is characterized by a conscientious intensification of our prayer life, acts of philanthropy, and personal devotion to the reading of the Holy Scriptures. More than this, it is a manifestation of the conscience of the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) uniquely imparted to Christians, a conscience which is rooted in service to others, responsibility for our natural environment, a thirst for education and learning, and an awareness of our spiritual potential as children created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Genesis 1:26). Yet the task of sowing and reaping is a work that moves beyond the scope of the personal. Within parishes, the task of sowing seeds of growth takes on a communal and social dimension. More than a physical setting, the parish is a space of sacred communication and unity, defined by the intersection of the person, family, and community into a single body of worship and ministry. As such, the parish is foremost a spiritual entity, a microcosm of the entirety of the Church, the Body of Christ. It is in the parish where we grow as persons and families through corporate prayer and worship, through ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of one another, and through the guided study of the Holy Scriptures. The beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year accords our communities the opportunity to grow in new, challenging, and ever-expanding directions. This festal time is an especially fitting occasion to examine more closely our immediate surroundings, to raise environmental awareness within our communities, to identify and attend to the specific needs of our neighbors, and to enhance the ways in which we welcome strangers into our midst. By these labors, we may be assured of an abundant harvest of spiritual fruit, rightfully honoring God’s creation, and we may rest securely in the knowledge that he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6). May the beginning of this ecclesiastical year mark a radiant beginning for each of you as you continue to sow and reap the abundant blessings of God, our Creator, and may your homes and your hearts be filled with His infinite grace, mercy, and love throughout this and every ecclesiastical year.

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With paternal love in Christ,

†Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

SEPTEMBER

In the Calendar

21......SCOBA – College Student Sunday 24.......Holy Eparchial Synod – Fall Meeting

26-27...........Archdiocesan Council – Fall Meeting - NYC OCTOBER 10-13..................National Sisterhood of Presvyteres Retreat – Antiochian Village 23...................................Saint Iakovos 26...............................Saint Demetrios 28..........................................OXI Day 29-31.International Biblical Conference – Holy Cross, Brookline MA

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NOVEMBER

1.........International Biblical Conference - Holy Cross, Brookline MA 1.............Saints Cosmas and Damianos 5-7.......National Clergy Retreat – Stone Mountain, GA 8..........Archangels Michael and Gabriel 13.....................Saint John Chrysostom 15..........................Nativity Fast begins 21.............Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple 25................................Saint Katherine 27...................................Thanksgiving 30.................Saint Andrew the Apostle

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SEPTEMBER 2003

Despite Blackout, Southampton Parish Breaks Ground

Stress and Worry Pull the Body and Mind Apart “I will make you strong if you quietly trust me.” Isaiah 30:15 Symptoms of depression: A loss of enthusiasm, a general slowing down of mental and physical activity, one feels dejected, discouragement, excessive worrying, spells of weeping, downheartedness, sadness over the passing of a loved one, sees no hope for future, poor sleep and loss of appetite. by Rev. Dr. C. N. Dombalis

AT GROUNDBREAKING – (l. to r.) Bridget Stavropoulos, Connie Vafias, Councilwoman Linda Cabot, Councilwoman Carolyn Zenk, Councilman Steven Kenny, Congressman Tim Bishop, Village of Southampton Mayor Joseph Romanosky, Southampton Town Supervisor Skip Heaney, Archbishop Demetrios and Fr. Karloutsos. Behind His Eminence are Dr. James Apostolides, Roula Georgiou, Maria Vlahadamis, Annie Kanistras and Fr. Nektarios Kehagias.

SOUTHAMPTION, N.Y. – The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church went as scheduled on Aug. 15, despite the massive blackout that left much of the Northeast without electricity, in some cases for parts of two or three days. Electric power had been restored to Southampton and parts of eastern Long Island by late Thursday, Aug. 14. On Panagia’s day, there was light in Southampton, with the beautiful weather complementing the ceremony that drew about 200 people. Archbishop Demetrios, who on the previous evening because of the blackout could not celebrate Vespers at Kimisis of Theotokos Church in Port Jefferson on the North Shore of Long Island, was able to conduct the Orthros and Divine Liturgy at the Hamptons’ church. He then officiated at the Agiasmos

service on the plot of land designated for the new church, approximately 100 feet from the old church. The present church was only built in 1985, but is “too small,” Fr. Alex Karloutsos, pastor, told the Observer, to accommodate the growing numbers of Orthodox Christians who have taken up residence in the Hamptons. Archbishop Demetrios blessed the site, and those in attendance at the Agiasmos service. “It’s a ceremony that is full of hope, it brings people together and carries with it a lot of energy, a lot of hope,” said Deacon Pandeleimon Papadopoulos, who accompanied Archbishop Demetrios to the event. “It’s a service that is very joyful.” Fr. Karloutsos said the new church is expected to be completed in 2005 and will have a capacity of about 350. The $4.2 million project will include additional work on the present church building, which will serve as the community center. Fordham University theology professor and Holy Cross graduate Aristotle Papanikolau, served as the cantor for the Orthros. Public officials attending the event included Southampton Mayor Joseph Romanosky and City Council members. Port Authority Inspector John Kassimatis, who lost his brother-in-law on September 11, presented the church with an iron cross made from debris at the World Trade Center ground zero site. Kassimatis was in the first tower when the second one collapsed. There were 10 shovels, and groups of 10 at a time came forth to dig up the earth in the place where the new church will be built. Members of the parish council, clergy, local politicians, the elderly, and church youth all took their place turning shovelfuls of earth at the groundbreaking ceremony. The cornerstone was laid to signify the foundation upon which the church will be built: Retired priest Fr. Nektarios Kehagias, founding pastor of the church, also helped with the ceremonial digging. The blackout did prevent people from attending the event, mostly those in the city. One familiar fixture on the landscape that will remain in place will be the enormous blue-and-white tent that serves the community during its annual Greek Festival in July and on other festive occasions.

Amongst those who overcame depression and whose memory will remain alive was a Richmond merchant who never looked back upon the past. Negative thinking and failures never surfaced in his thoughts. Thus, he never suffered loss of esteem, independency, and creativity as he guided his firm into a nation-wide industry. Once a young man described, the source of his fear and fatigue in his youth was derived from the constant harangue to fear God. Unfortunately, the translation of the Biblical word “phovos” is mistranslated as fear. In the ancient Greek language, the word “phovos” correctly translated conveys, “inspired by awe.” In the Liturgy of our Christian Orthodox Church, too frequently “Phovos Of God” is conveyed as fear of God; whereas, the ancient quotation seeks to impart, “With Awe Inspired by God, Faith, and Love draw near to the Holy Chalice.” In lieu of God’s Love and His Compassion, the frequently employed mistranslation conveys judgment, trembling, and fear. The love, the strength, the forgiveness and beauty of God’s grace are withheld unintentionally from worshippers. Every morning is a new venture. God is at our side. Among my favorite scriptural

ΣΑΕ

wants

you

to win a trip ...

verses is (Philippians 4:9) “Our God who gives peace, will be with you.” God is at our side. Faith is easily defined as having God with you. Faith creates a feeling of confidence of God’s Love present every day and moment in our lives. Great and positive thoughts follow: (Psalm 34:4) “I sought the Lord and He took away my fears.” A hospitalized parishioner following a prayer, (The contracted word in Greek for prayer is “Prosefhe” interpreted “coming for a blessing.”), boldly voiced, “I’m not going to die. I am going to get well.” She is living today. She did not fill her mind with small, destructive and depressed thoughts. Medical doctors are in agreement that a healthy outlook supports getting well. It is good to unburden the mind with a talk and prayer with Jesus and you’ll feel better for his light will be in your heart. Following a speaking engagement at the Citadel in Charleston, S.C., a cadet of the military college approached and shared, “I began to believe in myself, I gave Jesus a chance and He changed my life. God took away self doubt and self defeat and following my graduation, I have been accepted for enrollment at medical school.” He then quoted a passage from Isaiah 30:15: “I will make you strong if you quietly trust me.” Nothing is too tough for Jesus. In the Gospel of Mark 9:22, a father seeks help from Jesus for his critically ill child and pleads, “If you can.” Jesus replies, “Why do you say ‘if you can’? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!” The child’s father answers, “I do have faith.” The child was immediately healed. Hope means you are optimistic, that things will be favorable and good. Fr. Dombalis is dean emeritus of the Cathedral of Virginia in Richmond.

to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens ! Just visit

www.saeamerica.org

and register for your FREE subscription to our new online newsletter. Good luck! ΣΑΕ − World Council of Hellenes Abroad N. & S. America Region

SEPTEMBER 2003

20th St. John Chrysostom National Oratorical Festival Held in Denver DENVER – Eighteen Greek Orthodox speakers gathered on June 6 at St. Catherine Church in Greenwood Village for finals of the 20th annual St. John Chrysostom National Oratorical Festival, hosted by St. Catherine Church, with the assistance of the Denver Assumption Cathedral. by Tom Cladis

The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is a program of the Department of Religious Education, under the direction of Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, providing teenagers the opportunity to examine their faith and the platform from which to share their good news. Since the Festival’s inception, Fr. John Orfanakos and Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos have served as Archdiocese cochairmen. They were unable to attend this year’s event, however, due to illness. This year’s theme was Orthopraxia: The Life of the Church, and contestants in both the Junior and Senior Divisions chose from six related topics on which to speak. Each of the nine metropolises was represented by one Junior Division finalist (grades 7 - 9) and by one Senior Division finalist (grades 10 - 12), who had earned their place at the Mile High City by winning as many as three prior competitions - at the parish, regional and metropolis levels. They arrived from states across the nation - New York, New Jersey, Maine, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, Utah and California - united in their Orthodox

2003 ORATORICAL Festival participants with Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, the Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos (left) and Fr. Louis Christopulos, pastor of St. Catherine’s in Greenwood, Colo.

faith, and when finally they came together for the first time under the same roof on Friday evening, one could sense how very special the weekend would be.

u page 26

JUNIOR DIVISION – FIRST PLACE WINNER Constance Taras, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Franklin, Tenn. Topic No. 2: How does the Parable of the Good Samaritan influence your behavior? Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Your Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah, Reverend Fathers, Honorable Judges, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Speakers: Neighbor – When I first asked myself what the term neighbor referred to, I replied with - someone who lives nearby, a friend, someone I know. But then I examined what Jesus had replied when asked what was necessary for one to inherit eternal life in his Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 25-37. “Thou shalt love thy Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.” This neighbor seemed to be referring to something more deep; not just someone I know but anyone and everyone who may need help or LOVE. But how does God expect me to love and help those that curse me? How can God ask me to forgive those terrorists of September 11th? How am I to love those people as though they were myself? To me this seemed an almost impossible mission until now. Protopriest V. Protapov of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist stated, “For God, all men are near, all are precious creations.” Christ died on the cross for everyone, not just those close to you. Rather a priest, Levite, Samaritan, or a beaten man, everyone is loved equally by God. As the l7th century English poet, John Donne, stated in his “Meditation 17,” “No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” In the Parable, Jesus answers the question, “And who is my neighbor?” He tells of a man that was robbed, beaten and left on the streets by thieves. A priest and a Levite pass by the man and do not stop to help him because he was unknown to them, a stranger. This is NOT the way of

the Lord. He tells us to follow his examples such as the story of the healing of the lepers found in Luke 5:12-16 in which he helped a leper and asked him to tell no one. This is the humbleness and care that God wants us to show to our neighbors. Later in the parable the Samaritan stops, treats the man’s wounds, takes him to an inn, and pays for his care without expecting anything in return. This is the way God wants us to live our lives and to follow in his footsteps. God became man so that man may become God. Jesus even tells us at the end of the Parable, “Go and do thou likewise.” Following Jesus’ examples will bring us closer to Him and our life in heaven. This is putting our faith into practice. As a teen this is a challenge. It is easy for me to go to church and listen to the lecture but what TRULY counts is putting my faith into practice. One example of how I can use this lesson in everyday life is something I see every day at school. I see someone being picked on, someone being made fun of because he is different, someone being excluded from a group. Sticking up for that person or letting him know that everyone is different and that he is not alone would be one way to help and show concern. Another way to be a good neighbor would be to make care packages for our soldiers in Iraq or send cards to show them that someone cares and is thinking and praying for them. We should not do good deeds to be awarded but for the chance to grow closer to God. God is always watching and taking everything in for our judgment day. This parable has helped me to realize a very simple message and how to put it into practice. The message is again stated in Galatians 5:14, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Neighbor - one simple word with endless healing power.

SENIOR DIVISION – FIRST PLACE WINNER Nicholas N. Moniodis, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Ann Arbor, Mich. Topic No. 6: How does the Orthodox Faith direct your convictions about the ethical questions currently being debated about genetic research? Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Your Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah, Reverend Fathers, Honorable Judges, Fellow Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen, Greetings in Christ! “Little lamb, little lamb, who made thee?” Thus begins a well-known children’s poem. Until recently, the answer to this poem’s question was clear. It was made by God in accordance with his plan. But science has brought us new genetic technologies, in particular the cloning of the lamb named Dolly, and suddenly the answer as to who made the lamb is not so clear. Many of us were taken by surprise by cloning. We hear on the news about panels of “ethicists” who tell us that we should not worry. But Orthodoxy has its own assessment of the dangers. From its earliest days, Orthodoxy has valued science, and particularly medicine, holding, for example, St. Luke to have been a physician, and among our most glorified saints are Cosmas and Damian, two physicians. The epitome of the Orthodox view of medicine is given by St. Basil the Great when he says, “...the medical art is given to us by God... it adds to the glory of God, and when carefully employed, it parallels the care given to the soul.” Orthodoxy has never passed through a Reformation or an Age of Skepticism as in the West. It does not pit faith against science, but places science in a moral context. This makes it essential for Orthodoxy to speak out spiritually, theologically, morally, on cloning. Cloning comes from the Greek word, clao, meaning to “break off a piece of something.” In plants, for example, it would involve breaking off a branch, and growing a new plant from that branch. In human cloning, it involves taking a cell, any cell, and through genetic manipulation, growing a new person. Someone thus born is not begotten of a mother and a father. Cloning represents a particular modern view of mankind that is antithetical to Orthodoxy in a number of ways: First, Christ came in humility to serve, not to be served. Cloning is a means

whereby individuals indulge their lust for themselves-wanting not children who are their own selves, but copies of themselves. The ultimate narcissism. Secondly, we know that God made all creation “male and female.” St. Maximos the Confessor tells us that the creation of sexes is a partial remedy to the Fall. After the Fall, it was no longer natural for us to love our neighbor. Rather, it is “Survival of the fittest,” in Darwinian terms. But, lest all humanity turn towards isolation and individualism, He gave us desire for a mate - the desire to form a couple. And, by loving our one mate, we can, in part, re-establish the love that all mankind was to have for one another. Thirdly, the scientist who cloned the lamb Dolly, Dr. Ian Wilmut, chose a lamb to be the first cloned animal because, he says, “this Lamb came to being without seed, just like, ‘He who calls Himself a Lamb.’” That is Christ. Wilmut is wrong when he compares the lamb he made with the conception of Christ. Christ was not a clone of Mary. If he were he would have been a woman, identical to Mary. But Christ was a Man - a unique, singular, individual in all humanity. Cloning is a vulgar counterfeit of Christ’s conception. There is yet another, more dangerous transgression of the Orthodox Christian faith. The Holy Fathers tell us that the AntiChrist will be a fraud and counterfeit of Christ. St. Nilus, the disciple of St. John Chrysostom, says that he will be “born of a seed not sown by man.” But exactly how, they could not say. We now have the answer. A clone is unbegotten of human parents; it is not of human seed. Our Savior was Begotten of the Holy Spirit, not of inhuman science. This will be the most vile and evil kind of mockery. But modern society, in its self-interest, remains oblivious to these dangers. And we, as part of this technologically bewildering society, can expect no moral guidance from it. Where is one to turn? I find refuge in the faith of Orthodoxy, and especially in its spokesmen, the Holy Fathers, who are a guiding light that direct us to the safe harbor of salvation.

SEPTEMBER 2003

THE ST. NECTARIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN COVINA, CALIFORNIA CELEBRATES THE 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Living the Orthodox Faith in Today’s World Excerpts from a sermon by St. Nectarios of Pentapolis … Let us write it upon our hearts, if p ossible, that whatever a p erson believes, that is what that person actually does and also that is what that person teaches. Our deeds do not just come “out of thin air”, so to speak, but they come from our “creed”. If we believe in God, we will believe in His Son, the OnlyBegotten, Jesus Christ. We will believe in the Holy Spirit and in the fact that the Holy Spirit, from the day of Pentecost, never stopped guiding and sanctifying the Church. We will believe in the Holy Sacraments of the Church and we will direct our entire lives in accordance with the dogma of the Church regarding each Sacrament. We will believe in Baptism, Chrismation, Holy Communion, the Pr i est h oo d, Holy C o n fessio n , Holy Unction and Holy Matrimony.

his year we will celebrate 30 years from the time when the parish of St. Nectarios in Covina, California was first organized. It is our own fervent hope that this year all the faithful Orthodox Christians throughout our land will celebrate the Feast Day of our Church with their own personal attendance at the prayer services of our Church. We look forward with gratitude to welcome visitors to our parish who come from near and far, in order to pray with us. We seek your prayers as we celebrate our 30 years as a St. Nectarios Parish and Shrine in Covina, California. We hope to pay off the construction loan of our new church and to see the church consecrated in the near future. We are grateful for your prayers and for your spiritual and financial gifts which you have offered, and which you still do offer, in support of our Church and Shrine in Covina. Just as always, we will pray for the names of your friends and relatives requesting the prayers of all those who celebrate the Feast of St. Nectarios. In closing, we pray for you – that our Lord Jesus Christ will grant you all of His rich blessings. In Christ, Fr. Theodore Pantels

Sometimes, the world criticizes us, because, as Orthodox Christians, we say that we believe in the Creed of the Holy Fathers, but we show with our deeds and mannerisms that we believe in the same things that everybody else believes in, including atheists. Both cannot exist together – to have faith in God and, at the same time, to have faith in the notions and ideals of the fallen world… O CHRISTIAN, YOU MUST MAKE A CHOICE. Either you will enter into the Good Fight (i.e. Spiritual Discipline), in which, with the help and Grace of the Holy Spirit you will accomplish the salvation of your soul and the salvation of the world, or you will join the company of the unbelievers and you will go along with the confusion of today’s society.

φέτος θα εορτάσουµε τα 30 χρόνια από την ίδρυση της ενορίας του Αγίου Νεκταρίου στην Κοβίνα της Καλιφόρνιας. Ευελπιστούµε και ευχόµαστε οι ορθόδοξοι πιστοί να συνεορτάσουν µαζί µας εφέτος διά της προσωπικής τους παρουσίας στις ιερές ακολουθίες. Την παραµονή και ανήµερα της εορτής του Αγίου Νεκταρίου (8 και 9 Νοεµβρίου) θα περιµένου µ ε να δεχθούµε µε χαρά τους προσκυνητές που έρχονται στην ενορία µας από κοντά και µακριά. Η ελπίδα µας είναι να εξοφλήσουµε σύντοµα το δάνειο της οικοδοµής του νέου ναού µας και να τελεστούν τα εγκαίνιά του στο εγγύς µέλλον. Σας ευχαριστούµε εκ των προτέρων για τις προσευχές σας και για την ηθική και υλική υποστήριξη και τις δωρεές σας που έχετε προσφέρει και ακόµη προσφέρετε στο Ιερό Προσκύνηµα του Αγίου Νεκταρίου στην Κοβίνα. Όπως πάντοτε ευχαρίστως δεχόµαστε ονόµατα συγγενών και φίλων που χρειάζονται προσευχή. Πάντοτε προσευχόµεθα όπως ο Κύριος ηµών Ιησούς Χριστός σας χαρίζει τις πλούσιες ευλογίες Του.

(Excerpts translated and edited from the Greek by Fr. Theodore Pantels from the book by St. Nectarios entitled: Regarding the Holy Sacraments)

Εν Χριστώ, + ο πατήρ Θεόδωρος

ST. NECTARIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH • 20340 E. COVINA BLVD., COVINA, CA 91724 • TELEPHONE: (626) 967-5524

ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2003

ΕΤΟΣ 68 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1203

ΕΚΔΗΛΩΣΗ ΜΝΗΜΗΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ 2η ΕΠΕΤΕΙΟ ΤΗΣ 11ης ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ – Ημέρα ηλιόλουστη, όπως και τότε. 11 Σεπτεμβρίου δυο χρόνια μετά. Μερικές δεκάδες άνθρωποι συγκεντρώθηκαν σ’ ένα ασφαλτοστρωμένο κομμάτι γης σημαδεμένο στις τέσσερις γωνίες με σημαδούρες για να υποδηλώνουν τον χώρο που κάποτε βρίσκονταν ο μικρός ναός του Αγίου

Προσφιλεῖς ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ,

ôïõ Óôáýñïõ Ç. Ðáðáãåñìáíïý

Νικολάου. Ήρθαν εκατό-εκατόν πενήντα άνθρωποι, μικρός αριθμός συγκριτικά με τις χι λιάδες που είχαν συγκεντρωθεί νωρίτερα το πρωί για την κυρίως εκδήλωση λίγα μέτρα πιο πέρα στο σημείο μηδέν. Πρόσωπα που έγιναν γνώριμα πια στη ροή των τελευταίων δύο χρόνων: η μάνα, η αδελφή, η σύζυγος, ένα μωρό -ούτε δυο χρονών- στην αγκαλιά της μάνας του, ο πατέρας κι οι άλλοι συγγενείς και φίλοι, όλοι τους μέλη των οικογενειών των θυμάτων της 11 ης Σεπτεμβρίου. Κι ακόμη πολ λοί εκπρόσωποι ομογενειακών φορέων και οργανώσεων, εκπρόσωποι της αστυνομίας και της πυροσβεστικής, οι γενικοί πρόξενοι της Ελλάδος και της Κύπρου και άλλοι διπλωματικοί, μέλη της ενορίας του Αγίου Νικολάου, ομογενείς και κληρικοί από τις γύρω περιοχές. Η Εκκλησία έχει χρέος και η Ομογένεια δεν ξεχνά. Οι μνήμες είναι τόσο

ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ 11ης ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ

ÄÇÌ. ÐÁÍÁÃÏÓ

Με χαρά και ικανοποίηση δέχθηκαν οι ενορίτες του καταστραφέντος ναού του Αγ. Νικολάου την διαβεβαίωση από τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο για την ανοικοδόμηση του ναού.

νωπές κι ο πόνος χάραξε βαθιά τις ψυχές όλων μας. Ένα πλήθος αμήχανο και σκεφτικό. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος ζήτησε από τον κόσμο να σταθεί μέσα στα όρια του χώρου του Αγίου Νικολάου ωσάν να βρίσκονταν όλοι μέσα στο ναό. Ο ίδιος μαζί με τον Μητροπολίτη Νέας Ιερσέης κ. Ευάγγελο, τον Επίσκοπο Κρατείας κ.

Γεράσιμο και τους άλλους κληρικούς στάθηκαν εκεί όπου κάποτε ήταν το ιερό και η Αγία Τράπεζα. Ένα τρισάγιο υπέρ αιωνίου αναπαύσεως των ψυχών των κεκοιμημένων δούλων Σου... τα πρόσωπα συσπάστηκαν, τα μάτια βούρκωσαν και τα δάκρυα κύλησαν.

u óåë. 17

Α ΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ

Ἡ Παγκόσμια Ὕψωση τοῦ Τιμίου καί Ζωοποιοῦ Σταυροῦ 14 Σεπτεµβρίου 2003 Πρός τούς Σεβασµιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συµβουλίων, τά Ἡµερήσια καί Ἀπογευµατινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυµον πλήρωµα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµερικῆς. Προσφιλεῖς ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Σᾶς χαιρετῶ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τοῦ Κυρίου µας Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τήν ἡµέρα τῆς Ἑορτῆς τῆς Ὑψώσεως τοῦ Τιµίου καί Ζωοποιοῦ Σταυροῦ, µιᾶς Ἑορτῆς πού ἀποτελεῖ γιά τήν Ὀρθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία µεγάλο γεγονός. Ἡ ἡµέρα αὐτή εἶναι σηµαντική γιατί µᾶς παρέχει τήν εὐκαιρία ν’ ἀναλογισθοῦµε τήν ἱερώτατη οὐσία τῆς θυσιαστικῆς ἀγάπης καθώς ὑψώνουµε καί προσκυνοῦµε τόν Τίµιο Σταυρό µέσα στίς κοινότητές µας. Κάθε φορά πού ἀντικρύζουµε τόν Σταυρό, αὐτοµάτως ἐνθυµούµεθα τήν ὑπέρτατη Χριστιανική ἀποστολή µας, ἡ οὐσία τῆς ὁποίας εἶναι ἡ ἀπέραντη ἀγάπη γιά τούς ἄλλους καί ἡ διακονία των. Ὡς Ὀρθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί λαµβάνουµε σοβαρά ὑπ’ ὄψιν µας τά λόγια τοῦ Ἰησοῦ µέ τά ὁποῖα µᾶς προκαλεῖ, Ὅστις θέλει ὀπίσω µου ἀκολουθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτόν καί ἀράτω τόν σταυρόν αὐτοῦ καί ἀκολουθείτω µοι (Μάρκου 8:34). Γι’ αὐτό καί ἀναγνωρίζουµε τήν τεράστια σηµασία αὐτῶν τῶν λόγων· συνειδητοποιοῦµε τούς ἀσυνήθιστα µεγάλους κόπους πού πρέπει ἀναπόφευκτα νά καταβάλουµε γιά νά µπορέσουµε νά ἐπιτύχουµε τήν παντοτινή κοινωνία µας µέ τόν Θεό. Στή σύγχρονη κοινωνία µας ἡ πρόκληση πού ἀντιµετωπίζουµε νά σηκώσουµε τόν σταυρό µας ἀποκτᾶ εἰδική σηµασία, καί

ἐγείρει σοβαρά ἐρωτήµατα ἀναφορικά µέ τήν φύση καί τό µέγεθος τῆς ἀφοσιώσεώς µας στόν Χριστό. Ἀλλά ποιοί εἶναι οἱ σταυροί πού καλούµεθα νά σηκώσουµε στίς ἡµέρες µας; Σέ πόσο βαθµό τά βαριά φορτία τῆς πολύπλοκης κοινωνίας µας ἐπηρεάζουν τήν ἱκανότητά µας ν’ ἀκολουθήσουµε τόν Ἰησοῦ Χριστό, τόν Ἐσταυρωµένο Κύριο; Ἀναλογιζόµενοι αὐτές τίς ἐρωτήσεις, σκεπτόµεθα ἰδιαιτέρως τήν κυρίαρχη τάση πού ἐπικρατεῖ στήν σύγχρονη κοινωνία µας: πρόκειται γιά τήν τάση τῆς παρακµῆς τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων σχέσεων ὅσον ἀφορᾶ στό ἐπίπεδο τῶν διαπροσωπικῶν ἀλληλεπιδράσεων. Αὐτή ἡ τάση διαφαίνεται καλύτερα σέ περιπτώσεις ὅπου ἡ ἐπικοινωνία µέ τούς ἄλλους γίνεται ἀποκλειστικά καί µόνο µέ τή χρήση ἠλεκτρονικῶν µέσων, ἤ στίς περιπτώσεις κατά τίς ὁποῖες γιά τήν ἀναφορά µας σέ κάποιον συνάνθρωπο καταφεύγουµε στή χρήση ἀριθµοῦ ἀντί ὀνόµ ατος. Ἡ παρακµή τῆς προσωπικῆς διαστάσεως τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων σχέσεων ἀντιπροσωπεύει ἕνα ἀκόµη παράδειγµα συγχρόνου σταυροῦ τόν ὁποῖον πρέπει ὅλοι νά σηκώσουµε στήν ἄσκηση τοῦ ἱεροῦ καθήκοντός µας τῆς διδασκαλίας τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου, ἄσκηση ἡ ὁποία εἶναι οὐσιαστικά προσωπική καί βαθιά. Τό ψυχολογικό ἆγχος πού πολλοί ἀπό ἐµᾶς ἀντιµετωπίζουµε στήν καθηµερινή ζωή µας ἀποτελεῖ ἕνα ἐπιπλέον σταυρό πού πρέπει ὁ καθένας µας νά σηκώσῃ. Αὐτό τό ἆγχος συναντᾶται ἐν µέσῳ ἐντάσεων οἱ ὁποῖες προκαλοῦνται στήν προσπάθειά µας νά ἐξισορροπήσουµε τίς ἀντικρουόµενες ἀπαιτήσεις τῆς ἐργασίας καί τῆς οἰκογενείας µας. Οἰκονοµικές δυσχέρειες καί προβλήµατα στίς σχέσεις µας µέ τούς ἄλλους προσθέτουν ἐπιπλέον σηµαντικό ἆγχος στή ζωή µας. Αὐτοί οἱ βαρεῖς σταυροί γίνονται βαρύτεροι λόγῳ προβληµάτων ὑγείας προσωπικῶν ἤ οἰκογενειακῶν ἤ

u óåë. 15

Αὐτή τήν ἡµέρα σηµειώνεται ἡ δευτέρα ἐπέτειος τῶν τραγικῶν γεγονότων τῆς 11ης Σεπτεµβρίου 2001. Εἶναι βέβαιο ὅτι ἡ µνήµη τῶν ὅσων συνέβησαν, τῶν ἐµπειριῶν µας καί τῶν εἰκόνων τῆς ἡµέρας ἐκείνης θά µείνη στήν προσωπική καί ἐθνική συνείδησή µας ἀνεξίτηλη. Αὐτό ὀφείλεται στό γεγονός ὅτι δέν παύουµε νά ἐνθυµούµεθα ἐν προσευχῇ καί δεήσει αὐτούς πού ἔχασαν τήν ζωή των, τόσο τά ἀθῶα θύµ ατα ὅσο καί ἐκείνους πού θυσίασαν τή ζωή των στήν προσπάθεια νά σώσουν αὐτούς πού κινδύνευαν. Ὡς ἄνθρωποι µέ πίστη καί ἐλπίδα, συνεχίζουµε νά τούς ἐνθυµούµεθα καί νά προσευχόµεθα γι’ αὐτούς προσφέροντας ἀγάπη καί διακονία στίς οίκογένειές των. Ἡ 11η Σεπτεµβρίου ἄλλ αξε τόν κόσµο µας κατά τρόπους ἀσύλληπτους, προσθέτοντας στήν καθηµερινή ζωή µας σηµαντικό ἆγχος, τό ὁποῖο ἐκδηλώνεται ὡ ς κ ατάσταση συναγερµοῦ ἐν ὄψει διαφόρων βαθµῶν ἀπειλῆς. Θυµόµαστε τήν ἡµέρα αὐτή ἐν µέσῳ τῶν θλιβερῶν συνθηκῶν πού τήν σηµάδευσαν, καί προσευχόµεθα ὥστε ἡ ἀνθρωπότητα ὡς σύνολο καί ὁ καθένας προσωπικά νά γεµίσουµε µέ τήν εἰρήνη τοῦ Παντοδυνάµου Θεοῦ, ὁ Ὁποῖος ἀποτελεῖ τό κραταίωµα καί τήν καταφυγή µας (Ψαλµ. 31:3). Ἡ δέησή µας εἶναι νά µήν ἐπαναληφθοῦν στό µέλλον οἱ ἀπαίσιες τροµοκρατικές πράξεις τῆς 11ης Σεπτεµβρίου. Ὡς Ἕλληνες Ὀρθόδοξοι πιστοί πού ζοῦ µε στήν Ἀµερική, σηµειώνου µε ἰδιαιτέρως αὐτή τήν ἡµέρα, ἐνθυµούµενοι ἐπίσης τήν Ἑλληνική Ὀρθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου, ἡ ὁποία δυστυχῶς κατεστράφη ἀπό τίς τροµοκρατικές ἐνέργειες. Ὡς ἐπακόλουθο τῆς τραγωδίας, ὁ Θεός µᾶς εὐλόγησε µέ τή βεβαιότητα ὅτι αὐτός ὁ οἶκος τῆς λατρείας θά ξανακτισθῆ καί θά καταλάβη περίοπτη θέση µέσα στόν τραγικό χῶρο, τόν γνωστό ὡς Ground Zero. Ἡ Ἐκκλησία τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου θά ξαναγίνῃ καί πάλι τόπος προσευχῆς καί πίστεως, καί θά τιµᾶ τήν µνήµη τῆς 11ης Σεπτεµβρίου συνδέοντας ἕναν τόπο καταστροφῆς καί θανάτου µέ τήν ὑπόσχεση τῆς αἰωνίας κοινωνίας µας µέ τόν Θεό. Εἴθε ὁ Θεός τοῦ ἐλέους καί τῆς ζωῆς νά λάµπῃ διά τοῦ φωτός τοῦ προσώπου Του στόν κόσµο µας καί νά µᾶς εὐλογῇ µέ τό δῶρο τῆς εἰρήνης καθώς τιµοῦµε τήν µνήµη τῶν ἀθώων θυµάτων τῆς 11ης Σεπτεµβρίου 2001. Εἴθε ἡ µνήµη των νά εἶναι αἰωνία καί ἡ τιµή πού τούς ἀποδίδουµε νά µᾶς ὁδηγῇ σέ ἀκόµη µεγαλύτερες πράξεις ἀγάπης καί διακονίας πρός δόξαν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου µας.

Μέ πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη,

ÿ ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀµερικῆς Δηµήτριος

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

Ἀρχή τοῦ Ἐκκλησιαστικοῦ Ἔτους 1η Σεπτεµβρίου 2003 Πρός τούς Σεβασµιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συµβουλίων, τά Ἡµερήσια καί Ἀπογευµατινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυµον πλήρωµα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµερικῆς. Ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Ἡ ἀρχή τοῦ νέου Ἐκκλησιαστικοῦ Ἔτους τήν ὁποία ἑορτάζουµε τήν 1η Σεπτεµβρίου εἶναι µία πρόσφορη εὐκαιρία γιά ν’ ἀναλογισθοῦµε τίς πλούσιες εὐλογίες τοῦ Θεοῦ στήν καθηµερινή µας ζωή. Στό λειτουργικό ἡµερολόγιο τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας αὐτή ἡ ἡµέρα σηµατοδοτεῖ τήν ἔναρξη τοῦ ἐτησίου κύκλου λατρείας, ὁ ὁποῖος ὁλοκληρώνει τή ζωή µας προσδίδοντάς της τάξη καί συγκρότηση, ἐνῶ παράλληλα ἀντανακλᾶ καί µεταδίδει τά διδάγµατα τῆς Ἐκκλησίας σχετικά µέ τή σχέση τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος µέ τόν Θεό, πού εἶναι ὁ Δηµιουργός µας, καί µέ τόν φυσικό κόσµο. Ἡ σχέση µας µέ τόν Θεό καί µέ τόν φυσικό κόσµο καθίσταται αὐτοµάτως σχέση φυσικῆς καί πνευµατικῆς δυναµικῆς. Ἀποτελεῖ ταυτόχρονα µιά γήϊνη καί µιά ἱερή πραγµατικότητα ἡ ὁποία δηλώνει ὅτι εἴµεθα ἕνα σηµαντικό στοιχεῖο τῆς Δηµιουργίας. Ὡς ἐκ τούτου, εἴµεθα ἐπιφορτισµένοι µέ µεγάλη εὐθύνη γιά τήν προστασία της καί τήν φροντισµένη καί ὁλόπλευρη καλλιέργειά της. Κατά ὡραία σύµπτωση, ἡ 1η Σεπτεµβρίου συµπίπτει χρονικά µέ τήν ἔναρξη τοῦ νέου κύκλου τῶν ἀγροτικῶν ἐργασιῶν, πού ἀποτελοῦν µία φυσική διαδικασία µέ τεράστια πνευµατική ἐφαρµογή, ὅπως διαφαίνεται στά πολύ ὑποβλητικά λόγια τοῦ Ἀποστόλου Παύλου, ὅ γάρ ἐάν σπείρῃ ἄνθρωπος, τοῦτο καί θερίσει (Γαλάτας 6:7), δηλαδή, ὁ ἄνθρωπος θά θερίσει ὅ,τι σπείρει. Τό φύτευµα τῶν σπόρων τῆς πνευµατικῆς ἀναπτύξεως ἀποτελεῖ ἔντονη ἄσκηση, βαθειά προσωπική καί τά πάντα συµπεριλαµβάνουσα ἐργασία ἀγάπης ἡ ὁποία χαρακτηρίζεται ἀπό τή συνειδητή ἐντατικοποίηση τῆς προσευχῆς, τίς πράξεις φιλανθρωπίας καί τήν προσωπική ἀφοσίωση στήν µελέτη τῆς Ἁγίας Γραφῆς. Περισσότερο ὅµως, ἀποτελεῖ τήν φανέρωση τῆς συνειδήσεως ὅτι εἴµεθα τό βασίλειον ἱεράτευµα (Α´ Πέτρου 2:9) µιᾶς συνειδήσεως ἡ ὁποία ἔχει χαρισθῆ µοναδικά στούς Χριστιανούς, καί ἡ ὁποία βασίζεται στήν προσφορά βοηθείας στούς ἄλλους, στήν εὐθύνη γιά τήν προστασία τοῦ φυσικοῦ περιβάλλοντος, στήν δίψα γιά µόρφωση καί γνώση καί στήν αἴσθηση τοῦ πνευµατικοῦ δυναµικοῦ µας ὡς τέκνων πλασµένων κατ’ εἰκόνα καί καθ’ ὁµοίωση Θεοῦ (Γένεσις 1:26). Ὁ µόχθος, ἐν τούτοις, τῆς σπορᾶς καί τοῦ θερισµοῦ ὑπερβαίνει τά ὅρια τῆς προσωπικῆς µας ὑπάρξεως. Μέσα στίς κοινότητες, ἡ προσπάθεια σπορᾶς σπόρων ἀναπτύξεως καί προόδου ἀποκτᾶ κοινοτική καί κοινωνική διάσταση. Πέραν τῆς φυσικῆς της ὑπάρξεως ἡ ἐνορία εἶναι χῶρος ἱερῆς ἐπικοινωνίας καί ἑνότητος, ὁ ὁποῖος χαρακτηρίζεται ἀπό τήν ἐνσωµάτωση τοῦ ἀτόµου, τῆς οἰκογενείας καί τῆς κοινότητος σ’ ἕνα σῶµα λατρείας καί διακονίας. Συνεπῶς, ἡ κοινότητα εἶναι προπάντων µία πνευµατική ὀντότητα, ἕνας µικρόκοσµος τοῦ συνόλου τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, ὡς Σώµατος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Μέσα στήν ἐνορία ἀναπτυσσόµεθα ὡς ἄτοµα καί οἰκογένειες µέσῳ τῆς κοινῆς προσευχῆς καί λατρείας, µέσῳ τῆς καλύψεως τῶν φυσικῶν καί πνευµατικῶν ἀναγκῶν τῶν συνανθρώπων µας, καί µέσῳ τῆς φωτισµένης µελέτης τῆς Ἁγίας Γραφῆς. Ἡ ἔναρξη τοῦ νέου Ἐκκλησιαστικοῦ Ἔτους δίδει στίς κοινότητές µας τήν εὐκαιρία νά ἀναπτυχθοῦν σέ νέες, ὑπέροχες καί συνεχῶς διευρυνόµενες κατευθύνσεις. Αὐτή ἡ ἑορταστική περίοδος εἶναι ἡ κατάλληλη εὐκαιρία γιά νά ἐξετάσουµε πιό προσεκτικά τό ἄµεσο περιβάλλον µας, νά καλλιεργήσουµε περιβαλλοντική συνείδηση µέσα στίς κοινότητές µας, νά ἐπισηµάνουµε καί νά καλύψουµε τίς εἰδικές ἀνάγκες τῶν γειτόνων µας, καί νά ἐµπλουτίσουµε τούς τρόπους µέ τούς ὁποίους καλωσορίζουµε τούς ξένους ἀνάµεσά µας. Κάνοντας ὅλ’ αὐτά, θά ἀπολαύσουµε µιά πλούσια σέ πνευµατικούς καρπούς συγκοµιδή, ἡ ὁποία δικαίως θά τιµᾶ τήν δηµιουργία τοῦ Θεοῦ, καί θά εἴµεθα ἀπολύτως βέβαιοι καί ἀναπαυµένοι γνωρίζοντας ὅτι ὁ σπείρων ἐπ’εὐλογίαις ἐπ’εὐλογίαις καί θερίσει (Β´ Κορ. 9:6). Εἴθε ἡ ἔναρξη αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἐκκλησιαστικοῦ ἔτους νά σηµατοδοτήσῃ µία ἀκτινοβόλο ἀρχή γιά τόν καθέναν ἀπό σᾶς καθώς συνεχίζετε νά σπέρνετε καί νά θερίζετε τίς ἄφθονες εὐλογίες τοῦ Θεοῦ, καί Δηµιουργοῦ µας, καί εἴθε τά σπίτια καί οἱ καρδιές σας νά εἶναι γεµάτες ἀπό τήν ἄπειρη χάρη Του, τό ἔλεος καί τήν ἀγάπη Του στόν Ἐκκλησιαστικό χρόνο πού ἀρχίζει καί σέ κάθε Ἐκκλησιαστικό ἔτος.

Μέ πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη,

ÿ ὁ Ἀ ρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀµερικῆς Δηµήτριος

ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2003

Τα 92 χρόνια της ζωής του γιόρτασε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Ιάκωβος ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ – Σε σεμνή εκδήλωση γεμάτη συμβολισμό και μηνύματα γιορτάστηκαν τα 92 γενέθλια του πρώην Αρχιεπισκόπου Βορείου και Νοτίου Αμερικής κ. Ιακώβου. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Ιάκωβος γεμάτος συγκίνηση δέχθηκε τις ευχές φίλων και συνεργατών του, λαϊκών και κληρικών, πολλών ιεραρχών της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής και του Εξωτερικού καθώς επίσης και τις ευχές του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη κ. Βαρθολομαίου, του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου, του πρώην Προέδρου των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών Τζορτζ Μπους και του Αρχιεπισκόπου Αθηνών και πάσης Ελλάδος κ. Χριστόδουλου. Η γιορτή, έγινε με πρωτοβουλία των συνεργατών του στο Γουεστσέστερ Κάουντρι Κ λάμπ και σ’ αυτή παρευρέθηκαν πολ λοί

να χαραχθεί για πάντα στην μνήμη όσων παρευρέθηκαν.

Μηνύματα και ευχές

Στο μήνυμά του, ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης κ. Βαρθολομαίος, τόνισε μεταξύ άλλων, ότι η λάμψη από το άστρο του Σεβασμιωτάτου πρώην Αρχιεπισκόπου εξακολουθεί να φωτίζει τα πλείστα πνευματικά του τέκνα και αναστήματα. Ο κ. Βαρθολομαίος αναφέρθηκε και την ιδιαίτερη πατρίδα του Σεβασμιωτάτου πρώην Αρχιεπισκόπου την Ίμβρο και κατέληξε ευχόμενος «πολλά έτη, υγιεινά ευλογημένα και σωτήρια εν ειρήνη ψυχής και γαλήνη...». Το μήνυμα του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη ανέγνωσε ο Μητροπολίτης Βοστώνης κ. Μεθόδιος. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος

Θερμό συγχαρητήριο χειροκρότημα για τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Ιάκωβο.

ETA PRESS

Μαζί με τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο πρώην Αμερικής κ. Ιάκωβο, ο Μητροπολίτης Βοστώνης κ. Μεθόδιος και πίσω του ο κ. Τζον Μάρκς, μέλος του Δ.Σ. της Ηγεσίας των 100.

φίλοι και πρώην συνεργάτες του από την περιοχή της Νέας Υόρκης αλλά και άλλοι που ήρθαν από μακριά όπως την Βοστώνη, το Σικάγο και άλλες πολιτείες. Ο πρώην Αρχιεπίσκοπος υποδεχόταν έναν-έναν τους καλεσμένους και δεχόταν τις ευχές τους ανταποδίδοντας με τις πατρικές του ευχές το ενδιαφέρον και την αγάπη τους. Χαμογελαστός απαντούσε στις φιλοφρονήσεις όλων και ανταπέδιδε με θερμό τρόπο τις χειραψίες και τις εκφράσεις αγάπης, αφοσίωσης και σεβασμού. Με φανερά τα σημάδια της συγκίνησης και με την αγάπη διάχυτη σ’ όλη την αίθουσα ο πρώην Αρχιεπίσκοπος ευχαρίστησε όλους για την παρουσία τους και ιδιαίτερα την αεικίνητη βοηθό του Πολέτ Πούλου, η οποία και φρόντιζε για την κάθε λεπτομέρεια έτσι ώστε η βραδιά

στο μήνυμά του το οποίο μετέφερε ο Επίσκοπος Τρωάδος κ. Σάββας, τόνισε ότι «η επέτειος των γενεθλίων σας σκορπίζει χαρά στις καρδιές όλων των μελών της Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής... ο Θεός εισάκουσε τις προσευχές μας να σας χαρίσει πολλά τα έτη. Και παρόλο που η παράδοση θέλει να προσφέρουμε δώρα σε σας, η παρουσία σας αποτελεί για μας τους πιστούς μεγάλο δώρο και εμείς είμαστε αυτοί που θα πρέπει να απευθύνουμε ευχαριστίες... είμαστε, πρόσθεσε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος, ευγνώμονες προς τον Θεό, για το δώρο της ζωή σας, για την Ελληνορθόδοξη Εκκλησία της Αμερικής, για την προσφορά σας στην Αμερικανική Κοινωνία και τις προσευχές σας. Σας

u óåë. 19

ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2003

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Ελάχιστη ένδειξη μνήμης και τιμής για την 11η Σεπτεμβρίου u óåë. 15

ÄÇÌ. ÐÁÍÁÃÏÓ

Με δάκρυα στα μάτια, την φωτογραφία των αδικοχαμένων παιδιών τους καρφιτσωμένη στο στήθος και την μνήμη της θλιβερής εκείνης ημέρας βαθιά χαραγμένη στη μνήμη όλων, οι οικογένειες των θυμάτων παρακολουθούν την επιμνημόσυνη δέηση.

που αγωνίζονται ενάντια στην τρομοκρατία...» και πρόσθεσε «Σας υποσχόμαστε ότι δεν θα τους ξεχάσουμε ποτέ». Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος σημείωσε ότι τα τραγικά γεγονότα της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου ανέδειξαν τα υψηλά και όμορφα χαρακτηριστικά της Ομογενείας μας και παρουσίασε χαρακτηριστικά παραδείγματα ανθρωπιάς και προσφοράς από όλα τα στρώματα της Εκκλησίας και της Ομογένειας. «Η 11η Σεπτεμβρίου ήταν μια εκδήλωση φρικτή αλλά ήταν και μια εκδήλωση που βοήθησε να βγει στη επιφάνεια ότι καλύτερο έχουμε ως άνθρωποι μας έβαλε μαζί, μας βοήθησε να ανακαλύψουμε τον άνθρωπο δίπλα μας, μας έμαθε να αναζητούμε τον γείτονά μας και μας έμαθε όχι απλώς να ανεχόμεθα την ύπαρξη των άλλων ανθρώπων αλλά να τους αγαπούμε και να χτίζουμε μαζί τους για το μέλλον» Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος ανέφερε ακόμη το συνολικό ποσό που συγκεντρώθηκε στο Ταμείο Βοηθείας της Ι. Αρχιεπισκοπής για τα θύματα της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου ανήλθε περίπου στο ποσό των 2,153,000.00 δολαρίων. «Η εργασία που έγινε για να διαπιστωθούν οι ανάγκες και να γίνει σωστά η διανομή ήταν πραγματικά τεραστία και έγινε με πολύ προσοχή και ακρίβεια» είπε και δήλωσε ότι το ποσό αυτό έχει διανεμηθεί και διατεθεί σ χεδόν στην ολότητά του καλύπτοντας κυρίως τις ανάγκες των παιδιών των θυμάτων για την εκπαίδευση τους μέχρι και το πανεπιστημιακό επίπεδο, ενώ παραμένει ένα ποσό 17 περίπου χιλιάδων δολαρίων ενώ εξετάζονται περιπτώσεις που ίσως χρήζουν επιπλέον βοηθείας. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής μιλώντας για τον Άγιο Νικόλαο και την ακράδαντη πεποίθηση του για την ανοικοδόμηση του ναού είπε ότι «του Θεού ευδοκούντος, ο μικρός ενοριακός ναός του Αγίου Νικολάου που καταστράφηκε θα καταστεί και θα ξαναχτιστεί ως ισχυρό κέντρο μεγάλης πνευματικής εμβέλειας που θα προσφέρει το μήνυμα της Ορθοδοξίας σε χιλιάδες ανθρώπων από ολόκληρο τον κόσμο». Αναφέρθηκε ακόμη στις διάφορες συγκινητικές προσφορές προς το ταμείο ανοικοδομήσεως του Αγίου Νικολάου μεταξύ των οποίων και την προσφορά των κατοίκων της οδού Αγίου Νικολάου της πόλης Ντάριεν του Κονέ-

κτικατ, οι οποίοι συγκινημένοι από την καταστροφή του ναού και έχοντας ως μόνο σημείο αναφοράς το γεγονός ότι διέμεναν σε μια οδό που απλά έφερε το όνομα του Αγίου Νικολάου αποφάσισαν να προσφέρουν ομαδικά για την ανοικοδόμηση του ναού. Αναφέρθηκε ακόμη στις ελπιδοφόρες προοπτικές και στην θετική ως τώρα αντιμετώπιση του θέματος της

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SEP 11 - OCT 31, 03

NOV 01 - NOV 30, 03 FEB 01 - MAR 15, 04

ÌÅÔ´ ÅÐÉÓÔÑÏÖÇÓ ÁÐÏ ÏËÇ ÔÇÍ ÁÌÅÑÉÊÇ

SEP 11 - DEC 16 & DEC 27 - MAR 31, 04 ATHENS ATHENS $495 BOSTON $745 SAN FRANCISCO 520 WASHINGTON 565 DETROIT 520 BUFFALO 520 PITTSBURGH 565 CHICAGO 610 TAMPA 540 CHARLOTTE 540 RALEIGH 565 CINCINNATI 520 ROCHESTER 540 CLEVELAND 520 BALTIMORE 640 DALLAS/FT. WORTH 525 NEW ORLEANS 720 LOS ANGELES 655 DENVER 610 MIAMI 585 ST. LOUIS 630 HOUSTON 585 ORLANDO 495 ALBANY 720 SEATTLE 520 GREENSBORO 700 SALT LAKE CITY 700 LAS VEGAS • Åêðôþóåéò ãéá ðáéäéÜ êÜôù ôùí 12 åôþí. • Ìå $100 åðéðëÝïí ðåôÜôå óå ïðïéïäÞðïôå åóùôåñéêü óçìåßï ôçò ÅëëÜäïò. • Öüñïé áåñïäñïìßùí åßíáé åðéðëÝïí. Éó÷ýïõí ðåñéïñéóìïß.

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

Τότε, δύο χρόνια πριν, στις 12 Σεπτεμβρίου 2001 ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος έφτασε στο σημείο της καταστροφής αρκετές εκατοντάδες μέτρα μακρύτεραπλησίασε όσο επιτρεπόταν και ανέπεμψε την πρώτη δέηση υπέρ ζώντων και τεθνεώτων, υπέρ ειρήνης και υπέρ από Θεού στήριξης και παρηγορίας. Έτσι και τώρα την επιμνημόσυνη δέηση ακολούθησε δέηση υπέρ υγείας και ευημερίας των ζώντων και υπέρ ταχείας ανοικοδομήσεως του κατεστραφέντος ναού του Αγίου Νικολάου. Μια σεμνή τελετή, ελάχιστη ένδειξη μνήμης και τιμής σε εκείνους που βρήκαν άδικο και πρόωρο θάνατο στα συντρίμμια των διδύμων πύργων. Μετά το τέλος της τελετής ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Δημήτριος έδωσε τον λόγο στον Γενικό Πρόξενο της Ελλάδος στην Νέα Υόρκη κ. Δημήτριο Πλατή, ο οποίος σε σύντομο χαιρετισμό του εξέφρασε για μια ακόμη φορά την βαθιά λύπη του προσωπικά αλ λά και του Ελ ληνικού λαού και της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης για το άδικο χαμό τόσων αθώων, μεταξύ των οποίων και πολλών ομογενών. «Η Ελλάδα δεν έχει πάψει να θεωρεί κάθε έναν από εσάς –και πολύ περισσότερο εκείνους που χάθηκαν στις 11 Σεπτεμβρίου– σαν δικά της παιδιά», είπε, και σημείωσε ότι [η Ελ λάδα] «ούτε και θέλει, ούτε και μπορεί, ούτε και πρέπει να τα ξεχάσει». Τόνισε ακόμη την συνεχή συμπαράσταση της Ελλάδος προς τον Αμερικανικό λαό και τα θύματα της 11 ης Σεπτεμβρίου απαριθμώντας τις πολλές και επανειλημμένες ενέργειες συμπαράστασης και τις πολλές επισκέψεις κυβερνητικών επισήμων και υπουργών στον χώρο της τραγωδίας. Διάβασε ακόμη το παρακάτω μήνυμα του υφυπουργού εξωτερικών της Ελλάδος Γιάννη Μαγκριώτη για την θλιβερή 2η επέτειο: «Σήμερα είναι η επέτειος των τρομοκρατικών επιθέσεων της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου του 2001 κατά των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών της Αμερικής. Σαν σήμερα χιλιάδες αθώοι, μεταξύ των οποίων και πολλοί Έλληνες ομογενείς, αλλά και Ευρωπαίοι πολίτες, έπεσαν θύματα της τρομοκρατίας της Νέα Υόρκη, στην Ουάσινγκτον και στην Πενσυλβάνια. Οι επιθέσεις στους δίδυμους πύργους του Παγκοσμίου Κέντρου Εμπορίου στη Νέα Υόρκη και στο Πεντάγωνο, στην Ουάσινγκτον, εκτός από το ανθρώπινο δράμα, δεν άλλαξαν μόνο τις Η.Π.Α., αλλά επηρέασαν ολόκληρο τον πλανήτη. Εκ μέρους της Ελληνικής Πολιτείας θα ήθελα για μία ακόμη φορά να εκφράσω τη βαθιά μου θλίψη στην ομογένεια της Αμερικής, και κυρίως στους συγγενείς των θυμάτων της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου, και να επαναλάβω πως είναι χρέος όλων μας να εργαζόμαστε ακατάπαυστα για την ασφάλεια και τις κοινές δημοκρατικές μας αρχές και αξίες. Οι σκέψεις και οι προσευχές όλων των Ελλήνων, και οι δικές μου προσωπικά, συνοδεύουν όλους, όσους έχασαν τη ζωή τους, αλλά και τους οικείους τους, την τραγική εκείνη ημέρα». Χαιρετισμό ακόμη απεύθυνε και η Γενική Πρόξενος της Κύπρου στη Νέα Υόρκη κ. Μάρθα Μαυρομμάτη και εξέφρασε την βαθιά θλίψη της κυβέρνησης και του Κυπριακού λαού για τα αθώα θύματα της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου και τόνισε ότι «η Κυπριακή κυβέρνηση τάσσεται παρά τω πλευρώ όλων αυτών

ανοικοδόμησης του Αγίου Νικολάου από τον Κυβερνήτη της Νέας Υόρκης κ. Πατάκι και τους άλλους ιθύνοντες, στις επαφές και την επίσκεψη στην Αρχιεπισκοπή του αρχιτέκτονα Ντάνιελ Λίμπσκιντ που ανέλαβε την διαμόρφωση του χώρου που τώρα ονομάζεται «σημείο μηδέν», και τις δυνατότητες για την απόκτηση επιπλέον εκτάσεως για την ανοικοδόμηση του νέου ναού. Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος δήλωσε ακόμη ότι μόλις γίνουν γνωστά τα τελικά σχέδια για την ανοικοδόμηση και διαμόρφωση του όλου χώρου, κάτι που αναμένεται τον επόμενο μήνα, τότε και η Αρχιεπισκοπή θα προχωρήσει στον αρχιτεκτονικό σχεδιασμό του ναού και ακολούθως στην ανοικοδόμηση. Στο τέλος ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος χαιρετώντας προσωπικά όλα τα μέλη των οικογενειών και τους άλλους ομογενείς, πήρε στην αγκαλιά του την μικρή Σοφία Μανσίνι, που ο πατέρας της χάθηκε πριν ακόμη τον γνωρίσει, και απευθυνόμενος στο πλήθος είπε: «Θυμηθείτε αυτήν την μικρή, είναι παιδί της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου. Θυμηθείτε την γιατί μια μέρα θα μας κάνει όλους υπερήφανους». Παρευρέθηκαν εκτός των προαναφερθέντων και ο πρέσβης της Ελλάδος στον Ο.Η.Ε. Αδαμάντιος Βασιλάκης, καθώς και οι ιερείς π. Αναστάσιος Κουσούλας, π. Νεκτάριος Κότρος, π. Κωνσταντίνος Καλογρίδης, π. Παύλος Παλεστίδης, π. Ιωάννης Ρόμας και π. Θωμάς Τσεβάς.

www.olympic-airways.us Ï Ë Õ Ì Ð É Á Ê Ç Á Å Ñ Ï Ð Ï Ñ É Á • Ç ÄÉÊÇ ÓÏÕ ÅÔÁÉÑÉÁ

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2003

ÏÉÊÏÕÌÅÍÉÊÏÍ ÐÁÔÑÉÁÑ×ÅÉÏÍ Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης στην Ζάκυνθο Σαράντα και πλέον Ιεράρχες από την Ελλάδα, την Κύπρο και την Αλεξάνδρεια συμμετείχαν στην επίσημη επίσκεψη που πραγματοποίησε ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης κ. Βαρθολομαίος στην Ζάκυνθο από τις 22 έως τις 24 Αυγούστου. Εκπρόσωποι της Κυβέρνησης, μέλη του κοινοβουλίου, οι τοπικές αρχές, κυρίως όμως πλήθος πιστών τίμησαν τον Προκαθήμενο της Ορθοδοξίας κατά την τριήμερη παραμονή του στην Ζάκυνθο. Σε όλες του της ομιλίες ο Μητροπολίτης Ζακύνθου κ. Χρυσό-

ÍÉÊ. ÌÁÃÃÉÍÁÓ

Πλήθος Ιεραρχών από την Ελλαδική Εκκλησία και το εξωτερικό τίμησαν με την παρουσία τους στη Ζάκυνθο τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη. Στη φωτογραφία διακρίνεται ο Μητροπολίτης Σικάγου Ιάκωβος ενώ παρευρέθηκε και ο Επίσκοπος Μελόης Φιλόθεος.

ÄÇÌ. ÐÁÍÁÃÏÓ

Λιτάνευση του Ιερού Λειψάνου του Αγίου Διονυσίου στους δρόμους της Ζακύνθου.

στομος επεσήμανε τους δεσμούς του απανταχού Ελληνισμού με την Μητέρα Εκκλησία της Κωνσταντινουπόλεως ενώ αποδοκίμασε όσους δεν σέβονται το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο. «Αλίμονο αν το Πατριαρχείο τεμαχιστεί» τόνισε ο Μητροπολίτης Ζακύνθου υπογραμμίζοντας ότι ο Πατριάρχης στην Κωνσταντινούπολη φυλάει τις Θερμοπύλες της Ορθοδοξίας και του Ελληνισμού. Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης προεξήρχε των εορταστικών εκδηλώσεων για την ανακομιδή των λειψάνων του Αγίου Διονυσίου με πλέον εντυπωσιακή την λιτανεία του σκηνώματος του Προστάτη του νησιού την οποία

παρακολούθησαν περισσότεροι από 10 χιλιάδες πιστοί. Πριν από την άφιξη του στην Ζάκυνθο ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης πραγματοποίησε ολιγόωρη επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Μητρόπολη Ηλείας. Πλήθος πιστών τον υποδέχθηκαν στην πόλη του Πύργου αλλά και στην Αρχαία Ολυμπία την κοιτίδα των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων. Στις 25 Αυγούστου ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης επισκέφθηκε τις νήσους Στροφάδες, μικρά νησάκια ανάμεσα στην Ζάκυνθο και την Κεφαλλονιά, εκεί όπου ασκήτευσε ο Άγιος Διονύσιος. Ακολούθως πραγματοποίησε ολιγόωρη επίσημη επίσκεψη στην Κεφαλλονιά μετά από πρόσκληση του Μητροπολίτη Κεφαλληνίας Σπυρίδωνος και της Νομαρχιακής αυτοδιοίκησης του νησιού. Οι κάτοικοι του νησιού του επεφύλαξαν θερμή υποδοχή στην πρωτεύουσα του νησιού το Αργοστόλι και αμέσως μετά ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης μετέβη στην μονή του Αγ. Γερασίμου και προσκύνησε το σκήνωμα του Αγίου Γερασίμου, προστάτη της Κεφαλλονιάς.

ÍÉÊ. ÌÁÃÃÉÍÁÓ

Αντίγραφο της χάρτινης εικόνας του Αγ. Διονυσίου που διασώθηκε από τα ερείπια του καταστραφέντος ναού του Αγ. Νικολάου στη Νέα Υόρκη, προσέφερε ως συμβολικό δώρο ο Πατριάρχης στο Μητροπολίτη Ζακύνθου Χρυσόστομο.

Στην υπηρεσία της ειρήνης το ταξίδι του Πατριάρχη στην Λιβύη ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗ, Λιβύη – Ιστορική χαρακτήρισε ο Λίβυος ηγέτης Muammar K hadaffi τη συνάντησή του με τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο στην Τρίπολη της Λιβύης, την Πέμπτη 11 Σεπτεμβρίου. ôïõ Íéêüëáïõ Ìáããßíá

Κατά τη συνάντηση στην προεδρική σκηνή που διήρκεσε μία ώρα σε εγκάρδιο κλίμα, ο ηγέτης της επανάστασης Μουαμάρ Καντάφι εξήρε την προσέγγιση ανάμεσα στην Ορθοδοξία και το Ισλάμ και εξέφρασε την ικανοποίησή του αλλά και την ενίσχυσή του για τη συνέχιση του διαθρησκειακού διαλόγου ανάμεσα στον Χριστιανισμό και το Ισλάμ προς όφελος των χωρών της Μεσογείου, της Βαλκανικής και ολοκλήρου του κόσμου. Ο Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος εξέφρασε την εκτίμησή του και τη χαρά του στο Λίβυο ηγέτη για τις προσπάθειές του στην επίτευξη ειρήνης και αρμονίας στην αφρικανική ήπειρο. Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης επαίνεσε επίσης τον μείζονα ρόλο του ηγέτη στην ενθάρρυνση του διαθρησκειακού διαλόγου. Ο Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος είχε ιδιαίτερη συζήτηση με τον υπουργό εξωτερικών Abdul Rahman Shalgam. Στη διάρκεια της συζήτησης ο Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος τόνισε ότι «σήμερα

ÍÉÊ. ÌÁÃÃÉÍÁÓ

Στα πλαίσια του διαθρησκειακού διαλόγου που έχει αναλάβει ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης και με σκοπό την ειρήνη και συμφιλίωση επισκέφθηκε τον ηγέτη της Λιβύης Μουαμάρ Καντάφι ο οποίος τον υποδέχθηκε με εγκαρδιότητα.

είναι μια θλιβερή επέτειος, της 11 ης Σεπτεμβρίου για ολόκληρο τον κόσμο», υπογραμμίζοντας την ευθύνη της ηγεσίας των θρησκειών για να μη γίνεται η θρησκεία όργανο ξένων προς την αποστολή της σκοπιμοτήτων. Συζητήθηκαν επίσης οι αναγκαίες προϋποθέσεις για επιτ υχή διά λογο μεταξύ Ισλάμ και Χριστιανισμού. Διάλεξη με θέμα: «Η αναγκαιότητα

του διαθρησκειακού διαλόγου. Οι σχέσεις μεταξύ Χριστιανισμού και Ισλάμ», έδωσε ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος στο Κολλέγιο Ισλαμικής Αγωγής. Την παρακολούθησαν καθηγητές, φοιτητές, επίσημοι και στελέχη της Παγκοσμίου Οργανώσεως Ισλαμικής Αγωγής». Ο Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος ξεκίνησε την ομιλία του επισημαίνοντας το

πόσο επίκαιρο είναι το θέμα της διαλέξεως του, λόγω της 2ας επετείου της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου, των τραγικών γεγονότων της Νέας Υόρκης. Στη συνέχεια ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης και η συνοδεία του συναντήθηκαν με τον Γεν. Γραμματέα της Παγκοσμίου Οργανώσεως Ισλαμικής Αγωγής Δρ. Mohammad Ahmed Sharif, στην έδρα της οργανώσεως, (Υπουργείο Θρησκευμάτων). Κατά τη συνάντηση τονίσθηκε η σπουδαιότητα και η αναγκαιότητα του διμερούς δια λόγου μεταξύ των δύο μονοθεϊστικών θρησκειών. Οι δύο πλευρές επεσήμαναν τη σημασία της συνεχίσεως της ανταλλαγής επισκέψεων, ώστε οι διαθρησκειακοί διάλογοι να φέρουν την ειρήνη, την ελευθερία και την δικαιοσύνη στον κόσμο. Ο Πατριάρχης πριν αναχωρήσει από την Τρίπολη της Λιβύης χοροστάτησε σε Θεία Λειτουργία που τελέσθηκε στο ναό του Αγίου Γεωργίου της Μητροπόλεως Καρθαγένης όπου παρέστη η ελληνική Ορθόδοξη κοινότητα αλλά και Ορθόδοξοι άλλων εθνοτήτων. Τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο συνόδευαν οι Μητροπολίτες Ηλιουπόλεως Αθανάσιος, Καρθαγένης Χρυσόστομος (Πατριαρχείου Αλεξανδρείας) και Γα λ λίας Εμμανουήλ, ο υπογραμματεύς της Ι. Συνόδου του Πατριαρχείου π. Ελπιδοφόρος και ο καθηγητής Βλ. Φειδίας.

ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2003

Απεβίωσε ο καθηγητής Γεώργιος Πηλίτσης ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ. – Απεβίωσε στη Βοστώνη, στις 4 Σεπτεμβρίου 2003, ο καθηγητής Γεώργιος Πηλίτσης σε ηλικία 55 ετών μετά από σκληρή πάλη δύο ετών με ανίατη ασθένεια. Ο αείμνηστος Γεώργιος Πηλίτσης διετέλεσε καθηγητής κλασσικής φιλολογίας, και Νεολληνικής γλώσσας και λογοτεχνίας στο Ελληνικό Κολλέγιο και τη Θεολογική Σχολή του Τιμίου Σταυρού από το 1988 και διευθυντής του τμήματος Ελληνικής Παιδείας της Ελληνικής Ορθοδόξου Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής από το 2001. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος πληροφορηθείς τον θάνατό του δήλωσε: «Έφυγε από κοντά μας ένας πολύ αξιόλογος άνθρωπος και επιστήμων που προσέφερε πολλά στον τομέα της Ελληνικής παιδείας και γλώσσης. Εδίδαξε πλήθος φοιτητών όχι μόνο με τον λόγο του και την εξαιρετικά αποτελεσματική διδασκαλία του, αλλά και με το λαμπρό ήθος του και την έντονη ψυχική του καλλιέργεια. Αφήνει πίσω του μιά κληρονομία πίστεως στο Θεό, αφοσιώσεως στ ην Ορθοδοξία, αγάπης και κα λλιεργείας των Ελληνικών Γραμμάτων και ανεπιφύλακτης προσφοράς στους φοιτητές του. Αφήνει πίσω του το άρωμα από το πέρασμα ενός ανθρώπου σεμνότητος και αξιοπρεπείας». Ο Γεώργιος Πηλίτσης γεννήθηκε στην Ελλάδα και ολοκλήρωσε τις γυμνασιακές του σπουδές στις Σέρρες. Ανεχώρησε για τις ΗΠΑ για πανεπιστημιακές σπουδές και εφοίτησε στο Πανεπιστήμιο Rutgers της Νέας Ιερσέης από όπου έλαβε τα πτυχία Β.Α. στην αγγλική φιλολογία και Μ.Α. και Ph.D. στις κλασικές σπουδές.

Δίδαξε στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Νότιας Καλιφόρνιας στο Λος Αντζελες, (1980-85) όπου οργάνωσε το εκεί Πρόγραμμα Νεοελ ληνικών Σπουδών του οποίου υπήρξε και ο πρώτος διευθυντής και εν συνεχεία στο Πανεπιστήμιο Rutgers της Νέας Ιερσέης, (1976-80 και 1985-88) όπου για πέντε χρόνια υπήρξε διευθυντής του Τμήματος Νεοελληνικών Σπουδών το οποίο και ίδρυσε. Διετέλεσε επίσης καθηγητής και στο Πανεπιστήμιο Princeton όπου εδίδαξε μαθήματα Ελληνικής γλώσσας και λογοτεχνίας. Αν και το κύριο αντικείμενό του ήταν οι κλασσικές σπουδές, ο καθηγητής Πηλίτσης είχε ενδιατρίψει και σε νεώτερες περιόδους της ιστορίας και του πολιτισμού μας. Οι δημοσιεύσεις και έρευνά του περιλαμβάνουν, μεταξύ άλλων, την μελέτη της συνέχειας και διαχρονικότητας των αρχαίων ελ ληνικών ηθών και εθίμων και τη διάσωση και διάδοση αυτών μέσω της λαογραφίας μας. Είχε επίσης ασχοληθεί και με την Νεοελληνική λογοτεχνία και ποίηση, έχει δε αποδώσει στην αγγλική διάφορα ποιήματα συγχρόνων ποιητών μας. Την περασμένη άνοιξη τιμήθηκε από την Ελληνική Εταιρεία Μεταφραστών Λογοτεχνίας με το βραβείο καλύτερης μετάφρασης στα Αγγλικά για το βιβλίο του «Γιάννης Ρίτσος: Επιλογή Ποιημάτων (1935-1989). Ο Γεώργιος Πηλίτσης καταλείπει την σύζυγό του Αικατερίνη και τρία παιδιά, Ευαγγελία, Λόρα και Γρηγόριο. Η νεκρώσιμος ακολουθία εψάλλη το Σάββατο 6 Σεπτεμβρίου 2003 στο παρεκκλήσιο της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού στην Βοστώνη προεξάρχοντος του Σεβασμιωτάτου Αρχιεπισκόπου Αμερικής κ. Δημητρίου.

ευχαριστούμε για την ηγεσία σας, για την προσήλωσή σας στην διδασκαλία και τα διδάγματα του Κυρίου, για την διορατικότητά σας, το κουράγιό σας και την πίστη σας». Στην προσωπικότητα, το έργο αλλά και την σημαντική προσφορά του πρώην Αρχιεπισκόπου προς την Ελληνορθόδοξη Εκκλησία της Αμερικής αναφέρθηκαν στις ομιλίες τους ο επικεφαλής της «Ηγεσίας των 100» που φέρει και το όνομα «Αρχιεπίσκοπος Ιάκωβος» κ. Άρθρουρ Άντον, ο πρόεδρος της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού π. Νικόλαος Τριανταφύλλου, ο αντιπρόεδρος του Αρχιεπισκοπικού Συμβουλίου κ. Μάϊκλ Τζαχάρης, η πρόεδρος της Εθνικής Φιλοπτώχου κ. Γεωργία Σκιαδά, ο κ. Γεώργιος Μπεχράκης, η εκ των συνδιοργανωτών της εκδήλωσης κ. Φρόσω Μπέη, ο πρόεδρος του Δ.Σ. του γηροκομείου Άγιος Μιχαήλ κ. Στίβεν Κυριάκος, και ο κ. Τζόρτζ Τσανδίκος. Την πρόποση προς τον Σεβασμιώτατο πρώην Αρχιεπίσκοπο έκανε ο επί σειρά ετών στενός συνεργάτης του κ. Πίτερ Κουρίδης, που διετέλεσε νομικός σύμβουλος της Αρχιεπισκοπής. «Να ζείτε…» Με την προσφώνηση «αγαπημένοι όλοι σας» άρχ ισε την ομι λία του ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Ιάκωβος και αφού χρησιμοποίησε τους στίχους του ψαλμού «ορθρίζει το πνεύμα μου προς σε ο Θεός μου» τόνισε ότι «εκείνο το οποίο θέλω να δω μέσα στους ανθρώπους είναι τα προστάγματά Σου».

Διαγνωστικό Κέντρο του ΣΑΕ στην Ουκρανία Ένα από τα πιο σύγχρονα Διαγνωστικά Κέντρα στη Δημοκρατία της Ουκρανίας και το μεγαλύτερο Ιατρικό Κέντρο του ΣΑΕ που παρέχει δωρεάν ιατρική περίθαλψη στην περιοχή της Μαύρης Θάλασσας, εγκαινιάζεται αυτές τις ημέρες στη Μαριούπολη της Ουκρανίας. «Η λειτουργία του υπερσύγχρονου Διαγνωστικού Κέντρου αποτελεί ένα μοναδικό επίτευγμα, αφού θα προσφέρει σε χιλιάδες Έλληνες και στον ντόπιο πληθυσμό δωρεάν ιατροφαρμακευτική περίθαλψη», επισημαίνει ο Πρόεδρος του ΣΑΕ κ. Άθενς, εμπνευστής και ιδρυτής του Προγράμματος Βασικής Ιατρικής Περίθαλψης. Από την πλευρά του ο Δρ. Κυριάκος Κανάκης, Ιατρικός Διευθυντής, ο οποίος επιβλέπει το έργο και τη λειτουργία όλου του Προγράμματος Ιατροφαρμακευτικής Περίθαλψης του ΣΑΕ ανέφερε ότι, «Το συγκεκριμένο διαγνωστικό κέντρο αποτελεί στολίδι των περιοχών της Μαύρης Θάλασσας λόγω του εξειδικευμένου και ιδιαίτερα έμπειρου ιατρικού προσωπικού, αλλά και λόγω του ότι συνεχώς καταγράφουμε τις ανάγκες του πληθυσμού ώστε να παρέχουμε τις σχετικές υπηρεσίες.» Στις εκδηλώσεις που θα ξεκινήσουν με μια επίσκεψη στο «ελληνικό» χωριό Σαρτανά συμμετέχουν Εκπρόσωποι της Ελληνικής και της Αμερικανικής Κυβέρνησης, του Ελληνικού Κοινοβουλίου, της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδας και πολλών Ελληνικών Ομοσπονδιών, ενώ παράλ-

ÄÇÌ. ÐÁÍÁÃÏÓ

Ο πρόεδρος του ΣΑΕ Άντριου Άθενς (αριστερά) με τον ιατρό Κυριάκο Κανάκη και νοσηλευτικό προσωπικό μπροστά από το προσωρινό Ιατρικό κέντρο που συντηρούσε το ΣΑΕ μέχρι σήμερα στην Μαριούπολη.

ληλα με τα εγκαίνια θα πραγματοποιηθούν πολιτιστικές εκδηλώσεις με τ ην σ υμμετοχ ή των 48 Ε λ ληνικών χωριών της Γιάλτας. Το τριώροφο Διαγνωστικό Κέντρο στη Μαριούπολη έχει ανεγερθεί δίπλα στην Ομοσπονδία Ελληνικών Κοινοτήτων της Ουκρανίας και καταλαμβάνει χώρο 2 στρεμμάτων.

Α ΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ u óåë. 15

προβληµάτων µέ τά παιδιά µας καί τούς φίλους µας οἱ ὁποῖοι µπορεῖ νά βασανίζονται ἐξ αἰτίας ἐξαρτήσεων ἀπό τό οἰνόπνευµα καί τά ναρκωτικά. Παρ’ ὅλες αὐτές τίς δυσκολίες, ἡ ὡραιότητα τῆς σηµερινῆς Ἑορτῆς ἔγκειται στό γεγονός ὅτι γνωρίζουµε καί παρηγορούµεθα ἀπό τήν ὕψωση τοῦ Σταυροῦ διότι αὐτή ἀποτελεῖ τήν ὑπερνίκηση τῆς κάθε ἀνθρώπινης ἀδυναµίας ἡ ὁποία ἐµποδίζει τήν πορεία µας πρός τήν αἰώνια κοινωνία µας µέ τόν Θεό καί τούς ἀνθρώπους. Ἡ ὕψωση τοῦ Σταυροῦ µᾶς καλεῖ νά Στιγμές τέτοιας βαθιάς συγκίνησης ἀναλογισθοῦµε τόν τρόπο µέ τόν ὁποῖο ὁ Χριστός ἔχει ὑπερνικήσει τά πάθη µας καί και έξαρσης, είπε ο κ. Ιάκωβος, ένιωσε τίς ἀγωνίες µας, µᾶς καλεῖ νά µελετήσουµε τήν ἀγάπη Του γιά µᾶς διά τῆς ὁποίας ο Δαβίδ σ’ ένα ψαλμό ευχαριστώντας µᾶς ἀνύψωσε ἀπό µία κατάσταση πτώσεως σέ µία κατάσταση χάριτος. Εἶναι ἕνα τον Θεό, λέγοντας του «σαν δυνατό γεγονός τό ὁποῖο µᾶς βοηθᾶ νά κατανοήσουµε καλύτερα τά ἐνισχυτικά λόγια τοῦ Ἀποστόλου Παύλου, εἰ γάρ σύµφυτοι γεγόναµεν τῷ ὁµοιώµατι τοῦ θανάτου αὐτοῦ, γλυκό κρασί με μεθύσκει…» Βλέποντας εσάς γύρω μου, συμπλή- ἀλλά καί τῆς ἀναστάσεως ἐσόµεθα (Ρωµ. 6:5). ρωσε, ακούγοντας τον λόγο σας, τολμώ Ἀδελφοί καί Ἀδελφές, να πω κι εγώ ότι το ποτήρι αυτό που εσείς μου προσφέρετε με μεθάει με την άπλεΣήµερα, καί ἐνῶ σκεπτόµεθα τήν σηµασία αὐτῆς τῆς Ἑορτῆς γιά τήν προσωπική τη καλοσύνη σας και την αγάπη σας. ζωή µας καί τήν ζωή τῶν οἰκογενειῶν καί κοινοτήτων µας, σηµειώνουµε ἕνα ἀκόµη Κατόπιν, ο πρώην Αρχιεπίσκοπος σηµαντικό γεγονός τό ὁποῖο εἶναι τά Ὀνοµαστήρια τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς Θεολογικῆς έκανε μια σύντομη αναφορά στο ρόλο Σχολῆς τοῦ Τιµίου Σταυροῦ στό Brookline, Massachusetts. Οἱ φοιτητές τοῦ Τιµίου της Ορθοδοξίας στην Αμερική. Όπου κι Σταυροῦ, ἔχοντας ὡς κέντρο τό σύµβολο τοῦ Σταυροῦ, ὁ ὁποῖος εἶναι τό κατ’ ἐξοχήν αν πήγα είπε, στην Ουάσινγκτον και σύµβολο τῆς Χριστιανικῆς ὁµολογίας, ἀναπτύσσουν ἔντονες εὐαισθησίες ἔναντι τοῦ αλλού, πήγα μόνο και μόνο για να πω Θεοῦ καί τῶν συνανθρώπων των σέ µία περίοδο διαµορφώσεως καί µελέτης ἡ ὁποία ότι η Ελληνική Ορθοδοξία ζει και θα ζει διαρκεῖ χρόνια. Πολλοί ἀπ’ αὐτούς ἑτοιµάζονται γιά τήν Ἱερωσύνη καί, Θεοῦ θέλοντος, και θα ακτινοβολεί πάντοτε μέσα στα θά χειροτονηθοῦν κληρικοί γιά νά καλύψουν τίς αὐξανόµενες ἀνάγκες τῶν κοινοτήτων μάτ ια και τ ις καρδιές τούτων των µας. Ὅµως ὅλοι αὐτοί - ἄνδρες καί γυναῖκες πού προέρχονται ἀπό πολύ διαφορετικές ανθρώπων. καταβολές καί ἀγαποῦν τόν Θεό, τούς ἀνθρώπους Του καί τήν Ἐκκλησία βαθιά – εἶναι Ανυψώθηκε, πρόσθεσε, η φυλή μας παραδείγµατα ἀνθρώπων πού δίδουν µία σύγχρονη ἀπάντηση στό ἱερό κάλεσµα τοῦ σε παράγοντα κοινωνικό που συμποΚυρίου µας καί σηκώνουν τόν σταυρόν τους καί Τόν ἀκολουθοῦν. Σᾶς καλῶ ὅλους ρευόταν για την ελευθερία και την σήµερα νά προσευχηθῆτε εἰδικά γι’ αὐτούς πού µοχθοῦν, διδάσκουν, φοιτοῦν καί δικαιοσύνη. στηρίζουν αὐτό τό ἱερώτατο Ἵδρυµα τῆς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς µας, ὥστε νά συνεχίσῃ νά Αναφερόμενος στα 67 χρόνια της προκόβῃ, νά παρέχῃ πνευµατική τροφή γιά τίς κοινότητές µας στήν Ἀµερική, καί νά διακονίας του στην Αμερική ο κ. Ιάκω- οἰκοδοµῇ τό Σῶµα τοῦ Χριστοῦ σ’ ὁλόκληρο τόν κόσµο. βος τόνισε ότι για ό,τι επιτελέστηκε στο Εἴθε ὁ Κύριος καί Σωτήρ µας Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ὁ Ὁποῖος ἐθυσιάσθηκε πάνω στόν διάστημα αυτό συντέλεσε, όπως είπε, Σταυρό γιά τήν σωτηρία µας, νά εἶναι µαζί σας κάθε ἡµέρα τῆς ζωῆς σας. Εἴθε ὁ το ποίμνιό του και επεσήμανε ότι η θρίαµβος τοῦ Σταυροῦ νά ἀνακουφίζῃ τά βάρη σας, ὁδηγώντας ἐσᾶς καί τούς Εκκλησία μας είναι μαρτυρική, είναι ἀγαπηµένους σας στήν ἐπίτευξη τῆς αἰωνίας κοινωνίας µέ τόν Θεό καί τούς γενναία και ζει εις τον αιώνα. Καταλή- συνανθρώπους σας. γοντας, ο κ. Ιάκωβος, παρότρυνε όλους Μέ πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη, να το πιστεύσουν αυτό και να συνδεθούν πιο πολύ μαζί της. «Να ζείτε, είπε, πολλά χρόνια και να γιορτάζετε τα γενέθλιά σας όπως απόψε. Με ποτήρια γεμάτα ευφροσύνη ÿ ὁ Ἀ ρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀµερικῆς Δηµήτριος με χαρά και με αγαλλίαση».

92 χρόνια Αρχιεπισκόπου Ιακώβου u óåë. 17

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ORTHODOX OBSERVER

$125,000 Available for Exploration of Orthodox Students’ Vocations College students involved in more than 180 Orthodox Christian Fellowships in North America will find a new and exceptional resource waiting for them when they return from summer break this year. Vocation grants of $125,000 have been made available for programs that help students understand and fulfill their Christian calling. National OCF, in conjunction with “We Offer These Gifts: A Program for the Theological Exploration of Vocation” at Hellenic College will grant $25,000 each year for the next five years to registered OCFs and OCF programs that use the grant to offer opportunities for college students to explore their Christian vocations—vocations used here broadly to include both lay and ordained ministries. OCF groups may apply for amounts appropriate to their local program, ranging from a few hundred up to several thousand dollars. The vocation grants will enable local campus-based OCFs to hold retreats, invite speakers to their university, or even begin a small library of Orthodox and vocational books on campus, but OCF groups are encouraged to think creatively when planning their events or programs. Specifically, the vocation grants program aims to encourage college students to begin to recognize their own unique gifts and talents and provides the students with a way to offer their gifts back to God by their service to the Church and to others in need. These funds are made possible through a grant received by Hellenic College in Brookline, Mass. from Lilly Endowment Inc. The Endowment believes in keeping religious communities strong and vibrant, and that college campuses are a vital setting in which to encourage this vibrancy. “Colleges and universities thus have a pivotal opportunity to help students explore their options and make life-defining decisions in light of their intellectual and faith commitments.” (History: Programs for the Theological Exploration of Vocation, www.ptev.org) For more information on the OCF Vocation Grant Program or for any OCF information contact National OCF at 800-9191OCF (617-850-1356) or visit the website at www.ocf.net. Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official campus ministry effort of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). This Pan-Orthodox effort, overseen by an Executive Committee and aided by a 16person Student Advisory Board, has its headquarters in Boston, where a full time staff develops OCF programs and resources. The staff is available to guide and support local OCF chapters through communication with the larger Orthodox community, national programs, and development of resources for use by Orthodox college students. SCOBA has designated the third Sunday in September each year as “College Student Sunday” to raise awareness of our students on campus and OCF’s activities.

SEPTEMBER 2003

Orthodox Christian Parishes Honor College Students BOSTON – More than 2,000 Orthodox Christian parishes throughout North America on Sept. 21 recognized and asked for support for thousands of Orthodox Christian young men and women studying at universities and colleges across our country. The day was designated as “College Student Sunday,” by the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA) and will be celebrated each year on the Sunday following the Feast of the Holy Cross. Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, general secretary of SCOBA and the Archdiocese ecumenical officer, said, “The SCOBA hierarchs were enthusiastic in approving College Student Sunday. We sincerely hope that all Orthodox communities in North America will recognize their college students in some way.” College Student Sunday is designed to create awareness for the many needs of college students and solicit support from the Orthodox community for the efforts of the official national Orthodox campus ministry organization, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), to help meet these needs. OCF Executive Director Fr. Michael Nasser states, “Our mission is to help ensure that Orthodox college students stay connected to their faith and their church while they are away at school. OCF provides comfort and stability for students who are often times away from home for the first time in their lives.”

OCF TEAM members are excited to take OCF to a new level. (l. to r.) Jim King, Fr. Michael Nasser and Joseph J. Samra.

To aid each parish, the National OCF Office has distributed an encyclical from SCOBA regarding College Student Sunday, sermon notes pertaining to the gospel and how it relates to college students, detailed instructions for soliciting help from the community and various promotional materials including brochures and posters. OCF Executive Committee members, the Student Advisory Board, and OCF national staff members spoke at various parish communities throughout the country and providing information regarding this vital ministry. For more information on College Student Sunday or for any OCF information contact National OCF at 800919-1OCF (617-850-1356) or visit our website at www.ocf.net. Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official campus ministry effort of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). This pan-Orthodox effort, overseen by an executive committee and aided by a 16-person student advisory board, has its headquarters in Boston, where a full time staff develops OCF programs and resources. The staff is available to guide and support local OCF chapters through communication with the larger Orthodox community, national programs, and development of resources for use by Orthodox college students.

JIMMY AND JULIANNE are surrounded with love as they care and play with the children on their Real Break to Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage in Guatemala.

DURING THEIR Real Break Trip to Project Mexico, Rebecca, Lauren, Laila and Jodi are all smiles as they nail chicken wire around the frame of the newly constructed woodshed at St. Innocent Ranch.

SCOBA Designates College Student Sunday “advise... the young as brothers” (1 Timothy 5:1) College Student Sunday - September 21, 2003 To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and The Devout Faithful of our Holy Orthodox Churches Dearly Beloved in the Lord, From the days of the Apostles until now, the followers of Christ have experienced the life of faith in the context of community. By its very definition, the Church is a community; and not at all a mere collection of individuals who share a common set of beliefs. It is also a community beyond geographical or time limitations. Today, as we gather in the nearly 2,000 parishes of our SCOBA jurisdictions to celebrate the Lord’s Day, we pause to offer support and encouragement to the approximately 40,000 Orthodox college students currently studying on North American campuses, who are members of our communities although they may live miles away from them. Our college students are blessed with unprecedented educational opportunities, but, at the same time, they face many difficult challenges in the extremely secular environment of the college campus. They are barraged with the contradictory views of a variety of religious, philosophical, and atheistic teachings, and with a pervasive relativism that challenges their faith. To add to the confusion offered in the classroom, the self-indulgent culture of most of our campuses is guided blindly by an appalling absence of morals. For many years, unfortunately, we have not paid attention to the fact that thousands of our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren left our loving homes and parishes to go off to receive their education in this environment. We, the hierarchs of the Standing Conference, invite you to join us in a rededicated effort to minister to our college students, and to advise them as brothers as St. Paul says. It has been over 30 years since a viable national ministry to our college students was maintained. This year, we have commissioned a full time staff to establish an Orthodox presence on our college campuses.

The mission of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is to ensure that every Orthodox Christian college student stays connected with the Church during these crucial, challenging college years. We call upon our priests to dedicate themselves to the all-important work of outreach on campus. We call upon our parishes to support the work of OCF, and we encourage all dedicated parents, godparents and grandparents of college students to make their young people aware of the opportunities offered by OCF and its programs. We stand firmly alongside our college students, and encourage them to maintain their faith, in the face of any challenge that comes their way. We hereby request that this day, the Sunday following the Elevation of the Holy Cross, be observed annually in all our parishes as College Student Sunday. As the new ecclesiastical year gets under way, may we all begin a new effort, working together as a community to support the ministry of OCF and all college students who are members of our Church, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. May the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior be with all of you. ÿ Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ÿ Metropolitan HERMAN Orthodox Church in America ÿ Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ÿ Archbishop NICOLAE Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada ÿ Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada ÿ Metropolitan JOSEPH Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ÿ Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA ÿ Metropolitan CONSTANTINE Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA ÿ Bishop ILIA of Philomelion Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

SEPTEMBER 2003

2003 - United Nations Year of Freshwater NEW YORK – Since 1987 Orthodox Mission Teams have traveled from America to Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean to construct churches, schools, and clinics to heal the sick and suffering. Vital to many of these projects was the building of water wells, which were funded by generous donors in America. by Lila Prounis

Today the United Nations is undertaking a major effort to bring safe water to all parts of world. 2003 has been declared the United Year of Freshwater. Safe water is the single most precious element for life on earth. It is essential for satisfying basic human needs, such as, food production, energy and maintenance of regional and global ecosystems. One billion two hundred thousand people are without access to freshwater. 2.4 billion people lack proper sanitation. More than 3 billion die each year from diseases caused by unsafe water. The launch of the International Year of Freshwater is intended to generate more intensive efforts by regions, countries and communities to address this major chal-

CLERGY

lenge: to raise awareness, generate new ideas and strategies, promote practice, motivate people and mobilize resources in order to meet basic human needs. Several strong targets have been set to spur action. World leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit agreed to halve by 2015 the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water. At the 2002 Johannesburg Summit, they agreed to develop national water management and efficiency plans by 2005. At the launching of the International Year, Secretary General Kofi Annan stated:, “We need more efficient irrigation, far less toxic agriculture and industry, and new investment in water infrastructure and services. And we need to free women and girls from the daily burden of walking great distances in search of water. Time and effort could be better spent on education and building better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. Let us do the utmost to protect the world’s precious freshwater resources – our lifeline for survival in the 21st century.” Mrs. Prounis represents the Archdiocesan Council, which maintains NGO status, at the United Nations.

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UPDATE

Ordination to the Diaconate: Evangelos Armatas, by Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver at St. Katherine Church, Greenwood Village, Colo., 06/15/03 George Pappas, by Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago at St. Demetrios Church, Chicago, 06/22/03 Constantinos Pieri (given the name of Athanasios upon ordination), by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, at St. Athanasios Church, Arlington, Mass., 07/13/03 Ordination to the Priesthood: Dn. Paul Pappas, by Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh at Archangel Michael, Campbell, Ohio, 05/04/03 Dn. John Bociu, by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Charlotte, N.C., 07/06/03 Dn. John Johns, by Metropolitan Alexios, at Holy Trinity/St. John the Theologian Church, Jackson, Miss., 07/13/03 Dn. Elias Koucos, by Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver at Prophet Elias Church, Holladay, Utah, 07/20/03 Assignments: Fr. Michael Eaccarino, to Assumption Cathedral, Denver, 04/01/03 Fr. Irenaios Cox, to St. Demetrios Church, Saginaw, Mich., 04/07/03 Fr. Andrew Kolitsos, to St. Spyridon Church, Monessen, Pa., 05/01/03 Fr. Thomas Tsevas, St. Nicholas Church, Newark, N.J., 06/01/03 Fr. Leo Schefe, to Transfiguration Church, Anchorage, Alaska, 06/01/03 Fr. Andrew Georganas, to St. Demetrios Church, Elmhurst, Ill. (assistant), 07/01/03 Fr. Joseph Samaan, St. Stefanos Church – St. Petersburg, Fla., 07/01/03 Rev. Dn. Luke Melackrinos, to St. Paul Cathedral, Hempstead, N.Y. (assistant), 07/13/03 Fr. George Savas, to St. Demetrios Church, Daytona Beach, Fla., 07/15/03 Fr. Michael Varlamos, to Assumption Church, Saint Clair Shores, Mich., 07/27/03 Fr. Cyril Garrett, to Holy Cross Church – Macon, Ga. (assistant), 08/ 01/03

Fr. Nicholas G. Manousakis, to Sts. Constantine & Helen, Washington, 08/01/03 Fr. Savas Constantinou, to St. Nicholas Church, Virginia Beach, Va., 08/01/03 Fr. Athanasios Pieri, to Holy Cross Church, Belmont, Calif. (assistant), 08/01/03 Fr. Nicholas J. Capilos, to Annunciation Church, Chattanooga, Tenn., 08/01/03 Fr. John Kosta, to St. George Church, Pittsfield, Mass., 08/01/03 Retired: Fr. Petros Kopsahilis, Metropolis of Atlanta chancellor, 06/01/03 Fr. Michael Johnson, Holy Apostles Church, Kenmore, Wash., 08/01/03 Offikia: Metropolitan Methodios bestowed the office of Archimandrite upon Fr. Constantine Bebis, 05/20/03 Metropolitan Nicholas bestowed the office of Protopresbyter upon Fr. William Bartz, 06/19/03 Metropolitan Alexios bestowed the office of Protopresbyter upon: Fr. Demetrios Kangelaris, 07/06/03 Metropolitan Isaiah bestowed the office of Protopresbyter upon Fr. Michael Kouremetis, 07/20/03, and the office of Economos upon Fr. Matthew Gilbert, 07/20/03 Receptions: Fr. Leo Schefe, from the Church of Greece, 02/13/03 Fr. Joseph Samaan, from the Antiochian Orthodox Church, 06/17/03 Rev. Dn. John Bociu, from the Romanian Patriarchate, 06/30/03 Releases: Fr. Dean Constantopoulos, to the Church of Greece, 06/30/03 Suspensions Lifted: Rev. Fr. Sam Kalamaras, 07/11/03 Suspensions: Rev. Fr. Basil Papanikolaou, 07/ 28/03 Defrocked: Fr. Peter K. Gregory of Dracut, Mass., returned to the status of layman as of Aug. 13, 2003.

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SEPTEMBER 2003

MISSION NEWS

INTERFAITH

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Is God Calling You to Be a Missionary? A Diversity of Differences and Challenges ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Is God calling you to be a missionary? Below are 10 things you can do to help you prepare for long-term mission service or explore if God might be calling you to be a missionary. A missionary can be defined as someone who crosses cultural boundaries in order to preach the Gospel or to share the love of Christ. Many different kinds of people can be missionaries: adults or children, men or women, priests or lay people. The Holy Orthodox Church has a tradition of sending missionaries, many of whom have become some of our most beloved saints. When you think of St. Paul, St. Fotini, St. Kosmas Aitolos, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Herman of Alaska and all of the Holy Apostles, one thing they all have in common is that they were missionaries. Do you think that God might be calling you to be a missionary and to follow in the footsteps of the saints? Whether you are ready to go now or will be ready in a few years, we will help you along in the process. Here are 10 suggestions for preparing for long-term mission service or exploring whether or not God is calling you to serve Him as a missionary: 1- Get involved. Are you already involved in your own parish? Missionaries are sent to help build up the Church in a particular region. You should already be doing this where you live so that you can be ready to help others to do the same. 2- Strive for personal spiritual growth. The missionary saints all struggled to live holy lives. Increase your participation in the sacramental life of the Church with the guidance of your parish priest or spiritual father. 3- Get cross-cultural experiences here at home. Are you comfortable with people who look, talk, act or worship differently than you? Volunteer to work with immigrants in your area, or if you are in high school or college, reach out to international students on your campus. 4- Go on a mission team. This is a short and relatively safe way to explore

what mission work is and what missionaries do. Each year, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center sends teams to Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Find out more at www.ocmc.org/teams. If you’ve already gone on a team, you may want to consider going on another. 5- Learn another language. Whether or not it’s the one you’ll end up using in the mission field, you’ll have the foundation of skills to help you learn another one. 6- Read about missions. You can start with the OCMC website www.ocmc.org, magazine and weekly e-mail news bulletins. Look for books about the lives of missionaries and missionary saints of our Church. Read about current mission activity around the world. 7- Give financial support to missions. Contact OCMC to find out how you can use the resources God has given you to support missions. 8- Reduce your debt. Live and spend intentionally. If you think you might want to be a missionary, try to plan your finances now so that you will be debt-free (or close to it) before going to the field. 9- Both single people and couples can be missionaries. However, if you are single and looking for a spouse, pray for a spouse with a similar missionary calling. 10- Pray for missions, missionaries and that all the nations may know Christ. OCMC’s “Pray for our missionaries” webpage, www.ocmc.org/involved/prayhome.htm, lists specific prayer requests for our missionaries in the field. If you would like more information about becoming a missionary, placement opportunities, or any of the 10 steps above, please contact Maria Gallos at OCMC at 1-877-463-6784 or via e-mail at missionaries@ocmc.org. You can also download the first part of the Missionary Application on-line at www.ocmc.org/missionaries/Missionary %20Application.pdf, fill it out and mail it to: OCMC, PO Box 4319, St. Augustine, FL 32085-4319. Information on all of OCMC’s programs and publications can be found on our website, www.ocmc.org.

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Father Charles, I’m Roman Catholic, and my husband is Greek Orthodox. My family’s been here for generations, and my husband’s family has been here at least since the early 1900’s. Recently we rented “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and have some comments and a question for you. by Fr. Charles Joanides, Ph.D., LMFT

I found the movie entertaining, but it didn’t relate much to us…. We never experienced the kinds of problems that this couple faced. Our problems were related more to our religious backgrounds, and hardly had anything to do with our ethnic backgrounds. He wanted to attend the Greek Orthodox Church, and I wanted to attend my church. This leads me to my question. How realistic was this movie?

E-mail respondent

Dear e-mail respondent, You’ve made a very astute observation. It’s true, all intermarried couples are not the same, nor do they experience similar challenges. However, I didn’t always think this way. I’ve come to this understanding after allowing hundreds intermarried couples and individuals like yourself to guide my thinking. Today, even though I tend to classify these couples with the descriptor, “intermarried,” I also think of this group as being comprised of unique individuals and couples who face distinctively different and diverse challenges. My work has taught me that, while couples choose to enter interreligious, interethnic, intercultural and in some cases, interracial relationships, each couple is unique, and will experience slightly different challenges. Let me offer more details.

Religious Differences

Not all intermarried couples and spouses have the same level of connection to their religious backgrounds. Some may have a low connection, while others will have a moderate or high connection. If partners have a low connection to their religious background, I’ve discovered that their religious differences will likely not create big challenges. While talking about the role that religion played in their lives, one couple offered the following observations: “We believe in God, but we’re not very religious. Sometimes we go to church, but it doesn’t really matter where…. I guess religion isn’t a big part of our life.” Since religion has such a peripheral place in this couple’s life, it’s likely they will not experience many serious challenges unless one or both partner’s attitude toward religion changes. Conversely, if spouses have a moderate to high connection to their religious backgrounds, they will likely encounter some challenges – especially those with a high connection. Your own e-mail reinforces this point. Among other challenges, partners in these marriages may struggle to reconcile their need to participate in their faith background with their need to pray together. This is not generally an easy task, but most –with God’s help– seem to find a mutually satisfying resolution.

Ethnic and Cultural Differences

Beyond religion, my research has taught me that many intermarried spouses and couples who attend the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America have some level of connection to their ethnic background. This connection can be thought

of on a continuum from low to high. If couples have a low connection to their ethnic roots, then it is likely that they will not experience many challenges related to their different ethnic backgrounds. Take Cathy and Joe for an example. Together with a mixture of other ethnic backgrounds, Cathy’s background is half Greek. By his own admission, Joe is “a mutt” who has “a little bit of almost everything in me.” When asked how their ethnic backgrounds challenge their lives, Joe speaks for the couple and observes, “I don’t think this is an issue in our marriage.” Conversely, Athena and Hector both have very high connections to their ethnic backgrounds. When asked how this impacts their lives after a few months of being married, Hector states, “…profoundly. We want a home that respects my own Hispanic background and my wife’s Greek background. Sometimes this creates problems, but nothing we haven’t been able to handle so far.” Unlike Joe and Cathy, this couple will have to remain vigilant across the marital and family life cycle regarding this difference. They will also likely experience some challenges in their efforts to respect both partner’s ethnic backgrounds.

The Church Seeks to Help

As you imagine, there are numerous potential interesting combinations that emerge when we begin considering all the various shades of differences that exist between couples with regard to religion, ethnicity and race. Moreover, these differences will create challenges that vary slightly from one couple to the next. Add to this complexity - personal needs, preferences and expectations, personality differences, nuclear and extended family needs and others. All of a sudden, things get really complicated. That’s why the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has developed a special ministry to intermarried couples. It’s aware of how religious, ethnic, cultural differences can impact religious and spiritual development. It is also aware of how these differences can potentially have an adverse affect on children’s religious and cultural development. It is also attentive to how these differences, can create challenges that can fester into unresolved problems and issues that can have a negative impact on individual, marital and family well-being.

Some Suggestions

If you’re currently intermarried, and would like more information about this subject I’d like to recommend the following two resources. They’ve been developed specifically for intermarried couples like you. • A book I’ve written titled, When You Intermarry (2002), should prove informative and helpful. It can be ordered at a nominal cost by either calling Holy Cross Bookstore at, 800-245-0599, or through Amazon.com. • Another great resource is the Interfaith Marriage Web site. This site’s address is www.interfaith.goarch.org. It has a great deal of information on this subject. • For problems of a more personal nature, you can e-mail me at joanidesch@aol.com.

Conclusion

Research indicates that recent newcomers to this country will encounter many of the challenges that Toula and Ian encountered in the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding - no matter whether they are or are not associated with the Archdiocese.

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SEPTEMBER 2003

The Voice of

Philoptochos

More than 70 years of Christian Philanthropy Connecticut Chapter Awards Five Scholarships Part 6 The conference adjourned abruptly following the news that Patriarch Athenagoras was dead. Archbishop Iakovos received the devastating news during the grand banquet and was deeply grieved. In a voice filled with grief he announced to his spiritual flock, “Athenagoras is gone.” by Terry Kokas

Immediately, a Trisagion service was chanted in the chapel, with the Archbishop, bishops, clergy and delegates kneeling in prayer for the repose of the Patriarch’s soul. The Philoptochos decided immediately to establish an annual Patriarch Athenagoras $1,000 scholarship at Holy Cross School of Theology to be awarded to a student of theology. Donations also were made in his memory to the Kidney Foundation of New York, $2,000; to the Joint Disaster Fund for victims of Hurricane Agnes, $2,000; and to the Sycarides Institution for Retarded Children in Greece, $8,000. Returning to their homes, Philoptochos delegates observed a 40-day mourning period for their founder. With renewed commitment the organization embarked upon an even greater contribution to the philanthropic needs of the Greek Orthodox community. The Philoptochos in 1973 launched a new Cardiac Program for Greek Children, first at New York Hospital and then at several hospitals throughout the United States, contributing thousands of dollars annually to help Greek children with heart ailments. This humanitarian program is one of the most meaningful the organization has ever sponsored. The Teachers College at St. Basil Academy was moved to Hellenic College in Brookline, Mass., affording the students to undertake an accredited course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree. The graduates would serve as educators, teachers and your directors at the schools and churches of the Greek Orthodox communities. Katherine Pappas of Milton, Mass., was engaged in preparing the women’s dormitories and furnishing the rooms. At the National Conference in Chicago in 1974, Mrs. Pappas, who had devoted many years of service in various capacities, became president of the National Philoptochos Board. At the Chicago conference, delegates voted to expand the Philoptochos’ participation in Church Women United and three ladies were appointed as representatives to the CWU: Judge Yorka

Linakis of Jamaica, N.Y., Sophia Shane of Milwaukee, and Vivian Hampers of Grand Rapids, Mich. Later that year, Archbishop Iakovos delivered the principal address to the Ecumenical Assembly of Church Women United. The Greek community was shocked and distressed by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus at the end of July 1974. The Archdiocese, assisted by the Philoptochos chapters, conducted an intensive campaign to help the Greek Cypriot people. More than $1 million was raised and sent to Archbishop Makarios for the 250,000 refugees who had fled their homes following the invasion and were living in tents, under trees or in warehouses. The Philoptochos launched a six-point program to help the refugees. It consisted of shipping hundreds thousands of pounds of food, clothing, blankets and drugs; conducting blood drives to help the wounded, sending protest letters to President Ford, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and members of Congress; collecting donations for the Archdiocese Cyprus Relief Fund, undertaking a canister drive in every major U.S. city and in Canada, and beginning a foster parent program to help displaced children. The Philoptochos, at the request of Archbishop Iakovos and Archbishop Makarios, accepted the responsibility to undertake the foster parent project to aid the thousands of Greek Cypriot children who became refugees. After eight years, the foster parent program, “Caress,” continued to help these children under the chairmanship of Angelica Kapsis. The Archdiocesan Council met in Washington to chart a course of action to help the Cypriot people. During the meeting the Archbishop announced he was appointing, for the first time, women to the Council. They included Katherine Pappas, Zoe Cavalaris and Lila Prounis, all members of the National Board. Another national project the Philoptochos is engaged in is the St. Photios Shrine in St. Augustine, Fla. This is the first Greek Orthodox Memorial Shrine dedicated to the first Greek settlers who arrived in the New World in 1768, before the Revolutionary War. The Archdiocese purchased the Avero House in 1965, where the Greeks had worshipped. It was named the St. Photios Shrine in memory of Ecumenical Patriarch Photios of Constantinople who initiated missionary activities among the Slavs when he sent the brothers Cyril and Methodios to Christianize them in the 10th century.

After Patriarch Athenagoras

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Enosis Philoptochos Society of St. Sophia Church recently awarded five $500 scholarships to the following high school graduates: Michael Aretakis, Kathryn Brubaker, Sofia Clark, William Hronis and Nikole Nousiopoulos. by Penny Maistros

Michael, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Aretakis of Mystic, Conn., is an honors graduate of Robert E Fitch Senior High School. He plans to attend Bryant College where he plans to major in finance. Kathryn is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brubaker of Niantic, Conn., and plans to attend the University of Vermont in the fall. She is also an honors student and graduated from East Lyme High School in June. Harriette Clark and Jeffery Clark of Waterford are the parents of Sophia who

graduated from Waterford High School with honors and will attend Eckerd College in the fall. She plans to major in marine biology. The fourth recipient, William Hronis, is the son of Thomas Hronis of New London and the late Stavroula Hronis. He is a graduate of St. Bernard High School in Uncasville, Conn. and will attend the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where he will major in physics. He plans on pursuing a career in meteorology after graduation from college. Nikole, the daughter of Stephan and Debra Nousiopoulos of New London, is also an honors graduate of St. Bernard High School. She will attend Hartwick College in the fall where she plans to major in psychology. Penny Maistros is president of Enosis Philoptochos Society.

PRESIDENT SOPHIA Booras presents check to David Phillips, senior vice president of the Children’s Hospital Foundation; also shown are (front row, left) Constantine Pappas, Dr. Helen Rockas and Billie Giannopoulos, vice presdent. (Back row, from left) Christine Gonos, treasurer; Frances Yordan, secretary; and Fr. James Pappas, parish priest.

Fresno Chapter Supports Children’s Hospital FRESNO, Calif. – Athena Chapter of St. George Parish recently presented a $25,000 check to the Children’s Hospital Central California awarded by the National

Philoptocchos social services program. The funds will be applied to the expansion of the children’s hospitals renowned neonatal intensive care unit.

Atlanta Honors 50-Year Members CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The recent Atlanta Metropolis Conference honored the following women for their 50 years of service to the organization: Angeline Andrews, Penelopi Bakis, Mary Castanas, Effie Chonis, Antigone (Ida) Collias, Constance Costopoulos, Anastasia Couchell, Potoula Couchell, Voula Dimos, Georgia Karres, Artemis Kleto, Nicki Kleto, Bett Kofinas, Despou-

la Kostakopoulos, Lula Pappas, Katina Polyzos, Niki Poulakos, Panagiota Psilos, Kay Tatsis, Peggy Thevalos, Mary Trakas and Fanny Valides, all of Charlotte; Georgia Metropoulos of Melbourne, Fla.; Afrodite Karatinos, Archondia Lacas, Maray Lacas, Despina Nicolaides and Theodora Revelas, all of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Vonnie Karetas of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Florence Voyantzis of Maitland, Fla.

Las Vegas Chapter Elects Officers LAS VEGAS – Panagia Chapter members recently elected new officers. They are: Dora Hart, president; Cheryl Pendelis, vice president; Bernadette Anthony, second vice president; Janelle Salon, corresponding secretary; Vivian Esposito, recording secretary; Anne Pantelas, treasurer.

Board members and their committee assignments are: Effie LeKar, good Samaritan; Linda Carabas and Mary Hamilton, fellowship; Chloe Nickolson, historian; Pearl Osborn, public relations; Catherine Monolokas, pot luck; Tammy Flangas, membership; Diane Weisman, raffles; and Estella Nicholas, telephone.

NEW ATLANTA BOARD Atlanta Metropolis Philoptochos elected new board members at their recent conference in Charlotte, N.C. Shown with Metropolitan Alexios are: (seated, l. to r.) Helen Peterson, advisor; Gail Diamantaris, first vice president; Dee Nicolaou, president; Rose Marie Connell, recording secretary; Suzy Balasis, treasurer; and Jeannie Demas, corresponding secretary. (Standing, l. to r.) the Very Rev. George Tsahakis, chancellor; board members Presbytera Christine Salzman, Edna Mitchell, Irene Lignos, Sara Davis, Mary Carratt, Georgia Croffead, Maria Balatsias, Bella Kontinas, Elizabeth Johnson and Fr. Tommy Vlahos of Holy Trinity Cathedral. Other officers and board members not in photo include Laura Nixon, second vice president; Evan Scurtis, assistant treasurer; Pam Copsis, Kellie Karavokiros, Maria Stanforth and Elizabeth Pappas.

OCAMPR and OCMC Medical Missions National Conference Set

BROOKLINE, Mass. – “Regenerating the Heart” is the theme for the 13th annual OCAMPR National Conference slated for Oct. 31- Nov. 2 at Hellenic College/ Holy Cross Orthodox School of Theology, made possible in part by funding from the Nicholas D. Kambouri Memorial Fund. This year, OCMC Medical Missions team will co-sponsor the event. The conference begins on Friday evening with Vespers followed by registration and refreshments in the Maliotis cultural center. Peter Bistolarides, MD, M.Div. (cand.) a recent arrival to Holy Cross as a candidate for the holy priesthood, will offer the keynote address on the seamless relationship between spiritual, medical and psychological aspects of the deep person of the heart, drawing on themes from his own pilgrimage from medicine to theology. Panelists from fields of medicine, pastoral psychology and theology will offer responses and engage the group in discussion. As always, the focus is on shared approaches to human growth and well-being, of Orthodox Christian theology, psychology and medicine which has been the hallmark of OCAMPR’s activities since its founding in 1985. Saturday begins with Divine Liturgy in celebration of the feast day of the patron saints of OCAMPR, St. Cosmas and Damian. The plenary speaker for Saturday

morning is the Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas Graff of Jacksonville Fla., who will address the theme of “Ekklesia: Fostering the relational heart of community”, followed by respondents and discussion. In the afternoon, attendees will have the choice of breakout sessions with either OCAMPR or the OCMC Medical Missions team. Full details for conference registration and information about OCAMPR’s new programs are available at the web site OCAMPR.org. The Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion, founded in 1985, is a professional organization devoted to promoting interdisciplinary dialogue and facilitating Christian fellowship among Orthodox Christian helping professions in service to individuals and families. The organization recently began an Orthodox Practitioner’s Referral listing for physicians and psychotherapists that may be found on the web site. Orthodox professionals are encouraged to visit the web site and submit necessary credentials in order to be listed as well as to consider joining OCAMPR. Those interested in submitting manuscripts for consideration in OCAMPR’s new electronic journal are encouraged to do so. There are also links to past OCAMPR publications as well as international links with professionals outside the U.S. who are interested in the basic mission of OCAMPR and invite dialogue.

SEPTEMBER 2003

Expanding Operations in Post-War Iraq BAGHDAD – Following up on its response to the immediate aftermath of the war in Iraq, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is preparing to deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars in humanitarian assistance to some of Iraq’s most vulnerable citizens. In the coming weeks, IOCC will open an office and hire staff in Baghdad to expand its operations and meet the growing humanitarian needs there. The office, in cooperation with a network of churches and mosques, will facilitate the delivery of emergency food, medicines and potable water to children, women, the elderly, families in camps and internally-displaced persons in and around Baghdad, said David Holdridge, IOCC chief operating officer.

Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IOCC will deliver family food parcels, first-aid kits, medicines and hygiene supplies to some of the neediest Iraqis through a network of churches and mosques. IOCC and the Middle East Council of Churches used that same network in April and May to distribute 1,000 family food parcels in Baghdad. In addition to distributing relief supplies, IOCC will provide technical support to church-based organizations in Iraq so that they can assist the needy communities surrounding them, Holdridge said. Through its expanded presence in Iraq, IOCC will work to create stockpiles of basic food supplies; create stockpiles of medicines and medical supplies; secure clean potable water; and prevent health

Pallicary-Vedora School Reunion Set in Nov. SAN AUGUSTINE, Fla. – PalicaryVedora School, the Hellenic-American boarding school that operated from 1931 to 1955 plans to hold its fourth annual reunion Nov. 6-8. Mary Pallicary Vedova and Egbert Vedova, both educators at the Greek IMAGE & LIKENESS

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Christmas Cards

American Institute in the 1920’s, founded their boarding school in New Rochelle, N.Y., then enlarged it and relocated in Port Chester, N.Y. and, finally, in Tarrytown, NY. Their main goal was to offer an education in Greek heritage and culture, and to prepare students in American academics. Alumni have gathered for the past three years to reminisce and recall their many experiences as children of immigrant parents whose desire it was to preserve their Greek faith and culture. This year’s reunion will bring together alumni for a sharing of memories. A trip to St. Photios Greek Orthodox Shrine is planned, among the other activities. For information about the reunion contact Bill and Katherine Bacalis, 4014 Buckskin Trail E., Jacksonville, Fla.

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In my opinion, that’s one primary reason why this movie was able to enjoy such a universal appeal. We are essentially a country of immigrants with similar challenges, and the movie’s producers unknowingly hit on this universal phenomenon. With that stated, as this article has suggested, when couples choose to mix ethnic, cultural, religious and, in some cases, racial backgrounds, they will experience a host of new challenges related to these differences. Moreover, these challenges will vary slightly from one couple to the next. However, my work has shown that as long as a couple is able to respectfully discuss these challenges, and both partners are generally comfortable with what emerges from these conversations, these challenges can enrich their lives, and if God blesses them with children, their future children’s lives.

Kurds occupying an old army barracks in Mosul face an uncertain future. IOCC is working to provide them with relief supplies and other forms of assistance.

Holdridge visited Baghdad in April to assess the needs and begin emergency relief distributions on behalf of IOCC, the humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians. He is scheduled to return to Baghdad with other IOCC senior staff later this month. “IOCC’s goal is to cooperate with churches and mosques in order to meet the most pressing needs of suffering Iraqis,” Holdridge said. “While the situation has improved since IOCC began its first humanitarian assistance two months ago, there are still large numbers of elderly, chronically ill, disabled and destitute who are barely surviving.” With support from the relief alliance Action by Churches Together and the

risks and the transmission of disease. IOCC’s parent organization, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, is encouraging all Orthodox Christians to support IOCC’s efforts in Iraq through prayer and giving. IOCC has worked in the Middle East since 1997 and, in addition to Iraq, has programs in the Holy Land and Lebanon. To learn more about IOCC’s humanitarian and self-help programs around the world, please visit www.iocc.org or call toll-free 1-877-803-4622. For media inquiries, please contact IOCC Communications Associate Stephen Huba at 1-877-803-4622 or shuba@iocc.org.

IOCC Creates Prayer Book for Children BALTIMORE – Orthodox Christian children across the United States will have a new resource this fall to teach them about prayer and their world: the IOCC children’s prayer journal. Titled “My Prayer Journal,” the colorful, 32-page book is designed to encourage children in their prayer life as they learn about the lives of children around the world. Each month features a different country where International Orthodox Christian Charities, the humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox Christians, is helping people in need. Along with information about each country, the book contains Bible verses, quotes from the Church Fathers, excerpts from the Divine Liturgy, suggested prayers, activities and facts. Space is provided for children to write their prayer requests and things that they are thankful for. “My Prayer Journal is a welcome liturgical and catechetical tool,” said the

Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, director of the Department of Religious Education. “It successfully encourages children to see the face of Christ in those who suffer and invites them to create a better global future through the intervention of personal and corporate prayer.” The journal is endorsed by IOCC’s parent organization, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). “We encourage all of our faithful to take full advantage of this Children’s Prayer Journal so that our young people may practice the daily presence of Jesus Christ in their lives and learn more about the needs of other children throughout the world,” the nine SCOBA hierarchs said. To order individual copies, please go online at www.iocc.org/journal. For bulk quantities, contact the Department of Religious Education at 1-800-566-1088. Shipping charges may apply.

SEPTEMBER 2003

PEOPLE

uHANAC Officers Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee (HANAC) recently elected the following new officers: Alexander G. Anagnos, president; Peter A. Vlachos, vice president; Penny Laspalakis, treasurer; Arthur Cheliotes, secretary. Other newly elected board members are : Nikitas Drakotos, Katerina Nicholas, and George Makkos. In addition, Evangeline P. Douris, HANAC’s Board chairman, was appointed to the NYC Commission on Cultural Affairs by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

uOnassis Scholar Catherine Tsounis of Bayside and Mattituck, N.Y., recently completed research in Greece under a teacher-training scholarship from the Foreigners Fellowships Program of the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. Professor Tsounis is an adjunct instructor of Modern Greek language and Literature at St. John’s University and was inducted into “Who’s Who Among America’s College Professors” in 2002.

uSolon speaker Professor Strati Demertzis, adjunct professor of Modern Greek at Hofstra University in Uniondale, Long Island, will speak Oct. 9 on “The Junta and Cyprus” at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Hempstead. Professor Demertzis also is St. Paul’s chanter and choir director and teaches adult Greek classes at the parish. The lecture is presented by the Solon Society, the Hellenic cultural society of Long Island.

uWrites Book Author Tony Christ has written a book on the experiences of his father, Chris Chrisostomidis, a childhood friend of Archbishop Iakovos, from his beginnings on the island of Imbros to this eventual success as an immigrant to the United States. “Bread Crumb, A Greek’s Odyssey, a 432 page work that reflects the experiences and hardships of his father. The book is available through Bookmasters Distribution Center, (800) 247-6553.

uSecretary honored Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans recently honored Mary Vlahos Kontos on her retirement as secretary after 26 years of service. The parish council hosted a luncheon in her honor and a message of congratulations from Metropolitan Alexios was read.

uFirst novel Former business editor and columnist for the Chicago Tribune and Atlanta Journal-Constitution Nick Poulos has published his first novel, “Aegean Quartet,” about the spiritual quest of a Greek American that culminates in his enlightenment atop Mount Athos.

uHall chairman Harry G. Hitopoulos, a member of Holy Trinity Church in Charleston, S.C., and coach of the boxing at The Citadel since 1982, recently was elected chairman of Carolina’s Boxing Hall of Fame in Charlotte. He was inducted into the Hall and elected to the board in 2001. He was on The Citadel’s boxing team in 1947-48. He also referees amateur and professional boxing matches.

Offering the Orthodox Faith in Central Alabama MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The influence and visibility of this tiny community in the heart of the “Bible Belt” seems significantly larger than its small numbers would indicate. In addition to the parish’s core membership in the state capital, Fr. Kehagias’ ministry extends more than 100 miles to include a wide area of central and eastern Alabama where as many as 50 more Greek Orthodox families live; including west to Selma, east to Auburn and southeast to Dothan. In Auburn, home of Auburn University, an active Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter has some 60 participants. Once a month, on a Saturday, Fr. Kehagias celebrates the Divine Liturgy there and holds a Bible study. He noted that individuals recently

P A R I S H

newspaper numerous times,” he said. “Every Easter and on the Feast of Epiphany there’s a feature article.”

Ecumenical efforts

Annunciation Church reaches out to other Christian groups in this city of about 250,000. Last January, the church hosted an ecumenical prayer service that included Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans. Fr. Kehagias has frequent contact with the largest Christian group in the city. “This is Baptist country,” he said. “There’s one on almost every street corner and they’ve all gotten a chance to know me.” One way he interacts with Baptist ministers is by teaching them liturgical and koini Greek as a refresher course. The outreach effort extends to the Goyans, who visit several non-Orthodox churches during the year. “They dialogue

Eventually other Greeks settled here from various cities and regions of Greece, including Athens, Corfu, Patmos, and also Cyprus. By 1909, about 50 Greeks lived in the city and the first Orthodox services were celebrated by a visiting priest in an upstairs room of a theater in downtown Montgomery. The Balkan Wars and World War I drew away several young men who fought in Greece. After the conflicts, the community arranged for a priest come from Holy Trinity Church in Birmingham to hold frequent services at St. John’s Episcopal Church, which served the parish until it built its own church in the late 1940s.

Efforts begin

Some community organizations

p ro f i l e

Name: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Location: Montgomery, Ala. Metropolis: Atlanta Size: 45 members Founded: 1944 Clergy: Fr. Demetrios N. Kehagias (Holy Cross ’94)

e-mail: agocinal@netzero.net Noteworthy: Parish ministry has a wide geographic and electronic outreach. converted to Orthodoxy in less than a year through OCF. One of these, a native Alabamian and his wife and children, converted last year and has put his enthusiasm to work for the faith. He serves as a missionary in Serbia and is also producing the entire Divine Liturgy and computer-generated iconography on a CD in English, Greek, Serbian and Slavonic.

Military presence

There is a large military presence in the area, including many Orthodox. Montgomery is situated between a U.S. Air Force base, Maxwell, and its Gunter annex where civilian Air Force contractors work. Maxwell is home to Air University and the Air War College, where senior officers from the United States and the air forces of many allied nations, including Greece, Romania and other Orthodox countries, receive advanced training. There also is a chaplaincy school here. Orthodox officers from those countries regularly attend services at Annunciation. Some parishioners also are military retirees.

TV and radio

The church has a weekly TV ministry on Saturdays, though Fr. Kehagias said the half-hour program is currently in hiatus while being revamped. “We hope to start up again soon,” he said. The airtime is made available through Frazier Christian Television, owned by Frazier United Methodist Church in Montgomery, one of the largest Methodist churches in the United States. Several times a year, Fr. Kehagias is invited as a guest speaker on a Christian radio program that reaches central and south Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and Fort Benning, Ga. It broadcasts over WLBS in Montgomery, WDYS in Dothan, and two other transmitters. The church is well-covered by the local newspaper, the Montgomery Advertiser. “There are stories in the

ANNUNCIATION CHURCH with other youth and explain who we are and learn who they are,” Fr. Kehagias said. The parish teen-agers also invite young people from the other churches to visit Annunciation.

predate the parish. In 1934, several men organized the Hellenic Society of Montgomery to work toward establishing a permanent church. In 1936, the local AHEPA chapter A long presence was founded and has been a strong Though the parish has officially ex- supporter of the community. It has isted for nearly 50 years, the Greek pres- built two retirement homes for the elence goes back much further, to the late derly and plans to begin construction 19th century. on a third this fall. According to information Ahepans also financed the from the parish, the first Greek church library, established in known to have settled in Montthe mid-90s by Fr. John Emgomery was Alex Cassimus. manuelson, Fr. Demetrios’ Thought to have been predecessor, and set up the originally from Crete, CassiAHEPA Miaoulis-Parker mus moved from Memphis, Scholarship Fund to benefit MONTGOMERY Tenn., to Montgomery in the parish’s college and uni1878. About 12 years later, versity students. he opened a fruit store in the A Greek Ladies Society downtown area and brought was founded in 1938. It imhis family herein 1880. The mediately started raising money to Cassimus home at 110 S. Jackbuild a church. That same year, the son St., a few blocks west of the Greek school was established. church, is listed on the National Register The choir was organized in 1943. of Historic Places. The original choir director, Mary At the time, Montgomery was recov- Moss, served until her retirement in ering from the Civil War era, or War Be- the mid-90s. tween the States, as it’s known here, and The community held many fundReconstruction. raisers for the Greek War Relief effort Back in February 1861, delegates during World War II and formally estabfrom several southern states met in Mont- lished the parish in 1944. It received its gomery and established the government state charter on Feb. 2, 1945. of the Confederate States of America. The A special committee was created city, subsequently known as the “Cradle to build a church. One of its memof the Confederacy,” served as the capital bers, Pete Xides, donated the land until May of that year, when it was moved at the corner of Capital Parkway and to Richmond, Va. However, it would not Mount Meigs Road where the church be the last controversy that would put this now stands. It was completed in Decity in the spotlight. cember 1947. The first liturgy took place on Dec. Some Greeks living in the South fought for the Confederacy and their 28, 1947, with Fr. Emmanuel Vergis as legacy is present in the modern-day the first permanent parish priest. Archparish. Several communicants are bishop Michael dedicated the church members of the Sons and Daughters the following autumn. of the Confederacy organizations, Fr. Kehagias noted. u page 26

26 PARISH PROFILE

SEPTEMBER 2003

Oratorical Festival Held in Denver

u page 25 The Philoptochos chapter got its start in 1947. The Sunday school was established in 1951 and the GOYA chapter was founded the following year.

Social change

While the parish continued its progress in the 1950s, an event occurred in 1956 in Montgomery that launched an era of profound social change in this country. A young seamstress, Rosa Parks, tired from a day’s work, refused to give up her seat on a city bus and move to the rear of the vehicle. She was arrested and the incident prompted the young minister of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rev. Martin Luther King, to take action by organizing a boycott and that subsequently gave birth to the civil rights campaign that, in 1964, led to the dramatic march from Selma to the Statehouse steps in Montgomery. Only one national Church leader marched at King’s side, Archbishop Iakovos. The event, immortalized on the March 26, 1965 cover of Life magazine, continues to draw the interest of local African Americans, who comprise 55 percent of the city. As a result, various black organizations invite Fr. Kehagias to speak about Orthodox Christianity. “They’re amazed when they see the photo. He’s (Archbishop Iakovos) the only one there,” Fr. Kehagias said. The latest event to draw national attention to the city was last month’s defiant stand by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore against a federal court order to remove a granite monument engraved with the Ten Commandments from the state Judicial Building. He was overruled and suspended by the other eight justices who ordered the marker removed from public view. Fr. Kehagias, in an e-mail response to a question about his parish’s view on the controversy, noted the issue “affects all religions in the United States because it boils down to ‘can a state officially recognized God and can the federal government dictate to a state what it may or may not display inside its own building.’ Second, the First Amendment has been taken and twisted, for at the time it was written it was meant to apply to the federal government and not to state governments. I know that many of our parishioners feel the same way.”

Assorted occupations

As might be expected of a community located in a state capital, some parishioners are active in local and state politics and government service. A few are employed with federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Forestry and others. Fr. Kehagias said some parishioners have worked on the staffs of state officials, including several for former Gov. George Wallace and his wife, Lurleen, who also served as governor. One congregant plans for run for a local county office. “For a little community they sure have a lot of spunk,” Fr. Kehagias said. Other church members work in the private sector, including for manufacturers such as Korean automaker Hundai, which recently opened its first American plant in Montgomery. Others include real estate developers, Alabama PBS channel executives, and faculty members at local universities. Over the past century there have been numerous Greek-owned restaurants in the city. One establishment that has been around since the early 1900s and is a Montgomery landmark is Chris’ Hot Dogs. It was started by Chris Katechis and in now run by his son, Theophilos. One of its most famous patrons decades ago was country music legend Hank Williams, who would write many of his songs while eating hot dogs at the restaurant. He was once “thrown out because he was drunk and a little rowdy,” Fr. Kehagias noted in his e-mail report.

Famous for barbecue

While the parish relies on stewardship

for most of its income, two of Annunciation’s major fund-raisers are the Greek food festival the weekend after Mother’s Day, and the Labor Day Greek Barbecue, held annually since 1938 when it began as a community picnic. He said the event is so popular that cars line up for more than a mile to pick up barbecue orders at a drive-up window and draws thousands of local residents to the church – and also politicians since it’s held at the start of election season. “Every city, county and even state” politician running for office “attends and either volunteers or shakes hands with everybody there,” Fr. Kehagias said. The food is prepared in a building used exclusively for that purpose, and includes a 90-foot barbecue pit. A featured entrée is camp stew, similar to chili, but without beans. “The only thing Greek is the pastries,” said Fr. Kehagias.

Varied membership

Nearly all parishioners are American born, some up to fifth generation Greek descent. But there’s also a mix of other Orthodox Christians, including Russian, Romanian and “a man from India who has been Orthodox all his life,” said Fr. Kehagias. “He and his wife teach economics and psychology at Troy State University.” There are three chanters: a retired physics professor-turned jeweler, a retired English professor and convert, and an Air Force contractor.

Staple ministries

Sunday school has about 30 students. The choir is directed by a retired professor of Spanish literature, Dr. Georgia Pappanastos, who is coordinating the application of Church hymnology into English. Fr. Kehagias said that, one Sunday a month, the choir sings all the hymns in English; another Sunday, the hymns are all in Greek. The other Sundays include both languages. The Liturgy is 85 percent English. After a long period of inactivity, the Greek school was reestablished two years ago, and consists of 16 adults. Fr. Kehagias teaches the class. He also holds two weekly Bible studies. At the church, the pastor has a paraklesis service and Bible study on Wednesday evenings and conducts the second Bible study another day at the AHEPA senior apartments for the non-Orthodox Christian residents. The complex received its first Orthodox resident in early August.

A different experience

The priest, a New York native who has served the parish five years, describes his experience in Montgomery as “quite different from New York, but you can get accustomed to and fall in love with the community. It’s has legendary southern hospitality. They go out of their way to help you. It’s more family.” He added, “It is difficult for us being far away from family, but this is where the Lord called us to do his work. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Coming from an extended family of priests is a source of support for Fr. Kehagias. He is the son of Fr. Nektarios Kehagias, founding priest of Kimisis Church in Southampton, Long Island, and a former pastor of Annunciation Church on Manhattan’s Upper West Side where Fr. Demetrios grew up and that is currently served by his father-in-law, the Rev. James Moskovites. Fr. Demetrios’ godparents are Fr. John and Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos, of Clifton, N.J., and his sister, Eleftheria (Maximi), is a nun in Greece. Father and Presbytera Eleni have two young sons. Assisting Fr. Kehagias is a military chaplain of the Orthodox Church in America and former chaplain on Air Force One and Air Force Two (the Vice President’s plane) who is undergoing training at the Air War College,, and by his presbytera, Eleni, whom he calls “my right hand in getting these ministries going.” –compiled by Jim Golding

u page 13 The evening’s festivities began with a Paraklesis service in the new Metropolis of Denver Center, and continued with a dinner for the finalists and their families next door at the Assumption Cathedral. After dinner, the 18 contestants gathered for an icebreaker among themselves in the Cathedral library. The St. Catherine youth director presided, and he was amazed at how quickly the young people bonded. Larissa Newman, the Senior Division finalist from the New Jersey Metropolis, wrote to him afterwards, “I can’t express how much fun I had in Denver, and how much I really learned. From the time I got there to the time I left, I was so inspired! The first night in that room with just you and the finalists, the icebreaker, was one of my favorite parts. I think we were all able to relate to each other, and realize that we were all on the same level, and the festival wasn’t even really about scholarships or placing. It was about meeting new people, having a good time, and sharing… with each other.” Their inhibitions discarded, the finalists then participated in a lively question-and-answer hour with His Eminence, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, before returning to the hotel - and to the hospitality suite - at the conclusion of the evening. By midnight, everyone had retired, weary of travel, yet excited for the Festival the next morning. Eight hours later, the finalists were rested, polished, and enjoying a pre-Festival continental breakfast at St. Catherine’s. The Festival took place at 10 a.m. and everyone emerged as a winner, for, in striving to do their very best, these young men and women delved deeply into their spirituality and, in doing so, were drawn closer to God. Those privileged to hear such eloquent witness to Orthodoxy from the future leaders of our Church also won, inspired by the poise, presence and passion of the eighteen presenters. Fr. Frank announced the judges’ decisions during the awards luncheon in St. Catherine’s newly built gymnasium. In the Junior Division, Constance Taras (Detroit Metropolis, Holy Trinity Church, Nashville, Tenn.) garnered firstplace honors and a $2,000 college scholarship. Emily Sherman (Boston Metropolis, Annunciation Church, Cranston, R.I.) was awarded second-place and a $1,500 college scholarship, and Mary Royal (Denver Metropolis, Holy Trinity Church, Salt Lake City) earned third-place honors and a $1,000 college scholarship. Receiving honorable mention and $500 United States Savings Bonds were Amanda Efthimiou (Archdiocesan District, St. Paul Cathedral, Hempstead, NY), Konstantine Lagos (Atlanta Metropolis, Holy Trinity Church, Clearwater, Fla.), Joseph Dean Kott (Chicago Metropolis, St. Sophia Church, Elgin, Ill.), Athina Moustakis (New Jersey Metropolis, St. George Church, Clifton, N.J.), Constance Stamoolis (Pittsburgh Metropolis, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Pittsburgh), and Darius Aram (San Francisco Metropolis, Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif.). In the Senior Division, Nicholas Mo-

niodis (Detroit Metropolis, St. Nicholas Church, Ann Arbor, Mich.) was awarded first-place and a $2,000 college scholarship, second-place and a $1,500 college scholar ship went to Larissa Newman (Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Frederick, Md.), and Jonathan Dolan (Denver Metropolis, St. Sophia Church, San Antonio) received third-place recognition and a $1,000 college scholarship. Rounding out the division with Honorable Mention accolades and $500 U.S. Savings Bonds were Andrew Pastrikos (Archdiocesan District, Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), Christina Lagos (Atlanta Metropolis, Holy Trinity Church, Clearwater, Fla.), Peter Anestis (Boston Metropolis, Annunciation Church, Dover, N.H.), John Robert Schieber (Chicago Metropolis, Holy Apostles Church, Westchester, Ill.), Sophia Williard (Pittsburgh Metropolis, Holy Trinity Church, Pittsburgh), and Maria Koo (San Francisco Metropolis, Annunciation Church, Sacramento, Calif.). Besides marking the 20th anniversary of the Oratorical Festival, this year’s event was notable for another reason: It was the first time ever that a brother and sister both participated in the national finals of the same year. Special congratulations go out to the family of Christina and Konstantine Lagos from Clearwater, Florida. With the Festival behind them, the finalists went back to their hotel, undid their neckties, kicked off their high heels, donned their blue jeans and cowboy hats, and saddled up for a late afternoon trail ride and steak fry cookout in beautiful Estes Park, Colo. Riding the rim of the Rocky Mountain National Park in the long shadows of its resplendent 14,000-foot peaks, the out-oftowners, many of whom had never seen mountains up close, were awe-struck by their rugged beauty. The excitement of the trail ride carried all the way back to the hotel and into the hospitality suite, where the finalists continued the Old West tradition of whooping it up in the big city on Saturday night. Although the music was loud, the voices were louder, and spirits were high, as everyone signed each other’s cowboy hats and exchanged addresses and phone numbers. All too soon, the clock struck 12 on the 2003 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. There were final goodbyes and hugs - and a hierarchical liturgy on Sunday morning at St. Catherine’s that led into the grand opening of the church’s new facility, home to its administration offices, classrooms and gymnasium. In all, the Festival lasted less than 48 hours, but the memories would last a lifetime. The committee included Chairman Deacon Evan Armatas (St. Catherine’s), Father Louis J. Christopulos (St. Catherine’s), DeVonna Cavos (Assumption Cathedral), Tom Cladis (St. Catherine’s), Paula Demos (Assumption Cathedral), Katherine Jimroglou (St. Catherine’s), Suzanne Magerko (St. Catherine’s), Nancy Maniatis (Assumption Cathedral), Kathryn White (St. Catherine’s) and Deacon Paul Zaharas (Metropolis of Denver).

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SEPTEMBER 2003

Challenge

YOUTH MINISTRY

What’s Up ”A Generation of Extremes” – that’s what your generation has been labeled. You don’t fit in the traditional stereotype – you dare to be different in almost everything you do. For the first time in the history of music – rap has overtaken rock and roll as the number one genre of music. by Fr. Mark A. Leondis

Traditional sports of basketball, baseball and soccer are still very popular – but many of you growing up in today’s society love to think outside the box – you like extreme sports, snowboarding, BMX, wakeboarding and freestyle Moto X. You are growing up in an age when any information imaginable is at your fingertips through the Internet, cell phones, pagers, etc. You have experienced Columbine, Jonesboro and other school disasters, fear of drive by shootings and violence, which has escalated, to national terrorism. You are unlike any generation that has existed in the history of the world. Because you do not fit in the traditional stereotype, you have been labeled as a “Generation of Extremes.” Statistics also say that while you are an “extreme” generation, you have the chance to go down in history as one of the most spiritual of all generations. Imagine that – extreme and spiritual at the same time! You have a great task in front of you – while you are living in a technologically savvy world, where you are connected instantly - you are also living in a distant world that denounces structure and rules. A recent survey conducted found that teenagers today actually yearn for rules to live by: they want to come home to parents (not to empty houses) – to family; they favor teaching values at school; they would like curriculum to be abstinence based versus the teachings of safe sex; they would like to see divorce harder to obtain, they want to reduce the level of violence in the entertainment industry. Yes, many of you growing up in today’s society are extreme, intense and diverse. What a wonderful gift! You have a great challenge that lies ahead of you: the challenge to live your faith with that same desire, intensity and extremism. The Orthodox Faith can be seen as extreme, cutting edge and intense. It is cutting edge in that we are evangelistic in character; it is intense in its worship and liturgy; it is extreme in that we believe that we have the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Faith. It is a Faith that is very much alive today, in the present. However, to truly experience it fully, we have to be willing to stand outside the box. We have to make a conscious decision in our lives that our Lord and Savior is with us at all times, and understand that through our worship, we commune with the living God. This is the way that we can fully understand the extremism of our Faith. While extreme sports are exhilarating and exciting in our lives – it must be the same with our relationship and experience with

e-mail: youthofce@goarch.org

WITH

the living God. So by understanding that our Faith is intense and extreme, we now have a great challenge ahead of us – to not just “talk the talk” – but “walk the walk”. It’s easy to be a Christian on Sunday morning or at a GOYA night – it is much more difficult to be a Christian when we are at school, hanging with our friends, surfing the net or sipping a frappucino at Starbucks. That is where our Faith comes head to head with our daily reality – to live a life in Christ: to become active members of the living Church, to fully experience Him in our personal and communal worship, to walk the walk. So next time you tune in or play some extreme sport – remember your challenge – to be extreme in your Faith. This is how we can live in this world as Christians – always keeping in mind that we are intense, extreme and cutting edge in our journey toward salvation. Walk the walk! Live your faith! Experience Him at all times. Now that’s extreme!

Did You Know…

EXTREME FAITH • St. Anthony, upon listening to a sermon based on the Matthew passage about sell all you have to gain treasures in heaven, did just that. He sold all he had and went and lived in the desert and dedicated his life to prayer and studying the word of God… Extreme in Life! • St. Katherine, at the age of 18, defended Christianity in public debate against the pagans. The conviction and maturity she spoke with won many over to the Christian faith but it also cost her life… Extreme in Death! • Today there are countries in the world where Orthodox Christians risk their lives to celebrate the Divine Liturgy… Extreme in Worship! • How Extreme is your faith… • You can read more about extreme living by reading the Bible or stories of the saints of our church. Also take a look around… see anyone around you living with Extreme Faith?

Parent and Youth Workers’ Corner To access a session on Our Youth and Extremes for parents online go to our website at: http: //www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/ departments/youth/youthworkers/ sessions/ If you haven’t done so already, sign up for our youth worker list server! We send weekly resources, ideas and activities for parents and youth workers. To sign up, send an email to: listserv@listserv.goarch.org. Leave the subject blank and in the body of the e-mail type in “subscribe youth” (without the quotation mark). You’ll get confirmation of your subscription shortly after.

Book Review Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling On June 21 thousands of people worldwide rushed to bookstores to grab one of the summer’s most anticipated book releases: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This 5th volume of the popular series brings with its release, many questions. by Catherine Kirifides

Not only “Why should we read it?” but also “Should we read it?” These questions are neither unexpected nor groundless. I’ve read all of the series and can see many wonderful literary points to the books as well as the moral themes that J.K. Rowling has imbedded in them. Harry Potter, when looked at closely is immersed with biblical allusions as well as foreshadowing of events, irony, and symbolism. The books are linked together with vivid details and are relatively easy to read and understand. It is only a matter of time before Harry Potter is considered as a credible piece of literature and not just a pop-culture phenomenon. As Christians, we need to step back and look at the nature of the book as well. Yes, it takes place in a magical world of witches and wizards who learn to cast spells, but it is also fiction. Harry Potter doesn’t ask you to believe there are such things as a secret magical world, it asks you to sit and read an entertaining and well-written story about one. We Orthodox need to embrace our imagination to have blind faith in God and his mysteries. Our church’s practices and icons are symbolic as well, making Rowling’s biblical symbols easy for us to understand. Harry Potter is a typical good vs. evil story including a “devil” character that constantly temps, and a “savior” figure that is prophesied to save his people from the domination of evil. Besides these obvious Christian references, we need to look at Rowling’s message as well. The themes in all her books show the morality, or lack thereof, of people. She concentrates on the human spirit - its downfalls and its greatness. This particular volume points out the idea that you should always do what’s right and stand up to evil even in the face of unbelievers. Rowling makes an issue of family ties in this novel, showing that it is family that protects you and you can trust–yet our family does not dictate who we are. Through our individual choices (free will) we can be different from our family by choosing the wrong or right path. Rowling also shows us that it is a constant struggle between good and evil and it is only Harry’s consistent choosing of good in the eyes of temptation that will lead him on the right path. Even if he falters, he is able to change is mind again, and choose good. This book also addresses the fact of humanity; no one is perfect. Even a magi-

cal world isn’t perfect and it is Harry’s ability to feel pain and joy that makes him a better person. The book also deals with the topics of death and its emotional effects, humanity, persecution of different races, dictatorship, and our natural rights. The story teaches us to persevere against evil, have compassion toward others, trust our friends and elders, and to always strive to choose good even if we haven’t in the past. The book encompasses all of these themes and issues, which are important in our religion. We should take the good from the fun fantasy world of Harry Potter. Catherine is from Hollywood, Fla. where she is active in St. Demetrios Church in Fort Lauderdale. She just graduated from high school and will be attending Pace University in New York this fall with a major of theater with an emphasis in directing.

2003 Inter-Orthodox Youth Workers Conference The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries is pleased to announce the 2003 Inter-Orthodox Youth Workers Conference, to take place from Nov. 7-9 at Antiochian Village. The theme for this year’s conference is “Committing our whole lives unto Christ our God: Nurturing a Commitment to Christ in Youth”. The East Coast Keynote Speaker will be Metropolitan Christopher of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Daytime workshops will include: • Nurturing the Nurturer: Special Attention to the Youth Worker • Teenage Sacramental Life • How to Give an Effective Talk and Lead Interesting Bible Studies • Charting Curriculum: Developing “Tween” Programming • Helping Parents Bring our Youth to Christ • Using Video, Entertainment and Media to teach Teens • Counseling in the Youth Ministry Setting • Creating Responsible Orthodox Youth • Guiding Teens with Vocations Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to come together, learn and share with other Orthodox youth workers from throughout the Archdiocese. For more information, visit our website at: www.orthodoxyouth.org or contact the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at 646.519.6180. Challenge is the Youth & Young Adult Ministries supplement to the Orthodox Observer.

Articles reect the opinion of the writers. Write to: Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 83 St. Basil Rd., Garrison, New York 10524 or email: youthofce@goarch.org

SEPTEMBER 2003

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SEPTEMBER 2003

Focus On

METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO

PARISH LIST The Metropolis of Chicago, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, consists of thirty-four parishes in Illinois, with another twenty-four parishes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, northern Indiana, and eastern Missouri. The general offices of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago are located in Chicago, Illinois.

ILLINOIS

Chicago ........ Annunciation (Cathedral) ........................................... Assumption ............................................ Holy Trinity ............................................ St. Andrew .................................................St. Basil ........................................ St. Demetrios ............................................ St. George Aurora............................ St. Athanasios Champaign ................. Three Hierarchs Decatur ............................ Annunciation DeKalb................................ St. George Des Plaines ...........St. John the Baptist East Moline........................ Assumption Elgin .................................... St. Sophia Elmhurst ......................... St. Demetrios Glenview.................... SS. Peter & Paul Hegewisch ......................... Assumption Joliet ...................................... All Saints Justice ................................ Holy Cross Kankakee ........................ Annunciation Lincolnshire ...... Ascension of Our Lord Niles..Holy Taxiarchai –St. Haralambos Oak Lawn ..........................St. Nicholas Olympia Fields................... Assumption Palatine ........................... St. Nectarios Palos Heights ................... St. Spyridon Palos Hills....... SS. Constantine & Helen Peoria .................................... All Saints Rock Island......................... St. George Rockford ......... SS. Constantine & Helen Springeld ......................... St. Anthony Swansea......... SS. Constantine & Helen Waukegan ...................... St. Demetrios Westchester.................... Holy Apostles

INDIANA

Hammond ....................... St. Demetrios Merrillville........ SS. Constantine & Helen Schererville......................... St. George South Bend......................... St. Andrew Valpararaiso........................ St. Iakovos

IOWA Cedar Rapids ........St. John the Baptist Des Moines ........................ St. George Dubuque .............. St. Elias the Prophet Mason City .. Transguration of Our Lord Sioux City ........................... Holy Trinity Waterloo ......................... St. Demetrios

MINNESOTA

Duluth ................. Twelve Holy Apostles Minneapolis .......................... St. Mary’s Rochester .................... Holy Anargyroi/ ....................... Sts. Cosmas & Damianos St. Paul ............................... St. George

MISSOURI

Columbia ......... St. Luke the Evangelist St. Louis ............................St. Nicholas Town & Country ....................Assumption

WISCONSIN

Appleton ............................St. Nicholas Fond du Lac ....................... Holy Trinity Madison ............................. Assumption Milwaukee ....................... Annunciation Racine ............... Kimisis Tis Theotokou Sheboygan ....................... St. Spyridon Wauwatosa................ Sts. Constantine ............................................. and Helen

MONASTIC COMMUNITIES Kenosha, WI ....... St. John Chrysostom (Women’s) Harvard, IL............ Holy Transguration (Men’s)

Key People in the Metropolis Administration HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN IAKOVOS OF CHICAGO

Beginning his higher education in Athens, Greece and continuing his studies and service in the Boston area, Metropolitan Iakovos was appointed Archdiocesan Vicar of the Diocese of Detroit by Archbishop Iakovos in February 1968. One year later he was elevated to the rank of bishop by the Holy See of Constantinople. He was consecrated Bishop of Apameia (an auxiliary bishop of Archbishop Iakovos) on Christmas Day of 1969, and appointed to the Diocese of Detroit as Bishop of that district. In 1971 he was appointed President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, while remaining as administrative overseer of the Diocese of Detroit. He simultaneously served as the Bishop of the New England area during his five-year tenure as President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology. Following the reorganization of the Archdiocesan districts into dioceses, Bishop Iakovos was enthroned by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America on May 1, 1979, as the Bishop of Chicago at the Annunciation Cathedral. In November 1997, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Chicago to the active Metropolitanate of Krinis and Exarch of Ionias. In this capacity, His Eminence continued to serve the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago as its Presiding Hierarch. In December of 2002, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elevated the Dioceses of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to Metropolises of the Archdiocese and elected all of the Hierarchs of the Dioceses as Metropolitans of their respective Metropolises, thus Metropolitan Iakovos was elected Metropolitan of Chicago.

The V. Rev. ARCHIMANDRITE DEMETRI C. KANTZAVELOS, Chancellor

A native of Chicago’s northwest side, Demetri C. Kantzavelos attended Hellenic College and Holy Cross Seminary, where he obtained his graduate divinity degree with high distinction in 1987, and pursued post-graduate work in metaphysics at Loyola University, Chicago. He was ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Iakovos in 1989, ordained to the priesthood in 1992 and elevated to the rank of Archimandrite in 1995. He has served as assistant to the bishop, as associate pastor of Annunciation Cathedral in Chicago, and now as chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago. Archimandrite Kantzavelos has worked extensively in the areas of ecumenism and interfaith projects, social justice issues, and Hellenic cultural involvements. A board member of the Hellenic Society of Constantinople and of the area social-service agency Hellenic Foundation, he is an active delegate of SAE and frequent critic of media representations of Greek Americans and Greek Orthodox culture. Working extensively to build bridges between the local Greek Orthodox community and other Orthodox groups as well as other Christian and non-Christian groups, Fr. Demetri was general chairperson of the 1997 archpastoral visit to Chicago of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos, and works with such organizations as the National Council for Community and Justice, the Illinois Council of Churches, the Council

Judges including Metropolitan Iakovos and Fr. Byron Papanikolaou, gather prior to evaluating entries in a recent Greek Letters competition honoring the best essay written in Greek by an elementary -or secondary-school student.

of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, the Annual Christian-Jewish Clergy Retreat, and the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions. In 1999 he coordinated the joint pilgrimage of area Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox pilgrims to the Sees of Constantinople and Rome. In 1992, with the blessings of Metropolitan Iakovos, Archimandrite Kantzavelos established the Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS, the first formal Orthodox Christian response to the pandemic in the western hemisphere. He was recognized as an Outstanding Community Leader by the Cook County Board and in 1997 received the Jim Noone Award for Religious Leadership from the AIDS Pastoral Care Network. He is a board member of the Alexian Brothers’ Bonaventure House, a residential facility for people with HIV/AIDS, and of Interfaith House, a nationally known residential recuperative center for homeless men and women. In 1999 the Archimandrite Demetri Kantzavelos began another active ministry by attending to the spiritual needs of Greek Orthodox inmates on the Illinois and New Jersey Death Rows, and he recently was elected President of the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

Rev. Dr. ELIAS KYPRIANOS BOUBOUTSIS, Ph.D., Pastoral Consultant

A native Chicagoan, Rev. Dr. Elias Kyprianos Bouboutsis is a graduate of both Hellenic College and Holy Cross. Having completed an advanced Clinical Pastoral Education residency, he served as crisis chaplain at Chicago’s Mercy Hospital. Ordained in 1995, he pastored St. Iakovos church in northwest Indiana for four years, and since that time has served the Chicago Metropolis in various capacities. He holds a Ph.D. in theology, ethics and human science from the historic Chicago Theological Seminary, where his work concentrated in intercultural studies. His significant translations include diverse liturgical texts and portions of works by Basil the Great, Alexandros Papdiamantis, Nikos Kazantzakis and Christos Yannaras; as well as Spanish and Portuguese texts by Fernando Ortiz and Leonardo Boff. Currently he holds academic appointments as adjunct professor of Greek at the Florida Center for Theological Studies in Miami and visiting professor in religion at Chicago’s DePaul University.

Rev. Dr. Bouboutsis is a member of: the Ermita de la Regla Orthodox mission in Miami, the Orthodox Peace Fellowship, the North American Patristics Society and the American Academy of Religion.

APHRODITE (FAYE) KARRAS PEPONIS, M.A., Administrative Assistant

Ms. Peponis holds the BA degree from DePaul University and the MA from Purdue University. A native of Hammond, IN, she was active in parish life at St. Demetrios Church there, teaching kindergarten for 20 years while rearing three children. After moving to Wilmette and then Chicago, she worked as assistant to the coordinator of the 1994 Clergy Laity Conference and at the Hellenic Museum before joining the Metropolis. A former Sunday school director and Philoptochos president at the Annunciation Cathedral in Chicago, she is a member of the Philoptochos National Board. With her husband, Harold A. Peponis, she gives tours of Chicago’s Orthodox Cathedrals and lectures on Orthodoxy and iconography.

CHRIS AVRAMOPOULOS, M. Div., Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Mr. Avramopoulos, a native of the northwest Illinois city of Rockford, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and holds the Master’s of Divinity from Holy Cross Seminary. He served as a pastoral associate in youth work at Sts. Constantine & Helen in Palos Hills, Ill., before coming to the Metropolis. A gifted youth worker, Mr. Avramopoulos oversees diverse spiritual, athletic and social development youth programs. In addition to his post here, he is national YAL coordinator for the Archdiocese of America.

PETER SAROLAS, M. Div., Registrar

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mr. Sarolas earned a B.A. from Hellenic College and Master’s of Divinity from Holy Cross School of Theology. Before joining the Metropolis in 1998, he worked at St. Basil Academy for two and a half years and has been active in various camp programs, including those of Boston, Chicago and the Archdiocesan District. Mr. Sarolas currently also serves as clergy lay assistant at St. Nicholas Church in Oak Lawn, Ill.

SEPTEMBER 2003

Focus On METROPOLIS OF Orthodoxia in the Heartland

CHICAGO

“IF ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, ALL SUFFER TOGETHER.” (I Cor. 12. 26a)

u page 32 guests – often from abroad – are housed during their time in Chicago. That top level thus comprises the “monastery” feature of the Metropolis home, where the

ANNUNCIATION Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, Wis., built in 1961 is one of the last major works designed by the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and today is a National Historic Landmark.

MISSION STATEMENT FR. KANTZAVELOS shares his appreciation of the quilts produced by Philoptochos members during the Quilt-a-Thon for children affected by AIDS.

offerings of worship and hospitality are closely intertwined. Its second level houses the Metropolitan’s residential rooms, and his formal

community – founded in 1892 by the “Lycourgos Society” – the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation is CHILDREN receive gifts from Metropolitan Iakovos during his anlocated nual Christmas Open House. on the northern edge of Chica- as the site of the 5th Biennial Clergy-Laity go’s downtown area. It is Congress, and in 1942 it was consecrated a warm, blended Byzan- the Cathedral of the 2nd Archdiocesan tine structure flanked by District by the late luminary Archbishop two neo-Gothic belfries, Athenagoras. The Annunciation cathemodeled after the eclectic dral subsequently hosted the nation’s Metropolitan Cathedral first GOYA conference in 1951, and in of Athens. Its present 1983 it was designated the cathedral LaSalle Drive church church of the newly formed “Metropolis site was completed by of Chicago.” Home to a regularly operating 1920, at which time it soup kitchen and host to the Bishop’s Task ministered to more than Force on AIDS board, the cathedral today A Good Friday retreat for little ones means paschal candles, cre- one thousand communi- integrates liturgy, education and outreach cants. In 1933, it served in the heart of downtown Chicago. ated with love and plenty of glue. office, with its inspiring lake view. That level also includes the Metropolis chancellery, the administrative “nerve center” which keeps the region’s 59 parish communities and diverse metropolitan operations and outreaches running smoothly. The chancellor’s office is also the one from which executive-level interfaith activities and social justice/outreach issues are coordinated. The first, or ground, level of the building houses other key hospitality areas, including the home’s kitchen, refectory, library/conference room and formal receiving room. This level is also home to the Metropolitan’s working office and the foyer is dedicated to historic Metropolis Patriarchal visits. The Metropolis home’s final “garden level” houses important archives and church service offices; these include those of the Chicago Metropolis’s administrative assistant, registrar, and communications/ community relations’ person. Metropolis maintenance, Philoptochos, education and cantorial coordinators also frequently use these facilities.

The Metropolis Cathedral

The city’s oldest Greek Orthodox

2003 - 2004 Calendar of Events

OCTOBER 3-6 Metropolis of Chicago Choir Federation Conference 5..Greek-American Nursing & Rehabilitation Centre Dinner 23...Metropolitan Iakovos Nameday Dinner 27-29 Metropolis of Chicago Clergy/Laity and Philoptochos Assembly 28. Metropolis of Chicago OXI Day Commemoration NOVEMBER 7-9 Metropolis of Chicago Jr. Choir Conference

DECEMBER 14........ Metropolis of Chicago Christmas Open House 20.SS. Constantine & Helen, Merrillville, Indiana – 90th Anniversary JANUARY 2004 04. Metropolis of Chicago Vasilopita Celebration 16. Vesper of the Feastday of St. Anthony the Great 17....... Metropolis Chapel of St. Anthony

- Divine Liturgy 25-31 ..... Metropolis of Chicago Hellenic Letters Celebration FEBRUARY Lent Begins MARCH 7-14 The Celebration of Orthodox Books TBA...Metropolitan Philoptochos Lenten Retreat TBA Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Quilt-A-Thon sponsored by the Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS APRIL 5-11 ........................................Holy Week 17-18 .. Metropolis of Chicago Oratorical Festival MAY 28-30 ........ Metropolis of Chicago Junior Olympics 29... Commemoration of the Fall of Constantinople JUNE TBA......................................Fanari Camp

ffirming the reality that in Christ we all suffer when any sister or brother suffers with HIV/AIDS, we at the Diocese of Chicago dedicate ourselves to alleviating some of that suffering through the ministries of this Task Force. It was indeed with such awareness and sensitivity that in April

“Those who shed heartfelt tears in the struggles of their fellow human beings bring healing to their own wounds.” ST. BASIL THE GREAT

of 1992 His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos took the initiative to form such an outreach. After many years of providing this service we have come to realize just how wounded our society, our faith community and each of us--ourselves are by this pandemic. Through this Task Force, we humbly take up the apostolic mission of healing and advocacy that we’ve inherited as sons and daughters of the Orthodox Faith. Our mission, then, is to embody the ministries of healing and advocacy in this manner: • To educate and sensitize clergy and laity as to the medical and pastoral issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. • To help meet the needs of diverse Orthodox faithful and others who are living with HIV/AIDS. • To offer advocacy on behalf, and comfort to, those faithful who live with HIV/AIDS, to those who care for them and about them, and to those who have sustained the loss of a loved one due to HIV/AIDS. Finally, we take up this ministry in a spirit of vibrant hope: Hope that our Task Force may bring a sense of solidarity to those struggling with HIV/AIDS in our midst; hope that our ministry may bring healing and joy into the lives of our suffering sisters and Brothers for “when one member rejoices, all rejoice together” (I Cor. 12.26b).

SEPTEMBER 2003

Focus On

METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO

2003 and Beyond in the Metropolis of Chicago As the Metropolis of Chicago looks to the future, we envision a growing and deepening commitment to serving God through worship and by making a better world. Toward the former end, we continue our search for suitable space to house a retreat center serving all in our Metropolis. Aware of our stewardship responsibilities in the Metropolis’ vintage buildings, including our downtown Chicago residence and Cathedral, we devote what resources we can to preservation and gradual restoration of these lovely monuments to human achievement in God’s light. As we work toward making a better world, we devote our energies to two vital and mutually reinforcing areas of endeavor. One is the nurture of all our people, especially our youth; the second is the promotion of peace, justice and the welfare of all in the secular world. Nurturing our youth is the task of all humanity - one that is more challenging when carried out in a nation that for us is both the land of opportunity and a land far from home. To impart our faith, our values and our traditions, we continually rededicate ourselves to providing a wide variety of programs to accommodate the full spectrum of age and interests characterizing our young people. A spiritual start for our youngest members comes in not only for those enrolled in our exemplary parochial school day schools, but in every one of our thriving parish-based Sunday schools and Greek schools. Extending our reach into the up-

continue to serve them in the future. We believe, too, in teaching through example, showing our children how to serve those less fortunate. Our youngsters are well aware, for instance, of our Hellenic Heart program, which makes available the resources of American medicine here in Chicago to children whose cardiac problems cannot be treated effectively in Greece. Also in the health field, we have embarked on a new initiative against the devastation to families caused by breast cancer through a partnership with the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Research Foundation. As we join in a program promoting awareness, early detection, and further research, we also expect to join the ANNUNCIATION CATHEDRAL, located on Chicago’s Near North Side, foundation’s For Our dates to 1920. It is designed in the Byzantine tradition and flanked Daughters fund-raising by a pair of neo-Gothic belfries. campaign with a significant level of parish commitment, through To speak of these social-service efforts the efforts of our Presbyteres and Philop- among our youth is to reach the second tochos chapters. major area of commitment for us in the Metropolis of Chicago: ministries of social action and social justice. The newest of our social-action initiatives is the partnering project (see above) with the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Research Foundation, whose “For Our Daughters” title speaks eloquently to the need for ongoing efforts in support of research and eventual eradication of this disease. This new partnering is a continuation of our commitment – now more than a decade old and a major focus into the future – to dedicate resources and efforts in the fight against illnesses that ravage our people and our families. This commitment was enhanced by our embrace of those whose lives have been affected and

impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, in the spirit of pastoral care that prompted formation of the Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS. Other outreach efforts addressing this population have come into being over the years, notably the Lenten Philoptochos Quilt-a-Thon to sew quilts for babies and young children impacted by HIV/AIDS. Social justice is also the driving principle behind the Metropolis’ relatively recent involvement in working to oppose capital punishment. The controversy surrounding this issue promises to continue until the death penalty becomes history; this is especially true in Illinois, where a number of wrongful conviction cases have led to commutation of death sentences for inmates who were on Death Row. This ministry, which is rooted in the most fundamental respect for all life, is one of several - others include the advocacy for affordable housing and against street violence, and the Sanctity of Life initiative - that unite the Metropolis with a larger community of faith-based and secular groups whose goals coincide with ours. In the quest for a just and peaceful world, we continue to expand our presence in the pursuit of pan-Orthodox unity and in dialogues with those of other faiths, in our own geographic area and wherever possible in the larger world. Explorations of mutual interests initiated with the advent of the current millennium are alive and full of promise. Recently we have rejoiced at a historic moment of peacemaking that arose when the Chancellor of our Metropolis, Archimandrite Demetri Kantzavelos met with Mehmet Celebi, president of the city’s Turkish American Cultural Alliance, to begin a dialogue of mutual understanding. The meeting, arranged with the assistance of the National Council on Community and Justice, resulted in an invitation by Fr. Demetri for Mr. Celebi to join him in meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople at the earliest opportunity. This emerging rapprochement is a most encouraging reminder of the nearness of peace, if we but see. In all these endeavors as in everything we do, we ask God’s blessing as we live and work in faith, hope and love for all.

The G.O.A.L. Youth Basketball League brings together clergy, including Metropolitan Iakovos, with teams of youngsters from parishes throughout the Chicago area as they vie for the annual trophy.

per end of the education continuum, we look forward to the admission next fall of our first class pursuing the diploma of Orthodox Studies. Throughout the Metropolis, at the parish level and above, we are continuing to develop for our children and adolescents many age-appropriate activities whose lively variety guarantees every youngster a chance to shine. Writing and oratory contests promoting the use of the Greek language; team and individual sports at summer camp and in the Junior Olympics; choir and other music programs for instrumental and vocal musicians - all these and more serve our children today and will

As our young people mature, we are acutely conscious of their continuing to see where they fit in and where they may serve. Our Metropolis comprises rural and suburban as well as urban areas; in all of these, our young-adult outreach initiatives seek to feed the hungry and otherwise serve those in need of basic human needs, from affordable housing to education opportunities and other necessities. We regard these helping ministries not just as an essential opportunity for young adults to observe principles of service, but as a way to reinforce the presence of the Church and God himself in the often heavily secular lives of our young adults.

The Philoptochos Metropolitan Board assembles during the 2002 Christmas Open House.

Focus On

SEPTEMBER 2003

METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO

Orthodoxia in the heartland began more than a century ago, with just a few immigrant Greeks meeting in a hall, invoking the Moses-like Lycurgos, with the mighty Tsar of Russia donating a jewel-box cathedral, and with the quiet ministry of the wandering presbyter John. It grew

Orthodoxia in the Heartland

Reflections on the Life of the Metropolis of Chicago

by Rev. Dr. Elias Kyprianos Bouboutsis

steadily, with successive waves of immigration, with the extraordinary sacrifices of protoporoi who dedicated their lives to instilling the faith of the ancestors in their children and in this “new world.” Their faith and their foundations would weather great fires and riots, always offering the healing and “peace which surpasseth all understanding” in the weeping of Albanian and Antiochian Panayies. As the largest of numerous Orthodox communities in the Chicago region, the history of this Metropolis offers a unique look into the area’s life of faith and culture. Believed by many to embrace perhaps a quarter-million faithful, this poimnion’s overall life also provides a window to the great potential of Orthodoxy in the Americas. The Metropolis of Chicago itself traces its explicit roots to 1923, when Rt. Rev. Philaretos Johannides became the city’s first Greek Orthodox bishop. Nearly twenty years later, Chicago became the ‘2nd Diocesan District’ of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North & South America. That ‘district’ would continue to coordinate the ecclesial growth of this major immigrant, industrial, and rail center on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. A number of distinguished bishops served the diocesan community, including the memorable Meletios, the

The Metropolis headquarters, a stately vintage building serves as the bishop’s residence and houses the diocesan offices.

beloved Ezekiel and the late Timotheos of Rodostolon, to mention only a few. Each brought unique gifts to Chicago’s Greek Orthodox and larger communities. This Episcopal ministry has culminated in the singular dedication of Chicago’s Metropolitan Iakovos, who has tirelessly ministered in the nation’s “Second City” for twenty-four years. A studied and accomplished liturgist, Athens-born Metropolitan Iakovos has made a profound im-

print upon the character of the Midwest’s Greek Orthodox communities, giving to each a deep and pervasive emphasis upon divine worship.

The Metropolis ‘Home’

A number of decades ago, the former Astor Street diocesan residence and center was sold, with adjacent homes, to real-estate developers. In its place, the historic residence at 40 E. Burton Place was acquired, and both bishop and staff relo-

cated there. Slowly, the aging historic district structure has been lovingly restored, largely through the efforts of “Metropolis” Philoptochos, and converted to meet the pastoral center’s needs. Today, the Chicago center is a true “Metropolis home.” Serving as a primary residence for the Metropolitan, its doors are open almost daily, welcoming Metropolis faithful, monastics and clergy, as well as other friends and guests of the city’s Greek Orthodox community. Richly reflecting this “Metropolis home” ethos is the annual holiday “open house” initiated by Metropolitan Iakovos. In this event, he, Metropolis Philoptochos and other staff welcome and entertain hundreds of guests – including diverse religious leaders, public servants and members of the diplomatic corps – from throughout the Chicago area. The “Metropolis home’s” top floor is dominated by its striking Byzantine chapel dedicated to St. Anthony the Great, patron of the Metropolis. The feast of our saint is celebrated with great warmth, color and joy amid what is typically a frigid January in Chicago. Here faithful, monastics and clergy from throughout the region gather around their bishop for divine worship in remembrance of the great Egyptian “father of monasticism.” Hundreds are welcomed and entertained by the Metropolitan, Metropolis Philoptochos and the women’s Laconian society following the feast-day vespers and Divine Liturgy. Fed first in spirit, they are then fed in body, nourished and warmed to “go forth” into the challenging Chicago cityscape. Also on the third floor is the Chicago Metropolis’s xenona or “hostel,” where

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M E T R O P O L I TA N ’ S M E S S A G E

True Faith is Proven by Works

‘What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says they have faith, but does not have works? Can faith save that person? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things that are needed for the body, then what does it profit? Thus also faith itself, if it does not have works, is dead’ (James 2.14-17).

eloved brethren and faithful, if there ever was a time when our true faith, our Orthodox faith needed to be ‘proven by works’ it is now. Our world – our children are witnesses to violent distortions of faith. It is our responsibility to counter those distortions with true faith proven by works of compassion, of justice and of peace. St. Iakovos exhorts us to live our faith by caring for those in need in the world around us, yes to speak words of peace and warmth, but also to act upon those words. To care for and provide for those in need, to support worthy ministries that speak peace and warmth to our world, that feed and clothe our world, that care for the infirm and nurture the youth, providing a host of other needful services. St. Iakovos’ exhortation to good works speaks to our Metropolis of Chicago and Archdiocese of America as clearly today as it did to the church of Jerusalem two thousand years ago. Certainly our youth today need our support and constructive work. For a century now, Chicago Greek Orthodox Sunday and Greek schools, have nurtured and profoundly formed generations of young people, providing them rich foundations of faith and culture to last a lifetime – these teaching ministries deserve our active assistance. For decades, our Fanari camp has sought to encourage and strengthen our youth in our Orthodox way of life. To continue and multiply its good works, we need to offer our assistance to this unique Summer Camp outreach. So too with our Metropolis athletic, cultural and Junior Olympics programs, our JOY, GOYA, YAL and campus fellowship programs for the university students. Let us care actively for our infirm elders, supporting and volunteering at our Hellenic Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. We can also actively support our Hellenic Foundation’s Hollywood House, which provides affordable housing to diverse Orthodox and non-Orthodox seniors alike. Related outreaches, like our Greek Family and Community Services, under the Hellenic Foundation, also deserve our support. Let us actively support and volunteer our services to healthcare ministries, like our own Bishop’s Task Force on AIDS, which seeks to comfort the infirm, to teach mercy and tolerance for all people. Until recently, this was the only Orthodox AIDS ministry in the Western Hemisphere – it continues to serve with your help. The ground-breaking

Hellenic Heart Program, sponsored by our Metropolis Philoptochos Society, literally giving years of life to fellow human beings who would otherwise not have access to developed cardiac medicine – equally deserves our support. Through the Philoptochos societies of our parishes and Metropolis, we can actively help those in need. By supporting its Philanthropy Fund alone, each of us can contribute to helping thousands of fellow human beings in need annually. Similarly, our supporting and serving in the ‘Feed the Hungry Program’ literally fulfills the clear call of the holy Apostle Iakovos. Visit the sick in the hospitals and rehabilitation and nursing centers. Provide time and talents for our youth. Support worthy Metropolis outreaches and Archdiocesan national ministries. Assist worthy pan-Orthodox causes like the Orthodox Christian Mission Center and the International Orthodox Christian Charities. Look at our changed and changing world, locally, nationally and globally as an opportunity for good works of all kinds. The possibilities are literally limitless. And remember, my beloved, St. John of Damascus’ comment on St. Iakovos’ words – that ‘true faith is proven by works.’ With Paternal Blessings,

† Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago