Orthodox Observer - May 2006

38 Clergy-Laity Congress th

MAY 2006 • Vol. 71 • No. 1223

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

$1.25 per copy

Sharing the truth of the Gospel and the love of christ

HOly crOSS CLASS of 2006

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, It is in this blessed Paschal season when our hearts are filled with the joy of our Risen Lord that we look forward to our gathering in July for the 38th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

by Archbishop Demetrios

will also have opportunities for worship, spiritual renewal, and training through services, workshops, unique family programs and gatherings for fellowship.

“The Nashville Greek Orthodox community, renowned for its combination of Southern and Greek hospitality, is the smallest ever to host a Congress.

“With the extraordinary help from the Metropolis of Detroit and the Archdiocese in New York, we look forward to making this Clergy-Laity Congress a blessed, fulfilling and memorable experience for everyone,” said co-chairmen George and Lee Ann Anderson.

Location for this year’s Congress is the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The resort has nine acres of gardens under climate-controlled conditions in three conservatories, nearly 3,000 rooms, several restaurants, fitness center, a world-class spa and golf course.

Activities will begin on Friday, July 14, with the start of the Young Adult Conference. Meetings of the Archdiocesan Council and National Philoptochos Board will take place Saturday, the 15th.

Within the passing of two months we will be meeting in Nashville in a very beautiful and unique environment to worship, to fellowship, to equip ourselves for the sacred ministry of the Church, and to address the needs, challenges, and opportunities that are before us in the months and years to come.

Our ability to conduct the Congress in a productive and edifying way will be enhanced by the graciousness and love of our hosts, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, the beloved people of the Metropolis of Detroit, and the faithful of the Holy Trinity and St. John Chrysostom parishes of Nashville.

We extend our deepest gratitude for their offerings and service to the Church and for the glory of God. For the past few Congresses we have emphasized our calling and mission as Orthodox Christians in our contemporary world. In fact, this is the purpose of the Congress and why we should meet.

We come together to facilitate the work of our parishes, Metropolises, and the Archdiocese so that each and every person may receive the saving truth revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ and lives may be transformed by God’s love for us and our love for one another.

This sacred vocation is reflected in the theme for this Congress--Sharing the Truth of the Gospel and the Love of Christ.

First and foremost, this theme is a clear statement of what we believe. We are not called to alter the message, reinvent a concept, or always be anxious to discard

  page 9

  page 8

D. PANAGOS

HOLY CROSS School of Theology 64th Commencement. The 2006 graduates with Archbishop Demetrios of America, Bishops John of Amorion and Andonios of Phasiane, Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou and Dr. James Skedros. (See story p. 2)

Clergy-Laity Congress to Feature Family Program NEW YORK – The 38th Clergy-Laity Congress is rapidly approaching and a wide array of programs and activities is planned at the biennial gathering, taking place this year July 15-21.

The National Philoptochos Convention will run concurrently with the Congress while the National Young Adult League Conference will overlap during the first two days.

The Clergy-Laity Congress is also planned to serve as a retreat for Orthodox Christians of all ages. Participants will not only conduct Archdiocese business, but

Nashville July 15-21

THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE .... 13-14 38th CLERGY-LAITY CONGRESS .... 8-9 Archbishop’s Encyclical.................11 Archdiocese News .......................2-4 Books .............................................24 Challenge...................................... 27 Classifieds .....................................28 Commentary ....................................5 Communicating the Faith ..............22 Greek Section ........................... 15–19 In Memoriam..................................26 IOCC ..............................................20

Interfaith Marriage ........................12 Letters.................................. ....10,11 Metropolises’ News ................. 30–31 Missions ........................................22 Opinions .......................................10 Orthodox Family ...........................23 Parish Profile ................................19 People ...........................................19 SCOBA ..........................................21 Voice of Philoptochos ..................25

2

A RCHDIOCESE N E WS

MAY 2006

Harvard Professor receives Honorary Degree at 64th Commencement Fr. Skordallos Appointed Chief Secretary of Holy Eparchial Synod

BROOKLINE, Mass. – A beautiful day became more beautiful for 45 graduates of Hellenic College and Holy Cross, as the sun came out for the 64th commencement, where Dr. Chris Argyris, noted Harvard Business School professor and management expert, received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

NEW YORK – Archbishop Demetrios has announced the appointment of the Very Rev. Archimandrite Sevastianos Skordallos to the position of chief secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese.

The Office of the Chief Secretary is primarily responsible for providing timely execution of the decisions taken by the Holy Eparchial Synod as well as facilitating the process of the work being accomplished by various synodical committees of the Archdiocese.

by Greg Filas

The program began with the procession to the Pappas Gymnasium, where the Rev. Nicholas C. Triantafilou, president, addressed the graduates with a message of hope and thanks for making their college and school of theology a home for respect.

Formal greetings were given by Dr. Thomas C. Lelon, vice chair of the board of trustees, who encouraged the graduates by saying, “Our expectations of you are that you will fight the fight, run the race, and keep the faith.”

Also addressing the gathering of graduates, parents, students, faculty, trustees and hierarchs, were Constantine Orphanides, consul general of Greece; Dr. Lily Macrakis, dean of Hellenic College; and Dr. James C. Skedros, interim dean of Holy Cross.

PHOTOS: D. PANAGOS

DR. THOMAS LELON, looks on as Dr. Chris Argyris accepts honorary doctorate degree from Archbishop Demetrios and Fr. Triantafilou.

Beach Professor of Administrative Science and as department chairman. During the past decade, Dr. Argyris has been developing a theory of individual and organizational learning in which human reasoning, not simply behavior, becomes the basis for diagnosis and action.

Following Dr. Argyris’ acceptance and remarks, 18 graduates of the Class of 2006 were awarded their Bachelor of Arts degrees from Hellenic College. Holy Cross awarded a total of 27 masters degrees. These included six Master of Theology degrees, three Master of Theological Studies degrees, and 18 Master of Divinity degrees.

VALEDICTORIAN Dn. Stephen Lawrence receives his degree.

The opening ceremonies were also highlighted by the presentation of a $37,500 donation by the National Philoptochos, represented at commencement

by Diane Miminos, Metropolis of Boston Philoptochos president.

Representing their respective graduating classes as valedictorians were Mary E. Danckaert for Hellenic College, and Deacon Stephen Lawrence for Holy Cross.

Their respective class presidents, Aristidis Constantine Garinis and George Peter Tatsis, presented these exemplary young scholars.

In introducing the honorary degree recipient and commencement speaker, Dr. Chris Argyris, Fr. Triantafilou made note of his significant achievements in the field of management and organizational behavior, highlighting his authoring of 31 books and over 400 articles.

Dr. Argyris accepted the degree, giving the crowded auditorium a taste of both his sense of humor and his unparalleled experience. “It is a distinguished honor for Hellenic College to award this degree to an academician and widely published

USPS 412340

ISSN 0731-2547

Published bi-monthly except single issue in September and December by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Editorial and Business Office: 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021.

TEL.: (212) 570-3555, 774-0235.

FAX (212) 774-0239.

theorist such as Dr. Argyris.

He has so significantly influenced the study and practice of management and organizational behavior,” stated Fr. Triantafilou. “Dr. Argyris’ participation in our commencement exercises is a compliment to the commitment we have made as an academic institution to the continual improvement of undergraduate programs like Management and Leadership.”

Born in 1923, Dr. Argyis graduated from Clark University with a degree in psychology. He earned his MA in psychology and economics from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in organizational behavior from Cornell University.

Dr. Argyris joined the faculty of Yale University where he served as the The traditional procession of graduates and faculty.

DIRECTOR & EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Stavros H. Papagermanos EDITOR: Jim Golding (Chryssoulis)

Periodicals’ postage paid at New York, NY 10001 and at additional mailing offices. The Orthodox Observer is produced entirely in-house. Past issues can be found on the Internet, at: www.observer.goarch.org • E-mail: observer@goarch.org

PRODUCTION: Eleftherios Pissalidis ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Soula Podaras COLOR CORRECTION: Abel Montoya

Subscription rates are $12 per year. Canada $25.00. Overseas Air Mail, $55.00 per year. $1.50 per copy.

Subscriptions for the membership of the Greek Orthodox Church in America are paid through their contribution to the Archdiocese.

Of this contribution, $5.00 is forwarded to the Orthodox Observer.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Nicholas Manginas

Articles do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America which are expressed in official statements so labeled.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ORTHODOX OBSERVER, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021

A native of Pano Zodhia, Cyprus, Fr. Sevastianos became a novice at the Monastery of Stavrouvouni and was ordained to the Holy Deaconate by the late Metropolitan of Morphou Chrysanthos on Jan. 17, 1974.

Fr. Sebastian attended the Theological School of the University of Athens where he graduated in 1978. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on March 4, 1979 and holds the Offikion of Archimandrite.

He attended Emory University and received a masters in theology in pastoral psychology from Columbia Theological Seminary, and he has been a doctoral candidate in Pastoral Psychology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Fr. Sevastianos served as dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Panagia Catholiki in Limasol, the parish of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Huntsville, Ala. (1989-1993), and the church of the Holy Transfiguration in Marietta, Ga. (19932004). In August 2004 Fr. Sevastianos was assigned as dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs Fla. During his service in Tarpon Springs the community of St. Nicholas celebrated its centennial anniversary with a visit from Patriarch Bartholomew in 2006.

Fr. Skordallos served for six consecutive years as president of the Clergy Association of the Metropolis of Atlanta and also served on the board of the National Presbyters Council. He is currently serving on the Metropolis of Atlanta and Archdiocesan Councils and on the Archdiocesan board of Outreach and Evangelism.

According to Archbishop Demetrios, “The Very Reverend Archimandrite Sevastianos Skordallos is a clergyman of admitted piety, education and integrity. We pray for the fruitful diakonia in Christ of Fr. Sevastianos from this most responsible office of Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod, for the unobstructed continuation of the work of our Holy Archdiocese and the glory of the Triune God.” Fr. Skordallos will assume his duties on June 1, 2006.

3

A RCHDIOCESE N E WS

MAY 2006

Archons Defend rights of Patriarchate Archbishop Demetrios Attends in Meetings with European Leaders NATiONAL DAY OF PrAYEr AT WHiTE HOUSE NEW YORK – In a week of meetings in early April with decision makers of the European Union, a group of Archons defended the religious freedom and human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the United States under the leadership of Archbishop Demetrios continue to bring the issue of religious freedom for the spiritual center of world Orthodoxy to the decision makers and power brokers of the European Union, while simultaneously advocating Turkey's integration into the EU Community.

As Turkey continues negotiating its possible admission to the EU, Archons urged that EU leaders require the Turkish government to live up to democratic standards by reforming its religious discriminatory policies.

Since the formation of the modern Turkish state in 1923, systemic discrimination has severely repressed the Ecumenical Patriarchate and decimated the Orthodox Christian community in that country.

The delegation was guided throughout the week of meetings by the Ecumenical Patriarchate's representative to the European Union Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and while in Vienna, by Metropolitan Michael of Austria.

“We just returned from very successful meetings with key officials of the European Union,” said Archon National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis. “We also had very frank meetings with the Ambassadors of Turkey in Brussels and Vienna, which were a follow-up to our Religious Freedom Mission for the Ecumenical Patriarchate initiated in Europe a year ago.”

The State Department fully supported the mission and prior to departure Dr. Limberakis and Archon spiritual adviser Fr. Alexander Karloutsos met with Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza in Washington.

In Brussels, the headquarters of the

EU, the delegation, which included Fr. WASHINGTON -- Archbishop Karloutsos and Legal Counselor ChrisDemetrios was invited to the White topher Stratakis, met on April 3 with key House May 4 for the 55th anniversary officials of the Enlargement Committee of the National Day of Prayer. including Christos Katharios, head of The annual event unites millions division responsible for enlargement, of Americans in prayer for our country Council of the European Union; Vassilios and its leaders.

Kaskarellis, ambassador of the Permanent The White House observance, Representation of Greece to the European held in the East Room, traditionally Union; Ambassador Fuat Tanlay of Turkey headlines similar events held in public to Belgium; Ambassador C. Boyden Gray venues to pray for the nation, govof the U.S. Mission to the EU; Margaritis ernmental leaders, media, churches, Schinas, head of cabinet families and schools. of EU Commissioner MarPresident George W. Bush, who kos Kyprianou; Christian led the ceremony, warmly acknowlDanielsson, head of unit responsible for Turkey's integration into the EU and Ambassador Dr. Michael Weninger, group of policy advisers, European Commission.

While in Brussels, NEW YORK – In its first financial Turkish TV journalists FAITH, an endowment for the Guldener chief gesture, ARCHONSSonumut, OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE promotion of the Orthodox faith and of the Brussels Bureau NTV Turkish Channel and Cansu Cam- Hellenic heritage in America, recently libel, Brussels correspondent, covering provided the Archdiocese and Holy European issues, interviewed Com- Cross School of Theology with a grant mander Limberakis. The interview aired of $266,000.

The contribution was made possible in Turkey while the Archon delegation through the pledges of its original memwas in Europe.

While in Strasbourg, France, where bers. Peter Kikis, the newly elected presithe European Parliament holds its ple- dent of FAITH, reported that the grants nary sessions; European Parliament Vice were distributed “for the purpose of President Antonios Trakatellis (brother of upgrading the computer technology and Archbishop Demetrios) arranged meet- infrastructure of both institutions.”

A supporting non-profit organizaings on April 4 with Stavros Lambrinidis, vice chairman of the Committee on Civil tion, FAITH was established in 2005 by 15 philanthropists for the purpose Rights.

April 5 and 6 were spent in Vienna, of providing financial support and serwhere the delegation met with Austrian vices to the national ministries of the government officials, including President Archdiocese.

FAITH will now invite an additional Dr. Heinz Fischer and Parliament Speaker 35 distinguished Greek Americans to beAndreas Khol; the ambassadors to Austria from the U.S. Susan McCaw, Greece, The- come founding members by donating at odoros Sotiropoulos, and Turkey; Selim least $1 million each towards an ultimate Yenel Apostolic Nuncio Dr. Edmond goal of $100 million. A successful result Farhat; and representatives from Greece of this effort will ensure the planned and the U.S. to the Organization for Se- growth of the Endowment.

Alex G. Spanos, chairman, stated curity and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE, emphatically, “I strongly believe in the Helsinki Commission), an independent forum of nations which exchanges ideas goals that guide our Faith group and and makes recommendations on interna- I am as ever committed to see that it flourishes as a viable and dynamic ortional human rights. ganization to spread the principles of Orthodoxy and Hellenism.”

Mr. Kikis added, “We are seriously committed to preserving and propagating Orthodoxy and Hellenism in the United States by emphasizing continuing education for our clergy and academic scholarships for our youth!”

According to Archbishop Demetrios, “Generous contributions like the one by

Faith Endowment Allocates $266,000 to Archdiocese and Holy Cross

Archdiocese Launches Website in response to Da Vinci Code, Gospel Of Judas NEW YORK–The Archdiocese has launched a website with the Orthodox Response to the Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas.

The website includes articles by noted theologians, clergy and educators that address the issues and themes of the publications from an Orthodox Christian perspective.

Links to other useful sites and resources concerning the Da Vinci Code can also be found on the website.

According to Fr. Frank Marangos, executive director of Communications for the Archdiocese, “This page will be further utilized in an on-going fashion for fu-

edged “my good friend Archbishop Demetrios” as he entered the East Room.

The observance was attended by religious leaders, members of the Cabinet, government officials and lay leaders from throughout the United States.

In addition to the Archbishop, Orthodox hierarchs in attendance were Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos of the American Carpatho-Russian Church Orthodox Diocese of the USA.

FAITH are critical to the future of the Orthodox Church in America to provide, among other things, the necessary resources for the spiritual nurture and professional development of effective clergy to serve the growing number of parishes in America.”

Fr. Nicholas Triantafilou, president of Holy Cross School of Theology, noted that the deans and professors of Hellenic College and Holy Cross have exercised exemplary stewardship in preparing our young men for the holy priesthood, as well as young women and men for church service.

They have also prepared students of Hellenic College for meaningful professions in society. “Our deans, professors and students,” Fr. Triantafilou said, “will prove to be faithful stewards of the generosity and trust of the founding members of FAITH to whom we are grateful.”

The initial founding members of FAITH are Ambassador George L. Argyros of Newport, Calif.; George D. Behrakis of Boston; Nicholas J. Bouras of Summit, N.J; George Coumantaros of New York, Michael Jaharis of New York, Peter T. Kikis of New York, Eleni TsakopoulosKounalakis of Sacramento, Calif., James H. Moshovitis of Washington, John G. Pappajohn of Des Moines, Iowa, John A. Payiavlas of Warren, Ohio, Alex K. Spanos of Stockton, Calif., Dean Spanos of San Diego, Calif., Michael Spanos of Stockton, Angelo K. Tsakopoulos of Sacramento, and Kyriakos Tsakopoulos, also of Sacramento.

Fr. Alexander Karloutsos serves as the executive advisor of the FAITH Endowment.

San Francisco Host City for 2006 Oratorical Festival Young speakers from every metropolis are taking part in the annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival National Finals being held in San Francisco June 2-4.

by Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos

ture movie/book reviews and general communications concerning the popular culture.”

Articles are available on the following websites: www.goarch.org/en/special/DaVinci and www.goarch. org/en/special/gospel_of_judas

The host committee is under the chairmanship of Fr. Stephen Kyriacou of the Annunciation Cathedral. Presbytera Margaret Orfanakos is the Archdiocese co-chairwoman.

The 18 national finalists, upon their arrival in San Francisco and check-in at the Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel, will receive a “welcome-bag” filled with memorabilia of the host city. They and their families will then be welcomed by the Rev. Fr. Michael Pappas and the Holy Trinity Church in San Francisco to a dinner social and ice-breaker.

Special guests will be Archbishop Demetrios, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos, the Archdiocesan executive director of communications and acting director of Religious Education, which sponsors the Oratorical Festival.

The Oratorical Festival will be held on Saturday morning at the Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco. It is expected that many faithful will attend this exciting annual event. The results of the Oratorical Festival will be announced at the Awards Luncheon that will be held immediately after the presentation of the speeches at the Cathedral.

The top speaker in each division will receive a $2,000 college scholarship; second place speakers will receive a $1,500

 page 22

MAY 2006

Denver Metropolis Silver Anniversary Celebration Held in Houston HOUSTON–Parishes of the greater Houston/Galveston area celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Metropolis of Denver April 28-May 1.

Participating communities included Annunciation Cathedral in Houston, Assumption in Galveston, St. Basil the Great in Houston and St. John the Theologian in Webster.

The Denver Metropolis previously held similar anniversary celebrations in Denver, Kansas City, Salt Lake City and Dallas.

The Houston celebration was the final and largest celebration. It featured four days of activities with participation from each of the four local parishes.

Metropolitan Isaiah participated in a luncheon for the senior citizens on April 28. Later that evening, all GOYA, senior GOYA, and college-age Greek Orthodox students participated in a question and answer session with the Metropolitan, followed by an evening of dancing and fellowship at Annunciation Cathedral.

This was the first time ever that the youth from all four parishes of the greater Houston/Galveston area gathered together in such a fashion.

Archbishop Demetrios arrived in Houston on April 29 for his second visit to Houston since being enthroned.

His Eminence held a Bible study that afternoon with more than 150 people participating. The Grand Banquet that evening attrac ted more than 300 people.

It included a special tribute to Archbishop Demetrios.

The Archbishop and Metropolitan Isaiah concelebrated a hierarchal Divine Liturgy the next day, April 30, with more than 750 faithful attending.

An outdoor Texas barbeque followed with entertainment by a country-western band and numerous children’s activities on the Cathedral lawn.

Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Isaiah also visited the Annunciation Orthodox School (“AOS”), across the street from the Annunciation Cathedral.

(See related story) Local media provided extensive coverage of the weekend’s activities. The Houston Chronicle dedicated nearly its entire religious section on April 29 to the Metropolis Silver Anniversary.

Radio station KSBJ (the most successful non-denominational Christian radio station in the country) held an interview with Archbishop Demetrios, who spoke on the gnostic gospels. It marks the first time that a Greek Orthodox hierarch has appeared on KSBJ. The anniversary weekend events raised a little over $100,000 to help pay down the mortgage for the Denver Metropolis Center.

The Very Reverend Archimandrite J. Gabriel Karambis, Annunciation Cathedral’s dean, noted, “we were extremely honored to have both Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Isaiah grace us with their presence during this entire weekend.”

advertise

GET RESULTS

observer@goarch.org Tel (212) 570-3555 Fax (212) 774-0239

ARCHBISHOP Demetrios with students, clergy and parishioners at Annunciation Orthodox School.

Annunciation Orthodox School Welcomes Archbishop HOUSTON – On his second visit to Annunciation parish, Archbishop Demetrios, visited Annunciation Orthodox School on May 1, accompanied by Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver.

The day concluded with a luncheon hosted by the Cathedral under the direction of Fr. Karambis and attended by parents, school and church board trustees, and faculty.

by Maria Newton

Following a reception hosted by Mark Kelly, head of the school; trustees Chairman Cindy Lucia, school administrators, faculty, students and many parents participated in a special chapel service lead

by Fr. George Gartelos of Annunciation Cathedral and eighth grade religious education teacher.

Archimandrite Rev. J. Gabriel Karambis, cathedral dean, hosted the special guests and joined in the chapel celebration.

The service was held in the Steve G. Caloudas Activity Center which was filled with voices of students from preschool through eighth grade declaring, “Christos Anesti!” “Alithos Anesti!”

A special presentation by the students was prepared for His Eminence.

Greek poetry offered by student Elena Skaribas, musical performances, and patriotic offerings culminated in the presentation of gifts to the Archbishop.

In Greek costume, students Nikolas Noffsinger, Daphne Kokkinis, and Constantine Gartelos gave His Eminence a book about Texas and a silver bookmark engraved with the school’s seal.

His Eminence addressed the student body and referred to them as “Texas wells of wisdom.” He impressed upon the students the power of language and its effective use.

Following the service and presentation, the Archbishop toured the school, visiting preschool classrooms with newly hatched chicks and middle school science labs where students were embroiled in physics.

ARCHBISHOP Demetrios with Metropolitan Isaiah, in front of the Annunciation School.

His Eminence addressed the gathering and encouraged all to embrace the Greek language, not merely because of Greek heritage, but also for the important role it plays in a classical, timeless education.

MAY 2006

commentary

The Da Vinci Code and Empty Spirituality It has already been well established by historians and scholars alike that Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code makes outrageous claims that have only been sold as fiction, but can further be categorized as fantasy.

by Fr. Angelo Artemas

While current reviews of the Ron Howard produced movie starring Tom Hanks indicate moderate to disappointing results, the book has been a tremendous success.

The question to ask is not whether The Da Vinci Code is based in some truth or how it will affect Christianity, but why does a previously unknown and marginally talented author become a part of such a phenomenon – not how but why?

For the last five years journalists have been preoccupied with the so-called crisis in the Roman Catholic Church over clergy sexual misconduct.

This “crisis” has resulted in the largest number of Americans in history who consider themselves Catholic (70 million in 2005 compared with 32 million in 1960), and has shown that, at most, 2 percent of Catholic priests have been involved in any sexual misconduct over the last 40 years, while 25 percent of married Protestant pastors have admittedly been involved in sexual misconduct, as has 25 percent of the adult male population in America (George Barna Research Group).

While any clergy sexual misconduct is reprehensible, the current perceived crisis has not brought down a 2,000 yearold church, much to the dismay of many Americans. Traditional Christianity is still a beacon of true spirituality in contrast to the ever-evaporating spirituality of the individual whim.

Two years ago, with little or no support from Hollywood, Mel Gibson released “The Passion of the Christ.”

The media frenzy that resulted was itself a phenomenon. Many journalists and Hollywood critics questioned whether Mel Gibson was being true to the biblical accounts of Jesus’ death.

Faithfulness to the Bible seemed to

be the greatest concern for Hollywood as the movie (which broke box office records with $370 million in the USA alone) was lampooned and overlooked by the Motion Picture Academy for any nominations, even artistic or cinematic.

With the current movie release of The Da Vinci Code, journalists and Hollywood critics are not so concerned with faithfulness to the Bible or history.

Instead many are insisting that some of Dan Brown’s assertions could be true.

Examples of journalistic headlines include: “Could Jesus have been married?”

“Is the Holy Grail a human descendant of Jesus?” and “Is Opus Dei responsible for the greatest cover-up in human history?”

What happened to concern over biblical integrity? Why is one standard applied to the conservative Catholic Mel Gibson and another standard applied to the anti-Catholic Dan Brown? Is anti-Catholicism and ant-traditional Christianity the only remaining and acceptable bias in Hollywood?

For many years in American education, respect for and instruction in world history has been somewhat weak. In the “it’s my life, it’s my body, it’s my right, it’s my choice, it’s none of your business” climate, history does not matter much.

Where there is no appreciation for history, there is no integrity in the future.

With all of the hype leading to the movie, The Da Vinci Code will prove to be a disappointment, especially compared to The Passion of the Christ.

Even so, the book was a success because of anti-traditional Christianity and Catholic prejudice, me-first individualistic spirituality, disregard for world history, and a desire for a quick fix to religious discontent.

Dan Brown can have his success, and people can go see and read whatever they want. But better minds would do well to thoroughly read the Bible and history.

Some say that traditional Christians are defensive in the face of The Da Vinci Code, and that they have narrow minds.

But those who would rather buy into fiction and fantasy instead of doing the hard work of Christianity have empty ones.

A Parallel Between the Last Titanic Survivor and Our Pomfret Survivors The last survivor of the sinking of the Titanic, Lillian Asplund, died earlier this month in Worchester, Mass. She was 99.

by Fr. Nicholas L. Vieron, Class of 1947

Although Ms. Asplund was a very private person, in death she was mourned throughout the world by thousands of Titanic devotees - often total strangers who become caught up in an historic event, such as the 1912 sinking of a remarkable ship - the “unsinkable” Titanic!

There is another group of survivors whom we refer to as “Pomfret Survivors!”

For some who may not be aware, Pomfret is a small town in Connecticut, which was the setting of our first Holy Cross Seminary, from 1937 when the “Scoli” was founded by the two venerable Athenagorases, until it was gradually relocated, beginning a decade later in 1947, to its present site in Brookline.

Students who attended Pomfret, even for only one year, are included in the group.

According to our Pomfret historian - Fr George Poulos - of the 241 enrolled

at our Seminary while in Pomfret, 138 graduated.

Today we have exactly 58 survivors.

(Since the last Clergy-Laity Congress 13 Pomfret men have died). Speaking of our “ship,” our vessel - The Pomfret - continues to sail the seven seas with a wonderful crew, first, with the souls of those Pomfret men who have slept in the Lord, the 58 survivors, and with all the present active clergy of our American Archdiocese.

Unlike the ill-fated Titanic, which sank with the loss of so many lives, our ship continues to give life and light. The dedicated “crew” continues to grow in number and in spiritual quality, just as the passengers continue to increase, not only in number but also in spirit, in thought, in prayer, and in love.

The Pomfret survivors are pleased to see their ship, launched in 1937, now manned by a wonderful crew, bringing their passengers to a safe haven.

May God continue to bless all of us and may our “ship of faith” continue its divine journey, safely pressing on until one day, in His Good Time, we all gather in our “permanent city” - at our final port of call!

D. PANAGOS

ARCHBISHOP Demetrios with (l to r) Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Douala-Cameroun Cardinal Christian Tumi, Archbishop Seraphim of Johanesburg and Pretoria S. Africa and (r) Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese.

International prayer for peace

WASHINGTON, DC – Archbishop Demetrios of America joined religious and civic leaders from around the world for the 2006 International Prayer for Peace held April 27 at Georgetown University in Washington DC. This year’s theme was “Religions and Culture: The Courage of Dialogue” and marked the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s historic interfaith gathering for

peace in Assisi.

More than 100 speakers from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa, representing all the major faiths, addressed a variety of topics during keynote addresses and panel discussions. Archbishop Demetrios representing the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, participated in all the events and a panel discussion on “Prayer as a Source of Peace.”

6

MAY 2006

Communicating the Faith The X-Files of Ancient Lies

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

T

he early Church spent much of its time debunking heresies.

Wrestling with the chaos of contending beliefs the Church was compelled to differentiate itself between Marcionism, Arianism, Nestorianism and other ancient lies by legitimately formulating its theological views through the gathering of both clergy and laity in Ecumenical Councils.

by Fr. Frank Marangos

MARKOS

DAILY DEPARTURES

with

travel service

• NON-STOP FLIGHTS ON JUMBO JET • EASY CONNECTIONS from anywhere in the U.S.A. at UNBELIEVABLE LOW RATES! $

289

*

One Way *A Limited Number of Seats

OTHER FLIGHTS

από/from

* 395 Round trip $

plus taxes & fees

Owner: Markos Hatzikonstantis

Call Markos Travel Now! NATIONWIDE TOLL FREE

800-243-7728 800-842-8260 CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS 860-296-1722

CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS

48 SILAS DEANE HWY. SUITE 12 WETHERSFIELD, CT 06109

...BOOK NOW AND SAVE!

While most scholars agree that these doctrinal battles culminated in the development of the non-negotiable tenets of the Nicene Creed (4th century), the recent emergence of heretically based novels, films and magazine articles attest that the X-Files of ancient defeated voices are as much a temptation today as they were in the second, third and fourth centuries.

The rage of the early Christian world, X-Files might be described as exotic religious texts that claimed to express truths about Jesus, his mother, the content and interpretation of the scriptures, and the nature of the church.

An amalgamation of Greek philosophy, magic and eastern ideas, these manuscripts coalesced into a sectarian heresy that came to be known as Gnosticism.

Based on the Greek word for knowledge (gnosis) Gnostics held the central belief that salvation was not accomplished through the Church that was founded on the mystery of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ but rather on an individual’s ability to discover true knowledge and wisdom on his or her own!

Whereas Orthodox Christianity preaches salvation to all that will accept it, Gnosticism espouses the belief that only an elite will be able to comprehend the breadth of hidden truth.

Fortunately, the false teachings of Gnosticism and those that pertained to the other heresies of early Christianity were debunked by theologians such as Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Basil the Great, and Athanasius, who emphasized the apostolic exposition of revealed truth.

For these great defenders of the Faith, the truth of the gospel was not a matter of a secret but of a sacred tradition that centered on the Incarnation, Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Transmitted by a legitimate apostolic succession of bishops that verified the authentic and continuous voice of the apostles, this sacred truth X-posed the illogical doctrines of the Gnostics as ridiculous . . . as worthless X-Files!

For nearly two millennia the X-ed Files of Gnosticism remained buried in the arid sands of ancient history.

In 1945, however, a number of early Christian Gnostic papyri manuscripts, translated from Greek into Coptic, were discovered by local peasants near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi. Since the discovery of these documents, there has been a resurgence of interest in Gnostic doctrines throughout the world.

In fact, numerous social scholars (Armstrong, H; Bloom, H; Pagels, E.; Hitchcock, J) have all noted a strong Gnostic trend in contemporary media.

The vogue of mystical and exotically charged books such as the Da Vinci Code and the Jesus Papers are the direct result

of the re-emergence of these ancient worn-out debates.

The appearance of Gnostic creedal tenants such as: (a) the suspicion of authority, (b) private spirituality, (c) the rejection of external forms of worship, (d) the distortion of sexuality, (e) the rejection of bodily Incarnation of God, and (f) the refutation of absolute truths, attest to the Old Testament exhortation quoted above . . . indeed, “what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

According to Dan Brown, the Jesus Seminar and Good Morning America, the traditional gospels written by Matthew, Mark. Luke and John can no longer be trusted.

Instead, we are asked to discard 2,000 years of reliable witness and scholarship and replace it with the message conveyed in “new gospels.” We are encouraged to look to architectural symbols, secret rituals and previously discarded apocryphal texts such as the Gospels of Thomas and Judas for the reliable and authentic understanding of the nature of the Church and the Person of Jesus Christ.

Confronted with such an irrational invitation from a frenzied media to discard what is valid for what is spurious one cannot but recall St. Paul’s admonition to the Galatians concerning the Gnostic pretense of new knowledge: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!”

(Galatians 1:6-9) What can be done to guard the authentic Christian message from those that would once again attempt to deconstruct it? What can we do to help our children differentiate fact from the fantasy articulated in novel like The Da Vinci Code that has sold over 46 million copies in 35 languages?

I would suggest that we turn our collective attention to the prayerful study of the theological writings of the early Church Fathers . . . the ramparts that sustained the orthodoxy of the Gospel in the past!

In so doing, we will begin to develop our understanding of an Orthodox Christian World-View that will provide the intellectual scaffolding and filter for successfully distinguishing truth from perversion of sugar-coded falsehood.

Although there are many variants, at its core Gnosticism asserts the belief that the world in which we now live is our prison. Having rejected the notion that God is the Creator of the cosmos with all its potential sacramental elements, the life-goal of the Gnostic is to escape the created order through the knowledge (gnosis) of deep self-illumination.

By abandoning the search for God, however, humanity is destined to rummage blindly through life, running from one “clue” to another, like Langdon, the pathetic character in Dan Brown’s novel, trying in vain to discover the cipher to the code . . . the grail of our existence!

 page 7

MAY 2006

Archbishop Visits Charlotte Parishes

ECUMENICAL Patriarch Bartholomew with the AHEPA delegation at the Patriarchate.

Ahepans Make Paschal Pilgrimage to Patriarchate The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) concluded its Family Excursion at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, worshipping with Patriarch Bartholomew and attending Holy Friday, Holy Saturday and Pascha Services.

The 78th annual AHEPA Family Excursion included stops in Athens and Thessaloniki, Greece; Nicosia, Cyprus, The delegation, led by Supreme President Gus J. James II, also visited the Halki

Theological school, which has been closed for over 30 years, where the supreme president and members of the Lodge and Board offered a small donation.

The supreme president also presented a $10,000 check to His All Holiness as a token of AHEPA’s support to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Paul Gikas at the Phanar and Fr. Alex Karloutsos assisted with the arrangements for AHEPA.

Ionian Village Extends Registration Deadlines GARRISON, N.Y. – Ionian Village, the travel abroad program of the Archdiocese offers two summer sessions, has extended its registration.

Ionian Village offers Summer Travel Camp (Grades 7-9): June 29- July 16 and Byzantine Venture (Grades 10-12): June 24- August 13 Participants will enjoy a three-week stay at the camp facility on the Ionian Coast, participate in a Christ-centered camp program, and make excursions to some of Greece's most beautiful and significant religious and cultural sites.

Activities at camp include catechetical discussions, athletics, arts and crafts, and swimming in the Ionian Sea. Travel excursions include Meteora, Kalavrita, Kefalonia, and a three-night stay in Athens where campers will visit the Acropolis and shop in Monastiraki and Plaka.

Registration is due May 25 for Summer Travel Camp and June 13 for Byzantine Venture. For more information, or for registration materials, please visit www. ionianvillage.org or call the Ionian Village office at 646 519 6190.

GOA

THE ARCHBISHOP with the priests and parish council members of Holy Trinity of Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Archbishop Demetrios traveled to North Carolina’s largest city May 13-15 where he visited the two Greek Orthodox parishes and also lectured on the Dead Sea Scrolls.

On the first day of his visit he went to the construction site for the new St. Nektarios Church being built.

He also conducted a Vespers service and met with parish youth during a question-and-answer session. The following day, the Archbishop officiated at the Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte and afterward addressed the children of the Church school.

A banquet in honor of Archbishop Demetrios in the parish hall followed, which was attended by more than 650 people. On the 15th His Eminence observed the Holy Trinity Pre-School Program and the Socrates Public Charter School. He later attended an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Discovery Place museum in Charlotte.

Demos Kukeas Your Real Estate Professional in Naples, FL and Bonita

Call me for all your Real Estate needs, Residential: Resale and Preconstruction Investment: 1031 Exchange, Tax Differed Tel.: Toll Free: 800-NAPLES-8 (800) 627-5378 Direct: (239) 592-9222

Former National Oratorical Festival Participant Killed SAN ANTONIO – Jonathan Henry Dolan, 19, a 2003 Metropolis of Denver finalist in the St. John Chrysostom National Oratorical Festival, was killed in an automobile accident May 14 while driving home to surprise his mother for Mother’s Day. He was born in San Antonio on Dec. 11, 1986. He graduated from Churchill High School with honors and completed one year at the University of Texas at Austin.

Jonathan excelled academically and athletically; but his heart lay with his family and his church where he was a

beacon of light through his love and passion for his Orthodox faith.

He is survived by his parents, Kevin and Vicky; his older brother, Michael; his younger sister, Megan; a large and loving extended family, and a supportive Orthodox community.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Youth of America c/o The Jonathan Dolan Memorial Fund, 2504 N. St. Mary’s, San Antonio, Texas 78212.

His sister Megan, a finalist last year, will again represent the Metropolis of Denver in San Francisco on June 4-5.

COMMUNICATING THE FAITH  page 6 G. K. Chesterton once said that when people cease believing in Christianity, it is not that they will believe in nothing, but rather, they will believe in anything.

The apocryphal myths contained in the X-Files of early heretical texts have once again emerged as the protagonists against the Sacred Tradition of Orthodox Christianity seeking to lead the catechetically uninformed and spiritually fickle into a hollow pursuit whose ultimate

destination is death and destruction.

Let future generations find us, as we found our forebears, worthy of defending the apostolic creedal truths of Orthodox Christianity against historical revisionists who base their conspiratorial accounts on the X-Files of ancient lies.

Rev. Dr. Frank Marangos is executive director of communications at the Archdiocese and Adjunct Assistant professor of Religious Education and Homiletics at Holy Cross School of Theology.

The event was a private gathering for local Greek Orthodox parishioners. The Archbishop gave two separate lectures on the Dead Sea Scrolls at the museum. A reception and a dinner followed.

Archbishop Demetrios was accompanied on the visit by Archdeacon Panteleimon.

3411 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34108

E-mail: demos@golfbeach.com www.naplesflproperties.com

MAY 2006

38th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, July 15-21  page 1 what is ancient and embrace the new.

The truth of the Gospel has been revealed to us by the Creator of the Universe, the One who is above all time and space, who also brought us into existence for fellowship and communion in eternal holiness, life, and love.

Even the power of sin and death has been overcome by the love of God for us through the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Through Him every person can be restored to the image and likeness of God, receive the gift of salvation, and live in hope and joy preparing for an eternity of blessed and abundant life in heaven.

This is the truth of the Gospel that must be shared with those who live in hopelessness and despair, with those who cannot find the strength to face another day, who are rejected by others, unloved, and hated.

It is the truth that can free those in bondage to sin and addiction, engender peace in the lives of the oppressed, and grant wisdom to see beyond the deceptions and lies of evil to what is real, holy, and eternal.

It is the truth that we must embrace and share, so that through our lives and service others will join us on the journey to the place where the throne of God will be forever among us, and we will see His face and worship Him (Revelation 22:4).

As our lives and time move toward that great and glorious day, we are directed by our Lord to share His love. It is this love that is at the heart of the Gospel.

The truth of the Gospel is God’s love for us, a love revealed to us in the person and acts of Jesus Christ. Through our faith in Him, we experience this love and its transformative power that lifts us from the grave and into an abundant, unending life with our Creator.

By following His example of love, we can know a deep and genuine com-

mitment to the will of God and true and sacrificial compassion for the needs and salvation of others. When we know this love and share it, our lives will be a beautiful witness of truth and will lead others to Christ.

It is also in sharing the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ, that we will mature in life and faith. The Apostle Paul

AACST to Hold Panel Presentations The Archdiocesan Advisory Committee on Science and Technology (AACST) will be participating at the 38th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Nashville, through a series of panel presentations which will be offered to our faithful: 1) contemporary issues in bioethics, 2) the problem of global poverty, and 3) ethical issues in the age of information. These panel presentations will bring together panelists from a variety of fields and areas of expertise, in an effort to stimulate dialogue and to provide intellectual and spiritual edification for those in attendance.

The AACST was formed in 2001 under the guidance of Archbishop Demetrios, and with the approval of

the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Archdiocesan Council.

It serves in an advisory capacity to the leadership of the Archdiocese to address the rapid scientific and technological changes within contemporary society that are profoundly affecting our everyday lives. Such fundamental issues that the AACST aims to address include the beginning and end of life, human reproduction, the way we receive and process information, the structure of society, and our present and future existence in our natural environment.

The AACST conducts its work through a dialogue of scientists and engineers with theologians, lawyers, mental health professionals, and other scholars.

exhorted the Ephesians to speak the truth in love, so that they might grow up in every way into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

When we know the truth, allow it to change our lives, and then share it in love for God and others, we will become the holy and wise people that God calls us to be.

Further, we will know and witness something that no power in heaven or on earth can destroy or diminish – the power of life that comes when the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ are shared.

We mature in Christ when we know that this is the truth and love that upholds all things, and that it is this truth and love that will preserve our lives when all other things fall and pass away.

As we prayerfully prepare for our Clergy-Laity Congress, may you consider how the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ have influenced and continue to impact your life, and how God is leading you to share this truth and love with others.

When we come together in Nashville, may we share in this knowledge and commitment to our calling in this world so that all that we do as the faithful of the Greek Orthodox Church in America will be directed toward offering truth and love in our parishes, communities, families, and in all of our relationships.

As we live, work, pray, and share together in the joy of our Risen Lord, “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19).

MAY 2006

38th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, July 15-21

National Young Adult Conference Family Program at 2006 Clergy-Laity Young adults from across the country are eagerly anticipating the National Young Adult Conference in Nashville, scheduled to take place prior to the Clergy-Laity Congress from July 14-17. Archbishop Demetrios of America will address the participants at the keynote brunch on Saturday morning, and an enlightening spiritual experience for young adults of the Archdiocese is anticipated.

Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit will also attend to welcome the nation’s young adults to the hosting Metropolis.

Throughout the weekend, young adults will have the opportunity to share fellowship with each other by experiencing local city venues, participating in workshops to further their life in Christ, and most importantly, growing in their Faith through worship and education.

Workshops and breakout sessions will be offered by Bishop Savas of Troas, Frs. Danut Suciu, and Mark Arey.

Evening activities include an outdoor concert with upcoming songwriters performing atop Vanderbilt University's Dyer Observatory, complete with dinner, des-

serts, and stargazing.

The final event in Music City USA will be hosted at B.B. King’s Club, blending the soul of Nashville with more great eats and live-music treats.

Fr. Mark Leondis, director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, remarked, “We are excited about this year’s gathering, as hundreds of young adults from throughout the Archdiocese will experience their faith through our conference theme, Live Orthodoxy, Share Truth.”

Young Adult Ministry serves those who are ages 18-35, helping them to become more active members of the Body of Christ.

Scheduled events for the three-day conference will incorporate the four circles of Young Adult Ministry, worship, witness, service, and fellowship, offering strength and balance to the everyday Christian life.

Online registration, general conference information, and a weekend schedule are now available online at www.yal.org.

Register now to receive discounted registration rates.

Clergy Health and Wellness Program at CLC The Archdiocese Presbyters Council has undertaken a new, exciting and beneficial initiative for the benefit of its members.

During the Congress the APC will co-sponsor along with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a special series of seminars on wellness for clergy and their families.

The program will be presented by a distinguished and experienced team from Vanderbilt, focusing on the needs of clergy today with a special emphasis on caring for oneself so that you may be strengthened and fortified to care for others.

These seminars will be held on Tuesday July 18 and every priest is urged to take advantage of this unique opportunity for support and enrichment.

Fr. James Moulketis, the president of APC in a letter to the Clergy around the country, has expressed his “confidence that physically and emotionally we will all be refreshed and renewed by the skills and insights that will be gleaned from this exchange.”

“Caring for hearts and minds is our mission,” said Dr. Harry R. Jacobson, Vandebilt’s vice chancellor for health affairs and he added “We are honored to share

these important health and wellness topics with those who are so deeply committed to selflessly caring for others across the nation and around the world.”

Nashville parishioner Dr. David Taber, of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and Emergency Medicine at Vanderbilt, has coordinated these important health and wellness lectures with some of the country’s leading healthcare professionals.

Some of the seminar topics will discuss issues like stress, frustration and worry management; diet; Heart Disease prevention; Diabetes; treatment of tobacco addictions; health care issues during the retirement years; exercise and physical activity for weight loss and tips for becoming an active family.

Congress participants should look for the Health and Wellness sign-up sheet in their registration packets. ‘ Those who attend at least four sessions will be eligible for prizes including a $750 certificate to any Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the U.S., two air tickets up to a maximum value of $1,000, and a $500 American Express Gift Card.

APC, NPS Plan Several Workshops at Congress The Archdiocese Presbyters Council in a joint effort with the National Presvyteres Sisterhood is looking forward to the Nashville Clergy-Laity Congress this July with great anticipation for the various clergy family programs that are being planned for this forthcoming conclave.

Together with Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, the Archdiocese Presbyters Council and National Presbyters Sisterhood have arranged for workshops on wellness conducted by the professional staff of Vanderbilt University.

These workshops will focus on pertinent issues for clergy families ranging from stress management to exercise and proper diet, with caring for self and caring for others being highlighted during these specifically prepared discussions for clergy families.

There will also be other professional clergy workshops offered to enhance the leadership and administrative skills of the priest in his everyday ministry to those entrusted to his spiritual care.

A clergy family dinner is scheduled with Archbishop Demetrios during which an open discussion between the Archbishop and his priests and their families will take place.

Again care for family, care for self and care for others will be the center of this exchange.

The Congress traditionally concludes with a clergy breakfast.

The Archbishop and the Metropolitans of the Holy Eparchial Synod gather together with all their priests sharing and exploring common interests in ministry and service.

 page 1 Saturday evening, Congress participants will be able to attend a performance at the legendary Grand Ole Opry by purchasing tickets in advance.

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will begin Sunday at 9 a.m.

Orthros and Vespers will be held each day through the week.

The official opening breakfast and keynote address will be held Monday, July 17, at 8 a.m., followed by workshops, computer labs, committee meetings and the Philoptochos General Assembly and related workshops.

The National Philoptochos Banquet will be held Monday evening.

Cultural Night at The Parthenon

Tuesday evening, participants can attend the cultural night activities at The Parthenon in Centennial Park where they can hear the award-winning, multi-platinum country band, superstars “Diamond Rio”, along with authentic Greek music by “The Levendes” and a performance by Nashville’s “Palamakia Dancers,” the high school youth from Holy Trinity Church.

All will be performing at the Parthenon, the only full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens.

A traditional southern style barbecue will be served at this casual, fun-filled evening celebrating Greek heritage and the finest in Nashville’s southern hospitality.

Continuous air conditioned shuttles will depart for the Parthenon from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conventions Center.

Family Synaxis Program

All Congress participants are encouraged to bring their families and participate in the Family Synaxis Program, sponsored by the Archdiocese Center for Family Care.

There will be an all day youth program with visits to historic sites, the Nashville Zoo and many other activities. This program is offered free of charge to the families of Congress delegates and to fami-

lies in the region wishing to participate.

The Thursday youth program will have a fee of $45 per person, and children in the 5th grade or under must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required.

“We are excited to be offering this program to the families who attend the Congress for their own spiritual edification and as a model for family programming in their parishes,” said Fr. Constantine Sitaras, director of the Archdiocesan Center for Family Care.

One focus of the program will be to show parents how family resources can be used in the home to nurture faith on a daily basis. Sessions are scheduled on Monday afternoon and in the mornings on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Pre-registration for the Family Synaxis is required, and more information and registration materials can be accessed at http://www.familyaschurch.org/familysynaxis.asp .

Congress Golf Fellowship

Enjoy a round of golf and a fun-filled day of fellowship at this award-winning course on Wednesday. Designed by former U.S. Open and PGA Champion Larry Nelson, this Scottish links-style, par 72 course has five sets of tees that challenge any level of golfer.

Limestone bluffs border the course, which is enhanced by federally protected wetlands.

Health and Wellness Program

Nashville parishioner Dr. David Taber, of the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and Emergency Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has coordinated several important health and wellness lectures with some of the country’s leading healthcare professionals. All Clergy and their spouses are encouraged to attend these outstanding programs.

For more information, to register and see a complete summary schedule of meetings and events visit www.clergylaity.org.

10

MAY 2006

 On Marriage to Non-Christians Editor, I am writing this letter in response to Fr. Charles Joanides’ article in the January/February 2006 issue, “When Orthodox Christians Marry Non-Christians.”

Fr. Charles stated that interfaith marriage is on the rise and therefore cannot be ignored. He also explained why in the case of such a marriage, the Orthodox Church takes away the Orthodox partner’s good standing in the Church, and does not allow active practice of his or her faith.

He sites that the reason for this stance is the difficult challenges that will be faced by the married couple, their children and their extended family. However, what he fails to say is that these challenges (which by the way can be faced in all marriages regardless of faith), are largely the result of the Church’s position on this issue, not the other way around.

In other words, the Church is a major cause of the pain and sadness that results from the Orthodox partner being prevented from embracing their religion as they should to properly follow Christ.

That is what can make it difficult to bring up the children of these marriages in the Church and causes difficulties with the extended family.

How do you explain to a child who wants to receive Communion with his believing parent that you cannot, because the Church will not allow it?

How do you tell your brother or sister that they cannot be your koumbara when you marry, or baptize your child because they are married to a non-Christian?

How can one reconcile the love of Jesus Christ with those who do believe in Him, to this position of the Church?

Nine years ago, Fr. George Papaioannou wrote a column in the Orthodox Observer on this same issue. He explained that in the early years of Christianity, our Church did not practice this policy, which has no basis in the Bible or in Holy Tradition. He gave two examples of the position of our forefathers.

In St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, (7:12-14), he states, “If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, and she agrees to live with him, let him not put her away; and if there is a wife who has a husband who is not a believer, and he agrees to live with her, let her not put her husband away; for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by her husband, otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

Four hundred years later, St. John Chrysostom, in his Homily on Marriage and Family, stated, “An unbelieving husband is impure because of his unbelief, but if his believing wife is not united to him in the act of unbelief she remains pure.

He remains impure as far as his unbelief is concerned; but since marriage means physical union, the sexual act through which he and his wife are joined is not affected by his unbelief.” Fr. George also noted that some of our venerated saints were also married to non-Christians.

If one of Jesus’ greatest apostles and one of the Church’s greatest fathers had these positions on this issue, why and when did the Church start rejecting the Orthodox faithful who married non-Christians?

We are supposed to pride ourselves in our dedication to upholding the Holy Traditions of our forefathers and of the New Testament.

Yet the Church changed this most important stance and has hurt many people over the years because of it.

If the Church continued to welcome the believing partner, the non-believer might be more inclined to join as well over time. Instead, the Church often ends up with the believer abandoning the Church and leaving the child to seek a more loving place to worship God. I submit that the Church should return to its original practice and not be one of the causes of the difficulties that arise in interfaith marriages.

We need more priests of all levels to come out in support of what our forefathers knew was the right way to handle this issue.

Eva Millas Russo Hackensack, N.J. Editor, In the last issue you talked about Orthodox Christians marrying non-Christians losing their sacramental privileges but are you also aware that some Orthodox churches take away our privileges even if we have a Christian ceremony in another church. This happened to my mother a 60-year member of the Greek Orthodox church in Lancaster, Pa., and it happened to me. My mother was 64 when she married.

Her husband was non-Orthodox but a devout Christian. They had a beautiful ceremony in a church that recognizes the Trinity yet Fr. Alexander Veronis refused to give her communion until the day her husband died.

When my mother passed away nine months later it was the priest that married her that was willing to give her Holy Communion.

I also am unable to receive communion in our local church although when I leave this community and go to other Orthodox churches I do my cross and receive communion with no questions asked.

I don't see why the Orthodox Church insists you marry in that church. Is it a money thing?

If I have a Christian ceremony why are my rights to communion not protected? I would really like a response directly to this as I do not always get the Observer.

I really miss my church but feel they cut me loose because I did not want a two- hour ceremony that 90 percent of my guests would not understand.

The last Greek wedding my husband and I went to was a lot of Greek and he thought she married the priest. Thank you.

Paula Luciano Lancaster, Pa. Editor, Why does a minister have the right to refuse to marry a couple unless both are Orthodox Christians? I can see if they are not members of the church they wish to be married in, but not because one of them is not Orthodox. Are we not judging, and isn’t that up to our Heavenly Father?

We find in First Corinthians 7:13-14, “And the woman which hath a husband that believe not, and if he be please to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband, else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.”

In First Corinthians 7:8, “But if they

 page 11

Archpastoral Reflections Education and Popular Culture This month we consider the topic of education as it applies to popular culture. By popular culture, we mean the media, venues for entertainment, pieces of literature, cinema, articles of clothing, and particular arts that resonate with the likings of contemporary people in certain times and in certain places.

by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America The truth of the matter is that we in America, whether we wish to be so or not, are enveloped in a popular culture that exalts materialism and is permeated by less than wholesome imagery.

Consequently, a natural two-fold question for the concerned Orthodox Christian arises: “What is the attitude of our Orthodox Church regarding popular culture, and is there ever a potential to view popular culture as one among many sources for our spiritual edification?”

The answer to this question has been consistent throughout the centuries, and is perhaps best expressed by the fourth century advice of St. Basil when he speaks directly to the question of the popular literature of his day in his classic treatise For the Young on How They Might Derive Profit From Hellenic Literature: “We should model ourselves on the bees when we participate in these works. They don't go to all the flowers indiscriminately. And when they do fly to certain ones, they don't try to carry them off whole. They take only what is useful for their work and leave the rest without a backward glance. In the same way, we, if we are wise, will gather what suits our needs and conforms to the truth, and pass over the rest…”

Following this sage advice, we would be wise not to embrace every single work of popular literature willy-nilly, nor to take the opposite extreme by condemning popular culture outright, but rather to approach popular culture and its products as St. Basil advises, with careful scrutiny, examination, and, to use a popular expression, “common sense.”

St. Basil’s admonition can be applied rather well to the current hype that is buzzing around The Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas these days.

He was mindful, as we should be mindful, that the time which God has given us on this earth is precious. Consequently, we should pay heed with what we choose to preoccupy ourselves and our time.

We would be wise to recognize that these works mentioned above constitute the current vogue of our times. If something is said to be “in vogue,” it is inherently understood that it is a passing fancy; that while it has now achieved popular sensation in its proverbial 15 minutes of fame, it will inevitably eclipse into the twilight, only to be replaced by something more likeable later on as tastes and interests change.

Such is the ebb and flow of popular culture. On the one hand, the heavy attention paid by our popular culture to these voguish works reflects the sad reality that our contemporary society is fast approaching a near total theological and historical illiteracy.

On the other hand, despite the grave theological illiteracy of our era, very few would dispute that people in our present time are thirsty for the truth, for substantive knowledge, for an authentic relationship with God. They are seeking the living water much like the Samaritan woman to whom Jesus revealed His messianic divinity, saying, Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water than I shall give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14).

As Greek Orthodox Christians who live within the popular culture of America, we stand in a unique position to offer to others a balanced perspective that authentically reflects the truth offered by Jesus Christ; and we are called

by Him to share the truth of His Gospel to others, who thirst for meaning.

This brief piece has endeavored to explain the attitude of our Orthodox Church towards popular culture, the challenges associated with discerning its positive and negative characteristics, and the need to view products of popular culture with heightened scrutiny, as St. Basil was advocating in his times. In this way, popular culture and its works can, at times, have the potential to serve as one of many venues for reconsidering a relationship with God. It is my hope that this brief reflection on an important topic may shed some additional light upon the culture in which we live, and emphasize our obligation as Orthodox Christians to share the light of Jesus Christ with others.

May His perfect peace be with you always, may His Gospel of Truth and love shine in your hearts, and may you continue to grow stronger in His knowledge and grace.

11

MAY 2006

Archiepiscopal Encyclical

Archbishop’s Encyclical on AHEPA Sunday 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, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen!

Each year during this blessed and joyous Paschal period we take the opportunity to recognize with appreciation the history and work of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA).

For more than eighty years, the faithful and dedicated members of AHEPA have offered their talents and resources to educational and philanthropic endeavors with the goals of promoting our Orthodox and Hellenic heritage, strengthening an identity associated with the beautiful and enduring ideals of our Greek legacy, and addressing the critical issues of our Omogenia.

For Orthodox faithful and the Greek Orthodox Church in America, one of the most important aspects of the work of AHEPA has been the support offered by its members for Orthodoxy and our Church.

Over the years, AHEPA has sponsored numerous conferences and symposia that have engaged both Orthodox Christians and others in examining the role of Hellenism in the history of our Orthodox Faith. Through its National Educational Foundation, AHEPA has continually offered numerous scholarships to Greek American youth.

Further, the members of AHEPA have offered numerous services to the faithful and institutions of our Archdiocese, showing our deep association and our shared commitment to the ideals of the Gospel.

In addition to all of this, we cannot forget to acknowledge and honor the contribution that has been made by the members of AHEPA and its family of organizations to the founding, building, and ongoing work of our Greek Orthodox parishes. Many members have served in positions of parish leadership and ministry, offering a very visible witness of faith and charity.

It is with this appreciation for AHEPA and for the commitment of its members to our heritage and faith that we as an Archdiocese designate May 21, 2006, as AHEPA Sunday.

I ask all of our Orthodox faithful to join together in offering thanks to the members of AHEPA. May we also offer our prayers and support for the local chapters and the national and international programs that assist so many and provide a vital link between this important organization, our Hellenic heritage, and our Holy Orthodox Church.

May the light, life, and joy of our resurrected and glorified Lord fill your hearts now and always.

With paternal love in the Risen Christ,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

 page 10 cannot contain, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.”

So if a man or woman is truly in love, isn’t it better that they marry than to commit sexual perversion?

Maybe, if we were less critical, we’d end up with more believing members. I was not Orthodox, but was a Christian when my husband and I married but, after a few years, I became Orthodox and still today after 30 years, I belong to the Orthodox Church.

Fran Glaros Clearwater, Fla. Editor’s Note: The quote from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians deals with relationships as they already existed at the time he was preaching to them. But in II Corinthians 6:14, he states, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

This addresses any future commitment for those as yet unmarried. The Orthodox Study Bible notes that “One important application of this passage is that the Church calls us to marriage between those of like faith.”

In the Orthodox sacrament of Holy Matrimony, a man and woman are not only united to each other, they are also united to Christ. This is not possible if one of the partners is a non-Christian.

Theologians have said that a true Greek Orthodox family has the characteristics of a “mico-ecclesia” with the spiritual welfare of its members as “its main reason for being.”

This means, among other things, that parents are charged with transmitting the faith to their children. A marriage with a non-Christian would create great confusion for the child and shatter the concept of the Orthodox family.

Also, the Church is described as “the body of Christ.” Either we choose to be part of that body, with all that that entails, or we don’t.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS The Other Holy Land Get it FREE on DVD or VHS with a $24.00 2-year Subscription ATTACH THIS AD TO THE SUBSCRCRIPTION COUPON

12

MAY 2006

TICKETS TO GREECE ON SALE !! ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ - ΑΘΗΝΑ - ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ ΧΕΙΜΩΝΑΣ

ROUND TRIP FROM

$

338

248

ONE WAY $ FROM

SPRING 2006: FROM $ 498 - SUMMER 2006: FROM $ 775 RESTRICTIONS APPLY - SPACE IS LIMITED-FUEL + TAXES EXTRA ΧΑΜΗΛΕΣ ΤΙΜΕΣ ΑΠ΄ΟΛΗ ΤΗΝ ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗ

STERLING TRAVEL Toll Free: 1-800-473-3238 20 LAUREN LANE, PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. 08865

908-213-6826 or 908-213-1251 www.hellastickets.com Owner: Vasilis & Minna Angelis

Looking to BUY or SELL a Home in Florida?

21737 State Road 7 Boca Raton, Florida 33428 Office: 1 888 350-2345 Ext. 318 Office: 1 561 488-1669 Direct

ΟΜΙΛΟΥΜΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS

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

Kontos Foods famous for its POCKET-LESS PITA, is proud to present its original products once again.

Fillo Kataifi Delicious, traditional products made

Spanakopita Tyropita with the highest quality ingredients

Courteous Service • WE SHIP EVERYWHERE in the US & CANADA KONTOS FOODS, INC • EVRIPIDES KONTOS, President

BOX 628, PATERSON, NJ 07544 (973) 278-2800 • Fax: (973) 278-7943

Embracing the Mystery Behind the Cross and Scrapping the Da Vinci Code There is a book, which was just released as a movie, that has captured the world’s attention called The Da Vinci Code. This is a work of fiction, but many are arguing it is based on certain secrets suppressed for centuries by the Catholic Church. Two of the most provocative claims this book makes are that Jesus was clandestinely married to Mary Magdalene and that they had children.

been distracted by The Da Vinci Code have lost sight of the blessed, good news that Christ died and resurrected some 2,000 years ago.

Good news that has transformative value for us; good news that provides us with purpose and meaning and significance; good news that can lift us out of the quagmire of spiritual darkness and guide us into God’s light and life; good news that helps us cultivate a relationship with God our Father; good news that comforts us “with peace that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).

For as St. John Chrysostom states in one of his catechetical homilies read at the Resurrection Service, “Christ is risen and life is liberated. Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of the dead; for Christ, having risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those who fall asleep.”

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

Of course, for anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of Holy Tradition, these and other similar claims and assumptions are utterly baseless, and are quickly rendered fictitious when compared to what Holy Tradition teaches. Yet, the fact remains that these fabrications have captured the curiosity of countess people, as is witnessed by the 45 million copies of this book - and counting – that have been sold world wide in numerous languages.

As a pastor, therapist and marriage and family specialist, I find the interest this book has generated lamentable. A major reason is because I know that if people were to take the time and energy they invest in understanding the details behind The Da Vinci Code, and put half the amount of time and effort into understanding Christ’s story, their lives, and the lives of their families would reap positive rewards.

Some Questions to Ponder

If these observations resonate with you personally, I would like to ask you to consider the following few questions.

Which story has impacted your life this Paschal season? Which of these two stories captured your attention?

Which story do you know better?

When compared to the time you spent considering The Da Vinci Code, how much time did you spend contemplating the meaning of the Cross and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior?

Your Priorities

Marriage and Family Life are Suffering

I have asked you to consider these questions because the story that has come down to us through Holy Tradition surrounding the Holy Cross and our Lord’s three-day burial and Resurrection, is transformative in nature and can make a difference in your life.

Conversely, the story behind The Da Vinci Code, however masterfully crafted, may have entertainment value, but has little lasting, redeeming value.

Through an understanding of the story behind Christ’s Holy Cross, as protected through Holy Tradition, God comes into our lives, and we develop a personal relationship with God that changes the way we see the world around us.

Moreover, the blessed message behind this story not only has a direct, positive, transformative impact on us; it also has a blessed impact on our marriages, families and our efforts to parent our children.

Mind you now, I am not suggesting that you abstain from reading fiction.

What I am suggesting is that you use this recent craze that is sweeping our nation as an opportunity to assess your priorities.

So, if The Da Vinci Code distracted you this Paschal season, and if you failed to spend ample time in prayer this Easter contemplating the real meaning of the Cross, do not despair. Christ accepts us at any time.

Even now as you are completing this article, He is knocking at the door of your heart seeking entrance.

If you let Him in, as Holy Scripture teaches, He will come into your heart, into your marriage and into your family and make a positive difference.

For the bottom line is this, what I have been alluding to in this article has something to do with priorities.

What are yours?

The fact is family life is reeling from serious challenges today. The divorce rate remains frighteningly high – somewhere around 40-50 percent. Birth rates among teens continue to hover around the one million mark annually.

Teen violence continues to grow, and suicide among teens claims far too many young lives.

In addition, the “one flesh” definition of marriage that has undergirded the institution of marriage from our country’s inception is now being called into question. Then again, fatherhood is also seriously undervalued, as are a child’s links to his or her biological parents. These trends are only the tip of the iceberg.

So, here is my question. Given these and other similar trends, why is it that The Da Vinci Code is a best seller, and valued information about Christ’s life from Holy Tradition that can make a difference in people’s lives is often ignored, discredited, misunderstood or challenged?

I really do not have the space to address myself to this question in this short article, but what I can say is that controversy related to Christ sells, especially in a society that is increasingly secular and antagonistic toward anything related to Christianity.

And while none of us would quibble with the fact that a free exchange of ideas has value, the fact remains that we can be easily distracted in this market place of ideas from certain information that might otherwise be useful.

One good example is related to how many Christians this Paschal season have been distracted by details related to The Da Vinci Code to the detriment of their efforts to embrace the message behind the Holy Cross.

What is Missed?

I suspect that many people who have

advertise observer@goarch.org

Tel ( 212 ) 570-3555

•

Fax (212) 77 -0239

MAY 2006

W

hen, at the age of twenty-one, Mehmed II (1451-1481) sat on the throne of the Ottoman Sultans his first thoughts turned to Constantinople.

The capital was all that was left from the mighty Christian Roman Empire and its presence, in the midst of the dominions of the powerful new rulers of the lands of Romania, was pregnant with danger.

by Dionysios Hatzopoulos

The new Sultan demonstrated diplomatic abilities, during his early attempts to isolate politically the Byzantine capital, when he signed treaties with the Emperor's most important Western allies, the Hungarians and the Venetians. He knew, however, that these were temporary measures, which would provide him with freedom of movement for a limited time only.

Artist’s depiction of Constantine Paleologos inside the land walls of the City under Siege.

To give the final blow on the halfdead body of the Byzantine Empire he had to move fast. He was so much preoccupied by his project of conquest that, according to the contemporary Greek Historian Michael Dukas, his mind was occupied by it day and night. A successful expedition against his enemy Ibrahim the Emir of Karamania, in central Asia Minor, postponed briefly his plans. He was back in his capital Adrianople in May 1451, where he set in motion his great project.

The first step was to isolate the Byzantine capital, both economically and militarily. Already, during the winter of 1451 he began recruiting competent builders, familiar with military works and fortifications, whose mission would be to build a powerful fortress on the Bosporus. Its construction, supervised by the Sultan, began in the middle of April 1452. Built on the European side, at the narrowest point of the strait, called initially the Cutter of the throat (Boghaz-kesen), it became eventually known as Rumeli Hisar. It was a huge complex of strong fortifications whose task was to shut completely, by its artillery, to Western and Byzantine vessels the route to and from the Black Sea. The new fortress complemented the one that had been built on the Anatolian shore, at the time of Sultan Bayazid I (1389-1402), about six miles south of Constantinople, which was known as Anadolu Hisar. The presence of the two fortresses made clear to everyone that the Sultan was the real master of the straits. From now on, all ships intending to enter the Black Sea had to pay tolls. If they refused they would

13

The Fall of Constantinople be sank. Indeed, near the end of 1452 a Venetian vessel attempted to pass without paying the required tolls. It was sunk by the new fortress's guns; its crew of thirty men was taken prisoner. The officers and sailors were brought to the Sultan, who ordered their immediate execution.

The act was rightly interpreted by the Venetian and Genoese governments as an indication of hostilities soon to break.

However, despite all the indications and the realization that a new siege of Constantinople was to begin at any moment, the two Italian Republics, under political and economic pressures at home, reacted without much enthusiasm.

Help was limited. Indeed, under the command of the brave Giovanni Giustiniani Longo about 700 well armed men sailed, on two Genoese vessels, for the Byzantine capital. The ships arrived in the city on January 29, 1453, Giustiniani was promptly appointed by the Emperor head of the defense. Of the men, 400 were recruited in Genoa and 300 on the Genoese held island of Chios. Giustiniani's men composed the largest Western contingent.

Also, Venice allowed the Emperor to recruit a contingent of Cretan soldiers and sailors, who acted heroically during the siege. The former Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia Isidoros, a Cardinal of the Roman Church, who came to Constantinople as Papal Legate, recruited at Naples, at the Pope's expense, 200 soldiers. A number of brave men joined the Emperor in his final stand: Maurizio Cattaneo, the Bocchiardo brothers, Paolo, Antonio and Troilo, the Castilian nobleman Don Francisco de Toledo, the German engineer Johannes Grant, and also the Ottoman prince Orhan, who lived in Constantinople.

Without hinterland and completely cut off from its maritime routes, Constantinople was doomed. Despite sporadic and desperate Byzantine attempts to prevent

its building, Rumeli Hisar was completed in August 1452. The population of the blockaded city interpreted its completion as an unmistakable sign that the final struggle was about to begin. Realizing that all contacts with the Ottoman side were broken Emperor Constantine XI Palaeologus (14491453) ordered the closing of the city's gates.

The last Byzantine Emperor, born in 1404, was a son of Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus (1391-1425) and of Helen Dragash, a Serbian Princess. His brother John VIII (1425-1448) hoped that by accepting the union of the Churches, and the expected Western military assistance, he could stave off the collapse of the state. Leading a Greek delegation, which included the greatest secular and religious minds of fifteenth century Hellenism, he traveled to Florence. There, after long and heated discussions, on July 6, 1439, Cardinal Giuliano Cesarini and Archbishop Bessarion of Nicaea read in Latin and Greek the Act of the Union. Despite the official document and the Emperor's willingness to implement it, the end could not be avoided.

The agreement was seen by the people, back home, as submission to the Papacy and betrayal of the Orthodox faith. The promised crusade, to save Constantinople, collapsed on the battlefield of Varna, in Bulgaria, on November 10, 1444. Four years later, on October 31, 1448, John VIII, depressed and disillusioned, passed

away. As he had no children the imperial crown passed on to his brother Constantine, who was, at the time, ruler of the Peloponnese, the Despotato of Moreas.

Crowned in the Cathedral at Mystra, his capital, on January 6, 1449, the new and last Christian Roman Emperor entered, two months later, on March 12, the isolated Imperial capital.

Militarily insignificant, economically depending on the Italian maritime Republics, hoping for Western assistance and a new crusade, the Byzantine Empire, or rather its capital –a head without body– waited for the inevitable. Thanks to the strong, dignified and proud personality of its last ruler, who in other times might have been a fine Emperor, the political end of the Medieval Greek state and the physical end of its leader acquired the dimensions of an apotheosis.

Behind the ancient walls of Constantinople the new Emperor followed his late brother's policies; He could not do much else. Thus, amid hostile reactions by most of the city's population, he attempted to revive the Union (with the Papal Church) by proclaiming it in the Cathedral of Saint Sophia on December 12, 1452. No practical results came out of the enforced proclamation. Despite Constantine's final appeals to the Pope and to his Western allies, no crusade and no substantial help ever materialized. Promises and expres-

 page 14

14

MAY 2006

The Fall of Constantinople

 page 13 sions of sympathy were all that was sent to him, and in any case he did not live long enough to receive them. As a matter of fact, in the middle of May of 1453 the Venetian Senate was still deliberating about sending a fleet to Constantinople.

Even the Genoese colony of Pera, facing the capital, attempted to stay neutral. It did, but neutrality did not help it when the Sultan succeeded the Roman Emperors.

To the people of the capital, the only thing that mattered now, at the end of political freedom and at the beginning of the long darkness of foreign occupation, was holding on to the ancestral faith.

When the siege began the population of the capital amounted, including the refugees from the surrounding area, to about 50,000 people. Behind the enormous walls were inhabited areas separated from each other by fields, orchards, gardens, or even by deserted neighborhoods. Most inhabitants lived near the port area, along the Golden Horn, in view of the Genoese colony of Pera. The city's garrison included 5,000 Greeks and about 2,000 foreigners, mostly Genoese and Venetian. Giustiniani's men were well armed and trained; the rest included small units of well trained soldiers, armed civilians, sailors, volunteers from the foreign communities and also monks.

What the defenders lacked in training and armament they possessed in fighting spirit. Indeed, most were killed fighting. A few small caliber artillery pieces, used by the garrison proved ineffective. Despite disagreements over religious policies, and what was seen as capitulation to the Pope, the civilian population supported

The perivolos between the inner and outer walls of Constantinople

The inner terrace between the inner and outer walls was called the perivolos and accommodated the soldiers who defended the outer wall. It was between 50 and 64 feet wide. Beyond lay the outer wall, which was a modest structure compared with the inner wall. This plate shows a memorable moment during the Ottoman siege. An apparition of Virgin Mary on the wall was believed to have heartened the citizens.

the Emperor overwhelmingly. The alternative was disastrous. The people, men and women, participated in the repairs of the walls and in the deepening of the foss, volunteers manned observation posts, food provisions were collected, gold and silver objects held in the churches were melted to make coins in order to pay the foreign soldiers, the city's harbor, the Golden Horn, was shut by a huge chain.

With the exception of about 700 Italian residents of the city who fled on board

Congratulations to the Recent Graduates of St. Stephen’s Course in Applied Orthodox Theology upon their ordination into the Holy Diaconate Rev. Deacon William Courbanou

at St. Paraskeve Greek Orthodox Church, Greenlawn NY The laying of hands by

His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas

Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on January 15, 2006

Rev. Deacon Gavrilo Milkovich

at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Raleigh, NC The laying of hands by

His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios

of the Metropolis of Atlanta of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on January 21, 2006 For the past 25 years, the St. Stephen’s Course in Applied Orthodox Theology has been aducating men and women - Orthodox and non-Orthodox - from alla parts of the world. It is a theological “school without walls” - a directed distance reading program with an integrated three year program. The students are from Ireland, South America, Nigeria, Ghana, The Middle East, Greece, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Central and South America.

These students have had a strong desire to learn more about the Greek Orthodox Church, its faith, doctrine and traditions. They are not, or were not, able to attend a seminary or an Orthodox Theological School due to pursuing a secular career or family obligations, etc. There are over 1,000 graduates who now serve, not only as deacons, but also the local parish as church school directors, teachers, youth ministers, etc.

If you are interested in learning more about the program, please fill out the form below or contact the St. Stephen’s office at (201) 569-0095 or Theoedu@aol.com for a catalogue.

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Please Print

Address: ____________________________Telephone_____________________ City: ________________________________ State: _______ Zip: ____________ e-mail: __________________________________Country__________________

Mail to: St. Stephen’s Course, 385 Ivy Lane, Bergenfield, NJ 07621

seven ships, on the night of February 26, no one else imitated them. The rest of the population –Greek and foreign– fought until the bitter end.

At the beginning of 1453 the Sultan's army began massing on the plain of Adrianople. Troops came from every region of the Empire. Possibly well over 150,000 men, including thousands of irregulars, from many nationalities, who were attracted by the prospect of looting, were ready to assault the city. The regular troops were well equipped and well trained. The elite corps of the Janissaries composed of abducted Christian children, forcibly converted to Islam, and subsequently trained as professional soldiers, constituted the spear-head of the Ottoman army. The besieging army included a number of artillery pieces, of which one, facing the Military Gate of St. Romanos, was particularly huge and was expected to cause heavy damage to the walls in that area. The army, accompanied by crowds of fanatic Dervishes, started moving slowly towards Constantinople. A few small towns, still in Greek hands, near the capital were soon occupied by the Sultan's army. Of those towns Selymvria resisted longer.

During the first week of April the Ottoman troops began taking their assigned positions in front of the city walls. The Sultan had his tent installed north of the civil Gate of St. Romanos, near the river Lycus, facing the 5th Military Gate, also known as Military Gate of St. Romanos.

He ordered the big canon to be installed in the same area. To protect the troops, a protective trench was opened in front of the Ottoman units, the earth from it was accumulated on the city side and on top of it was erected a palisade. On the 12th the Ottoman fleet arrived from Gallipoli. Composed of approximately 200 ships of various sizes and displacements, it sealed the Byzantine capital from the sea. Mehmed's admiral was the Bulgarian renegade Suleiman Baltoghlu. On his side the Emperor distributed his troops as best as he could. It was impossible, with the available garrison, to cover the entire walled circumference of the capital, about fourteen miles long. However, it was clear to all that the main attack would be delivered by the enemy along the land-walls, about four miles long. With the exception of the Vlachernae section of the walls, at the north-eastern end of the land side, the

city was protected, on the land side, by a triple wall, with a deep foss in front of it. On the sea side, including the Golden Horn port area, the city was protected by a single wall.

Given the availability of troops and the critical sections of the walls, Giustiniani, with most of his men, as well as the Emperor and his best troops, took position in the Military St. Romanos Gate sector, where heavy damage was expected to be inflicted by the canon and the main Ottoman assault to be launched. The Venetian Bailo (the Head of the Venetian Community at Constantinople) Girolamo Minotto and his countrymen were charged with the defense of the region of Vlachernae, where the Imperial Palace was located. Minotto and his men faced the European troops of Karadja Pasha. Across the Golden Horn, to the left of Pera, ready to intervene, stood the troops of Zaganos Pasha. Along the southern section of the land-walls the defenders faced the Anatolian troops under the command of Ishak Pasha. The Grand Duke Lukas Notaras, with a reserve unit took position near the walls, at the Petra neighborhood, in the north-eastern section of the city. Another reserve unit was stationed near the church of the Holy Apostles, near the center of the city. Most units were positioned on and behind the land-walls. The sea-walls were thinly manned. To protect the entrance to the port the Venetian commander of the small fleet of the defenders, Alviso Diedo, ordered ten ships to take position behind the chain.

According to Islamic tradition the Sultan, before the beginning of hostilities, demanded the surrender of the city, promising to spare the lives of its inhabitants and respect their property. In a proud and dignified reply the Emperor rejected Mehmed's demand. Almost immediately the Ottoman guns began firing. The continuous bombardment soon brought down a section of the walls near the Gate of Charisius, north of the Emperor's position. When night fell, everyone, who was available, rushed to repair the damage.

Meanwhile Ottoman troops were trying to fill the foss, particularly in areas in front of the weak sections of the walls which were now constantly bombarded. Other units began attempts to mine weak sections of the wall. On the port area a first attempt by the Ottoman fleet to test the defenders' reaction failed.

Until the end of the siege the Ottoman guns did not stop pounding the walls.

Heavy damage was inflicted. The defenders did their best to limit it. They hanged bales of wool, sheets of leather. Nothing could help. The section of the walls in the Lycus valley, near the Emperor's position, was heavily damaged. The foss in front of it was almost filled by the besiegers. Behind it, the defenders erected a stockade, night after night men and women came from the city to repair the damaged sections.

The first assault was launched during the night of April 18. Thousands of men attacked the stockade and attempted to burn it down. Giustiniani, his men, and their Greek comrades fought valiantly.

Well armed, protected by armor, fighting in a restricted area, they succeeded after four hours of bloody struggle to hold off the enemy.

– to be continued – Dionysios Hatzopoulos is professor of Classical and Byzantine Studies, and chairman of Hellenic Studies Center at Dawson College, Montreal, and Lecturer at the Department of History at Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

ΜΑIΟΣ 2006

ΕΤΟΣ 71 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1223

Εμφαση στην ορθόδοξη οικογένεια στην 38η Κληρικολαϊκή ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ – Η 38η Κληρικολαϊκή Συνέλευση πραγματοποιείται φέτος στο Nashville του Τενεσί μεταξύ 15-21 Ιουλίου. Παρά λ ληλα συνέρχεται το σ υνέδριο της Εθνικής Φι λοπτώχου Αδελφότητος, ενώ προηγείται το συνέδριο της Οργάνωσης Νεολαίας της Εκκλησίας μας.

Άντερσον και σημείωσε ιδιαίτερα την συνεισφορά της Ιεράς Μητροπόλεως Ντιτρόϊτ στην εν γένει προετοιμασία. Οι εργασίες της Κληρικολαϊκής θα λάβουν χώρα στο Ξενοδοχείο και συνεδριακό κέντρο Gaylord Opryland. Το Συνέδριο της Νεολαίας αρχίζει στις 14 Ιουλίου, ενώ το Αρχιεπισκοπικό Συμβούλιο και το Συμβούλιο της Φιλοπτώχου θα συνεδριάσουν στις 15 Ιουλίου. Την Κυριακή 16 Ιουλίου θα τελεσθεί Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία σε ειδικά διαμορφωμένη αίθουσα του ξενοδοχείου με την συμμετοχή όλων των Ιεραρχών της Ι. Επαρχιακής Συνόδου. Το πρωί της 17ης Ιουλίου ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος θα εκφωνήσει τον εναρκτήριο λόγο κατά την διάρκεια προγεύματος. Το βράδι της ίδιας ημέρας πρόκειται να πραγματοποιηθεί το επίσημο δείπνο της Εθνικής Φιλοπτώχου.

Μεταδίδουμε την Αλήθεια του Ευαγγελίου και την Αγάπη του Χριστού Η φετεινή Κληρικολαϊκή, το θέμα της οποίας αντικατοπτρίζει η φράση «Μεταδίδουμε την Αλήθεια του Ευαγγελίου και την Αγάπη του Χριστού», πρόκειται να αποτελέσει σταθμό για τους Ελληνορθοδόξους της Αμερικής και εκτός από την επιτέλεση του καθιερωμένου έργου της, θα παρέχει ευκαιρίες ανάπαυλας, πνευματικής ανανέωσης, προσευχής αλλά και εκπαιδευτικών προγραμμάτων και σεμιναρίων για την ελληνορθόδοξη οικογένεια. «Η ελληνορθόδοξη κοινότητα του Nashville (οι ενορίες της Αγίας Τριάδος και του Αγίου Ιωάννου του Χρυσοστόμου) είναι η μικρότερη σε μέγεθος που ανέλαβε ποτέ την διοργάνωση της Κληρικολαϊκής», δήλωσε ο πρόεδρος της διοργανωτικής επιτροπής Γεώργιος

Στον Παρθενώνα

ΔΗΜ. ΠΑΝΑΓΟΣ

Η τελετή αποφοίτησης του Ελληνικού Κολλεγίου και της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού της Βοστώνης πραγματοποιήθηκε στις 20 Μαΐου παρουσία του Αρχιεπισκόπου ∆ημητρίου, το οποίον πλαισιώνουν στην φωτογραφία οι απόφοιτοι του Κολλεγίου, οι επίσκοποι Αμορίου Ιωάννης και Φασιανής Αντώνιος, ο πρόεδρος της Σχολής π. Νικ. Τριανταφύλλου και η πρύτανις Λίλυ Μακράκη.

Το βράδι της 18ης Ιουλίου διοργανών ε τ α ι πολ ιτ ι σ τ ι κ ή βρ α δι ά σ τ ο Centennial Park, στο οποίο δεσπόζει το μοναδικό στον κόσμο ακριβές αντίγραφο του Παρθενώνα. Θα περιλαμβάνει συναυλία μουσικής country και αυθεντικής ελληνικής μουσικής, χορευτικά συγκροτήματα και παραδοσιακό φαγητό του Νότου. Το πενθήμερο πρόγραμμα περιλαμβάνει επίσης πολλές άλλες δραστηριότητες όπως γκολφ και επισκέψεις σε αξιοθέατα και ιστορικούς χώρους. Αναλυτικές πληροφορίες και υλικό διατίθενται στην ιστοσελίδα w w w. clergylaity.org.

Α ΡΧΙΕΠΙ ΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥ Κ ΛΙΟΣ 21 Μαΐου 2006 – Κυριακή τῆς ΑHEPA Πρός τούς Σεβασµιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί ∆ιακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συµβουλίων, τά Ἡµερήσια καί Ἀπογευµατινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλοπτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυµον πλήρωµα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀµερικῆς. Ἀγαπητοί Ἀδελφοί καί Ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Χριστός Ἀνέστη! Κάθε χρόνο κατά τή διάρκεια τῆς εὐλογηµένης καί χαρµόσυνης Πασχαλινῆς περιόδου, ἔχουµε τήν εὐκαιρία νά τιµήσουµε τήν ἱστορία καί τό ἔργο τοῦ ἙλληνοἈµερικανικοῦ Προοδευτικοῦ Συλλόγου (AHEPA). Ἐπί ὀγδόντα καί πλέον ἔτη, τά πιστά καί ἀφοσιωµένα µέλη τῆς AHEPA προσφέρουν τά ταλέντα καί τά µέσα πού διαθέτουν πρός ὄφελος ἐκπαιδευτικῶν καί φιλανθρωπικῶν προσπαθειῶν µέ στόχο τήν προαγωγή τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου καί Ἑλληνικῆς κληρονοµίας µας, τήν ἐνδυνάµωση τῆς ταυτότητος ἡ ὁποία σχετίζεται µέ τά ὡραῖα καί διαχρονικά ἰδανικά τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς παρακαταθήκης µας, καί τήν ἀντιµετώπιση καίριων θεµάτων τῆς Ὁµογενείας. Γιά τούς Ὀρθοδόξους πιστούς καί τήν Ἑλληνική Ὀρθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία στήν Ἀµερική, ἡ στήριξη πού προσέφεραν τά µέλη τῆς AHEPA στήν Ὀρθοδοξία καί τήν Ἐκκλησία µας ἀποτελεῖ µία ἀπό τίς πλέον σηµαντικές πτυχές τοῦ ἔργου της. Κατά τή διάρκεια ὅλων αὐτῶν τῶν χρόνων, ἡ AHEPA ὑπῆρξε χορηγός πολυάριθµων συνεδρίων καί συµποσίων στά ὁποῖα συµµετεῖχαν Ὀρθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί καί ἄλλοι καί στά ὁποῖα ἐξετάσθηκε ὁ ρόλος τοῦ Ἑλληνισµοῦ στήν ἱστορία τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Πίστεως. Μέσῳ τοῦ Ἐθνικοῦ Ἐκπαιδευτικοῦ Ταµείου της ἡ AHEPA προσέφερε ἀδιάλειπτα πολυάριθµες ὑποτροφίες σέ νέους Ἑλληνοαµερικανούς. Ἐπίσης, τά µέλη τῆς AHEPA ἔχουν

προσφέρει πολλές ὑπηρεσίες σέ πιστούς καί ἱδρύµατα τῆς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς µας, ἐκδηλώνοντας τήν βαθειά σύνδεσή µας καί τήν κοινή ἀφοσίωσή µας στά ἰδανικά τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου. Ἐπιπροσθέτως, δέν πρέπει νά λησµονήσουµε νά ἀναγνωρίσουµε καί νά τιµήσουµε τήν συνεισφορά τῶν µελῶν τῆς AHEPA καί τῶν σχετιζοµένων µέ αὐτήν ὀργανισµῶν στήν ἵδρυση, οἰκοδοµή καί τό συνεχές ἔργο τῶν Ἑλληνορθοδόξων ἐνοριῶν µας. Πολλά µέλη της ἔχουν ὑπηρετήσει σέ θέσεις ἐνοριακῆς ἡγεσίας καί διακονίας, προσφέροντας σηµαντική µαρτυρία πίστεως καί φιλανθρωπίας. Μέ αὐτό τό πνεῦµα ἀναγνωρίσεως τῆς AHEPA καί τῆς ἀφοσιώσεως τῶν µελῶν της στήν κληρονοµία καί πίστη µας, ἐµεῖς ὡς Ἀρχιεπισκοπή ἀνακηρύσσουµε τήν Κυριακή 21 Μαΐου 2006 ὡς Κυριακή τῆς AHEPA. Προσκαλῶ ὅλους τούς Ὀρθοδόξους χριστιανούς νά προσφέρετε ὅλοι µαζί ἀπό κοινοῦ τίς εὐχαριστίες σας πρός τά µέλη τῆς AHEPA. Ἄς προσευχηθοῦµε ἐπίσης γιά τά τοπικά παραρτήµατα, καθώς καί γιά τά ἐθνικά καί παγκόσµια προγράµµατα τά ὁποῖα στηρίζουν πολλούς ἀνθρώπους καί ταυτόχρονα ἀποτελοῦν ἕνα ζωτικό συνδετικό κρίκο µεταξύ αὐτοῦ τοῦ πολύ σηµαντικοῦ ὀργανισµοῦ, τῆς Ἑλληνικῆς κληρονοµίας µας καί τῆς Ἁγίας Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας µας. Εἴθε τό φῶς, ἡ ζωή καί ἡ χαρά τοῦ ἀναστάντος καί δεδοξασµένου Κυρίου µας νά γεµίζῃ τίς καρδιές σας καί τώρα καί πάντοτε.

Μετά πατρικῆς ἀγάπης ἐν Χριστῷ Ἀναστάντι,

ÿ ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀµερικῆς ∆ηµήτριος

16

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΜΑIΟΣ 2006

Η αλήθεια για τον «ΚΩ∆ΙΚΑ Da Vinci» Πολλά ακούστηκαν και γράφτηκαν τελευταία για το μυθιστόρημα «Κώδικας Ντα Βίντσι» με την ευκαιρία της μεταφοράς του στο κινηματογράφο η οποία όμως έτυχε πολύ χλιαρής υποδοχής τουλάχιστον από τους κριτικούς. Η Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αμερικής ανταποκρινόμενη στην ανάγκη των πιστών για σωστή ενημέρωση παρουσίασε μια σειρά άρθρων με την ορθόδοξη άποψη είτε μέσω του «Ορθοδόξου Παρατηρητή» (βλ. αγγλικές σελίδες στο παρόν και στο προηγούμενο τεύχος) είτε μέσω ενός ειδικού διαδυκτιακού τόπου αφιερωμένου ειδικά στο θέμα αυτό (βλ. goarch.org) Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος, ένας από τους βαθύτερους μελετητές της Καινής Διαθήκης, σε δηλώσεις του σχετικά με το θέμα αυτό στον ομογενειακό τύπο μεταξύ άλλων δήλωσε: «Ο συγγραφέας ισχυρίζεται ότι ο Χριστός δεν ήταν Θεός εξ αρχής, κατόρθωσαν να τον προβάλλουν ως Θεό με διάφορες μηχανορραφίες που έκανε ο Μέγας Κωνσταντίνος στην πρώτη Οικουμενική Σύνοδο το 325. Αυτό είναι μία τεραστία πλάνη και ιστορική παραβίαση διότι ήδη στα Ευαγγέλια υπάρχουν οι διακυρήξεις της θεότητος του Κυρίου, οι ομολογίες του Πέτρου, το Κατά Ιωάννην Ευαγγέλιο, στα κείμενα του Αποστόλου Παύλου στην προς Φιλιππησίους, Εφεσίους, Κολασσαείς επιστολές. Υπάρχει το γεγονός της Αναστάσεως, η ομολογία του Θωμά, επομένως είναι σαφής η διακήρυξη… πρόκειται για μυθιστόρημα αυτό που λέμε αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα και ο συγγραφέας του χρησιμοποιεί ένα γνωστό πίνακα του Λεονάρντο Να Βίντσι στον οποίο παρουσιάζει τον μυστικό δείπνο με την ερμηνεία που δίνει στο πρόσωπο στα δεξιά του Κυρίου, το οποίο υποτίθεται ότι είναι ο Ευαγγελιστής Ιωάννης, αλλά ο συγγραφέας ισχυρίζεται ότι είναι ένα γυναικείο πρόσωπο κι αυτό δημιουργεί την όλη ιστορία. Ενώ είναι μυθιστόρημα –και ως τέτοιο είναι φαντασία και μπορεί να γράψει κανείς ό,τι θέλει– όμως θίγει ιστορικά γεγονότα τα οποία έχουν μεγάλη σημασία και τα οποία προσβάλλουν βασικά δόγματα της πίστεως και φυσικά την ιστορική αλήθεια. Διάβασα το βιβλίο, το οποίο δείχνει άνθρωπο ο οποίος δε γνωρίζει στοιχειώδη πράγματα της Ιστορίας. Όσον αφορά τα στοιχεία για δήθεν ύπαρξη του αγίου δισκοπότηρου είναι

Αγκαλιάζοντας τον κόσμο

μια θεωρία παλιά του δυτικού μεσαίωνα ότι διασώθηκε ένα κύπελο το οποίο περιείχε αίμα του Κυρίου επί του Σταυρού. Η ανατολή δεν γνωρίζει περί αυτού του κυπέλου, δεν γνωρίζει περί Μαρίας της Μαγδαληνής, δεν γνωρίζει περί διαφυγής της και των απογόνων της στη Γαλλία, όλα αυτά είναι καθαρά προϊόντα του δυτικού μεσαίωνα και γι αυτό το λόγο δεν μας απασχολούν». Εξ άλλου, η Ιερά Σύνοδος της Εκκλησίας της Ελλάδος απέστειλε για το ίδιο θέμα επιστολή «Προς τον λαό» στην οποία μεταξύ ά λ λων τονίζονται τα εξής: Είναι γνωστό ότι το μυθιστόρημα «Κώδικας Da Vinci», που έγινε παγκόσμιο best seller, χάρις στη διαφημιστική συμμετοχή πολλών «κύκλων», επέτυχε να γίνει η μεγάλη εκδοτική επιτυχία μετά τον Χάρρυ Πότερ, κάνοντας πλούσιους συγγραφέα και εκδότες. Το ανιστόρητο και ταυτόχρονα υβριστικό μήνυμα, που ο συγγραφέας Dan Brown προσπαθεί να «περάσει» στο ευρύ κοινό, είναι ότι : α´ δήθεν ο Κύριός μας Ιησούς Χριστός και η Αγία Μαρία η Μαγδαληνή ήταν παντρεμένοι και είχαν αποκτήσει και παιδιά, β´ δήθεν ο Χριστός δεν ήταν Θεός, ούτε ποτέ λατρεύθηκε από τους πρώτους χριστιανούς ως Θεός, γ´ δήθεν υπήρχε δίπλα στο Θεό η λατρεία μιας θηλυκής θεότητας, η οποία στο μυθιστόρημα αντιπροσωπεύεται από την Αγία Μαρία την Μαγδαληνή, δ´ δήθεν η «αλήθεια» αυτή εκδιώχθηκε από τα ευαγγέλια αργότερα από τον Άγιο Κωνσταντίνο, σε συνεργασία με τους άνδρες ιερείς και με τους νόμους του κράτους επιβλήθηκε ο Χριστός ως Θεός, και ε´ δήθεν υπήρχαν πολ λά αρχαία γνωστικής υφής έγγραφα, που πιστοποιούν την υποτιθέμενη αυτή «αλήθεια». Χάριν της αληθείας και των πιστών, των οποίων η θρησκευτική συνείδηση προσβάλλεται και υποσκάπτεται ύπουλα και ανιστόρητα από την μυθιστορηματική πλοκή του βιβλίου, οφείλουμε να ξεκαθαρίσουμε τα εξής: Από ιστορικής και χριστιανικής πλευράς, το περιεχόμενο του βιβλίου είναι πέρα για πέρα αναληθές. α´ Ο Χριστός ουδέποτε νυμφεύθηκε και ασφαλώς ούτε με την Αγία Μαρία τη Μαγδαληνή. Ο Κύριός μας ως τέλει-

Embracing the World

Αναζητείστε τις νέες προσφορές που υπάρχουν για Ανοιξη, Καλοκαίρι και Φθινόπωρο

Call your Travel agent or Olympic Airlines at 800-223-1226 or visit us on the web at www.olympicairlines.com

ος Θεός και τέλειος άνθρωπος, χωρίς την αμαρτία, δεν είχε τις ανθρώπινες ροπές και τα διαβλητά πάθη. β´ Ο Χριστός αναγνωρίζεται ως Θεός εξαρχής στην πρώτη Εκκλησία, γεγονός που πιστοποιείται τόσο από τα ίδια τα ευαγγέλια, τις επιστολές του Αποστόλου Παύλου (που χρονολογούνται γύρω στο 55 μ.Χ.), και τις Πράξεις των Αποστόλων (γύρω στο 75 μ.Χ.), όσο και από τα μονογράμματα – σύμβολα που έχουν βρεθεί στις Κατακόμβες για τον Χριστό, αλλά και από πολλά ρωμαϊκά και πρωτοχριστιανικά κείμενα του 1ου και 2ου αιώνα. Για παράδειγμα ο Απόστολος Πέτρος ομολογεί: «Συ ει ο Χριστός, ο Υιός του Θεού του ζώντος», ο Θωμάς αναφωνεί: «ο Κύριός μου και ο Θεός μου» και ο εκατόνταρχος στο Σταυρό διακηρύττει: «Αληθώς, Θεού Υιός ην ούτος». γ ´ Ακόμη ο Θεός δεν έχει εκ φύσεως φύλο, δεν είναι ούτε άνδρας, ούτε γυναίκα, αλλά πνεύμα. Επομένως δεν μπορούμε να μιλάμε για αιώνιο θηλυκό η για θηλυκή θεότητα διότι τέτοιες αντιλήψεις είναι τελείως ανθρωποπαθείς και πηγάζουν από την προϊστορική και ειδωλολατρική αρχαιότητα και την μυθοπλαστική διάθεση του συγγραφέα. δ ´ Οι αλήθειες που περιγράφουν και διδάσκουν τα ευαγγέλια δεν είναι

εφεύρεση του Αγίου Κωνσταντίνου, ο οποίος άλ λωστε, παράλ ληλα με την εύνοιά του προς τον Χριστιανισμό, είναι τεκμηριωμένο ότι δεν καταπολέμησε την ειδωλολατρική θρησκεία. Στην εποχή του Αγίου Κωνσταντίνου η Εκκλησία είχε σχεδόν διαμορφώσει την δογματική της διδασκαλία για τον Τριαδικό Θεό, το πρόσωπο και την θεανθρώπινη φύση του Κυρίου κ.λ.π. Εκατομμύρια άνθρωποι ήσαν χριστιανοί η είχαν ήδη πεθάνει βασανιζόμενοι στα αμφιθέατρα και τις ρωμαϊκές αρένες και σε διάφορα μήκη και πλάτη της γης, γιατί πίστευαν στον Χριστό ως Θεό. Ο συγγραφέας, όπως ανακάλυψε η δημοσιογράφος Μαρί Ετσεγκουάν, έχει συλλέξει τις πηγές του από μία ακραία οργάνωση με μεγαλεπήβολα σχέδια που συστάθηκε ως αστική εταιρεία το 1956 με την ονομασία «Ηγουμενείον της Σιών». Η πλαστότητα των πηγών της οργάνωσης αποκαλύφθηκε σε γαλ λικό δικαστήριο στην δεκαετία του 1990. Η οργάνωση αυτή κατασκεύασε και προώθησε σειρά εγγράφων που «αποδείκνυαν» δήθεν τον γάμο του Ιησού Χριστού με την Αγία Μαρία την Μαγδαληνή. Είναι βέβαιο ότι χρησιμοποίησαν στοιχεία της διδασκαλίας των Γνωστικών, των Σταυροφόρων, των Ναϊτών, των Καθαρών και άλλων αιρετικών.

Ο π. Σεβαστιανός Σκορδαλλός διορίστηκε αρχιγραμματέας της Συνόδου ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ.– Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος ανακοίνωσε τον διορισμό του Πανοσιολογιωτάτου Αρχιμανδρίτου Σεβαστιανού Σκορδαλλού ως Αρχιγραμματέως της Ι. Επαρχιακής Συνόδου της Ελληνικής Ορθοδόξου Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής. Η Αρχιγραμματεία είναι πρωτίστως υπεύθυνη για την έγκαιρη εφαρμογή των αποφάσεων της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής Συνόδου και την διεκπεραίωση του έργου των Συνοδικών Επιτροπών της Ι. Αρχιεπισκοπής. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος αναφερόμενος στον διορισμό του π. Σεβαστιανού δήλωσε: «Ο Πανοσιολογιώτατος Αρχιμανδρίτης π. Σεβαστιανός Σκορδαλλός είναι κ ληρικός τον οποίο κατά κοινή ομολογία χαρακτηρίζουν η ευσέβεια, η μόρφωση και η ακεραιότητα. Προσευχώμεθα για μια γόνιμη εν Χριστώ διακονία του πατρός Σεβαστιανού από την πολύ υπεύθυνη αυτή θέση του Αρχιγραμματέως της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής μας Συνόδου για την απρόσκοπτη συνέχεια του έργου της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής και εις δόξαν του Τριαδικού Θεού». Ο π. Σεβαστιανός γεννήθηκε στην Πάνω Ζώδια της Κύπρου. Σε νεαρή ηλικία έγινε δόκιμος στο Μοναστήρι του Σταυροβουνίου. Στις 17 Ιανουαρίου του 1974, χειροτονήθηκε διάκονος από τον αείμνηστο Μητροπολίτη Μόρφου Χρύσανθο. Μετά την εισβολή των Τούρκων στην Κύπρο, ο πατήρ Σεβαστιανός και η οικογένειά του, όπως και η μισή Μητρόπολη της Μόρφου έγιναν πρόσφυγες. Ο πατήρ Σεβαστιανός εφοίτησε στην Θεολογική Σχολή του Πανεπιστημίου των Αθηνών από την οποία και έλαβε το Δίπλωμα της Θεολογίας το 1978. Χειροτονήθηκε ιερεύς στις 4 Μαρ-

τίου 1979 και έλαβε το οφίκιον του Αρχιμανδρίτη. Φοίτησε στο Πανεπιστήμιο Emory και στη Θεολογική Σχολή Κολούμπια από το 1979 έως το 1980 από όπου έλαβε το τίτλο Μάστερς της Θεολογίας στην Ποιμαντική Ψυχολογία. Από το 1982 έως το 1984 ήταν υποψήφιος Διδακτορικού στην Ποιμαντική Ψυχολογία στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Vanderbilt στο Nashville Tennessee. Από το 1984 έως το 1989 ο πατήρ Σεβαστιανός επέστρεψε στην Κύπρο, όπου και υπηρέτησε ως Ιερατικώς Προϊστάμενος του Μητροπολιτικού Ναού της Παναγίας της Καθολικής στη Λεμεσό. Το 1989 υπηρέτησε στο ναό του Τιμίου Σταυρού, και Αγίων Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης στο Huntsville, Alabama. Το 1993 διορίστηκε Προϊστάμενος στο ναό της Μεταμόρφωσης του Σωτήρος στην Μαριέττα της Georgia όπου και διακόνησε έως τον Αύγουστο του 2004 οπότε τοποθετήθηκε προϊστάμενος στον Καθεδρικό Ναό του Αγίου Νικολάου, στο Τάρπον Σπρινγκς της Φλόριδας. Κατά την διάρκεια της υπηρεσίας του τα περασμένα Θεοφάνεια στο Τάρπον Σπρίνγκς, ο Καθεδρικός Ναός γιόρτασε την εκατονταετηρίδα του με την συμμετοχή του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου κ. Βαρθολομαίου. Ο π. Σεβαστιανός υπηρέτησε για έξι συνεχή χρόνια ως πρόεδρος του Συνδέσμου Κληρικών της Μητρόπολης της Ατλάντας ως επίσης και σαν μέλος και αντιπρόεδρος του Εθνικού Συμβουλίου των Πρεσβυτέρων. Είναι μέλος τόσο του Μητροπολιτικού Συμβουλίου της Μητροπόλεως Ατλάντας όσο και του Αρχιεπισκοπικού Συμβουλίου της Ι. Αρχιεπισκοπής Αμερικής και υπηρετεί στην αρχιεπισκοπική επιτροπή εσωτερικής Ιεραποστολής της Αρχιεπισκοπής. Ο π. Σκορδαλλός θα αναλάβει τα καθήκοντά του από 1ης Ιουνίου 2006.

17

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ORTHODOX OBSERVER

ΜΑΙΟΣ 2006

Ο ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΣ ∆ΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ στο Λευκό Οίκο για την ημέρα προσευχής ΝΕΑ ΥΟΡΚΗ. – Ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Δημήτριος μετά από πρόσκληση του Λευκού Οίκου, μετέβη στην Ουάσιγκτον στις 4 Μαΐου και συμμετείχε στην 55η Εθνική Ημέρα Προσευχής. Η Εθνική Ημέρα Προσευχής η οποία καθιερώθηκε ως ετήσιο γεγονός πριν από 55 χρόνια, είναι μία Παναμερικανική ευκαιρία προσευχής υπέρ της χώρας και των ηγετών της. Η φετεινή τελετή στο Λευκό Οίκο πραγματοποιήθηκε στο East Room, παρουσία του προέδρου George W. Bush, ο οποίος

εισερχόμενος στην αίθουσα χαιρέτησε θερμά τον Αρχιεπίσκοπο Δημήτριο. Την τελετή παρακολούθησαν πολλοί θρησκευτικοί ηγέτες, μέλη της κυβερνήσεως και άλλα κυβερνητικά στελέχη από όλη την Αμερική. Μεταξύ των Ορθοδόξων Θρησκευτικών Ηγετών εκτός του Αρχιεπισκόπου Δημητρίου, παρευρέθησαν ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αντώνιος της Ουκρανικής Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας των Η.Π.Α., και ο Μητροπολίτης Αμισσού Νικόλαος, της Αμερικανικής Καρπαθο-Ρωσικής Ορθοδόξου Επισκοπής των Η.Π.Α.

ΜΝΗΜΗ ΠΟΝΤΙΑΚΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ

«Εν χηρεία», κηρύχθηκε ο Αρχιεπισκοπικός θρόνος της Κύπρου ΓΕΝΕΥΗ (ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ, Α. Κούρκουλας) – Η Διευρυμένη Σύνοδος της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας, υπό την προεδρία του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίου, κήρυξε τον Αρχιεπισκοπικό θρόνο της Κύπρου «εν χηρεία», ανακοίνωσε ο αρχιγραμματεύς της Συνόδου του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου πατήρ Ελπιδοφόρος, μετά τη λήξη της Συνόδου στο Πατριαρχικό Σταυροπήγιο του Αγίου Παύλου στο Σαμπεζί της Ελβετίας. Γραπτή ανακοίνωση που εκδόθηκ ε α πό τ ην γραμματεία της Συνόδου στις 17 Μαΐου, αναφέρει ότι η απόφαση επάρθη με «ηυξημένη πλειοψηφία» σε μυστική ψηφοφορία που ακολούθησε τις εισηγήσεις του Μητροπολίτη Πάφου Χρυσοστόμου και του Επισκόπου Κύκκου Νικηφόρου. «Η Ιερά Σύνοδος μετά βαθείας λύπης διαπίστωσε ότι η υγεία του ασθενούντος Αρχιεπισκόπου έχει κλονισθεί σοβαρώς από τετραετίας και είναι μη αναστρέψιμος», αναφέρει η ανακοίνωση και διευκρινίζει ότι τα περαιτέρω θα αναλάβει ή Ιερά Σύνοδος της Αρχιεπισκοπής Κύπρου «συμφώνως με τις διατάξεις του ισχύοντος Καταστατικού χάρτου» Ο Μητροπολίτης Πάφου Χρυσόστομος εξήγησε στη Σύνοδο την κατάσταση της υγείας του Αρχιεπισκόπου και τις

δυσκολίες της απόφασης για την παύση του. «Φοβόμασταν στο παρελθόν πως μία έστω και τιμητική παύση του Αρχιεπισκόπου δεν θα εύρισκε σύμφωνη τη μεγά λη πλειοψηφία του κυπριακού ελληνισμού». Ο ίδιος εξήγησε ότι με την απόφαση να α ν τα ποκριθε ί σ τ ην πρόσκληση του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχη για τη Διευρυμένη Σύνοδο «εννοούσαμε ασφα λώς και την αποδοχή οποιασδήποτε απόφασης επί του σχετικού θέματος». Ο Επίσκοπος Κύκκου Νικηφόρος παρουσίασε στη σύνοδο τη νομοκανονική κατάσταση της υπόθεσης και εισηγήθηκε να αποφασίσει η διευρυμένη σύνοδος την ημερομηνία έναρξης και την ημερομηνία λήξης της διαδικασίας εκλογής νέου αρχιεπισκόπου στην Κύπρο. Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος ευχαρίστησε τους Πατριάρχες Αλεξανδρείας Θεόδωρο, Αντιοχείας Ιγνάτιο και Ιεροσολύμων Θεόφιλο που αποδέχθηκαν την πρόσκλησή του και τόνισε ότι «οσάκις, ορθόδοξαι εκκλησίαι αντιμετωπίζουν δυσεπίλυτα προβλήματα το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο έχει την οφειλετική υποχρέωση και κανονική αρμοδιότητα της συμπαραστάσεως να επιλαμβάνεται αυτών κατόπιν εκζητήσεως της συμβολής του».

Μπροστά στο μνημείο της γενοκτονίας του Ποντιακού Ελληνισμού διακρίνονται μεταξύ άλλων, ο Μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλονίκης κ. Ανθιμος και ο ∆ήμαρχος κ. Βασίλης Παπαγεωργόπουλος.

ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ – Τα αποκαλυπτήρια του μνημείου Γενοκτονίας του Ποντιακού Ελληνισμού πραγματοποιήθηκαν την Κυριακή 7 Μαΐου στην πλατεία Αγίας Σοφίας, μετά από πρωτοβουλία του δήμου Θεσσαλονίκης, σε συνεννόηση με τα Ποντιακά Σωματεία και τους συλλόγους παλιννοστούντων. Όπως ανέφερε ο δήμαρχος κ. Παπαγεωργόπουλος «ο Δήμος Θεσσαλονίκης υλοποιεί τις υποσχέσεις του αλλά και το όραμα όλων των Ποντίων, για τη φιλοτέχνηση ενός λαμπρού μνημείου, αντάξιου της ιστορίας και της θυσίας του Ποντιακού Ελληνισμού». Το μνημείο που φιλοτέχνησε η γλύπτρια Ελένη Βάλβη, τοποθετήθηκε σε περίοπτη θέση, στην πλατεία Αγ. Σοφίας και Ερμού. Στ ην εκδήλωσ η παρέσ τ ησαν ο Υπουργός Μακεδονίας Θράκης Γ. Καλαντζής, ο Νομάρχης Θεσσαλονίκης Π. Ψωμιάδης ο Μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλονίκης Άνθιμος, οι βουλευτές Κ. Γκιουλέ-

κας, Γ. Ιωαννίδης, Σ. Καλαφάτης, Ε. Χαϊτίδης, Ε. Βενιζέλος, Α. Τσοχατζόπουλος, Χ. Αράπογλου και Στ. Παπαθεμελής, δήμαρχοι, εκπρόσωποι τοπικών φορέων και Ποντιακών Σωματείων κ.α. Στην εκδήλωση για πρώτη φορά αποδόθηκε ο Εθνικός Ύμνος με ποντιακή λύρα ενώ ακολούθησε καλλιτεχνικό πρόγραμμα από ομάδα τυμπανιστών με κορυφαίο τον Νίκο Χατζηδαβιτίδη, σολίστ στην τελετή έναρξης των Ολυμπιακών Αγώνων «Αθήνα 2004». Στην συνέχεια ακολούθησε ο Πυρίχιος (Λύρα Θ. Βεροιώτης, νταούλι Ν. Χατζηδαβιτίδης), η πολυφωνική χορωδία της μουσικοχορευτικής εταιρίας Σέμελη, τραγούδια με τους μικρούς Ευδοξία Γρηγοριάδου και Χαράλαμπο Τσαντικίδη και απαγγελία του ύμνου του Τραντέλενα. Στις εκδηλώσεις συμμετείχε η φιλαρμονική του Δήμου Θεσσαλονίκης και ομάδα οκτώ λυράρηδων. (Πηγή: ΑΠΕ)

ICONOGRAPHER Alex Margini

13 χρόνια εμπειρία στη Βυζαντινή Τέχνη σε Ορθόδοξες Εκκλησίες Απόφοιτος Σχολής Αθηνών • Μακεδονική και Κρητική Τέχνη Τηλ.: (718) 781-9548 • (347) 400-9822

ÍÅÁ ÕÏÑÊÇ-ÁÈÇÍÁ-ÈÅÓ/ÍÉÊÇ ÊÁÔ’ ÅÕÈÅÉÁÍ ÐÔÇÓÅÉÓ ×ÙÑÉÓ ÓÔÁÈÌÏ ÊÁÉ ÌÅ ÊÁÍÏÍÉÊÁ ÄÑÏÌÏËÏÃÉÁ

ÁÐËÇ ÌÅÔÁÂÁÓÇ ÁÐÏ

$

ÌÅÔ’ÅÐÉÓÔÑÏÖÇÓ

595 995 ÁÐÏ

$

+Tax

27 Μαϊου - 6 Σεπτεμβρίου ,06

+Tax

27 Μαϊου - 6 Σεπτεμβρίου ,06

•$65 åðéðëÝïí åðéâÜñõíóç êáõóßìùí ãéá êÜèå äéáäñïìÞ •$25 åðéðëÝïí åðéâÜñõíóç ãéá üóïõò ôáîéäåýïõí ÐáñáóêåõÞ, ÓÜââáôï Þ ÊõñéáêÞ •ÐáéäéÜ 2-11 åôþí ðëçñþíïõí 25% ëéãüôåñï

ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΕΙΣΤΕ ΜΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΓΙΑ ΑΛΛΕΣ ΕΙ∆ΙΚΕΣ ΠΡΟΣΦΟΡΕΣ • ΥΠΑΡΧΟΥΝ ΠΕΡΙΟΡΙΣΜΟΙ

ΤΟ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΑΘΕΡΟΤΗΤΑΣ ASTORIA OFFICE

34-10 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106 (718) 932-7800 ■ 1-800-321-1199

BROOKLYN OFFICE

8125 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 (718) 680-9200 ■ 1-800-445-8550

18

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΜΑIΟΣ 2006

Η ΑΛΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΗΣ ο απόγευμα της Δευτέρας, 28ης Μαΐου, ήταν ξάστερο και φωτεινό. Όταν ο ήλιος άρχισε να κατεβαίνει στο δυτικό ορίζοντα, φώτισε κατ’ ευθεία τα πρόσωπα των αμυνομένων απάνω στα τείχη, σχεδόν τυφλώνοντάς τους. Αυτή ήταν η ώρα που το τουρκικό στρατόπεδο άρχισε τη δραστηριότητά του. Άνθρωποι προχώρησαν κατά χιλιάδες για να συμπληρώσουν το γέμισμα της τάφρου, ενώ άλλοι προωθούσαν πυροβόλα και πολεμικά μηχανήματα. Ο ουρανός συννέφιασε λίγο μετά τη δύση και έπεσε μια ραγδαία βροχή· αλλά, η δουλειά συνεχίστηκε χωρίς διακοπή, οι δε χριστιανοί δεν μπορούσαν να κάνουν τίποτα για να την εμποδίσουν. Περίπου κατά τη μία και μισή το πρωί, ο σουλτάνος έκρινε ότι όλα ήταν έτοιμα και έδωσε τη διαταγή της εφόδου. Ο ξαφνικός θόρυβος υπήρξε τρομακτικός. Καθ’ όλη την γραμμή των τειχών, οι Τούρκοι όρμησαν στην επίθεση, βγάζοντας τις πολεμικές τους κραυγές, ενώ τύμπανα και σάλπιγγες και άλλα όργανα τους παρακινούσαν να προχωρήσουν. Οι χριστιανοί στρατιώτες περίμεναν σιωπηλοί, αλ λά όταν οι φρουροί στους πύργους έδωσαν το σύνθημα του συναγερμού, οι εκκλησίες κοντά στα τείχη άρχισαν να σημαίνουν τις καμπάνες τους, και η μια εκκλησία μετά την άλλη σ’ ολόκληρη την πόλη, άρχιζε τον προειδοποιητικό ήχο, ώσπου όλα τα καμπαναριά ηχούσαν. Τρία μίλια πιο μακρυά, στην εκκλησία της Αγίας Σοφίας, οι πιστοί έμαθαν ότι η μάχη είχε αρχίσει. Κάθε άνδρας, που είχε μάχιμη ηλικία ξαναγύρισε στη θέση του· και γυναίκες, μεταξύ αυτών και καλόγρηες, έσπευσαν στα τείχη να βοηθήσουν για τη μεταφορά υλικών για την ενίσχυση των οχυρωμάτων, και να μεταφέρουν στάμνες με νερό, για να ξεδιψάζουν οι αμυνόμενοι. Γέροντες και παιδιά βγήκαν από τα σπίτια τους και συνέρρευσαν στις εκκλησίες, πιστεύοντας ότι οι άγιοι και οι άγγελοι θα τους προστάτευαν. Μερικοί πήγαν στην εκκλησία της ενορίας τους, άλλοι στην ψηλή εκκλησία της Αγίας Θεοδοσίας, κοντά στον Κεράτιο Κόλπο. Ήταν η γιορτή της την Τρίτη· και το κτίριο είχε σκεπαστεί με τριαντάφυλλα που οι ενορίτες είχαν μαζέψει στους κήπους και στους φράχτες. Ασφαλώς η αγία δε θα εγκατέλειπε τους πιστούς της. Άλλοι πήγαν πίσω στην μεγάλη μητρόπολη, θυμούμενοι μια παλιά προφητεία που έλεγε ότι αν και ο άπιστος μπορούσε να εισδύσει μεσ’ από την Πόλη στο ιερό κτίριο, εκεί θα εμφανιζόταν Άγγελος Κυρίου και θα έτρεπε τους εχθρούς σε φυγή με την αστραφτερή ρομφαία του. Όλες τις σκοτεινές ώρες πριν από την αυγή, τα εκκλησιάσματα περίμεναν και προσεύχονταν. Στα τείχη δεν υπήρχε χρόνος για προσευχή. Ο σουλτάνος είχε καταστρώσει τα σχέδιά του με επιμέλεια. Παρά τα αλαζονικά του λόγια προς τους στρατιώτες του, η πείρα τον είχε διδάξει να σέβεται τον εχθρό. Σ’ αυτή την περίπτωση θα καταπονούσε πρώτα τους αντιπάλους του πριν διακινδυνεύσει τα καλύτερα στρατεύματά του στη μάχη. Έστειλε πρώτα τους άτακτούς του, τους Βαζιβουζούκους, ν’ ανοίξουν τον αγώνα. Υπήρχαν πολλές χιλιάδες απ’ αυτούς, τυχοδιώκτες από κάθε χώρα και φυλή, πολλοί απ’ αυτούς Τουρκοι, αλλά πολύ περισσότεροι από χριστιανικές χώρες, Σλάβοι, Ούγγροι, Γερμανοί, Ιταλοί, ακόμα και Έλληνες, όλοι τους αρκετά πρόθυμοι να πολε-

Τ

Τα Χερσαία Τείχη της Κωνσταντινούπολης με την τάφρο όπως σώζονται σήμερα.

μήσουν εναντίον των ομοθρήσκων τους χριστιανών για την πληρωμή που τους έδινε ο σουλτάνος και για τα λάφυρα που υποσχέθηκε.

Oι περισσότεροι απ’ αυτούς είχαν δικά τους όπλα, ένα παράξενο συνονθύλευμα από γιαταγάνια και σφεντόνες, τόξα και μερικά αρκεβούζια· επίσης τους είχαν δοθεί και πολλές σκάλες για τα τείχη. Ήταν στρατεύματα που δεν μπορούσε κανείς να τους έχει πολλή εμπιστοσύνη, γιατί αποθαρρύνονταν εύκολα αν δεν πετύχαιναν αμέσως. Ξέροντας αυτή την αδυναμία ο Μεχμέτ, τοποθέτησε πίσω τους μια γραμμή από άνδρες της στρατιωτικής αστυνομίας, οπλισμένους με μάστιγες και ρόπαλα με τη διαταγή να τους προωθούν μπροστά και να χτυπούν και να τιμωρούν όσους δείλιαζαν. Πιο πίσω έρχονταν οι γενίτσαροι του σουλτάνου. Αν κανένας φοβισμένος άτακτος περνούσε τη γραμμή της στρατιωτικής αστυνομίας, θα τον έκαναν κομμάτια με τα σπαθιά τους. Η επίθεση των Βαζιβουζούκων εκδηλώθηκε σ’ όλη τη γραμμή, αλλά πίεσε δυνατά στην κοιλάδα του Λύκου. Παντού αλλού τα τείχη ήταν ακόμα πολύ ισχυρά. Η επίθεση εναντίον τους είχε μοναδικό σκοπό να καθηλώσει τους αμυνόμενους και να μην τους επιτρέψει να σπεύσουν να ενισχύσουν τους συναδέλφους τους στο ζωτικό τομέα. Εκεί ο αγώνας ήταν άγριος. Οι Βαζιβουζούκοι βρήκαν απέναντι τους στρατιώτες πολύ καλύτερα οπλισμένους και καλύτερα γυμνασμένους απ’ αυτούς και επί πλέον ο αριθμός τους αποτελούσε μειονέκτημα. Βρίσκονταν συνεχώς ο ένας ανάμεσα στα πόδια του άλλου. Πέτρες που ρίχνονταν εναντίον τους μπορούσαν να σκοτώσουν ή να τραυματίσουν πολλούς συγχρόνως. Παρ’ όλο ότι μερικοί αποπειράθηκαν να υποχωρήσουν, οι πιο πολλοί επέμειναν στην προσπάθειά τους, στερεώνοντας τις σκάλες τους στα τείχη και στο φράχτη και ανεβαίνοντας απάνω σ’ αυτές μόνο για να σφαχτούν πριν φθάσουν στην κορυφή. Ο Τζιουστινιάνι και οι Έλληνες και οι Ιταλοί του είχαν εφοδιασθεί με όλα τα μουσκέτα και τις βομβάρδες που μπόρεσαν να βρεθούν μέσα στην Πόλη. Ο ίδιος ο αυτοκράτορας είχε έρθει να τους ενθαρρύνει. Ύστερ’ από δίωρο σχεδόν αγώνα, ο Μεχμέτ διέταξε τους Βαζιβουζούκους ν’ αποσυρθούν. Είχαν συγκρατηθεί και αποκρουσθεί, αλλά είχαν

εκπληρώσει τον σκοπό τους, να κουράσουν τον εχθρό. Μερικοί από τους χριστιανούς έλπισαν ότι αυτή μπορούσε να είναι ακριβώς μια μεμονωμένη νυκτερινή επίθεση, προς τον σκοπό να δοκιμάσει την ισχύ τους και όλοι τους έλπισαν να τους δοθεί μια στιγμή για ανάπαυση. Aλλά δεν τους δόθηκε. Μόλις πρόφτασαν ν’ ανασυγκροτήσουν τις γραμμές τους και να ξανατοποθετήσουν δοκάρια και βαρέλια στο φράγμα, εκδηλώθηκε δεύτερη επίθεση. Συντάγματα Τούρκων της Μικράς Ασίας από το στρατό του Iσάκ, που αναγνωρίζονταν εύκολα από τις ειδικές στολές και θώρακές τους, κατέβαιναν συνεχώς από το λόφο έξω από την πολιτική Πύλη του Αγίου Ρωμανού στην κοιλάδα και έκαναν στροφή γιά νάρθουν απέναντι στο φράχτη. Ακόμα μια φορά οι καμπάνες των εκκλησιών κοντά στα τείχη σήμαναν για να δώσουν το σημείο του συναγερμού. Aλλά ο ήχος τους σκεπάστηκε από τον κρότο του μεγάλου πυροβόλου του Ουρβανού και των αλλων πυροβόλων, όταν άρχισαν πάλι να βομβαρδίζουν τα τείχη. Μέσα σε λίγα λεπτά οι Ανατολίτες είχαν ριχτεί στην επίθεση. Αντίθετα προς τους άτακτους ήταν καλά οπλισμένοι και καλά πειθαρχημένοι και όλοι τους ευσεβείς μουσουλμάνοι αμιλλώμενοι για τη δόξα να είναι οι πρώτοι που θα έμπαιναν μέσα στη χριστιανική Πόλη. Με την άγρια μουσική των σαλπιγκτών και των αυλητών τους, για να τους ενθαρρύνουν, ρίχτηκαν απάνω στο φράχτη, ανεβαίνοντας ο ένας απάνω στους ώμους του άλλου στην προσπάθειά τους να στηρίζουν τις σκάλες τους και ν’ ανοίξουν το δρόμο τους από πάνω του. Στο αμυδρό φως των πυρσών, με τα σύννεφα που συνεχώς σκέπαζαν το φεγγάρι, ήταν δύσκολο να δει κανείς το τί συνέβαινε. Οι Μικρασιάτες, όπως οι άτακτοι πριν απ’ αυτούς, βρίσκονταν σε μειονεκτική θέση μπροστά στο στενό αυτό μέτωπο, εξαιτίας του μεγάλου αριθμού τους. Η πειθαρχία τους και η επιμονή τους έκαναν τις απώλειές τους βαρύτερες, όταν οι αμυνόμενοι πετούσαν πέτρες απάνω τους ή έσπρωχναν πίσω τις σκάλες τους ή πολεμούσαν μαζί τους σώμα προς σώμα. Μια ώρα περίπου πρίν από την αυγή, όταν αυτή η δεύτερη επίθεση άρχισε να κλονίζεται, ένα βλήμα από το πυροβόλο του Ουρβανού έπεσε κατευθεία στο

φράχτη και τον γκρέμισε σε αρκετό πλάτος. Σηκώθηκε ένα σύννεφο από σκόνη και σκέπασε τον αέρα, ο δε μαύρος καπνός από την πυρίτιδα τύφλωσε τους αμυνόμενους. Μια ομάδα από τρακόσιους Ανατολίτες ρίχτηκε μεσ’ από το ρήγμα, φωνάζοντας ότι η πόλη ήταν δική τους. Aλλά οι χριστιανοί, με τον αυτοκράτορα επί κεφαλής τους, τους περικύκλωσαν, σκότωσαν τους περισσότερους και απώθησαν τους υπόλοιπους προς την τάφρο. Η αποτυχία αποθάρρυνε τους Μικρασιάτες. Η επίθεση ανακόπηκε κι αυτοί γύρισαν πίσω στις γραμμές τους. Με κραυγές θριάμβου, οι αμυνόμενοι βάλθηκαν πάλι να επισκευάζουν το φράχτη. Οι Τούρκοι δεν είχαν περισσότερη επιτυχία σε άλλους τομείς. Κατά μήκος του νότιου τμήματος των χερσαίων τειχων, ο Iσάκ είχε κατορθώσει να διατηρήσει αρκετή πίεση, ώστε να εμποδίσει την άμυνα να μεταφέρει άνδρες στην Κοιλάδα του Λύκου, αλλά με το να πάνε τα καλύτερα στρατεύματά του να πολεμήσουν εκεί, δεν μπορούσε να κάνει σοβαρή επίθεση. Κατά μήκος της Προποντίδας, ο Χαμζά-μπέης συναντούσε δυσκολίες να πλησιάσει τα πλοία του στην ακτή. Τα λίγα τμήματα που κατόρθωσε ν’ αποβιβάσει, αποκρούσθηκαν με ευκολία από τους καλογήρους, στους οποίους είχε ανατεθεί η άμυνα η από τον πρίγκηπα Oρχάν και τους οπαδούς του. Έγιναν προσποιήσεις σε όλο το μήκος της γραμμής του Κερατίου Κόλπου, αλλά καμμιά πραγματική απόπειρα εφόδου. Γύρω από τη συνοικία των Βλαχερνών ο αγώνας ήταν σκληρότερος. Στα χαμηλά, κοντά στο λιμένα, οι στρατιώτες που ο Ζαγανός είχε περάσει από τη γέφυρα, έκαναν συνεχώς επίθεση, όπως έκαναν και οι άνδρες του Καρατζά Πασά πιο πάνω στην πλαγιά. Aλλά ο Μινόττο και οι Ενετοί του κατόρθωσαν να κρατήσουν αυτό το τμήμα των τειχών εναντίον του Ζαγάνου και οι αδελφοί Μποκκιάρντι εναντίον του Καρατζά. Είχαν πει ότι ο σουλτάνος ήταν θυμωμένος για την αποτυχία των Μικρασιατών του. Aλλά είναι πιθανόν ότι είχε σκοπό και μ’ αυτούς, όπως με τους άτακτους, να καταπονήσει μάλλον τον εχθρό παρά να μπει μέσα στην Πόλη. Είχε υποσχεθεί μια μεγάλη αμοιβή στον πρώτο στρατιώτη που θα περνούσε με επιτυχία το φράχτη· και ήθελε αυτό το προνόμιο να πάει σε κάποιον από το δικό του ευνοούμενο σύνταγμα των γενιτσάρων. Είχε έρθει τώρα ο καιρός γι’ αυτούς να μπουν στη μάχη. Ο σουλτάνος ήταν ανήσυχος, γιατί αν διέψευδαν τις ελπίδες του, θα ήταν προβληματική η συνέχιση της πολιορκίας. Έδωσε τις διαταγές του γρήγορα. Πρίν οι χριστιανοί προφθάσουν να πάρουν αναπνοή και να κάνουν μερικές πρόχειρες επισκευές στο φράχτη, μια βροχή από βέλη, ακόντια, πέτρες και βλήματα έπεσε απάνω τους· και πίσω από τη βροχή οι γενίτσαροι προχωρούσαν με βήμα ταχύ, χωρίς να ορμούν παράτολμα όπως είχαν κάνει οι Βαζιβουζούκοι και οι Μικρασιάτες, αλλά τηρούντες τους στοίχους τους σε απόλυτη τάξη, αδιάσπαστοι από τα βλήματα του εχθρού. Η πολεμική μουσική που τους παρακινούσε να προχωρούν ήταν τόσο δυνατή, ώστε ο ήχος της ακουγόταν μέσα από τον πάταγο των πυροβόλων, από την απέναντι ακτή του Βοσπόρου.

– ΣΥΝΕΧΙΖΕΤΑΙ – (Απόσπασμα από το βιβλίο “Η Αλωση της Κωνσταντινουπόλεως”, του Στήβεν Ράνσιμαν, εκδόσεις Μπεργάδη)

19

MAY 2006

PEOPLE

Presidential appointment John A. Micklos of Baltimore received a Presidential appointment on April 5 to serve on the Selective Service Board of Maryland. Mr. Micklos, a supervisor of graduate teachers at Johns Hopkins University, was nominated for the position by Maryland Gov., Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Leads delegation Daughters of Penelope President Dr. Mary Filou recently led a delegation to Thessaloniki, Greece, to honor local District 25 for its volunteer treatment and rehabilitation services at a local hospital.

The U.S. and Greek Daughters partnership raised 12,000 euros for a 12-year-old burn victim to travel to Boston for treatment by plastic surgeon Dr. Marina Kokinis.

Co-authors book Associate Professor Theodore Alexander Avtgis of West Virginia University has co-authored a book titled “Argumentative and Aggressive Communication” with a colleague. Avtgis, a native of Watertown, Mass., holds a doctorate from Kent State University in Ohio.

TV News honorees CBS News MarketWatch anchor and national correspondent Alexis Christoforous and New York’s local Fox5 News weatherman Nick Gregory, son of the late Fr. Basil Gregory, were honored May 13 at the annual Hellenic Times Scholarship Foundation Awards with the HTSF’s Humanitarian Award. More than 1,200 attended the foundation’s annual event.

HTSF President Nick Katsoris presented the award to Ms. Christorous and Fox5 News Anchor Ernie Anastos presented the honor to his colleague. Former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis was guest host and Elli Kokkinou, one of Greece’s best-selling recording artists was the guest artist.

Scholarship recipients Thirty Greek Americans students shared more than $100,000 dollars in scholarships at the 15th annual Hellenic Times Scholarship Foundation awards gala in New York on Saturday, May 13.

Recipients were: Avery Berge and Jackie Christakos (both of Colorado); Peter Christakos (Iowa), Lindsey Colman, Andreas Costeas, Alexander Georgiadis, George Kamos, Stephan Kouris, Margarita Lolis and Nicholas Wells (all of New York); Gregory Damalas, Constantinos Katevatis (both of Connecticut); Marilena Fallas and David Trottier (both of Washington); Elias Gatoulis, Steven Markos, Vasiliki Papanikolaw, Christina Skleros and Eleni Stavrou (all of New Jersey); Nicolette Georgacakis and Potter Grant (both of Texas); Katerina Kalatzidis, Thalia Roussos and Christopher Sotiropoulos (all of California); Eleni Kanakis o(Virginia); Stavroula Kotrotsios and Evelyn Pihakis (both of Pennsylvania); Yuriy Ksenidi (Wisconsin); Anastasia Leventopoulos (Illinois); Corinna Morris and Nick Stamos (both of Ohio); Alice Shukla (Michigan); Jason Varounis (Florida); and Stelios Viazis (North Carolina).

Award winner The Third Annual New York Physical Therapy Sports Rehabilitation Award was presented recently to Ann Marie Renaldo of the Modern Greek language and Literature Program of St. John’s University.

“Sooner” or Later, Greeks Settled Where the Wind Comes Sweepin’ Down the Plain OKLAHOMA CITY – The spirit of Orthodoxy and of pan-Orthodoxy is alive and well in Oklahoma’s capital.

The oil industry, cattle, farming and Baptists are major influences here, but there also is a significant Orthodox Christian presence.

In addition to St. George, Oklahoma City is home to St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Church, St. Benedict’s Russian Orthodox Church and St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

“What’s unique in Oklahoma City

P A R I S H

Greece, and with a total population of some 3.25 million).

Consequently, Fr. John’s parishioners reside well beyond the Oklahoma City metro area (pop. about 1.1 million).

There are pockets of St. George’s members in smaller cities and towns such as Lawton (southwest about 90 miles), Enid (about 100 miles north), Guthrie (about 25 miles north), Stillwater (about 65 miles to the northeast) and the suburb of Norman (15 miles south).

“They’re pretty faithful,” he said of

of American Indians in the nation with about 250,000.

After the Greeks accumulated some capital, they settled in various small towns such as Enid to establish businesses.

But in the early 1900s, with the rise of the politically powerful Ku Klux Klan, smaller towns became too dangerous for Greeks and other immigrants. Many moved to Oklahoma City on the plains in the center of the state, which offered more protection.

p ro f i l e

Name: St. George Greek Orthodox Church Location: Oklahoma City Metropolis: Denver Size: about 160 families Founded: 1917 Clergy: Fr. John Tsaras (Holy Cross ’96) Web site: www.stgeorgeokc.org E-mail: st.george.church@sbcglobal.net Noteworthy: oldest Greek Orthodox parish and second oldest Orthodox Parish in the state ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

is we work together in a spirit of panOrthodoxy,” said Fr. John Tsaras, who has served as St. George Church’s pastor since 1999.

He noted that, every Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m., all the Orthodox priests in the city gather at the church and teach several classes. Fr. John presents a basic introduction to Orthodoxy.

There also is a class for elementary school students, another for high school, and a nursery for parents with small children.

Halfway through the sessions there is a fellowship period.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” the priest said of the Wednesday evening program. “It attracts new people to the parishes and serves to educate the ‘cradle Orthodox’ better.”

This strong spirit of pan-Orthodoxy extends to other activities.

Each year, the parishes operate a booth about Orthodoxy at the Oklahoma State Fair in September. “The whole purpose is to witness Orthodoxy to the Metropolex area,” Fr. John said. “We encourage people to go to all four churches and find out where they feel most at home.

The spirit of pan Orthodoxy is so strong here.”

Statewide, all the parish priests, including three from Tulsa, participate in the Oklahoma Orthodox Clergy Council. “We all get together to coordinated our efforts,” he said. “It’s been a real blessing.”

Fr. John, who grew up in Tulsa, noted there is “the spirit of the frontier here. We rely on each other.”

St. George, and its sister parish of Holy Trinity in Tulsa, are the only two parishes of the Archdiocese in a state that covers about 70,000 square miles (about 20,000 square miles larger than

their consistency in attending services.

Membership now consists mostly of third and fourth generation American-born and Oklahoma natives and some converts.

About 25 percent are Greek immigrants and some are from other states.

There also is an ongoing rotation of military and government personnel from Greece who come to Oklahoma for training and attend services. They, along with members of other NATO countries, come to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, to the U.S. Army’s artillery school at Fort Sill in Lawton, or to the Federal Aviation Administration’s complex to become air traffic controllers.

The early days

The pioneers (they literally were pioneers) who established the community were bachelors whose story was a familiar one throughout the nation. They arrived from various parts of Greece to earn money

OKLAHOMA CITY

to send back home to support their families and eventually to return.

Along with the usual hardships, they also lived with the danger of outlaws and battles involving Indians, which persisted into the early 20th century.

According to parish historian Christie (Papahronis) Akins, the first single males came sometime in the 1890s to help build the railroads.

At the time, Oklahoma (which means “Red People”) was still a territory – Indian Territory, the home to nearly 70 tribes.

Today, the state has the largest population

There they opened restaurants, cleaners, shoeshine parlors or worked as tailors.

“There are no ranchers, no oilmen and no cowboys,” said Ms. Akin the historian. “It was pretty much what they did in every other city.”

By 1914, Greeks in the city founded the Brotherhood of St George in September. They rented a hall and invited a priest from out-of-town to hold services at Christmas and on the Feast Day of St. George.

In February 1917, an acre lot near downtown was purchased for $1,750 and the organization, which changed its name to the Greek Orthodox Community of St. George, received a state charter in October of that year.

St. George became the second oldest Orthodox church in Oklahoma, after Sts. Cyril and Methodios Russian Orthodox Church, which was founded in the 1890s in the town of Hartshorne.

The first permanent parish priest, Fr. Michael Papamerkouris, arrived in Oklahoma City in 1920. He held services in a temporary building on the lot. The cornerstone for the new church was laid in 1921.

During this period the Sinopoulos brothers, John and Panagiotis, gave strong financial support to the community, including $4,000 for the building drive.

In January 1941, John Sinopoulos was elected president for life and Panagiotis Sinopoulos was elected treasurer for life.

Fr. Merkouris, as he became known, served for 13 years and has been the longest-serving priest.

Eighteen other priests have served the community since then, including some active and retired clergy such as

page 20 31  page 

20

MAY 2006

PARISH PROFILE

Assistance Continues in South Asia and U.S.

Photos: DIRK VAN CORP, IOCC

Through an integrated village recovery program on Nias Island in Indonesia, IOCC and its partners are providing for the reconstruction of family homes and supplying tools, seeds, equipment and other assistance to farmers, fisherman and shopkeepers to enable them to rebuild their businesses and support their families.

BALTIMORE – From Nias Island in Indonesia to New Orleans, emergency response efforts in South Asia and the U.S. Gulf Coast have given way to recovery and reconstruction programs.

New projects initiated by IOCC and its partners are assisting people to return, recover and rebuild following the devastation caused by natural disasters.

“The heartfelt support by the hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas and the Orthodox faithful in America in response to these disasters has been unprecedented,” said IOCC executive director Constantine M. Triantafilou. “IOCC is grateful for their ongoing help in the reconstruction efforts in these areas and for their faithful support for relief and development initiatives worldwide.”

In South Asia, Indonesia and Thailand are the focus of IOCC projects to assist in areas most severely affected by the December 2004 tsunami. IOCC is providing nearly $3 million in assistance to the two countries through projects focused on reconstruction, health, education and vocational training for young people.

IOCC is working with the Orthodox Church of Indonesia and the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia (OMHKSEA) on Nias Island in Indonesia to construct, equip, and operate a new health clinic, the first to open in the devastated community of Gunungsitoli. New medical supplies and equipment valued at more than $325,000 have been shipped by IOCC to support the clinic.

In the communities of Tugala and Desa Fodoro on Nias Island, IOCC has partnered with Church World Service to provide support for an integrated village recovery program.

The “Build a Village” program will provide for the reconstruction of family homes, rebuilding of water supply systems, and ensure public and private home sanitation facilities.

Tools, seeds, equipment and other assistance provided to farmers, fisherman and shopkeepers are enabling them

to rebuild their businesses and support their families.

In Thailand, IOCC is providing equipment, furnishings and supplies for a new primary health clinic located at the Ban Nam Khem School constructed

by OMHKSEA. A women’s resource directory has also been created by IOCC, OMHKSEA and a local partner with information on organizations throughout the country that provide services to women. The project's main purpose was to promote the services of these organizations and create an increased awareness of such services to vulnerable women throughout Thailand.

In the United States, IOCC has helped an estimated 400,000 people affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and delivered over $3.3 million in assistance to hurricane victims in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas as well as to families from New Orleans who were relocated to New Jersey. An additional $565,000 in help is planned by the end of 2006.

The ongoing assistance program includes grants to evacuees for return transportation back to their homes and communities, resettlement assistance for those unable to return, and social services and employment counseling for evacuated families.

Families returning to Louisiana are also eligible for grants to assist with the purchase of appliances and other household items lost as a result of the hurricanes. Support is also being given to Orthodox parishes for youth initiatives and community programs.

The relief and recovery efforts have been supported through the efforts of parishes across the country and have also directly helped Orthodox Christians who required assistance following the disasters.

With the Atlantic hurricane season less than one month away, IOCC is also considering plans to offer Community Emergency Response Training and other preparedness resources to at-risk communities.

 page 19 Fr. Vasilios Gianakakis (William Gaines), now president of the Retired Clergy Association), Fr. James Moskovites (now pastor at Annunciation in Manhattan), Fr. Peter Kopsahilis (retired chancellor of the Atlanta Metropolis), Fr. Charles Joanides (current researcher in the Department of Marriage and the Family), and Fr. Chris Margaritis (pastor at St. John the Baptist, Omaha, Neb.).

Construction of the first church was completed in January 1921 and the building served the parish until December 1988.

The community’s AHEPA chapter formed in July 1929, only three months before the stock market crash that precipitated the Great Depression. The Depression years hit the community hard and the parish could not send funds to the Archdiocese until 1935, when it forwarded $36.

World War II brought some prosperity and the community held fund drives to assist the Greek war effort.

Beginning in the late 1940s, the use of English became more prevalent. In 1947, church minutes began to be recorded in English instead of Greek as well as the teaching of Sunday school.

The parish assembly approved English for reciting the Gospel, the Creed and Lord’s Prayer in December 1953.

Archbishop Michael, along with Bishop Ezekiel of Chicago, visited the parish on Oct. 17, 1954 to consecrate the church.

A ticket to the banquet held at the elegant Biltmore hotel cost five dollars.

Women of the parish received the right to vote in the general election in December 1956. The state of Oklahoma passed a bill officially recognizing Orthodox Christianity as a major faith on June 1, 1959.

The first women to become members of the board of trustees, Kate Samaras and Georgia Stathos, were elected Dec. 10. 1961.

By the 1980s, the community had outgrown its existing church and efforts got under way to build a new facility. A large parcel of land was purchased on the north side of the city and the first phase of a $1.5 million complex, a 12,000 squarefoot community hall, was begun in May 1983, with Archbishop Iakovos taking part in the groundbreaking event.

The hall and a small chapel were completed two years later and the community’s first Greek festival took place in late November 1985.

The new 7,250-square-foot church opened three years later and its first services took place on Christmas Eve. The architect was also a parishioner, the late John Bozalis, who was one of most decorated architects in the city, according to Ms. Akins.

On April 19, 1995, the worst act of terrorism in the United States up to that time struck Oklahoma City when the Murrah Federal Building in the downtown area was destroyed by a bomb in a truck, killing 168 people. Authorities later arrested Timothy McVeigh and Jerry L. Nichols and charged them with the crime.

Ms. Akins said the tragedy directly affected two families of the parish. The blast leveled a small commercial building across the street, the Athenian Building, owned by Fotis and Fofo Bargeliotes, who were in the basement at the time.

The building collapsed above them but they were unhurt and managed to emerge from the ruins.

Another family, the Jianoses, owned a cleaners and rental property a block away that sustained some damage.

Fr. John said that the bombing “had such an impact on everyone’s psyche,” that

80 percent of the clergy in Oklahoma City then either left the ministry or moved to other cities.

Active ministry

Fr. John, assisted by his presbytera, Vicky, a native of Thessaloniki, has a highly active ministry. Shortly after his arrival in July 1999, he established a JOY group.

In addition to his pan-Orthodox ministry, he also conducts a Bible study on Thursdays that includes many senior citizens. The Church school offers classes for grades pre-K through high school for about 60 children.

There is a Greek school and Presbytera Vicky is the only teacher, She holds classes for adults and children.

Fr. John credited the Greek school for “three or four” individuals, adults from outside the community interested in learning Greek, who converted to the Orthodox faith. Presbytera also teaches Greek dance classes.

The priest characterizes his ministry as “a great joy. Working with everyone is wonderful,” he said. “As long as we’re doing the work of God, there’s always challenges to motivate people to grow spiritually. That’s the most important thing; to reach everybody and help nurture them spiritually.”

He added, “We do a lot of wonderful things here, but the heart of it is our people being set spiritually.”

Strong stewardship

St. George Church has a successful stewardship program, with the average pledge being $1,400. The Greek festival also is a major source of revenue. It is held around the third week in October, depending on the University of Oklahoma football team schedule.

“We have to keep in mind that football is king here,” said Fr. John. “We have to take into account OU’s schedule.” If there’s an away game, or if they’re playing a weak opponent or if they have an early game, the festival does well. However, “a late game could hurt the festival,” Fr. John said.

While there may be no farmers, ranchers or working cowboys among the membership, the only “Cowboys” are the alumni of the University of Oklahoma “Sooners” rival, Oklahoma State University, whose mascot is the Cowboy. That would include Fr. John, who did his undergraduate at OSU, majoring in management information systems. Before going to Holy Cross, he worked as a computer programmer at United Airlines.

What inspired him to enter the priesthood?

“I think several priests could say that, growing up I went to the Athenagoras Retreat Center in Wyoming.

“From middle school on, I was seriously thinking of the priesthood, but decided to go to a regular university and work first to make sure I wanted to do this.

I decided my heart was in the church. The seeds were planted at Athenagoras Center

by Bishop Kallistos and seminarians who helped there.”

Oklahoma, incidentally, has the nickname “the Sooner State,” not from the football team, but from the first group of pioneers during the era of the land run, in the mid-1880s, who entered the territory to stake their claims “sooner” than the Boomers, who followed the the government’s rules on when entry was permitted.

Next year, the state will celebrate its centennial and, as part of the commemoration, St. George parish plans to host the Metropolis of Denver Clergy Laity Conference.

— compiled by Jim Golding

21

MAY 2006

The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas

SCOBA Warns of Internet’s Evils To the Reverend Clergy of our parishes Dearly beloved brothers in the Lord, With this letter, we, the hierarchs of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, wish to share with you some disturbing observations concerning the destruction of many lives in our nation, as explicit sexual content becomes increasingly available through a variety of technologies.

We are writing at this time because we know that you care deeply about the well-being of your children, and it is precisely your children who may pay the highest price and become victims of the uncontrolled availability of all that is now technologically available on the internet.

This could spell disaster for your children and grandchildren, inflicting upon their lives and their families grave consequences resulting in immeasurable moral, social and spiritual damage.

Current advanced technology facilitates the distribution of digital video content via wireless handheld devices such as video cell phones, iPods and PDAs. Through highly advanced versions of these wireless handheld devices, all the pornography on the Internet is available to many Americans, including our children and teens.

There are no filtering or monitoring devices available at this time.

This means many children and teens will be able to access such material, unless their parents are aware of this threat and take action to prevent it.

The technology itself is not dangerous. The danger lies in the fact that there are currently no safeguards or regulations in place to protect children and teens from being exposed to unwanted, seductive and explicit content that is downloadable through these wireless handheld devices.

The National Coalition and the Religious Alliance Against Pornography (RAAP), which has been fighting the advancement of our sexualized culture since 1986, when it was formed in New York with Archbishop Iakovos among its

founders, are now working with the CTIA Wireless Association to ensure that appropriate guidelines, controls and protections from this threat are in place as it relates to cell phones.

However, it is critically important that companies develop educational materials for parents, which will be used consistently at the point of purchase and choice of contract.

Until these wireless devices can be used safely, we urge great caution to parents of children and teens.

We call upon you, our clergy, to be vigilant and to help keep your flock informed of the dangers they unknowingly are opening to their children and grandchildren when they give them these wireless devices, before appropriate protection has been developed.

Ongoing parental guidance is essential to protect our children.

Invoking the prayers of the Holy Theotokos for the welfare of our beloved children, we extend to you and your flock our blessings, ñ Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ñ Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America ñ Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada ñ Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, Treasurer American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA ñ Metropolitan HERMAN Orthodox Church in America ñ Archbishop NICOLAE Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada ñ Metropolitan JOSEPH Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church ñ Metropolitan CONSTANTINE Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA ñ Bishop ILIA of Philomelion Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America Diocese in the USA ñ Metropolitan CONSTANTINE Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA ñ Bishop ILIA of Philomelion Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

Prokopis Grant Supports Orthodox/Catholic Dialogue The Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have each received $15,000 grants from the Prokopis Charitable Foundation to underwrite for 2006 the official dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in the U.S. Twice each year, 12 Orthodox theologians and 12 Roman Catholic theologians gather for the North American Orthodox/ Catholic Theological Consultation that was initiated in 1965 by SCOBA and the USCCB. Having become aware of the papers and statements issued over the years by this oldest ongoing official dialogue between the two Churches, Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Prokopis decided to encourage this effort and to underwrite the costs of the Consultation for a second year. A similar grant covered all the costs of the Consultation in 2005.

“I am genuinely interested in the success of these efforts,” Mr. Prokopis stated, “and offer this gift to the efforts of our Churches to rediscover the unity that existed during the first millennium.

These efforts are of importance to me personally, as well as to all Christians

worldwide.”

In expressing thanks on behalf of Archbishop Demetrios, chairman, and the SCOBA hierarchs, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, general secretary of SCOBA, said “It is truly encouraging to know that the significant work done by our theologians over the past forty years is beginning to bear fruit. Seeking to implement our Lord's prayer 'that all may be one,' our hierarchs and theologians, both lay and ordained, embarked on this long difficult journey four decades ago. Please know that your generous support of the serious academic and theological work being accomplished by the members of the Consultation, is received with deep gratitude.”

For his part, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, the out-going Chairman of the Bishops’ Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the USCCB, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Prokopis for the grant, and said, “I leave my post with prayers that the Holy Spirit will increase the unity of all Christians, and with gratitude for the great generosity you have shown to support our endeavors.”

For further information contact: SCOBA General Secretariat, at (212) 570-3593.

22

MAY 2006

MISSION NEWS Groundbreaking Held for New OCMC Training Center

ORTHODOX MISSION team members build a school in Ghana.

Archdiocese Has role in UN Development Projects Over the past six years, the Archdiocese, as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations, has had enormous success in achieving the goals of the Millennium Development program of the UN.

by Lila Prounis

These goals include the following: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, achievement of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality, improvement of mental health, combating of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, sustaining the environment, and creating a global partnership for development.

Through its Orthodox Mission Teams programs, the Church has been sending short-term volunteers that include doc-

tors, educators, construction workers, engineers, carpenters and students to assist communities with various projects around the world.

They have traveled to Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Albania, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Haiti, Guatemala and Madagascar.

They offer their expertise in establishing medical and dental clinics, build schools, restore and build churches, develop agriculture and dig water wells.

They work on these projects in collaboration with the local governments and United Nations agencies.

The nations and agencies represented in the UN have pledged to work together to build a safer world by 2015.

These Orthodox mission teams are examples of how such progress is achieved at the grass-roots level.

ORATORICAL FESTIVAL  page 3 college scholarship and the speakers who receive third place recognition will each be awarded a $1,000 college scholarship.

The other metropolis finalists will receive a rank of Honorable Mention and will be given a $500 US Savings Bond. Anyone wishing to donate to the Oratorical Festival Foundation, which makes these scholarships possible, may do so by contacting the Department of Religious Education at 800-566-1088.

The host committee is planning a tour of San Francisco and its historic sites on Saturday afternoon. This will give the metropolis finalists and their families

another opportunity to enjoy fellowship with one another.

The Oratorical Festival theme for 2006 is the Festal Menaion. While all parish festivals and district Oratorical Festivals have already taken place, individuals may still have the opportunity to hear the speakers at one of Metropolis Oratorical Festivals held throughout the Archdiocese, most of which take place during the month of May. The Oratorical Festival will continue to grow if we, as Greek Orthodox faithful, support it and encourage our youth to participate in the Festival, encourage non-participants to attend, and by contributing monetarily to the Oratorical Festival Scholarship Foundation.

(From left) Bishop Dimitrios, Helen Nicozisis; St. Augustine Mayor George Gardner, OCMC Board President Cliff Argue and Fr. Martin Ritsi pick up the golden shovels to break ground for the new Missionary Training and Administrative Support Center.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Groundbreaking ceremonies for OCMC’s Missionary Training and Administrative Support Center took place May 5 with Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, general secretary of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) presiding.

Faithful from Orthodox communities throughout the country, together with local dignitaries, OCMC benefactors, board members, staff, and missionaries, joined to mark the event.

At the luncheon that followed, Bishop Dimitrios highlighted the historic significance of the event, noting that this building will strengthen the Orthodox missionary outreach and will also be the first permanent building of a SCOBA agency.

In that capacity, the Missionary Training Center will be a physical symbol of the unity that exists between the various Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States.

Fr. Luke Veronis, OCMC missionary for 10 years in Albania and Africa, elaborated further on the importance of the building. He shared how necessary the training of future missionaries is and how this Center can help to inspire them, prepare them for cross-cultural ministry, then provide a place of refuge and rejuvenation as they return periodically during their missionary careers.

Fr. Martin Ritsi, executive director of the Mission Center, expressed that in life we should dream and pray for those dreams to come true.

He looked back on the first Orthodox immigrants to arrive in St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, and reflected on how these immigrants would have felt to see all that has happened in St. Augustine to this day.

Would they have ever dreamt that

from this same city where they had arrived as indentured servants, Orthodox would depart for the corners of the earth as missionaries and ambassadors of Christ’s love? What would they have thought if they knew that over 100 missionaries and 1,000 mission team members, along with millions of dollars in grants, would be sent from St. Augustine to touch the lives of people in far away places? Truly, God has worked miracles!

Helen Nicozisis, Capital Campaign chairman, expressed her thanks to all those in attendance, and to those who contributed to the Lord’s work. She acknowledged that every board and staff member, as well as over 635 pledges coming from persons of all backgrounds and jurisdictions, made the success of the $6 million Capital Campaign possible.

The groundbreaking event was held in conjunction with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center’s biannual Board of Directors meeting, May 3-5.

OCMC’s board consists of 46 clergy and laity representing the Orthodox jurisdictions of SCOBA from all parts of the United States.

Contributions are welcome and checks can be made out to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center and sent to PO Box 4319, St. Augustine, FL 32085.

For more information about OCMC and to view a complete photo library of the groundbreaking events, visit www. ocmc.org.

The Orthodox Christian Mission Center: helping Orthodox Christians respond to Christ's call to preach, teach, baptize, minister to the poor and make disciples of all nations as the official international mission agency of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).

2006 YEARBOOK

of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Includes general information, Metropolis and parish listings, Archdiocese Departmental and Institutions information and other valuable resources. Only $18, plus $5 shipping and handling.

Call 212-774-0244 to purchase your copy with a credit card.

MAY 2006

For the Orthodox Family...

Making Time For God! The Church school year is nearly over. Before we know it, we’ll be packing kids off to sports camps, band camp, dance camp and cheerleading camp.

These are all wonderful experiences for our children, but what have I forgotten?

by Phyllis Meshel Onest,M.Div.

Summer Camp! The summer camp program of each Metropolis is not only a life-changing experience for some of our young people, but it is one way for them to step out of their compartmentalized lives and enter the world of “Making Time for God” 24/7 for one week.

Tell me if I am wrong, but I believe that deep within of us, we want our children, grandchildren and godchildren to stay within the Orthodox Church, to marry and baptize their children (our grandchildren and great-grandchildren) in the Orthodox Church and to pray for us after we are gone.

If so, we had better be proactive.

In the third century Tertullian of Carthage expressed an eternal truth: “A man becomes a Christian with sound teaching; he is not born one.”

It takes effort and commitment on our part as parents, grandparents and godparents! “Making Time for God" must be a priority in our own lives first. Placing our focus on God before and after the children are born is the effort and commitment.

Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” [NRSV] God promises children will stay in the Faith if we have done our part. Let us pray that our efforts are the best we can do. Thus, when the time comes for them to use their God-given gift of free will, they will choose to stay in the Faith that has, by then, become their own.

What does training a child in the right way involve? St. John Chrysostom’s fourth century wisdom includes: (1) “The primary goal in the education of children is to teach, and to give the example of a virtuous life.” Teach the Faith by the example of a life that seeks to be: faithful, moral, respectable, honorable, worthy, decent, reputable and virtuous.

(2) When St. John Chrysostom said, “Fathers and mothers: Go and lead your child by the hand into the Church,” he was talking about regular Family Worship.

The “Practice” part of the “training” includes participation in the “Worship of the Church.” Worship is the Greatest Teacher. In “Worship” we hear God’s Word, sing God’s Praises and receive God’s Spiritual Food. In other words, when we Worship we do more than "Make Time for God," we can totally focus on God. BEFORE A VACATION plan on "Making Time for God" each Sunday mornings.

Locate the nearest Orthodox Church. The SCOBA website offers a parish directory of the canonical Orthodox Churches in America - http://www.scoba.us/ SCOBA - the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas brings together the canonical hierarchs of Orthodox jurisdictions in the Americas. Archbishop Demetrios is the Chairman.

Attending Orthodox Churches in

different parts of the country or of different backgrounds can be exciting. If the children are unenthused, approach it like a Church School “religious game.”

Make it fun, educational, plus a

chance to meet other Orthodox Christians.

The Goal: Each family member is to look for things that are different from their home parish experience, but not to the exclusion of worship. After the Coffee Hour, make time to list and discuss the observations.

Compare the findings with the next parish the family visits.

No matter where families relocate and students go to college, there is usually an Orthodox Church to attend.

Because Orthodox Christianity came to America from different countries, expect to see some different traditions.

More important, though, is that all Orthodox Christians recite the same Creed and have the same beliefs.

CHOICES: The final way of “Making Time for God” is making good choices involving time. When signing up for fall activities, weigh the value of each activity. Parents are in the best position to help children choose what is in their best interest.

Carefully consider the time commitment of each activity. If any conflict with Worship, ask yourself, “Is this it the right activity for my child?”

Scheduling too many activities means

“Making Time For God” in Nashville!

At the 2004 Los Angeles Clergy-Laity, Archbishop Demetrios declared 2005 the “Year of the Family.”

From that came the Center for Family Care directed by Fr. Costa Sitaras. The Center has developed family resources, a website with more to be added soon, and has provided for parish retreats through the Archdiocese.

The Center is playing a role in this year’s Archdiocese Clergy-Laity Congress - July 16-20. Of course, there is the administrative business of the Church, but this year there is a focus on Family.

WHERE? Nashville, known as the “Music City” home of Country Music and the Grand Ole Opry; the “Athens of the South,” due to its dedication to fine arts and higher education; and the “Buckle of the Bible Belt,“ home of Thomas Nelson Publishing (Orthodox Study Bible).

Do you know that 50 percent of the U.S. population lives within 650 miles of Nashville; two-thirds can drive there in just 1 day!

WHEN? Sunday through Thursday, July 16-21. Plenty of “Making Time for God.” WHERE TO STAY? The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is HUGE! It’s a great place for a vacation, too!

WHAT’S HAPPENING? Family Programs July 16-19.

WHO CAN COME? Families of delegates plus Families interested in spending time at the Congress.

WHO’S IN CHARGE? Center for Family Care will oversee the Family Synaxis.

Nashville’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church will offer two Family Activities: (1) Sunday Evening Social at the Church. (2) Thursday’s All-day Youth Program - Nashville Zoo and several historic sites.

WHY COME? The Congress and National Philoptochos Convention delegates will attend meetings.

Meanwhile, their spouses and children can participate in the Family Synaxis, unique family programs and gatherings for all ages that include group activities, worship, fellowship and spiritual growth.

WHAT’S THE COST? No charge, just one requirement. Families have to preregister for the Family Synaxis.

For registration materials, etc. http://www.familyaschurch.org/familysynaxis.asp.

For Clergy-Laity Congress information, hotel, schedule and more http:// www.clergylaity.org

23

participation in HOPE, JOY, GOYA, Church School and Worship suffer. How do you feel about this?

LOOK AT THE LONG TERM: If “Making Time for God,” which includes Church-related activities, is important for the ongoing and future participation of our children in the Orthodox Church, what do we have to do?

What greater gift can we give them than coming to know Christ and the Orthodox Christian Faith?

HISTORICAL NOTE: For centuries the entire Christian community was involved in the spiritual formation of Christians - both children and adults - by example, in the Liturgy and in daily life. They did not have to “Make Time for God,” it was the norm. Today there is competition for time commitments St. John Chrysostom stresses the importance of the religious and spiritual formation of our children when he said, “With us, everything should be secondary compared to our concern with children and their upbringing in the instruction and teaching of the Lord.”

We have to “Make Time for God.”

Family Outreach Sunday initiated GARRISON, N.Y. – The Archdiocese Department of Outreach & Evangelism announces the first annual Family Outreach Sunday, a program that encourages active parishioners to invite inactive family members and Orthodox Christian friends for a special day of fellowship and spiritual renewal.

Many are aware of Orthodox friends and relatives that have fallen away from active involvement in the Church. Jesus Christ calls each one of us to engage in active outreach to these relatives and friends.

Archbishop Demetrios refers to this calling as “…a particularly integral aspect of our Orthodox Christian identity that is worth our cultivating, cherishing and sharing.”

Family Outreach Sunday has been developed in cooperation with the Ladies Philoptochos Society and the Center for Family Care at St. Basil Academy, and is modeled on successful Outreach Sundays carried out in the parishes of Birmingham, Ala. and Milwaukee, Wis. All parishes are encouraged to choose a Family Outreach Sunday that best fits their parish calendar.

National Philoptochos President Georgia Skeadas included an outline of this program in her fall letter to the local chapters in which she encouraged all to support and participate in Family Outreach Sunday efforts in their parishes.

Mrs. Skeadas describes this initiative as “a noteworthy program that the National Philoptochos Society wholeheartedly endorses and supports.”

Fr. Constantine Sitaras, director of the Center for Family Care at St. Basil Academy has praised Family Outreach Sunday as “…an excellent complement to our efforts to affirm the importance of the family as a blessed gift from God and to address the specific needs of families as they try to live in a very challenging culture and world.”

Fr. Sitaras sees Family Outreach Sunday as a “win-win” proposition for all involved and hopes to see the program become an annual parish event.

Information and Family Outreach Sunday posters have been sent to all parish clergy throughout the Archdiocese.

Program materials are available on the website of the Department of Outreach & Evangelism at www.Outreach.goarch.org

2

Books

METrOPOLiTAN METHODiOS receives Knapp Award BOSTON – The Massachusetts Council of Churches honored Metropolitan Methodios for his contributions in the ecumenical movement during its recent annual meeting by awarding him the Knapp Award. Also honored was the Rev. John Maheras, ecumenical officer of the Metropolis of Boston and pastor at Nativity Church in Cohasset, Mass.

Book Explores the role of Presbytera

A

thanasia Papademetriou's text serves as a practical guide as well as a pastoral text for women who share in their husbands' priestly ministry. However, the book goes beyond its scope offering sound advice and guidance not only to women who are married to priests or seminarians, but to all men and women who have dedicated their life to serve the church in one form or another and are thus in the public eye, teaching orthodoxy through example.

by Maria-Fotini Kapsalis, Ph.D.

METROPOLITAN Methodios of Boston with Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler during the award ceremony.

In presenting the award, Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches said, “In giving this award, we acknowledge the key role that these individuals are playing in furthering the reconciling aims of the ecumenical movement in this place and the gifts that the Greek Orthodox Church is sharing with all churches in the Commonwealth through active participation in the Massachusetts Council of Churches.

We are especially thankful for the gift of ecumenical hospitality that is so strong in the Orthodox tradition, in keeping with the Apostle Paul’s appeal to ‘welcome one another… just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.’” In response, Metropolitan Methodios said, “I am deeply grateful for the great honor bestowed upon me today during the 104th annual meeting of the Massachusetts Council of Churches. Indeed, receiving the Forrest L. Knapp Ecumenical Award together with Fr. John Maheras is an honor we both accept on behalf of the clergy and laity of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston that we are honored to serve. Since assuming my responsibilities in 1984, I have endeavored to be active in the interchurch and inter religious community of Greater Boston and New England, offering “hospitality witness and commitment within and beyond the Metropolis of Boston.

“I am deeply grateful to you for honoring me today. I am particularly grateful for your friendship. I am thankful to God for the Rev. Diane Kessler, the tireless executive director of the Mass Council of Churches, who has been especially sensitive to the Orthodox community in Boston.

She has graced many of our community programs and has earned the love and respect of everyone in the Orthodox Christian community. I thank you, Diane for your friendship and advice all these years.”

The Knapp Award serve to stimulate interest and involvement in the ecumenical task – that is, making visible and effective the unity and mission of the Christian church – by honoring persons and/or institution who/which has contributed significantly to the advancement of ecumenism in Massachusetts.

The Award is named for past executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the Rev. Dr. Forrest L. Knapp.

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston became the first Orthodox Church to join the Massachusetts Council of Church in 2002, the 100th anniversary of the Massachusetts Council of Churches.

Presbytera Papademetriou begins her text by investigating the historical role of women in the ancient world, their elevation to children of God through Christ, and their new role in the early Church.

She provides inspiring examples of Christian women who serve as role models for us today, such as the Theotokos, and wives and mothers of saints, whom have themselves obtained sainthood for their role is spreading the message of Christ.

The next two chapters deal specifically with the priesthood.

Chapter two addresses the validity of the married priest. Historically, the question: “Should married men be allowed to serve as priests?” was addressed in the First Ecumenical Council.

This council sanctioned the validity of the married priesthood, and with it the importance of the priest's family to the ministry of the Church.

The third chapter deals with the call to the priesthood that selectmen have from God, and their inclination to respond to the call to serve.

The author in this chapter deals with the Levitical priesthood in the Old Testament, and the priesthood of Christ through Apostolic succession.

The text also focuses on the priest's family, and the "call" of the presbytera to share in her husband's ministry. The consent of the wife is mandatory in order for the husband's ordination to occur.

The man through ordination is bestowed with the title Presbyter. As a sign of respect for the priest's wife, who is to support her husband in his ministry, the title of “Presbytera” is bestowed upon her.

Before a man becomes responsible for his parishioners through his ordination, he first becomes responsible to his wife through his marriage. The priest’s example of Christian living is essential in modeling a good Christian family to his spiritual children. (1Timothy 3:1-7) The author focuses on the importance of the Christ-centeredness of the relationship between husband and wife, and correctly states that all marriages are called to be this way. (1Timothy) Children are a blessing to a marriage, and greatly change the dynamics in every family. With the added role of motherhood, the priest’s wife is faced with the new challenge of balancing her home responsibilities and her children, with her parish role of presbytera. Athanasia Papademetriou continues to address how a priest’s wife can serve her parishioners based on her individual talents.

The importance of outreach, hospitality and philanthropy are vital as they witness to the world how the love of Christ transforms our hearts, and our lives, and empowers us to battle the negative influences in this world.

Athanasia Papademetriou Presbytera: The Life, Mission, and Service of the Priest's Wife

Boston, MA, Somerset Hall Press, 2004, Pp. 175, $19.95 The personal relationship the priest and the presbytera have with Christ is the strength behind the effectiveness of their joint ministry.

Presbytera serves as a practical guide for presbyteres on how to deal with issues such as living in and managing a parish house, beginning an assignment, moves and transfers and its affects both on the priest’s family as well as the families of the old and new parishes, managing conflict within the parish, dress codes, calendars and scheduling, insurance, income and finances and other such practical matters.

Prayer, and participation in the sacraments of the Church, especially Holy Confession and Holy Communion is the spiritual nourishment for all Orthodox Christians in their day to day struggles.

The priest's family is no exception.

MAY 2006

The final chapter discusses how the priest’s wife serves as the comfort of her husband's weighed down spirit and helps lighten his load.

However, the presbytera has her own yoke to carry. Criticism and stress are forever present when one lives in the public eye.

Neither the priest nor his wife would be able to bear the weight of their burdens if their own souls are not fed with the Sacraments of the Church, and the counseling of a good spiritual father.

Presbytera ends on a positive note, by stressing the great fulfillment and rewards presbyteres feel knowing they have helped transform the lives of their parishioners, and as a collective body how they have helped spread the good news of salvation to every corner of the world.

Athanasia Papademetriou's text Presbytera has filled a void that has existed for too long on the topic of the priest's wife.

I highly recommend this book to all women, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, and to those who are “called” to serve as presbyteres, as well as to all those who wish to become involved in various ministries.

Papademitriou’s writing style makes Presbytera an enjoyable reading that is both enriching and informative.

Fr. Constantelos Authors Two New Books BROOKLINE, Mass. – Holy Cross Press has published two books by the Rev. Dr. Demetrios Constantelos, professor emeritus at Richard Stockton College in New Jersey.

“Renewing the Church” is a 125-page analysis of the historical, theological and cultural significance of the famous Council of Trullo (691) that addressed issues which continue to beset the Church.

Professor Spyros Vryonis, an international authority on Byzantine history and civilization, and one of the referee readers of the manuscript, writes: “This study is an excellent introduction to the Byzantine ecclesiastical Council of Trullo for both laypersons and scholars…(the author) performs an essential service when he ties the whole matter to the historical and social realities of the times. He understands the profound relation of ecclesiology to history.”

The second book, “the Greeks: Their

CLERGY

Heritage and Its Value Today,” is an enlarged (160 pages) and revised edition of a small monograph published in 1996.

The author identifies the ideals and values of Hellenism that have remained constant from its ancient roots to its medieval and modern manifestations and explores the continuous identity of the Greeks through their language and culture from antiquity to the present.

Part two reviews the highlights and discusses the major events of Greek heritage, including religion and spirituality, equality under the law, education and philosophy, the sciences and the arts, and other aspects of Greek contributions to civilization, including the influence of Greek thought on several Founding Fathers of the American republic.

The books are available through Holy Cross Press at Holy Cross School of Theology, 50 Goddard Ave., Brookline, MA 02445; (617) 731-3500.

UPDATE

Ordination to the Priesthood John Pilafas–by Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago at St. Demetrios Church, Waukegan, IL, 04/09/06 Deacon Nicholas Halkias–by Metropolitan Maximos of Pittsburgh – Holy Cross, Pittsburgh, 05/11/06 Assignments Fr. John Artemas–St. Nicholas, Oak Lawn, Ill., 04/01/06 Fr. Mark A. Munoz – Sts. Constantine & Helen, Rockford, Ill. 04/01/06 Rev. Hieromonk Ignatios Achlioptas–Assumption, Flint, Mich. 04/15/06 Fr. John Pilafas– St. Nicholas Church, Appleton, Wis. 05/01/06 Fr. John Vernikos–St. Michael the Archangel, Lecanto, Fla. 06/01/06 Fr. James Berends–Sts. Rafael, Nicholas & Irene, Cumming, Ga., 06/01/06 Fr. Michael Eaccarino–St Nicholas, Tarpon Springs, Fla., 06/01/06 Offikia Archbishop Demetrios bestowed the office of Archimandrite upon Fr.

Stavros Anagnostopoulos (named Dionysios), 4/15/06 Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta bestowed the offices of Confessor and Economos upon Rev. Presbyter Andrew Scordalakis 4/16/06 Archbishop Demetrios bestowed the office of Economos upon: Fr. John Lardas, 05/07/06 Receptions V. Rev. Archimandrite Cleopas Strongylis – from the Church of Greece, 04/19/06 Suspensions V. Rev. Fr. Michael Rymer 12/2003 Fr. Demetrios Kavouras, 05/12/06 Suspension rescinded Fr. Basil K. Papanikolaou Inactive Fr. John Panagiotou, 05/01/06 Returned to status of layman Fr. George N. Patides 01/19/06 New Parishes St. Luke Greek Orthodox Mission, Mooresville, N.C., Metropolis of Atlanta

MAY 2006

The Voice of

25

Philoptochos

Philoptochos Board Holds Spring Meeting NEW YORK–The spring meeting of the National Philoptochos Board Meeting convened on March 17-18. The primary focus of the National Board members was on outreach programs and further discussion of long term assistance for those individuals in the Gulf Coast devastated

by Hurricane Katrina.

Greetings were offered by Archbishop Demetrios with praise for Philoptochos regarding their leadership and their involvement with administering aid wherever needed.

President Georgia Skeadas shared her reflections about her trip to Tarpon Springs, where she participated in Epiphany and Centennial celebrations of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral with Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Demetrios. President Skeadas reported that she toured the 9th Ward in New Orleans, the area most impoverished and hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, and that the situation there was very grave and much more horrific than viewed on television. In light of that fact, a presentation was offered by Rick Beech, director of Church Relations with Habitat for Humanity.

Mr. Beech provided an overview of Habitat’s ministry and discussed how the Philoptochos may collaborate on the House in a Box or Operation Home Delivery program in the near future.

The National Philoptochos Christmas appeal, of Adopt- a-Family has been very successful. As of March 8, 53 chapters have

inquire about adopting families with more inquiries occurring daily. Also as of March 8, National Philoptochos has assisted 38 families with over $19,000 received in gift cards from 24 chapters.

President Skeadas stated that, “Philoptochos is thankful, that through the benevolence of our Chapters, we can help rebuild the lives of those devastated by the hurricanes.”

In addition, the National Philoptochos Society has collected over $141,000 for the National Philoptochos Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, of which $98,000 was specifically earmarked to address the temporary housing expenses and the purchasing of

necessary major appliances.

Jeffrey Towers, senior vice-president for marketing, development and communications, for the US Fund for UNICEF shared with the board members his experiences in Niger last summer as he witnessed UNICEF’s work during the food crisis, and offered an update on the aftermath of the earthquake in Pakistan, in November 2005 and the recovery efforts.

President Skeadas presented Mr. Towers with a donation of $20,000 for the continued good works of UNICEF on behalf of children around the world.

President Skeadas informed the body that because of the generosity of

AHI Honors National Philoptochos WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Philoptochos was honored March 18 at the 31st annual American Hellenic Institute (AHI) Awards Dinner held at the Capitol Hilton. Accepting the Hellenic Heritage National Public Service Award on behalf of the Society, National President Georgia Skeadas stated, “This evening, I am most deeply honored to receive the Hellenic Heritage National Public Service Award, which I accept on behalf of our most dedicated, loving and supportive members of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. The Philoptochos Society aims to make a difference through service; dedicated service that spans over 75 years.”

Over 500 guests attended this major fundraising event of the American Hellenic Institute, which annually pays tribute to a distinguished group of individuals and organizations for their contributions to the Greek American community.

In addition to the National Philoptochos, the following were honored that evening: Daughters of Penelope, Rev. Dr. John T. Tavlarides, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Kyriakos Tsakopoulos.

In her acceptance, National President Skeadas shared with the attendees the many and varied programs of the Society.

Philoptochos has had a long time partnership with UNICEF, where the Society has been involved with assistance to children in war-torn Kosovo, Iraq war relief, Ethiopian famine relief and most recently the earthquake in Pakistan.

In addition, the Society’s support of UNICEF has assisted them to reach their goal of ensuring health care, HIV/AIDS prevention education and immunization of 75% of the world’s children against the major childhood diseases and towards the elimination of maternal and neonatal teta-

NATIONAL PRESIDENT of the National Philoptochos Society Georgia Skeadas (L) being presented with the Hellenic Heritage National Public Service Award by Diane Tseckares (R) at the AHI Annual Dinner.

nus. The National Philoptochos Society and its local chapters support the Hellenic Heart Program of Children's Medical Hospital in Chicago, which features an international, diagnostic telemedicine service, linking the hospital's cardiology division with physicians and hospitals across the world, allowing them to transmit and diagnose echo-cardiograms, in real time, internationally without the potential risk or expense of transporting the child to the hospital.

Since its inception in 1989, the Children's Medical Fund Luncheon held in cities throughout the United States, has raised almost $1.5 million providing grants to 31 hospitals in the United States as well as to one in Greece.

A portion of the 2005 luncheon proceeds will assist in establishing a Children's Medical Clinic in Ambo, Ethiopia, where

responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis is of the highest priority.

The new National Philoptochos Society Literacy Outreach Project will be used to promote literacy for children and adults through a “hands-on” program of additional instruction, support and encouragement, given by volunteer tutors.

Bringing independence to those rendered immobile due to war, disease, accident, natural disaster or advanced age is the goal of the Wheelchair Foundation, which the National Philoptochos has undertaken as a project.

A container of 280 wheelchairs has been sent to the Republic of Georgia with a second container being readied for Thessaloniki, Greece.

The IOCC is partnering with Philoptochos to provide vocational skills training to those same disabled people, so that they can find meaningful employment and a new purpose in life.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, National Philoptochos maintains a Social Services Program that has helped countless thousands of recipients in the last seven decades through counseling, referrals, financial grants and other forms of assistance. In the past 10 years alone, over $1,100,00 has been provided to individuals in need.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Skeadas stated that almost $12 million had been raised for Philoptochos programs and projects in the last decade, and most likely that many times that amount has been raised and donated, in almost 75 years, by the 480 chapters and 30,000 members throughout the United States.

On behalf of the entire Philoptochos Society and its membership, she thanked the AHI for honoring Philoptochos.

the chapters, a second container of 280 wheelchairs was being prepared for delivery to Thessaloniki, Greece through the Wheelchair Foundation. In the spirit of continuing to expand Philoptochos’ outreach, she shared that the Philoptochos Society would support the program of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, entitled Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF). The OCF provides college students with a “lifeline” to keep them connected with and grow in the Orthodox faith.

National Treasurer, Aphrodite Skeadas reported that the following donations will be made from the commitments/programs and special drives of the Society: • $37,500 to Hellenic College Holy Cross Scholarship Fund for 25 seminarians • $5,053 to Hellenic College Holy Cross towards the Archbishop Iakovos Chair of Orthodox Theology • $25,000 to the National Sisterhood of Presbyteres • $4,000 to the Retired Clergy Benevolent Fund • $30, 807 to the Archdiocese Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund • $30,000 to the Ecumenical Patriarchate for its philanthropies • $15,000 to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center • $30,000 to the Support a Mission Priest Program Further reports were presented by various standing and special committees and a successful workshop was prepared by the membership committee, “Deriving Benefits from Human Diversity” presented by Ana Reyes, a partner with International Leadership and Organization Consultants.

Bishop Andonios, spiritual advisor, offered a spiritually uplifting and edifying Lenten reflection on Great Lent and Holy Week.

Hurricane Katrina Affected Teens To Visit Tampa TAMPA – The Philoptochos Society of St. John Church will sponsor 17 teens from Holy Trinity in New Orleans to come to Tampa to participate in the 21st Annual Sun State Eastern Orthodox Junior Olympics.

Hurricane Katrina ravaged holy Trinity, as well as the homes of its parishioners.

The church and the community have been in a re-building process ever since. Many of the parishioners are still without working appliances, adequate housing and basic needs. These youths have been through a lot and are still coping with the aftermath of Katrina. The local chapter felt the need to reach out and let the teens just be “kids” for a weekend.

The Tampa Philoptochos chapter took the initiative to raise the funds necessary to bring the New Orleans youth group to Tampa for a weekend of sports and fellowship.

The Tampa chapter is part of the Atlanta Metropolis, which along with the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities), Tampa Bay Area Orthodox churches and private donors contributed to this cause.

The Ladies Philoptochos at national, metropolis and local levels has contributed over $1 million in relief aid to the New Orleans area for Orthodox and nonOrthodox alike. Link to Holy Trinity New Orleans: http://www.holytrinitycathedral. org/katrina/holyt.html

26

MAY 2006

In Memoriam Rev. Spyros Mourikis The Rev. Spyros Mourikis, who for over four decades transformed a small group of Greek Orthodox families into a prospering church nearly 500 families strong, died April 2 on Cape Cod Mass., at age 84.

Fr. Mourikis was born on Corfu on Oct. 13, 1921. His obituary in the Cape Cod Times newspaper noted that he became a psalmist and Sunday school leader on the island and was known as “'Papa,”' or “'priest,”' despite being a layman. He was responsible for 200 families that sought shelter on the island during World War II. In 1946 he was chosen with two other students from Corfu to attend Holy Cross Seminary, then in Pomfret, Conn.

He started seminary in 1947 and, the same year he was ordained a deacon on Sept. 21 at Assumption Church in Somerville and a priest on Oct. 5 at Holy Trinity Church in Lowell. The same year, he also met and married his wife, Mary Masteralexis of Somerville, Mass. They were married for 58 years.

He served weekends at Holy Trinity Church in Norwich, Conn., until being assigned to Hyannis, where he became the community's first permanent priest in 1949. Fr. Mourikis taught Sunday school, ran afternoon Greek lessons, organized GOYA, choir, Philoptohos and PTA, and worked with senior citizens.

He also served the St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood as president, vice president, officer and board member.

He was named confessor in 1951 and received the offices of economos in 1947 from Bishop Athenagoras Kokkinakis, and protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1974 from Archbishop Iakovos. He and his wife also received the St. Paul Medal at the consecration of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hyannis in 1987.

In 1988 he was honored for his service by the Southeastern New England District of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Boston. He retired in 1991 after 43 years of service, and the parish's community center was later named in his honor.

He began with only 50 local families who worshipped in New Bedford. He ended with 10 times as many parishioners and a large, new church in Centerville.

Fr. Mourikis was a member of the Cape Cod Council of Churches, Ecumenical Committee and Committee of Cape Cod Hospital.

He was also chaplain of the Cape Cod chapter of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.

Besides his presbytera, survivors include three daughters, Sophia Sarhanis of Centerville, Loukia LoPresti of New Jersey and Deborah E. Tasoulas of Waterford, Conn.; five grandchildren; and a greatgranddaughter.

Services took place April 6 at St. George Church with Metropolitan Methodios of Boston officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the Artifacts Account, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1130 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632.

Rev. Paul G. Apostolakos Fr. Paul G. Apostolakos, 78, a retired priest since 1992, died March 8. He had served as pastor of the Greek Orthodox Community of Kingsbridge and Riverdale in the Bronx prior to his retirement.

Fr. Apostolakos was born May 29, 1927 in Sparta, Greece. He attended elementary school in Mystra and high school in Sparta.

He came to the United States in April 1947 and enrolled at Holy Cross School of Theology, graduating in 1951. He married Vasilia Sakoutis of New York on Oct. 26, 1952.

He was ordained a deacon Dec. 12, 1952 at St. Spyridon Church in New York and a priest on Dec. 21 at St. Demetrios Church in Jamaica. Both ordinations were performed by Bishop Demetrios of Olympus.

His first assignment was to Sts. Anargyroi Church in Rochester, Minn., in January 1953. He served there until Aug. 1, 1955, when he was assigned to Assumption Church in St. Louis and served until Sept. 3, 1956.

Fr. Apostolakos next assignment was to St. Demetrios Church in Jersey City, N.J., which he pastored until Aug. 22, 1962. He was then sent to St. John Church in Jacksonville, Fla., where he served until 1965.

From there, he returned to New York, where he was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Babylon from Sept. 15, 1965 to Jan. 31, 1980. During this time he also served as a chaplain at Pilgrim State Hospital.

On Feb. 1, 1980, he was assigned to St. Barbara Church in Manhattan until Aug. 1, 1981, when he was sent to Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Jackson Heights, Queens until Oct. 15, 1986, when he went to serve the community in the Bronx. Fr. Apostolakos was bestowed the rank of confessor by Archbishop Michael in December 1954, and protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which was bestowed by Archbishop Iakovos in May 1976.

The funeral was held March 13 at St. Nicholas Church in West Babylon. In addition to his presbytera, survivors include their three children, George, Calliope and Stavros.

Rev. Soterios Lytras Fr. Soterios, Lytras, 79, a retired priest since 1992, died Feb. 18 in Australia.

He was born Feb. 28, 1927, in Athens, Greece. After attending elementary school and high school in Athens, he came to the United States in November 1946 and enrolled in Harper College of the State University of New York, earning a degree in library science.

He next enrolled at Holy Cross School of Theology and graduated in 1950. He married Maria Malesta of New London, Conn., Aug. 20, 1950.

He also acquired a bachelor’s degree in social science and a masters in elementary education at the City College of New York in 1968.

He was ordained a deacon in New Britain, Conn., on Sept. 12, 1950 by Bishop Germanos Polizoides, and a priest Jan. 19, 1951 at Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline by Bishop Ezekiel of Nazianzos. His first assignment was St. George Church in Pittsfield, Mass., from Feb. 1, 1951 until July 30, 1954.

He was next assigned to Holy Trinity Church in Binghamton, N.Y., from Aug. 1, 1954 to August 1968, then was assigned to St. Athanasios Church in Elmira, N.Y. Fr. Lytras also held the ranks of sakellarios, bestowed by Archbishop Michael in April 1958, and protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, bestowed by Archbishop Iakovos in May 1975.

He retired on Jan. 3, 1992. In addition to his presbytera, he is survived by a son, James.

Rev. Phillip G. Gialopsos Fr. Philip Gialopsos, 80, a retired priest, who had served pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Lowell, Mass., and Assumption Church in Dracut, died April 7.

He was born April 10, 1925 in New York and moved to Greece at a young age, completing elementary and high school in Pyrgos, Elias, Greece.

He had studied physics at the University of Athens, then returned to the United States and enrolled at Holy Cross School of Theology, were he earned a diploma in theology in 1951.

Over the years he also studied at Tulane University in New Orleans, at City College of New York, and at Harper College in Endicott, N.Y. He married Constance Chippas of New York in August 1952. They had four children: Mary, Cynthia, George and Vasilios.

He was ordained a deacon at St. Eleftherios Church in New York in October 1952.

In December 1952, he was ordained as a priest at St. Eleftherios by Archbishop Michael and was assigned to the parish where he served until 1957.

From 1957 to Sept. 30, 1966, he served at Annunciation Church in Endicott. He became pastor of Holy Trinity in Lowell on Oct. 1, 1966, and served until May 31, 1990. He then served the church in Dracut.

In 2004, he suffered a stroke but recovered, then was stricken with lung cancer in 2005, though he was a nonsmoker, according to an article in the Lowell Sun newspaper.

In the Boston area, he preached a 15-minute sermon every Sunday on a Greek-language radio program, the Voice of Orthodoxy, and served as superintendent of Greek schools for the Metropolis of Boston.

Fr. Gialopsos also held the ecclesiastical ranks of oikonomos and protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Funeral services took place April 10, which would have been his 81st birthday, with Metropolitan Methodios of Boston officiating and the participation of other priests.

Rev. Theophanis Kolyvas Fr. Theophanis Kolyvas, 89, a retired priest since October 1990, died May 4.

He was born Oct. 23, 1916 on Kalymnos, in the Dodecanese islands of Greece.

After attending elementary and high school on Kalymnos, he enrolled for one year at the University of Athens.

He marred Maria Skandaliaris of Kalymnos in October 1947. They had four children, Emmanuel, Angeliki, George and Anthony.

He was ordained as a deacon April 26, 1953 by Metropolitan Isidoros of Kalymnos, and as a priest on May 10 of that year.

Fr. Kolyvas came to the United States and was assigned as the priest of Annunciation Church in Nassau on July 1, 1953. He was bestowed the offices of Confessor and Economos in 1954 and ’55 respectively.

He served the parish for 37 years until his retirement on Oct. 1, 1990. He then continued as the servicing priest until this year.

Paideia 2006 Summer Programs Offered in Greece NEW YORK – PAIDEIA semester/ year around study abroad programs are offered in Thessaloniki, and Rhodes in collaboration with Aristotle University, University of Macedonia, and University of Aegean.

PAIDEIA 2006 Summer Programs are offered in Thessaloniki, Dion, Kozani, Sparta, Ikaria, Mytilini, Delphi, Karpenisi, and Rhodes in classical and modern Greek, Culture, History, Marine Sciences, Art, and Archaeology of Greece.

The program includes various summer concerts, visits to Archaeological sites and monuments of Greece depending on student interest and courses offered.

The program includes a number of excursions to museums, galleries, churches and theaters.

The courses are intensive for periods of three weeks. The dates are from May 15 to June 2, June 4 to June 24, June 25 to July 14, July 2 to July 22, July 15 to Aug. 6, and July 23 to Aug. 11.

Students will live at rental apartments in walking distance from the classrooms.

Thessaloniki students take the afternoon and evening meals at school cafeteria. Students in Dion, Rhodes and other regions of Greece take breakfast and dinner at a restaurant.

Meals are seven days a week. Afternoon meal is not included.

Eligibility: It is preferable that students have a grade point average of 2.5 GPA. Credits: four semester hours for Greek language courses and three semester hours for history, archaeology and other courses.

Cost: The program fee is $1,200 for one course. For two or more the cost is $900.00 per course, which includes orientation, tuition, transcripts, housing, meals, cultural activities, local excursions and field trips.

Part of this year program costs for each participant are defrayed through Paideia’s scholarship support.

This scholarship is reflected in the program fee. This does not include the International Student Identity Card, and a nonrefundable $420 fee for application and registration through the University of Connecticut.

Additional estimated costs include $1,100 for round-trip airfare, $700 for personal expenses and about $70 per course for textbooks. Applications can be obtained at: Study Abroad Programs or Center for Hellenic Studies Paideia University of Connecticut, 368 Fairfield Rd., Unit 2207, 28 Dog lane, P.O. Box 818, Storrs, CT 06268; Tel/fax: (860)4298518; e-mail: Paideia@snet.net; http:// www.studyabroad.uconn.edu; www. paideiaonline.org

27

MAY 2006

Challenge What’s Up Truth in Fiction? Did You Know…

YOUTH MINISTRY

e-mail: youthoffice@goarch.org

WITH

Many times, it was through parables that our Lord was able to help people understand the message of His Kingdom.

Stories can sometimes do a better job of conveying deeper truths than just saying the simple truth. Well, the movie adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic, Narnia, conveys to us deep truths about the Kingdom of God and Christian life.

by Pete Sotiras

The first truth we learn is that young people can change the world. The four main characters demonstrate that the role of young people is extremely important.

Even if you are under 18 and can't vote, or under 16 and can't drive, realize that the Church needs you. You have a tremendous responsibility to help make this world a better place, all that it was meant to be from the very beginning: Paradise. Never, ever think that you're unimportant–not only are you important, but God needs you to share His message of love and hope to all people, just like Aslan needed Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. When Jesus ascended to His Father, He didn’t leave us stranded as orphans.

Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit, whom He sent from the Father, in order to empower us to continue His mission and to do even greater things (John 14:12).

How do we continue Christ’s mission you ask? The Lord’s mission continues when we treat people like they would want to be treated, when we act friendly to someone who has no friends, when we spend time with the elderly and listen to their stories, when we forgive those who have hurt us, when we ask forgiveness of those we have hurt through our words or actions, and when we restrain ourselves from using violence against those who

Media Review

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (I John 4:8).

Learning how to love is not easy, but The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is an honorable example. The characters in the movie illustrate a Christian example of unconditional love.

by Amy Harbilas

The story is about four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy who are sent to the countryside away from the city air raids during World War II. They stay in an enormous and extravagant house, and while playing hide-and-go-seek, the youngest child, Lucy, hides in a wardrobe and finds another world.

In this world, Narnia, the animals talk and humans are called sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. The inhabitants believe in a prophecy where Aslan, a lion, helped by the four children, will overcome the evil ruler, the White Witch, and in turn rule Narnia. When all four kids traveled to Narnia together, Edmund leaves his siblings, wanting to be the sole heir of the crown. Though Edmund betrayed

disrespect us. When we do all these things, we become Christ in the world.

We continue Christ’s healing ministry of love to a broken society. These actions might not seem so important, but believe me, if people did these things more often, the world would be a much better place–a place like God intended for it to be. The world would truly become the Kingdom of God on earth, as it should have been.

The second truth we can take from this movie is that you are of royal lineage.

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are royalty.

Throughout the film, the different characters of Narnia pay honor and respect to the four youths because they are the kings and queens of Narnia. It's the same for us, too–we are of royal lineage because we are heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.

At our baptism we were united to Christ, the King of Glory, and at every Divine Liturgy we are united to Christ when we receive His precious Body and Blood. We are icons of Christ because we are recreated in His image at baptism–and that is why the priest censes all of us during liturgy.

You might think that Kelly Clarkson, the All American Rejects, Beyonce, or 50 Cent are people who are super important.

People go nuts when they see these stars.

However, topping the charts or appearing on MTV doesn't give you your worth. Giving you worth is your relationship to God. When God sees you, God sees the crown of His creation.

Knowing that Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy had this royal dignity, the White Witch wanted to enslave them. So she tempted Edmund, the younger brother, with earthly delights (specifically Turkish Delight) and then held him as a prisoner.

The devil, too, wants to enslave us. He tempts us with many things that might

seem appealing at first: popularity, drugs, money, alcohol, and sex.

Whenever we fall into temptations and turn to these things to find happiness and fulfillment, we come to discover that we have been lied to. As a result, we become slaves, lose our royal dignity, and we are no longer free. When Christ descended into Hades and rose from the dead, he freed humanity from the bondage of death and reopened Paradise for us.

The Church wants to keep us free which explains why she tells us to avoid certain things–not because she doesn’t want us to have fun, but because she wants us have true fun and happiness, something that cannot be achieved through any other means other than a life in Christ. The most important truth in this story is that you are loved by the most important Person ever.

Just as C.S. Lewis' Aslan loved the four youths, the most important Person of all, Jesus Christ, cares about you more than you could ever imagine and more than anyone else.

Our Lord wants to have a relationship with you, a friendship with you. He wants to guide you and help you become the person you are meant to be. He wants you to experience true joy and happiness, which is only possible with a life in Him. There may be times when you doubt His love or even His existence. When these times occur, always remember, that God is there for you always and will always be there for you, even until the end of the age.

Pete is the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Metropolis of San Francisco. He is a 2005 graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. Stay connected with his efforts in the Metropolis at http://www.youth.sanfran.goarch.org.

Chronicles of Narnia them, they could not leave Narnia without Edmund. While searching for him, Peter, Susan, and Lucy began to see the prophesy as truth.

CS Lewis’ story contains much Christian symbolism. Though fun to interpret, it is not the most important part of the story; the idea of family is overwhelming.

The love and care illustrated by these four children demonstrates that family does not need a mom or a dad, but it needs love.

This unconditional love led Peter, Susan, and Lucy to forgive Edmund with no question or hesitation. These actions are more important that any symbolism alluding to Jesus, because unconditional love is God. The same unconditional love illustrated by the children in the movies is the love that God has for mankind. He gives us free will so we can choose to love Him and follow His gospel.

On top of that, when we abuse the free will that He granted to us, He forgives us time after time. Once we feel, share, and understand unconditional love, we know God as Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy did. St. Francis of Assisi said, “Spread the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”

I love this quote, and hung it in my locker for a year because it reminded me daily of my mission. Not only do I have to keep up with everything that’s going on in life, but I also have to give myself, my attitude, and my actions to God. Now, I am not saying that I am successful all the time, but the effort is my step to spread God’s word through my love.

Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has a strong entertaining storyline which encourages Christian actions. Though the Christian symbolism captures many, I walked away with a strong feeling of love and family.

Amy Harbilas attends Holy Trinity Cathedral in Camp Hill, Pa., where she serves as GOYA President and sings in the choir. This past summer, Amy spent two weeks at the Pittsburgh Metropolis Camp, and Ionian Village in Greece, an experience she would not trade for anything. Amy is currently a senior in high school awaiting response about where she will be headed to college in the fall to work with people and learn what makes them tick.

C

S. Lewis shares God's message through his narratives? In his own life, from childhood, he was on a pilgrimage toward God. He used his talent of writing to allow others to go with him on this path toward truth.

Use your talents to witness Christ to others!

C.S. Lewis’ publisher and friends (even J.R.R. Tolkien) criticized his first book of Narnia, and thought that writing children's books would ruin his career.

Good thing he decided to stay true to himself and to what God wanted him, particularly, to do!

Seeing God's Truth in everything is what is intended for us! Orthodox Christians are led by God to see Him in all people, in every place, and deep within all things!

He is the source of all truth and we must seek to find Him so that we may receive Him, even in things that seem as distant and odd as Narnia!

PARENTS and YOUTH Workers Corner Hours of fun matching Scripture to parts of Narnia would be a great activity for your next gathering!

Begin by pulling a few quotes from John 14, like these: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many rooms… And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

And you know the way to where I am going…. I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Send us your ideas, activities, and sessions on Narnia, and we will post them with all the helpful resources you can find at http://www. goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/youth/youthworkers/.

Online registration is now open at www.yal.org for the National Young Adult Conference, July 14-17 in Nashville, Tenn.

Register now for discounted registration rates!

Come experience workshops with noted Orthodox speakers, fellowship with young adults, and Music City USA! Find your ultimate destination.

Challenge is the Youth & Young Adult Ministries supplement to the Orthodox Observer.

Articles reflect the opinion of the writers.

Write to: Youth & Young Adult Ministries, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 83 St. Basil Rd., Garrison, New York 10524 or email: youthoffice@goarch.org

28

MAY 2006

U.S. IMMIGRATION • TAXATION BUSINESS LAW INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS WILLS & ESTATES

Dr. ARES D. AXIOTIS

Attorney and Counselor at Law ÄÉÄÁÊÔÙÑ ÐÁÍ/ÌÉÏÕ OXFORD, ENGLAND Ô. ËÅÊÔÙÑ ÍÏÌÏËÏÃÉÁÓ ÐÁÍ/ÌÉÏÕ CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND Member of NY and CT BARS 36 West 44th Street – Suite 1300, New York, NY 10036

Tel.: (212) 840-3422 or (203) 255-3312

Athens Law Firm

Assists managing your property in Greece: Collects rents, find renters, takes up eviction proceedings, handles repairs and maintence; generally looks after property, assists to establish ownership and handles sales and purchases.

Contact us at:

Nikitiades and Associates

REAL ESTATE SALE or RENT

MUSICIANS

CAPE SOUNION AREA

Exclusive Villas in Schinias, near Marathon w/ Aegean Sea and mountain views, offer your choice of a home less than 100 m from water.

Open floor plan, 3 or 4 BDR, 2 BA, prvte balconies and gardens, swimming pool and more.

Spectacular views. Just 45 min. drive from Athens.

Great Investment Opportunity. Call 602-819-2300 E-mail: EBM100@ATTGLOBAL.NET

Rare large hiltop parcel, 11 plus stremata, overlooking sea and valley. Close to Temple of Poseidon, in area of year round and vacation villas. Firm price $600.000 U.S. Subject to increase without notice. Serious inquiries only!

Call: ( 207 ) 282-1197

AETOS-KARYSTOS

Masouri - Kalymnos

LOTS for SALE Buildable lot of 835m2 on a hill overlooking the sea 2nd lot of 573 m2 For more information call Nina at (773) 539-2100

Lot for SALE 1,024 m Frontage blacktop road overlooking the island of Telendos.

Serious inquires only.

Contact John at (330) 799-1744

FISHER REALTY Clearwater-Tarpon Springs

ZAKYNTHOS - GREECE

FLORIDA

Call George Steriadis

New Homes & Resales Toll Free: 1-866-308-8987 (727) 804-8289 cell

ÏÌÉËÏÕÌÅ ÅËËÇÍÉÊÁ

ROSE HILL Memorial Park

2 PARCELS OF LAND Walk to beach, large parcel 18 stremata, small parcel 4 stremata, ready to build on e-mail HSOURIS@aol.com

Στην περιοχή ΚΑΣΤΡΟ ΚΥΛΛΗΝΗΣ πολυτελέστατη μονοκατοικία με ωραία διαρρύθμιση (3 ΥΠΝΟΔ.) 11/2 μπάνιο, αποθήκη, γκαράζ κι ένα στρέμμα κήπος με δέντρα. Πληροφορίες Chris 011-30-26230-55228

KEFALONIA

ΧΙΟΣ-ΜΕΓΑΣ ΛΙΜΙΩΝΑΣ

We ship anywhere!

(718) 721-9190

www.kentrikon-noufaro.com

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Tel: (212) 570-3555

Dimitrios

Photography & Video Call our studio to talk about the wide variety of wedding packages for nearly every budget.

CALL NOW ( 516) 931-2333

MISCELLANEOUS

DELTA KAPPA Realty 4329 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. 60618 Phone: (773) 539-2100 • Fax: (773) 539-7610

25 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN REAL ESTATE Residential & Commercial Properties Lagonisi, Athens, Pireaus, Naxos, Sparta, Kos, Argos, Kios, Killini, Corinth, Tripolis, etc.

We specialize in: • Buying and Selling Properties in Greece & Illinois • Consultation on Inheritance & Parental Grant Matters • Notarial Paperwork & Translations Επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας Ελληνικά ή Αγγλικά

TRANSLATIONS-ΜΕΤΑΦΡΑΣΕΙΣ Professional Translation Service GREEK-ENGLISH-GREEK

Reasonable Rates-Fast Service Inquire by email:

metafrastis2004@yahoo.com Call today at 917.412.7465 and leave a message

for salE LOT 1,072 m ­ 2

4 km from Argostoli ­ on main road ­ within city building limits.­ Grand view of Argostoli below ­ Serious inquiries only: ­ 646-206-1082

ΠΩΛΕΙΤΑΙ

MECHANICAL REQUIREMENTS “Type page width” is 59 picas (9.75”), depth is 14 inches

Greek & American Music Unlimited Continuous “Live” Greek & American DJ Entertainment FOR ALL OCCASSIONS

Steve: (410) 456-5339 - Andreas: (717) 464-4562 Fax:(410) 256-5524 e-mail: bouzoukinights@aol.com

The Fabulous Grecian Keys

The Very Best Singers Violin, Clarino & Bouzoukia

800-GET-KEYS - 330.394.0404 Free CDs for your Festival!

www.greciankeys.com

Georgio Theofilos

Πωλείται παραθαλάσσιο ακίνητο 200 μ2. Κατασκευή 5 ετών. Δυο καταστήματα στον πρώτο όροφο (λειτουργούν ως καφέσνακ μπαρ) και δυο studio apartments στο δεύτερο. Βεράντες πάνω και κάτω. Θέρμανση και air-conditions παντού. $625,000

Τηλ.: (718) 279-8568, 7-10 μ.μ. ώρα Νέας Υόρκης

ADVERTISING RATES

DISPLAY ADVERTISING per column inch: ......$ 55.00 quarter pg:................$ 750.00 half page: . ...............$ 1,500.00 full page:...................$ 3,000.00 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING single column inch ......$ 50.00 dbl. column inch ..........$100.00

CALL KENT 1-914-476-3020

THE BOUZOUKI NIGHTS

MOLAOI LAKONIAS-GREECE Two story beautiful house w/breathtaking view overlooking Molaoi and the Valley and across Agia Paraskevi. 6 Stremmata lot w/ olive, orange and lemon trees, 2 car garage, 3 bedrooms, 21/2 baths, 2 kitchens, private church and katafigion/cave. Many extras-must see to appreciate.

U.S.A. (315) 427-6132 • Greece (summer) 27320-23118

Custom made Vestments, Cassocks, Baptismal Robes and Gifts www.churchtailor.com

ONLY TRUST YOUR SOCIAL TO A PROVEN NAME GROUP OF FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS ENTERTAINERS, AT AFFORDABLE PRICES, WHO’S ONLY BUSINESS IS MUSIC. PERFORMING AUTHENTIC GREEK MUSIC OF ALL REGIONS, COLONIES OF GREECE. FEATURING THE “PRIME VOICE OF GREECE...” THE CLARINO & BOUZOUKI PLUS VOCALS. BEWARE! OF GREEK BANDS PROMISING AMERICAN MUSIC, THEN PLAYING TAPES! ALL OUR MUSIC IS PERFORMED “LIVE”...OUR AMERICAN SOUNDS PURE AMERICAN, WITH NO ACCENT!

NAFPAKTOS-GREECE

WEDDINGS-GIFTS

Wedding and Christening items, Favors, Martirika, Vaptistika, Ecclesiastical items.

GEORGE KENT•GREEK•AMERICAN•INTERNATIONAL ORCHESTRA & ENTERTAINMENT EXPOSÉ REQUESTED! “BOOK EARLY FOR 10% REBATE!”

Call for details at (480) 325-1996

next to the Greek Chapel $ 20,000 the pair!

For Information call (951) 352-1142

PHILOTHEI Orthodox Vestments & Gifts

(718) 204-0400

or write: 118 Bolmer Ave., N.Yonkers, NY 10703-1637 Send for CD albums “Zorba” or “Athena” $15 for one, $25 for both (cassette $11.00 for one, $20 for both) to address above.

5 Lycabettus Street, Kolonaki, Athens, Greece 10672 Tel: +30 210 364-2909 • Fax: +30 210 362-5331 e-mail: gnikit@ath.forthnet.gr Information Ms. Chantzopoulou or Mr. Anastasopoulos

KENTRIKON-NOUFARO 23-35 31 St. Astoria, NY 11105

of NEW YORK

THE ULTIMATE IN GREEK AND AMERICAN MUSIC EMAIL:TROJAN888@AOL.COM

2

FOR SALE New condos, mezonettes 2,3 BR, 2, 3 BA in Palaiopanagia and Platanitis, with private parking space. Direct view of the sea and spectacular bridge. Serious Inquiries only For Information call: (248) 546-6020 • (248) 841-3922

FOR SALE Two Plats

TROJANS

THE

REV111502

LEGAL SERVICES

Display ads: Four columns to a page. Single column width is 14 picas (2.25”). For each ad­ditional column add 15 picas (2.5”).

Classified ads: Six col­umns to a page. Single column width is 9 picas (1.5”), double column width is 19 picas (3.25”) Camera ready ads preferred.

DEADLINES: Reser­vations: 25 days before publi­cation.

PAYMENT TERMS: All ads are payable in advance, unless contract agreement is in effect and account current.

If you are moving Mail this coupon to the

Orthodox Observer 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021 AND Ask your parish to forward your name and new address to the Observer in order for you to continue receiving the newspaper IF you move but your new home is located in the district of the same parish, then list your new address below:

NAME ___________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________ CITY___________________ STATE ______ ZIP________ please include your old label

THE

ONE

AND

ONLY

“TRIO BEL CANTO” - NEXT GENERATION -

The most sought after Greek Band

Available for all occasions!

For any information contact: EVANGELOS METAXAS: lead singer, original member 201-224-7208 OR KYRIAKOS METAXAS: 201-224-8472

For CDs Log on to: www.triobelcanto.com

GUIDELINES FOR PHOTOGRAPHS

1) Conventional photographs We accept Color or Black & White photos, printed on photographic paper. Photographs should be sharp and clear. Pictures printed on color printers, either Inkjet or Laser and photocopies or clippings of previously published photos are NOT accepted.

2) Digital photographs: We accept digital pictures if they conform to the following specifications: • Minimum resolution 1600 pixels wide x 1200 pixels high (approx. 2 mega pixels, digital cameras should be set to high resolution, high quality. If you scan a standard photograph -usually 4x6”- use a minimum of 300 dpi. We discourage scanning your own photos, send the actual photo.) • File format JPEG or TIFF (JPEGs are smaller files and easier to e-mail, TIFFs are better quality) • Color mode RGB, color depth minimum 8-bit. • Image files placed within any word-processing file or any other application are not accepted. • Digital pictures can be submitted by e-mail, CD-ROM, Zip, Floppy Disk (Disks can not be returned) • E-mail to: observer@ goarch.org. In the subject line write only the word “photos” VERY IMPORTANT: Attach the image files and do not include them in the body of the e-mail or they will not be usable.

3) Please include information about the photo(s); place, time and event as well as the names of all persons shown, left to right.

29

MAY 2006

T H E

W O R L D

O F

G R E E C E

ODYSSEY is a bimonthly international magazine in English featuring the best writing and photography on Greece and Greeks around the world – covering the spectrum of the Greek experience from the US to Australia, from Europe to Canada – with in-depth features and interviews, stunning photo essays and outstanding travel features, as well as regular columns on Greek wine and food.

80,000 readers in 45 countries, covering 6 continents, learn about Greece and Hellenism through 1 magazine: Subscribe to ODYSSEY magazine First Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Subscribe to ODYSSEY and bring the world of Greece to your doorstep.

Call 800-9.HELLAS

Last Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Company:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Mailing Address:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Suite/Apt./Unit:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ City:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ State/Province:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Zip/ Postal Code:_ _ _ _ _ Phone:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Fax: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(800-943-5527 U.S. only)

Email_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ Rates: 1 year (6 issues) 2 years (12 issues)

US $ 48 ❏ $ 84 ❏

Clip and mail to Odyssey 1749 St. Matthew's Court N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

Subscribe online now and save!

Enter special offer code GOARCH to get one year for just $43

FORM OF PAYMENT ❏Check Enclosed (Make payble to "Odyssey Publications") ❏ Mastercard ❏ Visa ❏ Amex ❏ Diners

✁

www.odyssey.gr

Greece 38 ú ❏ 68 ú ❏

GOARCH

Country:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Card Number

Expiry Date

Signature

If you wish to reach ODYSSEY readers through advertising please call +30 210 6595700 or e-mail advertising@odyssey.gr

30

MAY 2006

Chicago Metropolis Holds Oratorical Festival in Milwaukee MILWAUKEE -- Annunciation Church held the 23rd annual Metropolis St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival April 29.

This year’s theme was “The Festal Menaion” which means The Tradition of One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

In the spirit of St. John Chrysostom, there are four categories the youth choose from for competition: oratory, essay, iconography and poetry. The festival has two divisions; junior division for grades 7 to 9 and the senior division for grades 10-12.

Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago was honorary chairman, Chris Avramopoulos, the Metropolis Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries director was Metropolis chairman, Fr. James Dokos was host pastor and Fr. Jon S. Boukis was host chairman.

The individual categories of the Oratorical Festival were held throughout the Annunciation property. The senior division presented their speeches on the solea of the Annunciation sanctuary, while the junior division presented in the church hall with St. Iakovos Chapel as a backdrop.

The essays and icons that had already been judged were displayed on tables in the Atrium of the new James W. Pihos Cultural Center.

The oratorical competition winner in each category and age group at the parish

level advanced to the Metropolis competition in Milwaukee.

For the oratorical contest there were 16 participants in the senior division and 23 in the junior.

Senior division winner was Vaggelis Sotiropoulos from St. Spyridon in Palos Heights, Ill. Junior division winner was Mary Fay Karras from Holy TaxiarchaiSt. Haralambos in Niles, Ill. The two winners presented their speeches at the luncheon.

The poetry contest winners also read their poems. Vaggelis and Mary Fay will represent the Metropolis at the national competition in San Francisco.

The second place winner in the senior division at the Metropolis competition was Elena His Eminence with Clergy (L to R) Father Joseph Tzougros, Father Ted Trifon, Father Jon Boukis, Father James Vukmir of Annunciation Church Dokos and competitors, Chairmen, judges and volunteers in front of Annunciation Church in Milwaukee. in Milwaukee, and third place was Eoanna Harrison of Holy Taxiarchai of St. Andrew (Chicago, IL), 2nd Place Es- - by Pamela Lemperis of St. Haralambos - St. Haralambos in Niles. say Honoree - Senior Division, Salvation (Niles, IL), 3rd Place Poetry Honoree The second place junior division and the Virgin Mary - by Katerina Alexo- Senior Division, Spring Awakening - by winner was Maria Tsikalas of St. Nicholas poulos of St. Spyridon (Palos Heights, IL), Diana Sarandos of The Annunciation Church in St. Louis, and third was Alexan- 3rd Place Essay Honoree - Senior Division, (Milwaukee, WI), 1st Place Iconography der Sotiropoulos of St. Spyridon Church Judgment Day - by Staci Lampros of Holy Honoree - Senior Division, St. Philip - by in Palos Heights.

Apostles (Westchester, IL), 1st Place Poetry Eleftherios Vellos of St. Spyridon (Palos Honoree - Senior Division, Salvation - by Heights, IL), 2nd Place Iconography HonSENIOR DIVISION Antigone Matsakis of Ss. Peter and Paul oree - Senior Division, Jesus - by Stephanie 1st Place Essay Honoree - Senior Division, (Glenview, IL), 2nd Place Poetry Honoree Hellauer of STs. Constantine & Helen The Second Coming - by Melissa Anderson - Senior Division, The Power of the Cross (Wauwatosa, WI.)

N.J. Church Expands Its Complex

chorale along with the Sunday School angel choir and members of the Greek School who offered their talents and gifts to Archbishop Demetrios, Metropolitan Evangelos and all those attending.

Both the Archbishop and Metropolitan expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude St. Nicholas’ members for this achievement.

The expansion project includes a new administrative wing with four large offices for clergy and support staff and a

parish council/multipurpose conference room. All classroom spaces were updated and five new rooms were included in the expansion effort each with multimedia accessibility.

A high school regulation size gymnasium was constructed and additional kitchen areas provided.

In addition the expansion work included more storage space, new heating and air-conditioning systems and additional parking provisions as well.

HC/HC Benefit Golf Tournament Set for July

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS prepares to cut the ribbon held by Metropolitan Evangelos and Fr. Moulketis.

WYCKOFF, N.J. -- St. Nicholas Church celebrated a blessing service and ribbon cutting ceremony March 5 opening the new expansion of the Church complex.

Archbishop Demetrios celebrated Divine Liturgy, assisted by Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey.

After the Divine Liturgy there was a procession to the new expansion entrance where Archbishop Demetrios and Metropolitan Evangelos offered the prayer of blessing and together with Fr. James C. Moulketis, pastor, and Fr. James Tsigonis, the ribbon cutting was performed and the new complex blessed.

Joining the hierarchs and priests to share in this memorable and proud moment were Steve Bojekian parish council president together with other past par-

ish council presidents and Philoptochos presidents.

The entire congregation followed the clergy throughout the newly expanded facility as it was blessed.

The Parish Council hosted a celebratory luncheon in the new gymnasium, over 450 parishioners attended. Steve Bojekian, parish council president, Dr. James Coromilas, past parish council president under whose stewardship the construction occurred and Dino Aletras, construction chairman, reflected on this significant accomplishment for St. Nicholas.

The youth of the parish were showcased offering a program of song, dance and poems that featured the GOYA Greek folk dancing group and the GOYA

BROOKLINE, Mass. – The 14th annual Hellenic College and Holy Cross Golf Tournament fund-raising event will tee off Monday, July 31 at Kernwood Country Club, in Salem, Mass.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. and for the first time in the tournament’s history includes a box lunch and full complement of beverages for each player, loaded on their golf cart.

The shotgun start of the tournament takes place at 11:30 a.m.

This year’s event will feature several exciting prizes, including Boston Red Sox tickets, golf outings at Kernwood Country Club, golf clubs and accessories from the Pro Shop at Kernwood.

Carrying on the tradition started by James Argeros 14 years ago, this year’s co-chairmen, Bob DeVasto and George Katsarakes, expect another record year, both in turnout and funds raised. This year’s tournament committee includes honorary Chairman Rev. Nicholas C. Triantafilou, Hellenic College-Holy Cross president, along with new member Tom Demakes. Joining them is founder James Argeros, Angelo Stamoulis, George Makredes, John Panagako, and Dr. Nick Marinakis. Working behind the scenes

are Rev. James Katinas and Charlie Kroll.

George Katsarakes stated, “Our committee is working to make this tournament more exciting every year. Supporting Hellenic College and Holy Cross is a worthy cause. Add to it the fun and fellowship, and this is a win for everyone involved.”

Bob DeVasto added, “It seems as though every year keeps on getting better, with more to offer our golfers, and ultimately more to give back to our College and School of Theology.”

This year’s tournament continues the tradition of souvlaki rounding the front nine, a festive cocktail party after the tournament, and a lobster and steak feast to cap things off. Cost per tournament player is $400. Fee includes golf, cart, a gift bag, food and beverages throughout the day.

All proceeds benefit Hellenic College and Holy Cross. In a departure from previous years, the benefit tennis tournament will be held on a different date, Friday, Sept. 15, at the prestigious Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill.

For more information, contact Carol Baughman at 617-850-1268.

31

MAY 2006

Volleyball champs Metropolitan Gerasimos Appoints Metropolis Protopsaltis SAN FRANCISCO – Metropolitan Gerasimos officially appointed John Michael Boyer, 28, as protopsaltis (first cantor) of the Metropolis March 25 at Annunciation Cathedral after Divine Liturgy of the Cathedral's patronal feast.

Metropolitan Gerasimos addressed the congregation, noting the importance of music in the liturgical and spiritual life of the Church. Speaking specifically of Boyer, he stated: “There is one young man who has exhibited great love and dedication to the Church, and especially to its traditional liturgical music... it is for this reason that we have decided to make him Protopsaltis of our Metropolis.”

He then instructed Cathedral Dean Rev. Stephen Kyriacou and Fr. Michael Tervo of Ascension Cathedral in Oakland to retrieve Boyer from the choir of chanters and bring him forward. Blessing him, the Metropolitan prayed that as Protopsaltis Boyer would serve the church with faith and humility. He then gave Boyer a Letter of Bestowal, the official document of his appointment to the post.

As a teenager, Boyer studied with musicologist Alexander Lingas, and upon high school graduation, studied in Athens with Lycourgos Angelopoulos, director of the Greek Byzantine Choir. He has continued his studies under cantor and musicologist Ioannis Arvanitis of Athens.

Boyer has been a member and soloist with the renowned vocal ensemble Cappella Romana, directed by Dr. Lingas, since 1999, and is featured on number of their recordings. Boyer has taught classes in Byzantine Chant at the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley.

He was also hired by the acclaimed men’s choral ensemble Chanticleer as style coach

for their world premiere performance and recording of John Tavener’s work Lamentations and Praises, which won a Grammy. Boyer worked as Dr. Lingas’ research assistant at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study on the publication of his book, Sunday Matins in the Byzantine Cathedral Rite: Music and Liturgy.

While on the East Coast, Boyer chanted as Lambadarios, or Left Cantor, across from Romeiko Ensemble director Dr. Yioryos Bilalis at St. Demetrios Church in Jamaica, N.Y. Boyer, a second generation Greek American, was born in Portland, Oregon and first studied Byzantine Chant at his home parish of Holy Trinity at age 14.

There he served under the late Rev. Elias Stephanopoulos with the parish’s cantor -- now the Reverend Irenaeus Cox of St. Demetrios Church, Saginaw, Mich.

-- and with his father, Holy Trinity's current cantor, John Scott Boyer.

While a student at the University of California, Berkeley, he chanted at Annunciation Cathedral, and occasionally at other parishes in the Bay Area, including the Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, Resurrection Church in Castro Valley and the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley.

Boyer holds the position of pastoral assistant and director of program development at Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco.

He also co-directs the classical music ensemble Bay Area Classical Harmonies (B.A.C.H.) with Andrew J. Chung. He completed the music major at the University of California-Berkeley focusing on singing and conducting, under Marika Kuzma and David Milnes.

THE GIRLS volleyball team of the Church of the Archangels in Stamford, Conn., recently won the Connecticut Eastern Orthodox Volleyball League championship. The team ended its season with an 11-1 record and earned its first state championship. From left, Katerina Wells, Eleni Begetis, Virginia Gasparakis, Dorothy Giannos, Amy Sierpina, coach Petty Mihaleas, (kneeling) Mary Poulos, Jessica Mihaleas and Victoria Hynd. Not pictured: Nicole Yornidis and Soulafreda Valassis (assistant coach).

illinois Community Breaks Ground for New Church

Agia Sophia Academy Offers Classical Education Option PORTLAND, Oregon -- Agia Sophia Academy, Portland’s only classical elementary school, is now enrolling students for the 2006/07 school year. Founded in 2003, the not-for-profit school offers an academically challenging classical education that is structured, effective, rigorous, and relevant, in a nurturing, supportive environment. Students learn subjects including reading, writing and grammar, mathematics, science, faith, physical education, music, art, Greek, Latin, history and social studies.

The school limits the classes to a maximum of 15 students in order to allow for individual attention to each student's needs and academic progress. Great emphasis is placed on giving students and parents accurate feedback on academic performance to motivate students and help parents be involved in their children's progress.

Instruction at Agia Sophia Academy is designed to help students succeed personally and academically.

Housed at the Holy Trinity Church, Agia Sophia will expand its program to K-6 education starting with the 2006/07 school year.

It will also offer a pre-school class with three half days of instruction per week to prepare students for entry into the school's Kindergarten program.

Content and structure of the school's curriculum follow the classical trivium structure with the grammar, logic and rhetoric stages, with a strong focus on

laying a firm foundation of knowledge and skills at the elementary level, to prepare students for the critical thinking skills stressed in middle and high-school grades.

Children at ASA are instructed in the tradition of the Orthodox Christian faith.

Mary Triantafillou, a parent at ASA, notes: “We try to make our faith as Orthodox Christians a part of our everyday life, and we are so lucky to have a school for our children which supports and reinforces our faith and family values throughout the school day.”

While Agia Sophia Academy presents the classical curriculum in an Orthodox Christian context, the school is open to and suitable for children of all backgrounds. “Our family is completely secular, but I chose Agia Sophia because I thought my son could benefit from a cultural familiarity with religion,” says Sylvia Benner, whose son has been attending the school since September of 2005. “He loves being here, and he feels like he belongs.”

Agia Sophia Academy, Portland's only Orthodox Christian classical school, offers a knowledge-based, rigorous education in a classical curriculum. Small class sizes, committed teachers and staff, an outstanding curriculum structure across all subjects and a caring environment at ASA enable students to succeed personally and academically.

For more information visit: www. agiasophiaacademy.org

METROPOLITAN Iakovos of Chicago during the groundbreaking ceremony.

WAUKEGAN, Ill.–Metropolitan Iakovos celebrated the groundbreaking for a new St Demetrios Church on April 30, assisted by Fr. Cosmas Haledakis, pastor, with hundreds of parishioners in attendance.

Other dignitaries attending included: state Sen. Adeline Jay Geo-Karis; state Sen. Terry Link; Waukegan 9th Ward Alderman Rafael Rivera; Mayor Kristina Kovarik of Gurnee, Ill.; and Mayor Tom Adams of Green Oaks.

Parishioners have been waiting for more than 20 years for this momentous occasion, following their initial purchase of the land at 1400 South O'Plaine Road in Waukegan.

Though Mother Nature produced downpours that day, sunlight was in the hearts of all involved in the ceremony.

The event was so meaningful that one could see tears welling up in the

eyes of many of the witnesses under the tent.

Even the children were brought forward to help dig with the ceremonial shovels after the clergy and community leaders broke ground.

Following the ceremony, the celebration continued at a beautiful dinner and dance event at the Country Squire Restaurant in Grayslake.

The classic Byzantine style sanctuary (9,500 square feet) and fellowship hall (5,000 square feet) is scheduled for occupancy in about 18 months.

The church will be a magnificent edifice and a testament to how the parishioners feel about their faith. St. Demetrios Church welcomes everyone to observe the building of the church throughout the next year and a half; and opens its arms to Orthodox Christians and anyone interested in the Orthodox faith.

32

MAY 2006

TH "IENNIAL #LERGY ,AITY #ONGRESS .ATIONAL 0HILOPTOCHOS #ONVENTION .!3(6),,% s *5,9

A RETREAT FOR ALL /RTHODOX #HRISTIANS WITH WORKSHOPS FAMILY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR ALL AGES

4)-% #-! 6/#!, '2/50 /& 4(% 9%!2

$)!-/.$ 2)/

0%2&/2-).' ). #%.4%..)!, 0!2+

#LERGY ,AITY #ONGRESS s #LERGY (EALTH AND 7ELLNESS PROGRAM s #ULTURAL EVENT AT 4HE 0ARTHENON STARRING !RISTA RECORDING ARTISTS $IAMOND 2IO s 'RAND "ANQUET WITH UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT AND PROGRAM s h$INE !ROUNDv .ASHVILLE RESTAURANT PROGRAM .ATIONAL 0HILOPTOCHOS #ONVENTION s (EALTH AND 7ELLNESS PROGRAM s 0HILOPTOCHOS 'RAND "ANQUET AT 'AYLORD /PRYLAND 2ESORT s ! NIGHT AT THE 'RAND /LE /PRY 9OUNG !DULT #ONFERENCE s h"LUEBIRD ON THE -OUNTAINv SONGWRITERS NIGHT AT $YER /BSERVATORY s !N EVENING AT "" +ING S "LUES #LUB s 0OOL 0ARTY AT 'AYLORD /PRYLAND 2ESORT WWW CLERGYLAITY ORG

"ELLE -EADE 0LANTATION

&AMILY 3YNAXIS 0ROGRAM "RING THE FAMILY FOR THIS lRST EVER FAMILY SPIRITUAL RETREAT 0ROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH GROUP FAMILY EVENTS AND MORE -USIC #ITY s 'AYLORD /PRYLAND 2ESORT AND #ONVENTION #ENTERˆRESERVE EARLY s 4HE 0ARTHENONˆTHE ONLY FULL SCALE REPLICA IN THE WORLD s 'RAND /LE /PRYˆLEGENDARY LIVE RADIO BROADCAST s #OUNTRY -USIC (ALL OF &AME AND -USEUM SPECIAL EXHIBIT ) #AN T 3TOP ,OVING 9OU 2AY #HARLES AND #OUNTRY -USIC s 4HE (ERMITAGEˆHOME OF 0RESIDENT !NDREW *ACKSON s &RIST #ENTER FOR THE 6ISUAL !RTS SPECIAL EXHIBIT 4HE 1UEST FOR )MMORTALITY 4REASURES OF !NCIENT %GYPT s 'OLF 4OURNAMENT AT 3PRING(OUSE ,INKS

WWW VISITMUSICCITY COM