Orthodox Observer - March 2008

MARCH 2008 • Vol. 73 • No. 1237

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

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Three Clergy-Laity Assemblies Held

Workshops, Conferences and Presentations Highlight Chicago Clergy-Laity Assembly

San Francisco Assembly Draws Record Attendance

by Clifford T. Argue & Kristen Bruskas

by Gus Publecas

CHICAGO – Under the leadership of Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, assisted by Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, along with George Vourvoulias Jr., Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and vice chairman of the Metropolis Council, the Metropolis of Chicago held its biannual Clergy-Laity meeting recently in Schaumburg, Ill. More than 225 of the faithful from 60 parishes and religious communities in the six-state Metropolis gathered for fellowship in, reflection upon, and discussion of the Faith in this important Clergy-Laity gathering. The Metropoliswide assembly provides a forum for administrative actions to be discussed and voted on concerning all aspects of the Church's Ministries.

The Clergy Laity started with words

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ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Archbishop Demetrios was so impressed with the manner in which Goyans of Holy Trinity Church in Bridgeport helped the Philoptochos chapter in hosting the delegates at the clergy-laity assembly that he requested a “GOYA” apron as a reminder of their excellent service. Fr. Demetrios Recachinas is at left.

Direct Archdiocesan District Assembly Meets

by Jim Golding

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – In his keynote message at the Direct Archdiocesan District Clergy-Laity Assembly at Holy Trinity Church, Archbishop Demetrios cautioned about the tendency of some Christian groups, such as charismatic movements, to focus on “material things,” placing an emphasis on the “excessive accumula-

Leadership 100 Elects New Officers, Awards Nearly $3 Million in Grants

by George Schirra

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- The Leadership 100 Board of Trustees, at their 17th annual conference Feb. 14-17, elected Stephen G. Yeonas of McLean, Va., as their new chairman. He succeeds George D. Behrakis of Lowell, Mass., who told the trustees that his two-year term as chairman was the appropriate length of service.

Archbishop Demetrios praised Behrakis for his accomplishments in increasing membership, contributions and endowment funds and launching the 25th Anniversary Fund with a goal of 1,000 members and $100 million. The fund will enable the organization to increase its grants to $5 million a year by Leadership 100’s 25th anniversary in 2009.

Other officers include Constantine G. Caras of Greenville, Del., who was elected vice chairman and George E. Safiol of Weston, Mass., elected treasurer. Mark D. Stavropoulos of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., continues as secretary.

In other actions, the Board elected five members to the Executive Committee: Constantine G. Caras, George E. Safiol, Chris W. Caras of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., Charles H. Cotros of Memphis, Tenn. and Louis Nicozisis of Lancaster, Pa.

tion of wealth, not only by members, but also by the preachers” but that Orthodox Christians must follow the example of the Apostle Paul who endured suffering and deprivation to promote the message of the gospel and to fulfill Christ’s “great commission,” the Archbishop said.

“Yet this man went and changed the

DUNLAP, Calif. – “The Parish as Eucharistic Center” was the theme of the annual Metropolis of San Francisco Clergy-Laity Assembly held at the St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in late February.

A record number of delegates, over 175, from parishes representing Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington participated in two days of plenary sessions, workshops, worship services, and fellowship.

Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia presented the opening keynote address on the theme of the Assembly.

The well-known Orthodox theologian, author and speaker from England noted that the primary purpose of a parish is to be a center for the Eucharist, with everything revolving around the Liturgy

ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

Great and Holy Lent 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 Distinguished Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Day, Afternoon, and Church Schools, the Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

Stephen G. Yeonas

D. PANAGOS

The Leadership 100 Executive Committee earlier had approved additional grants of more than $1 million, increasing the total for 2008 to $2.9 million.

New grants were made primarily to the Archdiocese, including the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries ($150,000), Office of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations ($250,000 over two years), Department of Outreach and Evangelism for Home Mission Parishes ($105,000), St. Basil Academy for “The Archpastorate of Archbishop Michael” ($69,300), Center for Family Care (con-

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Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Once again we express our gratitude to God for bringing us to the beginning of Great and Holy Lent. We recognize this as an extension of our time on this Earth to experience another Lenten season, another period to come closer to Him and to His infinite and saving love.

We begin the period of Great and Holy Lent on this day known as Clean Monday, an appropriate term that implies purity of mind, heart, and soul. This purity is paramount to a productive start to our Lenten journey, which we begin with vigilant prayer, fasting, and worship so that we may properly orient ourselves as we enter the Lenten season.

Throughout this forty-day period, we review with heightened scrutiny our shortcomings, our inadequacies, our inabilities to live up to our full potential as Christians, and the myriad of ways in which we may have fallen short of expressing the fullness of our love to God and neighbor.

As such, the period of Great and Holy Lent is an exercise in prayerful contrition. It is an exercise in repentance. It is a period of time when we consciously endeavor to turn our hearts and minds toward all that is good and holy, to a genuine “metanoia,” to a saving transformation of our inner self.

It is, in other words, an opportunity for us to transform our beings into a renewed closeness with God through a period of sustained spiritual discipline or “askesis.” We do this with an eager anticipation of a newness of heart and with a spirit of gratitude and joy, remembering the unending love of God for all of us as His children.

In considering the spiritual challenges and opportunities that are afforded to

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A RCHDIOCESE N E WS

MARCH 2008

Leadership 100 Elects New Officers, Awards Nearly $3M in Grants Angelopouloses Receive Award for Excellence Before stepping down as Leadership 100 chairman, George D. Behrakis, joined

by Archbishop Demetrios and Vice Chairman Stephen G. Yeonas presented the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Award for Excellence to two of its most prominent and long-time members, Theodore P. Angelopoulos and Ambassador Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, for their accomplishments in business, public service and philanthropy The Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding Greek Orthodox, Greek American, and other outstanding leaders who have excelled in their vocation and are committed to advancing the values of Orthodoxy and Hellenism in their lives and activities.

The award was presented at the Grand Banquet of the Leadership 100 17th Annual Conference in Palm Desert, Calif.

The couple is credited with Athens’ successful bid and hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games. Heading Greece’s bid to host the Olympics in 1996, Gianna was appointed ambassador-at-large in 1998 for her talents and service to Greece.

She was asked to take the presidency of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games in 2000 when slow progress put Athens in danger of losing the Games.

Archbishop Demetrios spoke of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games as giving confidence and belief in their heritage to a fifth generation of Greeks from America and demonstrating the universal Greek element which is unique in human history, At the end of the program, Mr. Behrakis, who stepped down as chairman, spoke

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D. PANAGOS

Archbishop Demetrios presents actress Jane Seymour with the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments in philanthropy and the arts following her presentation at the Saturday brunch. Also taking part is Leadership 100 interim Executive Director and Director of Development Paulette Poulos.

Noted speakers

Members of Leadership 100 attend one of the meetings at the four-day conference.

of the 25th Anniversary Fund and goals to reach 1,000 members and $100 million in endowment funds from the current 755 members.

He also acknowledged his predecessors and founding members: the first chairman and co-chairman, Andrew Ath-

Attendees at enjoy the presentation at one of the forums at the Leadership 100 Conference.

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ditional grant of $175,000), the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians ($80,000) and Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology “Leadership 100 Scholarship Fund” ($285,000). Continuing grants for 2008 included $1 million for the scholarship fund, $250,000 for a technology infrastructure at the school, $100,000 for a Family Wellness Center in the Metropolis of San Franciso, and more than $400,000 to departments of the Archdiocese.

Charles A. Kroll, chief financial officer of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, expressed gratitude to Leadership 100 for the 10-year $10 million commitment to the scholarship program and the additional monies granted in 2008. In a comprehensive report, he demonstrated that the rise in vocations to the priesthood and ordinations was largely due to the program. However he expressed concern that the school would face a crisis in providing future support without an extension of the Leadership 100 program, which he proposed should be matched by greater local and Metropolis support.

Leadership 100 is the largest Greek American membership and charitable organization in the United States, holding more than $84 million in assets. It has distributed more than $25 million in grants to advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism since its inception in 1984.

ens and George Chimples, second chairman and founding member, George Kokalis, who just celebrated his 98th birthday, his immediate predecessors, founding member Arthur Anton and John Payiavlas and founding members Peter Dion and Michael Jaharis.

Outgoing Chairman George Behrakis addresses the conference.

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

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The Leadership 100 Conference included addresses by former Congressman Michael Bilirakis of Florida and Ambassador Loucas Tsilas, executive director of the Onassis Foundation (USA).

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger welcomed the 350 members and guests to California, thanking them for the Leadership 100 Award for Achievement and applauding Leadership 100’s history of grants in support of Orthodoxy and Hellenism and human need in the U.S. and abroad.

Michael Bilirakis, who served in Congress for 24 years before retiring in 2006, spoke of the current history of Greeks in America and about the difficulty in getting support in the government for such pressing issues as resolution of the division in Cyprus, disputes between Greece and Turkey over the Aegean and opposition to the use of the name “Macedonia” for the Balkan republic bordering Macedonia in Greece. He said this was often due to the ineffectiveness of Greek Americans in pressing these issues with members of Congress across the nation.

Executive Director Tsilas, former ambassador of Greece to the U.S., spoke of Hellenism as a civilization and culture with a set of values, principles and ideas that had become integral to world culture.

The conference included programs and forums on Church history, Hellenism, business, life-style and the arts, which featured award-winning actress Jane Seymour who addressed a special program on the autobiographical “Remarkable Changes: Turning Life’s Challenges into Opportunities.” Ms. Seymour profiled her own and 20 personal stories of others who have experienced positive transformation in the face of life-changing crises.

The Forum on Hellenism, “Presenting Greek Art in America,” featured Dr. Christine Kondoleon of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Kenneth Dean Shapiro Lapatin of The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.

MARCH 2008

BRIEFLY NOTED

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A RCHDIOCESE N E WS

Archiepiscopal Encyclical

New NCCC Head

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NEW DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

The Department of Religious Education is beginning a pilot distance learning program. Living Great Lent taught by Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis Calivas, professor emeritus of liturgics at Holy Cross School of Theology is available on-line at http://learn.goarch. org/moodle. Participants will need to register on-line to have access to the five video presentations by Fr. Calivas, a series of readings, and questions for discussion.

The course will be facilitated by Dr. Anton C. Vrame, director of the Department of Religious Education, and Deacon Markos Nickolas, a doctoral candidate in pastoral theology at Boston University.

While an individual can register, the course is designed for groups that can meet to discuss the presentations and readings.

The course material will be available until April 4 to encourage learners and groups to complete the five session program within seven weeks. After the course has ended, the pilot program of the Department of Religious Education will be evaluated in order to begin a larger distance learning program in the fall. For more information contact the Department of Religious Education, 617-850-1218.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ONLINE

Application materials are now available for the George and Naouma Gioles Scholarship and the Katina John Malta Scholarship programs.

Also available are materials for the Paleologos Graduate Scholarship program.

Awards range from $1,500 to $2,000 for undergraduates and up to $10,000 for graduate students.

Applications and guidelines can be accessed on the website of the Office of the Chancellor at http://www.goarch.org/ en/archdiocese/administration/chancellor/scholarships.asp

RESOURCES FROM MARKETPLACE

ORTHODOX OBSERVER

Archbishop Demetrios welcomed the new General Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA, Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, to Archdiocese headquarters on March 5. Also shown are (left) Dr. Tony Kireopoulos, senior program director for Faith & Order and Inter-Faith Relations, and Fr. Mark Arey, ecumenical officer of the Archdiocese.

New Podcast Includes Orthodox Teens The Departments of Youth Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese have joined with the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) to offer a new podcast for Orthodox Christian teens and their peers.

The show, called Orthodox Teen Talk Online (OTTO), features a pan-Orthodox group of teens from around the country, who discuss real-life issues in an open and honest manner with at least one Orthodox priest.

One of the unique characteristics of the show is that the teens themselves develop the topics for discussion, contribute their own opinions and share their own life experiences related to the discussion.

This allows Orthodox young people to find their own voice and to develop their own Orthodox Christian response to some of the most pressing issues of the day.

"The Youth Department of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America looks forward to working with OCN to produce media products that will both challenge and bring our youth closer to Jesus Christ," Rev. Mark A. Leondis, national director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, said.

Several episodes of OTTO have already been recorded.

In the first episode, Fr. Christopher Metropulos, executive director of the Orthodox Christian Network, guided Orthodox teens from four Churches in South Florida through a candid discussion on drugs and drinking.

In the second episode, Fr. Antony Bahou, spiritual adviser to NAC Teen SOYO, spoke with two of the organization's officers, Christopher Shadid and Amanda Sahawneh, about the sanctity of life, and how Orthodox teens respond to related issues, such as abortion, stem cell research and euthanasia.

Future episodes of OTTO will examine dating, sex, MTV, music, faith and doubt, and prayer. New episodes will be released on a bi-weekly basis.

All episodes of OTTO are available for download on the Web site of the Orthodox Christian Network ( www.MyOCN.net ) and, soon, will be syndicated as a podcast.

OTTO will also stream on The Ark, one of OCN's Internet radio stations, at 4 p.m.

EST on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Contact the Orthodox Christian Network for more information, to suggest a topic for a future episode, or to find out how you, your parish or a teen in your life could get involved. All Orthodox Christian teens are welcome to participate.

With paternal love in Christ,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

Lecture Series attendees

The Orthodox Marketplace now offers books and materials from the Family Ministries, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and Greek Education departments. You can preorder "The Planner 2007-2008" by visiting: http://www. orthodoxmarketplace.com/product. php?productid=18930 The tabletop prayer guide for families is also available online at http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/ product.php?productid=19024.The Greek Education catalog can be visited on-line at http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/ home.php?cat=547 The Orthodox Marketplace is the official on-line store of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

Please visit and encourage others to support the Orthodox Marketplace site as well.

The Orthodoxy in America Lecture Series’ latest presentation at Fordham University on Feb. 26 featured noted scholar Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Ph.D., (left of His Eminence) professor of religious studies at Brown University. She spoke on the topic “Women’s Voices Bearing Witness.” Also attending were: (from left, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jaharis, Geroge Demacopoulos, Aristotle Papanikolaou, Carolyn and Joseph Patterson of Atlanta, whose parents have contributed $300,000 to the lecture series, and Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham.

2008 ARCHDIOCESE YEARBOOK

The 2008 edition of the Yearbook of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is available on the Archdiocese website. The book includes directories of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Archdiocese and Metropolises, Parishes and Clergy, National Ministries, Departments, Institutions, and Related Agencies and Organizations. Printed

us throughout Great and Holy Lent, we take special note of the unique period of the Holy Week, which, formally, marks the end of the forty day Lenten Fast.

The Holy Week provides us with an especially intense time of prayer and fasting. Correspondingly, our coming closer to Christ is intensified, as we are offered more opportunities to partake of the Holy Mysteries in the Divine Liturgy and to experience the healing power of the Holy Spirit through our being anointed with Holy Oil. During Holy Week, we contemplate the days leading up to Christ’s betrayal

by Judas the Iscariot in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ’s subsequent arrest there, and the tremendous agonies of His Passion.

We encounter Christ nailed on the Cross; we remember with prayerful Lamentations His burial and descent into Hades. Above all, we glorify His triumphant Resurrection, which awaits us at the very end of the Lenten journey upon which we embark today, and which serves as a vivid reminder that death no longer has dominion over us.

This, my beloved Christians, is the period that we enter today. It is a period of magnificent opportunity for renewal.

It is a season for intensified focus on the transformation of our inner selves and for intensification of our relationship with God, a God Who humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).

It is our fervent prayer that, as we reflect upon this act of supreme love throughout this season of Great and Holy Lent, we may all increase our love for Jesus Christ and our commitment to His Holy Church. May Christ’s love blossom in your hearts on the blessed occasion of the Lenten season.

copies of the Yearbook have been shipped with each parish receiving two complimentary copies.

Additional copies can be ordered from the Dept. of Communications by calling 212-774-0244. Copies can be purchased online at the Orthodox Marketplace at http://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com

CLERGY

UPDATE

Ordination to the Diaconate Gill, Conan – Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver – Transfiguration of Our Savior Church, Lowell, Mass., 03/02/08 Ordination to the Priesthood Sinos, Rev. Deacon Constantine – Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver – St. Catherine, Greenwood Village, Colo.

11/25/07 Assignments Fr. Gregorios A. Waynick – St.

Luke, Mooresville, N.C. 03/01/2008 Offikia The late Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco bestowed the office of Economos upon: Rev. Fr. DemetriosEarl Cantos on 04/11/04 New Communities METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA St. John Chrysostom Mission of Martin County, Stuart, Fla. 34997

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MARCH 2008

The Standing Conference

of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy Mission Sunday, the Sunday of Cheesefare To all the Clergy and the Laity of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We, the Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, greet you with one voice and with one heart on this great and grace-filled Feast of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of our yearly sojourn to the Holy Pascha.

We stand together with you, who are the living icons of God, holding in our hands the icons whose very existence confirms that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (St. John 1:14).

We celebrate this day as a day of victory, as a day of triumph for the Orthodox Faith of Christ and restoration of the Sacred Icons to the Churches of the Faithful Christian People. Over eleven hundred years have passed since the generations of those Orthodox Christians who surrendered their liberties and their lives to save images composed of wood and paint.

The controversy known as Iconoclasm, a period of 150 convulsive years, was truly a proving-ground for our Orthodox Faith. Against those who treated the Sacred Icons as idols, the Church of Christ emerged victorious.

As we affirm in the Synodikon of Orthodoxy, the Church has never worshipped idols. Such an accusation would be absurd, especially in view of the injunction of St. John, the Beloved Disciple: Little children, guard yourselves against the

idols. (I John 5:21). Rather, it has always been understood, as St. Basil the Great states so eloquently: The honor rendered to the icon ascends to the Prototype.

Thus the icons become points of entry to the Divine Presence – windows and doors opening onto Heaven itself.

The honor, love and veneration that we render, is not rendered to the material elements from which the icon is composed.

By the grace and power of God, they ascend to the prototype, the one who is represented. And inasmuch as every Saint of the Church reflects, as it were, the light of Christ Himself, the Prototype of every icon is Christ Himself, Who is the Icon of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15). Or to put it more simply, every icon is an icon of Christ, the real and momentous presence of God in our Midst, the God Who is with us, Emmanuel (cf. Matthew 1:23).

This is our way of venerating the Icons that adorn our homes and the Temples of our Church Communities. Let us then, regardless of the material nature of the icons – whether they are hand-painted or printed, on wood or paper, covered in silver and gold or presented in a simple frame – let us venerate them with love and with spiritual ardor.

And let us not forget that we too are “temples” as the Apostle Paul has said: Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?

(I Corinthians 3:16). So let us also give due respect to the icon within each one of us, the image of the Living God, as well as to all our brothers and sisters who bear the same image, and who dwell in the same Church.

Sing to the Lord, bless his name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Declare His glory among the nations, His wonder among all people.

(Psalm 96:2-3) To the Most Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and The Devout Faithful of the Holy Orthodox Churches in the Americas Dearly Beloved in the Lord, We greet all of you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ as we prepare to embark upon the Great and Holy Fast, which is our common sojourn to the glorious Pascha of the Lord. Every year, the Hierarchs of SCOBA designated the Sunday preceding Great Lent, this year March 9, as Mission Sunday.

It is a day on which we reflect on the commandment of the Lord that enjoins us to go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

It is a day in which we, your spiritual fathers from Churches grounded in the old world where our Faith has flourished, encourage you, who are building up the Faith in the New World of North America, to take stock of how we are spreading the Holy Orthodox Faith throughout a world that so desperately needs the love and mercy of God. Mission Sunday is a day when we ask you to re-commit to proclaiming the Gospel of His salvation, to declaring His glory among the nations and His wonders

among all people by answering the call to missions.

As the official international missions agency of SCOBA, and for over twenty years, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) has been helping Orthodox Christians to answer the call to spread abroad the love of God that is in our hearts by the Holy Spirit throughout the world (cf. Romans 5:2).

In third world countries, in post-communist countries, OCMC has carried forth a holistic expression of sacramental worship and a living witness to the Orthodox Faith. OCMC’s supporters, its missionaries and Mission Team members around the globe are catechizing the newly illumined, raising up churches, ministering to the poor and bringing healthcare to the sick.

Yet many have yet to hear the Gospel. There are nations who are waiting to hear good news of His salvation, His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people.

As Orthodox Christians, what can you do? First and foremost, we can and must pray for our brothers and sisters who are bringing the gift of Holy Baptism to those who are far off from the Gospel. Some of you may even consider becoming a witness to the faith as an OCMC missionary or as an Orthodox Mission Team member.

All of us, great and small, can support the work of missions by making a gift to the Mission Center.

May this day of Mission awareness, and all the coming holy days of the Great Fast be filled with the fervor to seek the light of Christ in your own hearts, and to share the light of the Resurrection with our brothers and sisters around the world.

With paternal blessings and love in Christ, í Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America í Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America í Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary, Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada í Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, Treasurer, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA í Metropolitan HERMAN, Orthodox Church in America í Archbishop NICOLAE, Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada í Metropolitan JOSEPH, Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church í Metropolitan CONSTANTINE, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA í Bishop ILIA of Philomelion, Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

Metropolis of Pittsburgh Holds Pre-Lenten Clergy Family Retreat PITTSBURGH – The St. John Chrysostom Clergy Syndesmos of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh held its annual Clergy Family Retreat at the Antiochian Village Conference Center at Ligonier, Pa., Feb. 25-27. The event, held outside of Lent this year, drew over 30 priests from the Metropolis, including some clergy families, all of whom enjoyed three days of worship, learning, and fellowship.

Invited guest speakers included Fr. Michael T. Kontogiorgis, Archdiocesan Assistant Chancellor, and the Rev. Dr. Alkiviadis C. Calivas, Emeritus Professor of Liturgics at Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology.

Fr.Kontogiorgis offered two sessions,“Pastoral Encounters and Priestly Integrity”and“Render

unto Caesar: Clergy Tax Issues.” Fr. Calivas gave two lectures on “Experiencing the Justice of God in the Liturgy” and “Some Perspectives on Liturgical Renewal:The American Context.”Both presentations were warmly received and sparked extended discussions long after their conclusion.

Finally, the Metropolis Clergy Syndesmos held its spring business meeting together with their spiritual father. A highlight of the meeting was the announcement of the pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Constantinople from Sept. 15-25, currently being organized by Fr. John Chakos of Holy Cross Church in South Hills – Pittsburgh, in honor of His Eminence’s 30 years of episcopal ministry and 50 years of ordained ministry to Christ’s Holy Church.

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MARCH 2008

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE Patriarch’s Address on the Commencement of Great Lent BARTHOLOMEW

By The Mercy Of God Archbishop Of Constantinople, New Rome, And Ecumenical Patriarch,To The Plenitude Of The Church, Grace And Peace From Our Savior AND LORD JESUS Christ, AND FROM US BENEDICTION, Blessing And Forgiveness

D

uring this period of Holy and Great Lent, our Church calls us to repentance. Doubtless, as contemporary man hears this invitation to repentance, he does not feel comfortable, because he has accustomed himself to a certain way of life, and does not wish to question his own rectitude.

Calling one’s own rectitude into question produces feelings of insecurity, because the ideological structure within which you have sure and certain refuge is clearly risked.

However, a deeper examination of the issue compels us to accept that people’s convictions do not conform to objective reality, on the basis of reasonable judgment. Rather, they create a justification that is pleasing to self, namely: “excuses in sins” (Psalm 140:4). When a person justifies his or her actions and self-vindicates on the basis of erroneous values, significant harm happens, because inevitably, the moment comes when the truth emerges, and we find ourselves without excuse. Moreover, there may be no more time to adjust our convictions: that is, to repent of our sinful deeds and erroneous beliefs, through which we have tried to justify our behavior.

Now as Christians, we are used to both hearing about and practicing repentance, and we do not feel a conflict with our Church’s call to repentance. However, there is a need for us to make a deliberate and conscious effort to realize that a complete repentance has two objectives.

The first objective is threefold: a renunciation of our sins, a decision to cease and desist from sinful deeds and habits, and a decision to make amends for the consequences of our sins. For example, the publican Zaccheus, who sincerely repented during his encounter with Christ, demonstrated his repentance in a practical way by repaying fourfold the very people from whom he had unjustly seized wealth.

The second objective of repentance is that we should change our mentality. We should replace our understandings with other higher and loftier ones; or in the words of the Psalmist: to “ascend in our hearts” (Psalm 83:6). This second objective needs to be pursued especially by those who are unconvinced by their consciousness about specific sins. For example, our understanding of love surely falls short of perfection; likewise our understanding of humility. For when we compare our own spiritual state to the perfection of God, a perfection we are called to imitate, surely we will see our shortcomings and realize the endless road we must traverse in order to find ourselves in the path of those who are like unto God. As we examine the quality of our inner peace, we ascertain that we fall short of the peace of Christ “which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Pondering the level to which we trust our lives to God’s Providence, we sadly realize that we are often seized by anxiety and uncertainty about the future, as if we were either of little faith or even without faith. In general,

upon examination of the purity of our conscience, we realize that we fall short of understanding correctly the many feelings we harbor within ourselves that are detrimental to our purity, often mistaking them as healthy. Thus, a new and more complete enlightenment of our conscience is needed through the teachings of the Fathers and of the Gospel, so that we will be in a better position to think critically about ourselves and our shortcomings, in line with the judgment of God. Since no one can claim to judge himself perfectly, by the same token no one can claim that he has no need of a renewed mind, a more enlightened mind, a transformation of mind, a correction of mind and mentality, i.e. a need of repentance.

The call of our Orthodox Church to repentance is not merely a call to self-reproach. Self-reproach can be useful, as are deep contrition and tears of repentance; but they are not of themselves sufficient.

We need to experience the joy emanating from the forgiveness granted to us by God, the sense of deliverance from the burdens of the bondage of sin, and the sense of God’s love for us. Our repentance does not deprive us from the joy of life, making us indignant when we hear a sermon calling us to repentance. Repentance means cleansing and enlightenment of our minds, more ardent love for Christ and His creation, freedom and joy through the newness of life into which we continually enter through our constant repentance.

The one who constantly repents, ever progresses, ever rejoices through new ascents, finds constant satisfaction in deeper understandings of all things. Through the transformation of mentality and understanding, the one who repents better understands the whole world, becomes wiser, more judicious, more discreet, nobler and a true friend of Christ. Therefore, the preaching of repentance should be favorably received by wise persons who are able to appreciate any improvement that comes from the renewal of the human person through repentance.

Therefore, brothers and sisters and beloved children in the Lord, let us accept the invitation of our Church to repentance as we have set forth above. Let us who have fallen short through sin cleanse ourselves from sin through confession. Let us constantly examine our own presuppositions, so our judgments and thoughts may be godly and pure, just and true.

Finally, we paternally pray that all of you may enjoy the every assistance and help of the Lord on your road to repentance and throughout your renewed life in Christ.

Great and Holy Lent, 2008

Fervent intercessor to God for all BARTHOLOMEW Patriarch of Constantinople

6

MARCH 2008

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE Patriarch Bartholomew Meets with Pope ROME – According to a communique from the Vatican Information Service, Pope Benedict XVI received Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople in early March. After their meeting, the two men prayed together in the Urban VIII Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.

This was the third meeting between the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch. They first met when Benedict XVI visited Istanbul for the Feast of St. Andrew in November 2006, then when Bartholomew traveled to Naples in October of last year to participate in an international meeting for peace.

Patriarch Bartholomew presided at

the 90th anniversary function of Rome's Pontifical Oriental Institute, where he himself obtained his doctoral degree.

On March 4 he received an honorary doctorate in international and diplomatic affairs from the University of Trieste in northern Italy.

Patriarch Bartholomew was accompanied on his visit by Gennadios, metropolitan-archbishop of the Greek Orthodox in Italy and Malta, exarch for southern Europe; Athanasios of Helioupolis and Thiera; and Ioannis of Pergamo, Orthodox president of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Patriarch Celebrates WCC’s 60th Anniversary

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GENEVA – Gathered in a church dating from the 12th century, the World Council of Churches seemed like a relative youngster as it celebrated its 60th anniversary Feb. 17.

But Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, reminded the near-capacity congregation at Geneva's St. Pierre Cathedral that the WCC has accomplished much in its six decades.

“The Council has provided an ideal platform where churches with different outlooks and belonging to a great variety of theological and ecclesiological traditions have been able to engage in dialogue and promote Christian unity, while all the time responding to the manifold needs of contemporary society," the Orthodox leader said, speaking in French.

He acknowledged the challenges and "turbulent" periods in the Council's life, but said that dialogue resulted from those difficulties and has paved the way forward. At the WCC’s Ninth Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil, two years ago, "markers for a new stage in the life of the Council" were laid down, he said.

The Ecumenical Patriarch, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox, said he envisioned a future that will enable "a new generation of laborers to flourish in the ecumenical vineyard" and that retains a foundation of the "three pillars" of unity, witness, and service on which the WCC was built.

The WCC, he said, has the opportu-

nity to locate itself "at the center of the life of the global ecumenical village" in the 21st century, and he urged it to "go forward with hope."

Earlier, in welcoming the crowd to "this very special occasion in this very special place," WCC President from North America Rev. Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson noted that the cathedral was an appropriate setting for marking the anniversary. It was, she said, "where the very first ecumenical service was held after World War II,” in 1946.

The 90-minute service had an international flavor. The WCC's four working languages of English, French, German, and Spanish were all represented in music and word, plus there was a chorus in Greek, scripture readings in Swahili and Indonesian, and the upbeat music of the Valihan'i Jehovah Choir-a group from the ecumenical community of Madagascar based in Switzerland. Young adult stewards serving at this week's Central Committee meetings provided leadership for the service.

The choir closed the service by singing the word "peace" in a variety of languages, concluding with the ringing of small cymbals.

As guests exited, each received a small flower pot containing a candle "as symbols (that) we are carrying the seed of peace and also the light of Christ which illuminates the world."

Numerous other church leaders were present at the service.

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MARCH 2008

The Voice of

Biennial Convention Schedule Announced President Georgia Skeadas, convention general chair, along with Program Committee chairs Diane Tseckares, Maria Logus and Pauline O’Neal, have prepared the following program overview for the upcoming National Philoptochos Convention, July 12-17 at the Marriott Wardman Hotel in Washington.

Convention registration will begin Saturday, July 12 and continue until Tuesday. On Sunday, July 13, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will be celebrated followed by the opening ceremonies and first–time delegates’ orientation.

The following sessions will be presented concurrently Sunday evening: Budget Preview, By–Laws, and Resolutions.

Monday, the general assembly will include reports from National Commitment speakers and a Social Services presentation. Monday evening will feature the Philoptochos Banquet.

Tuesday, the assembly will include the treasurer’s report and proposed budget for adoption. Later, delegates will split into discussion groups on the topics of membership, expansion and public relations. These sessions are designed as forums. Wednesday, the general assembly will include reports from the discussion

7

Philoptochos Philoptochos Achieves Banner Year of Giving

Valentine’s Day Treat Members of Holy Trinity Church Philoptochos in Asheville N.C. brought a tasty surprise for residents and staff at a local nursing home in Arden. This is their second annual Valentine’s Day delivery of special hand baked and decorated cookies. Shown with one of the residents (from left) Andrea Zourzoukis, Mary Pappas and Karen Kaulins.

group reports and Resolutions Committee; Chapter Awards and the Chapter Challenge presentations and an“Ask Philoptochos” session.

Thursday, in keeping with the theme of “Looking Forward,” the Convention Committee plans to explore new avenues

by which local chapters can grow and fulfill their philanthropic endeavors.

The Clergy-Laity Grand Banquet also will take place on Thursday.

Chapters will receive regular convention updates, but in the meantime, look for the registration packets in the mail.

Ladies Philoptochos Society Donations for 2007 A total of $ 1,373,431 was donated in 2007 from the following National Philoptochos Commitments/Programs and Special Collections:

Saint Basil Academy

• Vasilopita–$300,000 (for operational expenses) • Sisterhood Fund–$69,087 – $52,500 for new roofing on girl’s dormitories; $1,500 for graduation awards; $7,833 graduation expenses • $2,556 transportation assistance for resident student to attend college; $1,898 for new sound equipment • $2,800 Christmas gifts for the children • Zoe Cavalaris Education Fund– $16,412 for tutors

Hellenic College Holy Cross

• Scholarship Fund–$79,000 ($75,000 for the spring and fall scholarships; $4,000 special merit award • Scholarships to four students) • Lenten Event–$75,500 ($40,000 for new perimeter security fencing; $20,000 for a unisex, family and handicap accessible chapel bathroom, $15,500 for a new website server and dedicated connection.)

Social Services

• $66,433 ($61,433–assistance to

individuals; $2,500 to the Bishop’s Task Force on Aids in the Metropolis of Chicago; $2,500 to Zoe for Life) • Cardiac Program–$8,244 (Assistance to individuals) • Cancer Fund–$26,157 ($23,657 – assistance to individuals; $2,500 to Stephen Giallourakis Cancer Research Fund) • National Sisterhood of Presvyteres Benevolent Fund–$25,000 (Short term support of clergy and their families in crises.)

• Retired Clergy Association Benevolent Fund–$70,000 (To assist retired priests in need) • Ecumenical Patriarchate – $112,000 ($110,000 for the philanthropic ministries of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; $2,000 for the Theological School of Halki in Turkey); Administration–$500 (To the Zographeion High School in Turkey) • Orthodox Christian Mission Center - $45,000 • Support a Mission Priest–$40,000 • International Orthodox Christian Charities–$31,000 ($15,000 for general needs; $16,000 for the transportation to Zimbabwe of pediatric wheelchairs, mobility devices and other durable medical equipment for over 200 children) • St. Photios Shrine–$20,000 • UNICEF–$15,000

National Philoptochos Department of Social Services The Department of Social Services provides individuals and families with free and confidential help with useful information to ensure people get the help they need from the best resources available.

The Department of Social Services provides assistance to overcome life’s most difficult challenges and troubles of everyday living by addressing issues such as health and mental health, housing and homelessness, poverty

and income inadequacies, aging and family services, alcohol and other drug use, domestic violence, immigration, employment, government entitlements, legal services and adoption referrals.

Evaluations, referrals and services are provided by bi-lingual (Greek/English) New York State Licensed Social Workers. Contact the Department of Social Services at 212.744-4774 or Grkorthsocialwrk@aol.com

Children’s Medical Fund 2007 $200,000

• $52,000 to Saddleback Memorial Medical center of San Clemente, California for the Emergency Department equipment for newborn and pediatric patients • $25,000 to St. Joseph’s Children’s Health Center of Phoenix for the Circle of Friends cancer support group providing psychological support • $25,000 to Clinica Monsenor Oscar A. Romero, Los Angeles, California for child immunizations and medications • $12,500 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for their Child Life Specialty Care which provides education and counseling • $12,500 to Emilio Nares Foundation, San Diego, for the Ride with Emilio transportation program that ensures that children with cancer receive safe transportation and timely treatment • $11,500 to the Children’s Hospital of Central California Madera, Calif. for their new oncology department • $11,500 to the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center, Tacoma, Washington for their child abuse prevention and intervention department for the medical and psychological care of children • $20,000 to the Autism Speaks/Cure Autism Now organization • $30,000 to the IOCC for its work with the Parktown Medical Clinic in the Archdiocese of Zimbabwe to serve children

General Medical Fund

• $5,000 (to Baloukli Hospital in Turkey)

National Emergency Fund

• $25,000 (to Metropolis of San Francisco to assist Southern California fire victims)

Hellenic Fires Relief Fund

• $144,098 ($ 94,098 to the Archdiocese; $50,000 to the Hellenic Red Cross)

National Philoptochos President Georgia Skeadas congratulated the presidents, board members and chapter members for achieving a banner year of giving, distributing more than $1 million to charity.

President Skeadas stated, “Under your superb leadership and of course under the leadership of the previous past presidents of your chapters, you have truly inspired your members to be the most generous of contributors, which produced a banner year, 2007. As a result of the generous donation of your time and talent, you have contributed a record amount of monies enabling the National Board of Philoptochos, on your behalf, to be most charitable in its donations.

“In 2007, the National Board distributed $1,373,431 from fund drives. More than $169,098 was collected from the chapters and forwarded to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, to the Hellenic Red Cross and to the Metropolis of San Francisco for emergency relief efforts, such as the devastating fires in Greece and in Southern California.

“Your generosity allowed us to fund the transportation costs of pediatric wheelchairs, mobility devices and other durable medical equipment valued at over $190,000 for over 200 children at the Jairos Jiri Association Southern Center, which is a rehabilitation center in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.

“Your magnanimous support of the eleventh National Philoptochos Children’s Medical Fund Luncheon provided us with the means to donate $150,000 to seven worthy children’s hospitals and programs in the Metropolis of San Francisco, to donate $20,000 to Autism Speaks/ Cure Autism Now which kicked off the National Philoptochos Autism Program, and to provide assistance in the amount of $30,000, to the IOCC for its work with the Parktown Medical Clinic in the Archdiocese of Zimbabwe, which serves children with various ailments. Your selfless and untiring efforts resulted in helping many causes.

“Let us be thankful to the Lord that your successes have assisted most profoundly in meeting the needs of others. In addition, it should also be emphasized, that the number of recipients touched by the donations listed represents only a part of the countless numbers of people that have been personally touched in your community by your local Chapter.

“Remain strong, faithful, united, and continue to promote the goals of your Philoptochos.

“We are proud of you – our fine presidents and members and we thank each and every one of you.

Congratulations and may God bless you and your families with much love, peace and goodness.”

8

MARCH 2008

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

Dating Tips that Lead to Good Choices The information below should help you make some good choices. Should you have other questions or concerns after reviewing the information that follows, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at joanidesch@aol.com. You might also log onto the Interfaith Marriage Web site for additional assistance. The address of this site is www.interfaith. goarch.org.

The Importance of Religion, Culture, Race and Class

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

Complementarity

Many couples spend time trying to determine how compatible they are, but few spend an equal amount of time trying to determine how different they are.

Confusing as this might seem, I have found that couples who spend time trying to determine the extent to which they are similar, should also spend more time trying to understand their differences – especially with regard to some big issues such as, money, friends, in-laws, career goals, arguing styles, recreation, leisure time, sex, parenting, ethnic and religious backgrounds and personality.

Unfortunately, I have also met my share of these kinds of couples. They got married without looking carefully at some of their big differences, thinking it would be easier to simply get married and figure life out after marriage.

But research suggests that’s not the most effective way to cultivate marital satisfaction. Here’s an example of a couple who benefited from examining

their big differences more carefully. And while the outcome was hard for them to face, both agreed their decision was for the best.

A few months ago, the following couple called me for a second opinion.

He was Greek Orthodox and she was Moslem. According to both partners, they were both “deeply in love with one another.” They both also felt that their love could help them overcome their cultural and religious differences, despite the fact that both had a high connection to their backgrounds.

However, as I respectfully probed and perturbed them with questions, it eventually became apparent to both partners that the differences they

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Those who have these needs, and fail to get on the same page with their dating partner, compromising what they desire and believe, almost always regret doing so. And worse than the regret are the residual feelings of anger and resentment which follow. These feelings usually end up poisoning marital satisfaction and family stability.

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shared were so great that it was impossible for them to bridge them. As a result, they decided to end their relationship as friends, rather than postpone an inevitable breakup that would simply get more difficult. Both left this meeting visibly distressed. However, a few months later, he called and informed me that they were both still smarting, but they also believed they had made the correct decision.

In the above example, this couple was able to respectfully and bravely face their big differences and make some prayerful, healthy decisions. But what if they had failed to do this? Well, my opinion is that this would have been a huge omission that both would have lived to regret.

So, spend some time examining how different you and your partner are on important matters like ethnicity, religion, sex, communication, arguing style, career goals, money, leisure time, in-laws, friends and personality.

And if you discover that some big differences exist, slow the dating process down enough to permit both of you to consider these differences prayerfully and respectfully. This strategy will have a decidedly positive impact on your future well-being. And if it’s God’s will that you marry, this strategy will also have made a positive impact on your future marriage.

Admittedly, this may be very difficult, especially if you’ve bonded emotionally with one another, and the hormones and the neuropeptides are flowing. But unless you’re honest with yourself, you may become a victim of the following old adage: “What love conceals, time will reveal.”

In other words, after the romance has worn off, and reality sets in after a few years, you may be in for a rude awakening unless you’ve both been honest about your differences and reached some mutually satisfying understandings prior to marriage.

Avoid Compromising Your Beliefs

You are what you believe. So, you shouldn’t compromise your core values. I have met far too many couples who compromised what they believed to please their partner, or extended family member, only to regret this decision after marriage.

So, be honest with yourself, and don’t compromise your core values and belief system. For example, if getting married and raising your children in the Greek Orthodox Church is important to you, don’t compromise this

Closely related to this last suggestion, my research with inter-Christian and intercultural couples has shown me that many dating partners fail to consider the impact that religion, culture, race and class have on one’s core values. However, the bottom line is that these factors have a significant impact on the way we see the world.

Therefore, if you have a high connection to your religious and/or cultural background, you and your dating partner should spend some extra time taking about your differences, similarities and future expectations regarding the type of marriage and family life you’d like to cultivate.

This also applies to race and class.

If you come from different racial or class backgrounds, these differences can often have strong influences on how you interpret the world. I remember a young lady recently making the following observation after I made of these exact points, “Father Charles, I thoroughly agree.

We had a clear understanding before marriage. I wanted him to know that I couldn’t consider marriage with him unless he was willing to raise our children in the Greek Orthodox Church. Without this commitment, I just couldn’t have become more serious with him”

What are Your Definitions of Marriage and Divorce?

I’m afraid that members of the “X” Generation are less likely than previous generations to have a Christ-centered perspective of marriage, primarily because of the postmodern, post-Christian world in which they’ve been raised. So, if you desire to foster a Christ-centered marriage and family life, spend some quality time getting to know your dating partner’s perspective of marriage, family and divorce.

If your dating partner’s perspective is sufficiently different than your own, you should prayerfully think long and hard about the consequences of marrying someone who has a different definition of marriage, family and divorce than your own.

To do otherwise will likely position you to experience chronic disappointment and marital strife.

ORTHODOX OBSERVER Address Changes?

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MARCH 2008

I n

M e m o r i a m

Fr. George Kalpaxis Fr. George Kalpaxis, a retired priest and a graduate of the first class of Holy Cross Seminary then located in Pomfret, Conn., died March 8 from complications of a fall. He would have been 89 on March 17.

Born in Enfield, Conn., in 1918, to the late Efstratios and Olga (Anagnostou) Kalpaxis, early immigrants from Lesvos, Greece. Soon thereafter, the family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where Father George’s father ran a small bakery.

He attended public schools in Bethlehem, Pa., before enrolling at Holy Cross in 1937.

He was one of the first American-born priests. Over the years, he was bestowed the official of oikonomos, protopresbyter, and protopresbyter of the Great Church of Constantinople.

He married Athena D. Hatzikosta of Haverhill, Mass., at St. Apostle’s Church.

They had three children, Efstratios (Steven), Demetrios (James) and Antonia (Anita). Presbytera Kalpaxis passed away in 1984.

Fr. Kalpaxis was ordained as a deacon at St. Spyridon Church in Washington Heights, New York City on Aug. 2, 1942 and as a priest on Aug. 16 at St. Barbara Church in New Haven, Conn., both times

by Bishop Athenagoras Cavadas.

His first assignment was St. George Church in Keene, N.H., from Sept., 20, 1942, to July 29, 1943. He went on to Holy Trinity in Wilmington, Del., where he served until March 1954.

From there, he was assigned to Annunciation Church in Houston and served until May , 31, 1966.

In Houston, Fr. George reunited a divided community, directed the completion of the interior—icons and stained glass windows—of the newly built church, established a successful youth ministry, improved the Sunday School program, and created a monthly television ministry. He was a leader in interfaith activities. To this end, Father George was instrumental in having the Orthodox Church recognized by the Texas Legislature as a fourth major faith.

He was also the first Orthodox member of the Houston Ministerial Association, and was present when John F. Kennedy, during the 1960 Presidential election, made his now famous speech before that group, on the separation of Church and State and the role of a future Catholic President.

His next assignment was St. Thomas in Camden/Cherry Hill, N.J., for five years.

He then was assigned to St. Nicholas in Baltimore, where he served nearly 20 years, retiring on Jan. 1, 1991.

Even during his retirement, however, Fr. Kalpaxis continued to serve the church and traveled extensively to fill in as a priest.

Bishops from around the world also called on him to serve their churches wherever he was needed. In this way, Father George often traveled to such countries as Greece, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, Brazil and Argentina to minister to faithful Orthodox Christians living in those areas.

Funeral services took place March 14, with Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey officiating.

Fr. George Nicozisin Fr. George Nicozisin, a retired priest and longtime pastor of St. Nicholas Church in his native St. Louis, died March 1. He would have been 80 on March 22.

Born in St. Louis, he was educated in public schools there and went to Holy Cross School of Theology, graduating in 1956.

Fr. Nicozisin also pursued graduate studies at Santa Clara University in California and earned a master’s in theology at Colgate Rochester University in New York in1970. After marrying Sylvia Labros of Milwaukee in July 1956, he was ordained as a deacon at Assumption Church in St. Louis on Aug. 27 and as a priest at Assumption in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1956, both times buy Bishop Ezekiel of Nazianzos.

His first assignment was at Annunciation Church in San Francisco, where he served from October 1956 to June 1958.

He was next assigned to St. Demetrios Church in Waukegan, Ill., and served until March 1963. Fr. Nicozisin went to St. Nicholas in San Jose, Calif., serving until 1967, then Annunciation in Rochester, N.Y., where he remained until September 1973. From 1973-77, he served at St. Nicholas Church in Manchester, N.H., and as assistant professor of religious education at Holy Cross, until his final parish assignment in July 1977 as pastor at St. Nicholas.

He retired in October 1996.

Survivors, in addition to his presbytera, include three children, Georganne Elaine, Demetra Ann and David Demetrios.Services took place March 5 with Metropolitan Iakovos officiating.

Frank P. Agnost Frank P. Agnost, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and founder of the Hellenic Journal newspaper, the first Greek American publication established west of the Mississippi that circulated on a regular basis, died Feb. 2 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr. Agnost was born June 15, 1918 in Chicago and moved with his family to San Francisco in 1928, according to the Hellenic Journal.

His family became members of St. Sophia Cathedral and, later, Annunciation Cathedral.

After attending the University of California and then working on the San Francisco Chronicle, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, rising to the rank of captain.

After the war he returned to the Chronicle where he worked as a reporter and assistant to the publisher.

He established a graphic art, printing and public relations business in 1961 and produced election materials for many politicians, including his brother, George P. Agnost, for city attorney of San Francisco.

After the invasion of Cyprus, Mr. Agnost founded the Hellenic Journal in 1975 and covered the news of Greece and the Greek American community in this country.

He retired in 2001.

In addition to being an Archon Notarios, Mr. Agnost was honored by the Archdiocese with a Distinguished Service Award.

He also served as commander of the Hellenic Post No 230 of the American Legion; president of the Golden GatePacific Chapter of the Order of Ahepa; and president of the Parish Council of Annunciation Cathedral.

He served as San Francisco public welfare commissioner for two terms during the 1950s. He was an Archon Notarios, Order of St. Andrew, of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Mr. Agnost is survived by a sister, Eugenia Amadeos, children Frank Agnost and Adrienne Verreos; several grandchildren and many other relatives.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cathedral of Annunciation building fund, 245 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA 94103.

9

10

MARCH 2008

GUEST EDITORIAL

A LENTEN JOURNEY What comes to mind when the topic of a discussion is Great Lent? Different persons perceive different views of Great Lent. Some instantly think of fasting. Others make references to the unique Lenten sacred services. Holy Week, and especially the Lord’s Passion and Easter, are people’s favorites. The initiated ones will bring about titles of books they recently read, experiences from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem or to a monastery and hymnology that is “truly heavenly.” Everyone registers divergent aspects of personal Lenten experiences.

Many things come to mind when Lent is discussed. The question is rather: when is Great Lent discussed? Or, most specifically, how frequently are we concerned about our Lenten preparations?

Our Christian hemisphere does not seem affected by this season with the same gravity the Muslim people polarize their daily routines to adjust to Ramadan. Do we need another movie from Mr. Gibson to feel guilt and anguish for our lack of ‘religiosity’ in our Western world? Do we need another Da Vinci Code to decipher the encrypted antiChristian conspiracies?

Life is about choices. And it is not a trivial task to evaluate how each one of us considers this significant ecclesiastical period.

What changes during Lent? Our diet? Our television watching patterns?

Our lives?... Christ came to inspire revolutions, not to inflict changes. Lent is as paradoxical as the events it prepares us for. Joyful sadness best describes it. It is an explosion of peace, a thrust of calmness, a dialogue with silence.

Christians across the world celebrate Easter with emphatic euphoria.

With the danger of plagiarizing Kavafis, it is the journey that makes the destination truly worthy. If Easter is the destination, Lent is the journey. Easter celebrated in isolation from its Lenten foreshadow is devoid of its greatest potential. It is another missed opportunity to surrender our lives within God’s grace. Just like the student who cheated, getting the diploma without studying first, celebrating Easter without the revelation of the Lenten experience deprives Christians from participating in this journey.

A despondent viewpoint will indicate that most Lenten services are under attended. The faithful who confess are less than the faithful who receive Holy Communion. The average Christian still watches more television than reading and praying during Lent. And fasting is still adhered to less ‘religiously’ (what an irony) than a fashionable diet. That is the pessimistic perspective. The optimistic standpoint is, well… it is that God forgives.

God’s forgiveness is not a panacea for increased lethargy and reduced motivation to practice our faith without watering down what our faith is all about.

It might take more than reading an article to cultivate the love for services such as the Great Compline, the Lenten Vespers, the Great Canon, the Presanctified Liturgy and the Salutations.

What would it take to inspire the youth to participate in these services with the same zeal they feel when attending their favorite concert? A mira-

cle? Maybe an act of God?…

So, let’s hypothesize that God took matters in His hands. What would He do to inspire us with faith and love for Him and each other? Would He come to earth and preach? Would He perform miracles? Would He love everyone without discrimination? Would He even die for all? How about rising from the dead to give us the additional assurance that there is nothing to be afraid of; just believe in Him and you are in good hands.

All this sounds quite impressive. And it happened. But most people still remain unimpressed. Should He also make a video clip?

The Fathers of the Church express vivid enthusiasm as the time of Great Lent approached. “The stadium of virtues has opened, come all you…” is the invitation (or probably the challenge) we all are asked to answer to. The first Sundays of Triodion preoccupied the spiritual atmosphere within which the faithful prepare for Great Lent. The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee exhibited how Christ is changing the norms. The Pharisee ‘prays’ in the temple, gives charity and follows the commandments of his religion. Christ did not come to institute another religion. The world has enough of them. He came to initiate a relationship. He came to listen to the Publican. He came to listen to every ‘publican’ who expresses to God an overflow of contrition, love and trust. Prayer is the oxygen of the soul; without it a person suffocates spiritually. The Publican prayed consciously and wholeheartedly, thus allowing the pure breath of God’s grace to rejuvenate his life. A confessor advised his spiritual child to pray more, do more charity, forgive without reservation and love all; he then warned to be really cautious when prayer increases, charity is augmented, forgiveness is offered to all and love is amplified. Pride can crawl up and obliterate all these good deeds.

The same sentiment is felt in the parable of the Prodigal Son. The elder son of the narrative is a ‘good boy.’

Never left the home, never betrayed his father. The younger son is the example however; not because he committed mistakes (which happens to us also).

But because he related to his father. He failed him, he needed him, he begged him. It happens to us also. Is Great Lent an opportunity to say the prayer of the Publican? Is it a chance to come back to our Father? God is waiting with open arms. They are nailed, they are hurting but they are also glorious. God is rushing to receive us and give us gifts.

That is another paradox. We get gifts for sinning (just like the Prodigal Son did).

We get rewarded for our failures. That is the power of God’s forgiveness and mercy. That is the prospect of a Lenten journey. What comes to mind when the topic of Great Lent is discussed? The joyful sadness (some prefer sorrowful joy).

The portrait of the Father embracing His lost child. The traitor beating his chest.

The harlot at the Lord’s feet. The nailed hands. The teenager who voluntarily missed the concert.

Presbyter Nikiforos Fakinos Religious Education Coordinator Direct Archdiocesan District

ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL

Feast of the Annunciation Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On this blessed day we gather in worship to commemorate a very special event that revealed God’s divine purpose and work for our salvation—the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos and EverVirgin Mary. In a city in Galilee called Nazareth the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would, conceive in her womb and bear a son, and call His name Jesus (Luke 1:31).

The significance of these words is truly unique. On this day, what had been unknown was revealed. The divine plan for our salvation that had been established for ages was now manifested. The restoration of humanity by means of the grace of God would now be accomplished through the Incarnation of Christ.

The announcement to the Virgin Mary of the birth of Jesus also revealed as a new reality the Kingdom of Christ.

Speaking of Christ’s birth, the Archangel stated, He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33).

The Theotokos marveled at all of these things, wondering how this could be possible. How could a young maiden with no husband, no royal status, no political authority, living in city held in disdain by many Jews, in a time when a foreign power ruled the land, be the mother of the heir to the throne of David?

How could a young maiden as she be the one who would inaugurate a new eternal kingdom, namely, Christ’s Kingdom? Could anyone ever dare to think that the “King of kings” and “Lord of lords” would come in this manner, taking on our humanity in the most complete way?

Through great faith in the will, power and grace of God, the Virgin Mary accepted this divine calling and provided us guidance in understanding life in the kingdom of God. Christ came into the world to restore our relationship with the One who gives us life, a relationship which had been broken by sin and death.

He came so that the grace of God could transform us in a blessed and eternal communion with Him filled with joy and peace. He came to release us from

the bondage of sin and evil so that we might be free to live and grow toward our divine potential. These were realities of a spiritual nature that were not in the purview of human beings. All of this would not be accomplished by worldly authority and power, but through love, sacrifice, humility, and obedience.

To the announcement of the coming of Christ and His eternal kingdom, the Theotokos responded in faith, Let it be to me according to your word (Luke 1:38).

By faith she accepted a unique calling, knowing that only true life, joy, peace, and freedom are found in communion with God. She affirmed her belief in the coming of the Son of God who would fulfill the promises of old and reign over His people forever. It is precisely her example that guides us both in our celebration of this Feast and in our lives in His kingdom.

By faith we accept the presence of Christ in our lives. We lay aside the things that entangle us in sin and lead to death, so that we might be restored to a new and eternal life.

It is on this day of the Feast of the Annunciation that we also commemorate the Day of Greek Independence. In 1821 our forbears, an oppressed people longing for freedom and self-determination and inspired by their rich Hellenic heritage and Orthodox faith, began the difficult fight for independence.

In their minds and hearts was the knowledge that God did not create human beings to be enslaved and exploited by others. Rather, He created all people to be free to know and worship Him, to strive and realize the heights of human potential, and to establish a just society guided by divinely revealed principles and truths.

Our courageous and heroic fathers and mothers were inspired by the witness of the Theotokos and her faith in the unseen. They knew that the path to freedom, peace, joy, and life would be one of tremendous sacrifice. They believed. Most important, they believed in God. On this Feast of the Annunciation and Day of Greek Independence, let us affirm our life and purpose of living on Earth.

Let us affirm our hope in the One Who will reign forever; a hope that inspires and sustains each and all noble and heroic efforts towards establishing freedom, peace, and justice in our world. May God be with all of you.

With paternal love in Christ,

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS of America

 Women's History Month Editor, This month, we honor and remember the numerous contributions made by women. Certainly the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote and the right to hold public office, adopted in 1920, merits reflection.

National Women’s History Month gives everyone an opportunity to examine

not only the contributions of women but also their concerns.

We dare not forget the respect and dignity owed to all women past and present in their daily struggles to make the world a better place for all.

John A. Micklos Baltimore (Mr. Micklos is a retired history teacher and graduate teachers supervisor at Johns Hopkins University).

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MARCH 2008

Lenten Themes Lent Connects Our Lives with and in Christ

by Fr. Gregory Wingenbach

A couple of years ago, I was asked, “Father, believe me! I do appreciate our Orthodox Tradition, but 40 days of giving up food and activities we normally enjoy, then that heavy, day-by-day schedule of Holy Passion Week services before we get to enjoy the Easter feast…isn’t it all a bit much, especially when ordinary American Christians around us are regularly enjoying life?”

This was asked after a Wednesday evening ‘Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and, as with this year, when Protestants and Roman Catholics had already observed Lent and Easter a month ahead.

The fact is, I answered, Christ’s disciples and the early Christian Church realized that, especially with everything non-Christian, indeed, anti-Christian going on in this world, anyone trying to be a practicing Christian would need to follow a very active, day-by-day Way of living.

By Jesus’ very own example of fasting and prayer: teaching His followers, reaching out to and helping the needy, faithfully attending the Temple and synagogue services, and often preaching God’s Word in the ordinary language of parables, the Lord was showing His fellow Jews that “just living ordinary lives, like everybody else” in the largely pagan world surrounding them is in no way enough to survive as righteous believers in God’s Way. Without practical habits,

the rhythm of living out our faith, Jesus showed, we’re likely to get rusty in what we believe and how we act.

In other words, we can easily lose it. And, like Christ, we don’t keep it to us alone, our example shows others the Way. So, the Orthodox lent of Pascha is for a practicing Christian not some weird, super zealous way of believing and behaving. It’s just ‘part of the Way’ that, as fallible human beings, we can ‘keep the faith.

Then, since a Christian life is not just an occasional, seasonal thing, the Church as the Body of Christ helps preserve our Christian life in various ways and seasons: the mini-Lent around most of the year consisting of weekly Wednesdays and Fridays, the regular Diving services, weekdays and Sundays, the Sacrament of our Lord’s Communion (Eucharist), the healing of Holy Anointing and the forgiveness of Holy Confession, the lifecycle Sacraments of Holy Baptism and of the sacred covenanting of a loving man and woman in Holy Matrimony and, last but not least, there’s the home-based katoikon ekklesia of our families, praying and working out daily life together.

That’s the Orthodox Way. Fr. Wingenbach, a retired priest of the Archdiocese, of Louisville, Ky., serves the parish of Missoula and Great Falls, Montana, where he had been full-time pastor before his retirement.

INTERESTED IN STUDYING ORTHODOX THEOLOGY? Unable To Attend A Seminary Or Theological School?

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Besides our theological program, we are also now offering three new specialization tracks: Youth Ministry, Musicology and Iconology. These tracks are offered in a distinct Orthodox and Byzantine setting ST. STEPHEN’S COURSE, a three-year directed reading program under the auspices of the Antiochian House of Studies is open to both men and women.

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Please send me further information and application forms for: St. Stephen’s Course of Studies in Orthodox Theology.

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12

MARCH 2008

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Poll Confirms Parents’ Influence on Teens’ Religious Activities NEW YORK (RNS) – When it comes to attending church, praying and reading the Bible, the apple does not fall far from the tree. A recent poll of teens and their parents overwhelmingly confirms that parents have the most influence on their children’s religious activity.

A survey — the first to examine teens’ and their parents’ views of the Bible — commissioned by the American Bible Society and conducted by Weekly Reader Research, found that almost 80 percent of America’s 30.2 million 12-18 year olds think the Bible is important and 87 percent of parents think the Bible is important.

However, the results show that parents still have work to do. Of the 47 percent of teens who think the Bible is very important, only 11 percent read the Bible daily.

Ten percent of America’s 12-18 yearolds participate in daily Bible reading, a higher level then reported in a June 2006 survey done by the Bible Society.

In that measurement, 6 percent of teens said they read the Bible daily. A third of teens attend weekly worship services and more than 80 percent believe their prayers are answered some or all the time.

Children mirror their parents’ behavior. Parents who attend church weekly tend to have teens who worship weekly, while 78 percent of parents who never attend worship services have teens who never attend. The same correlation applies to Bible reading and prayer habits.

Parents who responded positively to the question of whether it is important to raise children with religious or spiritual values had children who were significantly

involved with faith.

This survey corroborates one of the findings of June 2006 The Bible Society/ Weekly Reader Research poll of teens about their heroes. That poll revealed that 67.7 percent of 12-18-year-olds believe parents are the most important role models in today’s society.

This survey mirrored the U.S. population with reference to geography, age and race. The survey of 3095 participants has a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percent.

The complete details of the poll are available by writing to rlloyd@americanbible.org or calling (212) 408-8731.

Founded in 1816 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of the American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so that all people may experience its life-changing message. The American Bible Society Web site is www.Bibles.com

Deadlines for news, advertising Deadline for submission for advertising for the Easter (April) issue is Friday, March 28.

Send ads to (e-mail) epissalidis@ goarch.org, or observer@goarch.org. or by regular mail to: Orthodox Observer, 8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075, attn: Advertising. For other submissions (news, other informational items, letters to the editor) (regular mail) Editor, Orthodox Observer, 8 E. 79th St., New York, NY 10075, or (email) jim@goarch.org . Deadline for April is Thursday, March 27.

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2008

ΕΤΟΣ 73 • ΑΡΙΘΜΟΣ 1237

Α ΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ

25 Μαρτίου 2008: Εὐαγγελισμός τῆς Θεοτόκου Ἡμέρα Ἐθνικῆς Ἀνεξαρτησίας 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. Ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Αὐτή τήν εὐλογημένη ἡμέρα συγκεντρωνόμεθα γιά νά ἑορτάσουμε ἕνα πολύ σημαντικό γεγονός τό ὁποῖο ἀπεκάλυψε τό θεϊκό σχέδιο καί ἔργο τοῦ Θεοῦ γιά τήν σωτηρία μ α ς, τήν Ἑορτή τοῦ Εὐαγ­ γελισμοῦ τῆς Θεοτόκου καί Ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας. Σέ μιά πόλη τῆς Γαλιλαίας τήν Ναζαρέτ, ὁ Ἀρχάγγελος Γαβριήλ ἐμφα­ νίσθηκε στήν Μαρία καί τῆς ἀνεκοίνωσε ἰδού συλλήψῃ ἐν γαστρί καί τέξῃ υἱόν καί καλέσεις τό ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν (Λουκ.

1:31).Ἡ σημασία αὐτῶν τῶν λόγων εἶναι πράγματι μοναδική. Αὐτή τήν ἡμέρα, ὅ,τι ἦταν ἄγνωστο ἀπεκαλύφθη. Τό θεϊκό σχέδιο γιά τή σωτηρία μας τό ὁποῖο εἶχε καταστρωθῆ ἐδῶ καί αἰῶνες, ἀπεκαλύφθη τώρα. Ἡ ἀποκατάσταση τῆς ἀνθρωπότητος μέσῳ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ θά ἐπε­ τυγχάνετο τώρα μέ τήν Σάρκωση τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἡ ἀνακοίνωση τῆς γεννήσεως τοῦ Ἰησοῦ στήν Παρθένο Μαρία ἀπεκάλυψε, ἐπίσης, τήν Βασιλεία τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὡς νέα πραγματικότητα. Ὁμιλώντας περί τῆς γεννήσεως τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὁ Ἀρχάγγελος εἶπε: Οὗτος ἔσται μέγας καί υἱός ὑψίστου κληθήσεται καί δώσει αὐτῷ κύριος ὁ Θεός τόν θρόνον Δαυίδ τοῦ Πατρός Αὐτοῦ, καί βασιλεύσει ἐπί τόν οἶκον Ἰακώβ εἰς τούς αἰῶνας καί τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος (Λουκ. 1:32­33). Ἡ Θεοτόκος ἐθαύμασε ὅλα αὐτά τά πράγμα­ τα καί διερωτήθη πῶς θά μποροῦσαν νά πραγματοποιηθοῦν. Μία νέα κοπέλα χω­ ρίς σύζυγο, χωρίς βασιλική καταγωγή, χωρίς πολιτική ἐξουσία, πού ζοῦσε σέ μία πόλη στήν ὁποία ἀντιμετώπιζε τήν περι­ φρόνηση πολλῶν Ἰουδαίων, σέ ἐποχή κατά τήν ὁποία τήν χώρα κυβερνοῦσε ξένη δύναμη, πῶς θά μποροῦσε νά γίνῃ ἡ μητέρα τοῦ κληρονόμου τοῦ θρόνου τοῦ Δαυίδ; Πῶς θά μποροῦσε μία νέα κόρη ὅπως ἐκείνη νά ἐγκαθιδρύσῃ ἕνα νέο αἰώνιο βασίλειο, δηλαδή τή Βασιλεία τοῦ Χριστοῦ; Θά μποροῦσε ποτέ κανείς νά διανοηθῇ ὅτι ὁ Βασιλεύς τῶν βασιλευό­ ντων καί Κύριος τῶν κυριευόντων (Τιμ.

6:15) θά ἐρχόταν κατ’ αὐτό τόν τρόπο, ἀναλαμβάνων πλήρως τήν ἀνθρώπινη φύση; Μέ τήν μεγάλη πίστη της στό θέλημα, τή δύναμη καί τήν χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἡ Παρθένος Μαρία δέχθηκε τό θεϊκό κάλεσμα καί μᾶς ὁδήγησε στήν κατανόηση τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ Χριστός ἦλθε στόν κόσμο γιά ν’ ἀποκαταστήσῃ τήν σχέση μας μ’ Ἐκεῖνον πού μᾶς χαρίζει τή ζωή, σχέση ἡ ὁποία εἶχε διασπασθῆ λόγῳ τῆς ἁμαρτίας καί τοῦ θανάτου. Ἦλθε οὕτως ὥστε ἡ χάρη τοῦ Θεοῦ νά μεταμορφώσῃ τή ζωή μας σέ εὐλογημένη καί αἰώνια κοινωνία μαζί Του, κοινωνία πλήρη χαρᾶς καί εἰρήνης. Ἦλθε γιά νά μᾶς ἀπελευθερώσῃ ἀπό τά δεσμά τῆς ἁμαρτίας καί τοῦ κακοῦ οὕτως ὥστε νά μπορέσουμε νά ζήσουμε ἐλεύθεροι καί νά πραγματοποιήσουμε τό

θεϊκό δυναμικό μας. Ὅλα αὐτά ἀποτελοῦν πραγματικότητες πνευματικῆς φύσεως πού κεῖνται πέραν τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ὁρίων. Πραγματικότητες πού δέν θά μποροῦσαν νά ἐπιτευχθοῦν μέσῳ κοσμικῆς ἐξουσίας καί δυνάμεως, ἀλλά μόνον μέσῳ ἀγάπης, θυσίας, ταπεινώσεως καί ὑποταγῆς. Στήν ἀναγγελία τοῦ ἐρχομοῦ τοῦ Χριστοῦ καί τῆς αἰωνίας βασιλείας Του, ἡ Θε­ οτόκος ἀπήντησε μέ πίστη: Γένοιτό μοι κατά τό ρῆμα σου (Λουκ. 1:38). Μέ πίστη, δέχθηκε ἕνα ἐξαιρετικό κάλεσμα, γνωρίζοντας ὅτι μόνο ἡ κοινωνία μέ τόν Θεό προσφέρει ἀληθινή ζωή, χαρά, εἰρήνη καί ἐλευθερία. Ἐπισφράγισε τήν πίστη της στήν ἔλευση τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁ Ὁποῖος θά ἐκπλήρωνε προαιώνιες ὑποσχέσεις καί θά ἐβασίλευε ἐπί τῶν ἀνθρώπων Του γιά πάντα. Ἀκριβῶς αὐτό τό παράδειγμά της μᾶς ὁδηγεῖ στόν ἑορτασμό αὐτῆς τῆς Ἑορτῆς καί τίς ζωές μας στή βασιλεία Του. Μέ τήν πίστη δεχόμεθα τήν παρουσία τοῦ Χριστοῦ στή ζωή μας. Παραμερίζουμε τά πράγ μ ατα πού μ ᾶ ς ἐμπλέκουν στην ἁμαρτία καί ὁδηγοῦν στό θάνατο, καί ἔτσι ἀποκαθιστάμεθα σέ μία νέα καί αἰώνια ζωή. Τήν ἡμέρα τῆς Ἑορτῆς τοῦ Εὐαγ­ γελισμοῦ τιμοῦμε ἐπίσης καί τήν Ἡμέρα Ἐθνικῆς Ἀνεξαρτησίας. Τό 1821 οἱ πρό­ γονοί μας, ἄνθρωποι καταπιεσμένοι πού διψοῦσαν γιά ἐλευθερία καί αὐτοδιάθεση, ἐμπνευσμένοι ἀπό τήν πλούσια Ἑλληνική κληρονομιά των καί τήν Ὀρθόδοξη πίστη, ἄρχισαν τή δύσκολη μ άχη γιά ἀνε­ ξαρτησία. Στό νοῦ καί τήν καρδιά των κυριαρ­ χοῦσε ἡ γνώση ὅτι ὁ Θεός δέν εἶχε δημι­ ουργήσει ἀνθρώπους σκλαβωμένους καί ὑποκείμενους σέ ἐκμετάλλευση ἀπό συ­ νανθρώπους των. Ἀντιθέτως, ἔπλασε ὅλους τούς ἀνθρώπους γιά νά εἶναι ἐλεύθεροι νά Τόν γνωρίσουν καί νά Τόν λατρεύσουν, ν’ἀγωνισθοῦν καί κατακτή­ σουν τά ὕψη τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου δυναμικοῦ, καί νά θεμελιώσουν μία δίκαιη κοινωνία ἡ ὁποία θά καθοδηγεῖται ἀπό θεϊκά ἀποκαλυφθεῖσες ἀρχές καί ἀλήθειες. Οἱ θαρραλέοι καί ἡρωϊκοί πρόγονοί μας ἐμπνεύσθηκαν ἀπό τήν μαρτυρία τῆς Θεοτόκου καί τήν πίστη της σ’ αὐτό πού δέν εἶναι ὁρατό μέ τά ἀνθρώπινα μάτια μας. Γνώριζαν ὅτι ἡ ὁδός πρός τήν ἐλευθερία, τήν εἰρήνη, τήν χαρά καί τήν ζωή θά ἦταν πλήρης πολύ μεγάλων θυσιῶν. Πίστευσαν. Τό πιό σπουδαῖο: πίστευσαν στόν Θεό. Στήν Ἑορτή αὐτή τοῦ Εὐαγγελισμοῦ καί τήν Ἡμέρα Ἐθνικῆς Ἀνεξαρτησίας ἄς ἐπιβεβαιώσουμε τήν ζωή καί τόν σκοπό τῆς ὑπάρξεώς μας στή Γῆ. Ἄς ἐπιβεβαιώσουμε τήν ἐλπίδα μας σ’ Ἐκεῖνον ὁ Ὁποῖος θά κυβερνᾶ πάντοτε. Μιάν ἐλπίδα πού ἐμπνέει καί στηρίζει κάθε μία καί ὅλες τίς εὐγενεῖς καί ἡρωικές προσπάθειες γιά τήν ἐγκαθίδρυση ἐλευθερίας, εἰρήνης καί δικαιοσύνης στόν κόσμο μας. Εἴθε ὁ Θεός νά εἶναι πάντοτε μαζί σας.

Μέ πατρική ἐν Χριστῷ ἀγάπη,

ÿ ὁ Ἀρχιεπίσκοπος Ἀμερικῆς Δημήτριος

14

ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2008

ΛΟΓΟΣ ΚΑΤΗΧΗΤΗΡΙΟΣ ΕΠΙ ΤH ΕΝΑΡΞΕΙ

ΤΗΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΗΣ ΤΕΣΣΑΡΑΚΟΣΤΗΣ Ἡ Ἐκκλησία μας κατὰ τὴν περίοδον πολλὰ βλαπτικὰ διὰ τὴν καθαρότητά μας τῆς Ἁγίας καὶ Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς αἰσθήματά μας, τὰ ὁποῖα ἐνίοτε θεωροῦμεν μ ᾶ ς κ αλεῖ εἰ ς μετάνοιαν. Βεβαίως ὁ ὑγιᾶ. Χρειάζεται, λοιπόν, νέος πληρέστερος σύγχρονος ἄνθρωπος δὲν αἰσθάνεται φωτισμὸς τῆς συνειδήσεώς μας διὰ τῶν ΕΛΕΩ ΘΕΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΕΩΣ, ἀνέτως ἀκούων τὸ προσκλητήριον τῆς διδαχῶν τῶν Πατέρων καὶ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου, ΝΕΑΣ ΡΩΜΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΗΣ ΠΑΝΤΙ μετανοίας, διότι ἔχει συνηθίσει μὲ τὸν ὥστε αἱ κρίσεις μας περὶ τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ μας ΤΩ ΠΛΗΡΩΜΑΤΙ ΤΗΣ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣ, ΧΑΡΙΣ ΕΙΗ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΡΗΝΗ τρόπον ζωῆς τὸν ὁποῖον ἀκολουθεῖ καὶ καὶ τῶν ἐλλείψεών του νὰ εἶναι ὀρθότεραι ΠΑΡΑ ΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ, δὲν θέλει νὰ ἀμφισβητήσῃ τὴν ὀρθότητά καὶ περισσότερον σύμφωνοι μὲ τὴν κρίσιν του. Ἡ ἀμφισβήτησις τῆς ὀρθότητος τοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ ἐπειδὴ οὐδεὶς ἄνθρωπος ΠΑΡ’ HΜΩΝ ∆Ε ΕΥΧΗ, ΕΥΛΟΓΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΣΥΓΧΩΡΗΣΙΣ δημιουργεῖ αἴσθημα ἀνασφαλείας, διότι τὸ δύναται νὰ εἴπῃ ὅτι ἔφθασεν εἰς τὴν ἰδεολογικὸν οἰκοδόμημ α, ἐντὸς τοῦ τελειότητα τῆς κρίσεώς του περὶ τοῦ ὁποίου ἔχει ζητήσει ἀσφαλὲς καταφύγιον ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἀσφαλῶς διακυβεύεται. ἑαυτοῦ του, δι᾿ αὐτὸ καὶ οὐδεὶς ἄνθρωπος δύναται νὰ εἴπῃ ὅτι δὲν ἔχει ἀνάγκην νέου Ἐν τούτοις, βαθυτέρα ἐξέτασις τοῦ ζητήματος πείθει ὅτι αἱ πεποιθήσεις τῶν νοῦ, περισσότερον φωτισμένου νοῦ, ἀλλαγῆς νοῦ, διορθώσεως τοῦ νοῦ καὶ τῆς ἀνθρώπων δὲν ἐσχημαστίσθησαν μὲ ἀντικειμενικότητα ἐπὶ τῇ βάσει τῆς λογικῆς νοοτροπίας του, δηλαδὴ μετανοίας. κρίσεως, ἀλλὰ ἐδημιουργήθησαν διὰ νὰ δικαιολογήσουν τὸ ἀρεστὸν εἰς αὐτούς, ἤτοι Ἡ Ὀρθόδοξος Ἐκκλησία μας, ἡ ὁποία μᾶς καλεῖ εἰς μετάνοιαν, δὲν μᾶς καλεῖ εἰς εἶναι προφάσεις ἐν ἁμαρτίαις. Ἀλλὰ τὸ νὰ δικαιολογῇ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὰς πράξεις του καὶ αὐτομεμψίαν μόνον. Καὶ ἡ αὐτομεμψία χρειάζεται, καὶ ἡ συντριβὴ χρειάζεται καὶ τὰ νὰ δικαιώνῃ τὸν ἑαυτόν του ἐπὶ τῇ βάσει ἐσφαλμένων ἀξιωμάτων εἶναι ἐπιζήμιον δι᾿ δάκρυα μετανοίας χρειάζονται, ἀλλὰ δὲν ἀρκοῦν. Προσαπαιτεῖται ἡ χαρὰ τῆς ὑπὸ τοῦ αὐτόν, διότι ὅταν ἀναποφεύκτως θὰ ἔλθῃ ἡ στιγμὴ τῆς ἀναδύσεως τῆς ἀληθείας θὰ Θεοῦ συγχωρήσεώς μας, τὸ αἴσθημα τῆς ἀπελευθερώσεώς μας ἀπὸ τὰ βάρη τῶν εὑρεθῇ ἀδικαιολόγητος καὶ ἴσως δὲν θὰ ἔχῃ πλέον χρόνον νὰ ἀναπροσαρμόσῃ τὰς δεσμῶν τῆς οἱασδήποτε ἁμαρτίας μας καὶ ἡ αἴσθησις τῆς ἀγάπης τοῦ Θεοῦ πρὸς ἡμᾶς. πεποιθήσεις του, ἤτοι νὰ μετανοήσῃ διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτωλὰς πράξεις του καὶ τὰς Ἡ μετάνοιά μας δὲν εἶναι κάτι τὸ ὁποῖον μᾶς στερεῖ τὴν χαρὰν τῆς ζωῆς, ὥστε νὰ πεπλανημένας πίστεις του, διὰ τῶν ὁποίων ἤθελε νὰ δικαιώσῃ τὴν συμπεριφοράν δυσανασχετῶμεν ἀκούοντες τὸ κήρυγμα τῆς μετανοίας. Ἡ μετάνοια εἶναι κάθαρσις του. καὶ φωτισμὸς τοῦ νοῦ μας, θέρμανσις τῆς ἀγάπης μας πρὸς τὸν Χριστὸν καὶ τὴν κτίσιν Ἡμεῖς ὅμως, οἱ χριστιανοί, εἴμεθα ἐξοικειωμένοι μὲ τὸ ἄκουσμα καὶ τὴν πρᾶξιν Του, ἐλευθερία καὶ χαρὰ διὰ τὴν καινότητα ζωῆς εἰς τὴν ὁποίαν διὰ τῆς συνεχοῦς τῆς μετανοίας καὶ δὲν ταρασσόμεθα μὲ τὸ σχετικὸν πρὸς μετάνοιαν προσκλητήριον μετανοίας ἀκαταπαύστως εἰσερχόμεθα. τῆς Ἐκκλησίας μας. Ἀλλὰ πρέπει νὰ συνειδητοποιήσωμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς ὅτι ἡ πλήρης Ὁ μετανοῶν συνεχῶς, προοδεύει συνεχῶς, χαίρεται συνεχῶς διὰ τὰς νέας μετάνοια ἔχει δύο στόχους. ἀναβάσεις του, ἱκανοποιεῖται συνεχῶς διὰ τὴν ἀποκτωμένην βαθυτέραν γνῶσιν του Ὁ πρῶτος εἶναι ἡ ἀπάρνησις τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μας καὶ ἡ ἀπόφασις τῆς παύσεως τῶν περὶ πάντων. Διὰ τῆς ἀλλαγῆς τῆς νοοτροπίας του καὶ τῶν ἀντιλήψεών του ὁ μετανοῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν πράξεων καὶ συνηθειῶν μας, ὡς καὶ ἡ ἐπανόρθωσις τῶν συνεπειῶν των. κατανοεῖ καλύτερον τὸν κόσμον ὅλον, γίνεται σοφώτερος, νουνεχέστερος, Παράδειγμα, ὁ τελώνης Ζακχαῖος, ὁ ὁποῖος μετανοήσας εἰλικρινῶς κατὰ τὴν διακριτικώτερος, γίνεται ὑψιπετὴς καὶ φίλος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ὅθεν, τὸ κήρυγμα τῆς συνάντησίν του μετὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀπέδειξε τὴν μετάνοιάν του καὶ ἐμπράκτως μὲ τὸ μετανοίας γίνεται εὐμενῶς δεκτὸν ἀπὸ τοὺς εὐφυεστέρους τῶν ἀνθρώπων, οἱ ὁποῖοι νὰ ἀποδώσῃ εἰς τὸ τετραπλοῦν ὅσα ἀδίκως εἶχεν εἰσπράξει. δύνανται νὰ ἐκτιμήσουν ὁποίαν μεταβολὴν ἐπὶ τὰ βελτίω προσφέρει εἰς τὸν ἄνθρωπον Ὁ δεύτερος στόχος τῆς μετανοίας μας εἶναι νὰ ἀλλάξωμεν νοοτροπίαν, νὰ ἡ διὰ τῆς μετανοίας ἀναγέννησις αὐτοῦ. ἀντικαταστήσωμεν τὰς ἀντιλήψεις μας μὲ ἄλλας ἀνωτέρας καὶ ὑψηλοτέρας, κατὰ τὸν Ὅθεν, ἀδελφοὶ καὶ τέκνα ἐν Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητά, ἂς οἰκειοποιηθῶμεν τὴν πρόσκλησιν λόγον τοῦ Ψαλμῳδοῦ, λέγοντος «ἀναβάσεις ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ διέθετο». Ὁ δεύτερος τῆς Ἐκκλησίας μας διὰ μετάνοιαν καὶ ὑπ᾿ ἀμφοτέρας τὰς προεκτεθείσας μορφάς της αὐτὸς στόχος εἶναι ἀναγκαῖον νὰ ἐπιδιώκεται καὶ ὑπ᾿ ἐκείνων οἱ ὁποῖοι δὲν ἐλέγχονται καὶ ἂς καθάρωμεν ἑαυτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μας δι᾿ ἐξομολογήσεως οἱ ἁμαρτήσαντες, ὑπὸ τῆς συνειδήσεώς των διὰ συγκεκριμένας ἁμαρτίας. Διότι, ἐπὶ παραδείγματι, ἡ ἂς ἀναθεωρῶμεν δὲ συνεχῶς τὰς ἀντιλήψεις μας οἱ λοιποί, ὥστε αἱ κρίσεις μας καὶ οἱ ἀντίληψίς μας περὶ ἀγάπης ὁπωσδήποτε ὑστερεῖ τῆς τελειότητος, ὅπως καὶ ἡ συλλογισμοί μας νὰ εἶναι ἔνθεοι καὶ καθαροί, ἀληθεῖς καὶ δίκαιοι. ἀντίληψίς μας περὶ ταπεινώσεως. Συγκρίνοντες τὴν ἰδικήν μας πνευματικὴν Ἐπὶ δὲ τούτοις, εὐχόμεθα ὑμῖν πατρικῶς πᾶσαν παρὰ Κυρίου βοήθειαν εἰς τὸν κατάστασιν μὲ τὴν τελειότητα τοῦ Θεοῦ, τῆς ὁποίας καλούμεθα νὰ εἴμεθα μιμηταί, δρόμον σας τῆς μετανοίας καὶ εἰς ὅλην τὴν ἀναγεννημένην ἐν Χριστῷ ζωήν σας. ἀσφαλῶς βλέπομεν τὴν ὑστέρησίν μας καὶ τὸ ἄπειρον τοῦ δρόμου τὸν ὁποῖον ἔχομεν Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή , βη´ νὰ βαδίσωμεν διὰ νὰ εὑρεθῶμεν ἐπὶ τῆς τροχιᾶς τῶν μιμητῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἐρευνῶντες τὴν ποιότητα τῆς ἐσωτερικῆς εἰρήνης μας, διαπιστοῦμεν ὅτι πολὺ ἀπέχομεν ἀπὸ τὴν εἰρήνην τοῦ Χριστοῦ τὴν πάντα νοῦν ὑπερέχουσαν. Σταθμίζοντες τὸ πόσον ἐμπιστευόμεθα τὴν ζωήν μας εἰς τὴν Πρόνοιαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, μετὰ λύπης μας πιστοποιοῦμεν ὅτι πολλάκις καταλαμβανόμεθα ὑπὸ ἄγχους καὶ ἀβεβαιότητος διὰ τὸ í Ὁ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως μέλλον, ὡς ἐὰν εἴμεθα ὀλιγόπιστοι ἢ καὶ ἄπιστοι. Καί, γενικῶς, ἐλέγχοντες τὴν διάπυρος πρὸς Θεὸν εὐχέτης πάντων ὑμῶν καθαρότητα τῆς συνειδήσεώς μας βλέπομεν ὅτι πολλάκις δὲν συνειδητοποιοῦμεν

íΒΑΡΘΟΛΟΜΑΙΟΣ

Επίσκεψη Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου Βαρθολομαίου στην Σμύρνη Τό Σάββατον, 8ην Μαρτίου, ἡ Α.Θ. Παναγιότης, ὁ Πατριάρχης, συνοδευόμε­ νος ὑπό τοῦ Πανοσιολ. Δευτερεύοντος κ. Μαξίμου, καί τοῦ Ἐντιμ. κ. Νικολάου Μαγγίνα, Δημοσιογράφου καί φωτογρά­ φου, μετέβη ἀεροπορικῶς εἰς Σμύρνην ἵνα παραστῇ εἰς συνάντησιν τῆς Διεθνοῦς Ὀργανώσεως Νέων Προέδρων Ἑταιρειῶν («YPO»). Κατά τήν ἄφιξιν τοῦ Πατριάρχου εἰς τόν ἀερολιμένα τῆς Σμύρνης ὑπεδέξατο Αὐτόν ἡ Εὐγεν. κ. Χαρά Σκολαρίκου, Γεν. Πρόξενος τῆς Ἑλλάδος ἐν Σμύρνῃ, ἐν συνεχείᾳ δέ ὁ Πατριάρχης μετέβη ὁδικῶς εἰς τό πλησίον τῆς Ἐφέσου χωρίον Κιρ­ κιντζέ, ἔνθα ἐχοροστάτησε κατά τόν τελε­ σθέντα ἐν τῷ Ἱ. Ναῷ τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἰωάννου Μ. Ἑσπερινόν, καθ’ ὅν ἔψαλε πολυμελής χορός ἱερο ψαλτῶν ἐκ τῆς ἐν Ἀθήναις χορῳδίας «Τρόπος», ὑπό τήν διεύθυνσιν τοῦ Μουσικολ. κ. Κωνσταντίνου Ἀγ­ γελίδου, καί παρέστησαν συμπροσευχόμε­ νοι ὁ Ἐντιμολ. κ. Παῦλος Βογιατζῆς, Ἄρχων Πρωτέκδικος τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Χριστοῦ Μ. Ἐκκλησίας­Νομάρχης Λέ­ σβου, ἡ Εὐγεν. κ. Γεν. Πρόξενος, μέλη τῆς Ὀργανώσεως «YPO», ὑπό τήν ἡγεσίαν τοῦ

ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ ΜΑΓΓΙΝΑ

Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος στον Ιερό Ναό του Αγίου Ιωάννου του Προδρόμου στο χωριό Κιρκιντζές κοντά στην Σμύρνη, στην πατρίδα της αξέχαστης συγγραφέως ∆ιδώς Σωτηρίου.

Ἐντιμ. κ. Γεωργίου Τανισκίδου, Διοικητοῦ τῆς ἐν Ἑλλάδι Τραπέζης «Millennium», κληρικοί καί προσκυνηταί ἐξ Ἑλλάδος, πρός οὕς πάντας ὡμίλησεν ὁ Πατριάρχης, τελέσας ἀκολούθως Τρισάγιον ὑπέρ ἀναπαύσεως τῆς ψυχῆς τῶν ἀειμνήστων συγγραφέων Διδοῦς Σωτηρίου, Φωτίου Κόντογλου καί Ἠλία Βενέζη, ὡς καί πά­ ντων τῶν ἐν τῇ περιοχῇ τῆς Ἰωνίας ἀναπαυομένων πατέρων καί ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν. Ἐν συνεχείᾳ, ὁ Πατριάρχης ἐπέστρε­ ψεν εἰς Σμύρνην καί ἔσχεν ἐγκάρδιον συνάντησιν μετά τῶν τέκνων τῶν μελῶν τῆς ὡς ἄνω Ὀργανώσεως ἐν τῷ ξενοδοχείῳ «Hilton», ἀπευθύνας πρός αὐτά πατρικούς λόγους, εἶτα δέ παρετέθη πρός τιμήν Αὐτοῦ δεῖπνον. Τήν ἑπομένην, 9ην ἰδίου, Κυριακήν τῆς Τυρινῆς, ὁ Πατριάρχης, ἐχοροστάτησε κατά τήν τελεσθεῖσαν ἐν τῷ ἐν Σμύρνῃ Ἱ. Ναῷ τῆς Ἁγίας Μάρτυρος Φωτεινῆς τῆς Σαμαρείτιδος Θείαν Λειτουργίαν, καθ’ ἥν ὁ Πανοσιολ. Ἀρχιμανδρίτης κ. Κύριλλος

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ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ ORTHODOX OBSERVER

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2008

Α ΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΓΚΥΚΛΙΟΣ Ἁγία καί Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή

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Πρός τούς Σεβασμιωτάτους καί Θεοφιλεστάτους Ἀρχιερεῖς, τούς Εὐλαβεστάτους Ἱερεῖς καί Διακόνους, τούς Μοναχούς καί Μοναχές, τούς Προέδρους καί Μέλη τῶν Κοινοτικῶν Συμβουλίων, τά Ἡμερήσια καί Ἀπογευματινά Σχολεῖα, τίς Φιλο­ πτώχους Ἀδελφότητες, τήν Νεολαία, τίς Ἑλληνορθόδοξες Ὀργανώσεις καί ὁλόκληρο τό Χριστεπώνυμον πλήρωμα τῆς Ἱερᾶς Ἀρχιεπισκοπῆς Ἀμερικῆς. Ἀδελφοί καί ἀδελφές ἐν Χριστῷ, Γιά μία ἀκόμη φορά ἐκφράζουμε τήν εὐγνωμοσύνη μας στόν Θεό πού μᾶς ὁδηγεῖ στήν ἀφετηρία τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς. Τό δῶρο αὐτό τό ἀναγνωρίζουμε ὡς ἐπέκταση τοῦ χρόνου μας στή Γῆ γιά νά βιώσουμε ἀκόμη μία Τεσσαρακοστή, μία ἀκόμη περίοδο κατά τήν ὁποία πλησιάζουμε ἐγγύτερα τόν Θεό καί τήν ἀπέραντη καί λυτρωτική ἀγάπη Του. Ἀρχίζουμε τήν περίοδο τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς τήν ἡμέρα πού γνωρίζουμε ὡς Καθαρά Δευ­ τέρα, ὀνομασία κατάλληλη ἡ ὁποία συνεπάγεται καθαρότητα πνεύματος, καρδιᾶς καί ψυχῆς. Αὐτή ἡ καθαρότητα εἶναι ὑψίστης σημασίας γιά τήν ἔναρξη τῆς Τεσσαρακοστιανῆς διαδρομῆς μας στήν ὁποία εἰσερχόμεθα μέ ἄγρυπνη προσευ­ χή, νηστεία καί λατρεία οὕτως ὥστε νά προσανατολισθοῦμε δεόντως. Καθ’ ὅλη τήν διάρκεια τῶν σαράντα ἡμερῶν ἐπανεξετάζουμε μέ αὐξημένη προσοχή τίς ἐλλείψεις, τίς ἀδυναμίες, τίς ἀνικανότητές μας νά φανοῦμε ἀντάξιοι τοῦ πλήρους δυναμικοῦ μας ὡς Χριστιανῶν, καθώς καί τίς πολλές ἀποτυχίες μας στό νά ἐκφράσουμε τήν πληρότητα τῆς ἀγάπης μας πρός τόν Θεό καί τόν πλησίον μας. Ἡ περίοδος τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς ἀποτελεῖ, λοιπόν, ἄσκηση προσευχητικῆς μετανοίας. Εἶναι ἄσκηση μεταμελείας. Πρόκειται περί περιόδου κατά τήν ὁποία συνειδητά προσπαθοῦμε νά στρέψουμε τήν καρδιά καί τό νοῦ μας πρός ὅλα ὅσα εἶναι καλά καί ἅγια, στήν ἀληθινή μετάνοια, στήν λυ­ τρωτική μεταμόρφωση τοῦ ἐσωτερικοῦ εἶναι μας. Πρόκειται, δηλαδή, περί εὐκαιρίας ἐπαναπροσεγγίσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ μέσῳ μίας περιόδου παρατεινομένης πνευμ ατικῆς πειθαρχία ς ἤ ἀσκήσεως. Προχωροῦμε μέ τόν τρόπο αὐτό προσδοκῶντας διακαῶς τήν ἀνανέωση τῆς καρδιᾶς μας καί γεμᾶτοι μέ ἕνα πνεῦμα εὐγνωμοσύνης καί χαρᾶς, ἐνθυμούμενοι τήν ἀπέραντη ἀγάπη τοῦ Θεοῦ γιά ὅλους ἐμᾶς, τά παιδιά Του. Ἀναλογιζόμενοι τίς πνευματικές προκλήσεις καί εὐκαιρίες οἱ ὁποῖες μᾶς δίδονται καθ’ὅλη τήν διάρκεια τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς, ξεχωρί­ ζουμε ἰδιαιτέρως τήν ἐξαιρετική περίοδο τῆς Μεγάλης Ἑβδομάδος, ἡ ὁποία, ἐπισήμως, σημειώνει τό τέλος τῆς Τεσσαρακονθήμερης νηστείας. Ἡ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάδα ἀποτελεῖ ἰδιάζουσα περίοδο ἔντονης προσευχῆς καί νηστείας. Ἀντίστοιχα, ἡ προσέγγισή μας στόν Χριστό ἐντείνεται καθώς μᾶς προσφέρονται περισσότερες εὐκαιρίες συμμετοχῆς στά Ἱερά Μυστήρια, στήν Θεία Λειτουργία καί καθώς ἔχουμε τήν δυνατότητα ἐμπειρικῆς βιώσεως τῆς θεραπευτικῆς δυνά­ μεως τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος διά τῆς χρίσεως τοῦ Ἁγίου Ἐλαίου. Κατά τήν διάρκεια τῆς Μεγάλης Ἑβδομάδος, μελετοῦμε τίς ἡμέρες πού ὁδήγησαν στήν προδοσία τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἀπό τόν Ἰούδα Ἰσκαριώτη στόν Κῆπο τῆς Γεσθημανῆς, τήν ἐπακόλουθη σύλληψή Του ἐκεῖ, καί τήν τεράστια ὀδύνη Του κατά τά Ἅγια Πάθη. Συναντοῦμε τόν Χριστό Ἐσταυρωμένο· ἐνθυμούμεθα μέ προσευχητικούς Θρήνους τήν ταφή καί κατάβασή Του στόν Ἅδη. Περισσότερο, ὅμως, δοξάζουμε τήν θρι­ αμβευτική Ἀνάστασή Του, ἡ ὁποία μᾶς περιμένει στό τέλος τῆς Τεσσαρακοστιανῆς διαδρομῆς στήν ὁποία εἰσερχόμεθα σήμερα καί ἡ ὁποία ἀποτελεῖ ζωηρή ὑπενθύμιση τοῦ γεγονότος ὅτι ὁ θάνατος δέν ἔχει ἐξουσία ἐπάνω μας. Προσφιλεῖς μου Χριστιανοί, αὐτή εἶναι ἡ ἐποχή τήν ὁποία ἐγκαινιά­ζουμε σήμερα. Εἶναι ἐποχή θαυμασίων δυνατοτήτων γιά ἀνανέωση. Εἶναι ἐποχή ἐντεινομένης προσπαθείας μεταμορφώσεως τοῦ ἑαυτοῦ μας καί τῆς σχέσεώς μας μέ τόν Θεό, Θεός ὁ Ὁποῖος ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτόν γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θα­ νάτου, θανάτου δέ σταυροῦ (Φιληπ. 2:8). Καθώς ἀναλογιζόμεθα αὐτή τήν πράξη ὑπέρτατης ἀγάπης κατά τήν διάρκεια τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρακοστῆς, προσευχόμεθα ὁλόψυχα νά αὐξάνῃ ταυτόχρονα καί ἡ ἀγάπη μας γιά τόν Ἰησοῦ Χριστό καί ἡ ἀφοσίωσή μας στήν Ἁγία Ἐκκλησία Του. Εἴθε ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ ν’ ἀνθίσῃ στήν καρδιά σας τήν εὐλογημένη αὐτή περίοδο τῆς Τεσσαρακοστῆς.

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

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ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΤΗΡΗΤΗΣ

ΜΑΡΤΙΟΣ 2008

Ο Πρόεδρος της Βουλής των Ελλήνων: “Επίσκεψη χρέους στό λίκνο της Ορθοδοξίας” ôïõ Íéêüëáïõ Ìáããßíá

“Επίσκεψη χρέους στο λίκνο της Ορθοδοξίας” χαρακτήρισε την παρουσία του στο Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο, στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, ο Πρόεδρος της Βουλής των Ελλήνων Δημήτριος Σιούφας, ο οποίος είχε συνάντηση με τον Οικου­ μενικό Πατριάρχη Βαρθολομαίο στις 25 Φεβρουαρίου 2008. Κατά την εγκάρδια συνάντησή τους ο Πατριάρχης καλωσό­ρισε τον Πρόεδρο της Βουλής Δ. Σιούφα λέγοντας ότι: «Και

στο πρόσωπό σας στέλνω τις ευχές, την ευλογίαν και την πολλήν αγάπην της Μητρός Εκκ λησίας της Κωνσταντι­ νουπόλεως εις όλους τους αντιπροσώπους του έθνους εις το Ελ­ληνικόν Κοινοβούλιον και εύχομαι οι αποφάσεις που παίρνετε εκεί να είναι πάντοτε ευλογημένες για το κα λό του Ε λ ληνικού λαού και της Εκκλησίας του, που είναι μαζί πάντοτε, λαός και Εκ­κλησία». Ο Πρόεδρος από την πλευρά του τόνισε ότι: «Παναγιώτατε, προσερχόμεθα με ιδιαίτερη συγκίνηση και σεβασμό εδώ,

στο λίκνο της Ορθοδοξίας για να συναντη­ θούμε μαζί σας και να μας ευλογήσετε. Σας μεταφέρω από όλους τους Βουλευτές και από όλες τις πτέρυγες της Βουλής τον σεβασμό, την αγάπη και την διαβεβαίωση για την διαρκή στήριξη του έργου που επιτελείτε στο Οικουμενικό Πατρι­αρχείο». Στη διάρκεια της εγκάρδιας συζήτησης ο Πρόεδρος της Βουλής προσεκάλεσε τον Πατριάρχη στην Βουλή των Ελλήνων για να ομιλήσει για το θέμα της προστασίας του περιβάλλοντος και για τον Διαθρη­σκειακό Διάλογο που απώτερο

Επίσκεψη Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου Βαρθολομαίου στην Σμύρνη  óåë. 14 Συκῆς ἀνέγνωσε τόν Κατηχητήριον Λόγον τῆς Α. Θ. Παναγιότητος, ἐπί τῇ εἰσόδῳ εἰς τήν Ἁγίαν καί Μεγάλην Τεσσαρακοστήν. Ἐκκλησιάσθησαν ὁ Ἐντιμολ. κ. Παῦλος Βογιατζῆς, ἡ Εὐγεν. κ. Γενική Πρόξενος, ὁμοῦ μετά τῶν στελεχῶν τοῦ ὑπ’ αὐτήν Προξενείου, οἱ Ἐντιμ. κ.κ. Γε­ νικοί Πρόξενοι τῆς Μ. Βρεταννίας καί τῆς Ρουμανίας ἐν Σμύρνῃ, προσκυνηταί ἐκ Μυτιλήνης, πολυμελής ὅμιλος προσκυ­ νητῶν ἐκ τῶν ἐν Λέσβῳ, Χίῳ, Σάμῳ καί ἐν γένει Δωδεκανήσῳ Ἐφοριῶν Προσκόπων, ὡς καί πιστοί ἐκ Σμύρνης, πρός οὕς ὁ Πατριάρχης ὡμίλησε καταλλήλως, εὐχη_ θείς εὐλογημένην παρά Θεοῦ τήν περίο­ δον τῆς Ἁγίας καί Μεγάλης Τεσσαρα_ κοστῆς. Ἐπηκολούθησε δεξίωσις ἐν τῷ περιβόλῳ τοῦ Ναοῦ, ἐν συνεχείᾳ δέ ὁ Πατριάρχης ἐπεσκέφθη τήν ἐν Βρυούλοις (Urla) θερινήν κατοικίαν τοῦ ἀειμνήστου νομπελίστα ποιητοῦ καί διπλωμάτου Γε­ ωργίου Σεφέρη, ἐπιστρέψας εἰς τά ἴδια αὐθημερόν τό ἑσπέρας.

ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΥ ΜΑΓΓΙΝΑ

Ο Παναγιώτατος Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης στον Ιερό Ναό της Αγίας Φωτεινής στη Σμύρνη.

σκοπό έχει την ειρηνική συνύπαρξη των λαών. Στο τέ λο ς τ ης σ υ ναν τ ήσε ως ο Πρόεδρος της Βουλής Δ. Σιούφας δήλωσε τα εξής: «Είχαμε σήμερα την μεγάλη ευλογία και τιμή να συναντηθούμε με τον Παναγιώτατο Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη κ. Βαρθολομαίο. Είναι η πρώτη μου συνάντηση που πραγματοποιώ μαζί του ως Πρόεδρος της Βουλής των Ελλήνων. Η επίσκεψη αυτή είναι επίσκεψη χρέους προς το λίκνο της Ορθοδοξίας. Εκ μέρους όλων των Βουλευτών και όλων των πτερύγων της Βουλής μετέφερα τον σεβασμό, την αναγνώριση, αλλά και την στήριξη στο έργο που επιτελεί ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης κ. Βαρθο­ λομαίος και το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο της Κωνσταντινουπόλεως για την μεγάλη θρησκευτική και όχι μόνον αποστολή. Είμαστε εδώ σήμερα ο ίδιος, ο συν­ άδελφός μου Βουλευτής Ηλίας Καλη­ώρας, ο Γεν. Γραμματέας της Βουλής Νίκος Στεφάνου, ο Πρέσβης της Ελλάδας στην Τουρκία και ο Γεν. Πρόξενος στην Κωνστα­ ντινούπολη, για να πάρουμε δύναμη από τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη και το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο και, κυρίως, να πάρουμε δύναμη από το φως που εκπέμπει το ίδιο το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο». Ο Πρόεδρος της Βουλής μετέβη στην Κωνσταντινούπολη για να μετάσχει στη συνάντηση του Προεδρείου της Κοινο­ βουλευτικής Συνέλευσης του Οργανισμού Παρευξείνιας Συνεργασίας (Ο.Σ.Ε.Π.). Τήν προεδρεία του Ο.Σ.Ε.Π. ασκεί την περίοδο αυτή η Ελλάδα, η οποία θα διοργανώσει έκτακτη συνάντηση της Κοινοβουλευτι­ κής Συνέλευσης Οργανισμού για να εορ­ τάσει τα 15 χρόνια από την ίδρυσή του.

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MARCH 2008

PEOPLE

Zeppos Leads Vanderbilt University Nicholas S. Zeppos, provost and interim chancellor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, was named to the university's top position on March 1 after a sevenmonth national search, the Nashville Tennessean reported.

It marks the first time in 70 years that a chancellor has been named from within the university.

"He's been known here for 21 years," said board Chairman Martha Ingram. "You don't have to run a background check."

Zeppos was selected from a pool of six finalists, said search committee chairman Dennis Bottorff, who did not name any of the other finalists. His selection was unanimous within the search committee as well.

Zeppos helped raise more than $1.25 billion for the school more than two years ahead of schedule. Vanderbilt's endowment now stands at $3.5 billion, the 23rdlargest in the country.

Zeppos, 53, left his constitutional law practice in Washington in 1987 and moved to Nashville with wife, Lydia Ann Howarth, to work as an assistant professor at Vanderbilt Law School. They have two sons During his tenure at Vanderbilt, he has held a number of posts, including professor of law, associate dean of the law school, associate provost for academic affairs, vice chancellor for institutional planning and advancement, and, in 2001, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

In this last role, he oversaw academics, development, alumni relations, and residential and student life.

Zeppos has also written widely on legislation, administrative law, and professional responsibility. He has served as the chair of the Scholars Committee on the Federal Judiciary and as chair of the Rules Advisory Committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Zeppos received both his bachelor of arts and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

HTSF to Honor Pappajohn, Dikopoulos NEW YORK.– The Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund will honor Archon, humanitarian and business leader John Pappajohn and Guiding Light actor Frank Dicopoulos at its 17th Anniversary Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on Saturday, May 10.

The HTSF will also welcome Greek pop singer Christos Dantis, and Grammy nominated group Sister Sledge (“We are Family,” “He’s the Greatest Dancer”), who will perform at the event.

More than 1,500 people are expected to attend as the HTSF awards over $100,000 in scholarships to Greek-American students from across the country. To date, the HTSF has awarded more than $1 million to over 500 students. Scholarship presenters will include actor/singer Constantine Maroulis (who will also reprise his role as guest host of the concert portion of the evening), Fox News anchor Ernie Anastos, CBS News anchor Alexis Christoforous, Fox-5 meteorologist Nick Gregory and Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas.

Big screen presenters will include: CSI:NY star Melina Kanakaredes, television legend Betty White, My Big Fat Greek Wedding star Nia Vardalos, and tennis chanpion Pete Sampras.

Community Provides Much Leadership Nationally n the beginning (of Greek Orthodoxy in Cleveland) was the single parish, Annunciation, located near downtown.

The mother church of Annunciation begat Sts. Constantine and Helen and the other parishes of Greater Cleveland.

Greeks may have come to Ohio’s then largest city as early as 1870 to work in its many factories, steel mills and railroads for $1.50 a day, but it wasn’t until about 1912 that a group of businessmen undertook the effort to establish a church. They traveled to Pittsburgh to obtain assistance from the

I

P A R I S H

nios, funds were raised and groundbreaking took place at its Mayfield Road site in Cleveland Heights on July 4, 1956, with Fr. Geranios and the first parish president, George Chimples, turning the first shovelfuls of dirt.

The new church was completed in time for its first regular service on Christmas Eve 1957. It was consecrated

by Bishop Theodosios of Angon, from Pittsburgh, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 1963.

Nearly 10 years after the completion of the church building, on Sept. 10, 1967, Archbishop Iakovos gave approval for the church to become a separate community. On Dec. 17, he designated Sts.

esan Council member, Bert Moyer, is a former chairman of the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).

He and three other parishioners also established the Metropolitan Committee of the IOCC There also are at least six Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who are parishioners.

Sts. Constantine and Helen has many programs, including Sunday School with an enrollment of 180 students, and Greek school with 25.

“It feels good to see all of these kids in church,” said Fr. Stephen, who is assisted by 28 altar boys divided into

p ro f i l e

Name: Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral Location: Cleveland, Ohio Metropolis: Pittsburgh Size: about 450 families Founded: 1957 Clergy: Fr. Stephen Callos (Holy Cross ‘78) assisted by retired priest Fr. Peter Metallinos e-mail: office@stsconstantine.com Web: www.stsconstantine.com Noteworthy: parishioners’ involvement at all levels of the Church, locally to nationally Greek Orthodox churches there.

Annunciation was established in 1913. However, as more Greek Orthodox Christians settled in the city, there was a need to establish more churches.

Unlike other major cities in the United States where groups of faithful would make a clean break with the original church in the community to establish an independent parish, the articles of incorporation of Annunciation were changed and a new concept, an umbrella organization The American-Hellenic Community of Greater Cleveland was incorporated in 1955, according to “Greek Americans of Cleveland,” a centennial history by Dr. Themistocles Rodis and Manuel P. Vasilakes published in 1994..

For 12 years, it governed all the city’s individual churches and properties that also included St. Demetrios, St. Spyridon (for a brief period until it closed), St. Elias Cemetery, and Sts. Constantine and Helen. One parish council was elected to administer all the properties.

The situation existed until 1967, when the component churches parted amicably with each then functioning independently. “Everything was done in a peaceful way,” said Fr. Callos, the present dean.

Efforts to establish Sts. Constantine and Helen in the eastern suburbs began in the early 1950s, according to a parish history.

Under the leadership of the community’s first pastor, Fr. John G. Gera-

STs CONSTANTINE AND HELEN CATHEDRAL

Constantine and Helen as a cathedral and appointed Fr. Peter Kyriakos as the first official priest.

Since then the parish has grown to become a vibrant presence with numerous ministries for parishioners of all ages.

After a brief stint

by Fr. James Karages, Fr. Robert StephaCLEVELAND nopoulos arrived in September 1974 and served the parish for eight years. He eventually became the dean of Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York. Fr. Robert was no stranger to Cleveland, having spent part of his youth there when his father, the Rev. George Stephanopoulos was pastor of Annunciation Church in the1940s and early ‘50s.

Fr. Callos succeeded him at Sts. Constantine and Helen in 1982 as the parish’s fourth priest, and has since become the community’s longest-serving pastor in his 25 years there.

He noted that the community has a large number of members who have played key roles in the life of the Church, especially nationally.

George Chimples, the parish’s president at its founding, was also a founder of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund. There are currently about 10 members of the community who are in Leadership 100.

Several parishioners have served or currently serve on the Holy Cross-Hellenic College Board of Trustees and on the Archdiocesan Council, including Dr. John Collis, who also organized the local Orthodox Forum adult education program, along with parishioner Irene Theodore. His wife, Helen, is a member of the National Philoptochos Board. Another Archdioc-

teams.

Among the successful ministries, the Philoptochos chapter has a strong outreach to the greater Cleveland community, serving meals at a men’s homeless shelter and ministering to a women’s shelter at Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. The Philoptochos initiated a project with the participation of nine other parishes to send volunteers to a Navajo reservation in the Southwest to establish a day care center.

Parishioners also participate in Project Mexico to aid orphans.

Other organizations include the library committee, St. Makrina Bible Study group, the Koinonia, GOYA and the senior citizens “Sunshine Group” that meets for lunch once a month.

Fr. Stephen noted that an important part of his ministry is “to help people use their talents and give them a lot of encouragement” in their efforts for the church. He is active with the greater pan Orthodox community in the Cleveland area, serving as treasurer of the Cleveland Council of Orthodox Clergy.

Sts. Constantine and Helen is known for its two Hellenic dance groups consisting of about 30 children at the senior and junior levels. They perform at the annual Greek festival, and also are invited to dance at other churches and community events.

Most parishioners are Americanborn, with a large number having ancestry from Chios and Macedonia, especially the Kastoria area, and some Cretans and Samians.

Parish revenue is derived mainly from stewardship and occasional fund-raisers. Currently, the church is undergoing a major remodeling project for its interior.

— Compiled by Jim Golding

18

MARCH 2008

MARCH 2008

For the Orthodox Family...

Preparing for the Feast

19 erly prepare themselves to enter into the Feast. Let us properly prepare ourselves for the Feast of Pascha by making sure we have enough “oil” to make it through. Holy Week is just seven days; set them apart and commit as a family to live your lives radically different for this time.

Give your life completely to God–after all, He gave His life completely for us!

Melissa Tsongranis is the Resource Coordinator for the Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (www. familyaschurch.com). She has worked extensively with very young children and their families for the past 14 years. She can be reached at mtsongranis@goarch.org

From the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

by Melissa Tsongranis

With this preparation [Lent] we are invited to enter the sanctuary of Holy Week, not as spectators, but as participants in the commemoration and enactment of the divine acts that changed the world.

Rev. George Mastrantonis Great Lent is known as a time of preparation–a time when we make ourselves ready to experience the glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As we pass the midpoint of our Lenten journey, we begin to look toward our passage into the most blessed time of all, Holy Week. Set apart from Lent itself, Holy Week begins with the evening service on Palm Sunday (which is actually the Matins of Holy Monday).

It certainly is a most-beautiful and inspiring week, but unfortunately there is often one word that many of us would also use to describe Holy Week–exhausting.

A few years back I had the great blessing of spending Holy Week at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. For one week I was transported out of my daily life and into one of prayer and silence. I worshiped every morning and evening with the community there.

I didn’t have a television and my cell phone use was limited because I was not getting good reception. I didn’t need to cook because I ate my meals in the cafeteria. For one week, I lived very simply and focused on the beauty that is Holy Week.

It was incredible!

But do you want to know what it wasn’t? It wasn’t exhausting! Don’t get me wrong, at night I was tired, but it was a “good” tired–the type that leads to restful sleep and to a refreshed morning. That week I realized that my typical exhaustion during Holy Week had nothing to do with church and everything to do with me not focusing on what is truly important–my journey with Christ.

Holy Week calls us to escort our Lord to His Passion and rejoice with Him in His triumphant Resurrection and nothing should be more important than doing just that.

But we can’t all transport ourselves away from our daily life to experience a peaceful Pascha, nor should we have to. There are steps we can take to help reduce all the distraction that keep us from focusing on God. So, this year let’s try to do things a little different. It is only one week–one very special week. Are you ready? Here are some suggestions to get started: A week or two before Holy Week have the adults in your family sit down with your church’s Holy Week schedule. Decide how your family will be participating in the different services and activities, then write them on your family calendar for all

Greek Orthodox Christians attend the mass of the Holy Light at the Church of Resurrection in Jerusalem.

to see. Once this is done, call your family together to plan for the week by looking at all aspects of your daily life and how you can focus it toward God by setting things aside, preparing, and being still.

Set Aside

We who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity. Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all.

Cherubic Hymn Each Divine Liturgy, we hear the beautiful Cherubic Hymn quoted above.

But how often do we really strive to “set aside the cares of life”? As you begin to plan for Holy Week, discuss things you can set aside.

Consider your typical household tasks, and your typical weekly running around. Are they really necessary? If you can, postpone them and move them to your to-do list for another time. Consider canceling piano lessons, ballet, baseball and other extra-curricular activities for this week–missing one week will not matter in the grand scheme of life.

There are other things you need to eliminate as well–jealousy, anger, gossip, etc.–there is no time for these things this week. Actually, working to rid yourself of these permanently would be even better, but for now let’s start with this week.

Through setting aside all nonessential tasks and irreverence, we have some time to fill–fill it by glorifying God!

Prepare

If you would prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward Him; Job 11:13 Now you can’t eliminate everything–you will have certain tasks to do.

This is where strategic planning comes in.

Anything you can do before Holy Week, you should do.

Set a family workday to prepare for Holy Week, perhaps between the Saturday of Lazarus morning service and the evening vespers. Clean the house, wash and iron the clothes, and do all your cooking for the week.

Make a list of things that despite your family’s workday will still need attention during the week. Divide up the tasks and allot the proper time to complete them during the week. Remember you need to keep things simple! Make a big pot of beans and rice (yes, you can eat it

several nights in a row), pre-make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and lay out everyone’s clothes for the week.

With the time saved you can prepare yourself and your family for church. Learn about the different days of Holy Week and what we commemorate on each day (a good source for information on this is www.goarch.org).

Look at the service ahead of time and review how it will progress. Discuss this with your children so that they can know what to expect and what to listen and look for. Learn a hymn for the upcoming service so that you can sing along.

Again, keep it simple; inspire their hearts to worship, but don’t bombard your children with a detailed analysis of each service and its significance in Holy Week.

Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Psalm 46:10 Be still and listen to God. Turn off the television. Turn off the radio (or turn on church music). If you can, disconnect completely from your cell phone and email. If you can not do this because of necessity, designate certain times of the day when both are off limits (perhaps from the time you get home from work until you leave the next morning).

Create a quiet time when your family refrains from talking unless there is an emergency. For children, make sure they have something to help them focus their attention on God during this quiet time through prayer, reading, writing, or even drawing a picture.

Are You Ready?

If the President of the United States was coming to stay at your house for a week, you would likely turn your schedules upside down for him/her. Doesn’t our Lord deserve much more than that courtesy? Take yourself out of the world just for one week–it will still be waiting for you when you come back.

On Holy Tuesday, we commemorate the Parable of the Ten Virgins awaiting their bridegroom. As the parable goes, all of the women took lamps with them to meet the bridegroom but only five brought extra oil with them so that their lamps wouldn’t extinguish.

These women took the time to prop-

If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.

If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast.

If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.

If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.

And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts. And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second.

You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast.

The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away…O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns.

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.

For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.

Amen.

FAMILY ACTIVITY CORNER

Diana’s Pascha Story Cookies Here is a fun and educational activity for all to do early on Holy Saturday evening–perhaps right before your family takes a nap to prepare for the Resurrection service. These cookies will help your children learn about Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. After you return from the Resurrection service, you are in for a special surprise when you open the oven. For a recipe and teaching instructions, visit www. phyllisonest.com. You will find the recipe in “Resources” section under the “Lenten and Pascha Resources”. Enjoy!

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MARCH 2008

San Francisco Assembly Draws Record Attendance  page 1  and Holy Communion.

Quoting the Greek author Christos Yiannaris, Metropolitan Kallistos observed that “Personal existence must be anchored in the local parish.”

However, he added that a parish is not in isolation from its diocese, and the celebration of the Eucharist is under the direct authority of the local bishop. To improve the Eucharistic witness in a parish, Metropolitan Kallistos made several suggestions including encouragement of frequent communion, congregational participation in singing the hymns and responses, the priest offering the “silent” prayers out loud, and restoration of the exchange of the Kiss of Peace among the entire congregation, not just by the celebrating clergy.

In his opening remarks, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco used the concept popular in current political campaigns of “change.” Metropolitan Gerasimos reported that many positive changes are taking place in the Metropolis. He announced that the Metropolis of San Francisco exceeded its expectation and remitted over $1.7 million in parish contributions for the new Total Commitment program to the Archdiocese.

A new Metropolis website (www. sanfran.goarch.org) was launched in the fall of 2007 in an effort to improve and increase communication regarding the ministries, as well as spread information on our Orthodox faith.

The Family Wellness ministry is beginning to take shape, with some preliminary programs having been offered in 2007 to support clergy and their families. Expanded programming for parishes to include marriage enrichment programs, grief and bereavement counseling, and cancer support groups will be formulated in the coming year to supplement programs already being provided by our parishes.

Finally, Metropolitan Gerasimos stated that the Metropolis needs to have its own Administrative headquarters as do most of the other metropolises of the Archdiocese. The house in San Francisco, which doubles as both a residence and the administrative offices, is no longer adequate to serve the many programs of the Metropolis.

Fanis Economidis, vice president of the Metropolis Council, also commented on the fulfillment of the Total Commitment program to the Archdiocese, especially since 25 percent of our contributions are remitted back to support the operational needs of the Metropolis.

Mr. Economidis noted the aggressive renovation plan St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center, which has historically been one of the leading ministries in the Metropolis of San Francisco.

He also discussed the distribution of the proceeds from a land sale in 2007 which has helped to substantially reduce debt previously carried by the Metropolis. Through the exhaustive efforts of the Legal Committee, the Metropolis of San Francisco now has its own 501c3 tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.

During the plenary session, delegates approved a 2008 Metropolis budget of over $800,000. Funding support is included for youth programs, religious education, Greek Education, public relations, and stewardship de-

Photo courtesy of Kristen Bruskas

Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia with Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco at the 2008 Clergy Laity Assembly.

velopment.

Reelected to two year terms on the Archdiocesan Council were Fr. Jon Magoulias (Annunciation – Modesto, Calif.), Dr. James Kallins (St. George – Downey, Calif.), and Mrs. Catherine Lingas (Holy Trinity Cathedral – Portland, Oregon).

Clergy elected to two-year terms on the Metropolis Council were: Frs. John Asimacopoulos (St. Nicholas – San Jose, Calif.), Tom Avramis (Trinity Children’s Foundation – Colton, Calif.), John Bakas (St. Sophia Cathedral – Los Angeles), Andrew Barakos (Assumption – Scottsdale, Ariz.), Theodore Dorrance (St. John the Baptist – Beaverton, Oregon), Gary Kyriacou (St. Demetrios – Camarillo, Calif.), James Retelas (Annunciation – Sacramento, Calif.), Peter Salmas (Holy Cross – Belmont, Calif.).

Lay representatives elected to serve two-year terms were: John Buzas (St. Anthony – Pasadena, Calif.), Catherine Lin-

gas (Holy Trinity Cathedral – Portland, Oregon), Steve Pappas (St. Anthony – Pasadena, Calif.), George Psihogios (Holy Trinity Cathedral – Portland, Oregon), Jeannie Ranglas (Sts. Constantine and Helen, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif.), Tony Saris (Nativity of Christ – Novato, Calif.), Paul Sogotis (Annunciation Cathedral – San Francisco), and Eve Tibbs (St. Paul – Irvine, Calif.).

The Assembly adopted two resolutions proposing changes to the Archdiocese Regulations, one adding the Legal Committee to the Standing Committees of the Archdiocesan Council, and the other requiring parishes to incorporate with a uniform name “(name) Greek Orthodox Church/ (Cathedral) of (locality).” Both will be forwarded for consideration at the Archdiocese Clergy-Laity Congress in July.

Alexei Krindatch of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley, Calif., briefed the delegates

on his recent research of the Metropolis clergy entitled: “Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco at the Beginning of a New Millennium” This survey was divided into six major areas, and includes information on family ministries and family issues in the parishes, worship practices, financial stability and pastoral experiences of the surveyed clergy. The data from this survey will help identify the areas in which further training and ministry development are necessary for our parishes.

Reports on the various ministries of the Metropolis were forward to all delegates in advance of the Assembly by email, and binders containing the reports were provided at registration.

A special guest at the Assembly was The Honorable Xenia Stefanidou, Consul General of Greece in San Francisco, who received congratulations on her recent promotion to the rank of ambassador.

Three educational workshops were presented for the delegates, for the “Feeding of the Mind, Body, and Soul.”

Elenie Huszagh, Esq. presented “Leadership in Parish Life: How the Structure of the Orthodox Church Assists in Effective Leadership.”

Another workshop on “Enjoying Good Health, Serving Your Parish and Experiencing Weight Loss – What Do These Have in Common” was presented

by Yannis Kepesidis.

The third session on “The Runaway Soul: Getting Back on Track Towards God’s Kingdom” was presented by Fr. Athanasios Tsagalakis.

Vespers, Orthros and Divine Liturgy were celebrated by Bishop Anthimos, assisted by clergy of the Metropolis, in the church of the Monastery of the Theotokos of the Life Giving Spring which is adjacent to the Ranch.

Following the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Gerasimos led the clergy and faithful in a three-year memorial service for Metropolitan Anthony, of blessed memory, who is buried behind the church.

Photo courtesy of Christ J. Kamages

Metropolitan Gerasimos (center) leads a graveside Trisagion prayer service for Metropolitan Anthony, of blessed memory. (L-R) Father Christopher Flesoras (St. Anna – Roseville, Calif.), Bishop Anthimos of Olympos, Metropolitan Gerasimos, Father John Bakas (St. Sophia Cathedral – Los Angeles), Father Paul Schroeder (Holy Trinity Cathedral – Portland, Oregon).

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MARCH 2008

Workshops, Conferences and Presentations Highlight Chicago Clergy-Laity Conference ď ľ page 1 ď ľ of encouragement from Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago that set the theme that echoed throughout the Conference.

The powerful words as recited in Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God and walk with love, and worthy of the calling with which you were called.�

In addition, the attendees were fortunate to hear a most talented speaker from Atlanta, William Marianes who offered his presentation of “The Eagle, The Ant, The Eighth Day And You.�

Jerry Dimitriou, executve director of the Archdiocese, addressed the attendees with the “State of the Archdiocese.

Additional workshops were offered throughout the conference that made for a full and informative event.

Also during the course of the conference, the Clergy Syndesmos met under the leadership of Father John Kalomas and the Metropolis Philoptochos Board under Joanne Stavrakas’ leadership to discuss issues of importance.

St. Nectarios parish of Palatine was honored to host the annual celebration of its patron saint at the Clergy-Laity, as well as host the grand banquet.

Fr. Peter G. Balkas, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and parish council President Gus M. Pablecas, Committee Chairman Christine Voutirtsas, members of the St. Nectarios

Philoptochos Society and many of the faithful from the community led the parish in organizing the Clergy Laity Conference and the celebration of St. Nectarios at the Grand Banquet.

One of the most moving presentations of the church's charitable works was given by Fr. Nick Kasemeotes of Holy Anargyroi Church of Rochester, Minn. on the parish's Philoxenia and St. Iakovos Family Support Houses.

Located next to the church, and within walking distance of the Mayo Clinic, the Philoxenia and St. Iakovos Houses provide a physical home and spiritual support to families under financial duress due to the illness and hospitalization of a family member.

The houses' locations, so proximate to the church and hospital, make them an ideal place for families to stay closeat-hand to their loved ones in need of special care and attention.

Carrying through the exciting news of the last Clergy-Laity (i.e., the purchase of land in Wisconsin for the longanticipated St. Iakovos Retreat Center) a booth highlighting the plans for, development of, and facilities available through the St. Iakovos Retreat Center was open throughout the meeting.

A NEW BROCHURE

A new brochure detailing all the aspects of this special place was distributed to all attending the Clergy–Laity and is available to anyone interested through the Chicago Metropolis of-

Metropolitan Iakovos with members of the Ladies Philoptochos Society.

fices. The consensus of those attending the meeting was that it was a highly successful event, providing both practical insight into the ongoing activities of the Metropolis and a wonderful opportunity for fellowship in the Faith.

From this experience both clergy and laity are looking forward to the next Clergy-Laity meeting in 2009.

Metropolis Clergy-Laity attendees Bill Vranas, Gus Pablecas, Fred Chapekis, Â George Vourvoulias, John Galanis, Nick Kirkeles.

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MARCH 2008

Direct Archdiocesan District Assembly Meets  page 1  world,” said the Archbishop. “This is our responsibility, only much, much bigger.”

He continued, “We have to increase our work as much as possible, as best as possible,” the Archbishop said, “responding to this general commission to reach out to the unchurched.”

Noting that statistics indicate there are more than 60 million unchurched in this country, some 78 percent have said they would be willing to listen to the Christian message.

His Eminence added that, while the Greek Orthodox in this country have achieved a high standard of educational and economic success, their support of the Church is not as high as some Protestant groups having far few numbers and lower incomes.

But he cited the generous response of Greek Orthodox Christians for the fire relief efforts in Greece since last August, with some communities sending more than $30,000, the young people of one community giving $10,000, and the continuing efforts of the Philoptochos and Leadership 100 in their support of the Church.

At another point during the assembly, the Archbishop suggested to the delegates that the theme of the upcoming Clergy Laity Congress in Washington “should be determined by the needs” of reaching out to the unchurched “of more than 60 million who are looking for a church.”

He added, “There is a need to address this situation. Every human being is a relative of Christ; we have a duty to invite representatives of Christ. Topics should be related to this theme; bringing all levels of unchurched to the home of Orthodoxy, our Church.”

Healthy financial picture

In a general report on day two, Executive Director of the Archdiocese Jerry Dimitriou told the gathering that “2007 was an exceptional year for Archdiocese,” with the largest single increase (in revenue) in the history of the Archdiocese.”

He said that another first has been the

Workshops and committees

Following the opening session on March 3, delegates broke into groups to attend workshops on Digital Tools for parish ministry, Outreach and Evangelism, Protecting Against Sexual Misconduct and parish fund raising.

Committee meetings included Family and Youth Ministries, Greek Education, Outreach and Evangelism, Religious Education and Stewardship.

Reports presented included the following:

Archbishop Demetrios and Archdiocese officials during a light-hearted moment at the assembly.

achievement by three metropolises – Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco – of 100 percent of their financial commitment.

“The new system (which had been put in place at the Nashville Clergy-Laity Congress) is beginning to work.”

Mr. Dimitriou also said there has been “an unprecedented increase in unrestricted contributions” to the Archdiocese. Unrestricted contributions were $5.78 million, an increase of $3.71 million over 2006 Revenue exceeded the $20 million mark, resulting in a net surplus of $2.9 million. Total revenue was $23,577,719.

The Archdiocese debt has been reduced drastically, from a high of $9.9 million in 2004 to $2.7 million now, the executive director noted. “We hope to go down to zero by end of this year,” Mr. Dimitriou said.

Other revenue sources for 2007 included Leadership 100 grants of $627,400 and the Faith Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism grant for $500,000, which was used to fund various National Ministries projects.

Camping successes

He went on to paint a glowing picture of the Church’s camping programs, with last year’s enrollment at Ionian Village the highest since 2001, with 250 children. It is the third highest total since 1994.

“Every program is exploding,” he said.

“The camps are full and every metropolis has a permanent camp site.” He said the Direct Archdiocese District also needs a permanent camp site. “We need to get into this camping mode.”

He noted that Ionian Village, in existence for 37 years, needs a renovation program. The renovations, estimated to cost between $6-10 million, will begin after this year’s program and will be done in several phases.

Clergy-Laity Congress

Mr. Dimitriou reminded delegates of the July 13-18 national Clergy–Laity Congress in Washington. Registration packets have been sent to parishes of the Archdiocese. The Congress site will be the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

District Council

Election Results

The following laypersons won election to the Direct Archdiocesan District Council.

Their term will begin following the Clergy-Laity Congress in July.

They are: Nicholas Andriotis, St. Demetrios Cathedral, Astoria, N.Y.; Anthony Brigis, Resurrection Church, Brookville, N.Y.; Stella Capiris, Holy Trinity Church, Bridgeport, Conn.; Stephen Cherpelis, Holy Trinity Cathedral, New York; St. Nicholas Church, Flushing, N.Y.; Dr. Constantine Flokas, Prophet Elias, Yonkers, N.Y.; William Kallinikos, St. Paul Cathedral, Hempstead, N.Y.; George Mourizakis, Holy Trinity Church, Bridgeport; Harry Raptakis, St. Paul Cathedral, Hempstead.

Clergy members elected to the Council were: Fr. Nicholas Anctil, Holy Trinity Church, New Rochelle, N.Y.; Fr. Frank Marangos, Holy Trinity Cathedral, N.Y.; Fr. Luke Melackrinos, St. Paul, Hempstead; Fr. James Moskovites, Annunciation Church, New York; Fr. Peter Orfanakos, St. Barbara Church, Orange, Conn.; Fr. Demetrios Recachinas, Holy Trinity, Bridgeport; Fr. Dennis Strouzas, Archangel Michael Church, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.; and Fr. Elias Villis, Church of Our Savior, Rye, N.Y.

An attentive audience listens to a presentation during one of the plenary sessions at the Holy Trinity Church hall.

Fr. James Kordaris leads a workshop on Outreach and Evangelism.

D. PANAGOS

St. Michael’s Home: Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, the director, reported that for the past five years St. Michael’s has operated at full capacity and efforts are under way to expand the facility and the level of care so that residents are not forced to move when they no longer can function on their own.

The Home will mark its 50th anniversary this year since its founding by Archbishop Michael in May 1958. Archbishop Demetrios commented that the residents “live in a magnificent, beautiful environment, then they have to be transferred outside when reach a point of dying.”

He called it “cruel” for them “to go to a neutral situation.”

Bishop Andonios stated that people have a misconception of St. Michael’s as a New York institution, but it is an institution of the Archdiocese with residents from various parts of the country.

Holy Cross School of Theology: School President Fr Nicholas Triantafilou stated that “Holy Cross–Hellenic College “is as viable now as at any time before and the faculty of our school is equal to that of any other college.”

He noted that the school has a high number of “second career people” with the average age of about 34. This includes 36 couples living in the married student housing who have 60 children, which provides the opportunity for a family ministry.

Fr. Triantafilou said a popular course at Holy Cross is Management and Leadership. “Every person who becomes a priest should have courses in management and leadership,” he said.

A four-year Greek language program has been developed to greatly improve students’ proficiency.

He noted that among the upcoming events at the school are the National Altar Boys’ Retreat and the National Philoptochos Board meeting.

Over the years the school has received strong financial aid from Philoptochos and, most recently from Leadership 100, which has pledged $250,000 a year over the next five years for the scholarship program and $1 million for information technology.

Greek Education: Maria Makedon, director of the Direct Archdiocesan District Office of Greek Education, has held regular meetings with principals of the New York parochial schools.

Her office has been helping the 10 NYC schools benefit from the federal government’s “No Child Left Behind Act.” One school, Soterios Ellenas of Kimisis tis Theotokou Church in Brooklyn, ceased to exist as a parochial school in 2007 and has been transformed into the Hellenic Classical Charter School, with an enrollment of 220 students.

Less than 40 percent are of Greek descent. S. Ellenas continues to operate as a nursery school.

Mrs. Makedon also holds the annual staff development seminar for teachers in collaboration with the St. John’s University School of Education/Department of Literacy. Her office also conducts the annual Spelling Bee for students of the parochial schools.

23

MARCH 2008

Bible InsightS The High Cost of Forgiveness

by Fr. William Gaines

“Father, forgive them …”

(Luke 23:34) Forgiveness costs a reversal of our instinctive inclinations. Our instinct to retaliate is as deep as our instinct for selfpreservation.

Jesus on the Cross confronts us with a greatness that forgives the worst that men could do. To forgive costs a heroic control of the fierce instinct of self-defense.

Forgiveness costs a faith whose heights we find high to attain because forgiveness means the maintenance of one’s personal faith in a person who has betrayed it.

Forgiveness costs courage. It means exposing yourself open-eyed to further hurt.

The way of forgiveness is the way of redemption. It is the law of the life of redemption that Jesus lays down in inexorable terms (Matt. 6:14-15).

The secret of Jesus’ demand lies in the

fact that forgiveness is the only successful way of finally overcoming evil.

Forgiveness admits an enemy again to fellowship and friendship that alone have the power to heal and to convert.

The Cross of Christ proclaims a God who sees within us something worth His forgiveness.

We need to thank God that He sees in us more than the stupid things we do every day, the things of whose cruelty and thoughtlessness we are not even aware.

We need to thank God that He sees in us more than the things of which we are ashamed, the hard things and the loveless things and the cowardly things we would conceal from those who know us best.

We need to thank God for those who, with Him, believe that we are more than our mistakes and sins and who keep on believing that our better self is our real self.

We need to thank God for His forgiveness that holds us and is our deepest need.

Sunday of Orthodoxy

by Fr. William Gaines

The first Sunday of the great fast in our church is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy. It is a day when we take a long and deep look at our Christian faith.

It is obvious to all that we live in a day of tremendous change. Life today is vastly different from what it was 50 years ago.

Today, everything changes rapidly.

But in all this world of change, there is one thing that has not changed, the beliefs of the Christian Orthodox Church.

Orthodoxy is one and the same today as it was a hundred and a thousand years ago.

On this day, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we are proud to raise our heads and to proclaim to the world of change that we hold the unchanged Christian faith, that we belong to the Mother of all Christian Churches.

A three-fold obligation the first Sunday of Lent

First, we must remind ourselves of the religious heritage that is ours. In the ninth century, the Church proclaimed that this Sunday is to be observed in commemoration of the triumph of Orthodoxy over all heresies.

We live in a land of many religions.

Among them is our own, the faith of Christianity, the faith of the Apostles, the faith of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, the faith of the undivided Christian Church.

We can trace our religious heritage back through the ages, back to the first Church, back to the Lord Himself.

Second, we should give honor today to those through the centuries past who

have lived, sacrificed and died for God’s Church.

To make us inheritors of this rich spiritual heritage, a great deal of love and labor were expended. We can say that the history of the Christian Church is written in “red,” to signify the sacrifices and sufferings of Christ, martyrs, saints and believers of ages gone, who have passed on this faith of ours until it has reached our hearts.

Third, on this day of Orthodoxy, we must rededicate ourselves to Christ and to the Orthodox Christian Church. It is not enough for us to glory in the past; we have the present to consider, and the future to be concerned about.

The finest way to do this is to heed the invitation of our Lord, “Come and follow Me” and come and live like Me. Our Lord extended this call to Philip but, in truth, it is extended to every Orthodox Christian of every age.

Christianity involves a way of living and, in fact, in ancient times it was simply called “The Way.” Today, as we approach the Sunday of Orthodoxy let us proclaim that we belong to the best of all denominations, and let us not forget there also is an Orthodox way of life, one that glorifies Christ, and it is our task to live that life.

May we, then, today be fully aware of our religious treasure and faith of Orthodoxy, and may we honor the memory of those who have handed down this heritage to us. And may we solemnly rededicate ourselves to believe in Christ and serve Him faithfully with Christian love as we promised the day we were baptized into God’s family, our Holy Church.

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New Jersey FDF Enthusiastic participants from throughout the Metropolis of N.J. are shown with Metropolitan Evangelos at the recent 13th Annual Greek Folk Dance Festival held at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Annapolis, Md. Best in Show was awarded to the Demetrakia I Dance Troupe of St. Demetrios Church in Baltimore in Division 1 and to the Junior Aegean Odyssey Dancers Dance Troupe of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Annapolis in Division 2.

Leadership 100 Grant Helps Church to Rise SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – At the start of 2002, the small Greek Orthodox Mission of St. Andrew the Apostle in San Luis Obispo had no church building and no full time priest, but tremendous faith.

A Leadership 100 grant together with the sacrifices of parishioners allowed them to move into a chapel converted from a small house and secure a full-time priest.

Almost six years later, on the feast of their patron saint, St. Andrew the Apostle, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco observed the rise of Orthodoxy on the Central Coast of California by saying a “miracle” had occurred in our midst!

2002 marked a turning point as the mission parish received its first Leadership 100 grant which, together with the deep faith and hard-work of the parishioners, provided the community a consistent home and a dedicated shepherd.

The continued support of Leadership

100 allowed them to grow little by little: A local Orthodox Christian Fellowship was begun to serve the numerous Greek college students at California State Polytechnic University a few blocks away and today nearly one-quarter of the parish consists of students.

By the end of 2005, the community and its small chapel were bursting nearly every Sunday and there were still no facilities for fellowship or religious education.

With great faith, the community purchased a Unitarian church a block away.

It was the fulfillment of a dream as now there was an Orthodox Education center with Sunday school rooms, a nursery, fellowship hall, an office for the priest, and space to grow.

After acquiring the building, the parish council contacted the internationally known architect of Orthodox ecclesiastical buildings, Steven Papadatos, to design a

new Orthodox landmark on California’s Central Coast.

Mr. Papadatos has designed Orthodox Cathedral in Albania, restored an ancient Russian Cathedral, restored the historic St. Constantine and Helen church in Brooklyn, and designed the first Orthodox cathedral in South America.

The interactions of the community with Mr. Papadatos have been inspiring.

He has not just designed a building but created a living icon of the encounter between heaven and earth that underlies our Orthodox liturgical life.

On the east end of a building, a new apse will house the altar.

Above the sanctuary will be a blue dome that links us to the heavens and will spill light into the room. Outside will be a wall with seven blue squares filled with crosses, representing the seven sacraments of our church.

Braintree, Mass. Church to Celebrate Thyranoixia

by Peter Crist

BRAINTREE, Mass. – St. Catherine Church, formerly located in Quincy, has completed its new Byzantine inspired house of worship and its door-opening service (Thyranoixia) will take place March 29-30.

Metropolitan Methodios will preside over the celebration. According to the parish priest, Fr. Alkiviadis Calivas, this church will be “a beacon of Orthodoxy at the Gateway to the South Shore.”

St. Catherine’s roots date back to 1958 when community members organized the “South Shore Hellenic Association” to pursue the establishment of a new parish in Quincy. Starting in October 1960 the parish, named after the great martyr, Catherine of Alexandria, occupied their first site at Beale and Farrington Streets in Quincy.

While sufficient in the beginning, growth in the body of believers made the need for a new facility ever more pressing and, in 2001, the parish engaged architect Christ J. Kamages, AIA to design a comprehensive masterplan, which included a church and a new center for parish life on the 7.5 acre former Pappas farm in nearby Braintree Mr. Kamages, principal of CJK Design Group, adds, “Working together with this wonderful community has been an honor and blessing.” With the completion of Phase I of their master plan on Oct. 9, 2004, the parish moved from its original site into their new center. For the past four years, the parish has celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the community hall that has been serving as an interim sanctuary.

Fr. Alkiviadis, Arthur Sakellaris, Demetrios Seremetis and the parish building committee, under the guidance of Metro-

The most notable feature will be a new narthex, topped by a bell tower and lighted cross.

Inside, the narthex will have four niches, one for each of our evangelists.

Outside facing the street, there will be a plaza upon which each year we as a community will pronounce the Risen Christ each Pascha night.

Behind us will be a stain glass image of the church’s patron St. Andrew.

Metropolitan Gerasimos visited the community this year not only to celebrate the community’s growth but also to support the ambitious building project and corresponding $2 million capital campaign inspired by the words said by Jesus to their patron saint, “Come, follow me.”

The community has raised more than $750,000 toward that goal.

The church anticipates support coming from all of the country as people hear about the inspiring story of this small community and the unique opportunity to create such a lasting landmark to Orthodoxy.

Southampton Kimisis Church Holds Fundraiser

by Catherine Tsounis

politan Methodios, have worked with CJK Design Group of San Francisco and the builder, Murray Glazer of Glacon Construction, to bring to completion Phase II of the master plan that calls for the construction of the impressive brick and copper Orthodox church.

The Masterplan Vision encompasses the completed community hall and plans for the addition of a great hall suitable for large banquets and other gatherings and a social, recreational and education complex.

These multi-purpose buildings will provide a place where parishioners and community members can gather to participate in classes, play a game of basketball, attend a bible study or host a crab feed.

The parish, together with the Metropolitan and area clergy, will gather at 6 p.m. on March 29 for the ceremony, including a procession and prayers, followed by a reception at the Community Hall.

The first Divine Liturgy will be observed the following Sunday, March 30.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church Philoptochos held a fund-raiser in support of the local hospital on the East End of Long Island on March 2.

“We must all work together and administer to the needs of the East End by supporting Southampton Hospital,” said Fr. Alexander Karloutsos.

“The proceeds of our Philoptohos Apokreatiko (Pre-Lenten) Luncheon will be donated to the Hamptons Health Society to benefit Southampton Hospital.”

Among those attending were Robert S. Chaloner, president and CEO of Southampton Hospital; Robert I. Ross, director of Community Relations and assistant to the president of Southampton Hospital and community leaders.

Fr. Karloutsos described the outstanding role of Dr. Peter Michalos in furthering the expansion of Kimisis Church and East End health care. “Dr. Michalos is a trusted friend,” he said. “I am honored to have him in our parish.

Dr. Peter Michalos added that “the community of Kimisis Tis Theotokou Church has aided Southampton Hospital in creating an X-Ray Trauma room.” Southampton CEO Robert Chaloner pledged to “personally aid the Greek-American community in all its needs.” The overwhelming support for the Hamptons Health Society on behalf of Southampton Hospital was inspired by Dr. Michalos.

For more information, visit www. hamptonshealthsociety.org.

26

MARCH 2008

Metropolis of San Francisco Holds Folk Dance and Choral Festival

by Kristen Bruskas

ONTARIO, Calif. – Nearly 1,500 dancers from 100 dance groups participated in the 32nd Annual Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF) Feb. 14–17.

This weekend event included not only with dancing and singing, but social activities, fellowship, workshops and worship.

The FDF ministry has grown into one of the largest youth gatherings in the Archdiocese. The level of skill and intricacy of the dances, music, costumes and every aspect of the performance is an amazing sight to behold and is a genuine expression of the love and pride for our Hellenic culture.

Planning this year’s FDF was the management team under the guidance and direction of Board of Trustees CoChairs V. Rev. John Constantine and Fr. Gary Kyriacou. Patty Diamond-Ladas served as managing director, assisted by Director of Operations Yianni Valsamis.

They were joined by 15 other young adults who coordinated every aspect of FDF from registration, hospitality, social events, publicity, and logistics.

The scripture passage, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34) served as the basis for this year’s FDF theme: “Pirates of the Aegean – What do you treasure?”

It was incorporated into events and activities throughout the weekend. “Orthodox Challenge Session” workshops were coordinated by the Metropolis Youth and Family Ministries department and were offered throughout the weekend.

Topics included: Escape the i-LAND: Surviving the Ups and Downs of Friendships; XC marks the Spot: The Map to Happiness; “Hand in Hand into the Kingdom - Letting Dance Bring You Closer to God;” and “I Want to Lead!” What it means at the front of the line.”

Though dance and singing were the main focuses of the weekend, there were many other offerings for dancers and spectators alike. The main corridor included an exhibit area with vendors as well as ministries such as the Metropolis of San Francisco Youth Office, Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, and the Ionian Village. The cafe area included “Greek frappe” and “tost.” A backgammon tournament was held, and Greek movies were available for viewing.

For the young (and young at heart) there was a carnival complete with pinball ma-

The Akrites from St. Demetrios, Seattle, took first place in the advanced senior division

chines, video games, inflatable bouncers, and a rock-climbing wall.

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Feb. 17 was celebrated by Archbishop Demetrios. Also present were: Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Metropolitan Nikitas of Dardanelles, and Bishop Anthimos of Olympos. Members of various Metropolis youth choirs, under the direction of Presbytera Maria Hondros from St. John the Baptist (Las Vegas), sang the hymns and responses for the Liturgy. They were accompanied on the organ by 16-year old Christopher Vezzuto from St. Katherine (Redondo Beach, Calif.).

At the Grand Banquet, Metropolitan Gerasimos stated, “It is an amazing thing to see the young people of this Metropolis (and beyond) dance and sing, celebrating in action our rich Hellenic Heritage.

It is an uplifting thing to celebrate Divine Liturgy and to pray with so many of you, actualizing our rich heritage or Orthodox Christian faith. Our treasures of culture and faith are rich and vital; to lose them would be a tragedy and to cultivate them is a blessing.” The Metropolitan also encouraged the dancers by saying, “Just as you dedicate yourselves to excellence in dance and song, dedicate yourselves to excellence in prayer and good works.”

Members of the Orenei and Oreneiopoula dance groups from Prophet Elias (San Bernardino, Calif.) with their priest, Fr. Timothy Pavlatos.

Archbishop Demetrios, in his archpastoral message at the banquet remarked that FDF is a “flagship” youth and cultural ministry in our Archdiocese and commended the leaders and participants for their exhaustive efforts in planning such an enormous event. The Archbishop was clearly moved by the exceptional quality of the performances and commented repeatedly on the joy and satisfaction he felt as he witnessed thousands of youth sharing their heritage and faith through music and dance.

Also in attendance at FDF were: Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles Dimitris Caramitsos-Tziras, Consul General of Greece San Francisco Xenia Stefanidou, and Interim Executive Director of Leadership 100 Ms. Paulette Poulos.

Beginner group

The youngest dancers, entered in “Division III”, are non-competing groups which performed on Saturday afternoon.

This exhibition-only designation is used as a training ground to prepare younger dancers as they aspire to compete in future years’ events. More than 150 dancers from ages 4 to 6 participated in this division. At the conclusion of their performances, all the young dancers remained on stage with Metropolitan Gerasimos and he led them in a tradi-

tional Kalamatiano.

Following the final round of competition on Sunday afternoon, the dance group “Tou Timiou Stavrou,” performed a suite of dances for a packed convention center.

These dancers are all students at Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology. Throughout the weekend, they were ambassadors for the School, and assisted at the daily Orthros and Vespers services.

Each year, the participation of a dance group from the school is generously underwritten by the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos.

The highest honors for the weekend, the Sweepstakes Awards, went to: Division I: St. Katherine Choral Group (Redondo Beach, Calif.) Neo Kyma Dance Group from Annunciation (Sacramento, Calif.) Division II: Dynami Choir (Annunciation, Modesto, Calif.) Olympians Dance Group (Assumption, Long Beach, Calif.)

The 2009 FDF will be held President’s Day Weekend, Feb.12-15 in Ontario, Calif. Dance and Choral groups from throughout the Archdiocese are invited and encouraged to participate.

For more information, contact Fr. Gary Kyriacou at 805-482-1273.

Members of the St. John the Baptist (Las Vegas) Youth Choir with Metropolitan Gerasimos. They performed several during the Youth Choir competition including: Episiheri, an excerpt from Paraklesis, and the hymn of their Church, Mnimi Dikeou. This youth choir served as the core group singing the hymns and responses for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, and took second place in the Division II Choral Competition.

MARCH 2008

Challenge What’s Up Being a Role Model?

YOUTH MINISTRY

27

e-mail: youthoffice@goarch.org

to be good role models regardless of our age. Through our example, we will save ourselves as well as those witnessing our actions.

WITH

Now what?

Are you convinced you are indeed a role model? Do you understand what a role model is? The next step is to accept St. Paul’s challenge: preach the gospel without saying a word by being Christ-like.

Remember, we are being watched, not only by our peers, but by Christ Himself.

Accept this responsibility, and answer it by emulating the one perfect human to ever walk this earth. Live by example, and not just by word.

by Deacon Jason Roll

Someone is watching you. Someone is taking notice to everything you are doing, and saying. I’m not talking about being watched in a “big brother” sort of way, but more by someone who looks up to you. It could be a friend, a family member, or both. It could be a classmate or a teacher you encounter every day. Why are they watching you? Because you are a role model.

Deacon Jason Roll is currently in his third year at Holy Cross School of Theology. He has more than 18 years of experience with Orthodox Youth, most recently serving as assistant program director to Ionian Village, and newly appointed program director of St. Nicholas Ranch in California. He is joined in Brookline, Mass. by his wife and two children.

What exactly is a Role Model?

By definition, a role model is “a person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.” As far back as kindergarten I can remember there was always someone in my life at school, on TV, or at home who I was eager to imitate. We learn more from this person than we do from any textbook – we see how they act, how they carry themselves, and how they react to certain situations.

Every person has a quality that someone else admires and hopes to emulate.

Try this exercise: think of someone you look up to and respect. What are the qualities about that person you like?

Wouldn’t you hope to make them your own? When I was growing up, there was a professional basketball player who was changing the face of the NBA. He was a determined hard worker who spoke volumes through his charitable actions. His name was Michael Jordan, and in my eyes he was someone I was trying to be. I saw the good in him and hoped to emulate his good qualities in my own life.

So what does this mean?

It means we have a huge responsibility. We need to emulate someone who is worthy of being imitated, and we need to compose ourselves in a way people respect and want to imitate. We need to mirror someone above ourselves in order to make those around us become better people. There are many musicians, athletes and actors who are doing good things in their lives, but there is one person who has the qualities worthy enough to help us with our great responsibility: Jesus Christ.

By admiring the noble qualities of those around us we are, in essence, emulating Christ, who lives in those people.

Michael Jordan was a role model to me because of the way he used the talents given to him. When I looked at MJ in this way, I saw Christ in him.

Why ME?

So, what does this have to do with you? Isn’t a role model usually an older person- a parent? A teacher? A movie star?

How can a teenager possibly be a role

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

For Parents and Youth Workers model? Maybe you are an athlete people admire, a talented actor or actress, a trumpet player in the school band, or a quiet person who likes to be alone. It doesn’t matter whether you are in the spotlight or outside of it. Everyone is worthy of this duty. St. Paul, in a letter to his friend, the young man Timothy, makes it simple: “Let no one disregard you because you are young, but be an example to all the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity.

“Until I arrive, devote yourself to

reading to the people, encouraging and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not neglect it.

“Let this be your care and your occupation, and everyone will be able to see your progress.

“Be conscientious about what you do and what you teach; persevere in this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”

(I Timothy 4:12-16).

It is our responsibility as Christians

• Don't forget the resources you can find on our weekly listserv, The Pulse. Sign up today: http://youth. goarch.org • Check out the new sessions we have posted online, including some that are appropriate for the Lenten season and for Pascha: http://www.goarch.org/ en/archdiocese/departments/youth/ youthworkers/sessions/

Choosing a Role Model Roger Clemens. Britney Spears. Lindsay Lohan. Michael Vick. Mention a few celebrity names and people start lamenting the loss of role models today. In fact, try asking people who teens have as role models today, and notice how difficult it is to think of someone worthy of admiring and emulating. Do role models even exist anymore?

Although they are few and far between, there ARE role models today! The key is that we have to pay attention in places we may normally overlook. Your next door neighbor may be an amazing person, as may be the lunch lady in your school cafeteria.

We can't just look to celebrities to influence our attitudes and behaviors; we have to pay attention to the quiet heroes in our everyday life. In fact, in several recent surveys, when asked who their top role model actually was, one-third of teens cited their mom or dad, while teachers came in second.

So who are some "quiet heroes" - those who aren't necessarily in the spotlight - who might be worthy of the title of "role model"?

G in Culture

• Mom or Dad: So, maybe you don't get along with your parents one hundred percent of the time. But what are some qualities you admire in your parents?

What about them makes you want to be a better person?

• Teacher: Is there are particular teacher or mentor who has inspired you or challenged you to think outside the box?

What are the characteristics of that person that you want to emulate?

• Parish priest: Maybe you're close to the spiritual leader of your parish community; is there a way in which he helps you or other parishioners that you would like to "pay forward" to others?

• Older friend or relative: Do you have a cousin or a friend who is a little older and wiser than you? Maybe this person has made decisions you respect, or has stepped up to a difficult challenge in life.

Let's challenge ourselves to find one or two "quiet heroes" in our own lives, instead of looking to the media and to celebrities to inspire us. We have plenty of inspiration if we open our eyes and look around our everyday world!

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MARCH 2008